FVBrewerFan

Exactly Lee, and it's not just your opinion- it's fact. There is absolutely no way Stearns' plan is tear down the roster so he can get the #1 pick in the draft next year. Especially when at this point you have no idea if there's a Harper type of player over a year from now in the 2017 draft. Once again, this is a RESULT of a rebuild, not the goal. I didn't expect this to be even a matter of debate or confusion. The goal is to be as competitive as possible 3-5 years down the road. That means selling off pieces that will not contribute then, and bring in players who will. You can call it tanking if you want, but that has nothing to do with planning to get the #1 pick.

Big difference between being solidly in the Tourney, and solidly in if season ended TODAY. There's a long way to go, and if they lose a few games, out early in the Big 10 Tourney they could still be on the outside looking in. It's not like it would take a total collapse either. But they're in a good spot today, no doubt about it. Marquette is disappointing. The demise of the Big East was greatly exaggerated, I'll say that. But even at that, seems like they should have more wins and be on the bubble at least. UWM, also very disappointing.

It is. But remember, it's the generation that also came up with many of the great words and phrases still used in baseball today, so take the good with the bad. (Then again "hardball" doesn't bother me anyhow, unless it's said by someone under 70.)

I have no problem with a floor, as long as their is a reasonable ceiling also. THAT'S why you never hear talk of a floor, because the power brokers in MLB certainly don't want a ceiling.

I THINK what Monty is saying is this season is a can't lose season. The goal is not to lose as many games as possible. That may be the result of stockpiling as much young talent as possible, but not the goal. However, if they are one of the worst 2-3 teams, fine, they get the benefit of that in next year's draft. However, if they surprise and actually win 75-78 games that's also a good thing because it means you would have more than a couple guys having very good seasons. If it's Santana, Nelson, etc.... great bodes well for the future. If it's guys like Garza, Lucroy, Braun, Scooter....also great. Worth a lot more in a trade at the deadline. Either way benefits the future, so you can't lose.

Agreed, except a trade at the deadline instead of next off-season. Look at Melvin's trades at the deadline last year. Bigger return on every one of them than I would have hoped for. Stearns trades, I can't say that. I'm not saying they were bad trades, it just seems like better deals can be had at the deadline, when emotions get involved. Davis trade is a good example. Return is fine, but I would bet anything they could get more in 6 months. Barring injury, there is that to be fair.

It's always one quarter, not necessarily the 4th. For the longest time earlier this year it was the 3rd quarter. That's what mediocre or bad teams do. With that said, that's always been a part of the NBA- in fact sports in general. Teams build up a big lead and often times let the other team back in the game. Just hard to keep the same intensity when you have a big lead.

Funny you should say that! Sanders is talking about returning to the NBA. I doubt it will be with the Bucks, but I would welcome him back if his mind is right. If the money doesn't matter much to him, maybe he gives the Bucks the 1st chance to sign him after what he pulled. The Bucks should be open about it. Just pay vets minimum with incentives, they're already paying him $1.8MM a year for the next few years. Not much to lose, if he's the old Larry just cut him. To me, that's how they need to build this team around Giannis. Defenders like Henson and Larry, and shooters on offense.

You gotta work it man. I know, easier said than done. You don't want to beg, but just put yourself in the position where you're around the $100 tippers. Know what ball they play? Well, you just happened to come across a box for him. Not sure what connections you have, but maybe you know someone who makes clubs. Or hey, I have an extra ticket to the US Open at Erin Hills. I assume some of the $100 tippers go to the bar after their round? You just happen to be there, and strike up a conversation. This way you're not begging, it will just naturally come up at some point, and if you get along with them of course they're going to request you to caddy for them. I agree, you have to grease that wheel. Is there always a designated line of who is next to go off? Can the person in charge change that ever? You could always tip him when you get the big guys! But the best way for sure is to get the big guys to request you. Hell, you should just approach one of them and ask him if he has a regular caddy. If he says no, tell him you'd like to be his regular. Tell him you're good, and you know this course. "I think if I consistently caddied for you, it would help your scorecard." Might be cheesy but I bet a lot of these guys like someone who has the guts to do that. That's a great idea too. If I were a member of a private club (which I'm not and never will be!) I know I would react favorably to that approach, as long as it was done professionally. If you have confidence in yourself, and believe you really ARE the best caddy there, then nothing wrong with letting those members know- in the right way of course. But maybe that's frowned on at your club, and you're not supposed to solicit members? But I think any and all of these suggestions, or some variation, is worth trying?

