The Brewers may have swung trades to nab stars like Rollie Fingers, Pete Vuckovich, Ted Simmons, Cecil Cooper and Ben Oglivie, but others such as Robin Yount and Paul Molitor are homegrown. This team does have a strong nucleus, but some of the veterans are getting up there in years.
On Opening Day of 1985, the average age of the current starting lineup will be 33. The average age of the team’s current best pitchers will be 36. As a result, the Brewers will need to have some prospects develop into stars over the next few years to remain at a high level.
“As long as you don’t let it [age] get too big on you, you’re all right,” said Brewers general manager Harry Dalton. But if you do stand pat, get lulled by your success, you’re going to get hurt. We won’t plan to make any wholesale changes in our ballclub at the winter meetings in Hawaii, but in the back of my mind will be the fact we have some players getting up in years.”
To be blunt, there isn’t much talent immediately ready for 1983, but the deeper you look the more talent you will find. As a result, the Brewers are built to rely on their current team now and will have the next crop of stars rising up during the coming two to three years.
Let’s take a look at each level, including quotes from an unnamed scout.
Vancouver Canadians (AAA)
If you are looking for a good back-up catcher, this is where you start. The Brewers have two solid prospects at the position in Bill Schroeder and Steve Lake. Of course, the Brewers already have three catching capable players on the big league roster, but the depth could be a source of a potential trade.
The scout thinks that Schroeder “could be a good second catcher” and that Lake has a “hell of an arm.” But neither are projected to be the starting catcher if Ted Simmons’ career submarines.
Bob Skube may be the player most likely to make an impact in 1983. He has a “better than average arm, he’s a better than average runner and a fair hitter.” That could be exactly what the Brewers need in the outfield, even as a backup.
Unfortunately, there is not much immediate help in the pitching ranks. We’ve already seen Chuck Porter and Doug Jones. The scout says that Jones is “below average in most of his pitches,” and due to his age he “has to make it now or else.” Porter has “good velocity but spotty control.”
| Pacific Coast League (AAA) | |||||
| North Division | |||||
| Tm | Aff | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| Tacoma Tigers | OAK | 84 | 59 | .587 | — |
| Spokane Indians | ANA | 78 | 65 | .545 | 6 |
| Vancouver Canadians | MIL | 72 | 72 | .500 | 12.5 |
| Edmonton Trappers | CHW | 70 | 74 | .486 | 14.5 |
| Portland Beavers | PIT | 65 | 79 | .451 | 19.5 |
| Top Hitting Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG |
| Bill Schroeder | 23 | 425 | 66 | 113 | 22 | 77 | 2 | .266 |
| Larry Rush | 25 | 477 | 58 | 125 | 13 | 70 | 14 | .262 |
| Doug Loman | 24 | 411 | 57 | 106 | 14 | 64 | 10 | .258 |
| Bob Skube | 24 | 433 | 55 | 121 | 13 | 61 | 13 | .279 |
| Top Pitching Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | W | L | ERA | IP | H | BB | SO |
| Rich Olsen | 25 | 5 | 5 | 3.56 | 101.0 | 101 | 54 | 52 |
| Chuck Porter | 27 | 8 | 12 | 3.98 | 183.1 | 196 | 59 | 102 |
| Michael Anderson | 29 | 5 | 5 | 3.29 | 101.1 | 92 | 64 | 61 |
| Doug Jones | 25 | 5 | 8 | 2.97 | 106.0 | 109 | 31 | 60 |
El Paso Diablos (AA)
It’s easy to get excited about offensive stats of the Diablos while being concerned about the stats of the pitchers, but the truth in their respective abilities aren’t accurately reflected by statistics. “You should take about 20 points off every batting average,” said the scout, “and a run and a half off every earned run average. So with that in mind…
There is some excellent offensive talent in El Paso, though they may be a couple of years from reaching Milwaukee. Randy Ready, a 22-year-old third baseman, led the Texas League in batting at a staggering .375 clip while smacking 20 homers and driving in 99. Ready is athletic and the Brewers will either be forced to make room for him or shift the rising star to the outfield.
