BADGERJOBOB

I like Lopez but (a) he does have a history of being a rotten apple, (b) Weeks is going to play second base next year and © Melvin will not pay Lopez big money to platoon with Weeks, talk about a potential disaster there. Figgens just fits so much better with Gomez's lack of offense, McGehee's possible one year hitting wonder/injury problems and trading Gamel probably giving us the best chance to acquire a good young pitcher instead of overpaying for an old aging vet.

Would have to limit his innings but when Harden is good, he is very good. I would actually combine him with Suppan and use a two-headed pitching combo with them. This way you control Harden's pitch count and well Suppan pitches less which is always a good thing but still gets consistent innings which does help with control and such.

I would grab Chone Figgens. Switch hitter. good obp. A leadoff hitter the Brewers need badly without the headaches of Lopez. He can split his time between third and center with Gomez and McGehee as I would think the Brewers would have to package Gamel for a pitcher. Get Weeks out of the leadoff spot and provide some more pop further down in the lineup.

I would sign Doug Davis. I would make the trade for Clay by giving up Gamel, Lawrie and others if need be and I would sign Chone Figgens to play third and leadoff for us. Bring up Lucroy or Salome and I hate to say it but see if we can re-sign Kendell on the cheap to catch 40 games and be a mentor to Lucroy/Salome. Re-sign Counsell and bring in an outfield bat for the bench.

We didn't save $14 million by trading JJ for Gomez. We could of saved $8-10 million by simply keeping JJ and not signing Cameron. Gerut could man centerfield just fine. What we did was save whatever difference in salary between JJ and Gomez. Hardly a $14 million savings. The problem that I have and most others have here is that if JJ could only get a no-hit, non walking centerfielder who has potential down the road, then why not package him with some other players and get a legit player in return? I would think everyone other than Braun, Fielder and Yo would be available for trade. Gomez in and by himself, is not going to make this team any better this year or next and now we have one less chip to trade for what we really need pitching since the free agent pitching market is hardly stellar.

Melvin needed to do better. The pitching staff coming into the season was going to be a major weakness and everyone knew it but most were willing to overlook it and hope for the best. Yes the starting pitching options were slim last year so an instant ace was not in the cards but Melvin could have improved this team in other areas. The problem with this organization right now is that there is no pitching at AA or above. The problem with this organization is that there is no legit outfielder in any level to step in and provide good production. We came into season like we have in so many hoping that certain players preform at a level that they never have performed at in the big leagues over an extended period of time. Weeks, Hart, Hardy, Parra were all asked to do something they have not done consistently. This team could have went out and got an Ibanez to man right and traded one of the above for depth that is sorely lacking. Hopefully, the haul we received over the last 2 years in the draft will work its way up and we might see that depth in a few years but I doubt Melvin will be around to see it firsthand.

I wouldn't trade any prospects for Washburn but I wouldn't mind signing him as a free agent provided that he is a type B free agent and not type A.

Macha is not any better of a manager then Yost was as I have pulled my hair out just as often this year as last year. I know that Macha is limited in what he can do due to the makeup of the roster but he really is more of an American League manager then a National League manager: 1. Kendall should never, ever bat lead-off. Do we really want one of our worst batters getting the most at-bats? If lineups really don't matter, why don't more teams bat pitchers lead-off or clean-up. Heck we can bat Braun 9th for that matter and Yo can lead-off when he pitches if lineups don't matter. Doesn't that sound stupid??? 2. I think Macha does the double switch way too often and too early in games. 3. Sticks with pitchers a little too long, just like Yost. Was there any legit reason to bat Suppan in the bottom of the 5th and bring him out in the 6th last night??? He lost it and he lost it quickly last night. That loss last night was as big a loss you can get. Really needed to manage for the win last night and not think about saving the bullpen an innings worth of work. 4. Seems like he doesn't bunt when you should, and bunts when you shouldn't but that one just might be in my head. There is probably another 2 or 3 other reasons I could list, but my brain is fried from last nights debacle.

