Harold Hutchison

.822 OPS at 38? Hmmm... I wonder if he platoons with Hart in right. However, if he hits like he did with the Cubs in `08 (.937 OPS), then he ought to start... Braun-Edmonds-Hart? Braun-Hart-Edmonds? Braun-Gomez/Edmonds-Hart? Braun-Gomez-Edmonds/Hart?

The way I see it, much depends on how fast some players move. In the system, the Brewers have several good offensive bats: Gamel and Lawrie are the big ones, Taylor Green's OBP skills are underrated, Ange Salome can hit, Lurcoy's also flashing pop and OBP skills. Cain and Schafer are BOTH flashing potential in the OF. So, looking at 2011, what does it look like? c: Lucroy/Salome 1b: Fielder/Gamel 2b: Weeks/Lawrie ss: Escobar 3b: Gamel/McGehee/Green/Lawrie lf: Braun cf: Gomez/Cain/Schaefer rf: Hart/Gamel/Lawrie Braun is in LF for the foreseeable future. For good or for ill, the Brewers have committed to Escobar at short. As for the rest... are there bad options? Catcher: A Lucroy/Salome platoon would hold the position down for 5-6 years. Lucroy is a bit more durable, and has better OBP skills and more consistent defense. Salome has the more dynamic bat. First Base: Fielder could hold it down through 2015. But if the price isn't right, are the brewers up the creek? Gamel did struggle in `09, but if he is a left-handed hitting version of Ryan Braun, the calculus changes. Another Braun is close enough to Fielder that having Gamel would free resources for elsewhere. Second Base: Is Weeks healthy? If he is, he can be a very good player at second. If he isn't, Brett Lawrie will be the man there. Unless Lawrie has to play elsewhere, then it could be Taylor Green or Casey McGehee. Third Base: The most variables, but there are options. If Weeks is healthy, Brett Lawrie could be there. If Gamel has to take over for Fielder at first or play the OF, then it could be Taylor Green's spot. Or Casey McGehee nails it down against all comers. Center Field: Carlos Gomez could nail it down. Or be a placeholder for Logan Schaefer or Lorenzo Cain. Or Corey Hart moves from center. Right Field: Does Hart put it together? Does Gamel move there? Or Angel Salome? Will it be Cain? Schaefer? Again - lots of options. There are a lot of options just in the starting eight. EDIT: Think about this with regards to Gamel: At age 22, he posted a .933 OPS at Huntsville. Braun at age 22 posted a .956 OPS at Huntsville.

Hart had some playing time in center field, too. I'd probably say his range is above average as well.

He could get traded, moved to RF. also depends on if the Brewers keep Fielder. If they don't Gamel's at first. Or Lawrie's at first. Or the Brewers trade Hart, and Lawrie plays RF.

If the umps don't yell "Balk!" if they do get a good pickoff move. Remember how Sharpie got ripped in `04 when he had Berkman cold?

This deal gives the Brewers flexibility. If Davis pitches well, and say, the Brewers are not going to make the playoffs, he can be moved for some players. the same goes for Dave Bush. The Brewers will contend for the playoffs if all goes well. If not,they have some pieces to fill out the farm system a fair bit. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Lance Berkman had better watch out when he's on first... or Sharpie will pull that pickoff move he did in `04 on him! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif (Anyone else think that the balk call Sharpie got on that play was nonsense?)

Sharpie-for-Estrads was the biggest mistake Doug has made. The Brewers have partially corrected that mistake. I wish it was longer. I'd feel better if the deal was two years plus an option.

I have to admit, that is why I wish the Brewers were also having Lawrie play some third base and corner outfield in the minors. If Weeks stays healthy, and still has some upside, I'd say extend Weeks and move Lawrie to right field - then let Hart go. If Weeks posts a .780 OPS at second (not out of the question), and Lawrie can man right field or thrid base, giving the Brewers better overall offensive production.

