Harold Hutchison

Actually, I'd go Sogard/Hiura in front of Yelich against left-handers and Holt/Hiura in front against righties. Best of all worlds, IMO.

Now, if they can just get something similar (albeit richer) done with Woodruff...

I had him below my Top 25 in the last poll, but after an off-season of thinking, I jumped him up double figures. He's got ace potential, IMO, but I'd like to see it continue above full-season A. A quarter of my Top 40 ballot was unranked from the last poll. In one case, the prospect jumped very high.

At $3.1 million per year, I don't think it makes a difference. If he is a very solid multi-inning reliever, it's a bargain. If he's a 4.00-ERA starter, it's a bargain (less that 1/3 of what Matt Garza got). If he becomes a right-handed Hader or an ace... the Crew laughs to some division titles while Yelich is here, then they laugh as they flip Freddy for prospects - because that surplus value will be really up there.

If he merely becomes a solid reliever out of the bullpen, this is highway robbery.

That's pretty negative. They are "gambling" that the 26 men they put on the field for the opening day roster, plus the depth they have in the minors will keep them in the race until they decide at the trade deadline if they should invest more capital for a mid-season upgrade somewhere. But yes, the third base platoon is part of the overall plan. I'd love to have the resources to buy a star at every position, but I think that the platoon mixes they've brought together should give us a fairly solid line-up top-to-bottom whether we're facing a lefty or a righty. I think at worst, they will have average production offensively at every position on the field. The thing is... if I can churn out a lot of those average production guys or even above-average production players, it becomes easier to keep the genuine superstars.

1) Several of the Brewers' stars haven't played yet. That's how Spring Training works. I don't believe Braun, Cain or even Narvaez have been in there yet, either. 2) Correct ... starters typically throw an inning every two to three days at the outset of Spring Training. They aren't doing anything out of the ordinary. 1. Narvaez has been out there catching. 2. On MLB.com, Counsell said the plan was each pitches one inning, then gets two days off; then two innings and three days off; then three innings where they go on an every five day schedule. https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-notes-corbin-burnes-slider-brandon-woodruff "The schedule this year has each pitcher throwing one inning the first time out, followed by two days off, then two innings, then three days off, then three innings. Only after that do they adopt an every-five-day schedule and surpass the four-inning threshold that Anderson mentioned."

Hmmm... How about this: Brewers get: 3B Miguel Andujar OF Ryder Green OF/IF Alex Garcia RHP Luis Gil Yankees get: RHP Corbin Burnes LHP Alex Claudio

