Arm Chair GM: Felipe Lopez
While there are still some games to be played, the season is virtually over - and talk of 2010 has already begun.
My first question was where is the next years starting pitching going to come from... and quite honestly it is too difficult of an answer right now.
So lets move on to a slightly easier question -
What do we do with Felipe Lopez??
He has done nothing but impress me since he became a Brewer. Looking at his BR page, with the exception of his time in Washington (playing @ RFK), he has had an ok career. He has played 2B, 3B & SS in his career so he has some utilitariansim. Yes I know utilitariansim isn't a real word - but hell fake words never stop Anthony Witrado so why should it stop me.
Given that he is on the verge of becoming a Type A, there is no doubt that we should offer him arbitration. But then what. After all, Rickie Weeks and his wrists should be healthy by spring training. So where does he play?
If he accepts, we have a switch hitting player that could play a role in next years team. He could give us a super platoon between Weeks, Escobar, Gamel & Himself. He could give Weeks or Escobar a day off @ SS/2B against RH-SP and Gamel a day off against LH-SP. That scenerio would give all four of them 500+ ABs for the season and not have a drop off when a starter needs a day off. And lets be honest - if any expects Craig Counsel to have a career year again next year, you need to share what you are smoking.
If he doesn't accept - no hard feelings - thanks for playing and for the draft pick (hopefully a first rounder)
What roll if any do you see Felipe playing next year?
BTW - Cots has his agent listed as the Evil One Scott Boras
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46 comments
Comments
Let him walk as a free agent
Weeks will start at 2nd next year and Lopez would be an expensive backup.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Aug 24, 2009 7:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Would you offer arbitration? Or just let him go bye bye?
by Saberilliterate on Aug 24, 2009 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
meh
Weeks may or may not be fully recovered. I know McGehee is a cheaper bench player, but does he have a higher probability of being good than Lopez?
Then there’s also the potential hole at 3B – will Gamel stick there? Will the remaining shortstop (Hardy or Escobar) be a consistant enough hitter that we won’t need to plug someone else in (assuming the other is traded)?
If we can convince lopez to sign without being a free agent, he might take a lower contract than once he actually starts seeing other offers, so we should see what it’ll take to keep him now. If he makes free agency, we’d likely be overpaying for his services and should take a pass. Plus, offering arb. is likely to be overpaying (arb gives higher weight to offense than defense, and defense is the only thing holding him back).
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 6:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When you need to fill a lot of holes
Spending $5 million on a bench player is too much especially with questions about his defense (I very much doubt he accepts arbitration and if he does, he’s one more trade chit). Even if Weeks is not fully recovered, you can find a cheaper fall-back option. I think they should give Gamel a real shot at 3rd next year.
If I’m the GM, I see what offers I get after the season for McGehee and Coffey, knowing I don’t have to trade them but that their value isn’t likely to be any higher. Coffey is already in arbitration, due for a hefty raise, and under team control only two more years and while I think it’s cool McGehee put it together this year, I think it’s a classic trade a year early rather than a year late situation.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Aug 25, 2009 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Many boras clients do not sign with the Yankees
He’ll be elsewhere after rejecting Arby, but I don’t necessarily think it’s the Yankees that will sign him. The White Sox, Mets, Astros, Dodgers, and Blue Jays will all have middle infield needs. I would put my money on the field before the Yankees
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Aug 24, 2009 7:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess I thought the specific mention of the Yankees was somewhat tongue in cheek.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Aug 24, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it was
I guess sarcasm doesn’t go over as well on forums as it does in person over a beer…
by Saberilliterate on Aug 24, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way you keep him is with a position switch for Weeks.
He’s not going to be cheap, so let him go.
by Zorakathura on Aug 24, 2009 8:01 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
One more thing-
He’s not a super-sub. His defense isn’t good at ss, and he seems like the kind of player who wouldn’t do well off the bench. He’s an everyday 2b.
by Zorakathura on Aug 24, 2009 8:05 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Lopez has been fantastic, and despite Rickie being good at the start
I dont’ think he’s a ‘sure thing’…personally, I’d sign Lopez
captainbok: What do you like the most about milwaukee
Jeff Suppan: Captain Bok, that is a great question. Does "Bok" mean Book of Knowledge? My favorite thing about Milwaukee are the Brewers.
by JAMOOL on Aug 24, 2009 10:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
would rather have cheap ricky for a few years than one expensive year of lopez
by Jeo on Aug 24, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW
Utilitarianism is a word.
by Zorakathura on Aug 25, 2009 12:15 AM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
but he's right
utilitariansim is not
sim city, sim earth, etc:P
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 5:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
a pet peeve of mine though
“What roll if any do you "
We are not rolling dice. “C’mon snake eyes.”
it is a role. Which has the definition as follows
1. a part or character played by an actor or actress.
2. proper or customary function
P.S. I guess I should start giving people a pass on this one, as the word for both roll and role (and the origin of the word) is the French rôle. But still, this is english:P
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 6:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
kaiser
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 25, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
a reference to both
1) me being a grammar nazi and
2) a specific roll reference
mmmmm double entendre
Whether you intended it or not, you sir are a genius
Thusly rec’d
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
correction
my being a grammar nazi…. “me” is a direct object not a subject and in this case “being” is a gerund, which is not a verb but a noun. Let me apologize already and blame it on my mom who was an English teacher.
by keephopealive on Aug 26, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats too bad. I was trying to channel everyone’s favorite sports journalist with the access to the club house that we all wish we had. Also it came up in spell check all squiggly when I was writing.
by Saberilliterate on Aug 25, 2009 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it is.
