Forget AAA, call Tyler Black to the majors right now

[BruisedCrew]

I don’t follow minor leaguers anywhere near enough to have any specific informed opinion about Tyler Black.

But, based on past experience with can’t miss “he’s hit everywhere he’s played” prospects, I am skeptical that taking someone who hasn’t even played at AAA and throwing him into the Brewers lineup in the middle of a playoff race is going to yield immediate dividends. 
 

I would love to see Black (or anyone) come up and be the exception to what seems to be the norm. But I’m not holding my breath. If he is that good maybe he can be used in a trade to acquire someone with an established MLB track record who might be more likely to provide immediate benefits. I am willing to accept the risk that it wouldn’t be “mortgaging the future” any more than trading away Matt LaPorta or Lewis Brinson. 

[nate82]

Black may not have a permanent position (Mitchell, Wiemer, Frelick and Chourio are all better defensively in the OF) right now but he isn't as bad as Keston was/is defensively.  He may not have the arm to stay at 3B but range wise and glove wise he is fine there.  The same for 2B and even CF though Mitchell and Wiemer are far better defensively in CF than Black is. 

I think Black gets a bit of a downgrade unfairly because of his defense.  He may not be the greatest at 3B, 2B or CF but he isn't a liability either.  I think he is just average maybe a bit below or above average depending on which position you put him at.  The problem is that Black is behind Turang better defensively at 2B and behind Mitchell, Wiemer, Frelick and Chourio in the OF. The best defensive position for Black is also probably his worst right now.

This could all change in the off season with a trade of Adames where Turang then goes to SS.  Black then has a defined position where there isn't another prospect or player blocking him.  Maybe Urias would block him at 2B but you could always just have Urias at 3B assuming he isn't traded also. 

[Matt]

He would absolutely be a liability at 3B. 

[CheezWizHed]

I'm curious how people are judging Black's defense? We have people saying he is fine, some saying he is a disaster, some putting him in CF after 15 games there (and 1 error btw)... No one has listed any supporting evidence.

FYI, just looking at errors, it isn't too pretty.  1 error in 15 games at CF; 9 errors in 48 games at 2B; and 12 errors in 72 games at 3B.  On the positive side, he has zero errors at DH...

For anyone interested, Steamer is predicting him to hit 227/328/360/688 for the rest of the season at the MLB level. Sadly... that is an improvement on what we've been getting at DH. 

 

[Brewcrew82]

13 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

I'm curious how people are judging Black's defense? We have people saying he is fine, some saying he is a disaster, some putting him in CF after 15 games there (and 1 error btw)... No one has listed any supporting evidence.

FYI, just looking at errors, it isn't too pretty.  1 error in 15 games at CF; 9 errors in 48 games at 2B; and 12 errors in 72 games at 3B.  On the positive side, he has zero errors at DH...

For anyone interested, Steamer is predicting him to hit 227/328/360/688 for the rest of the season at the MLB level. Sadly... that is an improvement on what we've been getting at DH. 

 

I think Steamer's selling him way short. Specifically, with that OBP. 

[nate82]

15 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

I'm curious how people are judging Black's defense? We have people saying he is fine, some saying he is a disaster, some putting him in CF after 15 games there (and 1 error btw)... No one has listed any supporting evidence.

For me it is all from scouts who I have spoken with and they believe he is a below average to above average depending on where he is playing.  They have stated that 2B is probably his best position but he wouldn't be a liability at any that he could play at.  By a liability they mean someone like Braun at 3B or Ozuna in the OF. 

[wibadgers23]

Just a reminder that Black was in the same draft class as Frelick and is only a few months younger. I know the defense is still a work in progress but it almost seems comical at this point that Black is still in AA. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, wibadgers23 said:

Just a reminder that Black was in the same draft class as Frelick and is only a few months younger. I know the defense is still a work in progress but it almost seems comical at this point that Black is still in AA. 

I think it's solely because the AAA team has a heap of guys who play 3rd on occasion, and the Brewers probably don't want to lose any of them as AAAA filler at this point of the year and want Black to get everyday playing time at 3rd defensively.

He's just fine down in AA for a bit longer - the bat is likely MLB ready right now, but his glove isn't.  I think he may also be a potential significant trade chip as part of some tentative trade discussions if the Brewers are going to go big at the deadline, and keeping Black right where he is maximizes his value because he's not on the 40 man roster.

[rickh150]

1 hour ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

I think it's solely because the AAA team has a heap of guys who play 3rd on occasion, and the Brewers probably don't want to lose any of them as AAAA filler at this point of the year and want Black to get everyday playing time at 3rd defensively.

He's just fine down in AA for a bit longer - the bat is likely MLB ready right now, but his glove isn't.  I think he may also be a potential significant trade chip as part of some tentative trade discussions if the Brewers are going to go big at the deadline, and keeping Black right where he is maximizes his value because he's not on the 40 man roster.

Not a fan of using this guy as a trade chip. How many organizational corner infielders with MLB bats do have have or have had in the last, what, 12 years? Play him at 3rd or 1st. Honestly, I am really excited for our young lineup from 2024-2027. Lots of hitting prospects in OF, C (Quero), and Black. And the SPEED!

