Results tagged ‘ Marco Estrada ’

With Rotation Decision Looming, A By-Scenario Look at Potential Impact

Following Saturday evening’s victory over the Chicago Cubs, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke was noncommittal at best to his immediate plans for the starting rotation.

That’s understandable to a degree because while Hiram Burgos pitched very well against the Cubs, the Brewers don’t need a fifth starting pitcher again until next Tuesday, April 30 back home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park.

We know that both Roenicke and his pitching coach Rick Kranitz prefer to use scheduled off-days as a way to help their starting pitchers get extra rest with the goal of staying healthier and however fresher into the summer. We also know that Yovani Gallardo in particular prefers to pitch on regular rest whenever possible. Though I haven’t the others involved, chances are good that they appreciate routine in kind.

Roenicke gets the final call though, and his decision regarding how his rotation will line up over the next couple of weeks does have impact. Obviously, Roenicke realizes this which is why he said that they are considering match-ups and their days off when determining how to proceed.

There are two main scenarios to be considered with some variables involved.

Scenario 1: Burgos remains in 5-man rotation, off-day ignored
     -Variable 1: Burgos next start on 4/26
     -Variable 2: Burgos next start on 4/28

Scenario 2: Fifth starter not used until April 30th
     – Variable 1: Burgos will make that start, pitch in bullpen until then
     – Variable 2: Someone else will make that start with Burgos being optioned to minors to stay on schedule and someone filling a bullpen role between now and then.

The fallout from Scenario 1, Variable 1 is twofold. First, it means that Lohse and Gallardo will continue to pitch consecutively for now. That’s probably something that Roenicke would have done anyway had Lohse been in camp all spring. Second, Burgos will follow Estrada in turn which could result in similar pitchers back-to-back but basically asks Burgos to pitch over his head in some match-ups.

In this, Burgos’ next three opponents are the Dodgers, Pirates, and Rangers. He would be the one SP to miss the Cardinals series at the beginning of May. Gallardo faces the Cardinals in either scenario, for what it’s worth.

Variable 2 for Scenario 1 allows the rotation to reorder itself back to how it was coming out of spring. Gallardo, Estrada, Peralta, Lohse, and now Burgos as the fifth SP. Here, Burgos faces the Dodgers and Cardinals for sure.

Scenario 2 gives us the following match-ups. Burgos gets Pittsburgh on 4/30, St. Louis on 5/5, and then there are off-days on both sides of the Texas two-step series on May 7 & 8 to negotiate again and determine the value of a fifth starter taking his turn.

I’d have to think that Roenicke will skip the fifth starter around the Rangers series because if he simply goes with extra rest, everybody will have six days off between starts instead of the usual four.

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So there are the scenarios and some of their resultant impact. So I ask you, Brewer Nation, if you were in charge which timeline do you think will produce the best outcome?

Brewers Announce Opening Day Roster

Milwaukee Brewers

Following today’s final exhibition game (a victory over the Chicago White Sox), the Milwaukee Brewers announced their 25-man roster for Opening Day.

Here is the breakdown by position.

Pitchers (13)

  • John Axford
  • Burke Badenhop
  • Marco Estrada
  • Mike Fiers
  • Alfredo Figaro
  • Yovani Gallardo
  • Michael Gonzalez
  • Tom Gorzelanny
  • Jim Henderson
  • Brandon Kintzler
  • Kyle Lohse
  • Chris Narveson
  • Wily Peralta

Catchers (2)

  • Jonathan Lucroy
  • Martin Maldonado

Infielders (5)

  • Alex Gonzalez
  • Yuniesky Betancourt
  • Aramis Ramirez
  • Jean Segura
  • Rickie Weeks

Outfielders (5)

  • Norichika Aoki
  • Ryan Braun
  • Khris Davis
  • Carlos Gomez
  • Logan Schafer

The Brewers will also be carrying four (4) players on the big league 15-day disabled list to begin the season (Jeff Bianchi, Taylor Green, Corey Hart, Mark Rogers) and one (1) on the 60-day DL (Mat Gamel).

