The Truth

Based on career stats, a straight platoon works when looking exclusively at offensive numbers. Morgan is a fairly significant drop-off from Gomez defensively. I drink the Gomez kool-aid, i.e. every year I think he's going to "finally get it together" and have a .320 OBP. So, having said that, and based on defense, I'd like to see Gomez start at least 100-120 games and only sit him vs the toughest rhp's. I do think his defense is huge and a game-changer In terms of Morgan, Aoki is a bit of a wild-card. I am biased because I don't like Morgan's antics at all and I think those antics would get real old real quick on a .500 team... and I believe in strong defense

http://sportsillustrated....lb/12/22/prince-fielder/ My question is: if Gord Ash (and presumably the rest of the Brewers front office) knew that Yuni B was that bad, why didn't they upgrade SS at the trade deadline in what was supposed to be a year where they were "going for it all". In that article Ash says that Gonzalez should be worth about 30 runs over Betancourt!

I meditated for awhile and channeled Howard Cosell and asked him this question and he replied "in the estimation of this esteemed prognosticator and pontificater, I would have to reply in the negative to that, however it remains to be seen just how far that thread could go, and my opinions could be somewhat distorted by my long departure from that earthly plane. I will say this, that Ryan Braun is a helluva ballplayer, he reminds one of a certain Joe DiMaggio of years gone by, with perhaps less glove and less appeal to the women of the species but that same sweet stroke that captures the imagination of baseball lovers young & old."

This is a good solid move if Izturis can stay healthy.

If he looks like he's falling asleep in the bullpen, even just once, I will laugh so hard I might need hospitalization!

I'm a huge Gindl fan, and I think he has the potential to be truly something special, but he's only 5'9", I doubt he'll ever play 1B

There is no reason to bring JJ Watt into this conversation! (wait, did I say that!)

Yuniesky Betancourt signed with the Royals as a backup SS/2B. The fact that not one single Major League Baseball team wanted him as a starter somewhat proves the point a bunch of us where making: that he had no business starting on a MLB team! A .271 on-base percentage with defense that is truly that awful just ain't "gettin' er done" (!)

Wouldn't this player need a year or so in AAA first, or is he actually ready for MLB right now? A .298 batting average in Japan equals what in MLB? .258? Fukudome batted .294 in Japan at age 30... http://www.baseball-refer...ayer.cgi?id=fukudo001kos But hey if scouts are saying he's the best Japanese hitter since Ichiro, then I'm glad we have a shot at him... at what price though? I thought our payroll was already busted. Is there a corresponding move coming? Trading K-Rod? Trading Hart? I hope not. K-Rod and Hart are proven MLB players, legit difference makers. Aoki is a huge roll of the dice

Good point. We do need a veteran who can pinch hit and get on base...

I think the only reason you don't have Gindl on the opening day roster is to save some time on his service years. The dude can flat out rake...

Nice to see a very good player who wanted to come play for Milwaukee. I believe him when he says he doesn't like playing in the cold. I think he's going to flat out rake in Miller Park

I meant to add: I think Gonzalez could easily hit 20 and Ramirez could hit 30. Miller Park is a hitters park and those two will benefit from playing 81 games there. I think Braun is going to play with a chip on his shoulder and hit a lot of bombs. Weeks usually misses time due to injuries so I lowered his number a little. Gamel is a wild-card, but I think Gamel will consistently hit 25 HR's and put up a .800 OPS as a major leaguer. Not an All-Star, but good solid production... I'm a little concerned about Hart (just a gut feeling hoping his decline doesn't happen rapidly)

C - Lucroy/Kottaras - 20 HR 1B - Gamel - 25 2B - Weeks - 22 SS - Gonzalez - 20 3B - Ramirez - 30 LF - Braun - 40 if he plays 162 games, 25 if he plays 110 CF - Gomez/Morgan - 10 RF - Hart - 25 TOTAL: 177-192

Last night a few of my friends & cousins said "for the money they are paying Aramis, Gonzalez, and K-Rod they could have signed Prince!" Of course the point is not wanting to pay Prince $20 million a year for 8-10 years, but beyond that: Are Ramirez/Gonzalez, K-Rod & Gamel better for the Brewers than McGehee/Yuni B, Kameron Loe & Prince? Yep they sure are, don't ya think?!