jerichoholicninja

I wonder if Maddux can actually do anything to make their pitchers better. Generally he's had averageish pitchers and made them above average. I'd think that Scherzer, Strasburg, and Gonzalez are maxed out on how good they can be.

I don't understand how the military gets anything in return from this. Nothing from what I can remember about God Bless America has anything military about it. The DOD might as well be paying teams for singing the Star Spangled Banner before games as that at least occasionally has a service person singing it.

I don't see what's so crazy about giving Lind a QO after a healthy 2015 and 2016. At Lind's age he's only getting one multi-year contract. He would turn the QO down in an instant. He could take $16M for one year and gamble with his health and production or get $30-40M for multiple years. That's a no brainer.

Good lord, another Hank bobblehead. Turn the page marketing department. Haven't they done a couple vintage bobbles already too? Love the Vaughn one. Might plan to make that game.

If Lind is acquired before the season that team has the option of giving him a QO next year, not so during the season. If Lind can make it through 2016 relatively healthy and productive I see no reason for a team to not give him a QO. Essentially, a team that acquires Lind this offseason can replace whatever prospect they give up for him with the pick from the QO in 2017. The only way Lind brings back more during the season is if he's healthy and OPS'ing 900+ against lefties and righties through July, not impossible but highly unlikely. He needs to be traded this offseason.

Seattle isn't a Lucroy and Lind away from being a serious contender. I'm not sure why they would trade prospects for these guys.

You can go back and look at my posting history to see that I'm as big an Estrada fan as there is. Having said that, he is not the pitcher he was last year. As "unlucky" as he was in 2014, he was even more so "lucky" in 2015. It had nothing to do with coaching. He'll probably get a largeish $12-15MM a year, 3-4 year contract this winter and be the bane of his new team's fanbase until that contract is over.

Gennett was 4.5 WAR over his first year and a half, and basically that same player once he returned from his stint in AAA. Remember he got married early last year and I suspect that might be partially responsible for a terrible start. Whatever it was, after Scooter came back up in June he put up .287/.314/.419 the rest of the year which is almost exactly what he did in all of 2014 which was .289/.320/.434. Last year MLB 2B put up .711 OPS. Scooter's career vs RHP is .796. When used correctly he's an above average 2B offensively. The real need is a 2B that can hit lefties to platoon with him.

I think the Dusty ruining pitchers line is way overblown but it's his lack of any idea about how to construct a lineup that's what's going to kill the Nationals. I can't remember who it was, maybe Zack Cozart, but with the Reds he hit a guy leadoff most of the season who was one of the worst hitters in baseball just because he was fast and a leadoff hitter should steal bases.

Obviously they are going to be differing opinions on whether or not the Greinke and Marcum trades were worth it in the long run but I don't understand how anyone can criticize the Estrada trade. What team was going to give up a prospect of any value for one year of Marco Estrada? He was a human pitching machine in 2014 and Lind was an oft-injured, platoon player without a position. The fact that Lind played well and actually stayed healthy in 2015 was of great fortune to the Brewers because, barring an injury or suckitude, he's going to bring back more in a trade than Estrada ever could have.

Honestly, given that I don't think anyone beyond Nelson as your #4, Lopez, and maybe Jungmann or Davies as fringe MLB/#5 guys ever being a part of a competitive 2018 or beyond Brewers team, I don't know what the issue with Garza is. I don't claim to know too much about the guy, I know he's had a few scuffles behind closed doors, but I can't imagine him being that bad that I'd be afraid to put all of the fringe MLB starters that I have in the same rotation with him. You either have to trade him away (and probably take back another player with baggage or give up value to get rid of him), cut him, or pitch him. Just let him soak up some innings and keep some of our guys in the minors a little longer. People are forming their opinions of Garza off of one poorly and inaccurately reported story.

The biggest need in 2016 is good, cheap, young players who will be even better but still young and cheap in 2017, 2018, and 2019. There's no reason to focus on one position or improving one team stat.