My list will be having a lot of shifts from the last one. I'm making some reconsiderations, and the number of folks who moved on (Stokes, Roegner, etc.) I am also going to take the step and add their Baseball-Reference pages. About 80-85% of my evaluation comes from those. So, I'll just let you see what I'm seeing. 1. Drew Rasmussen, RHP (7 in last poll) - Could be a right-handed Hader, vintage 2017, for the Crew this year. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rasmus000dre 2. Cooper Hummel, OF/? (16) - The only two hitters with higher wRC+ were Hiura and Grisham. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hummel000coo 3. David Fry, C/IF/OF (4) - The bat has held, versatility a huge plus, did well in AFL. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=fry---002dav 4. Dylan File, RHP (25) - Could be the starter to break out in Milwaukee from AAA. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=file--000dyl 5. Aaron Ashby, LHP (3) - Still a very impressive arm, but Suntisch beas him in some peripherals - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ashby-001aar 6. Mario Feliciano, C (8) - Huge breakout in 2019, but can he draw walks? - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=felici000mar 7. Scott Sunitsch, LHP (10) - Had a lower BB/9 ratio than Ashby, and matched Ashby in K/9. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sunits000sco 8. Weston Wilson, IF/OF (9) - Versatile and added drawing walks. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wilson001wes 9. Ethan Small, LHP (35) - Very good start, but only 7 games. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=small-000eth 10. Michael Mediavilla, LHP (unranked) - Maybe I take heat for this, but he has two seasons of sub-1.00 ERAs, and a career WHIP of 0.640. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mediav000mic 11. Clayton Andrews, LHP (20) - Looks like a poor man's Josh Hader. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=andrew003cla 12. Alec Bettinger, RHP (12) - Could be a solid 3.50-4.00 ERA guy. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bettin000ale 13. Noah Zavolas, RHP (13) - The Brewers got a right-handed version of Brent Suter in the Domingo Santana trade. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zavola000noa 14. Max Lazar, RHP (26) - Lazar could be an ace, but needs to make it higher up. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lazar-000max 15. Cam Devanney, SS (24) - Has power and OBP skills. Hit for decent average, too. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=devann000cam 16. Bryce Turang, SS (17) - Showed good OBP skills, but struggles at Carolina cause to worry. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=turang002bri 17. Thomas Dillard, OF/1B/C (36) - OBP skills in abundance, power... but low average. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dillar002tho 18. Jesus Parra, 3B (unranked) - Like Dillard, good OBP skills, power, but struggles to hit for average. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=parra-001jes 19. Quintin Torres-Costa, LHP (unranked) - Came back from Tommy John surgery for AFL. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=torres000qui 20. Ernesto Wilson Martinez, 1B (28) - Did okay in Rocky Mountain Vibe. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=martin004ern 21. Trey Supak, RHP (1) - Stumbled badly in AAA. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=supak-000tre 22. Ryan Aguilar, OF/1B (18) - Added a hit tool to go with OBP skills, speed and pop. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=aguila000rya 23. Luke Barker, RHP (unranked) - Didn't get shelled at San Antonio. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=barker000luk 24. Gabriel Garcia, UT (18) - Draw walks, has power, gets plunked, but can't hit for average. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garcia005gab 25. Angel Perdomo, LHP (22) - The good: 14.16 K/9. The bad: K/BB ratio only 2.21. The ugly: 6.4 BB/9 - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=perdom000ang 26. Aaron Familia, 3B (unranked) - Some power, but outstanding OBP skills. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=famili000aar 27. Korry Howell, SS/OF (33) - Speed and OBP, also versatility. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=howell000kor 28. Jon Olczak, RHP (29) - Had trouble in AAA, but many pitchers did. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=olczak000jon 29. Zack Brown, RHP (11) - Got hammered bad. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=brown-002zac 30. Thomas Jankins, RHP (unranked) - Didn't get killed at AAA, but not overpowering. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jankin000tho 31. Anthony Bender, LHP (unranked) - Made a rapid rise, but need more than 36 innings. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bender000ant 32. Corey Ray, OF (14) - Was 2018 the fluke? - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ray---000cor 33. Tyrone Taylor, OF (21) - Faces same question as Ray, and was kept over Stokes. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=taylor000tyr 34. Lucas Erceg, 3B (32) - Time is running out. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=erceg-000luc 35. Payton Henry, C (27) - Has better OBP skills than Feliciano, but could be odd catcher out, - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=henry-000pay 36. Francisco Gonzalez, IF (unranked) - Switch hitter, speed, doesn't strike out. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gonzal015fra 37. Oscar Castenada, RHP (unranked) - Could be an intriguing option if he can jump from DSL to Arizona. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=castan002osc 38. Alex Hall, C (37) - Clock is ticking on prospect from down under. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hall--000ale 39. Jhonnys Cabrera, C (unranked) - There is an interesting bat, but a long way from DSL to MLB. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cabrer000jho 40. Tristen Lutz, OF (38) - Not sure a .754 OPS last year will cut it. - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lutz--000tri

Cooper Hummel with a double, 2 RBIs, and a run scored. Just sayin'...

I always wonder if you simply forget to put stuff like this in blue... Hmmm... Maybe 10% sarcasm... Honestly, though... maybe this would work better: ss: Holt 2b: Hiura lf: Yelich rf: Garcia c: Narvaez 1b: Smoak 3b: Braun cf: Cain That's maybe 5%... not enough for the blue. Blue would require at least 50% sarcasm. This... as a bat-first lineup... could work.

Holt started at shortstop today... Hmmm.... let me try something here... GOT IT! ss: Holt cf: Cain lf: Yelich 2b: Hiura c: Narvaez 3b: Braun 1b: Smoak rf: Garcia No offensive holes in the Brewers lineup.

I don't think that is that far fetched, especially given the 3 batter rule. It is a real advantage having a Broxton/Hamilton type available to you in a close game. If a new pitcher starts an inning and is historically slow to the plate or has a bad throwing catcher to work with, etc - then Smoak/Narvaez/Gyorko, etc leads off with a single - you now have (insert basestealer here) on first with a high percentage chance of taking 2nd and the pitcher can't be removed. In a close game, that is valuable no? I get your point about slowing the game down though. Because the pitcher WILL throw over to 1st six straight times when this happens. I'd want more than a specialist. Could be justified at a 40-man expanded roster, but not 26 or even 28. Lots of speed, yes, but someone who can provide plus defense at multiple positions, who has good OBP skills, or who can hit for average.

Do you think the Brewers should deal Ben Gamel? If so, what should they look for? Pitchers? Prospects?

Trevor Hoffman for conditioning coach?

