xisxisxis

starting pitching and bullpen have been the 2 biggest reasons we are 15 games over right now...

glad we got Albers back...

Hiura plays the more premium position, but Robles is elite on both sides of the ball. Hiura also is still iffy at 2B and has the injury history. I can’t imagine a team not viewing Robles as notably better. Like a pretty good gap. Well then we don't have a chance if Realmuto is on the market as the Nats are willing to part with Robles to acquire J.T... edit: robles link http://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-trade-rumors-nationals-willing-to-part-with-victor-robles-to-acquire-marlins-jt-realmuto/jdbt2olgowu41i61v5gl5qzfi

At least Realmuto is good...? He might be the greatest player EVER...

Am I the only one who thinks adambr2's fascination with Realmuto exceeds clancyphile's suter love? Close?

League-wide OPS is down this year and is comparable to 2010-2012, but BA is 0.007 to 0.009 below the 2010-2012 numbers. It appears an emphasis on launch angle/swing plane has lead to reduced BA and increased power. The pre-2010 years were still part of the steroids era and OPS in 2017 approached those numbers. HR totals for 2017 were the highest of all time and HR totals even in 2018 (a down OPS year) are in line with the HR numbers from the Steroids era... Overall OPS is reduced because doubles are down significantly compared to pre-2010 numbers... And yes, SO are going to be the highest of all time as there has been a huge increase since 2010 (up 20%!!!).

He's been asked about it and he said the numbers don't support that it makes any difference. CC has been known to make statements contrary to facts... What's surprised me this year is as bad as Arcia has been or Pina, or (insert Brewers SS, C or 2B), opposing pitchers have tried to pitch around them to get to the Pitcher. At least having the Pitcher bat 8th gets some BB opportunities for Pina/Kratz, which Arcia's free swinging ways wastes... Batting #9 for Arcia and he'll see plenty of balls to hit until the video of him swinging at the ball 18 inches off the plate last night makes it through all the other teams scouts...

If any hitter is perfectly qualified for batting 9th it's Orlando Arcia, yet never on BF.net do we see a lineup with him at #9. How about we just crowd-source a tatoo for his forehead that says "#9" so at some point when CC is filling out the lineup a light bulb will go on and he will put Orlando in his place...

I think Moustakas is going to be in the same boat as he was in this past off season if he turns down that $15m option. I'm thinking of a line... I'll give you a point and a pencil. Draw a straight line through the point and see if you can match my line.... Last year was the first year that there wasn't a feeding frenzy in Free Agency. Much of the excuses were that it was a poor year for FA and teams were trying to stay under the luxury tax limit to make a run at free agents this year. Nothing in the data suggests that there won't be a return to excess money flowing next year. Once Machado and Harper are off the market, there should be demand for 2nd tier FA. I can see the Angels and Nats making strong bids for a 3B (Nats can move Rendon to 2B if Murphy leaves) where they don't appear to have holes at the moment. Cleveland could very well move JoseRam to 2B and go after a 3B... The Cards could also be in the mix as they will be under pressure to add offense... At least the Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox are likely out, while the Dodgers could move Turner to 2B and they should have some money if they lose out on Machado or Harper...

I look at it more like they ask for a hammer and you give them a brick... sure it will work, but not as easy...

So? That's why Stearns is the boss and they are the employees. Stearns does plenty to ease their jobs, no reason everything has to be to ease their jobs... They signed on to the heavy lifting...

Looking at https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/3rd-base/ there are only 4 options at 3B and 3 aren't signing with Milwaukee (Machado, Donaldson, Beltre)... That leaves convincing Mouse to exercise his option (not likely as Boras always chooses Free Agency) or signing Escobar, which is an option, but that's only 1 real option while there are at least 5 at 2B... I agree that having another year of Mouse could segway to Hiura in 2020 and Shaw back to 3B, but I can't imagine where Boras would help the Brewers...

Not the best option as there is a shortage of 3B options and over 10 FA 2B coming out next year. The numbers say to move Shaw back to 3B and pick up a FA 2B... And put Perez and other IF options back into a reserve role. Baseball Reference lists Moustakas as having a $15 million mutual option for 2019. Does this mean he isn't a 2 month rental & the Brewers can keep him for next season? mutual = both must say yes or it's a no...

Does this make the Brewers a better team today? Yes Does this increase the likelihood that the Brewers make the playoffs? Yes Does this increase the likelihood that the Brewers might win a game in the playoffs? Yes Does this make the Brewer a better team for next year? Nope My initial disappointment with the trade is not getting controllable talent for next year. Maybe the Orioles wanted too much for either/both of Gaussman and Schoop... Rentals do have a benefit and the prospects we gave up are not in the Brantley/Cruz category of ceiling... Phillips has a hole in his bat the size of a watermelon and Bat holes are the hardest to fix... If defense will be effected, but the difference from (Shaw-2B) + (Mouse-Shaw) > any other combination we have and as pointed out, the Brewers use a lot of IF shifting so I expect on some occasions Mouse & Shaw will be side-by side and Arcia will be covering most of the 2B side... Overall we may lose a few DP and give up a few more singles in the hole, but with some creative placement of the IF we can minimize the defensive issues... Mouse gives us another high OPS/low OBP bat so if we get a team hot streak starting game 163, who knows... Long-term, we will have both Burnes and Peralta in the rotation mix for next year and, hopefully, a fully recovered Jimmy Nelson. We will still need to upgrade 2B/C/SS and as I pointed out in another thread, there are a ton of FA 2B coming and there are a few options at C on the FA market for upgrades to either of those 2 positions, so I am more comfortable kicking those issues down the road...

If I'm spotting the trend, it would have to be a FA after 2018 with a mutual option...

Next we'll send Burnes and Perralta to the Nats for Harper... Then Braun to C for the rest of the year...

why?

Was thinking the same thing. Especially with Braun's previous at bats. Bochy had some head scratchers last night and he's continuing tonight...

Surprised they didnt walk Braun to get to Salidino and create a force anywhere...

I thought the mets changed their caps slightly when they opened CITI field, but I can't remember which way...

Pirates and Giants

Napolean Dynamite with the leadoff double...

Yeah but he sucks and should aim better. Too bad baseball has changed since it was created... I am pretty sure Doubleday wanted exit velocity instead of runs to determine the winner...

orlando Arcia?

We don't need an MI, we got a RP yesterday... We're set..