JohnBriggs12

What does Komatsu's height have to do with anything? There's some pretty good CF in the NL around his size. Has the BA staff ever heard of 5'9" Shane Victorino, 5'10" Andrew McCutcheon, 5'10" Cody Ross, or 5'11" Micheal Bourne? Seems to me his height makes his strike zone smaller which is an asset for a guy that profiles as a leadoff hitter.

I don't see them allocating their resources for another bat. They led all of baseball by a wide margin in HR and Overbay's 20 aren't all that hard to replace. Conversely they were 11th in the AL in ERA, so I suspect any excess in pitching will be used to improve the quality of the pitching.

In Dusty, I trusty. Reds in a huge surprise win it all further infuriating Cub fans.

Getting back to the analysis of potential trade partners, Mark Gonzales in today's Chicago Tribune has an article headlined "Finding productive left-handed hitter tops Sox to-do list". I don't have link but the article suggests the Sox intend to move Chris Sale, their 2010 first round pick that was lights out of the pen in August and September to the rotation next year. If they do that and Peavy is healthy, they would have an extra arm to deal. I'm sure the first choice of the Brewers for that "extra arm" would be John Danks. Danks has put up numbers of a very strong #2 type starter. In fact, in many respects, he's been the ace of the Sox staff the last 2 years. For that reason, I'm thinking the Sox would prefer dealing either Gavin Floyd or Edwin Jackson. While Jackson pitched very well down the stretch, he's a FA after 2011. Ironically, the Sox got him for Daniel Hudson, whom the Brewers turned down for Fielder. That leaves Gavin Floyd. Floyd's numbers aren't bad. They probably translate to an ERA in the NL of around 3.80. His stuff is pretty good too with a fastball in the 92-93 range. He also throws a slider and a curve that can be very good and an occasional change. Of concern was that he was shut down early this year with some shoulder tightness though test revealed no real damage. It's also some concern that until he started working with Don Cooper, he had been seen as a bit of a bust in Philly. He is signed through 2012 at a reasonable rate ($5 million in 2011, $7 million in 2012) with a $9.5 million option for 2013. While I wouldn't be too excited about Floyd, he's at least a solid #3 for most teams provided he stays healthy. Perhaps if the Sox threw in another player, I could see a match.

I'd ask why is okay to ignore how many K's a hitter has as an out is an out but at the same time preferring strike outs to other outs from your pitcher? Ground ball guys get more double plays in general. That being said I'm not completely sold on Porcello because ground ball rate isn't all that high either though he's still awfully young..

The guys in Capuano's price range don't really have the luxury of turning down too many offers. There's no reason to rush out and sign Capuano just because you think you can't get anyone else. Let's not forget he's 32, still an injury risk and they have two other lefties in their rotation. I'd wait at least until the non-tender date and it's clear who is available and what the needs are at that time Nobody else is going to beating down Capuano's door early on. I'm not sure a string of 5 quality starts in September 2010 makes him the same pitcher he was in 2006, capable of giving you 190-200 innings. Maybe, but who knows? I tend to doubt it myself.

I suspect Gallardo, Wolf, Narveson are locks heading into 2011 barring injury. I would assume one veteran who'd also be a lock will be acquired either via trade or FA. I think they'll bring in another guy or two to compete with Rogers for the 5th spot. Capuano could be in that mix, but not necessarily. They may want to look at other guys. I think they'd like Rogers to be holding down that spot no later than June though so whoever they bring in to compete for the 5th spot, has to be cheap/and or able to be moved to the pen to allow them flexibility. If Parra returns, it'll be in the pen. They've learned their lesson. One more think. It would not shock me if Hawkins is healthy enough, that they'd have Loe in the mix as a 5th starter. They would know that when Rogers was ready, they could always move Loe back to the pen.

Blurb in Chicago Tribune has Bob Brenly on Brewers short list again. I know he wouldn't be too popular a choice for many, but his credentials are as good as most names being floated. Plus he knows the division as well or better than most.

