Wade Miley's Status for Opening Day, Gary Sánchez Hitting (Kind Of), More

[Matthew Trueblood]

Some of Pat Murphy's words about his No. 2 starter made the rounds online Friday, but they don't necessarily capture the message the skipper really wanted to send.

Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

We humans don't always make good estimates of the probability of things. The more uncertain we are about something, the truer that tends to be. When asked Friday about Wade Miley being behind his fellow starters in ramping up for the regular season, Murphy was circumspect, clearly afflicted with uncertainty. He briefly alighted on "50-50" when asked about the chances that the grizzled southpaw would be ready in late March, but the next words out of his mouth were probably more telling.

"I don't really know. I don't want to put a percentage on it," Murphy said. "I'd say that we'll let you know more in about 10 days."

The tone and tenor of that exchange led to some concern from fans online, and it does seem like Miley could start the season on the injured list. In Saturday's discussion with reporters, Murphy clarified the matter further.

"He came in experiencing some soreness in his shoulder. He's played catch, played through it, hasn't had any problems since. We just want to go slow."

Miley has yet to pitch to hitters in a live environment, but could cross that threshold soon. No one should have had any expectation that Miley, now in his late 30s and having had significant injury issues over the last few years, was going to throw more than 150 innings in 2024. Even that figure would probably be a welcome surprise for the Brewers. Cast in that light, the news about his slow start to the spring almost doesn't rise to the level of 'news'. Miley is no less likely to make a significant contribution to the team's starting rotation today than he was when he signed a contract to return to the club in early December.

What Gary Sánchez Can and Can't Do
Meanwhile, another free agent addition from this winter (a much more recent one, in fact) is also behind his colleagues in preparing for the season, but is getting close to turning a corner himself. Catcher Gary Sánchez is, for the moment, just that. He's been catching sim games and live batting practice, and can even make hard throws down to second base with his still-healing right hand and wrist.

However, thanks to lingering soreness, Sánchez is still not yet hitting against live pitching with a hard ball. He's progressed from flips to hitting against pitches thrown from out in front of him, but he's only used softer, foam balls for that exercise to this point.

"Sunday, he hits baseballs," Murphy said.

This is a good, concrete reminder of the physicality and the forceful collisions involved in the sport. Sánchez isn't yet able to withstand the force of a hard ball, thrown hard, when his bat connects with it. That's an aspect of hitting we often take for granted, but it's why (to take one broad-spectrum example) baseball people have always talked so much about the strong wrists of great hitters. Sánchez surely isn't taking it for granted this spring, though.

Obviously, he won't be able to begin the season as a DH and wait for the catching to catch up. The opposite circumstance is a tough needle to thread, and could land him on the injured list to open the season, but he's making progress. At this stage, that's all that's needed, and the variety of ways the Brewers can help him get modified reps while he builds up to hitting in game-like environs surely helps.

The Eric Haase Dilemma
Ever since the Sánchez signing, catcher Eric Haase has been in limbo. After the team signed him for $1 million back in December, he seemed relatively safe in his backup role to William Contreras, but the Sánchez deal shoved him right to the edge of obsolescence, in the context of this roster. Carrying three catchers is a viable but remote possibility--the former because Contreras and Sánchez can both DH more often if there's an extra catcher on the bench when one of them does so, the latter because the team has so many other options to fill out their positional roster and the space runs short in a hurry.

"He's been great. This kid's an awesome kid, man," Murphy said of the 32-year-old Haase. "I hope he's with us. He's an important piece. Mature, handles the pitching staff. I value him. But he is in a difficult spot."

None of those statements were inauthentic, but that's Murphy's way of acknowledging that cruel roster realities might win out over his preferences or predilections. Haase himself left no doubt: he wants to be here.

"It was definitely a big factor," Haase said about the team's catching coaching infrastructure, and of the organization as a whole. "Coming to a place that has a winning culture, that wants to win, that has a good history of winning; that’s very important to me. It’s no secret: we all might only have a little bit of time left. The goal here is to win and it’s to win now."

Haase effused about the track record for the team in improving catchers' receiving, and about the pitching staff, which he said is often the most important variable in a catcher's perceived success or failure. He was glad when the Brewers wanted him; it shortened his free agency.

"When they showed interest early in the offseason, that was very exciting for me, and kind of narrowed things down quickly," he said.

Unfortunately for Haase, things might widen back out a bit in the not-so-distant future.

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[Bashopolis]

If this was the NBA we would call this load management.  
Wade Miley isn’t going to be available 162 games.  The Brewers want to see other pitchers in April.  

[Jim French Stepstool]

Regarding Haase, perhaps someone will find themselves in a similar situation to the one where we picked up Caratini, needing a catcher in the 11th hour just before the season opens. Tough deal for the guy. He seems to be having a real nice spring.

[eddiemathews]

15 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Regarding Haase, perhaps someone will find themselves in a similar situation to the one where we picked up Caratini, needing a catcher in the 11th hour just before the season opens. Tough deal for the guy. He seems to be having a real nice spring.

I'm not confident of Sanchez' health to trade him.

[Jim French Stepstool]

4 hours ago, eddiemathews said:

I'm not confident of Sanchez' health to trade him.

That's a very valid point. But would they keep all 3? I'm assuming Haase has no options.

[eddiemathews]

31 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

That's a very valid point. But would they keep all 3? I'm assuming Haase has no options.

They seem to be planning on keeping all 3. But I expect they'll go a few weeks with Haase as the back-up, then keep 3 until they are sure Sanchez will be healthy enough. If they deal Haase, there's a very strong chance we'll see Quero this year. I don't know if they want to do that...not because of talent, just getting him ready. And heck, there could be an injury to Contreras.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, eddiemathews said:

They seem to be planning on keeping all 3. But I expect they'll go a few weeks with Haase as the back-up, then keep 3 until they are sure Sanchez will be healthy enough. If they deal Haase, there's a very strong chance we'll see Quero this year. I don't know if they want to do that...not because of talent, just getting him ready. And heck, there could be an injury to Contreras.

They seem to be in a more aggressive mode regarding the advancement of prospects through the system, and for the most part I'm fine with it. But it's a different animal with catchers, especially catchers that are young for their level. Lots on their plate. Hoping 2024 is a year where if we see Quero, it's no more than a cup of coffee. Perhaps juggling the 3 vets allows for that.