Harold Hutchison

I have to agree. Counsell has been the best fit of a manager to a Brewers team. I think there is a solid case to label him the best manager in Brewers history. In terms of getting to the post-season, he's done it more than anyone else. The competitiveness has also been sustained more so than in the Yost/Macha/Roenicke era the Bamberger/Rogers/Kuenn era, or the Trebelhorn era. Some serious long-term extensions are needed for Stearns and Counsell. 10 years? I'd even go 20.

OK, maybe there is super-plus defense not showing up in the stats. Yes, he is very young for AA/AAA. But when he was very young at A+, the plate discipline was still there, even when he hit the Uecker line exactly at Carolina in 2019. A .338 OBP is nothing to sneeze at. He hits eighth, gets on 34-35% of the time, when on base he can steal a base, now a sac bunt by the pitcher gets him to third instead of second. What I'm seeing is that the slugging went up at Biloxi to .385 - 9 points higher that what he posted at Wisconsin in 2019. Bu the OBP has dropped 55 points from Turang's 2019 Wisconsin figure. And the AAA walk rate (in a very small sample) is looking even worse. If we're talking a utility player, Weston Wilson is a better option, given his greater versatility (all four IF positions, LF, RF, and he can take the mound in a pinch). I'd also lean towards Hayden Cantrelle, who despite a sub-Uecker batting average, is posting a .374 OBP (if you go for 3TO types who can steal bases as bench players). Plus, Felix Valerio is also looking like a good choice for a utility role, albeit he's a ways away. Seriously, if I'd been Stearns two weeks ago, I'd have offered Turang in that Eduardo Escobar deal, and let the Diamondbacks enjoy a left-handed Orlando Arcia.

Actually, I'll say something slightly different: Some things have to change. Better salaries for the players Better housing arrangements Better handling of food/etc. I think a minimum salary at the Rookie level should be $30,000. Full-season low-A: $36,000 Full-season high-A: $42,000 AA: $48,000 AAA: $60,000 To pay that is $7,380,000 a year. Or just under 75% of what Avisail Garcia makes this year. And how hard would it be to rent out a block of apartments near the home field? For about $180,000 a month for 7 months is a grand total of about $1.26 million. They provide per diems for food on the road... assume $50 a day for 14 weeks, that comes to another $294,000. Heck, for just under $600,000, they could provide that per diem the whole season. A total of $9,228,000 a year. Honestly, I bet it would do more for the Brewers than signing an Avisail Garcia type each year. Think of the better conditions resulting in at least two or three more prospects signing in a draft class each year, a few more sticking around to keep trying, and at least one more a year making it to the majors. Why should a prospect like Tyrone Taylor have to get an offseason job at FedEx? Isn't that just asking for a non-baseball injury to take out a prospect for a year - or more? Take that out of the equation.

His OBP is down 38 points from 2019. While the batting average he has is a little higher, the real issue is a MASSIVE drop in his walk rate. In 2019, he had a 6:1 at-bat to walk ratio - 473 at-bats, 83 walks. To date, in 2021, he has 288 at-bats and a total of 28 walks, or an at-bat to walk ratio of over 10:1. Put it this way - he drew more walks during his struggles in Carolina (34) than he has so far. I dropped him to 23 on my ballot due on the basis of a cratered walk rate. Probably should have started at Wisconsin, with a bump to Biloxi.

I think Turang is a good-defense, high-contact SS/2B. What has set off alarm bells for me is the drop in his walk rate. Even when he struggled in A+ in 2019, he drew LOTS of walks. Right now, he could be "sold" high. Honestly, I think the Brewers would have been better off dealing HIM for Escobar instead of Hummel, given their need for a long-term solution at first (and Ernesto Martinez is in Low-A).

Yeah, but not the way I was hoping... Unless Escobar extends, I think this rental is going to be about as bad as the Garrett Cooper dump over the long haul. So, pretty much irrelevant? I agree. Although I'm guessing Escobar will be a hell of a lot more helpful than Ty Webb. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopega03.shtml Career OPS of .807, playing half the time in Miami. Held his own at first base and right field and also saw action in left. Look at the OPS numbers from 2020 and 2021. Compare that to what we're getting from first base those years. Pretty consequential difference. Now, figure that Hummel was a switch-hitter who could handle both corner positions, didn't embarrass himself at first, and could also catch. If he produces like Garrett Cooper...

