lumberrule

Infielders (4): Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Braun (duh). I do, however, hope that the Brewers do look hard at improving the reserves for this group. I truly believe Tony Graffanino's injury hurt this team quite a bit more than some would like to admit. Im sorry, and this is no disrespect to Craig Counsell, but seeing Ned Yost have to turn to him to pinch hit in important situations makes me sick. Craig has gotten quite aways in his career based on two postseason series (and basically one swing of the bat in a postseason game), and overshadows the fact that he is really nothing more than a left-handed hitting Jack Wilson whose quite a bit older. He's a fine defender, no doubt, but if Ryan Braun is gonna be lifted in the 7th inning of games due to defensive issues, we need someone who can actually hit when his turn is called upon in the lineup. Outfield (3): Corey Hart and Bill Hall as obvious keepers, and I think Gabe Gross' performance after being recalled should get him serious consideration at a starting job in '08. Obviously, that means we need a RH hitting OF to play facing LH starters...and if we're not gonna keep Jenkins, I have a hard time thinking Doug Melvin is gonna keep Mench - who hardly played at all in September - for $2 million +. I think Tong Gwynn Jr could contribute nicely if given a chance, but I think he's gonna be dealt this winter if the deal is right. Catcher (2): Estrada just isnt as bad as everybody thinks he is, and as pointed out, the Brewers aren't going to find more for what he is making. I would think Rivera finally gets a shot at a big league roster spot. Pitchers (9): Sheets, Gallardo, Suppan, Villanueva, Bush, Shouse, McClung, Spurling, Linebrink/Cordero. I truly believe the Brewers will make a big effort to keep Cordero, with the contracts of Jenks, Mench and Koskie off the books. If they dont keep him, I think Linebrink stays and barring a trade or another big name signing, enters spring training as the closer. Either way, I believe Melvin antes up for one of the two because he HAS to. I think Turnbow is sent packing via trade, as he is just too inconsistent to be trusted late in games. But, since he throws hard and is lights out when he is on, I think he would garner some value on the market. I think McClung has done enough to warrant a look as a 7th inning guy next year, and Chris Spurling really isn't any worse than any other run-of-the-mill middle reliever you would find. I would think another LH reliever would be in Doug Melvin's sights this winter, as is another starting pitcher. Ben Sheets has proven time and again that he just cant be trusted, and outside of Manny Parra - whom I think starts the year in AAA - the depth really isn't there. With guys like Gallardo and Villy now in the rotation, I think Capuano doesnt even make the team next year. Thats seven spots open for me. 2 or 3 on the pitching staff, depending on if the Brewers carry 11 or 12 pitchers, 2 bench outfielders, and 2 bench infielders. I really think the Brewers need to address the team in this order this offseason: 1. Starting Pitching 2. Bullpen 3. Bench strengthening The Brewers can't overlook their bench next year like they did this year. We need reserves who can hit, not just play defense.

I, for one, am not going to be suprised if Jenkins is back with Milwaukee next year. I highly doubt another team out there is going to offer Jenkins a starting job, considering he is obviously in a platoon portion of his career. If the Brewers do indeed try to trade TGJ this winter, the OF depth for this team isn't exactly going to be top-notch. If Jenks is willing to return to Milwaukee in a part-time role for reduced money, Id be all for it. The question is if Jenks would be for it.

I would want NO part in Torii Hunter. He's gonna command an awful lot of money, and offensively he will never be able to live up to that kind of contract. I also think Estrada will be back, simply because outside of a handful of catchers, no catcher is really an impact type of player offensively. Estrada will still be relatively cheap and serviceable, which really is about all you can ask for in a catcher, unless your name is Mauer or Posada. Im wondering why TGJ would be such a poor choice getting an OF slot next year. If people here think he's worth so much (or at least worth something of real value), why shouldn't he get a chance to play everyday? The Brewers are gonna have to spend some money this year on a closer, along with one other really good bullpen arm. There's just no way around it. Other years, there was always somebody "in house" to promote to that job...this year, I don't see that. If the Brewers don't make a run at resigning Cordero, they're gonna have to fork over a ton of money to find another closer. The Brewers, whether they make the playoffs this year or not, surely have to see themselves as contenders in '08, and contending teams dont have bullpens made up of young unproven players or aging vets on the downhill sides of their careers.

The Cardinals revised their roster between every round last year, if Im not mistaken. I believe Wainright wasn't even on the roster until the World Series.

