How Long Is Vinny Capra's Leash With The Brewers?

[Jack Stern]

A productive spring training has not carried into the regular season for the Brewers' utility infielder, who has been part of the team's struggles on the left side of the infield. His former platoon partner was already demoted. Could he be next?

Image courtesy of © Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

It has already become a disconcerting theme: a left-side Brewers' infielder is off to a woeful start, sparking uncomfortable conversations about that area of the roster in late April. Joey Ortiz's 35 wRC+ is the worst among qualified shortstops. Oliver Dunn fared even worse, prompting the Brewers to replace him with Caleb Durbin last week.

Dunn's former platoon partner is not as pressing a concern now that Durbin's arrival has relegated him to a strict bench role, but a conversation about his future has also become necessary. Vinny Capra is riding a 0-for-26 streak. With just three hits this year, the utility infielder currently sits on a -17 wRC+.

Capra said early in spring training that he focused on bat speed training over the offseason, but the specific regimen he divulged after making the Opening Day roster – building explosive rotational movement through mixed martial arts training – was more focused on his overall strength and mobility in the box. His goal was to hit the ball harder, but he didn't directly train bat speed. 

That made the topic worth revisiting shortly into the regular season, when public swing tracking data from Statcast became available. Now, the results are in: Capra is not swinging harder. In fact, a couple of his five competitive big-league swings last year were faster than any he's taken in 2025.

The 28-year-old has not helped his cause in the field. It's far too small a sample to trust any defensive metrics, but Capra has looked shaky at times by the eye test. He's struggled to convert moderately difficult but expected plays at third base. On Thursday, he forwent a double-play opportunity to look the tying runner back at third, leaving the go-ahead runner on second to eventually score in a 6-5 loss.

Capra has just 44 plate appearances and occupies a limited role, but the Brewers have quickly moved on from unproductive out-of-options players in the past. They designated reliever Javy Guerra for assignment at this time two years ago, and Luke Voit only lasted 74 plate appearances with a 53 wRC+ the year prior. With Andrew Monasterio heating up in Triple-A, a move could be approaching.

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[True Blue Brew Crew]

The leash is already too long

[Ron750]

He should never be hitting in a high leverage situation. He grounded out into a double play in the 9th. Swap him for Nolan Arenado and we win. I don’t care that he is out of options, it’s time to DFA him. It’s insane that we have a player hitting under 0.80. I love the Brewers small ball, but this team is another first round exit if they even make the playoffs. Attanasio blew our chance to be a contender when he traded Hader. That’s why the team was demoralized and Counsell left for a deep pockets team, even if that meant betraying the loyal fan base. This loss was pathetic. 

[Brewer77]

Capra is not the reason for our struggles, but he is not helping this team in any way. It’s time to search for a more productive use of that roster spot

[Brian]

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

In 2024, Quintin Berry, who served as the Brewers' first base coach, departed to join Craig Counsell's coaching staff with the Chicago Cubs. He now serves as the Cubs' third base coach. Ozzie Timmons, the Brewers' former hitting coach did not return for the 2025 season.
The Brewers' new hitting coaches for 2025 are Al LeBoeuf (lead), Eric Theisen, and Connor Dawson.  Brewers promote coaches LeBoeuf and Theisen, part ways with Timmons.  LeBoeuf will report directly to Murphy under the new configuration, and Theisen and Dawson will report to LeBoeuf. 

[Brewer77]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

In 2024, Quintin Berry, who served as the Brewers' first base coach, departed to join Craig Counsell's coaching staff with the Chicago Cubs. He now serves as the Cubs' third base coach. Ozzie Timmons, the Brewers' former hitting coach did not return for the 2025 season.
The Brewers' new hitting coaches for 2025 are Al LeBoeuf (lead), Eric Theisen, and Connor Dawson.  Brewers promote coaches LeBoeuf and Theisen, part ways with Timmons.  LeBoeuf will report directly to Murphy under the new configuration, and Theisen and Dawson will report to LeBoeuf. 

