TuesdaysWithRillo

I have started a 20 keeper league with a 10 minor leaguer farm system. This is the first year of the league and we are doing it for free in the first year as a trial run. It will be a $20 league going forward. Private message me if you are interested. I have some spots open yet.

Really, whether Greinke misses one start or not this season will almost certainly have no bearing on the season. I would hope Melvin realizes this and is willing to sit Greinke if it means a good chance of working out a deal. Absolutely, Russ. If the end game of all of this is the Brewers signing Greinke to a long term deal then this little episode in the 2012 lost season of the Milwaukee Brewers history will be forgotten.

For sure. I was indirectly giving my opinion on the Greinke trade, and my overall point is that we can still come out ahead or break even depending on how we look at things. The glass is usually half empty, though, on an internet message board..

Agreed. It would. But I just don't see that happening unless you consider 1st round draft picks as "nothing".

Not necessarily. While a Greinke injury would hurt his trade value it could also hurt his value on the open market in free agency depending on how long term the injury is. Other teams I'm sure would question his reliabliity and durability while it could result in the Brewers getting him at an affordable price now with an extension or during offseason negotiations. Sure, I might be overly optimistic here, but it's not all doom and gloom. Also, at worst, we will recieve draft compensation for Greinke if he leaves in free agency if teams start to low ball us on trade offers. I would hope Melvin wouldn't sell Greinke for pennies now that his value has lowered. He's smarter than that. Bottom line, as long as we get something of long term value - Prospect(s), High Draft choices, or Greinke himself returning to the Brewers with a long term contract agreement, this is not a Franchise Killer by any means and is an over reaction on your part because we didn't give up our franchise to obtain him. All we gave up was a solid but not great SS, a pot smoking reliever with a good arm, a nice pitching prospect that probably only projects in the middle of the rotation, and a solid but not great CF. If we had given up something more, I'd be more ticked as well.

It sounds like he is the swing man/long man for now, but I wouldn't close the door on him being used in high pressure situations. It depends on how he performs in this role, first, of course.

Looks like the best way to catch the game will be on MLB.TV. I'll have to fire up my PS3 for this one. Can't wait!

I'm not sure this has been brought up yet, but perhaps Melvin is looking to use Thornburg as a late inning relief ace because KRod and Axford aren't getting the job done. If Thornburg is plugged into the 8th or 9th innings, perhaps he can have a Wainwright like effect on the Brewers as he had on the 2006 Cardinals and we start slamming the door on close games and that puts us back into the race. Sure, it risks Thornburg's future, but that can be worked around. If it helps us win more games in 2012 while we still have Greinke and Marcum, I'm all for it. Count me in as a supporter of this move no matter how it plays out.

Haha. It'd be hard for me to fight you there. Getting that low in the rankings is pretty hard to assess.

1. Taylor Jungmann 2. Wily Peralta 3. Tyler Thornburg 4. Scooter Gennett 5. Jimmy Nelson 6. Jed Bradley 7. Logan Schafer 8. Jorge Lopez 9. Caleb Gindl 10. Orlando Arcia 11. Brooks Hall 12. Michael Fiers 13. Kyle Heckathorn 14. Drew Gagnon 15. Nic Bucci 16. Alan Williams 17. D'Vontrey Richardson 18. Khris Davis 19. Santo Manzanillo 20. Yadiel Rivera 21. Cody Scarpetta 22. Austin Ross 23. Max Walla 24. Hunter Morris 25. Kentrail Davis 26. Mark Rogers 27. Eric Arnett 28. Brandon Kintzler 29. Daniel Meadows 30. Lee Haydel 31. Robert Wooten 32. Martin Maldonado 33. Nick Ramirez 34. Jason Rogers 35. Tommy Toledo 36. Matt Miller 37. Tyler Roberts 38. Ruben Ozuna 39. Shawn Zarraga 40. Mike Walker 41. Cameron Garfield 42. Jesus Sanchez 43. Brock Kjeldgaard 44. Josh Stinson 45. Evan Anundsen 46. Eric Farris 47. T.J. Mittelstaedt 48. Cody Hawn 49. Shea Vucinich 50. Mark Williams

So it sounds like Thornburg won't be called up because he isn't added to the 40 man yet so we'd lose an option year from him in the case where he needed more development in the minor leagues. If he's not big league ready in 2.5 years, though, then he might be a bust anyways. I'd still go with Thornburg because he is the hottest pitcher in AA or above in our system, but I'm ok with Fiers being the guy as well. Just please, no Parra.

As I bang my head onto the wall... ugh. We'd get 3 IP at the most out of him and tax the pen that day. If they are truly worried about service time then call up Fiers. He's only a #4 type at best and will be lucky to sustain himself as a big leaguer anyways.

I'd call up Thornburg + Fiers and start Thornburg as the #5 and use the Fiers as the long man. I'd then 60 day DL Gonzalez and DFA Dillard. Adds depth to the pen, and gets rid of a pitcher adding very little value to the team right now.

Wolf had a 4.47 xFIP last season which shows that his 3.69 ERA was quite fluky. He doesn't have very good stuff as it is and he's going to be 36 in June. His ERA was over 7 before the game started. He better turn it around soon or Melvin might start thinking like me. I'd trade him at any time I could and call up Fiers or Peralta so at least you have a pitcher with some sort of upside.

No!?! Why give away a solid 3 so we can start Estrada and Peralta and probably Parra or McClung if those 5 guys miss a single game? Do you really think Randy Wolf is a solid 3? Yikes.