FVBrewerFan

Odd situation. It's not like the current rotation is untouchable, but who would you take out? Would almost have to be Parra, back to the bully.

Interesting note on Cappy too. At least 3 pitchers in AAA/AA who could help this team immediately and Brewer brass can't/won't get them on the field.

Honestly, I'm torn. I'm excited to see Lucroy in a Brewers uniform, but at the same time I think it may be a couple months too soon.

The difference is that as a reliever he doesn't have to face a line-up several times. He's still capable of getting guys out in short doses. I'm ok with Soup in the bully for now in a long relief role.

Two things I hate about modern baseball: The DH (thank goodness the brewers moved to the NL) and the cult of the closer.I'll take it one step beyond closer. It's become unthinkable to have a RP throw more than one inning late in the game. You need an 8th inning guy, 7th inning guy, etc. But if they're throwing well, it's a major sin to ask him to pitch 2 innings. That's why last night was refreshing, to see the Ax Man go two innings. I was shocked and thrilled at the same time.

Yes, that's what I meant. L/R platoon. If Kottaras wsn't hitting it would be different, but I don't see how you sit him vs LHP right now. Either one could DH this weekend, so it's not like Lucroy would sit and rot on the bench for a week. I just don't think it's very likely Lucroy will get the majority of starts, it's not Macha's style.

Well, I feel better today. Do I think this team can be a legit playoff contender this year? I do not. But at least they're finally making moves based on talent rather than money and "respecting veterans." Gomez is back, along with Axford, Braddock, and Lucroy. The rotation finally have 5 guys who are decent enough. If nothing else, they should be fun to watch. I would like them to just eat the contract for Davis. They already have 3 starting lefties better than him, certainly younger. Next time a spot opens up in the rotation, I would love to see Peralta get the opportunity to start. Perfect season to get these guys started. And it's not even the scenerio where they're "giving up on the season." Because these young guys are better than who they're repalcing anyhow. So make this season about the development of Estrada, Gomez, Lucroy, Narveson, Axford, Braddock, maybe others like Peralta,Gamel, Capuano, and Cain. I would be ok with that. Let's figure out which guys in that list can fill roles in 2011, rather than get every last ounce out of guys like Edmunds, Hoffman, Suppan, and Davis.

Maybe. Seems like a strange story though doesn't it? Why didn't he sign until the end of 2006, and then not make it to MLB until the end of last year? I'm assuming he played college ball for 4 years.

I would think Macha will use a strict platoon, even though he would never call it that.

Developing a man crush on Axford. I knew he had a plus fastball and a slider, but that curve ball he dropped last night for a called strike 3 was nasty! Looks like he has closer stuff to me. Then again, with 3 pitches why can't he be a starter? Did he battle injuries the last few years or something, because I don't know how a guy with stuff like that hasn't been in MLB .

I don't find it starnge, it happens all the time. And age isn't always the culprit, but it can be. Anyone remember Gagne? Wasn't that long ago. Turnbow? Happens with hitters too. Very solid, and then one year they fall off the map completely and may never get it back. Andrew Jones? (He was young enough to get a 2nd chance at least) I'm sure if we all took the time we could name closers, starting pitchers, and hitters who were very good, and fell off completely.

Sorry to interupt the deabte, but this topic is not about who is the model francshise, it's about pitch count. No biggie, I just noticed this has gone way OT.

I'm not sure the answer is "attacking the strike zone." Pitching is about getting hitters to swing at balls. (Just ask Bill Schroeder.) The problem I see is too many wasted pitches. There is nothing wrong with trying to hit a corner on a 1-2 count, no need to throw a fastball down the middle. Brewers pitchers aren't nibbling enough when the count is in their favor. Instead they're throwing it in the dirt, eye level, or way outside. Now, for some batters that's a good strategy- they may shcae it. But for the most part, I would like to see our pitchers stay around the strike zone instead of completely wasting 10 pitches or so each start.

Hoffman is most responsible for the Brewers awful start to the season- period. While no closer is perfect, this team would be hovering around .500 if he blew only a save or two. In fact, they may be better than .500 because the attitude on the team would be much different. Hard to bounce back over and over again when you lose games in that way. That should be it, for now at least. Should have been done a month ago. No need to DFA him, jsut let him be another 1 inning guy for 2-3 months, and depending on how things are going you can try putting him in the closer role again.

If they are preaching that message, it's not getting through. Isn't that the point of coaching? If the players are ignroing them, that tells us alot about Macha and Peterson. Wasting pitches has always been part of baseball, but with pitch counts scrutinized so closely it's a bigger issue these days. The biggest problem I see is that far too many pitches are completely wasted. WAY high...outside..etc. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to try for the corners when you're ahead in the count. If you miss, fine. You'll still get some swings. Want someone to chase high heat? Throw at the shoulders, not their eyeballs. It doesn't take an advance scout long to figure this out about the Brewers. Just take a lot of pitches, chase the starter. Then you play Russian roulette with 4-5 pitchers from the bullpen for 3-4 innings. Odds are at least 1 of 5 will have an off night, and you hit him hard. That's the formula to beat the Brewers.

