Bring Turang Up

[Brewcrew82]

We're a team built on run prevention. That's how we will win games for the rest of this season and the season after that. While our pitching should hopefully round into form with guys returning from injury (Peralta, Cousins, Perdomo, etc.), I remain quite concerned about our defense. The numbers clearly show that we're not close the level we were at last year, especially on the infield. In today's game, for instance, Brosseau butchered what should have been a fairly straightforward throw and immediately ceded our relief advantage with Williams in extras.

Which is why I think the time has come to promote Brice Turang. This is a guy who not only is starting to hit for power in AAA, but, perhaps most importantly, would immediately provide elite defense in the infield (with the ability to also play CF). You may ask, "Where will he play as we're already pretty set with Wong, Adames, and Urias?" I will submit that he can take on the Jace Peterson role as a left-handed hitting super-utility player who receives regular at-bats. I think the Peterson injury has hurt this team a lot more than some of us realize. Fortunately, I believe we have a strong replacement in Turang who can likewise play stellar infield defense and get on base at a high rate. And unlike Peterson, Turang has a real chance to hit for a high batting average. I know I've said that batting average doesn't matter in today's game (and I still believe that), but wouldn't that .285 batting average look pretty nice in a lineup where the highest current average is .260? With Turang not being traded at the deadline, it's clear that he's going to have a major role on this team next year (likely as the starting second-baseman). Why not get an extended look at him before then in a slightly lesser role? 

[edfunderburk]

11 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I think the Peterson injury has hurt this team a lot more than some of us realize. 

I would love to see Turang promoted to fill what was Peterson’s super utility role

Who would you propose the Brewers remove from the roster to make room for him?

I posted a few weeks ago - at the time of his injury - that we would feel Peterson’s loss as he was a valuable bat in an ordinary lineup 

[Hopper]

21 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

 

Who would you propose the Brewers remove from the roster to make room for him?

 

Hiura of course.  (in blue)

[Jim French Stepstool]

BA isn't the most important single thing, but it isn't any less significant than a lot of the other stats that have been created in the last couple decades.

I like Turang. But Peterson played a lot of 3B before getting hurt & I don't believe he has any experience there. If they were going to promote him for that role they probably would've thrown him there some at N'ville. 

Peterson has been missed for sure. People make fun of some of the utility guys we've had, some of the "grinders" or "gamers" as they're called, saying how Counsell likes them because they remind him of himself. Looking at the approach of some of our hitters at times makes me appreciate a guy like Jace even more.

[patrickgpe]

I like the idea, but I agree the issue is the corresponding roster move. I guess the easiest answer is Huira, I do think he should stay on the 26 man though. I guess you could DFA Brosseau and it wouldn’t hurt much. This team needs a spark.

[Never Outhustled]

13 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

I like the idea, but I agree the issue is the corresponding roster move. I guess the easiest answer is Huira, I do think he should stay on the 26 man though. I guess you could DFA Brosseau and it wouldn’t hurt much. This team needs a spark.

Brosseau is incredibly important. He kills lefties. I wouldn't bring up Turang, but if I did, the most unnecessary player is McCutchen. 

[crossface2311]

I'd think it would be Davis. The guy has 2 AB's in the last 11 days. 

Over the last 2 months Cutch is hitting .294 with an OPS around .850. 

[trwi7]

2 minutes ago, crossface2311 said:

I'd think it would be Davis. The guy has 2 AB's in the last 11 days. 

Over the last 2 months Cutch is hitting .294 with an OPS around .850. 

Yeah, this would be the move.  They've been using Turang in the middle infield and center this year. 

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, edfunderburk said:

I would love to see Turang promoted to fill what was Peterson’s super utility role

Who would you propose the Brewers remove from the roster to make room for him?

I posted a few weeks ago - at the time of his injury - that we would feel Peterson’s loss as he was a valuable bat in an ordinary lineup 

Davis, with Brosseau as a second option. 

[wibadgers23]

I agree and Turang should bring Ruiz or Frelick with him. Get rid of Davis and Brosseau.

[Brewcrew82]

Agreed it becomes a little tight trying to fit him on the roster but I believe it's necessary to upgrade the defense. And he would also provide us with a much needed contact/OBP profile in the lineup. A little lighter on the power, but is that really the problem with this team? 

[Brewcrew82]

4 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

I agree and Turang should bring Ruiz or Frelick with him. Get rid of Davis and Brosseau.

Agreed. I think Turang and Frelick can provide a spark which this team needs after the Hader trade. And it would be fairly low-pressure, too, as they wouldn't automatically be slotted into a specific starting spot. 

 

[Never Outhustled]

48 minutes ago, crossface2311 said:

I'd think it would be Davis. The guy has 2 AB's in the last 11 days. 

Over the last 2 months Cutch is hitting .294 with an OPS around .850. 

McCutchen's hot streak is over, he's a DH with a 719 OPS. That's just an unnecessary player. Doesn't matter though, Turang needs a ton of seasoning yet, he's not being brought up. 

[Brewcrew82]

19 minutes ago, Never Outhustled said:

McCutchen's hot streak is over, he's a DH with a 719 OPS. That's just an unnecessary player. Doesn't matter though, Turang needs a ton of seasoning yet, he's not being brought up. 

Turang "needs a ton of seasoning yet"? He's been in AAA for a whole calendar year now and has been tearing the cover off the ball over the last month in addition to his typical superb defense. He's ready. 

