Article: It's Time to Consider Sending Brice Turang Back to Nashville

[Matthew Trueblood]

A month into the season, plenty of things are going well for the 18-11 Brewers. Chief among those is their league-leading defense, of which rookie second baseman Brice Turang has been an integral part. That's what makes this awkward. Turang probably needs to head back to Triple-A Nashville.

Image courtesy of © Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

 

It's been a joy to watch Brice Turang play second base for the Brewers. He's showed the ability to throw accurately and strongly on the run. He's demonstrated good body control and a nose for the lead runner. He's part of the team's fielding phalanx. Offensively, though, Turang has been a mess.

In 84 plate appearances, Turang has struck out at an alarming rate, north of 30 percent of the time. He's walked just five times all season. That's not fully disqualifying, of course. Rookies nearly always struggle to control the strike zone. Turang's iffy approach doesn't wash away the value of his glove, nor of his baserunning.

To the problem of all those strikeouts and so few walks, though, Turang adds the compounding one of not driving the ball when he does make contact. His Hard Hit Rate this year is around 33 percent, lower than three-quarters of qualifying hitters.  Over 43 percent of his batted balls are poorly-hit grounders, the 14th-highest figure for any hitter with at least 50 batted balls this year. He's not lifting the ball or hitting it hard, and even his left-handedness and his good speed haven't been redeemable for enough singles to make up for those shortcomings.         

The team has done everything it can to shield Turang from bad matchups. Not counting switch-hitters, only Jesse Winker has taken a larger share of his plate appearances against opposite-handed pitching so far. That Turang's overall line (.228/.274/.329, 72 DRC+ according to Baseball Prospectus) has been amassed under the most favorable set of conditions the team could muster only reinforces how badly things have gone for Turang at the plate. 

If Luis Urias were healthy, Turang would probably already be in Nashville. As it is, his defense and the team's need for it have kept him around. It was worth giving him a chance to work through adversity, too. If he hasn't busted out by the end of this Western sojourn, though, the team should swap him out with Abraham Toro and see how the more veteran infielder handles some chances. Toro is a switch-hitter, capable of playing both second and third base. Mike Brosseau and Owen Miller can handle second base, too. All three have, right now, more viable big-league bats than Turang's. Brian Anderson can hold down third base and obviate any need to feel thin at the hot corner due to needing those guys at second more often, especially now that Tyrone Taylor is back from the injured list.

By no means is it too late for Turang to discover something that works and emerge as an important, everyday player for Milwaukee for years to come. Undeniably, though, his first taste of MLB pitching has left him looking overmatched, and the team shouldn't wait around long for him to turn things around. Their alternative options are too good; their lineup is not quite deep enough; and the need to win games is too urgent for that. 

 

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[jay87shot]

With Eddy Alvarez playing so well in AAA I tend to agree, it would be nice to send Brice down for a few weeks just to gain that extra year of control. He had a solid game last night but Alvarez is at .370/484/616 with 2 hr, 8 sb, 14 bb, 15 k's. I would almost say the same thing with Weimer but there are no decent option in AAA. Maybe if Taylor starts playing well we could go Yeli, Taylor, Anderson (with Miller, Perkins, maybe Huira) for a few weeks and scratch by. Also it is probably time to give Huira another shot, Voit has been useless at the plate and at least Huira has some versatility at 1B, 2B, and LF if need be. If Huira stinks again we can always find a similar platoon 1B option on the cheap (or just let Rowdy start vs. lefties).

[Jopal78]

It’s been less than 30 games. Secondly, not every young Brewers is Ryan Braun, in fact not many experts even predicted Turang would be much more than average with the bat. Rookies often struggle their first few seasons before coming around (Dansby Swanson for example had 1200 below average PAs before putting it together). The laughable part is to suggest  Turnag be swapped on the major league roster for Abraham Toro! Toro is 3 years older and in nearly 1000 PAs in the majors hasn’t shown he’s any better than Turang is right now. It’s merely an argument to make a change for change’s sake. 

[MrTPlush]

55 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

It’s merely an argument to make a change for change’s sake. 

I am guessing people would rather see some kind of change versus watching the FO somehow epically waste another year of Burnes/Woodruff and Co. I don't really care what they do, because as you alluded to, the other options like Toro isn't a great option either. 

But thus, this is what the front office decided to do. Keep all the major pieces and expect a bunch of rookies to try and carry the offense out of the dumpster. All the rookies have been garbage at the plate. Mitchell could have some good games here and there, but struck out a trillion times...so him keeping up average production was an uphill battle before injury. Weimer has had moments here and there...but still has greatly struggled with the bat. Brice Turang has been consistently terrible though...basically no flashes of anything. 

