Cubs (Steele) vs Brewers (Houser): 7/5/23, 7:10pm

[Sixtolezcano]

3 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

It's not just the refusal to draft a 1B. That's just one part of Stearns'/Arnold's deemphasis on the position. It's also the lack of resources they devote to figuring the position out, including in FA and trades. Cris Carter, Eric Thames, Jesus Aguilar, Justin Smoak, Rowdy Tellez. These are all guys they've picked up off the scrap heap or who were cast-offs from other teams. 

I sure wouldn’t expect this to change any time soon, unless Attanasio finally decides he has had enough of baseball (or Brewers) and sells the team.  He and his fellow Brewer owners just don’t have the financial resources to compete in the MLB anymore.

[BruisedCrew]

8 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

It's not just the refusal to draft a 1B. That's just one part of Stearns'/Arnold's deemphasis on the position. It's also the lack of resources they devote to figuring the position out, including in FA and trades. Cris Carter, Eric Thames, Jesus Aguilar, Justin Smoak, Rowdy Tellez. These are all guys they've picked up off the scrap heap or who were cast-offs from other teams. 

I agree, but your post referred only to the draft. 

[SomewhereInTime]

2 minutes ago, Sixtolezcano said:

I sure wouldn’t expect this to change any time soon, unless Attanasio finally decides he has had enough of baseball (or Brewers) and sells the team.  He and his fellow Brewer owners just don’t have the financial resources to compete in the MLB anymore.

At no point in time have the Brewers had a more sustained run of success than the success they've had over the last six years.

[BruisedCrew]

7 minutes ago, SomewhereInTime said:

At no point in time have the Brewers had a more sustained run of success than the success they've had over the last six years.

Not entirely true. They were better in the late 70’s and early 80’s. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 minutes ago, BruisedCrew said:

Not entirely true. They were better in the late 70’s and early 80’s. 

I was about to respond to this as well. 78-83 were better teams in relation to the rest of MLB. If "run of success" refers to post-season the poster has a valid point. 

But the structure was drastically different, obviously. It's apples-oranges. Current baseball is the apples. 

[Sixtolezcano]

12 minutes ago, SomewhereInTime said:

At no point in time have the Brewers had a more sustained run of success than the success they've had over the last six years.

Agreed but that will probably end soon after they offload Burnes, Woodruff and Adames (probably more). The most telling thing you refer to as “Brewer history” really is the very sad state of almost all previous Brewer teams and their current and possibly future chances of competing in the MLB.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Just now, Jim French Stepstool said:

I was about to respond to this as well. 78-83 were better teams in relation to the rest of MLB. If "run of success" refers to post-season the poster has a valid point. 

But the structure was drastically different, obviously. It's apples-oranges. Current baseball is the apples. I give him slack because of responding to the "unable to compete" nonsense.

 

[Sixtolezcano]

I wouldn’t  call it nonsense. The history of MLB has never been kind to small market team/cities EVER. Teams from these cities can’t sustain success for much longer than that timeframe.

[BruisedCrew]

3 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I was about to respond to this as well. 78-83 were better teams in relation to the rest of MLB. If "run of success" refers to post-season the poster has a valid point. 

But the structure was drastically different, obviously. It's apples-oranges. Current baseball is the apples.

If finishing below .500 and making watered down playoffs in the COVID season is a success, and winning over 90 games and finishing several games away from a division title is a failure, then the last 6 years have been more successful.

[Sixtolezcano]

It’s always have been the nature of the business. Large markets make the most $$$$ and fan interest. Just review MLB history.

[Sixtolezcano]

I’m sure you agree, the owner’s view of success differs drastically from the fan’s view of success. I know that is what the ballplayers believe when they say, “ The sport is really just a business.” Always has been and always will be!

[Jim French Stepstool]

17 minutes ago, Sixtolezcano said:

I wouldn’t  call it nonsense. The history of MLB has never been kind to small market team/cities EVER. Teams from these cities can’t sustain success for much longer than that timeframe.

Nope, never had been. If the financial structure doesn't change it'll always be more difficult. I have an issue with "unable".

