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JohnBriggs12

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Everything posted by JohnBriggs12

  1. JohnBriggs12
    That's a pretty bold statement considering he's 25 and repeating A+. I'm more excited about Sean Halton than either Morris or Kjeldgaard. Halton's hit for average at each level and made good contact too. He's been late to develop power, but he's now listed at 6'5" 255. Eventually he's going get some more lift on balls and hit more HR. Kjeldgaard's raw power is impressive and Morris looks like a refined hitter too (though he needs work on defense). But Halton's doing it at AA, and outside of AAA to the majors, the biggest jump in levels is from high A to AA. Bottom line is if Gamel isn't the guy, they have other guys on his heels.
  2. JohnBriggs12
    I don't think that's the problem. The problem is his swing got longer. He hits a lot of weak fly balls to RF and CF. He's not catching up to balls in the inner half. In 09 he was turning on pitches with a short compact stroke and crushing balls on the inner half.. If anything he became too conscious of looking for the ball up on the outer half to bang it to right. Right now he needs to forget about working counts or inside/outing balls. He needs to concentrate on swinging at strikes no matter the count and keeping his stroke compact.. If he does that eventually, he's going to start making better contact and his feel at the plate will return. Once his timing and feel return, then he can do more working counts and hitting situationally.
  3. JohnBriggs12
    It's not like they don't have enough depth in the organization if Nieves were set free. They'd still have 3 major league veterans in the organization without Nieves. Nieves is supposed to be this defensive whiz, but frankly I don't see it. He's no kid either. He'll be 34 by the end of the season.
  4. JohnBriggs12
    Bobby Valentine and John Kruk both agreed the Brewers are the team to beat in the NL Central last night. Valentine's been on board for a while I believe, probably since he paid close attention after almost getting the managerial job. I wasn't aware Kruk was however.
  5. JohnBriggs12
    I'm hoping he gets pounded like he did in 2007. I wouldn't boo him though. I did that enough when he was wearing a Brewer uniform. I have nothing against him personally other than he cost the team the division in 07.
  6. JohnBriggs12
    This bench isn't going to cost them a division title. While it lacks a power guy, it has speed that is very useful late in games with Gomez. It also has a guy in Kotsay that may not be a HR threat but who will give you a quality AB almost every time. Counsell's defense is still good enough that he really doesn't need to hit all that much. I wasn't thrilled with Wilson, but give the guy credit, he's already won a game for them, and if he does nothing the rest of the year, that could be significant. They probably have two better options than Nieves but apparently Randy Wolf is keeping him around as his security blanket. If he makes Wolf that much better then he has value. I suppose when a team is on a 20-6 run, people have to look pretty hard to find flaws. Fretting about the bench is pretty lame.
  7. JohnBriggs12
    "Believe it or not are, in fact, a viable contender to reach the playoffs" We knew that the day the Greinke deal was announced didn't we? The Marcum deal had already made them contenders in my book. The Greinke deal made them favorites. This is what a team with a top of the line rotation looks like. All the major ingredients are in place. They have a top rotation. The bullpen is anchored by a top of the line closer. The lineup has a second to none middle of the order, and lots of speed. So much focus was placed on the one or two spots on the field that were below average. A shrewd deal by Melvin has made CF a strength. Betancourt hasn't embarrassed at SS as many predicted he would. The bench isn't great, but guys have contributed here and there and barring injury, most regulars will play a lot. Every team has guys that underachieve, and right now that's McGehee for the Brewers. They can survive that.
  8. JohnBriggs12
    There's really only two teams capable of 92 or more wins, so from that perspective it's really 2 team race. Now if both the Cards and Brewers flounder a bit, and make 87 or 88 wins the magic number, then the Reds are definitely in it too. Pittsburgh could hang around longer too in that scenario. Personally, I think either the Brewers or the Cards or both get to 92 wins, with the second place team in strong position for a wild card.
  9. JohnBriggs12
    Hall is much better than Josh Wilson. He might be useful giving McGehee time off at 3B too. Look around the league at the utility guys, and he'd be right near the top. I think the guys that were here when Hall was around would welcome him back too.
  10. JohnBriggs12
    The team is winning despite McGehee's recent struggles. They need to give him until at least the All Star break to see if he can get out of it. There's no need to turn to a rookie just yet. Green has played just 46 AAA games. He's definitely working himself back in the picture perhaps even at some point this year, but another 150 AB's at AAA wouldn't hurt him. It's still a big jump to the majors especially to a team in a race.
  11. JohnBriggs12
    I don't think he does. Thome is purely a guy you use when a long ball is needed. Matt Stairs(though he may be done finally) has extended his career well beyond what could be expected being just such a threat. Giambi is another one. Everyones favorite on here, Branyan falls into that category too, though he's not my favorite. Those are guys with no defensive value at all. But in a pennant race, they can win you a game or two with one swing. Kotsay provides some defensive flexibility and generally a quality AB. I don't think a Thome would replace him on the roster either. Rather they'd go back to one utility infielder. Willingham makes quite a lot to just add as a pinch hitter. Like Kubel, he'd make sense only if Braun or Hart went down for an extended period. Bottom line though is this team seems more committed to speed as a weapon from it's complimentary players. Having both Morgan and Gomez gives them quite a weapon.
  12. JohnBriggs12
    Granted Morgan has just 44 AB's but does anyone remember a more one sided dead than Cutter Dykstra (.492 OPS in A ball) for Nyjer Morgan? With that deal Melvin managed to turn a key position from one of relative weakness to one of relative strength with a two headed speed platoon of Gomez and Morgan. At times I've been critical of Melvin but this deal might be worth a couple more years on his contract.