It would have to be an extreme example for me to vote a relief pitcher over a starter or everyday position player. It's most valuable, not most effective player. Exactly, this was a team with a .372 winning percentage when Axford took over closing and over .500 since and unlike any of the everyday players, he never had a slump. Normally, I'd rule out a closer too except in the most extreme circumstances, but Axford was more than your usual closer. He often went more than one inning. He stabilized a bullpen that was in shambles. It was much the same impact Rollie Fingers had in 1981 only Fingers took them from a slightly above .500 team to a playoff team. Axford took them from a team that was on pace to 65 wins to a team close to .500. Weeks' numbers look an awful lot like Jose Hernandez' 2002 season. Yeah, he got a lot of RBI for a leadoff hitter, but the pitchers deserve a lot of credit for that for getting on base a lot.

The MVP is Axford. Before he saved his first game on May 23, this team was a train wreck at 16-27. Since then they are a respectable 60-56, with the most consistent portion of the team being the back end of the bullpen. Number 2 is Corey Hart, who's hot bat from mid May to mid June along with Axford at least stopped the bleeding.

You can't look at a list like this in a vacuum. If you went back 8 years for every team you would likely be able to compile an equally impressive list of productive players where little was given up. What's more important is that when he did spend money, was it spent wisely. In many cases, it wasn't I also look at how Melvin manages his roster overall. Did he structure a roster that was capable of winning. Did he give himself roster flexibility to make changes on the run. Is there balance on the roster. Did he build a minor league system capable of providing players each year that can help at the major league level. Did he choose managers and coaches that fit the team he put on the field. Overall, I'd say in most of these areas, he comes up short. Trades are just one aspect of his job. He's had hits and misses there too. After 8 years on the job, I think he's had ample time.

Since September 1, he's hit .382/.400/.441 How is that not a change? I doubt he ever becomes a guy who takes a lot of walks. But he's getting some bunt hits, legging out some squib hits and occasionally squaring one up and as usual causing some havoc on the bases. If he just matched his .289/.337/.361 since the All Star game for a full season, he'd be valuable. There's an old saying that latin players from Caribbean countries learn early that you don't walk yourself off the island. So most are free swingers. Brewers are in a good position. They have 2 young fleet center fielders. Let them compete.

So? It's not exactly helping him get groundballs. He gives up two flyballs for every groundball in his career while Bush is basically 1 for 1. I watched him last night against the Cubs (6 shutout innings). His fastball was 86-88 and he was blowing it by Cubs hitters up in the zone. Brenly noted that Young is adept at pitching at the knees and then when you're looking down there, beating you up in the zone. He stressed that he stays out of the middle of the zone. He also mentioned his fastball gets on hitters quicker than the radar gun shows because his stride is long and he looks like he's throwing from 50 feet instead of 60.

Whoever the manager, he will be Melvin's last manager hire. That he gets a 3rd choice is almost unheard of.

In Young's defense, he's still 6'10" and able to get a downward plane on his pitches guys like Dave Bush can't. Duchscherer is another possibility as is Brandon McCarthy, a likely non-tender with Texas.

Former Milwaukee Brave pitcher Bob Shaw passed away several days ago at age 77. Shaw was 15-9 with a fine 2.80 ERA for the Braves in 1962 and 7-11 with a 2.66 ERA in 1963. He was the key guy in the trade the following winter for Felipe Alou. Shaw briefly earned the nickname "Balk Shaw" in 1963. That year the umpires had a directive to enforce the balk rule of coming to a full one second stop in the stretch. Since this rule had not been enforced to the letter previously, a few guys had trouble adjusting most notably Shaw. It became farcical on May 4, 1963 in a game against the Cubs, when umpire Al Barlick called 5 balks on Shaw in one game bringing his total for the season to date to 8. I have a vague memory of watching that game on television, a rare game of the week appearance for the Braves and seeing Shaw fuming on the mound. The uproar that ensued resulted in a directive to the umps to return to their previous rule interpretation and Shaw did not record another balk the rest of the year.

Capuano won't get anything close to what Davis got at least as a base. He's probably assured himself of a major league deal, but no more than the $1.5 to $2 million range with something like $1-2 million in incentives. Whatever team signs Capuano will probably pencil him in as their 6th starter/long man who'll have a shot to compete for a starting job.

