Spring Training Battle: OF

[brewerfan82]

Outfield should be another interesting battle to follow. Yelich, Cain, and Garcia are locks, but the 4th spot and a possible 5th spot should be up for grabs.

 

2018-20 vs. RHP (MLB):

 

2018-20 vs. LHP (MLB):

 

2018-20 Fielding in OF (MLB):

 

2017-19 (MiLB):

[liveforoctober]

I feel like Taylor has earned, at least conversationally to start, the front runner award for the 4th spot.

 

Behind that .. I'm assuming we are going to want a left handed bat off the bench? If they think Arcia can fill in in a pinch .. then the 5th OF spot might just go to a utility bat rather than an OF. With the current crop of guys though .. I would assume an acquisition will fill the roster before opening day?

[MVP2110]

I feel like Taylor has earned, at least conversationally to start, the front runner award for the 4th spot.

 

Behind that .. I'm assuming we are going to want a left handed bat off the bench? If they think Arcia can fill in in a pinch .. then the 5th OF spot might just go to a utility bat rather than an OF. With the current crop of guys though .. I would assume an acquisition will fill the roster before opening day?

 

I think Mckinney or Fisher probably have the upper hand on Taylor as Taylor still has an option left. That said I expect Taylor will get plenty of PT and be the first OF called up in the case of an injury. My guess though is Mckinney or Fisher are the fourth outfielder and it's possible Arcia is the 5th outfielder to start the year

[monty57]

I'm assuming we are going to want a left handed bat off the bench?

 

For sake of reference:

 

RH: Garcia, Cain, Taylor, Reyes, Arcia

 

LH: Yelich, Fisher, McKinney, Ray, Cozens

 

 

Looks like Reyes has played all over the field, but not very well. He's mainly a corner OF. Cozens is a corner OF. McKinney has some time in center, but looks to be mainly a corner OF/1B. Fisher has played all three OF positions.

 

Unless they plan on bumping Garcia over to CF when Cain gets a day off, they will probably want to keep someone who can play center field. That would be Taylor, Ray (not likely) or Fisher if they believe he could handle CF. Arcia is a wildcard here, because you'd have to think that if he's an outfielder, he's a center fielder. If they use him as the 5th outfielder/utility guy, that would leave a spot open if they want to keep someone like Vogelbach as a bench bat. Even then, Vogelbach might be gone if they decide to go for the versatility of someone like McKinney over the "should be a DH" Vogelbach.

 

My early-in-Spring-Training guess is that they keep Fisher and McKinney. Vogelbach will be gone, and Arcia will add "outfielder" to his list of utility positions with Urias getting the starting SS job. Taylor will lose out due to his having an option, and they'll try to slip Cozens and Reyes through to the minors. Fisher will be the regular "4th outfielder," while McKinney will get some OF time, while also being the LH backup first baseman.

[KeithStone53151]

I'm assuming we are going to want a left handed bat off the bench?

 

For sake of reference:

 

RH: Garcia, Cain, Taylor, Reyes, Arcia

 

LH: Yelich, Fisher, McKinney, Ray, Cozens

 

 

Looks like Reyes has played all over the field, but not very well. He's mainly a corner OF. Cozens is a corner OF. McKinney has some time in center, but looks to be mainly a corner OF/1B. Fisher has played all three OF positions.

 

Unless they plan on bumping Garcia over to CF when Cain gets a day off, they will probably want to keep someone who can play center field. That would be Taylor, Ray (not likely) or Fisher if they believe he could handle CF. Arcia is a wildcard here, because you'd have to think that if he's an outfielder, he's a center fielder. If they use him as the 5th outfielder/utility guy, that would leave a spot open if they want to keep someone like Vogelbach as a bench bat. Even then, Vogelbach might be gone if they decide to go for the versatility of someone like McKinney over the "should be a DH" Vogelbach.

 

My early-in-Spring-Training guess is that they keep Fisher and McKinney. Vogelbach will be gone, and Arcia will add "outfielder" to his list of utility positions with Urias getting the starting SS job. Taylor will lose out due to his having an option, and they'll try to slip Cozens and Reyes through to the minors. Fisher will be the regular "4th outfielder," while McKinney will get some OF time, while also being the LH backup first baseman.