Scout on Ready: “Can’t see him not hitting .300 wherever he plays.”
Ready may be one of the most polished prospects in the Brewers’ system, but outfielder Dion James may have the most upside. At only 19 years old, James was the youngest player in the Texas League in 1982. He projects to have above average speed and power with the ability to hit for average.
Scout on James: “He has it all.”
Bob Gibson and Jamie Cocanower are a bit old at 25 to be in AA, but they also may be primed to make the leap to the big club at some point in 1983 if the Brewers need immediate pitching help.
Scout on Gibson: “He throws 89-92 consistently.”
| Texas League (AA) | |||||
| West Division | |||||
| Tm | Aff | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| El Paso Diablos | MIL | 76 | 60 | .559 | — |
| Midland Cubs | CHC | 67 | 66 | .504 | 7.5 |
| San Antonio Dodgers | LAD | 68 | 68 | .500 | 8 |
| Amarillo Gold Sox | SDP | 61 | 74 | .452 | 14.5 |
| Top Hitting Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG |
| Randy Ready | 22 | 475 | 122 | 178 | 20 | 99 | 13 | .375 |
| Dion James | 19 | 422 | 103 | 136 | 9 | 72 | 16 | .322 |
| Steven Michael | 25 | 435 | 92 | 150 | 19 | 89 | 9 | .345 |
| Bill Foley | 25 | 415 | 76 | 128 | 23 | 106 | 0 | .308 |
| Top Pitching Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | W | L | ERA | IP | H | BB | SO |
| Bob Gibson | 25 | 6 | 2 | 2.17 | 66.1 | 55 | 39 | 66 |
| Jaime Cocanower | 25 | 3 | 1 | 3.32 | 62.1 | 73 | 30 | 29 |
| Daniel Burns | 23 | 10 | 4 | 3.78 | 116.2 | 128 | 29 | 63 |
| Andy Beene | 25 | 8 | 2 | 4.15 | 80.1 | 73 | 51 | 62 |
Beloit Brewers (A)
There is a nice mixture of exciting, young hitting and pitching in Beloit. Bill Wegman, a rising young hurler, and Jim Paciorek, a versatile player who is the brother of White Sox first baseman Tom Paciorek, may be the most likely to see time on the Brewers. Paciorek’s progress has been slow, however, though he made a leap in 1982. Wegman projects as a top of the rotation starter, though he may be three or four years away.
| Midwest League (A) | |||||
| Central Division | |||||
| Tm | Aff | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| Springfield Cardinals | STL | 83 | 53 | .610 | — |
| Beloit Brewers | MIL | 71 | 68 | .511 | 13.5 |
| Clinton Giants | SFG | 63 | 75 | .457 | 21 |
| Danville Suns | CAL | 57 | 80 | .416 | 26.5 |
| Top Hitting Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG |
| Jim Paciorek | 22 | 312 | 38 | 101 | 4 | 37 | 6 | .324 |
| Ty Van Burkleo | 18 | 412 | 61 | 99 | 22 | 65 | 5 | .240 |
| Butch Kirby | 20 | 415 | 54 | 92 | 0 | 37 | 45 | .222 |
| Collin Tanabe | 23 | 365 | 49 | 102 | 10 | 51 | 6 | .279 |
| Top Pitching Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | W | L | ERA | IP | H | BB | SO |
| Bill Wegman | 19 | 12 | 6 | 2.81 | 179.2 | 176 | 38 | 129 |
| Bryan Clutterbuck | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3.63 | 173.2 | 165 | 56 | 138 |
| Rob Derksen | 22 | 3 | 3 | 1.79 | 55.1 | 39 | 16 | 48 |
| Wendell Walker | 21 | 8 | 6 | 3.28 | 123.1 | 114 | 56 | 89 |
Stockton Ports (A)
Scott Roberts may be the best pitching prospect in the Brewers’ organization. He has a plus fastball that should be able to get out hitters at the big league level.