Special congratulations go out to Alfredo Figaro, Mike Fiers, Jim Henderson, Jean Segura, Khris Davis, Wily Peralta, Martin Maldonado, and Logan Schafer who are all making their first Opening Day MLB roster!

Latest Brewer Nation Podcast Available for Download!

Recorded last night over dinner and during a fantasy baseball draft, my podcast partner Cary Kostka and I get you ready for Opening Day!

We discuss the 25-man roster projection, lineup for Opening Day, rotation, Kyle Lohse, Yuniesky Betancourt and more!

Click here to download the podcast: Brewer Nation Podcast – 2013 Opening Day Preparedness

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World Baseball Classic Moves Forward, Six More Brewers Return to Camp

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The Brewers had 12 total participants on six teams in this year’s World Baseball Classic, down from the projected 15 on eight teams just before the tournament started.

As the second half of the tournament moves into its double-elimination second round, three teams containing players from the Brewers organization have now been eliminated. As a result, the seven players on those three teams will be returning to Brewers camp, if they haven’t already.

Mike Walker, who rejoined the Brewers earlier this week, led Team Australia in hitting, going 5-for-11 (.455), but didn’t score nor did he drive a run in. Australia had a thin lineup overall and was simply outmatched by the strong teams in their Pool. Australia’s early departure actually allowed Walker to report to Brewers minor league camp right on time and with a worthwhile experience in tow.

Next up to be eliminated with Brewers implications was Team Mexico. They were officially eliminated Saturday night once Team USA defeated Team Italy in Pool play. That set up the winner of Sunday’s Team USA vs Team Canada game joining Team Italy in Florida for the start of Pool 2. Returning to the Brewers already today were starting pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Marco Estrada. They each made one start in the World Baseball Classic.

Gallardo defeated the powerful Americans in his start, despite being limited to just 49 pitches per request of the Milwaukee Brewers. Yo was sharp and stymied the USA bats throughout his 3.1 official innings pitched. Gallardo called the experience of defeating Team USA something he’ll always remember. After there being some doubt about whether he would even pitch in the Classic — after developing some tightness in his groin before joining Team Mexico — that he was able to perform well must feel good.

In quotes to Jose Romero of MLB.com, when Gallardo was asked about the atmosphere and intensity of the WBC he had this to say: “That’s the way baseball should be. The fans locked into the game just as much as the players, rooting for their country. There were a lot of fans of Mexico from all over the place who might have come in for it, and we wanted to have a good game. Show them what they came for.”

Also to Romero, Marco Estrada commented on his WBC experience which was less fortuitous than that of his rotation-mate. Said Estrada, “It was awesome. I got to meet a lot of guys, a lot of people I never knew before. There’s a lot of good players on our team, and just getting a chance to meet some of those guys … I only played with them for a week, but you become friends with a lot of them. That’s the one thing I’m going to take from this, that I got to meet a lot of nice people.”

As for the relatively early hook? “The thing about the Classic is that you get one opportunity to show what you’ve got, and like in my case, it didn’t go so well. So that was it for me,” Estrada said. “The first thing, honestly I felt pretty good. I thought I was locating well. Wasn’t getting a couple of calls and then I started elevating. I think I started trying way too hard and that’s when I got knocked around. Once I got out of that first inning, I settled in and it was fine after that. But it was too late by that time.”

For his part, Roenicke is understandably happy to get his pitchers back to Maryvale. He was talking about getting Gallardo and Estrada back in line for their eventual turns in the Brewers rotation once the regular season begins.

Finally then, we come to the losing team in Sunday afternoon’s Pool D tilt, Team Canada.

The Canadians had the highest number of Brewers players involved (shocking, I know) as four players were participating on their behalf. Pitchers Jim Henderson and John Axford both saw action today, with Henderson bearing the brunt of the late USA rally to assume the lead.

