NievesNoNO

Wow, I hadn't seen the game I just saw how they lost in overtime. This is exactly why I stopped paying attention to the NBA. It's really a joke. If that's any Bucks player spinning uncontrollably and taking four steps and running somebody over the ball's going the other way. The "star player" treatment makes the game unwatchable. Why doesn't the league just allow the team that was better on a particular night to win the game. The Bucks busted their butts to legitimately win the game and it was taken from them by a bunch of b.s. calls down the stretch. The Milwaukee fans that attended that game deserved to see a win! I also think some of this star treatment holds back some other legitimately good players and teams from becoming better as the leauge has all ready decided who they want to be a star. They choose Lebron and Kobe since they've been in like 5th grade. Yes, they are fine players, but not all that much better than a lot of the players they're against. The league just likes to make it appear that way. The NBA will not be seeing any of my $$ in the near future. On a positive note I do actually like the mix the Bucks have now. Thier GM has been great and Skiles should've never got out of Chicago. Good for the Bucks and thier fans!

CBSsportsline is the best I've used thus far. That's in comparison to ESPN and Yahoo. I'm not commissioner of the league but I know you have a great deal of control on how set things up. Values, required games at positions to qualify, stat categories, etc. CBS gets my recommendation, although it's not free. If you have a serious group of players, which it sounds like you do, then I think you'd appreciate what CBS will provide.

Since I respect all your baseball opinions so much I thought some of you might be interested in helping me out this week setting my lineup for the 1st round of the fant. football playoffs. The team I'm playing has some excellent machups and has a very high predicted scoring outcome this week. Not that I put a whole lot of stock into Yahoo's predictions. I'm debating blowing up my staring lineup a bit in favor of some boom/bust machup type plays and swing for the fences. So here are the options: QB(1) Shaub or Rodgers I think I'm sticking with Rodgers, but Shaub has a nice matchup at St. Lois. I'm more interested in the WR/RB situation. RB(2) D. Williams, Mendenhall, C. Jennings, J. Harrison Mendenhall is pretty much a lock as he'll get about 20 touches. Williams faces Minnesota and hasn't scored a TD since like week 9. Stewert is back and their O-Line is in shambles. Do I roll with one of the Browns running backs against the lowly Chiefs (prob. Jennings) instead of my 1st rd. pick? WR(2) Jennings, Nicks, Cribbs, V. Jackson Jackson will start I think. Jennings has been consistently avg. fantasy wise. Nicks seems to come up with some big play nearly every game. Overall their season scoring is almost identical. My brain says Nicks my heart says Jennings. Cribbs I just picked up as kind of a wild card of the group. Again they play the Chiefs and he's lining up a RB, WR and KR/PR. His potential for a knockout blow is probably greater than any WR I have, but he could just as easily give me like 5 pts. Flex(1) Of the all ready mentioned player I need one here. This is a standard scoring league. Thanks in advance for the suggestions. If I should happen not to win I hope I get blown out so I'm not tempted to reanalyze any moves.

Sorry, I scanned over the "this year" part in your origninal post. On a one year basis I could see how you could make that arguement. I don't necessarily agree, but I do think Jack did an admirable job in his first year. I also agree that Jack Z. was an integral part of what the Brewers have been able to accomplish. I just think Melvin takes some undue flack sometimes and doesn't always get the credit he deserves. I will also agree that Doug hasn't exactly put together a steller pitching staff. From his standpoint he hasn't had much homegrown pitching talent to work with. So his only option has really been to try and play in free agency or trade. He's always been an offense first GM so I'm skeptical he'll put together a front-line staff, but he really only needs to get the staff to average with where the offense is at right now.

Not sure how you gauge that someone is more intelligent and has a better eye for talent than another in one year. So let me understand this, Jack Z is responsible for all our good young talent and Melvin is responsible for Suppan and Looper. Seems like a fair evaluation. I think Jack Z will make a fine GM, but to prop him on a pedistal and call him superior to a GM that has a proven track record seems a bit premature. All I know is the Brewers under Melvin went to the play-offs for the 1st time in more than 2 decades and he took a Texas franchise, who was never there before and not back since he left, to the play-offs 3 times. I'll be the first to say everyone's job is always under review so he still has something to prove going forward and whether he's the right guy to push the team to the next level is debatable. However, I agree with whoever said the grass always looks greener on the other side. How quick we forget how pitiful the Brewers were just a few years back. On to the original post. I liked the article on Jack Z. I think it's obvious he uses stats in his decision making process, especially the defensive metrics. At this point I would assume all GMs are using some form of stat/metric in their work. If they're not they probably shouldn't be a GM. By the same token statistics alone won't build a championship team. While stats are nice tool you still need to be able to spot talent, draft well, and use your intuition.

