TCSM

If the Mets push hard for another starter such as Piniero I can see the Maine for Hart rumors flaring up again.

Brewj I'm not sure why anyone would or should be bothered by this. A GM has enough skills to understand what is possible via trade and what isn't. With that said, if Melvin doesn't see anyone intriguing on the Tigers why should he even contact them? It's not like there is a written rule stating a GM must contact every other GM before a trade goes through.

I know the Brewers 2008 Highlight video was very limited, yet, does anyone know of a place to watch/buy it?

Parra started off last season very well in my opinion and unfortunately started fading off near the second half which could have been due to the amount of innings he pitched. Just like Parra, Weeks has his high moments (beginning of this season as well as the random streaks during the other years). Just like Parra, Weeks has his low moments, but just as many. Yet people over the years are quick to defend Weeks knowing he is replaceable (Lopez). Sure his OBP and OPS are above average, and I understand that, but his "skill" level is very replaceable in my opinion. Parra on the other hand I believe has more talent than Weeks at their respectable positions. There are very few lefties who throw 95-96 who have the ability to paint the corners with a mixture of a split fastball and a nasty curve. Parra's only problem is mental.

Then I agree with you Invader.

That's an interesting comment. Players like Weeks who people kept saying is loaded with potential were more than willing to give him a chance year in and year out. Yet Parra has already shown he can be good, something Weeks has never done (other than a week or two a year) and quickly comments like yours are brought up. We need young arms with potential to be a #1-3, we have at least a #3 in Parra. If he struggles next year we go from there, but for starters he remains OUR SP.

Bush there is no way the Reds would even consider a deal like this. Harang is one of their better if not best pitcher, do you think they would trade him for a struggling RF AND a good prospect? The answer is no.

1. How many other coaches would be doing something similar to Macha if they were in his shoes? Quite a few if not all would. Weeks is not a 'true' lead off hitter in my books, but at the time he is/was our best option. After that, as of now, Counsell is our best option but just like any other human he needs rest especially at his age. That puts him in a very tricky situation, and unfortunately leaves him just Kendall and Hart. As of late Kendall has been hitting the ball much better than any other point in the season, if he is not getting base hits he is still making good bat contact. Hart has shown past success as a lead off hitter and even if he is struggling maybe he will do well there, doesn't hurt to try. As far as the lineup and consistency argument goes I think that is peer hog wash. I played baseball my entire life until I graduated high school. My coach never, ever had a consistent lineup. At no time between me or any other players did I see someone struggle or completely change their hitting approach due to their lineup position. Obviously we are not playing on the same level, but the same approach is there. Lead off and clean up hitters are the only ones I see taking a slightly different approach, but nothing substantual. 2. As I said previously, Kendall knows this pitching staff better than Rivera or anyone else we could substitute in there. His hitting has improved within the last month, his defense is still there, and I believe he still takes great control of the pitching. To defend him a bit here, he isn't the one throwing the pitches. He can tell them what and where to throw, but that doesn't mean it's going there at exactly what he wants. I'm not saying he doesn't make mistakes, just don't pinpoint a pitchers struggles on him alone. 3. Agreed. Maybe I am one of the few individuals who doesn't have a vendetta for Macha yet. His situation and the team Melvin put out for him this season was exactly what I thought it would do, struggle. The pitching staff was a mess to begin with, the lineup was good and had a lot of potential but Hardy and Hart decided not to show up. This team needs a few changes and additions/subtractions and it's a real playoff contender. Give Macha a good team and we won't have this argument. Give Macha, or any coach, this lineup and pitching staff we have and this conversation will come up next year. More of this should be on Melvin's shoulders for putting together a AAA pitching staff, not Macha.

The only problem with selling people like Cam, Looper and Trevor is the return and loss of production we would see. We finally have a great closer, the best as a matter of fact on a cheap contract yet people don't want to try and retain him next year. Cameron has stellar defense with an above-average stick, something we can not substitute this year or next (at least in our system). Looper has been better than I anticipated. He has had a few very bad outings that kill his statistics, but as a #4-5 pitcher I am quite satisfied. Unless we can fill their positions with a better option, selling certain players now has no benefit to us this year or next. As a different poster posted in the 'Trade X for...' (Pogo I believe?) selling is only worthwhile if we get someone good in return. The players that would do that are Braun, Fielder, Gamel. Hardy and Gallardo. Sure trade Hardy, but do not touch the others.