All told, the numbers may end up being forgettable for Henderson and even Axford, but the chance to represent your country simply cannot be quantified in numbers alone.

Someone who will be pleased with the opportunity to represent country along with pretty good results on the field is Brewers infielder Taylor Green who ended up starting at third base in all three games for Canada after Brett Lawrie was injured. Green ended up at .286 after an 0-for-5 final game, but he hit very well in the two other games, going 4-for-9 between the two. It was a rough finish, sure, with the goose egg at the dish and a couple of defensive miscues (neither of which were really his fault), but overall the experience should be viewed positively. Now Green returns to camp in a battle to win the starting first baseman’s job entering the 2013 regular season.

As for Rene Tosoni, he never got an official at-bat, though his one plate appearance was certainly memorable as it was his being plunked by Mexico that incited the brawl which will be replayed for years to come.

So for the Brewers now back at Maryvale Baseball Park, the experience was a good one despite a lack of overall team success. Kudos to them for participating, for wanting to participate. Kudos to the Brewers organization for understanding what it means to represent country and countrymen and allowing them all the opportunity to make their own decisions regarding the tournament.

There will be five Brewers players whose teams play in the second round. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy are with Team USA of course. Martin Maldonado and Hiram Burgos will move on with Team Puerto Rico. And with Team Netherlands, infielder Hainley Statia has only gotten two ABs coming into today, but his team has enjoyed some success advancing into the second round and having an opportunity to advance again to the Semifinal Round in San Francisco if they can beat Team Cuba, something they’ve already done once in this year’s tournament.

Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers Saturday World Baseball Classic Recap

Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers participants and their teams were in action again all over the World Baseball Classic tournament on Saturday.

Here is a recap of the performances by those who saw action Saturday:

canadaTaylor Green – Canada

Green had a great day at the plate for Canada on Saturday. Starting at 3B and once again hitting second, Green finished the day 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. That included two head-to-head match ups against Marco Estrada. Green singled in the first inning and grounded back to Estrada in the third. Green’s other two base hits and his walk all came against left-handed pitching.

Green also had one outstanding defensive pick at third when a ball short-hopped him on a ground ball. Otherwise, solid play in the field again from Green. Team Canada is missing nothing defensively with Brett Lawrie out. In fact, they’re probably better off.

John Axford – Canada - @JohnAxford

Axford worked the ninth inning for the Canadian contingent, shutting the door on Team Mexico and helping to keep his team alive in WBC for at least another night. That work came after the fireworks on the field which were ignited when Brewers farmhand Rene Tosoni was hit by a pitch late in the game. More on this in Tosoni’s section.

Axford’s line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0.00 ERA.

Rene Tosoni – Canada – @Tosoni08

Tosoni entered the game late as a pinch-runner and was stranded right away. He stayed in the game defensively in left field and would come to the plate again before the day was done. Tosoni was the target of some anger by Team Mexico. Already up pretty big late in the game, Canadian catcher Chris Robinson bunted for a base hit. This breaks an unwritten rule in regular baseball, but in the WBC one of the tie-breakers is based on run differential. After Canada was mercy ruled by Italy earlier in the tournament, Canada realized that they needed every run they could get. Tosoni was up next, got hit, and took offense to it. The catcher for Mexico kind of suggested physically that Tosoni should just go to first base and when Tosoni pushed back the benches cleared and a handful of individual skirmishes broke out. Luckily no Brewers were hurt and even though Tosoni’s plunking incited the brawl (where actual punches were thrown by more than one player) and Tosoni was ejected, none of the Brewers on either team did anything over the top.

puertorico

Martin Maldonado – Puerto Rico - @Machete1224

Maldonado started this ballgame for Puerto Rico at first base, hitting seventh. Defensively, his night was uneventful. At the plate, Maldonado got two plate appearances before being pinch-hit for. In his first AB against Carlos Zambrano and Team Venezuela, Maldonado struck out. His second trip to the plate was against a relief pitcher and he worked a walked. Maldy would come around to score after being bunted to second base. He was driven home on a single by Angel Pagan.

