pete

Eh, I'm mixing different lists probably. But still, Gyorko 2012, #52 overall prospect. Rosario #3 2B still in the minors and suspended, Schoop up last season and rocked a .600 OPS, Spangenburg finally up, not sure what's happening with him, Cesar Hernandez - all glove utility player, and Carlos Sanchez might become a light hitting regular but probably not. And then Gennett. There was no shortage of gushing over Gyorko.

I'd bet 10,000 imaginary internet dollars that Cards don't come within 5 games of that projection. Ditto the Dodgers and 97 wins.

They'll spend the whole 8 million regardless of what they do with Moncada.

I think most in town guests would prefer a non-downtown location. I think there would be less tax revenue needed and more development opportunities. Miller Park is isolated in great part because of government bodies. I lived downtown at one time so I'm all for the urban experience. Yes, there are many people in the greater Milwaukee area who almost never go downtown. Now that I live on the South Side I almost never go downtown and if I do its usually on a bicycle.

Not being economically developed is a poor argument against economic development. I think first and foremost people from in and out of town want to be able to patronize a Bucks game, a concert or other event without the difficulties that downtown will have. And for what its worth, Potawatami just built a hotel, there's the hotel by the Harley museum with an active bar as well. There are actually a number of post game places to go, but there would obviously be more if they built the stadium. The area could also develop some green space. I think there's an opportunity to bring in more partners. But, whatever.

My girlfriend says i need to learn to let things go, but MLB had that 2B as the 4th or 5th best 2B prospect when little Scooter Gennett was 9 or 10. Number 1 was Wong and rule V'd DeShields was above him. I can't remember the rest... /shakes fist

I forget how much parking near Wrigley costs, but I remember when I heard it I thought whaaaaaaaat? I think it was 40 for regular games and 50 for weekend and special games. You can see why Cubs fans in the North suburbs like Miller Park. I was involved in politics for decades and burned out. Now I don't follow any of it. But the valley near Miller Park seems ideal to build a stadium with parking already there, land already there et cetera. Could Marquette and UW play there at least eventually? Design it so it has really good acoustics and make it regular concert venue. Engage Potatawatami somehow. I dunno. There are probably flaws in all those ideas, but earmarks has been roundly condemned as a sham for decades unless it was from new revenue sources that benefit from a project. They're gonna do what they're gonna do, so I worry more about lunch.

Well, you're talking about players you are pretty familiar with. Sherman likely isn't and depends on others to learn about them. Based on the story, he didn't even read the material at the MLB site about the Gallardo trade or thinks Melvin is BSing about Nelson. Lame. Sherman is writing the story and likely asks others about the Brewers. These are pretty common evaluations: Segura is just a 2nd division starter who can't hit; Gennett is a mediocre platoon bat and defense; Davis is a fringey 4th OF who can't take a walk; Braun is probably just an ok OF thanks to injury and/or no more vitamins; Lind is a platoon bat with bad defense; Ramirez is well into decline; Lohse is a 5th starter; Garza is a MOR guy who spends time on the DL every season; Fiers is a BOR pitcher and Nelson and Peralta are basically relievers thrust unwisely into starting roles who might be all right. You have to throw in the bullpen is awful (with no analysis) and the farm system is one of the worst and has no players ready to contribute this season. Lucroy and Gomez are nice players but both are likely to take a step back this season. None of those are unusual opinions. Meanwhile projection systems have the Cards rocking and rolling. Molina 33, Peralta, 33, Holliday 35 and Wainwright 33 are all expected to be big contributors. Heck, Jay will be 30 during the season and Carpenter is 29. If Adams, Wong and Bourjos were Brewers, the discussion of their warts would make them sound as if they could fly broomsticks. What could go wrong? And nobody talks about their window because... uh... they've got Marco Gonzalez and Randall Grichuk. I like the Pirates offseason, but they've got, as the kids say, high beta all over the place. But its easy to dream on more things breaking right than wrong and there is intense belief that Searage and Hurdle can adjust and change players to maximum performance. They're the darling of the media. Nobody is going to go looking for flaws. Cubs could be the only team to have more sizzle. The only difference is people give them a year before they begin their dynasty. That's how you end up with Joel Sherman.

I'd guess the Cubs are a pretty sure bet to get one or two FA pitchers next season. I wonder how much the volume of FAs will depress prices. Hopefully the premium guys still command premium prices and they load up their payroll and get older. Are the Padres third best? Are the Giants 2? They lost a bunch of power, Bumgarner pitched a zillion innings and they just somehow shake and bake their way through whatever when they win WS. Heh... makes me think of Crawford's GS at PNC in the playoffs. I remember some guy in complete Hollywood faux Pirate costume looking glum. I could see the Padres winning the division. I'm not sure what to make of the new Dodgers. When I hear Friedman talk about a more cohesive unit, I think management seminar babble. Rollins is their SS. Who is their backup SS if he goes on the DL? I wonder too if they think of Seager as a future SS or 3B.

I don't think Amaro will trade him and wait to see if he can get his premium prospect at the trade deadline. I like him just fine pitching for the Phillies.

