Eye Black

Jim Callis said he had one scout drop a "more athletic version of Mark Kotsay" comp on Kelenic. I thought that was interesting.

Here is a thread from exactly one year ago that is specific to “runner on third with less than two outs”.

The run expectancy for a runner on 3rd base with no outs to score is 84%. The Brewers failed to convert with a runner on third and no outs in back-to-back innings. Statiscally that is quite a feat.

Shaw hanging on for dear life in this at bat.

Brewers Lineup CF Lorenzo Cain ® RF C. Yelich (L) 1B Jesus Aguilar ® 3B Travis Shaw (L) LF Ryan Braun ® DH Ji-Man Choi (L) 2B Jonathan Villar (S) C Erik Kratz ® SS Orlando Arcia ® White Sox Lineup 2B Yoan Moncada (S) 3B Yolmer Sanchez (S) 1B Jose Abreu ® DH Matt Skole (L) SS Tim Anderson ® C Omar Narvaez (L) CF Adam Engel ® LF Charlie Tilson (L) RF Trayce Thompson ®

Posting this mock link (247 Sports Scouting Baseball’s Mock 3.0 written by Taylor Blake Ward) because it is the first one I’ve seen that has former Brewers pitcher David Weather’s son Ryan (LHP from Loretto HS in Tennessee) dropping down to the Brewers pick at #21. Now that would be a fun pick!

That's about what I'd expected. Wondered if Ray would sneak in - but I totally get it. 50 games doesn't change the past year and a half. I took a look at it trying to be as unbiased as possible (so basically still completely biased). I used “which prospects would I be willing to trade straight up for Hiura” as a guide. I will spare you the details of which exact players I chose, but I came up with 23 players ahead of Hiura for me. If he continues to perform at Double-A I believe Hiura will end up in that top-25 territory by the end of the season updates even with the new draftees being added soon.

Fangraphs has been putting out some quality draft content. The latest mock (3.0) includes the first 78 draft selections. It has the Brewers drafting Oregon State OF Trevor Larnach with their first pick, but mentions they are also on high schoolers Jordyn Adams, Triston Casas, and Connor Scott. Other players they have the Brewers selecting include RHP Cole Sands from Florida State at #60 and 2B Richie Palacios from Towson at #73. Here are some helpful Fangraphs draft links... 2018 MLB Mock Draft v 3.0 Introducing the 2018 MLB Draft Board 2018 MLB Draft version of THE BOARD

Boone Logan being trusted to pitch in a tie game is, in my opinion, where this inning went wrong.

I believe it is subscriber content so I won't copy and paste verbatim, but it has the Brewers selecting South Alabama CF Travis Swaggerty who it seems would have to fall significantly to make it to the Brewers selection at #21. They also note the Brewers were well represented at a recent Jordyn Adams workout (they have Adams going a few picks earlier to KC).

I am really looking forward to Hiura’s move up to Double-A. This goes without saying at this point, but his hitting ability is really special.

My early votes for the NL and AL starting position players are as follows: National League 1B - Freddie Freeman, Braves 2B - Scooter Gennett, Reds SS - Trea Turner, Nationals 3B - Nolan Arenado, Rockies C - Buster Posey, Giants LF - Christian Yelich, Brewers CF - Lorenzo Cain, Brewers RF - Nick Markakis, Braves American League 1B - Jose Abreu, White Sox 2B - Jose Altuve, Astros SS - Francisco Lindor, Indians 3B - Jose Ramirez, Indians C - Wilson Ramos, Rays LF - Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox CF - Mike Trout, Angels RF - Mookie Betts, Red Sox DH - J.D. Martinez, Red Sox

The voting for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game selections begins tomorrow (June 1st). This year’s mid-Summer classic is in Washington, DC on July 17th. Here is the PDF version of the All-Star Ballot. Use this thread to discuss which players (both Brewers and beyond) are making the best cases to be considered All-Star team worthy this year. While pitchers obviously aren’t subject to fan voting, feel free to weigh-in on which pitchers deserve the All-Star Game nod as well. EDIT: Here is the Online All-Star Game Ballot.

It’s interesting to see how starkly the statistical outputs of Corey Ray and top 100 Orioles prospect OF Austin Hays have swapped this year in Double-A. Both 2016 draftees out of college, I am interested to see where those two rank in relation to one another on mid-season updates. Hays has had more success overall at the professional level (and had a brief MLB call-up), but Ray has been much better statistically this season. Probably still too early for significant movement, but I would assume Ray will sneak back into the lower fourth of some top-100 lists.