I like Webb, but I wonder how successful he would be with the Brewers defense behind him. He was 1-2 in the Cy Young voting from 06 to 08, and Arizona was in the bottom half in fielding all 3 years. The Brewer defense isn't as bad as you make it out to be. McGehee is just a -5 in runs saved vs. average and has a fielding pct. better than league average. Escobar was just a -3. Weeks is still shaky with a -10 and Fielder was a -6. Cain has been tremendous. His runs saved over a full season would be 27 over average. Braun's actually shot into positive territory too at a +5 and so has Hart with a +4.

I can't see tendering Coffey. Villanueva may fall victim to the latest mantra espoused by Attanasio the other day that this year's team had too many soft tossers, even though Villanueva's issues have less to do with velocity (he's generally between 89-91) but that his fastball is pretty straight and he needs pinpoint command with it to set up his out pitches. His lack of use over the past 3 weeks seems to point in that direction so I think there's a decent chance he'd be included in a deal. I don't think we'll see Stetter anytime soon. I think Parra or Capuano will be the 2nd lefty in the pen if they are back to start next season though Capuano will be in contention to start too. If both those guys are gone, I think they'll sign one of the many veteran loogy's that are on the market every winter.

If that prospect is a "can't miss" type, then maybe. Bonderman is not a very good pitcher. Then again, Baseball Reference does have his 10th best comparable at age 26 as Moose Haas.Bonderman is eligible to be a FA. If you want him, he'll be available. Consider this. He won't turn 28 until October the same month Parra turns 28.. His WHIP this year (1.42) pitching in the AL is almost identical to Randy Wolf's. This was his first healthy year since 2007. Bonderman put up some really good numbers at a really young age. If he's showing signs of getting back near to that level, he's a very intriguing guy. Even if he didn't improve over 2010, in the NL he's at least a very solid #4 starter and an upgrade over Bush.

Webb will be a FA and is just now ready to pitch. Padres have an $8.5 million option on Young who's been very good so far in his few outings since returning. Both when healthy are premier starting pitchers. The Brewers FA strategy in the recent past is to pay for reliability and ignore guys with potentially higher rewards who've had recent injury issues. That strategy hasn't worked. Personally, I'd like the Brewers to make a run at both Webb and Young. The Pads might pick up Young's option but even if they did, he might be had in a deal for some offense.

I misread your post, but the reality is picks in the first couple rounds, whether 1st or 2nd are still premium picks. Gallardo was a second round pick. The point is the more premium picks you have the better your odds of producing good players. My point is unless Fielder brings a very high quality arm back who's ready right now, dealing him won't improve this teams chances in 2011. Assuming it will is just as big an assumption as saying they can't contend with him next year because they can't improve the pitching enough without trading Fielder. They can improve the pitching without trading Fielder. In fact they did this year, after dumping or shelving the likes of Suppan, Davis, Stetter, Hawkins etc. Most of that improvement came from within. They started out this year with a really bad staff because Melvin made some really bad decisions. Any expectation that he can make a good decision with a deal of Fielder or another method of acquiring pitching is in fact the real issue.

The odds of that happening a 2nd straight time aren't very high. To base a decision on the minimal possibility of that happening twice in a row isn't very wise.

Speaking of Brenly, an interesting guy who I think will be out there is current Cub interim manager Mike Quade. Despite the success he's had since he took over, I still think the Cubs will opt for a bigger name. Quade got a moribund team to finish the season well. He's got 16 years experience managing in the minors too. My guess is if the Cubs don't bring him back, he'll be on some lists of other teams.

I'm dubious as well. Most of the talk about Fielder comes from outside the Brewer organization. Melvin already turned down what I would consider a very generous offer if the Hudson talk was real. If Melvin holds out for a better offer than that, it may never come. The bottom line is yes, Fielder is available, but he's not on a clearance rack. I think it behooves the Brewers to not panic about a guy potentially leaving via FA. Two high picks aren't anything to sneeze at for a small market team where growing your own talent is essential. Not all high picks work out obviously, but the more you have, the better your odds. Besides the picks though, the Brewers will free up considerable salary room to add guys from elsewhere.