Need more than a month of subpar performance to start pointing fingers. The team had a worse wRC+ in June and September last year than they have this month

[Brian]

57 minutes ago, Brewer77 said:

Need more than a month of subpar performance to start pointing fingers. The team had a worse wRC+ in June and September last year than they have this month

Still not good since 2/3'rds of all MLB teams are ahead of us in that stat that everyone continually quotes. 

[Brewer77]

7 minutes ago, Brian said:

But still not good since 2/3'rds of all MLB teams are ahead of us in that stat that everyone continually quotes. 

Of course, but it’s too early to say it’s part of a larger problem rather than just a slow start. That’s all I’m saying. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

Everyone points to the elephant in the room, which is Capra hitting under .100. And they're right. It's when the subject of alternatives is mentioned when the problems crop up. Monasterio apparently isn't being viewed as an option, which is understandable because you're downgrading your defense for a marginally better bat at best. And I don't think at this time a guy like Pratt who has nineteen games above the high-A level is the answer either. 

What's really hurting is Capras' start combined with Dunn doing pretty much the same thing, along with Ortiz hitting .170. That's the killer. And Tyler Black never developed as a 3B (and is hurt anyway). And for all we know Mike Boeve might be mashing at AAA right now had he not been shelved. Or maybe Wilkin if he hadn't taken a ball to the face a year ago. It's tough when all those alternatives come up snake eyes.

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, Brian said:

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

In 2024, Quintin Berry, who served as the Brewers' first base coach, departed to join Craig Counsell's coaching staff with the Chicago Cubs. He now serves as the Cubs' third base coach. Ozzie Timmons, the Brewers' former hitting coach did not return for the 2025 season.
The Brewers' new hitting coaches for 2025 are Al LeBoeuf (lead), Eric Theisen, and Connor Dawson.  Brewers promote coaches LeBoeuf and Theisen, part ways with Timmons.  LeBoeuf will report directly to Murphy under the new configuration, and Theisen and Dawson will report to LeBoeuf. 

Berry leaving was very disappointing to me. Financial reality being what it is, I suspect any attractive coaching/managerial talent in the organization will be hard to keep.

[Brian]

19 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Everyone points to the elephant in the room, which is Capra hitting under .100. And they're right. It's when the subject of alternatives is mentioned when the problems crop up. Monasterio apparently isn't being viewed as an option, which is understandable because you're downgrading your defense for a marginally better bat at best. And I don't think at this time a guy like Pratt who has nineteen games above the high-A level is the answer either. 

What's really hurting is Capras' start combined with Dunn doing pretty much the same thing, along with Ortiz hitting .170. That's the killer. And Tyler Black never developed as a 3B (and is hurt anyway). And for all we know Mike Boeve might be mashing at AAA right now had he not been shelved. Or maybe Wilkin if he hadn't taken a ball to the face a year ago. It's tough when all those alternatives come up snake eyes.

I'm not as good at researching than most here but the Washington Nationals have 2 very good 3rd basemen in AAA plus 2 in the MLB.  Just saying maybe we should start looking elsewhere if things don't turn around within the next month. 

[brewers888]

Everyone other than the Brewers ownership and front office knew this third base situation was going to be a disaster. This left side of the infield with Ortiz hitting like a pitcher is something you would expect from the White Sox and not a so called contender.

[Paul]

Mark A. should open his pocket book.  Enough of Capra, Dunn, Collin’s, Monasterio, etc.  Get a major league SS and 3B.

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, Brian said:

I'm not as good at researching than most here but the Washington Nationals have 2 very good 3rd basemen in AAA plus 2 in the MLB.  Just saying maybe we should start looking elsewhere if things don't turn around within the next month. 

I'm all but certain they ARE looking around, talking to people. Whether or not there's a good deal out there no one can say, unless you know the names being bantered about. I would suspect that if it takes Yophery Rodriguez to get Priester, then people we're calling bring up Areinamo or one of the Carolina INF'S & that's where it ends. 

