IF THE SEASON OPENED TODAY....
These are the 25 players I would break camp with:
Catchers
Jason Kendall #18 r/r 34
Mike Rivera #11 r/r 32
Comment: Angel Salome is ready but would not play regularly enough with Kendall demanding most of the games. So he is better off going to AAA and playing every day.
Infielders
Craig Counsell #30 l/r 38
Prince Fielder #28 l/r 24
Bill Hall #2 r/r 29
JJ Hardy #7 r/r 26
Mike Lamb #20 l/r 33
Casey McGehee #52 r/r 26
Rickie Weeks #23 r/r 26
Comment: Thought that Alcides Escobar would make the club but he is struggling mightily at the plate and it looks like he will need to find his bat at AAA.
McGehee, a FA pickup from the Cubs is having a super spring and is versatile enough to play 3 positions -of/1b/3b. Lamb is a stopgap until Mat Gamel is ready. Hall and Counsell are good utility players who can also play multiple positions. Will this be Weeks' last chance?
Outfielders
Ryan Braun #8 r/r 25
Mike Cameron #25 r/r 36
Corey Hart #1 r/r 27
Brad Nelson #27 l/r 26
Comment: Nelson makes the club as the reserve outfielder over Chris Duffy for one primary reason - he can backup at 1b. Besides he came through the system with Hart and Hardy and deserves his chance. Hall, assuming he will be ready on opening day, can also play of if needed.
Pitchers
Starters
David Bush #31 r 29
Yovani Gallardo #49 r 23
Braden Looper #41 r 34
Manny Parra #26 l 26
Jeff Suppan #37 r 34
Comment: With all of the off days in April, Looper will probably break camp while he continues to rehab his pulled muscle. Bush has looked solid this spring while Suppan, with an ERA over 7, looks terrible. But GM Doug Melvin will not release him because the Brewers do not eat salaries and Suppan will make over $12 million this year. This is the area of the squad that will make or break this season. Making Gallardo the ace at age 23 is putting much pressure on him. But he has the same winning makeup as Hamels, Linceum and David Price.
Bullpen
Todd Coffey #60 r 28
Tim Dillard #48 r 25
Seth McClung #73 r 28
David Riske #54 r 34
Mitch Stetter #57 l 28
Carlos Villanueva #12 r 25
Closer
Trevor Hoffman #51 r 41
Comment: Despite GM Doug Melvin bringing in a plethora of pitchers from other clubs to compete for spots, it appears that the only new face in the bullpen will be the all-time saves leader. Hoffman has not given up a run this spring. Here's hoping that he has one more good year in his arm. McClung has been getting lit up and is vulnerable if another pitcher who can both spot start and relieve steps up. Riske, recovering from an injury is also shaky but his experience will probably be enough to keep his spot. Dillard and Coffey have both looked good this spring and Stetter will take over Brian Shouse's role for a lot less money. Villanueva will be groomed to eventually take over the closer's role.
Will this team have enough to make the playoffs again? The starting pitching needs to be strong all year and the offense needs to do more than hit homers and strike out. I'm not confident for two reasons: The NL Central is the toughest division and,on paper, the Mets look better. But we know what has happened the past two years.
Even though I'm absorbed in college basketball right now, I can't wait for the season to start.
Catchers
Jason Kendall #18 r/r 34
Mike Rivera #11 r/r 32
Comment: Angel Salome is ready but would not play regularly enough with Kendall demanding most of the games. So he is better off going to AAA and playing every day.
Infielders
Craig Counsell #30 l/r 38
Prince Fielder #28 l/r 24
Bill Hall #2 r/r 29
JJ Hardy #7 r/r 26
Mike Lamb #20 l/r 33
Casey McGehee #52 r/r 26
Rickie Weeks #23 r/r 26
Comment: Thought that Alcides Escobar would make the club but he is struggling mightily at the plate and it looks like he will need to find his bat at AAA.
McGehee, a FA pickup from the Cubs is having a super spring and is versatile enough to play 3 positions -of/1b/3b. Lamb is a stopgap until Mat Gamel is ready. Hall and Counsell are good utility players who can also play multiple positions. Will this be Weeks' last chance?
Outfielders
Ryan Braun #8 r/r 25
Mike Cameron #25 r/r 36
Corey Hart #1 r/r 27
Brad Nelson #27 l/r 26
Comment: Nelson makes the club as the reserve outfielder over Chris Duffy for one primary reason - he can backup at 1b. Besides he came through the system with Hart and Hardy and deserves his chance. Hall, assuming he will be ready on opening day, can also play of if needed.
Pitchers
Starters
David Bush #31 r 29
Yovani Gallardo #49 r 23
Braden Looper #41 r 34
Manny Parra #26 l 26
Jeff Suppan #37 r 34
Comment: With all of the off days in April, Looper will probably break camp while he continues to rehab his pulled muscle. Bush has looked solid this spring while Suppan, with an ERA over 7, looks terrible. But GM Doug Melvin will not release him because the Brewers do not eat salaries and Suppan will make over $12 million this year. This is the area of the squad that will make or break this season. Making Gallardo the ace at age 23 is putting much pressure on him. But he has the same winning makeup as Hamels, Linceum and David Price.
Bullpen
Todd Coffey #60 r 28
Tim Dillard #48 r 25
Seth McClung #73 r 28
David Riske #54 r 34
Mitch Stetter #57 l 28
Carlos Villanueva #12 r 25
Closer
Trevor Hoffman #51 r 41
Comment: Despite GM Doug Melvin bringing in a plethora of pitchers from other clubs to compete for spots, it appears that the only new face in the bullpen will be the all-time saves leader. Hoffman has not given up a run this spring. Here's hoping that he has one more good year in his arm. McClung has been getting lit up and is vulnerable if another pitcher who can both spot start and relieve steps up. Riske, recovering from an injury is also shaky but his experience will probably be enough to keep his spot. Dillard and Coffey have both looked good this spring and Stetter will take over Brian Shouse's role for a lot less money. Villanueva will be groomed to eventually take over the closer's role.
Will this team have enough to make the playoffs again? The starting pitching needs to be strong all year and the offense needs to do more than hit homers and strike out. I'm not confident for two reasons: The NL Central is the toughest division and,on paper, the Mets look better. But we know what has happened the past two years.
Even though I'm absorbed in college basketball right now, I can't wait for the season to start.
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