Better end of the deal
Shaw thriving; Thornburg ailing
The main players in the Brewers’ off-season trade with Boston were on opposite sides of the field Tuesday night at Miller Park and also on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of impact made with their new clubs.
Third baseman Travis Shaw was in his customary cleanup spot in the Brewers’ lineup, a position he never envisioned entering spring camp. Were he still with the Red Sox, Shaw’s seven home runs, 24 runs batted in and .544 slugging percentage would have led that club.
Reliever Tyler Thornburg, sent to the Red Sox for Shaw, two minor-leaguers and another to be named, remained on the 60-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. He has yet to make his Boston debut but hopes to start throwing off the mound again soon.
“I’m making progress,” Thornburg said before the game. “It’s been a lot nicer in the past week or so. I’m pretty much waiting to feel 100% before we start pushing on the mound. I want to be 100% for the rest of the season, playoffs, stuff like that.
“I’ve had a few days here and there where I’ve felt like, ‘All right, now’s the time I’m going to take off.’ Then it kind of goes back down a little bit. But over the past week or so, it’s really started to actually improve a lot.”
As for being unable to face the Brewers, Thornburg said, “It sucks. I’m not even going to lie about it. But I’m trying to not think about things like that. It definitely gets a little tough mentally but I’m trying to stay in as good a mind-set as possible right now. I’m definitely excited to be back here and see all the guys.”
Shaw, who bought a home in Fort Myers, Fla., where Boston holds spring training, shortly before the trade, said he circled the Red Sox’s visit when he saw the Brewers’ schedule. Considering Boston hadn’t been here for 14 years, it was a pleasant coincidence.
“I built a lot of good friendships over there,” he said. “It’s going to be weird, a little bit, playing against them from the other side but I’m really excited for these next three games.”
Asked if the games meant a bit extra, Shaw smiled and said, “Yeah, a little bit. Obviously, I’m really excited for the series. Everybody is a competitor. You want to kind of show your old team up.”
Shaw is well aware that third base has been a problem area for the Red Sox with Pablo Sandoval on the DL with a sprained knee, but he certainly wasn’t going to gloat.
“You see what is going on over there,” he said. “I’m just trying to do what I need to do here to produce and continue to prove I’m an everyday player. Hopefully this year I will be a little more consistent as the season goes on.”
Shaw didn’t expect to be the Brewers’ cleanup hitter from Day 1, but manager Craig Counsell said he merited it by hitting both right-handers and left-handers, the latter of which became an issue last season.
“He has done a great job,” Counsell said. “It’s a good spot to hit (behind) guys who are going to be on base a lot. There’s a lot of spots to drive in runs and Travis has done it. We’re all really pleased with the way Travis has played.
“You’re always earning (playing time). We have so many young players, you’re always earning it.”
Another setback: Pitching prospect Nathan Kirby had another major setback when he underwent surgery Tuesday to re-position the ulnar nerve in his left elbow. Kirby already had missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on the elbow.
Kirby had progressed well in his recovery from the initial surgery when he began experiencing discomfort in the elbow while pitching in games in extended spring training. He was examined by team physician William Raasch and diagnosed with ulnar neuritis.
Raasch performed the transposition surgery and Kirby is expected to be sidelined eight to 12 weeks.
Kirby has not been completely healthy since being selected in Competitive Balance Round A of the 2015 draft out of Virginia. The Brewers saw something in his draft physical that made them significantly lower his signing bonus, and Kirby had the Tommy John surgery after pitching only 122⁄3 innings at Class A Wisconsin in 2015.
“We thought he was close to being ready, then he began feeling something in his elbow again,” farm director Tom Flanagan said. “He’s had some tough luck, no question. He’s still young, just 23, so at least he’s getting all of this taken care of now.”