Nate, as evident by this off season's rumors with Cam and the Yankees it's obvious we would not get much in return. I personally think he is a valuable asset but that doesn't mean a team will go out and drop a top prospect on him. We would be looking at a AAA with a salary filler at the most, again, as evident by what rumors we were hearing before the season.

I don't foresee a team giving us much if really anything at all. Trevor would be a nice asset for any team, but wouldn't net us much due to his FA status after this season. Cameron still shows he is an excellent defender, decent batter still, yet carries one heck of a price tag. Looper might be an ok addition for some teams, but again, would not net us much at all.

Gamel's name should not be brought up with Washburn unless they are adding some very promising pieces with him.

It happened during a blowout game making it unlikely it has anything to do with a trade.

To go with Peavey's previous post.... Maybe Hardy is the one being dealt and Escobar is getting called up due to a deal like this in place.

To possibly calm some worries he is still listed on the Nashville Sounds once you click his name (unlike the screen before). http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=444876

Brew07, you are also pinning the playoffs on one player in hopes we win it all. Yet in reality, we need more than one player to do that. 4-5 years to see those players at their peak? Is there a manual out there that says someone has to wait that long? When Braun came to the majors did it take 4-5 years? When Fielder, Hart, Hardy and Gallardo made it to the majors did that take them 4-5 years? You have to realize not every player takes the same amount of time to reach a high level of success as the other. For all we know Gamel and Escobar could be a huge contributor to our team next year. The Brewers being a small market team we have to value our prospects wisley which you clearly do not. There are bad, good, and even great prospects waiting to get the call one day. When you have a great prospect(s) you don't need to always trade them for a different MLB player every year to get that extra boost. Rather, that player could be the permanent boost we need every year so this trade for a player at the deadline thing isn't life or death for us. Mat Gamel is the type of player worth waiting for in my opinion, not trading away.

.it will cost us Escobar, Gamel, Lawrie, Braddock. Perfect!!! Now go get it done Doug.... I was about to say that writing should be in blue, than I realized it was you.....completely serious. Do you really think we are only one player/pitcher away from being a playoff and/or WS team after that trade?

Brew07, you're telling me you would be willing to risk our potential future players/all-stars for Halladay, a guy who pitches every fifth day in hopes we make it to the WS? He would be a terrific addition to any team there is no doubt about that, but you do have to look beyond that. Do you honestly think we are one pitcher away from winning the playoffs? Just look at our rotation for starters... Halladay - Great pitcher Yo - Good #2 pitcher After those two we have a slew of #4 and #5 pitchers, some more like AAA. Our rotation alone does not make us a WS team. As far as our position players go it's hard to tell. One game they put up 8 runs with 14 hits, the next game they get 1-2 runs. What I am trying to say is we need more than one farm system crippling trade to make it to the WS like you think. Do we need two pitchers, one pitcher one batter, or two pitchers and a batter....? I obviously don't know the answer, but two pitchers would be ideal in my books. Depending on who and where, a batter could be acquired with a pitcher for all we know. To destroy our farm system for a rental does not seem like the logical thing to do. Especially when we need more than one trade.

Nate, do you really foresee all of those prospects panning out and being able to start? I for one would love to think and believe that, but unfortunately that's never the case. I'm almost certain that lineup will be mixed up due to a FA or a trade in 09-10.

Is Duffy coming back eventually or did he leave for good?

Yeah, but I think the way he said it is much more appropriate then saying our starting pitching is crap so now we need to make a move, etc. It's captain obvious stuff, yes, but how else can you say it without creating an even worse scenario? To jump in a different direction, I like how someone has the guts to say something. Sure Melvin is "looking" but I agree with Braun, it needs to happen sooner rather then later.

If I'm up there I am praying that the Brewers win, otherwise it wouldn't be a very good time at all

I'm usually not fond of people promoting something else on here as their first post as well, but heck...it's a Brewer website of some sort why not check it out? To the OP, the site looks fantastic! Something I will defiantly be looking at in the future.

I agree with endaround... Adam Heether is a great option!!! :-)Are you Adam Heether? Everyone of your posts is just a bunch of exclamation points saying we should bring up Adam Heether etc. etc. Since your so high on him, why do you think he should be playing SS?

Always willing to help out a fellow BFmember and their families! Voted!