SRB

Why would we want Sandoval instead of just picking up A-Ram's option? A-Ram is still a better player even if he's quite a bit older (but also quite a bit slimmer...)

And I'm still not entirely convinced that Braun's failed test was actually legitimate.

Scoreboard watching this early is going to make you go insane. I'm just happy when the Brewers win, couldn't care less about the Cardinals until the last week of the season.

Wasn't Marlon Byrd already suspended at one point? Maybe I am making that up. I'm just hoping it's not any Brewers. Not that I care in the least about the actual act, but would rather not have the distraction during the stretch run.

Why blue? Nyjer Morgan would be an outstanding 5th OF, would be a lot of fun to have him back down the stretch. But with Overbay and Weeks clogging the bench, no room for him really.

1. Kodi Medeiros, LHP (18) - Poor debut so far, but his stuff is so nasty the control issues don't have to disappear entirely for him to be totally unhittable (e.g. young Randy Johnson). 11.6 K/9. The upside is tantalizing. Nobody in the system has a higher upside, in my opinion. 2. Orlando Arcia, SS (19) - Not sure how you can rank him behind Taylor; better defender, younger, offense not really that far behind. 3. Monte Harrison, CF (18) - Personally, I love physical tools until a guy shows he's never going to be able to tap into them (e.g. D'Vontrey Richardson). Harrison's pro debut not super exciting, but solid. Giving him the slight edge over Taylor. 4. Tyrone Taylor, CF (20) - Some more athleticism and upside. I guess I don't like him quite as much as others (though I still like him), because I don't see the evidence of an All Star ceiling quite yet. 5. Gilbert Lara, SS/3B (16?) - We really don't know anything about him, but the Brewers quadrupling their previous international signing record means something. 6. Jacob Gatewood, SS (18) - Early rookie league numbers mean almost nothing, but it would be nice to see him not struggle so much in his first taste of pro baseball. Ranking him this low because of that and because of questions about his position long-term. Still love the upside though. Thrilled that somebody like Gatewood is ranked this low in the current Brewers system. 7. Clint Coulter, C/DH (20) - Can't ignore a first-round pick putting up big numbers, but the fact remains that Coulter has played nearly half his games at DH (does not bode well for his chances of sticking at C). He's hopefully learning that when he shows patience (63 BB to 84 K this year) success follows. Happy he didn't end up getting traded. 8. Brandon Diaz, CF (19) - I'm not ranking him #1, but I trust that where there's smoke (PECOTA/agent39), there's fire. A touch less power so far, but he's basically replicating his 2013 numbers at the next higher level in 2014. 9. Taylor Williams, RHP (22) - He's not young for A-ball, but his results are impressive. I read that he got something of a late start in playing regular baseball in college, so if this is him finally taking off, watch out. 10. Taylor Jungmann, RHP (24) - He's not Eric Arnett. I still believe that Jungmann can be a useful MLB pitcher. No longer dreaming of an ace, but I could see him eating some innings as a #4/5 in the not-so-distant future. 11. Devin Williams, RHP (19) 12. Wei-Chung Wang, LHP (22) - He wasn't really a top prospect with the Pirates, but what does it mean that the Brewers went to such an unprecedented length to get him in the system? Will be fascinating to follow his career. 13. Tyler Wagner, RHP (23) 14. Jed Bradley, LHP (24) 15. Nicolas Pierre, CF (17) 16. Jorge Lopez, LHP (21) 17. Victor Roache, LF (22) 18. Michael Reed, RF (21) 19. Johnny Hellweg, RHP (25) 20. David Denson, 1B (19) - On-base percentage has taken a step back this season, but he's young for A-ball. Still intrigued about him combining his apparent power potential with his OBP skills. 21. Elvis Rubio, OF (20) 22. Yadiel Rivera, SS (22) 23. Dustin DeMuth, 3B (23) 24. Ariel Pena, RHP (25) 25. Joantgel Segovia, OF (17)

http://www.jimbrooks.org/humor/img/pictures_misc/ImNumOneSoWhyTryHarder2.jpg

The hit Garza gave up was a play Reynolds has made before too. Why not let him go 7-8 and then use Duke? I think it was a dumb move that made no sense, but it's not like he should have foreseen Duke giving up 2 ER.

Maybe it's because I wasn't watching, but I have a hard time blaming RRR for bringing in a shutdown RP or Duke for finally giving up an ER. More concerned that the offense could only manage 2 ER off of John Lackey...

Gomez is an elite player either way, but that's not the kind of situation he exceeds at. Saw a huge swinging K coming a mile away.

Might as well just try to IBB Gomez, he's going to try and hit a HR on anything you throw at him and K anyways.

Ok, that's pretty stupid. But Duke has been one of the best RP in the NL this season, so I don't know if it's Shouse-v-Burrell level stupid, even though it appears to have blown up in his face.

Missed the game, what did RRR do?

Two of the nicest guys in the business!

Lohse couldn't handle the pressure, too bad.

How you going to give up 6 ER in 2 IP to this little league offense? I think playing the Cardinals gets in people's heads. Oh well.

Parra has been worth -.3 WAR this year and his defense has been below average. His OPS is also below .700. He's a nice 4th OF'er, he's not a guy we need to move other guys to get into the lineup. And I don't know why you're emphasis is placed entirely on Overbay as Reynolds has played more 1st base than Overbay. He was also worth 4.6 fWAR last season and has won two Gold Gloves. You have to judge advanced defensive metrics on multiple years worth of attempts, not a single season and much less the limited time Parra has seen in 2014. As for his offense, Parra still has a .294 wOBA this season versus Lyle Overbay's .289 wOBA. That's not adjusted for position. Lyle Overbay is a worse hitter by any metric. You don't even have to like Parra as more than a 4th OF to conclude that he is a better option that Overbay. Reynolds has been fine, I agree, but he's not being used as the everyday 1B and in days he sits they should be using Parra instead of Overbay. And over their careers, Reynolds and Parra have complementary platoon splits. It's not going to happen in the real world, but really I don't even see how it's debatable on paper that Parra should be playing instead of Overbay.

I agree that moving Braun to 1B is something of a waste, because he's really not that bad in in the outfield. Khris Davis is likely a worse defender, but apparently (for whatever reason) the Brewers don't think he can play 1B as was determined last offseason. So what we have now is 1B Lyle Overbay, who is not even a great defensive 1B, and LF/RF Gerardo Parra who is a Gold Glove defender and actually probably a better hitter than Overbay too. It's a no brainer which of those two players should be seeing the most playing time, but if Davis can't be moved, then you have to have Braun play 1B to get Parra's bat and defense in the lineup in place of Overbay. Unless they sign a 1B or 3B (moving A-Ram) it's the exact same situation next year too, with whatever mediocre 1B replaces Overbay. This is surely not going to happen, but ideally in 2014 you would have Braun play 1B/RF: first base against RHP (with Parra in RF), and right field against LHP (with Reynolds at 1B).

Kyle Lohse has the highest FB% of any SP on the team, but good luck getting anything to fall in LF/CF today!

Everybody wearing elbow guards to the plate and flipping bats on anything out of the infield is the correct response. *Edit* Though we could also just bring Wang back and have him start intentionally hitting people until he gets a 30 days suspension.

And K-Rod leads all of baseball in Saves. Just like everybody predicted before the season started.

Shhh. Let's keep that between .

Luecker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I9obySo80Y

Throw right at his elbow. What a classy guy!