Colby, unless the walk rate improves, Escobar has to hit .300 to be below average unless he develops power. If it drops to .250 or so, we could be looking at a .600-.650 OPS. Right now, we have Royce Clayton 2.0 - speed, good D, and a .650-.700 OPS.

Rogers is throwing a slider?!? Uh...anyone here think that just maybe the organization needs to change that? It's one thing for a pitcher with no arm problems to use the slider, but Rogers... I'd rather see him throwing a cutter or splitter.

Overrated: Alcides Escobar - Good field, but he needs to hit .300 to avoid becoming another Royce Clayton. His OBP skills in pro ball have NOT impressed me, and there is not much power. He's good, but I see a Royce Clayton, not a superstar. I suspect that a year from now, there will be some who will wish for JJ Hardy at short. Underrated: Taylor Green - He was hurt, but he still drew a lot of walks. He's also a slick-fielding 3B. I think Gamel and Braun are the corner OFs of the future for the Crew. Green's a left-handed Cirillo, and probably someone whose skills the Brewers need to set the table for Braun, Fielder, Gamel, Lawrie, and other power hitters.

I had Lawrie as #2 on mine, only because Gamel was in AAA. Both are impressive bats. Finding where they will play is the hard part.

Gamel Escobar Lucroy Arnett Braddock

Doug Davis is my favorite. I'd give him three years. I don't think it (the walk rate) is that different. 2006: 102 in 203.1 IP 2007: 95 in 192.2 IP 2008: 64 in 146 IP 2009: 103 in 203.1 IP It's been consistent. The WHIP has declined as well from 2007-2009. Davis also has, aside from that cancer bout, been healthy. In those four years, he averaged 32 starts, and a 4.41 ERA. He's only a year older than Wolf, and has indicated interest in Milwaukee. It's a chance worth taking. Three years, $15 million ($1.5 million bonus, $4.5 million in 2010, 2011, and 2012) could get Davis here. EDIT: Randy Wynn as well. As a 4th OF, I like him better than Gerut.

Escobar's got two big issues in my book: He hasn't drawn walks well (4 BB in 134 PA in the majors, and 32 in 487 PA with Nashville; 31 BB in 597 PA at Huntsville in 2008), and he doesn't have much power. If he hits .300, he is OK. But if he doesn't, we get a younger, cheaper version of Royce Clayton. to wit: Good field, no hit. And like Royce Clayton in 2003, he'd end up a big downgrade offensively from his predecessor (the Brewers went from an All-Star SS - remember Jose Hernandez? - in 2002 to Clayton; Hardy averaged 20 HR and 67 RBI in 07-09). Mat Gamel has the better offensive upside (albeit which position over the long term is not known), Brett Lawrie shows a higher ceiling, Taylor Green brings in skills that the Brewers major-league roster is short in (drawing walks, etc.), and both Cody and Butler provide a fair bit of help for the pitching staff (which is somewhat improved, but needs depth).

TheCrew07 Interesting about Braddock. I have him at 8 - if he were to be a starter, he'd be top-five. But he is looking like the next Dan Plesac at worst. For the cheap years, he could be an anchor of the bullpen. In essence, he comes in with a lead, and the game might as well be over, either because he shuts the door, or he keeps a lid until it's time for the closer to come in.

