Jump to content
Brewer Fanatic

JohnBriggs12

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    13,295

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Events

Milwaukee Brewers News, Rumors & Analysis

2026 Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospect Rankings

Milwaukee Brewers Videos

2022 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Milwaukee Brewers Trade & Free Agent Rumors

Milwaukee Brewers Fan Guides & Resources

2023 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2024 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

The Milwaukee Brewers Players Project

2025 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2026 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by JohnBriggs12

  1. JohnBriggs12
    "Nothing in this study could "show prejudice" Were you not on here reading the over the top ranting over Cuban SS Yuni Betancourt? You think if his name was Joe Smith from Omaha, that the attacks on him would be so personal? Or if Clint Barmes were Juan Gomez, do you actually think fans would consider him to be a huge upgrade? Over the years I've noticed that Latin players the Brewers have had are never quite embraced like their American counterparts. JJ Hardy was awful his rookie year but still considered a hope for the future and a fan favorite. On the other hand people were quick to point out Escobar's limitations before he even became the starting SS.
  2. JohnBriggs12
    Absolutely right Ennder. Zambrano's nowhere near the pitcher he was in 06-07. Last year, when he was actually pitching, his numbers were very similar to Volstad's. His WHIP's the last 2 seasons are in the category of a number 5 starter, in the 1.45 range. He's always a threat to go nuts and face another suspension too. So instead of paying $18.5 million for Zambrano to be mediocre with the risk of another blowup, the Cubs are going to pay something like $16.5 million (what they are paying Big Z and Volstad combined) for a similar pitcher who's still young enough to improve. This was a clever move by the Cubs. As for the park difference, Volstad's ground ball ratio is better than average. He won't be great but he'll do okay in Wrigley.
  3. JohnBriggs12
    Axford is a very intelligent articulate guy. His career hopefully is long from over, but he has all the makings for a post baseball career in the media.
  4. JohnBriggs12
    I could see a scenario where at the All Star break, Gamel's not awful, hitting .255 with 10 HR and 35 RBI and the Brewers behind a good first half from their rotation are right there. It's not likely they can win over a full season with that kind of production at first base though and that's where Konerko would come in, assuming of course he's putting up his usual solid numbers in Chicago and they are well out of it. Just his clubhouse presence alone would be a huge plus. Konerko is a solid, solid, guy and who's quietly put up borderline HOF type numbers. It would be a bonus too that they'd have him in 2013.
  5. JohnBriggs12
    Pierre's career OBP: .345. Aoki: .408 I don't see the comparison, but I'd take Pierre in his prime, Pierre gets a bad rap. He's got over 2,000 career hits, 554 career stolen bases, played a significant role on a World Champion and two other playoff teams and is one of if not the best bunters in the game with 144 career sacrifice bunts.
  6. JohnBriggs12
    The White Sox have clearly waived the white flag. Yeah they signed Danks but that's more for the future than this year. Barring a comeback of epic proportions from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, they are at best a 70 win team. On the south side, that kind of team won't draw 2 million, much less 3. Now Konerko is beloved by Sox fans, has 5 and 10 no trade rights, turns 36 in March and is owed $25 million over the next two years. But he's also shown no sign of a drop in production even in an otherwise lousy lineup and plays a position the Brewers have penciled in a rookie. I would not expect him to be available now, but if the Brewers found themselves contending but Gamel not producing at a high level, Konerko would seem to be a logical target come July if you could convince him to waive his no-trade rights to be with a contender.
  7. JohnBriggs12
    The White Sox are a mess. They can't pay Quentin who while oft injured at least has produced for them because they have so much tied up in Dunn and Rios. I don't know what young options you are referring to. De Aza perhaps? He was already penciled in to start. Jordan Danks? Please. Their farm system is devoid of talent. They'll be lucky to win 70 next year. They won't draw 2 million with that collection they now have. If I'm the Brewers,and if Gamel's struggling at midseason but the the Brewers are hanging in there, I'm all over the Sox to get Paul Konerko. Konerko is a 5 and 10 guy, but he could waive that for a contender.
  8. JohnBriggs12
