/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/5906641/117729191.0.jpg)
Sometimes on a slow news day my brain wanders a bit, and here's where it went yesterday: What's the best possible 25-man roster of currently active former Brewers, and would that roster be better than what we're likely to see on Opening Day?
Correct me if I'm missing anyone, but here's the 25 I'd put together:
Position | Player | 2013 Team | Season(s) as Brewer |
C | George Kottaras | Athletics | 2010-12 |
1B | Prince Fielder | Tigers | 2005-11 |
2B | Jerry Hairston Jr. | Dodgers | 2011 |
3B | Casey McGehee | Japan | 2009-11 |
SS | J.J. Hardy | Orioles | 2005-09 |
LF | Nelson Cruz | Rangers | 2005 |
RF | Lorenzo Cain | Royals | 2010 |
CF | Nyjer Morgan | Free Agent | 2011-12 |
Bench C | Wil Nieves | Diamondbacks | 2011 |
Bench IF | Bill Hall | Free agent | 2002-09 |
Bench IF | Alcides Escobar | Royals | 2008-10 |
Bench OF | Tony Gwynn Jr. | Dodgers | 2006-08 |
Bench OF | Laynce Nix | Phillies | 2006-08 |
SP #1 | CC Sabathia | Yankees | 2008 |
SP #2 | Zack Greinke | Dodgers | 2011-12 |
SP #3 | Chris Capuano | Dodgers | 2004-10 |
SP #4 | Shaun Marcum | Free agent | 2011-12 |
SP #5 | Carlos Villanueva | Cubs | 2006-10 |
Closer | Francisco Rodriguez | Free agent | 2011-12 |
Set up A | Mike Adams | Phillies | 2004-06 |
Set up B |
Grant Balfour | Athletics | 2007 |
Middle Relief |
Todd Coffey | Free agent | 2008-10 |
Middle Relief | Kameron Loe | Free agent | 2010-12 |
LOOGY | Mitch Stetter | Angels | 2007-11 |
Long Relief | LaTroy Hawkins | Free agent | 2010-11 |
The 2013 Brewers will almost certainly score more runs than this hypothetical team would, but with that rotation I'm not sure it'd matter. And it gets even better if you allow them to add former Brewer minor leaguer R.A. Dickey.
This team is pretty weak at catcher, although Yorvit Torrealba would be an option if you're willing to count his five September 2012 games as a Brewer.
An old problem would resurface with both Alcides Escobar and J.J. Hardy vying for playing time at shortstop. In this case one would almost certainly have to change positions to cover for a weak option at second and third base. And this team would probably want Hairston to play some games in the outfield, because most of their options out there are terrible.
At first I thought this bullpen could be weak, but readers have since reminded me to add Grant Balfour and Mike Adams and now it looks like a strength. And again, a strong rotation would mean they wouldn't have to work much.
So who wins?