Scooter Gennett getting down and dirty Photo: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

With all of the winter weather tearing through the country right now, it is hard to even fathom the thought of Spring.  But, regardless of how much snow we get tonight in the land of cheese curds and beer, Spring Training is in full swing.  After 4 games, I think that it is pretty clear who will be on the roster in 2013 and who will not (unless you count the bizarre 1B situation we find ourselves in) .  What I am looking out for are the next big pieces of the franchise.  And I think they are already starting to emerge. 

Spring Training is a magical time of the year when you can actually watch and follow the future of the franchise.  These are 5 players who are going to turn heads this Spring and build momentum for the 2014 Brewers roster.  I personally believe these 5 players could all be on the Opening Day Roster in 2014, which is why I have chosen them to watch this Spring Training (or ST, as it will be further known).    

Keep in mind that I do not think any of these 5 players will find themselves on the Opening Day roster this season.  Which makes it all the more imperative you watch them now.  

Hiram Burgos - In the RtB Prospect Rankings, I had Burgos as my 10th rated prospect.  After watching his outing from yesterdays game, there is a lot to like.  Of the outings I have seen so far, he seems to be the only Brewers pitcher who does not need to work on his location as ST progresses.  If anything, location is the biggest strength of Burgos’ game.  None of his pitches (fastball, change-up, curve ball, and a cutter) are electric, but as many Hall of Fame pitchers can tell you “It’s about location, location, location.”  Despite Burgos moving from Single-A ball to Triple-A ball over the course of one season and being named the 2012 Brewers minor league Pitcher of the Year, I still believe he needs a full season in Nashville to really fine tune his arsenal.  At this point though, I am fairly confident that he will be a front runner for a rotation spot in 2014.  So take note and follow the kid on Twitter @Burgos196

Johnny Hellweg -  I really like this guy (Ranked him 12th in my Prospects list).  Hellweg was a piece of the Greinke deal with the Angels last season.  The kid looks like a giraffe on the mound, standing 6’9″ tall and only weighing about 210 pounds, but throws a nasty fastball.  From everything I can gather, the Brewers front office isn’t sure where this kid belongs.  Is he a starter, reliever, set-up, or closer?  No one seems to know.  Prior to coming over to play for the good guys, Hellweg was having success as a starter and had struggled out of the bullpen.  His biggest obstacle in being a starter for the Brewers, is the staggering amount of young starters already in the team pipeline (Thornburg, Fiers, Jungmann, Bradley, Peralta, etc.).  If he wants to be on the big league roster sooner, rather than later, he should focus on coming out of the pen.  If he makes the team in 2014, then he will need to have a solid enough ST to get a Nashville assignment rather than being sent back to Huntsville.

Caleb Gindl - I have liked Gindl for a few years and his time is getting closer(6th in my Prospect list).   Ron Roenicke has pretty much guaranteed that Logan Schafer is going to be the 4th outfielder (ranked him 2nd on my Prospect list) and it is justly deserved.  Gindl could find himself on the big league roster in 2014 because Carlos Gomez only has a contract through this season, and Nori Aoki has an option for 2014.  If the team continues to gear towards youth, they may decide Gindl is ready for the challenge.  So far this ST he is 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s, not too shabby.  Gindl’s numbers at Nashville last season were underwhelming; .261 batting average, 12 HR’s, and 50 RBI’s, but I still believe that he has big league talent.  This particular ST will be great for him, thanks to all of the Brewers who will soon be departing for the World Cup of Baseball.  Whether or not Caleb can make the Brewers Opening Day roster in 2014, may have very little to do with him.  But should Gomez or Aoki leave the team via Free Agency, then I expect Gindl would be the primary benefactor.

