Harold Hutchison

Discussing Rotoworld's article: I'm going to cast my vote for "DO IT NOW, DOUG!"

I'm hoping for Jenkins and Mench. Gross can handle RF, forcing Hart to left, and Hall to center. That outfield would be good for 70-85 home runs.

I believe Mike Maddux can rectify that shortcoming. Maybe adding a split-finger could also help.

colbyjack I've edited it. As I said, it's a 2* - I still think he could be dealt in a playoff run.

pogokat Perhaps, and I admit he is great. But will he make the majors with Milwaukee, or will he be dealt in 2007-2008 as part of a deadline deal for a playoff run or for help elsewhere? The Brewers have four starters in thier major-league rotation: Sheets, Capuano, Bush, and Vargas. They have six guys who will be at AAA or in the majors in 2007: Villanueva, Gallardo, Parra, Dillard, Hammond, and Jackson. That does not include additional pickups via trade or a free-agent signing. For all we know, a Jenkins-for-Pavano deal could happen. Or the Brewers get a couple of college starters in the 2007 draft with their comp picks frm Graffanino.

RyDogg If he's not dealt, he's probably #4 behind Dillard, and the #20 guy gets dropped (that's Katin). But I'm looking at Gallardo, Jackson, Dillard, Hammond, Villanueva, and Parra. All are going to be fighting for rotation slots at AA or AAA. That does not include a few people by the name of Sheets, Capuano, Bush, and Vargas. I could easily see the Brewers moving Inman in a deadline deal in 2007 or 2008 if they are in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Pass.

RyDogg66 My list was based on who was likely to either force their way to the bigs with Milwaukee, or who could help out the Brewers soon. Will Inman is great, but he had some minor injury problems this past year, and I think he will be blocked in the rotation by a combination of Gallardo, Zach Jackson, Hammond, Villanueva and Dillard. All are closer to the majors, and they could be the rotation in 2009 (if both Sheets and Capuano are gone). He will make the majors, but not with Milwaukee. He's probably the guy who the Brewers send in a deal at the deadline to make a run for the playoffs in 2007-2009. I also don't know enough about Perez to really decide if he is a prospect or not.

Top 20 1. Ryan Braun, 3B -- Should be the Opening Day 3B for the Brewers after his AFL stint. 2. Yo Gallardo, RHP -- Ceiling puts him very very high. 2*. Will Inman, RHP -- Very high ceiling. He could be as good as Gallardo, but there are other starting pitching prospects closer to the majors than he is. He will make the majors, but it is an open question which team he will make it with. 3. Tim Dillard, RHP -- The worst you can say is that he is an inning-eater with a 1.16 WHIP over his career. Averaged six innings a game over the past two years on strict pitch counts, with four relief appearances. Perhaps the most underrated starting pitcher in the Brewers system and the biggest sleeper. 4. Carlos Villanueva, RHP -- Has the inside track to be the #5 starter. The steal of the Wayne Franklin trade. 5. Zach Jackson, LHP -- Moved through the minors quickly. Probably needs a year or two in AAA. 6. Angel Salome, C -- Injured to end 2006. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. No need to rush him. 7. Cole Gillespie, OF -- Hopefully he will continue to hit. 8. Mark Rogers, RHP -- Good news: He has the velocity of Derrick Turnbow. Bad news: He seems to have the control of Derrick Turnbow. 9. Charlie Fermaint, CF -- He's got talent, but 2006 was the first time he got over 400 PA in a season. Can he stay on the field? 10. Jeremy Jeffress, RHP -- See Mark Rogers. 11. Lorenzo Cain, OF -- Seems to be generating a lot of hits, andhas a lot of speed. But will power also develop? 12. Dennis Sarfate, RHP -- Another hard-thrower who could help in the bullpen. 13. Hernan Irribarren, 2B -- Gets a lot of hits, and has some speed, but power is non-existant. Strikes me as a perfect #2 or #8 hitter. 14. Steve Hammond, LHP -- Stats look a lot like Tim Dillard's. Not as many IP, but the WHIP was 1.13 for 2006. 15. Manny Parra, LHP -- Rebounding nicely from shoulder problems, but are they gone for good? 16. Mat Gamel, 3B -- Drafted in the same draft as Ryan Braun. On a slower career track. Showing power, and the ability to take walks. 17. Vinny Rottino, C/3B/1B/OF -- Could be a poor man's Craig Wilson. Slumped a little in the AFL, but could be very valuable bench asset in 2008. 18. Chris Errecart, OF/1B -- Right-handed bat with power. 19. Drew Anderson, LF/RF -- Another left-handed bat, but more like a left-handed Brady Clark in terms of some speed, good on-base skills, and the abilty to deliver 30-35 doubles and 10 homers a season. A prototypical #2 hitter. 20. Brendan Katin, LF/RF -- Slugged nearly .470 in a pair of minor-league baseball's more pitcher-friendly ballparks. Teammate of Ryan Braun at University of Miami - could they be teammates in Milwaukee as well? Honorable mentions: C Lou Palmisano, OFs Michael Brantley, Ryan Crew, and Tony Gwynn Jr., RHPs Robert Hinton, Mike Jones, and Rolando Pascual, LHP Steve Garrison, 1B/C Ned Yost Jr., and SS Alicides Escobar

A switch-hitting version of Vinny Rottino.