Puerto Rico would defeat Venezuela and advance to the second round of the tournament with play in Florida. Also already moving to that Pool for sure are the Dominican Republic and Italy. Hiram Burgos will be eligible to pitch for Puerto Rico again in Florida.

usaRyan Braun – USA

Started in left field and hit third in the batting order once again. Braun came up in the first inning with Jimmy Rollins and Brandon Phillips on base ahead of him but grounded into a double play. Braun led off the fourth inning with a single to left field. He then scored from first base on cleanup hitter Joe Mauer’s double to the wall. It was Team USA’s first run of the night and at the time cut the deficit in half.

Braun came up in the 5th inning with runners on first and third and only one out. He hammered a ball that just pulled foul past the left field foul pole, and then struck out a couple of pitches later. Braun singled in his fourth at-bat and flew out in his final plate appearance of the day. He finished 2-for-5 with 1 R scored.

 

Jonathan Lucroy – USA - @JLucroy20

Lucroy started the game on Saturday night for Team USA behind the plate and was ninth in the batting order for Joe Torre. In the bottom of the first inning, starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong threw a wild pitch past Lucroy which led to Italy’s first run of the night.

Lucroy’s first trip to the plate was a simple fly ball out to the center fielder. He would single past a diving shortstop in his second AB and eventually score on a David Wright grand slam. His third AB was a fly out to deep center and he finished his night with a walk. All told, Lucroy was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

mexicoMarco Estrada – Mexico

Estrada started the game for Team Mexico a day after his Brewers teammate Yovani Gallardo effectively shut down Team USA over 3+ innings. Estrada was not as sharp out of the gate and he surrendered four runs in his first inning of work. He faced Brewers teammate Taylor Green twice, allowing a first inning single and a inducing a groundball comebacker to himself.

After the first inning, Estrada pitched well. He only allowed two more hits the rest of his day which ended after three innings and at 53 pitches thrown.

Estrada’s final line: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (all earned), 2 K, 0 BB, 12.00 ERA

2013wbc

Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers – #41 Marco Estrada

BBtJN Logo

Today, it’s the most accurate to say: Welcome back to “Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers”!

We just collectively suffered through the longest break in the countdown to Opening Day on April 1st that we’ve had to endure do this point. Yes, there’s one longer one coming up, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

This day belongs to the profiling of…

Marco Estrada.

estradaarby

Last year, Estrada broke camp as a member of the Brewers bullpen before sliding into the rotation when Chris Narveson tore up his pitching shoulder. Narveson would miss the rest of the year and Estrada would start all but one game the rest of the way.

Estrada made his first of 23 starts last year on April 21st against the Colorado Rockies. It was the first start to a season that saw him post a combined line of:

5-7, 3.64 ERA, 29 G, 23 GS, 138.1 IP, 62 R, 56 ER, 18 HR, 129 H, 29 BB, 1.142 WHIP, 143 K, 9.3 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 4.93 K/BB

Let’s break down how those numbers were produced along the way a bit along with the highlight and lowlights from 2012.

A main thing I wanted to make sure to point out, so I’ll do it right away…

Marco Estrada faced right-handed hitters in 294 plate appearances in 2012. In those he struck out 80 and walked only seven. Yeah, that’s impressive. Whether it repeatable will certainly impact what kind of overall season Estrada can expect in 2013.

For what it’s worth, in my opinion enough to warrant mention, Estrada’s splits overall between left- and right-handed batters were nearly identical in 2012 with the exception of his walk rate. In 268 plate appearances against right-handers, Estrada walked 22.

