JohnBriggs12

Every team including the Brewers is getting an extra $26 million from the national TV deal. That's part of the reason why I couldn't understand why they low-balled Hart.

I'm guessing Fiers or Hand, maybe De la Torre.

Considering what Neshek got from St. Louis, it does seem like an overpay. Still overall the bullpen in general is pretty economical. I really don't see them adding anyone else. I don't see them adding a LOOGY. Duke was brought in to be insurance if Gorzelanny isn't ready to start the year. Gonzalez was a bad sign last year, so I hope they don't add someone just to add someone. I think with the possibility now of using Thornburg in the pen, they have enough candidates.

Nah, Wallace is a career underachiever. Great AAA hitter, He was handed the job in Houston 3 or 4 times and could never hold it. Not totally unlike Gamel but without the injury excuses. He's probably no worse than they have now, but no better either.

I'm just guessing but I bet they are considering Kevin Gregg.

I'd rather see Bonafacio make the roster over Bianchi. Aside from playing SS Bianchi what value does he bring to the team? He can't hit either LH or RH pitching so he can't platoon. He can't hit for power and is a liability on the base paths. If you replaced Bianchi with Bonafacio you could keep a platoon at 1st, 2nd and even Caleb Gindl off the bench if LF needed a platoon. C Maldonado 1B Reynolds/Francisco/Overbay 2B Gennett/Weeks OF Gindl 2B/SS/3B/LF/CF/RF Bonafacio Seems like a no brainer to me. I absoltely agree... Bianchi doesn't bring us much. Come on Doug, Bonifacio is just sitting out there!! Against LH starters last year Bianchi batted .288. Overall Bianchi hit .258 vs. LHP. Weeks hit .195 vs. LH starters and .226 overall. Bianchi had 25 RBI in 252 plate appearances. Weeks had 24 in 399. The Brewers went 6-22 in May last year. Weeks started 24 times that month and the Brewer record was 2-22 in those games. Bianchi started the other 4 at 2B and the Brewer record was 4-0. My point isn't that Bianchi is better than Weeks necessarily but that you really want both backup infielders to be capable of playing all over, not just one, especially if you plan on using Bonafacio on occasion in the OF and at 3B, and that Bianchi's perceived lack of offense really is overstated. Bianchi had a .307 BA at the AAA level. He's also out of options.

I'm no fan of Marmol. I thought Melvin waited too long for a much needed lefty reliever last year and he ended up settling for the erratic Mike Gonzalez so he could save a few bucks. Gonzalez was awful (1.66 WHIP) and cost them a number of games Marmol can't be trusted holding leads either. Melvin can undo some of the positives this offseason by making a move for a guy like Marmol. I'd rather they use Thornburg late than recycle a retread.

I disagree about it being a staff that's hard to predict. Gallardo has put up numbers in a fairly narrow range for 5 straight seasons with at least 30 starts and WHIPS between 1.215 and 1.368. His velocity loss affected his strikeout ratio, but a solid 2nd half showed he can still be effective. Lohse over his last 3 seasons, has posted WHIPS of 1.168, 1.090, and 1.168. Can't get much more consistent than that. Estrada' last 3 seasons, his WHIPS have been progressively better: 1.209, 1.142, 1.078. The only question left about Estrada is whether he can do that over 30 starts. Peralta is still learning how to harness great stuff but he's such a horse that its easy to imagine 200 innings and at some progression in numbers year to year. Garza's a proven 2-3 type. There's some question about durability with him, but not in the extreme. I don't see them being a top 7-8 rotation or a bottom 8 either. They are in that mid range. If things go right, Peralta takes a step forward and the other guys pitch around what they have in recent seasons, it's near the top third, maybe 10-12th. If Gallardo slips a little more, Peralta stagnates, and an injury or two pops up, they still have the depth to salvage a rotation that's in that 20th to 22nd range.

