ILuvDaBush

When it comes to pitchers pinch-hitting, I have to fight images of JJ and Sal Fasano from conjuring up in my mind. And can you imagine a catcher trying to stand on the tracks while the locomotive is barreling down on him? It's enough to nickname the gent....Barrelman. Then again, can you imagine the similarities if it happened in the NLCS, with a certain similar name....Barrelman, meet Bartman (and I'm not talking Simpsons references). ANYWAY....CC at the plate? 2TO! Yovanni at the plate? .743OPS as a rookie. Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you actually believe Yost would use CC or Yo as a primary line of offense), CC and Yo will never be on the same active roster in their careers.

Honestly, moreso than Parra or Bush, if we make the playoffs, it's going to be because Prince Fielder is our MVP. Thus far, he's regressed to the projection from his rookie year. Hardy's already caught fire, while Prince has just shown small sparks of what he's capable of doing. But, like TBad said, if we are going to continue our journey to the Land of '82, we're going to need Braun to up his OBP (I'm probably in the minority, but I would rather have 05-07 Burrell than 08 Braun). As for Sheets v. Harden, how can anybody argue that Sheets isn't more of a workhorse? His 2004 season was the type of season his fairest comp, Curt Schilling, dreams of. Perhaps, in talent, it is a toss-up, though I'd still take Sheets, as he walks fewer and goes longer, while Harden's main redeeming quality in the comp is the fact that he is more of a cerebral pitcher, getting more from...well he still has an overwhelming arsenal, just not "best curve in baseball with a 94-97mph fastball"-good. Still, when I heard the Cubs acquired Harden, I actually envied Cubby fans, which hasn't happened since Prior's '03 season (I'm one of the biggest SC fans in Wisconsin). Harden v. Sheets? Give me a Sheeter Ben to a Harden Rich any day.

I still say let him stick it out at catcher and let the chips fall as they may. If and when he figures out his footwork, his bat will be equivocal to Geovany Soto...hopefully more. And the fact that he is the starting catcher for the AA AS Game speaks volumes, as does the inclusion of a few other Huntsville pitchers whose names escape me because...well do you think most baseball fanatics outside of Brewerfan.net have ever heard of David Welch or the like? It would seem he works well with those on the bump. As for a Roberts acquisition, I still am against it. Weeks continues to get on base and there can't be a soul alive who can argue Roberts has more power than Weeks. The fact that Weeks' glove has finally arrived only furthers my belief that his bat is soon to follow. And I would put his second half last year against any second half Roberts has had.

That's why I was also pretty excited about the CC trade. I figured it would put to rest all the talk of trading #28 for at least a year, hopefully two.

So the question becomes, who would Brewer Nation rather have, Matt Wieters or that entire haul??? Let's hope this gets done, but I'm quite impressed by our haul. (sorry, wrong thread, but I had to say it.)

I could see him being the "Branyan on the bench" guy, the backup corner infielder (though definitely a more apt 1B) while also being a nominal contributor (read: emergency) in the outfield. He definitely fits the mantra of our Brews, "Have bat, will travel." And wasn't it written somewhere that this is the first time since Prince arrived on the scene that he has felt fully healthy?

I wonder what they'll have to give up for Burnett or Danny Cabrera when the Electrifying Canadian goes to the DL... You have to assume that one of their "baby aces" (Zambrano/Wood/Harden) is going to come up lame. If only they still had Prior, he could have been their sacrificial lamb. Unfortunately, Greg Maddux practices his own brand of Santeria so one of the three must go under the knife to appease the baseball gods.

I wonder what they'll have to give up for Burnett or Danny Cabrera when the Electrifying Canadian goes to the DL... You have to assume that one of their "baby aces" (Zambrano/Wood/Harden) is going to come up lame. If only they still had Prior, he could have been their sacrificial lamb. Unfortunately, Greg Maddux practices his own brand of Santeria so one of the three must go under the knife to appease the baseball gods.

What gets to me, and I know it shouldn't, is the die hard fan who brings his gf/date for their "first game", only to have to explain the game the entire time and give me a headache. I mean I understand that a little bit of hands-on training is best, but couldn't you have set her up with a previous game as a mock test? Sit her down for CC's start tonight before showing her Ben Sheets? Then again, already this year, I've had two very close friends, who were the only recipients of my extended invitation, bring their significant other to the game with us and then go through the annoying motions of attempting to explain the game. The grass is green. The sky is blue. Weeks is going to get on base and score a run. Watch the game!

What's curious is that Melvin has always adhered to the idea that they were building towards the following year so he needed ML-ready players. And while LaPorta could be ready for the majors (Miggy Cabrera made the jump), I would argue that this trade is really geared towards the 3-4 years down the road when LaPorta is hitting arbitration and Rob Bryson is just making a name for himself as a set-up man in the Scot Shields-mold. But would I be excited? No. Especially with my team being a win away from the Series last year, I would have preferred a "Carlos Lee"-type package, especially if it would have procured a closer for my team. But as I am on the other end of the trade, I can only say...I have pocket aces.

