9/1 Call-Ups: Villy, Spurling, LHP Stetter, Rottino and AA Speedster Stocker

[adambr2]

Just some thoughts about the 40 man roster expansion.

I know that teams generally just add 2 or 3 players. Why is this? Wouldn't it be advantageous to add as many weapons as you need?

 

Look at our situation, for instance. Our bullpen is pretty gassed. Sometimes we are left without a left handed bat on the bench.

 

Here is who I would think we'd want to see in a Brewer uniform on September 1st at a minimum: Bray, Aquino, and Jackson for some much needed bullpen innings to give the rest of the pen some relief in the homestretch. Weeks, absolutely back. If he continues lighting up AAA, he's the starter. If not, he's a valuable speedster and bat off the bench. Gross, power lefty bat off the bench, maybe a couple starts. Gwynn, another PH and PR role.

 

If we're going to make a run in September, I would think we'd want to have as many reinforcements as possible. I don't know what all the administrative consequences are of calling up players in September as far as their contracts go and what it costs the team, but I believe it's quite minimal.

 

 

(added tag --1992)

[slack00]

I would think we'd want to have as many reinforcements as possible.

 

I agree with this sentiment. Making the trade for Linebrink means we're serious about this year. If calling up more guys than usual is within the rules, it's going to happen.

 

It looks like there are 38 players on the 40-man right now, but Koskie is only on the 15-day DL and moving him to the 60-day DL would open another spot. This means there's a lot of possiblities.

 

A third catcher has to be a priority, whether it is Rottino (already on the 40-man) or Rivera (not currently on the 40-man). I suppose having both could be an option as well. Even if neither plays even an inning, you have to have the insurance there so that you can make double switches with your catchers if necessary and still have the position covered.

 

As far as infielders go, I think Weeks will be back up on the 25-man before Sept 1, taking Dillon's place. Then, Dillon will be back up as the rosters expand. Seven infielders should be enough, but I guess I could see another surprise callup here to make it 8.

 

In the outfield, there's no reason to believe Gross and Gwynn wouldn't get called back up as soon as rosters expand (if not sooner for one of them). Since Nix and Anderson are already on the 40-man but there isn't as pressing of a need for them in Milwaukee, they'd be candidates to come up after Nashville's playoff run is over.

 

There are a number of scenarios that could unfold for the pitchers depending on when Sheets comes back. If he's back in the fold before Sept 1, whoever gets sent down between Parra and Gallardo will be back up. Otherwise, Sheeter would just join the staff when he's ready. I see Jackson, Aquino, and McClung also making the trip to Milwaukee at some point, as well as Bray (not currently on the 40-man). Having a full arsenal of fresh arms might be the difference, so having 18 or more pitchers available wouldn't be out of the question.

[RightFieldCoder]

If you call a player up, you pay him at least Major League minium, which is in the neighborhood of $375,000 pro rated. You also give him the daily "food" money of $75/day while on the road. You usually don't have too many players that will contribute enough to justify the cost. It is more of a way to let next years crop get their feet wet, or as extended try outs leading to next spring. I think it's given the Weeks will be up here (probably before September) along with Gwynn (hopefully to never ph, only pr and dr)

[Team Canada]

I don't think a month's expenses will be anyone's concern this year, for once. I would expect them to call up a ton of people, there's no reason to have a short bench/bullpen when you're trying to get to the playoffs.

[Boy Jeenius]

Weeks, Rottino, Gwynn, Gross and a couple of pitchers, maybe Dillard or even Dickey to eat up innings in blow outs.
question: what has Dillon done to be sent down(except produce)? I guess I agree that Weeks should be here, but what message are you sending to a team that wants to win, if you send Dillon down and bring up Weeks? Come on up here and produce, but we'll whack you anyway so a guy that has promise can come back. We're trying to win a pennant, not looking for feelgood stories. Weeks did not produce at the big league level, Dillon has produced at the big league level.

[pitchleague]

I agree with TC, the Brewers have no reason to "save" money calling guys up this season. Assuming we are still in the race/in first on Sept. 1st, I'd assume we'd call up as many as possible and then call up more when the minor league playoffs are over.

[dadofandrew]

I'd say 5-7 on 9/1, and probably up to 10 at some point. The odds of a PR scoring a game winning run instead of the original runner are minute, but it could happen, and that's all that matters.

[adambr2]

I wouldn't exactly call Dillon going 2 for 4 this year with 2 singles producing. Talk about a small sample size, we're talking about one full game.

 

Still, he'll probably be on the roster the rest of the season, no sense sending him down in September when we may need him.

