HiAndTight

I remember the Brewers getting quite a bit of love when they were exceeding expectations, and then when they traded for CC, they blew up. So I do disagree with you on this one.

Carroll can't play everyday, but he can play 4-5 days a week which he's been doing, and doing very effectively. He's also a guy who can play short, third and 2nd. He's almost a perfect fit with this team. Perfect bat off the bench for a late game situation where you just need the ball in play, an upgrade over both McGehee and Betancourt, defensively and offensively, and he would slide into Counsell's role next year absolutely perfectly. As for his recent struggles, that is the very definition of small sample sizes. Look at his entire career. He's a very solid hitter.

I sincerely doubt that.

No, it's not that important for reporters to ask him that. There's no need for the media to grill the manager on every mistake or perceived mistake. While I don't know what goes on in the clubhouse, I think it's safe to assume that if a player makes a mistake, the coaches discuss it with him or with the team. Sometimes it's probably not even necessary to talk about it, as I'm sure most of the time, the player knows he screwed up.I totally agree with this. I'd much rather the "grilling," be with regard to bringing up Taylor Green, or things of that nature. I don't need RR grilled when Weeks goes to third when he clearly knows he made a mistake.

I think a lot of us have echoed that sentiment. I've certainly been on that bandwagon for some time now. And post 2012 is obviously concerning at this point, but if we're going to worry about what might go wrong, ie losing three fifths of our starting rotation, then certainly a little optimism is reasonable as well. An ugly farm system today, can easily produce enough in two years to have a significant impact. I think Greinke is re-signed, but at that point we're looking at Thornburg, Peralta, Heckathorn and Scarpetta all being potential rotation options. Plus Jungmann and Bradley should be advancing toward the upper levels. Khris Davis, Sean Halton, D'Vontrey Richardson, Gennett and others should provide a clearer idea of what they offer. Again, our system is weak, but it is not without potential impact players. We're not starting from scratch, we don't need to build an entire team. I just think the stories of the post-apocalyptic 2012 Brewers, may be a bit pre-mature.

Fielder + Yuni + McGehee = 3.6 + (-0.5) + (-0.5) = 2.6 WAR thus far, so being conservative and doubling that = 5.2 replacement WAR needed for next year, spread among 3 players = 1.7 WAR/player at 3rd, SS and 1B. I would hope Gamel would provide at least 3 WAR on his own meaning it would not be very difficult to be just as good next year as we are this year.I absolutely agree with you. The hardest thing to watch this year is how adversely impacted our pitching staff has been by this pourous defense. I would imagine they would greatly benefit from an IF that doesn't play like an over 40 bar league softball IF allowing every slow hit GB to somehow find $@##$@. I think this is a perfect oppurtunity to give this franchise a very slight face lift that could have some very significant impacts. Gamel replacing Prince. -Obviously the offense will take a large hit, but we saw some incredible glimpses from Gamel defensively at 1st base. His range is just laughable as compared to Prince, and his larger frame would be a godsend to our IF'ers. Sign Jamey Carroll(2/8); Rafael Furcal(2/12) Furcal starts at SS, though you need a good backup plan as he has not stayed healthy in some time. In comes Carroll who's the definition of consistency, and both of whom ar MUCH better than Betancourt defensively. Taylor Green breaks camp with the big league team as the starting 3rd basemen. Another substantial upgrade over McGehee. Lineup of Furcal/Carroll Morgan Braun Weeks Gamel Hart Green Lucroy There really isn't $@##$@ in that lineup. Everyone should be looking at a .350 or so OBP with the possible exception of Hart who should be close. And I think people are overlooking some of the arms we have coming up. Not front line rotation type arms, but arms that can absolutely help us out a great deal. Guys like Fiers, Manzanillo, Rogers, and others could provide a very nice boost to the pen. Guys like Thornburg, Scarpetta, Peralta(who I think is a future closer), Heckathorn, and others are a year further along and just a phone call away next year. So the Brewers are going to have a SIGNIFICANT number coming off their books this year, and they're going to have a significant boost in revenue with the new TV deal set to kick in making a payroll over 100 million. This could allow them to re-sign Grienke and or Marcum if they so chose, be aggressive in filling out the final pieces of the bench by adding guys like Willingham, DeJesus, JD Drew, whomever. BP arms like Ryan Madson, Johnathon Broxton on a 1 year deal, Darren Oliver, etc..etc.. And all the while we're going to be hoarding 1st round and supplemental round draft picks the next few years. I just see absolutely no reason with an established rotation that has the potential to be dominant, a core of Braun and Weeks surrounded by the likes of Gamel, Green, Lucoy, Furcal, Hart..etc..etc..and money to spend that we can't actually improve on this years team. The loss of Prince has everyone so damn scared, and I get that, but I hope the Brewers look at it as an opportunity to become a team a little less reliant on Prince and the long ball to a team that's more sound defensively and more balanced 1-8 in the lineup. And there is absolutely no reason that shouldn't happen.