While he may not still be the same hitter he once was, the ~40 point edge Dunn has over Reynolds in OBP alone makes him significantly more valuable as a hitter. Now, Reynolds's glove v. Dunn's 'glove' at 1B might mitigate that, but still. To call them the same hitter over the course of their careers isn't accurate (not to mention the difference in SLG & overall OPS gap -- .861 to .793). How about this then? Since 2011 Dunn has put up the following slash line in 1752 PA: .197/.317/.405, with 86 HR, 224 RBI, OPS+ 93. Reynolds since 2011 in 1662 PA .221/.321/.438, with 81 HR, 222 RBI, OPS+ 107. Since 2011, Dunn and Reynolds are basically the same player and it could be easily argued that Reynolds has been better Reynolds at 30 has a lot better chance of posting numbers closer to his peak seasons than does the hefty 34 year old Dunn. Dunn's K rate has been worse the last 3 seasons than even Reynolds and noticeably worse than he was earlier. Reynolds has if anything improved slightly.

Though I wasn't at that game and don't remember it, I was at the game two days later vs. the Cardinals. It was an outing for our Cub scout pack from Fond du Lac. I remember it because we were in the RF bleachers, and late in the game Warren Spahn came out to the bullpen and that's about as close a look as I ever got at the great Warren Spahn. I remember it to this day. Oh yeah, the Braves who despite the thrilling comeback a couple nights before, were mired in a slump lost 2-0 thanks to a HR by Cardinal SS Julio Gotay of all people. Aaron homered off of Sandy Koufax for the only Brave run in the first ever game I saw in June of 1958. I wasn't yet 6 years old. I had pestered my parents for weeks to take me to a game. That was #122 for Aaron. The last I saw Hank hit was #754, a 10th inning walk off shot to beat the Rangers to sweep a double header and make a winner out of Bill Castro. That was special and I remember it like it was yesterday. The crowd stood and cheered for close to 5 minutes until Hank came back out of the clubhouse to tip his cap. Hank mentions that one in his autobiography as being more memorable than his last one about 10 days later.

I won't argue that Polanco and Taillon are great prospects, but Polanco has just a half season above A ball and while he's been very good in the Dominican Winter League, it's a stretch to think he'll have a great impact this season. His AA numbers weren't anything special Same goes with Taillon who's had just 6 AAA starts going into this year. Pittsburgh's future is bright. I just think they are more geared to 2015 and beyond and may take a rather noticeable step backward this year.

I think we'd all be pretty happy if Reynolds posted .234/.335/.474 with 29 HR and 90 RBI.

If Ramirez can play 5 games a week, it will be a potent offense. Certainly no worse than 2nd best in the division. That combined with a relatively healthy rotation, and this should be an above .500 team. If the young pitchers that are still back in Nashville put up solid numbers in the first half, then they'll have some ammo to make a move if they are close in July. I'm with fondybrewerfan (must be my upbringing in Fondy) on Peralta. He's a guy that could exceed all projections that are out there and by a lot. He's got to be feeling confident going into this year. With his stuff, that's exciting.

Bonafacio would give them what Weeks can't: versatility and the ability to still steal a key base, qualities that make for a good utility player. Of course he'd also provide protection for both Gennett and Ramirez and also provides some veteran flexibility in the OF should Gomez go down at any point. Not sure whether Doug is ready to end the charade of Weeks having a bench role. Methinks he still thinks he can get something in a trade this spring for Rickie. But if he's not confident that will happen, he might want to at least consider cutting the cord now if Bonafacio can be had. Even if he clears waivers and gets released, somebody is likely to give Bonafacio a 40 man spot and the Brewers would have to make one somehow.

I would take Parker but none of these one and done guys will make much immediate impact. They need the core young guys they have, Knight, Henson, Sanders and the Alphabet to take strides forward and to stay on the floor.

Braun at 3.8 is about half of his actual production in his peak seasons. Put it at 4.5 and Brewers are ahead of Reds.

