Who's Your Favorite Longshot to Make the MLB Roster?

[Jim Goulart]

Forgive me as this was probably covered elsewhere but does Boggs have any options left? Can he be sent to Nashville?. I like Boggs better than Kotsay on so many levels...

No options remaining, guessing he'd clear waivers and accept a spot with the Sounds.

 

[YoungGeezy]

Erik Almonte is making is case know right now for making this team! I was surprised they haven't put him out in LF or RF for a game, played a couple last year in AAA.

[JohnBriggs12]

Boggs was sunk the day they signed Kotsay.

I'm not so sure he won't beat out Dickerson. Especially when they figure to have Jeremy Reed and Logan Schafer who can both play CF too at AAA and AA.

[fondybrewfan]

Why is everyone saying it is a foregone conclusion that Kotsay makes the team? Its not like they are paying the guy $5 million.

[GormanHarvey]

Because if you read between the lines on Roenicke's quotes he makes it a foregone conclusion. He's already counting him and Counsell as lefty bench bats; that's why he wants the final guy to be RH or switch (Boggs)

[RockCoCougars]

I'm not sure why it's a foregone conclusion that Dickerson has earned a spot over Boggs. Boggs seems to be hitting pretty well, and you also have to consider that Dickerson has an option left and Boggs does not (to the best of my knowledge). It would be nice to have a switch hitter on the club for a change as well.

[dadofandrew]

Sending Dickerson to AAA allows them to keep both he and Boggs, so that makes perfect sense to me. Gamel and Dickerson in AAA allows you to keep two guys up that are out of options.

[logan82]

Normally I would agree with keeping as many guys as possible but not this year. We are at a point where every single win is important. Dickerson platooned with Gomez would probably help add a win or two.

[The Truth]

Almonte with his 3rd HR of the spring today, currently batting over .400 in an extremely small sample

[The Truth]

Katin. The guy can straight up obliterate the ball.

26 HR's and a .962 OPS in 336 AB's last season in AAA ... plus a .382 OBP ... the guy rakes against lefties, he'd be great to have in a platoon role in RF if Hart's injury goes longer than expected. For whatever reason the Brewers don't seem high on him though

[The Truth]

In contrast with Katin's .962 OPS & 26 HR's, Almonte had 2 HR's and a .792 OPS in about the same amount of at-bats in AAA ball (he did bat .320, OBP of .377). Why exactly is Almonte getting more props than Katin again?

[PrinceEatMeat]

I think Boggs is really making a case to make this team. He is hitting very well, he's a switch hitter, and he has no options left. Almonte is playing very well, but I really don't see us keeping him on the roster ahead of Cruz. I could see Dickerson getting sent to AAA, just because of the option he has left. It feels like they are really giving Boggs a shot by giving him lots of ABs this spring. If he continues to hit, I don't see how he won't be on the opening day roster.

[dadofandrew]

Almonte can play any position besides C and CF. Katin can play LF/RF.

 

Cruz can't hit a lick, and can only play 2B/SS, what Counsell can do as well. Luis' skills are limited and duplicated.

[endaround]

Almonte has basically been 1B/DH the past couple of years. If he could actually play SS he wouldn't be a career minor leaguer. Now he'd be a better option than Kotsay since having a LH backup 1B on the Brewers makes little sense. But expecting Almonte to cover the middle infield makes little sense as well.

[The Truth]

With Counsell backing up at SS/2B, they really don't need Cruz and his extremely light-weight bat.... Almonte hasn't shown much power at all in the Minors. He did hit .320 in AAA though... I've read that a big part of the problem with Katin is strike-outs, at an almost Russell Branyan pace, without the 3TO amount of walks... I think Boggs is ahead of all of them, but as others have said, Boggs may end up being the 4th OF with Dickerson in Nashville, leaving open a spot...

 

Cruz had better be a gold glove fielder because that bat might not hit .200 (which brings me to Kottaras: why the fascination with a catcher who can't throw and can barely hit .200? "Chicks dig the long ball" does not compute)

[TooLiveBrew]

2010 composite NL catcher OPS: .713. Kottaras: .701. His BABIP of .209 really held his AVG down last season, and is almost certainly not going to repeat itself in '11. He has a good walk rate, & hits for power. Guys like that at catcher are rare. Plus, he's a lefty bat to complement the starter Lucroy as a RH.

[GormanHarvey]

2010 composite NL catcher OPS: .713. Kottaras: .701. His BABIP of .209 really held his AVG down last season, and is almost certainly not going to repeat itself in '11. He has a good walk rate, & hits for power. Guys like that at catcher are rare. Plus, he's a lefty bat to complement the starter Lucroy as a RH.

Can't argue with any of that. I will say he is rather poor defensively; especially throwing the ball

 

 

[TooLiveBrew]

I definitely won't argue he's a good defender. I really liked him at the plate last season, even with the relatively poor overall results. Thought he worked the count well, and I just like his approach.

[dadofandrew]

Almonte is not an everyday 2B/SS. However, he could play there for a day or two if needed, if an injury occurs, takes a while to get someone to Miami if Nashville is in Tacoma, or so on. Other than Counsell, who'd be the next SS...I'd guess McGehee or Weeks...oof.

[logan82]

Almonte is not an everyday 2B/SS. However, he could play there for a day or two if needed, if an injury occurs, takes a while to get someone to Miami if Nashville is in Tacoma, or so on. Other than Counsell, who'd be the next SS...I'd guess McGehee or Weeks...oof.

Maybe Kotsay could play 2B or SS also. Heck bring in Braun he played in the infield at one point.

 

 

[trwi7]

Almonte is not an everyday 2B/SS. However, he could play there for a day or two if needed, if an injury occurs, takes a while to get someone to Miami if Nashville is in Tacoma, or so on. Other than Counsell, who'd be the next SS...I'd guess McGehee or Weeks...oof.

Almonte is listed at 6'2 245 and certainly looks the part. I doubt he could play there for even a day or two.

[PrinceEatMeat]

This is why I think Cruz still has the spot locked down. He can actually play 2b, 3b, and ss. And they even put him out in the of to try him there. He can't hit as well, but at least he is capable in the field at multiple positions. Almonte really isn't.

[JohnBriggs12]

endaround is right. Almonte's strictly a 1B/DH/PH. Almonte is battling Boggs though, not Katin who has no shot.

 

Cruz is by no means a lock. Dadofeandrew is right about one thing. Cruz can't hit a lick.

 

Anyone else notice that Farris has seen some time at SS? That's a sign to me that Cruz is in trouble. Maysonet could give them protection at SS in Nashville as well, so if they lost Cruz on waivers, it's not a great loss.

[YoungGeezy]

Almonte has also played a little in RF so that could be a possible option in a pinch. With our little depth at SS (Yuni can't play D, Cruz can't hit, Counsell getting old, and our most promising SS still a couple years away) I think it is important for Farris and even Gennett to start working at SS a lot. Weeks is looked up now so they are blocked and we have a big whole at SS. I don't think Farris will have a shot to make the club to break camp but if he goes to AAA and is starting at SS (Maysonet at 2B) and starts hitting and playing plus D I could see him up by June or July.

[endaround]

Or Farris at SS is great news for Cruz since the Brewers expect Cruz to be in Milwaukee and are getting Farris ready to be the everyday SS in Nashville.