Yes, yes I know...theyre not there yet. But its not too early to start thinking about the potential playoff roster for the first round (remember, rosters can be revised after every round of the playoffs). Here's what I would construct: Pitchers Ben Sheets Dave Bush Jeff Suppan Yovani Gallardo Francisco Cordero Brian Shouse Derrick Turnbow Matt Wise Scott Linebrink Carlos Villanueva Chris Capuano Position Players Johnny Estrada Damian Miller Vinny Rottino Prince Fielder Rickie Weeks JJ Hardy Ryan Braun Craig Counsell Joe Dillon Geoff Jenkins Corey Hart Gabe Gross Bill Hall Kevin Mench Quick Thoughts: -I'm assuming that if the make the playoffs, the Brewers have to be leanient on Yo's "limit" of innings. He's been one of our best, most consistent pitchers this second half. -Chris Capuano is only on this roster in case of an emergency, i.e. unexpected injury or to suck up innings in a blowout. Have to have someone like this on the roster -Carry Vinny Rottino. I think you have to have 3 catchers on the roster, and Rottino fits the bill for that and can also do so many other things

If the Braves are completely out of the race, though, is there a possibility that Bobby Cox will start a couple of young pitchers or maybe start some of his Sep. call-ups? I heard somebody mention this on WSSP, and I think it may be plausible, considering the Cox-Yost connection. Or maybe I'm just thinking wishfully... It's not gonna be who the other team throws out at us...its going to be how OUR pitchers fare against their lineup. Our starting pitching was much improved over the homestand, they now have to be able to carry it on the road.

The Brewers clearly have an advantage schedule-wise. While they certainly aren't good on the road, the only real decent team they have to face on the road the rest of the year is Atlanta. The Brewers two toughest series left are both at home, which is a big plus. The Cards just have too many injuries, and as been already pointed out, their schedule flat out sucks.

The Brewers now control their own destiny. Again. Let's see if they actually grab hold of it now.

Johnny Estrada, career: .281/.322/.406, 728 OPS Johhny Estrada, 2007: .280/.300/.400, 700 OPS Avg. NL C, 2007: .255/.316/.389, 705 OPS To be fair, Estrada is about where he usually his career-wise, just a slight dip in OBP. The Brewers and the fans have simply over-valued what he was going to give us. Not saying he's an outstanding player by any means, but he really isn't underachieving that badly from his career numbers, and he's on the wrong side of 30. He's pretty much smack dead-on average for catchers in the National League this year. Honestly, there's really only about a half-dozen catchers in the MLB that truly are difference makers on offense. The rest are pretty much lumped in the same category as Johnny.

Jaybird, I think watching Estrada's baserunning has prompted this move. With the deeper bench, they will pinch run for either late in a close game. That's why Vinny Rottino was called up. Rivera is up only because Miller is going to be out for a few days, and the Brewers don't want to have Rottino as the top backup should Estrada get hurt for more than a couple of games. I think once Miller is deemed fit and healthy, Rivera gets sent back down.

If Bray is gonna sit at the end of the bullpen bench and have no role other than mop-up in a blowout, there's no reason to have him in Milwaukee...he has no role. Might as well keep him at AAA, after all, Nashville needs SOMEBODY decent down there to help them the rest of their season.

I'm not sure I understand this move. Sure, Ray King has always been and continues to be one heck of a LOOGY, but a left-handed specialist reliever is not a weakness of this team...Shouse has arguably been one of the two best pitchers out of the pen the Brewers have had since the AS break. Milwaukee doesn't need another one-batter-per-game reliever, they need a guy who can get through an entire inning without putting his team in a jam. This move does nothing to solve this team's glaring problems: starting pitching, right-handed middle relief, and a punchless bench. I guess we'd have to wait and see exactly who is given up, but if its anyone of real value, its a bad trade for Milwaukee, simply because they won't be able to use King if they make it to the playoffs.

Pence hits lefties better? Fine. Then bring in Cordero, not Aquino. Yost is so unbelieveably clueless. He'll take out Ryan Braun before the 9th inning of a tight game for defensive reasons, but then will bring in Greg Aquino to try and get the most important out of the game with 2 outs in the 8th, while our closer sits in the bullpen and rots. Absolutely clueless.

UW football starts this Saturday. Watch a good team with talent actually back it up on the field of play, and watch a coaching staff that knows what its doing. Just for those of you looking for alternatives to this circus act called the Milwaukee Brewers....

