BADGERJOBOB

What a joke!!!! The guy didn't put more than 2 seconds of thoughts into this article after mentioning the Yankees and Angels. Yes, the Yankees might very well not be outbid but I don't know if CC wants to be in that circus, under those big bright lights day in and day out. 10 to 1 The Angels have the best odds of getting CC. They can offer CC everything he wants except to swing the bat on a regular basis. If they offer, he will come. Out of curiousity, what happens to KRod as he is a FA. Do we make a play on him? 2 to 1 Mets. Dream on. Not going to happen with all the money they have invested everywhere else. Lower odds than the Brewers like 50 to 1. Dodgers don't really have the money. My guess is Derrick Lowe gets re-signed at a fraction of the cost it would take to get CC and they spend their money on another pitcher and maybe picking up the option on Manny who has been huge for them. Lower odds than the Brewers like 50 to 1. Boston. No. Thats not how they operate. Lower odds than the Brewers. 50 to 1 Houston. No and I can't believe they were even brought up. They will sign Sheets and be very happy in doing it. Way lower odds than the Brewers. 75 to 1 Giants. Again NO WAY. Why they have better odds than Milwaukee is mind boggling. Because they are from California. What a nut job. 1000 to 1 and very confident in saying that. Cubs. I don't see them committing HUGE dollars while they are in the process of selling the team. 50 to 1 Braves. Have they ever spent huge money on a free agent. Last I remember was Maddux when they had all the rest of the pieces in place. 100 to 1 Brewers. The so called heated market is an exaggeration. Lots of clubs like to talk the big talk but won't walk the walk. The Brewers will provide a better deal than most on this list and had the advantage of showing CC what Milwaukee is like. This club drew over 3,000,000 fans this year. Thats a lot of dough. This team finally made the playoffs and hoopla has been incredible over this team. The owners are definitely swept up in CC mania and their checkbooks will be open for CC, as complete a package as you can get. I don't know if it is the smart thing to do but they will make a big time pitch for CC. 8 to 1 odds. Really depends on the Angels if they want to spend that kind of money (remember they need to determine what to do with KRod and Vlad) and than if the Yankees offer a ridiculous offer that no one can refuse (can they really do that with their already huge payroll).

I don't think his logic was that off base. We had and still do have a very young talented pitching staff with little experience and no playoff experience. Suppan was the right type of pitcher to bring into the fold. A pitcher with a lot of experience that performed great in the playoffs. A pitcher who won at the highest stage when there was a lot of pressure on him. I don't see anywhere where Attanasio stated that Suppan was going to be our ace but yes someone who we would count on in our quest to make the playoffs and succeed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep up his great numbers from August of this year. His ERA for August was 3.00 in 6 games pitched. He had nothing left in the tank the last month of the year for whatever reason and his prior outing before yesterday, while a very good outcome(1ER in 5 innings), proved he didn't have it in the end (9 baserunners in 5 innings). I know it seems like I am speaking from both ends of my mouth but Suppan was probably the right pitcher to target 2 years ago and, based on his production from the last month of the year, he should have been on a very very short leash yesterday. (edit: long nested quote / paragraph divisions --1992)

There is a pretty good chance that CC is a Brewer next year. For all this talk about how there are all these teams out there with money to burn and that is the only factor in his decision, is simply not true. What does CC want in an ideal world? My guess is money, to play near his home, to be on a winning ballclub and to have the chance to swing the bat. When it comes to money we are only dealing with only a couple of teams that really have the money to spend and still offer CC most of what he wants (Yankees and Angels). The Dodgers don't have the money at this point in time and won't be able to pony up. Cubs no. Braves no. Giants no. Oakland definitely no. So on and so on. We have an owner and a city that has fallen head over heels for CC and the owners, yes plural, will spend the money on him, trust me. We won't be able to offer 6,7 years but CC might very well go for 4 or 5 years for about same type of money that the Yankees will spend for 6, 7 years. New York just doesn't seem like a CC type of town and CC knows it. That leaves the Angels. I will venture to guess that there is just as good a chance of CC agreeing to a contract with Milwaukee in early November as I do of him going to the Angels. Its a two team race unless the Yankees blow away the Santana deal and offer an AROD type of blow away deal that no one could say no to.

