TooLiveBrew

I really hope they do indeed like him.

*sigh* If only pitching to contact had ever worked to record outs. Oh wait. I understand the concern over the infield defense, but wow. It's like people aren't willing to admit that defense (historically) improves over the course of a career. I won't argue that Weeks's numbers aren't great to this point in his career, but geez, he's only 24. And his defensive corner-turning in 2006 was undeniably not a fluke. He worked his butt off, and eventually something *clicked* for Rickie. Great pitchers aren't afraid to get hit. They just make that chunk of time (when they do get hit) as small as possible. The Brewers signed Suppan for 4 years, not one (insert 'Now we'll never re-sign Sheets' comment here, I'm sure). The defense needs to back the pitchers up, not the other way around. It's a bad organizational strategy to simply look for pitchers that fit your position-player personnel, but that's just MHO. Why is it that most of our pitching threads, regardless of initial topic, devolve into the "Our infield defense sucks", usually related to Pitchers' BB/K rates? I know the immediate answer is "Because it's a concern that's taking place right now, this instant" Gathering pitchers that are unafraid of being hit is a very, very good thing. Sure, if they strike guys out at the rates of Sheets or Bush, then obviously you want that guy. Otherwise, adding someone like Soup is the right choice, IMHO. Chien-Ming Wang is the newest star out of this mold. With an IF defense that combined for 86 E in 2006 (to the Brewers' 81), Wang still had an incredible year. Pitching to contact is a very appropriate philosophy. I know errors are not the only way by which to judge a defense, but it's a well-known barometer, so I point to it.

So I can listen to the audio, but am having the same issues others have complained about. Unlike when I listened to the spring opener, where the audio broadcast window maintained the 'Playlist' look. Now it simple shows the Login page for MLB audio. Will my broadcast remain available?

How about sending Jenks & Hendrickson to LAD for Larry Bigbie? Bigbie's been impressive early in ST, and hits RHPing. IIRC, his defense & glovework are fine. Perhaps a reliver in return as well? These are just my thoughts...

My beer-league softball team might not appreciate Mench's defense.....

Oakland A's OF Bobby Kielty "to have left knee scoped," due to a torn meniscus. I'm no doctor, but that sounds painful. Given that Kielty notoriously feasts on LHPing -- His past 3 year totals: .303/.367/.519/.886 What say we attempt to ship La Cabeza back to his familiar haunts of the AL West? Again, not an MD, but for anything torn in a knee, 6 weeks seems like a low-end estimate. That's just me.... Don't know for sure how good or not these guys are, but Oak. seems to have as many LHRPs as one could hope for, with: Dan Meyer (6'3", 220) Jay Marshall (6'5", 185 Joe Kennedy (6'4", 245) Brad Halsey (6'1", 187) Ron Flores (5'11", 198 ) Alan Embree (6'2", 190) Lenny DiNardo (6'4", 190) Seems to me that a reasonable guess is that one of those guys is a LOOGY (at worst) and could be had for Mench, given the A's surplus of LP's Thoughts? Link

OK, so from another thread (Abreu injury in the MLB forum) and this one, how about: Miller Mench for Mike Myers (LHRP) Minor league C (not a high-ceiling type, but a roster-filler)

I'd love to add Walker. He's a fine hitter with good discipline. He's a better #2 hitting option than anyone we have as of today, aside from a hittin'-Hardy. All these little rumors and speculations really are such a tease! There are so many ways in which the Brewers can clearly improve their team, while possibly helping another team to improve, that it drives me nuts! I wish we could just swing a deal with Jenks and be done with all this mess. If he'd recognize that 450+ ABs is a ton of playing time, I'd love to keep him. Otherwise, we've got a $7 mil. headache. There's not enough Tylenol in the world for that

I still love the name of this thread; it makes my inner 11th grader giggle.

because if he's going to complain and do it to via media, he's not worth as much as is estimated. That's not what this team needs -- a guy complaining about not playing when it isn't just about him "sucking" or whatever people want to say. Jenks may be many things, but he doesn't suck. If he'd be willing to recognize that allowing Mench, or someone that shines against LHP, then our team will be dangerous, IMO. Having Jenks in v. RHP in the 5-slot or 6-slot is not bad at all. But if he insists that he won't accept that role, then I believe it's time to allow him to move on. I can't be mad at that. If he has a viable opportunity to cash in, I'd trade that for his "team-first" attitude that certainly isn't a myth. Fair trade. I just wish he'd stick around http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

....and I'm not so sure KC would take that for Brown. These aren't the Royals of the 90s anymore; their GM situation has improved quite a bit.

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/roll.gif Toby, wherever you are, this made my eyes water. I think I should probably leave the quiet study area if I want to continue reading, but ahhhh, ____ it. Isn't the quiet study area where losers study anyway?

Another slightly-too audible laugh in the quiet study area.... Thanks FTJ! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

That's huge news for that family -- good for her! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Riebes -- ME TOO! And sbryl, that chart is awesome Actually, my frothing at the mouth months ago on how I loathe that park - and my subsequent posterior-oriented nickname for the Astros - got me my first warning on BF.net ever! awwwwww....

seems like a pretty smart gamble, though. His ceiling is widely regarded to be pretty high, IIRC

Ok, so newbie dumb question..... What are the winter meetings about? Just a chance to 'meet & greet'? Or do we actually have some kind of a structure?

Glad to hear all's well GSP! Tick...tick...tick... HERE COMES SPRING TRAINING!!!!

By the way, geothite, what's your problem with Shouse? He's an extremely effective LOOGY/LHRP option. I don't really think you're being entirely fair. MY only problem is if Shouse is our only LRHP option AGAIN in 2007!!!

Brian, great point in your initial post! Why I hadn't thought of that eludes me....

vacin8r, I don't mean to nitpick for the sake of doing so, but Chase Utley is not the leadoff man for the Phils. That's Jimmy Rollins. Utley, IIRC, batted 3d for most of the season(at least that's where he was down the stretch, I think).

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/roll.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/roll.gif Fantastic

Umm, this is kinda why I want him. Another good bat v. LHP. Late-game PH situations, injury/days off, etc. He's probably not much worse than below-average, defensively. IMO defensive shortcomings are labels more often than truth. Perhaps Q really is just terrible, but as a MLer, I'd find that hard to believe. This would cheapen our payroll, get Gross more ABs, and clear up our bench situation in general. Quinlan's ability to play several spots (if needed) make his presence much more logical than Jenkins (capable of 2 spots, probably could play 1B in a pinch) on the 25-man roster. Clark, Mench, Gross, Quinlan, Counsell, Graffy, Miller Is that too crowded a bench? Because if it isn't, that's a pretty ____ good bench. Is carrying 10 pitchers considered taboo/risky? Sheets, Cap, Bush, Soup, CV, Villy, Capellan, TBow, CoCo, Wise, Shouse That's obviously 11, and what's been rumored to be the group (at this point). So what becomes of the extra spot? Will Jenks be traded with a reliever for another reliver? Now I'm confused...

Would the Crew have to pay any more than, say, $2 mil. of Jenks's salary to swing this? $5 mil. seems fair for what he could produce.... (400ish ABs)

Nice work with the Angels' fan perspective. That really sheds some light on the deal. And with that in mind, here's hoping the two sides have already begun discussions