TooLiveBrew

How versatile is McGehee, though, really? Would he really be able to cover enough ground at 2B? He looks more like a corner guy, and hopefully he can pick up the corner OF spots too. I would much rather shift McGehee to RF or LF & have Gamel at 3B than the reverse. However, I still think McGehee will be dealt along with Hardy for pitching.

Some more on Rezepczynski Bleacher Report: The only thing I see that stands out in terms of Rzepczynski is that his pro career average of IP/Start to date is about 5.6. He's only played professionally since 2007, so perhaps he's still stretching out to some extent.

His strikeout numbers are certainly beastly, including his 8.8 K/9 in the bigs from this season. While his control is certainly still a work in progress, I have to agree with cwolf that this is exactly the type of pitching the Brewers need to identify this off-season. Here are some takes on Rzepczynski: FanGraphs: At the time of this piece (7/21/09), Rzep's FIP (2.64) also stood out as elite. He was filthy at AAA in a short stay, and also handled the bigs just fine last season. FanGraphs again:

I'm not sad Yost is gone, but I'm disappointed that the Brewers didn't do a better job in hiring his replacement. With the likes of Escobar & Gamel coming up, as a GM imo you have to know they will play when you decide it's time to promote them. I think in general, I prefer Macha's handling of the bullpen to Yost's. Admittedly just from my recollection this season, Macha appears much more aggressive in giving pitchers the hook than Yost ever was. I prefer that approach against waiting to see if anything bad happens -- and then reacting once it's too late. Being more aggressive, if runs are scored, well at least you tried to play the better matchup. Even though I preferred Macha in this aspect, his unwillingness to give the duo of Escobar & Gamel playing time is really troubling. As bknbrewcrew said, "Macha is ill equipped to handle young players and the Brewers will always need young players to contribute in a big way." I think we're almost better off going with someone with little or no coaching experience so they have no stupid preexisting coaching philosophies. I'm only half kidding. I like that idea a lot. I'd agree with you even if you weren't kidding at all. From what little I've heard, Acta is a decent candidate, but I heard that Macha was too http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Can't say I'm familiar enough with Bobby V. to have an opinion.

The time Gamel and Escobar spent in the majors this year really shouldn't impact their service time much if at all if both start the season in the majors next year. They both already had a month of service time from 2008 and they didn't acquire enough to effect their service time unless the plan is to leave them down another year. It's not really that they're up -- it's that they're up & not playing on a regular basis (or for Mat, at all). The really troubling thing in my mind may be the hints of McGehee being preferred over Gamel at 3B next year. However, that could all be more posturing for a trade by Melvin. Yeah, I agree on the first sentence. I did feel comfortable assuming it was just posturing... until Melvin's recent comments. Now I'm a bit concerned.

I agree with logan -- this is one season. But the recent comments from Melvin that indicated he sees nothing wrong with wasting Gamel's & Escobar's service time really, really concern me. I've blamed Macha pretty extensively, esp. in regards to Gamel, but it sounds like the approach with both of these top prospects is a-ok with Doug. That's bad.

Any way you slice it Hardy's peak value is past us You have no way to know this, and absolutely no way to prove it.

Ken, you're Macha-n me crazy! This guy has to go -- he is a liability the Brewers cannot afford. It's very clear to me that he sees nothing wrong with completely screwing the development (yes, even moreso than he's already done) of the organization's top prospect.

But is it dumber than not resting a dinged-up McGehee and playing the organization's top prospect? Probably not. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

This is just 100% proof positive to me that Macha needs to go this offseason. You can't ask a GM, who already has a really tough job, to try to construct a roster around the idiotic decisions his manager will make. Although, ultimately the GM gets to hire & fire his manager, so who knows. We are out of the race, Ken. Stop being an idiot.

I can't get too worked up over Patterson batting leadoff. I've already learned that Macha has the typical managerial shortcomings -- addicted to veterans, has defined 'lineup roles' (like speed at leadoff, 'RBI guys' at 3 & 4, etc.). If Patterson were getting significant PAs in a pennant race, I'd be upset.

The Rays' Carlos Pena was hit by a pitch on his left hand yesterday in the first game of the doubleheader at Yankee stadium. Both his middle & index fingers were broken, and he's done for the year. He had some pretty emotional comments about it: Pena said his middle finger took the most damage, and that it looked like "a pencil snapped in half" on the X-rays. He also mentioned that the pain was so bad after being hit by Sabathia's 93mph fastball that he wonders how he didn't pass out.

