Mailbag: Who to watch this spring

02/20/2006
I'm going out to Arizona for a week and plan to go to a few Spring Training games. Who are some of the "dark horse" players who could earn a roster spot?-- Erik M., Racine, Wis.
Zach Sorensen's name keeps coming up as a favorite of some Brewers scouts. Sorensen can play three infield and three outfield positions, and he also has going for him the fact that he was a Doug Melvin waiver claim. Melvin is on an incredible streak of finding gems on the wire after the success of Derrick Turnbow and Scott Podsednik. It also may be too early to count out Nelson Cruz, who has a chance to open some eyes with a strong Spring Training.
In terms of pitchers, Mike Adams reported to camp on a mission, admitting he let up a bit after being handed the closer job last spring. He will push hard to prove he deserves a second chance. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate is also a player to watch; even if he does not make the roster, he could get a look for the bullpen and is considered very close to being ready to pitch in the Major Leagues.
Look for more dark horses to emerge this week. Right now, the pitchers are throwing only at about 80 percent, and the hitters do not formally report until this weekend. Everyone will start to ramp it up as time goes by.
Could you compare prospects Corey Hart and Cruz? In my opinion, Cruz has a lot better arm and is more valuable in the outfield. What are your thoughts?-- Josh Z., West Salem, Wis.
Cruz does have a better arm, but Hart is more advanced and may still have work to do in the Minor Leagues. He was the organization's Minor League player of the year last season, but he split the season between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville. Hart put together a solid Triple-A season, and barring injury, he will make the Brewers' Opening Day roster.
Are the Brewers going to address the catcher position? It seems to be the weak link right now.-- Rich, Oshkosh, Wis.
As I've written previously, the numbers do not bear out that Brewers catchers are a weak link. Damian Miller and Chad Moeller combined to rank 13th of 30 Major League teams in catchers' OPS (.710 -- or .001 lower than the Yankees). Yes, Miller was disappointed with his performance with runners in scoring position, and Moeller is not happy with his poor batting average, but the team believes very strongly their familiarity with Ben Sheets & Co. is a huge plus that is not easily translated into numbers.
Bottom line: Melvin and manager Ned Yost have talked about the catching tandem since they arrived in Phoenix, and the Brewers are more than happy with their duo.
I am disturbed at the recent news that the Brewers won't be adding anyone to their Walk of Fame this year. I understand their reasoning and concern that at some point they may run out of players, but, for instance, George Bamberger is absent and he was the first winning manager in Brewers history and, along with Harry Dalton, helped craft a Brewers team that became formidable American League opponents for the next years to come.-- Ryan K., Watertown, Wis.
The Brewers changed the voting system this year, and no one appeared on the required 75 percent of ballots to join the 12 former players and club officials already in the Walk of Fame. I think that's a shame because there are plenty of qualified candidates.
Bamberger most certainly was on my ballot. Before Bamberger was hired for the 1978 season the fledgling Brewers had never done better than 76 wins; they won 93 that first year and 95 in 1979 before Bamberger decided to retire after heart surgery limited his 1980 season. He returned for a couple of forgettable seasons from 1985-1986.
Bamberger is the third-winningest manager in club history, but his legacy with the team goes beyond that. His players, including Gorman Thomas and Larry Hisle, have told me that Bamberger's style had a lot to do with those "Bambi's Bombers" teams being so loose and so good. He passed away last April, and it would have been nice to see him honored at Miller Park this summer. I will vote for him again next year.
Mike Caldwell also should not have to wait, in my opinion. He posted club records for a starting pitcher with 22 wins and a 2.36 ERA in 1978, and he ranks second on the club's all-time wins and winning percentage lists.
Do you think the Brewers will sign Sammy Sosa to take over Russ Branyan's power pinch-hitting role?-- Jon D., Luxemburg, Wis.
No way. When the Brewers look at free agents, they almost always are looking for players who fit into a plan for this season and beyond, and Sosa certainly does not fit that mold. Also, why would Sosa be inclined to sign with the Brewers to sit on the bench? It appears that he simply will retire if he does not find a job offering everyday duties.
The Brewers might not have a true slugger off the bench, but Bill Hall and Gabe Gross have some pop, and Corey Koskie will get a break now and then and represents another option.
Though all are important, which would you consider the most important thing for the Brewers to seriously contend this year: Ben Sheets to stay healthy, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee to hit well at the same time, Chris Capuano repeating 2005 or the bullpen getting to Turnbow?-- Nate S., Mequon, Wis.
To me, Sheets' health is the key to taking the next step. He is entering the prime of his career and is due to break his streak of 10-12 win seasons.
Do you think the Brewers' objections to Sheets involvement in the World Baseball Classic affected his not being selected, or was there simply not enough room for him behind the rest of Team USA's great staff?-- Nile S., Milwaukee
Sheets says he pulled out on his own because he did not want to take up a spot unless he was 100 percent sure of his health. At this point, he could not make that guarantee.
I want to find out what happened to Chris Saenz? I watched the one game on MLB.com that he pitched in 2004 against St. Louis (six innings, two hits, no runs) and haven't seen his name since. Is he still in the Brewers' system?-- Cuthbert T., Sacramento, Calif.
Saenz missed 2005 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was non-tendered, but he re-signed a Minor League contract for 2006. Those guys have already started trickling into the Minor League complex here at Maryvale Baseball Park.
If I'm not mistaken, Doug Davis is a free agent after the 2006 season. Are the Brewers negotiating an extension?-- Steve T., Milwaukee
Davis' contract is up after this season, but he actually has one more year of salary arbitration eligibility before being eligible for free agency. Melvin said the Brewers have not yet had any discussions about an extension.
Any word on how the Brewers' fantasy football league went?-- David J., University Hts., Ohio
Turnbow loaded up on wide receivers instead of running backs and was the 2005 champion. He bought a huge trophy that has been sitting in front of Jenkins' locker, and Jenkins, the '04 champion who has not reported to camp yet, likely will not be happy with Turnbow's hot-dogging.

Source: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/