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PEORIA, Ariz. – The churning of the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster situation is enough to make your head spin.
Or worse.
“It makes me want to puke,” Pat Murphy said.
While the Brewers manager can hopefully manage to keep his insides, well, inside between now and opening day next Thursday, his club’s current roster situation is certainly queasiness-inducing.
Injuries are at the forefront of that. Starting pitcher Tobias Myers suffered an oblique injury Saturday that will land him on the injured list to open the year. Fellow rotation candidates Aaron Ashby and DL Hall already were injured earlier in camp. Infielder Brice Turang is battling a shoulder ailment. And then there’s reliever Nick Mears, who will start the season on the 15-day IL because he was sick and lost nearly 10 pounds, perhaps taking Murphy’s words a bit too literally.
“We’re up against it a little bit,” Murphy said.
Just a little bit?
“A lot of bit.”
In a matter of only a few days, the Brewers’ roster discussion went from seemingly set to feeling like it’s taking place on a chess board. Even still, Murphy declared the puzzle, one that has all the top members of the Brewers’ brass in a state of constant meetings, a fairly simple one.
“You guys can figure it out,” Murphy said. “You only have so many options.”
Challenge accepted.
Let’s see if we can’t deduce where the Brewers’ roster currently stands.
William Contreras, Eric Haase
Nothing to see or talk about here – it’s the one position with full health.
Mark Canha, Vinny Capra, Oliver Dunn, Caleb Durbin, Rhys Hoskins, Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang
From right to left positionally, Hoskins, Turang, Ortiz and Dunn are the regulars on the infield. The Brewers are adamant that Turang’s right shoulder fatigue isn’t going to require an injured list stint, but they still aren’t quite out of the woods yet on it and that makes it worth monitoring.
Vinny Capra has all but been told he has made the team as a backup infielder.
“I think you guys have deduced that since Capra can play shortstop he’s our guy,” Murphy said.
That leaves two spots on the bench still to be decided, with Canha, Durbin and Andruw Monasterio (you could throw utilityman Isaac Collins in there, too, though he’s been primarily an outfielder this spring).
Canha will have to be informed by Friday whether or not he’s made the club. He’s one of the veterans on the roster – Margot is another – with an opt out in his minor-league deal. Every sign this spring has pointed to Canha making the club.
All indications from Murphy have been that Capra and Monasterio were the ones battling for a bench spot most of camp, and Durbin was mostly grouped in a platoon with Dunn. Durbin hasn’t been told he made the team yet and isn’t necessarily a lock, but it would be a surprise not to see him included.
Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich
Also nothing to see or talk about here. Blake Perkins continues to recover from his fractured shin and Manuel Margot hasn’t looked nearly good enough on defense for the Brewers to be comfortable with him in right field.
Aaron Civale, Nestor Cortes, Freddy Peralta, José Quintana
Unless the Brewers can find a way to keep Quintana off the roster on opening day without having to place him on the injured list, this will be their top four. They’ll need someone from the bullpen ranks, possibly Tyler Alexander or Elvin Rodriguez, to slot into the rotation for the time being while Tobias Myers returns from his oblique injury.
Tyler Alexander, Bryan Hudson, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Elvin Rodriguez, Connor Thomas, Abner Uribe
This is where things get tricky. The injury to Myers opened up the floodgate for dozens of different permutations and possibilities for the Brewers. It’s what Murphy has been talking about in meetings with the Brewers front office members.
“We sat and went over every single scenario that we’re talking about right now,” Murphy said. “We didn’t solve anything. But I’ll tell you this – roster spots are very important and depth is so important on a team like this.”
Myers’ injury also could factor into how the Brewers approach Uribe’s looming suspension.
Previously, it seemed like they would open the year with him on the roster. With an off-day following opening day and a rested bullpen, it would be as good a time as there is to get the suspension out of the way.
Now, though, with only three fully-stretched out starters in the rotation, the Brewers are going to need as much length from the bullpen as possible. But if, say, Alexander or Rodriguez or Thomas are tasked with starting the home opener, their availability in New York would be limited. Would Milwaukee be too thin in the bullpen if a spot was used on Uribe?
You’ll notice that camp standout Craig Yoho isn’t on the roster. Murphy hinted that maintaining organizational depth would be at the center of roster decisions, and Yoho isn’t yet on the 40-man roster. He could very well open the year in the minor leagues.
If Yoho starts at Class AAA, that puts Uribe on the roster unless the Brewers dip into minor-league camp depth. That would mean Grant Anderson, who’s on the 40-man, would make the team.
Whatever the Brewers choose to open the year with, expect moves on the pitching side shortly thereafter. They have a cascade of pitchers with minor-league options remaining and could cycle fresh arms in as needed.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Predicting the Milwaukee Brewers' opening day roster
Continue reading...
Or worse.