Hit major league pitching. Carroll's .277 career BA, .356 career OBP is much better than what Josh Wilson can produce. Wilson has a career .281 OBP in MLB. That is horrid Right- but he's closer to 40 than 30. I would expect his numbers to be below his career norms. He has no power whatsoever either. Seems like giving up something of value for him as a utility guy (You guys don't seriously want Carroll starting at short, do you?) would be a waste as Wilson is younger, and to this point has outperformed his career stats by a lot. If they are going to get an old guy from the Dodgers, it had better be Furcal. He's better in the field, and there's a decent chance he could recapture something at the plate. Absolutely I want him starting at SS without any shadow of a doubt. And you can expect his numbers to be below his career norms, but they're not. The last two years he's been incredibly consistent. Over his last two years; .291/.370/717 I also can't possibly bring myself to compare Josh Wilson to Carroll, or get down on the prospect of adding Carroll because of the prospect we might lose Josh Wilson. Wilson is just not a good player. Carroll is a very solid defender, can play 3rd,2nd and Short and gets on base. It only makes sense to bring him back next year as a utility guy. So at this point, what does Wilson offer us that Carroll doesn't?

I doubt it. I suspect Carroll is going to require a better haul prospect wise. Still not a very big one, and one well-well within our ability to offer, but Furcal has the bigger salary and has far bigger question marks surrounding his ability to help out down the stretch. Carroll is about as sure a bet as you can get at this point. He should come in, play solid D, hit .270-.290/.360-375. I don't know what more we could ask for. Erik Komtasu+Amaury Rivas for Furcal and Carroll with us assuming all of Furcal's remaining salary.

Well, as he already clarified, he never said anything about paying all of his salary. That was a little slant put on it by you in an attempt to try and mock the suggestion. I guess I don't see the mere suggestion of adding a guy who walks 14.5 pct of the time on a team that could sorely use such an attribute, AS WELL as a team that could desperately use a bat off the bench, as being that egregious. I also must say I find your position to be dumbfounding. Your outright refusal to trade any prospect of any kind to a team within the division regardless of the fact that the player coming back to us could provide a very nice boost seems to be focused on the wrong things. I'm not so worried about a fringe prospect turning into Cliff Lee several years down the road as I am with adding a guy with a .375 OBP from the left side to our bench. Fukudome is a very nice player who signed a very bad contract. Also, if I might ask, why did you highlight the fact that he has to be signed by 11/15 or become a FA? That's no different than any other player, and is the case for Japanese players who come over here and play. So it's basically just saying he's due to be a FA at the end of the year. Though, he is in line to return us a 1st round supplemental pick, so maybe that was your reasoning. Not to mock, but to point out that we'd actually be picking up another pick potentially.

Not sure I would qualify only 5 IP and 3 BB as great. I'd hope he'd more efficient at some point and those walks would return more to his WI rate before a promotion. I would qualify 5 IP 3 H 3 BB 6 K and 0 ER's as a great start for a prospect every day of the week. You seem to be a bit over the top critical. He dominated once again, and not that it has a direct impact on him, he did it while facing the 4th overall prospect in baseball in the BA mid-season rankings.

Adams would obviously be as well, but I look at that one as being a bit too unrealistic. The asking price is reportedly more for him than Bell, isn't it?

Trading him was far from a "significant wrong." Seth McClung was a valuable part of the 2008 playoff run. Plus, he's a lifelong Brewers cheerleader.I think Balfour and his 12.65 K/9, 2.1 WAR as a reliever(non-closer) and 1.54 ERA would have been a bit more valuable part of that 2008 team. McClung on the other hand posted a .6 WAR despite started for a 12 games, a 7.63 K/9 and an FIP of 4.64. That trade looked very, very bad in hindsight. Balfour would have been a godsend for that team. PLUS, while Mcclung was waived, Balfour ended up continuing his success with a WAR of .9 and 1.2 the following two years, and yielding the Rays TWO supplemental draft picks. That trade looks as bad as any Melvin has made for the Brewers IMO, with competition from JJ Hardy.

If we're looking at the A's, how about Grant Balfour? Bigger salary, likely come a little cheaper, and should offer some compensation if he doesn't re-sign. We could right a significant wrong from the past.