  13. JohnBriggs12
    He's definitely pressing. He's taking pitches right down the middle and chasing pitches outside the zone. That's not a good combination. I'm with FondyBrewerfan. I'd move Morgan/Gomez to the 2 spot and Hart to the 5th spot. I'd hit Lucroy 6th and move McGehee down to 7th. A little hot streak and his numbers will be fine. It's not time to panic but I think it would take pressure off him to bat him lower.
  14. JohnBriggs12
    The bullpen seems pretty well stocked assuming the return of Saito and Braddock. Another starter should Narveson falter seems feasible though I think they'd look at either Estrada or Mitre first. The supply of bench "hitters with some pop" is pretty limited. Thome is a possibility. Beyond that, you're looking at names like Mark Teahen and it's stretching the definition of having pop to include him. The Sox would have to virtually pick up most of his remaining contract too though he can play third and give you a chance of giving McGehee a day off here and there. Maybe a guy like Luke Scott could be had down the road or a RH bat like Cantu, though he's struggled in San Diego.
  15. JohnBriggs12
    Won't argue that he's ideally a DH or that if he has a decent platoon partner he's better in that role. But he's hit enough overall for a starting caliber corner OF on some teams so if he were on the market he'd be priced accordingly.. He'd be a guy to go after if Hart or Braun were hurt and out for an extended period and you needed a fill in to hit in the middle of the order. Then he'd come out for defense late in games.
  16. JohnBriggs12
    Kubel is not a 4th outfielder though. If Twins put him on the market, teams needing an everyday corner OF are going to offer more. Thome would be a lot more useful in a pennant race than a 6th infielder. I'd consider taking a flyer on Kevin Slowey too if he could be had for very little. Slowey could benefit from the switch to the NL and a change of scenery. He's still only 27 and he's got a .650 career winning percentage. Part of that is luck to be sure, but he's had enough career starts (82) that it's not all luck. He'd certainly be a candidate for a 5th starter role in 2012.
  17. JohnBriggs12
    Sox have two FA to be in their rotation, Buehrle and Edwin Jackson. They are going to need Danks next year even though they will have to pay somewhat of a premium in his final arby year. Now Buehrle and or Jackson just might be available at the deadline and either might make sense for the Brewers if they have a need at that time.
  18. JohnBriggs12
    337 ABs. 36 Runs, 88 Hits, 21 Doubles, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 3 for 3 in SB, 32 BB, 67 K, .261/.333/.421, .755 OPS. 19 caught stealing in 94 attempts (20.2%) Those are Mike Rivera's numbers as a Brewer. How many backup catchers carry a .755 OPS?
  19. JohnBriggs12
    You don't see 2nd basemen blocking the base. There's really no need to allow a catcher to impede a runner. With all the emphasis on the long term dangers of concussions, this is one aspect of baseball that should be changed. Just because it's always been that way doesn't mean it shouldn't be changed in light of all the research on head injuries. I never liked the idea of blocking a plate. Blocking is a football act, not a baseball one. Make the catcher have to catch and put a tag on like an infielder does rather than parking himself in the baseline waiting for a throw and inviting a collision.
  20. JohnBriggs12
    Before all the OBP guys chime in, let me say I realize Lopez is not your guy. He doesn't exactly send chills down my spine either. But despite his bad numbers this year and last, the guy is certainly a better option than Josh Wilson, but only if Colorado would pick up most of his $3.6 million salary. He is only 2 years removed from a 25 HR, 96 RBI season in Seattle and he is still just 27. He's been adequate defensively at 2B and 3B, and could play SS in a pinch. Not a guy you'd give up anything for as his value is currently extremely low. But given his age and some history of success and some power, he's at least worth considering.
  21. JohnBriggs12
    It will be interesting to see whether Nieves or Rivera gets DFA'd. It's difficult to fathom why they would have bothered to bring up Rivera for a little more than a week. Of course it's difficult to fathom why they think they need an extra infielder when they haven't had one all year, especially one who was castoff from one of the worst offensive teams in baseball.
  22. JohnBriggs12
    What does one have to do with the other? Was Mike Schmidt a flawed guy for retiring in the middle of the 1989 season? Guys have retired in mid season before. They realize they can't do it anymore.
  23. JohnBriggs12
    Buster Posey suffered what was an apparently serious leg injury late last night (Brewers fortunes are certainly turning). He's probably done for the season. They are not well fortified behind him. Their AAA guys are hitting .221 and .220 respectively. Who wouldn't want to see Wil Nieves behind the plate this weekend but in a Giant uniform? Edit: They called up Chris Stewart, a 29 year old journeyman with 26 games of major league experience.
  24. JohnBriggs12
    This team has the potential to be much better than 81-69. Why take a guaranty that insures nothing better than that? June and early July schedule includes 6 games against the 16-32 Twins. What they are suddenly going to be good again? It also includes 7 games against the Mets and Cubs. That's hardly daunting.
  25. JohnBriggs12
    I've thrown out bringing Troy Glaus and his career 1.176 Miller Park OPS out of retirement. He probably can't play much 3B any more but he'd give them a viable option if they wanted to protect Gamel against a tough lefty. I wouldn't completely rule out Reyes if they could get him around $80-90 million over 5 years. Remember they offered Fielder more than that and would be replacing him with a minimum salary Gamel. A healthy Reyes might be a bigger upgrade over what's available at SS than Fielder is over Gamel.
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