2020 Lineup

[pacopete4]

Braun/Garcia are going to be playing in RIGHTfield this season with Yelich heading to left. Braun will also play first base. Per TomH

[benji]

Makes sense as Yelich's arm fits LF. Garcia can be an average RF player with speed and a better arm

[CheezButt]

Just got more flexible with Brock Holt signing

[sveumrules]

C: Pina

1B: Healy

2B: Sogard

SS: Arcia

3B: Gyorko

LF: Holt

CF: Taylor

RF: Gamel

[MoreTrife]

C: Pina

1B: Healy

2B: Sogard

SS: Arcia

3B: Gyorko

LF: Holt

CF: Taylor

RF: Gamel

 

Humourous...I hope.

[TJseven7]

Braun/Garcia are going to be playing in RIGHTfield this season with Yelich heading to left. Braun will also play first base. Per TomH

 

See when they signed Garcia they said he'd play in LF and I was quite irritated by that. Yelich is a better LF and Garcia is plus grade (.9 UZR per year) in RF over the last 5 years..

 

Braun though... O.O

 

Can we play Yelich in RF when Braun plays outfield please. Braun is not good in RF. He's been neutral in LF the last 4 years.

[pacopete4]

I figured we would see a ton of different lineups even before Brock Holt was signed. I think we are going to see a ton of different lineups and players playing many different positions. It will be fun to see Counsell get to do his thing with this team.

[BrewBalls]

I haven't made up my mind about the pitching staff, but I agree with your points about the lineup. I expect opposing pitchers to have to work a little bit more to get through our lineup rather than have the 6-8 spots just be automatic outs. I expect some "major league" at-bats to be happening across our entire lineup.

I think this is a great point. Getting quality at-bats/production from the bottom of our lineup reminds me of the 2018 playoff run where it was guys like Arcia, Kratz, Pina and Santana who were providing the timely hits and majority of the offense. I’m not saying we don’t need good seasons from Yelich, Cain, Braun, Garcia and Narvaez just that having players producing in the bottom of the lineup can alleviate a lot of pressure off our big guns.

 

On a side note, the addition of Holt only adds more versatility and options for CC while filling the void left when Urias got injured. Overall I give Stearns a ton of credit for building a competitive roster after losing out on the top FA in an overpriced market and having to cut ties with over half of last year’s roster. Even though we lack the big names of 2019, this is a much deeper group who if managed properly should keep the Brewers in contention heading into September.

[BrewBalls]

C: Pina

1B: Healy

2B: Sogard

SS: Arcia

3B: Gyorko

LF: Holt

CF: Taylor

RF: Gamel

 

*If the Selig’s still owned the team...

 

C: Freitas

1B: Morrison

2B: Mathias

SS: Rodriguez

3B: Healy

LF: Ray

CF: Taylor

RF: Broxton

 

Lineup:

Taylor, Broxton, Ray, Healy, Morrison, Mathias, Freitas, Rodriguez

 

Davey Lopes: “I think we might have two of three potential all-stars”

[clancyphile]

Frankly I kind of like what Stearns has done with this lineup.

 

Three premium hitters are gone in Grandal, Moustakas and Thames, however the 2019 Brewers gave over 1300 plate appearances to hitters with an OPS less than .715. In 2020 I think it is reasonable to expect that all their new acquisitions: Garcia, Smoak, Sogard, Gyorko, Healy and Navarez to produce an OPS in excess of .750 (I'm not as convinced with Sogard but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt).

 

So there might not be as many elite hitters in the lineup in 2020 but the aggregate talent level of their hitters more likely than not is greater than in 2019. Stearns also got a club option on Smoak, Sogard, and Gyorko. If those hitters have big seasons and the team takes a face plant, the GM has some nice trade capital as none of those players would be a pure "rental". Secondly, if those players fall flat in 2020, they simply decline the options and move on.

