djoctagone

right now, i am predicting that the brewers are going to have only two 40-man roster spots open up. pat egan and either george kottars or wil nieves will not make the team (as jonathan lucroy is expected to be healthy by opening day). i'm 50/50 on whether or not mark kotsay is cut by opening day, which would open up a third spot on the roster (presumably filled by erick almonte). it's also possible that the brewers could keep kotsay and reward erick almonte by adding him to the 40-man roster, but keep him in the minor leagues. (joe dillon was rewarded in a similar fashion a few years back, and was eventually recalled by the brewers.)

brewers.com has that on its stats page.

the rockies released chad moeller.

if boggs makes the team over dickerson, the brewers will be left with no other outfielders on their 40-man roster (i'm not considering cruz, gamel or kotsay outfielders). however, if dickerson makes the team over boggs, it allows the brewers to purchase the contract of another player (such as almonte). i'd much prefer we have at least one outfielder on the 40-man roster (in the minors) throughout the entire season. i'll add mark kotsay to the mix of projected 40-man roster openings by 31 march. his contract isn't guaranteed, and it would make sense to purchase the contract of almonte after kotsay is released. i realize this eliminates a left-handed bat, but i'll go with the younger almonte over the aging kotsay, and would feel better about making this move with the switch hitting boggs also on the roster.

kottaras has seen the most playing time and has 10 more plate appearances than nieves. comparing the small sample size of each player, kottaras has better offensive stats this spring than nieves does. nieves is in the starting line-up today.

if minor league camp hasn't started, then what are all of the minor leaguers that have appeared as reserves in major league games doing in arizona?

i'm listening to the 13th brewers game on thursday 10 march. the brewers played their first games on monday 28 february. under previous managers, it seems like there'd already be at least one round of cuts. i realize that the injuries to corey hart and jonathan lucroy prompt the brewers to give outfielders and catchers a longer look . . . and given the unavailability of a number of relief pitchers (and now their #1 starter), i can understand why no cuts have been announced. if ron roenicke was fielding a healthy roster, would he have already made at least a round of cuts? or is this expected of him? anyone follow the angels and know how long they kept players in camp? the brewers are done with split-squad games (except for the second-to-last day of the exhibition season).

there's some additional insight on this thread.

he stole one from russell branyon.

with zack greinke likely headed to the disabled list and the slow development of mark rogers and manny parra, one has to wonder who gets added to the rotation if rogers and parra are both unavailable. if it's a player currently under the brewers' control, i can't see it being anybody currently on the 40-man roster (except possibly kameron loe).

quote from corey hart: "it's just not getting better," he said. "every time i try to do something, it feels like i get stabbed." is it possible that his tattoos serve to conceal scars from stabbing wounds? how much do we really know about corey hart?

i'm using a friend's log-in on firefox to watch the game (with the volume turned off), and am using my own log-in on internet explorer to listen to the wtmj feed.

corey hart's injury troubles just may delay a roster decision on brandon boggs vs. chris dickerson. if hart opens the season on the disabled list, it's quite possible that both of those players are on the 25-man roster come 31 march.

hurry healing, hee-haw.

i only suggested manny parra because of his current injury problems . . . but i'm nearly certain you can't outright an injured player without first placing him on the disabled list and having him rehab the injury. if parra were to come back healthy from an injury, he'd be certainly claimed if outrighted.

i'm pulling up the archived audio now. i need to hear that inning.

as we all know, the 40-man roster is currently full, and if any players on minor league contracts are expected to make the 25-man roster come 31 march, they'll first need to be added to the 40-man roster. it appears that the brewers will have to make some decisions this month (or shortly thereafter) that will open up some roster space . . . giving the team flexibility to promote from within, acquire immediate help at the major league level, or acquire depth that can be (or remain) optioned to the minors. potentially, who are these players that could lose their spot on the 40-man roster? --pat egan . . . as a rule v draft pick and his injuries, it's likely he won't make the club and would be placed on waivers. if no one claims him, he can be outrighted to the minors and kept in the organization. --luis cruz . . . out of minor league options, has to make the team or be exposed to waivers. he appears to have a lock on a bench spot. --brandon boggs vs. chris dickerson . . . the former is out of minor league options, the latter has one remaining. i think most fans would prefer that dickerson make the team over boggs, forcing boggs to be exposed to waivers. --wil nieves vs. george kottaras . . . the decision on this may not happen until after 31 march, given jonathan lucroy's injury. it's very unlikely that the brewers will carry three catchers on the 25-man roster, so as soon as lucroy returns, one of those two will likely leave the organization. --sean green . . . out of minor league options . . . his chances of making the team increase with the bullpen injuries or slow return from injuries (parra, hawkins, egan, saito, etc.) --manny parra . . . could the brewers outright him and force him to accept the minor league assignment (assuming no other team claims him)? i think all of us were surprised a few years back when tony gwynn, jr. was outrighted and no team claimed him. i don't know how outrighting works for players in their arbitration eligibility years (can it be done? do they have the right to refuse?) what can we take from this? i think it's very likely that the brewers will have at least two 40-man roster spots open up by 31 march . . . one for sure (likely pat egan). anyone i've missed considering or evaluated incorrectly?

brendan katin comes into today's game with two outs in the ninth, bases loaded and the brewers down three runs. he delivers the game-winning hit with a towering drive to left and in striking the ball with such amazing force, uecker cries out, "he hit the poles! he hit the poles!"

have the brewers announced a schedule for mlb.com and wtmj broadcasts of spring training games?

i had difficulty getting four tickets together (but had multiple opportunities to purchase four $195 tickets on the third base line). i settled for two separate transactions for two tickets each. i haven't been to miller park since 2008, so i'm looking forward to it.

until he sees how people consistently butcher his name.

home opener lottery notification was supposed to be on or around today's date. has anyone received confirmation of winning the opportunity to purchase home opener tickets yet?

edmonds is injured at the start of cardinals' camp.

interesting to note that cc could opt out of his contract after this year.

what about jermaine dye and elijah dukes?