The Brewer Advent Calendar #19: Gregg Zaun

by Kyle Lobner on Feb 1, 2010 4:00 PM CST in Conversation Starters Comment 8 comments

Behind the sixth door on the calendar we find...Gregg "Triple G" Zaun!

Barring something unforeseen, Gregg Zaun, who will turn 39 in April, will open the 2010 season as the Brewers' primary catcher. TheJay has already done a great job covering how unlikely it is for a catcher at Zaun's age to make the volume of appearances one would expect from a #1 catcher.

So, instead of re-hashing that, I'll note this: The Brewers are counting on an awful lot of well-aged players this season. LaTroy Hawkins is 37. Zaun, as previously mentioned, will turn 39 in April. Craig Counsell is 39. So is Jim Edmonds. And Trevor Hoffman is 42.

To sum up: The Brewers project to open the regular season with five players who are 37 or older (and John Halama will be the sixth in camp). To this point, they've never had more than three such players appear in the same season:

Season	#	Players
2009	3	Trevor Hoffman, Craig Counsell, David Weathers
2001	3	Tony Fernandez, Mark Leiter, Devon White
2008	2	Brian Shouse, Craig Counsell
2007	2	Brian Shouse, Damian Miller
1997	2	Doug Jones, Julio Franco
1991	2	Rick Dempsey, Jim Gantner
1990	2	Dave Parker, Jim Gantner
1984	2	Don Sutton, Rollie Fingers

0 recs | Comment 8 comments |

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Player ages

Interesting that the Brewers are now largely to either extreme. On the one hand they have so many old players, on the other hand, if Lucroy and Gamel somehow win the starting jobs at C and 3B, and if Gallardo is presumably the opening day starter, it will be the youngest opening day lineup in over three decades and one of the youngest of the modern era.

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Feb 1, 2010 4:43 PM CST reply actions

2001 Season

Looks like we were trying to capture some of the ’93 World Series magic…but we got the wrong Leiter. The Devo Grand Slam Special, however, was magic.

by Ozzie1284 on Feb 1, 2010 5:01 PM CST reply actions

I'm all in favor of adding Felix Leiter to our roster.

Applying Simpsons and Star Wars quotes to Brewers discussions since 2009.

by Yar Nivek on Feb 1, 2010 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

"Counting on" may be a bit harsh

While I agree that the Crew has gotten a bit older this off season, I think saying that the Brewers are going to be “counting on” Edmonds, Hawkins, and Counsell is a bit unrealistic. Hoffman is the closer and Zaun will be handling a good part of the catching duties but Edmonds, Hawkins, and Counsell are role-players at best. Unfortunately, with injuries or lack of production they may play a bigger role than one would hope (i.e. Counsell last year). The three older guys last year (Hoffman, Counsell, and Shouse) were pretty darn good. They have a nice mix of old and young and I am looking forward to this season.

by evilcheeba on Feb 1, 2010 5:08 PM CST reply actions

Given the money Hawkins is making, he'll likely be counted on as Hoffman's primary setup man.

And while Counsell probably (hopefully) won’t play everyday, I think he probably enters the season as a primary pinch hitter and the top backup option at three positions.

You’re right about Edmonds, but at that point we’re arguing the difference between 4 of 5 and 5 of 5.

By the way, I’m not arguing with the strategy. I think the Brewers made themselves better by obtaining or retaining some of these guys. I’m just noting the somewhat unprecedented nature of the situation they’ve put themselves in.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Feb 1, 2010 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

In case anyone was wondering why I came back after being gone for a while

It’s because John Halama got an spring training invite.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 1, 2010 5:18 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

If I had known that

I would have campaigned for him to get an invite last year.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Feb 1, 2010 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

I thought it was because

Serena’s rage at that line judge made you realize that tennis has a PED problem as well!

"I like Suppan"
- Noah J. on 12/22/09

by molitorfan on Feb 2, 2010 7:18 PM CST up reply actions

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