Bombers

Ya I think that is nuts. His home/away splits are: AVG / OBP / SLG / OPS Home - .315 .354 .527 .881 Away - .284 .336 .461 .796 I have always like Vlad and unfortunately we don't have any room for him.

According to JSOnline, the Brewers are interested in Mark Kotsay. I do like his career pinch hit BA. But I do not know much about him. What do you think of him? http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/114569849.html http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kotsama01.shtml

Good catch ... I updated it and it bumped it up a little http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Using the Salaries link and the latest contract information that has come out, the Brewers will sit somewhere between $86.73 - $91.68 million for this year. (And that doesn't include any callups or mid-season trades) Player 2011 - Low 2011 - High John Axford 0.4145 0.4145 Yuniesky Betancourt 4 4 Brandon Boggs 0.4145 0.4145 Zach Braddock 0.4145 0.4145 Ryan Braun 4 4 Craig Counsell 1.4 1.4 Chris Dickerson 0.4145 0.4145 Pat Egan 0.4145 0.4145 Prince Fielder 15.5 15.5 Yovani Gallardo 3.25 3.25 Mat Gamel 0.4145 0.4145 Carlos Gomez 1.5 1.5 Sean Green 0.875 0.875 Zack Greinke 13.5 13.5 Corey Hart 6.5 6.5 LaTroy Hawkins 4 4 Justin James 0.4145 0.4145 Brandon Kintzler 0.4145 0.4145 George Kottaras 0.4145 0.4145 Cameron Loe 1.055 1.65 Jonathan Lucroy 0.4145 0.4145 Shaun Marcum 3 5 Mike McClendon 0.4145 0.4145 Casey McGehee 0.4145 0.4145 Chris Narveson 0.4145 0.4145 Wil Nieves 0.775 0.775 Manny Parra 1.2 1.2 Mark Rogers 0.4145 0.4145 Takashi Saito 1.75 1.75 Mitch Stetter 0.4145 0.4145 Rickie Weeks 4.85 7.2 Randy Wolf 9.5 9.5 Total: 82.8725 87.8175 Suppan (Buyout) 2 2 Zaun (Buyout) 0.25 0.25 Hoffman (Buyout) 0.5 0.5 Davis (Buyout) 1 1 Riske (Buyout) 0.25 0.25 Grand Total 86.8725 91.8175

As I am sick of listening to the radio and hearing someone yell about all the things the Brewers are doing wrong (i.e. "Their farm system stinks" and "little league short stops play a better short than Yuniesky Betancourt", yada yada yada ... I am starting a more positive thread. List your reasons as to why you think the Brewers will win the 2011 World Series. IMO, Our starting 5 will have an ERA in the top 5 and our hitters willl be top 5 and we will get into the Series. For 1, I think it is extremelly difficult to be a repeat World Series winner (so a slight knock on the Giants) as things might not go as perfect for them this year. And IMO, I think the Phillies pitchers will regress a little (Oswalt, Halladay, and Lee are all coming off of career years in WHIP). Additionally, I think with the moves that have been made; Braun, Fielder, Weeks, Hart, etc come a little more amped up for the season. (And not that they don't come fired up every season but do you really think on May 1 of last year they were thinking "yep this is a World Series team.") I think we start hot and finish hot. Go Crew!!!

A quick look at the starters for the Angels over the past 2 years shows these rough averages: 2010: 2 LH, 4 RH, 3 Switch 2009: 1 LH, 4 RH, 4 Switch The RH, LH, Switch was based off of baseball-reference.com. Two links used: http://www.baseball-refer...ms/LAA/2010-roster.shtml http://www.baseball-refer...ms/LAA/2009-roster.shtml With this information, I don't see Roenicke going away from having LH options on his bench when only one everyday player bats LH. So I could very well see Gamel on the bench for 2011. Thus allowing us to play Counsell, Dickerson and Gamel when we face extremelly tough righties. IMO, the only way this doesn't happen is if someone like Cruz tears up Spring Training and makes the team.

