Playing Catch

Such a satisfying win yesterday. (Note that a week ago, I was so frustrated with UW sports, that I literally turned the Providence game off. I've never done that before). Per the conversation about the progression/regression of players under Gard, I think it's due almost entirely to guys needing to play outside of their role, or outside of their abilities, for the sake of the team. Wahl looks awesome when he can defend-rebound-faciliate, but when he's asked to score 15 points he struggles. Guys like Crowl, Wahl, and Klesmit were never meant to provide the scoring bulk on a championship team. But that's where Storr and Blackwell come in... A poster here or elsewhere said of this team after an earlier game that this team was "Too much glue, not enough wood." Cue Storr and Blackwell. They can be the wood to provide scoring as they both can score at all three levels and at the line, thus allowing the Wahls and Klesmits of the world to do what they do best. If Josh Gasser was expected to carry the scoring load night in and night out, he would have been frustrating to watch. Earlier Jim French mentioned the depth earlier. But he was especially correct mentioning the most important element of depth... defense. They can maintain the defensive intensity long enough to truly give Chucky, Crowl, and Wahl breathers. This will be vital whenever foul trouble hits, too. And we haven't even seen what a healthy CE3 can provide, and I have a lot of confidence that Winter will grow into a force as well. So long as guys like Gus keep rooting on the guys in front of them rather than become a distraction, this team has some really good ingredients.

I've long thought that this is how Yelich may end up. Case in point, Bryce Harper is now a 1Bman. With this said, I wonder if the ol' "let's just stick the butcher at first," mentality has shifted in the minds of the analytically-inclined. That First Basemen have been found to have more defensive importance than historically considered. With shift limitations, this is theoretically true, and anecdotally true as well. When the trade deadline hit, I believe it was Arnold, himself, that said they wouldn't be acquiring anyone who was going to threaten their run prevention unit. Sure enough, that brought in Santana, who looked dynamic playing over there. With the universal DH, I think the limited defensive First Basemen will slowly decline in number, and be solely the realm of the truly elite bats. (Edit to add: This doesn't mean they won't TRY Yelich at first, to see how capable he may be)

Yeah, I was a little disappointed with his comments on my guys! I like to think all of EBJr., Luke Adams, and Henderson are on the rise. And, I too, thought that Baez was pretty much a 3Bman. Good stuff, though, and fun to read. I marvel every time I think about the depth of this system, especially after that stellar draft this year.

Yeah, it just feels like a weird move to me. Maybe the team doesn't feel confident in being able to sign the guys who will be available? Maybe this is just a hedge? Or perhaps this gives them some kind of negotiating power? Like, "Well, we're interested in your services, but we do have Jake Bauers over there, so we aren't DESPERATE for your services."

I'm on the record as not liking this move, but is he a good defender?

It's fun to look through your old posts. Sometimes I imagine you are Brock in disguise just to drive traffic.

I don't like this trade. Avina may not be destined for greatness, but he seemed to have a legitimate shot at one day being a big-leaguer. Jake Bauers has not been good. If he had options, then fine, stick him in Nashville, but I would be really disappointed if has a 26-man roster spot out of Spring Training.

I like the Murphy/Weeks dugout combo. As I believe Ron Robinsons Beard stated, a boring, but probably correct hire. I like the Weeks hire because people don't just get hired to do those roles with little to no experience unless insiders vouch for, and believe in their leadership abilities. Counsell was similarly groomed. As to swearing in a public interviews, I'm tired of it. I don't like it at all. And it seems to be happening more and more. Call me old fashioned all you want, but it's jarring and inappropriate. It doesn't hype me up, it's just really really distracting and unprofessional in a public space.

For a guy who led the NCAAs in HRs his senior year, features prodigous walk-rates, and has never posted a below-average wRC+ in the minors, AND plays for a franchise whose fanbase clamors for a prototypical first base prospect, I'm surprised it took a huge year in the AFL for Wes Clarke to garner attention around here and elsewhere. I'm not meaning to suggest that he's some kind of special prospect or anything, but his path has always kind of reminded me of Mitch Haniger's.

Perhaps the more stats-savvy among us will point out the flaw of my hypothesis, but I've always felt that the way Counsell managed (probably by front office design) was to win low scoring games featuring our top starters along with our top relievers, and basically punt on the other days, often losing non-competitive blowouts.

I think a lot of this is simply managing the 40-man and minor league roster numbers. Not just for the present, but for the future. I think the Brewers wanted to improve their AAAA-IF depth, and knew they would need to release a few minor leaguers in order to bring guys stateside within roster limits. They may as well trade from their depth (Mendez a corner OF, Moore not good enough to be expected to offer MLB-worthy ABs next season). This seemed like trading the current Moore for the future, 26 year old version of Moore, and needed to include Mendez to off-set the difference in development risk associated with the current Moore.

I mentioned it in the other thread, but I would like them to pursue Mark Hallberg (age 37), who is supposedly a front-runner for the Giants job.