And I would take the production Mouton had the two years following his age 24 season in AAA. Also don't recall anyone saying he has nothing left to prove, though if they did, I don't believe that's the sentiment of most. Most simply believe he'd be an obvious upgrade over McGehee. I have trouble seeing an opposing argument at this time.

First of all, if simply citing spots on our roster as an rationale for wanting to sell is valid, than there isn't a team in baseball without similar concerns. They may need to replace 3 key bullpen members? Who are these irreplaceable BP members? K-Rod who we've had for FOUR games? Certainly you can't be referencing him in a thread about how we've underperformed all year. Hawkins? Hardly irreplaceable, Saito? You seem to be arguing against yourself now, bringing up guys we're losing who have had minimal impacts on this team thus far this year as reasons why we're going to fall off so significantly in the future. So...we're back to the same issues we've got right now. We need to upgrade 3rd, SS and replace Prince. You also claim we have "nobody left to trade," which is quite obviously hyperbole. Nonetheless, nobody is suggesting the Brewers can "survive on Free Agency," and in reality, I'm not even sure why we're focusing on next year in a thread about selling THIS year and our chances this year, but in staying with that, we don't need to survive on it. We need it to supplement what we have. Which we're just fine with. This team needs a defensive upgrade which is hardly impossible to attain through free agency. Either way, you don't throw away a chance at the playoffs or the World Series because things haven't gone perfectly or because the Pirates are a half game up on us.

So since they're not just laying down for us almost 100 games in and they're a whole half game ahead of us, lets just blow the whole thing up....

Exactly. I think that we're getting a little too sensitive to these minor injuries to Braun because he's such a valuable player. As for questioning him playing, seems to me that the Brewers have a pretty good handle on their big leaguers injuries, and Braun's also been pretty good about taking care of himself. Seems to be a bit of a reach with the information we have to question them PH'ing him and questioning the Brewers for not placing him on the DL right now.

Invader3K, while you've been over the top in your Betancourt criticism, I completely agree with you that Carroll is the guy who'd be the best fit on this team. I don't see how one COULD be over the top in their Betancourt criticism? He's quite literally the worst player in the big leagues(everyday that is). He's terrible at everything. The ONLY value he has is his occasional blind squirrel like power he finds on occasion. Terrible defensively and he has a poor BA for an OBP. Seriously, .256? We were running Hall and Hardy out for offensive numbers worse than that while both playing MUCH better defense. I honestly don't EVER remember watching a worse everyday player since I've become a Brewers fan, and I've watched some god-awful Brewers teams.

Like And That said, he was pretty solid last year, even if his WHIP was a little high (though WHIP can be a little higher with relief pitchers). I'm sure these sleep problems are still affecting him. He's had stretches where he's pitched well this year but lately he's been terrible. I would send him back down to work things out again. Also, and I'm not trying to attack you, but it seems like every post I read of yours is negative. You say that Braddock is awful and has been that way his whole career, which just isn't true. You called Greinke a "sally" in the game in which he was taken out after giving up 7 runs in 2 innings and blame him for hurting the bullpen, even though he easily could've pitched longer. Roenicke just took him out, while he left Wolf in a few days later to get beat up. You also seem to be negative toward the posters here as a whole. In the Cirillo thread, you passive aggressively said something about not having the same "silly opinions" you see here (as in on this board). And here's another quote from you "And I you are never allowed to get out with guys on base if you are disliked by brewerfan or you are awful as well." I'm not sure what that means but it seems to be another talking down to this board. You've also complained in the in-game thread about people who complain about Yuni/Greinke/McGehee's struggles. There have been other instances as well but I don't feel like looking them all up. I know you've also said some positive things but the negative stuff, especially the negative stuff directed toward people here, really sticks out. If you think everyone here are idiots or whatever, then why come and post? Some of your comments seem more suited to the jsonline board. I post negative stuff to fit in here. That is what every thread is all about. Complaining about what is wrong and how the brewers can be fixed. I don't see how any negative posts of mine are any different. I disagree with some of them and comment on them. I am nowhere near as negative as most here. The world is always falling here and then a winning streak brings momentary joy. Braddock has been and always will be a headcase. He has awful control even when he is getting outs. I never want him in high leverage situations, especially as the season gets later. Getting a lefty is probably next on DM's list. And SS will probably as well but only with a journeyman type. This is just asininely ignorant. I love the default, "he's struggling to throw strikes, so he's a headcase," type arguments. He has had some very public issues that he's dealt with, but to directly attribute those to his inability to throw strikes to me, strongly suggests that you've never played any level of baseball. Sorry, this type of blanket statement is always a pet peeve of mine. You also failed to support your absurd notion that he's never been good for the Brewers...which is just simply not true any way you look at it. He's always been good up with the Brewers save for the last few weeks. So...either support that opinion or lets find a new talking point to insult a person's character, shall we?