I have had enough of Macha and his inability to put out a decent lineup. Why does he insist on batting Hart, Kendall or Hardy at the top of the lineup is beyond mind boggling. I know with the roster makeup we have, it is difficult to put out a good consistent lineup and lineups are not the end all be all but I still don't understand some of the decisions Macha makes on a game by game basis. Anyways I also believe that Gamel needs to not only play more but bat second consistently. The kid gets on base consistently more then most everyone else who has batted second and is on par with Counsell. So, here is my proposed lineup with reasons why this should be the lineup going forward until production changes significantly between multiple players (i.e. Hardy or Hart get red hot, Gamel or McGehee really struggles to get on base, etc., etc. 1. Mcgehee - 2B Gets on base better than anyone on this club not named Prince or Braun 2. Gamel - 3B Kid gets on base. His avaerag and slugging might suck but his defense has been better then expected and you want good base runners and players on base ahead of our big 2. 3. Braun - LF 4 Prince - 1B 5. Cameron - CF Lack of better option but the best of the rest in terms of power and slugging 6. Hart - RF flip a coin between him and Hardy but a bit more consistent then JJ at this point in time 7. Kendall - C Would prefer Rivera but his lineup position should always be right before the pitcher batting 8. Pitcher 9. JJ - SS Hates batting before a pitcher but his OBP is below 300 so bat him after the pitcher as second leadoff. Anytime he gets on base could lead to a big inning with who we have at the top of the order Explanation of way Gamel needs to start consistently. 1. Highest ceiling player we have over Counsell, Hardy, Hart and McGehee 2. Needs to be playing everday somewhere getting experience here or minors 3. His on base is way better than Hardy (296) Hart (325) and Kendall (320) and nearly identical to Counsell (358) 4. Counsell goes back to being a good utility player spelling Gamel defensively late in games and giving rest to Hardy and McGehee 5. Gamel getting big league experience will help this clube next year a lot since he looks like he could be our starting third basemen next year 6. Provides balance at the top of the order (righty, lefty, righty, lefty, righty) 7. Supposedly is a very good hitter against left handed pitching so I would definitely allow him to face lefties which gives the team a more consistent lineup every day. I think that is a good thing when players know that their roles are consistent, i.e. playing everyday, same position, same lineup position, etc. Allows players to be more relaxed. I just don't understand why Macha is so stubborn that he continues to bat players with HORRIBLE on base percentages ahead of his two best hitters. Doesn't it make sense to have runners on base ahead of Braun and Prince so that they can't be pitched around? Doesn't that make our team more dangerous with a chance of a bigger inning with base runners on base and nowhere to put Braun or Prince unless you want to load the bases or walk in a run? Wouldn't a team rather face McGehee with Braun and Prince on first and second with two outs then a situation of McGehee and Gamel on first and second and no outs with Braun and Prince up to bat? Talk about a chance for a big inning and throwing up a crooked number. Does a team pitch around Braun and Prince with runners on base with a chance of loading the bases or go after them with a chance of giving up a 2 run double or 3 run homer? Definitely a pick your poison type of proposition. Batting McGehee and another player with a higher on base percentage ahead of Braun and Prince is way more protection then batting McGehee after Prince. Again, I understand that lineups are not the end all, be all but doesn't this lineup make some more sense? [edits: fixed small font; removed excessive punctuation from one spot (?????) --1992]

Brewers are 12-13 when scoring 4 or 5 runs in a game.

Huh? If you believe the Brewers are not capable of going to the playoffs, why would you not sell? Cameron, Hoffman, Hardy, Suppan, Kendall, Hall, Counsell are all guys that would seem to have no place in the Brewers future. Not saying all of those guys have value (some have negative value), but some most certainly do and to not try to use that to fortify the future would be kinda silly. Huh? Why give players away just to give them away? I didn't say I wouldn't sell under any conditions. The way this team is presently constructed, making the playoffs seems like a longshot but there is also a small chance this team gets so smoking hot that they squeak in the playoffs. To be honest, the Brewers would not get anything worthwhile for Suppan, Kendall, Hall or Counsell. Hardy's value might be too low to move at this point in time and I don't think Cameron would net us a decent prospect. Hoffman maybe if a star closer goes down.