I think if there's an acquisition it'll be someone most here have heard of, who we hope has something left in the tank. Hell, Durbin was a solid but not elite prospect & he was half of the haul for one of the games' best closers (at least at the time the deal was made).

[True Blue Brew Crew]

The guy isn't a prospect, isn't young, and isn't very good defensively. What are we doing here?

[BrewerFan]

16 hours ago, Ron750 said:

He should never be hitting in a high leverage situation. He grounded out into a double play in the 9th. Swap him for Nolan Arenado and we win. I don’t care that he is out of options, it’s time to DFA him. It’s insane that we have a player hitting under 0.80. I love the Brewers small ball, but this team is another first round exit if they even make the playoffs. Attanasio blew our chance to be a contender when he traded Hader. That’s why the team was demoralized and Counsell left for a deep pockets team, even if that meant betraying the loyal fan base. This loss was pathetic. 

So...you mean the playoffs we've made since then didn't make us a contender? The 90+ win teams?

William Contreras and then Gasser, who was dominant until TJ surgery paused his MLB career, THAT is what ruined us?

Do you remember what Hader did before the trade and then after?

 

Counsell left and he still couldn't beat the Brewers, won't beat the Brewers and the Brewers farm system is absolutely stacked. Jesus Made a couple of SS for us that are...yeah, we're gonna recover from that trade that worked out overwhelmingly in our favor...

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, Brian said:

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

In 2024, Quintin Berry, who served as the Brewers' first base coach, departed to join Craig Counsell's coaching staff with the Chicago Cubs. He now serves as the Cubs' third base coach. Ozzie Timmons, the Brewers' former hitting coach did not return for the 2025 season.
The Brewers' new hitting coaches for 2025 are Al LeBoeuf (lead), Eric Theisen, and Connor Dawson.  Brewers promote coaches LeBoeuf and Theisen, part ways with Timmons.  LeBoeuf will report directly to Murphy under the new configuration, and Theisen and Dawson will report to LeBoeuf. 

What unforeseen issues?

Ortiz? He's struggled the first month. 
Does he get credit for Turang and Frelick? 

I think this a little reductive. We're still early. Chourio's BA jumped up how many points today? He was just at .248, he's at .280 now. Yelich has been hot, Hoskins is hitting .300...does he get credit for any of that?

Maybe it's just...a team with some players struggling. Mostly Ortiz and then 3B, a position we didn't really have anyone at and probably won't until next year...when the next tsunami of talent starts to flow. 

[Brian]

10 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

What unforeseen issues?

Ortiz? He's struggled the first month. 
Does he get credit for Turang and Frelick? 

I think this a little reductive. We're still early. Chourio's BA jumped up how many points today? He was just at .248, he's at .280 now. Yelich has been hot, Hoskins is hitting .300...does he get credit for any of that?

Maybe it's just...a team with some players struggling. Mostly Ortiz and then 3B, a position we didn't really have anyone at and probably won't until next year...when the next tsunami of talent starts to flow. 

You said:  In Sentence #1  What unforeseen issues? 

Then on Sentence #8  Maybe it's just...a team with some players struggling? 

As I see it:

Using 20 different pitchers already this season (Not counting Jake Bauers #21)  Is not a quality pitching staff.  We are at a point we must average at minimum 7 runs per game to keep winning and I don't see that happening.  I also know we have injured pitchers coming back but I can guarantee none will be in tip top form from the get go.  Then add into the recipe all our errors, bad throws, mental mistakes and struggling hitters????  We lose today means 4th place in the Central is reality. 

[BrewerFan]

19 hours ago, Brian said:

You said:  In Sentence #1  What unforeseen issues? 

Then on Sentence #8  Maybe it's just...a team with some players struggling? 

