Jump to content
Brewer Fanatic

Fear The Chorizo

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    10,762

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    16

 Content Type 

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Events

Milwaukee Brewers News, Rumors & Analysis

2026 Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospect Rankings

Milwaukee Brewers Videos

2022 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Milwaukee Brewers Trade & Free Agent Rumors

Milwaukee Brewers Fan Guides & Resources

2023 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2024 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

The Milwaukee Brewers Players Project

2025 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2026 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by Fear The Chorizo

  1. Fear The Chorizo
    Donaldson is just going to get too large an offer for the Brewers to be competitive, IMO - I think the 3B starter is going to be acquired via trade, and it's going to be someone who makes less than what Donaldson will get and have a very good chance at outproducing him. And, it won't require moving a guy like Hader to acquire them so it won't decimate the MLB pitching staff.
  2. Fear The Chorizo
    But, with all of our current OF depth (Yeli, Cain, Garcia, Braun, Gamel), I don't think we would have had the need to have our 1B filling any innings in the OF this year. It is still a loss of flexibility for in game moves, especially once a few guys hit the DL. While true, having guys like Healy and Petersen in AAA retains that flexibility if/when they need to replace guys going on the DL.
  3. Fear The Chorizo
    Stearns must have a holiday vacation trip lined up - gotta get that 40 man filled up before unplugging! My thought was they had specific players in mind that were available at the market rate they can compete in and Stearns moved aggressively to get them in the fold before going after whatever substantial acquisition he may still have in mind for 3B or the pitching staff. He's mentioned several times that their payroll may be in a place where they could take on a larger contract via trade for a premium player - IMO he may not be looking to sign a big name FA in a bloated market this offseason, but the Brewers could be trying to land a good player with a few years left on what is now a medium-sized contract (~$15M AAV) if the trade partner views it mainly as salary relief and isn't requiring a huge prospect package in return from Milwaukee.
  4. Fear The Chorizo
    Looks like Sogard is the Brewers new 3B starter. Or they decide to send one or more from the current 40 man roster elsewhere via a trade that brings in their 3B starter...it's 3.5 months from opening day still, and the Brewers could easily have their eyes on some quality options there. The Dodgers in particular have several players who might be squeezed out of everyday roles due to a combination of great young talent deserving of everyday playing time (Lux) and the rumors of them being interested in adding a player like Lindor. Players like Seager and Turner could become available...
  5. Fear The Chorizo
    I think this move sets them up for making 1 bigger contract FA/trade addition, either to their rotation (Keuchel? Ryu?) or 3B (Donaldson? Turner or Seager from the Dodgers via trade if they bring in Lindor?, Story from the Rox if they opt to punt on 2020 and try to retool around Arenado longterm?, Seager from the M's?) Also, anyone faulting the Brewers for not being active in the 1st half of this offseason anymore is just mad they don't have the ability to field a $200M payroll consistently. This has been an incredibly active offseason for Stearns and company, and I highly doubt he's done...
  6. Fear The Chorizo
    Smoak consistently maintains his OBP 100+ above his BA, is a better defensive 1B than Thames, and has yet to play his home games in Milwaukee's ballpark. Thames is more of a slugger but Smoak is a more well-rounded 1B. To me it's a wash and I'm not going to get upset over it...unless it's a 3-4 year deal for like 8M per. Edit: a 1yr, $5M contract for Smoak is perfect if the info posted to date is correct. Smoak being a switch hitter gives them a bit of flexibility if they'd ever need Braun in LF and a RH-hitting 1B to face a lefty starter, but in reality Smoak is the likely LH-hitting platoon mate with Braun at 1B, and/or a primary bat off the bench.
  7. Fear The Chorizo
    So he plays there 4 or 5 times a week? What is the plan with Braun? Start him 4 or 5 times a week, either at 1B or LF - keep him fresh with an off day each week but the roster has flexibility to stretch his days off a bit more if he is hitting well and feeling good. IMO at this stage in his career it would be foolish to expect anything more from him or ride him harder, as nagging injuries/aches will crop up and wind up causing his production to dip even if he isn't wounded enough to wind up on the IL. This is also all assuming every single player that could potentially play corner OF or 1B stays healthy all year long - which likely won't be the case. Why is this so hard?
  8. Fear The Chorizo
