Mike

This would be interesting to find out from those that submitted rankings. For me, I saw a total of 10 of the 20 players I ranked. Here is how: During the Calif college season, I saw Fredrickson, Komatsu and Schafer multiple times during the 07 and 08 campaigns. While in Helena this summer I saw the team play four times and while in West Virginia I watched a total of six games. On a business trip to Florida I caught one Manatees game, so in all 10. Mike

1) Jacoby Ellsbury is a stud in the making and the Crew would be foolish not to want him in CF. Some experts say he will be as good as Sizemore in CLE. 2) Solves your CF problem after 2009 when Cameron leaves. 3) Lo Cain is really a LF and the organization is not viewing him as a future CF 4) It is all a moot point because as was stated, "Theo would laugh Doug off the phone" with the Hardy and Cameron or anyone else named for Ellsbury and Bucholz deal.

Randy Winn to the Brewers will not happen for the following reasons: 1) Unlike the Brewers, the Giants are not deep offensively, in fact they are woeful. Winn is their only decent (OBP) hitter and I'd be shocked if they dealt him. 2) Sabean recently ripped the Bay Area press for false rumors made during the Winter meetings about Texeira and Sabbathia offers being made (which were not). 3) The consortium of owners is still trying to get their investment back for AT&T Park and Manny is going to be out of their price range, trust me. 4) The Giants after living with Bonds' act for so long are not anxious to bring in Manny for more of the same. 5) KNBR radio today published a report that the Manny to SF rumor was started by someone in Boras' group since nobody seems to be knocking down the door. 6) Sabean has said repeatedly in the SF press that they are not in the market for an OF. Sabean has lots of faults as a GM, but lying has never appeared to be one of his shortcomings.

DH- True and there are others. I'm just worried that for the most part Beane deals players who are done or close to it. However, as suggested by Paul, a minor league deal would be certainly worth the risk. I just don't want to give away prospects or cash. It is a long shot with Mulder. His arm is still not where it once was according to the article. It sounds more like agent hype to get him a deal. Mike

As a former Oakland Athletic fan, I can only hope the Crew does not sign him. Mulder is really done as are some of the other players Beane traded away. If I were a GM I would never deal with Beane (I know, getting Mulder does not require dealing with Beane.............. this time). Mike

Endaround - perhaps my #4 claim of Johnson is too low, but your #2 claim is off. If the Brewers make him their #2 SP in 2009, there will be no playoffs in Milwaukee. My point is being missed, focus on a younger top flight FA starter. Johnson only works on a team that is real close and for only one year. No way Melvin does it.

The club would be much better served focusing on replacing C.C. and/or Sheets first than going after an expensive and old #4 starter. Bring up a young guy to be an end of the rotation guy. You have to figure the Yankees will out bid us for C.C, so therefore look at another #1 option on the market.

Not sure where you heard that, but the schedule I saw had it as an off day. At least we will have some Brewers in the Championship game on Sunday 11/16/08.

I did mix the two and I was incorrect on the OF differences, however my intended point is the Brewers seem to move guys together and that means to be me that B.C.'s OF will be what left WV at 2008 season's end. I also recognize you did not say that they would be TR's together, so I am merely stating I don't think they will, i.e.Haydel, Schafer and Gindl will be in B.C. What I can't tell you is where Steve Chapman will play. Thanks

Rick et al, You said to feel free to argue against the Power 50 editors, so here goes. Expect the B.C. OF (left to right ) to be Haydel, Schafer and Gindl. The Brewers have shown that players must touch each level at least for awhile. Though not as fast as Lee Haydel, Schafer is more instictive and a better route runner in CF. All three (3) of these guys were the OF in WV last season. Schafer can't go to the TR's after hitting .276 in WV and playing in Hawaii. A 3rd rounder has to be pushed more. As for Komatsu and Dykstra, Cutter is still young and will definitely start in Wisconsin, Erik was an absolute steal in the 8th round and deserves to play in B.C., but for the aforementioned reason, will start in Wisconsin. These predictions are all different than the editors. Mike

Guys, What is the difference between the two? For example you show Steven Chapman as the starting LF in B.C. yet three (3) OF's on the Power 50 are all projected to be in Wisconsin (Low A). Chapman does not appear on the Power 50. There just seems to be a disconnect. Please explain the relationship and is the Power 50 a measure of last years sucess or who you think is quickest to Milwaukee? Thanks

That must be bad information on the Dodgers wanting Varitek to replace Martin, even if Russ were to go to 3rd base. What is probably true is Boras asking for that much money for Varitek. Only Boras would try something like that demand.

Specifically he has had hamstring issues throughout his time in San Francisco, averaging only 125 GP in his five seasons there.

I'd like to see us get Dempster to replace Torres. I agree with others that there are issues with Ryan long term as a starter, but if Sheets or C.C. stay, then use him as a closer.

Well, that obviously depends on whether the Brewers want him. I an not close enough to comparisons of Weeks versus Durham since I really haven't watched Rickie, but what I can tell you is based on me watching Durham in San Francisco he is injury prone. Bear with me as I have not looked at his health in Milwaukee, perhaps he was healthy all season. However, if his injury history is any indication, I would not re-sign him.

But if you were LA, would you give up Broxton and Loney for Prince as I was debating?

Not only would LA not give up Billingsley in a 3 for 2, they wouldn't even give up Loney and Broxton for Prince in a 2 for 1 deal. Broxton not only solves your Torres problem, but he is a beast. Loney will arguably be better long term than Prince in most categories except power plus he is a left-handed bat.

Colby or Mass - Do either of you know why Scarpetta was sent to Hawaii and why Ramlow was sent home?