Scooter Gennett - (Ranked 4th in my prospect list) Before you even start, I know Rickie Weeks is our 2nd baseman and he is locked up for a couple of years.  In case you missed it, I have been seeing a therapist about my hang-ups with Rickie.  The reality is that Scooter was the first prospect I fell in love with when I started writing for RtB in the winter of 2010.  Gennett has excelled at every level of the minors.  Last season was his worst statistical season in the minors, but he still hit .293 and had 156 hits.  Not to mention that when the Brewers acquired Jean Segura and he went to play a few games in Huntsville, several scouts acknowledged that the two had almost instant chemistry.  So, should the team decide that Rickie Weeks is not worth the contract, or they can trade him for some quality prospects, I envision Scooter Gennett becoming our everyday 2nd baseman.  However, he might still be on the fence in 2014.  At 22 years old, we still have some time…  The real thing to watch with Scooter is, how much playing time he actually gets this ST.  Catch him on Twitter @Scooterg11

Tyler Thornburg - (My #1 Rated Prospect) I saved him for last for one particular reason, which is that many of you will disagree.  Tyler Thornburg is very, very good.  The hard truth is, I don’t think he is ready just yet.  While I only have one outing to go off of (2 IP, 2 ER, 0 K’s, and 1 BB), it just seems like he needs another season in Nashville to truly be an option for the starting rotation.  Thornburg is immensely talented and will be in the starting rotation soon, just not quite yet.  Let us not forget his MLB debut, where he surrendered back-to-back-to-back home runs.  Does that mean he is not a big league talent?  Heck no!  Does it mean he needs more time to work on his game?  Yes.  There is no need to rush him into the rotation, there are 6 solid guys who are already vying for those spots.  So, we should enjoy watching him this Spring.  If you care what I think, he will be in the rotation in 2014.  That means we should use this opportunity to watch him grow against big league hitters.  Follow him on Twitter at @TylerThornburg

No one knows more than me how much can change in Spring Training (Erick Almonte anyone?).  These are just guys who are young and on the verge of being Brewers, so it is best to get familiar with them now.  Feel free to disagree, or share some guys you are looking for this ST.

Oct 7, 2011; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder

For the second straight year, the Boston Red Sox are off to a rough start. After their historic collapse last season, you know this is the last thing they and their fans wanted. On top of that, injuries are starting to mount. First was closer Andrew Bailey. Then yesterday, Jacoby Ellsbury suffered a nasty-looking shoulder injury that will keep him out at least six weeks, but likely more based on what I’ve been reading.

Ellsbury is a huge loss, as he was an MVP-type player last season. The question for them is how to adequately replace him. The player they called up, Che-Hsuan Lin, certainly isn’t the answer. He has a .618 OPS in his AAA career. With the Red Sox off to a slow start, might they be willing to overpay for an established player?

Generally, it is very difficult to find a trading partner this early in the season. Teams aren’t willing to deal players until it becomes more clear they won’t be contending. But the Brewers offer a unique situation. I’ve already written about their outfield logjam and that I would consider trading Nyjer Morgan. Now it seems the Brewers would have a taker. Morgan would be a perfect fill in for Ellsbury, even down to being left-handed. More importantly, the Brewers could actually be willing to trade him. Either one of Logan Schafer or Caleb Gindl seems ready to go, and Norichika Aoki has been impressive. I wouldn’t feel worried at all with Aoki filling in for Morgan’s half of the center field platoon.

So, what would the Brewers get from Boston? Safe to say it won’t be a reliever, even though the Brewers could use one. With Andrew Bailey out, their pen is in a bit of disarray right now. I certainly wouldn’t mind someone able to play shortstop who would allow the Brewers to say goodbye to Cesar Izturis. The Red Sox won’t trade slick fielding prospect Jose Iglesias, but perhaps they’d be willing to trade Mike Aviles and give Iglesias the job. Iglesias nearly won the job out of Spring Training, anyway.

