2019 Brewers' pitching staff

[Brew crew 92]

Knebel has an elbow issue

 

 

So scratch him off the OD roster. Hoping Kimbrel takes his place.

 

Kinda makes you wonder about Jeffress too. Like I said in earlier threads the timing of serious negotiations stunk. Hoping there closing in on a deal with Kimbrel. Knebel saying “no pain” makes him and or the brewers look silly now. Wow.

[KeithStone53151]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This rotation also tells me that they aren't worried about the status of Knebel and Jeffress, as I think they would have put one of the young studs in the pen to make up the difference.

They literally said they were concerned about Knebel's elbow. I'm worried until each has put some innings under their belt.

 

Yeah, I hadn't seen that news yet when I made the post. That isn't good.

[82brewcrew82]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

Who closes because Hader is far less effective pigeon holed into that role. That is not a good looking pen with Jeffress and Knebel out. It isn't horrible, but not great.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

"Cause for concern" is something you say to set the table for really bad news. I think TJ is more likely than not.

[KeithStone53151]

Expecting to hear Knebel needs TJ in the next 5 days.

 

Yep. Also really hoping JJ's shoulder weakness isn't like Thornburg's shoulder weakness that turned out to be "miss a season" shoulder weakness.

 

I'm way way more concerned about Knebel than JJ. I heard JJ is throwing a bullpen today. If that goes well he'll be on target to return to the bullpen in mid-April. That's seriously a huge deal. Right now our best RH reliever is a contest between Taylor Williams and Junior Guerra. I like both guys, but I don't like them being our best RH reliever...we need to have better options and quickly.

[OldHeidelberg]

I would think if no Kimbrel that Hader has to close, just no one else we can trust right now.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

Who closes because Hader is far less effective pigeon holed into that role. That is not a good looking pen with Jeffress and Knebel out. It isn't horrible, but not great.

 

They pitched really well without Knebel for quite some time last season. Big loss, but not insurmountable. We don't know what the deal is with JJ yet. If we're talking 2-3 weeks I'm not overly concerned about that. Losing both of them for a really long time changes everything.

[Brew crew 92]

"Cause for concern" is something you say to set the table for really bad news. I think TJ is more likely than not.

 

I think all of us are well aware.

[KeithStone53151]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

Who closes because Hader is far less effective pigeon holed into that role. That is not a good looking pen with Jeffress and Knebel out. It isn't horrible, but not great.

 

First off, that's completely false. He's equally effective whether pitching in the 9th inning or 7th inning. CC likes using him in multi-inning stints as a virtually surefire bridge to one of our 9th inning guys. I think we see similar usage, except Hader will probably pitch the 8th and 9th inning instead of 2 innings between the 6th and 8th. And yes, that means we'll need to rely on other arms for saves in addition to Hader if we go that route since Hader can't pitch 2 innings every day. I'm guessing Claudio and Guerra get those chances initially depending on matchups.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Time to jump on the Miguel Sanchez hype train!

[82brewcrew82]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

Who closes because Hader is far less effective pigeon holed into that role. That is not a good looking pen with Jeffress and Knebel out. It isn't horrible, but not great.

 

They pitched really well without Knebel for quite some time last season. Big loss, but not insurmountable. We don't know what the deal is with JJ yet. If we're talking 2-3 weeks I'm not overly concerned about that. Losing both of them for a really long time changes everything.

Agreed but until Jeffress gets back that is not a great pen. Kimbrel obviously mitigates some of that. I would go so far as to say 2019 Kimbrell would be better than 2018 Knebel.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

At this point I'm more concerned with JJ because of the cumulative stuff. He gets knocked around in the NLCS then all of the sudden is mystery sore right before the season. It has the makings of stuff going south. Hearing Knebel may pitch at all this year would be music to my ears. So I've just got my fingers crossed JJ has been much ado about nothing and he can be a quality reliever again. It's impossible he isn't regressing from last season statistically, but losing both of them is devastating.

[82brewcrew82]

So with the rotation set, opening bullpen is probably Hader, Anderson, Guerra, Albers, Claudio as locks. Barnes, Williams, Fields, Patricka are options for the back end of the rotation. Any other options I'm missing? I don't think Houser, Derby, Diplan, or Wilkerson are immediate options. Maybe at some point in April but not opening day. I also think with the young arms, we need 8 in the bullpen right away. We have 3 days off in March/April combined, that's not a lot.

