YoungGeezy

I miss the days when we embraced young talent and not wastefully throwing around money. We got to where by this strategy, homegrown talent for cheap.

Green is cheaper and I think can produce just as much. Hate to give people up and pay more when we have another option sitting there who has earned his opportunity, only cost 400k, and (prior and now post wrist injury) has hit for good average, good power, and has drove in runs. So we can ship away some players and up our salary or just stick with Green.....I'll take Green

Brewers have serious interest in Reyes! Just tying to get this conversation to actually Reyes (not Prado)

Agreed, u don't lock up Hart, Weeks, Yo, Braun just to throw in the towel and rebuild. Gamel and Green can both be very solid players for us. Rotation will be a concern but we can allows fix that.

Lol been calling him for past 2 years. To me all it shows is what we already knew...the kid can falt out hit. He centers up on every ball. However we still needs to greatly improve in the field and improve baserunning. Pedroia never had any fielding concerns, so Gennett needs to get better.

Yeah....you bring up the 35th best prospect in baseball and let him sit on the bench and not get consistant bats, that is how you develop a player. If your not playing him everyday, get him the heck back down to AAA, not hamper development.

If it was possible to go with a -0% chance of the Marlins trading Ramirez, I'd go with that. This is not old sell off Florida Marlins. This is we want to spend Miami Marlins. Ozzie would mostly up a quite if they traded him as well. Those two were made for each other. What would the point be of the Marlins try to bring in Reyes, Prince that Cuban OF (Cederes?) just to go out and trade the franchise player? Best way not to sell tickets or make a splash with the team? Trade off your franchise

I prob should have worded that better. It is laughable to believe Greinke as a player is worth the 14-15 million dollars and in no way even close to only being worth 10. How many frontline, Cy Young Winners, with great stuff, good health, and gives you a great chance to win every night can you buy for 10 million a year? I know we were able to get two outstanding ones that fit the bill for that price in Suppan and Wolf but that is raw to have hits like that at that price..... I personally don't see a way for use to have a competitive rotation if we don't resign him. It screams 2010 all over. Yo by himself can not win us 85-95 games. Only pitches 32 times or so. Sure we have some young guys.....realistically, you can't bank on the shining in their 1st or 2nd seasons to carry us to the playoffs. We of course trade our system again for another pitcher but it will be tough to get a younger, cheaper option to help carry rotation with Yo. Maybe we can sell off one of our big offensive players to make up the difference. Can sign a few more 10 million dollar Wolf's or bring in and hope some Narvy types shine. 2013 Gallardo Narveson Peralta Fiers Scarpetta/Thornburg/Rivas/Trade/ FA/Estrada Yikes... Know if we have 2 Aces that makes it a little brighter. Yo and Zack give us a great shot to win every night, Narvy can get job done and all you need is for 2 young guys to hopefully step up over needing 3 and praying that one really shines. Not a fan. I also have no interest in re selling our whole system but by 2013, who knows what it will look like or how good it will be

1. It is completely worthless to trade Hart to add Reyes. Beyond a horrible move. Reyes can not replace Fielder and Hart nor will the cheap option we bring in during trade. There are other ways to open up payroll that not make us worse. 2. Its laughable that someone could say Greinke is not worth the money. Figure it out, era is a terrible stat and outside of that he flat out dominated in almost every other category. Yo, Marcum, Wolf, etc. Plus Wolf is a 10terrible milling dollar pitcher in the market today. I don't see have Greinke could be considered near that....outside of era ( not legit argument)

My guess is it will be a up and down April, it will take a bit to adjust to the advanced pitching. May we will start seeing the ball better, by June we will be producing. He is a professional hitter. In 7 years he has been a .305/.375/.500/.875 hitter. That is pretty impressive over that long of a span. He has always been a big run producer (a 99, 96, 88, 74, 67 RBI season) He has good power and he has shown that in very small sample. Throwing has always been the concern for him not the bat nor the fielding. Now he is playing first, we don't have to worry about him throwing the ball into the stands on a routine groundball. He really didn't hit awful when we has 23 and got his only real chance (24 starts) 6 doubles, 5 homers, 18 BB, 20 RBI. The .242/.338/.422/.760 was not to bad for a 23 year just coming up. 54k's in 148 PA was way to high but I think if he would have been out there everyday he would have started to see the ball better.

I forget about the suspension however he only has 8 games remaining (the 17 to end last counted even though he was injuried) I also didn't realized he burned his final option and don't see him being rewarded the raw 4th yr. This is even more reason why they should not waste a minute of time as a starter. Let alone with him having no options, no way he can be stretched out coming off injury.

