jcrashnash

Fox Sports suggests that the White Sox would accept either Ryan Braun or Yovanni Gallardo as compenstaion for Buerhle. AS IF!!!!

Some other fans have suggested we bank on getting a strong starter and let the trickle down effect help our bull pen. Problem is who is available? Mark B has made it so clear he wants to be in St Louis, I would hesitate giving up more than a couple mid level prospects for him. What about Dontrelle Willis? I don't think adding another B level starter is the answer, but I'm still disturbed about our bullpen, especially after the last KC game. Remember DBOW has a history of not just tanking 1 game, but doing them in bunches. Even the one super year he had, there was a bad streak that started with a rally in Minnesota (I think Shannon Stewart jacked one on him), and it was a number of games until Dbow picked himself back up. The guy has a fragile psyche, and I don't like depending on that for the eighth inning.

The Poll on the Milwaukee Brewer's home page asks this very question. With the choices between upgrading starters, relievers, adding a bat, or staying pat 40% of the vote is for the bullpen and 32% for staying the course.

Is it the consensus, then that the Brewers will stand pat or call up one of their prospects to fill holes? Is everyone comfortable with giving the 8th inning to DBow? What if he implodes again? I know Charlie V has worked quality innings, but if you shift him to the 8th don't you lose him as the potential long man in the pen? His versatility has been just as awsome as his stuff. I don't want Griffey jr's contract, but what about Adam Dunn? How much longer is he under contract for, and what do you think it would take to pry him away from Cincy? Another responder like getting Buerhle but he's made it clear he wants major bucks and wants to pitch for the Cards next year (with their rotation, they'll find a way to sign him, I think) I hate renting players, it rarely pays off (See Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Lee).

As the Brewers continue their most successful start in recent (and not so recent!) history, I continue to be impressed by how Melvin has put this team together. Which begs the question...what machinations are going on now? What part of the Brewers should be tinkered with now? All brilliant trades of 2 utility players and a prospect for Johann Santana aside, what's realistic? There are enough Turnbow, Jenkins, and Mench haters out there to start this off, but who is out there now that we could work a deal with? The White Sox look ready to wave the flag, but I don't think renting Buehrle or Dye fits in with the "Plan" nor does it match Melvin's style. A lot of my buddies say the Brewers have advanced to the point where they need to become active buyers for a playoff push. "Deal the prospects and land someone who can help!" Who is that someone? I don't want to mess with the infield AT ALL. Our catching tandem is easily better than adequate (Chad Moeller anyone?), our starting pitchers (knock on wood) stack up well from 1-5 with even some of the big spending teams, what does that leave,,,outfield, relief pitching, and utility players. Would we be best served in the bullpen by signing Cordero to a new contract? How about catching the soon to come fire sale @ Cincinatti and grabbing former Brewer David Weathers? In the outfield, I like TGJ a lot. We could move HAll to left, and have our best defensive CF playing in CF and still keep Hall and Hart in the lineup. Could we be at the point where we stand pat unless a deal really blows us away, or should we be agressive buyers?

Jenkins was a type A player in whose mind? We heard Jenks being mentioned in a scad of trades, but what we were offered wasn't worthy of an "A" list player. Flat out, Jenkins is NOT a top tier corner outfielder. He's not even worth 7.5 mill, which is a bargain based on the off season free agent signings. Your point about taking advantage of a contract year might have some merit though.

I'm hard pressed to see what kind of player we can get in return for Jenkins. For 10 days during the year Jenkins is arguably the hottest hitter in baseball. The only problem is you sometimes have to wait until August to get that production. I've heard Cubs fans whine about how ARAM had the most meaningless 30 HR 100 RBI season in history. I liken Jenkins to Ramirez. His overall numbers belie the fact that he isn't a clutch hitter, his big hits come in blow out games, and he will go through month long droughts of power and average. I like Jenkins, I just don't see how a GM would willingly part with a quality player, let alone a quality arm for him. We've given him all the time he needs to mature, it's time for us to cut our ties. I think Washington can do lots better than adding him to their roster...on a year in and year out basis, Jenkins costs more games than he wins.