JohnBriggs12
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Everything posted by JohnBriggs12
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Hall was okay out there after a couple rough months. They moved him to 3rd because they had a hole there, and they figured his offensive decline from 06 to 07 was due in large part to his concentrating on the position change. What makes you think moving Gamel or McGehee to RF is any easier than moving Weeks to CF? Weeks' speed would seem much better suited to the OF than either Gamel or McGehee. Cameron is a FA. He'd have to take a substantial pay cut for the Brewers to bring him back.
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It's funny that Melvin would take Braun to task for the offensive shortcomings. Who put that offense together? Melvin was the one who gave Hall a multi year deal. He was also the one that decided to pick up a $10 million option on Mike Cameron who's hitting .152 with RISP instead of bidding for guys like Ibanez, Abreu or Dunn, the latter two who signed very reasonable deals and Ibanez who until a recent injury was a MVP candidate. He was also the guy who paid a lot for a catcher that can't slug .300. Melvin did a nice job unearthing McGehee, but none of his other offseason offensive moves worked out.
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It's not a matter of Braun being MA's "favorite toy" naivin. It's that Melvin can be replaced and Braun can't. I think Melvin's more than a little too thin skinned. He should be happy his best player isn't satisfied being an also ran. Melvin spent his first 5 years here suppressing fan expectations. Now that they've had a taste of success, he shouldn't be surprised that fans and their number one player aren't satisfied with a one year wonder.
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Does this team need another hitter?
JohnBriggs12 replied to Invader3K's topic in Transaction Rumors & Proposals
While 5th in those categories would be fine if the starting pitching were near the top, they aren't, so they shouldn't be satisfied with a 5th best offense because that will take them nowhere. If they added a bat that improved them to the 2nd or 1st ranking in the NL, it would help this rotation immensely. Bottom line is they need more to get to where they want to go whether it's a bat or an arm. -
If I had a quarter for the number of time I could have said something close to that in the 40 years of Brewer existence, I'd probably have at least $2.50. There's been many a Brewer team that ultimately ended up sub .500 that were right there in early July going way back to 1974 when on July 16th, the Brewers were 2 games back in the AL East and 1975 when they were tied for the lead on July 5th. Those teams finished a combined 36 games under .500. As recently as 2004. the Brewers were 1/2 game out of the WC on July 1st and finished the year 67-94.
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I think you guys are overlooking Bourgeois as a replacement for Gamel. Bourgeois can play anywhere including CF and is according to a recent note is definitely "on their radar" based on a fine season at Nashville.
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I disagree that Correia has never had any success. He was pretty good in SF in 06 and 07 though mostly in relief (ERA under 3.50 both years). His success this year isn't all that surprising. While Davis might be better, it's likely the D-Backs would ask for more than Padres would and Correia isn't eligible for FA until 2011.
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The Padres dealing of the relatively cheap veteran Scott Hairston indicates a strategy of them taking advantage of a guy who's been around that's having an above average year. Might they be willing to do the same for Kevin Correia? Correia's put up a 1.28 WHIP in 16 starts this year and could be a decent stopgap in the Brewer rotation.
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Pirates release Craig Monroe
JohnBriggs12 replied to yount19.u's topic in Transaction Rumors & Proposals
I'm sure I'll get blasted for suggesting this team won't be in the race in late August, so let me emphasize that IF they are out of the race in late August, that Cameron will likely be dealt in a waiver deal or phased out of the lineup completely and we'll see a rotation of CF candidates from within including Gerut, Hall, and Jason Bourgeois trying to make an impression to compete for the 2010 job. That's why I think they'll hang on to Gerut for at least the rest of the season. -
Braun has a longer contract than Melvin. If I had more job security than my boss, I'd certainly feel freer to suggest changes. Personally I like it. When Braun signed his deal, he basically said he wanted to be the face of the franchise and he's done everything he can to promote this team, the city, and it's a big reason they are drawing huge crowds. In short, Braun gets it.
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There certainly is a disconnect between the idea that Gamel is this untouchable prospect that can't be dealt and his current role on team. There's an awful lot at work here though. They want Hardy to get hot so they aren't sitting him in favor of Counsell at SS. The obvious thinking is that Hardy is going to be the centerpiece of an offseason deal for pitching and they want him to bring back as much as possible. They also see Counsell right now as a guy they can rely on to get on in front of Braun and Fielder and their risking he won't wear down by sitting vs. lefthanders. That leaves McGehee who for now has clearly won an everyday spot in the lineup either at 3B or 2B vs. lefthanders. His production batting behind Fielder is one of the things they've been lacking. I think the solution is to send Gamel down now and get his bat going and stick him in RF a few times. They have Catalanotto and Gerut as lefty bench bats. They don't need 3. They might be better served with Bourgeois as guy who could do some things off the bench and even spell Cameron. Ultimately I think McGehee (and to a lesser extent Heether) have made Gamel's future at 3B very cloudy. If Gamel's going to stay in Brewer plans, he needs time in RF.
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He's 39 years old too and saying he's "Cleveland's best" (even that is arguable, the Brewers handled him with ease) is tantamount to being the world's tallest midget. Besides the Brewers aren't short on relievers. It looks as if McClung is headed back there and Smith's done a nice job. They also have several guys at Nashville (Ryan Houston in addition to Dillard) that if the need arises could be added and be decent.
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Why is J.J. getting a free pass?