Nothing too revealing but Perez gets a brief interview in a notes segment at Fangraphs. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sunday-notes-badenhop-perez-weinstein-on-framing-cowart-renda-more/

Its amazing how often updates contradict prior updates. Supposedly teams involved in heavy bidding now. My spidey sense says Cubs are in the mix.

I think Amaro is willing to go into the season with Papelbon (and Hamels, Lee and Howard). Is Melvin willing to walk away? I'd guess yes, but...

Another story was posted on the local Philadelphia newspaper website this morning at 3am. The reporter talked to Amaro yesterday, Thursday, by phone. While his quotes don't really add anything, the reporter had a bullet point list titled Here's what is known. It included the Phillies are willing to take on some of that financial obligation as long they can get an attractive prospect (or two) and Are [the Brewers] willing to take on a portion of the $26 million and part with a premium prospect? Please let this guy pitch for the Phillies.

I had the misconception that you were buying 6 years of control and that he would take a year or two in the minors which would count against it. What I learned today was that you're buying 6 years of major league control, the year(s) in the minors doesn't count against it, BUT he gets arbitration the same way other players do in the final 3 years. It seems crazy risky, but personally I think it might be a better risk than signing a FA pitcher to a contract in the neighborhood of 200 million which seems to be a popular notion. The whole structure of the thing seems like something a mafia boss would dream up.

I'd guess that its because he had 2 Tommy John surgeries and the track record for guys with 2 TJs is pretty bad.

Thanks for relaying that.

Zimmerman over 7 years is pretty close to a sure bet to not have significant value at the end. Las Vegas wouldn't take bets on that. Saying one year of being bad is realistic is optimistic. But lets say its true and he gets around 7/150. That's really 6/150, 25 million a year. If the bidding drives the price higher or he's unproductive for longer that number climbs, potentially significantly. There's also a good chance that he's productive, but not at his current level. If they're willing to take a chance of making a bonfire out of an 80 million dollar pile of money, they ought to just go get Moncada, its a better bet. As for Shields, I hope the Cubs or Cards sign him.

Thornburg is not a reliever because he failed at starting. The list of guys who could fill his reliever role is pretty long if you're talking mid-season. A lot is known about both Fiers and Jungmann. You know what is unknown - how well guys like Shields will pitch in middle age. I guess you could argue that Shields is already there, but that's not a positive. Other than the Nationals, I can't think of a team without rotation questions. I'd guess that other teams would view the guys you absolutely don't want to participate this season as alternatives. I don't get the worries about the offense.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers and Yankees are wising up. Guys like Joc Pederson and Gregorius would have been traded for a couple expensive years of some vet. They're still going to be able to burn a pile of cash on the Moncadas, Tanakas and premium FA pitchers and if they don't work out its whatever. The formula for small market teams is to draft and develop, guys you like you get that first extension that grabs a year or two of FA, trade future FAs 1 year early if you expect to compete and at the deadline if you aren't and supplement judiciously. That trading away part takes discipline but pays off so huge. The downside is the lack of sizzle. Fans equate FA past performance with future. If you ask them if they want to trade for Verlander or Wainwright, the answer is hey-ell no. But Shields or Zimmerman, its Yeah baby! Typically the same fans have no problem giving up prospects either. The lack of sizzle is created and/or magnified by the pervasively negative outside views of the team and its organization. Fans think that the small group of people who create almost all the public noise about prospects are extremely wise gurus, well informed and above politics. Another team is willing to take Jungmann to get something, why not? What about his K rate rising to about 1 per inning - whatever. But what about his elite groundball rate at the same time - WHATEVER. He has been declared a bottom of the rotation filler, something that is easy to acquire at any time. Nelson "screams" reliever profile I've read and he's something you use to get something good. I actually think the Brewers are on the threshold of something really, really good if they do what at least Melvin says they will of embracing their young players and getting the big return that selling that last year yields. At the same time I think there is a huge part of the fanbase that that just elicits groans and the expectation of mediocrity.

You may find something poking around this site: http://www.ronkaplansbaseballbookshelf.com/

When Viciedo was DFAd, would a team trading for him have to assume his contract? I'm just wondering why no team did pick him up.

Phillies reportedly interested in Moncada. While they have a huge TV deal coming up (I believe), there's probably someone, somewhere saying to look at the balance sheet and clear some money. Also, Haudricourt tweets: The #Brewers know Phillies are motivated to move Papelbon with little other interest so they are in the driver's seat in these talks. and The #Brewers still talking to Philly about Papelbon but signing Chris Perez allows them to dig in a bit on what they give back.

I got called for a job over a year after I applied. I got the job and foolishly quit after a few years.

I like it too. Primarily a fastball, slider pitcher. Throws hard, around 94. Mixed in a few change ups last season for the first time since '08. Forty second pick of the '06 draft by the Cardinals. Seems pretty up and down, mostly down, but Jeffress was a bust and Axford was selling cell phones. B-R shows the latest news stories mentioning him and one is Five Best Miguel Cabrera Home Runs - doh.