Lots to link

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 11, 2007 10:31 AM CST in News Comment 16 comments

Adam McCalvy does his preview of the corner infielders. About a sentence on Prince Fielder, then copious amounts of worry about third base. Corey Koskie is not as ready as we have been led to believe. He might not be ready at all. And all the while, we're preparing to use Bill Hall in the outfield. To recap (thanks Marty), here are a few of the options to replace Corey:
- Ryan Braun (who has spent two months above A-ball)
- Craig Counsell (who, I was surprised to learn, has played over 200 games at third in his career)
- Tony Graffanino (career slugging average, .396)
- Vinny Rottino (I really love the guy...as a third catcher/utility man)
And I suppose David Bell is still a free-agent. (gulp)
The Cardinals finally signed another pitcher: Mark Mulder got a two-year, $13M deal. This with the fact that he may or may not be ready for opening day. Mulder hasn't been really good since 2003, and wasn't good at all last year. Then again, I expect he'll bounce back from that ERA+ of 62. Here's the take on it at Viva El Birdos.
Speaking of bad: the Cards also signed Ryan Franklin. All those projection systems we've been discussing lately? Take those Brewers HR numbers, and add 10.
David Hannes follows up on his arbitration preview with his salary predictions for our six eligible guys. I think he's on the high side on most of these. Especially in Kevin Mench's case, he will not get a raise if there is any justice in the world.
Here's a nice bio on our new TV guy, courtesy of the J-S.
The Good Phight ranks team fielding positions by offense. That is--he figured out what each team hit at each position (total of all players, not just the main guy) and threw them all in one big list. The Brewers don't show up until #53 on the list, where our first basemen are. We're also in the top 100 at 63 (left field), 72 (third base), and 80 (shortstop). Thanks, Billy!
This article has some quotes from Billy about his role in next year's outfield. Nothing groundbreaking, but Ned seems to expect that little will happen between now and spring training. Thus, I deduce: Hall in center, with Mench, Geoff Jenkins, and Brady Clark still around. I have to wonder: what of Gabe Gross? A team with two backup infielders can't carry six outfielders, and Hall, Mench, Jenkins, Clark, and Corey Hart makes five. Gross isn't going to make or break this team, but he hasn't done anything to deserve a demotion, so it would be a shame for it to come to that.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

Comments

Perhaps

Moustache knew something about Koskie's lack of progress that he wasn't letting on when he signed both Graffy and Counsell. It would explain why we needed to stockpile mediocre infielders. (And although I'm not thrilled by the idea of Graffy at third, I don't think I can take seeing David bell in a Brewer uni again.)

If Koskie's on the DL, maybe we suddenly have room for Gabe Gross again.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jan 11, 2007 10:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking that too

But then why the Braun quotes?

by battlekow on Jan 11, 2007 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but...

Didn't Doug offer Graffy arbitration to get a draft pick? He didn't seem like he wanted Graffy on this team with all of his heart. It may turn out OK now that Koskie is still concussing; but I'm not sure that Doug was thinking that at the time. I think Doug was planning to have Counsell and Cirillo on the team.

by engbjm06 on Jan 11, 2007 12:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

also

cirillo was concerned about playing time--so I don't think doug knew about Koskie

by Michael M on Jan 11, 2007 1:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Melvin never lets on what he thinks

He can't have been in the dark about Koskie. I was creeped out by this comment from Gord Ash in early December, where they were hoping to introduce activity to his daily regime. That is not what you want to hear about someone that you expect to compete as a professional athlete in a few months.

by Marty McSuperFly on Jan 11, 2007 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Obligatory followup

Since Melvin never lets on the state of the team or his thinking, I suppose we have to consider the possibility that Koskie is actually at 110%, and turning cartwheels before breakfast each morning.

by Marty McSuperFly on Jan 11, 2007 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps...

doug melvin is superman!!

by Michael M on Jan 11, 2007 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Canadians

Always do that.

Nate - I'm so rad!

by nmc on Jan 11, 2007 2:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No Koskie?

I would imagine that if Koskie isn't ready to go, with the team as is, our everyday lineup may look like this, which may not be bad.
Weeks, 2B
Graffy, 3B
Fielder, 1B
Hall, CF
Hart, RF
Estrada, C
Jenkins/Mench, LF
Hardy, SS
Pitcher

In this scenario, if Graffy plays like he did the second half of last year, we should score some runs. The more I think about the post here about Jenkins hitting in the 7 slot, if he's still here, the more I like it. Any thoughts?

by kgaul on Jan 11, 2007 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

07 lineup

i can't say i'm thrilled about a graffanino/counsell platoon at third base...ugh i hate just thinking about that. seriously, how would this team do anything with those names rotating at third? i would have been more comfortable with cirillo.

otherwise if people play to form i don't think it's a bad lineup.

by Griswald on Jan 11, 2007 9:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

favorite jeff line of the month:

"he will not get a raise if there is any justice in the world."

by Griswald on Jan 11, 2007 9:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

At this point...

...the spare OF I'd probably be most comfortable seeing traded is Brady, as I'd much rather have Gross be the 5th outfielder. He's inexpensive, he seemed to be fairly comfortable pinch-hitting, and he didn't suck too much covering all three OF spots last season.

In addition, if Jenkins has a hot (or at least hot-tish) start as the left-handed part of a platoon with Mench, Gross could slide right into that role in case Jenkins gets traded at the deadline, without too much of a drop in production. And if Geoff sucks again, Gross is available to take over that job outright.

by Zeyes on Jan 12, 2007 11:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gross, you have my heart!

Why wouldn't we slide Billy right into the 3B role, and go with a couple of platoons in the OF: Mench/ Jenkins in LF, and Clark/Gross in CF? Brady can probably get on base at a decent clip vs. LHP, and he's a suitable defender. I still think Gross is going to crush RHP, and wish that he would get at least 450 PAs this year. Ned doesn't like platoons, and now the inertia is to have Hall in CF anyway.

Has everyone stopped talking about Nearly-Unanimous Hall-of-Famer, Jr.? That doesn't bother me any, but I just think it's funny how a month and a half ago everyone was like "What about TGjr? I still like him better than ____ [fill in name of OF on current 40-man roster]."

by baumann on Jan 12, 2007 6:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Because

he seems to be written off. I think he could hit 1.000 in spring training, I don't see how he breaks with the club unless we unload half our outfield (or Billy ends up back in the infield).

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jan 12, 2007 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Needs more time

While Gwynn looked great defensively, he needs more time to work on his offense. He hit 300 last year in AAA, but he only hit 270 the year before in AA. If he has a good year in AAA I could see him getting a call up in September, but I doubt we will see him in the big leagues before that unless Weeks gets hurt.

by cooper82 on Jan 12, 2007 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

Gross is capable of playing center on more than an occasional basis.

by battlekow on Jan 12, 2007 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	91	71	.561	0	Lost 6
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	83	78	.515	7.5	Lost 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	80	82	.493	11	Won 3
Cincinnati Red Reporter	78	84	.481	13	Won 2
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	74	88	.456	17	Lost 3
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	62	99	.385	28.5	Lost 2