Still, the most likely scenario would likely be a prospect coming back. Boston likely prefers not to trade anyone from their big league team. While it might seem counter-productive for a team like the Brewers, who are clearly going for a playoff spot, to trade a big league player for a prospect, it’s not unprecedented. They traded Gabe Gross for Josh Butler early in 2008, and I would argue that Gross was less replaceable on that team than Morgan is on this one (remember how nice it would have been to have Gross’ lefty bat when Corey Hart was so bad at the end of 2008?)

There is a chance the Brewers could take advantage a bit of Boston’s tough situation and net a pretty nice prospect for Morgan–maybe someone toward the bottom of their top ten prospects list. That would be a great return on a player.  Trading a nothing prospect for him a year ago, getting a year of great production, and then flipping him for a much better prospect wouldn’t be a bad way to go at all. Plus, it frees up a bit of cash for a potential trade later in the season.

I feel like this makes too much sense on paper to happen, but I guess we’ll see.

We are just two weeks away from the start of the regular season.  In all honesty, this Spring has not blessed us with a lot of feel good stories.  Logan Schafer, Caleb Gindl, and Mat Gamel are the only players consistently contributing on offense.  Pitching has been good, but not great. It has left me wanting something to really follow over the final stretch of spring.  

The one thing worth watching, at least for me, over these final two weeks?  Taylor Green and Brooks Conrad playing for the last bench spot. 

Yesterday, RtB staff writer Curt Hogg wrote an article about Mr. Conrad.  I suggest you read it.   Curt is madly, passionately in love with Brooks Conrad.  While I have made very clear my stance on young players, versus career bench players.  I prefer the young guys, in this case Taylor Green.  Neither of those opinions will sway this article, because this is about what Ron Roenicke wants, not what RtB writers want.  

It is no secret at this point that the Brewers will start the season with 5 bench players, which is ultimately what has created this situation.  Loading up on pitchers is a Milwaukee Brewers tradition that RR intends to keep. 

Mar 5, 2012; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Taylor Green (5) reacts to a ball of the bat of San Francisco Giants catcher Chris Stewart (not pictured) during the third inning at Scottsdale Stadium. The ball went foul. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Now, I am taking a lot of liberties and making a few assumptions.  Most of those bench spots are locked down, Ron Roenicke is not a very secretive guy.  So let’s re-cap who is pretty much a lock and why it could come down to a two man race for the last spot on the Opening Day Roster.    
 

Norichika Aoki was not brought in from Japan to play in Nashville.  So, the 1st spot belongs to him. 

George Kottaras is Randy Wolf‘s personal catcher.  Wolf does not like Lucroy to catch him, so the 2nd spot is his.  No questions asked.  Done deal.  

Carlos Gomez is starting his third season with the team.  He and Nyjer Morgan share Center Field duties….well, I shouldn’t say share.  Gomez gets to start in CF when there is a left handed pitcher on the mound.  3rd spot is reserved for CarGo.

The 4th spot seemed like a done deal before ST started.  And despite his pathetic offensive showing, Cesar Izturis could still keep the 4th spot.  As we all know RR has a major soft spot for the “minor league coaching class of 2015″, so that is in Izturis’ favor.  Along with him being the only real middle infield depth we have (or so I thought).  HOWEVER, I would be remiss if I did not mention that he only has 2 hits this spring…in 23 AB’s.  This could bode well for both Conrad and Green, but let’s just say Izturis is still spot number 4. 

That leaves one lonely roster spot. 

If you had read Curt’s lover letter to Brooks Conrad, you would know that the old man is having a nice spring.  There is no doubt that he has a tremendous amount of value late in games with his bat.  His only true achievements in baseball (that don’t include errors) are late inning heroics.  Prior to ST I thought he was only a corner infield back-up, which is what I expected Taylor Green to be.  Turns out he can play some 2nd base too.  That bodes poorly for Cesar Izturis, but very well for Brooks. 

