JohnBriggs12

Remember the discussion on Braun in spring training? Many thought he wouldn't hit enough to make up for his defense. Others thought he needed a full year in AAA. I mentioned in wanting Braun up that David Wright made it big as a younger guy than Braun. Somebody responded that guys like Wright don't come along very often. No, guys like Braun don't come along very often.

Somebody remind me how indispensible Spurling is.

Chris Spurling is a 30 year old who has never been more than an 11th or 12th man on a major league pitching staff. That's he performed in that role better than many, is not really the point. The point is that within the Brewer organization are pitchers who project to be better than 11th or 12th guys on a major league pitching staff, and if it's determined they are now ready, you don't have the Chris Spurlings of the world block them. Parra recently tossed a AAA perfect game. As was reported in the minor league forum, Grant Balfour, who is putting up terrific numbers in AAA, was hitting 96 on the radar gun just last night while fanning 5 in two innings. Both those guys could be valuable contributors not just in 07 but in 08 in more important roles than mopping up. Could Spurling be traded? Perhaps. But despite his relatively decent numbers, he's not going to bring back much.

"I still can't figure out what a mop up guy like Spurling has done to warrant a DFA move" You might have answered your own question jhart. Mop up guys by definition are a. expendable and b. not to be trusted in close games. The Brewers thinking in a pennant race has to be if your not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. One other aspect to consider is this: Is Shouse healthy? He's thrown one inning since June 24th and was not used at all against La Roche or Doumit who killed the Brewers.

Keep this in mind also. It was this very weekend a year ago that they dumped Chad Moeller. Plus the ante has been upped. The Cubs are breathing down their necks. They could be missing a key offensive part for several games at least. It's time to quit messing around with starting pitchers who can't get past 5 and change. Vargas has had half a season to prove he's rotation worthy by giving them innings. He hasn't done it.

"They got a quanitiy deal..." Frankly I would not be shocked if there is more of a roster shuffle than just Hall to DL, bring up Gwynn. They might be reconsidering the wisdom of Gallardo in the bullpen after he struggled in Pitts, and may be considering resting him until the 5th starter spot after the break, July 17th. They could option him for 10 days in the meantime and replace him with Parra for now. I also have a hunch that Vargas has started his last game as a Brewer and will be elsewhere next week and that Balfour will be replacing Spurling by the end of July.

The same guys who love to point to Gwynn's successes as being "small sample size" are all over him for his AAA performance in 66 measly AB's. Will you guys at least try to be fair in your analysis of his game? As for batting order, there's no need to bat him leadoff and move Hart. Move Hardy from 2nd to 5th, then bat either Gwynn or Weeks second. As I stated in locked thread, getting Weeks going has to be a priority. So I'd bat Rickie second and let him see more fastballs ahead of Braun and Fielder. Then put Gwynn in that 8 spot.

If Gwynn plays (as opposed to Gross), they have to move either Hart or Hardy into the number 5 spot, and either Weeks or Gwynn into the leadoff or number 2 spot. My preference would be to hit Weeks second and let him see some fastballs batting ahead of Braun and Fielder. They desperately need Weeks to get it going and keeping him down in the 8 spot isn't going to do it.

I kind of like the Jermaine Dye suggestion. He's had a really bad year so far but he's got a track record that says he'll get it going at some point. I don't think he'd cost much in terms of players to get him either so if he doesn't get it going, they could just deal him again when Hall comes back. The one thing about bringing up Gwynn and playing him everyday is that it almost dictates moving Hart to 5th in the order and putting Gwynn up top.

Play Jenkins everyday in LF. Against lefties, play Hart in CF, Mench in RF. Against Righties, play Gross in CF, Hart in RF. Bring Dillon up for RH pinch hit duty.

Jack is right. A "high ankle sprain" is 10 times worse than a run of the mill ankle sprain. My guess is though they don't have an exact diagnosis yet. Even "normal" ankle sprains can cause plenty of swelling and pain the first 48 hours but they improve rapidly after that. High sprains though can take months rather than days or weeks.

Having had first hand knowledge of ankle sprains, I wouldn't get too worked up if it starts to swell up. That's happened to me several times, and I was back playing full tilt basketball within a week. With the All Star break coming, I wouldn't be so sure they DL him. But I'm sure they'll X-Ray and MRI it to check the severity.

It's not who you play or where you play, it's when you play them. This series follows the huge Cub weekend series (hasn't that always been the case before heading to Pittsburgh). Furthermore, from watching the Pittsburgh feed, they've been talking all week about the emphasis that the Pirates have placed upon this week. This is a huge series for the Pirates, not because they are contenders but because they need to show progress as a franchise and beating the two top teams in division heading into the break is a way to show they are not that far off.