 

Garcia is a key acquisition because he will potentially replace Ryan Braun in the outfield if Braun decides to play elsewhere after the team declines his 2021 option. Plus, the signing of Garcia would have made Grisham a surplus part. Stearns had the foresight to cash in Grisham in for a much needed infield prospect.

 

Finally, Stearns remade his pitching staff with pitchers offering upside: Brett Anderson, Lindblom, and Lauer. Obviously, Stearns had seen enough of Chase Anderson to know his anticipated production would not have been equal to the pay his contract called for. Gonzalez missed 6 weeks with an injury and was exclusively a 5 innings plus SP. Lauer is probably less than Davies, but does throw left handed. More importantly these deals potentially fill the pitching staff, yet Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes could still win spots in the rotation. Obviously, the GM knows that to remain competitive for extended periods of time he needs to develop starting pitching from within. These moves solidify his rotation but doesn't block to of his young pitchers who have legit talent to be above average MLB starting pitchers.

 

I agree.

 

But it also won't block average pitchers as well.

 

Think of this: Imagine having a constant flow of young starters who can fill the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots of the rotation. They post average numbers, but they're at the league minimum.

 

No more Jeff Suppans. No more Matt Garzas. No More Kyle Lohses. No more Randy Wolfs.

 

One or two average starters a year. Looking through the AAA/AA/A+ rotations, I think the Brewers can do that over the next 3-5 years.

[clancyphile]

Frankly I kind of like what Stearns has done with this lineup.

 

Three premium hitters are gone in Grandal, Moustakas and Thames, however the 2019 Brewers gave over 1300 plate appearances to hitters with an OPS less than .715. In 2020 I think it is reasonable to expect that all their new acquisitions: Garcia, Smoak, Sogard, Gyorko, Healy and Navarez to produce an OPS in excess of .750 (I'm not as convinced with Sogard but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt).

 

So there might not be as many elite hitters in the lineup in 2020 but the aggregate talent level of their hitters more likely than not is greater than in 2019. Stearns also got a club option on Smoak, Sogard, and Gyorko. If those hitters have big seasons and the team takes a face plant, the GM has some nice trade capital as none of those players would be a pure "rental". Secondly, if those players fall flat in 2020, they simply decline the options and move on.

 

Garcia is a key acquisition because he will potentially replace Ryan Braun in the outfield if Braun decides to play elsewhere after the team declines his 2021 option. Plus, the signing of Garcia would have made Grisham a surplus part. Stearns had the foresight to cash in Grisham in for a much needed infield prospect.

 

Finally, Stearns remade his pitching staff with pitchers offering upside: Brett Anderson, Lindblom, and Lauer. Obviously, Stearns had seen enough of Chase Anderson to know his anticipated production would not have been equal to the pay his contract called for. Gonzalez missed 6 weeks with an injury and was exclusively a 5 innings plus SP. Lauer is probably less than Davies, but does throw left handed. More importantly these deals potentially fill the pitching staff, yet Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes could still win spots in the rotation. Obviously, the GM knows that to remain competitive for extended periods of time he needs to develop starting pitching from within. These moves solidify his rotation but doesn't block to of his young pitchers who have legit talent to be above average MLB starting pitchers.

 

I agree.

 

But it also won't block average pitchers as well.

 

Think of this: Imagine having a constant flow of young starters who can fill the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots of the rotation. They post average numbers, but they're at the league minimum.

 

No more Jeff Suppans. No more Matt Garzas. No More Kyle Lohses. No more Randy Wolfs.

 

One or two average starters a year. Looking through the AAA/AA/A+ rotations, I think the Brewers can do that over the next 3-5 years.

[brewerfan82]

Arcia really does look like the odd man out if he doesn't markedly improve this year. But otherwise, the matchup game is going to be fun to watch and the three batter minimum rule is going to make it really difficult for an opposing manager to bring in an opposite hand reliever without it exploding in his face. There's going to be a lot of thump coming off the bench that we can stack up against them if they dare.

