wcswimmer712

Are those green-padded chairs along first and third base lines are reserved? Or can SRO tickets sit in them? If so, those are spots that I'd look into.

How was he like velocity wise and types of pitches? Did he look pretty dominant? Mechanics?

I would like to see these additions for September: Outfield:Logan Schafer - defenseBrendan Katin - RH power off the bench, *if he can get healthy*Brandon Boggs - switch hitterKentrail Davis - pinch running in case Gomez isn't ready by then, 30 SB/6 CS Infield:Taylor Green - need I say moreMat Gamel - see aboveEric Farris - supposed "defensive whiz" good late inning replacement Pitchers:Santo Manzanillo - flamethrower, absolutely dominant at High-A and holding his own at AAMarc DiFelice - owns right handed hittersFrankie De La Cruz - been a solid starter, great fastball, could be long reliever or an effective middle relieverWily Peralta - could be a wild card out of the bullpen (or I wouldn't mind management resting him after a long season)Michael Fiers - great numbers at AA and AAA this yearZack Braddock - please get well soon!Robert Wooten - has only had success out of the penRobert Hinton - probably not but would be nice to have a 2nd flamethrower Not sure how many of these will actually happen. But it'd be nice to see some of these guys in the bigs helping for the playoff push.

How about seeing Wily in Milwaukee come September? Once Huntsville (or Nashville) finishes their season, of course. He'd be an interesting weapon to have in the pen... But anyways, good to see him rediscover 2010. He's starting to look like a bona fide ace. It'll be exciting to see how Jungmann, Lopez, and Bradley perform once they sign. A 2013 rotation of: Gallardo-Marcum-Wily Peralta-Taylor Jungmann-Tyler Thornburg doesn't seem too far-fetched. I think Bradley will require more time in the minors than Jungmann.

Just to clarify... We got money for K-Rod's salary for the remainder of the year ALONG with the money to buy him out? This could be a sweet deal. Relief ace + first round draft pick in the 2012 draft for two PTBNL's.

Is anyone else concerned with the recent play/management of our bullpen? I have to say (along with the bench) this is the glaring weakness of our team. I have no faith in anyone outside of Latroy Hawkins, yet Roenicke somehow doesn't let him pitch important innings. He hasn't allowed a run in over 10 appearances but Loe continues to get the call in the 8th. Tim Dillard pitching tonight in the bottom of the tenth? He's been pitching alright of late but still can't get lefties out, don't know why he was pitching to one. Axford, Braddock, and Hawkins are the only ones who deserve spots. Estrada should be sent to AAA, Mitre is ok as the long guy, Loe continues to lose us games. Takashi Saito can't come back soon enough... I think we will need to acquire a bullpen arm at the deadline if we want to make a deep run in the playoffs. We night someone to be lights out and reliable. The arms out there aren't getting it done.

Does anyone know where to find video of Taylor's start today? I'd really like to see what kind of stuff he's got, seems his curveball is pretty below average from your reports. But I can't seem to find any links from google to his start.

Let us look forward to the SS who will be free agents after the 2011 season: Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, Rafael Furcal, JJ Hardy (return to brewtown?), Omar Infante, Ronny Cedeno, Marco Scutaro, Jack Wilson. I would take any of these guys over Betancourt. Let's hope Doug has had his eye on one of these guys since the Greinke trade. Any of the first three I would salivate over.. EDIT: **first four** (gotta include JJ in that)

I know it's early and I know the sample size is tiny, but what are people's impressions of Yuniesky's defense at SS? With the rep he was getting this offseason I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. Range is average but he has been pretty solid otherwise. Quick on the double play turns as well.

Wily Peralta anyone? Wouldn't mind having a young stud throwing 93-95 with electric breaking stuff following Gallardo. Hopefully Dougie gives him the call.

I was in an ESPN Fantasy Baseball Live-Draft yesterday and came across a user from Delaware. He asked me if I have been following the Brewers for a while and followed up that question by asking if I remembered the prospects in the C.C. Sabathia trade. He said he went to high school with Rob Bryson back in Delaware and they regularly keep in touch. The guy told me Bryson "really misses playing for the Brew and enjoyed his time there" and "does not like it in Cleveland". While it may be relatively insignificant, I thought I'd pass this information along to the brewerfan nation.

I was in an ESPN Fantasy Baseball Live-Draft yesterday and came across a user from Delaware. He asked me if I have been following the Brewers for a while and followed up that question by asking if I remembered the prospects in the C.C. Sabathia trade. He said he went to high school with Rob Bryson back in Delaware and they regularly keep in touch. The guy told me Bryson "really misses playing for the Brew and enjoyed his time there" and "does not like it in Cleveland". While it may be relatively insignificant, I thought I'd pass this information along to the brewerfan nation.

