Eye Black

That would be a steep price to pay (re: Woodruff, Peralta, Ray), but I think the Brewers would have to consider it given the incredible boost it would provide their lineup.

About six weeks remaining until the trade deadline. With the flexibility to play either SS or 3B I’ve assumed the Orioles would have the ability to cast a wide net while listening to offers for rent-a-Machado. While that may still be true, when I took a closer look at it I don’t see as many no-brainer fits among contenders as I thought there would be. Now obviously Machado would be an upgrade to any lineup, so this isn’t a perfect analysis. Still, an important part of the equation for ponying up prospect capital for Machado is how much better he will potentially improve a team’s production over the current options. My question was which contending teams that currently have the seen the lowest production at either SS or 3B? Below are the possible trade suitors that would currently see the biggest potential production improvement at either SS or 3B by adding Machado this July. The Brewers stand out as the single greatest possible benefactor. For reference, Manny Machado’s stat line is currently: .306 BA / .377 OBP / .574 SLG / .951 OPS / 14.4 K% / 10.6 BB% / .267 ISO / .393 wOBA / 152 wRC+ / 2.7 fWAR Brewers Shortstops Team’s current production among players at SS this season: .199 BA / .255 OBP / .284 SLG / .539 OPS / 23.2 K% / 6.6 BB% / .084 ISO / .239 wOBA / 44 wRC+ / -0.4 fWAR Phillies Shortstops Team’s current production among players at SS this season: .222 BA / .285 OBP / .361 SLG / .646 OPS / 27.0 K% / 6.9 BB% / .139 ISO / .283 wOBA / 75 wRC+ / 0.1 fWAR Diamondbacks Shortstops Team’s current production among players at SS this season: .218 BA / .280 OBP / .407 SLG / .687 OPS / 21.1 K% / 8.0 BB% / .190 ISO / .295 wOBA / 84 wRC+ / 0.4 fWAR Phillies Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .228 BA / .278 OBP / .383 SLG / .661 OPS / 21.7 K% / 5.8 BB% / .155 ISO / .285 wOBA / 77 wRC+ / -0.3 fWAR Angels Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .221 BA / .289 OBP / .370 SLG / .659 OPS / 24.1 K% / 7.3 BB% / .149 ISO / .288 wOBA / 84 wRC+ / 0.5 fWAR Red Sox Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .238 BA / .288 OBP / .412 SLG / .700 OPS / 26.3 K% / 6.8 BB% / .173 ISO / .296 wOBA / 83 wRC+ / 0.5 fWAR Braves Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .238 BA / .330 OBP / .386 SLG / .716 OPS / 21.1 K% / 11.3 BB% / .149 ISO / .312 wOBA / 96 wRC+ / 0.9 fWAR Nationals Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .242 BA / .310 OBP / .378 SLG / .688 OPS / 16.9 K% / 8.9 BB% / .136 ISO / .297 wOBA / 84 wRC+ / 1.1 fWAR Mariners Third Baseman Team’s current production among players at 3B this season: .226 BA / .276 OBP / .420 SLG / .696 OPS / 20.4 K% / 5.1 BB% / .193 ISO / .298 wOBA / 91 wRC+ / 1.2 fWAR Again, any contender would improve with Machado’s bat in the lineup, but the above are the contenders with the most glaring current needs at SS or 3B.

[pre]Phillies Lineup Brewers Lineup 1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B 1. Eric Thames (L) 1B 2. Rhys Hoskins ® LF 2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF 3. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 4. Carlos Santana (S) 1B 4. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 5. Scott Kingery ® SS 5. Ryan Braun ® LF 6. Nick Williams (L) RF 6. Jonathan Villar (S) 2B 7. Andrew Knapp (S) C 7. Erik Kratz ® C 8. Zach Eflin ® P 8. Orlando Arcia ® SS 9. J.P. Crawford (L) 3B 9. Junior Guerra ® P[/pre]

Initially missed this Tom Haudricourt comment yesterday afternoon. Not quite sure if Haudricourt’s “to have any chance” comment is a product of actual inside information or simply an opportunity to build dramatic tension? Perhaps some combination of the two.

