madtowndrunkard

There is no way the Marlins are going to sign Prince or any other $200million player. That team is probably losing $ with their entire payroll around $55 million. If Hanley or Stanton have the season they are capable of....they'd be better off trying to extend their contracts. Or putting the $ into pitching. That young team is going to put up some runs eventually. The last thing they need is a superstar 1st basemen locking up their entire payroll flexibility.

Instead of gambling on a long term deal with an injury prone SS... why not offer a 1 year deal to a guy like Grady Sizemore? Who knows if Sizemores option will be picked up? But I'm thinking it would be in Sizemores interest to sign a 1 year deal and hope to improve his value. The upside of a guy like Sizemore is just as good as the upside on a guy like Reyes. Don't get caught up in the name Sizemore...I'm just saying someone like him is who I think Melvin will be looking for in an attempt to re build our team for next year. It's moves like that , that will put us in the playoffs. The Cardinals for example wouldn't' be in the playoffs if it weren't for Lance....and they probably wouldn't have advanced to the WS if it weren't for Furcal. I think Suppan burned Melvin so bad, he's going to be shy to gamble on any aging vet w/ an injury history. Melvin loves to over pay guys on one year deals and hope they pan out. If he misses no big deal...if he hits.... we just might have a WS contender. The core of our team is set.... no need to try and build Rome in a day with one signing.

If Barmes is signed then we better be looking at an elite 1st basemen to replace prince. Barmes is a #8 hitter. Barmes better be a last ditch effort to improve defense. Meaning if we struck out on every other available option to improve the SS position...then fine settle on a Barmes. At the same time Reyes is a BAD idea. No way Melvin gambles that kind of $ on an injury prone player. Just look at Melvin's history. He does not sign Reyes type players. I could see him going after guys like Furcal (is he's a FA? ) or making a trade for a guy coming off a bad season w/ good career numbers. Reyes is going to be over paid...and his history shows he cannot handle the riggors of a full major league season. As he gets older that will become more of a problem. Melvin will hit the trade market for a SS. I have no idea who he will use as trade bate. Melvin does not commit long term $ to players like Reyes...it will not happen. My $ is on Melvin signing depth type players to improve the bench..and he'll pray that McGehee can bounce back. Then he'll go after a 1 year deal on an aging 1st basemen w/ pop. He'll rebuild our bullpen the same way by trying to keep Hawkins and Saito. I'm hoping he goes after one of the elite RP's on the market. After seeing what a K-Rod type set up guy can do for our team, I think Melvin will be more interested in signing a stud set up guy....and there are plenty of them on the market.

There are actually people on this board who think our 2010 team had just as much talent as this team? Really? I thought this was a place for knowledgeable fans? Not only did we have the 2nd worst rotation in MLB, our bullpen was a mess most of last year. How Macha's team managed to win as many games as they did is beyond me. Was Macha a good manager? He obviously had serious issues with in the locker room, but on game day he was probably the best manager the brewers have had in decades. Problem is you need to be able to get along with your co workers and employees. Otherwise the whole thing will not work for long. I don't know the facts but I got the impression that both Prince and Braun told Melvin if Macha comes back they won't be playing in Milwaukee for long. Having 2 new SP's and Yo improving was huge. Not to mention we got a solid season from Wolf and Narv. ...also with very few injuries. Our bullpen was dramatically better. Our bench was dramatically better. Would Macha have won more games or gone further then Ron this year? I'd say Yes...but there is no way to know that. Long term though I think we are better off with RR. Hopefully he proves me right. RR is a players coach. The players love him but he's got plenty to learn when it comes to managing a game. A good manager learns from his mistakes. Hopefully RR is a good manager. Right now I dont think you can say if he is or isn't. I thought RR was fairly average most of the year...I also thought he did a fairly poor job of managing the playoffs. You have to manage differently come playoff time. There is no excuse for allowing Marcum to put us down 4-0 before we even got to hit. Reminded me very much of Dale Sveum running Suppan out there to get shelled by the Phillies in 2008. There was no excuse to gamble on Kotsay in CF. I mean seriously? I'm wondering how RR's assistants didn't say "RON ARE YOU NUTS?" Insisting on using McGehee as a pinch hitter was a little silly imo.... that's were you go to Kotsay. McGehee was done. As for Betencourt...there was really nothing RR could do about him....he was really all we had...and he was hot at the plate in the playoffs. RR better work on fundamentals and focus. I think RR let this team lose focus and things got a little out of hand with the talking and celebrating. That's on Ron...I hope he learned from it. What I would like to know is how our team lost focus in the final 2 games of the NLCS. That one baffles me. RR wasn't the only one that choked IMO.