For many reasons, but first and foremost "Beane is inscrutable" as Hova stated in an earlier post. Speaking as a former California baseball fan (I still watch though) Billy Beane is now beyond a genius. He is an egotistical guy who still claims he can't win because he is in a small market. Didn't the Crew and TB make the playoffs? My point is Beane now gets his thrills out of trying to outsmart people. These deals are no longer about making the A's better per se. His owner Lew Wolfe has drank the kool aid and will allow Beane to do whatever he wants within the financial criteria set. Beane treats it like we would our fantasy teams. Having said that he is the master at duping fellow GM's by dumping guys at the exact time. Let's see? Mulder and Zito ring any bells? He will do the same with Street if he finds someone to take him off his hands. I assume Douug Melving knows this, but I do not have any real experience with Doug since I recently joined the Brewer fan club. Now addressing Coly Jack's questions: Street's lack of stuff was a mysterious occurrence. The best anyone can figure is he wore down due to overuse and his lack of size. It was not a loss of "stuff", but velocity. Yes he lost the job due to ineffectiveness even though Colby and trwi7 are correct that he never threw harder than 90. His slider was his best pitch and it too was thrown softer in the 85 range and he got smacked around. We will be told Street will compete for the closer role, but if Beane's history is of any lesson, Brad Ziegler will be the guy and he will not tell us that and then peddle him for more than he is worth. If the Brewer's want Street it will cost prospects and after the loss we sustained in the C.C. deal, I think it would be too costly. On the other hand Giant fans here were subject to a very bad Salomon Torres and yet he worked out for the crew, so who knows?

I'm speaking to you as a former Oakland A's fan who attended many games at the Coliseum from 1974-2006 including the Macha years 03-06. Reading all the previous posts presumably from Brewer fans who don't know Macha, I can lend you some perspective. First and foremost Ken Macha is a gentlemen. If you are looking for a yeller and screamer, Ken is not your guy. In fact, the reason Beane hired him in the first place is bcause he does not think managers are very important (Money Ball). Beane wanted a yes man and he got one. To Macha's credit (and I don't know this for sure) he started butting heads with Beane over his philosophy including but not limited to no bunting and no SB's allowed. If you are lucky, you will get the Ken Macha without the Billy Beane influence. If you are not, you will get station to station ball like the A's played. This doesn't mean I don't believe in OBP, it is in fact very important. However, under Macha and Beane the A's lost several playoff series most notably against Boston because in the 9th inning they did not know how or refused to play small ball (sacrifice bunt) to move a runner into scoring position. There are times in this game when you just can't play the "Money Ball" percentages all the time and Beane had Macha doing it. Let's hope Ken plays some hunches here and there to open the Brewer offense. An earlier post spoke of the Jay Payton issue. Payton not playing as much as he'd like in Oakland because his OBP was low was really not Macha's doing. That was Billy Beane for sure. Payton provided a big spark to this team during his year at Oakland and I can't believe Macha was behind his reduced PT. My point? Control your enthusiasm for Ken Macha, he may be great for the Crew, but don't expect a dynamic individual who will return the team to 1982 levels.

JJ, you asked for when Agent 39 was wrong. Here is an example: How long does Brantley's agent remain a reliable source? He said Brantley wasn't involved in the Sabathia deal, when it turns out he's a potential PTBNL. He said Brantley's going to the AFL, but he wasn't named on the rosters and may be ineligible. Neither of these seems like an intentional attempt to mislead, but both would imply he has a tendency to speak on matters while underinformed, which is just as bad when he's been relied on for credible information. Even some 10-year olds know not to speak without facts. If Brantley ends up in the AFL, I apologize. If not, please recognize my point of his questionable knowledge.

Whoever is moved in the deal obviously depends on whether the Brewers make the playoffs, so our friendly agent couldn't possibly know. In addition, neither club is going to call either the agent or the player at this particular point to tell them which direction they are leaning. I also agree with Jack, Agent 39 may be stretching the truth on purpose, but for what reason I do not understand. Don't forget, he has been wrong in the past as I read these posts as a newbie. It is remarkable that an agent would be spending so much time posting on this board. I disagree that he should "promote their clients" on this board at least. The Brewers don't need to hear how great a player is the agent represents. They know more than him. Agent 39 should be out combing the diamonds looking for more clients in case his does not make it. Oh, BTW, I'm sure it has been discussed, but are we sure he is a sports agent?

Forgive me for I have not seen Brantley or Cain play, but it is my understanding they are both solid. Please give me your take on why Lorenzo is not a possibilty to be selected by Cleveland and/or the difference between Brantley and Cain.

Despite all the "fun" discussing Brantley's soon to be winter whereabouts, it appears that adding two OF's to Hawaii means the Indians will take Brantley or Cain. The Brewers know that and added Logan Schafer with the much deserving Caleb Gindl to the OF. Schafer has taken over the CF spot in WV with ease in his first year and is probably being sent to Hawaii to improve whatever hitting deficiecies the Brewers see. You have to Believe Gindl and Schafer are in their future plans.

But it makes no sense to me either. I do not know the people who make the Power 50 in terms of whether they watch the players or not, but certainly Komatsu has more HR's and less K's than Schafer. Having said that, if the author of the 50 is basing it soley on stats (which I hope he or she is not) then you will get these differences. The truth is, each level is different and hard to compare. I'm sure the Brewer brass can tell and perhaps we can develop a coefficient to compare, but it is what it is. A person's rankings based on who knows what? I think long term Schafer and Komatsu will be better than Fryer, Gindl and Haydel.....but then again what do I know? What I can tell you is I have seen them all play at a minimum of 10 times each. Mike