Oh come on. Suppan was brought in for the right reasons, its just that the results on the mound were not what we desired. Unfortunately, it was quite obvious to everyone else but Sveum that Suppan should not have been started this past Sunday based on his overall performance from the last few months and this one of the major reasons why I vote no on Sveum coming back next year. Sveum did a very good job with the pitching staff the last few weeks of the year up until this past Sunday. This past Sunday was an all hands on deck type of game. All pitchers except CC ready and waiting. Use anyone and everyone to win Sunday as we would have CC pitch Tuesday. And if you must start Suppan, make sure your bullpen is ready at a moments notice. It was obvious once again that Suppan did not have it early on as he struggled to get through the lineup the first 2 innings. (I actually mentioned to a friend of mine that if the Brewers would have made it to Suppan's at-bat in the second inning, I would have pinch hit for him and if we don't get to his at-bat, have Parra and McClung warmed up and ready as the third inning was key - second time around the order. That third inning with Howard coming up with 2 runners on was HUGE and in that one position it was a no win situation with Suppan on the mound. In all likelihood, Howard would have crushed Suppan if he pitched to him and Sveum knew it but instead of bringing in another pitcher he let Suppan face Burrell, a hitter who owned Suppan during his career to come up and hit. BIG MISTAKE for a team that can't score runs. The radio announcer was all over the decision and for obvious good reasons. AND GAME OVER. Just like that in the third inning of the biggest game of the series. For all of the good Sveum did with the pitching matchups leading up to this last game, he undid all of the positives in this one game. Having said that, I was not thrilled with the way Sveum stuck with the lineup. Very Yost like in being stubborn to a fault. It wasn't working and it was as clear as day and yet he wouldn't admit defeat. Cameron should not have been batting leadoff and Hart needed to be dropped lower in the lineup or better yet benched. Maybe he didn't want to go back on his words but frankly I can't believe he was dumb enough to declare things like he was sticking with Cameron as his leadoff hitter no matter what. That shows a huge flaw in his coaching ability. The ability to make changes based on continuously changing environment. Anyways, here is hoping we get a far more experienced and successful coach next year.

I have to blame Sveum right now. I know we don't have any good options to sit Hart out a game but I don't know how he continues to bat 6th in the order. Our offense is in a funk but there have been at least 6 instances in the last 2 plus weeks where Hart has been at the plate with the bases loaded (most with less than 2 outs) and he has either struckout or hit into a doubleplay. Others have failed but Hart specifically has just killed so many potential rallies. That game yesterday changes if we put more than 1 run on the board in the first (Doesn't mean I think we win it folks). Anyways, I said it before the game yesterday and I will say it again today. Hart needs to be out of the 6 hole. He should have been in the 8 or 9 hole yesterday. As bad as our options might be, I dont see a Counsell or Kendall or almost anyone else swinging at that point in time in first considering what was happening and I can't believe Hart didn't have the take sign until he saw at least 1 strike if not 2. Sveum is just as stubborn as Yost was and probably needs to go. Hart has been horrible this entire month and the coaching staff is either too stubborn or dumb to realize that they need to figure out how to mitigate the damage of Hart. Its funny how everyone pounds Weeks into submission for his stupid play at times yet give Hart a free pass. I would much rather see Weeks in the lineup tomorrow than I would Hart. And its not even close.

This offense has been in a huge rut the last month. To expect it to get hot now facing better pitchers is not going to happen. And to sit and do nothing in the hopes of getting hot is not how I want to exit a fight. I say go out swinging and try to make something happen. Hart has been AWFUL!!!! And team in offense in general just a notch above Hart. My lineup for today: Durham (need to get Cameron out of the leadoff spot) Kendall (Not ideal but with so many holes, someone needs to be here. Kendall doesn't strike out and can advance a runner) Braun (Need our most clutch hitter here) Fielder (Need our best hitter here) Hardy (Offers best protection for Fielder) Cameron (This is his best place in the lineup) Counsell (His postseason experience goes a long way considering what we have available) CC (I hate batting a pitcher 8th but CC is no ordinary hitting pitcher) Hart (Has been brutal but offers the best chance to contribute offensively batting second leadoff -bunt, sacrifice and hack away - anything more would be a huge bonus)

I would love to have Sheeter back but his injuries are too much of a problem considering the money we would need to dish out. I would probably offer him arbitration so we can get the picks (Sheets is looking for a long term deal and will get one). I would prefer spending the money on Derrick Lowe (Sheets type money). A money pitcher with a sinker, who has a ton of playoff and MLB experience and stays healthy all year. CC is a pipedream but a nice one to have. Go into next year with Gallardo, Lowe, Parra, Bush and Suppan with Villanueva and McClung as fillins in case of injuries. Oh and without Sheets, we are not in position to make the playoffs this year.

