Fear The Chorizo

I never understand the "unwritten rules" of any sport - if you don't like a guy stealing on you, throw him out! Baseball is different than other sports in that there's no clock that says when the game's over, so there's always a chance for a pitcher to implode and a huge rally to occur. As long as a team's not showboating, I don't have a problem with showing no mercy, even if it's against the team I'm rooting for. Specific to this situation, stealing bases is one of the few parts of Gomez's game that he excels at - it would be like telling Fielder or Braun to stand up at the plate and not swing because we were up by more than a grand slam. If Cargo miraculously finds himself on base and doesn't get picked off, why not turn him lose? Using the "unwritten rules" argument is too Tony Larussa for me to agree with - 99% of the time it's sour grapes over not being good enough to prevent the other team from beating you.

I strained an oblique in college hitting off a tee during winter practice, and it took over a month for it to feel completely healthy without doing anything baseball related - even then there is a mental hurdle to clear before you don't think about it every time you swing a bat or get ready to make a throw from the outfield. I think some of the "softness" questioning stems from an overly ambitious timetable the training staff put Hart on prior to his setback in spring training. He strained the oblique early on, yet didn't let the thing fully heal before probably injuring it worse. Now he has to take the necessary time to let it heal, along with clearing the mental hurdle of performing baseball activities at 100% without fear of reinjuring it. Muscle injuries like these are so difficult to predict a timetable for - you have to look at them on a case-by-case basis. Hart's what, 6-5 or 6-6? That's a pretty big oblique muscle to strain, which has probably contributed to how long it's taking to completely heal. I don't question Hart's toughness - it's just unfortunate for the Brewers that the injury and setback occurred...having him hitting in the 2 hole with a Morgan/Gomez platoon in center would greatly improve their offensive lineup.

Exactly - it's not like Greinke was going to be our #5 starter - had Greinke been able to start opening day, the Brewers could have started him 6-7 times in April (7's ambitious, but 6 was very doable). Some posters have tried to downplay his absence to start the season by mentioning how little the Brewers need their #5 early on, but to me that's the wrong way to look at it. Not only is he missing around 6 games in April that he would have pitched, but Greinke's absence also limits the # of early season extra days' rest for Wolf, Marcum, Narveson, and to a lesser extent Gallardo so they can minimize the # of starts guys like Estrada or Mitre have to make. It puts a strain on the entire pitching staff. I'm hoping Greinke doesn't have any more setbacks and can get his arm into good enough condition to make a start in late April in Milwaukee - seems like he's actually been a little ahead of the most recent timetable given by the training staff.

not having Fielder on this team will be an offensive downgrade, but like others have said, if Melvin uses the Fielder dollars to solidify the roster in other key areas, the Brewers may improve defensively and pitchingwise enough to come out even...I'm just not sure they'll be able to improve enough in those areas to be better as a team overall. You're taking a top 15 offensive player off a roster and would have to drastically improve defensively to offset that.

the Brewers have been a steaming pile on offense so far this year - they got 6 on opening day, but it probably should have been more. the rest of the games they haven't shown up, and they really haven't faced great pitching...their offense is supposed to carry this team, when they don't hit they won't win.

only so much rah-rah can be found rooting for a team that just got swept to start the season and who can't seem to score unless Weeks is up. If you can't boo after how this season has started, when can you?

and there you go - at least this way Axford isn't going to come in and blow a lead

and a wasted start for Narveson

I know it's early and it's an obvious small sample, but the perceived warts on this Brewers team are showing up on a very consistent basis. Here's hoping Narveson can finish this inning strong and the bullpen doesn't give up anything - can't seem to manufacture any runs no matter how hard RR keeps trying.

It's sad when you look at the bottom of the lineup and wish a couple of the Brewer pitchers could DH for them.

great AB there, Nieves

The way things currently look, I think it's more of a liability to insert struggling hitters between the run producers in this lineup - when Hart and Lucroy get back, I'd be all for a lineup that looks something like this: Weeks Braun Fielder McGehee Hart Gomez/Morgan Lucroy/Kottaras SS (I'm all for a Betancourt/Counsell platoon unless a trade can be made to get and everyday SS in here) P If that creates a black hole in the bottom of the order, I don't care - at least putting all the good hitters in the lineup together will force pitchers to pitch through consecutive hitters instead of getting more opportunites to issue intentional walks. I think there's a benefit to putting your best hitters as far up in the lineup as possible - they'll get the most ABs over the course of the season.

