SS Upgrade: Realistically What Do You Expect?

[Hate those Rodents]

Doug may have screwed up the Hardy thing, but I think it's more that Gomez was a horrible guy to target. Sending him down and retaining an extra year for somebody, even if you think its bush, should've gotten us good talent. Doug thought he had probably an excellent CF in Gomez. He missed, even though Gomez still has value. I like Doug's demotion of him, but he should have been able to get us an arm or two in that trade.

[RockCoCougars]

Doug may have screwed up the Hardy thing, but I think it's more that Gomez was a horrible guy to target. Sending him down and retaining an extra year for somebody, even if you think its bush, should've gotten us good talent. Doug thought he had probably an excellent CF in Gomez. He missed, even though Gomez still has value. I like Doug's demotion of him, but he should have been able to get us an arm or two in that trade.

I think that he forced his hand. After what shook down with the demotion to the minors with the crowning of Escobar as the SS of the future, it was obvious that Hardy had to be traded. I think that this hurt his value more than the extra year of control helped it.

[TooLiveBrew]

Don't judge [betancourt] entirely on what you've seen so far.

 

Yeah, that stance coming in from the offseason really proved accurate. He's totally going to turn into a competent hitter & fielder, we just have to wait for it.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

I think its more like that I'll marry Mila Kunis than Betancourt ever having an OBP above .300 again

[kramnoj]

Sadly, each game we play that we choose to play without calling up Green lessens the chance he's brought up.

 

How did you reach this definitive conclusion?

 

Melvin has done things that people say he would never do: Demote Gagne, cut bait on Hall, cut Suppan, etc. He often takes too long in the eyes of most to make these moves, but he has made them.

[Invader3K]

Melvin has done things that people say he would never do: Demote Gagne, cut bait on Hall, cut Suppan, etc. He often takes too long in the eyes of most to make these moves, but he has made them.

The problem is he often waits way too long to abandon these lost causes, or otherwise correct glaring shortcomings on the MLB roster.

[PilprinBuddha]

the old adage to build strong up the middle is still a truism. Unfortunately we have become weak up the middle. Weeks is solid....not spectacular...defensively. SS...God help us...CF...ok...Catcher...ok.

I like our pitching staff, but we are below average at 3b, ss, and cf......

[The Truth]

I like our pitching staff, but we are below average at 3b, ss, and cf......

Defensively we are spectacular in CF when Gomez is playing and solid/average when Morgan is playing

[endaround]

In what universe are the Brewers below average in CF?

[PilprinBuddha]

when Morgan is playing...probably average...Gomez....below average with the bat....You are right...defensively they are ok.

[jmeks23]

What do you realistically expect out of CF? Jacoby Ellsbury? Matt Kemp? The Brewers are perfectly fine in CF.

[HiAndTight]

I see that the number 7 is still available for Hardy. Unfortunately, it looks like in Baltimorethe two sides are making progress on an extension for 3 years in the $21-$25 million range. I'd do that deal in a heartbeat, and I'd give the O's a couple of Power 50 top 10 arms for the privilege. Probably a pipe dream at this point though

 

I guess that I don't see guys like Bartlett as much of an upgrade over Yuni. I have a feeling it's going to end up being Furcal if he can stay in one piece.

I'm 28, haven't played hardball in 8 years, blew out my shoulder and had total reconstructive surgery....and the last time I DID play SS, as a Sr, I made 2 errors...and I'm fairly certain I would be an upgrade over Betancourt!

 

Ok, not really, but he's just too annoying.

[RockCoCougars]

Bartlett had one good year offensively with the Twins and judging from his fielding stats this season, that hasn't been very good either.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Braddock for Furcal + cash deal. If Casey Blake wasn't hurt, I could see Melvin adding him as well.

[Yeti73]

I expect fur cal if healthy. If he isnt healthy, I expect something like Barmes or Scutaro

[HiAndTight]

Bartlett had one good year offensively with the Twins and judging from his fielding stats this season, that hasn't been very good either.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Braddock for Furcal + cash deal. If Casey Blake wasn't hurt, I could see Melvin adding him as well.

I think giving up Braddock would be a terrible move at this point. I understand he hasn't been great this year, but he's still got the stuff to be a future closer, and he's all of what, 23 years old?

Furcal would be a guy we'd take a flier on, not someone you give up someone like Braddock for. We'd be doing the Dodgers a favor in taking Furcal off their hands.

Anyway, I'd much rather see them go after Jamey Carroll with someone like Kottaras and someone in the 5-12 range of prospects.

 

 

In the last two years Carroll's been about a .292/.376 guy who's played very solid defense. Much safer bet than Furcal.

