Game Thread (9/21/2022): Mets (Houser) at Brewers (Walker) - 1:10 PM CDT

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, willie key said:

I’m probably in the minority but I would be just fine if they stayed pat with the exact same 6 man rotation next year.   I don’t know if lauer and houser are still signed through next year or not though.    
 

but they almost have to remake the whole bullpen.   Ugh

I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T be happy with the same rotation. Unless they can get an absolute haul for a Burnes That's what I hope to see.

The bullpen won't look exactly the same, but it seldom does from year to year & they have a pretty good track record of constructing good pens. And IMO there's quite a bit of ability there now.

[owbc]

7 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T be happy with the same rotation. Unless they can get an absolute haul for a Burnes That's what I hope to see.

The bullpen won't look exactly the same, but it seldom does from year to year & they have a pretty good track record of constructing good pens. And IMO there's quite a bit of ability there now.

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, GoBrewers1982 said:

 Do you really want them in the playoffs?

IMO getting in the playoffs is preferential to not getting in every time, regardless of how you perform once you get there. Sure, it doesn't mean what it once did since playoffs have been expanded (diluted), that's true in all sports. But you strive to have the best season you possibly can. Falling short & being fine with it........I know some have that opinion, but with all due respect that's a planet I've never visited.

 

[Brewcrew82]

8 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T be happy with the same rotation. Unless they can get an absolute haul for a Burnes That's what I hope to see.

The bullpen won't look exactly the same, but it seldom does from year to year & they have a pretty good track record of constructing good pens. And IMO there's quite a bit of ability there now.

With respect to the bullpen, example #1 of the untapped potential would be Jake Cousins. Guy was dominant for a significant stretch last year and has looked great in his two appearances since returning from injury.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Just now, Brewcrew82 said:

With respect to the bullpen, example #1 of the untapped potential would be Jake Cousins. Guy was dominant for a significant stretch last year and has looked great in his two appearances since returning from injury.

Yep. I've mentioned on here before, if he can unlock the key to constantly getting to 0-1, 0-2, 1-2 in the count he can be devastating with the slider.

[Brewcrew82]

4 minutes ago, owbc said:

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

We need to build better depth in the rotation like last year. Look at the Mets, too. Guys like Trevor Williams and David Peterson aren't even in their rotation anymore, but have been huge stabilizing forces while DeGrom, Scherzer, etc. have been out with injury. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 minutes ago, owbc said:

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

Alexander, sure. I wasn't really including him since had we not been hit with the IL bug most of us would never have heard of him.

If Houser can get back to a semblance of what he was in '21 I'd be fine with him.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Props to CC today for the Tellez/Brosseau move in the seventh. It was the right move even w/o hindsight, yet there was a time this year he wouldn't have done it. Did it Sunday too.

Garrett Mitchell is getting comfy. That bunt, my goodness, Escobar was in, he KNEW it was coming, and Mitchell almost beats it out. Pressure like that quickens your pulse.

[NBBrewFan]

11 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

We need to build better depth in the rotation like last year. Look at the Mets, too. Guys like Trevor Williams and David Peterson aren't even in their rotation anymore, but have been huge stabilizing forces while DeGrom, Scherzer, etc. have been out with injury. 

I think they should look to sign an inexpensive vet for the 6th spot and have Ashby as the long/multi-inning reliever and 1st level depth for SP.  Then have someone like Small (if he can figure out where the strike zone is) and Gasser as minor league depth for SP. Hopefully we won't have the same injury situation in 2023.

[LouisEly]

1 hour ago, owbc said:

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

Since coming off of the IL, in 23 IP Houser has not given up a HR.

Would be nice if we could say that about our bullpen.

[Brewcrew82]

Wonder if we could get one of Toronto's catchers in the offseason. They have three of them. Time for Danny Jansen to return home? 

[yfinn6]

2 hours ago, owbc said:

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

That seems a little excessive on Houser. I think we could argue whether or not he should be in the rotation but I still think he has value to this club. 

[wiguy94]

51 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Wonder if we could get one of Toronto's catchers in the offseason. They have three of them. Time for Danny Jansen to return home? 

Jansen would be a very Brewers move. Would love if they could get Kirk instead but feel like that only happens in some Burnes-Kirk type mega deal. Jansen with two years of team control fits the timeline well. He doesn't strike out much and is pretty athletic for the catcher position. Defense isn't great but we have been good at coaching that up in the recent past. I really hope we don't go into 2023 with Caratini, Severino, Feliciano taking up both the C spots on the team.

[Brewcrew82]

Phillies doing their best to keep us in it. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

21 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Phillies doing their best to keep us in it. 

Yeah, they are. Realistically, you'd feel good going 10-3.  Phillies would need 9-5 to get that last spot.

[sobomp3]

Phillies tied it up in the 8th. Of course. 

[Outlander]

Blue Jays had bases loaded and 1 out. 2-0 count and Teoscar Hernandez swings at horrible pitch, probably was going to get walked. Then he lines into double play and don't score. Imagine the Phillies walk it off now. 

[Outlander]

And the Phillies win, oh well.

[sobomp3]

Phillies win it. Not really angry. The Brewers have done this to themselves. Onto the next one. 

[wiguy94]

8 minutes ago, Outlander said:

Blue Jays had bases loaded and 1 out. 2-0 count and Teoscar Hernandez swings at horrible pitch, probably was going to get walked. Then he lines into double play and don't score. Imagine the Phillies walk it off now. 

That was a brutal swing. The pitcher had already walked two in the inning, you are up 2-0 and you chase a ball in the dirt. Horrible.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

13 hours ago, owbc said:

I'm fine if I never see Houser or Alexander pitch in a Brewers uniform again. Out of the current arms, I would want Lauer to be the last one in the rotation in 2023. 

Houser is at the absolute very least a solid to very solid, relatively inexpensive pen arm. He's also had long stretches where he looks like a very capable #3-4 type starter. A team like the Brewers doesn't give that up for nothing.