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Brewers 1982

Brewers 1982

Covering the Milwaukee Brewers throughout the 1982 season, in real-time, as it would have happpened.

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Down on the Farm

December 9 Leave a Comment

Paul Molitor
Is the next Paul Molitor waiting in the Brewers system?

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
 
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