TooLiveBrew

Ramirez is 34, fwiw

I get the reluctance to embrace ZG as a bonafide ace, but keep in mind that Matt Cain has pitched his entire career in the NL, with one of the best pitchers' parks in MLB as his home field. The difference between the two imo is pretty small, and like you say, the FA market can do crazy things. However, the main problem I have with the idea of extending Greinke is that a 5-year contract would be covering his age 29-30-31-32-33 seasons. I'm not really comfortable with the Brewers guaranteeing something like $100-125M to essentially pay for a player's early 30s seasons. I think that money can be better allocated on the international FA market and for contract extensions like what've been tendered to Yo/Luc/Braun.

Although his MiLB player page might lead you to believe he was an UDFA, Dowell was the Brewers' 9th round selection last season. He struggled last year in his pro debut, but your post made me check out his production -- .333/.424/.373/.796 (4/4 SB attempts) through his first 16 games this year. He's in just his age-19 season, and is listed at 6'0" & 190 lbs., so I think it's reasonable to project him to develop more power as he gets older. However, there wasn't much (if any) scouting info available at the time Dowell was drafted... so unless he breaks out & garners more attention, we're kind of flying blind as to how he actually profiles.

Huntsville 4, @Mobile 2 (Game 2) Huntsville Box Well, the 4-run 6th wound up being enough in game 2 of the doubleheader, as the Stars were able to hold off a comeback rally attempt by the Bay Bears in their half of the frame. Mobile scored two runs on three singles, a walk, and a sac fly... but that's all they could muster. There was no traditional SP in this one, as I mentioned in a post above, but R.J. Seidel officially started this game and worked two scoreless innings. He barely got through the 1st unscathed after the leadoff runner reached via an error, and Mobile drew two BBs and stole a base. The one-two-three 2nd inning was much more comfortable. Dan Meadows relieved Seidel, and was even more effective: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Kyle Heckathorn made his second consecutive relief appearance (his first two bullpen stints since 2010 at low-A Wisconsin), taking over in the 6th and allowing all of the Mobile scoring. Fortunately for the Stars, good Brandon Kintzler showed up for the 7th and slammed the door one-two-three for the save (two groundouts & 1 K). Everyone can blame me for Kentrail Davis going 0-3 with the golden sombrero in the second game tonight after I highlighted his hot start to July after game 1. Sorry about that. Josh Prince went 1-3 with an RBI double in the 6th, followed by swiping 3B as the front end of a double-steal three batters later. So that's now 32 SB on the season... your move, Reggie Keen! Tommy Manzella went 2-3 with a pair of singles. Lee Haydel, T.J. Mittelstaedt, and Domnit Bolivar each went 1-3; Mittelstaedt & Bolivar added one RBI apiece. Hunter Morris saw his 7-game hitting streak snapped in game 1, and apparently Mobile figured him out after he went 2-4 against them on Wednesday. Morris was 0-fer the doubleheader, 0-4 in G1 and 0-3 in G2. Huntsville PbP Again the 6th inning saw all of the scoring, but since I already posted the Stars' half, here's Kintzler's clean frame for the save: Mobile Bottom of the 7th -Pitcher Change: Brandon Kintzler replaces Kyle Heckathorn, batting 9th. -Wladimir Sutil grounds out, third baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt to first baseman Hunter Morris. -Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter David Nick replaces Yonata Ortega. -David Nick strikes out swinging. -Evan Frey grounds out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to first baseman Hunter Morris. Huntsville Gameday

Think of it this way -- 3+ seasons ago, 5/$100M wasn't even close to what CC Sabathia wound up signing for as a free agent. Now there's more money being thrown around in free agency than post-2008, and what constituted a lowball or token offer then isn't a lowball/token offer now? I agree that ZG might, for some reason, be very happy to sign for 5/$100M... and it's obviously possible that a leaked contract figure could be far from accurate. But if 5/$100M is correct, I won't for a second try to convince myself that the Brewers are legitimately expecting him to say 'yes' to that offer.

Mass Haas with an update from tonight's Link Report in the MiLB forum -- The short version is that the Brewers weren't able to get anyone else signed today.

Braun was significantly worse than Gamel, but the ship has long since sailed on Gamel playing any (non-emergency duty) at 3B.

If that's the case, goodbye Zack. 125 mil minimum, really? I can't understand that kind of price tag deriving from his career production. That seems a little nuts to me. Once he hits the open market, I really think there will be at least two teams willing to go higher than the Cain deal (since ZG is still pretty young). Who knows, maybe I'll be wrong, but I just think 5/$100M is way short compared to what he'll sign as a FA. Maybe I should say a minimum of $115M, since that's closer to the Cain total, but with the way FA has gone recently, I think there will be multiple teams willing to at least match said Cain deal. $125M is kind of the generic reference I've been using in my own head when thinking about Greinke's impending free agency, so I guess I shouldn't throw it around so liberally. But I really do think that's about what he'll get on the open market.

