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JohnBriggs12

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Everything posted by JohnBriggs12

  1. JohnBriggs12
    I'm less worried. Cornerstone players on the major league team are locked up for the next 3-4 years. The pitching at the advanced levels is fairly solid. Lets see the progression this year with guys like Coulter, Roache, Taylor etc. and things can turn around.
  2. JohnBriggs12
    I still think Moreland is the guy Melvin wants and he's waiting (hoping) the Rangers make a move to bring back Cruz. I think a real sleeper in camp is Eugenio Velez. He's played everywhere in his career but 1B (and C), and he's a much better LH hitter (.913 OPS vs. RHP in AAA last year). Given what they did last year, is it that big a stretch for him to see time at 1B? Plus he's the one guy versatile enough that for them to get away with carrying both Gennett and Weeks on the roster as Velez would fill the 5th OF spot, something they wouldn't have if they send down Gindl to make room for 7 infielders.
  3. JohnBriggs12
    Steve Adams reported in his MLB trade rumors chat that Gamel hurt his knee again and has been released by Atlanta. May be the end of the road for Mat.
  4. JohnBriggs12
    It's a good move by the Orioles. In that division they aren't going to compete just on draft picks. Jimenez has been a Cy Young candidate. Sure he might struggle again as he did for a couple of seasons, but when good, he's been really good. Its the type of calculated risk Baltimore needs to take. The O's can always sell off pieces in July if not in contention to bolster their farm system. If that also results in them getting Morales at a relatively reasonable rate, all the better.
  5. JohnBriggs12
    They won't go into the season with 4 outfielders and 7 infielders. That's completely unworkable. You PH Schafer and then you have no backup OF. None. If one of the backup infielders could also play OF, then yes. Bianchi could play out there in a pinch, but then who's your backup at SS? I'm on record as saying Weeks isn't on the team opening day. I'll stick with it but on the off chance he is, it will be at Gennett's expense not Gindl's. Part of the reason I've been insistent that there isn't a place for Weeks on the bench is precisely his lack of versatility, the need for all the lefty bats they can fit, and the need to carry 5 outfielders with one (Davis) being untested over time. Posters on here are all over the need for Gennett to have a safety net/platoon partner. Davis needs one just as much. In fact I think you'll see a soft platoon in LF because this team badly needs more balance in the lineup and Gindl provides that. Schafer does too, but he's the lone backup CF.
  6. JohnBriggs12
    A. He "expects". He hasn't actually seen him. B. That's the company line as the objective remains trading him. What is he going to say? "Weeks was really disappointing last year and his job is hanging by a thread. We'd really like to find a team that would take him and some of his bloated contract"? C. Notice the addition that Gennett is seen as the favorite. As for the notion that Weeks is the only viable option in case Gennett struggles, I will again throw out the name of Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger was bad last year for White Sox and is overpaid through 2015. He's really out of a position and the Sox would eat a substantial portion of his deal to rid themselves of him. Heck they may just cut him. As bad as he was in 2013, Keppinger is a .318 lifetime hitter vs. LHP and has thrived in the NL Central.
  7. JohnBriggs12
    The Brewer record in 2013 with Weeks starting at 2B: 35-57 (.380) The Brewer record in 2013 with Gennett/Bianchi starting at 2B: 35-30 (.538) It's not "apparent" Gennett needs a platoon partner. He did just fine hitting .324 overall with no platoon. Again it's not like this team is lacking in RH bats in their everyday lineup with or without Gennett. Gennett will only become a better hitter vs. LHP by facing them and in a lineup full of quality RH bats, the Brewers can afford that luxury. As for Bianchi, he's capable of hitting better. We're talking about a guy who has put up career AAA numbers of .307/.361/.390 and who was a career .286 hitter in the minors. Playing sparingly is tough. The term "running Weeks out of town" is a misnomer. Weeks' poor play will lead to his losing his spot. Nobody's running him out of town.
  8. JohnBriggs12
    I disagree with quite a few of your projections. Gindl will make the Brewer roster. He's going to see a lot of time in LF to take pressure off Khris Davis. At Nashville, Rogers will be in LF. Halton will be in RF. Davis will be platooned in CF with Prince and also play the corners. Irving Falu is the most likely guy at 2B. The starting catcher at Nashville is almost certain to be Robinzon Diaz. Matt Pagnozzi is likely backup. Eugenio Velez will be DH/utility guy. The pitching staff is close though the bullpen is not. Either Blazek or Figaro is going to make the Brewer roster. Wooten is not. He will be in Nashville as will Goforth.
  9. JohnBriggs12
    No, he's not. Gallardo is 27 and has about 1100 innings as a starting pitcher while Estrada is 30 and has about 300. He's a nice 5th guy or swing man. He is not Yovani Gallardo. Until Estrada makes 30 starts and logs 180+ innings in one year, there's no comparison. Not saying he can't be as effective or perhaps even more than Yo, but that's what will earn him the big bucks.
  10. JohnBriggs12
    2013 10th rounder Michael Ratterree's season at Helena (.314/.391/.585) caught my attention. Will be watching how he does in Appleton. Renaldo Jenkins is another guy who put up good numbers for a middle infielder at Helena. I like catchers Parker Berberet and Dustin Houle too. Going to be watching closely the progress of Tyler Wagner this summer. Last but certainly not least, there's Hobbs Johnson. 32 K's and just 4 BB in 21 IP. With not many lefty arms in the system, he could rise quickly.
