COBrewerfan

Betancourt is the bottom or 2nd worst in literally almost every category offensively and defensively at SS, and you're trying to argue that SS isn't a problem? Yeah, 3B is a problem, but to act like SS isn't is odd. Where does that 9th place OPS for the Brewers SS fall to if you take out Josh Wilson's 14 AB? Any guess? http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/157/image1vlg.jpg Who cares? That is why you play multiple players at a position or platoon people. That is how that works.

Name one third baseman that Melvin could reasonably trade for. Sounds like Betemit is a target. Wouldn't be tough to improve on Casey's performance so far. Or at least give him more days off.

Brewersare 9th in OPS at SS and last in the NL at 3b. Hence the GM knows that and is going after a 3b. Silly him.

Keep hating on him. It's heating him up. Much better than watching Wilson and Counsell play.

Sure there is. Who else is going to bat in the 3 hole? 5 hole? Braun is out which has created some issues. They moved some guys around and Kotsay was in the 3 for a bit. Saying they shouldn't be in that position is great but what are the options? Hart is leading off, Weeks in the 5. So you move Weeks to 3 and then you would complain about the 5. Not worth complaining about because either way somebody is not going to be happy. Just like our SS is so bad, he is OPS'ing right in the middle of the national league. He is not good but that spot is a concern outside of the Mets and Rockies. Since the brewers have gotten good, fans have come to think we should have no weak spots and the need for change should be immediate. RR has done fine with what we have and there are some changes coming in the next week. We shall see what new pieces he gets to play with.

Backup I couldn't have said it better myself. I need to copy and paste this in response to so many things here. Everything is so reactionary on a message board and there are so many other factors that go into a managers decision making. It's easy to believe you know the best way to use a player while posting to a board. However, there are relationships and things said that we never know. A manager needs to relate to players to get the most out of them. While making some of the moves suggested on here immediately may work, itmay have a negative effect long term to the team. I have always believed baseball managing is more about talent than anything else and he is just there to make sure players get along and manage attitudes. Torre is an example that is always given. Seeing he was awful before the yankees, was amazing with the yankees, and suddenly got worse after he left the yankees and went to the dodgers. With the yankees he had all the pieces and just managed huge egos and made sure there was a happy clubhouse.

Well one of those days that Collmenter was tough. Back at it tomorrow. Those same guys are in the lineup quite a bit and we score runs. Even worse without Braun. But one question. How come an opposing pitcher can never be given credit but we either kill or praise our pitcher? Kinda works both ways. Sometimes the other team doesn't hit our pitcher.

I hope Wolf keeps looking this way.

Wolf had to make a quick throw and he threw at the wrong guy. Much different play than Prince being a mess at third.

That is not stupid baserunning. The guy made a strong throw from his knees. Morgan scores at least half the time there.

Having a brewer team in first place and even competitive is very exciting. I dislike a few players but happy when they do well. When you see posts that make fun of and tear down a player even when he has a good game, I lose all credibility for that poster. This is where the hatred has taken over and you can not be a realistic judge of the talent. RR is just like alot of managers in the game. He has his "guys" in certain spots and that is the way it is. And I have said before that any manager to hold the position will be hammered by some. When players dont produce, blame has to be placed somewhere.

I get this about Betancourt. He's frustratingly impatient at the plate. As a result he almost never walks and far too often puts "pitcher's pitches" in play. There is nothing wrong with his swing, but when you are swinging at pitcher's pitches, it's going to look worse than it is. Defensively, his range is definitely below average but not that noticeable unless you are predisposed to think that it is. But where are you getting "he makes routine grounders an adventure"? He's got 226 assists, and 10 errors. Fielding percentage isn't the total picture of defense but it sure is as regards to "routine grounders". His fielding percentage is .970. The league average for the position is .971. Robin Yount's career average was .964. Josh Wilson's is .955 and that ball Wilson booted in the 9th yesterday is one Betancourt makes in his sleep. I know you don't like the guy, but at least be fair in your analysis. That's my whole problem with this Betancourt stuff. The criticism of this guy is completely over the top. I'm not a huge fan of him as a player, but I do recognize unfair criticism and this guy has gotten plenty. I agree with you but it is a never ending battle. I agree with everything you said and you are totally right. They have read to many blogs and posted they things so often, they don't even watch the game with any sort of reality. He is not my favorite guy either but he is far from this completely lost player. Josh Wilson will play now and in a week or so we will see the same bashing of him. I just don't understand the hate for the players. Some guys slump and get killed and some slump and it doesn't get noticed. Very selective stuff.

When Loe does it, he is getting hit around. Funny how that works depending on the pitcher. And you notice K Rod pitched the next inning. You do need to have a pitcher for all of the innings. Believe it or not, RR has an idea on who is going to pitch and sometimes it doesn't work out. And when it doesn't, Mr Internet guy had the right move that would have worked out perfectly. In this world, no runs are ever given up. And Saito pitched the night before and is not going to be overused coming off the injury. But you probably knew that.