I think a lot of it has to do with who we get to play SS on whether we stick with Gamel & Green. My confindence in our offense going into the season with Gamel, Green, and SS Barmes/Furcal is not very high. We have zero clue how Gamel & Green will perform and we know Barmes will hit .245/.305/.700 (or less). that is a lot of pressure to perform for Mat and Taylor. However we get Reyes, then Gamel and Green will have far less pressure on them. SS Reyes CF Gomez/Morgan/Schaefer (however it unfolds) 2B Weeks LF Braun RF Hart 1B Gamel/ McGehee( Rotates as back up 1B and 3B) 3B Green/ McGehee C Lucroy P Pitcher That would get me really excited RF Hart CF Gomez, Morgen, Schaefer 2B Weeks LF Braun 1B Gamel 3B Green SS Barmes C Lucroy Not so much. As much as I want Gamel Green starting, I think if they cannot bring in a good hitting SS it will be harder to not bring in someone like A. Ramirez at 3rd or make a trade for a hot corner player

I remember a few years ago when everyone was split, should Baddock be a starter or reliever. He had the electric stuff to cause havoc in only one inning of work but he also had been a very good starter. He had a major injury plus some smaller ones (not to forget his bipolar issue when it got bad in AA and had to miss time) and the Brewers decided, Zach your are now a relief pitcher. Don't want the wear and tear of starting and you got great stuff to be very successful out of the pen. Now I consider Mark Rogers to be in a similar position as Braddock. Watching him pitch in September 2010 got me super excited. He throws gas, outstanding breaking ball, and is overall very gifted however he just cannot stay healthy. Rogers has really become a forgotten man since the horrible start, then injury, and then the surgries this past season. I really feel the Brewers NEED to make the move. His body has really not shown that he is a guy who can physically handle eatting innings without falling apart. As of right now with the rise of Peralta, it doesn't appear he really has a future spot in the rotation. Why have him stay a starter? Is there any reason at all to continue to waste what he can offer? I really feel he can be an awesome back end guy and we could use that. Let him go out there, throw 96-100 and drop those curves in there (his change up isn't all to bad as well) for an inning. He is not getting any younger. It's not like most people right away labeled him as a future back end reliever and the Brewers future closer. I don't get why they feel they need to keep him a starter. Is it just me or am I alone in feeling he MUST be moved to the pen. If they do this I really think he can fight for an opening day job (as long as he is 100% by ST) I keep going over the roster and what I think they should do, sign, trade, & etc like everyone else and this has really fustrated me.

From May 18, 2006 to July 15, 2006 Prince accumulated 209 PA in 51 games. He OPSed .691 in those games. See, I can do it too. Prince was 22 that season and in his first full season as a starter, after appearing in 39 games the year before. Gamel was 23 in the season you posted, with 2 games the year before. Obviously Prince turned out alright. The point is, all players go through stretches like that and they mean absolutely nothing. Gamel has not been given a real chance no matter what anyone says. This is a fact. I don't understand how anyone can argue that less than 200 PAs over 3 years is a real shot. My fear is they let Gamel go and he turns into another Nelson Cruz. Agreed. he deserves his shot. Late Bloomers happen a lot. I hate how successful Cruz is and we just let him go as a thrown in for Shrek Mench. I think he could produce just as well as Hart if given the opportunity. He has never had a down season, he has streaks when injuried (he always storms right back) but if he is healthy he just produces. Everywhere he has played. His biggest issue is having a healthy Spring Trainng. That has not happen in the past 3 years he has competed for a job.

Brewers are very interested in Gamel. Its more of an issue of how willing Mat is to take care of his body in the off-season and be accountable for it. Three straight seasons he has walked into spring training with a glowing opportunity to make the team (2 of them competing for a starting job) and each time he has suffered major set backs as soon as we walked through the gates. Its not the Brewers fault that he has blown those ST opportunities. Not Brewers fault that McGehee decided to shine and they have 2 all-stars at 1B and RF who blocked him. Not Brewers fault that Green is better defensively at 3B and there is zero need for another lefty who is limited to a position behind the one player in baseball who refuses to miss an inning. Them not promoting had nothing to do with them not being interest in him, they just had no need for him. How many lefties do you really need? What go is it to bring up a guy who will not touch the field defensively? What good is it to promote a guy who has had extremely small success hitting off the bench? We are talking about a guy the DM said I'll trade anyone in system EXCEPT Mat Gamel for CC Sabathia. So because it is worthless to bring him up to just sit there, you think they no longer want anything to do with him? I disagree with just about everything. Why even trade him? We need a 1st baseman, and here we have a guy who is cheap, prob hungry to get another crack as a starter, has loads of upside, and really doesn't have the value. Who are we going to trade him? a AAAA player? Great, that helps the team! Now if he shows up like usual with his body not where it needs to be and he can't on the field and loses the battle...then cut him lose. But I'd put a lot on the line to say that the Brewers are def hoping this doesn't happen.