What Ron Roenicke Sees:  This one is easy, he sees Mark Kotsay.  A veteran that he can plug in, late in games, and hope that he doesn’t strike out.  RR probably sees a guy who is giving it everything he has got (I may not want Conrad on the roster over Green, but I will not discount his hustle and effort.  The guy works hard) and that is important to a skipper like Ron.  RR also sees a guy who can play 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base.  That makes Izturis a little more expendable, but it makes Green equally as expendable.  Odds he gets the last roster spot – 52%

Taylor Green is young and really proved himself late last season.  There is no doubt that Green belongs in the big leagues.  The biggest thing working against Taylor is his lack of flexibility.  He can play 3rd base and probably some 1st base, but from what I can gather that is about it.  Nice Spring so far, .278 BA, a homer, and a couple of RBI’s.  Tay Green is a budding young talent and in all likelihood, the eventual replacement for Aramis Ramirez.  So, what kind of message are you sending him by banishing him to Nashville to start the season.  I vote for Taylor Green…but it is not up to me.

What Ron Roenicke Sees:  A very talented young kid, who probably will benefit just as much from spot playing in the Big’s as he will playing everyday in Nashville.  RR probably also sees the lack of flexibility.  Maybe Tay plays his music too loudly…Ron won’t like that.  Damn kids with their iPods and Angry Birds.  Even Ron’s love of Old Country Buffet can’t blind him from the fact that Green is really talented.  Odds he gets the last roster spot — 48%

As much as it pains me, I think Curt was right and Brooks Conrad will be on the opening day roster.  That doesn’t mean that Izturis won’t play himself out of a spot either.  Both guys could end up making it in the end.  But, as of right now these are the only two worth watching over the next two weeks.  We’ll see what happens. 

Go Brewers!!!

Oct 9, 2011; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielders

The player I decided to follow this Spring Training is Caleb Gindl. A couple weeks ago, I gave an overview of Gindl as a player and his likely role with the team, both now and in the near future.

We’re a good ways through Spring Training, and Gindl has certainly held his own. With the caveat that 26 Spring Training at-bats are meaningless, Gindl has displayed the solid batter’s eye and decent power that he’s shown the last few years in the minors. His line to this point is .308/.379/.423.

Much more important than his spring numbers are the reviews he’s gotten from the coaching staff. It was nice to see Ron Roenicke compliment Gindl’s defense along with his bat. Both Gindl and especially Logan Schafer have opened some eyes this spring, and I continue to think that we could see an outfielder traded at some point this season. If not this year, then almost certainly in the off-season.

It seems likely that Gindl could handle a Major League job right now, although another year at AAA certainly doesn’t hurt anything. For now, I maintain that if Corey Hart went down for an extended period of time, I’d have no problem playing Gindl against right-handers.

For now, I’d expect Gindl to hang around the big league club for the next week or so before being sent to AAA camp. He’ll play every day in right field and be ready to fill in if needed.

Since Spring Training is underway, I thought we would check up on a few players who maybe are not at the forefront of our minds right now.  It is easy to write about Braun, Hart, Greinke…etc.  They get plenty of print and do not need my help.  There are some guys playing pretty good ball right now who are not superstars.  There are also some guys who are not looking so fresh. 

If you are seeking a visual stimulant of the superstar variety, I posted a video in the HUB of some Yo highlights from his start on Tuesday.  Our boy is looking…nasty.  As in filthy.  Check that out.

Brewers Junk Drawer:

Tyler Thornburg and Michael Fiers got roughed up -   Thorny is 21 years old, on the verge of breaking into the big leagues.  Fiers was the organizations minor-league pitcher of the year in 2011.  Both guy got beat up this week.  Fiers got tagged for 4 hits, 3 runs (all earned), a home run, and a 13.50 ERA….in one inning against the White Sox.  It was not great.  Then on Tuesday, Ty Thor never had a chance.  Granted, all 3 of his runs were un-earned, but he did not do himself any favors.  Lead of single, sac fly, double, strikeout, throwing error…two runs score.  That was the end of his day.  While that was not his fault, I still classify that as “getting roughed up”.  No pitcher wants to be responsible for 3 runs, even if they are all unearned.  There is a lot of spring training left.  Both of these guys are going to learn a lot from watching Gallardo, Greinke, Marcum, Wolf…etc.  That is why this is in the junk drawer.  Both guys will turn it around.

