Yelich to 1B?

[Lloyd330]

Now that Chourio is locked up. Is it time to try Yelich at 1B? Would solve some of jam in the OF

This article was posted a couple of months ago

 

 

[Frisbee Slider]

Probably, yes.

[Playing Catch]

Why do I have the feeling that Yelich at 1st would make Rowdy Tellez look like Keith Hernandez?

I can't be the only one that feels this way. 

[Ro Mueller]

I suggest we avoid the over-tinkering which I think doomed the Twins in 2016:

- thrusting Buxton/Chourio into leadoff spot too soon
- shifting Sano/Yelich to a new position
- trading Hicks for a backup catcher…well, that was uniquely a Twins’ fiasco.

I suggest we keep Yelich at LF/DH, get a top-10 first baseman, trade/option surplus outfielders (but not for a backup catcher), and bat Chourio 8th or 9th.

[LouisEly]

On 11/30/2023 at 9:14 AM, Lloyd330 said:

Now that Chourio is locked up. Is it time to try Yelich at 1B? Would solve some of jam in the OF

The answer is Yelich to primary DH.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'd just like to see Yelich having spend some time in Spring training trying it out.  Work on his versatility with the current makeup of OFs clogging him down.  LH platoon getting the highest amount of games at 1b if he left the impression he'd do well defensively there.  DH him and in the future Contreras when Quero takes over catcher.

[TURBO]

11 hours ago, damuelle said:

 

...and bat Chourio 8th or 9th.

I don't think that low, I'd go 6th or 7th to start, maybe as high as 5th.  If he seems to handle himself, moving into that 2 or 3 hole depending on what he is showing.  No way I'm batting Chourio behind a guy like Turang.  I just really hope that Adames gets moved down the order this year if he is hitting like last year.  We really need a 1B with some power, and the more I warm up to the idea of signing Hoskins, the better I like the idea.

[CheezWizHed]

A player a history of back issues should start learning 1B where you bend over a lot?  No, I don't think so. 

Let him DH mostly and rest his back.  Play LF on occasion. Go find a real 1B.

[edfunderburk]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

The answer is Yelich to primary DH.

Or anywhere “other than” LF … DH or 1B 

[edfunderburk]

5 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

A player a history of back issues should start learning 1B where you bend over a lot?  No, I don't think so. 

Let him DH mostly and rest his back.  Play LF on occasion. Go find a real 1B.

All good points 🙌🏼

[markedman5]

I think Yelich will play mostly left field……..unless Arnold says otherwise in the coming weeks.

[shanedog19]

What if a team like the Yankees knocks our socks off with a trade offer? Do we trade him at that point instead of attempting to move him to a position he’s never played?

[Soupbone]

I think a Yelich trade could happen but doubt he goes to the Yankees.

Full no trade clause .

Maybe a west coast team.

[CheezWizHed]

43 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

What if a team like the Yankees knocks our socks off with a trade offer? Do we trade him at that point instead of attempting to move him to a position he’s never played?

Matt Arnold's last remaining sock is dangling on a hang nail.  It wouldn't take much in way of a trade to knock it off.  Yelich had a nice season last year, but his contract doesn't quite align with that production.  

[Frisbee Slider]

Yelich grew up playing 1B/3B. Woah solvdd! Two, in fact.

[jay87shot]

I think you should have him try 1st at least. I have a very Bill Buckner ball threw the legs image of Yeli at 1st. Yeli at DH primarily would be fine but he really is to good of an athlete to be a full time DH. I really think that there is going to be a good trade for him/us later in the offseason once the top 5/10 bats sign. If we trade Burnes and Adames, Yeli would likely accept a trade especially to California the Giants, Angels, and Dodgers could all use outfield help and have money to spend. 

Giants for Conforto/Mitchell Haniger and 2 mid prospects

Angels for Tyler Anderson, Brandon Drury, and a higher prospect.