 

Two year wRC+ splits:

 

Starters vs RHP (vs RHP splits)

3B Holt* (115)

2B Hiura (159)

LF Yelich* (180)

1B Smoak^ (123)

RF Braun/Garcia (101/100)

C Narvaez* (127)

CF Cain/Gamel* (94/90)

SS Sogard* (88)

 

Bench (LHP splits/RHP splits)

C Pina (101/79)

IF Urias (154/55)

IF Arcia (70/54)

IF Gyorko (113/89)

OF Braun (131/101) / Garcia (111/100)

OF Cain (128/94) / Gamel* (120/90)

 

-------------------------------------

 

Starters vs LHP (vs LHP splits)

CF Cain (128)

2B Hiura (74)

LF Yelich* (148)

1B Braun (131)

RF Garcia (111)

3B Sogard*/Gyorko (114/113)

SS Urias (154)

C Pina (101)

 

Bench (RHP splits/LHP splits)

C Narvaez* (127/92)

IF Sogard* (88/114) / Gyorko (89/113)

IF Arcia (54/70)

IF Holt* (115/76)

IF Smoak^ (123/88)

OF Gamel* (90/120)

[brewerfan82]

Arcia really does look like the odd man out if he doesn't markedly improve this year. But otherwise, the matchup game is going to be fun to watch and the three batter minimum rule is going to make it really difficult for an opposing manager to bring in an opposite hand reliever without it exploding in his face. There's going to be a lot of thump coming off the bench that we can stack up against them if they dare.

 

Two year wRC+ splits:

 

Starters vs RHP (vs RHP splits)

3B Holt* (115)

2B Hiura (159)

LF Yelich* (180)

1B Smoak^ (123)

RF Braun/Garcia (101/100)

C Narvaez* (127)

CF Cain/Gamel* (94/90)

SS Sogard* (88)

 

Bench (LHP splits/RHP splits)

C Pina (101/79)

IF Urias (154/55)

IF Arcia (70/54)

IF Gyorko (113/89)

OF Braun (131/101) / Garcia (111/100)

OF Cain (128/94) / Gamel* (120/90)

 

-------------------------------------

 

Starters vs LHP (vs LHP splits)

CF Cain (128)

2B Hiura (74)

LF Yelich* (148)

1B Braun (131)

RF Garcia (111)

3B Sogard*/Gyorko (114/113)

SS Urias (154)

C Pina (101)

 

Bench (RHP splits/LHP splits)

C Narvaez* (127/92)

IF Sogard* (88/114) / Gyorko (89/113)

IF Arcia (54/70)

IF Holt* (115/76)

IF Smoak^ (123/88)

OF Gamel* (90/120)

[Vollbc74]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (400) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Urias (400)

Holt (400)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

[Vollbc74]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (400) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Urias (400)

Holt (400)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

[Oxy]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (400) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Urias (400)

Holt (400)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

 

I like this kind of breakdown. Realistically I'd bump up Arcia by 100-200 PAs and drop Urias by 100-200 PAs (I think after the injury Urias starts in AAA and stays there until he hits his way up or Arcia hits his way down). I think Braun, Cain, and Hiura are on the heavy end of their usage as well, with Garcia, Gamel, Arcia and Holt taking up a few of those ABs. If Hiura improves his D that will change, of course.