I don't see why so much hostility against Betancourt. It seems like people on this board think he is the biggest douche ever. Is he a clubhouse cancer? I guess I don't get it. Here are some stats for you junkies http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif # Wins Above Replacement WAR # On Base % OBP 18 Erik Aybar (Angels) 0.9 18 Orlando Cabrera (reds) 0.303 19 Jason Bartlett (Rays) 0.7 19 Alex Gonzalez (TOR/ATL) 0.294 20 Alcides Escobar (Brewers) 0.6 20 Alcides Escobar (Brewers) 0.288 21 Yuniesky Betancourt (Royals) 0.6 21 Yuniesky Betancourt (Royals) 0.288 22 Cezar Izturis (Orioles) -0.3 22 Cezar Izturis (Orioles) 0.277 # Batting Average Balls in Play BABIP # Batting Average AVG 18 Alex Gonzalez (TOR/ATL) 0.275 13 Yuniesky Betancourt (Royals) 0.259 19 Yuniesky Betancourt (Royals) 0.267 18 Alex Gonzalez (TOR/ATL) 0.250 20 Alcides Escobar (Brewers) 0.264 19 Johnny Peralta (CLE/DET) 0.249 21 Cezar Izturis (Orioles) 0.257 20 Juan Uribe (Giants) 0.248 22 Juan Uribe (Giants) 0.256 21 Alcides Escobar (Brewers) 0.235 22 Cezar Izturis (Orioles) 0.230 # Ultimate Zone Rating UZR 17 Derek Jeter (NYY) -4.7 18 Jose Reyes (NYM) -5 19 Ian Desmond (WAS) -8.8 20 Yuniesky Betancourt (KC) -9.5 21 Hanley Ramirez (FLA) -10.2 22 Jason Bartlett TB) -10.4 What I find funny is Escobar is in the majority of these bad stats ... I think the Brewers option is to stay the course. They don't have any money, they don't have more prospects to trade away ... Betancourt is our starting SS until atleast mid may. (IMO, I think he will fit in fine as he will bat 8th and who cares what he does ... Our boys up top need to provide the run support, not Yuniesky)

Thanks for all your time here in Milwaukee. Your determination and dedication to come back from both of your surgeries is a great lesson for others. I wish you the best with the Mets. (just not the games you face the Brewers) And thanks for not going to the Cubs http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

What about Jeter, I hear he is available?

Personally I think SS is the bigger issue but don't forget a lot of people think Hart could play CF and then Gamel could play right

According to this post on a Rays Fansite, they debate over what the Brewers would offer for Garza. Seems like they think it would be worth Gamel and Lucroy. It seems like their fans have some interest in Gamel as he is the subject of their discussion in the comments part.

That's a great point. I also think that when we trade fielder, the headline part will be a pitching prospect and a hitting prospect in return. What if Fielder is traded for a top minor league pitcher and a top hitting prospect? At that point you trade Fielder and Lawrie for Marcum, a guy comparable to Lawrie and a top pitching prospect. So does that make this trade better? I think so.

There are some talks that Zumaya may be non tendered. Is this a potential risk/reward option here that the Brewers should take? I know he is coming off an elbow injury. (I am not sure how serious as I don't follow the Tigers.) His minor league stats were very good as a starting pitcher, so what about trying to move him into that role to limit his appearances? Rumor: http://www.kffl.com/article.php/126155 Minor league stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=zumaya001joe. Career minors Stats ERA - 3.3 WHIP - 1.2 SO/9 - 11

BrewCrewIn2004 - Me and my fiance went to Boston series in 2008. Even though the Brewers got swept we had a GREAT time. Boston is a great town. I strongly advise the trip! I may even talk to her about doing that one again. In 2008, there were a ton of Brewers fans there. Not sure how next year will be, probably not as many. But we had a great time.

Congrats Hoffman!!! Glad I watched. That is an awesome moment in the baseball timeline.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5473305 The Braves sent three pitchers to the Cubs, right-handers Robinson Lopez, 19, and Tyrelle Harris, 23, and lefty Jeffrey Lorick, 22. Not sure how good those pitchers are, hopefully not good at all

It isn't just here on bf.net, I have seen it other places too. On WSSP he is referred to as buster McGehee. All I am saying, and to agree to your point about Gamel and his salary, is we need more players like McGehee. Make the minimum and produce. What is our team salary going to be next year if we subtract prince? $50 million or so we are on the hook for? (Just a guess but I bet it isn't far off) ... The Brewers need to fill their roster with young cheap guys. I never want to see another Suppan, Riske, Gagne, Turnbow, Hawkins, contract again. We have guys who can do the same in our minors so go with them. And I agree with you, McGehee isn't a superstar 3B. So sure go ahead and try utilizing McGehee to get pitching, I just don't see what he would net. So if the return is low, then back to my point of stay young and cheap. IMO, Prince will be traded in the off season and Gamel / Hart will take over RF / 1B. McGehee stays at 3B.