With the entire bullpen being right handed I am not sure why people get upset that Loe was used. We had used almost everybody and Axford was being saved for when we were leading. Hawkins got hit around as well. Who did you want? Is RRR supposed to create another bullpen arm?

Isn't that the same counsel that brewerfN thought should start at SS? Lol. He should nit even be on the roster.

Like And That said, he was pretty solid last year, even if his WHIP was a little high (though WHIP can be a little higher with relief pitchers). I'm sure these sleep problems are still affecting him. He's had stretches where he's pitched well this year but lately he's been terrible. I would send him back down to work things out again. Also, and I'm not trying to attack you, but it seems like every post I read of yours is negative. You say that Braddock is awful and has been that way his whole career, which just isn't true. You called Greinke a "sally" in the game in which he was taken out after giving up 7 runs in 2 innings and blame him for hurting the bullpen, even though he easily could've pitched longer. Roenicke just took him out, while he left Wolf in a few days later to get beat up. You also seem to be negative toward the posters here as a whole. In the Cirillo thread, you passive aggressively said something about not having the same "silly opinions" you see here (as in on this board). And here's another quote from you "And I you are never allowed to get out with guys on base if you are disliked by brewerfan or you are awful as well." I'm not sure what that means but it seems to be another talking down to this board. You've also complained in the in-game thread about people who complain about Yuni/Greinke/McGehee's struggles. There have been other instances as well but I don't feel like looking them all up. I know you've also said some positive things but the negative stuff, especially the negative stuff directed toward people here, really sticks out. If you think everyone here are idiots or whatever, then why come and post? Some of your comments seem more suited to the jsonline board. I post negative stuff to fit in here. That is what every thread is all about. Complaining about what is wrong and how the brewers can be fixed. I don't see how any negative posts of mine are any different. I disagree with some of them and comment on them. I am nowhere near as negative as most here. The world is always falling here and then a winning streak brings momentary joy. Braddock has been and always will be a headcase. He has awful control even when he is getting outs. I never want him in high leverage situations, especially as the season gets later. Getting a lefty is probably next on DM's list. And SS will probably as well but only with a journeyman type.

Umm. That's like saying it wasn't Doug Melvin's fault that the Brewers had Jeff Suppan. I have given Doug plenty of Kudos for the big acquisitions that he pulled off, but he's the one who hasn't done anything to replace McGehee and acquired Betancourt as his primary SS without any sort of fallback plan. I would say it most definitely is his fault that the infield defense is horrible, maybe above anybody else. Ahh, this is the brewers. The thing that gets me is people who think we are going to have a yankee or red sox like roster. By making the moves for the pitching we had to create ##%#*+ somewhere else. Going into the season 3b was not a concern and the rotation looked awesome. Melvin put together quite a team for the brewers. Casey has been awful, SS has been below average and pitchers like Greinke and Yo have been below expectation. Meanwhile Marcum has overall been good as well as Wolf. So I have no idea how you can put anything on Melvin. This team is still really good. And in baseball you can change the way the season goes in a heartbeat. Those players listed above could get better or worse the rest of the year. You just don't know. We don't know who will be brought in from a trade. I am happy that Melvin went with pitching and has given us this team. I think we are getting spoiled now and any weakeness is just torn apart by people. We are still the brewers and we are going to have a weakness or two.

He cannot throw strikes and when he does its 93 and straight down the middle. He is of no use to the brewers. He has been this way for the entire time he is with the brewers. Even when he gets people out, he is all over the place and batters swing through pitches or at bat pitches.

Weather out here has changed quickly. Last week it has been sunny all day and then big storms roll in. Same is happening today and it may be an interesting evening. Not raining hard but it is getting dark and looks like there will be some rain on and off for the rest of the day.

The offense scores runs so that the pitching can afford to give runs up. See what I did there?Yes but its easier to just not give them up.

If you believe a made up stat you feel that way. Others say that pitching is much more important. Pitching saves runs that the offense does not need to score. Much bigger need.

This is what I wanted all along. We will probably get a position player sooner or later but this is more important right now.

I agree with beerhere. Cirillo is not good. But like with players, people have an opinion in their head and hate Bill, so anybody sounds better in their mind. Rock is worlds ahead of Cirillo but he doesn't relay the same silly opinions people here see.

Yea I know I can't really say I called this because down 1 run isn't a real stretch, but its nice to be right every now and thenWell you could just question every decision that is made, be right about 1 out of 10, and will fit in perfectly here.

Those are all easier said than done. If you listen to the board Wilson and Boggs could do the last two immediately. Which is completely wrong but are said quite often. They are just tough things to add without having great prospects and a bunch of money to spend. We really have neither. I would say just look for a solid bullpen arm and just live with the weak spots we have. That is what you should expect at least.