[rickh150]

I’d like to see this lineup.  Defensive replacement opportunities late at 1B and 2B. Best hitting lineup all year, and it could be possible tomorrow.
Then look to add trade deadline deals at 1B and/or RF. 

Frelick RF

Monasterio 3B

Yelich LF

Contreras C

Miller 2B

Adames SS

Black DH

Hiura 1B

Wiemer CF

 

 

[BruisedCrew]

2 hours ago, rickh150 said:

I’d like to see this lineup.  Defensive replacement opportunities late at 1B and 2B. Best hitting lineup all year, and it could be possible tomorrow.
Then look to add trade deadline deals at 1B and/or RF. 

Frelick RF

Monasterio 3B

Yelich LF

Contreras C

Miller 2B

Adames SS

Black DH

Hiura 1B

Wiemer CF

 

 

IMHO that is still a pretty crappy lineup with big holes or question marks at 3 key hitting positions (1B, 3B, and DH). The standard has to be higher than “better than Winker” or the team is going to have trouble scoring runs. 

[edfunderburk]

3 hours ago, rickh150 said:

I’d like to see this lineup.  Defensive replacement opportunities late at 1B and 2B. Best hitting lineup all year, and it could be possible tomorrow.
Then look to add trade deadline deals at 1B and/or RF. 

Frelick RF

Monasterio 3B

Yelich LF

Contreras C

Miller 2B

Adames SS

Black DH

Hiura 1B

Wiemer CF

 

 

I laugh every time I see someone add Hiura to the Brewers roster

While I would prefer him over Winker any day, I hope Black gets the DH at bats soon

I would LOVE to see Hiura included in a trade if only to keep forum posters from constantly suggesting that he is part of the solution for the offense

His defense is not good enough to schedule him at 1B … or anywhere else for that matter

 

[kestrel79]

4 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Not a fan of using this guy as a trade chip. How many organizational corner infielders with MLB bats do have have or have had in the last, what, 12 years? Play him at 3rd or 1st. Honestly, I am really excited for our young lineup from 2024-2027. Lots of hitting prospects in OF, C (Quero), and Black. And the SPEED!

It does indeed look exciting. But by then we’ll have 0 starting pitching. 

[Ewitkows1]

Forget Black, call up Jackson and move Yeli  to DH/LF.

[rickh150]

6 hours ago, BruisedCrew said:

IMHO that is still a pretty crappy lineup with big holes or question marks at 3 key hitting positions (1B, 3B, and DH). The standard has to be higher than “better than Winker” or the team is going to have trouble scoring runs. 

The standard should be doing the most with what you have. It could be this lineup now without even a trade, 

I was all for keeping Winker because of a high OBP even without hitting well, but it’s been four months and we are in a pennant race. Just play the best players in the best roles. 

[rickh150]

6 hours ago, kestrel79 said:

It does indeed look exciting. But by then we’ll have 0 starting pitching. 

Not really…Peralta, Ashby, Gasser, Misiorowski…. Several others show promise.

[Ewitkows1]

On 7/23/2023 at 5:21 PM, edfunderburk said:

I laugh every time I see someone add Hiura to the Brewers roster

While I would prefer him over Winker any day, I hope Black gets the DH at bats soon

I would LOVE to see Hiura included in a trade if only to keep forum posters from constantly suggesting that he is part of the solution for the offense

His defense is not good enough to schedule him at 1B … or anywhere else for that matter

 

No is calling for him to be in the field. If you can replace a 600ops guy with an 800+ ops guy at DH you do it.

[rickh150]

Black at 1B tonight.

Hiura at DH!

interesting…

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Black at 1B tonight.

Hiura at DH!

interesting…

This is very clearly a contingency plan. If they can't get what they're looking for on the market, they'll give those two a try. Or at very least, see how he can handle the position.

I suspect he's been practicing there or getting work there before the game. 0-5...which doesn't tell me much with just one AB.

[Playing Catch]

9 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

This is very clearly a contingency plan. If they can't get what they're looking for on the market, they'll give those two a try. Or at very least, see how he can handle the position.

I suspect he's been practicing there or getting work there before the game. 0-5...which doesn't tell me much with just one AB.

This was exactly my thoughts as well. They want him to play a little first just in the event that they need someone to play first after the deadline.

The other possibility is that they are planning to promote him to AAA anyway, and they've decided that he just won't stick at 3rd, and they are planning on him being a full-time first baseman whenever he gets to the big leagues. But I doubt that based on our intrepid minor league observers' opinions of his defense at 3rd.

[jerichoholicninja]

I know next to nothing about this guy but if they feel his bat improves the major league team they need to just bring him up and stick him at DH the rest of the year. Let him focus on hitting and not worry about having to play defense.

[csbysam]

Black has been improving a lot in his defense. Started the year out terribly but has significantly improved. Say he’s average now with above average upside.

[rickh150]

He is closing in on 50 SBs as well. Putting him and Frelick at top of the order could add a spark….. 

[Robocaller]

On 7/22/2023 at 12:25 PM, Brewcrew82 said:

I think Steamer's selling him way short. Specifically, with that OBP. 

an OBP of .101 over BA is pretty darn good.

[superfly]

Trade bait.