Braun needs to stay in LF, he is not nearly as bad as people cry about. It's hard to take one of your top flight athletes and place him at the most non athletic spot on the diamond. He has gotten better, has the arm, has average range and routes to ball. His defense usually doesn't make or break games for us. He gets the balls he needs/should get and hopes like hell Go Go can get to the ones he can't. Maybe the Packers should move Finley to LT, even though he is a freak athlete he drops plenty of balls that hit him in the hands. Thats how I feel about wasting Braun at first. Hart on the other hand.....if he can still pick thats fine, move him. He has not been good in RF at all this season. Really took a step back out there. Gamel I think will be a good defensive 1B. Guy has an outstanding glove and will no longer have to throw the ball to much. When he does it will be bang bang where he doesn't have time to think and mess up his footwork. Overall We have one elite defender in Gomez, and then I guess Morgan, Hairston Jr, could be labled as good defenders. Braun, Weeks, Counsell maybe but unlikely Lucroy could pass average fielders. The rest is pretty much below. That is why we set a playoff record for errors in a series.

Since the minor League form has been dead for a little while here is an update as of today of the Brewers in the AFL Pitchers Thornburg 1-0 3G 3.38 ERA 5.1 IP 3 H 2ER 4BB 3K (Rough 1st outing but 4IP 1 H 0 ER 1BB 3K in last 2) Meadows 0-0 4G 2.25 ERA 4IP 4H 1ER 3BB 0K Medlen 0-0 1G 5.40 ERA 1.2IP 3H 1ER 1BB 1K Scarpetta 0-0 2/1 G 2.25 ERA 4IP 3H 1ER 6BB 3K Hitting Gennett 6G 27AB .333BA 9H 2 2B, 2HR, 6RBI 3/5 BB/K 1/1 SB (One of the top hitters in league) Schafer 7G 33AB .273BA 9H 2 2B 1HR, 6RBI 2/4 BB/K 1/2 SB KE. Davis 6G 21AB .281BA 6H 1 3B, 0HR, 1RBI 5/8 BB/K 2/2 SB Wheeler 4G 14AB .286BA 4H 2 2B, 0HR, 3RBI 2/4 BB/K 0/1 SB

Agree with Monty and Ennder, didn't see your guys post while I was writing my last one. However I'd look at Rollins over Reyes due to the fact that we mid as well sign Fielder for the money we'd have to give Jose. I have heard 7 years 140 to 150 million for him. Rollins is has enouhg in the tank to last a 3-4 year deal and provide great value at a much better cost. Not going to lie though, our line-up with Reyes would look VERY nice.

I just mentioned it but the more I read, I don't understand why some people seem to want to overhaul a 96 win team. We are losing Fielder (most likely) but that is it. Have our whole rotation back. 4 of 5 IF's, 4 of 4 OF and need a few more people in the pen. I don't get the trade this, this, this, release this, this, this, and move him there or there, or there. Realistically, do any of you really think DM and RR want to completely flip this team when they are already built without Prince as a possible contender? Team has chemistry and an amazing club house, all the guys love each other.....do really want to mess that completely up? I know it worked so well for the Red Soxs and stuff but hey..... McGehee is still cheap, even with arbitration (i think this is his first year). If we go with Gamel and Green well he is that vet corner guy. Don't need to go find someone else. I like a OF of Braun, Gomez/Morgan, Hart with the addition of Schafer. Schafer is good defensively and could be a good bat off the bench. If he comes out and hits the crap out of the ball and is killing it then yeah, then look to move Morgan or Gomez but not until then. Hairston is a great utility guy than needs to be brought back. Betancourt could be replaced in a simple trade for a Narveson or by signing a Gonzalez. Nothing major. With a bat that is extremely hit or miss and defense that is even more hit or miss with zero range....not hard to improve upon. Rotation, they are all locked up through 2012.....keep them. There value is not sky high. Wolf has been around long enough that people know what they'd be getting. He will not net anything major and he does a good enough job in our rotation. Why make us worse? Marcum coming off just a horrible September and October will not have teams pounding down the door to give us Brett Lawrie type players. Once again he is makes our rotation stronger, gives us more depth, why make us worse off? Depth is good, he made that mistake before in 2009 where we destroyed our pitching depth and we paid for it. Dumb mistake. Peralta, Fiers, Rivas, and such have had good numbers but do we really want to put our season on the line dependent on how well they do as rookies? Same goes for Gamel, Green, Schafer. We are still a team that can win. Also a note I have yet to see but Rogers needs to be moved to the pen. Let the kid go out & throw smoke for an inning a night. We have known since he was drafted he has a closers arm. Injuries have killed but he still has ton of talent. They said Braddock needed to be in pen because of his injuries and etc why is Rogers different? Move him to the pen and let him earn a job. He still has sick stuff. If they do this and I really like the possiblity of a Rogers/Braddock 8th and Axford 9th.

