Warning Track Power

I agree but here are some of the reasons I can think of for why people are down on him 1. Don Money's and Ken Macha's comments. Both were pretty hard on Mat 2. Mat seeming to come in out of shape the year he had a chance to make the team out of Spring Training 3. Over-reaction to small-sample size the last two year when he was a pinch hitter 4. The Prince Factor - It is hard to follow Prince I think we also need to factor in the overachiever status of Casey McGehee. McGehee beat out the far more naturally talented Gamel. Didn't hurt that McGehee was a perceived harder worker and Gamel had a go with the flow, more cool attitude. Far easier as a fan to root for a McGehee in that situation than a Gamel.

I was just going to post something similar to this, Corey Hart version 2.0. Gamel will be a good player and make a couple of all star games but will always have his doubters.Ditto for me. While I'm not willing to go as far as multiple All-Star games, I see Gamel being an above average 1B that will constantly be reminded that he isn't Prince Fielder. Given the chance as an everyday 1B, I see Gamel putting up Geoff Jenkins-esque numbers by 2014 (.275-.285 AVG, 25-30 HR, 85-100 RBI)

Randy Wolf Pitching Stats for Years 2010 to 2011 Year Tm W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB 2010-2011 MIL 26 22 .542 3.93 67 67 0 1 1 0 428.0 427 202 187 52 153 7 276 22 1 6 1839 101 1.355 9.0 1.1 3.2 5.8 1.80I don't think I could've expected more out of Randy Wolf over the past two seasons for $18.3 million. While he isn't the #2 we signed him to be, he hasn't exactly "not worked out" in my opinion. I think just about everyone of us would have taken this line 2 years into his deal when we signed him prior to the 2010 season.

Why haven't we picked this guy up yet? Seems to be a good RH balance for Gamel when we face a Kerhsaw-type. Also a guy with a little pop from the RH side of the plate for the bench and someone who could help fill the gap in LF if Braun is suspended. Seems like his injuries over the past few years might make him a bit of a reclamation project but the kind of diamond in the rough guy that DM usually picks up. I would be happy if we added Jackson.

Barring an injury, there is no way Gallardo doesn't start Opening Day. He is the Ace of this team.

Taking this thread in a different direction: Let's say the Brewers were to explore a name change. While most would be against it, myself included, anybody have any proposals for a new name for your local MLB team? The Milwaukee_______

As a side to this: Does anyone know how to download any of these as a ringtone to your iPhone?

Looking at this picture is like seeing your ex-girlfriend riding around town in her new boyfriend's 2012 Ferrari.

The 2012 Gamel/Ramirez/Gonzalez vs. 2011 Fielder/McGehee/Betancourt has been covered extensively. Honestly, I believe this to be very close to a push offensively and an upgrade defensively. I consider this to be equal without considering WAR or those types of numbers. I expect the pitching staff to be about the same as last year. I don't believe anyone had a "career season" save maybe Axford. So I anticipate this being about the same. The bench, as constructed today, is far superior to last season's in my opinion. Kottaras, Izturis, Green, Morgan/Gomez and Aoki should be better than Kottaras, Wilson, McGehee, Morgan/Gomez, Kotsay. The real key to me is whether Weeks and Hart play like the all stars that they are. I don't believe their success was a product of Fielder being in the lineup. Last season, Weeks hit #1, far enough away from Braun and Fielder to be pitched to, and #5, being "protected" by McGehee or Betancourt. Hart hit #1 once Weeks got hurt and was fine. I expect their success to continue. If Braun is suspended, these two will most assuredly have to carry the team and I believe they are up to the challenge. While I believe the Brewers will win less games this season than last, I believe it is more the product of Cincinnati improving this offseason and Pittsburgh gaining more experience. The Pirates are due for a 2005 Brewers season in my opinion.

100% agree. If the union guy and the MLB guy basically have their decision in hand before the hearing why are they even on the panel? Seems to me 3 arbiters would be more appropriate than 2 guys whose votes are pre-determined.