As I see it:

Using 20 different pitchers already this season (Not counting Jake Bauers #21)  Is not a quality pitching staff.  We are at a point we must average at minimum 7 runs per game to keep winning and I don't see that happening.  I also know we have injured pitchers coming back but I can guarantee none will be in tip top form from the get go.  Then add into the recipe all our errors, bad throws, mental mistakes and struggling hitters????  We lose today means 4th place in the Central is reality. 

I'm not sure what you're talking about here. I was responding to THIS;

On 4/26/2025 at 8:18 AM, Brian said:

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

In 2024, Quintin Berry, who served as the Brewers' first base coach, departed to join Craig Counsell's coaching staff with the Chicago Cubs. He now serves as the Cubs' third base coach. Ozzie Timmons, the Brewers' former hitting coach did not return for the 2025 season.

A guy starting the year at SS for the first time and struggling through APRIL is not unforseen.

And I asked the question, does he get credit for Frelick, Turang, Chourio, Hoskins?

I want to know how you take a team that's...first of all, 4th in the league in runs, but more importantly, 29 games into the year, has a positive run differential, a Pythagorean W/L of 16-13 and with no information other than...the Brewers are about average offensively and say, "we need to start pointing the finger at him?"

 

And then you start going into these other issues. Using 20 pitchers is not a "quality pitching staff?" Tell that to the Dodgers. About a 1/3rd of those runs are over a few innings spread between Connor Thomas, Nestor Cortes and Joel Payamps...and there again, we're still barely below average in pitching despite having an ABOVE AVERAGE pitching staff that's either missed most of the year(Myers) or is still on the DL(as you pointed out) in Ashby, Civale, Woodruff, Hall, Cortes...I feel like I'm missing someone. 

 

The defense has been fine. Again, small sample size and recency bias. Even Turang missed a couple plays this past week, but, again, I'm not sure how that's some organizational failure. We have the same...if not a better defense than the past two years when we won the team Gold Glove. 

 

It's April 27th and you literally said it's time to start pointing the finger at one coach in the organization and pointed out you'd said it previously. That doesn't make sense to me. You have no way of knowing...certainly through this point, what impact he's had on the team. 

 

I do know this team has gotten outstanding starting pitching from a number of young pitchers and they should have 3-4 starters coming back and fillling in a LOT of those innings. Myers was our best pitcher last year, Woodruff is on his way back from a grueling rehab and I'd expect him to make a significant difference 2nd half...as Ashby did last year. Ashby is on his way back from the Oblique injuries that knocked a bunch of guys out. Logan Henderson is in AAA after showing he's more than capable, but Patrick, Quintana, Priester, have all been outstanding and Freddy Peralta has thrown like an ace. 

 

As for the offense...we knew 3B was going to be a problem. We just got Durbin up. Let him get some PT and then let them address that with the long list of prospects we have, but...again, I don't see some organizational failure. 

I don't know what team could lose a #2/3 in Myers, Cortes, then a 3/4 in Civale, Ashby, Hall and get through that. A team that doesn't have a 8.8B TV deal and a payroll that's probably near 400M if they didn't "defer" so much money. Maybe more importantly, Woodruff is on his way back and keeps stacking successful rehab outings and is throwing 95. 

 

I think this is the epitome of getting worked up over nothing. The backend of the Pen has been great for the most part, we have young pitchers ready...we need a 3B. As I said, hopefully Durbin will be that guy. 

Otherwise...We're less than 20% of the way into the season. We're fine. 

But...Capra has to go. 

[Brian]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

And I asked the question, does he get credit for Frelick, Turang, Chourio, Hoskins?

 

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I'm not sure what you're talking about here. I was responding to THIS;

A guy starting the year at SS for the first time and struggling through APRIL is not unforseen.

And I asked the question, does he get credit for Frelick, Turang, Chourio, Hoskins?

I want to know how you take a team that's...first of all, 4th in the league in runs, but more importantly, 29 games into the year, has a positive run differential, a Pythagorean W/L of 16-13 and with no information other than...the Brewers are about average offensively and say, "we need to start pointing the finger at him?"