If they can get Greinke and Gallardo going at the same time, I like their chances against anybody, including Philly. That's a pretty big if though. Gallardo is the model of inconsistency this season and Greinke hasn't been pitching very well all season long. Hardly. A big "if," is Betancourt turning it around and hitting .280/.360 the rest of the way, or calling up Peralta and having him have an Edlred like run the rest of the half. Expecting a pitcher who has as good of stuff as anyone in the game, who's having a historically unlucky season and who is just two years removed from a Bob Gibson circa 1967 type season, it's hardly a huge if that his bottom line will represent his peripherals..which hereto now are absolutely absurd. 12 K's per 9? 6-1 KK/BB ratio? As we saw in Col, his defense has been killing him. Two moderate trades to improve SS and 3rd is hardly out of the question. And likewise with Gallardo. What has he done in his career that suggests it's a big if that he could get hot and perform well down the stretch? Those two are more LIKELY to happen than unlikely, meaning it's not a "big if." And when a great deal of your success is contingent upon those two stepping it up a touch, as opposed to what many other teams are relying on to hit their stride, I'll take my chances every day of the week. I'm a guy who's always been a die hard fan. I remember getting all excited when this team won 10-11 in a row in the midst of a 90 loss season about 6-7 years ago. I'd have been absolutely fine with them dealing Prince, Hart, McGehee and Axford before the season and having gone into full fledged rebuilding mode. But now? They might even lost my money if they were to do something this ridiculous.

This statement totally flies in the face of recent baseball history. First of all, they're IN FIRST PLACE despite having not played consistent baseball. Second, they're a team that has VERY good players in several spots and then massive holes in other spots. That makes it that much easier to upgrade your team. Trading for...just for arguments sake, Aramis Ramirez and Jamey Carroll completely changes the way this team looks. That gives you 8 everyday players who are capable of hitting .280+, and 6 guys capable of hitting 25+ HR's. Even if you go with a lesser 3rd basemen, a Wilson Betemit or a Chase Headley(though he may not be a lesser 3rd) you're still looking at massive upgrades. You simply have to give this team a chance to let things play out, hope they get hot at the right time. This is the most talented staff the city of Milwaukee has ever seen since the Braves left town, and despite Greinke's struggles, you still see prolonged bouts of dominance from him. And as for the future, you're looking at getting a lot of compensation picks. Fielder 1st+Supplemental first KRod-Same Aram-If you were to trade for him, same. Hawkins-Potentially a Supplemental pick. That's as many as 8 1st and 1st rd supplemental picks to go with this past years draft. Add in the fact that we're going to be able to increase our payroll substantially with the new TV deal, and I don't think our window closes nearly as much as some suggest. In fact, I think next year gives us the potential to alter the dynamic of this team every so slightly and focus on defense at 3rd, SS and 1B, thereby improving our pitchers a GREAT deal and helping to avoid some of the blowup's that Greinke had in Colorado that cost us 3 runs and cost him probably a full inning, if not more. With respect, I think this is about the worst possible idea. You completely destroy any good will with the fans and you cheat the organization out of the opportunity to win a World Series. And again, just stating at this point that the Brewers aren't a World Series team. I'd venture a guess that the Rockies, Cardinals, Marlins, Rangers, and several others weren't "World Series teams," at some point in their respective World Series years in the past decade. You can argue why we're so much different, but the fact of the matter is we're a very talented team that is at least keeping it's head above the water. Gimme a short series with Greinke+Gallardo+Marcum and a 1-6 of Hart/Morgan/Braun/Prince/Weeks/Ramirez and I'd rather hope to get hot than just give up.

Bruce Levine just said that there is no vesting option, simply that he gets a 1 million dollar "relocation" bonus.Right but he has 5 and 10 rights and so can veto any trade. Now maybe he'll just waive it, but I doubt it and so my guess is the receiving team has to pick up his option.Well, he's also reportedly said that he doesn't want his option picked up and that a part of any trade would be to eliminate the option as he wants to hit the FA market this off-season. I don't think the option is all that big of a deal. He, like KRod, despite obviously not making the 16-17 million next year on a new deal, could likely both see long term deals averaging 10 million plus a year. Plus, if as a condition of the trade the option was dropped, we'd be looking at more compensation picks. I haven't looked at Elias, but you'd have to assume he's a Type A. That means potentially 3 first round picks and 3 supplemental picks this year in addition to our own 1st rounder. 8 picks in the first two rounds would be another huge step to improving that farm system. So, with that said, short of Thornburg and Peralta and maybe Gamel, I'd have a hard time getting too upset about any other trade-eligible prospects we've got in a potential deal for Ramirez.

