The stache

And yes, I know Ruth didn't wear a helmet back then. I was speaking metaphorically. He oft went up there swinging for the seats, only to walk back to the bench with a big "K" on the scorecard.

And we won what with that all world player? Ernie Banks never even saw the post season. Nor did Ron Santo or Billy Williams all those years in Chicago. Ted Williams, arguably the greatest hitter to ever play the game, the last man to hit .400, never won a World Series, and only made it to the Fall Classic once. So, by your logic, because they never "won", they weren't great players....? Funny that all four are in the Hall of Fame. The best player in the game today is Mike Trout. He has been for a few years now. How many rings does he have? He's going to win the AL MVP again this season. Think he's going to even make it to the World Series this year? Doubtful. So "winning" is not, and should not be a measure of "greatness". The best hitter only comes up once every nine times in any game. If the rest of the team around them is not good, the greatest player will ultimately fail. How many World Series wins does Miguel Cabrera have? He was on the 2003 Marlins team that won it all...as a rookie, when he played 87 games. He hasn't won it all since, despite being a career .321 hitter with 405 home runs and a .965 career OPS. How many World Series wins did Robin Yount have? How many World Series wins did Willie Mays, arguably the most complete player the game has ever seen, have? The Giants won it all in 1954, when he was 23. Mays played 20 more years, hit nearly 600 more home runs, drove in 1,700 + runs, stole over 300 bases, won 12 Gold Gloves. How did such a spectacularly talented player manage to whiff twenty straight times trying to win it all? He won another MVP, finished top five in the MVP six other times, made the All Star team 24 times. Was he not great because he didn't "win"? As for Hall of Famers who "swing out of their helmets regularly", yeah, I know multiple players that would fit that description. Reggie Jackson struck out 2,597 times in his career. The great Babe Ruth struck out more than 2,000 times in his career. It was said the only thing more exciting than a Babe Ruth home run was watching Babe Ruth strike out. Now, I'm not inferring that Carlos Gomez is anywhere near the player that Ruth and Jackson were, but it's silly to dismiss what Gomez has done the last two years because he swings for the fences. Look, he has had a down year this year (again, because of some minor injuries that has slowed him), and that is why we probably aren't getting what you would like to see. If we had traded him last year, or the year before, especially, we'd have gotten more. As it stands, we got quite a lot for a player we only controlled for one more season. And nobody here is comparing him to Molitor or Yount ability wise. Those guys are Hall of Famers. He had two outstanding seasons after flashing a lot of ability throughout the early portion of his career. But to completely dismiss what he's done these last two years because he's had a sub par 2015 is just amusing. He's not yet 30. He's in great shape, and if the hammy issues are behind him, he will be an electric addition to the Astros lineup. Healthy, he's a threat to hit 25 home runs, steal 30 + bases, and win a Gold Glove in center. Know how many teams would love to have that kind of player roaming center field? Great defense wins games. Home runs win games. Stealing bases helps to win games. Gomez is a flawed hitter. He'll probably never hit .300, but in the mid .280s with those other "tools" is pretty darned good, if you ask me. I think you are being far too critical of him. You don't like WAR? Fine. You know what? I'm not a fan of it myself, especially when it comes to historical data compilation. It might be an imperfect measurement, but it's a good quick look gauge on a player's overall performance. And there are few players over the last few years who have been a better combination of offense, defense, and base stealing than Gomez. That is what the Astros are banking on.