JohnBriggs12 replied to BadgerFan's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Why does everyone insist on comparing Escobar to Hardy? Other than playing the same position, they are 2 completely different type players. Hardy is one of the slowest runners on the Brewers. He's a base clogger. One reason Hardy is so streaky is that he never legs out any hits. If he's not centering the ball, he doesn't get hits. Escobar is just the opposite. He's on pace for over 50 steals this year. He puts pressure on the defense. He gets hits even when he's not swinging the bat all that well. You want to compare Escobar to anyone, compare him to Reyes and H. Ramirez. His minor league numbers compare favorably to both of those guys. He hasn't yet developed the power of Ramirez, but Ramirez didn't show that power in the minors either. -
Can the Escobar rumors stop now?
JohnBriggs12 replied to TheCrew07's topic in Transaction Rumors & Proposals
But he has had as much if not more than either Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez and those are the guys he should be compared to. -
The title of this thread is an oxymoron. Parking and Wrigley just don't go together. Your best bet is to take the Edens X-way and take the Dempster St. East exit. About a half mile east of the Edens is the CTA yellow line (aka Skokie swift) terminal. There is a good deal of parking (though not free) available (follow the signs). You can hop on the train there, and it will take you to the Howard St. L station where you change trains and take a Red Line right to Wrigley. Just reverse it on the way home. I guarantee you will run into numerous Brewer fans taking this option.
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Macha did not give Hall a multi year contract nor did he force him out of CF by signing Cameron. Hall's owed $8.5 million next year. Until MA and Melvin decide to eat that contract, Hall's going to be on the team and Macha's smart not to bury anyone. Maybe he could give Hall starts at SS or 2B or back in CF, but it's to the club's benefit to get something for their investment.
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Macha's not that old. He falls right in the middle of the pack age-wise among NL managers He's considerably younger than Piniella, LaRussa, Cox, Charlie Manuel and Torre. He's also younger than Cooper too. But no manager can plan on "being around for a while". That's not the nature of the job.
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Personally, I don't think Gallardo's being abused. But Macha is the manager now and he has to be thinking "win now" or he won't be around very long. He's keeping an eye on the pitch count. The chances of Gallardo being a Brewer at age 30 are slim anyway. Great pitchers throw a lot of innings no matter what age. Lincecum threw 227 last year and is on pace to equal or surpass that this year. But even that is nothing compared to back in the 60's and 70's. He averages right around 110 (roughly the same as Yo) pitches per start and he throws with a lot more effort than Gallardo does. You take performance when you get it. The goal is to win, not develop pitchers to win elsewhere or to make sure guys get big contracts down the line. There's no guarantees in this game. Guys who are babied get hurt too.
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I would not dismiss Backe so easily. He apparently threw the ball pretty well in his 6 rehab starts in AA and AAA this year: 3-1, 2.25 ERA. Sure he had a 6 ERA last year, but that was somewhat distorted by Cooper leaving him in there twice to allow 11 runs and another where he allowed 8 in an inning and a third. The Astros did go 13-18 in his starts. Those stats compare favorably with what Parra put up over the past calender year. He might be worth a AAA contract.
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I understand that, but they are pitching a ton of innings and it seems like we would have to give up too much for average starting pitching. So why not get someone to replace McClung in the bullpen and McClung can be permanently bumped into the rotation. Just a suggestion because I don't want to give up any top prospects for the starting pitching that is available now. And thank you for the welcome! The Brewer bullpen isn't really pitching a "ton of innings" compared to other staffs. Remember they went with 4 starters for a while which meant they had 8 guys in the pen and Macha tends not to have a quick hook. None of the guys who've been there all year have higher than the mid 30's in IP. That's about standard. Villanueva has a tendency to have bad outing now and then that's inflated his ERA a bit, but his peripherals remain good. Smith has been a huge upgrade over Julio and Narveson can suck up innings in lost causes. The broadcasters talk a lot about it, but the reality is they are not in bad shape in the pen.
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Except the argument for not including Hart in a deal for pitching is that there's nobody that could replace him. Scott would certainly do in that regard.
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Will Bill Hall ever make adjustments?
JohnBriggs12 replied to AJAY's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
I don't think anyone's suggesting a larger role at this point. I do sense he's through the worst of it though and he can contribute. -
I don't understand the fuss either. I expected Counsell to cool off long ago, but the guy keeps getting on base ahead of the big boys. It's clear his new stance has made him a better hitter. Apparently sitting against lefties is giving Counsell enough rest at least for now. Eventually, I'd like to see more of McGehee at 2nd and Gamel at 3rd but until Counsell cools and Gamel has some 3 hit games, it's not going to happen. McGehee is the story of the year as far as I'm concerned. He's gone from obscure waiver claim, to 25th man on roster, to occasional 2 hole platoon player, to everyday middle of the order hitter and he's done it the old fashioned way. He's earned it. This is a guy who had no value last October and now he's a starter for a 1st place team that still is 2 years from arbitration after this year. Gamel is getting competition. Heck even Bill Hall has 3 hits in his last 3 AB's. The competition for playing time is a good thing. None of those guys should feel they are owed anything. This season and this team don't exist for the benefit of Mat Gamel's development. They are in it to win it. Gamel's getting some opportunities. He has to do something with them.
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The number of teams looking for a bat might drive his price up beyond the "minimal prospect" level. Guys with OPS's over .900 don't grow on trees.
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Will Bill Hall ever make adjustments?
JohnBriggs12 replied to AJAY's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
For the record, Billy now has 3 hits in his last 3 AB's and still has more RBI than Milton Bradley! It's been subtle, a loud foul here, a HR in Cleveland there, but there's been some signs of life lately even before his 3 straight hits.