On Monday, MLB.com Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy held an Ask Me Anything on Reddit with Brew Crew fans at r/brewers. This mailbag features questions and answers from there. The full AMA can be read here.
Was Christian Yelich in the first spot of the lineup to give him more at-bats for the 30 HRs? Or are the Brewers perhaps planning to use him there in the playoffs as well?
It sounds like they may be planning to bat Yelich leadoff in the playoffs, though I cannot tell you if that is specific to one opponent, or if it will even happen. Part of the thinking, manager Pat Murphy suggested, is the way the leadoff hitter can "protect" the nine-hole hitter, which in this case is shortstop Joey Ortiz.
Murph on Friday: "It's something we're looking at. Plot thickens."
Why did they wait until the final week to try it?
"It's like anything else, you don't put in all your trick plays until the end of preparations, right?" Murphy said. "You don't open football camp in July and start throwing the flea flicker. You wait and wait and wait. Now it's time. If you can get there. Trick plays are only used if you can get to that position.
"I had a couple of other people mention it to me, and I was like, you know, 'I've been saying I'm going to do that, let's see what that looks like. Let's see how that feels.' Yeli is so much of a team guy, he's willing to help any way he can."
Will it line up that way in a week?
"I'll let you know in a week," Murphy said.
Any new update on Woody’s health? Was there any info from his specialist meeting?
Murphy said a couple of times over the weekend that an announcement on Brandon Woodruff was imminent within days, but said announcement never came. Woodruff was back with the team at least as of Saturday, but he was not in the clubhouse during the time it was open to reporters.
So, I can’t exactly answer what is going on there, except to say that all of the parties involved -- Woodruff, his surgeon, the Brewers and their doctors -- are taking their time to make sure everyone is on the same page about what they want to say about his chances of pitching again this season. It's almost certainly complicated, because with any player who suffers a late-season injury, there's the will to want to come back and play, and the risk for the rest of his career associated with that. If they close the door to a comeback, what if he changes his mind later? If they leave the door open to a comeback, are they setting up the fans for disappointment if he doesn't? There is a lot to consider, I would imagine.
We have to sit tight on this one for now. I keep coming back to one thing: When Woodruff discussed this with us in St. Louis after news broke of his injury, he spoke in the past tense.
I just can’t see the Brewers going 14 position players and 12 pitchers, especially in a best-of-five series. I think they go 13 and 13 with Rhys Hoskins out, Tobias Myers in.
Based on conversations with Murphy and front-office officials, I believe it will be 14 position players, 12 pitchers in the National League Division Series. Of course, that's not set in stone until the roster is due the morning of Game 1 of each postseason round.
(P.S. my running NLDS roster projection can be found here, updated from time to time with new information.)
Hi Adam! Can you please explain what happened with Hoskins? I really don’t understand why they didn’t even try to give him more at-bats when he was reactivated.
Big picture, Hoskins' playing time decreased after his return because Andrew Vaughn had established himself as a potent option at first base (though he cooled in the power department significantly, with no home runs in his last 119 at-bats) and plays better defense. And because Jake Bauers is a left-handed-hitting complement who also plays good defense and, importantly, has the versatility to help in the outfield if you need that. Murphy has said on several occasions that he views Bauers as a big piece of the postseason roster, that he sees a huge moment late in a game for Bauers. We'll see.
Now, does that explain Hoskins barely playing at all? No. Those of us on the outside expected way more than one start and 10 plate appearances over three weeks.
Who is the closer? Abner Uribe? Trevor Megill? Committee assignments based on matchups? And what pocket food will Murph pull out first in the postseason?
I'm going to predict pocket fish tacos if it's the Padres, and pocket deep dish pizza if it's Cubs. Poor clubbies.
The closer question is a really good one, and we asked Megill about that on Sunday. He said he's ready for any role they want for him, which is the right answer at this time of year. If I had to guess, I would say the ninth stays with Uribe, who has kept everything under control for the month Megill was out. And that would give Megill a little more time to regain confidence and velocity before he reclaims closer duties.
Of course, it could be mix and match. If the heart of the order comes up in the eighth inning of a one-run game, maybe you call on Uribe there, and Megill next. We just have to wait and see.
Showing up to ask the hard question: What’s the go-to food vendor at the ballpark? I’ve heard rumblings from inside on the reigning favorite, just curious to see it here.
I ventured from the press box dining room exactly zero times this season, which is a big bummer because the media eats from the concession stands during the postseason. I love the 3rd St. Market Hall Annex and envision some empanadas in my near future.