DEPRECATED

Tools

'09 Brewers: The Infielders

By By Jay Sorgi

Next game: Wednesday, April 8th at San Francisco
Brewers Gameday with the Jockey Pregame Show at 8:30 p.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ

Milwaukee's infield, for years, has been referred to as the infield of the future.

Already, all-star nods have gone to recently re-signed first baseman Prince Fielder and shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Now, nearly half the infield now owns major question marks, and youth may overtake not-so-established veterans.

What happens this year could determine the long-term direction of this part of the roster.

Read more below this series of links:

Brewers Gameday Coverage: 
'09 Season: A Preview 
'09 Season: Our Experts Predict
Braun Ready after Hectic Spring
Commissioner Selig Enjoys Another Season Opener

Your 2009 Brewers: 
The Starting Pitchers
The Relievers
The Infield
The Outfield

NL Central Preview: 
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals

620WTMJ Audio: 
Manager Ken Macha
Commissioner Bud Selig

Blogs: 
Sports Glance with Lance: Play Ball Brewers 
The Llama Laments: Brewers Predictions in One Sentence or Less |
Other Additions Fans Want at Miller Park

The O'Blog: Choke Cubs Choke! 
The Junior Varsity Blog: WSW MLB Predictions

Sportsbubbler: 
Brewers Page
Cory Provus Blog
Bernie's Crew
Junkball Blues 
Between the Green Pillars

Player Vitals 2008 Synopsis
Craig Counsell. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Craig Counsell #30
Utility (2nd, Short, 3rd)
Bats L,
Throws R
6-0, 180
Age: 38
.226, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .355 OBP, .302 SLG

Sorgi: The man had a puny batting average, but he simply finds ways to get on base.  In 15 of 20 games in the September stretch run last year, he got on base, and in 13 of those games, he used walks to get there.  Without a doubt, he'll again be a key clubhouse and in-a-pinch cog to the Brewers' 09 machine.

 

Welter: Teach the rest of the lineup to take some walks.  More

Prince Fielder. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Prince Fielder #28

1st Baseman
Bats L,
Throws R
5-11, 270
Age: 24

.276, 34 HR, 102 RBI, .372 OBP, .507 SLG

Ganzer: If Fielder has indeed reintroduced chicken into his diet, look for his HR count to rise.

Sorgi: His home run production went down by 16 runs in '08, and he became more strikeout prone (134 in '08, 121 in '07).  A more disciplined bat could bring a return to his 50 home run form in 2007.

Bill Hall. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bill Hall #2
3rd Baseman
Bats R,
Throws R
6-0, 210
Age: 29
.225, 15 HR, 55 RBI, .293 OBP, .396 SLG

Sorgi: A potential trade victim in many people's eyes at the start of the seaosn, Hall has a lot to prove.  With 45 BA points, 20 HR's and 30 RBI's fewer in '08 than his 2006 breakout year, a change will have to come.  He also wasn't highly dependable in getting the big, clutch hit.  He had streaks of 11, 10 and 14 games without extra base hits in '08.

Welter: If he hits 25 home runs, then anyone with a vision problem should get Lasik surgery.  More

J.J. Hardy. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
J.J. Hardy #7
Shortstop
Bats R, 
Throws R
6-2, 190
Age: 26
.283, 24 HR, 74 RBI, .343 OBP, .478 SLG

Sorgi: In the categories of batting average, on-base percentage and slugging, 2008 was his best year.  Hardy continues to grow as a hitter, but he hasn't yet had that explosive, make-you-think-of-Robin-Yount kind of season yet.

Welter: Will he still be on the roster after July 31st?  More

Jason Kendall. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jason Kendall #18
Catcher
Bats R, 
Throws R
6-0, 205
Age: 34
.246, 2 HR, 49 RBI, .327 OBP, .324 SLG

Sorgi: Kendall says e wants to be a Brewer until he's 40 years old.  Going 151 games in 2008 may give the Brewers hope for such longevity.  His average isn't what it was in his days with Pittsburgh, but he's not hired to hit, but to lead pitchers as a veteran battery mate.

Welter: Get used to making a lot of pitching mound visits.  More

Hernan Iribarren #9 2nd Baseman
Bats L, 
Throws R
6-1, 180
Age: 24
(At AAA Nashville:)
.277, 0 HR, 30 RBI, .329 OBP, .341 SLG

Sorgi: He's the possible heir apparent to Rickie Weeks if the current incumbent falters.  He's a speedster on the basepaths, but will have to prove he can hit major league pitching to get on base enough to show it off.

Casey McGehee #14 3rd Baseman
Bats R,
Throws R
6-1, 195
Age: 26
(At AAA Iowa:)
.296, 12 HR, 92 RBI, .345 OBP, .429 SLG

Sorgi: At the AAA level, he was a big run producer, and he's definitely a threat to Bill Hall's playing time if he can't produce at the plate (or a good replacement for Hall if the injury bug forces the platoon-able veteran to move around).

Welter: The second coming/infield version of Scott Podsednik?  More

 
Brad Nelson. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Brad Nelson #27
Utility (1st, LF, RF)
Bats L,
Throws R
6-2, 255
Age: 26
.286, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .375 OBP, .571 SLG

Ganzer: Look for a breakout season at the plate for Nelson, as the Emmetsburg, IA native will add support off the bench.

Mike Rivera. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mike Rivera #11
Utility (Catcher, 1st)
Bats R,
Throws R
6-1, 230
Age: 32
.306, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .377 OBP, .435 SLG

Sorgi: He's battled his way around both the majors and the minors, and he may have finally figured things out in terms of staying with the big club.  Kendall didn't give him much of a chance at playing time in '08.  If Kendall gets hurt, Milwaukee may have a solid backup to replace him.

Welter: It's going to be another season of watching games from the bench and eating sunflower seeds.  More

Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Rickie Weeks #23
2nd Baseman
Bats R,
Throws R
5-10, 215
Age: 26
.234, 14 HR, 46 RBI, .342 OBP, .398 SLG

Sorgi: A .342 OBP won't do it in the major leagues if you want to be a leadoff hitter.  He might lose his leadoff spot if he doesn't up that quickly and get it closer to the .363/.374 level of '06/'07, and if Iribarren shows promise, Weeks may lose his starting lineup spot, too.

Welter: Time to put up the numbers or never leadoff again.  More

DEPRECATED