LouisEly

Fryer - the next Charlie Moore! I would like him to get some reps at C because it can increase his value and C is perhaps the only position where mediocre offensive performance is tolerable if not sometimes accepted (depending on defensive skills).

I don't think this was entirely about hitting. I personally watched Hall pee away two games in Boston with three errors, and he's made a couple costly more since then. I guess Hardy's, Weeks', and Cameron's offensive performance has been more tolerable because they have played decent defense, but when you are performing poorly at the plate AND in the field your behind needs to get parked on the bench for a while. Why he was allowed to start at 3B in the third game of the Boston series is beyond me, having committed three errors the day before. Maybe it was the two singles he got. Maybe I can see why Hall is confused about being benched now, because if he didn't warrant being benched on Sunday of the Boston series I don't know what warrants benching. But Billy, if you want to play you have to perform. At the plate and in the field.

Melvin will be dammed if he does and Dammed if he don"t make any moves. No win Situation for Him right about now,but what other options does he have right now? Ain't that the truth. If he makes a move and goes out and gets a player who is out of work, people complain about the quality he gets. Well, it's early in the season and anyone who is out of work right now is out of work for a reason. The only more talented players available for free right now come with even bigger baggage than Tavarez has (Clemens, Bonds). Also, everyone is still theoretically in the pennant race, so nobody's giving away any quality players for cheap, and if Melvin traded for anyone and gave up prospects half of this board would light up and crucify him for trading away the future. As someone else said, he costs about $250K, and there's a difference between a jerk and a criminal. About the smallest risk you could possibly take right now. Bring him in for two weeks until they can sort out who is healthy, who is effective, and who is not.

With Brevard still in contention for a first half title and WV pretty much out of it, it is not surprising at all (and Perez is stinking it up at Brevard just as much as Brewer is at WV). The Brewers M.O. has been that they will move guys before the season mid-point if one team is in contention and needs help and another team is out of it. Thus why Aguilar is still in Brevard - they are in contention for the post-season so he will not be moved up to Huntsville until the first half is over. Also perhaps why Patrick Ryan stayed in Huntsville and Shiell got called back up to Nashville.

Thanks for the link. Don't know why I though he did that at a higher level; I guess memory fades after 20+ years or so. He must have gotten hurt in 1988, thus why he played only 68 games that year and didn't play at all in 1989. At least I hope it was an injury that derailed his career, because the dude could hit. I know El Paso is a hitter's park, but you have to have some skill to hit .330 over the course of a full season anywhere in AA ball (and .319 and .393 in partial seasons in 1986 and 1988), and he had a good BB:K ratio also. Man, they did not put much into player development back then.

If they don't pick up Counsell's option next year, chances are that Iribarren becomes the backup 2B, with either Hall becoming the backup SS and a Hall/Branyan platoon at 3B or Brad Nelson spelling Hall occasionally at 3B. That being said, I fully anticipate Melvin picking up the option, or bringing in a veteran backup SS to fill Counsell's role. It's also possible that Counsell is brought back next year, with Iribarren and Nelson filling two spots on the bench, especially if neither Branyan or Dillon are brought back.

Ah yes, La Vel Freeman, a former first round pick who was given all of three major league at bats before being traded for a pitcher who never played for the major league club and was allowed to leave via free agency the following off-season. You know, because Mike Felder and his .293 OBP and 75 OPS+ was the answer. Ranks right up there with Steve Stanicek, the #11 overall pick in the 1982 draft who was given all of seven at bats in 1987 to prove himself. You know, because Greg Brock, Jeffrey Leonard, Terry Francona, and Gus Polidor were the answers. It's those mediocre past-their-prime veterans who always get you over the top. So how many hits did Todd Brown accumulate in 1985 or 1986 when he hit over .400 for Stockton?

Typically the Brewers M.O. has been to start the high picks, even if they are college players, at Helena for a couple of weeks to get their confidence up and get them accustomed to playing pro ball. LaPorta and Braun spent a couple of weeks in Helena after they were drafted. LaPorta was moved up to help give the Power an offensive boost in their playoff chase; he wasn't exactly mashing at Helena when they called him up, but he did mash at West Virginia. Weeks played one game in AZ before going to Beloit; not since TGJ has a pick technically debuted in A-ball for the Brewers. Gillespie with an outfield assist throwing a runner out at home. While he doesn't have the strongest arm in the system, I think he might be athletic enough to play CF. It will be interesting to see who is still around in 2010 with Hart, Braun, LaPorta, Gamel, Gwynn, Nelson, Gillespie, Errecart, Brantley, and Gorman Deer (or Robb Thomas, a.k.a. Brendan Katin) all potentially vying for a roster spot in the OF. I'd have to think that no less than three of them will be dealt sometime between now and spring training 2010. Good to see Nelson playing 3B and Heether playing some SS (but not today); they'll never be starters at those positions but it can only help their chances to make the team in '09 (if not be the only way they can make the team in '09) if they can play those positions adequately as a reserve.

