Call to the pen
Fansided

Milwaukee Brewers: Eric Thames return muddies already dirty water

By Benjamin Chase

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Eric Thames #7 of the Milwaukee Brewers warms up before the game against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Thames
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Eric Thames #7 of the Milwaukee Brewers warms up before the game against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Thames /
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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 03: Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Domingo Santana (16) reacts after being forced out on first base against the Chicago White Sox on June 3, 2018 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Domingo Santana

While his production this season hasn’t been exactly what the team has expected from his powerful bat, the work that Domingo Santana put into his defense has truly paid off, and he still has the bat that produced 30 home runs just a year ago as well that can add to that defense at any time, though his hitting is quite streaky, so he’s definitely a guy that is best ridden hard when he’s going hot offensively. Before his defensive improvement, he was a guy that was best given frequent days off when his bat was cold. Now, that is a bit hairy.

Brett Phillips

Speaking of defense, certainly the best outfield defender of this discussion is Phillips, who has spent the majority of 2018 in AAA, getting just 14 MLB plate appearances this season, in spite of hitting .276/.351/.448 over 98 plate appearances last year with the Brewers. Of course, Phillips is not currently making a big push with his numbers to get more MLB time, as he’s hitting .250/.350/.414 with 14 extra-base hits and 6 stolen bases in hitter-friendly Colorado Springs.

Brad Miller

Seemingly picked up as an insurance policy in case Eric Thames couldn’t make it all the way back, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Brad Miller from the Rays this past week in exchange for Ji-Man Choi. Choi was limited to first base only, and the Brewers were hoping to utilize Miller’s defensive flexibility, but it was telling that he was sent to the minor leagues as part of the move to activate Thames. While Miller played 98 games at second base just last season, he’s really best deployed at first base, though he can still handle time at second or third, which could make him valuable off the bench down the road as he gets his swing back together.

One of the launch angle swing change players, Miller saw big results in 2016, hitting 30 home runs for the Rays, but he struggled to make consistent contact of any variety in 2017, leading to a .201/.327/.337 line. His .256/.322/.429 line is better this season, but he’s still striking out at an alarming rate for him (30%, with a career high of just under 25%). If he can make more consistent contact and keep the power, he could be a big utility piece for the Brewers down the stretch this season, but he’ll also factor into this crazy mix of players.

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