I have to confess, I am still visibly excited over the acquisition, if only because for the first time in both of their careers, Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia won't be forced to be their team's "ace in the rotation." Both pitchers, since they ascended to the majors, have been dubbed the best pitcher on their staff. Well, does anyone think either pitcher is going to lay down in the face of their first competition for the moniker of "ace?" Who is the best pitcher on our staff, our absolute, must-win, Game 7 pitcher? Maybe I am in the minority, but I'd still take a healthy Benny (04 Sheetzke, that is).

Fuentes to the Cubs (Wood to DL) Burnett to the Mets (after they have a complete resurgence, ala the Rockies) Bay to the Twins Holliday to the A's (and they keep Harden)

Fuentes to the Cubs (Wood to DL) Burnett to the Mets (after they have a complete resurgence, ala the Rockies) Bay to the Twins Holliday to the A's (and they keep Harden)

Hall would also do well in replacing Mark Ellis next year at second.

Hall would also do well in replacing Mark Ellis next year at second.

Hall would also do well in replacing Mark Ellis next year at second.

Only because they got to play the Pirates so many times in the early going. If we got to hang up a 10-spot on the Pirates a few more times, our stats would look pretty similar. They've built their miniscule cosmetic lead by beating up on AAA teams. Without Zambrano, their rotation is barely .500 vs. the Central, ad that's including their matchups with the Pirates.

I keep imagining Billy Beane calling the Brewers at the deadline and saying something to the effect of, "Remember right before you acquired CC, when you offered Villy/Brantley/Braddock/Hall for Harden? Well, that's the best we got by far. Can we still do it?"

What's really crazy is how the DOdgers never learn. They could have had Richie if they would have surrendered Greg Miller...or Edwin Jackson....or even Joel Hanrahan+. SO I don't know what is more unlikely, that the Rockies would trade Matt Holliday to a division rival, or that the Dodgers would part with Matt Kemp, as they are very selfish with any and all youth.

What's really crazy is how the DOdgers never learn. They could have had Richie if they would have surrendered Greg Miller...or Edwin Jackson....or even Joel Hanrahan+. SO I don't know what is more unlikely, that the Rockies would trade Matt Holliday to a division rival, or that the Dodgers would part with Matt Kemp, as they are very selfish with any and all youth.

If CC does his best "Randy Johnson '01" impression down the stretch and in the playoffs, could he actually get a 10 year/$200+ deal? His age wouldn't preclude it, though his conditioning could, but he has phenomenal numbers and has been an ace since he arrived on the scene. As for Sheets, after this trade, I believe we really have to lock him up. It would be hard enough losing one, let alone both now. Sheets. Sheets. Sheets. His injury history shouldn't dissuade us from offering him 5 years/$75. He is Milwaukee's Golden Boy.

Sheets. I'm actually of the opinion that, with the added revenue of getting to the playoffs (if...), we should be able to afford Sheets now.

I think the man who will be moved is McClung. But you have to admit, our bullpen is upgraded as well with the move of McClung to the bullpen. As for the addition of CC, I was against it when it was rumors but I'm for it now that it has come to be.

Meant punt. Sorry. It was directed at those who say that 09 should be forgotten. What people forget is that this team should be largely intact next year, and you would hope, be better. The guy who I hold out the most hope for is Rickie. I really don't know what his ceiling is. Everytime someone tries to write him off, he goes off for a frozen rope to put us up. But this isn't the place for that rant. What my main point was with Betancourt is that teams just don't give up their set-up men when they plan on cotending in the near future. They can give up on this year, slightly retool, and come back ready to contend for the AL next fall. But Betancourt is a cornerstone to their contention. He compares well with Scot Shields, except Shields has had more success closing games. And, to be honest, I think we need a pitcher who we control for more than two months, given our economic situation and Sheets. Barring such a pitcher hitting the market, I don't know whether CC would do enough to warrant what it would cost. A few weeks ago, when both us and the Cubs were on our respective tears, would CC have been a difference maker? If we had the early season CC, he would have been a difference maker, for the other team. In the end, much like the Boston Red Sox did with Johan Santana, all we have to do is give the appearance of offering a good amount, hiking up the price past the threshold of what the Cubs can trade, and really, what do they have? The only thing I could think of that might interest them would be The Riot, if he could play 2B for them, and they could switch Cedeno to SS. But really, they would have to prefer one of our big two... "Seriously, we'll give you both! Yup Ellsbury AND Lester. err Gamel and LaPorta. Well really...we can only give you one, but with quite the prospect-pu-pu-platter. Well it's more of a doggie bag. Okay, we'll give you Steve Sollman, and you'll LIKE it." And come October, to be honest, I'd trust Greg the Magi more than CC the Snowman. Really, I'd trust the Soup Kitchen in the NLCS more than I'd trust CC's numbers from last year.

1B/OF/PH with pop from the left side? Gross begat Branyan who begat...