Stearns comments on future of various Brewers

[adambr2]

I know we have some individual threads for these guys but I thought I'd mention what Stearns has said about several guys in the organization and their future here. Obviously decide for yourself on what is genuine and what is GM speak.

 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2018/10/23/notes-brewers-chase-anderson-same-page-2019/1733631002/

 

On Anderson: ""We made sure we talked to Chase and got on the same page before he took off," Stearns said. "Chase is a competitor. Frankly, he pitched pretty well for the majority of this season. "I know he was disappointed he didn’t get a chance to pitch on the big stage in the postseason. We understand that completely. We would expect nothing less. Chase is also a good teammate and he’s ready to get back and contribute next year."

 

On Hiura: ""Look, I think it’s a possibility. (Hiura up in 2019) I think we also have to recognize Keston hasn’t played a day above Double-A. So there’s a lot of growth left there for him. What we’re most pleased with Keston is he got through a full season and that the defensive growth and maturation on that side of the ball was there, and we have confidence he’s a second baseman going forward."

 

On Thames: ""Eric had a season that was a challenging season," said Stearns. "He started off really well, he had an injury, and the guy behind him played really well and in many ways took his job. But (Thames) is a really talented player. He proved he was a talented player in this league for about a year and a half. That’s exciting for us.

He’s going to come to spring training with a chance to gain meaningful playing time. We know that when he is in the lineup, he provides a really impressive, powerful force."

 

On Schoop: ""That’s a discussion that we’re going to have to continue to have here over the next couple of weeks to a month," Stearns said of Schoop, who just turned 27. "Obviously, Jonathan has proven that he is a quality major-league player.

 

"He has had really impressive stretches throughout his career, and unfortunately for both him and us, we didn’t see one of those stretches when he was a Brewer. We’ll sit down to see if we can determine why, and then we’ll go forward."

[FVBrewerFan]

The only comment that got my attention was the comment about Nelson. Nothing even promising like "We hope to have him ready for ST." Just a general "we have no timeline" which doesn't sounds very good at all.

[TURBO]

Coach Cooper always provided exact timelines. It was one of the things that made him a great coach.

[MrTPlush]

The only comment that got my attention was the comment about Nelson. Nothing even promising like "We hope to have him ready for ST." Just a general "we have no timeline" which doesn't sounds very good at all.

 

Reading the full quote it sounds like that is their plan. Sounds like he is going to report to ST like normal and isn't doing something special this winter. If he has issues in ST...then yah, get worried.

 

I am not too concerned. Strength training all winter and no pitching should pretty much make him good to go. He seemed like he was pretty much there at the end of the season, but now there is no point to keep making him rehab...just let him rest now. Could he be rusty come ST and need to go slow? Maybe, but I don't imagine major problems.

 

Personally I am betting he is in the bullpen come the start of 2019 (or whenever he officially starts playing). Just a guess.

[FVBrewerFan]

The only comment that got my attention was the comment about Nelson. Nothing even promising like "We hope to have him ready for ST." Just a general "we have no timeline" which doesn't sounds very good at all.

 

Reading the full quote it sounds like that is their plan. Sounds like he is going to report to ST like normal and isn't doing something special this winter. If he has issues in ST...then yah, get worried.

 

I am not too concerned. Strength training all winter and no pitching should pretty much make him good to go. He seemed like he was pretty much there at the end of the season, but now there is no point to keep making him rehab...just let him rest now. Could he be rusty come ST and need to go slow? Maybe, but I don't imagine major problems.

 

Personally I am betting he is in the bullpen come the start of 2019 (or whenever he officially starts playing). Just a guess.

 

If he ever pitches effectively again in any role, ever, I will be pleasantly surprised.

[B-Train]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

[Eye Black]

If he ever pitches effectively again in any role, ever, I will be pleasantly surprised.

