bamberger

If it came down to it, and Halladay would agree to come and stay through 2010, I would trade Escobar, Gamel, plus their choice of any two other minor leaguers besides Lawrie and Braddock. That would bridge the team to 2011, when more pitching should be available and they might have to let position players go because of salary or free agency years.

I've come to the conclusion that the team is not good enough presently to sacrifice either Gamel or Escobar for Halladay. Factors are his contract, both young players look to be special, and the Crew is a maddeningly inconsistent hitting team that often will let down good pitching performances. Escobar has great defense and speed. He would replace Hardy, who is only a good defensive SS with some power, but no speed and is prone to sub-par batting averages. Gamel could be a .300 hitter with average power whose left-hand bat would balance the lineup with a much needed higher OPS. Trading Hart or Hardy for some pitching seems to be the best move right now.

Crew could use an inexpensive back of the rotation guy. We have two of them: Sup and Loop, who take up dollars they should be spending on the front. Cody just keeps mowin' 'em down. It would be nice to see what he could do in MLB before the season's over.

After 88 games Melvin's lack of faith would be due to recognition that the lack of quality depth in starting pitching and the inconsistency in the bullpen, as well as a lineup with too many holes, won't win this division. Since five of the teams are competitive, it's unlikely a wildcard would come from this division. The miracle hoped for is thaty they pitch and play as they did in May. Frankly, my read on this team is that Melvin will stand pat, hoping for a minor miracle. He'll hope that Hardy and Hart get hot in the last 74 games so that they're tradeable for some pitching for 2010, that Braun and Fielder remain consistent, and that the pitching tightens up with good health, starters pitching more than 5 innings, and the bullpen not wearing out. My thought for the last 74 games is that they should audition Dillard , Josh Axton, and Braddock, who might as well pitch occasional relief in the majors.

The Blue Jays are good in the OF, but older and marginal on the left side of the infield-Scutaro and Rolen. They also need younger catching and would likely want a pitcher or two back. Although for impending arbitration/salary reasons I would prefer to move Hardy over Escobar, I would consider including any prospects for Halladay. He's a # 1 guy, and the Brewers have no one on the horizon, they have more position prospects, and this would bridge them to 2011-12, while they have the position players, to when they have more position players and some good minor league pitching . They'd pay him less than they would have for Sabathia for the next year and one-half. I would consider including all of Gamel/Escobar/Lucroy and two pitchers: an AAA/AA guy and an A/R level guy. We could ask them to take Bill Hall, to keep our salary down, and maybe get Marcus Scutaro back for depth this year. Maybe another prospect to cover a positional need.

If it's good enough for Ryan Braun to be admonished, how about Gordo? Seriously, I'm not too sure other than the rocket science people the Huntsville folks will understand "apathetic." Well, not so seriously. Who cares here? Not me . . .

The Brewers are in the bottom half of the league in both pitching ERA and batting average. The most glaring problem is starting pitching, but their inconsistent offense is right behind but there isn't much to do with it. They really need a #1 and #3 starting pitcher. Gallardo is really a 1-2 guy. Not likelyto find a #1 and probably can't afford both a # 1 and #3. I would take a chance on trading Hardy and Hart and patching in Escobar and bring up Katin to platoon with Catalanotto. Realistically, it's beginning to look like tread water until 2011 or 2012 when a lot of pitching could be ready.

I don't know that Florida weather is doing anything for anybody! Why can't he throw two innings twice a week in Huntsville or Nashville? If he has it, he is it! Good luck to Braddock.

I recall they re-thought their absence from having a Dominican Republic academy-facility, but what about the DSL and any players assigned?

Green's rehabbing and would be a better 2B than 3B prospect if he can do it defensively. Besides, he's already showed he can handle 3B. Bad wrists bode poorly for a "wrist" hitter. Weeks might well have career threatening problems there.

My top five: Jeffress Rogers Braddock Scarpetta Peralta Starting pitchers desperately needed-Nieves right there, too.

From March 2007: http://allyankeeinfo.blog...ight-scouting-report.html

Limit the ability to sign A and B free agents by requiring the offering team to have a first round pick for any A signing and a second round pick for a B signing. Reduce the number of players rated A and B. Some of the players so rated are ridiculous. Have an international draft and a draft of Japanese players. Encourage teams to draft "unsignable" players to avoid them being drafted in the later rounds and signed by the Yankees.

Late season slump or not, I'd have to get a pretty good second player for Hart, who actually has five tools and should only increase in power as he gets older into his early 30's..

