Brewers GM Matt Arnold "Laying the foundation for future deals" at the Winter Meetings. Here's hoping he is going to build new corners in the infield.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

15 minutes ago, Outlander said:

Maybe the trade by the Dodgers increases an Adames trade by getting a future replacement for Adames. Sure seems like Sweeney could be ready sometime 2024.

Sweeney is also 6'2" and a solid 215 pounds with only adequate athleticism for the SS position as it stands. He was noted during the draft process as a guy who may need to eventually move to 1B or the corner OF. He has played some 3B, but has fringy arm strength for that position. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

Yah, the Yankees got a decent up-down reliever for swapping similarly ranked prospects, one of whom needs a 40-man spot while the other doesn’t.

And it sounds unlikely Sweeney is a full time big league shortstop.

[CheezWizHed]

On 12/7/2023 at 6:24 PM, BrewerFan said:

I get we haven't had a great 1B since Prince(that's probably the best pure offensive player the franchise has ever developed, so that's an awfully high standard)

Baseball Reference WAR ratings; Brewer years only.

Fielder: 7 seasons, oWAR = 24.6 or ~3.5 per year

Braun: 14 seasons, oWAR = 50.2 or ~3.6 per year

Molitor: 15 seasons, oWAR = 59.3 or ~4.0 per year

Yount: 20 Seasons, oWAR = 83.1 or ~4.2 per year

Then consider that Fielder's time only includes his prime years (up to 27), Molitor up to 35 years old, Braun up to 36, and Yount up to 37 years old... it really broadens that gap.

[RightFieldCoder]

WAR and oWAR take position into account. So a good hitting 3B or SS/CF will beat a slightly better hitting first baseman.

Most modern stats adjust for position or ballpark. I think Runs Created doesn't do any adjustment but is a counting stat. Offensive Winning Percentage takes RC and calculates into a percentage so longevity doesn't artificially inflate the numbers. Longevity can deflate the numbers since one is less productive as they age, but this seems like the best stat to use.

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Statistic Description: Offensive Winning Percentage The percentage of games a team with nine of this player batting would win. Assumes average pitching and defense. This uses the Pythagorean win pct formula with the player's RC/G for runs scored and the league's R/9 as runs allowed.

1. Fielder .702

2. Yelich .691 (will probably go down as he ages)

3. Braun .667

4. Briggs .650

5. Sexson ..641

6. Molitor .637

7. Harper .624

8. Lexcano .614

9. A-Ram .613

10. Scott .608

There are drawbacks to using OWP but there are several stats on the BR site where Fielder is #1 in franchise history. To me it's like asking "who is the best baseball player ever". I'll give you a shortlist and not really care what order they are in. I think the best Brewer hitter ever is Braun/Fielder/Yount/Molitor. They are in the superposition of being #1. Which one you see on top has more to do with how you are looking at them than whether one is better than the other.

[BrewerFan]

On 12/12/2023 at 12:05 PM, CheezWizHed said:

Baseball Reference WAR ratings; Brewer years only.

Fielder: 7 seasons, oWAR = 24.6 or ~3.5 per year

Braun: 14 seasons, oWAR = 50.2 or ~3.6 per year

Molitor: 15 seasons, oWAR = 59.3 or ~4.0 per year

Yount: 20 Seasons, oWAR = 83.1 or ~4.2 per year

Then consider that Fielder's time only includes his prime years (up to 27), Molitor up to 35 years old, Braun up to 36, and Yount up to 37 years old... it really broadens that gap.

I'm not talking about oWAR and how Prince was as a 1B as compared to Yount vs other SS/CFs or Molitor vs other...2B/3B.

I'm talking about just offensive production. 

Prince; .282/.390/.540/.929 143 OPS+  WPA(27.5; 3.9 per season)

Braun-.296/.358/.532.891  134 OPS+    WPA(33; 2.4 per season)

Molitor- .303/.367/.444.811 125 OPS+    WPA(25.1;  1.7 per season)

Yount-.285/.342/.430/.772  115 OPS+    WPA(20.1; 1.0 per season)
 

None of these are adjusted for position, JUST strictly for a player's offensive production. 

I didn't say compared to other 1B or best player. Just the best offensive player. I emphasized the words;

Quote

that's probably the best pure offensive player the franchise has ever developed, so that's an awfully high standard

He's not the best player. JUST offensively;

On 12/12/2023 at 3:23 PM, RightFieldCoder said:

WAR and oWAR take position into account. So a good hitting 3B or SS/CF will beat a slightly better hitting first baseman.

Most modern stats adjust for position or ballpark. I think Runs Created doesn't do any adjustment but is a counting stat. Offensive Winning Percentage takes RC and calculates into a percentage so longevity doesn't artificially inflate the numbers. Longevity can deflate the numbers since one is less productive as they age, but this seems like the best stat to use.

Right. I also added that the Brewers developed. 

WPA also works as it's Win Probability added for offensive players and also does not take into account position. I think you could argue Molitor was the best offensive player developed by the Brewers given the longevity. Yount you could certainly argue is the best overall. There was certainly no attempt to diminish other Brewer greats, but highlight exactly what an unattainable expectation it really ever was to replace Prince and what he provided.

But JUST up there with a bat in their hand...I don't think they've had anyone better than Prince. The Walks, the power...while maintaining a pretty good BA. He was incredible.