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Roster update

Now that the studliest of the kids have been sent down, it's time to get serious. There are 38 players remaining in camp, and of course there are only 25 jobs to go around. Most of those 25 jobs are 99% settled, but with Sarfate demoted already, there's at least one bullpen job up in the air.

Here's the major-league roster as it stands right now (I think). Bold names are locks (or close), while italicized names are either trade candidates, guys on the bubble, or guys who would make the roster if a likely trade candidate was dealt.

  • Catchers:

  • Johnny Estrada
  • Damian Miller
  • Mike Rivera
  • J.D. Closser

  • Infielders:

  • Prince Fielder
  • Rickie Weeks
  • J.J. Hardy
  • Tony Graffanino
  • Craig Counsell
  • Vinny Rottino

  • Outfielders:

  • Corey Hart
  • Bill Hall
  • Geoff Jenkins
  • Kevin Mench
  • Brady Clark
  • Gabe Gross
  • Laynce Nix
  • Tony Gwynn Jr.

  • Starters:

  • Ben Sheets
  • Chris Capuano
  • Dave Bush
  • Jeff Suppan
  • Claudio Vargas

  • Bullpen contenders:

  • Francisco Cordero
  • Derrick Turnbow
  • Matt Wise
  • Brian Shouse
  • Jose Capellan
  • Greg Aquino
  • Grant Balfour
  • Zach Jackson
  • Mike Meyers
  • Chris Spurling
  • Joe Thatcher
  • Corey Thurman
  • Carlos Villanueva
A lot of those names in the bullpen have no real chance, but that doesn't hide the fact that there's a real competition going on. Ned hasn't decided whether he's going with 11 or 12 pitchers (6 or 7 relievers). If he goes with 11, the odds-on favorite for that last spot is still Aquino, as he probably has the highest upside as a short reliever, and he has no options.

If he goes with 12, I'm sure we'd all like to see Villanueva on the big-league team, but it seems more likely to me that Ned would go with a short reliever, such as Balfour. That's why I was surprised that Sarfate was sent down: I figured that last spot would come down to a competition between Balfour and Sarfate. So perhaps Sarfate's demotion means that Ned is considering carrying a long man, and now it's a competition between Villanueva and Jackson with Corey Thurman as the longest of long shots.

That's the only issue we haven't been talking about for months; at catcher and in the outfield, we're still stacked with too many options for backups, and you gotta wonder what kind of conversations Doug Melvin is having. I would hate to see Gabe Gross start the year in Nashville (if Ned goes with only 11 pitchers, it's probably to make room for him), and I would also hate to lose Mike Rivera for nothing.

Update [2007-3-21 21:33:3 by battlekow]: According to Rotoworld, JD Closser cleared waivers today, possibly indicating the Brewers could sneak Mike Rivera through as well, and definitely indicating there's not a huge market for backup catchers.

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Rottino
I would think with Rottino's versatility along with Miller's recent lingering small "ouchs" that he would have an outside chance of making the roster at the expense of a fifth outfielder maybe?

by anthony on Mar 20, 2007 9:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

He isn't really.
But I really, really want him to be. I do think he'll be on the opening day roster, but yeah, something will have to happen to make that the case.

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 20, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Our gluttonous excess of catching mediocrity
I wouldn't mind flipping Miller, if we could: great guy, good clubhouse leader, but the personification of "old and creaky."  He could get more playing time elsewhere, too.  In the 200 ABs our backup catcher would get, the difference between Miller, Closser, and Rivera would be pretty negligible, I would think.

Plus, with Estrada > Rivera > Closser (AAA), we'd have some respectable depth at catcher.  Not the second coming of Gary Carter, maybe, but not a gaping hole of suck, either.

On another note, I can't believe there's been so little interest in Jinxie.  Salary shouldn't be an object, as we're going to eat some of it anyway.  But you'd think with his success this spring against mediocre lefties and the second halves he's put up in each of the past couple of years (career OPS after the All-Star break: .911), SOMEBODY woudl take him off our hands for a prospect or two.

