RHP McClung (Balfour trade) promoted, Villanueva optioned to AAA

[Fatter than Joey]

Ned says the plan is to get Carlos a couple of starts at Nashville.

 

Wow -- Villy had given up runs in 13 of his last 17 games (not counting last night) -- We might as well give McClung a look. I hope though Villy gets more rest.

 

I guess I am glad he got sent down on a positive note -- if he had given up 4ER last night and then sent down, that probably would have been bad.

[Ennder]

So he gets sent down, gets a few starts and comes up and replaces Gallardo who moves to the bullpen (Gallardo really is getting too high in IP). If Sheets is healthy Vargas or Capuano also go to the bullpen?

[Fatter than Joey]

I think this is "Plan B" if Sheets is hurt/out for 2007 and Yo/Parra are shut down.

 

I would not want Villy starting over Vargas/Cappy/Bush -- Villy has been worse than all three of them lately.

[Ennder]

Well that is assuming he's throw the ball well in AAA of course. If he has his good stuff I could see him replacing a Vargas or even Capuano if he continues to struggle (even though I disagree with that move)

[Fatter than Joey]

If he has his good stuff I could see him replacing a Vargas or even Capuano if he continues to struggle (even though I disagree with that move)

 

I think Villy is gassed -- He may be able to get some good innings in AAA, but I am not sure that he can "pitch through" his current problems (being tired).

 

If he gets lots of rest primarily -- then he may be effective -- but I would rather him be ready to pitch in LR, as even if we make the playoffs, we have a lot of

6IP starters, and a solid/rested LR would be more valuable -- it's not as if Villy is going to go to Nash, come back to Milw and throw 8 IP starts.

[BrewCrewForever]

Hopefully this is the rest he needs to be the pitcher he was earlier in the year. Good move.

[don1481]

I see the Prince of Darkness has some "interesting" commentary about this move... in a blog entry entitled "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished."

 

From the get-go it seems like TH is missing the point:

The Brewers waited for weeks for reliever Carlos Villanueva to get back on track. He finally showed signs of doing so with three shutout innings tonight against Arizona.

 

What did that get Villanueva? A demotion to Class AAA Nashville.

That's gratitude, for you, huh?

TH seems to be full of.... gems... in this blog entry.

The odd part of the demotion is that manager Ned Yost said Villanueva was being sent down to make a couple of starts to "extend him" and "sharpen him up" for a return to his previous setup role in the seventh and eighth inning.

Why would you need to extend Villanueva to return to a setup role? Are the Brewers secretly planning to bring him back as a starter in September and change a rotation that has struggled mightily since the all-star break? That part is very interesting.

The obvious answer - "Yo is getting closer to his innings limit for the year" - isn't even discussed here. Then again... why would I be surprised that TH missed such an obvious possibility?

[Team Canada]

He WILL be on the playoff roster, no one should be concerned about that.

[bklynbrewcrew]

What concerns me about this whole situation is that the reason that Villanueva has struggled is due to overuse. The smart thing to do would have been to put him on the DL with a tired arm. Then maybe he can come back in two weeks and better help the club. Starting him in AAA will not help with the fact that the guy needs a rest. We all talk about limiting Gallardo's innings so his future is kept intact yet we ignore that we have jeopardized the future of CV by the way he has been abused this season. Villy should be a valued member of our rotation next year and for years to come so abusing him like this could come back to haunt us in the future.

[Brian the Automator]

What concerns me about this whole situation is that the reason that Villanueva has struggled is due to overuse. The smart thing to do would have been to put him on the DL with a tired arm. Then maybe he can come back in two weeks and better help the club. Starting him in AAA will not help with the fact that the guy needs a rest. We all talk about limiting Gallardo's innings so his future is kept intact yet we ignore that we have jeopardized the future of CV by the way he has been abused this season. Villy should be a valued member of our rotation next year and for years to come so abusing him like this could come back to haunt us in the future.

If you DL him, you lose him for 15 games. That puts him back the Sept 1st roster cutoff deadline. That would be a bad idea.

 

[BillScottCanRake]

I think Villy is gassed -- He may be able to get some good innings in AAA, but I am not sure that he can "pitch through" his current problems (being tired).

 

I think a move to the rotation might be just the cure for Villy being "gassed". I am sure it's not the innings that gassed up, but the irregular workload. Getting him on a regimented, five-day routine should probably allow him more recovery than he's been getting pitching a couple of times per week, with a time or two more up in the pen.

[hawing]

So is McClung taking on a bullpen role or a starting role? (or could it be either?)

[Fatter than Joey]

If you DL him, you lose him for 15 games.

 

I think the poster meant, DLing Villy earlier this month, rather than let Villy serve up 1+ runs an inning for the last 18 or so appearances.

 

I think a move to the rotation might be just the cure for Villy being "gassed".

 

I hope you are right -- at the end of the day though -- I really see his value in LR, unless Sheets is done for 2007.