I'd really would like to add Morrow too. I don't want to belittle a health concern, but would diabetes really prohibit him from starting? I don't know much about the disease. Maybe somebody can shed some light. I just assume he's been pitching/competing in sports with the disease for most of his life, or is it something he was just recently diagnosed with? Yes, he's far from a sure thing, however, that's the same reason why he might still be attainable. I'd don't want to lose Gamel, but if it took him to get a young pitcher with a large amount of upside like Morrow then I'd say it's worth the risk. As good a prospect as Gamel is he won't bring back an established good young pitcher. At this point it's kind of a wasted resource to keep Gamel in the minors.

Essentially, for at least 3/4 of the teams there is really only one answer. That being to draft and draft well. Whether it's position player or pitchers those picks have to count. I think for the most part all the teams have the same philosophy. Draft well, sell high on players, obtain key free agents. Obviously that's where the challenge is. The extra money to spend is huge, so I think the Brewers need to do what they've been doing and keep a strong fan base coming into the stadium. This is obvious, but the big market teams are able to keep their homegrown talent and get the best available free agents. The smaller/mid markets need to pick and choose. So step two is to make sure when your quality players leave you get something of value in return for them. Inevitably the Brewers will not be able to afford a championship caliber team each season, so when the time comes to trade/let one of their players walk they need to hit on those players that are coming back in return be it compensation draft picks or traded players. Whatever the individual philosophy is regarding drafting players, offense, pitching, or defense there needs to be some balance. Teams won't win with just pitching or just hitting or building only through the draft or just through free agency. The Brewer have got it right for the time being. Melvin and Mark A. have brought baseball back to life in Milwaukee. We can disagree over individual moves or decisions Melvin has made, but you have to admit by and large he has done an excellent job over all. Fans are pouring in the stadium, we finally returned to the play-offs, and we have some star power. Now, the next challenge will be to get over the top and then hold some consistency with the success. Whether Melvin is the guy for that is debatable, but the work he's done thus far has been excellent. Nice debate.

I kinda agree with you, but I appreciate the fact Doug is being proactive. I'd much prefer a two year deal, but if he's able to pitch like he has the last year and a half for most of the next three years it will be a decent deal. You must risk a little to reap some rewards. The Brewers do have a window right now and this deal by itself really wouldn't detract from any potential success in the future whether it turns out to be good or not. Although I would hope the 2nd of the 2 hypothetical pitchers wouldn't be on a similar deal.

I like the deal alot for Seattle. One big bat and another arm and they could be awfully dangerous. They arguably will have one of the best defensive teams in the league with Figgins, Wilson, Ichiro, and Guiterrez. Ichiro and Figgins at the top of that line up will have whoever hits 3-4 smiling.

I think the Jays have lost a ton of value with Halladay. The most I think he brings back now is 1 top tier prospect and either a good low level minor league guy or a major league roster filler type. At what point does it benefit them to just bring him back and let him walk after the year and take the two comp. picks? As for the Brewers, I'd offer Gamel straight up. Maybe they all ready have done that, but like many of you I don't want to gut the system either for a player we won't be able to retain.

Figgins is a fun aquisition to think about, but he really doesn't make much sense for the Brewers right now as they need most of their available payroll to upgrade their pitching. Whoever gets him will have a solid return on their investment. He's a solid all-around player most likely worth his contract.

I agree. This seems to be a pretty rare opportunity. I have no problem giving up unproven talent for a proven stud pitcher. All those players might very well become all-star caliber players, but that's not a certainty. On the other hand, I know for certain that Josh Johnson is a ace at the major league level when healthy. Yes, it would be a hit to the farm system, but I trust them to replenish it with quality players. Also, if we were able to get him on the four year deal if things start to crash and burn for whatever reason we would still have time to deal him for other prospects in a couple years. If he's really available, please Doug get in your plane, take Gamel, Salome and Lawrie with you, order up some customizable Marlins jerseys, walk into the GMs office with the three all decked out in Marlins gear and ask him if we have a deal.