Player of the Year: Rickie Weeks. Dude is an absolute stud when healthy. Most overlooked Brewer by the national media. Will breakout in a big way and will replace a great deal of Prince's production this season. I'm expecting a Prince even year line of something like: .270, 32 HR, 95 RBI Pitcher of the Year: Yovani Gallardo. Completes his journey to staff ace. 14 IP, 2 runs against the D'Backs in the NLDS. Awesome. I'm expecting something like: 16-6, 3.25 ERA Rookie of the Year: Mat Gamel. I expect him to start slow, but hitting in the 6th spot should allow him to see some pitches. By mid-season I expect him to be a solid everyday player. It will be the tale of two seasons, a struggle in the first half and an above average second half. By season's end, I'm expecting: .275, 17 HR, 70 RBI Most Improved Player: Jonathan Lucroy. Whereas Rickie is the most overlooked Brewer by the national media, I think Lucroy is the most overlooked Brewer by most Brewer fans. He'll continue his development into an above average everyday catcher. I don't expect his numbers to jump much but I think we will begin to appreciate all that he brings to the team. Biggest Disappointment: Nyjer Morgan. The T-Plush phenomenon was a 2011 special. I expect him to not produce at the same levels he did last season. While I don't expect him to fall off substantially, I do expect a drop in AVG from .304 to around .275. While not a terrible AVG, his lack of BBs could be detrimental to the top of the lineup. Questions: 1) Who will get the first contract extension? Zack Greinke or no one. I want to believe ZG will be extended. I really do but I am nervous that it won't happen. If it does, I think it will be at the most a Weaver-like deal 5 years $85 million. If he wants more than that, he will leave. 2) Who will be the first traded away or released (off the expected 25 man roster)? Not too many options here. I don't think anyone will be traded. However, if the Angels were to have interest in K-Rod and would be willing to deal a Peter Bourjos to open a spot for Mike Trout in the OF, then I think he would be the most likely candidate. 3) What position in the NL Central will the Brewers finish? Tough to say without knowing whether or not Ryan Braun will be suspended. Without a suspension, I will say 1st. With a suspension, I will say 2nd. RECORD: No Braun Suspension: 90-72 Braun Suspension: 86-76

All of this. I would have been truly sad had he taken something we could have rationalized affording i.e. 5 years $125m or something of the like. Instead we will always be able to fall back on the fact that a 9 years $214m deal with the Brewers was just never even remotely plausible. I wish he could've continued here in Milwaukee for the rest of his career but I was glad we had him for the time we did. It is rather amazing to me how much bigger of a deal in terms of total dollars he got than the following 1B who are arguably just as good if not better than Prince: *Adrian Gonzalez 7 years $145m *Mark Teixeira 8 years $180m *Ryan Howard 5 years $125m This is why if I would have anything close to major league level baseball talent I would hire Scott Boras as my agent. He is the devil to us small market fans and he has his occasional hiccups (see Madson, Ryan) but most of the time he flat out gets people paid. Thanks for the memories Prince. Somewhere today, Joey Votto is wearing a big smile after seeing what Prince got. Its weird to think that with the losses of Pujols, Prince, Pena, Lee and probably soon to be Votto, you could have an entire division have to replace their 1B/cleanup hitter in a one year period. And the scariest thing of all... On January 24, 2012, I'd take Votto over any other 1B in baseball.

Now that Fielder is officially gone, I hope the Brewers FO gets serious about extending Greinke and building through pitching. With Gallardo and Braun, Weeks, Lucroy, Hart, A-Ram and Nyjer/Gomez/Schafer locked in for the next few seasons I think extending Greinke will help ensure our competitiveness i.e. over .500 for the next 4-6 years.

Johnny Jolly could do some community service as the team's mascot. Too soon?

Unforutnately, you could make the same argument about the Brewers; and I for one would have been furious if the Seligs had tried to change our team's name when we moved to the NL.

All of this. I would have been truly sad had he taken something we could have rationalized affording i.e. 5 years $125m or something of the like. Instead we will always be able to fall back on the fact that a 9 years $214m deal with the Brewers was just never even remotely plausible. I wish he could've continued here in Milwaukee for the rest of his career but I was glad we had him for the time we did. It is rather amazing to me how much bigger of a deal in terms of total dollars he got than the following 1B who are arguably just as good if not better than Prince: *Adrian Gonzalez 7 years $145m *Mark Teixeira 8 years $180m *Ryan Howard 5 years $125m This is why if I would have anything close to major league level baseball talent I would hire Scott Boras as my agent. He is the devil to us small market fans and he has his occasional hiccups (see Madson, Ryan) but most of the time he flat out gets people paid. Thanks for the memories Prince.

Tim Brown of Yahoo: Source: Prince is very close to a nine-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to sources. 9 years $214 million. Wow...

