Mike

I think the bad attitude talk, etc must be thrown out the window. There are many players in the history of the game that are jackwagons. GM's and field managers do not care about that, they care about production. The best thing to tell Gamel is "Don't think Mat, it will only hurt the team". Having said that, there is no doubt that he has hit MiLB RH pitching well and I would expect that to continue. I would also bet (having watched him in many Nashville games) to struggle against LH pitching. It is not a coincidence that Milwaukee feels the same way otherwise they would not have asked Corey to "play some 1B". So, he can't hit LH pitching and he is not strong defensively..........other than that he is a good player.

Frankly, I don't think the Crew signs him for the following reasons: 1) Why do we need yet another LH on the bench, especially with Schafer and Gindl as cheaper options? He does not have enough power to replace Braun for 50 games. 2) $2.5M posting fee plus an assumed $2-2.5M per salary for two years. Aoki would not take less. Brewers can't afford now. 3) Does anyone really think they could tell how a guy does in BP? Perhaps the arm, speed and fielding can be gauged in a workout, but not hitting BP. There is no way I take that financial risk. 4) The posting fee DM made was kind of like us playing poker. Don't every once in a while when you have a straight facing the possibility of the other guy perhaps having a flush throw your money at it? Presumably he made that bid in a similar fashion, thinking we wouldn't get it, but what the heck. 5) I also don't think "feelings" or potential using Aoki even entered into the equation. We all know how cut throat this business is. 6) The Brewers will either say, thanks but no thanks or low ball him and Aoki says politely go pound sand Milwaukee.

Why don't we try picking more efficiently with the picks we do have. Take a look at the last seven (7) years.2005-Braun the only guy left. 2nd, 3rd and later rounders not worth a darn. 2006-Jeffress 1st rounder, the only guy with a chance and that seems remote at best. 2007-Lucroy 3rd round made it. Ferris 4th not going to help, Gindl in the 5th might. LaPorta 1st round is still arguable. 2008-Schafer in the 3rd is the only guy standing from that class! Lawrie and Ordorizzi will be good, but we got into the 2011 playoffs making that trade. 2009-Heckathorn potentially, Kentrail maybe and D'Vo in the 5th may be good. 2010-Thornburg in the 3rd round will pay dividends. 2011-Jungmann, Bradley and Lopez in the 1st and 2nd rounds remain to be seen. My point is there are many more swings and misses than hits. Notice every year on the Power 50 that the top guys are from the most recent draft? Who can forget supplemental Evan Fredrickson in 2008? Eric Arnett 1st round 2009? Seth Lintz, Thomas Adams, William Inman, Evan Anudsen, Brent Brewer, Cutter Dykstra all of whom were top 3 round picks that are gone. Out of baseball in many cases. It would be fun to do a study. Now I also recognize many teams face the same hit rate, but doesn't it seem we are in the lower half? Really since 2002 (10 yrs of drafting) we got five stars; Prince, Braun, Gallardo, Hart and Weeks. That is .50 star players per draft. I would expect that number to be more like .75 and serviceable MLB guys at 1.5 which the Brewers cannot claim.

How about Graves and Stratton at Miller Park? Combimed lawn mower and Lasik surgery device for sore eyes.

If Braun is suspended, I do not see how Hart would be dealt as few have suggested. If Corey were traded that would leave us with an OF of (assuming 50 games and Aoki signed) Aoki, Morgan, Gomez, Schafer. None of these four (4) should be in a corner OF spot because of their lack of power. That would leave only Aramis and Rickie with pop in the lineup. In addition, the argument over Aoki being offered a contract is probably not capable of being handicapped at this point. The club has admitted they have no scouts in Japan and are going off "reports". Depending on the money Aoki is expecting, I just can't see pulling that trigger after seeing a guy in two (2) days of workouts in Maryvale. So, if I were DM I definitely would not trade Corey and I probably would not sign Aoki. He would be a pretty expensive 50 game rental considering Schafer and Gindl are waiting in the wings and deserve a shot soon. Which leaves me with what to do with the four OF's mentioned above three of which hit LF, four if you count Gindl. Even though Gomez has the most power, arm strength and overall CF defense, I just can't see doing any better than his career .240+ avg suggests (half of you agree). He also is the only RH in this group, so perhaps we are stuck with him. Now it comes down to staying with the platoon of Morgan/Gomez or allowing Schafer a shot. Gindl is still young at 23 and will probably go to AAA. I can see an OF of Morgan in LF, Morgan/Gomez in CF, Hart in RF and Schafer on the bench. When Ryan returns, you send Schafer to AAA unless he performs. Otherwise you trade Morgan for many of the reasons suggested and get a prospect, but as a poster mentioned he did only garner Cutter. Very difficult decisions to make. Perhaps one of these LH OF's need to be traded straight up for another RH OF?

That Gennett guy (Scooter) will never provide the power, HR or RBI that Rickie provides plus he is still 2-3 years away. The best you can hope for with Gennett is a higher BA.

Many of you seem to think that will happen. There is no way he is in any OF spot. It is 1B or nothing. He can't play the OF. The team will not take that defensive chance.

So you would have passed on Colby Lewis because he played in Japan and couldn't find a job in MLB? Sure because there are way more examples of the former than the latter. My earlier point is there are too many other less risky options.

No chance. He has been out of MLB too long for one. Second there are way too many cheaper options available; He plays in Japan for a reason namely he couldn't find a job in MLB.

True except you did have to hear BA announce- "Betancourt goes after the first pitch and pops up to...." Love that line!

MLB Trade Rumors

If the Brewers get Sizemeore, what do you do with Morgan and Gomez? Can't keep all 3.

No chance. He is not worth $3M. Can't hit period. Could you imagine the protection he would give Braun? None.

Agree whole heartedley regarding Cuddyer. In fact, a Kubel/Reed Johnson platoon in RF might be pretty effective. Reed Johnson? Why do that? .283 average is OK, but averaging 10 Hr 57 RBI and only 6 SB per year is no better than giving some of our OF prospects a shot.

I have re-read all the posts and everyone is in favor of acquiring Headley and Bartlett. I agree with Bartlett at SS, but disagree with Headley.Other than defensively, I used 162 game averages from baseball-reference (because guys do have bad years like McGehee in 2011) and it shows the following: Avg HR RBI Headley .269 11 62 McGehee .263 19 90 With Taylor Green as a platoon option at worst, Headley just doesn't seem worth the risk.