Owen Miller in CF

[edfunderburk]

I love Spring Training

Today - against Great Britain - Owen Miller started in CF

I wonder if he could be part of the solution to Tyrone Taylor’s injury during the first month or so?

I so want Miller to make the OD roster … not sure what if any experience he has in the OF 

[Jake McKibbin]

10 hours ago, edfunderburk said:

I love Spring Training

Today - against Great Britain - Owen Miller started in CF

I wonder if he could be part of the solution to Tyrone Taylor’s injury during the first month or so?

I so want Miller to make the OD roster … not sure what if any experience he has in the OF 

They were talking about it over the radio comms, apparently he has vast experience of a couple of minor league games in the outfield..

Also it's not like he has insane wheels that can make up for reads, I'd like him to make it too, the guy's absolutely raking atm and busting a gut to earn his way onto the team

[brewerralph]

I didn't think he had a shot to make the OD roster, after the Voit signing but he is hitting well, and he did the same thing last year. He can play the outfield, but not centerfield. The crew has a good problem with him hitting as good as he is.

[Outlander]

I think money can play a factor. May roll with Miller to see how he does and option him if not performing. With Voit, they are guaranteeing him a couple of million dollars if he makes the team and they are already doing that with Hiura as well. I kind of hate Spring Training though because there is a lot of fool's gold and the production disappears when the real games start.

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, Outlander said:

I think money can play a factor. May roll with Miller to see how he does and option him if not performing. With Voit, they are guaranteeing him a couple of million dollars if he makes the team and they are already doing that with Hiura as well. I kind of hate Spring Training though because there is a lot of fool's gold and the production disappears when the real games start.

Exactly, I had Owen Miller on my fantasy team for awhile last spring, because he came out of the gates white hot .400/.466/.700 in his first 50 PAs. When the calendar turned to May he struggled to put up a .600 OPS. 

Because he has options, Miller is probably this year's version of the journeyman utility infielder who ends getting a few at bats here and there over the course of the season: Corey Spangenberg, Tyler Saladino, Tim Lopes, Pablo Reyes, Mark Mathias. 

[monty57]

3 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

Exactly, I had Owen Miller on my fantasy team for awhile last spring, because he came out of the gates white hot .400/.466/.700 in his first 50 PAs. When the calendar turned to May he struggled to put up a .600 OPS. 

Because he has options, Miller is probably this year's version of the journeyman utility infielder who ends getting a few at bats here and there over the course of the season: Corey Spangenberg, Tyler Saladino, Tim Lopes, Pablo Reyes, Mark Mathias. 

Yeah, those guys are important to have around for their versatility, but you don't want to have to rely on them too much. Basically, you hope they get their hot streak at the right time, when they're filling in for an injured player, but don't expect the hot streak to last.

They knew what they had when they signed Miller. What he does in spring shouldn't greatly affect their plans for him.

[MVP2110]

I'm assuming this is moreso just to have someone who can backup Mitchell to start the season

[AKCheesehead]

On 3/9/2023 at 10:57 AM, monty57 said:

Yeah, those guys are important to have around for their versatility, but you don't want to have to rely on them too much. Basically, you hope they get their hot streak at the right time, when they're filling in for an injured player, but don't expect the hot streak to last.

They knew what they had when they signed Miller. What he does in spring shouldn't greatly affect their plans for him.

Speaking of that sentiment, Eric Sogard went 2-5 for the Czech Republic yesterday in the WBC.

[edfunderburk]

I’m excited to watch the Brewers & Royals today

LIKE - Owen Miller in CF & EBJ at SS

DISLIKE: Hiura at 1B & Winker in LF

I fear Hiura will make the OD roster at the cost of someone who might actually contribute … Owen, Toro, other

I prefer Voit if for no other reason than change of scenery & refresh for Hiura with another organization … the strikeout - 40% after nearly 1000 major league ABs is more than I can stomach 

I know that Owen Miller is not “the answer” in CF, but it would be awesome if he could be a bridge for us until Taylor is healthy (cross my fingers)

I’m sentimental towards EBJ because he & I played baseball at the same high school … just 40 years apart 🤓

[MVP2110]

39 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

I’m excited to watch the Brewers & Royals today

LIKE - Owen Miller in CF & EBJ at SS

DISLIKE: Hiura at 1B & Winker in LF

I fear Hiura will make the OD roster at the cost of someone who might actually contribute … Owen, Toro, other

I prefer Voit if for no other reason than change of scenery & refresh for Hiura with another organization … the strikeout - 40% after nearly 1000 major league ABs is more than I can stomach 

I know that Owen Miller is not “the answer” in CF, but it would be awesome if he could be a bridge for us until Taylor is healthy (cross my fingers)

I’m sentimental towards EBJ because he & I played baseball at the same high school … just 40 years apart 🤓

Curious why you aren't excited for Winker? I would think the fact he's playing the field is a great sign for his health. 

