Here is a list of the Brewers 2012 opening day roster organized by their 2011 Fangraphs WAR. Players currently on the disabled list are highlighted:
Ryan Braun: 7.8
Corey Hart: 4.2
Nyjer Morgan: 4.0
Zack Greinke: 3.9
Rickie Weeks: 3.7
Aramis Ramirez: 3.6
Yovani Gallardo: 3.1
Shaun Marcum: 2.7
Carlos Gomez: 2.0
John Axford: 1.9
Jonathan Lucroy: 1.7
Chris Narveson: 1.5
Francisco Rodriguez: 1.4
Randy Wolf: 1.4
Kameron Loe: 1.2
Alex Gonzalez: 1.1
George Kottaras: 0.8
Marco Estrada: 0.8
Jose Veras: 0.5
Tim Dillard: 0.3
Ceasar Izturis: 0.1
Manny Parra: 0.0
Norichicka Aoki: 0.0
Travis Ishikawa: 0.0
Mat Gamel: -0.4
Really should be looking at their 2012 projection not 2011 numbers, no?
Depends how much stock you put in projections, right? I mean, coming into the season I wasn’t even 100% sure that Gamel was going to stick as a starter, so I certainly don’t think he was a lock for that 1.4 WAR projection.
Part of the reason I did this as “presented without comment” is that it was just meant to be a very quick, thumbnail way of looking at, not some extensive in-depth study. The basic point was: “look, these guys weren’t supposed to be the backbone of the team, they were supposed to be role players and role players can be replaced”
So I guess there is the comment. Whoops.
I get that. Hell, there is almost no difference in my mind between Estrada and Narveson. Its just that even at 1.5 wins at 1B for Gamel could still be covered by a Green/Conrad platoon (though of course they should actually be at 3B) or Derrick Lee or what have you.