•RHP Eduardo Morlan: The Brewers think the 22-year-old, selected in the major league Rule 5 draft from the Tampa Bay Rays, can jump from Class AA to the middle of their big-league bullpen. Originally a third-round pick by the Minnesota Twins, he was shipped to Tampa Bay in the Delmon Young trade last winter and struck out 45 in 47 innings at Class AA Montgomery (Ala.).
USA Today'sBrewers report
about 3 years ago
R.J. Anderson
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if he lost weight and gained velocity
then I will agree
Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart
We would have had to DFA Morlan
or someone else (Johnson?) to get the guys we acquired instead.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
But we could have done that later
There was no reason to protect Ryu at the time and not Morlan. Hopefully he doesn’t make the major league roster and we get him back.
I could be wrong though
by staplemaniac on Jan 24, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There's some strategy here though.
If the Brewers drop Morlan as a Rule 5 pick, we get a chance to get him back.
If the Rays DFA him later, and he’s claimed, we don’t get him offered back and he likely doesn’t make it to us through waivers.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 24, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
Unless someone gets traded
Rodriguez has a zero percent chance of being kept. Probably two people need to get traded.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Why can't he be our long man?
He used to start.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 24, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, he could be
But there are still 14 pitchers with guaranteed contracts, and he’s not one of them. He faces extremely long odds of making the team for that reason alone.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Given Morlan's current shape and velocity.
Is there any reason to believe that he’s a better bet than Rodriguez going forward?
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 24, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
I'd rather have Morlan in the minors than simply giving Rodriguez back
becasue that is probably what will happen, even though, no, i don’t have a crystal ball
Based on what?
Rodriguez is better than Hammel, and the Rays are likely to carry a long man. Salas, Thayer, Childers, DePaula, and Day probably aren’t starting in the majors. That leaves Percy, Wheeler, Howell, Balfour, Nelson, Bradford, and then Hammel/Choate/Rodriguez/Niemann for the seventh spot. Then if/when Bradford gets dealt or if/when Percy starts on the DL, you’re talking two of those remaining three staying.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 24, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
And that assumes Niemann isn't our fifth starter to begin the year.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 24, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
there's really nothing to base it on since spring training hasn't started
again it’s all just speculation at this point of the year
and don’t get me wrong, I like D-Rod, I just don’t see him sticking the whole season
Even if Niemann is the #5 man to start the year
The bullpen is STILL too crowded for anyone who isn’t signed to a major league contract to earn a spot.
Percival – making big bucks
Howell- Lock
Balfour – Lock
Wheeler – making big bucks
Bradford – making big bucks
Nelson – Just signed as a free agent
Cormier – Just signed as a free agent
That’s already 7 in the pen (we only carried 6 much of last year, and never more than 7), and still isn’t accounting for Hammel or Niemann, both of whom are out of options. I agree it wouldn’t be a big deal to just release Hammel, but you know as well as I do that the FO will try to get something in return for him rather than releasing him outright. And even then, for everyone to fit, you either need Price to start the year in AAA or someone to get injured.
I stand by my original statement. Without a trade, possibly even two, guys like Rodriguez, Choate, Salas, Thayer, Talbot, etc. stand no chance of making this team.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
You're also forgetting about Cormier
They’re paying him $650k and he signed a major league contract; they’re not just going to waive him without him ever taking the mound.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
And Niemann is guaranteed a spot
Unless someone gets traded. No options left, no chance he’ll clear.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Perhaps he's the long man.
Send the Sox Hammel in exchange for Rodriguez.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 25, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions
I meant so we can send Rodriguez to the minors.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 25, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
Gotcha
It wouldn’t bother me. At least Rodriguez would have three options left.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Id take Niemann or Hammel and still have Morlan in the minors over D Rodriguez
Actually Id take Niemann and Hammel at the end of the pen over Derek Rodriguez even if Eduardo Morlan wasnt in the picture.
Also, were we really afraid someone would take Elliot Johnson from us? Why not leave him unprotected? Even if he does get snagged what does he offer that we would miss?
The true crime in my eyes is looking at Percys name on that 40 man, when this front office has shown no reason for me to believe they wouldnt eat a contract if it benefited the team. Either they are misjudging Percys talent at this stage, or they are mistakenly and uncharacteristicly bashful towards eating Percys contract. I guess the reality is 4-5 mil is still a steep number to eat if you’re the owner of the Rays right now
You would take Jason Hammel over Derek Rodriguez?
Why.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 25, 2009 10:28 PM EST up reply actions
Huh, it's not ERA based.
I bet this is going to involve something about Hammel’s great potential when you’ve never even seen Rodriguez pitch.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 25, 2009 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
FWIW
Hammel was better in the minors than Rodriguez, and it’s not like he’s older than Rodriguez either. It’s not disputed that Hammel has better stuff, he just has trouble harnessing it, keeping the ball up in the zone way too much. I can see a pretty rational argument.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
And we've had 200 innings of Hammel where none of his minor league success is shining through.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 26, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
True but
I’m not sure a likely mediocre pitcher with a little bit of upside is better than a known mediocre pitcher with a little bit of upside. It’s not like Rodriguez had ever been particularly good before last year, and he still walks quite a few guys. Ground ball ratio is nice, but the minor league strikeout rate probably doesn’t translate to more than about 6 per 9. He might be a decent situational reliever, a la Shawn Camp, but don’t expect the next Chad Bradford.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
With the way the Brewers pitching staff stands right now
Morlan will be the long man, especially with McClung (last year’s long man) either having a spot as the 5th starter or in a middle relief role. Unless something happens midseason, I expect Morlan to stay with the Brewers the whole way.
---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com
I hope McClung excels.
I intend on watching Morlan’s velocity.
by R.J. Anderson on Jan 25, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I guess with our lack of depth, both in the bullpen and the rotation
He could be getting spot starts or pitching the 8th inning
and “he” could be either McClung, Villanueva, or Morlan
god I’m scared for next season
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Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com
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