Time to Start Worrying About Villar?

[FVBrewerFan]

Can anyone possibly still argue that they aren't a better team right now with Sogard at 2B?

 

It's June and they are a first place team. The best lineup needs to be out there most of the time and Villar is not in that group. Of course that could change at some point but they can't continue to wait on Villar.

 

Seriously? Of course someone will argue! But not me. I'm a big believer in the "hot hand" and you ride that as long as it lasts. If they were 8 games under .500 right now, I would see it differently. Actually, CC has already been playing the best line-up most nights. Playing Aguilar at 1B, moving Thames to LF. Playing Perez as much as he can, etc.

 

We're still not quite to the 1/3 mark in the season, so Villar will have opportunities to get back in the line-up.

[Jenkins5]

I wouldn't say we are a better team right now with Sogard over Villar. We are best with a Villar who is playing up to his level. I don't feel last year was a fluke. He has that kind of talent. Sogard is hot right now so you find ways to keep his bat in lineup but do I believe he is as good as he is playing right now and it is sustainable? No. Like others have stated, it is about the future. Villar has the talent to be a part of the future or at least a nice trade piece. You do what you can to get him going.

 

The problem with being in 1st place is it causes so many people to start to switch gears from developing and building to wanting to win now. We are still very early in rebuild. Arcia is only big prospect in our system to take the jump to MLB yet. No pitchers. None of our OFs. Sogard is the win now approach since he is hot. Villar is the long-term develop approach. Stick with guys who are struggling and get them to where they need to be. Winning and playoffs are great and fun but winning means nothing to me right now. Simply a perk that gets the fair weather fans back into the stadium to increase revenue. I care about the long term success over short term. Dubon and Diaz are on the way, need to find out what you have with Villar and try to restore his value.

[pacopete4]

I think we should just let Counsell do his thing. Right now he's managing a 1st place ball club and we have armchair GM's who feel they can do better. Enjoy the run.

[brwrsfan]

Seems to me that Villar has come down with Bill Hall syndrome. Which to me, is that he's just up there trying to hit HR's instead of doing what made him so successful - taking the ball the other way, putting the ball in play, etc.

 

He's just constantly trying to pull the ball it seems, and it's leading to a lot of strikeouts and a lot of weak ground balls.

[FVBrewerFan]

I wouldn't say we are a better team right now with Sogard over Villar. We are best with a Villar who is playing up to his level. I don't feel last year was a fluke. He has that kind of talent. Sogard is hot right now so you find ways to keep his bat in lineup but do I believe he is as good as he is playing right now and it is sustainable? No. Like others have stated, it is about the future. Villar has the talent to be a part of the future or at least a nice trade piece. You do what you can to get him going.

 

The problem with being in 1st place is it causes so many people to start to switch gears from developing and building to wanting to win now. We are still very early in rebuild. Arcia is only big prospect in our system to take the jump to MLB yet. No pitchers. None of our OFs. Sogard is the win now approach since he is hot. Villar is the long-term develop approach. Stick with guys who are struggling and get them to where they need to be. Winning and playoffs are great and fun but winning means nothing to me right now. Simply a perk that gets the fair weather fans back into the stadium to increase revenue. I care about the long term success over short term. Dubon and Diaz are on the way, need to find out what you have with Villar and try to restore his value.

 

It's always been a combination of building fir the future, yet trying to win now. That's why a guy like Sogard is even on the roster in the first place. Otherwise they could have brought Rivera up. Same goes for guys like Carter, Feliz, etc.

 

Again, we're not even at 1/3 mark of the season. It's not like Villar is being shut down for the rest of the year. First place may very likely be fool's gold, but as long as they're in it you play guys who are producing.

 

Also, every player is different. CC stuck with Arcia, and looks like it's paying off. Villar is just jumping at pitches, and maybe sitting him for a bit is what he needs. But there's over 100 games to go, so give it time to play out.

[brewcrewdue80]

Seems to me that Villar has come down with Bill Hall syndrome. Which to me, is that he's just up there trying to hit HR's instead of doing what made him so successful - taking the ball the other way, putting the ball in play, etc.

 

He's just constantly trying to pull the ball it seems, and it's leading to a lot of strikeouts and a lot of weak ground balls.