    I totally agree. You need 2 ace-types and a very strong Top 3 starters. Call it the Atlanta Braves model, 1991-2004: 3 Rotation studs & your cornerstone position players, with the other spots gradually evolving as the years go by. With Gallardo & Greinke, there are your 2 ace-types. Braun & Weeks & Ramirez (for better or for worse, in the case of the latter) are your proven All-Star position players.The Atlanta Braves model that you point to had 3 HOF'ers. There's a reason it hasn't been duplicated since though many have tried. Having one HOF pitcher on your staff is unusual. Having 3 at one time happens once in every 2 generations or so. Putting Greinke in the class of any of those 3 is a huge stretch. Same goes for Gallardo. Much more likely is that one of your top guys will break down or become ineffective within a few years and you'll be saddled with a contract that can't be moved. The Braves have one of the most lucrative TV deals in baseball. The Brewers can't think in the same terms those Braves teams did. Greinke and Marcum are both replaceable. They were both acquired in deals using prospects. They show that is a method that can be used again.
  9. JohnBriggs12
    Completely incorrect. Braun failed his drug test, he was going to be suspended for 50 games but chose to appeal the suspension - had Braun not appealed, it likely would be public knowledge by this point.MLB never announced a suspension. It was leaked that Braun failed the test and that he's subject to a suspension but it was never handed down officially and hence this is not an appeal of a the suspension. All players failing tests have as part of the process the right to a hearing, similar to defendants in criminal cases being able to present a defense before the verdict and sentencing. It's being reported as if a guy were on trial was found guilty before the defense has presented it's case.
  10. JohnBriggs12
    Isnt this the same thing that Tom H reported a month ago! I think everyone knows it is highly unlikely but what is a league official doing talking to anyone about this. Isnt that a violation of the rules that were posted way back in this thread MLB hasn't suspended him. There is nothing to overturn. His hearing is part of the process that determines whether or not he will be suspended. I can't believe the lax reporting on this.
  11. JohnBriggs12
    How can a suspension that hasn't been handed down be "overturned"? This "league official" is privy to Brauns defense?
  12. JohnBriggs12
    Eight times Marcum started the Brewers scored 6 or more runs. In those games the Brewers were 4-4. The rest of the starters and the result when team scored 6 or more: Greinke: 14-2, Gallardo: 11-2, Narveson: 12-0, Wolf: 7-1, Estrada: 1-0. To summarize, with anyone but Marcum starting, when the Brewers scored 6 or more runs they were 45-5, a .900 winning percentage. With Marcum in those instances they were .500. He did win his share of games where runs were at a premium, but he didn't do well when Brewers got him runs (including the game when Marcum himself hit his GS).
  13. JohnBriggs12
    Some possibilities: The Klements Sausages have been picked up as FA by Johnsonville or Usinger's? The "Dew Deck" will now be Dr. Pepper's Deck? "Toyota Territory" will now be Hyundai Haven? A yet to be named company has agreed to pay for Fielder to return in exchange for printing it's logo on first base and the following "This Prince Fielder at bat is brought to you by the fine folks at .........." every time he comes up to bat.
  14. JohnBriggs12
    Did you miss the 80's? While basking in the glow of 1982, that team got old fast and within 2 years lost 94 games. Did you miss 1993? Despite losing Molitor and Bosio to FA, the team's marketing campaign dwelled on Garner's hatred of the number 2 or anything second. No problem the 93 team went out and lost 93 and finished nowhere near 2nd. Point is nothing stays stagnant. The drop from contender to also ran is not all that steep. Fielder's loss is impossible to calculate. None of the current Brewer core has ever been in a lineup that didn't have Prince in it. We have no idea what effect that will have. Beyond the basketball incident with Greinke and a brief stint on the DL for Narveson for a split nail, the rotation made every start. How often does that happen?
  15. JohnBriggs12
    Something like $4.25M I believe I'm scratching my head at the pointlessness of making a bid with no intention of offering him a large enough contract to entice him to play here. If they didn't think he's worth paying a low end starter/platoon guy salary, why block him from going elsewhere? He would seem to be a guy that could make other guys expendable in deals for other needs and be a viable top of the order table setter for the big bats.
  16. JohnBriggs12
    I repeat, the Brewers won 16 of the 33 games Marcum started. Likely alternatives had they not traded for Marcum were to keep Capuano or sign a Jeff Francis who they reportedly had showed interest in. Neither Capuano or Francis were as good as Marcum, but they were both above replacement level, and it's safe to assume the Brewers would have won 12 or 13 had they started the games Marcum started. Considering they won the division by 6 games, that would have been enough. Hate is a strong term. No doubt Marcum contributed to a record season. That has to be acknowledged But his utter failure in the playoffs be ignored. Those games define players. He's set to get an opportunity for redemption. I say lets see if he can before throwing long term money his way. If 2/3 of the way into next year he's performing well, then ok, explore an extension. But not now.
  17. JohnBriggs12
