Off-season recap: themes to watch for in spring training and the early part of the season

[Loopee]

I, (like maybe some others here) simply can't focus on the Brewers during the offseason. (I've been watching my playoff thunder tube slowly deflate). However, now that i've watched the Bob Uecker winter warmup on cable, spring training is in full swing, and I've paid for my tix for the year i'm feeling behind the times in my Brewers-related knowledge. i'm wondering if any of you hardcore off-season brewerfan.net'ers would be willing to post a recap of what you think the major themes to watch for during ST and the begining of the season are. As a hardcore 8 month/yr fan I'd be eternally grateful.

[SeriesFinale]

I think the number one issue/concern is how well this rotation as constituted will perform.

 

A couple weeks back there was concern about pitching depth, but much of that fear has been allayed, for me at least

[sheetskout]

I think the biggest moves this offseason are the ones that most casual fans are overlooking; signing Macha and Randolph. I can't wait to see how those two bring out talent that has been latent most notably in Hall and Weeks.

[logan82]

I think casual fans care quite a bit about getting a new manager. So do many people who post here. I really doubt casual fans will overlook the manager. Macha is a "winner" after all.

[Ennder]

Brewers have one of the more set teams in baseball so there aren't that many big stories.

 

C- Macha said Kendall would get more rest this year to keep him fresh

1B - Fielder lost weight in the offseason, not sure who the backup is, I guess Lamb?

2B - Escobar is learning 2B just in case something happens

SS - Hardy is the starter, Escobar is a solid backup in case of injury

3B - Hall has starting job but is slightly injured right now as is Gamel who might win a job mid season.

LF - Braun has this covered, only concern with him would come from WBC.

CF - Cameron wasn't traded which ha some controversy to it since he was one of our few movable parts in the offseason

RF - Hart is the man, hopefully he starts taking walks again

4th OF - This is up in the air with Duffy taking the lead since Gwynn is hurt and Nixon is old

 

Rotation - This is pretty set, just a matter of how many innings each guy can go. McClung has the inside track on 6th starter, not sure who 7th is.

Bullpen - Lot of questions in bullpen, we have too many guys who should make the team and that is a good thing. Players with options will probably get screwed in here somewhere and end up in the minors behind worse pitchers.

 

 

Players who are gone - Sheets, Sabathia, Torres(retired), Mota, Turnbow, Shouse, Dillon, Kapler,

Players who are new - McGehee, Looper, Julio, Coffey, Hoffman, Swindle, Wright, Lamb

[Spidey]

Also, we lost 3TO to Jack Z, who we also lost. Brewers radio network also lost JP. He may be missed most.

[CheezWizHed]

Losing CC to the Yanks, who also signed Texieiieeiera (however its spelled), means we get dropped to a Supplemental + 2nd round pick.

 

Sheets needing surgery means we lost any compensation for him + probably have to foot the bill.

 

We did get a supplemental pick for losing Shouse to Tampa.

 

Although, they aren't ST items to watch...

[JohnBriggs12]

The key guy to watch this spring is Trot Nixon.

 

He could end up getting cut, or end up pushing Corey Hart for playing time. They went the cheap route for Nixon hoping he'd be this year's Gabe Kapler. If he's not they will need to deal to get another guy capable of filling in when either Braun or Hart misses time.

 

How the bullpen shakes out depends largely on 2 things. Those are Riske's health and Julio's command. Both are tenuous at best.

 

The longshot in camp to watch for me is Casey McGehee. It's conceivable that if Nixon struggles and Lamb has a big spring, they could use Lamb as backup corner OF and keep McGehee as extra man.

 

Everywhere else the die is cast at least for the first part of the year. Anyone wondering why Hall is set at 3rd for now just needs to look at his contract.

 

In the "I'd wish we see this but we probably won't department", I'd love to see Weeks play a little OF. Eventually a spot is going to have to open up for Escobar.

[chansen]

Not really worried about the big name pitchers on the club that are secured a spot. They typically use ST to work on their pitches. The people we should really be concentrating on are the players competing for a spot as well as guys trying to get experience at the ML level.

 

Duffy... 1-3 rbi k

Nixon... 0-2

 

Aguilar

Coffey... 1 ip 1 h 1 k

DiFelice

Dillard

Julio... 1 ip 2h 2er 1bb 1k 1hr

Morlan... 1 ip 1h

Swindle

Wright

 

Salome... 0-1 k

Escobar... 0-3 w/ 5 lob

Gamel

McGahee... 0-2

Gwynn

 

 

Also would like to monitor Weeks, Hart, and Rivera

[Loopee]

Sad to hear JP is leaving, hadn't heard that until today. Who is replacing him?

[logan82]

Cory Provus. Self admitted lifetime Cubs fan. Here's the 2nd thread on him. Link

 

Here's the first thread on him. Link

 

Link to BF.net goodbye from JP. Link

[RU Rah Rah]

For me, the big thing in the early season will be the rotation, and maybe the 3B situation (to a far lesser extent). Oh, and Rickie, too.