MVP2110

Yes my apologies. So it's UWM who decided not to continue the series?

Excited to be able to watch Yelich tomorrow

Anyone know why they are playing them this year?

This is what I thought too.

I will say it seems like the 9 hole is almost perfect for Villar to start the year.cam act as a second leadoff guy without the pressure of the top of the order

Cain Yelich Braun Shaw Thames/Santana Pina Arcia P Villar

Yea. I actually thought Keon took it quite well honestly.

I think a big part of it too was the Cubs wanted the draft pick they will get from Arrieta.

Will be curious to see the AAV

Looks like he'll make his Padre debut vs our local nine.

I agree. Stearns must be fairly confident he will get something else done for him not to make this move.

I'll be there!

Yep. Actually forgot about single game tickets, woke up and still was able to get decent opening day tickets.

Why does starting Santana or Braun in RF negate the defensive improvement in CF or LF? You still have 2/3 of your outfield able to play GG defense while RF gets no worse than it was last year. I guess what I'm arguing is that you don't acquire Yelich and Cain unless you are putting a stronger emphasis on defense. Leaving your worst 2017 defender in Santana in place negates that emphasis. Not necessarily. Change doesn't all have to come in one offseason. Also we have GG caliber defenders at C SS CF & LF now. With sure handed defenders at third and first as well. Our team defense is much improved from a few years ago. Our team defense should still be above average this season. Long term you may be right but doesn't mean this has to happen now

Why does starting Santana or Braun in RF negate the defensive improvement in CF or LF? You still have 2/3 of your outfield able to play GG defense while RF gets no worse than it was last year.

I think most hitters can still give it about 2-3 weeks. They don't need that much time to get ready and can wait and see if there are any injuries.

No way Santana is on the bench. Rumor has it Stearns already said Braun is penciled in as the RHB 1b at this point. If he wants extra starts, he'll have to earn most of them at the expense of Thames, unless Santana is traded. I think you're going with name recognition in some of the staff decisions. Stearns has proven beyond a doubt that he doesn't care about names. He's a true talent miner who has no problem giving a spot to a no-name if he thinks he'll perform better. Guys like Guerra, Jeffress, and Gallardo will be given a chance, but they've looked absolutely awful for a full year now and are in the midst of a pretty dramatic physical decline. You have to realize that velocity went way up for most pitchers this year because of how they measured it differently, so a guy who lost a couple MPH really lost more like 4 or 5 relative to other pitchers. Drake was better than Jeffress last year and I think he will make the roster, unless they sign a starter and move Suter to the pen. That would give them 3 guys to face LHB's, which is Drake's specialty because of his sinker. But even if they sign Cobb, Woodruff could be optioned with Suter still starting. Guys like Houser and Williams have a pretty good chance to look better than Gallardo and Guerra in spring training and win those spots. They are at their physical peaks and experience can only take you so far when you're washed-up. Gallardo, Jeffress, and Guerra will have to look significantly better than they did last year to have a chance at a roster spot. That's what it comes down to. The only reason I put Santana on the "bench" was because I think Braun will play more OF than 1b. But if it makes you feel better you can place Santana as a starter and Thames on the bench. It doesn't change much who gets listed. They will all get plenty of PT. As far as the pen options I picked, I picked them because typically GMs try and keep the guys who don't have any options. That and I think Jeffress is better and has more upside than Drake. I am fairly confident Williams will start the year in the minors and they already said Houser was 3 weeks behind schedule so he will almost assuredly start in the minors as well. I did almost put Miley in ahead of Gallardo or Guerra. Mainly I think Knebal, Hader, Barnes, Logan, Albers are all locks. I think Jeffress has a leg up on making it & the last spot or two I think come down to the out of options guys Gallardo, Guerra, Miley, Drake etc. With the exception that Suter possibly moves to the pen if we sign a starter.

Yea the only thing players might be holding out hope for is an injury of some sort. Can definitely see the pitchers signing in the next few days as team will want them ready to start games in a week so they can get ready for the season. Hitters probably still have a few weeks.

Right now my best guess would be SP: Anderson, Davies, Chacin, Suter, Woodruff RP: Knebal, Hader, Albers, Jeffress, Barnes, Logan, Gallardo, Guerra C: Pina 1b: Thames 2b: Villar SS: Arcia 3b: Shaw LF: Yelich CF: Cain RF: Braun Bench: Vogt Sogard Perez Santana Woodruff to the minors if they sign Cobb or Arrieta.

Is it guaranteed if he doesnt make the mlb squad. I'm seeing milb contract heavily incetivised if he makes the squad. I'd rather hand 5 to wilkerson or suter and call the other the long man. I'd rather give a new arm a shot than try another milone out. And I get depth is good but dont we have enough options for 5 yet? Guerra gallardo suter wilkerson... really needed another filler guy? After letting Jungemann go? No it's not. But why would Miley agree to this contract with heavy incentives regarding IP & GS if he didnt think he had a real chance to pitch and pitch quite a bit for Milwaukee.

The contract to me makes it seem he's likely to have a good shot at making the team either as a fifth starter or long man in the pen.

Yes seems to have struggled last season, granted it was in the AL East. Hoping he's not the only starter we sign.

Competition for the 5th spot?

Cobb 4/60

I'd go DeGrom & Bumgarner