The Athletic Mock Draft is probably the worst case scenario I’ve seen in terms of the first tier of players all going before the Brewers selection. With some exceptions, it looked like it was mostly a straightforward “best player available” approach (they had a pool of 24 baseball beat writers make the selections). Still some good talent beyond 20, but there are definitely a couple of players I hope will slide down a few spots in order to be available at the Brewers selection. The 20 players off the board before the Brewers selection were: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State Nick Madrigal, SS, Oregon State Brady Singer, RHP, Florida Jonathan India, 3B, Florida Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Mountain Ridge HS (Ariz.) Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie HS (Fla.) Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida Cole Winn, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (Calif.) Ryan Weathers, LHP, Lorretto HS (Tenn.) Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee HS (Ga.) Nolan Gorman, 3B, Sandra Day O’Connor HS (Ariz.) Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS (Calif.) Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West HS (Wis.) Logan Gilbert, RHP, Stetson Connor Scott, OF, Plant HS (Fla.) The Brewers selection in the mock draft was Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope HS (N.C.). Selections just following the Brewers were: Cole Wilcox, RHP, Heritage HS (Ga.) Triston Casas, 1B, American Heritage School (Fla.) Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central HS (Ga.) Matt McLain, IF, Beckham HS (Calif.) Noah Naylor, C/SS, St. Joan of Arc HS (Ontario, Canada) Mason Denaburg, RHP, Merritt Island HS (Fla.) Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi Xavier Edwards, SS, North Broward Prep (Fla.)

Yelich’s home run and subsequent nonchalant bat flip today reminded me how much I love watching him hit game tying homers against the Cardinals. So far this one is still my favorite...

Cardinals RHP prospect Alex Reyes is making his much anticipated return to the major league mound today. Hopefully the Brewers bats come alive to make it a forgettable one for Reyes.

[pre]Diamondbacks Lineup Brewers Lineup 1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B 1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 2. Jedd Gyorko ® 2B 2. C. Yelich (L) RF 3. Jose Martinez ® 1B 3. Jesus Aguilar ® 1B 4. Marcell Ozuna ® LF 4. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 5. Harrison Bader ® CF 5. Domingo Santana ® RF 6. Dexter Fowler (S) RF 6. Jonathan Villar (S) 2B 7. Yairo Munoz (S) SS 7. Eric Sogard (L) SS 8. Carson Kelly ® C 8. Erik Krantz ® C 9. Alex Reyes ® P 9. Junior Guerra ® P[/pre] Reminder: For those looking for the broadcast this is another Facebook Watch Game. For those unfamiliar with Facebook Watch Games there are more details available at this link, What is the Facebook Watch Game?

Yeah, that was a frustrating way to watch a rally die.