For all teams, even the rich ones, scouting/drafting is vitally important. If you suck at it all the money in the world won't make up for it.

The Brewers will always be unable to pay guys at times. How they respond to that issue w/regards to the timing of personnel moves is the key. Do they have less margin for error? Absolutely.

[Sixtolezcano]

Just now, Jim French Stepstool said:

Nope, never had been. If the financial structure doesn't change it'll always be more difficult. I have an issue with "unable".

For all teams, even the rich ones, scouting/drafting is vitally important. If you suck at it all the money in the world won't make up for it.

They'll always be unable to pay guys at times. How they respond to that issue w/regards to personnel moves is the key. Do they have less margin for error? Absolutely.

My point exactly….short term success most likely followed by a long drought of losing seasons.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 minute ago, Sixtolezcano said:

My point exactly….short term success most likely followed by a long drought of losing seasons.

That's where the timing comes in. Hader is an example that I believe will prove to work out well. Jonathan Lucroy. The return for him didn't pan out but his productive years ended when he left here so the timing was great. It doesn't have to always result in a long drought. Consistent depth of the farm system is critical to that. 

It's a lot more challenging that way. No one can argue that.

[Jake McKibbin]

Is it just me or does Rowdy pick that at first base?

[Pugger]

Williams got unlucky as hell.  Chicago gets a base hit on one that lands in no man's land and then another on a slow roller to 3rd.  The ump doesn't call strike 3 on a location that he did most of the night and the next hitter gets an extra pitch and then ties the game.  The coup de gras was the throw by BA to Miller giving Chicago the lead.  The best we can hope for now is a split before the Reds come to town.  If any team needs the All Star Break its this one...

[Jopal78]

They don’t need the All Star break, they need to look in the mirror, realize they’re the 8th best team in their league, and kick off the rebuild. 

[Sixtolezcano]

9 hours ago, edfunderburk said:

What do you post on your Cubs forum after the last few games?

What is the name of his Cubs forum?

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

1 hour ago, Jopal78 said:

They don’t need the All Star break, they need to look in the mirror, realize they’re the 8th best team in their league, and kick off the rebuild. 

This is it right here. And they're so scared now by the backlash to the Hader deal, they won't dare do it again.

It's really frustrating... they pissed away the end of this window by being cheap now they won't deal their most valuable assets to soften the rebuild. All to chase 85 wins and a first round exit.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, Marc Newfield of Dreams said:

This is it right here. And they're so scared now by the backlash to the Hader deal, they won't dare do it again.

It's really frustrating... they pissed away the end of this window by being cheap now they won't deal their most valuable assets to soften the rebuild. All to chase 85 wins and a first round exit.

If that scares them it shouldn't. The Hader deal appears to be unfolding just fine in it's aftermath.

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

7 hours ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Is it just me or does Rowdy pick that at first base?

It's not just you. As limited as he is range-wise, that play is one Tellez makes pretty effectively.

[markedman5]

11 hours ago, Sixtolezcano said:

My point exactly….short term success most likely followed by a long drought of losing seasons.

Since 2004 the most “ long drought of losing seasons” the Brewers have had is…….2.

[Pugger]

5 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

They don’t need the All Star break, they need to look in the mirror, realize they’re the 8th best team in their league, and kick off the rebuild. 

I suspect as long as the team is still in the running for a playoff spot they aren't going sell off assets and rebuild.

 

[Jopal78]

1 minute ago, Pugger said:

I suspect as long as the team is still in the running for a playoff spot they aren't going sell off assets and rebuild.

 

I don’t disagree, it’s hard to do a sell of when in the running for a playoff spot.

However they can’t hide from the fact  they’re in bottom half of the league in wins. 
 

Thus, the real question is with dwindling team control of their stars, whether this squad chasing a playoff spot is the smartest move in the long run for the team. 

[Sixtolezcano]

49 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

Since 2004 the most “ long drought of losing seasons” the Brewers have had is…….2.

That’s fine if you define +0.500 a successful season. Playoff success was bumbled since 2020.