Typically college players go higher than ranked and HS players go lower than ranked because of signability. Thus why Long may not go in the first round. Despite what he says, I would not put it past him to use football as leverage or pursue football entirely - linemen are being seen as more important these days and thus they are starting to dominate the first round of the NFL draft. He is intriguing all right, and perhaps if they let him play college football in addition to baseball that may help him sign. A rookie salary cap in the NFL might drive him towards baseball also. Also because of signability, I can almost guarantee that Friedrich won't be there at #16; hard to believe he would make it past the Nationals, much less the A's and Twins. (edit - didn't see the injury to Scheppers. He could very well be there at #32 or #35, and a risk I wouldn't mind them taking.) Hunter is a guy I thought long and hard about in my mock in the other thread. But I don't think the Brewers will take five pitchers in the top six (even though I would not mind it) thus I gave the nod to Gillaspie (plus Gillaspie's LH bat). I would not be unhappy at all if the Brewers picked Hunter though. Lindblom is another guy I seriously considered at #62. Someone in the other thread said you can get good college closers in the 2nd round and that is the direction I hope they go with at least one of Lindblom, Perry, Bittle, Weatherford, Schlereth, and Price. My favorites in that group are Perry, Weatherford, and Lindblom. Schlereth could be a poor man's Billy Wagner, more likely a shorter Dan Plesac. Something about Gose just screams "Melvin type of 2nd round draft pick".

Yeah, I don't like the term "raw" associated with "position player" and "first round pick". Hitting a baseball, primary job description of a position player, is something I'd prefer a first round pick be fairly skilled and accomplished at. A second or third round pick I'm OK with taking a flyer on, but I'd want the first round pick to be more polished. Anything less than three pitchers in the first six picks and I'll be disappointed. One college starter who can move through the system quick, one college closer who can do the same, and one high-ceiling HS pitcher to develop would be a nice blend. Add in a SS (I'm not sold on the ability of any SS in the system to hit), a 3B, and either a C or another pitcher and that would make for a nice first two rounds. What order I don't care, but I want to see a minimum of three pitchers in the first six picks. Fortunately the draft looks to be heavy in pitching. As for Jemile Weeks, he is talented alright, but 2B is one of the better-stocked positions in the system (Rickie Weeks, Iribarren, Crabbe, Bell, Farris). And it could be awkward for him to replace his older brother. I wouldn't argue with it too much if they can nab him at #32 or #35, and being a switch hitter is a plus. Based on the list, assuming that guys go somewhere around that number, I think this would be nice: #16) Jake Odorizzi, RHP (HS) - a HS Lincecum? #32) Connor Gillaspie, 3B (Wichita St.) - somewhere between Gamel and a left-handed Cirillo #35) Ryan Perry, RHP (Arizona) - Melvin likes to draft the best of something, and Perry has perhaps the best stuff in the draft #53) Anthony Gose, LHP/CF (HS) - power lefty who can bring the heat and athletic enough to roam CF #54) Tim Murphy, LHP (UCLA) - thriving now that he's focused on pitching #62) Antonio Jimenez, C (HS - Puerto Rico) - potential 5-tool catcher I don't know where their 3rd round pick is, but another college pitcher like Chris Carpenter (injury risk/high reward) or Luke Burnett (successful in Cape Cod league) would suit me just fine.

Stephen Chapman hit his 7th home run -- 21 of his 39 hits have gone for extra bases, problem's been not enough hits (.224 in 170 AB's) Hey, just like the big league club - fits right in! Call him up!! Patrick Ryan with an uncharacteristic 4 hits and one earned run given up in 3 innings... ERA up to 0.74 now. I curse whomever cursed Ryan by announcing his scoreless streak the other day. And did I see Adam Heether at SS today? That would be interesting to see if he can play SS adequately. Would really help improve his chances of making MIL next year as a utility guy. I'm guessing his range would be below average, but having played 3B he should have an adequate arm and glove; decent stick with a good OBP and BB:K ratio. Have Heether be the backup for the left side of the infield (3B, SS), and Iribarren be the backup 2B/OF, taking the roster spots of Counsell and Dillon. I'm all for giving a bunch of starts to Heether at SS in Nashville the rest of this year to see if he could be the backup SS in MIL next year.