    Cook likely not playing, their typical backup RB hobbled by a bum ankle - will be interesting to see if the Packers can limit their run game and force the Vikings to make hay passing the ball with an O-line that relies more on play action to pass protect than actual pass blocking. Don't get me wrong - the Vikings are a really good passing offense and they have weapons that will give the Packers' D fits if Cousins has enough time to throw. But, their whole offense is predicated on being able to run the ball and taking advantage of what defenses have to do to limit Cook's explosive plays running it. They are an excellent play action team, but not having a HR hitter RB back there makes play action much less effective. If they can limit the run and negate play action pass plays, I like what they could do as a pass defense because they're going to pressure Cousins. This will be a big test offensively going up against a good pass rush defense on the road. If the line is +6 at this point, I'd expect it much closer to +3.5 come game time - late money will come pouring in on GB
  9. Fear The Chorizo
    The Brewers have had the opportunity to pick up many players over the years that have pasts with the team. Other than a few rare exceptions (Gio, Broxton I guess this year) Stearns rarely goes that route. There must have been something that Sogard has done, other than his stats last year, that convinced the Brewers that not only was he a good choice to bring back, but at double the salary that he was making when he epically flamed out in 2018. I'm guessing he took steps to remake his swing, which led to the power increase last year. Apparently the Brewers believe that is sustainable. He did alter his swing to increase his launch angle - that coupled with juiced/HR-happy baseballs both really helped him last season. All the while he remained a steady to above average defensive player capable of playing several positions, most noteably 2B. I get the move and actually don't have a problem with paying $4.5 M for a reliable utility IF with a LH bat that will at worst give you a pretty good AB most plate appearances. What I'm struggling with is his nightmarish 2018 with the Brewers and the fact I was among the most vocal proponents of jettisoning him weeks before he was finally released and kicked down to AAA. Hoping he's at least somewhere in the middle between his terrible 2018 and really solid 2019, which would make the signing just fine for thie 2020 roster.
  10. Fear The Chorizo
    I think the opposite seems to be true around here. Everyone seems to say "let's see... how can I find a way to convince myself that this is a really, brilliant move?" See Anderson, Brett. I think in a way it's a circular pattern - go back and look at what many on this board thought of simply bringing Miley in on a flier before the 2018 season. Now alot of people are gnashing their teeth we didn't sign him for 15-20 Million dollars for a couple years. The Anderson "love" has more to do with what the Brewers have been able to do with guys like Miley and Lyles when they walked in the door. At the time those signings or the Lyles trade was met with alot of 'meh' or even negative views, then those players wound up really being key pieces. Stearns' M.O. appears to be giving as many veterans that don't cost a whole lot a shot to prove they can be quality MLB contributors to a roster - we tend to remember the ones that work moreso than the ones that don't, because Stearns has a pretty quick trigger to churn out the duds and replace them.
  11. Fear The Chorizo
    The amount of fake momentum towards a Seager deal is building. The Mariners SS situation is kind of garbage, no? Am I missing an obvious guy they are grooming? I believe Carl Crawford's younger cousin is there, but him and Arcia are sort of interchangeable in terms of offensive production and general dissappointment as once touted prospects who haven't blossomed.
  12. Fear The Chorizo
    I'm guessing this paves the way for Arcia to be traded somewhere in a deal that returns a 3B. If Arcia would be the centerpiece it'd be for some kind of salary dump trade of a good player with a big contract (Kyle Seager, for example). Or, Arcia might be part of a larger package that includes prospects to acquire a more talented player that isn't wildly considered a 3B but who could play there if they want to roll with Urias at SS (think Trevor Story). When you look at Stearns' comments after the year multiple times about improving production from SS, it's really hard to see him starting 2020 with Arcia figuring prominently on this roster. The Sogard signing obviously isn't the driver for it, but this type of move doesn't happen without other more significant changes potentially happening.
  13. Fear The Chorizo
    There's your 1B platoon option with Braun! I have too many nightmares about the start of that 2018 season to really want much to do with seeing Sogard get a ton of PT again with the Brewers, juiced ball or not. I think this move makes sense if Arcia is on the way out via trade, though - utility IF that hits left handed that can back up Urias and Hiura. Trying to remember his crazy 1st month with the Brewers in 2017 and selectively great months with the Blue Jays last season to cling to a silver lining.
  14. Fear The Chorizo
    He could pitch, too...but I dont think anyone wants to see that, either. That contract offer, while obviously meticulously figured and presented in the post, is a joke for a guy that really hasn't done anything close to deserve a multiyear commitment, particularly for a player who has been hurt alot recently and hasn't really proven that he's back to being the player he was in 2017-2018 while healthy.
  15. Fear The Chorizo