 Zelous Wheeler hits first Brewers Home Run of 2012 -   Wheeler unloaded on Jeremy Affeldt in the game on Monday night.  Affeldt is a really good pitcher, and Wheeler took him deep to the opposite field.  What’s that, you want to see the video…oh, I have it:

So, mark it down.  Z-Dub setting the tone.  That was an impressive home run, against a major league reliever.  Well played.

Caleb Gindl benefiting from Hart injury -  Caleb Gindl has gotten a fair amount of playing time so far this spring.  Logan Schafer is also getting his fair share.  Gindl had a monster day at the plate today, with a huge 3-run blast in the 6th inning.  Sorry, no video for this one. He also had a single.  Caleb has always been fascinating to me, not because of his skill, but because of his size.  At a generous 5″9′ and 205 lbs., Gindl is not your prototypical outfielder.  That does not seem to slow him down though.  With Hart out for the duration of Spring Training, I think we will be hearing a lot more about this kid.  I believe that he has the potential to earn a roster spot.  Swings a solid stick, takes pitches (a rarity in these parts), and he is pretty handy with the glove.  His bat will earn him a roster spot. 

August 19, 2011; Flushing, NY, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Frankie De La Cruz (63) and catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) celebrate after the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Brewers defeated the Mets 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Frankie De La Cruz does a Jekyll and Hyde -  De La Cruz is a guy who is getting a little old to be a prospect, but he seems to be putting it together…sometimes.  Frankie made his season debut and threw two scoreless inning, only giving up one hit.  Also recorded the 2nd strikeout of the Brewers season (1st – Wily Peralta).  Then today, they gave Frank the ball and he threw up 4′s: 4 hits, 4 runs, and only 4 outs.  This guy is more confusing than Dave Bush.  You’re good, you’re bad, you’re ok, you are the worst, and now you’re in the junk drawer.  Maybe he was working on a new pitch today, who knows.  But after his performance on Sunday, I doubt that ol’ Rick Kranitz told him to make any adjustments.  Let’s hope he figures out how to keep Frank at bay.  Frankie is a way better pitcher. 

 They have only played four games, so a little too soon to really be writing a full report.  Thus, the junk drawer.  The Crew is .500 on the fake season. 

Go Brewers!!

Technically, I was supposed to preview Chris Narveson’s season outlook today; I instead got caught up in the (Spring) Opening Day hysteria. As expected, Ron Roenicke started his typical starters on offense with Randy Wolf on the mound. More and more players got involved as the game progressed, holding a 1-1 tie against San Francisco in the Spring opener. As a whole, the game was a positive, though the Brewers only scratched four hits, which isn’t a call of concern yet as the hitters have only had a week of practice.

Roenicke inserted prospects into the game in its latter stages, giving Brewers fans a glimpse of the future. In case you missed it, here’s what we learned from a paltry sample size of action.

Michael Fiers

Fiers emerged as one of the top prospects in the Brewers farm system in 2011, winning the Pitcher of the Year in the Brewers organization while spending time in AA Hunstville and AAA Nashville. At 6’3″, 200 lbs. and 26 years, Fiers is an older prospect and should see his time with Milwaukee coming soon. Last season he pitched two scoreless innings as a September call-up after going a dazzling 8-0 with a minuscule 1.11 era in 12 games. His fastball is nothing special at 88-92 mph, but has late movement not normally seen in the Minors. He uses every inch of his 6-3 frame in his delivery, somewhat reminiscent of John Axford’s motion, but with a longer step and less arm movement.

