2019-06-12: Brewers (Woodruff) at Astros (Verlander) [Brewers win, 6-3 in 14 innings -- Brewers overcome 24 Ks with four long balls; Thames HR ties it in 7th & Moustakas HR proves the difference in extras]

[Eye Black]

 

[pre]Brewers Lineup Astros Lineup

 

1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 1. Josh Reddick (L) RF

2. Christian Yelich (L) R 2. Alex Bregman ® SS

3. Ryan Braun ® DH 3. Michael Brantley (L) LF

4. Mike Moustakas (L) 2B 4. Yuli Gurriel ® 3B

5. Yasmani Grandal (S) C 5. Yordan Alvarez (L) DH

6. Eric Thames (L) 1B 6. Robinson Chirinos ® C

7. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 7. Tony Kemp (L) 2B

8. Ben Gamel (L) LF 8. Tyler White ® 1B

9. Orlando Arcia ® SS 9. Jake Marisnick ® CF[/pre]

 

Justin Verlander: Batter (Brewers) vs Pitching Stats

[MrTPlush]

Travis Shaw (since reinstated): .983 OPS

Eric Thames (last 2 weeks): 1.107

Jesus Aguilar (last two weeks): .642

 

Shaw has started 5 games so far since coming back (about 8 days). Jesus Aguilar has 7 starts....in the last month ( 18 appearances and 7 were starts). Gotta think Aguilar's days are numbered. They just are not not giving him an opportunity at this point to even straighten things out.

[topper09er]

Aguilar has started every game against LHP this year. That's it for him now

[PeaveyFury]

Yep. Until Shaw or Thames suddenly figure out how to hit vs. LHP, Aguilar will continue to get those starts.

[tmwiese55]

That's the thing, he's being put in his most favorable matchup and still looks lost up there. Sure it's not easy to get in a rhythm with sporadic playing time, but remember 2017 and the beginning of 18 he did well in this platoon set up. So well he earned more and more. I understand they want to keep trying and you don't just want to give up a guy as you need depth, like if one of the other corner guys got hurt, but IDK how much longer they'll give him. A few more weeks for when Hiura is past that date and then you could play Perez at 1B vs LHP or give Grandal his 'off days' at 1B instead of the bench. Still hoping Jesus comes around but to me the eye test is rough and I'm starting to think he might not be a contributor again.

 

I'd hope you can find one of the bad AL teams that need a DH/1B would take a buy low chance on him and would toss us some lower level prospect types for him but maybe not. Along the lines of the Lind trade that got them Peralta. Probably not though

[KeithStone53151]

Verlander has reverse splits the last 2 years. 2018 was less drastic, 617 OPS vs RHB and 583 OPS vs LHB. 2019 so far 631 OPS vs RHB and 419 OPS vs LHB. I'm not going to advocate treating him like a LH starter. I'd probably go something like lineup below. Normally against a RH starter, I think you try and get Gamel/Thames in the lineup somewhere. I'm inclined to have Aguilar/Perez fill those spots today though.

 

Cain

Yelich

Braun

Moose

Grandal

Aguilar

Shaw

Perez

Arcia

[adambr2]

Despite the reverse splits, I'd go Thames at 1st. I don't want any part of Aguilar in the lineup right now.

[pacopete4]

Cain should really be moved down.

[willie key]

Its crazy how our offense has been really good with guys like Shaw and Aguilar completely falling apart and Cain's regression

 

Thank god for Moose and Grandal

 

This year could have already been a disaster without those signings

[KeithStone53151]

Cain should really be moved down.

 

I agree, but he seems completely fixed into the 1 or 3 spots of the order. I like to try and predict a realistic lineup...something CC might actually do. If I had my way, Woodruff would be batting 5th or 6th when he starts.

[MrTPlush]

Yep. Until Shaw or Thames suddenly figure out how to hit vs. LHP, Aguilar will continue to get those starts.

 

Jesus Aguilar should probably learn how to hit a beach ball, let alone RHP or LHP.

 

Personally, I think he is a waste of space on this roster at this point if they aren't trying to get him to be 2017 Aguilar.

[Greenleaf1]

Wasn't there a game last week where they put Perez in to play 1B in a spot where they could've easily used Aguilar?

 

I guess my only thought at this point is: say we drop Aguilar and call up Hiura, how often does Hiura actually get to play?

 

Against RHP, you'd have Thames, Shaw, and Moustakas starting most games. Against LHP, you could put in Perez, Hiura, and Moose (or even let Thames play against a few lefties), but that's not going to be much playing time (although most days you could get him a pinch hitting appearance I guess).

