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There are a couple of internal options assuming Braun has to sit. Move Gamel to left, Mc Gee to lst, Gindl or Morgan in left. What options are there if the Brewers want to acquire someone from outside of the organization?

Not sure if this belongs in the transition forum but I had to start someplace. The situation with Braun will develop in the next several weeks but Melvin has to make some decisions really quickly. If he is convinced Braun will be exonerated he continues his off season like he has planned. But there is no way the Brewer can contend with Braun sitting 50 games. Do you pass on Rameriz and go young and cheap with Green? Do you plan on Gindl playing one of the corners? Do you look to trade someone like Wolf and get prospects? With Prince and Braun gone what do you do to get people into the ballpark? Tough decisions to be made in next few days

Let's say the Brewers brain trust wants Hart at lst but he balks. What could he bring in a trade?

For the sake of discussion, what right field options would there be if Hart was moved to lst?

The recent trades make the 2011 season an exciting one but really drained the minor league system. How does this alter the Brewers approach to the draft? As Colbyjack alluded into in another thread the trades make a SS a much higher need. Any other changes?

When Hart signed his contract a lot of people dropped him from trade speculation. I think signing his contract enhances his value and increases the possibility he will be traded. Well it would increase the possibility of trading him if I were GM, which thankfully for the Brewers I am not. But hear me out. First I would trade Fielder for all of the obvious reasons. A team that trades for him wants to win next year and would be very reluctant to give up much in major league ready pitching. But they would be more willing to \give up some top prospects who aren';t quite ready. A team that knows they have Hart for 3 years or whatever the length of his contract is would be more willing to give up a major league ready pitcher knowing they still retain Hart for a few years By trading both of these guys you get pitching for 2011 and some prospects. Some would argue that making these deals would give up too much offense but look at the line up for next year. Cain CF Gamel RF Braun LF Weeks 2nd * FA lst baseman, lefty, more of a steady line drive kinda hitter Mc Gee 3rd Lucroy C Escobar SS The top two are young and unproven but talented. Nothing wrong with the middle of the order.

Here's a different topic for discussion. Aren't the Brewers best served by trading Gamel? I don't think he has the kind of bat you want in a lst baseman. He has never played the outfield and and best it would take some time for him to learn the position. Maybe he could be part of a package with the 3 players we have been discussing. Or maybe he could be used to get a replacement for one of the players traded. For example if Hart gets traded Gamel could go to a team that could give up a decent right fielder, someone who plays good D and has a decent bat. What do you think?

Good point about loss of offense Monty. Trading Hall may make sense long term but who plays RF this year- Gamel or Cain? Who plays it long term? I think the Brewers need a bat for at least this year if they trade Hart.,

A site, In between hops.com ranks the Brewers defense as the worst in the majors with only CF being above average. Another site Hardball Times ranks some minor league players on D. Gives good marks to Cain and Taylor Green but D is not exactly a strength of Gamel or Lawrie. You figure Escobar will be better next year and they should be o.k. in CF but how do you improve the other positions?

Some have suggested Weeks best value to the Brewers would be as a trade prospect- What could he realistically bring in return?

Looks like it is Braun and Gomez long term for the Brewers in left and center but what about right field? Cain had a rough year but he still has talent. If he is the right fielder of the future does it mean the Gamel is in the infield if he isn't traded? If Gamel is the rightfielder what happens to Cain?

Here are some observations from Hardricourt Lucroy faring well in Arizona By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel Oct. 25, 2009 Jonathan Lucroy, who appears to have bypassed Angel Salome as the Brewers' top catching prospect, is off to a nice start in the Arizona Fall League. Through five games with the Peoria Javelinas, Lucroy is batting .421 (8 for 19) with a homer and two RBI, and a .450 on-base percentage. Left-handed reliever Zach Braddock also is off to a strong stat with four scoreless outings totaling 4 2/3 innings. Braddock has allowed four hits and one walk with three strikeouts. The other Brewer prospects have gotten off to poor starts. Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain is batting .222 (6 for 27) with two RBI in seven games. Third baseman Taylor Green is batting .217 with no RBI in seven games. On the pitching front, right-hander Mark Rogers has a 12.60 ERA in three outings (seven hits, four walks and three strikeouts in five innings). Right-hander Josh Butler, who had some action with the Brewers in September, has a 11.57 ERA in two outings (11 hits, three walks, five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings). Reliever Omar Aguilar has a 6.75 ERA in four outings (six hits, two walks, five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings). Reliever Robert Wooten, who is on the taxi squad with the Javelinas, has pitched one scoreless inning.

It has been reported a lot lately that the Brewer organization has done a poor job of developing pitching. Why? How much of the problem comes from not acquiring talent and how much of the problem comes from not developing the talent available i.e. coaching? Do you see any changes coming in the off season in terms of replacing minor league pitching coaches for example?

Clearly trading Hall won't bring anything of value. But could the Brewers trade him for a similar player- an unperforming, overpaid player who might benefit from a change of scenery?

Someone suggested this in the manager thread but I decided to post this. Everyone has their opinion about who the manager should be. Implicit in that is an idea of what the manager should do and what is the most important. With that in mind here are the skills I see as being most important, from top to bottom People skills- That is the most important part of any managerial position, the people you manage have to respect you getting all of the people to accept their roles , play hard etc Public relations- How well do you handle the media, general public Pitching management- Do you keep the starter in, pull him etc. In game management- Do you sacrifice here or hit away for example (edit: title --1992)