Ryan Braun Willing to Try Playing 1B and 2B [Post #220: Proposal for Braun at 2B]

[JosephC]

Last time Braun appeared at 1B was on July 23, and that was due to Aguilar's injured hamstring. Braun played first base from July 21-July 23 because of that. Prior to that, he played parts of games on June 11 and June 17 at first base. On June 11 a double switch moved him from LF to 1B in the 7th inning and on June 17 he pinch-hit in the 8th inning and then finished that game at 1B. Last time he started a game at 1B not due to another player's injury was on June 1st. So appearances during the last four months were minimal and he would have been down to just a few innings played after June 1st if not for Aguilar's injury.

 

Braun might see a minimal amount of innings at 1B in emergency situations, but based on the history it sure seems like the Brewers saw all they needed to see in April and May of last year.

[Humans Need Water]

Last time Braun appeared at 1B was on July 23, and that was due to Aguilar's injured hamstring. Braun played first base from July 21-July 23 because of that. Prior to that, he played parts of games on June 11 and June 17 at first base. On June 11 a double switch moved him from LF to 1B in the 7th inning and on June 17 he pinch-hit in the 8th inning and then finished that game at 1B. Last time he started a game at 1B not due to another player's injury was on June 1st. So appearances during the last four months were minimal and he would have been down to just a few innings played after June 1st if not for Aguilar's injury.

 

Braun might see a minimal amount of innings at 1B in emergency situations, but based on the history it sure seems like the Brewers saw all they needed to see in April and May of last year.

lol ok you keep on ignoring Aguilar's performance. If you forgot I'll refresh your memory. He murdered the ball in his 52 PA off the bench in April (9 starts) and forced his way into the lineup starting the rest of the season and making the AS team in the first half as one of the best hitters in MLB over that span.

 

But yeah, it was *solely* because of Braun's 5 April starts at 1b that showed the Brewers he's horrific

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Last time Braun appeared at 1B was on July 23, and that was due to Aguilar's injured hamstring. Braun played first base from July 21-July 23 because of that. Prior to that, he played parts of games on June 11 and June 17 at first base. On June 11 a double switch moved him from LF to 1B in the 7th inning and on June 17 he pinch-hit in the 8th inning and then finished that game at 1B. Last time he started a game at 1B not due to another player's injury was on June 1st. So appearances during the last four months were minimal and he would have been down to just a few innings played after June 1st if not for Aguilar's injury.

 

Braun might see a minimal amount of innings at 1B in emergency situations, but based on the history it sure seems like the Brewers saw all they needed to see in April and May of last year.

 

Once Thames came back from injury, Aguilar had established himself, and the soft platoon was set. The only way Braun was going to see significant time at 1B was if Aguilar didn't make the team, and/or Domingo Santana established himself as someone worth starting every day in RF. Obviously neither of those things happened.

[pacopete4]

It’ll be interesting if Aguilar stinks this season if that changes.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

It’ll be interesting if Aguilar stinks this season if that changes.

 

Yep. 12 months ago everyone thought the Brewers were set at 1B, as Eric Thames was coming off a 31 HR year. I imagine the leash isn't going to be super long with Aguilar after his down 2nd half. I'm surprised they haven't signed a Choi-type to take reps at 1B in AAA.

[adambr2]

It’ll be interesting if Aguilar stinks this season if that changes.

 

I would guess not. Thames is a better fallback than we give him credit for, even with the bad season he still had a .804 OPS against RHP. So if we figure that is his floor, if Aguilar regresses they can always go back to a hard platoon of Thames/Aguilar at 1st and probably have a floor of 40 HR and a .825 OPS out of that.

 

I would think on the very rare occasion when neither of Aguilar or Thames is at 1st it will be Grandal at 1st and Pina catching.

[sveumrules]

For as streaky as both Thames & Aguilar have been our 1B have posted the 6th best wRC+ & 8th best WAR in MLB over the last two seasons.

[Humans Need Water]

Thames was slashing 246/329/869 at the end of July. He didn't have a down season he had a down final 2 months with the final month being solely a pinch hitter. Aguilar isn't going to repeat his 2nd half last year (245/330/760 area); he'll most likely be worse than his first half last year but better than his 2017. He definitely won't be a liability. And Thames is a great backup 1b and spot starter in corner OF when needed as well as a DH vs AL teams on road.

[djoctagone]

it's unclear if the brewers will carry 12 or 13 position players until september roster expansion, but it appears that ryan braun will see some time at first base (but not this weekend against the cubs).

[pacopete4]

Man, Braun comes off as a selfish jerk with how he talks about Aguilar. Always thinking about himself. *Does this need to be in blue?