“It makes me want to puke,” Pat Murphy said.
While the Brewers manager can hopefully manage to keep his insides, well, inside between now and opening day next Thursday, his club’s current roster situation is certainly queasiness-inducing.
Injuries are at the forefront of that. Starting pitcher Tobias Myers suffered an oblique injury Saturday that will land him on the injured list to open the year. Fellow rotation candidates Aaron Ashby and DL Hall already were injured earlier in camp. Infielder Brice Turang is battling a shoulder ailment. And then there’s reliever Nick Mears, who will start the season on the 15-day IL because he was sick and lost nearly 10 pounds, perhaps taking Murphy’s words a bit too literally.
“We’re up against it a little bit,” Murphy said.
Just a little bit?
“A lot of bit.”
In a matter of only a few days, the Brewers’ roster discussion went from seemingly set to feeling like it’s taking place on a chess board. Even still, Murphy declared the puzzle, one that has all the top members of the Brewers’ brass in a state of constant meetings, a fairly simple one.
“You guys can figure it out,” Murphy said. “You only have so many options.”
Challenge accepted.
Let’s see if we can’t deduce where the Brewers’ roster currently stands.
Catchers (2)
William Contreras, Eric Haase
Nothing to see or talk about here – it’s the one position with full health.
You must be registered for see images
Infielders (7)
Mark Canha, Vinny Capra, Oliver Dunn, Caleb Durbin, Rhys Hoskins, Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang
From right to left positionally, Hoskins, Turang, Ortiz and Dunn are the regulars on the infield. The Brewers are adamant that Turang’s right shoulder fatigue isn’t going to require an injured list stint, but they still aren’t quite out of the woods yet on it and that makes it worth monitoring.
Vinny Capra has all but been told he has made the team as a backup infielder.
“I think you guys have deduced that since Capra can play shortstop he’s our guy,” Murphy said.
That leaves two spots on the bench still to be decided, with Canha, Durbin and Andruw Monasterio (you could throw utilityman Isaac Collins in there, too, though he’s been primarily an outfielder this spring).
Canha will have to be informed by Friday whether or not he’s made the club. He’s one of the veterans on the roster – Margot is another – with an opt out in his minor-league deal. Every sign this spring has pointed to Canha making the club.
All indications from Murphy have been that Capra and Monasterio were the ones battling for a bench spot most of camp, and Durbin was mostly grouped in a platoon with Dunn. Durbin hasn’t been told he made the team yet and isn’t necessarily a lock, but it would be a surprise not to see him included.
Outfielders (4)
Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich
Also nothing to see or talk about here. Blake Perkins continues to recover from his fractured shin and Manuel Margot hasn’t looked nearly good enough on defense for the Brewers to be comfortable with him in right field.
Starting pitchers (4)
Aaron Civale, Nestor Cortes, Freddy Peralta, José Quintana
Unless the Brewers can find a way to keep Quintana off the roster on opening day without having to place him on the injured list, this will be their top four. They’ll need someone from the bullpen ranks, possibly Tyler Alexander or Elvin Rodriguez, to slot into the rotation for the time being while Tobias Myers returns from his oblique injury.
Relief pitchers (9)
You must be registered for see images attach
Tyler Alexander, Bryan Hudson, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Elvin Rodriguez, Connor Thomas, Abner Uribe
This is where things get tricky. The injury to Myers opened up the floodgate for dozens of different permutations and possibilities for the Brewers. It’s what Murphy has been talking about in meetings with the Brewers front office members.
“We sat and went over every single scenario that we’re talking about right now,” Murphy said. “We didn’t solve anything. But I’ll tell you this – roster spots are very important and depth is so important on a team like this.”
Myers’ injury also could factor into how the Brewers approach Uribe’s looming suspension.
Previously, it seemed like they would open the year with him on the roster. With an off-day following opening day and a rested bullpen, it would be as good a time as there is to get the suspension out of the way.
Now, though, with only three fully-stretched out starters in the rotation, the Brewers are going to need as much length from the bullpen as possible. But if, say, Alexander or Rodriguez or Thomas are tasked with starting the home opener, their availability in New York would be limited. Would Milwaukee be too thin in the bullpen if a spot was used on Uribe?
You’ll notice that camp standout Craig Yoho isn’t on the roster. Murphy hinted that maintaining organizational depth would be at the center of roster decisions, and Yoho isn’t yet on the 40-man roster. He could very well open the year in the minor leagues.
If Yoho starts at Class AAA, that puts Uribe on the roster unless the Brewers dip into minor-league camp depth. That would mean Grant Anderson, who’s on the 40-man, would make the team.
Whatever the Brewers choose to open the year with, expect moves on the pitching side shortly thereafter. They have a cascade of pitchers with minor-league options remaining and could cycle fresh arms in as needed.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Predicting the Milwaukee Brewers' opening day roster
Continue reading...