Is anyone else concerned about the bullpen? I'm guessing our pen will look like this: Axford, Braddock, Loe, Hawkins, Parra, Stetter, and Green/Mercedes/McClendon. Granted, Axford was as stable as ever last year, I'm not feeling the rest of our staff... Outside of '10, Kameron Loe has logged 343 Innings with a 1.52 WHIP, 10.4 H/9, 3.2 BB/9, 4.7 K/9, 4.47 ERA, and 97 ERA+. Quite average. Just like Todd Coffey did last year, I'm expecting Loe to regress back to his career norms. Especially with the downgraded defense now at SS with the acquisition of Yuniesky Betancourt. Braddock has the stuff and potential to be lights out, but control issues and his "injury-prone" label have me hesitant to rely on him. Hawkins can be quite good when healthy, but I can't get images of him blowing games early in the season (pre-injury) out of my head. Parra, well, see: Braddock. Stetter was a reliable LOOGY from '08-'09, but for some reason lost all semblance of a good pitcher (6.86 ERA in 41 AAA innings, 1.52 WHIP, 10 H/9). Green doesn't excite me at all, posting a career ERA+ of 97. He seems to be a workhorse, bullpen-filler type. There are many FA relievers still available that could pose as low-risk/high-reward signs (incentive laden deals): Juan Cruz, Manny Delcarmen, Kelvim Escobar, Kyle Farnsworth, Kevin Gregg (if he'd be willing to set-up Axe), Bob Howry, Chad Qualls, Jon Rauch, Chris Ray, JC Romero, Takashi Saito, and Scot Shields. Signing any of these guys to a cheap, one-year deal would be a huge boost - if they panned out. A 7th-8th-9th combo of Braddock-Shields-Axford or Braddock-Cruz/Escobar-Axford sound pretty nasty. I think this team is a couple signings away from a playoff-caliber team. A power lefty off the bench for those close games (Russell Branyan?), a glove-first SS (I really like Dodgers SS Chin-Lung Hu - Minor league career slash of .299/.341/.418 with excellent defense), and a lights-out reliever (I like Saito, Shields, Escobar, Cruz as buy-low targets). Right now, we are a very solid team. I think the bullpen and defense will hold us back this year however. Any thoughts? EDIT: Broxton and Chin-Lung Hu for some sort of package? 2 birds with one stone.

Gotta assume Greinke's going to get the Opening Day nod. Not a knock against Gallardo in any way, he is just the superior pitcher. We're opening up with Cincinnati a matchup of Greinke vs. Volquez would be quite the game.

What about Cesar Izturis? Seeing as the Orioles just traded for J.J. Hardy will he become expendable? He may not be the best hitter (.256/.296/.323 over 10 seasons), but he is a phenomenal fielder. Only committed 9 errors in 151 games last year, last three years he's at 9, 10, and 6 defensive runs above average. From what I remember seeing him in STL, he has a cannon for an arm. Just another name to consider. I'd much rather take JJ Hardy back but I highly doubt that will happen.

I was just wondering if some of you more up-to-date with the Brewers could post a list of our current payroll? Like how much money we have to spend this winter to stay around the 80-85 million we were at last year? Any insight into arbitration raises? (Marcum, etc) Thanks for any posts regarding this.

Brewers4eric, thats exactly what I'm thinking. There will more than likely be injuries to a couple pitchers, so it would be wise by Melvin to keep Julio and/or Coffey instead of losing them to waivers and sacrificing our depth. He can stash Dillard, Swindle, and DiFelice down in Nashville and recall them when needed

Hypothetically speaking, if Julio and Coffey do not make the team will they be forfeited to waivers? Or does the team have options left on both of them? Because i would hate to lose some of our bullpen depth by giving jobs to Swindle or DiFelice (who both have options) then lose Julio and Coffey. I'd like to see: Hoffman CL Villanueva SU Riske MR McClung LR Stetter LOOGY Gagne MR Julio/Coffey (Battle for the last spot)

Anyone know what kind of stuff this guy throws?

or not

I thought of a sort of game, as you may call it, to pass time during the uneventful days of the offseason. You can choose to rate one player, the starting squad, or the entire team; it't up to you. Here it goes: rate the players of the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers, a la vintage MVP Baseball games (1-100 rating for each category), in offensive, defensive, and pitching categories Categories Offensive Contact (versus LHP and for RHP) Power (versus LHP and for RHP) Speed Base Running Ability Batting Clutch (may be too subjective, buy hey its still fun to rate) Defensive Arm Strength Arm Accuracy Range Glove (overall fielding skills) Pitching Control "Stuff" Pick-off (for those who apply) Mound Presence (feel free to post any other categories that you deem appropriate)

If we sign Sheets to a one year deal, our rotation would become quite servicable; potentially formidable Sheets Gallardo Parra Bush Suppan/(Capuano if he returns from injury, to form)

I wouldn't be surprised to see Omar Aguilar called up at some point in the season. Possibly a darkhorse to make the team out of Spring Training

With Trevor Hoffman as the only "A-Type" closer still available (according to Melvin), I decided to look at some other free agent closer options still out there. The two that jumped out at me were ex-Nationals closer, Chad Cordero, and ex-Cardinals closer, Jason Isringhausen. I know Cordero had labrum surgery earlier in the year, but he is expected to be ready for Spring Training. For his career, Cordero has a 2.78 ERA and could be a cheap, high-reward signing. Isringhausen had a terrible year last year, but in 2007 he only blew two saves and had a 2.48 ERA in 65 innings. He has 293 career saves and could provide a veteran presence in our young bullpen (Dillard, Swindle, Villanueva, Morlan, Stetter, maybe Pena and/or Aguilar) I've heard little news about either, and maybe one could be signed to a relatively cheap deal

Phil Garner!!!!!! if he is still available (not on a coaching staff? im not sure?)