By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
05/22/09 1:15 AM ET
HOUSTON -- Mat Gamel will serve as the Brewers' designated hitter for an Interleague series in Minnesota this weekend, but he isn't sure what awaits on the other side.
"I've got no indications," Gamel said, "and to be honest, I don't really want to know. I don't want my mind-set to change. I'm going to keep showing up until they tell me to stop showing up, and I'm going to keep being happy about it."
The original plan was to give Gamel, considered along with shortstop Alcides Escobar to be Milwaukee's top prospects, a taste of the big leagues and then return him to everyday duty at Triple-A Nashville. Interleague Play provided the perfect setting, and manager Ken Macha said Thursday that he indeed plans to use Gamel as Milwaukee's DH in all three games between the Brewers and Twins.
It's a series that well pre-dates the 23-year-old Gamel. The Brewers and Twins have been playing since 1969, when the Seattle Pilots entered the American League. That franchise moved to Milwaukee the following season, and the teams -- designated as "super rivals" since the Brewers moved to the National League in 1998 -- have played every year since. The Twins own the all-time series, 214-203, and won four of the six matchups last season.
Back to Gamel, whose immediate future may have been altered by Rickie Weeks' season-ending wrist injury and Bill Hall's continued struggles against right-handed pitching.
With Weeks out, Craig Counsell is needed at second base. At the same time, Macha may be nearing the point where Hall no longer starts against any righties. That combination could open some playing time at third for Gamel.
"We'll get through this week and then look at our roster," general manager Doug Melvin said. "With Rickie down and out, it might change a little bit."
So far, Gamel has made the most of his limited opportunities. He made his first Major League start on Monday in St. Louis and belted a three-run home run in an 8-4 Brewers win. As a pinch-hitter on Wednesday in Houston, he hit the first pitch he saw for a two-run double in the ninth inning that helped the Brewers bring the tying run to the plate in a 6-4 loss.
With those swings, Gamel has five RBIs trough his first six big league at-bats this year. In the first eight at-bats of his Major League career, dating to last season, he has three hits, all for extra bases.
"I'm really not trying to change much as far as what I've been doing down there," Gamel said, referring to a stint at Triple-A Nashville, in which he batted .336 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 33 games. "I was working my tail off, and now it's more of a maintenance-type deal instead of trying to fix problems in my swing.
"I don't want to be gassed by the time the game comes around, but at the same time, I'm getting my necessary work in to feel good and keep my rhythm and timing."
Gamel has been asking lots of questions, both of teammates and of coaches. But he isn't asking, at least aloud, whether the weekend series in Minnesota will mark the end of his current stint in the Majors.
"I can't sit here and act like I'm going down after the Twins series or staying up here," Gamel said. "You're never guaranteed anything in this game. I'm just trying to make the most of this opportunity, and when the time comes to go out there and play, I'm going to be ready for it."
Gamel's future is not the only looming decision for Melvin & Co. The Brewers will welcome Jody Gerut to the clubhouse on Friday after acquiring the left-handed-hitting outfielder from San Diego on Thursday. Someone will have to vacate the 25-man roster to make room for the newcomer, who immediately becomes Milwaukee's top reserve outfielder. Chris Duffy, batting .125 this season, appears to be the on the block, or perhaps right-handed reliever Jorge Julio.
Next week, another decision will be made about veteran Frank Catalanotto, who began a stint with Double-A Huntsville on Thursday and could eventually promoted to provide another lefty bench bat. If Duffy survives Friday's roster machinations, he will be on the block again if the Brewers decide Catalanotto can help the big league club.
The other decision to be made involves Hall, who is stuck in a three-year slump against right-handed pitchers. Asked whether Hall would play third base this weekend against the Twins, Macha didn't have an answer.
"I don't know," Macha said. "[Casey] McGehee had pretty good at-bats [in the first two games of the Houston series]."
Pitching matchup
MIL: LHP Manny Parra (3-4, 4.57 ERA)
Parra will happily strike out to end the first inning every time. Parra batted before he pitched on Sunday in St. Louis, when the Brewers batted around to spot him a 4-0 lead. Parra made it hold, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings to win his third straight start after losing his first four. He wasn't happy with walking four Cardinals, and he's walked four in three of his past four starts. Still, Parra's 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA this month and has worked six innings in each of those games. He won his only start against the Twins last season with seven scoreless innings.
MIN: RHP Kevin Slowey (5-1, 4.50 ERA)
Slowey delivered a gem of a performance against the Yankees his last time out, holding the club to just two runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. Five of those hits came after the start of the seventh inning, as Slowey had to work his way out of a few jams. The right-hander did not issue a walk in the start and struck out a season-high eight batters. Slowey's pitched well against the Brewers. In three career starts vs. Milwaukee, he is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA.
Tidbits
The Brewers are 79-90 all-time in Interleague Play, including 7-8 last season. After the weekend in Minnesota, they face Interleague Series vs. the White Sox (June 12-14), at the Indians (June 15-17), at Detroit (June 19-21) and vs. the Twins (June 23-25). ... The Twins are coming off a 1-6 road trip, but they made the one win count, scoring 20 runs in a walloping of the White Sox on Thursday. Over the last three years, Minnesota is 41-13 against National League opponents, including a 12-6 mark against the Brewers. ... The Brewers have won nine consecutive series openers after losing four of their first five. ... The Huntsville Stars announced that both Catalanotto and third baseman Taylor Green had been added to their roster on Thursday. Green had been working back from offseason wrist surgery, but he earned a quick promotion after going 8-for-20 at Class A Wisconsin.
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Up next
• Saturday: Brewers (Braden Looper, 4-2, 4.26) at Twins (Anthony Swarzak, 0-0, -.--), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-0, 3.74) at Twins (Scott Baker, 1-5, 6.98), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 4-2, 3.83) vs. Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 2-0, 0.00), 1:05 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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