I want this guy... https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10093311-mlb-rumors-buster-poseys-close-friend-mark-hallberg-interviews-to-be-giants-manager Edit to add this link to the Athletic article a couple years back... https://theathletic.com/1154774/2019/08/23/35-under-35-the-story-behind-how-minor-league-manager-mark-hallberg-already-has-changed-giants-history/

You are correct that there are no guarantees, but the choices are essentially to give it one more 'go' in 2024 with Burnes/Williams leading the charge, and THEN doing a soft rebuild in 2025/2026 (w/o the players Burnes/Williams would get back in a trade), or to begin the process a year earlier. In my opinion, I think I would prefer trading Burnes and Williams this offseason to really try and maximize the return. I'm indifferent towards Adames. The reason I prefer this now, is that going into next season with nothing new except some manager, smacks of desperation to 'win now,' rather than trusting that this franchise has now built a strong enough foundation that it can do roster churns and still compete, like Tampa Bay has done. IMO, it's either now, or next off-season. Without Woody and Counsell, it just seems like the timing is right. In addition, I think that the jolt of fresh faces and youthful energy and feel would help fans get rid of the bitter taste of playoff failure since 2018. It's been a historically strong run for this franchise, but I'm ready to turn the page.

I felt differently before the Woodruff injury and Counsell leaving, but now, the fan in me would actually enjoy a refresh of the team. The "faces" of the franchise the last few seasons have been Counsell, Hader, Burnes, Woodruff, Adames, Stearns, Devin, Yelich. I think it may be refreshing and exciting to do a rebuild. And for the record, I don't mean that means we won't be competitive. I think the Brewers WILL be competitive even without any of thoses faces. Certainly not favorites, but with players that can be brought back in trades along with all of the young talent the organization has amassed allows for a new chapter in the Attanasio era. Let's bring in a fresh-faced, positive and energetic manager to grow with the players and look to go back to winning division titles in 2025.

I wonder if the Brewers would consider countering an $8M+ annual salary by adding sheer length to any deal. He really is Brewers to the core. What if they offered an ownership stake, or some other "lifetime" contract that didn't necessarily require him to manage forever. He's been around long enough for the organization and ownership group to know "the man" well enough to trust him to a long-term commitment, regardless of role.

I wonder if, with the baseball-world recognizing the strength of this system, if the organization will experience an artificial "boost" to Brewers prospects, especially the teens experiencing state-side success? As in, the scouting world trusts the organization to properly develop guys, making it more likely that they pan out.

Would you agree though, that his K/BB ratio is still really strong? He was 6th among Southern League qualifiers. Just looking at the numbers, it seems like he could use a pitch, probably the sinker, to induce more soft contact early in counts? I don't like his FB/GB ratio either. (edit to add: I'm very excited about Rodriguez. I'm very high on him.)

I trust your judgement, and yet, I find this very hard to believe!

I'm going to echo those referring to his swing. I'm no scout, so take my opinion with a chunk of salt, but it looks nearly "perfect". Maybe he turns his shoulder a little too much pull-side? But he keeps the bat in the zone so long, I'm not sure it matters. In that clip alone he got to the high pitch and the low and away pitch.

Someone should start a season thread. I saw the athletic released their preseason all-B1G teams. No Badgers on the first or second teams, but Wisconsin was the only team with 5 players that received votes.

I'm optimistic that Matt Arnold will win a GM-of-the-year award at some point during his Brewers tenure! Over/Under on when Torts starts the 2024 thread? (Obviously, January 1st, but will he wait until he wakes up in the morning, or post it at 12:01 on NYE?) I'm optimistic he won't let us down.

It seems like if Hiura goes and has success, posters will be able to say, "I told you so. the Brewers are so dumb!" and if he never has success, those posters can say, "The Brewers ruined his career!" I can't wait to find out who the Brewers 2024 pariah will end up being. That could be a fun prediction poll.

I don't think I realized how much the Woodruff injury specter was preventing me from fully "moving on," from this season. Now that we know that he won't be part of the 2024 picture (sadly), at least now I can start looking forward to the offseason.

I feel bad for Woody. He just really seemed to be the heartbeat of the team the last few years. Seemed like a super-genuine, nice guy. Absolutely the type of player teams want to "build around". He deserved his shot at a big pay-day. I just wish he'd lost a year to Tommy John, rather than face the ominous future of shoulder surgery. With this said, there's a hypothetical universe where the Brewers traded Woody last offseason for stud prospects, and those prospects... fizzled out. It doesn't have to end up being a really big deal for the team. They never invested financially in Woody beyond his arbitration, and pitchers get hurt all the time. I mean, Woody himself only made 11 starts this season. I think it's interesting that with this injury, some of the "run-it-back-in-2024" opinions are shifting to "re-set/rebuild in 2024," and those that were looking to do the rebuild are now saying, run-it-back.