I don't know if Lincecum is available, but I would think if Melvin called and offered Escobar (replace Vizquel), Iribarren (replace Durham), Brad Nelson (replace Aurilia), a corner OF prospect (Gillespie/Errecart), plus some other depth (Heether - can't be any worse than Castillo at 3B; Katin - struggling this year but lead the Southern League last year in HRs, RBI, and SLG), I think the Giants would seriously listen. Maybe not Lincecum, but possibly Cain. I think Escobar, Iribarren, Nelson, Gillespie, and Katin/Errecart might get it done. A Nelson, Iribarren, Katin/Errecart combo might get a lower level starter like Correia or Sanchez or possibly Lowry if/when he comes back from the DL.

FREE RUSSELL BRANYAN!!! It's 2004 all over again!!

So if it's a curse, how do they break it? Sign Gorman for a day? Some ghosts haunt for a long period of time. Just ask those folks down by Clark & Addison in Chicago how long the curse of that damned goat has been hanging around. Proof it was the Curse of Gorman Thomas: 1) Never been to the playoffs since 2) All major player accomplishments since were by players already around when Thomas was traded or by players with a connection to Thomas - Molitor's hit streak (already around when Thomas was traded) - Yount's 3000 hits (ditto) - Nieves' no-hitter (what was his uniform number? #20, same as Thomas) - Listach's ROY (played SS, Thomas' original position) - First Brewer in HR derby, only Brewer to advance in HR derby - Burnitz (what was his uniform number? #20, same as Thomas) - Most HRs in a season in Brewers history - Fielder (broke Thomas' record) - Next Brewers ROY - Braun (hmmm.....) 3) Current Brewers manager - Yost (played with Thomas) How to break the Curse of Gorman Thomas: 1) Retire #20 with Thomas' name 2) Fire Ned Yost 3) Lock up Ryan Braun long term because he has no connection to Thomas (check) 4) Have no one ever play 163 games in a season (Thomas' last remaining record)

I sat through one of them once - a pitch to sell a time share in the Dells. Reward was a free trip to Vegas - 3 days, 2 nights plus airfare. Having been in sales for almost 10 years at that point (about 5 years ago) I went through the dog-and-pony show, the salesperson was a nice girl probably a little younger than me (college), she didn't pressure me too much but she did call over "the hammer". He could see that I could see through everything, and I told him the same thing I told her - it wasn't important to me, and that as a single guy without a family I didn't take vacations like this. All of their properties were domestic, most in Florida, plus the Dells, maybe one or two in California, maybe one in Vegas, so it was easy to say that I don't go to family destinations because I am not a family. I said that if I was married and/or had kids I would be more interested. "The hammer" worked on me for 10 minutes, saw that I wasn't going to be closed, and let me go and worked on someone else. And I got my vacation to Vegas - 3 days, two nights at the Tropicana (not a great hotel, but a great location - walk across the street to MGM or to the tram to Mandalay Bay; they actually gave me a choice of mid-level hotels). Like someone said, lots of restrictions - could not be on a weekend and could not be within one week of a holiday. But I went and it cost me about $50 in taxes. Not bad for two nights plus airfare. The key - don't argue about cost, don't say you "can't afford it". They will always manipulate it to beat you there. Tell them you think it is a fair price but that it is not that important to you. Or tell them that your next vacations that you want to take are backpacking through Europe, Australia, Asia, etc.; if they tell you that you can trade them for other time shares (like they told me) in other parts of the country/world, respond (like I did) that "you CAN, but there's no guarantee that people who have those time shares will want to trade with YOU, or what kind of deal they will give you".

FTJ hit on three that need to be in the list, and I would include Burnitz for Seitzer somewhere in the top 10. I do have to say that the Gorman Thomas trade is #1 on the worst list. It sucked the life out of Milwaukee, and they've never been to the playoffs since. It is the curse of Gorman Thomas. The Bichette trade needs to be higher (lower?) on the list too; sure he played in Colorado, but he went on to hit roughly 230 home runs and steal roughly 100 bases after the trade. In fact, Bichette went on to steal more bases than Reimer had hits for Milwaukee.