 

Regarding Arcia, I find it a bit weird that he's getting reps at CF. He's really not THAT fast. And he's not going to have instincts in the outfield like a Cain where he can make up for mediocre speed.

 

Also I noted this in a different thread, but there were games where both Garcia and Taylor started last year. CC went with Garcia in CF and Taylor in RF. This kinda tells me that for some reason, CC is more confident in Garcia in CF than Taylor. And if anything, Garcia being in better shape might make him better suited for CF this year. Point being, Brewers could definitely go with a primarily corner OF off the bench versus needing a defense first CF.

[djoctagone]

and they'll try to slip Cozens and Reyes through to the minors.

neither player finished 2020 on a major league roster or the major league injured list. given that, and seeing neither has enough service time to require an opt-out clause before opening day, it's highly unlikely that either successfully negotiated for an opt-out clause.

 

they signed minor league contracts with the brewers. they remain under the brewers' control and can be sent to any minor league affiliate as they see fit.

[monty57]

Regarding Arcia, I find it a bit weird that he's getting reps at CF. He's really not THAT fast. And he's not going to have instincts in the outfield like a Cain where he can make up for mediocre speed.

 

Also I noted this in a different thread, but there were games where both Garcia and Taylor started last year. CC went with Garcia in CF and Taylor in RF. This kinda tells me that for some reason, CC is more confident in Garcia in CF than Taylor. And if anything, Garcia being in better shape might make him better suited for CF this year. Point being, Brewers could definitely go with a primarily corner OF off the bench versus needing a defense first CF.

 

That's true. I'd guess from your last season example that it was because Counsell likes his starters to have a set position. When Cain opted out, Garcia became the de facto starting center fielder, so he just kept him there and made the bench guy play the other position. Garcia only played five games in RF last year, and those were the five games Cain played before opting out. Garcia will likely be the starting RF this year, so he may just want to keep him in RF rather than bouncing him to center when Cain sits.

 

But I think you're right in that as long as Garcia is on the roster, they don't absolutely need someone else who plays CF. If they choose to go that route, he can be the backup CF. I think that if it's a close decision, they will take the guy who can play CF, and I think Counsell would rather just let Garcia play RF. Since they traded for Fisher (not just a waiver wire pick up), I think he has the best shot to be the 4th OF, and he has played every OF position. Despite the video clips of fly balls bouncing off his face, he looked to be an okay fielder prior to 2020 in Toronto.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing a RH backup OF, because Yelich will probably need 20 or so games off and it'd be nice to let him get his rest against lefties (even though he can hit lefties as well as righties). Taylor probably deserves a spot, but his option will allow Stearns to keep another player so he might just be a victim of having an option. Since it makes sense to keep McKinney (if he doesn't completely stink in ST) to be the backup 1B/5th OF, I'd guess that on the days Yelich sits against a lefty they'll just let Robertson or Arcia play left field for a day.

[Eye Black]

Tyrone Taylor looks like a major league hitter to me. The hitter that 7 years ago led the Florida State League in doubles now looks like he could develop into a legitimate power hitter. Granted he's only had 53 MLB plate appearances, but he's slugged .521 in the majors so far. I am buying into him having real power. His swing from last season and yesterday looks very quick and powerful, IMO. He's also the fastest player on the Brewers according to sprint speed. With that potential power and speed combination I think they'll regret if they don't give him a legitimate shot at extended playing time.

[MVP2110]

Yep. I think Taylor ends up going to the minors to start the season, however I think he'll be the first one called up for an injury and I think he plays some real significant innings for this team down the stretch. And does it well is my guess

[Hopper]

Tyrone more than deserves a shot at the 4th OFer gig.

Let the kid play unless someone obviously out plays him in spring training.

He's ready.

[brewcrewdue80]

Let's go Taylor Lock. McKinney/Fisher winner 5th OF.

 

The fact that Taylor has an option may be useful next season and he just sticks on the squad all year.

[CheezWizHed]

I'm was cheering for Taylor before yesterday. And he started off really nicely yesterday (yes, one game, but better than 3Ks).

 

Regarding Arcia - I'm thinking that there is too much analysis is going on here about Arcia vs Garcia/Taylor/etc at CF... It's spring training. People try different spots in ST. Arcia no longer has a lock on SS. It might mean something...it might mean nothing. Who knows? You try him out there and see what you have... then you worry about whether you move Garcia over or whether Taylor wins the spot... Flexibility is valuable even if you never have to use it.

