EbbaStClaire

It seems as if trading Wolf should be explored as long as there is a specific goal. For example, trade Wolf for an exceptional shortstop prospect and a third base prospect or pitching prospect. I would have to get at least two very good young players for Wolf, one being an outstanding young shortstop. If you can't get the shortstop you want now sign Barmes knowing he'll be adequate and so will Wolf. If Wolf is traded internally there are a number of pitchers who could pick up some of the slack like Peralta, Estrada, Rodgers, & Fiers. I see the absence of a quality shortstop as the biggest void on the 2012 Brewer team. Of course, they could sign Barmes and not trade Wolf. It just depends on whether or not you can get the young players you want and save $20M on Wolf to spend on something else.

Considering how poor the Brewer minor league system is suppose to be, I thought it might be fun to identify five players who you think are having surprising seasons. They may not be prospects but they are excelling this year. Just maybe they are emerging as prospects. My 5: D'Vontrey Ricardson Santo Manzanillo Taylor Green T.J. Mittelstaedt Yadiel Rivera

What Baseball America doesn't say is that Rivera has struck out only 9 times in his last 41 AB while walking 6 times in those same AB's. Rivera's true K rate and BB rate is yet to be determined however.

I know most of you will be stunned but "Who the hell is Tony Plush". I don't have the faintest idea of who that is. Thanks

Arcia is 16 years old, I believe.

The Brewers have an extraordinary number of catchers on their various minor league rosters. Is it possible the catchers have been signed with the idea of converting them into pitchers or (I suppose) some other position? Does anyone know whether any of these individuals have an extraordinary tool e.g., a strong arm or a power stroke that would make them attractive candidates to change positions.

In an archived audio interview(30 May) with Mark DeFelice, he indicated that he had a discussion with Rich Gale (I believe it was Gale) during which he requested the opportunity to pitch multiple innings per appearance because the Brewers wanted relief pitchers on the major league roster that could pitch more than one inning. I have never been able to understand the one inning per relief pitcher philosophy. There are instances where changing pitchers to start an inning makes sense but not as a matter of policy. Even Axford pitched more than one inning last year.

John Axford

I assume these minor league day games are field trips for elementary and middle school kids and thousands of kids are in attendance.

My candidate is Michael Fiers.

Who cares since the Notre Dame Victory March is not a choice.

Would Doug Melvin ask Zach Greinke his opinion of Betancourt and use that information to develop a strategy to ensure the Brewers have an adequate shortstop? If I was Melvin, I sure would.

The farm system is depleted because of the loss of prospects but more than that it is unbalanced. The system lacks power, the best two catchers are 20 yrs old and the middle infielders are very young. The good news is the system has a large number of promising pitchers scattered about the whole system. If 5 or 6 of these pitchers develop, then they or current members of the Brewer pitching staff could be traded to fill in the holes on the Brewers or in the farm system. It seems obvious that pitching is always a commodity that is in demand.

I believe Micael Fiers will pitch in Milwaukee as a starter next year.

In the old days pennants were won with pitching and defense. Now the Brewers finally have some guys that can play some defense and some experts want to trade them away. I don't know how good LuCroy, Escobar and Cain will be offensively but they should povide above average defense in three of the four positions that are considered to be "up the middle". Along with with a defensively average Weeks, maybe we can actually help our pitchers. Keep in mind the Brewers don't need one more pitcher, they actually need at least four. For various reasons, injuries, effectiveness, dropping from contention, etc., major league teams use 8-9 different starters during the year. So maybe the $10M for Pavano or all the money and players for Greinke would leave the Brewers short of pitchers anyway. Why mortgage the future by trading 3 players who will be around for a long time?