CheezWizHed

Do the Brewers have other options for AAA?

Where can I find the splits for dudes/non-dudes? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Cute Avatar, BTW. Anyone know what Wright projects to be in the majors? Starter or Reliever? I ask because it seems that he is relieving more in the AFL.

Not to pick on logan, but I find this statement to be rather ironic and part of the problem with this whole discussion. The stats say one thing, but subjectively, we think the opposite is true (so we don't trust the stats). Yet people will use the stats to say player X's range is better/worse than player Y. I don't know my defensive stats at all, so I don't know how accurate/reliable they are. I do know defensive stats are not as definitive as offensive stats.

Are you putting Braun 5th so he will be "re-picked" by the Brewers? Not sure how Clement or Ellsbury go ahead of Braun otherwise. I don't know enough about Garza. Bruce started with a bang in the majors, but ended quietly. Could be good, but still unproven. Braun is out-hitting all of them in the Majors now and projects to continue his pace.

AZ, thanks for the info. I didn't figure you could accurately give me all that info, but for those of us that don't get to see them in person, first hand info is awesome to get.

The grass is always greener on the other side. There are probably only a few GMs that could be clearly better than Melvin and quite a few that are clearly worse. Considering we had Taylor and Bando prior, I'm pleased with what Melvin has done.

I think yfinn meant the one that sent Sexson for Overbay, Capuano, Spivey, Counsell, Moeller, De La Rosa, etc... Yes, that was Melvin.

azcheesehead, can you give a mini-scout report on Wright? I haven't heard much about him. How hard does he throw? What pitches does he throw? SO, GB, or FB pitcher?

Ok, this surprised me... I was looking at the splits that TheCrew07 pointed out and I saw that Green's BA was higher for lefties, but his LD% was much higher for righties(19.7 vs 13.6%). I would expect the LD% to track with BA (at least generally). But for the higher BA despite the lower LD% on lefties, I was surprised. Would you assume that would mean he will eventually hit righties better, since he hits more line drives off of them?

My reaction would be: "What was he doing in the bullpen?" http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif No, I'm happy for him. Although, I am rooting for TB to win it all. Does anyone else think it wierd the Jenkins and his look-alike Favre (or was it the other way around) left WI about the same time? Or is it wierder that Braun and his look-alike Rogers came about the same time? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Of course much has to go right for this to happen, but I'm seeing something like this: 2009: OF: Braun, Cameron, Hart 3B: ??? - Biggest positional need, don't think Gamel is ready for it. Would only need a stop-gap player. SS: Hardy 2B: Weeks - I could live with an upgrade here, but ... 1B: Fielder C: Kendall SP: Yo, Parra, FA Signing, Bush/McClung, Suppan - Perhaps Lowe? 2010: This is were the waters muddy... OF: Braun, Cain, Hart* 3B/SS/2B: Escobar/Hardy/Green - I think Green will be here in 2010.5 or 2011. You pick the order 1B: Fielder* C: Kendall/Salome - don't think Salome will do this alone. SP: Yo, Parra, FA Signing from 2009, Bush/McClung, Jefferson - Suppan to ??? (spot start/long relief, as I don't see a trade happening) * - Ok, I see Gamel fitting in there somewhere, as I expect one of these to get traded. I'm still rooting for him to stick at 3B, but not expecting it. If it does happen, Green to 2B, Gamel to 3B, trade one of Hardy/Escobar. So, if we can get a strong FA SP in 2009, I think we will have a strong team in 2009 and even better in 2010 (although, I'm relying on a lot of rooks in 2010). Plus in 2010, I'm not even speculating who we get in trading Hart/Fielder and/or Weeks or Hall. Edited - spelling -2x , added 2010 catcher

But would you in 2010 or 2011 if he hasn't signed an extension? Just about everyone here would love to see Prince sign an extention, but I'm not convinced he will. I'm not talking about trading him in 2009 as we have no replacement (as you mentioned). Hopefully by 2010/11 the next wave of prospects will have softened the blow of losing Prince. PF has three arbitration years before FA, right (2009, 2010, and 2011)?

Bah! For some reason, I keep thinking Bush is younger than he is. So knowing that he will be a FA at age 31, I'll pass also. But there was the thinking that we couldn't spend money now (at the time it was to extend Sheets) because we couldn't swallow the contract and still afford when our hitters became FAs. Since it seems less likely that we will extend a few of them (Weeks, Fielder, Hart), would it open up the opportunity to sign a SP now? Lowe has been mentioned, or even CC (I'm still holding out a little hope)? Because without upgrading the SP staff, I don't see us improving or even duplicating 2008.

No hard feelings for someone who has seen the light and repented of his ways. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Forgot about that. But if he was DFAed, do you think he would be claimed? I was more focused on the others anyway, since I don't see Nelson starting (at least for a while), but the others I do (or frontline relievers).

I guess I was focused on positional players and didn't really look at our pitchers. I agree with signing Bush to lock up a couple years of FA. But I would expect them to wait a couple more years for Yo, Villanueva and especially Parra (injuries), as they are still a few years away from arbitration. Where do you guys look-up arbitration/FA status for players?