Here are those splits:

vs. RHH: .247/.264/.419, 294 PA, 279 AB, 33 R, 69 H, 16 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 80 K, 7 BB
vs. LHH: .246/.307/.418, 268 PA, 244 AB, 29 R, 60 H, 14 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 63 K, 22 BB

Consistency in quality regardless of hitter handedness is a big key for repeatable success as a pitcher. Estrada has that coming out of his ears. Consistency from start to start is another big key and in that, Estrada struggled a bit.

estrada

Estrada posted eight starts of four or more earned runs allowed against five scoreless starts (though one of those was his one-inning start where he injured himself, but more on that in a minute). In a perfect microcosm of that, Estrada posted his worst start and his best start of the year in consecutive starts. They were his final two starts of the season. Against his former team the Washington Nationals, Estrada lasted only 4.0 innings allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and two walks while only striking out three. The next time out was against the Houston Astros, a start in which he went 8.0 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out 11. The innings pitched were a season-high and the strikeout total was one off his season-high.

Only once all year did Estrada post consecutive starts with two or fewer runs allowed. That was in a pair of mid-September starts which were both scoreless appearances. Understatement of the year alert: You can’t carry over any kind of momentum in baseball from one season to the next, but Estrada did finish up 2012 with three scoreless starts out of four. It’s the up-and-down rollercoastering that needs to be toned down. Staying more consistent from one start to the next is something which Estrada must get better at doing if he’s going to take the next step as a Major League starting pitcher.

Estrada did only throw 138.1 IP in 2012, but as I referenced earlier that was due to an injury suffered in a start in late May. Estrada was at the plate hitting and batted a ball which he thought would be corralled by a defender so he was slowing down on his way to first. The ball got by the defender and when he started to speed his gait back up he strained his quadriceps muscle in his right leg. Estrada wound up with a two-run double and a month-long stint on the disabled list. Silver lining? That injury is what opened the door for Mike Fiers to join the big league rotation. Fittingly, Estrada would rejoin the rotation after Shaun Marcum fell to injury.

One oddity that merits a note is that Estrada was a charter member in the Cliff Lee “No W’s Club” in that despite pitching well enough to win on many occasions, there was always something that kept him from recording that first official Win of the season. In fact, Estrada didn’t get that first W until August 21st, outlasting the Phillies’ starter by about six weeks. Though to be fair, Lee’s third start of the year was 10.0 scoreless innings of no-decision ball against the Giants, so he had it worse from a severity standpoint.

As for future outlook, 2013 opened on the calendar with questions about the makeup of the forthcoming Brewers rotation. With quotes from general manager Doug Melvin and Ron Roenicke coming out, it became clear that there were mainly six pitchers competing for the five rotation spots. Obviously Yovani Gallardo will lead the rotation, but looking deeper into those quotes it became clear that Marco Estrada had a leg and arm through the door to securing a spot. Then, later on, it was announced the Estrada would likely start the year as the number two starter behind Gallardo.

That’s where we find ourselves today. Estrada is preparing as a starting pitcher with the thought firmly in his mind that he will have that role in Milwaukee when camp breaks.

Estrada is currently preparing to leave Brewers camp to pitch in the World Baseball Classic alongside Gallardo for Team Mexico, but when he returns he’ll get back on track toward making his first start of the new season against the same Colorado Rockies he faced in his first 2012 start. (How’s that for consistency?)

He just won’t have to wait until April 21st to do it.

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Miss anyone along the way? Catch up on the Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers profiles to this point:

Brewers Now Sending Fifteen to World Baseball Classic

teamcanada

In news he broke himself on Twitter yesterday, Brewers starting pitching prospect Nick Bucci told the world that he had been asked to join Team Canada after one of their originally selected pitchers had to bow out due to injury.

This presented a bit of a quandary last night because I thought I recalled there being a maximum of 14 players from any one franchise who could be used by teams in the World Baseball Classic. As I reported back in January, the Brewers were at 14.

I was then reminded that the limit is a soft one in that every player beyond 14 who is asked to participate in the WBC may do so with the blessing of their ballclub.