Maybe... but I envisioned at least a Mickey Tettleton-type usage - part-time catcher at least, but able to catch for an extended period. He clearly hadn't had too much rust, as this year showed.

Yeah, but not the way I was hoping... Unless Escobar extends, I think this rental is going to be about as bad as the Garrett Cooper dump over the long haul.

Escobar is a good pickup, but giving up the six years Hummel was going to provide for the Crew is going to be something that we're going to regret down the road. Hummel could have been a cheap replacement or Garcia next year, part of a longer-term solution at first. Heck, he could even have helped spell Narvaez with a bat much better than Pina's. Or, he could have made Narvaez a trade commodity - again, a cheap option, especially given Feliciano's lost season and Henry's vanishing power stroke.

Hummel 0-for-3 for a walk, but I'm impressed with the act he averaged 6.5 pitches per PA. Bottom 1st: 7 pitches, pops out to catcher. Bottom 4th: 6 pitches, strikes out on a 2-2 count Bottom 6th: 7 pitches, strikes out swinging on a 3-2 count Bottom 7th: 6 pitches, draws a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 count

Junior Guerra was another one in the past. Wasn't Mike Fiers also "old" for a prospect?

1. I think the OPS/OBP numbers do matter for hitters. For pitchers, I look at WHIP, ERA, BB/9, and BB:K ratio. I get the upside argument, but look at Gilbert Lara, Cristian Guerrero, etc. There are touted guys who flop. Production has to matter at some point. The physical tools just aren't all of it. Jed Bradley had the hype, but when the Brewers made their late-season runs, it was 31st-round pick Brent Suter who was producing while Bradley was out of baseball. 2. Hummel is close and can help VERY soon. I could see him as worth a look at first. I think he's worth a look as a replacement for Garcia next year (either in right or by moving Yelich to right). Heck, give him some starts behind the plate to lessen the load on Narvaez (or, let him catch and deal Narvaez). I gave Wes Wilson a similar boost, because that guy looks like a Hernan Perez who actually can tear the cover off the ball. So, the higher up and the better he performs, the higher the player may appear on the ballot. 3. What also won me over with Hummel was his BrewCrewBall interview. It vaulted him from the middle of the Top 25 to the tops. Kind of a Suter-ish level of knowledge/intelligence. Honestly, with the way "launch angle" seems to have made a dog's breakfast of Hiura's swing, maybe Hummel's worth a look just for his approach to hitting. It's a gut call. 4. I also will boost a guy if he develops another tool. See Troy Stokes in 2017. Pre-season, he was at 16. He developed a power stroke, and I sent him up my ballot as a result. In this ballot, Ernesto Wilson Martinez got a boost because he initially struck me as a ERic Thames type - only he's now shown he can play a semi-decent CF, and he can steal a bunch of bases. He'd been on and off my ballot before, but the new tools/versatility warranted a massive boost. Similarly, Korry Howell was not on my ballot until mid-season 2019 at 33 due to speed and OBP skills. I even had compared him to Turang on a thread, wondering if he might be a better player. Well, Howell's hit 12 homers this year - a power stroke from out of nowhere. In the same park he played in 2019, he's already got 10 more XBH. On the flip side, Turang's walk rate nosedived, and I lowered him on that basis. 5. Sometimes, some stat will jump out at me. With Suter, it was the dominating 2015, then in 2016, he goes to Colorado Springs, and unlike many pitchers, he's not those who envy a baby seal in the Arctic who ran into a Canadian fisherman with a club. Michael Mediavilla was one who had jarringly good numbers. On my ballot, I saw some good WHIPs from Carlos Luna and Justin Bullock. Jorge Ortega's stats showed real great control until his elbow gave out. 6. Injuries will take a player off my ballot or result in a drop. See Clayton Andrews and Mario Feliciano. I've hit on some guys (Garrett Cooper was a productive major leaguer, albeit not for the Crew). I've missed on some (Ronnie Gideon, Cam Roegner). But I'll roll the dice on production, especially at higher levels of the minors. One other thing, in light of the Nelson Cruz trade. In 2006, the Brewers dealt him. He was, arguably, a throw-in on the Carlos Lee trade. An older prospect (25) when dealt with Carlos Lee for Mench, Nix, and Codero. Looking back... he was arguably the one the Crew never should have let get away. So, I don't think age should dismiss prospect status. Justin Topa is getting votes, and is seen as help. So is Luke Barker. Topa and Barker are 30. Look at the Crew's 20th-round pick in the draft: He's 28.

