TooLiveBrew

I can see it now in Miller Park... Hell's Angels signs in HD Deck... Mean Jean... not sure yet what one can do with Ariel Pena. "The Big Mer-man"? That's a little weak.

Man, both of those HRs were absolutely destroyed. Hat tip to Khrush Davis for sporting the sweet stirrups.

Yount 3,000th hit Last game at County Stadium Russell Branyan 3-HR game against the Cubs at Miller Park (sorry, can't remember what year) Prince Fielder & Rickie Weeks hit first career HRs in same game (this is a personal favorite) That's my post from the older thread, and I forgot to mention that I was there for the Albert Belle/Fernando Vina clothesline incident. That was wild. --

He actually did allow a run, just an unearned one. Hellweg also only allowed one hit last night, on a groundall (he had a 6:1 GO:AO ratio). And honestly one thing that was really impressive to me is that the 1st inning was sloppy as heck -- two BBs, and a throwing error by the catcher on a double-steal attempt allowed the unearned run to score. After that, Hellweg was perfect over the next 11 batters before the groundball single. Darnell Coles must've seen something, mentality-wise, in Hellweg, because he pulled him after the end of the 5th despite Hellweg's pitch count still being under 80. It was a dominant performance, and like molitor fan noted in post #380, four of Hellweg's last five starts have been excellent.

Absolutely. It's the unfortunate theme of the 2012 Brewers season: it's the bullpen's fault.

The reason many are focused on seasons beyond 2013 is that dealing just two players -- Hart & Ramirez -- could set up the Brewers to contend for not only 2014, but for a good window from 2014 through at least 2020. Yes, the Brewers could punt on the future and go All-In™ for 2013 by signing an expensive FA #2-caliber pitcher, but I'd rather see them be patient & make moves that build for a long(er) window of contention & help to build organizational depth. It's not just about contending in 2014, it's about building something that lasts longer than a season or a couple of seasons. Can the Brewers be a "solid" team next year? Absolutely. But what's at issue here, imo, is 'can the Brewers develop their organization into one that has a long window to seriously contend?' If the Brewers continue to just plan year-to-year like they have been since at least the 2008 season, look for the Cubs to eventually build to more successful results than the Brewers while some Brewers fans thump their chests about how the Brewers didn't go into a 'full rebuild'.

I'm baffled by what part or the Sheets situation you think was lucky. He didn't get burned on K-Rod at all, he took a slight risk to try to win a World Series and we had the best team in the NL but failed when the important part of the year came. This post seems completely silly. I don't disagree that the K-Rod move was defensible, but what's really silly is calling the Brewers the best team in the NL this season... at any point.

Yeah, the Rangers got Dempster, who could easily be every bit as good as Greinke the rest of the way, and didn't give up any of their top-tier prospects. It'll be interesting to see how they use Olt, but it was obvious the front office there was really high on him in that he just wasn't available.

Why do you bother to hate someone you don't even know like this?

Hang in there, man. Seriously. You've had a hard run of it, but you really seem like a smart & good dude.

@Huntsville 5, Chattanooga 1 Huntsville Box Johnny Hellweg's organizational debut looked like it might not go very well after the 1st inning: two BBs followed by a throwing error on a double-steal attempt allowed an unearned run to score. However, Hellweg bounced back & got a swinging strikeout to end the frame and escape any further damage. As it turned out, the strikeout was more of an omen as to how this one would turn out. Hellweg went into beast mode, retiring the next 11 Lookouts batters before surrendering a two-out groundball single in the 5th; all but one of the 11 outs came via either strikeout or groundout. The groundball single was the only hit Chattanooga got off of Hellweg, and he struck out the next batter looking. That was the end of his night: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R/0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 6:1 GO:AO, 73 TP. A little odd that he was lifted so early after dominating and with a very manageable pitch count... must've been more for psychological reasons. Hellweg's performance wasn't the only impressive performance involving a top prospect... but this one came at the expense of one. The Stars knocked around Zach Lee, rated the Dodgers' #1 prospect pre-2012 by both Baseball America and Perfect Game, to the tune of 8 H (4 2B) and 3 ER (4 R total) over 4.2 IP. The 20-year old had struggled to the tune of a 7.92 ERA in his first six starts since being promoted to AA in late June, but his previous outing was a 5 IP/1 ER effort against Birmingham (CHW). The Stars made sure to make his first trip to Joe Davis Stadium anything but comfortable. Back to the Stars... Dan Meadows tossed two shutout IP of relief on just two days' rest after starting Sunday's game. Kyle Heckathorn matched him with two shutout IP of his own. Neither Heckathorn nor Meadows allowed a hit... tonight's game was a well-placed groundball away from being very special. Really strong performance by these two in relief tonight; hard to give the Stars' pitching anything but an A grade in this one. Hunter Morris continued his push for Southern League MVP -- 2-4 with a pair of doubles and one RBI. Scooter Gennett went 2-3 with one 2B and two RBI. Jean Segura continues to do nothing but impress, going 2-3 with a 2B; this was his third multi-hit game out of four with the organization, and his AVG since becoming a Brewer is now .438 (7-16). Small sample alert! His BABIP means he's lucky! While both of those quips may ultimately be true, it's looking like the Brewers have a big-leaguer in waiting in Segura. Lee Haydel also had two hits, finishing 2-4. Anderson De La Rosa was 1-3 with a 2B (he also committed the throwing error in the 1st that allowed a run to score)... and was thrown out either trying to stretch his 2B into a 3B, or intentionally getting into a rundown, to let the runner score in the 3rd inning. That runner was Josh Prince, who'd singled for his lone hit on the game; he went 1-4. T.J. Mittelstaedt also was 1-4 on the night. Huntsville PbP The messy top of the 1st; thankfully Hellweg righted the ship: Chattanooga Top of the 1st -Rafael Ynoa flies out to center fielder Josh Prince. -Nick Buss walks. -Blake Smith walks. Nick Buss to 2nd. -J.T. Wise called out on strikes. Nick Buss steals (13) 3rd base. Nick Buss scores. Blake Smith to 3rd. Blake Smith steals (13) 2nd base. Blake Smith advances to 3rd. Throwing error by catcher Anderson De La Rosa. -Luis Nunez strikes out swinging. You don't see many three-double innings, but the Stars came up with one and along the way chased Lee: Huntsville Bottom of the 5th Lee Haydel grounds out, second baseman Jake Lemmerman to first baseman J. T. Wise. Jean Segura doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Blake Smith. Scooter Gennett doubles (27) on a fly ball to left fielder Anthony Jackson. Jean Segura scores. Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging. Pitching Change: Eric Eadington replaces Zach Lee, batting 9th. Hunter Morris doubles (36) on a fly ball to center fielder Nick Buss, deflected by right fielder Blake Smith. Scooter Gennett scores. Josh Prince called out on strikes. You also rarely see two-balk innings. But that's exactly what the Stars saw in the 7th: Huntsville Bottom of the 7th -Pitching Change: Geison Aguasviva replaces Eric Eadington, batting 9th. -Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to second baseman Jake Lemmerman. -With Jean Segura batting, Lee Haydel advances to 2nd on a balk. -Jean Segura out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Geison Aguasviva to first baseman J. T. Wise. Lee Haydel to 3rd. -Scooter Gennett hit by pitch. -With Brock Kjeldgaard batting, Lee Haydel scores on a balk. Scooter Gennett advances to 2nd on a balk. -Brock Kjeldgaard reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Rafael Ynoa to third baseman Luis Nunez. Scooter Gennett out at 3rd. -Hunter Morris lines out to second baseman Jake Lemmerman. Huntsville Gameday