LOL, the tears are pouring down my face right now..... we are using a sub 4 ERA to make a honest ruling about a pitcher. I thought we, who live in a post moneyball, simple statistic world, could look beyond such a silly stat. I thought wrong. Greinke had a sub 3 FIP (2.98) and XFIP(2.56) (both top in our rotation), a WAR of 3.9 (highest in our rotation), 10.54 k/9 (by far top in our rotation) 2.36 BB/9 (Lowest in our rotation), he also had the worse luck on the rotation in BABIP and LOB% both of which were the worse he has had since 2005 and above career average). He did give up to many homeruns and needs to reduce that back to career average but outside of that he was by far our best pitcher this season. -I'd lock up Greinke up with some of the Fielder money. I feel it is important to keep Yo and locked up at the top of the rotation. Wolf, Marcum, and Narvy (despite mid 3 ERA's) are all very expandable after 2012. As for next years rotation stays about the same. If you can clear out Wolf/ Narvy for some value and open up Peralta's spot then do so, if not, oh well. Rotation will be above average again. -Hairston should stay he is very servicable all over the field, plus has a good enough bat. -Counsell, Kotsay, Fielder (as much as I hate to see it), K-Rod, will all be gone forsure IMO -Hawkins/Saito (think one will remain at right price) and Betancourt are very possible to go. Melvin likes Yuni so its tough to say. -Look for them to add at least one old vet OF to compete such as a Kapler, Edmonds, Kotsay, DM does it every year. He likes the older vet leaders off the bench. Who it may be? No clue. Hairston would serve as the usual vet IF, replacing Counsell (Cirrillo, Spivey and the others before them) -Kinzler, Parra, Braddock back to health and compete for jobs. -Nor Braun or Hart move to 1st base. Hart would he a decent move but does seem logical due to his bat and the fact he use to play there but don't see it happening. Gamel will be good defensively there (we was always an excellent fielder just can't throw the ball to save his life when he has time to think.) The question is will you get that awesome minor league hitter who hits for average, extra base hits, and drives in runs or do we get what he have seen in the small sample size? A Casey McGehee and Mat Gamel platoon could also be possible. -OF remains in tact with Braun LF, Morgan & Gomez in CF, Hart in RF with Schafer winning the 5th spot (unless a vet beats him out.) Gindl will get a second year in AAA. -Taylor Green will compete for 3rd base with McGehee but also think they look in FA for one as well. It would be nice to have McGehee to rotate at first with Gamel and with Green at third. Go with the hottest hand. -Maldondo and Kottras compete, Kottras has good value with his lefty power bat behind the plate. So if it is close I could see Martin winning the spot. (Defensively wise to go with Maldonado if his bat can be catcher average) Lineup 1B Gamel 2B Weeks SS ? FA 3B Green LF Braun CF Gomez RF Hart C Lucroy Bench 1B/3B McGehee 2B/SS/3B/OF Hairston OF 4 Morgan OF 5 Schafer C Maldondo Pitching 1. Gallardo 2. Greinke 3. Marcum 4. Wolf 5. Peralta Bullpen LR Estrada or Fiers MR McClendon/ Kinzler/ De La Cruz/ FA/ Dillard/ Wooten/ MR Parra or Narvy (Lefty Mid) MR Loe RHSU Saito LHSU Braddock CP Axford Really the team doesn't need to change to much. They retain most and why clean house or go crazy moving people around when what you have minus one bat won 96 games and had you at the door of the World Series. Fielder is irreplacable but as long as we play better D, get consistant and average production out of 1B,3B, SS, we should be fine. FA's SS Price out Reyes and Rollins if to high don't bother but if it is managable would be nice to pull trigger. We really don't have a SS coming up that is screaming the future so maybe Reyes could be worth the price (doubt it, highly) Rollins will be able to produce well for the next 2-4 years. I don't see him as a mager risk but that depends on price. Realistically Alex Gonzalez, or retaining Betancourt seem more likely. Trading a pitcher of a SS could also happen. 1B I think it will be Gamel but Derek Lee would be a nice guy to look at. I have a feeling Cuddyer could be this years Kotsay. Just seems like a DM pick up.

