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Some things to read in your expensive seat.
The Milwaukee Brewers are still likely to be about a week away from the official beginning of the offseason, but when they get there, they’ll have some work to do to revamp their bullpen. Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball says the Brewers need to find help for next season with Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny all likely to leave as free agents, and Jim Henderson and Tyler Thornburg remaining as question marks following 2014 injuries.
The starting rotation, however, is nearly set with Kyle Lohse, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza and Wily Peralta all but assured four of the five spots for 2015. Brew Crew Ball readers recently selected Peralta as this season’s third-most valuable Brewer, and I wrote his profile here.
On Wednesday night, Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura made headlines with his World Series performance, riding a blazing fastball through 5 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs. Alec Dopp has a look at how his stuff compares to Peralta’s:
Fastball comparison-
Yordano Ventura: 96.2 MPH, -6.3 inches of horizontal break
Wily Peralta: 95.7 MPH, -5.6 inches
Similar in filth, no?
— Alec Dopp (@AlecDopp) October 23, 2014
As of this writing, another member of the 2014 rotation, Kyle Lohse, is leading the voting for the No. 4 spot in those rankings. You have until noon today to choose between him, Mike Fiers, Yovani Gallardo, Aramis Ramirez and Francisco Rodriguez.
The Brewers finished the 2014 season with a .311 on-base percentage as a team, tied for their lowest mark since a .309 campaign in 1974. Jonathan Judge of Disciples of Uecker has a look at some of the positions where the Brewers struggled to avoid making outs.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Lucroy led all Brewers with a .373 on-base percentage in 2014, remains a dark horse candidate for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. He picked up another honor on Wednesday when he was named to the Sporting News’ 2014 National League All Star team (h/t True Blue LA). Lucroy was the only Brewer featured on that team.
Lucroy played a handful of games at first base in 2014, a position the Brewers are likely to look to upgrade this season. Their options at the position are somewhat limited, but Brew Crew Ball user TWreck has one you may not have considered: Former Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis. He spent the 2014 season playing in Japan for the Rakuten Golden Eagles and hit .215 with a .342 on-base percentage and .323 slugging in just 21 games.
In the minors:
- Outfielder Tyrone Taylor had a big day in the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 and scoring three runs in Glendale’s 10-1 win over Peoria (box score). Pitchers Brooks Hall and Michael Strong both had scoreless outings in that game, while first baseman Nick Ramirez and catcher Shawn Zarraga were held hitless.
- Wei-Chung Wang is scheduled to start for the Desert Dogs today in their afternoon game against Peoria. Wang has allowed two runs on six hits over five innings in his two previous starts.
- Farther south, shortstop Orlando Arcia went 0-for-2 with a walk before being lifted for a pinch hitter in Caribes’ 13-3 win over Margarita in Venezuela (box score). Tyler Cravy was the starting pitcher for the losing side and allowed four runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings.
- Although a handful of Brewers minor leaguers will play in the Caribbean, Central and South America this winter, one is even farther from home. 2014 Nashville Sounds reliever Kyle Heckathorn is spending the winter in Australia, where the time difference may allow him to predict the future.
- Congratulations are due out today to the city of Appleton for being named as the fifth best Minor League Baseball Town in America by SmartAsset.com. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are actually located in nearby Grand Chute, but I guess that’s close enough.
Around baseball:
Angels: Claimed catcher Jackson Williams off waivers from the Rockies.
Padres: Fired hitting coach Phil Plantier.
Twins: Declined reliever Jared Burton’s contract option for 2015.
Of course, around baseball this morning, the big story is Kansas City riding a five-run sixth inning to a 7-2 win over the Giants to tie the World Series at one game apiece. The two teams are off tonight while the series shifts to San Francisco, where Jeremy Guthrie will face Tim Hudson on Friday.
Wednesday’s win was a big deal for one Wisconsin native: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talked to Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele, who is from Clintonville. Jirschele is in his first MLB season after 13 years as a minor league player and 14 more as a manager in Triple-A.
Meanwhile, today’s former Brewer drawing attention at the Series is Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says his plate appearance in the third inning of Game 1 was the worst at-bat of the playoffs.
Elsewhere in former Brewers:
- After pitching 200 innings or more in seven consecutive seasons, CC Sabathia was limited to just eight starts for the Yankees in 2014 due to chronic knee issues. He hasn’t thrown off a mound since May but says he’s “pretty much back to 100 percent” and feels good enough to “kind of have a normal offseason.” New York still owes Sabathia $48 million over the next two seasons and he has a vesting option for 2017.
- South Side Sox named Royals outfielder Norichika Aoki as 2014’s White Sox killer. Aoki appeared in 16 games against Chicago and batted .492 with a .549 on-base percentage and .619 slugging.
- 2014 was the first season for MLB’s new “Trevor Hoffman Award,” handed out annually to the National League’s best reliever. The inaugural winner was Braves closer Craig Kimbrel.
If you’ve watched either of the last two night’s World Series games, you’ve probably noticed a man dressed in bright orange Marlins gear sitting right behind home plate. His name is Laurence Leavy, and on at least one occasion this week, the Royals have attempted to either move him or have him change clothes. He’s resisted their advances to this point.
Finally, with help from the Baseball Reference Play Index, we’d like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- 2004 Brewer Pedro Liriano, who turns 34.
- 2008-10 Brewer David Riske, who turns 38 (Today In Brewer History).
- 1980 Brewer John Poff, who turns 62.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, someone’s taken my underwear.
Drink up.
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