Graffy has torn ACL; Weeks recalled

[RU Rah Rah]

Who is the backup 1B now? Is that part of Dillon's portfolio? (I am discounting the six very painful innings that Miller has played there.)

[homer]

Hart could play 1st in a pinch. In fact, he'd probably be pretty decent.

[davego]

so now I assume the 'Crew hits the discount bin to see what is out there for an IF...so close but yet so far Russell.

[Brian the Automator]

I wouldn't be shocked to see Rottino pick up that role.

[pitchleague]

any video of the injury? Since it was radio only yesterday and I don't have mlb.tv I couldn't see it. Uecker didn't make it sound too serious.

 

Hope Graff at least gets to stick around and be in uniform the rest of the season, albeit just sitting in the dugout.

[PKBadger]

Is there a greater chance that Melvin pulls a waiver-wire deal now that Graffy is out for the year? Not that I think there is anyone out there worth acquiring (I haven't done any research on that) but I wonder if a similar player can be had at reasonable cost.

 

Otherwise, I guess we're riding the Dillon-mobile.

[dadofandrew]

Considering Crabbe, who basically cannot play SS would be the nice guy brought up, I think a waiver pickup or trade is likely.

[endaround]

A team does not need a second backup shortstop. Why waste a roster spot on a guy who can't hit and likely can't field that well?

[Mr QL]

I feel bad for Graffy. Being the limited player he was and inconsistent playing time, he was giving his all to the team and having a career year. He obviously really cared about the team.

[brewcrewkid14]

I think that's the last game we'll see Graffy in a Brewers' uniform.

 

I didn't have a problem with Graffy. My friends going to be thoroughly disappointed. He's the only person I know with a Graffanino jersey (long story).

 

I think it's time for Rickie to start ripping the ball like we thought he would.

[twobrewers]

I think it's time for Rickie to start ripping the ball like we thought he would.

That time is well past. Although I guess him starting now would be better than never starting!

[naivin]

Boy, two months ago, whodda thunk that people would be lamenting the loss of Tony Graffanino? It is a big loss, given the way things have gone, but it says a lot about where this team has been this year, when Weeks is baiscally considered a downgrade at 2B. Too bad for Graffanino who had a pretty nice ressurgance the past couple months.

[SeriesFinale]

I feel bad for Graffy. Being the limited player he was and inconsistent playing time, he was giving his all to the team and having a career year. He obviously really cared about the team.

 

Same here, very much so. At his age, this could very likely be a career ending injury. I know there has been a bad taste in peoples' mouths abut his arby (I'm not sure how people expected him to act at his age and his situation), but I'm surprised how blase people are about this considering the performance he gave the Crew the past calendar year, and his personal situation.

 

Thanks Tony--you were always a favorite non-Brewer of mine before last August, and you did your part on the field when here.

[And That]

I was hoping this wouldn't be a "slap on the wrist" again for Weeks.

Yes, Weeks' wrist sure doesn't need any more damage.

The fact that Crabbe can't play SS well wasn't the reason he wasn't call up - it is that Weeks has a better chance to swim than Callix. That would be a tough call, bringing up a mid-range prospect for the pennant drive as opposed to a guy who has had some success in the bigs at a young age. I'm not saying Crabbe shouldn't have been considered... he still should be considered for a spot in September, especially in light of the Graffy injury - but you pretty much have to go with Weeks. Hopefully he got his groove back.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Sad to see Graffannino injured but excited to see Rickie back in a Brewers uniform. I am sure he will make us proud.

[BrewCrewForever]

Yeah I would guess Dillon would be the back up 1B and Hart in a pinch since he used to play there.

[GenoSeligPrieb]

I'm with Homer here. Graffanino is 35, his arby situation was contentious to say the least, he was at his career HR high for a season when he went down...I suspect, if he can recover fully enough to play in '08, that he feels he's still a significant contributor, either in Milwaukee or somewhere else. And if he returns healthy, I just feel he'll demand more than we can offer him.

 

Here's the larger issue, however. Whenever BF.netters post lineups and figure we're set at exactly 8 positions every day, we have to expect injuries, inconsistent play leading to short benchings, or demotions, and we've always got to have a few Counsells, Graffaninos, Millers around to step in as veterans and help us toward a playoff run.

 

Instead of having 13 pitchers, which is ridiculous, I wish we would have had another veteran position player or 2 available. What if Weeks is NOT ready, and his thumb, wrist, hangnail, elbow, palm...are not healed yet? Then 2B will be a major hole. Cirillo was made available, but for whatever reasons, he didn't return for a 3rd stint in Milwaukee. Wish it could have happened. Dillon is a nice little story so far, in VERY limited doses, but a 32-year-old AAAA player is exactly the kind of guy we would have relied on in 2002.

 

You can't hope to win a division title, counting on Dillon and/or a battered, skidding Weeks at 2nd, while our SS is in a slump, our rotation is untrustworthy, one of our main setup men has now lost confidence after hitting a batter, and our closer has reverted to early 2006 form.

[davego]

If all those things you list hold true, then whatever Rickie does or doesn't do will not matter much. If he is slightly better then he was before being sent out, that will be fine.

[DrWood]

bringing up weeks was the right choice.

next season, I suspect crabbe, rottino, maybe dillon and others will be competing for a utility role (graffy's old role, counsell will be back).

I can't see going to less than 13 pitchers, given how it seems almost every one is fatigued.