That is simply not true. The Astros, Nationals, Yankees, Indians, and Dodgers could all easily offer a more attractive top two prospects than a Burnes and Peralta led package.

Huh, Loogy Logan still stinks against lefties (and righties). All is back to normal in the universe.

Gabe and Rick might want to put a real pitcher in if they want this game to get over before we reach Saturday.

I'm sure they have a general numbers worked out. There may be some variability depending on what others nearby sign for. Also at this point a college offer isn't a huge amount of leverage. There just isn't that much of a chance of improving his draft status and a whole lot of chances to see it drop. Also if he does progress in college it a way that would make him a higher pick, he could do the same in the minors and be on the verge of the majors. Unless there was some undiagnosed injury or illness, I have to think he will sign shortly. While it is typical for teams to come to a financial agreement before they draft players in the first round (especially high schoolers), I am not certain that was the case in this instance. Maybe it isn’t credible, but there has been at least one report that the Brewers allegedly did not discuss a financial framework with Brice Turang before selecting him (AUDIO via Tiger Rag Podcast: Turang discussion starts at the 8:45-mark). If Turang is indeed asking for $4 million and the Brewers are holding out at closer to $3 million, I could see it taking a bit of time while each side waits for the other to flinch. I do believe Turang will sign with the Brewers, and would place the odds of him signing at >95%. Still, I think we could see something like the situation with LSU pitcher Alex Lange last year when he waited until the final minutes of the deadline to sign with the Cubs.

You mean his perfect game? Of all the games televised on MiLB.tv they pick tonight to not have a Biloxi broadcast.

And at only 79 pitches thus far.

A nice residual effect will be getting the Philly bullpen to work early in the first game of the weekend.

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/577/952/a7b.gif

I wouldn’t hate a complete Arrieta meltdown here.

Suter swinging for the fences!

From MLB Trade Rumors...

[pre]Phillies Lineup Brewers Lineup 1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B 1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 2. Rhys Hoskins ® LF 2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF 3. Jesús Aguilar ® 1B 4. Carlos Santana (S) 1B 4. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 5. Scott Kingery ® SS 5. Ryan Braun ® LF 6. Nick Williams (L) RF 6. Hernán Pérez ® 2B 7. Jorge Alfaro ® C 7. Manny Piña ® C 8. Jake Arrieta ® P 8. Orlando Arcia ® SS 9. J.P. Crawford (L) 3B 9. Brent Suter (L) P[/pre]

A couple more late rounders (LHP Michael Mediavilla and RHP Franklin Hernandez) are now signed per this Tweet from Adam McCalvy.

[pre]Cubs Lineup Brewers Lineup 1. Ben Zobrist (S) 2B 1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 2. Jason Heyward (L) RF 2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 3. Tommy La Stella (L) 3B 3. Ryan Braun ® LF 4. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 4. Jesús Aguilar ® 1B 5. Ian Happ (S) CF 5. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 6. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF 6. Hernán Pérez ® 2B 7. Javier Báez ® SS 7. Erik Kratz ® C 8. Chris Gimenez ® C 8. Orlando Arcia ® SS 9. Mike Montgomery (L) P 9. Jhoulys Chacín ® P[/pre]

Well despite going just 4-6 over their last ten games, the Brewers are the first team in the National League to reach 40 wins. They also currently have the highest winning percentage (.597) in the NL.

Maybe the Brewers wives 10-3 drubbing of the Cubs wives has reversed the players psyche. If the Brewers go on to dominate the series for the remainder of the year I think it will be the only logical conclusion we can draw.

That is the split second the ball hit his glove with his right hand just barely grazing the fence (well LED screen). Now everyone can judge for themselves.

No official word that he isn’t signing with the Brewers, but this ARTICLE mentions the following from an interview with Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall...

Barnes should be able to go an inning I would think.

He just really hates the Cubs? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Really need to find a way to get this run in from third with one out. Edit: Sigh.