Vogt will get some at-bats as DH
PHOENIX – Stephen Vogt, shut down from throwing the past week to rest a strained shoulder, will get some Cactus League at-bats this week as the designated hitter and still believes he has plenty of time to get ready for the season.
Vogt, in a competition with Jett
Bandy to secure the second catching spot with Manny Piña, has been doing every drill possible that doesn’t include throwing to stay as ready as possible to play. He even has caught some simulated innings, with a “helper” throwing the ball back to the pitcher.
“I’ve been doing everything – hitting, catching, defensive drills – everything but throwing,” Vogt said. “It doesn’t bother me to swing the bat so I’m hoping to get some DH at-bats.
“I won’t know (how the shoulder is) until I start throwing again. I’m hoping I’ll get to start some light throwing Tuesday. I think (the shoulder) will come back quick because of all the work I did in the off-season (to improve his throwing).”
The Brewers have more than three weeks remaining before their March 29 season opener in San Diego, and manager Craig Counsell said that allows enough time for Vogt to get past the shoulder issue, barring any further setbacks.
“From our perspective, there’s plenty of time to get at-bats here for him,” said Counsell, who noted that Vogt could DH in minor-league games as well. “This is going to be a throwing thing. That’s the challenge for him.
“He’s in a good place with at-bats. We’re fine with that; we’ve got lots of time.”
Vogt was re-examined by a doctor on Saturday and Counsell said, “Nothing really changed.”
“When he’s pain-free, he’ll start the throwing again,” Counsell added. “The throwing will happen fast, so he has time still, as I see it. He’ll check off all the boxes (beforehand) except for the throwing.”
Piña caught only two innings before departing the game Saturday against Colorado, and Counsell said he had been bothered by a sore calf that was not considered serious.
“He’s not injured; he could play,” Counsell said. “I would not have taken him out of the game (in the regular season).”
Change isn’t easy: Yovani Gallardo had another day of struggling with his command, allowing four hits, three walks and three runs in 2 1/3 innings against Cleveland. In three spring outings, Gallardo has issued six hits and six walks in five innings (7.20 ERA) as he tries to make some changes in pitching style.
“I’m trying different things,” said Gallardo, who is vying to win a spot in the Brewers’ starting rotation after a couple of tough years in Baltimore and Seattle. “I’m not really worried about the walks right now. I’m trying to pitch up in the (strike) zone a little more.
“I’m doing that more than I’ve done in the past and I’ve gotten some weak contact off it. That’s what I want to see. I’m getting more comfortable each time I go out there with what I’m trying to do. I’m incorporating (pitching) up and down more. It adds another weapon. I'm working on the right time to do it.”
Gallardo, 32, who began his career with the Brewers, signed a $2 million free-agent deal over the off-season but it is not guaranteed, putting him in a make-good position in camp.
“I’ve been getting swings on my curveball and some weak contact, so I think I’m making progress,” he said. “I’m trying different things, so that takes some time. But, overall, I feel good.”
Counsell emphasized the weak contact part of Gallardo’s performance and said he is pleased that the pitcher is committed to making adjustments on the mound.
“I like what 'Yo' is doing,” Counsell said. “He’s making changes; he’s being stubborn to make those changes, which is hard. When you’re asking somebody to make these changes, I actually foresaw some walks happening because we’re asking him to pitch differently.
“I’m happy to see him continue on this path. I think the swings are giving him good feedback. I don’t think they’re getting great swings off him. He had trouble with the strike zone today but he didn’t have trouble with hitters’ swings.”
Trial and error: Counsell said Ryan Braun will learn most from errors he makes while playing first base, a new position, this spring. One happened right off the bat against the Indians when Francisco Lindor led off with a grounder to Braun, whose high flip eluded pitcher Jhoulys Chacín, covering the bag.
“It was more my fault than Brauny," Chacín said. "I just put my head down before I caught the ball. It wasn't a really bad throw. It was just me missing the ball."
It was an active day around the bag for Braun, who started at first base for the third time. He had to battle the sun and a stiff breeze to field a high pop-up near the mound, and also made a nice spin tag at first when Bandy picked off Rajai Davis.
“The more innings he gets out there, the more plays he has, the more experience he gets,” Counsell said. “That’s what we’re looking for. You want action, and you want things to happen over there. So far, so good.”
Eric Thames, who made the transition from the outfield to first base in Korea, said the ball always finds you when you’re learning a new position.
“That’s the way it is,” Thames said. “In my first game (at first base), the first play of the game was a broken bat spinning right at me. All the practice comes into place, and you just trust your training and go.
“Even here, fans are watching and you’re on TV (at times), so it’s not like you’re on a backfield. We all have pride and dignity, so you want to make the plays. He’s a good athlete, so he’ll be fine over there.”