Who closes because Hader is far less effective pigeon holed into that role. That is not a good looking pen with Jeffress and Knebel out. It isn't horrible, but not great.

 

First off, that's completely false. He's equally effective whether pitching in the 9th inning or 7th inning. CC likes using him in multi-inning stints as a virtually surefire bridge to one of our 9th inning guys. I think we see similar usage, except Hader will probably pitch the 8th and 9th inning instead of 2 innings between the 6th and 8th. And yes, that means we'll need to rely on other arms for saves in addition to Hader if we go that route since Hader can't pitch 2 innings every day. I'm guessing Claudio and Guerra get those chances initially depending on matchups.

Disagree. I think limited when you use Hader is a hit to not only his effectiveness but the pen overall.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think you would see Hader close in a 1-run games or 2-run games where the bases get loaded or something. If you go into the 9th up 3-1 I don't think they'd use him in that spot. I think it would a committee approach based on matchups and situations. I'm inclined to agree that calling him a "closer" makes you less effective as a club overall.

[OldHeidelberg]

Closer by committee was fine when we had Hader/JJ/Knebel but would you want to use Hader for 2 then turn it over to Williams/Barnes? I don't know maybe Anderson finds some more mph with shorter stints or Albers comes out with great stuff. I guess there are options but it seems like as things are now Hader needs to be the closer short term, it's not that horrible but I guess we don't know how he does pitching 3 of 4 days.

[KeithStone53151]

I think you would see Hader close in a 1-run games or 2-run games where the bases get loaded or something. If you go into the 9th up 3-1 I don't think they'd use him in that spot. I think it would a committee approach based on matchups and situations. I'm inclined to agree that calling him a "closer" makes you less effective as a club overall.

 

The pen is less effective with him as closer, absolutely. His effectiveness does not change at all though. He's still going to wreck hitters whether it's 1 inning at a time or 2-3 innings at a time.

[82brewcrew82]

I think you would see Hader close in a 1-run games or 2-run games where the bases get loaded or something. If you go into the 9th up 3-1 I don't think they'd use him in that spot. I think it would a committee approach based on matchups and situations. I'm inclined to agree that calling him a "closer" makes you less effective as a club overall.

 

The pen is less effective with him as closer, absolutely. His effectiveness does not change at all though. He's still going to wreck hitters whether it's 1 inning at a time or 2-3 innings at a time.

I think we are using "effectiveness" in two different contexts. Being able to decide when Hader come into the game is far more effective than saving him for traditional closer duties. I think Guerra gets first crack if they don't bring in someone else.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yeah, I think that's what Brew 82 was saying. He's the same guy, but it's worse for the team. Of course the whole catch 22 whatever thing is that if you save him until the 9th and somebody else blows it vs. someone blowing a save that wouldn't even be a SVO if you didn't put Hader in during the 7th facing the 2-4 hitters. Basically you're open for criticism unless it works after the fact. Glad it's not my job.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think Hader will get closing opportunities, but I don't think he'll be the "closer". He just too valuable as a match-up and multi-inning guy to pigeonhole him into the 9th. I predict we'll see some sort of Guerra/Williams/Barnes combo in that role until Jeffress comes back healthy. Of course, if the Kimbrel thing happens, he'll eventually step into Knebel's role without missing much of a beat. Claudio and Petricka also have some past closer experience. None of this is ideal by any means, but I think it's important to note that there are still options out there.

[Brew crew 92]

Stearns and co have a plan of attack you can be sure of that. My guess: sign Kimbrel and move one of Burnes peralta woody Nelson Anderson to the pen.That would potentially make up for the loss of Jeffress and Knebel.

[Yellin4Yelich]

 

Chacin

Woodruff

Burnes

Peralta

Davies

[82brewcrew82]

I think Hader will get closing opportunities, but I don't think he'll be the "closer". He just too valuable as a match-up and multi-inning guy to pigeonhole him into the 9th. I predict we'll see some sort of Guerra/Williams/Barnes combo in that role until Jeffress comes back healthy. Of course, if the Kimbrel thing happens, he'll eventually step into Knebel's role without missing much of a beat. Claudio and Petricka also have some past closer experience. None of this is ideal by any means, but I think it's important to note that there are still options out there.

I guess Petricka has closed before.

[82brewcrew82]

Woodruff would have been interesting as a closer.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Maybe I'm just depressed, but right now with those two probably hurt I kinda feel getting Kimbrel is DEFCON 1 if this is still a "go for it" thing.