Should be a lesson about not dismissing someone who is an "older" prospect. Think about what having him would have meant in 2008 and 2011.

Hummel with a start at first base... now things are getting interesting. 0-for-2 with one walk, no strikeouts. Puts him at a legit 5:3 BB/K ratio.

1. I think the OPS/OBP numbers do matter for hitters. For pitchers, I look at WHIP, ERA, BB/9, and BB:K ratio. I get the upside argument, but look at Gilbert Lara, Cristian Guerrero, etc. There are touted guys who flop. Production has to matter at some point. The physical tools just aren't all of it. Jed Bradley had the hype, but when the Brewers made their late-season runs, it was 31st-round pick Brent Suter who was producing while Bradley was out of baseball. 2. Hummel is close and can help VERY soon. I could see him as worth a look at first. I think he's worth a look as a replacement for Garcia next year (either in right or by moving Yelich to right). Heck, give him some starts behind the plate to lessen the load on Narvaez (or, let him catch and deal Narvaez). I gave Wes Wilson a similar boost, because that guy looks like a Hernan Perez who actually can tear the cover off the ball. So, the higher up and the better he performs, the higher the player may appear on the ballot. 3. What also won me over with Hummel was his BrewCrewBall interview. It vaulted him from the middle of the Top 25 to the tops. Kind of a Suter-ish level of knowledge/intelligence. Honestly, with the way "launch angle" seems to have made a dog's breakfast of Hiura's swing, maybe Hummel's worth a look just for his approach to hitting. It's a gut call. 4. I also will boost a guy if he develops another tool. See Troy Stokes in 2017. Pre-season, he was at 16. He developed a power stroke, and I sent him up my ballot as a result. In this ballot, Ernesto Wilson Martinez got a boost because he initially struck me as a ERic Thames type - only he's now shown he can play a semi-decent CF, and he can steal a bunch of bases. He'd been on and off my ballot before, but the new tools/versatility warranted a massive boost. Similarly, Korry Howell was not on my ballot until mid-season 2019 at 33 due to speed and OBP skills. I even had compared him to Turang on a thread, wondering if he might be a better player. Well, Howell's hit 12 homers this year - a power stroke from out of nowhere. In the same park he played in 2019, he's already got 10 more XBH. On the flip side, Turang's walk rate nosedived, and I lowered him on that basis. 5. Sometimes, some stat will jump out at me. With Suter, it was the dominating 2015, then in 2016, he goes to Colorado Springs, and unlike many pitchers, he's not those who envy a baby seal in the Arctic who ran into a Canadian fisherman with a club. Michael Mediavilla was one who had jarringly good numbers. On my ballot, I saw some good WHIPs from Carlos Luna and Justin Bullock. Jorge Ortega's stats showed real great control until his elbow gave out. 6. Injuries will take a player off my ballot or result in a drop. See Clayton Andrews and Mario Feliciano. I've hit on some guys (Garrett Cooper was a productive major leaguer, albeit not for the Crew). I've missed on some (Ronnie Gideon, Cam Roegner). But I'll roll the dice on production, especially at higher levels of the minors.

Thanks. Some of my highly-rated guys have missed. Big time. Ronnie Gideon flamed out quickly. Dallas Carroll did as well. Some others didn't work out. The one thing that I think too many people here do is dismiss performance on the field. I get the desire to see upside. I try to find it as well, and I miss, too. We play the games to find out who will make it to Milwaukee.

