Tbadder

I think patience is called for. It's only prudent. In my heart of hearts I don't think the Cards can win the division, a swoon is in order. The Cubs will hit all year but Hill's been sent down already and one injury to another starter might cause a domino affect like ours. I like the idea of trading Hall and Hardy and Hart. Hardy, if he's not gonna hit, costs us nothing since Escobar is probably the better defender right now. If you don't want to mess with him then play Hall there and start Dillon. Spell Dillon with the occassional Counsell. Now who needs a All-Star shortstop struggling to find his offense but will overlook it because he's cheap and young and has proven upside?

I think that Gaudin has a chance to be the second best starter in the current rotation, though 3rd or 4th is probably more likely. Clearly he's better than Bush.

Agreed Skaalen is meat. It's over for him. Someone's gonna take the blame. You know, for the first time I'm thinking Melvin might be in trouble. I've always supported the guy, but it's looking like he's reached his peak. Maybe Jack Z. needs a shot. I also agree that it's time for a tough guy approach. It's time to start demanding production. I hate Earl Weaver baseball--wait and wait and wait. There's got to be a more wholistic approach. Where's the kangaroo court? They should be fining themselves for not hitting to the right side, etc.

Shift the emphasis to the long term plan. You've got to play this hand, but it's time to move on. And I don't mean move on like there's no hope at all. Keep playing, demand production, but shift the thinking. Get off the long term large contracts to Braun and Fielder and put your money into the 2008 draft by taking players who demand more than slot value and drop down the board because of it. Explore trades but don't overreact--Hardy, Hall, Hart all have value and someone might still over pay if we're patient. While I agree that shifting the lineup won't result in more runs scored then why not try it anyways then? Can't hurt right? I'd try: Hart Weeks Braun Fielder Cameron Hardy Hall Pitcher Kendall My reasoning? Let Weeks take pitches for Hart, and force Rickie to bunt more so the 3rd baseman respects him. Rickie should see more fastballs then.

Make him the closer. (Half-kidding)

yeah, I agree with you Mickey D. We get derailed by injuries, bad contracts, skin flint management, and we have to live with the results on and on and on and on. If the last will be first in Heaven there's gonna be a lotta Brewers laughing at the Yankees.

Okay, we were suppose to regress. Everyone here knew there was no way we could keep up last year's place. There's comfort in them thar numbers. Doesn't knowledge count for any thing nowadays? I cuddle up at night with the knowledge that Prince will only hit 40 homers, but man oh man, 36 homers in his last 36 at bats of the season--I'd pay to see that! But seriously, I like the point above. Jeff weaver rears his ugly head in an attempt to save his career, and pulls the Crew outta the doldrums. Bushie shifts to the bullpen, and once a week goes four innings for the save rescueing our bullpen. LaPorta can't be denied and we put him behind Prince, shipping out Cameron for high ceiling prospects at the high A level--only two more years to wait there. Don't laugh it could happen, when a domino falls...well, you never know!

I've often thought about this. How bad of an organization are the Brewers. We like to make fun of the Cubs and their tradition, but it just seems to me that taken as a whole the Brewers might be one of a handful of truly poor organizations. Very St. Louis Brownish maybe.

Hey, maybe were just taking turns. Last year we were horrendous defensively. This year we'll set franchise lows in hitting. Next year after Sheets leaves and Gallardo goes down again, we'll be the worst starting staff in the Bigs. This is an equal opportunity club!

Well, LaPorta's been playing Right Field. In fact, that's almost all he's played. Clearly they want him to be a right fielder in the future. Frankly, I could see Braun as a possible CF'er in the future. Not this year, but he has the athletic ability to play there in the future. I must confess I never thought of Braun as a centerfielder. I'm very skeptical that this is a good thing. But he does have wheels, so maybe that is a possiblity. I'd rather pick up Cameron's option or go with a more typical CF. But LaPorta and Braun at the corners make me smile. I never though, despite his speed and intelligence, that Hart is a CFer, hence one of the reasons I'd be fine trading him. I find it strange that LaPorta is playing rightfield--maybe the Brewers have had plans for trading/moving Hart all along. Why? Based on what? What exactly suggests those two need that much time in the minors? That would still have Braun in AAA right now. Braun seems to me to be a once in 20 year prospect, and while I'm excited about LaPorta and Gamel (Gamel moreso) I want to make sure they are ready. As a small market team I don't want to start the Arby-Clock any sooner than I have to in order to protect my investment. I'm guess that Hart's stock will continue to rise during this period, so I think patience is called for. But again, I'll concede that LaPorta could be ready for the majors by August. Gamel's defense must show significant improvement for him to be ready and I'm doubtful he'll have a handle on that before the 2009 season. Why? He was shopped around this past off-season. He could have been had for Rios which tells me that he could be had for Corey Hart, if not Corey Hart plus a minor leaguer. I think this is an anomaly. It just seems to me that Aces don't get traded unless it's to avoid free agency loss at season's end. So, yes, he was being shopped but I considered that a fishing exhibition to see if someone would truly overpay a truly awful team. I could be wrong, but the fact is that the deal wasn't made for some reason. I don't think we could get Cain for Hall. Agreed. I was throwing out an idea, just brainstorming. I think we'd have to include a major prospect at the least. I'd be fine with giving up Hart for Cain plus a prospect and bringing LaPorta up. Me too!

It's obvious: hot hitters are better than slumping hitters.

The more and more I read about LaPorta, and listen to people like Colby, the more I think LaPorta will be an average major league leftfielder.

