FVBrewerFan

We've talked forever about avoiding the Suppan, Davis, Wolf type of signings in the future. Prince, etc. trade in the off-season may bring some pitching talent back, but I'm guessing that will be at the low minor league level. I, for one, have had enough of the Parra/Narveson/Bush experiment. Won't bother me if Parra gets another year in the rotation. At least he has the "stuff" to be a solid starter if he can get it figured out. So that's Yo, Wolf, Parra and two holes in the rotation. Why not give guys like Peralta, Jeffress, even Heckathorn a shot? Seems to be a trend in MLB to bring guys up from A ball, and some have worked out some haven't. I guess my question is, what is their to lose? Sure, you need to be careful with their pitch count. Maybe you rotate Peralta and Heckathorn back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. Not ideal, but if they're going to get x amount of innings, why not in Milwaukee? Worst thing that can happen is they "can't hang" at the MLB level. But guys at this level are competitive. I don't buy the "bruised ego" theory, I think if anything it would help them understand what they need to work on. Why keep waiting for the future? Let these guys legitmately compete in Spring Training, and bring them up if they perform. I have watched Heckathorn in 3 starts, and he clearly "gets" how to pitch. He has control of all his pitches. What more is there to work on? Ditto for Jeffress and Peralta. That's the first wave, then you still have Odorizzi, Rivas, Scarpetta, and whatever they can get for Prince waiting in the wings. I just don't see what another year of Narvy, Cappy, etc. does for this team short term or long term.

I thought it was comical that Melvin made this public in the first place. It's as if he's a grade school kid convincing his parents "I know I'm geting Cs but I'm really trying!!!" The the content for the most part is comical as well. Other than the revelation that 24 pitchers have no trade clause to Milwaukee. But even that's not as bad as it sounds. I'm sure some of those guys would waive that clause and come to the Brewers depending on the situation, timing, etc. So although Melvin says he's not making any excuses, that's exactly what tis is all about. Classic trick, used in business all the time. "We're not making excuses...but here are all the excuses." Bottom line, what I get out of this is what I've been thiking ans saying all along. The Brewers can't sign a stuf FA pitcher, nor trade for one. The only way they can build a solid rotation is to draft and develop one- something they haven't been very good at to say the least. So we're left with luck. Draft a bunch of guys with a big fastball and plus breaking ball and hope a couple of them pan out.

Is this official yet? I'll echo what others have said about how this affects the rest of the diamond. I would keep Hart in RF, and move Lawrie to 3B, Gamel to 1B. McGehee could be a reserve bat with some starts at 1B vs LHP. (If he's not moved in a trade.) That would be a drastic improvment defensivley at 3B, and a marginal impovement at 1B. Then offensively, you're replacing Prince, McGehee, and Gomez with Gamel, Lawrie, Cain. I don't think that will be a very big drop-off collectively.

Amazing how history repeats itself. Similar to when Miller Park opened. Be patient... Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Hart, etc. are on the way!!! Won't belong before this team will be a serious contender. Sorry, jsut in a "glass is half empty" mood today. For those of us who have been fans for many years, it's the same old thing over and over. We were supposed to be big time contenders right NOW. Now it's 2013...

Funny thing is, this whole loyalty thing works both ways. We want, or even expect players to be loyal to the team and be gratious when they leave. Yet, we the fans, are the first to run someone out of town if they don't produce. Bill Hall and Jeff Suppan loved Milwaukee, were very active in the community, and always had good things to say about Milwaukee and Brewer fans. Yet they were mocked, jeered, and in the case of Suppan even boo'd. So we want players who produce to stick around, but the minute they stop producing we don't want them around anymore. Think about that. Prince's motives shouldn't matter. Maybe it's all about the money, maybe he wants to win, maybe he wants to play in the AL, for a certain team...who knows? Until the system is drastically changed it will be very diffiuclt for the likes of the Brewers and Royals to retain or attract the best players. Yet, we're foolish enough to keep going to games and provide oil to the machine we know won't work. Me? I can't help myself. I love MLB, and I love the Brewers. At some point I jsut hope MLB realizes they need competitve balance, but I certainly don't expect it. I do get a little tired of Boras, Rosenhaus, etc. always taking the heat. They're doing their job, and doing whatever the player wants them to do. If the player doesn't like how he's being represented, there are plenty of other agents out there. Finally, I do wish these guys would realize they could have something really special to look back on for the 40 years of their life after they retire by staying with one team. When you're 60 will it really matter if you made $300MM in your career or $250MM? I doubt it. Then again, I look back to when I was in my mid 20s, and I would probably have tried to get every last dollar I could.

