Brewers OF situation

by Falcoatl on Mar 2, 2008 9:47 PM EST

What is the consensus around here on who will end up in CF long term for the Brewers? Cameron is there until Laporta makes his way up, but obviously he's not CF material. Is Hart or Braun the better option there? I personally love the defense Hart plays in RF, but does management prefer to leave him there?

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My thoughts

When all is sorted out:
LaPorta-RF
Braun-LF
Hart-CF
Cameron-bench

--http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Bobby Mcnally (alias) "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."--Napoleon Hall

by bobbymcnally on Mar 2, 2008 10:02 PM EST 0 recs

Cameron

Since Cameron is signed for only one year, you think they are going to do this change THIS year?

LaPorta and Braun both learning the outfield on the fly in the majors, while a good defender in Cameron sits, seems unlikely.

by jonk1982 on Mar 3, 2008 1:04 AM EST up 0 recs

got the corners flipped...

There's absolutely no reason to put Braun in LF and LaPorta in right when Braun has the better arm.

Also, they won't bring up LaPorta until September. Unless Cameron sucks, that is.

by mraver on Mar 3, 2008 10:02 AM EST up 0 recs

With as unbalanced as the Brewer's

offense/defense is, I would think that Cameron's got even more value than usual in the lineup - especially as Braun feels his way around LF in the bigs for his first full season. Hard to picture Cameron sitting and an OF of Braun/Hart/LaPorta in 2008.

Now, in 2009, I could see it....depending on how Braun looks on D as a possible RF, and how LaPorta looks on both O and on D as a possible LF....but there's an an awful lot of assessment to happen between now and then.

I see Laporta coming up in Sept, but not before, barring some kind of injury that would get him regular ABs in LF or 1B.

Or, the Brewers could also petition to move back into the AL.

gogotabata: "I'm like the biggest Walden fan around here (adult division)..."

by siddfynch on Mar 3, 2008 10:52 AM EST up 0 recs

Another thought

I personally believe the "renewal" of Fielders current contract results in LaPorta landing in the majors as a 1b. Maybe even sooner than expected. I'm starting to reconsider my stance on whether he makes a september audition now, I think it's a possibility.

by scstrato on Mar 2, 2008 10:08 PM EST 0 recs

yeah

I don't think anyone in that organization expects to be able to keep Fielder once he hits free agency, which probably means he'll be dealt before then. LaPorta may spend one year in the majors as an outfielder but I'm fairly sure he'll be their starting firstbaseman once they ship off Fielder in the next couple of seasons.

by was385 on Mar 2, 2008 11:06 PM EST up 0 recs

I'm wondering

I'm wondering if the Brewers don't look to do something earlier than that, especially if LaPorta dominates the minors and does well in a september callup. If Fielder puts up another 45/50 HR season with good average he might (even probably) be in line for Howard type money since he is arb eligible next year. Can you imagine what his trade value would be next year compared to when he reaches FA?

I know it's a longshot, but I think it's possible.

by scstrato on Mar 2, 2008 11:16 PM EST up 0 recs

hmmmm

Prince is one of the only guys I would feel ok about the Reds unloading their big prospects for.... Bruce/Bailey/Cueto for Prince? the only thing is that theyre in the same division...but damn...Prince, Dunn, and Junior are 3 big lefty bats to go with Phillips in that lineup... I think EE makes a big step this year too.

by daveh33 on Mar 2, 2008 11:25 PM EST up 0 recs

or how bout the Rays?

McGee, Davis, Hellickson, Sonnanstine for Prince? great goodness Prince in the middle of THAT lineup with Pena and BOSSMAN hitting around him, and Carl Crawford already on base...Theo would sh** his pants

by daveh33 on Mar 2, 2008 11:28 PM EST up 0 recs

As a Brewers fan...

... I would take this trade in a second. Not now, but possibly in a year or so.

Batting order...
1 - Weeks - 2B
2 - Hart - CF
3 - Braun - RF
4 - LaPorta - 1B
5 - Bruce - LF
6 - Hall - 3B
7 - Hardy - SS
8 - ??? - C

Rotation...
1 - Sheets (If we can afford him)
2 - Gallardo
3 - Cueto
4 - Bailey
5 - Parra
Villanueva
Capuano
Bush

I would like our chances of competing for several years with that lineup.