But it’s not used correctly here, as long as we’re being picky.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Aug 25, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
simply “utility” would work, now that you mention it;)
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see him coming back next year
Unless Weeks changes positions. I don’t think Lopez would accept a bench role and Weeks wouldn’t be too happy with it either, so I think it’s best to just let Lopez go to free agency.
About the whole arbitration thing, if he becomes a type A, do you get the 1st round pick if he declines and goes to another team (unless the team signs another type A player)? Or if he accepts then can you make a deal for starting pitching? Sorry I’m a little confused…
by proch on Aug 25, 2009 12:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Arbitration
If the Type A player declines and signs elsewhere, the team that signs him has to give up a draft pick (usually their 1st rounder).
If the player accepts arbitration, he’s just like any other player waiting for an arbitration hearing – he can be traded.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Aug 25, 2009 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nothing but impress?
You’re impressed when he can’t lay out for a ground ball, apply a lazy tag so a runner is safe, lollygags in from the field and all the rest of the crap he does when not batting? Take the arb picks you’re going to get and turn them into something without an aversion to defense, but if it looks even remotely like he would accept arb you let him walk for nothing.
by Getting Yosted on Aug 25, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Question
Do Boras clients tend to decline arbitration?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 25, 2009 10:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
guess at an answer
I would assume that it depended on the scenario – maybe slightly favoring a “yes, they decline.” I would say that it would be best for them to accept it if they wanted that extra year to prove they were better than they exhibited the previous year, but thats about it. You have to assume that Boras would jump at the opportunity to craft a new contract, and would advise against adding another year before that could happen. Plus, all else being equal, younger players are more desirable.
To chime in about Lopez, I think that money could better be thrown around elsewhere. I don’t think you should crowd the infield when the pitching staff and outfield both have immediate holes that need to be filled.
by LosinCatmansLove on Aug 25, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they need a Felipe Lopez, they can get a Felipe Lopez
Just like this year, if the Brewers need someone like Lopez during the season, they’ll be able to find one on the trade market. Whatever you do, make sure he isn’t on the roster next season and you get something for him.
by ecocd on Aug 25, 2009 2:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Kind of like how if they need SP this year, they'll get SP on the market?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 25, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Felipe Lopez is a starting pitcher?
I’m surprised by this revelation.
by Getting Yosted on Aug 25, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lopez
This is wat should happen, the Brewers should keep Lopez and have him play 3rd base next season. Move Mat Gamel to right field cause he obviously sucks at defense playing the infield, much like another slugger by the the name of Ryan Braun. Trade Cory Hart for some pitching and will somebody get rid of friggin Jeff Suppan!!!!!!! He sucks!!!!!! 10 million a year for nothing!!!!!! Trade Hardy too, Escobar is ready to step in and step up. P.S. Keep in mind that Braun had no errors last season and only one this year so far. Gamel would be just the same i bet
by The Heeb on Aug 25, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lopez is suddenly a defensively acceptable 3b?
What kind of pitching are you going to get for Hart? Where’s Hardy? How about McGehee?
by Zorakathura on Aug 25, 2009 3:52 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
A valuble lessen
Never reply to someone who has used more then 2-3 exclamation marks per paragraph.
"Cubs suck. I own them" -Doug Davis
by Metagen on Aug 25, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or spells what, sans h
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 25, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always reply to respected journalist Anthony Witrado.
by Zorakathura on Aug 25, 2009 4:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Why put Gamel in Right Field?
Cameron should be gone. Braun can play CF. Braun has 1 error this year. Cam has 3. Braun is a MUCH better fielder than Cameron. He also doesn’t strike out as much. I agree with trading Cory, though. I think we can package him together with Suppan and bring back a good Starting Pitcher. Maybe someone in his last year, like Brandon Webb. Maybe throw Hardy in there, but why would anyone want a .220 hitter?! Then we can use free agent money to sign a RF. As far as Catcher goes, I think Kendall handles the pitching staff really well, but he’s just getting too old. Let him go to Free Agency, and drop Riske to free up money to sign a veteran! Seriously, what has Riske done for us, except for eat up salary?!!!
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 25, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
At first I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic.
But by end I had figured it out.
by NoahJ on Aug 25, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not enough exclamation marks.
Flagged!
"Cubs suck. I own them" -Doug Davis
by Metagen on Aug 25, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Riske was one of CC Sabathia's friends (which is to say he plays baseball) and that counts for something!
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Aug 25, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And to think I was actually going to mock-recommend this post...
back before any responses had been posted, and then decided against it because I didn’t want to be cruel to the new guy.
by Zeyes on Aug 25, 2009 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah...sorry...
it’s my way. I’m a mean bastard.
by PagsBrewCrew on Aug 25, 2009 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lopez
1.) Don’t offer him Arby’s.
2.) Sign Counsell to 40 consecutive one year deals.
3.) Come to expect Lopez to kill our pitching in 2010-2014.
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Aug 30, 2009 4:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
pray he signs with an AL team
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Aug 30, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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