Note: This post is mainly about how the effects of keeping our own players may effect FA signings for 2009. A few years back, there was a lot of discussion about not being able to keep all of our prospects once they hit free agency. At that point, there was discussion about not signing Sheets in order to save $$ for Fielder, Braun, Hart, Hardy, etc... But it seems that the bloom has come off the rose a bit in the last year or so: Braun: locked up! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Fielder: Everyone seems to be under the assumption that we can't afford him in FA no matter what. Hart: Is still a good player, despite the end of 2008. But we have similar players in the minors that could replace him in 1-3 years. Hardy: Improving every year, but Escobar is waiting in the wings. Weeks: Some preach patients, some scream trade. If we do keep him, I would want to see a couple years of good production before I signed him long term. Hall: Signed (2 more years?), but I don't think we will do it again. Here is my take. Our biggest organizational need is starting pitching. Over the next 2-3 years, we will have several prospects come up for OF, 3B, SS, 2B, but only one (Jeffress) as a possible impact pitcher. So if Fielder and/or Hart were traded (doesn't HAVE to be this offseason, but eventually) for pitching, that would help balance the team. I agree that Fielder will be traded eventually (before he is a FA). I would prefer he stay, but... I would sign Hardy to a long term contract. I would like to see Hardy and Escobar in the same infield (probably 2010). Many have said this would not be the best for the player, but I don't see how we could get a better combination (SS/3B or SS/2B) by trading one of them. Its the Brewer's best insterest. So, if we only have Braun/Hardy (maybe Hart) signed long term, that should allow us to be more aggressive in 2009 FA? Not that we could sign CC or Sheets, but perhaps we are not a strapped as previously thought? Of course, this plan would fit the Twins model (sign who you can, trade who you can't, replace from the farm system) that we are trying to emulate, right?

Wasn't sure were to put this since it deals with minor leaguers contributing to the major league team, so please move if I'm in the wrong spot... There has been a lot of talk about trades and free agents for 2009 (and beyond), so I thought I would bring up the third leg. Who do you expect to be contributors for next couple years from the minors? Stetter - Start of 2009 Dillon - Start of 2009 - Not sure why they didn't use him more this year... Nelson - Possible injury fill-in for 2009. Doubt he starts there. Gamel - Late 2009 at the earliest - I think the longer he is in the minors, the better chance of sticking at 3rd. Escobar - Start of 2010 - I want to see another strong year at the plate. Although, depending on need/injury, Gamel or Escobar could come up earlier. Aguilar - Late 2009/2010: If he keeps going like this year, he could be used for late season call-up/injury replacement. Passing up Pena here... Pena - Start of 2010 - After last year, he will probably need at least one more in AAA. Cain - Start of 2010 - Replaces Cameron (assuming Cameron's option is picked up for 2009). Jeffress - Start/Mid 2010 - Needs to build up his innings or he won't be strong enough for late season. Salome - Start/Mid 2010 - Another year purely for defense. Green - Mid 2010: Depends on what is done at 2B/3B next year. Gillispie - Mid 2010: I see him bouncing between the Major/Minor for 2010. Brae Wright - Don't know much about him, but the P50 states possible call-up in 2009? Now, I'm assuming a few things here (lack of injuries, consistant progress, etc...), but it seems that the next wave of prospects starts in 2009, but the tidal wave hits in 2010. Not all of them will have an impact, of course, but this is the most likely way we will improve.

So anyone have a '70's green shag rug they could wrap themselves in?http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Frankly, if Hart doesn't get going, I don't think it matters where he bats. He won't carry the team, but we need Braun, Fielder and Hart for this team to succeed. Hart is our third best hitter (no, his numbers don't show it now), and if he doesn't hit, we won't go very far. I'm not sure shaking up the lineup will do anything, but it couldn't hurt.

I live north of LaCrosse so I was routing for a Brewers/Twins WS, but oh well. Now I root for the Rays. If the Brewers don't make it, I hope Philly does. Being from WI, I prefer the "smaller" market teams (Philedelphia being smaller than Chicago and LA).

Take away MJ and what did the Bulls do? Nada. But more often, it takes two stars (Pierce and KG). Pierce with an average team couldn't do it. KG with an average team couldn't do it. (See also Kobe and Shaq or Tim Duncan and Tony Parker). With only one, it seems that defenses focus on the one heavily and force the rest of the team to beat them. If we had a healthy Sheets, stretched 100% Gallardo and CC, I'd really like our odds.

What do you teach? Maybe you can make the game a "lab" session. Psychology? What effect did that high and tight fastball have on the hitter? Physical Therapy? See how a 22 year old can recover from a serious knee injury faster than older athletes Business? See how someone with resources ($$) taking chances (CC trade) can succeed, where someone who doesn't take chances will never succeed. Language? See how players from multiple nations can all cuss out the umpire!

Of course a deal like this can also be a baseline for all of our predictions signing FA pitchers... And that doesn't bode well for us.

I will check out John Sickle's about once a month, but normally only when someone mentions there is something interesting there. This place has enough baseball info for me to metabolize in a day. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif