CheezWizHed

I look forward the CRA-ZAY explanation he gives in the post game interview. He didn't have a better choice for a pinch hitter. I'm not sure if I mean that in blue or not...

Thank you TLB. At least someone got it... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I think Lucroy needs a cool nickname. I think I'll start calling him JonLuc from now on...

It's simple, really. You allow players to declare for the draft. Once they are drafted they are ineligible to play college baseball. I don't understand why the same rules the NFL and NBA use can't be used for the MLB draft. Actually the NCAA allows players to return to play basketball after being drafted by the NBA IF they did not sign with an agent. The player still remains property of the team that drafted him. Not sure if that same rule applies for football...

I've been pimping Lucroy for the #2 hole for a while now. Given his MiLB history, I was sure last year was due to a premature call-up and that his bat would pickup this year. Having said that, I don't want to mess with Hart right now. But having him hit 8th is pretty close to a cardinal sin (not being classy that is). At minimum, he should be #6, behind McGehee. As far as defensively, I thought he improved greatly on the blocking balls issue. In fact, it seems that our pitchers don't have any concerns over spiking a curve or a low slider to get someone to chase. ...I've been trying to figure out how to wear my Lucroy shirt to work today without looking too unprofessional. In the state of Wisconsin, Packer, Brewer, Badger and even Bucks attire is always appropriate work attire. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Ok, here is a new one: World Series locations: - as little as it actually effects the World Series, having the All-Star game decide anything about the WS bugs me. So how about if: Allow the two teams in the WS to have 3 games each, but hold one at some pre-determined location. This could possibly be the first game, just to ensure that that game actually happens. There are probably a lot of different ways it could be handled (with each WS team having 1, 2, or 3 home games with the others played at X different locations). But obviously, each of the teams in the WS should have at least one game at home. After that, including at least other location would spark a little more interest in the game and generate a bit more non-baseball revenue (more people traveling).

Brewers INF/OF Erick Almonte (concussion) was hit in the cheek when a ball deflected off his glove before batting practice. Almonte said he wasn't dizzy from the second head hit, but was expected to see the doctor again. Obviously, it could happen to anyone, but if he was reaching out to catch a ball and miss-judged it, it makes you wonder if his depth perception/ hand-eye coordination is back to 100%...

I finally made it a game last Saturday (living 4 hours away). When Grienke made his first start, I worked out the rotation and was mildly disappointed to find out that I would see Marcum instead of ZG. My bad. Congrats Shaun!

I wouldn't trade anything for him, but if he were suddenly DFA'ed, I might think about it. Of course, given his comments in Winter ball and now with a contract with the Rangers, he is chirping about wanting to go back to the Brewers, there is no given that he would be a model citizen for the Brewers either. Especially if he is stuck at AAA for some time...

Doesn't matter what we expect out of a bench player. It matters what we would expect out of Kotsay and Branyan. I'm not saying we shouldn't improve on Kotsay. Its just that the main comparison made of Kotsay is a starting OFer, which really isn't fair. He is a 4th OF (5th with NM back) and a PH. The comment was made that his projection for the rest of the year is terrible, but for a bench player, I kind of doubt that. It matters who we think would be better. Hate to burst your bubble, but what we think isn't important either. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

"Zips projects .258/.319/.364/.683 for the rest of the season. If that isn't a terrible line for an outfielder/PH'er, I don't know what is." What are people's expectations of a pinch hitter/bench player? Honestly, that doesn't look like a terrible line for a bench player, IMO. Yes, that is "below replacement", but that would be for expectations of a starter, not a bench player, right? I'm not trying to defend Kotsay (I'd like to see him replace honestly), but I when I look at that line in the quote and think about a bench player with an MLB averge OBP, I've can't imagine it being that "terrible". For a starter, absolutely (although that would be an upgrade at our CF and SS positions), but for a bench player, it seems OK to me. So what is the average AVE/OBP/SLG/OPS line for a bench player? Not sure if anyone compiles that or not...

Don't underestimate what a change of scenery can do also. There is no way of knowing that he would have or could have put up those same numbers for us. I'm happy he is doing well, but I agreed with the trade also (although, it would have been nice to get some player back instead of cash, given the state of our farm system).

My main problem this weekend was that Rivera got a start, Lucroy got a start, and then Nieves got a start... I'm ok in giving Lucroy one day off in 5, but the golf between him and the other two is wide... he should be starting as much as possible.