This season has gone from boring to Chris Farley awwwwwwesommme. All that's missing now is a surprise appearance from a past character or two.

What scares me the most is that the Brewers are following the Indians path. I remember when jacobs Field opened, it was the hottest ticket in town for a few years. Same as Miller Park in Milwaukee. The Indians had some success, and expectations were high. Again, sound familiar? Fast forward to this year, and the Indians are last in attendance. Is that where the Brewers are headed? The "casual" fans will continue to come out in droves for weekend games when the weather is nice. Cubs and twins games will be packed. Some promotional nights will be busy. Beyond that, this team will not continue to draw big crowds if the optimism goes away.

That's just one example, there are many others. Unfortunately none come to mind. I just know from watching most Brewers games than Anderson often says something that makes you wonder how much he knows about the game. And I'm not talking about real in-depth stats, or mis-speaking about a game situation (since you do have to think on your feet.) I'm talking about stements he'll make that even a passive fan like my wife or daughter will say "ha???? that's not true is it?" But what gets me the most is his raised, excited voice for every fly ball. "Hit deeeeeeep to left" No Brian, actually it was a can of corn. But I'll explain that term to you another day.

I don't think anyone is disputing he's done a better job that his predecesors. The question is, can he get this team to the next level? And maybe the question should be can anyone get this team to the next level? He has built up the farm system to a point that almost guarantees this team will be competitive. But to get from competitive to World Series Chanps he needs to do better than one Gallardo every 10 years. Slice and dice it however you wish. Trades, FA, draft... he simply hasn't built a top shelf pitching staff. And let me be cleear, I know that isn't easy in Milwaukee by any means. It also wasn't easy for Ron Wolf to build a winner in Green Bay after 20+ years of suckiness. Different sports, sure, but the analogy holds some merit. Very simply, the job needs to get done. Doesn't matter if luck is involved, outsmarting every other GM...whatever it takes. GM is a zero-sum game. Either you win or you don't.

Flame out rate on "hig up-side" arms is still rather high. Plus, even if you get a winner, it can take a lot of time. JDLR for example. KC didn't get much out of him, but eventually he ebded up in Colorado and turned into a very good SP. It's not like you swing a trade and boom, you get a #2 tyoe SP imediately. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but it's nowhere near as effective as drafting and developing your own SP. And until the Brewers do that, they will struggle to stay in neutral, much less legitimately compete for a title.

If he makes it back, I'll be there. And he better get the standing ovation of a lifetime. Not a quick 5 second, above average applause...a roaring out of control ovation that rivals a curtain call at an Aerosmith concert.

Now that you bring it up, I think that is about where he was before (in the majors), maybe a little faster. I don't think he was in the low 90s. Am I correct?Is it a slow gun in Brevard? I know Cappy was never a low 90s guy, but 82-86 range sounds low. Would like to see that at 85-88 or so. Either way, if he can make it back and earn a start in Milwaukee I'll be there, and it will be a bright light in an otherwise dissapointing season.

Strawboss, I'm not as optimistic. Thanks for taking the time to put that together, but it only reinforces what I already believe. That is, all of the above keeps the Brewers in neutral, instead of going downhill after Fielder leaves. I don't see that timeline and the players involved taking this team to the next level. Bottom line, I still don't see an ace on that list. Not to say any one of those guys couldn't become an ace, I jsut don't see anyone you can say is "destined" to be that guy. Even the position players are nowehere near the "lock" to be real producitve at the MLB level like the last crop of Fielder, Braun, Weeks, etc. What I do see is quantity, not top quality- especially for starting pitching. I can see them making moves, bringing some of these guys up, etc. to remain "competitive" but I don't see them moving out of neutral.

2nd week in may and the bullpen is already running on fumes. Why be demoralized?

The Twins can compete because they can develop their own pitching- period. That's the secret of sucsess for a low/ mid tier payroll team. If the Brewers wanted to do something bold, it would have been signing Sabathia. Since that didn't happen, Plan B would be to get 3 or 4 arms with upside via trade and FA. I couldn't agree more that signing Davis types is a waste of time (and money.) That has been Melvin's Plan A up to now. Get whatever arms you can, and hope that quantity produces a couple quality arms. And to be fair, that has worked to a certain extent. But to take this team to the next level, I think they need a Plan C. My Plan C would be to hire a "Director of Pitching." This person would report directly to Melvin. Now, I know they have someone in charge of pitching in the minors. I'm talking about an even higher level. Someone who wpould sign off on pitchers during the draft. Responsible for developing pitchers throughout the minors, including hiring coaches.etc. Responsible for identifying Free Agents and trade candidates. Just a wholistic approach to pitching, charged with one goal- drastically improving the Major League staff by 2012. I also think this season will tell the stoy on Macha, and maybe even Melvin. There's no reason an offense this good should be so streaky. Enough with everyone trying hit HRs constantly, they need a Manager who can get that message across. It can be done. Skiles was able to get across the "defense first" message tothe Bucks, where many others failed. And if you can convince NBA players to play defense, you certainly can convince MLB players to take a single up the middle occassionaly.