Why not try Balfour?

[rluzinski]

If Yo comes up and is placed in the bullpen, Wise could be used as the primary "LOOGY" and could then stay in the game to finish the inning if needed. He's done better than Shouse against lefties the last few years. I'd still keep Shouse around, however.

[monty57]

Wise is actually pitching at or above his career norms. What I don't get is that he is very good vs. lefties. That being said, why would Yost put Shouse in to face the lefty yesterday (Floyd) and then pull him to have Wise face the righty. It would have seemed better to have Wise face both batters and save Shouse.

 

I'm currently confident with Coco, Turnbow (last year, even before the All-Star break, he looked wild, he's been much better this season), Wise and Villanueva.

 

I'm not nearly as down on Spurling as many here seem to be. He gave up two earned runs (plus two unearned runs) in his first two innings. In May, he had a 2.93 ERA with 10K/3BB in 12 games. In looking at his splits, he is not someone you want coming in with runners already on base, as he has given up eight hits and six earned runs in the nine games he's come in with RISP. He appears to be a much better pitcher when he starts an inning, and late in close games, he hasn't given up any runs in his three appearances. Use him to start the 6th or 7th inning, and you're fine. Bring in someone else when you're in a jam.

 

I agree that Shouse has used up just about all of the rope he's been given, as he's never been good vs. righties, and recently he hasn't been getting lefties out (4.50 ERA, 1 BB/2 K in 12 appearances in May vs. lefties). Capellan also has a short leash, as much due to his antics early this season as anything else. He should see some more action soon to either sink or swim (btw, how do you forget how to throw a 100-MPH fastball? He hasn't been injured, so I'm guessing he may have been one who "trained" with Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco)

 

Since a lefty in the pen seems to be a big need, I'd like to see the Crew give Joe Thatcher a shot. He's a lefty reliever (wouldn't have to learn to pitch from the pen) who's got a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3 BB / 15 K in 8.2 IP at Nashville. Hard to make a decision on that few innings, but he's striking out nearly 2 out of every three batters he faces, and not walking many.

 

As for the original question of the thread, Balfour's numbers look good as well, so I wouldn't be upset if he were called up, but I'm not down enough on Spurling to get rid of him yet. Capellan seems to have been brought up because he can pitch multiple innings, I see that Balfour has 15 IP in 11 games. Is he seen as a muliple innings guy? My guess is that Capellan stays in the Majors until Dessens is back. If he can't prove he's better than Spurling by that point, he'll get sent down and Dessens will resume the "long man" role.

[djoctagone]

he has 37 strikeouts and a .81 whip in 26 innings.

 

the brewers have one spot remaining on their 40-man for purchased contracts.

[dadofandrew]

Balfour is a nice option, but no one's pitching poorly at all. The only spot open would be the 12th man, who would not get regular work anyway.