While he does need to show he can actually play the position and isn't Khris Davis defensively, among guys with at least 100 at-bats, Hummel ranks among the top 5 in the system in walk rate (#1), K rate, ISO and swinging strike rate (only non-middle infielder in the top 5). Age and defensive value are definite knocks but the idea of Hummel being able to be a competent big league hitter can't be discounted at this point. Compare him to Thomas Dillard, who kind of seems to have a similar profile at this point (defensive limited emergency catcher). It is getting increasingly tough to make the case for Dillard being the better prospect. He's going to be on my list this time around, albeit more in the 15-20 area. What I like about the fan voting on this is that it gives us the chance to really talk about these prospects and to maybe see how fellow Brewers fans see them. For instance, take Hummel. I look at years of someone who can draw lots of walks and who has a solid bat. I had him at #16 in my 2019 mid-season ballot (viewtopic.php?p=1242412#p1242412). I jumped him higher when I read an interview he did (https://www.brewcrewball.com/2019/11/25/20982116/milwaukee-brewers-cooper-hummel-prospect-interview) and I went with my gut, figuring this was a guy who would break out in 2020, and voted accordingly. Well, it's a year later (thanks, pandemic), but that does seem to have happened. Incidentally, I do have Dillard on my list at #13, and view him to be a Mickey Tettleton type, much like Hummel. Hummel, I think, is a good option as a corner OF, at 1B, or even spending time at C (he'd be bat-first, but I don't think his defense would be horrible). Dillard seems more limited defensively to me between the two, and he is at a lower level.

Here's my ballot. Major shifts in first minor-league action since 2019. 1. Ernesto Wilson Martinez, 1B/OF (18) - What warrants a 17-place jump? This bopper not only has shown versatility (playing CF well), he's also added a "steal bases" tool. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=martin004ern 2. Korry Howell, OF/IF (25) - He had speed, versatility, and OBP, but added power tool warrants a big jump. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=howell000kor 3. David Fry, UT (2) - Still slugging, still versatile. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=fry---002dav 4. Weston Wilson, UT (7) - Hernan Perez with a plus bat - and at AAA - makes him front-runner for 2022 26th man. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=642215 5. Garrett Mitchell, OF (21) - Looking on course to replace Cain in 2023. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=669003 6. Ethan Small, LHP (8) - Is he ready to join the punch-out firm of Woodruff, Burnes, Peralta, and Houser in 2022? https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=small-000eth 7. Joe Gray Jr., OF (unranked) - Broke out big time. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=669336 8. Felix Valerio, IF (unranked) - Hummel-esque plate discipline, stolen base threat, and a lot of doubles. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=valeri001fel 9. Luke Barker, RHP (20) - Probably should be considered for a call-up. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=barker000luk 10. Ashton McGee, OF/IF/P (unranked) - Offense made major improvement from 2019. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcgee-000ash 11. Aaron Ashby, LHP (4) – Struggled with shift to bullpen. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ashby-001aar 12. Thomas Dillard, 1B/C (15) – Another Mickey Tettleton-type. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dillar002tho 13. Mario Feliciano, C (5) – Has barely made the field. Young enough to rebound. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=felici000mar 14. Victor Castenada, RHP (27) – Making the transition to starting pitcher. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=674810 15. Alec Bettinger, RHP (10) – Solid, but got knocked around at MLB level in small sample. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bettin000ale 16. Zavier Warren, C/3B/1B/? (unranked) – Big bat, superb walk rate, versatile (history of playing SS). https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=warren000zav 17. Carlos Luna, RHP (unranked) – Just dominating and worth a look. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=650690 18. Hayden Cantrelle, IF (29) – Superb walk rate, still has speed, added plenty of power. Could sub-Uecker-line batting average be bad luck? https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=676463 19. Noah Campbell, UT (unranked) – Versatile switch hitter with OBP skills, speed, and hits a lot of doubles. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=668929 20. Noah Zavolas, RHP (11) – Took a step back – did pandemic layoff throw him off? https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zavola000noa 21. Justin Bullock, RHP (unranked) – A WHIP of 0.900 is worth a longer look. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=668908 22. Quintin Torres-Costa, LHP (17) – Comeback from Tommy John is going rough. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=torres000qui 23. Brice Turang, SS (14) – Massive drop in his walk rate is a big red flag. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=turang002bri 24. Alex Hall, C (38) – Has turned the offense around some. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hall--000ale 25. Hedbert Perez, OF (unranked) – Promising start in some ways, but very small sample size. Low walk rate is a concern. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=691616 26. Clayton Andrews, LHP (9) – Injuries and layoff raise questions. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=andrew003cla 27. Eduardo Garcia, SS (unranked) – Very small sample size, and a long way away. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=682633 28. Jeferson Quero, C (unranked) – Promising start, but a small sample size. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=691620 29. Jhonnys Cabrera, C/1B (39) – A very small sample size, but still looking like he did before the pandemic. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cabrer000jho 30. Corey Ray, OF (32) – A left-handed Keon Broxton: Power, speed, outstanding D. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ray---000cor 31. Ryan Aguilar, OF/1B (19) – Walk rate, pop, and speed are there, but the hit tool vanished. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=aguila000rya 32. Jamie Westbrook, UT (unranked) – Has performed well. Worth a longer look. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=642197 33. Freddy Zamora, SS (28) – Underwhelming start. OBP Skills a bright spot. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=668965 34. Lucas Erceg, UT/P (34) – Slow start to “toolshed” status. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=erceg-000luc 35. Oscar Castaneda, RHP, (37) – VERY small sample precludes bigger jump. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=castan002osc 36. Cam Robinson, RHP (unranked) – Showing signs of being a future closer. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=676515 37. Joey Matulovich, RHP (unranked) – Potential multi-inning fireman. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=664771 38. Joey Weimer, OF (unranked) – Could be a solid backup. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=686894 39. Jesus Chirinos, C/1B (unranked) – Very small sample size, but has intrigued in DSL action. https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=678652 40. David Hamilton, SS (unranked) - Good speed, OBP, and some pop. Stealing LOTs of bases. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hamilt004dav Honorable Mentions: IF Gabe Holt - https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=686746 OF Luis Castillo - https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=699127 RHP Keegan McCarville - https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=682033 LHP Brandon Knarr - https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=687822 RHP Nick Belzer - https://www.baseball-reference.com/redirect.fcgi?player=1&mlb_ID=691108 Martinez and Howell got huge jumps for adding significant new tools. I've long been intrigued by Martinez as a potential fix at 1B. Now that guy's looking like he could be an Eric Thames-esque bat who also plays center field and can steal 30 bases a season - making him my #1 in the wake of the Cooper Hummel trade. As for Howell, all that guy did was add a power stroke to his OBP skills, versatility, and speed, a worthy #2. Both are projections, but given that they ADDED tools, those are good signs. Fry and Wilson could be the heart of the 2022 Brewers bench, just on their versatility and the fact they have bats. Here, production and their proximity to the majors warranted their ranking. Joe Gray is clearly breaking out, and Felix Valerio's made the adjustment. Both were huge risers from the unranked. Ethan Small is looking like he'll be the guy to join the punch-out firm of Woodruff, Burnes, Peralta, and Houser. Here's hoping that Woodruff, Burnes, and Houser get extensions to keep them here for a while. Luke Barker should be called up to help the bullpen. Turang is a big dropper, mostly because his walk rate has plummeted. Payton Henry lost his power stroke. Tristan Lutz is looking like he's flamed out. Max Lazar, Justin Topa, Dylan File, and Scott Sunitch have been injured, so they're off my ballot. Andrews and Feliciano were almost off for injury reasons. EDIT: Changed based on the trades of Cooper Hummel and Payton Henry.

