Brewers sign Chrixon!

by roguejim on Dec 18, 2008 2:33 PM CST Comment 28 comments

The Brewers just announced that they have signed [Trot Nixon], the 34-year-old outfielder to a minor league contract with an invitation to their spring training. It’s another low-risk move that could end up filling a roster spot with a left-handed hitter.

The Brewers also just announced they have signed centerfielder Chris Duffy, who has played with the Pirates. Duffy, 28, another left-handed hitter, also signed a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp.

Trot Nixon's stats are here. Note the 5 straight years of declining OPS. As late as 2006, though, he had an .800+ OPS against right-handed pitching.

Chris Duffy's stats are here. In the minors, he's much much better at hitting LHP than RHP.

I think we have the makings of another platoon: Chrixon!

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Having left-handed batters is nice

but of limited value when they’re all riding the pine. I mean…Trot Nixon?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 18, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming a Gwynn/Duffy platoon

Which one could only call Gwuffy.

All told, even without Kapler, the Brewers bring a relatively interesting group of outfielders into camp now:

Braun
Cameron
Hart
Gwynn
Jason Bourgeois
Nixon
Duffy

Gwynn, Bourgeois and Duffy likely compete for one spot, since the team needs at least one guy who can play center. Nixon might be competing with Brad Nelson for an immobile OF/1B spot.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 18, 2008 2:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

One bench guy who can play center.

I’m assuming Mike Cameron beats most of those guys out for an everyday job.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 18, 2008 2:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Gwynn is out of options (I think).

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 18, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Duffynn

by tcyoung on Dec 18, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Although I'm fond of Chrixon

I also like Nuffy.

This is one bizarre offseason.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 18, 2008 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It might be time for a meta-platoon

Nixuffart perhaps?

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Dec 18, 2008 3:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was TheJay who called signing Chris Duffy a week or two ago

saying he’s pretty similar to Melky or something.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 18, 2008 3:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yup

Good call

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 18, 2008 3:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he's older though

Plus Duffy has a sketchy history (I think he’s basically quit on two teams).

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 18, 2008 3:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does it really count if he quit on the Pirates?

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Dec 18, 2008 4:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

at least once was declaring minor league free agency

Hard to blame him for that. Seems like the Pirates keep coming up with decent outfielders and middling left handed pitchers.

by ol Pete on Dec 18, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he was optioned to the minors a couple years ago and decided to go home instead

This year he left his Mexican League team only a few games into the season, though that sounds like it was because of stomach illness. Going home instead of to AAA was because he was questioning whether he wanted to keep playing baseball. That was the year he had issues with Jim Tracy wanting to change his batting style, so that may have been involved, too.

“Quit” was probably too strong a word, especially for the Mexican League situation. Hopefully this is one of those cases where turning over a new leaf is best for all involved.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 18, 2008 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

the fight with Amy Winehouse.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 18, 2008 6:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

yup

you can see that Duffy is a southpaw in that shot.

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Dec 18, 2008 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to throw some shoes at Doug Melvin

Does the guy do anything but sign washed-up, gritty veterans?

by Marty McSuperFly on Dec 18, 2008 3:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Worked with Kaplar

and Branyan. Maybe he is going for the Trifecta.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 18, 2008 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If he signs 1,000 guys like this, I'm ok with it.

Fourth outfielders, bullpen arms, and end of rotation starters should always be bought cheap and in bulk. Half of them will be worthless and when you ditch them you’re out nothing. A quarter of them will perform as expected and not embarrass themselves at the end of the bench. The other quarter will get hot for a while or overachieve for a full season, and when they do you can sell them at peak value and get something else.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 18, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The need for the left handed bat

seems to be the obvious drive here. You have to assume that all of these guys are competing for nothing more than a 4th outfielder spot at best. However, it does makes me curious if Melvin might not have something up his sleeve yet regarding Cameron.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 18, 2008 3:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Would you play either one of these guys ahead of Cameron?

The only thing this makes is better depth in the Nashville OF. Duffy may have some chance at the ML level on speed alone.

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Dec 18, 2008 3:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't say anything about playing them ahead of Cameron

My assumption was that they would compete for the 4th outfielder spot at best. There is no comparison between these guys and Cameron. My point was that bringing in so many outfielders peaks my curiosity a little bit that maybe Melvin has something up his sleeve regarding Cameron still being traded for pitching.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 18, 2008 4:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Unlike this guy

Trot will probably become a fan favorite just like Kapler a year ago.

Come on, you know someone was going to make this joke.

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Dec 18, 2008 4:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Now all we need to do is sign the delightfully named Baron Frost to have a potentially Oscar-winning platoon on our hands.

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Dec 18, 2008 4:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sign Lew Ford & Lance Carter

Start Ford and Nixon in the outfield when Dave Bush is on the mound and let Carter be the first reliever to enter.

It still boggles my mind that MLB 07: The Show had commentary along the same lines when Trot Nixon flew out to Lew Ford.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 18, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So

is Frost going to interview Trot?

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Dec 18, 2008 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

At first

I thought OTIS Nixon, who was old in the 90s, and is turning 50 this January… just a little older than Jamie Moyer…

But he last played in the 90s, and was quick as I remember from my Ken Griffey Jr Baseball game. Too bad, just Trot Nixon.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Dec 18, 2008 5:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I guess Indian fans

are more upset with the Yankees signing CC

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Dec 18, 2008 10:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Man, I'm amazed that this didn't hit my brain immediately

I love the duffy signing, if only for this…

Pitch Running for Kendall, DUFFMAN!!!

OH YEAH!!!

/looks at otis Nixon on bench

THAT IS ONE MUG YOU DO NOT WANT TO CHUG!!!

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Dec 19, 2008 8:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

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