Harold Hutchison

If the Crew can get a left fielder that outproduces the Hall/Counsell platoon at third (say, Raul Ibanez), the offense emerges as much better. 2b: Weeks ss: Hardy 3b: Braun 1b: Fielder rf: Hart lf: Ibanez cf: Cameron c: Kendall Is there a third baseman available on the market that could provide better production than Ibanez, who has an OPS+ of 124 from last year,and whose OPS+ has been over 115 for the last five years? EDIT: And did I mention Ibanez bats left-handed? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

No. Braun is better defensively at LF than he was at 3B. I would rather have Hardy move over to 3B than having Braun back at 3B. If Hardy doesn't want to move over to 3B to bad move over there anyways. If Hardy wants to be selfish like that sure he can go and take the Sheffield route I wouldn't advise doing that though.Except, once again, moving Braun back to third means that the Brewers would simply have to find an outfielder who could be their OBP guy. that sort of outfielder will come far cheaper because they're easier to find. Hardy gets to stay at shortstop (Escobar may be a good one, but we KNOW Hardy is one of the best in the majors) as well. Escobar could then be used as part of a package to try to net a starting pticher or two. The job is to put the best eight everyday players in the field. Braun at third and a new LF could be a much better option than a new 3B and Braun in left.

I understand there is a bit of a hole at 3rd base right now. However, your prototypical 3b is not a high OBP, lead off type guy. IMHO, finding that high OBP type guy would be the first step that I would hope the Brewers would consider in the offseason in an effort to improve the offense.Finding such an outfielder would have been easier this past offseason - or this offseason, just keep Braun at third base.

1. Third base drew such attention because Hall has seriously underachieved the last two years. Sure, he hits the ball pretty far when he makes contact, but making contact has been pretty rare the last two years. Last year, the Brewers had superb offense from that position as well (Rookie of the Year-level offensive production), but moved the guy. The Brewers' own actions heightened scrutiny at third base. 2. The coaching issue may be fixed by a spring training under Sveum. It may not make them the best at situational hitting. But if they can go from very bad to average, the team could be in very good shape.

I'll go further - I'd give him a Suppan-type deal before it came down to arby. The Crew would have to be VERY DARN careful, but 30 starts of sheets is still a good bargain at $10 million per year.

Folks, it's worse than thought with Sheets: The text I got from MLB.com says he has torn a flexor mass muscle. A Google search shows that this injury ENDED Brian Anderson's career. That's REAL bad news, if you ask me.

I was more afraid of losing Taylor Green. He's a left-handed Cirillo - and probably ought to get long looks as the next third baseman for the Crew. Can he make the jump from Brevard to Nashville next year?

OK, so the Brewers will probably need to make an extension for Hart happen, put him in center, and move Gamel to the OF. Taylor Green just became Nashville's 3B, and could be the #2 hitter the Crew is looking for.

Worth. Every. Penny. For. The. Brewers.

So, who is the PTBNL, and how much will this playoff run cost us in the end? Green? Lucroy? Brantley?

Brwers Manager Dale Sveum. I like the sound of that. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

And the Mets LOST. The Crew is in the driver's seat.

I'll do something different - put in a fresh pitcher. McClung's done his part for the night...

There's still the need to win this one and one more...

Rickie Weeks just gave the Crew the driver's seat for the wild card! Mets down 6-1 in Shea...

Put it this way, if the Crew can keep CC and Sheets, then they have to be the favorites for the NL pennant next year: Sabathia, Sheets, Gallardo, Parra, Bush/Suppan Good grief... Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan fighting it out to be the #5 starter? Most teams would LOVE to have that kind of problem.

Heck, if Escobar doesn't develop a lot of power, you have a new 2B and leadoff hitter, and Weeks can be shopped.

I don't think any of the great managers could do much - not when the guys ahead of the Crew keep winning. Sveum's gonna get a bum rap. There's nothing to indicate he is bad, per se, he is trying to shake things up, and after a rough patch, the Crew has been turning it around some.