No, Hummel's seen some action behind the plate this season. Seems to be doing good, since there aren't any errors or passed balls in the box scores...

My apologies then for misunderstanding. I agree with that point. I thought they'd miss JP and (eventually) Rasmussen sorely. They haven't. I don't know where they are even finding these guys, but they definitely seem to have a model for their bullpen builds and for the most part it's been very successful. I knew Willy Adames would be very good. Part of me was hoping the Crew could, prior to 2018, deal a package centered around Arcia for him I always knew the price would be high, and Rasmussen being dealt was something that stung a bit - as I felt he could be a right-handed version of the 2018-2019 Josh Hader - and the visions in my head of the two of them filling that role for Williams, an extended Knebel, or a re-signed Jeffress as the closer were quite nice, indeed. But Adames has been an MVP-type talent, and I think the Crew needs to work up an extension sooner, rather than later.

Has there been any word on when the Brewers will get their picks signed?

Hummel behind the plate again...

They could just free Cooper Hummel...

Hummel 1-2 with 2 walks and a strikeout. OBP is .424. SLG is .590. 26:22 BB:K ratio... 17 of 30 hits have gone for extra bases... 1.015 OPS... FREE COOPER HUMMEL!!!!

What's up with Hummel? He was tearing the cover off the ball, walking more than he struck out, and now he's vanished into thin air...