PrinceFielderx1

link

Thanks GormanHarvey. I was trying to find that article...

It's on right now FYI

Kottaras only threw out 8% of base stealers last season? I think that's correct. He was terrible. It was alarming..

Mark Rogers to throw live batting practice on Friday and vows to be ready if needed to replace Greinke, link

I suspect that we will find out the status of Mark Rogers here very soon. I heard that Rogers was supposed to throw BP (Tuesday) which was today and hopes to start later in the week if all goes well. Here is the quote, link

I agree that this injury is huge also, and so that's why the Brewers number one pitching prospect or the next best available player should replace him. That would be Mark Rogers. No way on Peralta and Rivas. I'd chose Rogers over both of them without question.

He was supposed to work on hitting the ball on the ground more and change his swing and he has done the complete opposite. Look at this quote from March 12 of last year, link I don't believe any of Gomez's comments anymore. He needs to practice what he is being taught and get results or he will be replaced early on in the 2011 season.

Didn't Tom H say that Mark Rogers was going to start a game here very soon? I found some Mark Rogers news and this was posted about a week ago, link Sounds like Mark Rogers is ready to go in ST.

Just wanted to add that my father played catch with George "Boomer" Scott in 1976 in New Berlin, WI right before he was traded back to Boston for Cecil Cooper.

If Carlos Gomez/Dickerson have a bad ST my long shot would be Logan Schafer. He is a very long shot, but if he impresses in ST he should be in the discussion for CF. Gomez/Dickerson were horrible last year and Logan Schafer imo would be an upgrade over them both. Plus, he is a left handed bat.

Marcum is throwing a lot of strikes.

Baseball is here. It's about time!

This thread is making me hungry! I can't wait for the season to start.. I could eat 4 Bratwurst right now. How is the food at the ST games?

I agree. I'm worried as well. With Rogers history this could be really bad news.

Mark Rogers quit BP early with shoulder soreness according to Tom H twitter. Gord Ash said it's slight shoulder soreness. He's had 2 shoulder surgeries.

Rickie Weeks potentially left a lot of money on the table by signing this deal. If he repeated 2010 performance in 2011 he could have gotten 13 million a year.

Didn't they have the Brewers at 75 wins in 2011? I can't remember.... Edit: 2011 standings are coming soon according to their site..

according to the NY Daily news Sabathia is expected to exercise his opt out clause after 2011. link

link I don't know if the Brewers have the prospects, but that would be sick if the Brewers traded for him. Greinke Gallardo Liriano Marcum Wolf Second to the Phillies rotation.

You forgot about Randy Wolfs 9.5 million that will be off the books after the 2012 season. He has a 2013 10 million option with a 1.5 million buyout. If I was the Brewers I'd try to re-sign Greinke, Marcum, Weeks and a good overall SS long term (Reyes?). Use prospects for everything else. I don't know if that is realistic. If not, then let Weeks walk after this year and trade/sign for a SS instead. The Brewers have depth at 2B (Gennett, Farris) and CF (Schafer,Komatsu) in the minors, but hardly any at SS. Luis Cruz doesn't sell me right now. This would also improve the Brewers defense up the middle which is key.

It's too early to say that the Brewers don't have any prospects to use in a trade to get Reyes come mid-season and might be an inaccurate statement. Right now they have Rivas, Rogers, Gamel and Peralta. I believe the Brewers will do everything they can to keep Rogers and I think he is untouchable according to the Brewers, but that's just my opinion. Rivas, Peralta and Gamel can be had though at the right price. Plus, players like Schafer and Gennett for all you know could break out during the first half of 2011 and dramatically increase their stock. Those two will probably be in AA and AAA at some point in 2011. I'd rather have the Brewers trade/re-sign Reyes, then re-sign Weeks if possible. The Brewers desperately need a SS for the long term and Reyes is a good one. The Brewers have some depth at 2B with Ryan Gennett/ Eric Farris. They have Cruz as the only back-up for SS. Betancourt is probably going to walk after this season. Which leaves a mess at SS after this year unless the Brewers can trade for one or risk being outbid in FA if they wait till after the season.

ERA doesn't tell the whole story of the 2008 Brewers pitching staff. Can you imagine what it would have been with a healthy Yovani Gallardo? or if they had Sabathia from the start of the season? Or if they had Wolf instead of Suppan? This 2011 pitching staff is imo better, has more quality depth, and should have it from start to finish barring no injury's. Also, many of the Brewers players are more developed and matured now and in their prime. We also know what to expect from a healthy Rickie Weeks now. This coming season has potential breakout written all over it. This is a very very talented young team that we have going into this season. Even more so than 2008.

I think you are underestimating that '08 team. The pitching was really good that year led by Sheets in the first half.I don't think he is underestimating it at all, actually. In 2008, Gallardo only pitched 28 IP that year because of injury and Sabathia was a rental for half a season. Dave Bush, Manny Parra had era's in the low to mid 4's. Suppan's era was close to 5. The only true stud pitcher the Brewers had for more then a half season was Sheets. Not 1 of the Brewers starting 5 pitchers pitched more then 200IP for the Brewers in 2008. Yet the Brewers still won 90 games. Now going into this season the Brewers will have 3 stud pitchers in Greinke, Gallardo, and Marcum and a solid 2/3 in Wolf if he continues where he left off. Innings pitched should be a huge difference from the 2008 ball club if they can stay healthy. Greinke/Wolf can pitch 200+IP and Marcum/Gallardo should come close. That's 4 starters that could pitch close to 200 quality innings in 2011 for the Brewers. The stress that takes off of the bullpen will be "huge". It will make the Brewers bullpen that much better along with their rotation. The Brewers should win a lot of close games, unlike 2010. They should be able to compete and hang with the other contending teams that they will face in interleague play. With the pitching and offense the Brewers have this season I believe they can win 95 games. The additions of Greinke, Marcum and Saito should make the Brewers pitching do a complete 180 from last season. I'm also expecting Braun and Fielder to have bounce back years.

Why would Greinke sign an extension if he knew both Weeks and Fielder were going to be gone after this year? imo the Brewers have to at least re-sign Weeks to have a chance to re-sign Greinke. Greinke wants to play for a contending team. The Brewers would have to prove that they are a contending team without Fielder. That's going to be hard to do. Impossible if both Weeks and Fielder leave. That's what I think.