Dodgers for Rojas, and mid 2 prospects

Do we get a can't miss return anywhere, no, but we get out of the later years of the deal. We also get some prospects and have a ton money to spend for 2025 offseason.

[Matt Breen]

Regarding Yelich at 1B, that would be great - if it works for everyone.

I doubt Yelich couldn't play 1B - he did play the position in high school and is a pretty athletic guy. 

However, as CheezWizHead noted above, is 1B worse for Yelich's health. He has had back issues in the past, and 1B involves a lot bending over and crouching. 

Honestly, I think the only person who can answer that is Yelich. He might say it's awful on him - or it's not a big deal. Or it would help him due to having to run less (or whatever would be the reason). 

Every back issue isn't the same. Just as any knee issue or shoulder issue isn't the same. 10 players with back issues could list 10 different things that are most likely to trigger a recurrence of those problems. 

In the end, the team should talk to Yelich about his thoughts on playing 1B. If he's amendable and it doesn't cause problems with his health - then go for it. If not, the best position is DH and some occasional starts in LF. 

[markedman5]

Yelich will be in Left field and DH not 1st

https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-gm-matt-arnold-discusses-winter-meetings-moves

[RedStickBrew]

45 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

Yelich will be in Left field and DH not 1st

https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-gm-matt-arnold-discusses-winter-meetings-moves

Make sure to post this in nearly every thread of this site as it is brought up everywhere that Yelich should move to 1st

[brewcrewdue80]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

Yelich will be in Left field and DH not 1st

https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-gm-matt-arnold-discusses-winter-meetings-moves

 

Superb answer to the idea.  You can basically come to a conclusion the team is about set.  1b and nothing really else forthcoming without a trade they couldn't refuse making a need.  

[DR28]

49 minutes ago, brewcrewdue80 said:

 

Superb answer to the idea.  You can basically come to a conclusion the team is about set.  1b and nothing really else forthcoming without a trade they couldn't refuse making a need.  

I would totally be ok with Santana at 1B and Black at 3B.... We could one hell of a lineup next year.

[Matt Breen]

Nice to see the statement from Arnold regarding Yelich at 1B. I would have been fine with it, but let's just move on from it if it's not in the cards.

I hope Yelich spends most of his time at DH. An outfield of Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick, Wiemer and Taylor is great defensively. 

[brewcrewdue80]

2 hours ago, DR28 said:

I would totally be ok with Santana at 1B and Black at 3B.... We could one hell of a lineup next year.

 

Part of the vibe I got was Black at 1b. 1b/3b/2b excitement role getting him on the field by Arnold.  Monasterio is RH-Black LH. That'd be a natural platoon for 3b.  We're so early in to the offseason, filling a 2b-3b-1b utility/starter via FA or upcoming trade general type of move every offseason.  

Caratini signed. I guess the Crew has a need for backup to Contreras so that's 1 more move tbd. Quero hangs in the background by trade deadline, I'm thinking. So a backup type catcher that's disposable at the deadline via trade.

[Underachiever]

I've brought this up 2 or three times over the years, and I don't remember anyone giving me an answer. Regarding Yelich's back: It would seem to me (a terrible baseball player) that the most violent thing a player can do is swing a bat. Would the strain of standing and bending in the field be worse than the potential of injury on a swing? I know the quotidian nature of playing the field might bring more fatigue, but injury? 

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, Underachiever said:

I've brought this up 2 or three times over the years, and I don't remember anyone giving me an answer. Regarding Yelich's back: It would seem to me (a terrible baseball player) that the most violent thing a player can do is swing a bat. Would the strain of standing and bending in the field be worse than the potential of injury on a swing? I know the quotidian nature of playing the field might bring more fatigue, but injury? 

They had him DH for a long time last year when his back was flaring up.  Fatigue is one thing.  Making quick twitch moves is another.  Do people really see him bringing positive dWAR at a position he hasn't played in the MLB? 

Why risk it?  Just let him DH and play LF occasionally.  His value is his bat.