[Brewcrew82]

56 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

I’m excited to watch the Brewers & Royals today

LIKE - Owen Miller in CF & EBJ at SS

DISLIKE: Hiura at 1B & Winker in LF

I fear Hiura will make the OD roster at the cost of someone who might actually contribute … Owen, Toro, other

I prefer Voit if for no other reason than change of scenery & refresh for Hiura with another organization … the strikeout - 40% after nearly 1000 major league ABs is more than I can stomach 

I know that Owen Miller is not “the answer” in CF, but it would be awesome if he could be a bridge for us until Taylor is healthy (cross my fingers)

I’m sentimental towards EBJ because he & I played baseball at the same high school … just 40 years apart 🤓

I would be surprised if Owen Miller is playing CF at all other than to give Mitchell an occasional day off. Certainly won't be a late-inning defensive replacement for Mitchell. And then if Mitchell gets injured, you have Frelick who would likely get the call. 

Agreed about Hiura, though. His play this spring has been horrendous. 

[edfunderburk]

2 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I would be surprised if Owen Miller is playing CF at all other than to give Mitchell an occasional day off. Certainly won't be a late-inning defensive replacement for Mitchell. And then if Mitchell gets injured, you have Frelick who would likely get the call. 

Agreed about Hiura, though. His play this spring has been horrendous. 

I certainly agree that Owen Miller is not an adequate CF … I do like his bat & his versatility. 
 

I certainly hope Hiura’s $2M contract is dependent upon him making the team. I would hate to waste that $$$ on him. I hope he is released … this weekend would be good for me. 

[edfunderburk]

2 hours ago, MVP2110 said:

Curious why you aren't excited for Winker? I would think the fact he's playing the field is a great sign for his health. 

I love Winker’s bat … glad he’s healthy

He is not a good defensive OF … that’s all

I like him at DH exclusively 

[MVP2110]

21 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

I love Winker’s bat … glad he’s healthy

He is not a good defensive OF … that’s all

I like him at DH exclusively 

That's fair, I'm certainly not trying to argue he should be in the field regularly or anything but the fact he feels good enough to play the field now has to be an encouraging sign I'd think

[nate82]

3 hours ago, edfunderburk said:

I certainly hope Hiura’s $2M contract is dependent upon him making the team. I would hate to waste that $$$ on him. I hope he is released … this weekend would be good for me. 

It is definitely a guaranteed deal per the new CBA.  If they release Hiura they will have to pay the $2m.  

[edfunderburk]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

It is definitely a guaranteed deal per the new CBA.  If they release Hiura they will have to pay the $2m.  

What a horrible decision 

[MVP2110]

I do think the Brewers will still be able to trade Hiura, someone will gamble on him for 2 mil

[wallus]

No way the team is going to DFA Hiura before Opening Day, not sure why that keeps getting tossed around.

[edfunderburk]

12 hours ago, wallus said:

No way the team is going to DFA Hiura before Opening Day, not sure why that keeps getting tossed around.

Financially, you are 100% correct

Sadly, if Hiura makes the OD roster simply because of his salary - it only compounds the problem & emphasizes a terrible decision to tender his contract this year

He adds zero value defensively & very little offensively

With our few bench bats, we also need some defensively flexibility - he adds none

Unfortunately, I believe he will be kept - hopefully not at the expense of a helpful bat like Voit

While Voit is also very limited defensively, he is the superior backup 1B & a veteran bat who strikes out less often

[edfunderburk]

13 hours ago, MVP2110 said:

I do think the Brewers will still be able to trade Hiura, someone will gamble on him for 2 mil

Gosh, I hope you are correct … I simply can’t see it

What teams might gamble on him?

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

Gosh, I hope you are correct … I simply can’t see it

What teams might gamble on him?

A bad team hoping he could be a reclamation project maybe?

[MVP2110]

5 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

A bad team hoping he could be a reclamation project maybe?

I've seen Oakland brought up. Could absolutely see someone like Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Detroit, honestly not sure but all it takes is 1 team

[Ro Mueller]

14 hours ago, wallus said:

No way the team is going to DFA Hiura before Opening Day, not sure why that keeps getting tossed around.

Maybe because yesterday was a relatively good day for him: one single…accompanied by a strikeout and fly out; plus a throwing error in the field.

We may cut our losses, DFA’ing him to save money, like we did with Lamet and McGee last season. It’s not likely, but I don’t believe it’s out of the realm of possibility. If there’s enough of a market for him, the DFA would lead to a trade for a prospect.

[wallus]

3 hours ago, damuelle said:

We may cut our losses, DFA’ing him to save money, like we did with Lamet and McGee last season. It’s not likely, but I don’t believe it’s out of the realm of possibility. If there’s enough of a market for him, the DFA would lead to a trade for a prospect.

His contract is guaranteed so DFA'ing him won't save any money, unless he is claimed. Now I could see them attempting to trade him but they aren't going to light 2 million dollars on fire before the season starts.

[Ro Mueller]

1 hour ago, wallus said:

His contract is guaranteed so DFA'ing him won't save any money, unless he is claimed. Now I could see them attempting to trade him but they aren't going to light 2 million dollars on fire before the season starts.

I agree it’s unlikely, but McGee and Lamet both got claimed and thus saved us money. If Hiura gets claimed, we save money. If he generates special interest, we save money and net a prospect. If he clears waivers, we outright him to AAA and keep paying him $2.2m, like we did with Lindblom.