Dunn starting at 3B….Are you cool with it?

[CheezWizHed]

McGehee seems like an apt comp for what Dunn could be.  One of those surprise players that is decent for a few years. He probably has the best upside at bat of what we have at 3B.  

Durbin is going to get a strong chance to start, but if he struggles, I'd imagine he is optioned quickly. 

Monastario probably has an advantage over Capra... Wouldn't surprise me to see Capra released for a 40-man spot. 

[SF70]

1 minute ago, CheezWizHed said:

McGehee seems like an apt comp for what Dunn could be.  One of those surprise players that is decent for a few years. He probably has the best upside at bat of what we have at 3B.  

Durbin is going to get a strong chance to start, but if he struggles, I'd imagine he is optioned quickly. 

Monastario probably has an advantage over Capra... Wouldn't surprise me to see Capra released for a 40-man spot. 

 Capra’s not going anywhere after blasting 4 HR’s and making great plays on the left side of the IF. Monasterio’s days are numbered and I can’t wait. No offense to him but Capra is a better ballplayer.

[wallus]

I don't like the Dunn/McGehee comp because Dunn is actually very athletic and "tooled" up. McGehee was a lumbering dude at third. They both are unheralded prospects I suppose.

[CheeseheadInQC]

On 3/3/2025 at 1:01 PM, StearnsFTW said:

Dunn is 27 and hasn't done anything of any note in the minors.  He had one good season but was pretty old for the league.  I'm not exactly impressed.

 

Hope to be wrong, but I doubt he's a major league player.

 

Edit:  And, for the record, I would have the exact same thing about McGehee in March of 2009 (and possibly did).

 

There are at least elements to Dunn’s profile that point to late bloomer potential. Namely that 2023 was the first time he topped 75 games played. Of course that also makes the case he is injury prone.

[Brian]

Yes I am cool with it and I couldn't figure out why he didn't get more playing time last season also love his speed but wouldn't expect more than a .250 avg tops. 

[CheezWizHed]

3 hours ago, wallus said:

I don't like the Dunn/McGehee comp because Dunn is actually very athletic and "tooled" up. McGehee was a lumbering dude at third. They both are unheralded prospects I suppose.

Yeah, I didn't mean they had similar styles of players. They are late bloomers (well potential for Dunn) on a second team that might fill a role for a couple of years.  

[greeg35]

On 3/4/2025 at 3:42 PM, wallus said:

ST stats don't mean much to me.

Anyone who lived through Erick Almonte feels the same.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Going into the spring, I had hoped that Black could take the 3b job, but that did not happen, and seems likely headed to the OF. So, that just leaves the in-house options and Dunn at least has shown a good glove.  Hitting 1000 OPS this spring has not hurt either (not that it matters that much, but better to be good than bad).  Running with Dunn at 3b seems like the best option at this point, and having Durbin as a platoon/backup seems reasonable to me.  They could always make a trade mid season if this does not pan out.  I would have preferred better options but there were not that many to be had.

[Mr Southpaw]

Capra is the only 3B option with zero options left if that makes a difference to anyone.  Being frugal and with Capra hitting for power this spring, I think they give him first shot.

[markedman5]

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2025/03/06/why-oliver-dunn-is-one-of-milwaukee-brewers-most-important-players-2025/81731861007/

[SoCalBrewfan]

This season they will again be threading the needle of evaluating talent at the big league level while still competing for the division. It's kind of crazy to watch, and sometimes blows up in their faces. They also have shown willingness to pivot quickly if that what is called for, see the Adames acquisition for example. Whoever starts the season in the infield and on the pitching staff might be less important than who ends the season there.

I like Dunn and will root for him. He put up some really good defensive numbers last year, but he might well have a lot of pressure to succeed quickly given his track record and the other options we have.

[tmwiese55]

Good post. Yea I'd guess their plan is to think these internals have a chance to be adequate at 3B. And that the rest of the team is so solid that they will be competitive for the division regardless. But if they get to May/June and none of them have performed and/or injuries come in then 3B is the clear trade deadline upgrade target. 