I would trade Hart just because I don't really trust him, and I think he's got a nice enough contract that you could get something back for him. I'd like to make our lineup a lot more balanced. Morgan Swisher SH Braun Gamel * Weeks Green* Lucroy SS(Furcal,Carroll...) Not !%!!#% in the lineup and while we don't have anyone replacing Prince, Swisher over Hart, Green over McGehee, SS over Beteancourt and then Gamel would make up that gap IMO. And our pitchers would thank us. I know this is a Swisher thread, but Cameron/Swisher/Hart/Cabrera have all been intertwined into the discussion and this statement sums up my feelings on Cabrera. As for Swisher, I love this guy. While he may not hit .280, his ability to draw a walk and play defense would be a welcome addition to this club. I agree with TwinsBrewers...Move Braun to 1B, Corey to LF and sign Swisher to play RF and that would be a pretty nice acquistion. I guess I find it more likely that the Brewers would invest in Swisher only if they were able to move Hart for a nice prospect or two. But in the event they did rotate some of the guys, I'd much rather Hart move over to 1st base and give us that massive wingspan over at 1st and just leave Braun in LF. That way you have two substantial upgrades defensively rather than just one. Hart should presumably be a big time upgrade at 1st base, Swisher a very nice upgrade in RF, and then Hart should be roughly the same in LF as he was in RF.

I think there are some in their organization who really like Lombardozzi...so they want to call him up and move Espinosa to short. I don't think they're actively shopping him, and they're not going to trade him just to trade him. Cheap SS with good speed and some power have a lot of value, even when they're struggling. The nationals aren't stupid, they know that. But they would definitely listen to offers, even if it meant selling low on him. There's just no way they're going to sell THAT low and trade him for a guy like Gomez or one of our 4th OFer type prospects. Yeah, the Nationals are likely to move Espinoza over to short in the future and slide Rendon in at 2nd base. That's still at least a year and a half away, but that would be one thing working in our favor. Still, I wouldn't be that big on giving up Heckathorn, Schaefer/Komatsu-plus for him as we are looking primarily at this year and he doesn't look as though he'd be a big enough upgrade to justify such a package. Still though, he does have a lot of upside and he could help us out a great deal in the future, so...wouldn't be the worst deal in the world.

Because they have a top 100 prospect who is blocked by Headley who's absolutely raking at AA(and just got promoted to AAA). It would make a lot of sense to trade him. Again, a package of Heckathorn, a GB pitcher for that massive park with good stuff would be an excellent fit. Scooter Gennett is another guy who I think fits in very well at Petco with his gap power. Could easily see him racking up 40 dbls down the road playing there. George Kottaras or Maldonado to give them some catching depth they lack. And then Bartlett is also blocking one of their top young prospects and he's got very little value. Plus they could also take Katin and or Farris as well. Katin could be a nice bat off the bench for them and Farris a filler until Gennett is ready(whom I'd rally hate to trade). If they had any interest in trying to see if Casey could figure it out the rest of this year and then turn around and deal him in the off-season to give Darnell more time, or start next year with him as their 3rd basemen to keep Darnell away from Super2 status would be up to them. But the range of players I've listed I think is about what it'd take to make such a deal. Here's a better question, for the sake of argument; Mat Gamel+Tyler Thornburg+Chris Narveson for Chase Headly+Mike Adams+Chad Quallis+Tim Stauffer+Jason Bartless....who says no? Kinda a bit over the top, but that could really address all of our needs and give the Padres some nice pieces moving forward. Not sure I'd do it, but for the time being, Betancourt gets his walking papers, McGehee gets sent down to AAA, as does Estrada to work on getting stretched back out. Stauffer steps in as our #5. Lineup of Hart Morgan Braun Prince Weeks Headley Lucroy Bartlett The pen sets up as follows CL-Axford SU-KRod 7th-Adams MRP-Qualls MRP-Hawkins MRP-Loe Loogy-Braddock Long Man-Dillard/McClendon(the Long man wouldn't be as important) Rotation Greinke Gallardo Marcum Wolf Stauffer Like I said, just in a rhetorical scenario, who says no to this one? Not that I'd be in favor of giving up such a huge haul for the long term, but you would improve your team a GREAT deal, at 3rd, SS, and in the BP.