[Brian the Automator]

Here's what's happening:

- Villanueva soaked up 3 innings last night, so his arm was no good to the Brewers until at least Thursday

- McClung could be a valuable addition to the staff and needs an audition to see if he's worth having on the playoff roster

- Parra's just about out of innings, and will absolutely be no good to the Brewers this postseason

 

so..... if everything works out:

Villy and McClung up, Parra on the shelf come Sept 1st.

[joepepsi]

I am sure it's not the innings that gassed up, but the irregular workload.

I have given Yost a pass on most everything this year, but using Villy as both the mop up guy and the 6/7th inning set up guy was dumb.

[bklynbrewcrew]

I wanted Villy to be put on the DL weeks ago. I just dont like how he has been abused this year. Now its too late to put him on the DL so I would just let him sit and rest. He really needs some time off.

[JJHardy7]

I agree with you Brian. As many of you know, I'm big on McClung if he can control his walks and I'm pumped he's getting the chance. He really can unleash that fastball now for the Brewers and is fully recovered -- from what he told me -- from his surgery. Let's hope he has better results than what he's had in MLB.

 

The demotion of CV makes a ton of sense. He'll put in his 10 days in AAA before Sept 1 and be able to be called up and be on the playoff roster (if we really have a playoff roster -- so let's not hang on to that too much because it doesn't matter due to the fact he'll be on it and we may not have one).

 

I don't see McClung starting or if he does we'll need a long man to come in after him since he has been on somewhat of a pretty strict pitch/inning count at least with the Sounds. He could give 5 IP maybe 6 -- but it seems 5 is his limit unless his count is down low.

 

I think McClung should be able to take a few starts with Cappy coming in as the long man. Or if Parra starts a game, McClung could possibly be the long man.

 

Hope this works for the Crew and I'm excited to see how CV does in a starting role in Nashville and then hopefully starting with the Crew!

[endaround]

Now what happens when Sheets does return? Parra gets sent down? Also kind of a shame that they are burning a full option for 10 days.

[Brian the Automator]

Now what happens when Sheets does return? Parra gets sent down? Also kind of a shame that they are burning a full option for 10 days.

If a player goes on the DL and Villanueva is recalled to take his place, the option is null and void. If CV is in Nashville for 10 days, then the option is used. Also, CV had 2 option years remaining. Even if he ends up using this one up in this stint, he's got one left. I think it's unlikely that he'll need more than one more option year.

 

And yes, when Sheets returns the logical assumption is that Parra gets sent down. I can't envision it playing out some other way, unless they option Capuano.

[Diskono]

BillScottCanRake wrote:

 

I think a move to the rotation might be just the cure for Villy being "gassed". I am sure it's not the innings that gassed up, but the irregular workload. Getting him on a regimented, five-day routine should probably allow him more recovery than he's been getting pitching a couple of times per week, with a time or two more up in the pen.

 

I totally agree with this. I think this is why our pitching prospects with injury problems (Neugebauer, Gold, Jones, etc) have not been moved to the bullpen - pitching every 5 days out of the rotation with a normal, consistent routine is just easier on a lot of guys, even if they end up pitching more innings.

[Brian the Automator]

I totally agree with this. I think this is why our pitching prospects with injury problems (Neugebauer, Gold, Jones, etc) have not been moved to the bullpen - pitching every 5 days out of the rotation with a normal, consistent routine is just easier on a lot of guys, even if they end up pitching more innings.

Not to mention, in the minors, you have the luxury of yanking a starter early purely because of pitch count, because the outcome of the game is of secondary importance.

 

[splitterpfj]

I like this move, I think McClung has the "stuff" to really help the Brewers, now let's see if he can turn that into results. Why not shake up the pitching right now? What they've had hasn't been working, and time's getting short.

[endaround]

Now what happens when Sheets does return? Parra gets sent down? Also kind of a shame that they are burning a full option for 10 days.

If a player goes on the DL and Villanueva is recalled to take his place, the option is null and void. If CV is in Nashville for 10 days, then the option is used. Also, CV had 2 option years remaining. Even if he ends up using this one up in this stint, he's got one left. I think it's unlikely that he'll need more than one more option year.

 

And yes, when Sheets returns the logical assumption is that Parra gets sent down. I can't envision it playing out some other way, unless they option Capuano.

Yeah I doubt Villanueva really will be up against an options cap jsut wish they would have done this sooner then. Given Parra's innings limit I would guess it would be now with Cappy doing long relief. Of course that means our four man playoff rotation would be Sheets, Suppan, Bush, and Vargas(!).

 

[Brian the Automator]

Yeah I doubt Villanueva really will be up against an options cap jsut wish they would have done this sooner then. Given Parra's innings limit I would guess it would be now with Cappy doing long relief. Of course that means our four man playoff rotation would be Sheets, Suppan, Bush, and Vargas(!).

 

Well, considering the Brewers will sweep their way through the playoffs, they'll only need Vargas twice.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Suppan will be in the bullpen by playoff time.