If your talking about 2004, yes he was great and I guess that falls in the 5 years of my original statement. If your talking last year, he was far from great. Good yes, and probably an upgrade for this team. I won't get too excited one way or another as these are just rumors and there's a lot off-season left, but I wish I heard some slightly more intriguing guys linked to the Brewers.

Wow, I know the Marlins have a system that has worked quite well for them, but this one suprises me a little. On the other hand I'm sure they have 30 teams drooling at the thought of aquiring him. I would guess his value won't be any higher than it is right now for them to move him.

Agreed, I'd even drop him to a third tier type. I'd hate to pay for his one average year in the last five. Not much different than Looper really. Fine for about 4-5 million for 1 year as a back end of the rotation guy. I don't think that will be the asking price though and I hope it's not us that overpays for him.

I doubt they would get both Morrow and Jackson, but I suppose crazier things have happened. The Kottaras signing might be a piece of evidence, but it also could just be AAA depth if LuCroy is expected on the big club this year. The more I think about wanting Milwaukee to be the third team the more my brain says that it must be true. Three-way deals are not all that common so I'm thinking at least two of the GMs must have a strong comfort level and speak quite a bit with one another to actually pull one off, but that might be the wishful part of my brain telling me things that aren't really true.

Alright, this probably falls under the category of fantasy baseball trades that will never actually happen thought up by someone that has too much time on their hands, but here it goes anyway. Mat Latos and Chris Young for Gamel and Weeks. The Brewers get thier injury risk starter and thier young pitcher with a high upside under team control for the near future. The Padres look to be week in infielders at the major league level and at the upper minor league level. The Brewers could then resign Lopez and give McGhee the starting job a third like they seem inclinded to do anyway. Does this make any sense at all for either team?

I actually think that would be O.K. Hopefully Mulder isn't someone we count on in the initial starting rotation though. Throw in a trade for Edwin Jackson and I'd be happy going forward. Gallardo Wolf Jackson Bush Parra with Mulder starting in the pen for depth. I'd be interested in Wang as well, not sure what he would cost.

Probably an excellent move by the Tigers to sell high on the guy. If he's available the Brewers should certainly inquire, but I wouldn't want to give up too much to get him. He's still largely unproven. I suppose that's also what still makes him attainable for a team like the Brewers. It's a gamble I'd be willing to take. Who knows, maybe he's the next Johan in the making.

Fine, I'll give Davis decent, but he has a horrible WHIP and a declining K/9 ratio. So, I guess I would expect him to drop somewhere below decent in the next few years. It just seems a little unimaginative to me. He does answer the bell every 5th day so to speak, but I'd still rather take a chance on one of the higher upside injury risk pitchers. I think Melvin is a solid GM so I'll withhold my complete judgement, even if we do sign Davis, until the regular season starts.

This is certainly disappointing and that's a nice way to put it. Davis=Looper. I just don't really see the point he hasn't been decent in 5 years. Washburn would at least be an upgrade.

You guys have talked me into Blanco. Olivo certainly seems like a decent option as well. Infielder types: Counsel Juan Uribe or Chad Tracy OF: I would love Randy Winn Marlon Byrd and Juaquin Benoit as my reliever turnaround project. (If he's recovered from whatever injury he had?)

I think it's less of a case of folding early and more of a case to move forward quickly to be more aggresive this off-season. (I hope at least) Could've Doug got more later in the off-season? Maybe, but he also could've got stuck waiting too long and still not getting a quality pitcher back while not clearing salary to make a push for a free agent pitcher. Let's face it, the longer they held on to JJ the less he would command in return. The trade by itself favors Minnesota right now pretty heavily, but the financial flexability it gives the Brewers early in the off-season can't be overlooked. I think this is just the first move in a fairly active off-season for the Crew. If nothing else it kept my baseball juices flowing right into the off-season. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Yikes!! Before everyone goes and burns their Melvin bobble head, why not give him to the end of the off-season before deciding wheather or not he's the worst GM ever.

Wow, that was fast!! I would've thought they'd get more back, but I'll try to fall on the positive side of things. Hopefully, I'll love watching Gomez's defense in center more than I hate watching him hit. At least there's some upside left. If he can start to hit like he did in the minors this would be a fine trade. Although, there's zero evidence that that will happen. The fan in me want to think that a quick trade like this with the salary relief it provides will make the Brewers an agressive player for Lackey. I don't necessarily like the trade, but for what it's worth it seems like Melvin has a specific plan in mind and will be aggressive and deliberate with his moves this off-season.