Tbadder

Yeah, I think that Gwynn will win the job as the 4th OF. With Lamb possibly getting most of the at bats at 3rd, Hall might make it impossible for the Crew not to give him away, so McGehee would be my second choice. If Macha goes with the idea that telivers have to be able o go multiple innings then I expect Dillard and DeFilice to make it as well. P.S. Gwynn is obviously better in the oufield than Irribarren

I couldn't agree more. If you were rich and 25 to 35 years of age, would you pick Milwaukee? Not many. It is a great place, but not for the demographic were talking about. I don't think it's any thing to get upset about. It's just the truth. That's why the emphasis has to be on player development; free agency will never be a truly viable option for the Brewers.

Better yet I'd sign Scully, God when she went into the windup with both arms above her head...geez

Two reasons why I want to lose this bet. How about I give you a case of Schlitz and we drop the whole thing--my bad!

4-8 120 innings 4.95 88ks. Physically and mentally I'm not sold on this guy at all. Injuries, poor performances this season--remember, this is the Milwaukee Brewers we're talking about. This is the guy that Prince had to b-slap in the dug out.

I say start throwing retreads against the wall and see if any stick.

I would give him a two year contract myself. By that time, maybe, just maybe, the Brewers will have developed an reliever or two. Hoffmann is a perfect stop-gap measure--sign him now.

God, I wish this would go away. The best Brewer announcer ever--I'm just sick about seeing him leave.

Feel free to repeatedly beat on me. But here's my one and a half cents. 1) Escobar--I realize the age disparity, but as ready as Robin Yount, nuff said. I like him better than LaPorta 2) Jeffress 3) Lucroy--He seems like he improves everywhere he goes, even if he has minor setbacks; I love that kinda mentality 4) Green--More than anyone else I think we'll be either megadisappointed or megahappy. Can't quite grasp him as an athlete? 5) Cain 6) Gamel--I have him this low because he doesn't have a position, which in the end might make him a part-time professional hitter. If it were my organization I would not be interested in players like this. Of course if it was my organization the Brewers would probably be relegated to the Sally League. 7) Odorizzi 8) Peralta 9) Lawrie--I hate putting him in the top ten as he also has no position. However he is young enough to be moved off catcher, so that he can have a really productive ML career. At third base he'd be my #3 prospect. 10) Dykstra 11) Braddock--Given his health this is probably too high, but who else has this kind of potential? 12) Salome--Don't know why I'm putting him this high. Probably because I don't want to look really, really, stupid. But again, no position. How do you become a major leaguer if you can't play a position? 13) Wooten--I'm guessing that this guy just produces, and I'm guessing a quick move up the ladder. 14) Nieves 15) Lintz 16) Gillespie--Another guy with part-timer written all over him. I'm just gutless so I'll put him in. 17) Gindl--Never have I been so wrong about a prospect like I was about Caleb. He blew me away, and then all of you pointed out that he was drafted from Charlie and Chocolate factory. Lets name all the 5'7" to 5'9" everyday players in Major League Soccer, much less major league baseball. 18) Aguilar 19) Dillard--shockingly good stuff as a reliever, I hope the Brewers commit to him 20) Lasker

I just don't think a team like the Brewers can have too many high picks. I say stay away from anyone who costs us.

Spooky--that's exactly what I was going to say. 15 wins and 180Ks. I think he's mentally tough, and I expect a very successful pitcher for years to come. He'll hit 20 wins once or twice in his career.

Why do we talk about the Cubs? Right now they're 10 games better than the Crew. We're not going to make up those ten games, so what gives? We should be concentrating on the Cards, which I assmue Melvin is doing.

To restore competitive balance I would contract the league to 24 teams. Then any team that can't make a 100 million dollar payroll and turn a profit would be put on probation. If in three years a team couldn't fulfill this mandate then that team would also be contracted. Payroll growth would then be tied into a predictable set amount, say 3 to 5 percent per year. I'd also like to expand rosters to 12 pitchers and 18 everyday players, and cut back the schedule to 124 games, giving players more rest, leading presumedly to less injury, which should also make the league more competitive.