But if you really want Gennett to be the guy, you don't put training wheels on him. They just signed two vets to minor league deals, Pete Orr and Joe Thurston who between them have played 191 major league games at second base. Taylor Green has also played there. The White Sox would give them Jeff Keppinger for a song and there's already a thread about Dustin Ackley likely to be shopped in Seattle. Not great alternatives but neither is the Weeks we've seen the last couple years. What if Weeks does take over 2 months into the year and hits around .160 again for his first 200 AB's for the third straight season? To me that's far more likely than Gennett falling completely on his face. You keep the training wheels on Gennett because he's proven over the course of his minor and major league career that he can't hit LHP. Scooter vs LHP 2013 MLB - .154/.175/.154/.329 2013 AAA - .235/.262/.330/.592 2012 AA - .241/.271/.335/.607 2011 A+ - .282/.325/.342/.667 I know Weeks is overpaid and hated around here but people need to just grasp that Scooter is a platoon player and needs a RHH compliment on the roster. Since Weeks is already a sunk cost I see no reason to jettison him off unless you're getting some substantial salary relief and even then I wouldn't do it unless I could guarantee getting someone like Jeff Baker as a replacement. Not playing Gennett vs. lefties, might make him worse vs. righties. Gennett posted .324/.356/.479 combined even with the poor splits (in very small sample) vs. lefties. My contention is that having to face pitchers from the same side makes hitters better against pitchers from the opposite side. I know it's counter-intuitive, but hitters have to concentrate even more to pick up the ball when facing pitchers from the same side. That level of concentration becomes a habit and carries over to AB's against pitchers from the opposite side. I think most hitters don't like platooning for that very reason. Besides Weeks hit .226 vs. lefties in 2013, just .195 vs. lefty starters. Bianchi isn't going to get a lot of AB's behind Segura. He can start occasionally to spell Gennett vs. a tough lefty. Also even with Gennett in the lineup, this lineup is heavily right handed that should mash LH pitching. There's not a critical need to get another RH bat in there. Gennett would likely be in the 8 spot vs. LH, but even if he were in the 2 spot, he could bunt and move runners regardless. If Weeks had value at any other position, then fine, keep him as a backup but he doesn't. Finally, this isn't just what I think should be done. It's what I think in the end they will do and I stick by my prediction. They will showcase Weeks in Arizona.

Cubs change: Add Jason Hammel, subtract Chris Rusin. Don't see much of an upgrade with that switch if any. Jackson holding spot only because he's getting paid. His projection assumes a comeback. The one guy on that Cub rotation that could far exceed his projection is Arrieta. He had a 1.123 WHIP as a Cub. Imagine the Cubs are counting on Hammel putting up better numbers moving from AL East to NL Central also.

Baseball doesn't compare with pro basketball. No comparison at all. Lets see on opening day who's at 1B or if either Overbay or Francisco are even on the roster. As for the "no depth" comment, there isn't a team in baseball that can survive major injuries to it's star players. Depth is way overrated and bench production is very random.

The Mariners aren't going to get a top of the rotation guy for Smoak. Estrada makes the most sense. If he's average this year he's going to start getting expensive. I think Thornburg is ready and might be better than Estrada anyway. With the likes of Smith, Nelson, and Burgos, I don't see depth as an issue either. Besides if any of Lohse, Garza, or Gallardo goes down for extended time, they probably aren't going to win anyway. The downside might be that Thornburg might be a great option in short relief. I believe they can contend but the margin is pretty thin already. Smoak would balance out the lineup and eliminate the need to carry either Francisco or Overbay who to me are this years versions of Gonzalez and Betancourt. That's a bigger plus for me. I like Reynolds to face lefties at 1B and fill in for Ramirez. Even with Smoak, he'd see close to 300 ABs. Knowing Melvin, he'd try to get a young pitcher thrown in from Seattle.

