Gamel Fallout

Now that may Gamel is out for the season with a torn ACL, the Brewers have options for 1B and there could be many Fantasy ramifications too. Since Milwaukee has no one in the minors ready for an every day job at 1B the quick solution will be Travis Ishikawa. I see Ishikawa getting about a 10 game look to see if he can produce. The 28 year old former Giant has just over 600 ABs in the big leagues. He has had only one real hard look at regular playing time. That was in 09’ when he had 300+ ABs and hit .261 with 9HR and 39 RBI. A career .261 hitter and .400 SLG he is not anyone who will light up your stat sheet on a daily basis. But if you need ABs day in and day out in deep leagues or NL only leagues he is worth a pick up. I will be using him in my 16 team league as long as Berkman is on the DL to fill in at CI.

The more interesting scenario that may happen by the end of May is that Corey Hart moves over to be the everyday 1B. If you remember back in Spring Training, before Hart hurt his knee, Milwaukee management was flirting with the idea of moving Hart to play some 1B. This was in anticipation of Gamel not hitting. Well as of now Gamel will not even be playing. I heard today that Hart has been taking some ground balls the last two nights. If Hart is moved, his value increases somewhat with the new multi-position eligibility.

So if Hart moves to 1B who plays RF? That would fall to former Japanese batting champ Norichika Aoki. The 30 year old only has 26 ABs so far this year but would be an everyday solution in RF. With his only completion being Nyjer Morgan for playing time Aoki gets the nod.

Watch the Brewers carefully over the next 10 games. If Ishikawa can’t hit, he is definitely gone. Then the Brewers will have to decide what to do at 1B. I feel Hart goes and Aoki gets starts for the remainder of the year in right. Advice: Pick up Ishikawa if you desperately need some ABs then grab Aoki the first time Hart gets the nod at 1B.