Here then is the updated list of Brewers’ employees who will be representing for their countries during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Team USA (2)

  • Ryan Braun*
  • Jonathan Lucroy* (Twitter: @JLucroy20)

Team Mexico (2)

  • Yovani Gallardo*
  • Marco Estrada*

Team Canada (5)

Team Puerto Rico (2)

Team Dominican Republic (1)

Team Italy (1)

  • Jeff Bianchi*

Team Netherlands (1)

Team Australia (1)

*-active MLB player as of 8/31/2012

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Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Estrada, Badenhop

The Milwaukee Brewers entered this week with just a handful of players eligible for arbitration.

As individually chronicled, both Carlos Gomez and John Axford agreed to one-year contracts already. Then word was spread that the other two remaining potential arbitration cases were resolved by way of one-year deals as well.

Those deals now belong to Marco Estrada and new relief pitcher Burke Badenhop.

Brewers beat writer for the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel tweeted the specific contract details for both men.

estradaarby

Estrada made $486,000 in his final year of pre-arbitration salary. As discussed in the previously linked Axford article, the first year of arbitration eligibility results in a significant jump in compensation. Estrada will make just over four times as much in 2013 as he did last season. Part of that reflects the change in his role to full-fledged rotation member.

badenhoparby

Badenhop’s situation can be a tricky one at times. Eligible for arbitration, new team who hasn’t seen you firsthand. Often these cases (like Jose Veras last year) go all the way to a hearing. Fortunately, Badenhop is more realistic about his value and got this out of the way. He is now free to focus solely on physical and mental preparation for the season without the annoyance of legal proceedings distracting him from those efforts.

As a third-time eligible player after being a Super 2 following the 2010 season with the Florida Marlins, Badenhop gets a raise over his $1.075 million salary in 2012.

Congratulations to all involved. To both sides for agreeing to fair figures, the players for getting raises and wanting to avoid distraction, and the club for retaining two valuable pieces at acceptable prices.

Brewers, Gomez Avoid Arbitration

GomezContract

The Brewers announced this evening that they have avoided arbitration with outfielder Carlos Gomez by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract.

It’s the second bit of news regarding Gomez today as he was officially named as a member of the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic roster earlier this afternoon.

Brewers.com beat writer Adam McCalvy later tweeted out the value of the deal which is $4.3 million. The team doesn’t directly comment on the values of their contracts.

This contract, as with nearly every single arbitration-avoiding contract, represents a raise for Gomez. He made $1,962,000 in 2012 according to Baseball-Reference.com. As this is Gomez’ fourth time being eligible for arbitration, a significant jump had to be expected.

Gomez agreeing leaves three Brewers still eligible for arbitration.

  • John Axford
  • Burke Badenhop
  • Marco Estrada

Fourteen Brewers Listed on Provisional World Baseball Classic Rosters

2013wbcThe World Baseball Classic provisional rosters were announced this afternoon live on MLB Network. They’re provisional because rosters don’t lock until February 20th but these are the names that you can expect to see playing in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Pool play begins on March 2nd.

Among those members of the Brewers organization who are participating are nine players who were active on a 25-man roster as of 8/31/2012. The limit from each organization is 10. The overall limit is 14 players from each franchise.

Brewers players will represent seven countries (and Puerto Rico) in the international tournament which began in 2006, was played again in 2009 and now falls into its every-four-years format.

Without further ado, here are the participants along with the team they’ll be representing in 2013.

Team USA (2)

  • Ryan Braun*
  • Jonathan Lucroy* (Twitter: @JLucroy20)

Team Mexico (2)

  • Yovani Gallardo*
  • Marco Estrada*

Team Canada (4)

Team Puerto Rico (2)

Team Dominican Republic (1)

Team Italy (1)

  • Jeff Bianchi*

Team Netherlands (1)

Team Australia (1)

*-active MLB player as of 8/31/2012

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