1. Mat Gamel - 3B - Could be a left-handed hitting version of Ryan Braun at 3B or the OF 2. Brett Lawrie - 2B/3B/C - Has hit so far, only question will be where he plays. 3. Taylor Green - 3B - 2009 was a washout due to a wrist injury, but he remains strong where the Brewers lineup has been weak (OBP, low strikeouts) 4 (tie). Chris Cody - LHP - While he struggled at AAA, he is still the closest starter to the majors in the Brewers' system. Would be better than Suppan as the #5 starter. 4 (tie). John Butler - RHP - Also close to the majors, but right-handed. 6. Alicides Escobar - SS - JJ Hardy's gone; has to fill some very big shoes at SS. 7. Daniel Merklinger - LHP - While attention has been on the Jeffress soap opera and the Jones comeback, he has quietly put up good numbers through Brevard County. 8. Zach Braddock - LHP - The next Dan Plesac at worst 9. Cody Scarpetta - RHP - Pitching well in AA. Would be higher if he were as close as Chris Cody. (OK, it was one game at Huntsville, but still, very good for a 20-year-old) 10. Mark Rogers - RHP - Don't look now, but the 2004 #1 pick may be back on the road to Milwaukee, but will his repaired arm hold up? 11. Evan Anundsen - RHP - Looks like he put it all together in Brevard County 12. Jon Lucroy - C - Will have to beat out Zaun and Kotteras for a spot on the roster. 13. Angel Salome - C - Has the bat - but where will he play? Outfield? Catcher? Plus, Lucroy may beat him to Milwaukee! 14. Caleb Gindl - OF - Flashed power and speed in Brevard County. 15. Hernan Irribarren - 2B/OF - Could succeed Craig Counsell as Milwaukee's IF backup. 16. Joshua Prince - SS - 38 steals in a half season. Could be Milwaukee's SS of the future. 17. Khristopher Davis - LF/RF - hit .237 in short stint, but drew 6 BB in 46 PA, and slugged .500. A new 3TO? 18. Amaury Rivas - RHP - Put up numbers on par with Anundsen's in Brevard County 19. Eric Arnett - RHP - Rookie league numbers not impressive. 20. Logan Schaeffer - OF - Could be a CF of the future, but he is facing competition from Gindl and others. Honorable mentions: 21 (tie). Chris Ellington - LF - Cranked out 29 extra-base hits in 70 games - a 32nd-round steal? 21 (tie). Jake Odrozzi - RHP - Roughed up in rookie league 23. Nick Bucci - RHP - Also roughed up in the minors. 24. Tim Dillard - RHP - Solid starting numbers, but has been ignored too often. Did bullpen experiment derail starting rotation help? 25. Donovan Hand - RHP - Solid year at Huntsville, but is he a starter or reliever?

Part of it is production, part is proximity to the majors (a AAA prospect ranks higher than a Rookie leaguer), and another part is where the major league team is a bit weak (for instance, a player who is drawing a lot of walks and who has a low strikeout rate will get a bit of a "bonus" in my rankings). Last year, Mat Gamel and Taylor Green were 1-2 in my listings, and Gamel's production barely edged out Green's strength in areas the Brewers were weak (this year, Green still drew a lot of walks - I hope he's at 3B in AAA). Alcides Escobar dropped to 7 because the Brewers had JJ Hardy, who had just come off a second straight season as one of the best shortstops in the NL. Projectability isn't such a big deal in my book. I'll go for it, but I do need to see some production.

I know. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif I will say that last year's #5 on my list dropped all the way off. The tie at #4 is not so much ceiling as much as it is likelihood they can perform better than Suppan did in 2009.

Sent mine in. There was a tie for the top pitcher in the Brewers far system in the prospect list. Six of my top ten are pitchers - although some are what I consider undervalued (including a repeat from last year).

Plus, he's fast, so he can pinch-run.

Gomes might not be a bad pickup. Gomes + [acquisition for Hart] > Hart.

Could be a steal. Produced solid numbers in limited time at the major-league level in 07-08.

$9 million per year for Wolf? Makes the deal look much less bad than otherwise. Add Sharpie (figure 3/24), and the Crew's got a rotation of Gallardo, Wolf, Davis, Bush, and Parra. With Suppan in the pen somewhere, and Halama, Dillard, and Capuano at AAA, it's not as bad a situation as the start of 2009. I often wonder if 2007-2009 would have gone better had the Brewers been the ones to give Sharpie a three-year, $21 million deal. No Estrada at catcher... What might have been...