Article: The Milwaukee Brewers' Harsh Hot-Stove Economic Reality

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

12 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

Because buying free agents is the only way to build a competitive baseball team? Sure, I guess.

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Because buying free agents is the only way to build a competitive baseball team? Sure, I guess.

Wow, I don't think he is saying that at all.  C'mon now...

[Jake McKibbin]

15 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

One thing I'd say is the brewers, per Forbes, Made 29 million dollars last year, a net profit of 10.8%. Which is totally acceptable as an owner, and doesnt include drawings from the owner

I dont think that means he's an absolute cheapskate, and maybe keeping money if there's no point spending it for a very slight difference (ie for 0.2 WAR you wouldnt spend 10 Million) then maybe it is the better policy and use it for spending by the trade deadline as issues arise

The brewers have s trog-ish upper level of the farm system and have always been adept at developing relief pitchers

If a trade makes sense, or a player, he'll spend, if not, well why would you?

IDK I think the guy, especially if the Wong to red Sox rumour is accurate, wants to focus on now and is geared towards the team winning but there are constraints, and the Arby increases will make a sizeable difference

It's maybe too early to judge but certainly wouldnt throw this all on Free Agent spend

[TURBO]

4 minutes ago, jakedood said:

 

IDK I think the guy, especially if the Wong to red Sox rumour is accurate, wants to focus on now and is geared towards the team winning but there are constraints, and the Arby increases will make a sizeable difference

 

Wong has already been traded to the Mariners...

 

[Jake McKibbin]

4 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Wong has already been traded to the Mariners...

 

There was a rumour from "the guy" of info for inside the red sox (think there's another post) that apparently before Mariners trade, Mark Attanasio stepped in and pulled the plug ona  potential deal with the red sox for prospects

Should've been more specific!

[Jopal78]

16 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

You want to crucify the guy for not pouring his personal income into the operating budget of one of his many businesses, solely in the name of pride?

Attanasio didn’t get rich being that stupid. 
 

The Brewers are in one of the worst and arguably the worst market in MLB. Nobody has ever really suggested they’re not doing everything they can do to win with the resources their market provides, rather it is that whatever they’re doing isn’t good enough. 

 

 

[Fear The Chorizo]

16 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

I will repeat - Attanasio's net worth currently hovers around $700 Million dollars, most of which is tied up in investments that have lost value over the last few years with market gyrations.  He does own controlling interest in the Brewers, but isn't the sole owner of the team as there are plenty of minority ownership stakes.

Why people want Mark A. to spend like Cohen (who is worth closer to $15Billion dollars with a B) to increase player payroll beyond what this organization can support on its own revenues defies reasonable logic and expectations.

I think there is a better likelihood Mark A. sells the team before he gives Arnold his savings account information to start spending like a fool on veteran free agents.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

Wow, I don't think he is saying that at all.  C'mon now...

I suppose he could be complaining because the Brewers haven't signed any of their young guys to extensions, but I kinda doubt it. I guess I could be wrong, but he appears to be upset because the team hasn't signed any free agents of note. I guess I was just pointing out that there are more ways to skin a cat. 

[owbc]

18 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

In 2022 our rotation was league average. In 2021 we got out-pitched by the Braves in the postseason -- largely because the Braves struck gold on a handful of unremarkable deadline acquisitions that happened to get hot at the right time. 

I think it's a tremendous shame that they missed the postseason in 2022 but it's not like they "wasted" anything that wasn't unique to any other year that they missed the playoffs. Any contract where you are front ending WAR and back ending salary puts you at a disadvantage down the road. 

Supposedly our competitive advantage is our analytics department, right? In addition to player development? If that's the case, then the Hader trade should be the standard for what we are trying to do. Then we need to do more trading and keep restocking. Don't sign any extensions. 

[sveumrules]

19 hours ago, DR28 said:

If we really dont spend a single dollar this winter, I hope Mark is booed so loudly whenever he's around.

So disappointing to keep wasting this elite rotation we have!

Brewers starting pitchers by rWAR with league rank and team wins...

2017: 14.2 rWAR (8th) 86 W
2018: 11.2 rWAR (15th) 96 W
2019: 9.9 rWAR (15th) 89 W
2021: 22.3 rWAR (2nd) 95 W
2022: 13.0 rWAR (14th) 86 W

The Brewers have had an elite rotation for one of the last five full seasons.

[Brewcrew82]

28 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Brewers starting pitchers by rWAR with league rank and team wins...

2017: 14.2 rWAR (8th) 86 W
2018: 11.2 rWAR (15th) 96 W
2019: 9.9 rWAR (15th) 89 W
2021: 22.3 rWAR (2nd) 95 W
2022: 13.0 rWAR (14th) 86 W

The Brewers have had an elite rotation for one of the last five full seasons.

I do think you would have seen an elite rotation last year, too, had Peralta and Woodruff not been out for significant stretches and their innings not gone to Alexander, Chi Chi, Small, etc.

There's a reason we're projected by Steamer/Fangraphs to have the 3rd best rotation in baseball by fWAR...

[owbc]

52 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I do think you would have seen an elite rotation last year, too, had Peralta and Woodruff not been out for significant stretches and their innings not gone to Alexander, Chi Chi, Small, etc.

There's a reason we're projected by Steamer/Fangraphs to have the 3rd best rotation in baseball by fWAR...

To me that just shows the value of rotation depth, which has not been addressed this offseason. So if there is another injury or a regression we'll be back to the middle of the pack again. Plus we already know from 2021 that an elite TOR is far from a guarantee of playoff success. 

[Brewcrew82]

9 minutes ago, owbc said:

To me that just shows the value of rotation depth, which has not been addressed this offseason. So if there is another injury or a regression we'll be back to the middle of the pack again. Plus we already know from 2021 that an elite TOR is far from a guarantee of playoff success. 

I would argue they have been working to build more rotation depth with the additions of Junk and now Wilson to go with Robert Gasser. Now, will those guys ultimately provide better production in the long run than Alexander, Chi Chi, and Small? It's certainly an open question, but I lean towards yes atm. 

[TURBO]

It's really too bad that Small hasn't taken that next step to be an actual option for the 2023 rotation.

I had high hopes for him while he was in Appleton, but he just hasn't turned that corner yet.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

15 hours ago, TURBO said:

It's really too bad that Small hasn't taken that next step to be an actual option for the 2023 rotation.

I had high hopes for him while he was in Appleton, but he just hasn't turned that corner yet.

Small and Ashby have been on a similar trajectory for a few years now, and I was sort of expecting both to be up and make an MLB impact in the same general time frame. But it isn't surprising that Ashby is making the leap while Small isn't. Ashby has the raw stuff to get away with periodically spotty command, but Small simply doesn't. Small has the ability to be a solid MLB pitcher, but he's never going to have the raw stuff that Ashby has, so unless he can harness his command and basically become a finesse lefty, I fear he'll never make an impact.