 

This^

In the PAs I've seen on tv, his swings are viscous. I dont remember it being anywhere near this overswinging last year than what it is now. I almost feel like his eyes were strictly on the SB crown and his approach was to get on 1st and steal 2nd. Now, with his early season baserunning struggles, and nowhere in the SB hunt his strategy is to hit HRs now. I think sitting him more is the correct call. Keep Sogard in a 2b half/half now with Villar. Its at the point where you stick with Sogards hot bat and reduce Villars time til he adjusts his approach. He was offered that extension, given the 2b job when Gennett was removed, and seems to have become too comfortable with having a ML job. I dunno if he has an option, but it could be nearing time to use it to send a clearer message

[superfly]

There is still a debate over why we should have kept Gennett? Villar even in this depressed state probably has more trade value than Gennett has/had. Sogard is doing exactly the same thing in relief except he's a nerd. Low upside guys are a dime a dozen and a rebuilding team shouldn't be fielding low upside players on a regular basis.

[3and2Fastball]

I believe Sogard has made adjustments with his swing and will have continued success. No, he won't hit .400 but I think he'll hit .280--.300 with a .375 or so OBP over the next year or two. There are still lingering issues post knee surgery which will require him to not play every day. He is and will be a key piece of the puzzle as a multi-position player along with Perez and yes Villar who can play corner OF too.

[brewcrewdue80]

There is still a debate over why we should have kept Gennett? Villar even in this depressed state probably has more trade value than Gennett has/had. Sogard is doing exactly the same thing in relief except he's a nerd. Low upside guys are a dime a dozen and a rebuilding team shouldn't be fielding low upside players on a regular basis.

 

Im not advocating for Scooter. Just stating the "Villar is our 2nd baseman for 17" with Perez not being an out loud battle for 2nd base playing time, may havelead to overconfidence for Villar to play suboptimal with no real fear for his job. He was off playing at the WBC, arrived late to ST and was Milw's starting 2b. Somewhere in the midsts of that he was proposed a contract.

 

Im just trying to come up with an idea why his approach and hitting has been what its been.

[rickh150]

I believe Sogard has made adjustments with his swing and will have continued success. No, he won't hit .400 but I think he'll hit .280--.300 with a .375 or so OBP over the next year or two. There are still lingering issues post knee surgery which will require him to not play every day. He is and will be a key piece of the puzzle as a multi-position player along with Perez and yes Villar who can play corner OF too.

 

Never heard of "lingering issues" with Sogard's knee from CC or Stearns....... just conjecture repeated from Rock/BA.

How come Sogard is so easily looked at as fringe player, but Guerra is our late blooming "ace"? Just play Sogard until he cools off. I remember Brady Clark leading off a year or two really well; then he was just a guy. Play Villar down in order, and keep getting him at bats. Don't bury him yet. I can see him getting hot later this year. Villar can be a big SB threat in late innings, as well.

[FVBrewerFan]

Yea, baseball is like that. Let's not forget the year T Plush had. Sogard may only stay hot for another week, or it could be for the rest of the season. Nothing says he has to cool off this year to match his career numbers. I mean, will his OBP stay this high all year? Of course not. So there will be some cooling off no matter what, just a matter of how much.

[jerichoholicninja]

I believe Sogard has made adjustments with his swing and will have continued success. No, he won't hit .400 but I think he'll hit .280--.300 with a .375 or so OBP over the next year or two. There are still lingering issues post knee surgery which will require him to not play every day. He is and will be a key piece of the puzzle as a multi-position player along with Perez and yes Villar who can play corner OF too.

 

Never heard of "lingering issues" with Sogard's knee from CC or Stearns....... just conjecture repeated from Rock/BA.

How come Sogard is so easily looked at as fringe player, but Guerra is our late blooming "ace"? Just play Sogard until he cools off. I remember Brady Clark leading off a year or two really well; then he was just a guy. Play Villar down in order, and keep getting him at bats. Don't bury him yet. I can see him getting hot later this year. Villar can be a big SB threat in late innings, as well.

 

Sogard had over 1300 PA of major league mediocrity before this year and has 53 great PA this year. Guerra had 4 innings of major league experience before last year and has been pretty good since. Big difference.

[3and2Fastball]

This is an excellent read that can help explain players like Sogard, Justin Turner and others who looked mediocre and then looked fantastic (or at least a lot better). Could Sogard return to previous statistical production? Sure, but I have a fairly unhealthy obsession with studying MLB hitting mechanics and am convinced that Sogard changed his swing

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/mlb-launch-angles-story/?hpid=hp_no-name_graphic-story-a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.c95a7adaacaa

[Boomer5]

In before Briggs

 

Scooter 4-4 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against the Cardinals of all teams.

[jerichoholicninja]

In before Briggs

 

Scooter 4-4 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against the Cardinals of all teams.