"Reportedly" being the key word. Important to remember not to take anything a GM, front office person ,or the media says as gospel. We never should, but especially at the trade deadline. In fact, you'll probably be closer to the truth if you believe the opposite of what you hear and read. For example, of course Melvin is going to say he's not actively trying to trade anyone. But you can bet he's talking to a lot of teams about various players, and more than willing to pull the trigger for the right deal. I will be very dissapointed if they don't move some lower level guys like Hoffman, Edmonds, Counsel, etc. Guys like that would help a contending team, and the Brewers should be able to get something back in return- even a lower level minirs guy similar to a Lasker, Bucci. The next level is Bush, McGehee, Gomez. I'm just not sure anyone would give up much for any of those guys straight-up. I really think abig hot stove trade is more likely, where they can package some guys together with Prince, Hart, etc. Maybe even a multi-team deal.

I would say the Brewers are less affected by injuries this year than the average in MLB. When i look at injuries, I look at big names first. KNOCK ON WOOD, but Fielder, Braun, Gallardo, Wolf, Weeks, Hart, Escobar, et.c haven't had any significant injuries. And no, I don't think what Gallardo went through or Hart IS going through are significant injuries. Basically, they're entire rotation has been health, with the exception of Davis...no loss anyhow. They've had a couple injuries i nthe bully, but every team goes through that. Nobody in the entire line-up other than Zaun is out for the season- and the Zaun injury has been a blessing. Honestly, I don't want to sound condescending...but sometimes as fans we always think our team has the most injuries, get all the bad calls...etc.

Good suggestions. I would call that credit card card company and try to waive the fee. Another option would be to call your new credit card company and ask that your credit limit be raised. That should help your credit available/credit used ratio and make up the difference for canceeling your other card. Finally, as others have said, it shouldn't affect your score very much at all as long as you're paying bills on time and have other credit cards available.

Darn it, don't blow my position out of the water with facts!!! Here's the thing though. If he stays healthy and keeps producing similar numbers between now and the end of the 2011 season, it does put him closer to the top of that list. That would be two years without injury, so those conerns are all but gone. Defense may play a minor role, but not that much. Weeks is a unique 2B in that he could legitimately hit 30 HR/100 RBI PLus have a high OBP. Oh...and speed...for the few teams that still use it. Finally, most of the contracts above were done in 07/08. Inflation alone bumps up those numbers.

I don't think SF would think Hart/McGehee would be enough for Bumgarner. That's the problem with any of these proposals, the value of a somewhat proven high-quality starting pitcher is higher than what logic would tell us. Also, as far as including Gamel in a deal...I don't see that either. He's not going to get fair value either. Plus, the Brewers really need LH bats, especially since Fielder will most likely move on at some point.

That's true, but when did that deal get done? Price keeps going up, and teams put a premium on power. So while Weeks isn't considered in the same class as Utley, if he keeps this up he will. But heck, even if the number is $12MM it's a lot more than the $8MM discussed above. And I believe he'll be able to get that $8MM unless something really disastrous happens to him between now and the time he becomes a FA.

I would be shocked if Weeks would extend for 4/32. If he keeps hitting anywhere close to this, he'll get more like 15MM a year. He would risk losing out if he gets hurt again, but even if he does, he can still get 4/32 as a FA after the 2011 season. So there's no downside, and huge upside for him to become a FA if the best offer to extend now is 4/32.

Because that effectiveness and cohesiveness rarely lasts very long. Bullpens in MLB are pretty much all about the hot hand these days. Sure, there are a few established closers and set-up guys who have been effective for years. But for the most part, it's a crap shoot. Turnbow, Kolb, I'm sure you guys can think of other closers who were hot for a year or two then fell off the face of the earth. Same thing for set-up guys. So while i wouldn't actively try to trade Axford, if a contender wants him bad enough to give up a couple real high celing prospects, it's worth looking at.

Here's my two cents. I would love to sign Weeks long term. At the same time, I don't think it matters if Weeks, Fielder, Hart, or McGehee are back or not in 2011 or beyond if the roation isn't dramatically upgraded. So if there's a team out there that loves Weeks so much they're willing to give up top shelf pitching prospect in AA or above, I'm listening. And I mean a guy with even more upside that...for example...Rivas. Very simply, this rotation has Yo and then a bunch of 4/5 type starters- including Wolf. Nobody above A ball projects into a top of the roation guy. So I'm willing to look at any deal at all that would bring back big time arms. And I would trade Braun, Weeks...anyone if the deal was right. Otherwise, the Brewers will continually be that cute team that hits a bunch of HRs and never wins a Worls Series. For that matter, rarely can even be considered a legit contender.