Make that a four-run lead for Huntsville! Huntsville Top of the 6th -Tommy Manzella singles on a line drive to right fielder Alfredo Marte. -Anderson De La Rosa out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Ed Easley to first baseman Marc Krauss. Tommy Manzella to 2nd. -Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Khris Davis replaces Daniel Meadows. -With Khris Davis batting, wild pitch by Brett Lorin, Tommy Manzella scores. -Khris Davis walks. -Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to center fielder Evan Frey. Khris Davis to 2nd. -Josh Prince doubles (16) on a line drive to left fielder Daniel Kaczrowski. Khris Davis scores. Lee Haydel to 3rd. -T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a pop up to shortstop Chris Owings. Lee Haydel scores. -Hunter Morris strikes out swinging. -With Domnit Bolivar batting, Josh Prince steals (32) 3rd base. T. Mittelstaedt steals (1) 2nd base. -Domnit Bolivar singles on a ground ball to third baseman Matt Davidson. Josh Prince scores. T. Mittelstaedt to 3rd. -Kentrail Davis strikes out swinging.

Unless there's been a mistake, Anundsen was scratched as the starter for G2 tonight. Although, maybe it was Evan Anundsen's turn to be an incorrectly listed SP -- iirc, it was Evan "Jimmy Nelson" Anundsen who made a start a couple weeks ago, with Nelson being incorrectly listed by MiLB.com as the SP. R.J. Seidel is listed as the Huntsville starter for tonight's second game, and was removed after just 2 IP (scoreless) -- which would fit, since he's a reliever & not stretched out. Dan Meadows has put up zeroes in 3 IP thus far, and the Stars have jumped out ahead of Mobile in the 6th yet again -- they've scored three so far (just one out) and taken a 3-0 lead.

@Mobile 2, Huntsville 1 (Game 1) Huntsville Box Huntsville wasn't able to take much advantage of a juicy scoring opportunity in the 6th, as they got only one run out of a bases-loaded and zero out situation. At the time, it gave the Stars a 1-0 lead... but a clutch two-run HR from Mobile in the bottom half of the inning gave the Bay Bears the only runs they needed. Starter Josh Stinson scrapgrittybattled his way through 5 scoreless innings, working around 7 hits: 5 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 6:3 GO:AO. Reliever Darren Byrd had another rough outing and took the loss. Kentrail Davis had two line-drive singles and one bunt single, finishing 3-3 to lead the Stars' attack. He's been red-hot in July, after posting a .289 AVG (.689 OPS) in June. So far this month, his slash line is .316/.395/.579/.984, with 2 2B, 1 3B, and 2 HR in 11 games. Tommy Manzella (1-3) and Stinson (1-2, 2B) were the only other Stars with hits; Stinson's double in the 3rd was the only XBH for Huntsville. T.J. Mittelstaedt, Khris Davis, and Adam Weisenburger each walked once. Josh Prince went 0-3 with 1 BB, but also swiped his organization-leading 31st SB -- he'll hold that lead through at least tomorrow, as the BC Manatees (and Reggie Keen, currently at 30 SB) were washed out tonight. Huntsville PbP Here's the 6th inning -- it wasn't the Stars' only shot to score, but it certainly was their best... and then Mobile wasted no time in taking advantage of the Huntsville pitching change: Huntsville Top of the 6th -Pitcher Change: Bryan Woodall replaces Kevin Munson, batting 9th. -Khris Davis walks. -Kentrail Davis singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Rossmel Perez. Khris Davis to 2nd. -Tommy Manzella singles on a line drive to right fielder Alfredo Marte. Khris Davis to 3rd. Kentrail Davis to 2nd. -Adam Weisenburger walks. Khris Davis scores. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Tommy Manzella to 2nd. -Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Lee Haydel replaces Josh Stinson. -Lee Haydel flies into a force out, center fielder Evan Frey to catcher Rossmel Perez. Kentrail Davis out at home. Tommy Manzella to 3rd. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd. Lee Haydel to 1st. -Josh Prince grounds into double play, third baseman Matt Davidson to catcher Rossmel Perez to first baseman Marc Krauss. Tommy Manzella out at home. Mobile Bottom of the 6th -Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Josh Stinson, batting 9th. -Matt Davidson singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Prince. -Alfredo Marte homers (16) on a fly ball to left center field. Matt Davidson scores. -Bobby Borchering flies out to center fielder Josh Prince. -David Nick flies out to center fielder Josh Prince. -Rossmel Perez grounds out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to first baseman Hunter Morris. Huntsville Gameday

Or unless you trust watching him/scouting -- flawless delivery, excellent athletic ability, top-notch arm. I really think we're talking somewhere around $125M being the bare minimum to sign him on the FA market. Especially if Hamels is retained by Philly.