To pick one or the other(I prefer neither), the Brewers need another quality pitcher way more then they need another hitter. Brewers when compared to Cards and Cubs have the least number of games where we scored 3 runs or less and a far worse winning percentage in games where we scored 4 or more runs. Number of games and records in games where teams scored 4 or more runs: Brewers 52 (36-16, 0.692) Cubs 43 (34-9, 0.791) Cardinals 43 (33-10, 0.767) Number of games and records in games where teams scored 3 runs or fewer: Cardinals 41 (12-29, 0.292) Cubs 36 (6-30, 0.168); Cubs shutout 8 times to Cards 5 and Brewers 3 Brewers 30 (7-23, 0.233)

I agree that we are more than one player away from making a legit run. Moves needed to be made in the off-season and they weren't, right or wrong, I don't want to debate that but anyone who thought this pitching staff was average to above average heading into this season had blinders on. And the hitting well, I can't believe anyone expected better out of that department as well. Too many hit or miss players that results in lots of 6 plus run outputs but also lots of 0/1 run outputs. Two major weaknesses heading into the season besides starting pitching were never addressed, another legit left handed bat and a player with a high on-base percentage who could lead-off. We need to live with what we have and hope that Hart and Hardy to get red hot for the entire second half of the year to help out Braun and Fielder and get some better more consistent pitching from 2 of the following 3: Bush, Suppan, Parra. Braun is a compeititor and wants to win now but he should not have said anything. All he is doing is putting more pressure on Melvin to trade away valuable prospects that will hurt this team in future years. I probably don't make any moves this year, buy or sell, unless we fleece another club. Up until this year, I would have gladly traded Prince for something good in return but he has stepped it up another level and I would really prefer to just sign him to an extended contract. Our 3 core playres should be Braun, Fielder and Yo. If any trades are made, we need to trade away a JJ and/or Hart and get an on-base machine with good defensive skills out in center field for next year and a legit number 2 pitcher would go a long, long way. I would trade both for one or the other and open up the checkbook for the other piece of the puzzle. Parra still has hope to be a legit 3. Looper, Bush and Suppan should be 5s and we only need 1 of those in the majors, not 3 but for next year at least one of them needs to be in a different uniform. Really need to just cut bait with Suppan provided we find a better option. I feel the boos at home are just getting inside his head way too much, as evidenced by his horrible home numbers compared to away numbers.

I wouldn't be selling just to sell for some insignificant parts but I definitely would not be buying. The only deals I would make this year would be for long term pieces down the road. I.e. you get a great offer for JJ or Hart that you can't say no to.

This team has problems. It needs 2 new starting pitchers, and at least one more hitter who gets on base consistently in order to have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs. Problem is, this is not a new problem as it was quite evident before the season even started. The starting pitching staff was average at best and well we haven't received the best except for one month out of the season. Its best now to not mortgage the future and just try to get through the season as best as we can with what we have. Stranger things have happened and maybe the pitching staff or hitters go on an insane hot streak. In other words, we made our beds this off season with little to no real moves and built our expectations on best case scenarios that never materialized. Worry about fixing this team in the off-season, not now when it costs way too much to make good moves.

The Cards should not throw stones when living in glass houses. Card fans and players should not be allowed to say anything negative about any other team's rituals until LaRussa and Pujols can blasted for their antics first and foremost. What was the deal with LaRussa forcing Prince to walk back and forth between the batter's box and on-deck circle when it was clear LaRussa was making a pitching change? Talk about being an a** Having said that, wins against the Cards now are just a little bit more fun and enjoyable and I assume the Brewer players are enjoying it a little bit more too then usual that they can get under the Cards skin. I love it.

