OldSchoolSnapper

He will probably be the most beloved player for anyone born after 2005. People are more cynical now than they were in the 80s so there will always be that contingent bringing up his contract and his decline etc. Most people don't look at him that way though. He is far and away the most recognizable player, if you were to grab people off the street I think most of this forum would be shocked at how many average people couldn't tell you who Brice Turang is out of a uniform. Not to mention, Yelich turned out to be the human everyone initially thought Braun was. I don't think teams really like retiring numbers. Maybe a soft retired number. But he's the strongest case to have it done in a long time. I think he means significantly more inside the clubhouse and everyone in the FO knows it, so I don't think they are looking at his OPS to make that decision. I doubt it's very common for your franchise player to be texting draft picks and asking them how things are going etc.

We've been doing the "they could have beat ______ easily if ______ didn't _____" thing for years with this team. It's not bad luck, it's the mark of an average team. The upper echelon win those moments consistently, the lower lose consistently, and the average split them. We're average, though I am reserving a smidge of hope for a Cinderella run depending on how impactful Parsons is, because we saw last year he can be incredible. The defense without him is better than last year. But I can't see this patchwork OL doing anything in the postseason, if they are fortunate enough to hold on to a WC seed. This game feels like more of the same. Teams feel close to equal, so I expect a close game won or lost on a play or two, bad protection sack fumble, failed 4th down conversion, our 12th missed kick, etc.

JSOnline with a column pushing for Taylor or Barkley. I'm not sure why. Maybe one of them will get 2.4 YPC up from whatever we have now. They can't run block, it doesn't matter who is back there. I tend to agree that the Packers aren't going anywhere, but part of me looks at that conference and can't figure out who is. I don't buy Minnesota. The South and East suck. Yes the Packers are in last, but the entire division feels like a toss-up on a given day. They are the 7th seed at 5-3, but the 3 seed is 4-2-1. Minnesota is going to lose a bunch of games in the 2nd half. Their schedule has been a laugher to this point. The 49ers look like the clear best NFC team. But it does feel like a year as good as any to have a fluke run. Super Bowl victory is not possible, the OL just sucks way too hard, but maybe winning one or two playoff games is.

I don't get that either. Too many think of it like a video game, i.e. Miz needs to close Game 4 of a series you're winning 3-0. There's a ton of ABs to go around for non-starters. I can think of way worse than Andrew Vaughn getting those ABs. I mean, Yelich is worse, but Gary Sanchez, Joey Ortiz...we're not far removed from those types being our PHs.

I don't think anyone has mentioned keeping both. Just paying $9mm for Vaughn if Bauers doesn't take his QO, which is exactly what I think will happen. $9m sounds like a lot but one-year deals are the Brewers friend.

Still need a DH when Yelich has back tightness half the year. At least that's the only time you're allowed to sit him.

He can start against righties. He just doesn't because they had Bauers. His splits aren't that alarming really.

Well, wishful thinking. 25 seemed realistic, but I thought maybe a new coach that was allegedly good might be able to grit them to mid 30s and near a play-in. They're not even close to that.

Don't underestimate what this title is going to do to the quantity of quality of fans. I'm not saying I don't welcome new fans, I absolutely do, and most will be great, but when the floodgates open you'll start to see more of that kind of thing.

I am envisioning a scenario where the minor league guys are just clearly not ready and the dime-a-dozen guy we bring in to replace him for $2 million has the kind of year Bauers did 2 years ago. With Vaughn I feel like I know what the floor is.

This team is horrendous. I had visions of them being coached to 36 wins or something, looking at the overall talent on the roster, but they are terrible. They may not hit the 15 wins from '13-14.

He doesn't have the power you'd like but I would definitely take Vaughn at $9mm as an insurance policy.

All this talk of 1B and what's in the pipeline...does anybody remember Brad Nelson?

Yeah I agree the $6 million or so overage on one year isn't going to affect anything. I think people have World Series glasses on though. There is no way he's taking this because he "likes Milwaukee!" if his team thinks they are going to be offered 3/55 or something. Just not a chance in hell.

Vaughn is definitely worth it for $9 million if you lose Bauers for $50 million.