Outfield prospect Iribarren?

[Minigoon]

I was reading the story on JSOnline about Drew Anderson being claimed. In the story it mention how he was going to be passed up by up and coming outfield prospects Michael Brantley, Brendan Katin, Hernan Iribarren, and Cole Gillespie. This quote is attributed to Gord Ash. Has anyone heard anything about Iribarren being shifted to the outfield? It makes some sense as he is blocked right now by Rickie Weeks. Maybe a super-sub role is in his future?

 

http://www.jsonline.com:80/story/index.aspx?id=708885

[sbrylski]

I'm guessing journalistic error, though Iribarren's best shot at the majors is through a more versatile reserve player, on the Brewers anyway. Maybe he'll get some 3B time in this season in AAA. Or maybe they were hinting at something. Could be trying him out in CF?

[paul253]

I hope its an error...the Brewers are already overstocked in the outfield with LaPorta, Gillespie, Brantley, Ford, Gwynn, Cain, etc. With Hart and Braun not going anywhere anytime soon, the last thing we need is another outfielder. I think if Irrabarraen can stick to 2nd, and maybe Short, he'd find a role on the team as a nice utility guy ala Craig Counsell

[agent39]

It's not an error, Iribarren is in the OF now.

[colbyjack]

Thanks agent39. Do you happen to know if he's going to be in CF or does the team plan on having him play all over the place to improve his value via versatility a la Callix Crabbe?

[DrWood]

who is playing 2b in Nashville, then?

[paul253]

what is the reasoning for moving him to the outfield? I don't get it.

[colbyjack]

Steve Sollmann may very well be playing 2B for the Sounds this year.

 

Moving Iribarren to the OF as I mentioned above is a way for the Brewers to maximize his value to the big-league team. He's not going to break in at 2B unless Weeks goes down to injury, and even then the team may prefer to go with Craig Counsell in a fill-in role given the team's "win-now" mode.

 

The bottom line is that Iribarren's value to the big-league Brewers increases significantly if he's able to play more than just 2B.

 

Plus, Alcides Escobar may be the team's utility IF of the future. Since Iribarren can't play SS, it makes sense to try him in the OF.

[sbrylski]

Moving Iribarren to the OF as I mentioned above is a way for the Brewers to maximize his value to the big-league team.

 

Actually, I mentioned it first in post #2. Winner!

[pogokat]

this is his last option year..gotta make something out of him...still, a strange move...

[paul253]

Is Escobar going to be able to hit well enough to be a utility guy? And I cant see him making it to the bigs full time before 2010. I would think if you were going to try Irabarren anywhere it would be third base. Yeah he's not going to break into the infield with Weeks, but where exactly in the outfield is he going to be? Hart and Braun and there now, LaPorta will be there soon, with guys like Cain, Gillespie and Ford soon to follow. Plus, outfield prospects are a lot easier to develop because as Hart, Nelson, LaPorta, and Braun have shown, just can stick pretty much anyone out there.

[mothershipconnection]

Unless Hernan could become a whiz in CF, I don't see this move making much sense. It just doesn't seem like he's the type who'd develop the pop to play OF. True, he's blocked at 2B, but his value on the big league club would probably be better in what he brings in trade than what he can produce in an OF already crowded with mediocrity (Gross, Nix, Gwynn...).

[paul253]

Not to mention Weeks is exactly tearing it up. If he never meets his potential, which is quite possible, whats the backup plan?

[TooLiveBrew]

Hopefully Rickie will really change your mind in 2008, paul. I really think he's going to. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[paul253]

Well I hope so. With a very underwhelming off season, some of the players who struggled last year, like Weeks and Hall, are going to have to step it up.

[homer]

Weeks struggled in the first half, but he was on fire in the second half.

[DrWood]

Weeks struggled in the first half, but he was on fire in the second half.

 

he did fine, but batting .251 usually doesn't qualify as "on fire". .273 the last two months doesn't either. He did hit quite a few HR, though.

[bretsky07]

he did fine, but batting .251 usually doesn't qualify as "on fire". .273 the last two months doesn't either. He did hit quite a few HR, though.

If you just look at average he wasn't on fire, but a post All-Star line of .422 OBP / .481 SLG / .901 OPS while hitting 11 HR and going 16/16 in SB is very much on fire, especially compared to his first half.

[homer]

And I should have qualified that I meant he was on fire after his callup.

 

.327/.500/.519 in August

.245/.409/.571 in September