I think there is a very good chance you are right. The real question is, then, what realistic options are there at third? The best of the options I see is Braun at third for a year, and pray that Gamel can hold it down in 2010.

If his team option is exercised, the Brewers don't get him.

Gamel is another masher. He is also young - and with the small-sample OBP of .304 in Nashville, it's very likely he may not perform well against major-league pitching in 2009. 2010, I figure he puts up Cameron-like offensive numbers, minus the steals, but in 2009, we could be looking at a left-handed Hall with bad defense. I am OK with giving him a shot, but if he struggles in spring training, I'm putting Braun at third.

At this point, I am going to base this thread on the following facts: 1. Bill Hall is not an every-day player. At best, he is the right half of a platoon at any of six positions (2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF) 2. Craig Counsell is no more than a backup IF/pinch-runner. 3. Russell Branyan is unable to stay healthy for a 162-game season. 4. Joe Dillon is too unknown. The way I see it, the Brewers have three options: 1. Trade - The real risk is not so much in who could be acquired, it is who the Brewers would have to give up, particularly if Sheets and Sabathia are gone. This should be the last-resort option, if you ask me. There are better options. 2. Free agency - The Brewers could have some options. Greg Norton is old, but for a year, he may be worth the risk until Mat Gamel is ready in 2010. Solid OBP/SLG. Ramon Vazquez is another choice, being 32, batting left-handed, and also can play short and second. That said, 2008 looks suspiciously like a career year. Nomar Garciaparra's 2008 looks like Bill Hall's. We already have a Bill Hall on the roster, named Bill Hall. Casey Blake looks to be the best option. but he will be looking for a multi-year deal, and the Brewers just need to fill third base for one year, maybe two at the most, until Mat Gamel is ready to play third. So, if overpaying or a long contract is what the Brewers want, they can go the free agent route. 3. In-house - Multiple options here: One is to throw Mat Gamel out there. The benefits: He has the stick. He's left-handed, and he has power. The cons: He may not be ready for 2009, his defense is a question mark, and he isn't likely to be an OBP machine early on. Option two is Joe Dillon. He has OBP skills, and might be a good #2 hitter, and in limited action has looked good. That said, he may just be AAAA, and to be honest, the Brewers have a #2 hitter who is doing okay - his name is JJ Hardy. Option three is Bill Hall. He has pop, but his OBP stinks. Option four is Ryan Braun. Great bat, young, athletic. Can't field at third, though. Option five is Russell Branyan. Power, check. Decent glove, check. OBP skills - OK. Lots of Ks, and he can't stay healthy. If I were calling the shots, I'd go with the following course of action: 1. I exercise the team option on Mike Cameron, and try to negotiate a two-year extension. That locks center field down for three more years, and gives the Brewers some great defense. 2. I would sign Mark Kotsay to a three-year deal for about $8 million ($2 million bonus, $2 million per year) as a backup outfielder. He's a professional hitter, plays all three OF positions, and he is a solid backup, who doesn't emabrrass himself on a regular basis. He's also probably not going to hurt the Crew compensation-wise. 3. During spring training, Mat Gamel gets first crack to take the third-base job. If he needs another year at AAA due to problems hitting MLB pitching, then I would move Braun to third for a year, and risk going with Kotsay in left. What would y'all do?

Which would you rather have had offensively these last two months, an outfield of Gross-Cameron-Hart, with Braun at third; or an outfield of Braun-Cameron-Hart, with Hall seeing significant playing time, even in a platoon? It's a no-brainer for me, I'd take my chances with Braun at third.

My thoughts: Right Field: Stick with Hart Center Field: Stick with Cameron Left Field: Look for a Brady Clark/Gabe Gross type who can bat second or seventh, because if I were managing, Ryan Braun moves back to third base. It will be easier to find a corner outfielder who can provide a decent OBP/OPS than it will be to find a third baseman. Cheaper, if a trade becomes the preferred avenue of approach as well.

He also would have been an option in left, with Braun to third, given Hall's slump. He'd have been perfect as the #2 hitter as well.