I'd take the better bat over the better glove every time.

Other than baserunning... is there any doubt that Braun's bat is ready for the majors?

I think Braun's moving beyond a callup at some point... I think he will make it very difficult to not start him at third on Opening Day.

This is a huge coup for the Crew. You can't have too much depth. Call it insurance, or what have you, but this makes the Crew much stronger.

Would you rather have more of those filled from the first ten rounds, or go for lucky breaks later in the draft?

Seems like he's treated AFL pitching like a bunch of baby seals. I'm still calling him the Opening Day 2007 third baseman.

I like the idea. The way I see it, it could help - particularly in the Brewers' case. The Brewers might see players willing to go to college rather than sign with them in a lower round, but if the Brewers could deal a second-round pick for Tampa Bay's third, fifth, seventh, eighth, and tenth-round picks, they could get more prospects than they otherwise could.

Jared Sandberg jumps out as a nice utility option. Bringing back Durrington as AAA depth would be a good idea, too. Chris Aguila would be interesting as AAA OF depth - and as a little trivia. (Remember Rickie Weeks' behind-the-back flip against the Marlins in 2005? He was the batter). That .866 OPS would be nice. C/3B Eric Munson would be a good pick for catcher - might be a left-handed Mike Rivera. He had some decent numbers in 2003 and 2004.

Amen, pogokat. Amen.

And That Ironically, the #2 guy in walks is also #4 in career strikeouts.

Clancyphile's Sleeper: Tim Dillard He's constantly pegged as a reliever, yet as a starter, he has shows remarkable durability. I think 2007 is going to be the year Dillard proves he deserves a shot at the 2008 Brewers rotation - and I think he is more likely than Gallardo, Jackson, or Eveland to be the guy called up if someone is hurt.

I still like the following: 2B Weeks LF Hart 1B Fielder CF Hall RF Gross 3B Braun C Barajas/Miller SS Hardy

pogokat The way I see it, the real problem in 2006 was injuries and some lengthy slumps. Yost tried to win now with the vets, and it didn't work out. Not his fault, but they thought they were ready. I think the young players can do the job if they get the chance. Hart and Gross, had they played full-time, both would have about 25 homers each. Not bad for a couple of corner slots. I think Braun's good for 25 homers, too. Put Hall in center, and the outfield provides a minimum of 80 homers, and possibly as many 100. Barajas has one thing over Rivera: He's proven he can slug in the .420-.450 range in the majors. If his OBP sticks around .300, that's not bad. And it's another 20 homers. Figure that Fielder's good for 35, while Weeks and Hardy provide 15 each... call it about 170-190 homers from the starting lineup backing a healthy rotation. All that is left is to cobble together a bullpen, and 2006 aside, Bill Castro's had a very good track record.

1. Swap Jenkins for a low-A/high-A prospect. Move Jenkins to any team that will take him at his current price. 2. Decline to offer Mench arbitration. Mench just doesn't fit with the Brewers, and if he is going to complain about not playing every day, I'd rather he do so elsewhere. 3. Resign Tomo Ohka and extend Doug Davis Sharpie and Ohka each get deals of three years for $5 million per year. 4. Sign FA C Rod Barajas Deal is for three years, $15 million, option for a fourth year at $6 million. With Damian Miller getting older, he's a good pickup. Good for 15-20 homers a year. If Miller takes the option, Rivera's in Nashville for the first callup due to an injury among catchers. If he doesn't, Rivera's the #2. 5. Extend Bill Hall Deal is for six years, $39 million. Center field is his to lose. 6. Re-sign Cirillo and Graffanino Cirillo and Graffanaino get two-year deals in the $3 million range to back up the infield. 7. Throw open the bullpen competition Let some of the young starters (Sarfate, Eveland, Hendrickson, etc.) compete for bullpen slots. 8. Release Corey Koskie Ryan Braun ain't waiting for July 2007. He'll be ready to be the opening day 3B. 2007 Brewers: 2b: Weeks lf: Hart 1b: Fielder cf: Hall rf: Gross 3b: Braun c: Barajas ss: Hardy Pitcher Bench: Miller/Rivera, Rottino, Cirillo, Graffanino, Clark, Nix Rotation: Sheets, Capuano, Davis, Bush, Okha Bullpen: Codero, Sarfate, Turnbow, Eveland, Hendrickson, Wise

bork If Braun has a big AFL and spring, Hall's in center, Braun's at third, Hardy's at short. At this point, I'm ready to write Koskie off by releasing him and paying the $2 million.