Personally, Fiers’s prospects as a Big Leaguer excite me as much as any other Brewers farmhand, which is why I listed him first. After blossoming in 2011, he might be seen in the bullpen in 2012 and should compete for a much-engrossed starting spot in 2013 with the likes of Jed Bradley and Taylor Jungmann. He inherited a tie ballgame in the ninth and pitched a scoreless frame. He retired the Giants’ Roger Kieschnick, Tommy Joseph, and Connor Gillaspie on two weak groundouts and an infield pop out, respectively. Overall Fiers has  shown enough  positives on the mound that I think he can contribute in the majors as a fifth starter or a bridge-inning reliever.

Eric Farris

Farris put himself in a position to possibly score the winning run after singling with one out in the bottom of the ninth. After a Nori

Brewers prospects warm up during a practice in Maryvale, Arizona. (Photo credit: Ross D. Franklin) - AP

Aoki fly out and with Taylor Green at the plate, Farris was caught leaning and Wilmin Rodriguez picked him off to end the game. The pick off isn’t any sort of an alarm; Farris stole 70 bases in 2009 while in high-A ball. The aggression is something good, especially on a team that will need to manufacture more runs with the loss of Prince Fielder. Farris is a long shot to make the Opening Day roster and will most likely begin in Nashville. There is, however, a glimmer of hope that he will beat out veteran Cesar Izturis and former Braves pinch-hitting great Brooks Conrad on basis of his speed and glove. A second baseman of small stature, Farris’s future hopes at starting for the Brewers shouldn’t be very high–he’s stuck behind Rickie Weeks. On Sunday, however, he showed promise with a solid stroke to the opposite field.

Caleb Gindl

The stocky outfielder (he’s 5’9″, 200 pounds) made an appearance in Sunday’s game, rolling out to second in his only at-bat. He may not look great in a baseball uniform, but he possesses above average pop and solid defense. Fellow RtB Steve Alstadt profiled Gindl and his future with the Brewers here. I recommend referencing the article. Anything I would write about the man affectionately called the “human bowling ball” by his teammates would be exactly what Steve already wrote.

Martin Maldonado

The 25-year-old catcher has been a journeyman throughout his Minor League career, making stops with two organizations and every possible level with the exception of the Majors. He made his name known with a strong showing in the Winter Leagues this past season, posting solid .271/.350/.415 numbers with four homers and 15 RBI. His prospects with the Brewers in 2012 are bleak with the re-signing of backup catcher George Kottaras this winter, but he is projected to hold that spot in the future. His role with the team will be limited as long as Milwaukee keeps Jonathan Lucroy–as it is expected to do–but his quick release and strong arm behind the plate along with improved offense give the Brewers a future backup catcher.

Brock Kjeldgaard

Pronounced “kill-guard”, the 6’5″, 235 pound pitcher-turned-outfielder has shown enough promise to be placed on the 40-man roster. He appeared as a pinch hitter on Sunday, striking out in his one plate appearance. Kjeldgaard doesn’t flash much leather on defense and strikes out a lot, as shown in the Spring opener. He doesn’t project to be an everyday starter in the future, but could manage a spot on the roster as a pinch hitter by 2013. His 18 homers in his first two and one-half months at Brevard County in 2011 showed promise at the plate, but his strikeout rate combined with below-average defense and no definite defensive spot will nag his chances.

The Brewers obviously didn’t want to lose Kjeldgaard’s bat, signing him and placing him on the 40-man roster to avoid losing him in the Rule 5 draft. Expect him to roam in AA and AAA in 2012 before actually competing for a job in the Big Leagues in 2013 or ’14, when he’ll be competing for a spot with guys like Khris Davis, Kentrail Davis, Gindl, and Hunter Morris.

Oct 13, 2011; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielders Ryan Braun (left) and Carlos Gomez (27) and Nyjer Morgan (2) celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 in game four of the 2011 NLCS at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

As part of our roster profile for Spring Training, I will be following outfielder Caleb Gindl. Since being drafted in the fifth round in 2007, Gindl has moved steadily up the organizational ladder. Now at 23, Gindl has shown he’s ready for a big league role, even if he won’t get one right away this season.

