The trade of Yovani Gallardo to the Texas Rangers for Luis Sardinas, Corey Knebel and Marcos Diplan has had time to take effect for the Milwaukee Brewers by now. While Diplan has a long way to go before he puts on a Milwaukee jersey, both Sardinas and Knebel have seen action on their new ball club. It’s time to give some first impressions of their performances.
Let’s start with the one who actually makes me feel somewhat optimistic about the future of the Brewers: shortstop Luis Sardinas.
Sardinas got called up from AAA Colorado Springs when Jean Segura hit the DL in mid-May with a fractured right pinky finger. Since that call-up, Sardinas has appeared in 13 games and has gone 14-49 at the plate for a .245 average. Defensively, he has started 12 games at shortstop and one at second base, and he has not made an error. In fact, he has made several impressive plays with the leather.
Sardinas feels like another Alcides Escobar for the Milwaukee Brewers.
His speed to the ball coupled with a rapid exchange from his glove to his throwing hand has definitely been key on more than a few bang-bang plays.
Sardinas feels like another Alcides Escobar. Going in, you know he’s great defensively. He’s a sure-handed infielder who will make the routine and spectacular plays. Offensively, there’s work to be done. On more than a few swings, he seems to pull his entire body away from the plate as he goes to make contact. It makes me wonder if he’s pulling his head a bit too much. However, the Brewers staff should help him grow at the plate and turn into a more complete hitter. Overall, there are reasons to be optimistic about Sardinas in the future.
Then there’s Knebel. The reliever has made just five appearances thus far, but recent performances have made me begin to feel nervous. In 4 2/3 innings of work, Knebel has given up five hits, three earned runs, two home runs, two walks, a WHIP of 1.50 and and ERA of 5.79. Knebel is regarded by many to be a potential future closer, but his performance against the Diamondbacks Friday in a close game somewhat dispelled that potential. Down 5-4, Knebel emerged from the bullpen in the ninth inning and promptly gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. It wasn’t pretty, to say the least, and it all but eradicated hopes for a late comeback win for the Brewers.
His first few outings were pretty solid. It seems he pitches best when he has a minimum seven-run lead to work with. He threw a scoreless ninth inning May 19 against the Tigers when the Brewers were up 8-1, and he struck out the side May 22 against the Braves in the eighth inning when the Brewers were up 11-0. So, obviously, Knebel looks exactly like a future closer. Closers get huge leads to work with all the time….
It’s too early to say Knebel is a flop, but he hasn’t gotten me excited about his presence yet. Sardinas has. At the moment, then, Sardinas is the star of the Gallardo trade.
This article Milwaukee Brewers: First impressions of Sardinas, Knebel appeared first on isportsweb by Ken Kosirowski