 

[sarcasm]That's what a man does. Not go hang out with his laboring wife.[/sarcasm]

[DuWayne Steurer]

This is an excellent read that can help explain players like Sogard, Justin Turner and others who looked mediocre and then looked fantastic (or at least a lot better). Could Sogard return to previous statistical production? Sure, but I have a fairly unhealthy obsession with studying MLB hitting mechanics and am convinced that Sogard changed his swing

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/mlb-launch-angles-story/?hpid=hp_no-name_graphic-story-a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.c95a7adaacaa

 

 

Good article. Thanks for posting.

[yfinn6]

Scooter "The Hammer" Gennett.

[Boomer5]

Let Briggs have some fun. Why not?

[AdvantageSchneider]

I'm fine with Scooter hitting a couple hundred homers against the Cardinals.

[MrTPlush]

In before Briggs

 

Scooter 4-4 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against the Cardinals of all teams.

 

I knew Briggs would say something(and he did though I believe it was deleted) and looking at his stats...before they get inflated by a single game:

 

.308 OBP

97 OPS+

.4 WAR

 

I don't get why he acts like we are missing out on something great and made some horrific decision to let him go. Even if Scooter Gennett was here he still wouldn't start over Hernan Perez. Heck give me a redo button and I still prefer Villar over Gennett long term.

[AdvantageSchneider]

Speaking of former brewer MI.

 

Mariners and Segura close to signing an extension.

The extension is believed to be $70 million over five years, according to Hector Gomez. It includes an option for 2023 worth $17 million.

 

Anybody know what we offered him a long time ago? Seems like he made the right call. Although I don't think this will end up being a good deal for Seattle.

[MrTPlush]

Made the right call only because we traded him. If he was still here poor dude would probably still be terrible.

[rickh150]

I believe Sogard has made adjustments with his swing and will have continued success. No, he won't hit .400 but I think he'll hit .280--.300 with a .375 or so OBP over the next year or two. There are still lingering issues post knee surgery which will require him to not play every day. He is and will be a key piece of the puzzle as a multi-position player along with Perez and yes Villar who can play corner OF too.

 

Never heard of "lingering issues" with Sogard's knee from CC or Stearns....... just conjecture repeated from Rock/BA.

How come Sogard is so easily looked at as fringe player, but Guerra is our late blooming "ace"? Just play Sogard until he cools off. I remember Brady Clark leading off a year or two really well; then he was just a guy. Play Villar down in order, and keep getting him at bats. Don't bury him yet. I can see him getting hot later this year. Villar can be a big SB threat in late innings, as well.

 

Sogard had over 1300 PA of major league mediocrity before this year and has 53 great PA this year. Guerra had 4 innings of major league experience before last year and has been pretty good since. Big difference.

 

Huh? Very little difference more like...

Sogard was actually in the majors, and Guerra wasn't good enough to make it to the majors from 2011-2015. So major league experience is a negative?

Guerra was called up, played well for 3/4 of the season and is playing well after injury now. Sogard was called up and is playing well (actually Sogard has raked all season, AAA as well).

Both are "old" guys trying to make their next few seasons the best.

My point was/is that these kind of unproven late bloomers are in the same boat. They may do really well for a year or two or more, or they probably will not. Yet many want to limit Sogard to get more at bats for Villar (all this future talk) when one is playing clearly better than the other. Yet the same type of player in Guerra can be the steady rock pitcher, pitching every fifth day, with no talk ( which I am fine with) of letting younger pitchers that appear to be ready (Woodruff, maybe Hader) get some of his starts/innings..... a bit of a double standard. If you don't want Sogard starting almost daily, why be ok with Guerra when he probably isn't part of the future? Is it just about team control? Is it about flipping Guerra at the deadline?

[Boomer5]

In before Briggs

 

Scooter 4-4 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against the Cardinals of all teams.

 

I knew Briggs would say something(and he did though I believe it was deleted) and looking at his stats...before they get inflated by a single game:

 

.308 OBP

97 OPS+

.4 WAR

 

I don't get why he acts like we are missing out on something great and made some horrific decision to let him go. Even if Scooter Gennett was here he still wouldn't start over Hernan Perez. Heck give me a redo button and I still prefer Villar over Gennett long term.

 

Give the man his due. He said Scooter was better than Villar and certainly Franklin, and he was right. Oddly enough, he had his big game playing LF, a position the Brewers didn't think he could play.

 

What's done is done but after a 4 HR night, give Briggs the mic, he earned it.

[MillerParkSouth]

Happy for Scoots but he's still not a good player.