I'm not so sure, seeing as how he cited the limited data as the main argument why Escobar is not ready to play at the MLB level All he did with that data is to point out the fact that Escobar, in his short time in the bigs, has not played a good SS. You're projecting something onto the comment that isn't there. Beyond that, iirc X talked about how Escobar's bat isn't ready, as well. Fwiw I think Escobar's completely ready defensively. However I'd rather see him get some more time at AAA next season -- I like the Counsell/? platoon idea. Oh, and to the OP's question... Escobar.

i wonder if Prince will think it's as funny when he gets one in the ribs next year. Yes, I think he will. If the Giants are stupid enough to give him a free base, I think that's awesome.

This wouldn't be the first time there were reports of Macha not being on the same page as his players, so I can't say I'm surprised. Though I guess I'd never take anything Braun decided to walk away from the press about as too big an indictment of anyone else.

I didn't see the ejection (my back was turned, doing dishes), but Vin Scully's description of the exchange was that Manny had a strike called on the outside corner that he didn't agree with, then a a strike called on the inside corner that he didn't agree with, and struck out swinging on the third strike. He slammed his helmet on the ground, and imo presumably said something to Eddings. Scully also noticed that Ramirez had a comment for Eddings after the first called strike, and then something Eddings liked a bit less after the second called strike. I'm not defending Eddings, but it sounds like Manny had something to do with his ejection too.

Give me basically any grilled veggie aside from eggplant & I'm a happy camper. Mushrooms are so delicious. I am especially fond of almost any way to prepare/cook an onion (red being my favorite variety). As a kid, any veggie aside from carrots & lettuce basically grossed me out.

The team celebration was the cherry on the top of a very enjoyable game and I refuse to even look at that stltoday thread, lest their opinions mar the fine day we had at the ballpark. My, what an awesome new avatar you have, hawing. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

That was the funniest walkoff celebration I've ever seen

While I'm completely shocked at what McGehee has done this year, to me the more shocking question is, why hasn't he produced before this? His swing is short, balanced, and extremely quick. He seems to recognize pitches well, and he swing is too short to have holes. ... He is certainly a rare case, but in my opinion most scouts watching him would give him a very strong report I agree completely here, X. The former is something I've wondered about all season long. The latter is what gives me hope the Brewers will find a good trade market for him.

You don't clear out the 3B position to make way for a journeyman who's had one good year. While McGehee has obviously been great this season, Mat Gamel has been a top prospect for a long time now, and has even hit the ball well recently. If Gamel isn't the starting 3B next season, this organization will have either made a huge mistake, or will be keeping Gamel in AAA to delay his eventual FA status... and calling Mat up to give him the everyday job in May or so.

I would imagine he will get called up once the AAA season is over, along with a few others.

But if you let Counsell go, & Lopez is retained & then eventually dealt (which is what I think will happen) there is most certainly room for Iribarren, a LH bat that can play 2B. That's Weeks's days off right there.

I don't disagree with that assment. Nor do I. Lagunitas always tends to be one of the most overpriced breweries when you go out shopping for bottles, at least here in Portland. It's good, or solid, but not great.

Thanks for 2009, Casey. You'll be elsewhere next year, hopefully as part of a profitable deal Well-put, Mass Haas. I guess that's exactly how I feel about him. I'd like to respond to a point made in a Transactions forum thread here, since my response is off-topic for that thread: I think that's an interesting discussion, taking injuries/durability into account. I agree Hardy is all but guaranteed to be gone this winter, so that leaves: Fielder Lopez Weeks Counsell Iribarren Heether Escobar Gamel McGehee While there are durability concerns with Weeks, Counsell, and McGehee, I actually think our depth is still quite good. I'd really like to see Lopez offered (& accept) arbitration, since Weeks probably won't be 100% by the start of the season. True recovery time from his injury & procedure is appx. one full year, which was almost to the day when he started hitting again in 2008. I think Lopez would be a good player to retain, as the Brewers would really be able to get him a good amount of PAs early on in 2010. He'd be able to give Weeks a lot of off-days, esp. against RHP, to keep Rickie fresh, and Lopez could also see a lot of PH duty. The relative abundance of PAs would also allow the Crew to showcase him for other teams. There will always be a trade market for a guy of Lopez's skill & position on an affordable one-year deal. As stated in this thread, McGehee's unlikely to sustain this level of success beyond '09. Mass Haas also makes a good point on Heether, whose versatility actually gives him a chance to be even more valuable than McGehee. With a starting IF of Gamel--Escobar--Weeks--Fielder as the plan through 2010, and with reserves in place like Counsell, Heether, Lopez, & Iribarren, I think the Brewers' IF depth is rather strong. I also think that means this offseason will be the ideal time to deal McGehee.