Ned deserved all the criticism he got last year. The criticism was not over one specific decision but a build up of bad decisions that were made over a long period of time. Macha will be given the same leash as Yost received. If he makes the same number of bad decisions over numerous years that cost this team losses, he will be criticisized just as much.

Its funny that your type of mindset is what makes others around here just as crazy. I wasn't a fan of the trade(would have rather traded Gamel over LaPorta) but I see nothing wrong with it. (1) At the time, we had a chance to seriously contend for a Championship by adding CC, not just a playoff drive. CC and Sheeter the way he was pitching was as good as it was going to get in the playoffs with starting pitchers). (2) LaPorta was blocked from coming up to the majors for the near future and the only way for him to come up would be to trade other players. Players who have proven their worth in the majors. As great as LaPorta is in the minors, still no gaurantee that he would be great in the majors. (3) As great a hitter as LaPorta is, he still not an all around great player. (4) Sometimes you do just have to go for it. All the teams do it. (5) Our farm system is still in good shape (6) We did add high compensatory picks for the loss of CC (7) Its not like we traded away Prince, Braun, JJ or Hart- young players in the majors for a rental, it was a prospect (8) Ideally it would have been great if we could have had CC for longer then half a year but then we wouldn't have gotten CC for what we gave up, it would have been Escobar and Jeffries and more and for what, Peavy????? Someone who probably wouldn't have got us into the playoffs last year while really mortgaging the future. Bottom line is that it was a move that had to be made and I applaud the Brewers for that but you are right this is not the Brewers from the 1990s and THANK GOD for that. We actually tried to go for it for once. Something that hasn't been done for a long long time.

I wasn't thrilled with the trade but the Brewers had a chance to seriously contend for a championship last year. Would you trade LaPorta for a World Series ring? You bet and if Sheeter would have stayed healthy and our offense didn't just tank that last month, we could have done just that. Plus Yo proved that he was back in his playoff appearance. It was a gamble that had to be made even if I didn't like it. Unfortunately it did not work out as great as it could have.

I like it that Rivera will get some consistent at bats and Kendell some consistent rest.

Its funny that you don't include Yo or CC in the first group but I guess you can tweak whatever you want to make your arguement look better. You don't want to include CC because he was traded for halfway through the year than fine but than you have to include Yo in the mix as he was a part of the starting rotation before his injury. This pitching staff is mediocre and one injury away from being way below average no matter how you spin it.

I thought that was common knowledge. I have seen the Macha interview on Time Warner Sports numerous times so I was drilled in the head that Macha doesn't want to put any additional pressure on Yo/Parra. He also kind of likes Suppan and his experience so if he shows anything during spring training he will be the opening day pitcher with probably Bush going second, Yo third, Parra fourth and Looper in the 5 position.

Good signing. I thought he pitched well down the stretch last year after that early season meltdown.

Well not the most thrilling of signings. Definitely doesn't have any upside at 34. Definitely doesn't have a track record of success as a starting pitcher. I really like sinkerball pitchers but you need a good defensive team behind sinkerball pitchers, something we don't have here. Adds depth which is good. Too bad that depth is as a number 5 pitcher. He looks like a Suppan like signing in terms of ability which is not a good thing. The deciding factor on this signing will be the years and price. Hopefully its the 2 year variety with a club option on a third and no more than $7 million for 2 years. Anything more than that and I would really have to question Melvin's decision making.

Ok but are any of those teams, a playoff team from last year with a legit chance of competing for the playoffs this year and is their current ace a pitcher, a pitcher who missed almost all of last year and still hasn't pitched an entire year in the big leagues??????? You win with pitching and defense and there are way too many question marks with this starting unit (along with no depth) to seriously consider this team as a legit playoff team. Than add the subpar defense at multiple positions and this team could be in a world of hurt this upcoming season.