What The Last Two Weeks Mean For Four Relievers

by Kyle Lobner on Dec 22, 2011 2:00 PM CST in Conversation Starters

Here's Frankie De La Cruz with Nyjer Morgan in September. FDLC is out of options, so if he doesn't make the team out of spring training this may be one of the last times we see him in a Brewer uniform.

Given everything that's happened in the last few weeks, the changes in the Brewer bullpen have flown somewhat under the radar. With that said, the dramatic shift that's happened out there is pretty incredible:

First the Brewers announced that Zach Braddock is expected back this spring, after missing most of the 2011 season.
Next, Francisco Rodriguez surprised everyone accepted arbitration to return as John Axford's setup man.
Finally, the team traded Casey McGehee to Pittsburgh for Jose Veras, likely filling the seventh inning.

The change from left to right on this table happened nearly overnight:

Likely bullpen, December 1	Likely bullpen, now
John Axford	John Axford
Kameron Loe	Francisco Rodriguez
Manny Parra	Jose Veras
Marco Estrada	Kameron Loe
???	Zach Braddock
???	Manny Parra
???	Marco Estrada

That new alignment leaves a fair number of notable 2011 Brewers as odd men out. We'll discuss them alphabetically:

Frankie De La Cruz pitched a handful of solid innings in largely mop-up duty for the Brewers late in the season, posting a 2.77 ERA and allowing no home runs in 13 innings.
Tim Dillard drew more attention for his lack of use than actual use in 2011, but struck out 8.5 batters per nine (a career high at any level) in his 28.2 innings over 24 games.
Brandon Kintzler missed most of the season recovering from injuries, but the former indy leaguer is still only 27 and expected to be back at full strength this spring.
Mike McClendon spent most of the 2011 season in Nashville but has a 2.86 ERA and has struck out eight batters per nine innings in the majors, and posted a 3.53 ERA in 58.2 innings for Nashville last season.

There's still a strong chance all four of these guys get opportunities to pitch in the majors during the season, as bullpen depth will be needed at various times. With that said, Dillard and De La Cruz are both out of options and would have to pass through waivers if they don't open the season on the major league roster.

Things could still change and spots for some of these guys could open up. But their chances of making the Opening Day roster are certainly bleaker than they were a few weeks ago.

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Comments

Not that I'm a fan of bullpen roles, but...

Can Veras also be an eighth inning guy? He seems like the most likely dude to pitch the seventh and replace the Saito/Hawkins tandem, but assuming RRR can’t always trot K-Rod out there due to injury/transactions, can he be the top setup man? Obviously they love Loe, but after last season it’s clear that he’s more of an RH specialist who can’t handle lefties in high leverage situations.

by kfeyzi on Dec 22, 2011 2:48 PM CST reply actions

I think anyone who's effective could be an 8th inning guy

including Braddock, K-Rod and maybe even Parra.

K-Rod is very durable, so I don’t see why there’d be an injury concern.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Dec 22, 2011 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

Not necessarily an injury to K-Rod,

but possibly Axford (god forbid)

by kfeyzi on Dec 23, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

No basis for that either

go knock on wood, too. Good lord.

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."

~RRR

by Charlie Marlow on Dec 24, 2011 1:14 PM CST up reply actions

Loe is not a ROOGY

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."

~RRR

by Charlie Marlow on Dec 22, 2011 3:45 PM CST via Android app reply actions

Haven't you ever seen him face Joey Votto?

I never said he was a one out guy

by kfeyzi on Dec 23, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

Obviously they love Loe, but after last season it’s clear that he’s more of an RH specialist who can’t handle lefties in high leverage situations.

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."

~RRR

by Charlie Marlow on Dec 24, 2011 1:13 PM CST up reply actions

FDLC

Makes me think of “Fond du Lac Corrections” or “Free Downloadable Content.” I had forgotten he was on the team by September.

by mpbMKE on Dec 22, 2011 3:57 PM CST reply actions

"Free Downloadable Content"

Oxymoron.

His jiggling is almost hypnotic.

by Morbidly-Obese, Right-Handed Jamie Moyer on Dec 22, 2011 6:46 PM CST up reply actions

"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."

~Doug Melvin

"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."

~RRR

by Charlie Marlow on Dec 23, 2011 12:51 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

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