Middle Infield Problems

[TURBO]

We need to establish whether or not Villar is a viable option moving forward. He needs to start 95% of the time at 2B.

 

Why would we ever bother to start Sogard there is beyond me.

 

Let the IF of Shaw, Arcia, Villar and 1B of the moment play the vast majority of games together. Stop the merry go round nonsense.

[brwrsfan]

Why Sogard starts ANYWHERE for any reason other than injury is beyond me. Benching our young, gold glove caliber shortstop 1-2 times a week for him is just flat out baffling.

 

Sogard is simply not a good MLB hitter. He had one amazingly good month last year, no doubt about that, but after that first month, he was pretty awful at the plate. Even with the hot start, he finished the year batting .273. His career numbers would indicate that he's simply not very good. Career BA of .240, career OBP of .309 and a whopping 11 HR in almost 1700 plate appearances.

 

There's simply nothing there that would indicate that he's suddenly figured out how to hit. He's just not good. He's average at best defensively. He's 32, so his best years are likely behind him. He should have been DFA'd a week ago. If Villar was having the same season, this board would be SCREAMING about how bad he is and how it's ridiculous that he has a roster spot, but Sogard continues to get a free pass. It seems like he's still someone living off of that one amazing month, despite virtually all of his career numbers indicating that it was a complete and utter fluke.

 

There has to be someone available in AAA or through a trade or claim that can beat a .118/.182/.176 line. Sorry for the venting post, If he's going to be on the roster, he should be the 25th man, maybe PH when you need to move a runner over or Arcia is dinged up, but the fact that he's seeing regular playing time over younger guys like Arcia and Villar just infuriates me.

 

Sorry for the venting post.

[adambr2]

It does sound Walker's spot in New York is definitely on the rocks.

 

If you're going to go after him, which I think they probably should, I'd actually try to work out a trade with the Yankees for 2 reasons:

 

1) You don't have to take a chance at losing him on waivers to someone else, and

 

2) You can probably get some salary relief, which you don't get claiming a guy off waivers.

 

I'd offer them any non-prospect organizational depth piece from the minors, doesn't matter, and ask them to eat half his salary or so. This might work for the Yankees too because they'll be on the hook for everything anyway if he goes unclaimed so this assures them of getting out of half of it anyway.

 

Then just DFA Sogard.

[ZBTMP]

Why not give Nate Orf a shot? He's hit at every level, can play all over, doesn't strike out much and is decent with the glove. His minor league numbers compare favorably with Whit Merrifield who finally got a shot with Royals after years of toiling in the minors.

Admittedly, it might just be looking for something new, but I agree 100%. He has earned his shot, he may be no better than Sogard but at least he might find some success until they develop a MLB scouting report on him. Sogard’s lone redeeming quality is he doesn’t strike out and he isn’t even doing that for some reason. Villar’s bounce back year has somehow produced further regression. I’d be fine sticking with him if he showed some advancement in K:BB or power output, but nothing.

[pacopete4]

I am to the point where the mental midget of Villar is just too messed up where he might not be able to be saved. It looks like his swing has changed even to try to put the ball in play more but now you see hesitant swings instead of free-flowing ones. In 2016, he played loose and it showed. Do I think he is a player to repeat his 2016 numbers? No. But he should be somewhere near them probably but he can't get out of his own way. He will probably end up elsewhere and he will probably find some success. It is just too bad it most likely won't be in a Brewers uniform. He seems like a fun, caring guy to have around a ballclub.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Sogard and Perez are viable utility options for a rebuilding MLB team not looking to contend and not looking to start prospect service clocks too soon. Replace them with a 2-player combination of Saladino, Broxton, Phillips, and Dubon and move on - at least that eliminates the insanity of giving those dreadful offensive players starts. Right now MIF is a black hole both offensively AND defensively - names on the back of Brewer jerseys that play those positions need to change.

 

Villar is probably in the same category as Sogard/Perez - replaceable players for teams that want to win. I think you stick Villar in the everyday lineup at 2B for the next month unless he gets injured or needs a day, and if there isn't marked improvement at the plate it's time to move on from him completely and thank your lucky stars he turned that contract down a few offseasons ago. He gets a bit of a longer leash due to his 2016, but that occurred when he was given the starting SS job and had no real competition of ABs - he essentially had that role to start 2017 as a 2B, but couldn't hit and it led to Sogard's arrival and Perez getting alot of time there, too.

 

At some point there needs to be some accountability based on performance, in particular with the more veteran pieces who are on this team because their production - while not AS caliber - is at least supposed to be reliable.

[3and2Fastball]

Nate Orf absolutely deserves a shot. He has hit at every level of the minors. Hit in MLB Spring Training, and should be on the MLB roster.

[Jopal78]

None of the middle infielders are hitting. The team could try to have Villar bat left-handed exclusively. He has an OPS under .600 as a right handed batter since the start of 2017.

 

As for Sogard, there aren't any middle infielders in the farm system that are likely to provide a significant boost in hitting. Orf hasn't exactly lit up the minor leagues outside of Colorado Springs. Dubon has less than 80 games experience above AA and already has a glove-first reputation.

 

They'll likely have to sink or swim with a combo of Perez, Sogard and Villar. Outside of Jed Lowrie there might not be much available at 2B in July. Dozier and Josh Harrison are free agents to be, but their clubs could be in the race come July.