    Cameron always walked, though. Gomez doesn't do that at all. (Career 11% compared to 5.2%). Cameron also had a MUCH better season in his age-24 year, a year Gomez has never come close to (.259/.356/.433). Unless Gomez learns how to take a walk, and recognize pitches he'll never become a truly good hitter.In 08, Gomez hit .258/.296/.360 as a skinny 22 year old. That's not all that far off Cameron's year at age 24. Once he stops giving a pitcher an automatic 0-1 count with his failed bunt attempts, his walk total will increase. Guys that have trouble making contact (like Cameron) tend to get deep in counts naturally.
  18. JohnBriggs12
    Anything you can do with Morgan offensively and defensively, you can also do with Logan Schafer. Schafer's had setbacks due to injury, but at 25, I think he's got the ability and the maturity to play in the big leagues. Morgan's value will never be higher and while he was a great fit on last year's team, I'm not sure this team with no Prince around to rule the clubhouse is quite as good a fit. Gomez' splits are almost identical vs. lefties and righties. One poster suggested he pattern his game after Morgan? I couldn't disagree more, Carlos Gomez is 6'4", 215 lbs. He should pattern himself more after Mike Cameron. Cameron at 25 hit .210/.285/.336 in 396 AB's with the White Sox. Cameron was looked at back then much as Gomez is now. Great tools, speed and defense but will he ever hit enough? Gomez has the ability to hit 20-25 HR. I think he should actually try bunting a little less and instead hone his full swing. He'll never hit for a high average (Cameron is a lifetime .249 hitter), but he could be a fine CF for years to come with plenty of pop in his bat.
  19. JohnBriggs12
    The numbers really don't support that. True, Marcum pitched very well at times but late collapse aside, the fact is the team was under .500 (16-17) in his starts. He was the only starter with whom that was true. I'll grant that his run support was somewhat below average so you can make a solid case that getting 16 wins with that run support was doing well. But I don't think you can assume that had they signed a lower level FA (or hung on to Capuano) for about what they paid Marcum that it's reasonable to have expected the team would have won a third (11 of 33) of those starts, which still would have been enough to win the division. I honestly think if the Greinke deal had happened first, that Melvin would have passed on dealing Lawrie for Marcum. He had no way of knowing he'd get a shot at Greinke, and therefore was willing to pay a high price for Marcum.
  20. JohnBriggs12
    The trades involving Gonzalez and Latos show there are alternatives to giving huge long term contracts to veteran pitchers, (who you then you are locked into) to stay competitive. As long as your farm system is deep enough there will always be the Oaklands and San Diego's willing to sell off established young arms just at the point they start to get a little pricy. The other alterantive of course is to develop your own. Washington did both and are now poised to be a playoff team.
  21. JohnBriggs12
    This is exactly how I feel. I'd trade Axford for a young starting pitcher tomorrow. As I've previously posted on numerous occasions I wouldn't extend either Greinke or Marcum for various reasons. Closers and relievers are never worth what they sign for? Mariano Rivera wasn't? And starters are? Huh? How quickly forgotten are Jeff Suppan, Doug Davis, Braden Looper? How about guys like the earlier mentioned John Lackey, Carlos Zambrano, Barry Zito, Johann Santana, Carl Pavano, Dice-K Matsusaka, AJ Burnett, Gil Meche, Scott Kazmir, Oliver Perez, Ben Sheets, etc, etc. If the Brewers do anything in 2012, it will because with K-Rod and Axford, they can play 7 inning games. The Ax man is the premier closer in the NL. Period.
  22. JohnBriggs12
    I like that combo a lot better too. Plus it would've blocked the Cards from landing him too.
  23. JohnBriggs12
    Great signing by Cards. If Wainwright is 80% of the guy he was before surgery, they will be very tough to deal with. But they've got some age. Carpenter will be 37 next year and he logged about 275 innings in 2011. Berkman will be 36 and might find it hard to repeat his season too. The back end of their rotation is nothing special though that's as of now.
  24. JohnBriggs12
    Danks is worth a lot more to the White Sox than Marcum is the the Brewers. Danks is the de-facto ace of their staff. Gallardo is the ace of the Brewer staff, not Marcum. He's younger (by more than 3 years than Marcum too and has never had arm trouble). Danks also has better stuff than Marcum. Brewers would be asking for trouble giving Marcum a $50 million (see Jeff Suppan) dollar deal Same goes for giving Greinke $80 million (see John Lackey). Frankly the White Sox overpaid. But the fact that Danks doesn't turn 27 until April would have made him very attractive had he gone to FA next year.
  25. JohnBriggs12
    Green's numbers last year were actually better though. The only difference is this will be Gamel's one and only real shot to start as a Brewer. That's a fair amount of pressure on him. The Brewers have protected themselves with the Ishikawa signing, and Green actually could play first too. I don't think they'd have any trouble finding a guy like Carlos Lee if need be too. But Gamel is going to get first shot.
×
×
  • Create New...