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

by roguejim on Mar 20, 2007 10:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Gross
He's definately a lock.  There is not a better platoon player on the team v. Righties.  He outhits Jenkins with Righties.  Plus he can play all 3 positions well.  He has a good arm, speed, and is younger than both Shrek and Jinx.  Problem with Gross is that he'll never be anything better, and doesn't have enough power to warrant a corner outfield position.  With Hall being planted in center (mistake considering the 3B situation), he's needed at the corner.  But if we accept him for what he is, then we just need a guy who can hit lefties in the outfield, which makes this more disturbing.

The Brewers are willing to move Kevin Mench, possibly even for prospects. He could fit with the Dodgers or the Pirates.
-- Newark Star-Ledger

Now it's the fact that we are shopping Mench, who can hit lefties, instead of Jenkins that upsets me.  Now I know there is no market for corner outfielders.  There are certain teams that can and might take Jenks contract.  But for mench, we won't get much in return to address trouble spots.  We won't get a 3b (Jose Bautista is the option, but do we really want a guy who Ks 110 times in 400 ABs?  The dodgers would not give up Betimit for Mench alone) or a CF (too many guys as it is, the pirates won't part with either Duffy or McLouth for mench, and the dodgers wouldnt part with Matt Kemp).  Plus we lose our "power" platoon hitter who can hit lefties.  So here is how I see the Roster shaking out.  I will put on one side what we'll get, and below it what I want in a perfect world.

C
Johnny Estrada
Damien Miller

Based on relative youth alone, Rivera is the better fit, but Miller will break down and we'll get that by june anyway.

Inf
Prince
Weeks
Hardy
Graffinino
Councell

Bill Hall should be in this group, as you can read my advocacy for his 3B dominance, and move Braun to a corner OF position.  Rotino is not a good enough player to be anything more than a story, but we are competitors now.

OF
Hart
Hall
Jenks
Mench
Gross
Clark

Because Hall can go back and forth, we will still have the 3 millstones of Clark, Mench and Jinx.  A trade will not involve Jinx since no one wants that contract, and Mench isn't good enough to be worth anything.  If we do move one of them, by some dumb team feeling the need for something worthless (hi pittsburgh), then Nix will get the spot for his versatility.

Starters
Sheets
Cappy
Suppan
Bush
Vargas

It comforts me that our first line of defense for an injury is Carlos Villanueva, as opposed to Hendrickson or Jackson.  Gallardo will suplant the worst of these 6 after the break.

Relievers
Cordero
Turnbow
Wise
Shouse
Villanueva
Aquino
Meyers

That last one is just a shot in the dark.  Rivera would be more likely as a 3rd catcher, or even keeping Nix on the roster, but, 11 pitchers is not a situation Ned and Doug want.  Plus Balfour has just sucked this spring, and Meyers is getting the job somewhat done.  

If we were to trade Mench for anything, I would say relief help would be the thing to grab.

by hyattff2003 on Mar 21, 2007 1:00 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i really hope rottino stays
you can (usually) never go wrong with a guy like that, playing every position except pitcher. and, he went to uw-la crosse. case closed.

i wouldn't be so quick to write off miller yet though. i think he's still got some life in his bat and will benefit greatly from the reduced playing time. the brewers should learn their lesson from last year that you need to have all your bases covered (pun intended, even if it is a bad one). if estrada goes down, are you really comfortable with mike rivera playing every day? plus, we are going to need miller's veteranism for our playoff chase in september.

glad that braun is going to start the year in AAA. we've brought up too many prospects too early, we don't need another one with shattered confidence. but on the other hand, we really are going with a counsell/graffinino platoon at third, aren't we. that...isn't good.

by Griswald on Mar 21, 2007 10:24 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Damian Miller
I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of Damian Miller.  He happens to be a high character guy who works exceptionally well with pitchers and is still good behind the plate.  Brewer fans are going to find out pretty quickly that Johnny Estrada is a liability behind the plate and isn't nearly as good as Miller at working with the pitching staff.  What Estrada is good for is hitting for a "hollow average"...nice BA, not so nice OBP, not so much run production.  He's an OK ballplayer, but he has limitations that the Brewer pitching staff in particular is going to feel.  

by cubbiebrewerfan on Mar 21, 2007 12:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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