Ichiro, on facing Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time: "I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."

by DaleCoop14 on Mar 3, 2008 4:16 PM EST up 0 recs

Agreed

And one of Cueto or Bailey might also make SHeets expendable, thus raking in more prospects.

gogotabata: "I'm like the biggest Walden fan around here (adult division)..."

by siddfynch on Mar 3, 2008 4:53 PM EST up 0 recs

Win

I agree that these moves would definitely help rake in the prospects, but... at what point do the Brewers actually start winning? Sometimes, you have to keep the guy who can help right now. This deal would set the rebuilding process back at least a year, maybe two. That wouldn't be very good for the health of the franchise.

A better idea? Keep the talent that's already there, and go try and pick up one more big time arm.

by GuyinNY on Mar 3, 2008 7:03 PM EST up 0 recs

Agreed

My statement assumes that with Cueto and Bailey in the fold, the money for Sheets might be better spent on another need....if not, then hang onto Sheets too.

gogotabata: "I'm like the biggest Walden fan around here (adult division)..."

by siddfynch on Mar 3, 2008 7:08 PM EST up 0 recs

HOLD ON ONE MINUTE

why would the brewers need prospects? where will all the prospects go?

--http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Bobby Mcnally (alias) "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."--Napoleon Hall

by bobbymcnally on Mar 3, 2008 7:42 PM EST up 0 recs

Fielder

Fielder is under the Brewers' control through 2011. They can afford to pay him. They will. This recent discontent is being blown way out of proporation.

by jonk1982 on Mar 3, 2008 1:07 AM EST up 0 recs

no they can't

The Brewers are not going to have enough money to keep him once he hits free agency. He's going to be looking for a huge payday that they won't be able to afford and with LaPorta behind him, it really wouldn't be worth it. The only question is whether they keep him until the deadline before he is FA eligible or trade him a year before that.

by was385 on Mar 3, 2008 8:08 AM EST up 0 recs

Free Agency

You're missing the point. He's not an FA until 2011. The question becomes how the arbitration process goes and does Fielder become a $10 million a year player as quickly as Howard does.

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 3, 2008 9:20 AM EST up 0 recs

Yeah

If the Brewers trade Fielder, it will be in 2010. I'd be shocked if a move came before then.

by guru4u on Mar 3, 2008 12:33 PM EST up 0 recs

subject

Why would the Brewers not have enough money to keep Prince? I don't think how much money the Brewers have will matter. If they have a guy like laporta sitting there ready to fill in at 10 - 12 million less a year you have to move Prince. You can spend that money on another need. If the Brewers have no other option at first then they will lock up Prince.

I can understand Prince wanting more money now, but the Brewers are paying him according to the scale they set up for young players. If prince maintains his numbers he will make truck loads of money.

by Josh on Mar 3, 2008 9:41 AM EST up 0 recs

OF situation as it relates to Prince

All great points - I think to recap, we're looking at:

2008 OF of Braun, Cameron, Hart

2009 OF of Braun, Cameron, Hart (Cameron's club option picked up due to somewhat successful season with the Crew - both ofensively and defensively). Prince gets $10 million in Arby

2010 OF of LaPorta, Hart and Braun. Prince gets $12 million in Arby.

2011 OF of Gillespie, Hart and Braun. LaPorta at 1st after Prince is traded in the offseason for a pitching package. Or maybe they keep him for his final year of Arby???

Curious to see how this all plays out...

by mjwelch11 on Mar 3, 2008 12:40 PM EST 0 recs

OF Situation

The Brewer's offense isn't the problem...the problem with the Brewer's is their infielder's fielding ability or lack thereof.

Unless the infield defensive shortcomings are addressed, the Brewers will continue to struggle much like a basketball that can't hit free throws.

Honestly, how many potential leftfielders does this club need?

by flexballer14 on Mar 4, 2008 12:30 AM EST 0 recs

Its a softball team.

Melvin at some point has to address defense. Last year was horrendous. You can't have the league's worst 3rd baseman throwing short hops to the league's worst 1st baseman. Weeks to Prince is also an adventure. Gamel and LaPorta also have the same MO. Great bat, but the glove of a DH.

by duke on Mar 4, 2008 10:33 AM EST up 0 recs