If you want to talk meaningful samples you need to talk about 162 games and even that isn't technically large enough statistcally. I'd love to hear you say that to MLB general managers. When seasons get to be in the 250-game mark, will that be big enough? Half of a season of play is certainly more than enough to obtain judgments about the way certain players or teams are playing. Teams in pennant races, just or not, have to have their sample sizes shrunk in order to obtain the best possible performance in a limited number of games. After the 24-10 start, all this team needed to do to get 90 wins was go 66-62, or play just over .500 baseball. That's hardly "setting expectations too high", especially if you thought this team was a .500-caliber club going in.

what i'm saying is, i guess: there is another good meal in that box. This line of thinking is the same line that's been trotted out by the Brewers this whole stretch of poor play. Im getting so sick and tired of hearing "there's a lot of baseball left, hang in there...". Everything with the Brewers is, "Just wait..." Examples: "Just wait, when Ben Sheets comes back, everything will be fine..." "Just wait, when Bill Hall gets hot, this offense will explode..." "Just wait, when Rickie Weeks turns it around, he's gonna be the key to this offense turning it around..." "Just wait, Jeff Suppan is a second-half pitcher, and will be the best when its most important..." "Just wait, Chris Capuano is an all-star, and he will get it turned around..." "Just wait, Yovani Gallardo will stablize this rotation and make people forget Ben Sheets is hurt.." Meanwhile, while we're waiting, Ben Sheets is still on the DL and MIGHT get 4-6 starts before the season is over, Bill Hall continues to be very average, Rickie Weeks continues to suck, Jeff Suppan is proving to be a major bust, the Brewers haven't won with Capuano on the mound since early May, and Yovani Gallardo looks to have hit the wall here late in the season. Meanwhile, the Cubs and Cardinals, instead of just sitting back and taking it easy, have shut their mouths and have started playing good baseball. Point is, there really IS NOT a whole lot of baseball left. 41 games, if my math is correct. And this team has shown NOTHING in the past 80+ games to show me that they can right this ship and win this division.

Maybe this really was just a ~.500 team all along. You hit the nail on the head. 24-10 is a small sample of games. The 38-49 record since is not a small sample...its over half of the season.

I don't know how you can commit $15 million a year to a guy with an injury history like Sheets. Freak injuries or not, the guy hasn't pitched a full season since 2004.

On paper, it's still anybody's division, but I'm not totally sure that the Brewers possess the emotional mojo to battle back. " I don't think "emotional mojo" has anything to do with it. I think its just the fact that the Brewers just aren't as good as the Cubs or the Cardinals. Seriously...look at the 3 rosters right now for those three clubs. Sure, the Brewers might have good, young talent, but from top to bottom, both St. Louis and Chicago are just plain better than Milwaukee right now. Milwaukee, in a way, got lucky when they played their hottest baseball the same time the Cubs were playing their worst, and when the Cardinals were absolutely decimated by injury. I don't think this roster is capable of playing a true .500 season, and that fact has been borne out by the way this team has played since that torrid 24-10 start (now 11 games under .500 since). Milwaukee over-valued their starting rotation, did nothing to improve a punchless bench, and improved an area of their club (the back end of the bullpen) that really is the strongest area of the team. The weakest areas (second base, a fourth OF that can actually hit, another starting pitcher) weren't addressed by the club. And now the Brewers are paying for it. As stated above in an earlier post, every team good or bad has stretches of poor play. However, those stretches are equaled out, or in most cases surpassed, by stretches of very good play...thus helping to "stop the bleeding", so to speak. The Brewers, since that 24-10 stretch, have not had another elongated stretch of solid play...thus, the slow bleed has continued now to the point where Milwaukee now has no more room for error. The teams that get the pitching in August and September go to the playoffs. That ain't happening here.

Prepare yourselves now, folks...the Cubs are going to win this division. Im not saying that because Im in "panic" mode, Im saying it because its true. The Cubs are just a cut above the Brewers. Their rotation is better. Their bullpen is better. Their everyday lineup is every bit as good, if not better. The only reason they aren't in first place already is because they were cold the same time the Brewers went through that 10-20 streak. In my humble opinion, the Brewers are gonna have to play .550-.600 ball the rest of the way to win this division, and based on the last three months and what Ive seen on the field lately, I just don't see that happening.

So much for last night being a turning point. Quote of the season from Brian Anderson: "You get the feeling that if the Brewers can just keep the Mets at 8, they have a chance to come back..."

Tonight's loss makes last night's great win mean nothing. And yes, Im calling this a loss. The Mets bullpen is one of the three best in the league.

NICE AB!!!! Beautiful! Perez is frustrated! COME ON BILLY Nothing like a Bill Hall strikeout to regain a pitchers confidence.

As usual, after any sort of early outburst, the offense looks like they're ready to take the rest of the night off. Of course, I'd be pissed too if I put up 5 early runs and watched Claudio Vargas give them away to Ramon Castro and Marlon Anderson.

Whenever the Brewers score a lot of runs early, the offense seems to always fall asleep the rest of the game. That better start changing tonight.