Neil Walker

[82brewcrew82]

What did Walker cost us mid-season? Yeah, I don't remember either. Let Villar prove 2016 was a mirage. An adequate upgrade mid-season for a system filler type arm is more than do-able.

[jonescm128]

What did Walker cost us mid-season? Yeah, I don't remember either. Let Villar prove 2016 was a mirage. An adequate upgrade mid-season for a system filler type arm is more than do-able.

 

Single A pitcher Eric Hanhold of course!

[Roderick]

What did Walker cost us mid-season? Yeah, I don't remember either. Let Villar prove 2016 was a mirage. An adequate upgrade mid-season for a system filler type arm is more than do-able.

 

I'm getting old so I seriously didn't remember. The Brewers sent a former 6th round draft choice, that has an outside shot to be a bullpen arm, but is old for his league. So nothing for the Mets other than the salary relief they wanted.

[JohnBriggs12]

Villar isn’t good defensively but if he’s capable of a line close to that average, he is more than adequate to man second base. People love to hate on his defense but seemingly forget the two gold glove quality players who manned the position in Milwaukee before him. If the bat is there, it will play.

 

Regardless, I’d love Walker on a one or two year deal (his age scares me) but I have no idea what he’s looking for or what offers he may have.

 

Weeks was bad defensively and much of his shortcomings were hidden (no error charged) when his double play relay throws went awry. Scooter is more than adequate defensively. He got caught a couple times in replays with his foot touching prior to the ball getting there, but for the most part, he made all the routine plays and his DP relay throws were as accurate as anyone's. Villar can make the spectacular but boot the routine. That can affect the pitcher. But his bonehead play is not limited to his defense. To put it kindly, he's just not a student of the game in contrast to both Perez and Sogard. Those two as a team posted very good platoon splits last year. They make logical sense unless they bring in Walker at their price.

[pacopete4]

I really wanted Walker as he would be a great guy to (currently) hit 6th in our lineup. But the more I think about it we have so many guys to plug into that position that you would just hope that either 1 or 2 of those three players would take it and run with it. As another poster mentioned we basically got Walker for nothing so if plan A doesn't occur, it is not like we could be added towards the deadline to shore up that position. Who knows, maybe Villar will come out and be the bandit that he was in 2016, swiping bags all over the place and hitting.

[DR28]

I really wanted Walker as he would be a great guy to (currently) hit 6th in our lineup. But the more I think about it we have so many guys to plug into that position that you would just hope that either 1 or 2 of those three players would take it and run with it. As another poster mentioned we basically got Walker for nothing so if plan A doesn't occur, it is not like we could be added towards the deadline to shore up that position. Who knows, maybe Villar will come out and be the bandit that he was in 2016, swiping bags all over the place and hitting.

 

With the projections Ive seen on Arcia, I think he would be great in the 6 hole.

 

Cain

Yelich

Braun

Shaw

Santana

Arcia

Pina

Villar

 

I like that lineup!

[82brewcrew82]

I really wanted Walker as he would be a great guy to (currently) hit 6th in our lineup. But the more I think about it we have so many guys to plug into that position that you would just hope that either 1 or 2 of those three players would take it and run with it. As another poster mentioned we basically got Walker for nothing so if plan A doesn't occur, it is not like we could be added towards the deadline to shore up that position. Who knows, maybe Villar will come out and be the bandit that he was in 2016, swiping bags all over the place and hitting.

 

With the projections Ive seen on Arcia, I think he would be great in the 6 hole.

 

Cain

Yelich

Braun

Shaw

Santana

Arcia

Pina

Villar

 

I like that lineup!

Honestly, I'd switch Arcia and Pena and give serious consideration to hitting the pitcher 8th and Villar 9th.

[Jopal78]

The good news is, Neil Walker has essentially no leverage. The Angels, Mets and Yankees are no longer looking for 2B, and rebuilding clubs are likely not looking to hand out multi-year deals to players already in their 30s. After accepting a qualifying offer last year, Walker might have to take another one year deal, in which case I'd suspect he'd come back to the Brewers.

[MrTPlush]

I like giving Villar a chance and rolling with what we have. However, I suspect Walker is getting real cheap and I really wouldn’t mind having a safer bet at 2B instead.