Don't forget Loe, he could close. I'm not opposed to trading anyone if the return is worth it. Anyone. With that said, I doubt any team would give the Brewers enough for that trade to make sense.

Brockman and Sanders are a pipe dream to play center this year or ever. Depending on the team you're playing, you may not even need a center. But teams that DO have a true center, you need someone to play some minutes at center when Bogut is on the bench. Not to mention if Bogut is injured. To expect guys like Sanders or Brockman to fill that role is unrealistic. I'm not even saying Gooden would be a great center on either end of the court, but better than anything they had in that role last year. And to be clear, I understand he may very well start at PF. But depending on the opponent, as the game progresses I would expect him to be on the court when Bogut is on the bench. Actually doesn't even matter on the offensive end what you call him. but on the defensive end, who's going to guard Garnett, Howard, etc. when Bogut is injured or on the bench? Gooden for the most part.

Does Parra have any options left? I have no problem keeping him in the rotation this year, why not. But unless he suddenly improves, I would like to see him in Nashville to start the season next year. Let him work on his arm slot, location, etc. I understand Cappy is a FA, but I can't imagine anyone giving him a huge long term contract. they could start next year with Gallardo, Wolf the #4, and then one of Cappy/Narveson/Bush as the #5. Now magically find a #2 and a #3 and we're in business.

Ok, then I'll ask again. If you don't like the Gooden deal, who is the backup center on this team?

I'm done worrying about who's in the rotation this year. With injuries, etc. I'm sure cappy will get more starts this year. But what about next year? Cappy never relied on a 99 MPH fastball before his injuries, so I could see him getting back to form. In fact, I think there's a better chance of that happening than Parra ever becoming a consistently good starting pitcher. I would package him in a trade and end the experiment.

What we forget is that Gooden will be the backup center. he may start alongside Bogut, but depending on who they're playing, I would suspect Gooden will be on the floor most of the time when Bogut is on the bench. Not to mention if Bogut is injured again, Gooden is a decent answer to start at center. Sanders, Brockman, Ersan, etc. can't fill that role.

I see players who could help the team in 2011, just not a stud that can put them over the top. Maybe the best move the Bucks could make is trading up in the 1st round of the draft next year. One of the top 1 or 2 picks, whoever that may be. Only problem with that is it's a PR nightmare for bad teams to trade away the tope pick pick in the draft, no matter what they get back for it. Who knows, maybe this Bucks team has all the pieces in place, they just need a couple years of playing together. You have a nice mix of known factors in Bogut, Salmons, Gooden, Maggette, DelFino. Jennings who could turn into a star. Then you have guys with the potential... Ersan, CDR, Sanders, Hobson, etc. For all we know, one of those guys could become another star or close to it. With the supporting cast they have, that could be enough to be a serious contender, especially with Skiles focus on defense.

While I agree they should be sellers, they don't HAVE to make a trade. It's all about value, and you have to just see what you can get. There's always the off-season. I have to believe teams like the White Sox, Giants, Padres, and Braves would love a big bat. Problem is, do they trust Hart's bat? And will they really be willing to give up a SP like Baumgarner (for example) even for Fielder? And that's the only way I would trade Fielder before the deadline. I would have to get a young, top shelf arm with MLB experience, or at least somene in the high minors that pretty easily projects as a top of the rotation SP. Someone with the talent somewhere between Rivas and Strasburg.

I agree, production value was outstanding. Content...not so much. Probably not fair to Macha, but I they had a pitchers meeting before the Rangers series, with Peterson leading the meeting. Macha didn't say a word or really even look engaged in the conversation. Could just be how it was edited, but I couldn't help but notice that.

I think they need to sit tight with Redd for now. So many new faces, let's just see how Skiles can bring it all togehter and see what is needed for the 2011-2012 season. If they have another good year this year (hopefully even better) they'll have the cash to spend to round out the team. I just don't think they know what they'll need though until this season plays itself out. Hopefully, Milwaukee won't be a joke anymore to bigger free agents. IF they can win the division, the Jennings factor, etc. maybe they can target a big time FA. They still have plenty of talented guys with resonable contracts that can be traded after this season as well. Should be fun seeing how it all fits together!

That was my first thought. Even when I found out Davis is going back to DL, I still think Edmunds is being traded. I just don't believe they'll get enough for Hart to trade him by the deadline.