Just remember that Russell Branyan is a sensitive subject on this board. If this thread somehow could add Branyan as a PH and simultaneously bring in a SS to replace YB, it would become a top ten thread in a manner of days! If Lucroy wasn't playing so well, we could merge in WOAH SOLVDD and it could become epic! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Nelson Cruz

what will the postion for Chris Dennis ? Seems DH/1B for Wisconsin is going to be it. Its not looking good for him to play anywhere else...

Every time I look at that '05 draft, I see Troy Tulowitzki lower than Ryan Braun, & I wish for what might have been. Then imagine you were a Royals fan and see Zimmerman, Braun, and TT lower than Alex Gordan...

Cory Provus (via Tom Flanagan, Brewers Director-Baseball Operations) hints at a Brooks Hall transfer from extended spring to Wisconsin soon Sweet tidbit. Kind of funny that he never heard the name (yeah, not everyone follows the draft like us), but we were sitting here hoping he would make A-ball out of ST

I'm not sure about that... GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmel just doesn't have the same ring. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Nashville Sounds right fielder Jeremy Reed (20) shows a bunt at Greer Stadium He should lose his 'stache for that. The 'stache makes the man and real men don't bunt! (Care to guess which version of facial hair I've sported since HS?)

Gindl seems to be limited to a corner OF, but doesn't really have the power to be a special LF/RF talent. He will probably be a nice 4th OF or low end starter. He can handle CF on limited occasions (of course if Kotsay can start in CF at Petco....), but probably not a long term starter. Edit: Looking at his stats again, he probably would handle RF as well as Komatsu and in a similar fashion (high OBP, mediocre slugging, good defense). Komatsu (Little Pine!!!!) needs to jump up to AAA. Now that Schafer is back, both should be starting in CF, so Komatsu should move up. I predicted a bump on offense for him from A+ last year, but I wasn't expecting this. Might be able start in RF in the MLB (his skill-set would be great on the team right now if he was ready - #2 hitter, good RF defense). But also could be special if he can handle CF (varying reports on his defense so far). Kh Davis - I'm not too worried about him being locked into LF. Braun has the arm to play in RF (if he stays in the OF at all), so I don't see any problems there. Of course either one could also be at 1B, also. Got to love the RH bat that goes to Brevard and continues to crush the ball. D'Vo - Love the improvements made. Not much else to add to what others have said. Schafer - Hopefully he can stay healthy now. Komatsu has some questions about his CF defense, D'Vo is a boom or bust prospect. Schafer is probably the safe bet to be a quality offensive and defensive CF. Ke Davis - I'm not sure what to think about him. Promoted to A+ and did poorly last year. Came back to A and hit well. Back in A+ and he is so-so. Similar to Gindl in that he can handle CF, but not a true CF. Has potential to hit well enough for LF/RF, but lagging behind the rest of the group right now.

Is there any chatter with the recent developments with Braddock to try and re-attempt him as a starter? Welcome BK, but I certainly hope not. I think he is better off limited to < 70 innings per year based on his health history. As for his sleep disorder, there are far too many variables that we don't know anything about to know if that is true or not. If he has anxiety problems, starting may be better, as there will be 4 straight days he knows he won't pitch. However, some people handle small amounts of regular work better than the all or nothing of starting.

Rivera was brought up as a righty bench bat. I realize that is the company line, but I'm not believing it yet. Katin would have made a better choice if they only wanted a RH bat. Gamel would have been the choice for a LH bat. It might be true that Rivera had a June 1st clause in his contract, but we will see what happens when a few guys come back from the DL: Who is DFA'ed Nieves or Rivera....

I asked a Cardinal fan friend about it and he stuck for Ankiel and tried to convince me you can't throw breaking stuff late in a game with a decent lead. Whenever the Cardinals are behind by more than 5 runs, every other team should bring out the batting tee and we revert to T-ball. That would be the classy thing to do. Or at least to let their BP coach go out and pitch to them.

Last year when Lucroy was called up, he was thrown into a bad situation, having to learn each pitcher quickly. Wolf was obviously struggling at the beginning of last year and probably blames (or at least associates) it a little on Lucroy catching. So had Lucroy caught Wolf yet this year? I don't get to watch the games... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif But every box score of Wolf's that I've seen has someone else catching him. I would think the two would work well together, but Wolf may be superstitious about Lucroy catching him now.

He probably just tells people that its spelled "Shawn" and not "Sean".