Lopez is a very intriguing prospect, but has no business in a top 5 discussion. He was drafted in the same range as recent draft picks Evan Frederickson, Cody Adams, Seth Lintz, Max Walla, Cam Garfield, and Jimmy Nelson. Those guys show us we should value high quality AAA players over players drafted after round 1. I agree, personally I'd include 1st round as well. Jungmann and Bradley are already close to a sure lock disappointment because they haven't even thrown a pitch and people are rating them #1 and #2 or right there with a proven Thornburg and Peralta. Pretty much these kids need to become aces because there is only one place to go from the top....down. Look at Arnett. He doesn't throw a pitch, people are already throwing him in the top 10 and near it, setting up unreal expectations, and he struggles and becomes a complete "bust." As we have talked about before, do we rate base on pure projectability? Pure performance? A 50/50 blend? a 75/25 blend? 60/40 blend? which one needs to be weighted more? I could never ever throw a guy into a top 5, top 10 list without him ever suiting up for a game. That is rating solely on projectability and college/high school stats. (not a good marking) If Bradley comes out and has a good fall league (i believe he is pitching, right?) then yeah throw him in there. He comes out and just gets shelled, I start him in the #15 range ( hopefully the only place to go is up). With Lopez, he pitched well is a small sample size. I'd keep Peralta, Thornburg, Scarpetta, all ahead of him for sure. Heckathorn, Bucci, Rivas I think still edge him, so fits in with Nelson, Manzanillo, Hall IMO. Note I rate closer to 55/45--60/40 projectablilty/performance. Lopez is just way to raw and unproven. I watched him on ESPN and in noway does he scream top prospect...yet. Jungmann & Bradley I'd slot in behind the big 3 in my mind. Scarpetta is a stud and as of right now, I'd take his fastball/off-speed (curve) combo over either of them. It competes right there with Thorny's Fastball/Change and Peralta's Fastball/Slider. He just need to be more consistent and get that an effective 3rd pitch. He's only 23 as well. Top 12 Pitchers (the way I rate) 1. Peralta 2. Thornburg 3. Scarpetta 4. Jungmann 5. Bradley 6. Rogers 7. Heckathorn 8. Bucci 9. Rivas 10. Nelson 11. Hall 12. Lopez If you weight projectabilty and draft status very high like many do I could see something like: Top 10 Pitchers 1. Peralta 2. Thornburg 3. Jungmann 4. Bradley 5. Rogers 6. Scarpetta 7. Lopez 8. Heckathorn 9. Bucci 10. Hall Either way as of today: Peralta/Thornburg > Jungmann/Bradley Scarpetta > Lopez Projectability is close between all (1-3 range), therefore performance gives them the advantage. It's good to project well, its another to back it up and until they do it doesn't change. Peralta I believe has the best chance out of bunch to get to that #1 guy.

To me Wooten should be a lock, if not, a team would be dumb for not taking a chance on him. I believe he could stick. His arm will be even more healthy in 2012 and think he is a top tier reliever in our system. Remember the Braddock Wotten combo a couple years ago....just sick. Has great stuff, not a flamethrower or anything but a smart pitcher with command of multiple pitches. Gindl and Manzanillo have about a 99.99999% chance. I think Meadows or Merklinger could be added. They are on the bubble. Anundsen should be safe. Thankfully he is healthy, got his confidence back, and can finally start working way back up through system. Hard to image a team taking a flyer on him but....same could have been said about Rosario last season Gindl, Manzanillo, Wooten, & Meadows

wow... Cost us a waivers signing and a guy we let get pick up in the rule 5 draft. Rosario has some potential, very good stuff amd Herrara is not to bad. Still, a pretty nice steal! No Davis, Green, Fiers, McClendon or other names we have put out there

I really think his strikeout numbers will start to come as he grows as a pitcher. The article helps you realize how raw he really is. Kid has only been pitch three years and is still scratching surface for his off-speed. Future is bright for Brooks!

WHAT?!?!?! Don Money with a great line up?!? All our top players at the top?!?! I must be going crazy! Schafer Gindl Farris Green Gamel Maldondo then the fill ins I'd switch Farris and Gindl but hey, its working thus far, 9 for 16 combined with 2 walks