Yep, if we trade Ramirez & Hart imo the return would be enough to justify not worrying about 2013. The Brewers can keep worrying about 'this season' every season like they have since 2008, or they can change the approach & build an organization, like the Packers have done under Thompson. And fwiw I agree with you on Green, I think he can have a really nice career as a LH swinging 2B/3B/PH(/1B?) utility player with some pop & there's no shame in that. He's not a guy who's a longterm answer at third imo, but he wouldn't be bad & save the Brewers a lot of money over a FA candidate.

With two outs in the bottom of the 5th, Hellweg allowed his first hit of the game, a single to Chattanooga catcher & 8-hitter Gorman Erickson. Bummer.

Directly related to Melvin's refusal to sell until that 9-game stretch. Frustrating, although even at that point I doubt K-Rod would've brought back much value.

Is there any limit to the number of minor league affiliates a team can have? Could we have three AAA teams? That's a good question, honestly. If clubs were allowed to have multiple teams at different stateside levels, however, I feel like it would already be getting put to use. I do know for certain that many organizations have multiple teams in the DSL, including the Pirates & Cubs, & the Reds have one standalone team along with another they split with the D-Backs. There's also a VSL in which there are currently only four teams. I can't remember where I read this, but iirc around the time Alcides Escobar (a Venezuelan) was nearing the bigs, I saw an article that praised the Brewers for having had success scouting in Venezuela. Maybe you set up an organizational outpost there.

How can you not love Vin Scully? -- Link Please never retire. Ever.

Johnny Hellweg's last four starts: [pre]7/25 (@ Springfield/STL): 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 HBP, 49 TP 7/20 (v. Tulsa/COL): 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 76 TP 7/15 (v. Tulsa/COL): 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HBP, 92 TP 7/9 (@ Frisco/TEX): 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HBP, 103 TP[/pre]

Taylor Green is an in-house option. Or maybe someone you get in trade for Ramirez or Hart would be an option.

Here's a reaction from a Giants fan on another forum I frequent to the Giants trading for Pence: The bold/underline is my emphasis added. I really think the vast majority of fans have the attitude about player value that I put in bold. And I think that basically aligns with monty57's note about: "that's a long way off and things will work themselves out". If a player hasn't had success in the big leagues, there are fans who instantly dismiss any future value. I think that's probably always been & always will be the case. It's a combination of 'what have you done for me lately?' and tl;dr in my opinion.

I'd have to guess he's solidly in the rotation for the rest of the season at this point. He's listed as the probable starter for the August 4th game in St. Louis.

Hart isn't under contract for 2014.

Well Hamels already signed a deal for $24M AAV, and he's not the best pitcher or player in MLB. I think we've already entered the period where salaries are going to be downright scary. Pujols's deal also comes to mind (not that he's not an all-time great, but considering the age range the Angels purchased).

Via the Stars' Twitter account: Per the Charlotte Knights PR staff, former @HuntsvilleStars SS Tommy Manzella signs with Chicago White Sox and assigned to Triple-A.

Buster Olney tweeted today about the qualifying offer to players eligible for free agency: Just thought it was relevant in general, and specifically with regards to Marcum.

What chance exactly was this that Green got?