No one was expecting Ryan Braun....but I think the front office was maybe hoping for someone to be a relevant bat. Instead, they all have been pretty useless. Sure doesn't help Brian Anderson and Jesse Winker have also spiraled into the abyss offensively. 

 

[MVP2110]

Turang is tied with Yelich for the 4th best WAR among position players. Now maybe when Urias comes back you send him down for 2 weeks to gain that extra year of control, but he's hardly been bad and I have zero confidence Toro would be any better at all. Young players are going to go through growing pains and that's ok

[Thurston Fluff]

How is he supposed to learn to hit big league pitching in AAA? If the time comes where there's not enough playing time for him because Urias is back and there's no place to play him fine. But to do it now when there's no clear cut better alternative seems to be missing a chance to let him learn.

[Harold Hutchison]

The big problem is the offense is still feast-or-famine it seems, and leaning more toward famine at times.

That said, Turang and Wiemer are savign a ton of runs with their gloves. As counter as it is to my instincts, I'd say keep them both up.

[Brewcrew82]

We're winning games because of our defense right now, with Turang playing a major role in that. I don't think some posters quite appreciate that. Until Urias gets healthy, Turang is by far our best option at 2B atm. 

[Brewcrew82]

2 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

I am guessing people would rather see some kind of change versus watching the FO somehow epically waste another year of Burnes/Woodruff and Co. I don't really care what they do, because as you alluded to, the other options like Toro isn't a great option either. 

But thus, this is what the front office decided to do. Keep all the major pieces and expect a bunch of rookies to try and carry the offense out of the dumpster. All the rookies have been garbage at the plate. Mitchell could have some good games here and there, but struck out a trillion times...so him keeping up average production was an uphill battle before injury. Weimer has had moments here and there...but still has greatly struggled with the bat. Brice Turang has been consistently terrible though...basically no flashes of anything. 

No one was expecting Ryan Braun....but I think the front office was maybe hoping for someone to be a relevant bat. Instead, they all have been pretty useless. Sure doesn't help Brian Anderson and Jesse Winker have also spiraled into the abyss offensively. 

 

You seem to be ignoring the other end of the equation here....

 

[MrTPlush]

3 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

You seem to be ignoring the other end of the equation here....

 

Probably not, but I wouldn't know since you didn't mention it.

[Jopal78]

3 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

I am guessing people would rather see some kind of change versus watching the FO somehow epically waste another year of Burnes/Woodruff and Co. I don't really care what they do, because as you alluded to, the other options like Toro isn't a great option either. 

But thus, this is what the front office decided to do. Keep all the major pieces and expect a bunch of rookies to try and carry the offense out of the dumpster. All the rookies have been garbage at the plate. Mitchell could have some good games here and there, but struck out a trillion times...so him keeping up average production was an uphill battle before injury. Weimer has had moments here and there...but still has greatly struggled with the bat. Brice Turang has been consistently terrible though...basically no flashes of anything. 

No one was expecting Ryan Braun....but I think the front office was maybe hoping for someone to be a relevant bat. Instead, they all have been pretty useless. Sure doesn't help Brian Anderson and Jesse Winker have also spiraled into the abyss offensively. 

 

Like last year, the design is to win games by pitching and defense, so I dispute the  notion  they’re somehow “wasting” their starting pitching. The whole concept is to ride that pitching (and defense) to wins. That’s because the Brewers don’t have any great hitters on their 26 man roster or in AAA.

The Brewers right  now are winning more than they’re  losing with Wiemer and Turang contributing as defenders. When Urias gets back he probably takes over at 2nd but there’s no reason to make a change now and big league at bats are valuable for development with young players. 

[Sixtolezcano]

I think it is hilarious when posters say they are wasting Burnes and Woodruff, when Woody hasn’t pitched in weeks and will not for many more weeks. The Brewers are what most rational people thought they were, actually even better, a 0.500 team with < a 1% chance of winning a World Series. Expectations were/are much too high among most fans. I would suggest that you would enjoy each game individually and lower your expectations accordingly. At least that way you can lower your stress level and enjoy baseball.

[Playing Catch]

I disagree with the article. Many have raised the same points as follows:

1 - Rookies need time to adjust. A month isn't very much time.
2 - Turang is not merely "good" defensively, he is excellent. Using the eye-test he's been outstanding, using advanced metrics, he's a top-5 defender at 2B in MLB.
3 - I disagree that there are significant upgrades available on the 40-man, aside from probably Urias, who is still injured.

