Harold Hutchison

I'd like to see the 1963-1968 strike zone return.

I can only find 4 games plus yesterday where Pomeranz was a reliever, but he was dynamite in those five games. Very small sample, but very encouraging for next year if they re-sign him. Jeffress is scheduled to make $4.3M next year and the way he's pitched, I think Stearns lets him walk. Faria, Black, D. Williams and maybe Nelson could easily take his place if Wahl and Knebel come back healthy. Jeffress was hurt earlier this year... and by the time he was back, Knebel and Wahl were on the DL for the season. I'd give him a mulligan for the year - given his past performance, especially with the Crew. I'd be more inclined to non-tender Nelson on a major-league deal, but bring him back with a minor-league deal with a NRI if I had to choose. The Crew really should have optioned Nelson and kept him in AAA all year.

There’s parallels in that regard to Brent Suter. For all the Manny Parras of the world who rolled through with hype, a guy like Suter got almost no credit. Say what you want, but he’s a major league pitcher and maybe starter. He knows how to pitch. I’m not going to make a judgement on Supak because I haven’t studied him beyond his numbers. His lack of a power repertoire may be his undoing as he gets older but we will have to see. I heard an interview with Tommy John the other day. He’s an old man now and maybe a little angry but one of his themes was in the pre-radar gun era, if you knew how to pitch, you’d do well. He won 288 games. I was higher on Suter than most here when he was in the minors. I note that the Crew is assembling some others like him in Zavolas, Lazar, and Supak. I'll add Roegner, too, even though he's been hurt most of this year. To me, a high K/BB ratio and a low WHIP are the two stats that will get me excited - especially when someone has both. Yes, I like a high K/9, like from Angel Perdomo (who I'd call a lefty Turnbow), but I like me a Henry Medina, too - 4.00 K/BB and a 0.840 WHIP. This may be a market inefficiency - teams are scrambling for the fireballers, but guys who can pitch may throw hitters off, especially when they induce grounders and/or soft contact.

I agree. If they can bring back Moose and Grandal, they have the core to make a good run at 2020 if 2019 doesn't turn around. Burnes has to revert to the mean. Maybe Nelson can become a relief option in 2020 (I think that has become his future). Knebel and Wahl won't be out for the season. And that might let Jeffress and Hader rebound. Plus, there's Faria for the whole year, and Pomeranz may be an upgrade over Claudio.

If Anderson can go 7 innings... maybe the Crew gets 2 outta 3 and has a bullpen in good shape.

Maybe the Crew can catch lightning in a bottle... They had to have seen something that was worth losing two potential relief pitchers in Ponce (to PIT) and Diplan (to MIN after a DFA).

As a reliever, Pomeranz has been much better. He could fit in nicely there, and let Freddy take a starting spot if Gio can't go.

It happened when Arcia struggled again this year and the grass started looking greener on the other side. Arcia'll always rank above Jim Gantner for his 2018 post-season run, but Moustakas at short sounds much more appealing. Yeah, he'd be an extremely bat-first option there, but... if he hits like he did this year, is it worth dealing Arcia?

You are right. A lot of uncertainty going into next year. With what they are paying Cain, they need him to rebound and be productive next year as well. At 1B today's Aguilar deal all but guarantees that Thames' option will be picked up. Do they move Braun to 1B to platoon with Thames next year and open a spot for Grisham? Perhaps they could resign one of Moose or Grandal ... I mean Moose's market has been crap the last two offseasons, and while he's been decent this year, I can't imagine another team is going to suddenly decide to give him a 3-year, $50 million deal. Do they give Nottingham the chance to win the catcher's job? Pina? Freitas? As for the rotation, I agree that Woody and Davies are likely locks. I think Houser is getting close to being a lock as well. Do they bank on Burnes taking a much-needed leap? Faria is a talented dude that has a chance. Peralta? Definitely more uncertainty right now than at the end of 2018. They could always bring Grandal back... His market wasn't that hot, either. Miller Park's good for his numbers, and he'll have another year with the staff. I'd say the Brewers pick up his mutual option, and he decides to stick around as well. Maybe extends for another year or two.

