2B

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

Yunel Escobar or Brandon Phillips have to beat the Villar, Sogard, Perez option. My preference would be Phillips. Sign one of Phillips or Escobar, stash them in Carolina for a few weeks in order to not affect Dubon's development and see what you got. I know it is three games but Villar looks completely lost.

[RollieTime]

I think Phillips would be an excellent addition. His bat would really help lengthen the lineup and his ability to put the ball in play would help manufacture more runs. I wouldn’t mind signing Phillips for a 2 year, $8-$10 million deal with the second year being a club option. He can start at second nearly everyday and fill in at third if needed as well. He gained some experience at third last year and performed as if he had been playing there for years.

 

Cain

Yelich

Braun

Shaw

Phillips

Santana

Piña

Arcia

P

 

That would be a lineup that would cause nightmares for any opposing pitcher. Sign Phillips and the Brewers would be one of the top 5 offenses in baseball hands down.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think Phillips would be an excellent addition. His bat would really help lengthen the lineup and his ability to put the ball in play would help manufacture more runs. I wouldn’t mind signing Phillips for a 2 year, $8-$10 million deal with the second year being a club option. He can start at second nearly everyday and fill in at third if needed as well. He gained some experience at third last year and performed as if he had been playing there for years.

 

Cain

Yelich

Braun

Shaw

Phillips

Santana

Piña

Arcia

P

 

That would be a lineup that would cause nightmares for any opposing pitcher. Sign Phillips and the Brewers would be one of the top 5 offenses in baseball hands down.

 

If they weren't willing to give Walker a 2 year deal, and apparently they weren't, there's no way they give one to Phillips. It's all about Hiura. His bat is probably major league ready right now. Watch and see how fast he makes it to Biloxi. If he's there by June 15, there's a decent chance he's a Brewer by season's end.

[82brewcrew82]

If they weren't willing to give Walker a 2 year deal, and apparently they weren't, there's no way they give one to Phillips. It's all about Hiura. His bat is probably major league ready right now. Watch and see how fast he makes it to Biloxi. If he's there by June 15, there's a decent chance he's a Brewer by season's end.

Don't agree with Briggs often but I do here. Hiura is coming faster than people think. I'd bet he's in Biloxi in a heartbeat.

[RollieTime]

I agree, I can see Hiura playing before season’s end as well. The difference between Walker and Phillips is that Phillips could most likely be had on a one year deal, which would leave room for Hiura to take over second next season. Signing Phillips would be for this season only at about 4 or 5 million. The club option for next season could be declined if they feel it is the best decision. He would just be a nice get for this season before Hiura is ready to play every day next season. I could also see Phillips’ second year option being picked up to be the backup second and third baseman for next season, which would allow the Brewers to move on from one or more of Villar, Sogard, or Pérez. He is a guy you would be comfortable with filling in for an extended period of time incase of injury as well. I see Philips as being a very underrated addition if they were to go that route. His veteran leadership and “entertainer” character would fit right in with the club.

[coolhandluke121]

I think it's far from a safe assumption that Phillips or Escobar would be an upgrade. I'm okay with what they have under the circumstances and for what they're paying. You can't expect them to have a good player at every position in what is still basically the 3rd year of a rebuild. I would give it a little time. If they have the worst 2B production in baseball come June, they should be able to find another Walker type of trade. Having Hiura on the way is good enough for me.

[jerichoholicninja]

I looked into Phillips numbers last year expecting them to be terrible. They were with the Angels but his overall 93 OPS+ was right in line with what he's done the last 6 years and was better than both Villar and Perez. Better than Sogard if you take out his ungodly start. I'll take Phillips on a one year deal.

[FVBrewerFan]

You get the defense that Phillips brings as well, which is a plus.

[badger3034]

I'm not sure why people are against a signing of Phillips if it's on a one year deal. You're giving hiura more time in the minors, which is more time in his prime in the bigs. Phillips is an obvious upgrade over any of our current 2B, and you're not risking anything in signing him. What's the downside on a one year deal?

[82brewcrew82]

I'm not sure why people are against a signing of Phillips if it's on a one year deal. You're giving hiura more time in the minors, which is more time in his prime in the bigs. Phillips is an obvious upgrade over any of our current 2B, and you're not risking anything in signing him. What's the downside on a one year deal?

As long as the team is winning, they won't do anything. Why not give it more than three games to see if one of these jokers figures something out instead of impulsively spending money no matter how trivial we think the amount is. It cost us very little to acquire Walker, there will be fixes out there when the time comes for very little cost (probably even Phillips). Let it play out a bit.

[coolhandluke121]

Phillips's defense is definitely not a plus. Range matters a lot for middle infielders. Perez and Sogard are much better defenders than him at this point. Villar arguably is as well.

 

There's more to the game than OPS+. Perez, Sogard, and Villar have all produced more WAR in fewer pa's than Phillips over the last 2 years. Perez and Sogard have had far fewer pa's, and Villar has produced far more WAR.

 

Phillips will soon be 37, and will surely fall of a cliff soon. You could argue he already started to last year. Villar and Perez are just entering their physical prime, and Sogard is coming off a career year after having a good knee for the first time in years.

 

There's no way I want Phillips over any of those guys to be honest. There's a reason he's looking for a job. I'm open to some hope of improvement at 2B (who wouldn't be?), but Phillips isn't the answer to anything.

[badger3034]

Still don't see a downside, seems like the counter argument is just, "nah, let's just roll with what we've got." We have a large enough sample size at this point to see what kind of players our 2Bs are. I won't be upset if they don't sign Phillips, as I'm expecting them to not, but I don't understand why we wouldn't do it. He'd be cheap and on a one year deal, and wouldn't cost a draft pick, wheres the downside for a proven veteran?