IMO the Brewers should take a flyer on Sabathia because he's a Brewer FA and would cost no draft picks. Beyond that they should tread water in 2009. In 2010 they should have a number of AAA-seasoned position prospects on the cusp and hopefully two pitchers from among Jeffress, Aguilar, Periard, and Pena. That influx should free them up to do something major with trades. Depending on availability it would also be a good time to seriously consider a major free agent to fill a need.

He's gotta drop the nickname. How can anyone named "BOOF" be taken seriously? After that, I'd offer one or two of our minor league lefty pitchers other than Braddock or Nieves.

A hearty thank you for getting us to the playoffs, a good-bye, good luck, and have a nice life.

In this day and age, you don't simply move a guy. Why would he move to 3B? If by some chance he would, I'd surely consider it when Escobar is ready. But most likely Hardy will have to be traded because he wants to play SS, where he has his prime market value. To be competitive in 2009, they're going to need to keep Hardy along with Braun and Fielder. Hart would have some trade value, and Weeks, although not at all what they think he's worth. But in my opinion they're just going to have to tread water for 2009 and add a few complimentary players like in CF and the bullpen to try to balance out the lineup a bit until some of the load of prospects that will be in AAA this year are ready.

2008 Brewers Fall Instructional League Ages as of June 5, 2008 9-Sep # PITCHERS (29) B/T HT WT BIRTHDATE RESIDES 2008 CLUB ACQUIRED AGE 28 Adams, Cody RHP 6'2 180 11/26/86 Viola, IL Helena Brewers 2008 - 2nd round 21 34 Billings, Blake RHP 6'5 200 1/8/90 Tuscaloosa, AL AZL Brewers 2008 - 19th round 18 62 Braddock, Zach LHP 6'2 233 8/23/87 Southampton, NJ Brevard Co Manatees 2005 - 18th round 20 11 Bucci, Nicholas RHP 6'2 180 7/16/90 Sarnia, Ontario AZL Brewers 2008 - 18th round 17 51 Bueno, Kristian LHP 6'2 210 12/10/88 Corpus Christi, TX AZL Brewers 2007 - 9th round 19 61 Butler, Josh RHP 6'5 200 12/11/84 San Diego, CA Brevard Co Manatees Trade with Tampa Bay 23 32 Cody, Chris LHP 6'0 180 1/7/84 Brewster, NY Brevard Co Manatees Trade with Detroit 24 71 Frederickson, Evan LHP 6'6 240 8/23/86 Oak Hill, VA West Virginia Power 2008 - Comp round A 21 57 Frerichs, Corey RHP 5'11 200 5/7/86 Conroe, TX West Virginia Power 2007 - 30th round 22 33 Guerrero, Luis RHP 6'0 170 8/20/90 Bani, DR AZL Brewers NDFA - March 2007 18 77 Jeffers, Ben RHP 6'1 200 8/30/87 Danielsville, GA AZL Brewers 2008 - 22nd round 20 30 Krestalude, Damon RHP 6'4 175 6/5/89 Port St Lucie, FL AZL Brewers 2008 - 17th round 19 20 Lambertus, Pedro RHP 6'3 215 6/4/88 Municipio Yaguate, DR West Virginia Power NDFA - Sept 2006 20 21 Lintz, Seth RHP 6'1 170 2/7/90 Lewisburg, TN AZL Brewers 2008 - 2nd round 18 29 Luetge, Lucas LHP 6'3 200 3/24/87 Industry, TX West Virginia Power 2008 - 21st round 21 41 Manzanillo, Santo RHP 6'0 190 12/20/88 La Seiba Baraje, DR Helena Brewers NDFA - October 2005 19 43 Merklinger, Dan LHP 6'1 195 11/19/85 West Orange, NJ West Virginia Power 2007 - 6th round 22 25 Nieves, Efrain LHP 6'0 170 11/15/89 Toa Alta, PR Helena Brewers 2007 - 7th round 18 27 Odorizzi, Jake RHP 6'2 175 3/27/90 Highland, IL AZL Brewers 2008 - Comp round A 18 73 Pascual, Rolando RHP 6'6 245 2/8/89 San Pedro de Macoris, DR AZL Brewers NDFA - August 2005 19 53 Peralta, Wily RHP 6'2 225 5/8/89 Samana, DR Helena Brewers NDFA - November 2005 19 58 Ramlow, Michael LHP 6'6 190 3/2/86 Toledo, OH West Virginia Power 2005 - 24th round 22 64 Salmon, Marcus RHP 6'1 210 4/27/88 Miami, FL Helena Brewers 2008 - 48th round 20 65 Scarpetta, Cody R/R 6'3 242 8/25/88 Rockford, IL AZL Brewers 2007 - 11th round 19 48 Seidel, RJ RHP 6'5 200 9/9/87 La Crosse, WI West Virginia Power 2006 - 16th round 20 40 Watten, Trey RHP 6'3 180 12/16/86 Coppell, TX Helena Brewers 2008 - 7th round 21 66 Wawrzasek, Stosh RHP 6'1 225 8/30/90 Langley, British Columbia AZL Brewers 2008 - 16th round 18 67 Willinsky, Mark RHP 6'4 250 3/14/87 Las Vegas, NV Helena Brewers 2008 - 15th round 21 76 Wooten, Robert RHP 6'1 210 7/21/85 Fremont, NC West Virginia Power 2008 - 13th round 23 # CATCHERS (5) B/T HT WT BIRTHDATE RESIDES 2008 CLUB ACQUIRED AGE 68 Fryer, Eric R/R 6'2 215 8/26/85 Reynoldsburg, OH West Virginia Power 2007 - 10th round 22 81 Kemp, Corey R/R 5'11 220 2/24/86 Nashville, TN Helena Brewers 2008 - 14th round 22 37 Lawrie, Brett R/R 6'0 200 1/18/90 Langley, British Columbia Signed for 2009 2008 - 1st round 18 60 Roberts, Michael R/R 6'0 185 8/28/87 Prince George, VA Helena Brewers 2008 - 38th round 20 70 Zarraga, Shawn R/R 6'2 215 1/21/89 Oranjestad, Aruba AZL Brewers 2007 - 44th round 19 # INFIELDERS (7) B/T HT WT BIRTHDATE RESIDES 2008 CLUB ACQUIRED AGE 10 Brewer, Brent R/R 6'2 195 12/19/87 Tyrone, GA Brevard Co Manatees 2006 - 2nd round 20 4 Cequea, Allixon R/R 6'1 185 6/16/90 El Tigrito, VEN AZL Brewers NDFA - July 2006 17 79 Dedrick, Wayne R/R 6'3 185 11/21/89 Tuscaloosa, AL Signed for 2009 2008 - 30th round 18 6 George, Carlos R/R 6'2 165 2/6/89 Bronx, NY AZL Brewers 2008 - 46th round 19 52 Paciorek, Joey R/R 6'2 225 9/20/88 Blaine, WA AZL Brewers 2007 - 15th round 19 47 Ramos, Pedro L/L 6'3 218 8/31/89 Arecibo, PR AZL Brewers 2007 - Passed over 18 69 Wheeler, Zelous R/R 5'10 220 1/16/87 Sylacauga, AL West Virginia Power 2007 - 19th round 21 # OUTFIELDERS (8) B/T HT WT BIRTHDATE RESIDES 2008 CLUB ACQUIRED AGE 56 Arias, Hitaniel R/R 6'5 210 9/20/90 Bani, DR AZL Brewers NDFA - July 2007 17 54 Dennis, Chris L/R 6'1 205 9/15/88 Amherstburg, ON Helena Brewers 2007 - 13th round 19 9 Dykstra, Cutter R/R 5'11 180 6/29/89 Thousand Oaks, CA Helena Brewers 2008 - 2nd round 18 3 Garcia, Jose R R/R 6'3 195 3/5/91 Azua, DR AZL Brewers NDFA - Sept 2007 17 31 Gindl, Caleb L/L 5'9 185 8/31/88 Pace, FL West Virginia Power 2007 - 5th round 19 17 Haydel, Lee L/R 5'11 175 7/20/87 Reserve, LA West Virginia Power 2006 - 19th round 20 15 Komatsu, Erik L/L 5'10 190 10/1/87 Camarillo, CA Helena Brewers 2008 - 8th round 20 1 Schafer, Logan L/L 6'1 180 9/8/86 Los Gatos, CA West Virginia Power 2008 - 3rd round 21 __________________

Let's try a old Brave-one of the few left-Felipe Alou. He didn't play for the Brewers at the end of his career, did he?

Kremblas was an outsider to the old Brewers/Rangers network, but I always liked him and his results. I'll miss him and I think they're making a mistake letting him go. I am glad they're keeping Stan Kyles and I hope he gets a big league shot soon.

Kremblas was an outsider to the old Brewers/Rangers network, but I always liked him and his results. I'll miss him and I think they're making a mistake letting him go. I am glad they're keeping Stan Kyles and I hope he gets a big league shot soon.

Kremblas was an outsider to the old Brewers/Rangers network, but I always liked him and his results. I'll miss him and I think they're making a mistake letting him go. I am glad they're keeping Stan Kyles and I hope he gets a big league shot soon.

Kremblas was an outsider to the old Brewers/Rangers network, but I always liked him and his results. I'll miss him and I think they're making a mistake letting him go. I am glad they're keeping Stan Kyles and I hope he gets a big league shot soon.