The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Milwaukee Brewers – INSIDE PITCH
During his first two seasons as manager of the Brewers, Ron Roenicke at times had no lefties in his bullpen. At best, he had one to use at his discretion.
That will change in 2013. Each of the Brewers’ past two player moves has been to add a left-handed reliever. First, they signed Tom Gorzelanny, then Mike Gonzalez, both as free agents, each coming off strong years with the Washington Nationals.
In all likelihood, Roenicke will use the two lefties differently. Gorzelanny, a former starter, is capable of pitching multiple innings, or one frame at the very least, with a repertoire that makes him effective against right-handed hitters as well.
Gonzalez, however, is your basic left-handed, one-out guy, otherwise known as a “loogie.” He held left-handed batters to a .179 batting average last season, with a .257 on-base percentage. On the flip side, right-handed hitters batted .297 against him with a .378 OBP.
After undergoing knee surgery last winter, Gonzalez signed a minor league deal with Washington in May. He was summoned to the majors in June, and in 47 appearances, he compiled a 3.03 ERA with 13 games finished. In 35 2/3 innings, he allowed 31 hits and 16 walks with 39 strikeouts.
Earlier in his career, Gonzalez was a closer for Pittsburgh, and he recorded 24 saves in 2006. In recent years, however, he has been used almost strictly in a setup role, and usually to get out left-handed hitters.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin had interest in signing Gonzalez after the 2009 season, but instead the pitcher accepted a two-year, $12 million deal with Baltimore. He was limited to 29 appearances in 2010 due to a shoulder strain. He went 2-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 49 games with the Orioles the following season before he was traded to Texas on Aug. 31 to give the Rangers an extra lefty for the stretch drive.
Rick Kranitz, now the Brewers’ pitching coach, was in Baltimore when Gonzalez pitched there and thus is familiar with him.
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MLB Team Report – Milwaukee Brewers – NOTES, QUOTES
–OF Rene Tosoni signed a minor league contract with the Brewers for 2013. Tosoni, 26, played in 60 games for Minnesota in 2011, batting .203 with five homers and 22 RBI. He played at four different levels in the Twins’ farm system last season.
–SS Ozzie Chavez, 29, a career minor-leaguer, rejoined the Brewers on a minor league deal for 2013. Chavez played in Milwaukee’s system from 2001-08 but was not in affiliated baseball last year. The Brewers are thin at shortstop in their system, particularly after SS Hector Gomez suffered a serious groin injury that required surgery.
–OF Logan Schafer is in position at this point to be the No. 4 outfielder on the roster in the spring. Schafer was impressive during a September call-up last season, batting .304 in 16 games.
–RHP Shaun Marcum, who pitched the past two seasons for the Brewers, remains unsigned on the free agent market. The Brewers have shown no interest in offering another deal to Marcum, who missed two months during the 2012 season with an ailing elbow.
–SS Jean Segura, who has played just 45 games in the major leagues, remains the favorite to be the starter at his position for the Brewers in 2013. Segura, who turns 23 in March, has not played a game at the Class AAA level. He hit .258 in the majors as a rookie last season, then won the Dominican winter league batting title.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2.62 — ERA in 349 career appearances in the National League for LHP Mike Gonzalez. He has a 4.27 ERA in 85 career American League appearances.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We have some young guys we want to look at, and we want to maintain some (payroll) flexibility.” — GM Doug Melvin, on why he hasn’t signed a free agent starting pitcher.
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MLB Team Report – Milwaukee Brewers – ROSTER REPORT
The Brewers have all of their position players under control, which will make constructing their roster for 2013 a lot easier. They feel good about their regular lineup, which proved to be the most potent and diverse in the National League. There are only a couple of free agent pitchers, but the staff still figures to be retooled, especially the bullpen. In general, this is not a team that needs much of an overhaul after a second-half surge answered many questions.
ARRIVALS: RHP Burke Badenhop (trade with Rays), LHP Tom Gorzelanny (free agent from Nationals), INF Donnie Murphy (minor league free agent from Marlins), LHP Michael Gonzalez (free agent from Nationals).
DEPARTURES: RHP Mike McClendon (free agent, signed minor league deal with Rockies), RHP Jose Veras (free agent, signed with Astros).
BIGGEST NEEDS: The Brewers are still looking for bullpen pieces after too many leaks surfaced in the middle of the year that led to late-inning losses and a drop from the NL Central race. The relief corps stabilized somewhat, and closer John Axford regained his previous form, but many other relievers were too erratic to trust for next season. Veteran setup man Francisco Rodriguez will leave via free agency, so the Brewers likely will seek another late-inning pitcher with experience.
FREE AGENTS: RHP Shaun Marcum, RHP Francisco Rodriguez, SS Alex Gonzalez, RHP Livan Hernandez, C Yorvit Torrealba, OF Nyjer Morgan, RHP Kameron Loe, LHP Manny Parra.
Because of Marcum’s poor health history — he missed two months with a bad elbow in 2012 — and expense ($7.7 million salary), he will be allowed to leave via free agency. Rodriguez was an expensive setup man ($8 million) who will look for a closer’s job with another club, so it is unlikely he will return. Gonzalez missed most of the season with a bad knee injury. He probably won’t be back. Parra was non-tendered. Loe refused an outright assignment to the minors.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: CF Carlos Gomez, RHP John Axford, RHP Marco Estrada, LHP Chris Narveson.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–1B Corey Hart (torn plantar fascia in left foot) played the last few weeks of the 2012 season with a painful injury that should heal with rest in the offseason.
–LHP Chris Narveson (left rotator cuff surgery in May 2012) is coming along nicely with his throwing program and should be full-go in the spring to rejoin the rotation.
–1B Mat Gamel (right knee surgery in May 2012) should be ready for spring training.
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