[Mr Southpaw]

On 3/6/2025 at 5:58 PM, tmwiese55 said:

Good post. Yea I'd guess their plan is to think these internals have a chance to be adequate at 3B. And that the rest of the team is so solid that they will be competitive for the division regardless. But if they get to May/June and none of them have performed and/or injuries come in then 3B is the clear trade deadline upgrade target. 

And there is always Boeve if all else fails.

[umphrey]

I have no idea what their 3b strategy is this year. I thought they were just out of money but then they signed Quintana. I guess they must really believe in Dunn or Durbin. Pretty sure Mona is just a backup plan. It's also possible they were out of money and dipped into the mid-season injury/trade fund to sign Quintana after several pitcher injuries. 

[Brian]

21 minutes ago, umphrey said:

I have no idea what their 3b strategy is this year. I thought they were just out of money but then they signed Quintana. I guess they must really believe in Dunn or Durbin. Pretty sure Mona is just a backup plan. It's also possible they were out of money and dipped into the mid-season injury/trade fund to sign Quintana after several pitcher injuries. 

They have Vinny Capra also with 4 home runs this spring and hitting .350 so he is a possibility. 

https://reviewingthebrew.com/breaking-down-how-real-brewers-vinny-capra-hot-start-spring-training-truly-is

 

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, Brian said:

They have Vinny Capra also with 4 home runs this spring and hitting .350 so he is a possibility. 

https://reviewingthebrew.com/breaking-down-how-real-brewers-vinny-capra-hot-start-spring-training-truly-is

 

Whoever they start there for opening day, I hope they just run out the hot hand of the moment, whoever that may be at the time...

[Brian]

They got Dunn at 3rd today, Capra at 2nd with Tyler Black at 1st base and Delgado at SS. 

I guess its crunch time for these players. 

[wallus]

Dunn should get first chance. Capra is just a guy.

[Brian]

22 minutes ago, wallus said:

Dunn should get first chance. Capra is just a guy.

I agree 100% but Capra sure has had a good spring with 4 dingers in 20 at bats. 

[umphrey]

Capra had over 400 very mediocre PAs in AAA last year, not sure he could do anything in ST to win the job outright. Maybe can fight his way to the OD roster or they find a way to stash him in AAA again. 

[CheezWizHed]

The only time the ST stats matter is when a non-established player performs badly.  

No one is going to expect Capra of suddenly becoming starter MLB material because he hit 4 HRs in the dry air of AZ when pitchers are working on all sorts of issues. In Milwaukee in-season games, those probably become 4 flyouts... in a cold, damp spring.. 4 popouts. 

[umphrey]

Oliver Dunn 0/10 no walks

Capra 3/20 no walks

Moncada sporting a 111wRC+ with LAA

not feeling great about any of that 

[Brian]

4 minutes ago, umphrey said:

Oliver Dunn 0/10 no walks

Capra 3/20 no walks

Moncada sporting a 111wRC+ with LAA

not feeling great about any of that 

How about our two "Big Kahuna's: Contreras and Yelach both hitting under .100 

[Outlander]

Yelich and Contreras have proved themselves while Capra and Dunn are fringe. Dunn hasn't even played much at AAA even though he is older. Hopefully they get get a 3B at the deadline if they are still in it.

[liveforoctober]

22 minutes ago, Outlander said:

Yelich and Contreras have proved themselves while Capra and Dunn are fringe. Dunn hasn't even played much at AAA even though he is older. Hopefully they get get a 3B at the deadline if they are still in it.

8 games in. 30 combined at bats. Durbin, Mona, Boeve, etc to still vet below... and we are turning our eyes to a late July trade deadline acquisition "if we are still in it"?

Genuine question, do you enjoy the process of the season at all? Not mad if not ... I have a brother that shows up for the playoff push and always asks how we got here and needs to be filled in on the season. 

But man, let's work through the process a little bit here.