Here's my list. 1. RHP Trey Supak (9 in pre-season poll) - Dominated in AA, got a AAA promotion. Should be called up to help Brewers rotation. 2. LHP Aaron Ashby (2) - Showing 2018 flashes were for real. 3. OF Trent Grisham (24) - Has broken out big-time. Dominance at AA and AAA catapults him high. 4. C David Fry (12) - Performance at Wisconsin shows 2018 no fluke. Surprise versatility a plus. 5. OF Troy Stokes (3) - Two April DL stints, but OBP and other skills still there. .827 OPS in July warrants an injury mulligan. 6. LHP Cameron Roegner (1) - Missed time with injury, but last start was the type that got him top vote. Injury mulligan granted. 7. RHP Drew Rasmussen (unranked) - Has exploded as a right-handed Hader. CALL HIM UP! 8. C Mario Feliciano (unranked) - Breakout offensive performance, but would like to see better walk rate. 9. UT Weston Wilson (8) - showing power and versatility still. 10. LHP Scott Sunitsch (11) - Ashby is eye-popping, Small is the new kid, but Sunitsch is solid, and brings a 3.34 K/BB ratio. 11. RHP Zack Brown (6) - Fell off from dominating 2018. Something big is off, but holding out hope for a rebound. 12. RHP Alec Bettinger (unranked) - Came out of nowhere to emerge as a good prospect. 13. RHP Noah Zavolas (unranked) - The Brewers got a right-handed version of Brent Suter in the Domingo Santana trade. 14. OF Corey Ray (4) - Injuries derailed this season - but his drop is because Stokes has a more consistent record. 15. OF/1B Ryan Aguilar (18) - Added a hit tool to go with OBP skills, speed and pop. 70 walks with a month to go. 16. C/OF Cooper Hummel (15) - Average dropped, he missed time, but draws walks and has upped power. 17. SS Brice Turang (21) - Has speed, OBP skills, and hits for average. And playing at A+ at 19. 18. UT Gabriel Garcia (unranked) - Liked him in the past, and he's back on with very good OBP skills and power. 19. RHP Devin Williams (unranked) - Making a comeback from arm problems. What a comeback! 20. LHP Clayton Andrews (14) - Some falloff from 2018, but still solid. Also seeing OF time. Toolshed? 21. OF Tyrone Taylor (9) - Missed time with injury - again. 22. LHP Angel Perdomo (unranked) - The good: 14.16 K/9. The bad: K/BB ratio only 2.21. The ugly: 6.4 BB/9 23. RHP Henry Medina (23) - Limited time, but performing at 2018 clip. 4.00 K/BB ratio, 0.840 WHIP. 24. SS Cam Devanney (unranked) - More walks that strikeouts, a .317 average, and speed. Me likey. 25. RHP Dylan File (unranked) - Quietly emerging as a rotation prospect - 6.88 K/BB ratio. 26. RHP Max Lazar - Another one of those guys who don't blow you away, but know how to pitch. 27. C Payton Henry (30) - Put it this way... May need to be dealt in offseason to let Fry move up. 28. 1B Ernesto Wilson Martinez (unranked) - Was intrigued by walk numbers in past... interesting to see future development. 29. RHP Jon Olczak (19) - Fell off from breakout 2018. How much is reliever volatility? 30. 2B Victor Vargas (22) - Making jump from DR to AZ tough. 31. C/1B Jesus Chirinos (17) - Another huge dropoff in AZ from promising 2018 in DR. 32. 3B Lucas Erceg (10) - Patience is running out with Erceg. 33. SS/CF Korry Howell (unranked) - Showing mix of OBP and speed. 34. LHP Antoine Kelly (unranked) - 14.1 IP is just not quite enough to warrant higher ranking. Could be higher in postseason. 35. LHP Ethan Small (unranked) - 3 IP is too small for higher, but looks intriguing. Could jump big. 36. C/OF/1B Thomas Dillard (unranked) - Other than .218 average, much to like. 37. C Alex Hall (34) - The good: .304 batting average. The bad: Only 1 HR with Vibe. The ugly: 5 walks. 38. OF Tristen Lutz (16) - Struggling again with a .722 OPS. 39. UT Jess Williams (35) - Versatile, left-handed bat, but marginal offensively. 40. RHP Bowden Francis (unranked) - Could be a back-end starter. Went to 40 this ballot, but see lots to like in the system, especially AA and below.

Spot on. Gives the staff a shot in the arm, without giving up Moose or Grandal. Pomeranz's numbers as a reliever are very intriguing to me (2.83 ERA, 9.6 K/9). If he does well, he's worth bringing back. Might be worth retaining just as a dominating reliever who could go multiple innings.

Pomeranz has much better numbers as a reliever than a starter, as is the case with Faria. Black's a Knebel-lite, with very high K/9 numbers over his pro career. Losing Dubon stinks... he was an upgrade over Arcia. But Pomeranz could be a good pickup - and I bet he's cheap to re-sign, and an upgrade over Claudio. That said, if this gets the Crew back in the playoffs... it's worth losing Dubon. Also, what might this say about Turang? AA/AAA in 2020, September 2020 debut? He could force the issue.

I like the deal. Faria adds another multi-inning reliever who could be stretched out in 2020 or stay a piece of the pen. This is good for the Crew this year and beyond.

You deal Gamel and have Grisham as the 4th OF. Honestly, if the power surge is real, then I think Grisham is a middle of the order masher as opposed to leadoff hitter.

Roegner back to form - warranting a bit of an injury mulligan?

The Brewers must think they can turn him around - otherwise, they wouldn't have gone for him.

If I'm in his position with this scenario, I'd take the 3year 45 mil deal. He hasn't gotten the big deal yet the last two years (can't emphasize that enough), can play on a competitive team with MVP talents, and now has his best contract in his 30's. At 3/45, I'd take Moose. I'd try to get Grandal to something similar - and lock in a window through 2022.

Real Men pitch to Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura, just as Real Men would kick to Devin Hester back in the day. Those who intentionally walk them should feel shame...

Let us lift our mugs and drink the tears of Cubs fans...

I'd try to make Hiura a Brewer for life.

August 2019 is technically the future... unless Gio's shoulder is not as bad as we all fear.

At this point, call up Supak, move Houser and Peralta to the rotation. DFA Albers and Wilkerson. Call up Rasmussen, Nelson, and Ponce. Use Nelson in the pen for blowouts, if nothing else.

This series is MUST SWEEP, not 2 out of 3. But yeah, I feel good about the team. No trades needed. Call up Supak, Rasmussen, and Ponce - then go for broke.

If they call up Supak and two of Perdomo/Ponce/Devin Williams/Griep/Rasmussen, I think they could do well enough to make the playoffs and win. Rotation: Davies, Gio, Anderson, Houser, Supak Bullpen: Hader, Jeffress, Peralta, Rasmussen, Jackson, Claudio, Ponce, Guerra When Woodruff returns, it's Houser to the pen, Jackson optioned.

Don't sell the farm, use the farm. Call up Supak to take one spot in the rotation. Worst case, he gets his MLB adjustment in. Best case: `92 Cal Eldred. Houser gets the other until Woodruff is healthy again. As for a reliever, I'd use Nelson when healthy as a replacement for Houser. Maybe Suter for another spot.