[82brewcrew82]

The good news is, Neil Walker has essentially no leverage. The Angels, Mets and Yankees are no longer looking for 2B, and rebuilding clubs are likely not looking to hand out multi-year deals to players already in their 30s. After accepting a qualifying offer last year, Walker might have to take another one year deal, in which case I'd suspect he'd come back to the Brewers.

Not sure I'd want him even if he did.

[jonescm128]

The good news is, Neil Walker has essentially no leverage. The Angels, Mets and Yankees are no longer looking for 2B, and rebuilding clubs are likely not looking to hand out multi-year deals to players already in their 30s. After accepting a qualifying offer last year, Walker might have to take another one year deal, in which case I'd suspect he'd come back to the Brewers.

Not sure I'd want him even if he did.

 

Why not?

[tmwiese55]

Walker would also provide 1B insurance. If the Braun to 1st stuff works out, if you have Walker you could move both of the current 1Bs and have Walker as the fill in for Braun. I know Thames is likely better and all but it reduces Ks, more roster flex, likely better D than Thames. Not saying I advocate it, just that it could be something they do.

[pacopete4]

Walker does allow you to have some flexibility at 1B and 3B. I would love if they cut the cord with Sogard and signed Walker. That would be a dream because Sogard is going to be really stinky cheese to start the year and it's going to have to take Stearns to pry him from Counsell's cold dead corpse to get him off our roster, heck maybe ever our starting lineup.

[82brewcrew82]

The good news is, Neil Walker has essentially no leverage. The Angels, Mets and Yankees are no longer looking for 2B, and rebuilding clubs are likely not looking to hand out multi-year deals to players already in their 30s. After accepting a qualifying offer last year, Walker might have to take another one year deal, in which case I'd suspect he'd come back to the Brewers.

Not sure I'd want him even if he did.

 

Why not?

I'd rather take the time to figure out who the real Villar is. Adding a Walker type bat mid-season won't be hard to do if necessary. If they had pulled the trigger on pitching I'd be more inclined to add but as it stands, this is a figure out kind of year.

[FVBrewerFan]

This is what occurred to me today:

 

Walker= Sogard, Perez, Thames

 

Think about it, why would you "need" any of those three guys on the roster if you had Walker? You would save two roster spots, and not lose any versatility. All the while, not giving up any of the veteran grittiness.

 

Not predicting this, too late in the game to trade 3 guys to make this work even if they wanted to go this route. And I doubt they do. But this makes so much sense. Plus, it would make my eyes happy to see more solid ABs from yet another spot in the line-up.

[pacopete4]

Walker= Sogard, Perez, Thames

 

Replace Thames with Aguilar and you have it. Thames is needed on this team either as a starter at 1B (if Santana is traded) or as a great bench bat that can change the outcome late in games.

 

I also, and it pains me to say it, would hold onto Perez because he is so versatile.

 

But Sogard can go.

[FVBrewerFan]

Walker= Sogard, Perez, Thames

 

Replace Thames with Aguilar and you have it. Thames is needed on this team either as a starter at 1B (if Santana is traded) or as a great bench bat that can change the outcome late in games.

 

I also, and it pains me to say it, would hold onto Perez because he is so versatile.

 

But Sogard can go.

 

That's my point though. Who cares how versatile Perez is, he would simply no longer be needed. There would already be backups at every position. As far as Thames goes, I rather have Braun at 1B with Walker playing there some. That makes Thames redundant, so he can go too. I was already figuring Aguilar wouldn't be on the roster, so I guess you could say Walker replaces four guys.

 

I think this roster would then be past the times where you need to create starts for guys like Perez and Sogard just to get them action.

[pacopete4]

Walker= Sogard, Perez, Thames

 

Replace Thames with Aguilar and you have it. Thames is needed on this team either as a starter at 1B (if Santana is traded) or as a great bench bat that can change the outcome late in games.

 

I also, and it pains me to say it, would hold onto Perez because he is so versatile.

 

But Sogard can go.

 

That's my point though. Who cares how versatile Perez is, he would simply no longer be needed. There would already be backups at every position. As far as Thames goes, I rather have Braun at 1B with Walker playing there some. That makes Thames redundant, so he can go too. I was already figuring Aguilar wouldn't be on the roster, so I guess you could say Walker replaces four guys.

 

I think this roster would then be past the times where you need to create starts for guys like Perez and Sogard just to get them action.