The past 5 years have shown the Carl Pavano is a 5.0 ERA kind of pitcher. So yes, hes Jeff Suppan 2.0 1 fluke sub 4era season does not make him a good signing. Just like Bill Hall was a horrible signing. Just like Suppan was a horrible signing. Pavano REEKS of a horrible signing. I wouldn't sign a pitcher w/ a 5.0 ERA from either league.

This is exactly the POINT. Why on earth is Melvin considering this guy? There is NO way you can justify signing Pavano more then a 1 year deal. Look at his stats. Look at the past 5 years. He can't stay healthy. He's had THREE seasons over his 12 year career that he actually pitched over 200 innings. (last season being his 3rd!!!) The fact that Doug Melvin is even considering this guy for a 3 year deal is just another example that Melvin doesn't have a clue. Over the last 5 years his ERA hovered around 5.0......one season (during a contract year) he gets is below 4 and we want to give him a 3 year deal???? HUH? This IS EXACTLY like Melvin's love affair w/ Suppan after a good playoff run w/ St. Louis. I am SOOOO sick of Doug Melvin wasting payroll on players like this. Just stop handing out millions to mediocre to BAD players like Counsel, Gagne, Suppan, Mota, Hall, Kendall, Davis, Hawkins, Graffy, Linebrink, Mench, etc etc etc. Take all of that $ and just sign ONE legit stud player that has proven him self.

I've never understood this argument. How exactly would this help him, or the Brewers, win more games? Yes he will not be facing DH's but he also will not have one providing him with run support either. given his age....you can fully expect him to regress. In Miller Park and with our defense I expect him to regress significantly to the point were he'd be our #5 starter. Maybe slightly better then Suppan but less durable. This would be a horrible signing. I could see signing a Pavano type late, right before spring training if it were clear we couldnt do better.

What really drives me nuts..... the teams reportedly making a strong move to acquire Webb: Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers, Reds, Nationals, and of course Arizona. If Arizona wants to keep the guy that should tell you all you need to know. Why are we not trying to get this guy? It's unbelievable. He's kept his era under 3.5 most of his career. This is EXACTLY the player we NEED.

oops forgot about Vazquez. As for Webb not being healthy last year....he wasn't healthy. Before last season he was a consistently dominant starter with #1 potential. Sure he's a gamble...but I'd rather gamble on a guy like Webb then a guy like Suppan, Davis, Wolf, etc etc. We don't need SP's with no upside. We need a SP that could potentially put us in the playoffs. So the risk is worth taking. It is utterly nauseating to see Melvin ONCE AGAIN trying to build a rotation the same way he always has....with low ceiling / cheap / inning eater type starters. Melvin is not a risk taker....you have to take some risks to compete in the playoffs. The biggest leap of faith you will ever see Melvin taking is 1 year deals with guys like Gagne. He was a fine GM to rebuild an organization....he is not a good fit for the Brewers any more. He needs to leave. We need a GM who knows how to take us to the next level. How long will it take Mark A to realize this? It's not uncommon for great SP's to have an off year to due injuries then bounce back. Webb has been as consistent as they come prior to the injuries. Unless his injuries are devastating we need this guy.

#1 - Webb #2 - Vazquez #3 - Bedard #4 - Pavano I'd put C. Lee #1 but that just isn't going to happen so I thought Id at least be a little realistic.