94 Brewers actually surprise by having a better-than expected April in Greinke's absence and control a division full of mediocrity and uncertainty - they'll hit a tough stretch during interleague with that meatgrinder of a schedule, but a trade before the July 31 deadline getting them a capable SS and solid starting pitching lead to the Brewers rolling through Aug-Sept and into the playoffs. I can see this regular season starting like 2007 and not falling off a cliff.

It was after pitchers and catchers reported, so no - Greinke got injured after his spring training started. So we've gone from Greinke missing 2-3 starts to probably 5-7, or about 1/6th of the season...awesome!

Hopefully Mr. Bush pitches most of his June-August appearances on the road...he profiles as trouble pitching a majority of his innings at the Arlington Ballpark during the summer when baseballs hit in the air don't want to land. Still - long relief for an AL team isn't a bad gig for him

Even with Pujols becoming a FA after this year, I would think STL will offer him the world to stay...I could also see a situation where they see what they could get for him at the deadline this year if they're struggling. The Cubs are going to be a player for a free agent 1b, too, although there are lots of mixed messages about how much their new ownership are willing (let alone able) to add to payroll. They do have alot coming off the books for 2012, but I think it's stupid for them to turn all that savings back into 1 player and a contract that will look similar to many of the deals that have crippled their flexibility over the past 2 seasons. That said, Baltimore for Fielder would be the ideal team to offer him bigtime money - AL East big market wanna-be with money to spend and a DH position to fill once Fielder can't play the field anymore...perfect team to offer him both bigtime dollars and bigtime years (6+, something an NL team would be insane to do). I think Milwaukee's best option is actually to let him walk after this season, use the compensation picks to acquire additional prospects in next year's draft, and open up the 1B position for a guy like Braun, Hart, or Gamel (if he ever proves deserving of a fulltime MLB gig). The Brewers need to keep building their pitching depth as an organization, so resigning Fielder only to watch him start declining once that body starts breaking down is a recipe for disaster. Fielder's been remarkably healthy during his career in Milwaukee - I'd hope he isn't a Brewer by the first time he gets a significant leg injury (knock on wood). It's going to happen to a guy that size.

We are officially in the stage of spring training where baseball writers run out of useful stuff to write about - the regular season needs to start, so all the overreaction by national "experts" about minor injuries can stop. The only team that's sustained a critical blow to their chances in the NL Central this spring is the Cardinals by losing Wainwright for the whole season...Greinke missing a few starts early in the year to build his arm up after the silly rib injury is hardly a season-breaking disaster. What these spring training injuries do show is that while the Brewers have a talented roster, it really does lack depth in key areas - a couple of significant injuries could occur during the regular season to derail their chances, but that has hardly happened yet. I think injuries are the only thing that could turn this season into a complete disappointment, this team is too talented to not contend in a winnable division. Hoping for all the walking wounded to get healthy and stay that way as much as possible during the whole season!

big difference between just 'shooting some hoops' in a backyard with friends and actually playing a game of basketball competitively enough to crack a rib (although I'm not sure how you play horse in your neck of the woods). I'm not arguing the fact that this particular injury is minor, especially when considering other common injuries people get when playing basketball. My point is that Greinke made a mistake in even risking injury by playing a game of basketball during spring training or very shortly before it started. Fortunate that it is a minor injury, but everyone would agree that the Brewers and Greinke would be better off if he didn't currently have a cracked rib caused by something outside of baseball activities that he easily could have prevented by just choosing not to play basketball. He may be in great shape and probably has a sick turnaround jumper, but he's not going to be pitching opening day for the Brewers because he's injured due to something Greinke himself classified as stupid. kind of silly bringing up car wrecks in a discussion like this - when considering the sheer number of times people get in a car to drive with the rate of getting injured enough to cause a DL stint (not exactly comparing for fatality rates), playing pickup basketball is far more risky than driving.

I think it's hilarious that people think Grienke was stupid for playing basketball. I look at it from a different angle - had I been caught playing basketball, racquetball, or any other sport than baseball during spring practices I would have lost my scholarship. Dude's getting paid 13.5 million dollars to pitch every fifth day - if something he does outside of baseball threatens his ability to do so I see it as a problem. I wouldn't have as big an issue with it had he injured himself playing hoops during the offseason, as I'm sure many pro athletes participate in other sports for conditioning/entertainment value. Getting hurt playing a different sport you're not paid to play during your sport's main training leading up to the season isn't smart. Sure, it's just a cracked rib, but it could just as easily have been a broken wrist or a torn knee from a bad fall or "freak" occurence - what would everyone saying they don't have an issue with Greinke's actions think in those circumstances? Brewers would have to pay 13.5 million for a guy that wouldn't pitch in 2011 and have to deal with losing 4 prospects and picking up a bad shortstop just to do so. I think the overreaction to what this specific injury will do to the Brewers chances is silly (2-3 missed starts to build up arm strength is very minimal), but the criticism on Greinke for choosing to risk himself playing basketball this time of year is valid.