Scout on Roberts: “He needs to use his fastball more because he can overpower a game.”
Speed and defense are the name of the game in Stockton, and Ernie Riles and Mike Felder personify that. Riles is a flashy shortstop and Felder is likely the fastest player in the California League — if not all of baseball. Felder, who stole 92 bases in 1982, could add another dimension for the Brewers on the base paths, though his bat still needs to develop.
Tim Crews projects as a middle of the rotation starter or solid arm out of the bullpen.
| California League (A) | |||||
| North Division | |||||
| Tm | Aff | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| Modesto A’s | OAK | 94 | 46 | .671 | — |
| Stockton Ports | MIL | 81 | 57 | .587 | 12 |
| Reno Padres | SDP | 70 | 68 | .507 | 23 |
| Redwood Pioneers | ANA | 65 | 75 | .464 | 29 |
| Lodi Dodgers | LAD | 58 | 82 | .414 | 36 |
| Top Hitting Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG |
| Ernie Riles | 21 | 447 | 60 | 128 | 2 | 56 | 21 | .286 |
| Mike Felder | 20 | 524 | 102 | 138 | 7 | 47 | 92 | .263 |
| Carlos Ponce | 23 | 489 | 59 | 140 | 6 | 79 | 17 | .286 |
| Juan Castillo | 20 | 483 | 60 | 130 | 0 | 42 | 36 | .269 |
| Top Pitching Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | W | L | ERA | IP | H | BB | SO |
| Tim Crews | 21 | 10 | 4 | 3.37 | 139.0 | 151 | 28 | 83 |
| Raymond Gallo | 23 | 6 | 2 | 1.81 | 44.2 | 37 | 22 | 39 |
| Brian Mignano | 22 | 1 | 4 | 2.89 | 28.0 | 21 | 13 | 14 |
| Scott Roberts | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2.53 | 174.1 | 151 | 41 | 137 |
Pikeville Brewers (Rookie)
Experts were enamored with the Brewers 1982 draft, and several draftees already put up solid numbers. Sveum is yet another solid, young shortstop who projects to have power, while Billy Jo Robidoux may be the power hitting first baseman the Brewers need when Cecil Cooper passes his prime (though he is playing third base for now).
The best pitching overall in the Brewers system may in fact be in Pikeville. Sure, they likely won’t see the big stage for at least three more years, but Bosio, Crim and Aldrich may be a fixture in the Brewers rotation for years to come.
| Appalachian League (Rookie) | |||||
| North Division | |||||
| Tm | Aff | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| Bluefield Orioles | BAL | 47 | 22 | .681 | — |
| Paintsville Yankees | NYY | 43 | 27 | .614 | 4.5 |
| Pulaski Braves | ATL | 36 | 33 | .522 | 11 |
| Pikeville Brewers | MIL | 25 | 42 | .373 | 21 |
| Top Hitting Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG |
| Dale Sveum | 18 | 223 | 29 | 52 | 2 | 21 | 6 | .233 |
| Billy Jo Robidoux | 18 | 167 | 28 | 48 | 0 | 13 | 2 | .287 |
| Edgar Diaz | 18 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .083 |
| Dewey James | 21 | 213 | 38 | 56 | 6 | 27 | 22 | .263 |
| Top Pitching Prospects | ||||||||
| Name | Age | W | L | ERA | IP | H | BB | SO |
| Chris Bosio | 19 | 3 | 2 | 4.91 | 51.1 | 60 | 17 | 53 |
| Chuck Crim | 20 | 4 | 6 | 2.56 | 77.1 | 62 | 18 | 76 |
| Jay Aldrich | 21 | 1 | 2 | 4.19 | 53.2 | 44 | 28 | 37 |
| Hipolito Pena | 18 | 0 | 2 | 4.64 | 21.1 | 23 | 16 | 23 |