[Oxy]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (400) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Urias (400)

Holt (400)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

 

I like this kind of breakdown. Realistically I'd bump up Arcia by 100-200 PAs and drop Urias by 100-200 PAs (I think after the injury Urias starts in AAA and stays there until he hits his way up or Arcia hits his way down). I think Braun, Cain, and Hiura are on the heavy end of their usage as well, with Garcia, Gamel, Arcia and Holt taking up a few of those ABs. If Hiura improves his D that will change, of course.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'm fairly confident that Arcia will spend more than enough days in the minors to push him back to Super 2 status and gain a year of control. Sogard/Urias will be the SS combo upon being healthy Holt fits wherever. Adding Holt with Sogard on the team makes Arcia expendable. He may actually be traded before OD to be honest to a rebuild team who has a RP Stearns likes. Though I just spent like 15min trying to find a rebuild team that could use an Arcia as a bounce back value gain for trade later on, and none were to be found. I honestly wonder if the Brewers removed him from their 40man if he'd be claimed at the moment. How terrible is that? Gotta be one of the top 25 prospects ranked in top 10 who were busts this century. SSs are just abloom right now, all these teams have graduated prospects playing SS for them, or will be this season/next and have a veteran better than Arcia in place. Japan is calling him.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'm fairly confident that Arcia will spend more than enough days in the minors to push him back to Super 2 status and gain a year of control. Sogard/Urias will be the SS combo upon being healthy Holt fits wherever. Adding Holt with Sogard on the team makes Arcia expendable. He may actually be traded before OD to be honest to a rebuild team who has a RP Stearns likes. Though I just spent like 15min trying to find a rebuild team that could use an Arcia as a bounce back value gain for trade later on, and none were to be found. I honestly wonder if the Brewers removed him from their 40man if he'd be claimed at the moment. How terrible is that? Gotta be one of the top 25 prospects ranked in top 10 who were busts this century. SSs are just abloom right now, all these teams have graduated prospects playing SS for them, or will be this season/next and have a veteran better than Arcia in place. Japan is calling him.

[TJseven7]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (350) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Holt (400)

Urias (350)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

 

You overdid it on the SS. Only 650 PA you had 700. Took 50 off Urias due to injury concerns opening up.

 

Last year this team had 1253 PA by guys sub 650 OPS. I sure hope Urias 649 Gyorko 730 Gamel 720 Pina 725 Arcia 652 bring that up. Those are their career OPS. So I'm expecting a lot more 700 baseline OPS guys than 650s and below. The only real concern is Arcia and 100 PA is nothing. Even TTaylor and Nottingham could put up 700 stashed in AAA. Who knows about Healy Lomo etc.

 

Holt was a surprising addition this late and it seems like overkill, but I love me some depth overkill. This team could platoon themselves into having very very few PAs taken by guys sub 700 OPS. A 50 point OPS increase on 2 starters worth of PAs helps us forget Moose and Grandal quick.

 

If Cain can get back in that 360 OBP range. This'll be a fun offense.

[TJseven7]

PA by position in 2019: C (706), 1B (697), 2B (699), 3B (706), SS (640), LF (724), CF (750), RF (734), DH (43)

 

If we used those numbers as a rough guide, depending on batter order construction I could see something along the lines of:

 

C: Narvaez (450) Pina (250)

1B: Smoak (450) Braun (150) Gyorko (100)

2B: Hiura (550) Sogard (100) Holt (50)

3B: Holt (350) Gyorko (200) Sogard (150)

SS: Urias (350) Sogard (200) Arcia (100)

LF: Yelich (590) Braun (135)

CF: Cain (550), Gamel (200)

RF: Garcia (450) Braun (200) Gamel (75)

DH: Braun (40)

 

That would put our position players in a nice safe range of PA to stay fresh and healthy throughout the year.

 

Yelich (590)

Cain (550)

Hiura (550)

Braun (475)

Garcia (450)

Narvaez (450)

Smoak (450)

Sogard (450)

Holt (400)

Urias (350)

Gyorko (300)

Gamel (275)

Pina (250)

Arcia (100)

 

You overdid it on the SS. Only 650 PA you had 700. Took 50 off Urias due to injury concerns opening up.