Oh good. Cody Ransom again. Too bad there wasn't a recent callup that should be getting lots of PT at short.

Sooo... any word yet on who did & didn't get signed?

! Please do!

So is this the token-publicized-offer-with-no-real-chance-of-getting-accepted offer? Because if I'm Greinke, this really isn't close to the offers I'll probably be looking at in the offseason.

I can't wait to see Roache in action. I really hope the Brewers read his medical situation correctly.

Chris Mehring: second to none in his field

Cot's notes he had one from '07-'10 with the Cubs, but no note on his contract with the Brewers about a NTC. That said, I have no idea whether he actually got one from the Brewers or not.

Yes. It's also true with rain-shortened games. If the game is 7 innings and you pitched 7 innings, you pitched the whole game and get credit for it. Interesting. Thanks.

Obligatory Perfect Game LAD top prospects linkage. Note that #4 OF Alfredo Silverio has missed all of 2012 with concussion symptoms thanks to a January '12 car crash, and TJ surgery from the crash as well. Honestly there's not much that jumps off that list to me, but if it's just for a Ramirez trade, I could see the Dodgers getting it done with an arm or two.

If the Brewers get an opportunity to get out from under the Ramirez contract, I hope they jump at it. And if the Dodgers are interested in Ramirez, I wonder if they might be interested in discussing Greinke+Ramirez (+K-Rod... +more?).

Are MiLB pitchers credited with a CG, statistically, if they pitch a full 7-inning doubleheader game?

The Brewers are right at NL league-avg. OPS+ & ERA+ (BB-reference, source) as a team for the first half. The Cards have the best OPS+ in the NL & the Reds have the best ERA+, and both are about avg. or slightly below-avg. for the other component. I agree that the Pirates will probably fade in the second half due to lack of their overall MLB talent. And I know this is the optimism thread, but I just don't see how a team that's been the definition of mediocre will suddenly flip the switch & win at the .650 clip required to finish at 90 wins (CIN's appx. first half pace). .650 (50-27) is almost literally taking two of every three games, and that's the minimum imo it'll take for the Brewers to have a solid shot at the postseason in any form. Yes, Lucroy will be back... yes, the bullpen probably won't continue to be disastrous... yes, Weeks might have a big second half... but I don't see enough help returning to improve the team by a large enough margin. Their record against the Central so far (16-17) doesn't do anything to dispel the label of mediocrity. I believe this Brewers team has a shot at making the postseason... but it's a small shot, and shouldn't outweigh the opportunity to bring in some young talent via trade(s). They have zero business not selling Greinke, at the very least.

@Mobile 3, Huntsville 2, ten innings Huntsville Box The Stars didn't capitalize on enough offensive opportunities to turn a strong start from Brian Baker into a win. Baker finished with a dominant line: 7 IP, 1 H, 2 R/0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HBP, 1 HRA, 7:6 GO:AO. In seven of its scoreless eight innings, Huntsville had at least one runner aboard... which meant that outhitting the Bay Bears eleven to four wasn't enough for the W. The Stars seemed to have men on often enough that they were sure to score eventually, but they never got a better chance than in the 1st, when they left the bases loaded after scoring a single run. Josh Prince went 2-5 out of the leadoff spot, with a double and run scored in the 1st. Hunter Morris continued his audition for Southern League MVP, going 2-4 (2B (29), BB). Hainley Statia was 2-5 with a pair of infield singles. Khris Davis made his one hit pay, going deep to left in the 6th inning. Scooter Gennett had the other Huntsville RBI on a groundout in the 1st; he was also charged with a fielding error in the 6th, and stole a base in the 7th to move himself into scoring position with Morris at the plate. Kentrail Davis and Anderson De La Rosa each were 1-4 with one BB. De La Rosa was hit with an error in the 3rd, when he tried to throw behind a runner at 3B... the runner came in to score for Mobile's first run of the game. Tommy Manzella finished 1-3 with one BB. Mitch Stetter pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning, but the seas were not so calm for Darren Byrd. Byrd pitched around a walk and a single in the scoreless bottom of the 9th, but he started the 10th off by allowing single--sac bunt--BB and was pulled. Brandon Kintzler was asked to IBB the first batter he faced, Mobile's leadoff batter, to load the bases. Kintzler induced a shallow fly to RF for the second out of the inning, but the next batter singled to RF for the walkoff win. Huntsville PbP After the Stars saw their bid for the go-ahead run cut down at the plate to end the top of the 9th, here's how Byrd wriggled off the hook with runners on the corners in the home half: Mobile Bottom of the 9th -Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Mitch Stetter, batting 9th. -Chris Owings strikes out swinging. -Marc Krauss walks. -Matt Davidson flies out to left fielder Khris Davis. -Alfredo Marte singles on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Marc Krauss to 3rd. -Bobby Borchering lines out to first baseman Hunter Morris. Huntsville Gameday