[RockCoCougars]

Bartlett had one good year offensively with the Twins and judging from his fielding stats this season, that hasn't been very good either.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Braddock for Furcal + cash deal. If Casey Blake wasn't hurt, I could see Melvin adding him as well.

I think giving up Braddock would be a terrible move at this point. I understand he hasn't been great this year, but he's still got the stuff to be a future closer, and he's all of what, 23 years old?

Furcal would be a guy we'd take a flier on, not someone you give up someone like Braddock for. We'd be doing the Dodgers a favor in taking Furcal off their hands.

Anyway, I'd much rather see them go after Jamey Carroll with someone like Kottaras and someone in the 5-12 range of prospects.

 

 

In the last two years Carroll's been about a .292/.376 guy who's played very solid defense. Much safer bet than Furcal.

I agree that Braddock is too much to give up for Furcal. I just have a gut feeling that something like this could happen because he's deep in the doghouse right now.

[HiAndTight]

I agree that Braddock is too much to give up for Furcal. I just have a

gut feeling that something like this could happen because he's deep in

the doghouse right now.

 

 

I suppose, I'm just hoping that's Roenicke's doghouse and not Melvin's.

 

 

It just seems to me we have a ton of players to give up for the type of players we're looking at. We've got so many C to C+ type prospects that I don't think we're going to have a huge problem working out a deal with the Dodgers for either of their SS's.

 

I'm still holding out hope for Jamey Carroll though.

[valpocrewsader]

What about Emilio Bonifacio? I don't know much about him, but he seems to fit a Betemit-like profile as a switch hitter who gets playing time on the left side of the infield. Not good enough defensively at 3B/SS? Too much concern that his good offensive numbers this year (740 OPS) are bound to drop back to his career norms (650 OPS)? Too young and cheap for the Marlins to trade him away?

[ilikewisco]

What about Emilio Bonifacio? I don't know much about him, but he seems to fit a Betemit-like profile as a switch hitter who gets playing time on the left side of the infield. Not good enough defensively at 3B/SS? Too much concern that his good offensive numbers this year (740 OPS) are bound to drop back to his career norms (650 OPS)? Too young and cheap for the Marlins to trade him away?

I don't think he can field SS, and he goes through some horrendous stretches at the plate. He seems capable at third, but he has absolutely no power. Good speed and can play multiple positions, but I don't think he plays any at a real high level. At the plate he would be another Gomez rant waiting to happen, but at least we wouldn't have to worry about a dinger screwing up his approach.

 

Edit: I see he has better on base skills than Gomez though, but not by a whole lot not counting this year. Maybe he's turned a corner, but IMO I don't thinks so.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Bartlett had one good year offensively with the Twins and judging from his fielding stats this season, that hasn't been very good either.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Braddock for Furcal + cash deal. If Casey Blake wasn't hurt, I could see Melvin adding him as well.

I think giving up Braddock would be a terrible move at this point. I understand he hasn't been great this year, but he's still got the stuff to be a future closer, and he's all of what, 23 years old?

Furcal would be a guy we'd take a flier on, not someone you give up someone like Braddock for. We'd be doing the Dodgers a favor in taking Furcal off their hands.

Anyway, I'd much rather see them go after Jamey Carroll with someone like Kottaras and someone in the 5-12 range of prospects.

 

 

In the last two years Carroll's been about a .292/.376 guy who's played very solid defense. Much safer bet than Furcal.

I would trade Braddock right now for a SS if that's what it would take. Braddock has lost his velocity and because of it he is less effective. It's more than him being in the doghouse.

[Invader3K]

Is Carroll too much to expect at this point? He seems like he would be a very solid fit for this team, and makes a relatively low salary. I wouldn't think it would take much to get him. Seems like this idea might make too much sense to happen for whatever reason.

[brewmann04]

I been thinking Carroll and Keppinger both would be good additions. Carroll can also play 2nd,and 3RD

[JohnBriggs12]

Is Carroll too much to expect at this point? He seems like he would be a very solid fit for this team, and makes a relatively low salary. I wouldn't think it would take much to get him. Seems like this idea might make too much sense to happen for whatever reason.

Invader3K, while you've been over the top in your Betancourt criticism, I completely agree with you that Carroll is the guy who'd be the best fit on this team.

[docduany]

Of the apparent realistic options I feel Furcal and Carroll would be the best additions.

[Never Outhustled]

I think the reason we haven't gotten a SS is because Melvin is chasing the biggest fish. In the meantime, he should add Carrol. If Melvin can get who he really wants in 2 weeks, Carrol would become the top back-up at almost every position for a team that is presently trying to contend with a terrible bench.