Not sure where you live, but yea, this is the norm in a lot of places. Ridiculous? Sure. And you aint seen nothing yet. As they get older, parties are an event- often times held at entertainment places. And yes, you will feel the pressure to spend a ton to do the same, since everyone else is. I probably shouldn't tell you she'll expect a cell phone when she's 10, because all her friends have one already : )

You gotta work it man. I know, easier said than done. You don't want to beg, but just put yourself in the position where you're around the $100 tippers. Know what ball they play? Well, you just happened to come across a box for him. Not sure what connections you have, but maybe you know someone who makes clubs. Or hey, I have an extra ticket to the US Open at Erin Hills. I assume some of the $100 tippers go to the bar after their round? You just happen to be there, and strike up a conversation. This way you're not begging, it will just naturally come up at some point, and if you get along with them of course they're going to request you to caddy for them.

I will bet my house Hill will be described as a "gritty veteran" by the end of March.

Without digging to deep, it SEEMS to me the Cardinals haven't done some sort of amazing job developing position players. They have done a very good job developing pitching over the years. But what they've done very well is understanding when to move on and trade or not re-sign veteran players. They made the right call in keeping Molina over the years, but moved on from Pujols, Edmunds, Suppan, Lohse off the top of my head. That has allowed them to spend money one a free agent or two, getting better players to fill needs they have and at a lower price than re-signing Pujols to a massive contract or overpaying mediocre pitchers. Which is exactly what the Brewers need to do. Develop their own controllable pitching staff, some of the position players, then when the time is right spend some money on a 3B and/or catcher (for example.)

Truth is, nobody knows what we'll get with Broxton, Liriano, or Reed. I don't mind Reed staying in AAA again to start the season, as this will all get sorted out. If he really is better than the other temp CFs, he will have a chance to prove it.

A better barometer on how Stearns feels about defense would be the players who WILL be a part of the future. Santiago, Arcia and Phillips. That's not to say they will be plus at every position on the diamond, but that almost never happens anymore.

Wait, there will games we need a closer?

Yeah, he was basically the same player he's been in the second half. I don't think teams should be too concerned about that. You don't think teams should be concerned, but that doesn't mean they're not. I understand his career should speak for itself, as should the second half of the season last year. But I'm telling you, before any team gives up their top prospect, they're going to have to feel real comfortable he is back at 100%. I'm hoping he comes to ST and rips the ball all over the yard, and that's when someone like the Nationals or Rangers will step up. Hopefully even get into a bidding war.

For those of you who cut cable/sat how do you watch Brewers games?

I seem to recall an old adage that applies here. "The bat plays."

Great point, hard to argue with that. And it's not like Lind was a gold glover either.

One thing I hear all the time is how these trades decimated the farm system. To this day I hear it all the time from the local sports media talking heads. Yes, losing Cain, Odorizzi, etc. hurt. But all the bad drafts is what killed the farm system. Frederickson, Arnett, Kentail Davis, Heckathorn, Bradley, Covey... all1st round picks that never developed. And that's just the 1st round! I understand every organization will have misses, guys get injured, etc. But that gap after the Hardy, Fielder, Weeks, Hart, Braun, Yo, etc. years was brutal.

I think the point is some of these guys they have acquired happen to be bad defenders. It's not like Stearns has said, "we want as many losses as possible so let's build a horrible defensive team." If that were the case, he could have stuck Rogers at 3B, Santana in CF, and Herrera at SS. If the sole purpose was to lose games, he could have set the roster up accordingly.

The goal is to develop young players, not to lose games. Losing a lot of games is just a by-product. As others have said, it doesn't do wonders for developing young pitchers with bad (possibly horrendous) defense behind them.

Prospects aren't that valuable, but yeah Lucroy isn't going to cut it for a top-10 prospect. Even Gallo is too much to ask. Lucroy isn't that valuable TODAY. However, if he has a good spring training, then starts off April hot it will really help his value. Especially if he shows he still has some power. I think some teams would love to have the pre-2015 Lucroy, but are scared to death to trade valuable assets for a 2015 Lucroy. It's that simple.

I'm not a big conspiracy guy, but I'll admit I've been thinking about it. Now that some time has past, the dust has settled, that trade looks even better. Three young pitchers, but not too young to be lottery ticket types. One who could be a #5 type SP, the other two have an even higher upside. A young OF with options who has a real chance to be an every day player, and oh yea, another OF who's ceiling is an All-Star. That's a huge haul for Fiers and Gomez. There were only two pitchers: Houser & Hader. Who were you thinking was the 3rd? Davies, who I now realize was the Parra deal. With all the moves completed and still coming, this will not be my last time I get mixed up!