[Never Outhustled]

17 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Turang "needs a ton of seasoning yet"? He's been in AAA for a whole calendar year now and has been tearing the cover off the ball over the last month in addition to his typical superb defense. He's ready. 

Players have not streaks, but for the season he has an OPS around 750. That's not an MLB player that'll put you over the top in a playoff race. Most likely, he'd come up and struggle, and knock us out of the race. 

[Brewcrew82]

25 minutes ago, Never Outhustled said:

Players have not streaks, but for the season he has an OPS around 750. That's not an MLB player that'll put you over the top in a playoff race. Most likely, he'd come up and struggle, and knock us out of the race. 

I'm not saying he'll put us over the top by himself, but he would be a huge asset on defense and has proven he can hit for a high average and get on base at a high clip. The only thing that's been missing from his profile is the power, but even that's coming around now and it's not like we're wanting for power anyways. I don't see anything holding him back at this point. If he's not ready now after one full year at AAA, when will he ever be? 

[Robocaller]

He's probably not going to outhit any of our infielders going forward, so there isn't much opportunity for him to play. Let him play in AAA.

[Jopal78]

7 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I'm not saying he'll put us over the top by himself, but he would be a huge asset on defense and has proven he can hit for a high average and get on base at a high clip. The only thing that's been missing from his profile is the power, but even that's coming around now and it's not like we're wanting for power anyways. I don't see anything holding him back at this point. If he's not ready now after one full year at AAA, when will he ever be? 

He probably gets a shot in September. For now, he doesn’t play 3B and he wouldn’t play in place of Adames or Wong very often so there’s no path to consistent playing time on the infield. Judging by how often Jonathan Davis starts in CF, Turang likely would not play in front of Tyrone Taylor very often either.

So, really he’s best served playing in AAA until their season ends as opposed to coming to Milwaukee three weeks early and being a pinch runner, defensive swap and starting maybe a couple nights a week.  
 

 

[Never Outhustled]

7 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

 If he's not ready now after one full year at AAA, when will he ever be? 

He's 22, what's the rush? Do you remember when Doug Melvin rushed JJ Hardy to the majors? That turned out to be a pretty big mistake. Why burn service time for a player who's not fully developed yet? 

[folly412]

If the very high OBP out of the 9 hole isn't enough to play Davis, then perhaps Turang is worth adding since he can play CF.  Otherwise, I'd wait for opening day. 

I think expecting any offense from Turang immediately is a mistake.  He's taken a little while to get going at almost every level, which is unsurprising as he's been very young for every level.  

If he's expected to fill an infield utility role, I'm also wary.  Sure, he's an elite defender, but he hasn't played any 3B in the minors, and hasn't played 2B since high-A ball three years ago.  2B might be his position for next year, but he's going to get innings all spring to be ready for it.

[Hopper]

14 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Agreed. I think Turang and Frelick can provide a spark which this team needs after the Hader trade. And it would be fairly low-pressure, too, as they wouldn't automatically be slotted into a specific starting spot. 

 

I agree they could cause a spark, but I disagree that it would be low pressure.  Bringing up rookies in a play-off push is never low pressure.

If our CF situation doesn't improve in the next 15 games, give Frelick a shot, what do we have to lose if we end up being down 5-7 games at that point.

Turang doesn't paly 3B, so where are we going to play him?  I'm not against giving him a try, but I'm not for it either.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I don't think Turang is Rule V eligible until after next season....I think he's going to have (and deserve) every opportunity to be on the Brewers' Opening Day 2023 roster, and frankly I'd prefer that instead of starting his service clock this year.  If the Brewers are going to turn things around at the MLB level, the middle infielders already on their roster have got to be better.  Adames, Wong, and Urias performing more like they did last season would cure a ton of offensive and defensive ills on the infield.

I've long been a huge fan of Turang despite knowing he's never going to turn into a power bat - his defensive ability and hit tool for avg/obp plus speed gives him a ton of value as an everyday SS/2B option for the Brewers next year.

[Brewcrew82]

9 hours ago, Robocaller said:

He's probably not going to outhit any of our infielders going forward, so there isn't much opportunity for him to play. Let him play in AAA.

Maybe not, but he's been absolutely raking over the last couple months, even showing some of that long awaited power. At this point, however, he would easily outdefend all of our infielders except for Adames, which is absolutely crucial for a team built so heavily on run prevention. 

[Brewcrew82]

6 hours ago, Never Outhustled said:

He's 22, what's the rush? Do you remember when Doug Melvin rushed JJ Hardy to the majors? That turned out to be a pretty big mistake. Why burn service time for a player who's not fully developed yet? 

I don't quite understand the service time argument considering any service time he accrues for the remainder this year doesn't affect his rookie status and that he is almost certainly going to be on the opening day roster next year anyways. As for Hardy, looking at the stats, I don't see how bringing him up in 2005 had a too negative of an impact on his development or team-wise as he was decent in the first two years and then an all-star in the third year. Finally, in what specific way do you think Turang is not "fully developed" because I see a player that's checked pretty much all of the boxes at the AAA level? 

[NBBrewFan]

6 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

As for Hardy, looking at the stats, I don't see how bringing him up in 2005 had a too negative of an impact on his development or team-wise as he was decent in the first two years and then an all-star in the third year.

He was actually pretty bad the first 3 months then settled in and did most of his offensive damage the last 3 months.  There was an adjustment period that's hidden in the aggregate yearly data.  Turang would have even less time until the end of the year and I really doubt he would be playing every day, but maybe CC has a surprise left.