[coolhandluke121]

Still don't see a downside, seems like the counter argument is just, "nah, let's just roll with what we've got." We have a large enough sample size at this point to see what kind of players our 2Bs are.

 

A large sample size actually shows that Sogard, Perez, and Villar are all better players, and that's before you even consider the likely possibility that Phillips is completely washed up. The fact that they've all been more valuable players than Phillips over the last two years and are still in their primes is a little more than "nah, let's just roll with what we've got". You have to focus on Phillips's good stretches and their bad ones in order to declare Phillips an upgrade. He's probably not even a wash.

[Devinep]

If they wouldn’t do the obvious upgrade for the obvious value in Neil Walker, then they’re committed to the trio of poor production at 2B.

[3and2Fastball]

Hiura's defense won't be MLB ready in 2018. His bat is arguably light years ahead of his defense. I might be the biggest Hiura fan on this site (I'm predicting multiple batting titles and a shot at the Hall of Fame) but I'd kindly suggest to slow your roll on major contributions from him this year...

[82brewcrew82]

Still don't see a downside, seems like the counter argument is just, "nah, let's just roll with what we've got." We have a large enough sample size at this point to see what kind of players our 2Bs are. I won't be upset if they don't sign Phillips, as I'm expecting them to not, but I don't understand why we wouldn't do it. He'd be cheap and on a one year deal, and wouldn't cost a draft pick, wheres the downside for a proven veteran?

The sample size argument holds a lot of water. As does the likely fact that they can acquire better than Phillips for a similar outlay later if they need to. Instead of asking what the downside is, perhaps answer what the upside would be?

[82brewcrew82]

Hiura's defense won't be MLB ready in 2018. His bat is arguably light years ahead of his defense. I might be the biggest Hiura fan on this site (I'm predicting multiple batting titles and a shot at the Hall of Fame) but I'd kindly suggest to slow your roll on major contributions from him this year...

I've heard his defense has looked good since instructs. I'm not going to buy that his glove is holding him up if the current three options continue to be horrible. If he is hitting lights out, he'll be up.

[brewmann04]

Hiura will be up by 2019

[TJseven7]

Hiura's defense won't be MLB ready in 2018. His bat is arguably light years ahead of his defense. I might be the biggest Hiura fan on this site (I'm predicting multiple batting titles and a shot at the Hall of Fame) but I'd kindly suggest to slow your roll on major contributions from him this year...

I've heard his defense has looked good since instructs. I'm not going to buy that his glove is holding him up if the current three options continue to be horrible. If he is hitting lights out, he'll be up.

 

Put me in the Hiura asap camp. Defense was ok to solid in spring. He simply has to be replacement level there or close. His bat will carry his value past this stuff. Villar Perez are the same dude as last (aka look flat lost) year and sogard is a guy.

[Eye Black]

Hiura's defense won't be MLB ready in 2018. His bat is arguably light years ahead of his defense. I might be the biggest Hiura fan on this site (I'm predicting multiple batting titles and a shot at the Hall of Fame) but I'd kindly suggest to slow your roll on major contributions from him this year...

I've heard his defense has looked good since instructs. I'm not going to buy that his glove is holding him up if the current three options continue to be horrible. If he is hitting lights out, he'll be up.

A lot like 3and2, I’ve been one of Hiura’s biggest fans including fawning for him to be the Brewers selection in the months leading up to the draft. That being said, the defensive development is a legitimate need. He had a below average throwing arm before he suffered the elbow injury. I have no doubt his bat is going to be special, but I think the Brewers are going to take their time making sure he is ready defensively. That includes not only fielding, but developing his footwork and arm strength to the point where they are confident he will be able to make all of the necessary throws for a major league second baseman. I would guess no matter how much he rakes, the earliest we will see him in the full-time 2B gig is sometime in 2019.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

I’d much rather have a bit lesser defense at 2nd than a complete black hole for the batting lineup. His defense can’t be rickie weeks bad. Plus being with the big league club and arcia should help his d.

[tmwiese55]

Count me out on Phillips. With any kind of bounce back from Villar it really shouldn't be hard for him to match what's like from Phillips. Phillips is low obp type and all that too, I want another 'professional' hitter ala Walker. Man, he would be so perfect in this lineup.

 

Friend and I were kicking around this year's version of Walker they could add if Villar flops again. Joe Panic is one we came up with. Harrison from Pitt is another and I think it was leaked they discussed him in the offseason.

 

For Huera, I'm all for getting him up ASAP but i'm sure they'll factor in that Braun is going to be playing a lot of 1st (and it's not like Thames is good either) so you'd have a pretty poor right side of D. For me, if the bat is legit I probably go with him anyway but I totally see how they might hold off until next year Huera more time

[PDCBalla]

Tom Flanagan came out today and said that Keston will start the year DHing more because he had some discomfort with certain throws. They'll need to make sure his arm is ok before bringing him up.

[3and2Fastball]

Tom Flanagan came out today and said that Keston will start the year DHing more because he had some discomfort with certain throws. They'll need to make sure his arm is ok before bringing him up.

 

The fact that Hiura is starting the season in A+ ball and not AA makes me think the Brewers are not fast tracking him for 2019. The arm thing is scary. Maybe he ends up being a Khris Davis type in LF? Maybe by the time he's ready for MLB there'll be the DH in the NL?

[tmwiese55]

I'm hoping the DH is here for Braun's last two years then slide Hiura over after Braun's done. If the arm continues to be a problem, he's listed at 5'11 so he's likely taller than Prince. I know it's not ideal but if his bat is legit you can just have him play 1st.