Brewers 2010 Lineup?

[Kevbo74]

First things first.

Hi, I'm Kevin. I just found this place, and this is my first post.

After reading around for a bit, I'm glad to find a spot with so many Brewers fans, and Brewers Farm system fans. (My friends don't follow as close)

 

Anyway, I was looking at what Baseball America thought would be the 2010 starters... sorta liked what I saw.

Thoughts?

 

Catcher: Angel Salome

First Base: Prince Fielder

Second Base: Rickie Weeks

Third Base: Ryan Braun

Shortstop: J J Hardy

Left Field: Bill Hall

Center Field: Lorenzo Cain

Right Field: Corey Hart

 

No. 1 Starter: Ben Sheets

No. 2 Starter: Yovani Gallardo

No. 3 Starter: Dave Bush

No. 4 Starter: Will Inman

No. 5 Starter: Chris Capuano

Closer: Jeremy Jeffress

 

My first thought was - Capuano #5?

Second thought was - Lorenzo Cain?

I don't know everyone (anyone) here, so I don't know your thoughts on Cain, but I don't think so. Also, and it may stray from the topic, but I see Billy Hall coming back to the infield, either replacing Hardy, (who I'm not TOO big on anyway) or switching spots with Ryan Braun.

Eager to hear responses, and eager to talking to you guys more.

Later.

[colbyjack]

Welcome aboard Kevin.

 

The "where should Bill Hall play" subject is something that has dominated the offseason discussion both on this forum and on the big-league forum. From Hall vs. Hardy at SS to Hall vs. Braun at 3B, from Hall vs. anyone else in CF.

 

Keep in mind, BA had a project lineup a few years ago that had Richie Sexson in LF with Prince Fielder at 1B. While that stirred up some interesting conversations, I felt it was pretty clear that Sexson and Fielder would never come close to playing on the same team. Basically, the projected lineup is just for kicks, but I realize that is how you brought it up as well.

 

I agree that thinking about that lineup is pretty exciting. It is very interesting to see so many names procured completely from within, another huge tribute to the current scouting department. Later this year the team's starting IF (Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Braun) and possibly the starting OF (Hart, Hall, Jenkins) could be 100% homegrown.

[berniebrewer4life]

Welcome!!

 

 

I like the lineup, however i feel that not everybody will be home grown on the team. Cain? Probably not. I expect a FA to fill that role, as well as one of the starting Pitchers.

[bretsky07]

At least we'll still have Sheets, and get rid of Suppan.

 

Also, if Bush, Gallardo, and Inman progress as they are supposed to, Capuano would likely be the #5.

[paul253]

I also like the completely homegrown lneup. Hopefully with the 7th pick in this upcoming draft, there will be a new name somewhere on there (hopefully not another high school pitcher's name though)

[davego]

I wonder if in 2010 we will still have that many holdover poition players, or if one of them (say Billy) gets flipped before then due to $ and a chance to restock the ML.

[filthyfrog]

Since there have been a couple knocks on Cain, I'll just throw some Lorenzo love out there. I think he's going to emerge as a top prospect in the next couple years. It's hard to break out in Brevard County, where he'll probably be this year, so his numbers might not jump until he reaches Huntsville. But he's a toolsy guy who's improving quickly. The only thing he's missing right now is a little power, which usually develops late.

 

I listed Cain at #5 on my top prospect submission a month ago. I think he's one of our most underrated prospects.

[sbrylski]

It's hard to break out in Brevard County, where he'll probably be this year, so his numbers might not jump until he reaches Huntsville.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Huntsville a good pitchers park as well? I used to have minor league park factors bookmarked, but I lost them.

[pogokat]

Lorenzo Cain is a very good prospect:

 

He hits for average, runs very well, plays very good outfeild defense, carries a high OBP, and projects to develop a lot of power...

 

The people at BA, and myself see Lorenzo as a possible .300 hitter with 30/30 skills...that makes him a great prospect...Add in that he experience lots of success in West Virginia last year and you have it...

 

Baseball America ranked him the 6th best prospect in the system, so of course they are going to give him credit...

[TheEndless7]

Will we HAVE Sheets in 2010?

[homer]

re: Cain

 

I had a small man crush on Lorenzo last year. He just started playing baseball in high school so he's got a lot to learn. I was convinced he would be a top prospect but his less than mediocre showing in the Hawaiian Winter League has tempered my enthusiasm a bit. I'll be really interested to see how he starts out this year.

[filthyfrog]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Huntsville a good pitchers park as well?

 

Yeah, Huntsville is also a tough place to hit, but it's not as dramatic as BC, which is to hitters what High Desert is to pitchers.

[UWRyan428]

And yet no love for Michael Brantley. The guy could become a truly dominant centerfielder if he puts it all together... And that's why I love prospects. They'll love you, leave you (or their hopes will leave you), and make you cry.

[homer]

Quote:

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And yet no love for Michael Brantley.

---

 

When Michael has more professional home runs than I do, I'll jump on the bandwagon.

[brewerfan82]

Does anyone have the Baseball America projected roster for 2007 from a few years ago? It'd be interesting to see how they projected our roster back then.

[jjtheglove]

Catcher Lou Palmisano

First Base Prince Fielder

Second Base Rickie Weeks

Third Base Corey Hart

Shortstop JJ Hardy

Left Field Geoff Jenkins

Center Field Dave Krynzel

Right Field Brad Nelson

 

No.1 Starter Ben Sheets

No.2 Starter Manny Parra

No.3 Starter Mike Jones

No.4 Starter Ben Hendrickson

No.5 Starter Jorge Dela Rosa

Closer Dennis Sarfate

 

I like our 2010 a lot better, but I bet we liked what we saw in 2004 for 2007 as well.