Seeing Carlos being interviewed tonight, and talking about his last practice with the Brewers...when he started to cry, it broke my heart. He's had a rough year with some nagging injuries, and hasn't been the productive player of the last few years. But it's clear he loved it in Milwaukee (he and his family), and while I think he'll be a great addition to Houston (and he looks to be getting back on track...slowly), I am just going to miss him. It didn't seem to matter if we were in first place, or out of the playoffs. He always played at Mach 2. The game is going to be less fun because he's not out there. And Aramis is definitely approaching Hall of Fame worthiness as a third baseman. If he can stay healthy, and catch fire as we all know he can do, there's no reason to think he can't get to Cooperstown. There haven't been many third basemen in the last twenty five years that I'd put ahead of him. Chipper Jones, for sure, as he was just special. But who else is a clear step ahead of Aram? Adrian Beltre is the only other one I can really think of that might have a step on him now. Look at his career numbers, all at third base save for 26 games played as a DH: .284 AVG, 1,080 runs, 2,257 hits, 483 doubles, 380 home runs, 1,384 RBI, a slash line of .342/.493/.835. Ten seasons of 25 or more home runs, seven seasons of 100 + RBI. Somehow, his career numbers only translate into a 32.2 WAR, and the Sabermetric pundits will use that to knock him. I think if he could get to 2,500 hits, and 400 home runs, he has a reasonable chance. He's not an all-timer (Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Matthews, Pie Traynor, "Home Run" Baker, George Brett, etc), but his offensive numbers compare favorably to those of Ron Santo. Different era, yes, and Santo was clearly the superior glove man. But Aramis is closing. He needs a bit more, but he's in the conversation now.

Um, the only player in all of baseball with a higher WAR in 2013 than Carlos Gomez was Mike Trout. Gold Glove winner, 27 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 40 stolen bases. He had the highest power-speed metric in all of baseball in both 2013 and 2014. He was more than a 3rd or 4th options, sorry. And while Lucroy has had a down year, he 4th in the NL MVP Award last year, with a 6.7 WAR to boot. Between 2012 and 2014, his 162 game averages (as a catcher): .297 AVG, 73 runs scored, 39 doubles, 5 triples, 18 home runs, 86 RBI, a slash line of .359/.472/.831. He just turned 29, and should rebound considerably. Calling Gomez and Lucroy "a nice 3rd or 4th option" is absurd.

Hmm, not sure if this hurts or helps my fantasy team. Two likely playoff teams. Hmm. Very interesting...

While the argument could be made that these moves we have made recently will greatly benefit the Brewers franchise for a long time to come, it's still hard to say goodbye to three men who have been consummate professionals, and difference makers, while in Milwaukee. Carlos Gomez came to Milwaukee with boatloads of unrealized potential, and when he asked the coaches to just let him play his game, he blossomed into a star. Though sometimes a lack of discipline could be maddening, his unmistakable love for the game always made him a joy to watch. Aramis Ramirez was a Brewer killer, so when he came to Milwaukee in 2012, he was a welcome addition. A-Ram already had more than 300 home runs in his career, and he gave the Crew a big bat to replace the departed Prince Fielder. And he responded with a huge season, hitting .300 with 50 doubles, 27 home runs, 105 RBI, and a .901 OPS. His 80 extra base hits represents the sixth highest single season total in Brewers history. His performance dropped off as age and injuries took their toll, but he was still a valuable bat, and a great teammate. Mike Fiers was an unheralded pitcher when he came up to Milwaukee full time in 2012, and he set the league on fire. In his first 13 starts, he was 6-4 with a 1.80 ERA and 80 Ks in 80 innings pitched. In 2014, he was 6-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 starts (14 appearances in total). He was a really strong back of the order pitcher, and a real pleasure to have in Milwaukee. Baseball is a tough business, and unfortunately, fan favorites don't spend their career with one team the way they used to. But these three men embodied everything good about our franchise-heart, hard work, and class. You never heard a complaint from them. They all played the game the right way. I don't think I'm the only one that will continue to cheer for these guys as they play for the Pirates and Astros. And I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all three of them for being great Milwaukee Brewers. You will all be missed!