 

But you still need bench players. Who would be your bench? I'm getting a little confused.

[FVBrewerFan]

Voght

Walker

Maverick

? See how ST goes for the 4th spot

[pacopete4]

Voght

Walker

Maverick

? See how ST goes for the 4th spot

 

Isn't Walker starting at 2B? Or is that Villar and he's your backup? Because Walker isn't signing here to be a backup.

[FVBrewerFan]

Voght

Walker

Maverick

? See how ST goes for the 4th spot

 

Isn't Walker starting at 2B? Or is that Villar and he's your backup? Because Walker isn't signing here to be a backup.

 

Villar would be starter at 2B, or you can call Walker the starter. Makes no difference really, dollars talk. Walker has no job today, and if the Brewers offer the right contract then "Starting 2B" is semantics. He would know going in he'll get 140 starts somewhere between 2B,1B, and 3B. But sure, you can call him the starter and have Villar on the bench.

[DR28]

Voght

Walker

Maverick

? See how ST goes for the 4th spot

 

Isn't Walker starting at 2B? Or is that Villar and he's your backup? Because Walker isn't signing here to be a backup.

 

Agreed, Neil isnt coming back to Milwaukee to sit on the bench.

 

If we get him back, he'll be the starting 2B and sitting 6th, if Santana isnt gone.

[JohnBriggs12]

Voght

Walker

Maverick

? See how ST goes for the 4th spot

 

Isn't Walker starting at 2B? Or is that Villar and he's your backup? Because Walker isn't signing here to be a backup.

 

Villar would be starter at 2B, or you can call Walker the starter. Makes no difference really, dollars talk. Walker has no job today, and if the Brewers offer the right contract then "Starting 2B" is semantics. He would know going in he'll get 140 starts somewhere between 2B,1B, and 3B. But sure, you can call him the starter and have Villar on the bench.

 

They had Walker, Sogard, Perez, and Villar on the roster in September in a playoff push. They played 28 games in Sept/Oct. Walker started 15 games at 2B. Perez started 7 all against LHP. Sogard started 5, all when Walker slid over to start at 1B, and Villar started 1, the lone meaningless game in the finale.

 

What on earth has changed since then that would leapfrog Villar over 3 others who did the job down the stretch?

 

If Walker is signed, Villar doesn't make the team as the other two are more versatile and are coming off better years.

[KeithStone53151]

They had Walker, Sogard, Perez, and Villar on the roster in September in a playoff push. They played 28 games in Sept/Oct. Walker started 15 games at 2B. Perez started 7 all against LHP. Sogard started 5, all when Walker slid over to start at 1B, and Villar started 1, the lone meaningless game in the finale.

 

What on earth has changed since then that would leapfrog Villar over 3 others who did the job down the stretch?

 

If Walker is signed, Villar doesn't make the team as the other two are more versatile and are coming off better years.

 

Has it never happened in the history of baseball where a young player had a breakout year, followed by an extremely down year, followed by significant improvement to somewhere between the two extremes? Sometimes guys have down years. The last 3 years Bryce Harper went from an 1100 OPS to an 800 OPS back up to 1000 OPS. Lucroy, Hart, Braun, Fielder, Hardy, etc...all these guys had a weird down year at some point in their 20s and rebounded from it(Braun's came at age 30). I think everyone on the board knows you are in favor of signing walker or platooning Sogard/Perez with Villar traded. It's not an unreasonable opinion. Defending it with "well this is what we did in September" isn't going to get you anywhere. 2b is a position where nothing is set in stone right now, any of those 3 players could win part of a time share or a permanent role as starting 2b over the next 2 months...or we could sign Walker. Believe me when I say, nobody is determining our starting 2b based solely on September usage.

[pacopete4]

 

What on earth has changed since then that would leapfrog Villar over 3 others who did the job down the stretch?

 

If Walker is signed, Villar doesn't make the team as the other two are more versatile and are coming off better years.

 

What has changed? Well, the season for starters. It's a brand new one.

 

And if we cut a 26-year old Villar, who has shown a lot of promise in his short time in his Brewer career over the likes of a Sogard... Stearns if flat out stupid. We could insert Counsell in our lineup and he could do what Sogard is going to give us this year. Stearns was silly for even offering him a contract. The guy is a flat out bum at the plate. We already have one of those as our versatile guy in Perez.