 

Hiura may have to wait until next year to finally get playing time unless an injury happens (or they trade Thames and move Shaw or Moose to 1B).

[tmwiese55]

I think if they were to make such a move he'd be playing almost every day. With Shaw/Thames kind of splitting the RHP starts at 1B and of course Hiura taking a normal day off each week where Moose can play 2B. If he's not going to play a lot they just wouldn't bring him up

[bigredrobbo]

Can Hiura play 1st?

[willie key]

Whats crazy is that Aguilar has had only one year as a full time starter in the majors and it was better than any Shaw or Moose has produced. and 2017 season where he wasn't necessarily a "full time starter" was pretty much better than almost every season Shaw or Moose had.

 

I don't know what to do with Aguilar yet? Do you give up on him and basically give him to another team and he OPS .850 or higher so the rest of the year. Or do you give him as many chances as Travis Shaw gets

 

Shaw is a better fielder and provides more value playing third base but I have always thought of Aguilar as a more talented hitter and this goes back to 2017 spring training.

 

Maybe it just clicks again and we see the easy power he has again, etc. But for crissakes hes making it harder and harder each day

[Lathund]

Wasn't there a game last week where they put Perez in to play 1B in a spot where they could've easily used Aguilar?

 

I guess my only thought at this point is: say we drop Aguilar and call up Hiura, how often does Hiura actually get to play?

 

Against RHP, you'd have Thames, Shaw, and Moustakas starting most games. Against LHP, you could put in Perez, Hiura, and Moose (or even let Thames play against a few lefties), but that's not going to be much playing time (although most days you could get him a pinch hitting appearance I guess).

 

Hiura may have to wait until next year to finally get playing time unless an injury happens (or they trade Thames and move Shaw or Moose to 1B).

 

Playing time isn't really a problem with 4 guys for 3 positions. Not even really if you add Perez there against tough lefties, making it 4½ for 3. If they want him to play, he'll play. And it won't really hurt the others too much either.

[KeithStone53151]

Whats crazy is that Aguilar has had only one year as a full time starter in the majors and it was better than any Shaw or Moose has produced. and 2017 season where he wasn't necessarily a "full time starter" was pretty much better than almost every season Shaw or Moose had.

 

I don't know what to do with Aguilar yet? Do you give up on him and basically give him to another team and he OPS .850 or higher so the rest of the year. Or do you give him as many chances as Travis Shaw gets

 

Shaw is a better fielder and provides more value playing third base but I have always thought of Aguilar as a more talented hitter and this goes back to 2017 spring training.

 

Maybe it just clicks again and we see the easy power he has again, etc. But for crissakes hes making it harder and harder each day

 

I think it's moreso that there's a book on him, and he hasn't adapted. Pitchers try different things on hitters, and as soon as a guy finds something that works...scouting is all over it and every other pitcher tries to replicate. Good hitters will figure out the book on themselves and work on plugging that hole in their swing or whatever the issue might be. I personally just don't think aguilar is capable of adapting. That said, from what I hear he's really putting in the work. I'm sure the guys with boots on the ground have a better feel for the progress he's making in the cage and in practice than we do. Hopefully they are confident he can correct whatever the issues are.

[vetter]

Can Hiura play 1st?

 

I never considered Hiura playing 1st but that could be a brilliant idea. You get a solid right handed batter in the lineup but mitigate some of the rookie defensive issues he had at 2nd.

 

I found myself missing Shaw's defensive presence while Hiura was up.

[tmwiese55]

I hope it doesn't come to that, he basically carried the team the first half last year and probably had a legit argument for NL MVP at the ASB (at least in consideration). Really crazy if they have to DFA him a year later. But man he has to start showing something

[brwrsfan]

Can Hiura play 1st?

 

Have they just totally scraped the idea of Braun at first? Last year it made sense since Jesus was so hot, but given the fact that he's awful now, why not Braun there against a lefty? Gamel has been better against lefties or put Perez at first or in OF (if you deem Braun is a better 1b). Just an option. Jesus has to be running out of chances. Isn't it about time he has "sore arm" or something so he can go down for awhile?

[Brew crew 92]

Woodruff lookin good.

[willie key]

Well that was weird from Cain

[TURBO]

Cain is always looking injured... I don't even pay attention to his shenanigans anymore.

[jason21nl]

Cain is always looking injured... I don't even pay attention to his shenanigans anymore.

 

Cain has swag...but even his swag looks injured

[homer]

Feels like Verlander is going to strikeout like 13 in 7 innings and lose.