My greatest wish is that the Union strikes and that the owners just shut down the league for a full season. But the owners have always been gutless, spineless boys with toys who let the inmates run the asylum. I will defend the Union in one way--the owners must be forced to open their books. Any team that truly cannot handle a 70 to 100 million dollar payroll and make a profit really needs to be shutdown.

Well, the marketplace should be set by now. I expect signing to come quicker now. Now watch Sheeter sign with the Nationals so we really get nothing.

The rotation right now looks like a 70 win rotation. I'd like to get that up to an 80 win rotation. 80 wins would be a nice win-total for the Crew next year. It shouldn't alienate new fans too much; it should give us hope for the future. Going to the ballpark should still be enjoyable competitive-wise. It's just very important that the Brewers stay away from any big ticket free agents because revenues could dry up very quickly in this economy. Corporate sponsorship etc. will diminish once the commercial property crisis takes hold (it could end up being worse than the mortgage crisis, but that's probably overstating somewhat). Parra of course is the key. To me he is weak of body and mind. The body part is pretty obvious. The mind part is speculation on my part, but he just never seems to command the mound or the action. Talent? For sure. I think he'll get between 100 and 150 innings max, and my guess is that he'll always have to be babied through a season. I look at him more as a dynamite #3 starter than just a fair #2. I think Gallardo will be alright. He has force of will, and I expect he'll develop into a #1 type pitcher in a year or two. The rest are fill-ins unless Bush figures it out, but most here have pointed out that he is what he is and to expect more or less would be silly at this point.

Mainly because the Brewers can't be contenders next year. We need stop-gaps for a year or two until we, and we, get a meaning infusion of young talent.

If I was the Yankees I'd give Tex 200 million for 8 years and 73 million for 3 for Manny and 50 million for 3 for Benny--damn those free agent signing rules.

Ken Rosenthal thinks that Manny to the Yankees is a good bet. He explained that the Yanks are lukewarm on Tex because they expect to move A-Rod to first in a year or two, and that Tex's bat simply isn't as clutch or reliable as Manny's.

I was listening to Duquette on XM this morning and he expects Looper to sign with Baltimore. Just a rumor of course.

Big Looper fan here--just does his job, battles, throws lots of innings. Gives real flexibility, and I betcha we got money to sign other players as well (read Sheets or Fuentes). If it's the only signing of course that could mean trouble, but I just don't believe it's gonna end here.

I don't think that any team is going to trade 3 good young pitchers at once. A GM can expect one and others. No team except the Big 3 can leverage their future. Now if the Brewers could get a top flight pitcher and catcher, along with a lead-off type outfielder who has at least a chance I'd probably pull the trigger. I do agree the Crew is not going to be making a "haul" with Fielder, unless they can involve a third team in the trade--preferrably a Sumo Stable in Japan. Now there he has real value.

The more I think about it the more I believe the Brewers can't afford Dunn's defense anywhere but 1st base. Besides the Nats are going to overspend on him, and the Crew just can't play that game.

No. If I were Doug Melvin I'd do my best Ted Thompson imitation and just say the heck with free agents. Lowe is too old for that kind of money. For all the teams' use of statistical analysis nowadays why they haven't figured out that ballplayers above 35 are a bad investment is beyond me. On the other hand Boras sits at the lefthand of Satan, and if his clients don't get what he thinks they should, he'll probably sue the league for collusion and win.

MLB.com is reporting that the Red Sox are out of the Mark T. sweepstakes, citing a lack of a competitive bid (roughly 22 to 23 million per year). Sounds like the Yankees are up to their same 'ol shenanigans. Boy, oh, boy will this hurt the Crew if he lands in Yankeeville. Geez, now I am depressed.