You can name dozens of so called "elite" prospects who never amounted to anything over just the last 4-5 years. If LaPorta and Gamel don't start producing in the next year or two you can add them to that list. So yea "prospects" for proven starters is IMO a major gamble for the seller. I'm worried Melvin is going to trade Hart and Fielder for a bunch of "prospects" when we should be getting good young players w/ potential. Our entire pitching staff needs to be dismantled...not to mention the hole at CF and RF for next year. This team is two years away if we are lucky and VERY aggressive in fixing our issues. What happened to our so called great farm system? I thought Melvin was a genius for rebuilding this franchise? After drafting Weeks, Prince, Braun, Hart, and Gallardo we've stuck out. There wasn't a GM alive who would not have taken Prince, Weeks, or Braun when they were drafted. So can't really give Melvin credit for that. So really what has he produced? Our FA signings for the most part of stunk...and that's being very kind. We should be going after the Marlins or Rays GM. Both franchises who cannot fill seats yet they are loaded with talent.....when they can't afford to keep their talent they always manage to pull of a trade that quickly reloads their roster.

If we don't land a #1 starting pitcher then I know I will not be buying any season ticket package. I've been buying 10 game packs or splitting 20 packs but if we don't up grade our pitching dramatically there is no point. I'm not saying that to be a whinny fan, like I'm threatening Melvin. I say this because I know we'll have no chance with our pitching staff. If I know there is no chance for out team to make the playoffs, then I cannot justify spending a large % of my entertainment $'s on the Brewers. Sure I'll make it to a few games but unless I've got something to hope for, I'd rather go fishing. My employer has purchased season ticket packages in the past. We give them to customers as a thank you to them. During the last half of the season we struggled to give the tickets away and often threw out tickets. That didn't sit well with the boss, as the employees used 90% of the tickets that didn't hit the garbage. I already know we've cut our budget for next year and Brewer tickets are not in the cards. How many companies are in the same situation? Like I said I bring this up not because I'm trying to make a threat or cry like a baby....but I think that is what many many Brewer fans are thinking. If I'm Melvin or Mark A. you would really have to think about the impact on ticket sales. Typically the year after a disappointing season you see a big drop off in season ticket sales. On a business stand point I think the team must do something to make the fans interested.

I think people lose sight of the impact a pitcher like JJ would make to this team. What would Gamel and Lawrie do for this team? Nothing next year...and who knows after that. The Brewers have been trying to draft a pitcher like JJ for decades and have for the most part failed miserable. Gallardo is by far the best pitcher to come out of Milwaukee since Sheets....and Sheets wasn't exactly a huge success. If the Marlins wanted Lawrie and Gamel for JJ - I'd jump all over that deal in a heart beat. JJ and Gallardo could anchor our rotation for a long time. There is no gaurantee that Gamel or Lawrie will amount to anything special. And if they do - we still got an Ace calliber starter in return. I just think the Marlins would likely want a pitcher in any JJ trade. I could see Gamel, Lawrie, and Parra for JJ.

I don't know who to suggest for our OF, but I do think Hart needs to go. If we can replace Hart with a guy who can get on base I think that helps dramatically. IMO the key stat for any OF that we bring in to replace Hart (if we do trade him - and I hope we do) it should be OBP.

Chone Figgins Melvin should be all over this guy. He addresses our 3rd base question. He can lead off. He can play 2nd or OF. He's good on the bases. IMO Gamel is not ready to start. Weeks has been unreliable, if he goes down again our season is over. Figgins would make our offense so much better.

I'd take Keppinger over Bill Hall. At least he can get on base. McPherson is worth a look given our situation. Our bench is just pathetic. Bill Hall is a platoon bat at best.

