TooLiveBrew

First of all he would have blown a three run save last night and has blown such leads in the past. Second, other than his family and friends, who gives a rats behind if he does get to the 600 save mark? If he isn't good enough to close he should not be in there in a save situation period. His 600 saves comes in a distant second in importance to me vs a win for the brewers. Personal stats are fine as a bi-product of good play but are terrible if they become the priority in who gets to play when. At this point he simply isn't good enough to be a 600 save guy thus shouldn't get there. I don't think this team will make the postseason this year, so I don't mind letting a Hall of Famer chase down a counting stat. I don't want this team's goal to be chasing win #81 or 83. While Hoffman has certainly blown 3-run leads, I would much rather see him used with 3-run save opportunities than in the 7th inning of a tied game. He's also had outings where he hasn't given up any runs, or three runs, so it's something I think the Brewers can facilitate & just get out of the way. Once he's there, I think you can release the guy if need be, or just bury him in the 'pen a la Suppan. He's already being used in meaningful innings ahead of better options, so to me if he's chasing those four remaining saves, at least there's some point to it. The useful RPs can still find plenty of work, unfortunately, this season, given how bad the starting pitching has been.

Melvin traded his one shot to acquire a pitcher of significant talent without having to give up a MLB piece for a rental player, the emotional response to a playoff appearance aside, was that one appearance worth losing the nest 2 years and maybe 3? This, imo, is a very difficult question. In a cold, hard assessment of franchise building, I agree completely with your view that it was a mistake. However, there's a bit of gray involved, in that the playoff appearance itself was -- and continues to be -- a big step/achievement for the franchise. Now, of course, that isn't to say that the 2008 team wouldn't have made the playoffs if a (younger) pitcher who would have been here longer had been acquired instead of Sabathia. However, I think the chances of anyone -- let alone a younger pitcher -- pitching as dominantly as Sabathia did in his time here are slim to none. While I agree with your method in general, I don't believe it's as simple as being 100% for or against of Melvin's decision to go after CC. While it certainly hasn't continued to help the team on the field, it has helped at the gates & in terms of merchandising and other revenues. I think Melvin saw a shot to go after a WS title in 2008, and like you say, you don't get there without elite pitching. Up until Sheets was injured (after throwing a brilliant season for the Crew), the Brewers had as good a top 3 starting pitchers as there was in baseball, maybe the best. In hindsight, I definitely would have preferred to see Melvin view things as a continual process of building, but I honestly can't say I blame him absolutely for seeing a shot to go for it, and taking it. While on the surface, it may just be the emotional reaction you mention, that emotional reaction has led to very tangible revenue increases. I won't argue that Melvin has spent money wisely, but the playoff appearance has absolutely given the team more money to work with. I just think it's a complex issue.

Bill Hohn hasn't exactly been a poster boy for good umpiring, though. And he *does* seem to have a quick trigger. Update: MLB sides with Oswalt

Yeah, I agree completely. It was a different time then. Wasn't that the same off-season that Zito got his gigantic contract from the Giants?Yes, and like others have mentioned, Gil Meche (5/$55M), Ted Lilly (4/$40M)... Carlos Silva (4/$48M) was the next offseason. It was just an entirely different economic landscape, even in baseball.

I'm really glad the issue was only a blister. When I saw Dave in the dugout, after just 85 or so pitches, talking with Peterson & Caplinger, I got worried. Not that I think Dave is all that good anymore or anything, but he sure doesn't deserve another major injury.

I might wind up having to eat these words. Loe's sinker was a fantastic pitch last night -- just tons of break on it. His slider looked pretty solid too. Not sure I think he could have as much success as a starter, since he'd lose velocity, but he could be a nice fit in the bullpen.