In a few more weeks, and when there are probably better options available, I'd be willing to send him down.

[MrTPlush]

4 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Like last year, the design is to win games by pitching and defense, so I dispute the  notion  they’re somehow “wasting” their starting pitching. The whole concept is to ride that pitching (and defense) to wins. That’s because the Brewers don’t have any great hitters on their 26 man roster or in AAA.

My comment would be in reference to the entire team's performance of trying to get to the end goal, winning a world series...or more realistically, at least fielding a team that can make a legitimate playoff run. 

They are 18-11 right now, but that is largely thanks to guys starting the year like Barry Bonds. The current results, which are sadly more like what was expected, isn't going to cut it. Hopefully the offense warms up with the summer or we can tread water long enough to be able to make trades. 

[Brewcrew82]

17 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

Probably not, but I wouldn't know since you didn't mention it.

*Cough (Defense) *Cough

[Brewcrew82]

9 minutes ago, Sixtolezcano said:

I think it is hilarious when posters say they are wasting Burnes and Woodruff, when Woody hasn’t pitched in weeks and will not for many more weeks. The Brewers are what most rational people thought they were, actually even better, a 0.500 team with < a 1% chance of winning a World Series. Expectations were/are much too high among most fans. I would suggest that you would enjoy each game individually and lower your expectations accordingly. At least that way you can lower your stress level and enjoy baseball.

Except that’s not what “rational people” (models) thought and still continue to think…Maybe you’re confusing rationalism with pessimism.

[Sixtolezcano]

5 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Except that’s not what “rational people” (models) thought and still continue to think…Maybe you’re confusing rationalism with pessimism.

Most of the “models” also predicted the Cardinals as the division winners and the Pirates to be mired in the basement. I know it is extremely early, and that is the beauty of the MLB, we have over 130 games left of enjoyment to find out.

[Brewcrew82]

3 minutes ago, Sixtolezcano said:

Most of the “models” also predicted the Cardinals as the division winners and the Pirates to be mired in the basement. I know it is extremely early, and that is the beauty of the MLB, we have over 130 games left of enjoyment to find out.

Yeah but you were talking about expectations for this team coming into the season…

[Outlander]

I don't really think the Brewers are considering sending Turang down right now because of the lack of good options. Hopefully he can pick things up in the next month as I have no doubt he will be sent down when Urias come back if he continues to struggle offensively. If Anderson/Turang/Urias are all producing there are enough at bats for all.

[MrTPlush]

1 hour ago, Brewcrew82 said:

*Cough (Defense) *Cough

I see, your cold makes it hard to just make a decent post conveying your point. 

 

[tmwiese55]

I'd doubt this is much on the radar until Urias is back.  He'll have been giving a full two months at that point.  

Mostly I was going to add is that he's really the only backup at SS right now too, which would be another factor in not sending down until Urias is back.   I suppose Miller can play in a pinch but that's about it and I doubt they'd want to start him any games at SS. 

That said, yea it's not like it would shock me to bring up Toro just to shake things up. Let him clear his head, recharge in AAA and see if they can get lucky with Toro for a few weeks.  It's not the craziest thing, but really they're about the same on O and you know Turang is elite D

[Team Canada]

32 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

I see, your cold makes it hard to just make a decent post conveying your point. 

 

This doesn't really help advance the conversation.

[wallus]

Keep Turang up until Urias is back at least. 

[shanedog19]

I would hate this. It was really uninspiring watching Brewer baseball last season, especially after the trade deadline. The "freshmen" have given the big league club a shot in the arm that it sorely needed IMO.  These young players are the future of our franchise, and they have absolutely nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. The only way they are going to get better is to play consistently at the big league level. I also don't believe the team is squandering an opportunity to win a world championship by playing Turang and not Owen Miller or Luis Urias when he returns. As a fan, I am more than willing to deal with the growing pains, and I hope Counsell and Arnold are too. The same concept would apply to Weimer and Frelick when he gets healthy.

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, MrTPlush said:

I see, your cold makes it hard to just make a decent post conveying your point. 

 

As the mod said, this comment is totally unnecessary....

I'll just spell it out then. Why are we 18-11 despite a middling offense at this point? Run prevention, in particular, the #1 defense in baseball by DRS. Who are #2 and #3 in DRS on the team after Contreras? Joey Wiemer and Brice Turang with 4 DRS each...

So, by solely focusing on what they're doing at the plate, you're completely ignoring their  contributions when it comes to preventing runs, which have been a huge part of our winning ballgames. Take that away and we'd be worse off, despite their offensive struggles.