I am not talking about dumping the guy from the team forever. He does have value, just not now. It is about winning. Yes he played great in the first half of the year and without his production through July, we lose some more games. But again it is about winning and winning now. And he is not giving us the best chance to win now. And yes Braun has struggled this month but even with his struggles, he is the one who came through in the clutch while Hart has looked HORRIBLE. I have no doubt that the Kaplar injury was huge. He would have been playing a lot in place of Hart with Hart being an automatic out over the last few weeks. Actually, I have more confidence is CC batting than I do in Hart. Speaking of which maybe we should trot CC out in right when he is not pitching. Kidding. Sort of. No honestly kidding but it has been that bad. I just find it hard to believe that we can 't do better than Hart right now.

Yea I don't know. For every huge play he made in the outfield, he has made twice as many outs with the basesloaded at the plate this last 3 weeks. I was surprised that he was not pinch hit for in the 7th with the basesloaded and one out. Everyone knew he wasn't going to deliver in that situation. He actually looked like he was going to cry during that at-bat while taking 3 HORRIBLE SWINGS. And lets not forget the Cubs game we blew in the 9th. Hart twice makes an out with the basesloaded. Makes 2 outs in one inning. And after a lucky hit in the 9th to score Fielder, he gets thrown out at third. We play Gwynn during the last 2 weeks of the season and CC doesn't need to go on 3 days rest and he is pitching Wednesday against the Phillies. At the very least, bat him 9th when CC is pitching and 8th when CC is not pitching and pinch hit for him when he need a chance for a hit in a tight game.

I agree 100%. I hate it when someone minimizes the importance of a strikeout. The Brewers seem to lack the ability to create runs when it matters. Our dive the past two years down the stretch does not stem from random bad luck but from not being able to manufacture runs when needed in tense situations. We strikeout way too often and fail to move runners over with productive outs. All outs are not created equal and we can't have a lineup littered with all or nothing type of players. We need more players who are better situational hitters and less players who continuously pull the ball to short for a ground out without advancing the runner from second to third or fail to hit an important sacrifice fly or hit meaningless grounders where the runner from third can't score with less than 2 outs. Almost everyone in our lineup seems to either lack the ability or lack of baseball sense out on the field. This team just does not value outs near enough with further proof of getting thrown out at varies bases at the most inopportune times. I'll gladly take a player with a little less talent but a whole lot more common baseball sense so we do need to replace some players as we really can't replace all of them. Centerfield and thirdbase seem to be the two areas where we can make those changes. Nothing againt Cameron but he is not what we need more of, other than his defense that is.

No I don't think Hart should be at first. I would much rather have Nelson or Gamel there than Hart. ALso, Hart should not be our starting right fielder for the rest of the season. He has looked just awful. I have to believe that he has single handedly cost us at least a run a game for the last week or so and its not like he is just having bad luck hitting bullets right at someone. He is just flailing away at every single pitch thrown his way.

Thank you. I didnt know the actual requirement.

Good point but I think Sveum is looking at balancing out the lineup for these last 12 games. I think overall at this point in time Durham and Weeks are a wash. I would love to have both in the lineup at this point in time but that doesn't appear to be an option. I don't agree with Cameron leading off (and Hart in the lineup at all) but this new lineup did add more lefthanded batters forcing other teams to make more situational decisions. Now I do think that Weeks should have pinch-hit for Durham when Durham was forced to bat right handed. On other note, is Shouse are only lefthanded pitcher in the pen that was available last night?? I don't know why Sveum let Shouse pitch to Blanco unless that was it for our lefthanded pitchers and a Shouse/Blanco matchup was better than a righty RP/LH pinch hitter.

No its not his fault the club stop hitting but batting Hart lead-off? He has been the coldest of the cold out of all our hitters. Not bumping up CC to face the Phillies? He was our best chance for victory. The Phillies bumped two of their pitchers. Playing Hall against any right handed pitching? Not the right decision. Our chances of making the playoffs with Yost was extremely slim. Getting rid of him here likely doesn't make it any slimmer to make the playoffs. It might light a fire under the players or we go completely in the tank. This year was different. Ownership and management went for it this year. Yost's decision making was preplexing.

Either way you look at it, we need to make some changes as its become very obvious that we need to go away from the all or nothing offense we have. Add one or two more players with a good OBP and this club becomes a lot better. I look at the Cubs lineup and their entire lineup is littered with players whose OBP is 360 or better. How many do we have? 2?