    So because the brewers dont have a quarter billion dollars to pay a 30ish year old free agent, this offseason is going to hurt them? I'd argue had they spent what was necessary to land a Strasburg or Rendon, and actually convinced them to sign here, it would have been a far worse move for the fate of this franchise and far worse offseason for them - which by the way isnt close to being over. Also, was this article penned before or after they signed Ryon Healy;)?
  16. Fear The Chorizo
    Does this move mean that we are taking offers for Cain, or that we are moving Hiura to 3rd? Or is that 14 player, 5 team trade that involves us trading Lutz twice back on the menu? I've lost track on the transaction rumor master plan flowchart...
  17. Fear The Chorizo
    I think alot of people forget how hobbled braun was in LF at the end of last season...giving him more time at 1st limits how much running he does, which h at this point in his career is a good thing.
  18. Fear The Chorizo
    I would say we disagree as to what the word "awful" means. 2019 +8 2018 +5 2017 +1 2016 -1 Pythagorean record is not perfect, but it is a meaningful statistic to consider when evaluating a team's performance over a full season. To piggyback on Sveumrules' last post, Pythag record updates as the season goes on - so we're not talking about the skewed preseason win projections that have also significantly underestimated actual Brewer win totals. +13 games of record error over 4 seasons based on actual runs scored/allowed over a few years is actually bad for the Pythag model. Not saying they got the Brewers wrong, just that it isn't a good model to compare win totals for a team like the Brewers.
  19. Fear The Chorizo
    Reds starters 2019: 4.12 ERA (92 ERA-) Brewers starters 2019: 4.40 ERA (99 ERA-) Reds wins 2019: 75 Brewers wins 2019: 89 Somehow Stearns & company won 14 more games than the Reds last year even though their rotation was 7% worse by ERA. I'd say the bad look is trying to find the negative in every transaction Stearns & company do or don't make when they clearly know more than we do & have the track record of success to prove it. I would keep in mind the Reds Pythagorean record had them with 80 wins while the Brewers were at 81. I think the two teams were much closer together in performance than the final records would indicate. I would also keep in mind that the Pythagorean record has generally been awful at predicting where the Brewers win total winds up since Stearns took over as GM of the Brewers. The actual standings had the Brewers at 89 wins while the Reds finished with 75. Speaking of the division, and it strays off topic here and probably deserves its own thread, exactly what "improvements" have any other teams made in the division that make them noticeably better? The Reds look to have improved their roster, yes - but the Cards and Cubs haven't done much of anything to date.
  20. Fear The Chorizo
    Even in his unreal 2017 year he barely got there...so I don't think this is a very easy feat for poor Garcia. Honestly if he gets 550 PA that means he's healthy and performing really well for the Brewers - I don't see the downside. So he opts out and cashes in and the Brewers lose out on paying him longterm while his production declines...I'm glad he's willing to bet on himself and give the Brewers a chance to afford 2 years of his prime. If he stays healthy and just performs like he did with Tampa the next two seasons it's a steal.
  21. Fear The Chorizo
    I think this points to their 26th roster spot being manned by an OF assuming everyone's healthy. Having Yelich, Garcia, and Cain to go with Gamel is a good top 4 - then you can shuffle Braun's playing time primarily at 1B with some OF mixed in, and potentially still have room for Broxton at the end of the bench as the primary defensive OF replacement. Narvaez/Pina as catchers Hiura 2b with Arcia or Urias serving as a late inning defensive replacement Urias/Arcia at SS Lefty hitting 1B to platoon or share time with Braun (Thames? Smith (Mets)?) Lefty hitting 3B (Seager?), or shot in the dark stud 3B (Donaldson?) That winds up totaling 13 position players to go with 13 pitchers, and away we go!
  22. Fear The Chorizo
    I think it's more likely that he was told by their coaching staff that he wasn't going to play in their bowl game anyway - hasn't Blackman basically been the starter most of the year? "Working on draft status" is a nice way to say that Hornibrook is headed home now that the semester is done to train in hopes of catching on with a practice squad or more likely CFL gig.
  23. Fear The Chorizo
    I feel like Garcia has a pretty level swing and may not be tapping into the whole launch angle craze that has taken over large swaths of MLB...maybe a little tweak does him alot of good. Will also be interested seeing him on an NL club for the first time in his career. Now go find a solid 3B and 1B that hit lefthanded, sign Keuchel, and let's get geared up for spring training!
  24. Fear The Chorizo
    Jeez - who knew roughly 100 IP in 2018 is enough to annoint Miley as the 2nd coming. Obviously the Astros didn't, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten left off their playoff roster. I for one am glad they didn't sign Miley - otherwise when he wouldn't be able to reproduce his incredibly good 2018 numbers as a Brewer in 2020 we'd have 10 threads wishing Derek Johnson was back at pitching coach so Miley could revert back to being a really good 5 inning pitcher again. Happy for Miley that he sorta got paid in the FA pitching market, and I'm looking forward to several Brewer starters outperforming him in 2020.
  25. Fear The Chorizo
    Keuchel and Teheran are still available, yes? I'd rather have one of those, please
×
×
  • Create New...