Yeah, I am usually on the overly optimistic side of things when it comes to players returning from injury (I was making a pitch for acquiring Garrett Richards just a couple of days before he broke again this season). In the case of Jimmy Nelson, I am not expecting him to ever return to the breakout performance we saw in 2017. That season was amazing, but it was also a pretty significant outlier from his three previous professional seasons. I think he will indeed make a return to the mound at some point, but next year in his age 30 season I expect him to struggle to regain his command and overall ability to pitch. I hope that ends up looking like a silly statement, but I can't imagine the Brewers are expecting him to return to the mound looking like the pitcher he was when he suffered the injury.

[jonescm128]

If he ever pitches effectively again in any role, ever, I will be pleasantly surprised.

Yeah, I am usually on the overly optimistic side of things when it comes to players returning from injury (I was making a pitch for acquiring Garrett Richards just a couple of days before he broke again this season). In the case of Jimmy Nelson, I am not expecting him to ever return to the breakout performance we saw in 2017. That season was amazing, but it was also a pretty significant outlier from his three previous professional seasons. I think he will indeed make a return to the mound at some point, but next year in his age 30 season I expect him to struggle to regain his command and overall ability to pitch. I hope that ends up looking like a silly statement, but I can't imagine the Brewers are expecting him to return to the mound looking like the pitcher he was when he suffered the injury.

 

Does Nelson have options remaining? Could we see him start out in AAA?

[rcc]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

 

I like it. Not worth it for that money.

[coolhandluke121]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

 

I like it. Not worth it for that money.

 

Maybe it's just past tense because he's talking about a year that's over. Christian Yelich could say "in 2017 I was a Marlin and in 2018 I was a Brewer" and it wouldn't raise any eyebrows just because he didn't add "and I still am".

[MadScientist]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

 

I like it. Not worth it for that money.

 

Maybe it's just past tense because he's talking about a year that's over. Christian Yelich could say "in 2017 I was a Marlin and in 2018 I was a Brewer" and it wouldn't raise any eyebrows just because he didn't add "and I still am".

That's the way I read it.

[dlk9s]

Yeah, Stearns was clearly just comparing his time as a Brewer to his time as an Oriole.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I still think some people are really underestimating the chances that Schoop is back. I think it is more likely that he is indeed not returning, but I don't feel it is the lock that many seem to think it is.

[FVBrewerFan]

I still think some people are really underestimating the chances that Schoop is back. I think it is more likely that he is indeed not returning, but I don't feel it is the lock that many seem to think it is.

 

If it was a couple years ago, I would agree. But the salary level they're at now, I just see very little chance they pay Schoop $10MM or Moose $15MM.

[clancyphile]

If he ever pitches effectively again in any role, ever, I will be pleasantly surprised.

Yeah, I am usually on the overly optimistic side of things when it comes to players returning from injury (I was making a pitch for acquiring Garrett Richards just a couple of days before he broke again this season). In the case of Jimmy Nelson, I am not expecting him to ever return to the breakout performance we saw in 2017. That season was amazing, but it was also a pretty significant outlier from his three previous professional seasons. I think he will indeed make a return to the mound at some point, but next year in his age 30 season I expect him to struggle to regain his command and overall ability to pitch. I hope that ends up looking like a silly statement, but I can't imagine the Brewers are expecting him to return to the mound looking like the pitcher he was when he suffered the injury.

 

I think Nelson spends a fair bit of 2019 in the minors, using an option year. Better for him to get on track in San Antonio as opposed to Milwaukee.

[B-Train]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

 

I like it. Not worth it for that money.

 

Maybe it's just past tense because he's talking about a year that's over. Christian Yelich could say "in 2017 I was a Marlin and in 2018 I was a Brewer" and it wouldn't raise any eyebrows just because he didn't add "and I still am".

 

Yeah, that's how I read it as well. At the same time, Yelich's tenure as a Brewer is not up for discussion. Schoop's is. Just interesting how Stearns said it in the context of a player who didn't perform all that well.

[Boomer5]

Schoop - "when he was a Brewer". Just a poorly timed use of past tense or a slip there from Stearns.

 

Good catch. Yes it’s over.