I am confused at why so much venting is directed toward McGehee. Ok sure Gamel is a left handed bat and would be nice to get into our lineup. But sourcing the Brewers frustrating last two seasons partially onto Casey McGehee is way off. He isn't our problem. He costs $400K or so a season. Cost to production ratio is fantastic. We certainly don't need less Casey McGehee's on the team, we need more people like him that produce at that cost. (And a bonus to me is he has a burning desire to beat the Cubs every time he faces them. They are the ones who gave up on him and never gave him a chance.) McGehee isn't the first player in MLB history to have a pedestrian MiLB career and have above average success in MLB either. (and certainly won't be the last.) Look at Posednik. He certainly wasn't stunning in MiLB, it took him like 8 years to reach the majors. His MiLB stats were not good. But who cares? He produces in the Majors where it counts. Look at our players in the starting lineup next year who will make near minimum salaries; CF - Cain, SS - Escobar, C - Lucroy, 3B - McGehee all make near minimum salaries. That is half of our everyday starting positional players. (Tossing in the likes of Dickerson, Gomez, Axford, and Braddock into that equation makes it even better.) Remember when we paid Gagne $10 million to close. I am loving every bit of Axford and his $400k. And Casey too. So players like this is what the Brewers need to strive for, not stray from.

If the astro's just traded the 20+ million contract of Oswalt for J Happ (who has 4 team control years left) and 2 minor league prospects, then the Phillies just got taken to the cleaners. Why would you trade Happ for Oswalt? I don't see the logic there. Happ has looked like a stud the few times I have seen him and could be a top rotation guy.

Well the 03-05 years were definitely not playoff years and this year isn't either so I guess his thinking is let the rooks get some playing time. Now lets move Hart and let LoCain play every day. Then Edmonds / Gomez can play right. This season is trashed so lets see what we have in Cain.

I agree that both Davis (until he was just sent back to the DL) or Bush in a deal with Hart to the Giants for Sanchez and Neal would work. The Giants are not trading Bumgardner or Sanchez for Hart without getting pitching back ... So In short I think Bush's best value is with Hart or Fielder

Take a look at 2009 (* denotes wild card, bold division winner) and then take a look at July 1 this year. Hard to believe the Brewers were in 1st place at July 1st last year and completely fell on their face. Which team do you think will tank it and fall out of the race this year. 2009 AL East July 1 Final AL Central July 1 Final AL West July 1 Final *BOS 48-30 95-67 DET 43-35 86-77 LAA 42-34 97-65 NYY 45-32 103-59 CWS 40-38 79-83 TEX 42-35 87-75 TB 44-36 84-78 MIN 41-39 87-76 SEA 39-38 85-77 2009 NL East July 1 Final NL Central July 1 Final NL West July 1 Final PHI 39-36 93-69 MIL 42-36 80-82 LAD 50-29 95-67 FL 41-39 87-75 STL 42-38 91-71 SF 42-35 88-74 NYM 38-39 70-92 CIN 38-38 78-84 *COL 41-37 92-70 ATL 37-40 86-76 CHC 37-38 83-78 2010 AL East July 1 Final AL Central July 1 Final AL West July 1 Final NYY 48-30 MIN 43-36 TEX 47-31 BOS 47-32 DET 41-36 LAA 45-36 TB 46-32 CWS 40-37 OAK 39-41 TOR 40-40 KC 34-45 SEA 33-45 BAL 24-54 CLE 31-47 2010 NL East July 1 Final NL Central July 1 Final NL West July 1 Final ATL 46-33 CIN 45-35 SD 46-33 NYM 44-35 STL 43-36 LAD 43-35 PHI 41-36 MIL 36-43 COL 42-37 FL 37-41 CHC 34-45 SF 40-38 WAS 35-45 HOU 32-48 ARZ 31-48 PIT 28-51

It says ... "If your selected team doesn't play the game for which you purchased Postseason Ticket Reservation(s), either because the team does not qualify or because the game is not necessary, no refunds will be given for your purchased Postseason Ticket Reservation(s)." NLDS = $10 per ticket reservation, max 2 tickets per game NLCS = $15 per ticket reservation, max 2 tickets per game WS = $20 per ticket reservation, max 2 tickets per game Just another way for MLB to make money. How much money will they make from teams who don't even qualify?

Finding more of my answer (hopefully I wasn't the only one who thought this) Used baseball-reference and can atleast compare to MLB averages. Not sure how this ranks against other teams but it appears we are a tad above the average. So I guess it is just my imagination Solo / total = % 2010: 49 / 80 = 61% 2009: 97 / 182 = 53% 2008: 116/198 = 59% 2007: 140/231 = 61% 2006: 103/180 = 57% MLB 2010: 1021 / 1786 = 57%

I did find this (http://www.fangraphs.com/.../index.php/flying-solo/) from 2006 to June 2009, averages from all of MLB. (Finding part of my own answer) Solo — 56.9% Two run — 29.1% Three run — 11.3% Grand slam — 2.6%