Position Analysis: 25-Man Roster

In lieu of Big Rygg over at the Brewer nation beginning his Projection Series prior to the pitchers and catchers reporting, I thought that I'd do my own type of projections/analysis.  Over the next week or so I will be posting daily on all of the positions on the team, probably neglecting the catcher position for the most part because of the extensive report I did on Kendall a little over a week ago.

The schedule will go as follows:

Today:  25-Man Roster

Tomorrow:  Starting Pitching

Tuesday: Relief Pitching

Wednesday:  Catchers

Thursday:  First Base

Friday:  Second Base

Saturday:  Third Base

Sunday:  Shortstop

Monday:  Outfield

Tuesday:  Coaching

Wednesday:  Prospects

This is probably going to be a difficult schedule to stick to considering research is in full swing, but with Super Tuesday imminent, it should be pretty easy to get ahead of the game.

25-Man Roster

If you refer to the Brewer Nation blog in the side bar, the first post you'll see is Big Rygg's projections about who will be on the active roster on opening day in the North Side of Chicago.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Brewers will be carrying a maximum of 12 pitchers coming in, but with possible roster moves pending, I would not be surprised to see only 11 pitchers to start the year.  This will allow for plenty of platooning in the outfield and more left-handed bats on the bench.

Pitchers:

SP      Ben Sheets

SP      Jeff Suppan

SP      Yovani Gallardo

SP      Carlos Villanueva

SP      Chris Capuano

LRP   Dave Bush

MRP  Guillermo Mota

MRP  Salomon Torres

MRP  David Riske

MRP  Brian Shouse

SU      Derrick Turnbow

CP      Eric Gagne

I've presented 12 pitchers here, neglecting the obvious future sacrificial lamb that is Claudio Vargas.  It is my firm belief that Cappy or Bushy will be moved with Vargas prior to the season's start.  This would bring us to 11 pitchers, of which I believe may be what we see to start the year, but if the 12th pitcher comes in there are three viable options:  Seth McClung, Manny Parra and Randy Choate.  Both Parra and Choate are lefties, while Parra is a starter, Choate and McClung are both mid-relief.

My thinking is that Bush is going to get moved with Vargas and a low-level prospect for, ideally, a couple of mid-level LHP prospects and maybe even a lower catching prospect.  Don't be surprised if someone like Zach Jackson or Tim Dillard get thrown into the deal because they need a shot somewhere else.  Nevertheless, the move will happen unless the injury bug hits.

Whomever gets tossed aside, I think that McClung currently has the one up on everyone else.  He had a phenomenal September with the Crew, giving up only 2 ER in 8.2 innings, while striking out 10.  If you watched any of these games, you would have noticed that McClung took a little off his fastball and breaking pitchers, giving him more control of both pitches.  It's okay if you only throw 96 MPH instead of 100 MPH if it means you can paint that corner.  Parra needs some more seasoning at AAA-Nashville.  He may be a little old, 25, to think that he needs seasoning, but a rotator cuff tear in 2005 put him out for about a year.  It won't hurt to get him some more innings.  He did well last year, and has a ton of options left, making him the perfect depth in the minors if something happens to our starters, which it always does.  Choate is a 31 year old lefty who has played for the Yankees and D'backs and has options left.  His numbers aren't impressive, I'll get into them on Tuesday.

Position Players:

C       Jason Kendall

C       Mike Rivera

1B     Prince Fielder

2B    Rickie Weeks

3B    Bill Hall

SS    JJ Hardy

UT   Craig Counsell

UT   Joe Dillon

OF   Ryan Braun

OF   Corey Hart

OF   Gabe Gross

OF   Tony Gwynn Jr.

OF   Gabe Kapler

You'll immediately notice that Mike Cameron is not on this list because of his 25 game suspension, which opens the door for Gwynn Jr. and Kapler.  Joe Dillon can also be considered an outfielder, giving him a big edge.  While some people don't have him anywhere on this roster, I almost guarantee we'll see him this year.  Gwynn or Kapler will get sent down upon the arrival of Mike Cameron, and I don't think it's set in stone who that will be yet.  The first 25 games of the year will harbor some competition, which I gather will be a good thing to get the year started.  I think Kapler will edge it out because he'll bring some additional veteran leadership, but I want to see him play before I really stand on that forum.

Rivera may be the biggest surprise to some, but I think he's paid enough dues and Eric Munson is garbage.  While Kendall is going to be a workhorse behind the plate, I don't think Munson's left handed bat is better against righties than Rivera's right handed bat especially since Munson is a career .214 hitter.  Munson just offers a little more pop, but not that much.

If there's an extra roster spot available, I expect to see homegrown Vinny Rottino.  He plays hard enough to earn a spot anyways.  He's right in line with Dillon except he's also a catcher with some speed, ala the young Kendall.  I'd love to see the kid get a shot.

Welp, that's all folks.  After running it down, I don't think we've made moves to improve this team, but we have a much better team with more experience and a different mindset.  Those things are a breath of fresh air considering some of the teams we've had in the past.