I was thinking the same thing about that ballpark - not a good place for a flyball pitcher who tends to give up home runs in bunches to pitch 1/2 his innings.

The reason the Brewers currently have Betancourt on their roster is because they had to in order to acquire Greinke...I'll live with it. Just because Betancourt's on the roster now doesn't mean he's the opening day starter at SS...the Brewers don't have much left to trade to acquire a SS, but I do see the Brewers bringing in another veteran SS (Renteria) on a 1-year deal/Spring Training invite and have an open competition for the starting job. The asking price for many of these veteran SS's is currently too high, but it will come down for those who want to play - there's really not many teams in search of a starting veteran middle infielder right now. The Brewers are definitely in a win-now mode, and I'm confident that Mark A., Melvin, and the rest of Brewers managment can cope with eating the rest of Betancourt's $ after cutting him in Spring Training if necessary. The other scenario is maybe the Brewers are hoping for a team that will have a need for a middle infielder due to spring injuries trading for Betancourt. I think the whole Betancourt dilemma will be settled well before opening day, and all this worrying about how he'll singlehandedly derail the 2011 season is nothing more than having little to nothing else to worry about before pitchers and catchers report. If, however, Betancourt's the Brewers' Opening Day SS, count me in as one who'll be wielding a pitchfork and headed for Melvin's office!

I think Strasburg's injury just goes to show how tough it is for pitchers to stay healthy...the human body isn't designed to throw a baseball overhand, much less at 100 mph. I don't think the Nats could have done anything differently to prevent Strasburg from getting hurt. While I believe that mechanics and limited pitch counts are important with preventing injuries, I think the biggest factor is just how many bullets a pitcher has in his arm - I think it's something that's genetic and differs greatly among pitchers. There are guidelines (pitch counts, yearly innings limits, etc) that can help to prolong arm injuries from happening, but I think genetics make them inevitable for certain pitchers. This also speaks to just how risky it is to select a pitcher so high in the amateur draft, no matter how talented he appears to be. It seems nowadays that pitchers get hurt much more often than in the past, which brings up the old school thought of 4 man rotations and increased throwing programs to build up arm strength - However, there were probably just as many if not more pitching careers damaged by injuries back in the day, it's just that once a pitcher hurt his arm back then he was done and never heard from again...no reliable surgeries to repair damage.

Dave Bush is the perfect example of a pitcher the Brewers need to get as far away from as possible - Just another arm that could be a decent #5 for a good team, but he's reached free agency and will cost much more than what a younger pitcher with more upside would. Doug Davis also fits that mold. I think the Brewers need to wish Bush well and move on.

Gamel is better than McGehee defensively according to more than one metric. So, according to your statements, McGehee should also be moved to another position or traded? Gamel may never produce at the major league level, but it's hard to ignore the success he's had in the minor leagues. He is a legitimate prospect and there are numerous people that feel like he will outperform the Brewers current 3rd baseball both offensively and defensively immediately. Yes - I think this whole Gamel/McGehee thing gets determined this offseason, with one of them being traded or with one of them moving to 1st after Fielder gets dealt. I guess I don't buy the argument about most of Gamel's errors being throwing, making him theoretically better defensively than McGehee at third - a third baseman has to make good throws. I would argue that Gamel would be a better defensive first baseman than McGehee due to his range, but both of them are below average defensively at third. If a guy can't consistently make good throws, he shouldn't play a defensive position that places a premium on making good throws. To your second point, there are also numerous people that feel like Gamel has plateaued in his development and doesn't project to be an above average major leaguer. The bottom line is that last season Gamel and McGehee got almost equivalent opportunities to earn a longterm spot on the major league roster. McGehee or Counsell didn't screw Gamel out of even more regular playing time, having Hall on the roster did.

Gamel is anything but a sure thing to get called up and excel in the major leagues - he doesn't have the pedigree other Brewer prospects had coming up (Braun, Fielder, Weeks, even LaPorta). I think some on this board just assume he's got all star written all over him, and look at anything to justify lofty expectations from him. From a results standpoint, Gamel currently projects as an average offensive 3B that can't play 3B defensively at the major league level. Put him at 1st or RF and his offensive value drops while hopefully improving his defensive contributions. To say anything else is manipulating statistics with the laundry list of excuses many on this board have come up with. I hope Gamel proves me wrong, because it would be great to put him at 1st and have him produce when Fielder no longer wears a Brewer uni - but IMO he's one of the prospects that Melvin should have tried to sell high with that could have brought some good pitching in return.