Astros to study a possible name change for 2012 Wow. I don't know what to say about this. I am 100% against it I know that. If beer was never produced in Milwaukee or in Wisconsin again, I wouldn't want the Brewers to change their name as it historically significant to the region. Like the Packers in Green Bay and even in a way, the Bucks as deer hunting is such a popular sport in Wisconsin. The Astros are a historical nod to the NASA space program that was based in Houston for so long. I think it should be mandatory for teams that move to leave the team name even if another team never comes to replace them. Does it really make sense for the Dodgers to be in L.A.? Traffic Dodgers isn't quite the same as the original Trolley Dodgers. If the Twins moved to say Albuquerque, what sense would the Twins name have there? Even names that have no relevance to a region (think Illinois-based teams: Cubs, Bears, White Sox) should stay with that city in my opinion. Not sure I understand this move by the maybe soon to be ex-Astros.

Selfishly I am hoping he ends up in L.A. with the Dodgers so I can go see him on a consistent basis. I honestly believe he would already be in L.A. if the Dodgers ownership situation had already been solved. The Angels have been slowly eroding the Dodger fanbase and this would be a dramatic counterpunch to the Angels signing Pujols. Additionally, I believe this would only make the Dodgers more attractive to the10 ownership groups which submitted bids to buy the team yesterday. Prince will probably sign in the next few days with Washington but I honestly have felt for a while that L.A. was his preferred destination and his FA has dragged out for so long because of the cloud around the Dodgers ownership.

Sorry, I can see how the comment was snide. His handler/mentor/sponsor then. Reason #1,000,000,0000 to love BF.net. No bickering, cheap shots, condescending response or anything. Love it guys.

Greinke hands down. I'm comfortable moving forward with Greinke and Gallardo at #1 and #2 and backfilling the ortation with the Narvesons, Peraltas, Jungmanns, Bradleys, Thornburgs of our system. I just hope he takes a Weaver contract (5 years $85m) as I believe that is all the Brewers can afford.

I just find it hard to believe that management would knowingly make the team worse and/or cripple itself with a bad contract just to please the "casual fan." Fans ultimately want to see a winning team. If you put a winner on the field, the fans will come (unless you're in Florida). I agree wholeheartedly that I would rather see a winning team and even the casual fan would. My point only is that K-Rod and Wolf are likely gone after 2012 anyways and Hart's deal ends in 2013, and if the casual fan believes their contracts for this season are the reason why the Brewers cannot afford Prince you are going to see a lot of unhappy casual fans tuning the Brewers out in 2012. I think most of us understand though the larger picture that the money isn't there to extend Greinke and Prince anyways and given the choice I think most would extend Grienke over Prince.

Thanks for the good information Prophet. Interesting stuff. However, I do believe that Schlesinger is posturing with the above comment. Taken in context with the televsion comment about watching the game live and how important ratings are to the Brewers, I believe if Fielder were to sign elsewhere for a contract that the casual Brewer fan feels they could match i.e. 5 year $100m, 6 years $120m or 3 years $75m, those casual fans may be turned off and not watch or come to Miller Park. Being real, there is no scenario where the Brewers FO could justify to the casual fan not making a bunch of moves like the trading of Wolf, Hart or K-Rod to ensure Prince's return. Whereas the diehards like most of us understand a team with Prince and minus Wolf, Hart and K-Rod may actually be worse, I can't imagine that any of them even combined would bring the revenue like a Prince would. Until the day Prince signs with someone else, I will hold firm in my belief that if he signs for something close to the above 3 contracts, I think he plays in Milwaukee in 2012 regardless of the drastic roster manuevering it would take.

This. I keep hoping to see a post on BF.net or tweet saying the Crew has extended Greinke. I guess I'll continue to hold my breath.

In the 0.00001% chance Prince were to say come back at 6 years and $120 million; how would you move forward with the lineup? As everyone has mentioned, Wolf and Hart would likely have to be dealt to create the salary space. Hart makes $9MM this season and $10MM next. Wolf makes $9MM this season. So let's assume Wolf and Hart are dealt. Now, moving forward, what do you do with RF? With Prince back at 1B, Gamel now becomes either expendable or an OF. Gamel doesn't appear to have much experience at all in playing the OF but is it possible for him to play LF while Braun is suspended and either move him or Braun into RF after Braun's return? I'm more asking the question because I seem to recall talk of Gamel moving to the OF a few years ago. What is the thought on the possibility of a Gamel move to the OF if Prince were to miraculously re-sign?