  11. JohnBriggs12
    What, Gennett's AB's against LHP weren't included in his .324 BA last year? He had 41 plate appearances vs. LHP last year. Counsell went hitless in more consecutive PA's than that a few years ago. He's a better hitter vs. RHP., granted, but 41 plate appearances doesn't mean he'll hit .154 vs. LHP for his career. Still he can hit .154 against blue eyed blonds, if he hits .324 overall. Bianchi is the likely utility man, and he's going to get some starts to stay sharp. Some of those will come at Gennett's expense vs. lefties. This is a lineup with a ton of RH thunder that should murder LHP, whether Gennett is in the lineup or not. His LH bat is far more valuable in a lineup short on LH hitters and if he needs to stay in the lineup against some LHP to stay sharp, then fine.
  12. JohnBriggs12
    If he has another great season, pay him the going rate even if that's considerably more than it would be today. My point is that it's premature to lock into a guy for 5-6 years after one season. I've seen too many one year wonders who scouts loved too turn into pumpkins when opponents adjusted.
  13. JohnBriggs12
    I agree it's too early. Forget a Braun-like deal, even a Lucroy-like one seems premature. I'd wait a full year.
  14. JohnBriggs12
    Apparently not "retiring", but doesn't feel physically up to pitching and wants to spend time with family. Is foregoing $12.5 million in salary. Now that's a truly classy move. Even healthy, he might not have made Boston's rotation, but he's taken them off the hook for his contract. Some of us thought Suppan should have done that back in 2010. Guess Suppan felt healthy.
  15. JohnBriggs12
    Davis got downgraded as a prospect due more to his defensive limitations limiting him to a single prime offensive position than anything he showed per se as a hitter since being drafted. He's hit at every level. But they do have an in house alternative in Gindl who's first real look in the big leagues last year was encouraging as well. Gindl to me looked like a youthful version of Matt Stairs.
  16. JohnBriggs12
    Haudricourt in his chat yesterday came out and said "the Brewers hope Weeks plays well in camp so they're able to trade him". That's what I've said for months. Doesn't sound to me like TH believes there are plans to hand the job back to Weeks either. TH also stated that keeping both Gennett and Weeks would "knock a more versatile player off the bench". That's been my case against keeping Weeks as bench player as well. Bench versatility is a key component to any team.
  17. JohnBriggs12
    Are we looking at it in the wrong way? Seattle is said now to be seeking starting pitching. Iwakuma is out 4-6 weeks with a finger injury. They've got a lot invested in their team to try and win now. They won't be interested in a Hellweg. But I'm sure Estrada interests them. Now might be an opportunity not just for Smoak but for Smoak and a very good prospect. I've not taken a close look at their prospect lists, but I'm sure there are names the Brewers would love to have. Brewers only control Estrada through 2015. His value might be at a peak.
  18. JohnBriggs12
    Even those splits vs. RHP last year were not so dramatically different than his LHP spilts: .225/.319/.406. Is he really "in decline" or did he find the going tougher in a different league. Hard to say. It's not like Weeks who's had a variety of injuries and often doesn't really resemble the guy he was earlier. I think you go with Reynolds for at least a couple hundred AB's. If he's not productive, then you look at other options.
  19. JohnBriggs12
    I agree wholeheartedly with your reasoning. Reynolds should be the guy and I think he is. This is a guy for all his warts and massive strikeout numbers has put up big HR and RBI numbers in the not so hitter friendly NL West and should still be in his prime. The only caveat to that is if Ramirez' knee acts up, in which case Reynolds might end up at 3rd. That opens up 1B again, with the survivor of Francisco/Overbay likely sharing with Halton who'd be called up. You're right about Melvin having a bunch of smokescreens up right now.
  20. JohnBriggs12
    Remember every team in baseball is getting $26 million in additional national TV contract money this year. The Brewers are far from "tapped out" but I'm sure they don't see value here and would prefer to have some reserve for another opportunity where the need is more glaring than the rotation.
  21. JohnBriggs12
    Was on a sure HOF trajectory till the last 3 seasons. He probably needed about 2 more typical Roy Oswalt seasons to be HOF worthy in all likelihood. Halladay, Carpenter and now Oswalt. Now that's 3 of the most significant pitchers of the last 15 years all calling it quits due to injuries. Halladay is the only one with enough credentials to be a sure HOFer. Carpenter and Oswalt might have needed another couple quality years still both should get consideration.
  22. JohnBriggs12
    To be honest, if they can sign Burnett I'd trade Nelson, Thornburg, Estrada and Tyrone Taylor and anybody else in the minors to start trade negotiations with the Marlins for Stanton, then we match up very well with the Cards and can win the division. We'd have to go 3 years for Burnett guaranteed to entice him. Money is the most important thing. I agree with the other poster that if it was a geographical thing he would have signed already. Except Stanton isn't on the market. Marlins want to lock him up long term. Burnett's been good the last couple years but he is 37. I don't see it.
  23. JohnBriggs12
    Bonafacio has been placed on release waivers now. Starting with teams with worst records (both leagues), teams can claim him and take on his $3.5 million salary. If he clears, he's free to sign with anyone. I could see the Cubs claiming him before the Brewers would get a shot. He's probably better than their options at either 2nd or 3rd, and then they deal him in July to make room for one of their kids.
  24. JohnBriggs12
    The more I look at Smoak, the more I tend to agree but let's not get carried away about Overbay's career either. He had 4 solid major league seasons (the rest were mediocre to bad) and the last good one was 5 years ago. At 37, he's more than likely done.
  25. JohnBriggs12
    JDLR was also out of options too so it wasn't like they could simply send him down. That also limited his trade value. Only a team like KC which could afford to be patient had any interest at all. The Brewers, on the verge of contending, couldn't wait any longer on him. Graffanino was quite useful too filling in for the injured Weeks in 06 and keeping 3B warm till Braun showed up in 07.
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