While I believe this type of trade must be made, it is much too soon to make said trade. Each player needs an entire year at AA and possibly a third to half season in AAA. I've said this before but the Brewers should identify Hardy, Hall, and Hart as tradeables because of the presence of LaPorta, Gamel, and Escobar. Here's the short term problems with this scenario. LaPorta is a leftfielder, so Braun might have to be moved to rightfield. I don't see this as a real problem as Braun has the range and arm for rightfield. Problem two: Escobar is no gaurantee as an offensive player; however, I believe he'll develop into a good doubles hitter if we're patient. I think he may actually have a growth spurt or two still on the horizon. Problem three: Gamel is a huge defensive liability, so we'll have to be doubly patient with him. I don't think guys like Lincecum can be had in a trade. The Young/Garza trade is the anamoly, not the norm. So I think we're more likely to go after a Cain-type. The Lincecums of the world are to be had in free agency only, which doesn't really make Milwaukee a player. So the question might be. Can we get Hall for Cain? I assume we could get Hart for Cain, but I could also be way off base.

The most bizarre stat this year is the Cardinals' record. No way I saw that coming.

I'd also chime in with those who would rather have the Brewers take the most solid choice at 16, and then go after a guy like Hunter with supplemental picks. I'd like to see the early rounds be pitching dominant, but understand that they must go with their "signable" board. Any chance the Brewers take Weeks again? I really think he's the kind of guy who could be an eventual top of the the order OBP machine.

Man if Rickie learned to be a first class bunter and that 3rd baseman had to come in, and the way he pulls the ball, that's gotta be worth some points on the OBP and AVG. Great idea.

I don't think the Brewers are a "good team." But I think they are the best "excellent team in waiting" in the National League. They're creating a pipeline of position players to the major leagues that would suggest the upper echelons are not too far off. If they are able to supplement the pitchers through trade or free agency then "good" will come very quickly. For example, if the Brewers had acquired Haren in the off-season and Gallardo hadn't went down, I'd think they'd be the class of the league. (Just throwing out an idea).

Wow-- thanks for the insight and the particulars as a person who is trying to figure out the whole minor league thing this sort of discussion is invaluable and entertaining

I'm really getting sick of the unwarranted criticism that some people come under here. This is suppose to be an open forum for people who love and think about this game. It's not a hierarchy where people get to tell others what they are thinking or feeling. What? Some of us have access to another person's mind and so we can assume they are having an emotional reaction to some stimulus--that is not only unfair but too often incorrect. The question asked was legitimate, and one that can be asked at any time during the development of a core group of players. When that core changes for any time (like the Gallardo injury) the question will arise more naturally I suppose. But in any case when performance on the field changes the answer to the question changes, the percentages change if you will--hence, it is a legitimate question again and continuously. And any organization worth its salt must balance a long term and a short term plan. In addition, each of these are usually somewhat fluid given the propensity of the world to change. Another reason why this is a legitimate question to ask. The Brewers have three players who are coming to the major leagues in the near future and look to be pretty good players. Of course decisions will have to be made and if some of us here would like to speculate, conjecture, and even dare to make suggestions, what is the big deal? If you can't do that what are we here for? I'd suggest were here for the possiblities, not the definitive truth, which is often allusive in this game we love.

Poor choice of words on my part. I was thinking well, they're only a .500 club now. I should have said, "being honest with myself" or something to that affect. I bow to your superior "objective" knowledge here. By and by, what were the Cardinals' chances this year--about 10%? Maybe they'll win this division.

I don't think there is any "now" any more. The Crew needs to think long term, so moves that are made in response to this injury will be a mistake I believe. We've got three starters soon to be in Milwaukee--LaPorta, Gamel, and Escobar. If we are dealing lets deal from strength next year after those three have proved themselves for a third to half of a season in AAA. Let Sheets and Gagne walk if they're classified Type A free agents, and then start in this year's draft a major push in the pitching department that continues until we build a pipeline for pitchers like we have for hitters (I know, I know easier said then done). If we can deal Hall, Hardy, and Hart for immediate help (assuming LaPorta, Gamel, and Escobar prove themselves) while locking up Fielder and Braun long term, I see no reason why the Brewers can't be competitive for the better part of a decade. I think the exception to this would be dealing Sheets to someone like the Yanks if a top flight-one-year-away major league starter is available. Just a thought.

I'd take his whole salary and throw in an extra 2 or 3 million for a young stud pitcher say at the high A level.

What a great article; geez...I'm depressed.

Game, set, match. I know, I know...I'm way too negative. But objectively, I really see no way this team can make the playoffs now without corresponding injuries to other teams. Having said that, who cares? This is still going to be an immensely interesting and fun team. Furthermore, I like the attitude that's developing. I think the Crew is noticeably tougher and on the ball. I suppose it's the maturation of the players and the exeprience of having to fight late last season. I'm going to enjoy the season and this team even though they're not going to the playoffs. I've waited this long; I can wait a little longer. The only thing I would've done differently is left Bush down and called up another pitcher, probably Naverson. Realizing full well that Bush probably would be better. I'd just be in the mood to roll some dice at this point rather than trying to get by with just being solid. The only blame here, for me, and I realize it's just me, is at Melvin's feet. I begged the dude to upgrade his starting pitching over the off season. Depth will never be quality. But that's water under the bridge and we need to get on with it by punishing the Astros for starters!

When I first saw this it was written in a way that made it seem like Smoltz was saying the switch would be permanent.