The problem I have with Week's offense this year is two-fold. First, I don't like Weeks leading off (not a consistent OBP). Second, his offensive numbers overall on the year, dont look great because we have too many other liabilities in our lineup. You get better numbers out of some combination of your right fielder, thirdbase, catcher and centerfielder and all of a sudden, Weeks looks very good. (I would actually rather have Weeks over Hall, Cameron and Hart) I believe Weeks should be batting 7th. Weeks has proven up until this point that he is not consistent enough throughout the entire year to get on base regularly. Problem is that we have the same problem in Cameron, the platoon of Hall/Counsell/Branyan, Hart and Kendell. So what do we need? We need a better lead-off hitter, a number five hitter and ideally a new six hitter than what we have this year. At the very least for next year, we need improvement offensively out of two positions, any two out of centerfield, rightfield, secondbase, thirdbase and catcher with both having a higher OBP than what we had this year. That can be easily accomplished in the off-season as we have a lot of flexibility position wise via position changes, talent in minors, decent major league talent that can be swapped out for similar talented albeit different talents(i.e swap out a defensive player with power for one who is adequate defensively with little power but has a good OBP and some speed). We have seven positions we can improve on when we add Fielder to the mix. Braun is the only untouchable. So Melvin really needs to look at what we don't do well offensively and go after guys that fit those needs. If they happen to play second or third or centerfield or whatever, you go get them and move the spare parts for something else. The one thing this team can't do is stay status quo. Some changes need to be made.

1. Escobar should be used as a trading chip for a good quality starting pitcher next year. 2. Sign Hardy to an extension. 3. Trade Weeks and see what it takes to get Roberts here. Hopefully not a lot as he is up there in age but can be a good lead-off hitter for the next 2 years. 4. Keep Hall/Branyan platoon for one more year and keep Prince at first. Determine if Gamel can handle third base. 5. If Gamel can handle third base, bring him up during the season or 2010. If Gamel can't, trade Prince at trade deadline and move Gamel to first. Then pickup a veteran thirdbasemen that plays exceptional defense as hopefully catcher, cf and second base will have better offensive production for 2010 and beyond.

That wasn't even the reason why he was let go. This probably means that Yost is gone after this year if the team doesn't turn it around and make the playoffs. The Brewers just don't think Kremblas is the guy they want to manage the Brewers and let him go to find an opportunity to manage in the majors. Maybe the Brewers will get Valentine or Mattingly to come to Milwaukee and coach this team. What about Brenly from the booth? I can't stand Valentine.

That wasn't even the reason why he was let go. This probably means that Yost is gone after this year if the team doesn't turn it around and make the playoffs. The Brewers just don't think Kremblas is the guy they want to manage the Brewers and let him go to find an opportunity to manage in the majors. Maybe the Brewers will get Valentine or Mattingly to come to Milwaukee and coach this team. What about Brenly from the booth? I can't stand Valentine.

That wasn't even the reason why he was let go. This probably means that Yost is gone after this year if the team doesn't turn it around and make the playoffs. The Brewers just don't think Kremblas is the guy they want to manage the Brewers and let him go to find an opportunity to manage in the majors. Maybe the Brewers will get Valentine or Mattingly to come to Milwaukee and coach this team. What about Brenly from the booth? I can't stand Valentine.

That wasn't even the reason why he was let go. This probably means that Yost is gone after this year if the team doesn't turn it around and make the playoffs. The Brewers just don't think Kremblas is the guy they want to manage the Brewers and let him go to find an opportunity to manage in the majors. Maybe the Brewers will get Valentine or Mattingly to come to Milwaukee and coach this team. What about Brenly from the booth? I can't stand Valentine.

No you can't control other teams that win 90+ games. Especially when we get swept by three of those 90+ win teams down the stretch. OK. Thats not bad coaching thats just bad breaks.

I doubt it has to do with the one poor year. There has to be some other underlying factor like only wanting coaches who are never critical of their players and never benching players who go into prolonged slumps. Also maybe Kremblas doesn't play his starting catcher every single day of the season without any breaks.

I doubt it has to do with the one poor year. There has to be some other underlying factor like only wanting coaches who are never critical of their players and never benching players who go into prolonged slumps. Also maybe Kremblas doesn't play his starting catcher every single day of the season without any breaks.

I doubt it has to do with the one poor year. There has to be some other underlying factor like only wanting coaches who are never critical of their players and never benching players who go into prolonged slumps. Also maybe Kremblas doesn't play his starting catcher every single day of the season without any breaks.