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JohnBriggs12

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Everything posted by JohnBriggs12

  1. JohnBriggs12
    But it's spring training and there's still almost 3 weeks until the season starts and it's Arizona where lots of good pitchers struggle from time to time. I saw a game he pitched earlier vs. the Cubs. Villanueva's never had eye popping stuff. His put away pitches are his slider and his change. He's having some command issues with his fastball and he's not found his good slider yet. The appearence before yesterday he was fine. Suppan's been awful one start and fine the next. That's the way it goes out there. If you judge your pitching staff by how well they do in Arizona, Chris Narveson should have been the Brewer ace in 2008 instead of a AAA guy with a 5+ ERA.
  2. JohnBriggs12
    116 major league games. 276 major league innings. He's certainly no rookie, and that makes him a veteran. But yes, he's still young and still getting established to an extent. Which is even more the reason not to single him out for criticism in the media. You want to criticize him? Do it to his face behind closed doors. The bottom line is the Brewers need Villanueva. Villanueva is a comptetive guy. Remember the incident with Pujols last year? He doesn't need Macha telling the press he needs to step it up. I have always judged coaches and managers by who they choose to single out for criticism. The good ones single out the most talented players on the team. I especially have a problem with Macha's wording. He's quoted as saying "This guy here Villanueva...." You refer a player on your team "this guy here.."? That's not how you handle players in my opinion. Yost was a terrible manager strategy wise and I said so often. But he handled his players the right way. Macha better be a good strategist because this isn't the way you handle players. How about picking on $10 million man Mike Cameron for hitting .208 with 9 K's this spring instead of a guy making just over minimum?
  3. JohnBriggs12
    I disagree hurricanecrush. Villanueva is now a veteran pitcher. He's helped this team get into the playoffs. He should have the luxury of some bad outings in Arizona. Look around the league. There's plenty of veteran relievers with ERA's similar to CV's whose managers aren't singling them out. David Riske has an ERA of 12.00. Why not call him out too?
  4. JohnBriggs12
    Apparently a few rough outings this spring has Macha looking at other setup options. Granted Macha doesn't know Villanueva, but in my opinion he's overreacting based on the vagaries of pitching in Arizona. I would think Villy's track record including 11 up and 11 down in playoffs last October should hold a little more weight than some meaningless spring games.. The last thing I want my key guys doing is pressing in spring training. Macha not impressed by Villanueva (added link --1992)
  5. JohnBriggs12
    Not surprising on Morlan. Littleton? Outside of 2006, he's basically just a guy. Brewers haven't had a lot of luck with guys named Wes.
  6. JohnBriggs12
    Not likely. The Brewers are pretty well set with catchers at AA and AAA between Salome, Lucroy, Corporan, Maldonado and that's not even counting Rottino.
  7. JohnBriggs12
    Well, Dillard would not be as critical to the bullpen now or in the future with both Morlan and Aguilar in the pipeline. So it affords them an opportunity to see if Dillard can start. They can always move him back.
  8. JohnBriggs12
    He's okay in describing the action and he's knowledgeable enough. Powell's strength was providing that organizational insight. It was obvious that JP followed the entire system closely. I doubt I'll go out of my way to hear Provus' insight, but if I'm in my car and the game is on, he should be an okay listen. I heard him doing his inning for the Cubs in the past so it's about what I expected. He needs a little work on his "straight man" routine with Ueck. Powell (and before him Hughes) had the timing down well.
  9. JohnBriggs12
    I think the move of Dillard to the rotation and Aguilar to Huntsville is a tipoff that they have a deal in place to keep Morlan and move him to Nashville to close.
  10. JohnBriggs12
    I've never understood why Weeks hasn't been tried out there. Methinks they didn't want to mess with their number 2 overall pick but had no problem doing the same with lower round, prior regime pick, Hall. I would have thought the year Yount was a coach, they could have made the switch. After all Robin was an MVP SS who moved out there. Granted Robin was forced to the OF by a shoulder problem, but Sure Cain is getting close now, but if Cain's good enough, you can deal either Hart or Weeks to make room for him at some point.
  11. JohnBriggs12
    You don't really need an innings eater in the bullpen. Not that Suppan is one either if he's not effective. Back in the day of 10 or 11 man pitching staffs, the long man served a role. Now, especially in the NL, unless the starter is knocked out in the first inning, the long man isn't going to pitch more than 3 innings. In fact the term "long man" really is a misnomer in today's game. A better term would be "early inning reliever/mopup guy/staff saver. His role is generally to get you through the 5th inning, mopup up at the end of a blowout, or be insurance in case a game goes beyond 12-13 innings and your bullpen is empty. That's why if McClung is put in that spot, I'd still use him occasionally to start as a 6th starter because he's not the 12th best pitcher on the roster in all likeliehood. Defilice might make more sense if that guy is strictly your 12th pitcher. Now if Suppan gets domoted because of ineffectiveness, he becomes a very expensive 12th pitcher.
  12. JohnBriggs12
    This is purely a hunch, but don't count the White Sox out of the Bill Hall discussion. The White Sox have no experienced 2nd baseman, no established CF and no established 3B, and Hall has played all 3 of these positions. While they have plenty of candidates to fill these spots, I would think when push comes to shove, Williams might want to add a veteran and what guy out there could be his answer at any of those spots? Plus he's shown interest in Hall before. Again this is just a hunch and wouldn't happen until end of spring training in all likeliehood, but it bears watching.