Fielder: A-. Stepped forward in to C. Lee's spot as feared middle of order hitter. That was a big question answered. Weeks: D+. Started fine, but what happenend? Hardy: A-. Cooled a bit after torrid start and has missed games recently. Not a good sign for a guy trying to beat an oft-injured rep. Braun: A+. Best pure hitter I've seen come up in 37 years of Brewer baseball. Of all the young talent, this is the guy I'd want locked up for 10 years. Jenkins: B-. Hard to tell if he's in hot streak or cold streak now days as he's not in lineup every day, but he's had some big hits. Hall: C+. Still the "heart and soul" of Brewers in my book. Two run HR vs. Tigers ranks up there with biggest hit of the year so far. Hart: B+. Grade would be higher, but can't ignore first two months when power wasn't there. Mench: C. He is what he is and that's not very exciting. Gross: C-. Didn't take his limited opportunities and force Ned to play him. Still he gets on base at good rate. Gwynn: B. Did everything asked of him. Estrada: C. Lack of walks doesn't bother me as much as (save one GS), lack of timely hitting. Miller: B. Raised his grade from a C- in one week. Sheets: A. Pitching like an ace. Capuano: C+. His trade value is suffering with another hot and cold season. Suppan: C-. Looks nothing like the NLCS MVP so far. Bush: C-. Hasn't moved forward after promising close to 06. Occasionally very impressive but prone to collapses as well. Vargas: C-. Inability to get through 6 innings has taxed bullpen. Villanueva: A-. Had they not signed Suppan, they might have been better off with Villy in rotation and used some of that money for quality bullpen help. Wise: B. Bullpen handy man has done as expected. Shouse: C+. Not really a guy you want in there with the game on the line but has proved serviceable from time to time. Still if something better is out there, I'd be looking. Spurling: C. Another guy who's usefulness is limited to eating late innings in already decided games. Turnbow: B. Very nice turnaround from disaster that was 06. While he might work his way back to closing games at some point, may never be top of the line type closer. Cordero: A-. Has re-entered reality after unsustainable stretch.

In fairness to Al, I think he was counting the games where "should be" starter Carlos Villanueva has bailed out guys who inexplicably start ahead of him.

Another issue to consider is that Capuano and Suppan have not pitched like 2 and 3 guys should. If they had, the pressure to replace Vargas would not be that intense. But outside of Sheets, nobody is really doing much.

I wish I had a nickel for everytime a visit by Maddux is followed on the very next pitch by a HR. It's unbelievable how often it happens. It's as if Maddux says "Go ahead and lay one in there".

It's the same issue with Spurling in the pen. He's not terrible either but they have not one but two better alternatives and the goal isn't to finish .500. If they are serious about winning, they have to make a move. If they must restrict Gallardo's innings, stick Villanueva in the rotation in Vargas' spot. Yes Carlos has been stellar in relief but starting pitching is key.

Nats lead Cubs 6-0, after GS by Young. Belliard with an RBI double too.

Yost has his work cut out for him this week. With the break close, this team lost focus last year dropping 3 straight at home to the Cubs just before the break. That set a tone for coming out of the break slow too. They appear to be poised to do the same this year. Yes they pounded the Pirates last night, but that was almost all Miller. They started that game looking sluggish to me and today, wow, their heads weren't in the game at all. As for Prince, he may just be getting caught up in the hoopla already. Not surprising for a young player, but I hope he can refocus before the break, not wait until after it. These games are important.

Somebody might want to remind the Brewers that the All Star Break begins Monday. Otherwise, that tidy lead they've spent all year building could be gone before Prince takes his first swing in the HR derby. Don't look for the Cubs to lose tonight with Zambrano against the immortal Tim Redding. That "effort" today was pathetic. Poor defense, shoddy pitching, no plate discipline. Frankly they looked flat last night but Miller and Villanueva bailed them out big time. Bad, bad signs.

That 2002 lineup would have been much stronger had they not started guys ahead of Loretta and Stairs who 5 years later are still productive hitters. A surprising number of everyday players are still around though including Raul Casanova who is in Tampa Bay. Wow that pitching staff though was a nightmare. Who can ever forget Jose Cabrera wiping out one of the cherished records (total bases in a game) held by a Milwaukee player, Joe Adcock, when he threw a BP fastball to Shawn Green for his 4th HR, 6th Hit, and 19th total base in the 9th inning.

Damian Miller has been scheduled for a "random" drug test tomorrow morning.

The Cubs won't be picking up anyone with any contract obligation beyond this year.

Very important to get off to good start in this series. Snell and Gorzelanny loom in games 3 and 4. Both had strong cases for All Star selection and have been tough on Brewers. Meanwhile, Cubs will miss both of these guys over the weekend.