they also have Zarraga, Palmisano (ML-backup potentially) and Eric Fryer, who fared very well at Low A West Virginia.

For an organization that as little as 3 years ago had NO catching prospects, these guys are starting to look like Texas Rangers Lite.

Our three current (real) possibilities are Salome, Lucroy, and Lawrie. Of those three, only Salome has played at AA, obviously performing very well. However, he also has had past issues in the form of a suspension for illegal substances. His main issue, of course, is and will be defense. He is a great pure hitter, probably the best out of this group of catchers though he has a very strange batting stance.

Lucroy had a great year splitting time between A and A+ ball. His BABIP was pretty high, and may have contributed to that, though his OBP in A was .391 and in A+ was .364—pretty good. He was already 22 last year, but is moving up rapidly.

I don’t know much about Lawrie except that he was a highly regarded prospect when he was the last first round draft pick by draft guru Jack Zduriencik. He is a developing player who has not had very much experience behind the dish. He has publicly stated that he wants to reach the majors within two years, however, and seems to have the bat to do so.

Any of these players could concievably switch positions, with Salome being stuck at catcher more than the others due to stature.

Salome will probably be given the opportunity to catch in 2010, after the departure of incumbent Jason Kendall. After that, it depends on how well he performs, and how well the others perform, and who switches positions or is traded.

I think that if he stays on course, Salome will be given every opportunity to be given the starters job. The Brewers have never shied away from big bat, little defense guys before. (see Braun, Fielder, Weeks, Gamel, etc…)

Obviously Lucroy hasn’t played at more advanced levels, and isn’t the jump from A to AA supposed to be the most challenging? I think we will know more about him after this upcoming year, though I would venture to guess, at the rate he is going, that he will be a capable starting catcher somewhere.

Hope that helps with Brewers catching questions. Sorry about the length.

I think and hope Brett Lawrie will be the Brewers catcher in 2012. Apparently, Lawire told the Brewers before they drafted him that he really wants to try to stay at catcher as a professinal. According to Brewers Assistant GM Gord Ash, the Brewers plan on grants him that request.

However, I think Salome will get the first chance to stick as a regular after Kendall leaves. I would guess that Salome will do well with the bat, but have trouble being a MLB catcher defensively. I predict he will become more of a 2nd string catcher and bat off the bench.

I think will get the next chance and I think he could stick as a MLB regular. I like his plate disipline and defensive potential. I predict he continues a steady development in the minors and eventually passes Salome if he stays in the system.

Also, don’t forget about one-time “prospect” Lou Palmisano, who has battled injuries and should be the starting catcher at AAA Nashville to start 2009. I could see him breaking through with the bat and getting a chance to back up Kendall for the Brew Crew latter in 2009.

Gallardo isn’t a “once in a generation pitcher”. He’s probably a fringe #1 pitcher. Roger Clemens is a once in a generation pitcher.

The numbers you put for Gamel would probably put him in the top seven or eight third basemen in the league, with the obvious potential to get much better. In all likelihood, he won’t stay at third. He will probably either be moved to the outfield or to first base if/when Fielder gets traded, which gets more and more likely every year.

Alcides Escobar: He probably won’t be OBPing .360 even in his career. But he is heralded as the best defensive player in the minor leagues, and he plays arguably the most important defensive position in baseball. From everything I’ve ever heard, he could be the best defensive shortstop in the game today. JJ Hardy was, in many rankings, the top defensive shortstop in baseball, or at least in the top three. And people think Escobar is better than he is. Sure, his bat needs to still catch up a little, which is why he will probably be at AAA to start 2009. However, my guess is he turns into a .280/.320/.400 regular with about 40 steals a year. His speed will definitaly be an asset in him getting on base more.

Angel Salome won’t be a major-league backup catcher. He will be given every opportunity to start at catcher, and if that doesn’t work he could concievably switch positions, though most likely not. If he is THAT terrible at catcher, he will be traded to an AL team who can use him as a DH. He has a great bat, not one that deserves to be on the bench.

I agree with you on The Hurricane. He’ll be at best a utility player. He’s a virtual non-prospect now.

Brad Nelson, I like as a backup player, like you. However, I would also, if Fielder were traded, like to see him play first base full time as a stopgap until Gamel is ready.

Jeremy Jeffress: He’s already surpassed where Mike Jones and Rogers were just by making it to AA, and probably AAA next season. I think his ceiling is going to be higher than Gallardo’s is, though whether he’ll be able to reach that, I don’t know. Really, barring major injury, if he sticks at starting pitcher, he will probably be at least a #2 guy. I wouldn’t mind seeing him switch to closer, either. With his pitching repertoire and 100 MPH fastball, he could be a dominant bullpen guy.

I also agree with you on Taylor Green, though he’s not really underrated. I think most people who are projecting him from his time at A+ think he will put up similar numbers. I also think Gamel will be better than him. If Gamel does somehow stick at 3B, I would want Green to go back to his natural position of 2B.

Cole Gillespie will probably be a fourth outfielder, though probably with a long career. He could be a decent starting outfielder for a team who is in need of an OF.

For Lucroy (and Green), I want to see them play at AA before I make any kind of projection about them, as that is supposed to be the hardest step up in baseball. I think Salome’s bat will be much, much better than Lucroy and would give him more reason to stick at C, especially hearing how Salome has been improving behind the dish. I don’t think Lucroy is a whiz defensively either, but we’ll see how he does next year.

I don’t know too much about the rest, though a couple things:
-Oderizzi over Jeffress? Maybe in a couple years. Jeffress is much more established and Oderizzi hasn’t done much in the minors yet, so for now I’ll take Jeffress and his dominant stuff.

-In RE: Frederickson, Manny Parra is a LHP who hasn’t mastered his command yet either. Nor did Randy Johnson for the first part of his career.

Right now, I think both Gamel and Salome have very good chances at being hitting stars in the majors. I think Escobar has a chance to be the best defensive SS in recent years and a very solid regular with the bat. And I think Jeffress could conceivably pass Gallardo (though I admit that is unlikely). Otherwise there are a few solid players who could be good regulars (Lucroy, Green) and a number of bench players.

Uhh…isn’t Jeffress trying to get that way with the pot smoking?

In all seriousness though, I do think Gallardo is more likely to have the better career. I think that Jeffress has the better stuff, though, and if he were to get everything together would be as good, if not better than Gallardo. I really can’t speak towards his demeanor as I haven’t seen him pitch but am going on word of mouth and statistics. The pot smoking throws out a flag, though I would expect him to mature from that over time and with supervision. I thought he went to rehab and he said it helped him a lot. Have you seen him pitch before? For all I know, he could be calm as Yovani or temperamental as Carlos Zambrano.

Like I said, there have been rumblings how he could be a dominant bullpen guy if he doesn’t stick in the rotation for some reason.

I’m certainly excited to see him in AAA next year.