A priority doesn't mean the only or even the highest priority. Besides there are some spots in the field where you can go with the old "the best defense is a good offense" rule. Ya. Davis isn't a Ramirez in LF, he just has a noodle arm. I'd worry more about infield defense that a corner OF'er.

Another MLB season has come and gone and in a few weeks when the snow starts to fly I'll start pining for the 2016 season to start. I love baseball. I love playing it, I love coaching it, I love reading about it, I love watching it but I just can't get into playoff baseball. Even when the Brewers were in the playoffs in 2008 and 2011 I just couldn't get myself to be wholeheartedly interested in it. This past year I watched the least playoff baseball I ever have and didn't watch a second of the World Series which was only slightly less than last year when all I watched was the last half inning of game 7. Why? The best answer I can come up with is that playoff baseball isn't how baseball is meant to be played. Like the old saying, it's a marathon not a sprint. The idea of a team's fate being decided by a random 5 or 7 game stretch just doesn't appeal to me and neither does the over the top, fake drama created by TV that playoff baseball gets. Baseball is most interesting to me on any random summer weeknight when 30 teams are playing. Every night something unusual happens. You get a rookie from AA called up by a last place team to make a spot start and he shuts down a first place team. Some random record from over 75 years ago gets broken. There are rain delays and extra innings and sometimes both in the same game. There are brawls and arguments and ejections. There's a weird rule that no one knows existed that comes into play. I've always felt that baseball is all about not worrying about what happened today because there's a game tomorrow. Playoff baseball isn't that. Playoff baseball is also usually cold. Baseball isn't meant to be played under 50 degrees. That's all for my stupid rant. Bring on Spring Training 2016. I can't wait.

I read a stat that the Royals scored a bunch of runs after the 8th inning in the playoffs (don't remember exact numbers) which is why they were able to come back so many times. It could just be totally random that that happened but it probably has to do with the fact that they have a lineup of contact hitters. When you're facing guys in the late innings who strikeout 10-12 per 9 you need hitters who can make contact to counteract that. I don't think we're going to see a return to the days of slap hitters but I think the value of batters than can put the bat on the ball and still post respectable OBP and SLUG numbers will be going up.

They do it after a 1/2 season or 1 full year at the most. Not after a guy has been relieving for 2.5 years. Also, their guys were stud SP'ers in the minors. Smith was a dud SP in the minors. Well, not quite a dud but that word had nice lyrical symmetry to it.

I'm starting to develop a Cardinals-like hatred for the Royals. They need to just lose in games they should lose instead of coming back.

If I had time I would actually do some research but my casual observation is this is rather common among pitchers. Especially lefty pitchers hitting right handed moreso than position players do.

I can't see the Twins doing either of those trades and I wouldn't want the Brewers to do the first one.

I didn't watch the game last night but I've been reading about Syndergaard throwing at Alcides and then admitting it after the game. There's obviously plenty of opinions from the media and fans but what bothers me the most is how up in arms and acting holier than thou the Royals are being about it when you know with 100% certainty that they would have the same attitude the Mets have if the roles were reversed.

I guess what I mean is I'm sure there were a few good questions asked followed by no answer-answers. Like someone asks if the Brewers are looking to move Davis with the glut of outfield prospects the organization has and it was answered with something like "Davis contributed a lot to our team last season and we look forward to a big 2016 from him but we are excited about the future of some of our prospects too."

I didn't watch this or read anything about it but I'm going to assume it was just a fluff PR event, right?

Doug isn't in charge anymore. We will probably not be trading with Texas as often anymore.

If Toronto could have traded for Will after Loup go hurt, how much would they have given up? I think many are selling short what some teams will give up for very good BP pitcher. I would agree with those that are saying he should close to increase his value. Give him 2016 as the closer to "prove" he can do it and trade him next offseason. Chapman is a free agent next offseason (maybe Kimbrel too, can't remember). Whichever teams miss out on those guys will probably still be looking for a closer.

Yes, I understand the whole underslot thing but no player shouldn't get almost the whole slot. The teams have no power in this situation. You either sign the player or lose the money. With slotting the league is saying "this is how much you are worth but you can sign for less than that if you want." There is no reason a player shouldn't sign for less than that.