 

Last year this team had 1253 PA by guys sub 650 OPS. I sure hope Urias 649 Gyorko 730 Gamel 720 Pina 725 Arcia 652 bring that up. Those are their career OPS. So I'm expecting a lot more 700 baseline OPS guys than 650s and below. The only real concern is Arcia and 100 PA is nothing. Even TTaylor and Nottingham could put up 700 stashed in AAA. Who knows about Healy Lomo etc.

 

Holt was a surprising addition this late and it seems like overkill, but I love me some depth overkill. This team could platoon themselves into having very very few PAs taken by guys sub 700 OPS. A 50 point OPS increase on 2 starters worth of PAs helps us forget Moose and Grandal quick.

 

If Cain can get back in that 360 OBP range. This'll be a fun offense.

[BrewBalls]

I'm fairly confident that Arcia will spend more than enough days in the minors to push him back to Super 2 status and gain a year of control. Sogard/Urias will be the SS combo upon being healthy Holt fits wherever. Adding Holt with Sogard on the team makes Arcia expendable. He may actually be traded before OD to be honest to a rebuild team who has a RP Stearns likes. Though I just spent like 15min trying to find a rebuild team that could use an Arcia as a bounce back value gain for trade later on, and none were to be found. I honestly wonder if the Brewers removed him from their 40man if he'd be claimed at the moment. How terrible is that? Gotta be one of the top 25 prospects ranked in top 10 who were busts this century. SSs are just abloom right now, all these teams have graduated prospects playing SS for them, or will be this season/next and have a veteran better than Arcia in place. Japan is calling him.

He’s already arbitration eligible so the the Brewers cannot gain an extra year of team control. Not sure where you got the idea this was possible.

 

As for cutting Arcia, I don’t see that as a viable option since he’s still an above average bench player who provides elite level defense and some pop. Regardless if there isn’t a clear fit for him elsewhere I guarantee Stearns could get something of value for him on the trade market. It might only be a lottery ticket prospect or two but it’s still better then letting him go for nothing.

[BrewBalls]

I'm fairly confident that Arcia will spend more than enough days in the minors to push him back to Super 2 status and gain a year of control. Sogard/Urias will be the SS combo upon being healthy Holt fits wherever. Adding Holt with Sogard on the team makes Arcia expendable. He may actually be traded before OD to be honest to a rebuild team who has a RP Stearns likes. Though I just spent like 15min trying to find a rebuild team that could use an Arcia as a bounce back value gain for trade later on, and none were to be found. I honestly wonder if the Brewers removed him from their 40man if he'd be claimed at the moment. How terrible is that? Gotta be one of the top 25 prospects ranked in top 10 who were busts this century. SSs are just abloom right now, all these teams have graduated prospects playing SS for them, or will be this season/next and have a veteran better than Arcia in place. Japan is calling him.

He’s already arbitration eligible so the the Brewers cannot gain an extra year of team control. Not sure where you got the idea this was possible.

 

As for cutting Arcia, I don’t see that as a viable option since he’s still an above average bench player who provides elite level defense and some pop. Regardless if there isn’t a clear fit for him elsewhere I guarantee Stearns could get something of value for him on the trade market. It might only be a lottery ticket prospect or two but it’s still better then letting him go for nothing.

[timpep]

As for cutting Arcia, I don’t see that as a viable option since he’s still an above average bench player who provides elite level defense and some pop. Regardless if there isn’t a clear fit for him elsewhere I guarantee Stearns could get something of value for him on the trade market. It might only be a lottery ticket prospect or two but it’s still better then letting him go for nothing.

 

He provides potentially elite defense, but over his career his defense at short isn't very impressive overall.

[timpep]

As for cutting Arcia, I don’t see that as a viable option since he’s still an above average bench player who provides elite level defense and some pop. Regardless if there isn’t a clear fit for him elsewhere I guarantee Stearns could get something of value for him on the trade market. It might only be a lottery ticket prospect or two but it’s still better then letting him go for nothing.

 

He provides potentially elite defense, but over his career his defense at short isn't very impressive overall.