Aquino, Spurling, McClung, and Stetter, but no Bray??

[adambr2]

Why the hell is Bray still in AAA with a 1.62 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in a hitters league? Did he insult Melvin or Yost's mother?

He's not better to have in the pen than all of Aquino, McClung, Stetter and Spurling? C'mon, we can have up to 40 people available for every game and for some reason, we don't have a spot for this guy? Are we really that worried about the Nashville playoffs with the actual MLB team in a pennant race? I thought this one was a no-brainer. Would anyone not feel a lot better with him in close situations over our 4 "garbage relievers"?

Does anyone have any logical explanation for this whatsoever? I mean, our bullpen is blowing leads left and right (although with the assistance of some terrible BP management), and we can't find room on the roster for a 1.62 ERA reliever even when the rosters have expanded?

This had better not be about Nashville's postseason. AAA playoffs shouldn't even be taken into consideration if your MLB team is in a pennant race.

[Oldcity]

I said the same thing. What more does a guy have to do to earn a call-up?

[thablingster]

I'd heard/read we Spurling a Sept 1st call up to accept his demotion earlier this month, and they probably wanted to "reward" Aquino for not completely sucking in AAA. I definitely think having all the relievers we can get at this point would be beneficial, so I don't really see why he isn't up.

 

And with Miller being down for a couple of days, I wish they'd bring up Rivera, too. I know he's hitting near the mendoza line, but he did pretty well for us last year and would definitely be a defensive upgrade.

[adambr2]

I don't mind having Spurling, Aquino, Stetter, and McClung up. We need pitchers to eat up innings in those blowout games. I'm just baffled that 3 out of the 4 of them saw action tonight in a game that was very close late. I figure, if we're going to go with our worst relievers in the most crucial innings, we may as well call up one that might actually pitch well for us.

[LouisEly]

I've said it for two months now, Bray can't be any worse than 3-4 of the stiffs they have there now. My prediction was that he and Nix would be called up after Nashville's season is done, but after today with Ned almost using up his entire bench in a 9-inning game (with that genius move of taking out Braun for a defensive replacement in the 8th), Nix better be on a plane to Milwaukee first thing Tuesday morning. Rivera too - not that he's great, but with Miller hurt they need another backup C. Had Estrada gotten on base they could have used a pinch runner for him.

[biedergb]

I have no problem with who was called up (Spurling was promised a call-up, Stetter was needy as another lefty, Aquino was a MLB closer a couple of years ago, and McClung was called up before Sept 1st so I didn't think he would get sent down). Too many arms can be a problem too, plus the minor league teams have playoffs as well and that can be a real good experience for guys.

 

My issue is how the guys who get called up get used. Parra, Stetter and McClung were used like rookies, eased into the show in blowouts or used in low stress innings initially. But guys like Balfour, Spurling and Aquino get thrown into the fire at critical junctures. I'm sure this has been hashed about in a litany of other threads, but why use Aquino with Hunter Pence up to protect a now 2-run lead? Isn't this where a 4-out save by Cordero would be in order? Or leave Shouse to face the righty? Aquino hasn't faced major league hitters since April and get put a close game. I guess we wanted to see what he was made of? But at the cost of losing the game?

 

Sorry to vent. Back to the topic at hand, I don't know that I trust Bray or any other minor league reliever in these types of situations more than what we have on the staff. So the personnel is fine, but we have to use them more appropriately.

[BrianShouseForPrez]

Bray isn't necessarily gonna be better than the guys we have up there now. That being said, he got hosed, and should definately have been called up.

[dadofandrew]

Bray does not throw hard. He looks to have a very limited ceiling...guys that throw 89-91 almost always struggle in the bigs, unless they have a devastating breaking ball. Bray's ceiling seems to be an 11th/12th man, though I hope he continues to overachieve, as he already has as a minor league Rule 5 pick.

[JJHardy7]

Bray doesn't have an A + pitch. I've seen him pitch a few times and I really like the guy. He's kind of like Mike DiFelice. If you want Bray up, you want them both up. I'd like to see him get a shot and he's done all that he can to earn a promotion.

 

Also, I don't think it's fair to associate Aquino with the other "rookies" as some have put it. He's 29 and pitched 34, 35, and 42 games for Arizona from 2004 - 2006. It wasn't a great time to put him in since he hasn't pitched in the bigs that much this year, but it's not like Stetter and making his first few appearances. With 115 MLB innings pitched (all in relief), Aquino shouldn't be let off the hook for the game because he's a "rookie". He just didn't pitch well.

[heavenquest]

I said the same thing. What more does a guy have to do to earn a call-up?

 

Dittos for Laynce Nix!

[lumberrule]

If Bray is gonna sit at the end of the bullpen bench and have no role other than mop-up in a blowout, there's no reason to have him in Milwaukee...he has no role. Might as well keep him at AAA, after all, Nashville needs SOMEBODY decent down there to help them the rest of their season.

[brewcrewnation]

Are any more players from the farm system coming up?

[JJHardy7]

Bray should be up. He was one of the only guys left in the bullpen last night and Kyles (the pitching coach) came and talked to him at one point about why they didn't use him. Not really sure what he said, but I hope I haven't seen the last of Bray in Milwaukee's organization. He is younger than DiFelice and Dickey (I'm assuming age is why they probably won't get called up).

[endaround]

The big reason is that there isn't any 40 man space left

[1992casey]

I'd bet the issue with Bray, DiFelice, and Dickey is that they're not on the 40-man roster and that the Brewers don't feel inclined to dump players to make room for them right now.

[Minigoon]

Not being on the 40 man roster could be an obstacle for Bray, but it's not like they couldn't easily make room for him. If Drew Anderson was really in the Brewers plans, he would be in the dugout by now. Are either Vargas or Parra going to be healthy enough to pitch again this season. I would like to believe it is something as simple as no 40 man roster spot, but it seem like more.

[TooLiveBrew]

We can only hope that Vargas's "injury" lasts the rest of the year. Goog grief it's been nice to not have him come around every 5th day.

[Minigoon]

Well, Vargas' injury is not season ending as during the broadcast today, I heard he was activated from the DL.

[JJHardy7]

I really hope Drew Anderson is not in teams long term plans. Why is he on the 40 man roster? To me, it's really not a good idea to have him on that list and not have some other guys on it. He really doesn't possess anything special and has been hitting in the 3 hole most of the year in Nashville (yet he lacks the power to hit there). Is he just a organization favorite or what? I could see a lot of useful options on the 40 man than Anderson. It'd be easy to get Bray on the roster if Anderson is the only obstacle.