On a snowy day this winter when I was a little board I looked up the bWAR totals from players on every World Series team over the past decade. The bWAR formulas actually changed slightly this spring, so I had to go back and adjust some of the numbers. Below is every player on a World Series team since 2008 that had a bWAR of 3.0 or greater. Note: For players traded mid-season the bWAR total is only what the player accumulated with the World Series team. A good example would be Yoenis Cespedes who had 6.3 bWAR in 2015, but only 2.3 of that total with the Mets. I listed the World Series Champion first for each year below. 2008 Phillies Position Players: Chase Utley (9.0); Jimmy Rollins (5.5); Shane Victorino (4.4); Jason Werth (3.7) Phillies Pitchers: Cole Hamels (4.3) Rays Position Players: Carlos Pena (5.1); Evan Longoria (4.8); Melvin (B.J.) Upton (3.3); Akinori Iwamura (3.1) Rays Pitchers: James Shields (3.9); Scott Kazmir (3.8); Matt Garza (3.4) 2009 Yankees Position Players: Derek Jeter (6.6); Mark Texeira (5.3); Robinson Cano (4.5); Johnny Damon (4.2); Alex Rodriguez (4.2) Yankees Pitchers: CC Sabathia (6.2); A.J. Burnett (4.5); Mariano Rivera (3.6); Andy Pettitte (3.4) Phillies Position Players: Chase Utley (8.2); Jayson Werth (4.5); Ryan Howard (3.8); Shane Victorino (3.7) Phillies Pitchers: J.A. Happ (4.2) 2010 Giants Position Players: Aubrey Huff (5.7); Andres Torres (5.3); Buster Posey (3.9) Giants Pitchers: Matt Cain (4.1); Tim Lincecum (3.3); Jonathan Sanchez (3.3) Rangers Position Players: Josh Hamilton (8.7); Nelson Cruz (4.1); Ian Kinsler (4.0) Rangers Pitchers: C.J. Wilson (5.0); Colby Lewis (3.7) 2011 Cardinals Position Players: Albert Pujols (5.3); Matt Holliday (3.8); Lance Berkman (3.8) Cardinals Pitchers: Chris Carpenter (3.5) Rangers Position Players: Ian Kinsler (7.0); Adrian Beltre (5.6); Mike Napoli (5.5); Elvis Andrus (4.2); Josh Hamilton (3.8) Rangers Pitchers: CJ Wilson (4.9); Matt Harrison (4.0); Alexi Ogando (3.6) 2012 Giants Position Players: Buster Posey (7.6); Melky Cabrera (4.8); Angel Pagan (4.2) Giants Pitchers: Matt Cain (3.8) Tigers Position Players: Miguel Cabrera (7.1); Austin Jackson (5.5); Prince Fielder (4.7) Tigers Pitchers: Justin Verlander (8.1); Max Scherzer (4.4); Doug Fister (3.4) 2013 Red Sox Position Players: Dustin Pedroia (6.3); Shane Victorino (6.1); Jacoby Ellsbury (5.7); David Ortiz (4.4); Mike Napoli (4.0); Stephen Drew (3.1) Red Sox Pitchers: Clay Buchholz (4.4); Koji Uehara (3.6); Jon Lester (3.0); John Lackey (3.0) Cardinals Position Players: Matt Carpenter (6.5); Yadier Molina (6.1) Cardinals Pitchers: Adam Wainwright (6.2); Shelby Miller (3.5) 2014 Giants Position Players: Buster Posey (5.4); Hunter Pence (3.8); Pablo Sandoval (3.4) Giants Pitchers: Madison Bumgarner (3.9) Royals Position Players: Alex Gordon (6.5); Lorenzo Cain (4.9); Salvador Perez (3.7) Royals Pitchers: Wade Davis (3.7); Danny Duffy (3.6); James Shields (3.5); Yordano Ventura (3.2) 2015 Royals Position Players: Lorenzo Cain (7.2); Mike Moustakas (4.4); Eric Hosmer (3.6) Royals Pitchers: Wade Davis (3.5) Mets Position Players: Curtis Granderson (5.1) Mets Pitchers: Jacob deGrom (5.2); Matt Harvey (4.8) 2016 Cubs Position Players: Kris Bryant (7.4); Anthony Rizzo (5.5); Addison Russell (4.1); Dexter Fowler (4.1); Ben Zobrist (3.7); Javier Baez (3.2) Cubs Pitchers: Jon Lester (5.6); Kyle Hendricks (5.4); Jake Arrieta (3.7) Indians Position Players: Francisco Lindor (5.9); Jason Kipnis (4.2); Jose Ramirez (4.1); Carlos Santana (3.2) Indians Pitchers: Corey Klueber (5.8); Carlos Carrasco (3.1) 2017 Astros Position Players: Jose Altuve (8.3); Carlos Correa (6.3); George Springer (5.0); Josh Reddick (4.3); Martin Gonzalez (4.3); Alex Bergman (4.1) Astros Pitchers: Dallas Keuchel (3.9); Brad Peacock (3.0) Dodgers Position Players: Justin Turner (5.8); Corey Seager (5.6); Chris Taylor (4.8); Cody Berlinger (4.2); Yasiel Puig (3.7) Dodgers Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw (4.9); Alex Wood (3.4); Kenley Jansen (3.0) For comparison, the Brewers currently have eight players on pace for ≥ 3.0 bWAR. The position players are Lorenzo Cain, Travis Shaw, Christian Yelich, Jesús Aguilar, and Domingo Santana. The pitchers are Jeremy Jeffress, Josh Hader, and Junior Guerra.

[pre]Cardinals Lineup Brewers Lineup 1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B 1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 2. José Martínez ® 1B 2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 3. Tommy Pham ® CF 3. Jesús Aguilar ® 1B 4. Jedd Gyorko ® 2B 4. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 5. Marcell Ozuna ® LF 5. Ryan Braun ® LF 6. Harrison Bader (L) RF 6. Jonathan Villar (S) 2B 7. Yairo Muñoz ® SS 7. Manny Piña (R C 8. Francisco Peña ® C 8. Tyler Saladino ® SS 9. Luke Weaver ® P 9. Brent Suter (L) P[/pre]

The Brewers have played exactly 1/3 of their schedule and if we multiplied everyone’s current total by three... Lorenzo Cain is on pace for 6.9 fWAR and 8.4 bWAR Travis Shaw is on pace for 6.0 fWAR and 7.5 bWAR Jesús Aguilar is on pace for 3.9 fWAR and 3.6 bWAR Christian Yelich is on pace for 3.6 fWAR and 3.9 bWAR (doesn’t even account for the fact he missed 12 games) Josh Hader is on pace for 5.1 fWAR and 4.5 bWAR Jeremy Jeffress is on pace for 3.0 fWAR and 5.7 bWAR There is certainly still a lot of season to go, but those are some impressive WAR totals.

The Brewers are exactly 1/3 of the way through their regular season schedule. The Brewers are at 34 wins (.630 winning percentage) which puts them on pace for 102 wins. If they play .500 baseball the rest of the season they will win 88 games. It has been an amazing start to the season.

Well that was nerve-racking.

This isn’t shaping up well. Come on Corey! Edit: He looks really uncomfortable trying to execute the pitches he wants right now.