Bombers

Ryan Ludwick 2013 - .240 .293 .326 .618 2014 - .244 .308 .375 .683 Aramis Ramirez 2nd half of 2014: .283 / .323 / .392 / .715 Aramis is declining from the point where his power numbers are down and he shouldn't be a top 4 hitter. He is really more of a 5 or 6 where he can bat with 2 outs. Last year with 2 outs he hit: .310 / .363 / .484 / .847. His power numbers are not going to get better, but the guy can still hit.

Well this is fun. Go Royals! Lo Cain going for series MVP!!!

He is younger by 2 months so that doesn't count as anything. I think you just let them battle it out and see who wins. Rogers was a 32th round draft pick but has a minor league OBP of .367 (that is awesome.) Jimenez was signed out of the DR as an 18 year old in 2008. Luis did well in the DSL and straight up raked in the Pioneer league. He has continued having solid numbers all through the minors. Here is a write-up of him on an Angels blog: http://www.halosheaven.com/2012/1/18/2716400/luis-jimenez-top-angels-prospect-8 Let them compete in Spring 2015 and see who wins. I think there is a good chance both of the guys make the team, if Ramirez is in fact gone.

Last time Melvin claimed a blocked 3B off waivers in October, it turned out quite well. Like the fact he can run a little too. Ramirez's jogging between bases was hampering the offense. Appears the plan is sign LaRoche, bat him in the middle of the order, go with a young 3B, either Jiminez or Rogers down toward the bottom of the order (where the 1B has been hitting the last couple years). I would hope Melvin would at least make some effort at the veteran 3B and I don't think this claim precludes that. And the irony is Casey McGehee was blocked in the Cubs organization by Aramis Ramirez at that time. (We then signed Ramirez to replace McGehee after Casey forgot how to hit for a few years.) And now, we are going back to the waivers to replace Aramis. Let's just hope Luis works out like Casey, Scotty Po or Brady Clark did and can have a few years of success.

I agree. A pitcher that good should start games 1, 4 and 7. I also am beyond frustrated with basically everyone involved with managing a baseball team and their continued misuse of top bullpen arms. Ned, you had a 4-1 lead. You have 3 of the best bullpen arms in all of baseball. But you let your team give up 5 runs in 2 innings because you refuse to use them outside of "their" inning. You need 2 more wins and you win the World Series! I am sorry, Herrera, Davis, Holland - saddle up boys, you might all be pitching 2 innings tonight. But Ned would rather not use them, than use them outside "their inning." Ridiculous. Rant over. (For now:)

What a game

I was more or less agreeing that Lohse has value. (Not advocating he has more value than Gallardo) ... However, if we traded Lohse - we should get one of their top positional prospects for him. (A la Shaun Marcum)

Thanks for the info Reilly. I agree with this. Lohse has value. Probably equivalent to what Marcum had at time of his trade. Lohse is relatively cheap and has a 3+ ERA. That is a definite plus arm someone would be adding into the rotation. If someone wanted him, they would be giving up one of their top 2 guys to get him. (A la us and Lawrie)

If we offered Gallardo for A-Rod, I am guessing the Yankees do that trade in a minute including covering 90% of his salary. (Side note: I don't even know what covering 90% means though as he is owed $61 million over the next 3 years plus this little blurb on baseball reference for each year: $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR.) I am unsure what that little hidden gem means. What's the definition of a milestone? Does he get $30 million each time? a % of the total of the $30 and ultimately adding up to a total of $30 if he hits them all? I guess ignoring that little blurb, Gallardo is making $13 million this year. So if you take the $13 off of the $61 and the Brewers agree to pay him $2 million each year, they would have to send along $42 million to unload him. The Cubs traded Soriano and sent along $30 million to clear him for just a year and a half. (And all they got back was a minor league relief pitcher.) So I doubt we would even have to trade Gallardo. To me, it isn't really that far fetched for the Yankee's to just want A-Rod gone. So would the guy (Doug Melvin) who signed A-Rod to the richest contract in MLB history want him back? Maybe. I think part of the issue with him not coming here has more to do with the Brewers relationship with Hank Aaron and Bud Selig than A-Rod's no trade clause. I would imagine he is on 20 teams no trade list. Meaning there are probably at least 20 teams who do not want him, even with the Yankee's picking up the salary. So his options are limited to begin with. But in my opinion, he is in play for the Brewers. I just feel Doug would take him on again with the dim outlook we have at 1B and 3B.

Just learned we drafted Hunter Pence in the 40th round in 2002 (obviously he didn't sign) ... He went on to be a 2nd round pick 2 years after that by the Astros.

2nd and 3rd and no outs. No runs. Ugh, that is always so frustrating.

I am going for the Royals in 4 so they can be the first team to go un-defeated in the post season since the 76 Reds and the Big Red Machine. That team had a few good players (Bench, Rose, Morgan, Perez) ... With 3.5 hall of famers manning half of your positions, you don't even need pitching. Anyhow, go Royals!!!!

I will definitely be watching. Many reasons: It's the last bit of meaningful baseball in forever. It's the grandest stage of the game I love. We have one of the smallest markets in the series and I would love to see good ratings. I love baseball and could never skip the fall classic. Hopefully all of you tune in too.

C - Lucroy (3.0) C - Maldonado (1.0) 1B – Ryan Braun (14.5) 2B - Scooter (0.5) SS - Segura (0.5) 3B – Aramis Ramirez (16) LF - Davis (0.5) CF - Gomez (8.0) RF - Parra (6.0) INF – Ramon Santiago (1.75) / Switch hitter and can play everywhere. INF – Clark / Rodgers – whoever wins (.5) OF – Grady Sizemore (1.0) OF - none - I am only going with 4 OF with Braun playing 1st and Parra able to play CF. SP - Garza (12.5), Lohse (11.0), Gallardo (13.0), Fiers (0.5), Peralta (0.5) RP - Broxton (9.0), Jeffress (0.5), Smith (0.5), Thornburg (0.5), Henderson (0.5), Nelson (0.5), Neal Cotts (850k), Johnny Hellweg (.5) That's a $103.6 million roster. With $84 million going to Braun, Ramirez, Gomez, 3 starting pitchers and our closer, you can expect a whole lot of a ~1 million deals for bounce back vets. (See Gorz, Duke, Reynolds, Overbay, etc) ... If you add in Parra's 6 million he is scheduled to make, we have a $90 million payroll with 8 players. That is crazy. I would actually be pretty shocked if they went and got a 1B for a sizeable deal and didn't shred one of those contracts first. Which is why it is my gut feel that Ryan Braun will be your starting 1B in 2015. We don't have money for anything else and I don't want to try some reclamation project. (Doubt Doug does either with the garbage we have had there the last few years.) Doug will look at the pipeline, see no one is coming, and make a move to shore it up for years to come. As for the pitching, Fiers is a shoe in for a starting spot. Nelson might be returned to Nashville and be our "6th starter." If that is the case, then insert another bounce back guy/candidate into his spot. Doug has no more money to spend. The good news is $55 million (Ramirez, Lohse, Gallardo, Broxton, Parra) expire at the end of 2015.

The best case scenario is the Brewers bring him back for next year and they make a run in the playoffs. Best case scenario is they bring back Rami, who in turn has a career year. Lohse and Gallardo continue their 3.0ish ERA. Broxton has a 1. something ERA. Parra hits 280, plays well and we trade them all at the break as the Brewers are 15 games out of first. This brings in 5-10 of various teams top prospects into our organization. That is my best case scenario.

Travis freaking Ishikawa. Wowser. Apparently we could build an all decade team with ex Brewers with the way they are all playing this post season. Sheesh.

What a moment for Lo-Cain. Go Royals!

Ned Yost is 1 win from the World Series. The Royals are just awesome. Giants vs Royals. Let's do it. Or the Cards will come back and we will have the Missouri Series.

I can see that as the brewers have a very high standard deviation. Players like Lucroy and Gomez are tops in baseball. But on the flip side the Brewers started 3 guys with an OBP under .300. (Reynolds, segura, Davis). Where the As only started Sogard with an OBP under .300. (And he platooned)

Give credit when it is due. Great job managing the 8/9th Ned. Wade Davis was unhittable in his 7 pitch 8th and Ned brought him back out for the 9th. What a concept to keep the hot pitcher in. I hope RRR is tuning into these games.

That was a brewers swing there. Hacking away with a pitcher not able to find anything close to the strike zone

Ned's got no balls. RRR would still bunt

How Eddie "The windmill" Sedar still has a job is beyond me. Keep sending them eddie. Just keep sending them. Here is a good example (Eddie isn't in the picture but Brewers writers confirmed Eddie sent Gomez) Yep, lets try and score from 2B on a flyball out to CF. Good work Eddie. http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_04_05_milmlb_bosmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=bos#gid=2014_04_05_milmlb_bosmlb_1&mode=video

No problem and thank you for that. Going to be 2 great series. (At least on paper) I have a slight rooting interest for the Royals. But whoever comes from the AL, I hope they win it all.

So does this preclude a move of Braun to 1B? I just have a feeling next year we will see Braun at 1B. Especially with Parra on the team. Clint could be MLB ready by 2017 - might be brought up in 2016. Braun is signed through 2020.