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03-18-2006, 06:15 AM
With a little more than three weeks before opening day, the Milwaukee Brewers still are wondering if pitcher Ben Sheets will be available for the start of the season.
Sheets, who strained a muscle in his upper back -- the same muscle that ended his season last year — has been playing catch recently, but his status for the April 3 opener against Pittsburgh still is up in the air.
Milwaukee has been snake-bitten with injuries for ages. Whether it was Rollie Fingers, Teddy Higuera, Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor, Geoff Jenkins or any number of draft picks coming up through the farm system, injuries have played a big role in keeping the Brewers down.
Which brings up the question, which player could the Brewer least afford to lose this season?
Unlike past seasons, the Brewers do have some depth. Bill Hall can play three infield positions. Jeff Cirillo is a strong bat off the bench if third baseman Corey Koskie or first baseman Prince Fielder get hurt. If any of the infielders are injured, the Brewers would survive.
Milwaukee’s catching situation is solid. Damian Miller is a strong catcher and Chad Moeller is a serviceable backup. The Brewers’ bullpen also is deep.
The outfield is a dangerous area. Jenkins’ history of injuries is widely known and a cause for concern. Brady Clark doesn’t have a history of injuries, but the Brewers don’t have an experienced center fielder ready to fill in for him. Carlos Lee is the heart of the offense. While Milwaukee could fill the spot in left field with a prospect, the Brewers wouldn’t get the production Lee provides.
But Milwaukee’s nightmare scenario — like it is for many other teams in baseball — is losing one or two starting pitchers for an extended period. Last season, losing Sheets in August was probably the difference between a .500 season and a winning record. The Brewers may have even contended for the wild card with their ace pitcher. While most teams can’t survive the loss of their ace, the Brewers probably couldn’t survive the loss of either Chris Capuano or Doug Davis as well. Milwaukee just doesn’t have the starting pitching depth needed to overcome an injury to one of its top three.
Sheets, who strained a muscle in his upper back -- the same muscle that ended his season last year — has been playing catch recently, but his status for the April 3 opener against Pittsburgh still is up in the air.
Milwaukee has been snake-bitten with injuries for ages. Whether it was Rollie Fingers, Teddy Higuera, Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor, Geoff Jenkins or any number of draft picks coming up through the farm system, injuries have played a big role in keeping the Brewers down.
Which brings up the question, which player could the Brewer least afford to lose this season?
Unlike past seasons, the Brewers do have some depth. Bill Hall can play three infield positions. Jeff Cirillo is a strong bat off the bench if third baseman Corey Koskie or first baseman Prince Fielder get hurt. If any of the infielders are injured, the Brewers would survive.
Milwaukee’s catching situation is solid. Damian Miller is a strong catcher and Chad Moeller is a serviceable backup. The Brewers’ bullpen also is deep.
The outfield is a dangerous area. Jenkins’ history of injuries is widely known and a cause for concern. Brady Clark doesn’t have a history of injuries, but the Brewers don’t have an experienced center fielder ready to fill in for him. Carlos Lee is the heart of the offense. While Milwaukee could fill the spot in left field with a prospect, the Brewers wouldn’t get the production Lee provides.
But Milwaukee’s nightmare scenario — like it is for many other teams in baseball — is losing one or two starting pitchers for an extended period. Last season, losing Sheets in August was probably the difference between a .500 season and a winning record. The Brewers may have even contended for the wild card with their ace pitcher. While most teams can’t survive the loss of their ace, the Brewers probably couldn’t survive the loss of either Chris Capuano or Doug Davis as well. Milwaukee just doesn’t have the starting pitching depth needed to overcome an injury to one of its top three.