An interesting last sentence Elf, as I recall when he came on in relief in the Boston series he pitched out of a jam and when he walked into the dugout (I was about 15 rows behind the dugout) you could see him pull his jersey away from his chest like he was saying, "Phew, lucky I got out of that one" as though he was expressing how nervous he was. Villy and DiFelice are both capable of going long and even Jackson is stretched out enough to absorb the rest of the game if necessary. I guess I didn't realize that because of the roster moves, with Villy going to the pen they now have three starters/long relievers in the pen, so if McClung can only go three, then Jackson can give three (I like the shift to a lefty then), then Villy come in and give three, and you've gone nine innings on only three pitchers and still have another long reliever if the game goes extras or who can go the next day.

I would like to add $9 Sam Adams beers from the Game On bar outside of Fenway to LouisEly's list of things that won't draw me back to Boston though. You should have went just down the block to the back side of Fenway - there was a huge bar/restaurant where the beers were only $5. Pretty sure I had a Sam Addams Light there and it was only $5. Don't know why they poured it out into a cup (but gave me a Bud Light bottle later... perhaps because the Bud Light bottle was aluminum).

Just curious, but why do you hate him so much? Because, like Puckett, every ball he hit managed to be hit in the right place, either for a hit or to advance the runners. I don't think he had one at-bat that wasn't productive. When they drew the infield in on Saturday night's game he hit a blooper in the exact right spot where Fielder and Hart couldn't get to it, the only place on the whole friggin' diamond that it could possibly have landed for a hit, and it scored two runs. And then I had to listen to that dang "YOUUUUUUU" chant. So like Puckett he is not high on the despised list because he isn't a bad person; he is on the despised list because he is a Brewer killer.

Actually, I'd say why not Braun for DH. I didn't list him because he was the DH for the 2nd game Saturday; I was assuming they were using the DH to give regular position players the equivalent of a half-game off, so Braun already had his. A valid point however, but Braun has been surprisingly decent in LF; his biggest issue now is judgment of fly balls due to lack of experience out there, but he has the speed to cover ground and has above-average arm strength and is quite accurate with his throws. With more experience he could potentially move to RF with his arm.

1) Having TGJ as the DH had nothing to do with giving up 11 runs that game. Why he wasn't playing OF and having Hart or Cameron as the DH is a head scratcher (as is starting Hall over Dillon the day after Hall racks up three errors), but as someone once said, TGJ is not the problem. The Brewers scored seven runs that game, so with an average pitching performance they should have won that game. B) Boston did have an unfair advantage in the DH department, but it had nothing to do with using a full time DH on the roster; it had everything to do with the schedule. By having the Brewers play only one interleague series it might not have been best to call up a guy like Branyan or Nelson for just three games. Now if MLB had scheduled back-to-back interleague road series where they needed a DH for six consecutive games, then that might make more sense to make a roster move. Remember, if someone is sent down they cannot be recalled for (I think) ten days (correct me if I'm wrong), so if they play back to back road series that could encompass seven days if there's an off day in between, then they could have made a roster move and whomever they sent down could be recalled three days after the second series. So with the off day, they could have sent down a starter like CV or Parra (skip their turn with the off day) and called up Nelson or Branyan, then be able to reverse the transaction 3 days after the second series but before the starter's next turn in the rotation is.

I'm proud of Brewers fans for their presence...A few fans and a hot dog vendor told me that was the most opposing fans they'd ever seen at Fenway We must have been running in the same circles, because I had a few people tell me the same thing. They said they've never seen a team travel like that, not even the Yankees. I love sitting in the cheap seats because even though you are more apt to get stuck with more drunken jerks Oh, thanks for reminding me. I left one out: 8) I'm not sure what is worse - sitting next to the drunken jerk or sitting next to the obnoxious think-they-know-it-all 12 year olds who spew out every thought that comes through their mind (including the perceived sexual preferences of many of the opposing teams players), and their dad sitting next to them who doesn't say a thing. (Kudos to grandpa, who said to me that I was "extremely patient" - but sometime around the sixth inning I had to turn to the kids and give them the stink-eye. It was the only time they shut up for 20 seconds the whole game.)

On a single and stolen base by Cameron Maybin none the less. The first and only run given up all year is to one of the top prospects in all of baseball. And he promptly followed that up with two ground ball outs. Ryan's still rollin'.

Pena to Mil, give DiFelice a shot as the #5, and send CV to Nashville to find his mojo again. Aguilar could use some better competition too.

Way to jinx him John. As soon as you say it, boom, he gives up a run the next night.