 

And then you start going into these other issues. Using 20 pitchers is not a "quality pitching staff?" Tell that to the Dodgers. About a 1/3rd of those runs are over a few innings spread between Connor Thomas, Nestor Cortes and Joel Payamps...and there again, we're still barely below average in pitching despite having an ABOVE AVERAGE pitching staff that's either missed most of the year(Myers) or is still on the DL(as you pointed out) in Ashby, Civale, Woodruff, Hall, Cortes...I feel like I'm missing someone. 

 

The defense has been fine. Again, small sample size and recency bias. Even Turang missed a couple plays this past week, but, again, I'm not sure how that's some organizational failure. We have the same...if not a better defense than the past two years when we won the team Gold Glove. 

 

It's April 27th and you literally said it's time to start pointing the finger at one coach in the organization and pointed out you'd said it previously. That doesn't make sense to me. You have no way of knowing...certainly through this point, what impact he's had on the team. 

 

I do know this team has gotten outstanding starting pitching from a number of young pitchers and they should have 3-4 starters coming back and fillling in a LOT of those innings. Myers was our best pitcher last year, Woodruff is on his way back from a grueling rehab and I'd expect him to make a significant difference 2nd half...as Ashby did last year. Ashby is on his way back from the Oblique injuries that knocked a bunch of guys out. Logan Henderson is in AAA after showing he's more than capable, but Patrick, Quintana, Priester, have all been outstanding and Freddy Peralta has thrown like an ace. 

 

As for the offense...we knew 3B was going to be a problem. We just got Durbin up. Let him get some PT and then let them address that with the long list of prospects we have, but...again, I don't see some organizational failure. 

I don't know what team could lose a #2/3 in Myers, Cortes, then a 3/4 in Civale, Ashby, Hall and get through that. A team that doesn't have a 8.8B TV deal and a payroll that's probably near 400M if they didn't "defer" so much money. Maybe more importantly, Woodruff is on his way back and keeps stacking successful rehab outings and is throwing 95. 

 

I think this is the epitome of getting worked up over nothing. The backend of the Pen has been great for the most part, we have young pitchers ready...we need a 3B. As I said, hopefully Durbin will be that guy. 

Otherwise...We're less than 20% of the way into the season. We're fine. 

But...Capra has to go. 

Holy crap, you got 20 questions for me out of a few comments I made two days ago after a loss? 

While your naming half the Brewers roster, coaches, injuries, rehab time, players in the minors with past outings, stats and percentages?  

I will perpair better before I make a comment after our next loss or a player. 

[Brewer77]

On 4/26/2025 at 12:28 PM, brewers888 said:

Everyone other than the Brewers ownership and front office knew this third base situation was going to be a disaster. This left side of the infield with Ortiz hitting like a pitcher is something you would expect from the White Sox and not a so called contender.

Or they knew the situation wasn’t great but they weren’t willing to pay what was needed for a meaningful upgrade. Quality 3rd basemen are hard to find right now

Only 11 teams have a wRC+ better than league average from their 3rd basemen. It’s not just bad teams struggling to get production from the position: NYM (77 wRC+), LAD (69), CHC (57), PHI (51)

Durbin has gotten off to a nice start. We’ll see where he settles in, but we don’t need him to do much more than hover near league average

[BrewerFan]

7 hours ago, Brian said:

Holy crap, you got 20 questions for me out of a few comments I made two days ago after a loss? 

It seemed like was a point you were pretty invested in making sure people knew you'd made!

On 4/26/2025 at 8:18 AM, Brian said:

This is the second time I have posted this and the first time it got zero responses. We have to start pointing fingers at Al LeBoeuf Brewers new hitting coach for our unforeseen hitting issues. 

[Ro Mueller]

I’m still trying to find the intern who forgot to cut the leash on November 19.

[brewmann04]

There a black hole at 3rd