In a normal year, 36 record appearances would not be nearly enough to determine a player’s fate.
But in the two-month sprint that the 2020 season is in the premiership, time of essence and production is ahead.
That with their mischief still spinning bad wheels, the Milwaukee Brewers swapped utility men on Saturday by appointing Brock Holt for assignment and selecting Jace Peterson from the team’s alternative training site in Appleton.
Veteran Holt, considered a tough addition when he signed for one year and $ 2.5 million on Feb. 19, struggled with sporadic playing time when baseball rebooted and managed three singles and one run appeared in more than 36 records .
Earlier in the week, Holt acknowledged that it had been difficult to focus mentally with a pregnant woman and young son back home in Texas. He told reporters shortly after summer camp began that he felt he could not turn down the season due to COVID-19 concerns for fear he might not be able to start his career again later.
Holt leaves to responsibility for minus-0.6 Wins Above replacement.
“I think you’m right; 36 plate phenomena is not a lot. But at this point we did not feel like we were going anywhere,” said manager Craig Counsell. “That we’ll try something different. That’s the point we unfortunately reached with Brock.
“He’s a really good teammate. However, this has affected him, it just did not work, I think it’s the best way to say it. So we’ll try Jace and see how he does it.”
Holt, 32, made seven starts on third base, two in left field and one in right. He produced no offense to speak of, he was dismissed with the Brewers who had enough depth at such positions as in the midfield.
Counsell said he did not expect Holt to accept the assignment and remain in the organization, meaning he became a free agent. The Brewers held a $ 5 million team option for 2021 at Holt with a $ 750,000 buyout.
Peterson, 30, is a veteran of 508 major league games spread over six seasons with four organizations. He signed with the Brewers last December, showed well in spring training and then again in summer camp before moving to Appleton, after failing to make the opening day roster.
“I feel like this whole year is a lot of things out of place,” said Peterson, a career .228 hitter who has shown pop occasionally. “You never know what will happen next. For me, it just stays ready when the moment comes, and sure enough, today I’m active.
“I’m looking forward to the chance to get back on the field, for sure.”
He has seen extensive time on second base, third base and in left field with some exposure to right and first base. He came up as a shortstop and will help himself if he shows he can play center, which is where he worked this spring.
“Jace’s strength is that he is multi-positional, he is left-handed and can hopefully provide some energy for us,” said Counsell. “He will not become a great player; he will mix in there. But he had a nice summer camp.
“Jace has definitely had experience in this league. He’s been a bit positive all over the place and we think he’s done some offensive things that he can convey.”
Peterson joined the Brewers at the start of his trip to Chicago as part of the taxi squad and was in uniform for Saturday in Pittsburgh. He did not get the standard start Counsell seemed to give new additions – Mark Mathias got the junction right – but just pulling back a premier class uniform is a victory.
“For me, however, being able to get into the big leagues is a blessing, and I’m just looking to go and compete, play my game, be myself and try to help this team win,” he said. Peterson. “But it has certainly been an interesting journey.
“I think everyone’s journey is different. Mine has been something I’ve appreciated and enjoyed. Sometimes the heights are high and the hills are low. That’s never as good as it seems and never as bad as it seems.
“For me, another chance to be in the big leagues and be with these guys and help the Milwaukee Brewers is something I look forward to.”
Gamel snaps out of funk
It’s been a rollercoaster ride so far for Ben Gamel, who went from being the team’s hottest hitter in summer camp and the first few series of the season to not buying a hit.
He finally snapped from a 0-for-20 skid with a pinch-hit single Thursday in Minnesota, then homered and singled in successive at-bats Friday in a start in midfield to give him four straight hits overall until he was in his final at-bat.
“I think peace of mind more than anything,” Gamel said, referring to returning to course. “It reinforces that I need to stay in my routine and I need to keep my same thought process going.”
Gamel made some changes to his approach on the plate early in the spring training, and by the beginning of the summer camp, his batting position – very reminiscent of Christian Yelich’s, upright and with his hands more out – was noticeable.
“My routine remained about the same,” he said. “As the season goes on and on, we’re always looking for something or trying to recapture that feeling, and luckily I was able to find it tonight.”
It was assumed that Gamel’s playing time would increase with Lorenzo Cain opting out of the season, but that has not been the case. Keeping this hot strip with two games would certainly help his case as the Brewers look for any kind of spark for their lineup.
“No extra pressure or anything,” he said. ‘I’m more so bummed that I do not see Lo every day. We just have to find a way to win baseball games. That’s the end line. ”