In a tied game in the 7th inning? I would hope Braddock, Axford, Coffey, & Villanueva would get used before our two worst RPs

Hoffman wasn't good last night, even though he wasn't as bad as his line. Even without the "double" by Cantu, he still gave up a 2B, 1B, & BB. Granted, his K of Uggla would have been the third out of the inning had Hart caught the bloop that became a double, but still -- surrendering a (well-hit) double & walk isn't exactly showing signs of progress. I guess my main concern is that Macha decided to use him in a high-leverage situation, and it wound up costing the team the game. It really shouldn't be that hard, let him come in for any 3-run lead save opportunities to get him to 600, and then you don't have to worry all that much about how Hoffman is used for the rest of the season.

Agreed. Anyone tried Enigma yet? I'll be heading back to WI in a few weeks and will definitely be looking to get my hands on a bottle or two. Tried Enigma last night. Not impressed at all. Even after reading the label I was nowhere near ready for such a fruity, sweet, relatively highly-carbonated brew. Not for me at all, but I can see people that like fruity-flavored beers liking it. Not sure if it would have been better at room temperature (I had it cold), but I seriously doubt it.

Jeff Suppan of 2006-'07 wouldn't get Jeff Suppan money anymore, the market was completely different then from how it is now

I think the good news for the Brewers, financially, is that there's no realistic way Fielder & Boras accept any kind of extension. He's just too close to free agency at this point imo.

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I actually like the lineup a lot if this team were seriously contending right now. I don't believe the Brewers are, so of course I'd rather see Gomez get as many PAs as possible. Gomez hasn't had a day off in the past seven, so maybe it's just a good time to get him a bit of rest. In terms of being an optimized lineup, I think it's pretty good. I like Kottaras at #2, and the only change I would probably make overall would be to flip-flop Hart & Edmonds (assuming a healthy, full-speed Edmonds).

Bush returns to the scene of the crime. The velocity-sapping, turned-him-into-replacement-caliber-fodder crime. That'll probably be weird for him.

Excellent news for Rogers, however it came about. Go get 'em, Mark!

As far as the move itself goes, the only other OF on the 40 man roster is Lo Cain, and I'd rather he not be called up to sit the bench like Gamel and Lucroy before him. I just don't like where this going. Yeah, I have a sinking feeling about this as well. However, the optimist in me sees something else brewing, like a trade involving Corey Hart/Jody Gerut ... or maybe even Edmonds. If there's a spot to be had in RF, I'd love to see Cain called up -- and played regularly, Mr. Ken Macha

This thread needs a serious revival. Come on, summer brews, inspire us! Had some more Mighty Arrow (New Belgium) & Moon Man (New Glarus). I like both, as previously stated. I need to try some new stuff out, so I'll have to read through this thread some more.

Parra was good in 2008, bad in 2009, and the jury is still out on 2010

When a full-time starter, Loe's production in the bigs has been bad. ERA well over 5, and he's never had a season with the kind of success Manny had in 2008. And his stuff doesn't begin to compare to Parra's. Not sure why you seem to enjoy painting him as the guy that should be taking Parra's job, but that's not what he'll do. He'll wind up taking Suppan's job, most likely.

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that anyone was calling him that. Just that I'm completely underwhelmed by this news.

But this is a guy who has very openly set a high standard for himself (for which I applaud him) and when you no longer possess the ability to "play baseball" to even the minimum level required of a major league player to continue to collect a paycheck for doing so is dishonest. It's not even close to dishonest. It's a guaranteed contract that's the Brewers' mistake.

While Loe may be better than Soup, he's not any kind of long-term answer. I guess if you had to call him up or risk losing him, you call him up. Color me unexcited.

That is one depressing Power 50. Way too much downward movement. It's amazing that the whole organization seems to be having such an unexpectedly down season so far. I guess the good news in that sense is that there's not really anywhere else to go but up. Here's hoping Gamel & Salome get back on track, and other top prospects step their games up too. Nice work on the list, fellas.

Sweet!

It does matter, though, in the sense that if the Brewers trade him, he could be traded from a 3B value standpoint. I agree that it doesn't matter if they keep him... which like I said, I think they should -- but probably only through 2012 or so.