At 5’9″ and 205 pounds, Gindl is called “the human bowling ball” by his teammates. He plays all three outfield positions, though his modest speed leaves him best suited for a corner spot. Baseball America ranks him as the Brewers’ number 7 prospect.

I chose to focus on Gindl, because he has some qualities the Brewers could really use. First of all, he bats left-handed. The Brewers’ lineup is right-handed heavy once again this season. More importantly, Gindl has good on-base skills. His career minor league line is .300/.378/.466. Last year, his first year at AAA, he checked in with his best season yet, posting a .390 on-base percentage.

He has moderate power (15 home runs last year), but combined with his solid batting average and OBP, he makes for a solid overall offensive player. His combination of size, stature and skills make me think of a poor man’s Brian Giles.

Gindl should have a future in Milwaukee, although it’s not exactly clear what role that is yet. He’s very much part of an outfield logjam (see my post on trading Nyjer Morgan). Not only are Ryan Braun and Corey Hart are entrenched and signed for multiple years, but Gindl is behind Norichika Aoki, Carlos Gomez, Morgan, and possibly Logan Schafer in the pecking order as well.

Long-term, he should be able to handle at least a platoon role as a semi-regular corner outfielder. As far as this year is concerned, I could see him filling the role Taylor Green filled last year as a solid left-handed bat to come up in September. Otherwise, he’s nice insurance should one of those outfielders get injured.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how things go for Gindl if he has a nice spring and starts out hot in AAA. If both Gindl and Schafer are playing well, it might motivate the Brewers to trade an outfielder.

Oct 5, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez (right) celebrates with teammate George Kottaras after hitting a two run home run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during game four of the 2011 NLDS at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

In 2011, the Brewers went to great lengths to fill their bench with aging veterans to help the team.  From what I saw this off-season, the team ran out of money, so they could only afford one or two old guys.  From my personal standpoint, this is excellent news.  Veterans should be starters, not bench warmers.  You need to have the young guys getting some opportunities to play in the big leagues, thus your bench should be littered with promising young talent. 

Over the past few seasons, the Brewers have gotten away from that.  Thanks to K-Rod and some well deserved raises, the team did not have the funds to add three to four players worthless players to fill the bench.  Since that is the case, lets meet the some potential bench candidates for the 2012 Crew.

So, here are our options and who I think will be on the opening day roster.

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Every year the Brewers sign some old guy who is way past his prime.  They say that the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes.  The Brewers most recent signing, has lead me to add one more to my list; the Brewers signing a worthless veteran every off-season.  Usually they tell the old man that he will be able to compete for a full time job, but that is almost never the case.  At least this time they did not invite that geezer to camp and give him false hope.  This is puzzling though, because they already tried this experiment once and it did not work… 

Corey Patterson is the definition of a journeyman.  This marks his 9th team change since the year 2000.  That includes a very short stint with the Brewers in 2009, which included 11 games and 7 strikeouts in just 14 at-bats.  Oh, but he did have a single, then got caught stealing…so clearly this is a talent the Brewers needed to get back.  Patterson must have made an impression on someone though, because he is going to be back in the Brewers organization for the 2011 season. 

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     This article was written to help us keep track of some of the craziness that has gone on over the past few days as ST came to a victorious close.  The Crew beat the Padres for the second day in a row, winning today by the count of 8-7.  Randy Wolf might as well have been a tee.  He got waxed for 7 runs (only 3 of them earned), but he just kept putting himself in to difficult situations.  This was not a good sign of things to come from that guy.  The Brewers found themselves down 6-3 after two innings, but they clawed their way back to a narrow one run victory.  Mark Kotsay knocked in 3 RBI’s today, just so that he could rub it in my face. 

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