  13. JohnBriggs12
    McGehee hits niether righties or lefties. He's never posted an OPS over 776 in the minors. He's had a hot spring, but historically, that doesn't mean much once the regular season starts. I don't like Lamb either, but we need to find a better 3B alternative. I can hope McGehee has somehow evolved into that guy, but thats doubtful considering he just doesn't have the tools to make such a s udden improvement. I think you guys are underestimating McGehee big time. Sure he's never posted over .776 OPS in the minors (which incidently was last year), but he's never posted an OPS under .691 (which incidently was his rookie year in pro ball) either. His numbers have actually gotten better as he's gone to higher levels. Granted, it's been 2 weeks but in 20 AB's this spring he has 0 K's and for the most part he's started games, so he's seen major leaguers and not AA guys that pitch later in games. Is he a future All Star? No. But he's fine defensively, has some versatility, puts the bat on the ball and he's cheap and he's young enough to give them an option if Gamel fails or has to move off of 3rd. Besides, if he doesn't make the Brewers as a backup, where do you put him? You want Gamel playing every day at 3rd at Nashville.
  14. JohnBriggs12
    MLB trade rumors quotes Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Gagne had earlier turned down a $3 million guaranteed deal from the Twins. Earlier they had quoted Gord Ash as saying "there was no animosity...and that if his health improved they would consider signing him to a deal in the future". I'm pulling for him to make it back someday.
  15. JohnBriggs12
    Since nobody offered him a contract, I'd classify him as having been retired rather than retiring. He basically just acknowledged reality. He had an okay career and should be able to look back on it with pride.
  16. JohnBriggs12
    This is certainly disappointing but it's better to find out now. They certainly need Riske to return to form now.
  17. JohnBriggs12
    Hall is reportedly just days away from playing. I don't think that would be an issue. Besides if they do trade to get a 3B, they'll wait until near the end of spring training. By then they'll have a better idea on how long ARod will be out, and it will give them time to scout potential targets. I'd say odds that Hall goes to NY are slim but not non-existant. Maybe 25-1.
  18. JohnBriggs12
    107 AB's last year is evidence he "can't hit at this point"? Look he's never been a great hitter at any point. But he's been an everyday leadoff hitter in the majors on playoff teams. He's certainly more accomplished than either Gwynn or Duffy. The question is that at soon to be 37, what does he have left? If it's close to his career norms, he's certainly worth the major league minimum the Brewers would have to cough up.
  19. JohnBriggs12
    It would benefit the Brewers if they could move Hall's contract especially if they got young pitching back. A Lamb/McGehee platoon isn't scintilating, but it's probably as good as the 08 Hall/Counsell platoon that ended the year and it's temporary. McGehee is a solid defender, and his minor league numbers suggest he won't be overmatched by major league pitching. He's probably capable of hitting .250, with a little power. Lamb's had some very solid major league seasons. Look Gamel's going to stay at 3B. Don Money will be his manager for the 2nd straight year. He made strides last year defensively under Money who was one of most consistent of all time. If he's stroking it like he did the first half of 08 in June, he's going to force his way into the big leagues unless he regresses defensively to his 07 form. Even if Gamel falters, there is still the lingering log jam at SS that has to be resolved sooner or later. I think Hardy would be more receptive to a move to 3B than to 2B, but that's just a hunch.
  20. JohnBriggs12
    If it's something minor, I'd keep him around. They'd look pretty foolish if Gagne's helping some other team from May on, because he wasn't quite ready in April. Gagne isn't some guy who's been a marginal major leaguer his entire career. With all his troubles in 08, he was still very useful down the stretch.
  21. JohnBriggs12
    I've had problems with my obliques more than once. It just seems like it takes forever to heal because it doesn't bother you doing normal activities. It bothers you sleeping or if you rotate your trunk. The other funny part is that 2 weeks into it, it seemingly doesn't get any better. But by about the 3rd week, the pain dissipates rather rapidly and usually within a full 3 weeks, it's completely gone. The key is not trying to do much. I'm sure he can do some soft tossing but he should avoid letting loose and taking full swings with a bat until it's gone.
  22. JohnBriggs12
    Forget Edmonds, they would have to clear a roster spot for Duffy and/or Nixon regardless in the event Gwynn can't go. If both Duffy and Nixon were to make the team, they'd have room because that would mean Iribarren and Nelson didn't and they are out of options as well. It will sort itself out.
  23. JohnBriggs12
    Bonds has played 1 game in his career in RF. He can barely play LF any more. He's strictly a DH so unless the Brewers get sent back to the AL, no thanks.
  24. JohnBriggs12
    No big deal. Probably makes it between DiFelice and Dillard for Looper's opening day roster spot and it keeps McClung stretched out. I think they are well served if McClung makes 10 or so starts prior to September. That way Macha has the option to replace a struggling starter down the stretch assuming they are in the mix.
  25. JohnBriggs12
    His comment on Carlos Lee is interesting. Lee was having his best year ever in 2008 after one of his best years in 2007 with 32 HR and 119 RBI. He was on pace for 38 HR and 135 RBI. Those are Manny type numbers. I don't think his contract is that far out of line in dollars per year. Maybe it's a year or two too long but time will tell.
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