[don1481]

I definitely agree about the relievers. Basically, I'd consider calling up every healthy arm on the 40 to see how much rest can be afforded to either the starters (hey! Yo/Parra could be piggybacked, in theory, with Jackson or whomever!) or the relievers (I'm guessing Villy's arm could use a "break" - his velocity even seemed down 3-4 MPH yesterday - and the rest of the pen could use a reduction in their appearances).

 

Of course, by the end of Sept, I'd want the team to start ramping up towards the "usual" rotation, so this would only work for 3-4 weeks. But it'd buy some rest.

[adambr2]

Think of it this way. If we call up 10 guys, and have to pay them a prorated minimum for one month, that would cost $625,000 in salaries for one month to pay 10 guys the minimum salary. Pretty small investment if we want everything we can have to make a run.

[JJHardy7]

When do the PCL playoffs end?

[pitchleague]

mid-to-late Sept. I believe

[DrWood]

aquino is on the 40 man, he could produce, McClung could go into the MR mix; Zach Jack could get some mop-up duty. Sarfate can't find the plate, so can't see bringing him up. Gwynn, Rottino, Weeks if he's not up before then (I suspect he will be).

[Tisko]

Obviously a few pitchers to pick up the innings in the blow outs, Weeks will be up as well of course, and a few other position players including a catcher of course.

 

As far as the Dillon situation I wouldnt go so far to say that Dillon produces at the big league level and that Rickie does not. Look at Dillon's numbers with the Marlins and you will see that there is little to none evidence that he produces at the big league level outside the extremly small sample size of Dillon this year. That being said, I dont think that he has earned himself a demotion either. The guy was raking in Nashville, and he has produced however limited so far this year though with his limited ABs thus far to say that he is a better option than Rickie at second is a little optimistic. Wait until the guy gets a few starts and more than a handful of bats before deciding if he will contribute to the team if god willing we make the playoffs.

[polwonks]

Just say Steve Bray

[LouisEly]

With Nashville in the playoffs, I think they will call up just a handful on 9/1, mostly the obvious (Weeks, Gross, Gwynn, if not any of them before 9/1, and at least one arm - perhaps Aquino). I think the rest will come when Nashville is out of the playoffs - Bray, Rottino, Rivera, McClung, Jackson, hell even Sarfate or Hackman (I can't believe that either of those two could be any worse than Villanueva right now.) I could see Koskie and/or Jones going to the 60-day to make room for Rivera, Bray, and Hackman. It is go for broke this year, so as many PH and bullpen arms they can get for emergency situations the better.

[jackalope02ca]

Does anyone seriously think the Brewers are going to care that Nashville are in the playoffs. We'll bring up 5 or maybe even 6 guys on the 1st.

[RightFieldCoder]

You do have to care a little bit. If you call up their entire starting line up as they go to the playoffs, Nashville might not want to resign with the Brewers. A couple would be ok, but it would probably be after their season before we see everyone.

[djoctagone]

the roster is currently at 38 with the apparent addition of seth mcclung and the departure of chris spurling.

 

corey koskie and tony graffanino can easily be transferred to the 60-day disabled lists without concern of needing to add them back to the 40-man roster in the offseason, as their departures are nearly certain. that would bring us down to 36 (assuming we don't obtain a 40-man roster player for chris spurling).

 

i'm all for expanding the roster as full as possible . . . so much that i may be rooting for nashville to make a quick exit from the playoffs.

 

we need every edge we can possibly get in september.

 

and having the hurricane up may jolt a message to rickie weeks.

[JohnBriggs12]

"Does anyone seriously think the Brewers are going to care that Nashville is in the playoffs"

 

They don't. If they had to they'd bring up guys from rookie ball to fill the Nashville playoff roster.

[BrewCrewForever]

Matt LaPorta. No Im kidding, that would be cool though.

[djoctagone]

the more i think about it, the more i want players in their last option year with the club in september.

 

this would include (but would not be limited to): greg aquino, laynce nix and dennis sarfate.

 

allowing them to compete at the major league level may boost their trade value in the off-season should the brewers decide to part ways with them.

[djoctagone]

jim powell just confirmed that carlos villanueva, chris spurling, mitch stetter, vinny rottino and mel stocker will be up tomorrow. no tony gwynn, jr. no laynce nix.

[Mass Haas]

Stetter and Stocker will need 40-man spots, the Brewers have various options, such as Graffanino and Koskie to the 60-day DL.

[djoctagone]

chris spurling needs to be added to the 40-man as well.