[SoCalBrewfan]

This came up in another team's chat recently, where BA penciled in a catcher that didn't project as a starter simply because there were no alternatives. They have a rule at BA that someone in the organization must be considered for the future lineup if he's likely to be better than the in-house alternatives. Thus, even if one thinks Ben Sheets will leave as a free agent, they put him in the 2010 lineup. Even if they think Bill Hall will be traded, he's in there. SImilarly, even if a hole is glaring and organization-wide, they won't project it to be filled via trade or free agency...thus the prior Brewers lineups with Kade Johnson.

 

That does mean those lineups are inherently artificial...but they're fun nevertheless.

[WanaBGM]

I'd pencil Charlie Fermaint in CF, Cain in RF replacing Hart.

 

I'd have Steve Hammond replacing Bush or Capuano as a starting pitcher.

[Two Fisted Slobber]

Using BA's rules for the 2010 Lineup (only players current in the Brewers organization eligible, no one allowed to leave via trade/free agency), I doubt there really was much competition for spots. A position-by-position review (with BA's selections in bold):

 

C: 34 year-old Estrada vs. Salome. Considering Salome hasn't gotten out of A-ball yet and couldn't crack BA's top 10 list, I'd put my money on Estrada.

 

1B: Fielder vs. nobody. Hard to believe that we've gone from having Prince, Corey and Brad waiting in the wings behind Sexson to absolutely no first base prospects in the organization.

 

2B: Weeks vs. Iribarren. Not exactly a fair fight.

 

3B: Braun vs. um... Vinny? Actually, Gamel manning the hot corner with Ryan moving to the outfield isn't that far-fetched.

 

SS: Hardy vs. Escobar/Perez/Brewer. This will be Hardy's big contract year heading into free agency. Hopefully he'll be established by then and not getting his umpteenth chance to hold down the position. I hate to say it, but the smart money might be on Hall here.

 

OF: You gotta figure Hall and Hart are locks here, with Cain, Gillespie and Fermaint fighting over the last spot.

 

SP1: Sheets.

 

SP2-5: I'm assuming BA must've put this together before Suppan signed. I certainly hope he's not getting $12.5M to pitch long relief in 2010. The current candidates: Capuano, Suppan, Bush, Yo, Inman, CV, CV#2. I'd be thrilled if either Gallardo or Inman has established themselves as a quality starter by 2010. If they both have we'd better have some Miller Park playoff memories to go with it. If forced to choose, I guess I would go with Suppan / Bush / Capuano / Yo behind Sheets with no idea regards to order.

 

CL: Coredo (at age 35), Turnbow, Capellan, Rogers, Jeffress. Let's face it, this is the Brewers we're talking about. The likely closer in 2010 won't be any of these guys. Why not go with the guy who throws three digits and hasn't hurt his arm (yet)? Wouldn't be all that surprised if the guy having the best 2010 from that list is Turnbow (with another team, naturally).

[crackley]

Doesn't anyone else see Hall not being here in a few years? Behind Sheeter, he is, in my mind, tied for 2nd on the club in terms value in a trade. He strikes out so much because he swings for the fences a lot.

 

He's an extremely popular player, just like Lee and Scotty Po were when they were here which will help in value.

 

If there is one person on the team that definitely has the ability to be playing w/ us in a few years, I think he has the biggest chance of not being here. It seems to me he wants to play on a bigger stage.

 

Don't take this post the wrong way though. I'm not saying that the Brewers are in the market to trade away talent once they come into their own. And I love the guy. Absolutely GREAT attitude. Works hard.

 

Just a thought that I thought was pertinent to tha convo. Thoughts?

[UWRyan428]

I have long esposed on that such idea. Perhaps it is more a testament to his utilization by our organization than his own attitude. Nevertheless, I would argue that his value in trade is greater than his realized value, as his best position is filled ably by JJ.

[Boy Jeenius]

Quote:

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I hate to say it, but the smart money might be on Hall here

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I'll take that bet. Hardy is just too solid of a defender. Fielder Weeks and Braun will be average defenders at best, and you want inconsistant Hall in the middle of that? To not have someone who is rock solid in the middle of those guys would be a ticket to chronic 2nd place. Oh, there'd be lot's of Sport Center highlights with Hall there. But there's a reason guys like Eckstein always seem to show up on championship teams and good baseball men like Doug Melvin and Walt Jocketty seek them out.

[Two Fisted Slobber]

I'll take that bet. Hardy is just too solid of a defender. Fielder Weeks and Braun will be average defenders at best, and you want inconsistant Hall in the middle of that? To not have someone who is rock solid in the middle of those guys would be a ticket to chronic 2nd place. Oh, there'd be lot's of Sport Center highlights with Hall there. But there's a reason guys like Eckstein always seem to show up on championship teams and good baseball men like Doug Melvin and Walt Jocketty seek them out.

 

This is a discussion of the 2010 lineup, not 2007. I certainly don't WANT Hall to be the starting shortstop in 2010, that would mean the Hardy experiment had gone horribly wrong. Nonetheless, if Doug offered to swap Hall for Eckstein, Walt would pull the trigger on that deal in a heartbeat.

[splitterpfj]

I think Gillespie has a chance to be that LF...and I doubt Sheets will still be here in 2010....I like it overall though.

[endaround]

Capuano is less likely to be in Milwaukee than is Sheets if he is the the 5th best pitcher on the team.