[clancyphile]

We're forgetting another center fielder on the roster: Christian Yelich. In his last year in Miami, he played 155 games in center. He had 12 starts in center in 2018, and an inning in 2019.

 

Between Yelich, Cain, and Garcia, the Brewers have three guys with CF experience starting in the outfield. Taylor had nine games in center in 2020.

 

I think CF is covered on those grounds... so if the Crew wants to pick a corner OF guy for the 4th OF slot, they should feel good about it. Their backup CF either slides over from left or right.

[clancyphile]

We're forgetting another center fielder on the roster: Christian Yelich. In his last year in Miami, he played 155 games in center. He had 12 starts in center in 2018, and an inning in 2019.

 

Between Yelich, Cain, and Garcia, the Brewers have three guys with CF experience starting in the outfield. Taylor had nine games in center in 2020.

 

I think CF is covered on those grounds... so if the Crew wants to pick a corner OF guy for the 4th OF slot, they should feel good about it. Their backup CF either slides over from left or right.

[pacopete4]

Yelich belongs nowhere near CF. Guy can barely see the ball coming in left.

[pacopete4]

Yelich belongs nowhere near CF. Guy can barely see the ball coming in left.

[igor67]

Can Taylor be good enough to (along with Suter) make the 2012 draft respectable? That would be quite the feat.

[igor67]

Can Taylor be good enough to (along with Suter) make the 2012 draft respectable? That would be quite the feat.

[clancyphile]

Can Taylor be good enough to (along with Suter) make the 2012 draft respectable? That would be quite the feat.

 

Coulter and Roache were definitely busts.

 

Mitch Haniger was taken by the Crew in that draft ahead of Taylor dealt as part of the Gerardo Parra deal, which eventually netted the Crew Zach Davies.

 

Tyrone Taylor's looking like a solid 4th OF.

 

Damien Magnifico made the majors and was good enough to land an international bonus slot.

 

Tyler Wagner was part of the Chase Anderson/Isan Diaz deal. The latter player was part of the package sent for Yelich. Chase Anderson, incidentally, got the Crew Chad Spanberger.

 

Then, of course, there is Brent Suter, who is basically the redemption of that draft.

 

Not the best draft, but I'd rate it as better than 2011 and 2013, the drafts immediately before and after it.

[monty57]

Well, this topic just took a sudden turn. Yelich, Cain, Garcia, and Bradley now get almost all of the starts.

 

The question now becomes: "Do we need a fifth OF, or do Arcia and Robertson cover OF the few times the fifth OF is needed?"

 

I can't think of a position (okay, maybe 1st base) that might need a defensive replacement, so I hope they look for bats over gloves on the bench.

[SRB]

[sarcasm]I like Yelich's chance of making the roster.[/sarcasm]

[SRB]

Well, this topic just took a sudden turn. Yelich, Cain, Garcia, and Bradley now get almost all of the starts.

 

The question now becomes: "Do we need a fifth OF, or do Arcia and Robertson cover OF the few times the fifth OF is needed?"

 

I can't think of a position (okay, maybe 1st base) that might need a defensive replacement, so I hope they look for bats over gloves on the bench.

 

This is a good question. The JBJ may have saved Vogelbach's chance, as we could not afford to carry him on the roster and to use Robertson as OF/UTIL, as we will need a fifth outfielder hardly ever.

[DR28]

Mitchell has been super impressive so far, that exit velo... OMG.

 

Calling it now, Mitchell is our starting CF 2022 OD... We move on from Cain.

[tigerbrew]

I predict the OF opening day roster will be Yelich, Cain, Garcia, JBJ and Fisher.

 

Fisher is out of minor league options while Taylor still has an option remaining. Moreover the Brewers traded for Fisher and he has been pretty good in ST so far.

[wntrtxn21]

I predict the OF opening day roster will be Yelich, Cain, Garcia, JBJ and Fisher.

 

Fisher is out of minor league options while Taylor still has an option remaining. Moreover the Brewers traded for Fisher and he has been pretty good in ST so far.

 

I think it depends on if CC is going to carry 13 or 14 pitchers. If it's 14 then Fisher is definately out because CC would carry only one OF, 2 Infs, and Pina. If CC carries 5 starters and 8 pen arms, I think Fisher would have an outside chance.