Oh they'd take an arm for sure. The back end of their rotation is wide open. Not that I'd deal an Estrada straight up for Ackley. Maybe package Estrada with a prospect for Smoak and Ackley.

Ok another try post Garza: OF: Davis, Gindl, Gomez, Schafer, Braun Some are leaving Gindl off presumably to leave open a spot for Weeks? I just don't see it. With the lack of LH bats, and Davis still not established, they need a lefty bat to compliment him and Gindl showed plenty last year to deserve that spot. Schafer as the only CF backup can't be floating around too much in the corner spots. IF: Ramirez, Segura, Bianchi, Gennett, Reynolds, Francisco C: Lucroy, Maldonado I still don't see a spot for Weeks. The biggest question is Francisco. His spot is wide open. It could go to Overbay or it could go to a non roster invite with Velez the most logical. Only thing I know is they'll prefer a lefty bat in that spot, hence no Weeks and no Halton, barring injury. Bianchi doesn't hurt them filling in anywhere including occasionally vs. LHP replacing Gennett. Because he's out of options, barring injury, Bianchi is a lock. SP: Lohse, Gallardo, Garza, Estrada, Peralta RP: Burgos, Smith, Blazek, Gorzelanny, Thornburg, Kintzler, Henderson Burgos is long man in a bit of a surprise. Smith/Blazek cover 6th inning. Thornburg covers inning 7. Kintzler is 8th inning setup. Gorzelanny covers 7th or 8th either situationally or vs. predominantly LH lineup. Henderson is closer. Wooten goes back and closes at Nashville, at the ready for first call up. I just don't see them sending down Thornburg. What does he have to prove at AAA? Use his ability as short inning reliever just as Cardinals did with Joe Kelly last year. If an opening in the rotation develops, stick him in there. Kelly went directly from short reliever to starter. Thornburg can do the same thing. The real concern on this roster would be another knee flareup for Ramirez. Reynolds and Francisco are both defensive liabilities there and are penciled in at first. Bianchi's bat doesn't fit a corner IF spot and Green missed all of last year. If Ramirez got hurt they might have to go out and get a Jeff Keppinger, the overpriced utility guy who struggled in the AL last year and who's at best slated to be a backup for White Sox. His NL track record is not all that bad. Otherwise, they'll likely roll the dice with Reynolds at 3B and Halton will slot in his spot at 1B.

But if you really want Gennett to be the guy, you don't put training wheels on him. They just signed two vets to minor league deals, Pete Orr and Joe Thurston who between them have played 191 major league games at second base. Taylor Green has also played there. The White Sox would give them Jeff Keppinger for a song and there's already a thread about Dustin Ackley likely to be shopped in Seattle. Not great alternatives but neither is the Weeks we've seen the last couple years. What if Weeks does take over 2 months into the year and hits around .160 again for his first 200 AB's for the third straight season? To me that's far more likely than Gennett falling completely on his face.

From an article by Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles dated Jan. 29th: "Is Guerrero Ready?" "Nobody had ever heard of Miguel Rojas until about a month ago, when the Dodgers started dropping his name as a legitimate alternative at second base. Considering Rojas is a career .234 hitter in the minor leagues, that's a pretty good clue they're having their doubts about Guerrero's readiness for opening day." Apparently Guerrero's had hamstring troubles in the Dominican Winter League, and hasn't had much time to learn a new position (he was strictly a SS in Cuba). The signing of Chone Figgins to a minor league deal is also a hint they are worried. Got to believe the Dodgers are one team Melvin will be sure to have talks with in the spring. From a Dodger perspective, if the Brewers' picked up say $7 of the $11 million owed Weeks, they could easily justify starting the year with Weeks and letting Guerrero get accustomed to 2B in the minors.

I think if they looked hard enough the Brewers could find their own stopgap at 3B. The White Sox would love to unload Jeff Keppinger. Now if you knew you were getting the 2012 version of Keppinger, that wouldn't be too big of a dropoff. But I still don't see a match with the Yankees.