Honestly, when Urias is healthy, I think they should look to deal Gamel. There are other outfield options, especially with Holt, Sogard, and Gyroko. Plus, with guys in the minors like Broxton, Ray, Hummel, and Taylor... see if they can't get something for Gamel.

Brett Anderson starts out by punching out the leadoff hitter.

This is what I took from it. People want the Brewers to spend more money, but just because you spend more does not mean that they are going to win more. It is entirely possible that the Brewers data thinks Garcia will outperform Castellanos and the other parts they've picked up will perform at a similar production as those they let slip past. I personally think they will be fine this year if they stay healthy. Plus, they don't have to spend money to bring in new players to get better. It could be they decided that money could be better spent on keeping their team as healthy as possible. They could be upgrading the player facilities to get more out of the current players. It won't show up on payroll, but it has an effect on the field.

I see via statcast, what you say is very true about his Fastball. Far below ML avg in movement. Meanwhile, some his other pitches appear to be top 10 or higher in relation to movement. Statcast shows him has having a 4seam Fastball. So considering how elite his spin rate is and the advantages of movement with a 2seam fastball, I wonder if he just simply dumped the harder throwing, but straight 4seam and moved to a 2seam slower but movement inducing? How would that work out with the rest of his variety of pitchers? Also, his career thus far has been 62games with only 4 of them as Starter. So Percentage wise on his FB thrown vs other pitch types thrown may need to be considered a bit different when he'd throw more pitches 2nd and 3rd time through an order, vs less than 10 batters faced. His career 3rd time seeing a batting order is just 18PAs. His career seeing Batters a 2nd time is just 38PAs. He'll be interesting to hope on, but seeing where he stood vs statcast makes me believe he may need more time to iron out his pitching approach. Pretty much the 4-seam fastball needs to be a 3rd offering pitch and not the primary offering. Thrown up in the zone. I assume that the pitching lab is addressing the fastball issues, and how he should mix his pitches. I think his best bet is adding a two-seam to go with the four-seam and slider. I don't know if Burnes also has a change-up, splitter, or curve to add to the mix, but if he has three pitches, he can work all of them. A credible two-seam would make the four-seam better, even lower in the zone. If he also adds a change-up, that will mess up hitters' timing.

How does one get the media guide? Can't find it on the team store page.

Your last paragraph, I think, is a bit off base. The Brewers could sign Yelich to a 7-year, $225 million extension that wouldn't cripple the franchise. * $15 million bonus over 2020, 2021, and 2022. * $210 million over the next 7 years * $90 million of that is deferred - to be paid out over the 30 years after the extension ($3 million/year) * That leaves an average salary of $17.143 million over those seven years. Or, slightly above the $16 million AAV that LoCain currently has. That is a non-albatross deal, and it keeps Yelich in Milwaukee through 2029.

Hummel's results definitely deserve a closer look. I'd imagine the reason he doesn't get much consideration from prospectors is because he is essentially LF only at the MLB level & if that is your defensive profile you need to be mashing, with a good scouting profile & young for your league to really get noticed. Cooper has mashed, but has never had overwhelming tools & he's been right around league average age at every stop so he's going to be one of those guys like Jesus Aguilar or Garrett Cooper that has to keep proving it every step of the way. Cooper also has played some right field, per Baseball-Reference (https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hummel000coo). What is interesting is that he's played right field about 25% as often as he played left field, but he's racked up 55.5% of the assists. He also started and played one game at third. I think he may be more versatile - and may also be able to handle first base. He's not played much catcher in the last two seasons, but I see a Mickey Tettleton type of player. Lots of walks, power, but Hummel seems to also have a very good baseball mind. 2019 was a semi-Grisham moment for him... but I think he could really make things interesting in 2020.

Hummel's results definitely deserve a closer look. I'd imagine the reason he doesn't get much consideration from prospectors is because he is essentially LF only at the MLB level & if that is your defensive profile you need to be mashing, with a good scouting profile & young for your league to really get noticed. Cooper has mashed, but has never had overwhelming tools & he's been right around league average age at every stop so he's going to be one of those guys like Jesus Aguilar or Garrett Cooper that has to keep proving it every step of the way. Cooper also has played some right field, per Baseball-Reference (https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hummel000coo). What is interesting is that he's played right field about 25% as often as he played left field, but he's racked up 55.5% of the assists. He also started and played one game at third. I think he may be more versatile - and may also be able to handle first base. He's not played much catcher in the last two seasons, but I see a Mickey Tettleton type of player. Lots of walks, power, but Hummel seems to also have a very good baseball mind. 2019 was a semi-Grisham moment for him... but I think he could really make things interesting in 2020.

I'm amazed they didn't DFA Freitas. What is with that?

I'm amazed they didn't DFA Freitas. What is with that?