Episode 49 "Yovani Gallardo Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Looking Back 0:00-20:00

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Looking Ahead 20:00-43:00

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Prospect Talk 43:00-1:00:00

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Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 1:00:00-1:14:00

Brewers Top 10 Prospects 2012

Well, if we recorded episode 49 of the podcast tonight like originally planned I may have never written this. So this is kind of like the thing that was never supposed to be but happened anyway. Since we didn't record I felt like I should get something new up on the blog, been quite awhile since I wrote anything. I much prefer to talk Brewers baseball then write about it since I feel I am not very good at writing. Nothing long or flashy here, just the top 10 Brewers prospects in my humble opinion with a quick blurb about each player. I decided not to include any of the players the Crew drafted this year (Coulter, Roache, etc.) because I don't think I know quite enough about them yet to really rank them. Also chose not to include guys like Taylor Green or Michael Fiers since they are up and playing prominent roles with the Brewers now.

1. Taylor Jungmann (RHP): 1st round pick in 2011, pitching well in A+. Has the body, the stuff and experience to be a top half of the rotation guy. Should move quick through the system. 

2. Scooter Gennett (2B): Good approach at the plate and all he does is hit and hit and hit. Most pundits say its a plus hit tool. Not much power, but can really barrel a ball into the gap and down the line for doubles and triples. Okay glove at 2B with some speed on the bases.

3. Wily Peralta (RHP): Was most peoples #1 Brewers prospect coming into the season, but has struggled mightily at AAA after a great 2011. Still has a lot of upside and has a good chance of being in the big league rotation in 2013. 

4. Tyler Thornburg (RHP): Dominating AA this season. Looked good through 5 in big league debut spot start, but was chased in the 6th when he got gassed. Big fastball, good offspeed with a curve and change but needs to command them better for strikes.

5. Jed Bradley (LHP): Second 1st round pick in 2011, started season off pitching well at A+ but has struggled recently with a dip in velocity. Like Jungmann, he has the body and stuff. Should move through system quick. Hope that recent drop in velo is not due to an injury. 

6. Jimmy Nelson (RHP): Big right hander with a fantastic mid 90's sinking fastball. Needs to command his slider better but he has the ability to miss bats and get a lot of grounders. 

7. Caleb Gindl (OF): Has hit at every level. Has a little power, but more of a doubles hitter. Can play either corner OF spot respectably. Good OBP guy, if Brewers leave Hart at 1B, could get his shot in 2013.

8. Logan Schafer (OF): Might be best defensive CF in entire org, including Gomez. Decent hitter, gets on base has speed to steal bases. Could start in CF in the bigs as early as 2013.

9. Drew Gagnon (RHP): Off to a really good start in A ball this season. Good low 90's fastball and a nasty slider. Needs to develop better changeup to stay a starter. 

10. Orlando Arcia (SS): 17 year old out of Venezula. Super athletic, good defender. Has a stick to, hit for average with flashes of power. Good OBP skills. Guys would could walk more than he K's. Unfortunately he will miss this season due to a fractured ankle.

-Jason

Episode 48 "Tim Dillard Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Bullpen Woes (It Aint 2011 Anymore) 0:00-20:00

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Lineup Construction 20:00-39:00

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Guest Interview: Adam Rygg of Brewer Nation 39:00-1:03:00

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Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 1:03:00-1:14:15

Episode 47 "Jorge De La Rosa Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

When/Should They Sell? 0:00-20:00

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Draft Review 20:00-35:30

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Corey Hart: 1B or RF? 35:30-45:30

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Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner/Mail 45:30-57:30

Episode 46 "Ray King Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Roster Moves: Ransom & McClendon 0:00-16:30

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Luuuuuuuuuc On Fire! 17:00-29:00

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Guest Interview: Vince of Miller Park Drunk 29:30-48:00

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Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 48:00-1:05:00

The Real Solution At First Base

There has been a lot of talks in recent days about how to solve the conundrum at First Base in Milwaukee. Of course the current rumor is that they are moving Cory Hart from Right Field. Right now the situation is an odd platoon of Travis Ishikawa and Taylor Green.  The simple solution should be move George Kottaras over and call up Martin Maldanado. 

Looking at the current situation, I think it is easy enough to see that those options will not work long term. Green while being a top prospect for the organization in some form, he has a career line of .254/.262/.339 in the major leagues, granted in limited work. A first baseman should be able to slug at least .400 and be a major run producer in the lineup. Ishikawa or Trishi doesn’t fit the bill either. In over 300 games played, the first baseman doesn’t even have 20 home runs. In a full season, he has never even produced more than 40 runs. That production will not help an already struggling Brewers lineup. Even playing at a career high level, Trishi still is only hitting .246, well below his career average.

So, move Cory Hart to first base. Makes sense, the Brewers starting right fielder has slugged over .500 each of the last two season, has 20-30 homer power, and has shown he can be a big time run producer in the lineup. There is no doubt in my mind he could be a serviceable first baseman. The real question is who would replace him? Is it worth filling one hole in a starting lineup only to create another? Your options in right field after Hart include, Nyjer Morgan, Carlos Gomez and Norichika Aoki. All are plus defenders, but only Gomez has a truly serviceable arm in right. Morgan and Aoki both have lesser arm strength, and considering your right fielder needs to make the longest throw on the field, they could not play there every day. As late inning fill ins, sure, but not everyday. Next you’re looking at what type of production you want from a right fielder. 

The only right fielder without some pop in the majors is Ichiro. Every other player can hit at least 20 homers and probably slug above .470. Morgan, Gomez and Aoki can’t touch that. Looking at their career slash lines, .283/.343/.366, .244/.292/.361, and in a short sample size .295/.358/.426. None of those lines is the line of a respectable right fielder. 

So without creating another hole, the last option is move George Kottaras over and bring up Martin Maldanado. Kottaras is having a career year. The Brewer should want to capitalize on that and get their best players in the lineup. Hopefully that starts some sort of winning atmosphere when the lineup has a better chance to regularly produce. Kottaras has never had a career slash line of what you would like out of a starting first baseman, but he definitely has power. 

The most games Kottaras has played in a season is 67. In that season he had nine homers and 27 RBI’s. He only had a .396 slugging percentage, but in just 43 hits, 22 of those were for extra bases. That is proof that the lifetime backup catcher can smash. Also, that season Kottaras only had a .203 batting average. Maldanado may be an unproven question mark, but considering it’s a bat that would only be in the lineup every now and again, I can’t imagine it being a large enough factor compared to taking away power or playing an under producing player as a starter every day. I'd rather have a weak bench, than a lineup filled with backups. This is in my mind the most serviceable move for the Brewers to make.

-Brad

Episode 45 "Mark DiFelice Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Injuries Piling Up, Lost Season? 0:00-18:00
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Melvin & Roenicke Extensions 18:30-31:30
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MiLB Talk 32:30-47:30
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Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 48:00-58:00

Episode 44 "Hank Aaron Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

5-4 Homestand vs Dodgers/Rockies/Astros 0:00-16:00
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Carlos Gomez, Curb Your Enthusiasm? 16:30-27:30
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Interview: Jaymes Langrehr of DisciplesOfUecker.com 28:00-49:30
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 49:30-59:30