The Brewers should be all over McPherson. Gamel is not ready. We can only pray that Hall doesn't stink up the place. The only reason Hall is even on the team is because of 1 fluke season. You take that season off his resume and he would have been cut two years ago. Counsel barely deserves to be on a major league roster...I think he's done. Now we have McPherson there for the taking. he's a former top prospect who struggled w/ injuries. He's healthy now. He had one heck of a season last year in the minors. Why not add him to the roster? If he doesn't work out cut him loose and the cost is very little. I don't understand why Doug is so willing to gamble a TON of $ on old RP's and cast offs RP's....but he's not willing to take a shot at a young position player. Doug Melvin is sooo over rated.

Something is up. The silence is deafening. My guess is CC wants no part of NY and was planning on just using the Yanks to get the most out of Milwaukee or some other west coast team. You know the union is in CC's ear constantly. I'm sure his agent wants him to take the Yanks offer. There very well could be internal issues between CC, his agent, and the union. Why else would they be stalling? Maybe they are contacting other teams and letting them know they'll take less to play on the west coast? I'm guessing CC said "no...I'm not playing in NY" There is no reason to stall if he was really willing to play for NY. I doubt we'll get him, but I don't think the Yanks will get him either. If CC was willing to move his family he would have done it by now. He played in the upper midwest for many years now. He's obviously not interested in moving from Cal. Living in NY half the season doesn't really work, if you have a family in Cal. I bet the next call to Doug is "give us this...and we'll sign." and that # is probably pretty close to what we already offered. Unless of course there is another team involved ...like the Dodgers and they are just waiting for the Dodgers offer? I really sounds like no one else is in the bidding though.

Yea because Tampa is all about adding payroll. No offense but this idea is just silly.

I'd target Houston Street. Obviously it depends on the asking price, but Oakland seems like the perfect trade partner. Ricky Weeks for Street. They need a 2nd basemen and we need a closer. Seems like a logical move to me. We'd have plenty of options to fill the 2nd base spot vacated by Weeks. I personally would love to see us go after Chone Figgins. He's on the trade block, he can play 3rd or 2nd. He's a great lead off hitter. I'd do what ever I could to get him. I'm not sure what they want or need in return? If Escobar is ready to play SS we could move Hardy to 2nd or 3rd. There are FA 3rd basemen and 2nd baseman available, such as: Casey Blake, Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez, etc. So there are options if we traded Weeks.

If we acquire Peavy we will regret it. I would not be shocked if a Peavy trade ended up costing Melvin his job. Their are glaring signs to stay away from this guy. Melvin is a fool if he ignores them. I mean how many pitchers have looked great in SanDiego when they stunk elswere? The guys home/road splits should tell you more then you need to know. Unless SanDiego is willing to give him away, which I doubt...we should not touch this guy w/ a 10' pole. In Milwaukee I guess Peavy would give us a low 4 ERA and 10-13 wins at best. What are you willing to pay for that kind of production? He's got plenty of milleage on that 28 year old arm. He's averaged about 200 innings the past 6 years. I'm not sure why we'd even bother talking to SanDeigo anyway. What do we have they'd even want? Theyv'e got a 1st basemen every bit as good as Prince. Hart and Gamel maybe? They need OF's. They've got a solid SS in Greene. All indications are that Peavy has no interest in pitching for us.

I heard some where that you have to make an offer to a departing FA if you are to get compensation for losing that FA. So the offer is basically a "pretend" offer so we get two draft picks for losing him. I'm not sure if that is true, but considering we made an offer about $40-50million less then what he's likely to get it definately wasn't a serious offer. Melvin did the same thing to Carlos Lee. What bother insulting the guy? Just so you can tell fans you tried to keep him? Are fans really that stupid?

why not Prince and Weeks for Kinsler and Salty?

Durham makes way way more sense. He'd replace Dillon on the roster. He'd likely start vs righties over Weeks. This is a move IMO that must be made. The likely hood of finding someone better is not high. Either way we need a 2nd basemen or 3rd basemen that can lead off and hit right handed pitching.

Worse then Dave Bush? No Way. Equal to Dave Bush? Yes But with more upside