[bill hAll Star]

I'm also not sure that I'd be too enthused about Orf. He couldn't slug anywhere prior to being 27/28 years old playing in Colorado Springs/Pacific Coast League. The .320/.390 can turn into .250/.310 with no slugging very quickly against MLB pitching and defense if you can't hit it where they ain't when other teams have their outfielders halfway in towards the infield against you.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm also not sure that I'd be too enthused about Orf. He couldn't slug anywhere prior to being 27/28 years old playing in Colorado Springs/Pacific Coast League. The .320/.390 can turn into .250/.310 with no slugging very quickly against MLB pitching and defense if you can't hit it where they ain't when other teams have their outfielders halfway in towards the infield against you.

 

Orf had 30 doubles for Brevard in 2014, and 26 for Biloxi in 2015. His career OBP is .387. I'm sure as a 5'9" middle infielder, they didn't play him deep in those places either. It's very, very difficult for little guys like Orf to overcome the perception that he's just doesn't fit the profile of a big league player. But he's produced and still has a job at age 28. Nobody is expecting him to be an All Star, but the alternatives have all had a shot and found wanting. I say give him a shot. Heck if he hits .250 and gets on at a .330 clip, it's a step up from what they have.

 

By the way, Brandon Phillips is still out there too.

[ZBTMP]

I'm also not sure that I'd be too enthused about Orf. He couldn't slug anywhere prior to being 27/28 years old playing in Colorado Springs/Pacific Coast League. The .320/.390 can turn into .250/.310 with no slugging very quickly against MLB pitching and defense if you can't hit it where they ain't when other teams have their outfielders halfway in towards the infield against you.

 

Its noteworthy that his flyball % jumped 10% last season which is part of the reason he showed some power output. But basically if the downside is we replace Eric Sogard with Eric Sogard? I can live with that to see if Orf can provide something more.

[xisxisxis]

We have a manager who tied the record for consecutive futility when he went 7 weeks without a hit in 2011, so I doubt he views any of the issues these guys are having as critical. King of setting the bar as low as possible won't be the one to pull the plug on our latest set of underachievers...

[tmwiese55]

If Walker came available would they even cut him for Sogard though because of not being able to play SS? I don't recall the last time Perez has played SS so I'm not sure they consider him a backup there or not. I guess just cut Perez, but then you're completely lefty heavy.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm also not sure that I'd be too enthused about Orf. He couldn't slug anywhere prior to being 27/28 years old playing in Colorado Springs/Pacific Coast League. The .320/.390 can turn into .250/.310 with no slugging very quickly against MLB pitching and defense if you can't hit it where they ain't when other teams have their outfielders halfway in towards the infield against you.

 

Its noteworthy that his flyball % jumped 10% last season which is part of the reason he showed some power output. But basically if the downside is we replace Eric Sogard with Eric Sogard? I can live with that to see if Orf can provide something more.

 

This should be their line of thinking with pretty much any young infielder to replace Sogard. We know what Eric is, terrible to slightly less terrible sometimes. Maybe Orf is as bad or worse than Sogard. Maybe he's better, but we won't know that until we see what he can do.

[bill hAll Star]

I'm also not sure that I'd be too enthused about Orf. He couldn't slug anywhere prior to being 27/28 years old playing in Colorado Springs/Pacific Coast League. The .320/.390 can turn into .250/.310 with no slugging very quickly against MLB pitching and defense if you can't hit it where they ain't when other teams have their outfielders halfway in towards the infield against you.

 

Its noteworthy that his flyball % jumped 10% last season which is part of the reason he showed some power output. But basically if the downside is we replace Eric Sogard with Eric Sogard? I can live with that to see if Orf can provide something more.

 

This should be their line of thinking with pretty much any young infielder to replace Sogard. We know what Eric is, terrible to slightly less terrible sometimes. Maybe Orf is as bad or worse than Sogard. Maybe he's better, but we won't know that until we see what he can do.

 

All of this is fine, but what it tells me is that I'd rather go out and make an early season acquisition, potentially. Maybe not time to completely panic, but I'm suggesting that there's a pretty high probability that Orf will not be much of an upgrade over Sogard. That is evidenced by his earlier minors stats and the fact that the Brewers' organization has never given him a major league chance (with not much blocking him) and I believe that he has been exposed to the rule 5 and never picked.

 

Maybe "slightly better than Sogard" is enough to hold us over until the deadline, but I guess one could call Brandon Phillips or see if a team is willing to throw away an aging/blocked lower tier utility IF for a song.

[jerichoholicninja]

Maybe "slightly better than Sogard" is enough to hold us over until the deadline, but I guess one could call Brandon Phillips or see if a team is willing to throw away an aging/blocked lower tier utility IF for a song.

 

Unfortunately, I think they've already made that move with Saladino. And to a lesser extent Blanco.

[bill hAll Star]

Maybe "slightly better than Sogard" is enough to hold us over until the deadline, but I guess one could call Brandon Phillips or see if a team is willing to throw away an aging/blocked lower tier utility IF for a song.

 

Unfortunately, I think they've already made that move with Saladino. And to a lesser extent Blanco.

 

You're right that those guys may be options as the next heir to the throne of garbage, but it would be nice to aim a little bit higher. Phillips doesn't do much for me, but I could at least imagine a scenario where he puts up a .750 OPS. The rest of the guys, it would take a 2017 Sogard-esque string of luck for that to happen.

 

There aren't a ton of decent 2B just lying around, but maybe someone in the Neil Walker tier of player is available.