This is one of, if not the best moves Doug Melvin has made since taking over the reigns as Brewer GM. I have been highly critical of him in the past, and I think that criticism was warranted. But he truly knocked it out of the park here. I can't help but tip my cap to him. When he makes a mistake, he should have his feet held to the fire. But when he does well, he should absolutely be applauded. Brett Phillips coming to Milwaukee has me downright giddy. Why? Because this guy is a five tool star in the making. I think he has the athleticism to stick in center. He has a cannon for an arm, so wherever he goes, he's an asset to our defense. And he's lit it up at A/A+/AA. In 2014 at A/A+, .310 AVG combined with a slash of .375/.529/.905. 85 runs scored, 29 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 68 RBI and 23 stolen bases. This year at A+/AA, he's at .320 with a slash of .377/.548/.925, 90 runs scored, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 16 home runs, 71 RBI and 16 SB. I like that his K rate has stayed pretty consistent as he's moved from A to A+ to AA. And with Orlando Arcia, that means we have two of the premium spots on the field covered for the next decade plus. If we're in true rebuild mode, as it now seems, you can't possibly start out better than checking off short and center on your needs list. Domingo Santana is very highly rated, as well. Phillips is the #2 ranked player in Houston's system (MLB.com), and Santana is #7. He's going to strike out quite a lot, but the power is legit. He has a 60 power tool, and a 60 arm tool. So while there will be a lot of swing-and-miss, he also draws a fair amount of walks, too. At AAA Fresno this season, he's hitting .320 with 16 homers and 59 RBI in 275 ABs. His slash line is .426/.582/1.008 is outstanding. 48 BBs vs 91 Ks. He's got a lifetime OBP of .371. Santana is a monster at 6'5" 225 Lbs. He can play either right of left. The two pitchers I know less about. Hader was named the California League pitcher of the year in 2014. MLB.com lists his delivery draws comparisons to Chris Sale. He's got a strong fastball that sits in the low 90s, and he can reach back to hit 95/96 when needed. They note that his velocity has picked up since being drafted. His secondary pitches include a fringe average curve, and an average change up. He's 3-3 with a 3.17 ERA over 65.1 innings thus far in 2015. 69 Ks vs 24 walks. Hader is #14 in their top 20 at mid season. Houser is not in the top 20. I will miss Carlos and his unbridled joy playing the game. I'll miss Mike Fiers, too. But contrary to what Keith Law (who I have zero respect for) thinks, this is a great move for the Brewers. Phillips and Santana should rank #2 and #4 in our system when the Brewers depth chart is updated. Our drafting the last two years has shown much improvement. And some smart trades have helped to rebuild our system. All of a sudden, I am feeling very positive about our future.

"A source". ESPN's credibility sinks lower and lower.

Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave tonight.

He's allowed 58 base runners in 31 innings. No thank you.

Four earned runs in 6 2/3. That's almost nearly a quality start! Yes indeed! I like the optimism. Lohse had a 5.40 ERA today.

Exactly. Why hasn't he been DFA's yet? Nobody wants this guy.

Oof, and Hamels no hits the Cubs today.

I think this is dead on. You still need both, working in concert, to really succeed. On the amateur side, let your analytics staff find potential diamonds in the rough (based on your incoming HS/College data), and then pass those potential diamonds down to your scouts. This is a great method to clean up later in the draft on players other teams may not have even scouted (assuming your analytics are solid). This. So this.

I like this match up for the Brewers. Jungmann has been red hot. Just think. If we win, and Cincy loses at Colorado, we're out of the cellar, and 10 games under. We were, I believe, 19 under at one point. Nice rebound by the Crew! Let's keep this going!!

I like this move. It nets us a pitcher that could help us out in a few years (maybe a setup guy, or possible closer material?), we get a chance to look at a few guys who could play third for a while, and a class act gets to go back to the team he started with to end his career. If Barrios doesn't work out, we didn't spend a lot to get him. It's a win win. Aramis has been a pure professional since coming to Milwaukee. I wish him the very best in Pittsburgh.

Firstly, I did say that Odorizzi was showing some of the potential that was seen when he was drafted. Yes, I may have been a bit quick to include him and Lawrie. I've been cranky the last week (severe insomnia), and have had a bit of a short fuse. I apologize. The fact that Melvin drafted any of these guys really doesn't shape my opinion at all. I look at their performance in the big leagues, and then look at who drafted them. Period. Daffy Duck could have drafted them for all I care. A successful player is a successful player. I wish that some of the first rounders Melvin had picked since Braun were helping us, but they're not. A half season in 2008 of Sabathia, and a run in 2011 in part because of Greinke and Marcum, is a long time ago in baseball terms. Maybe I am negative when it comes to Melvin. Why? Because I look at the here and now, and the future. It's fun to reminisce about what happened four years ago, but that's much like recalling a great dinner you once had. It doesn't fill you up in the here and now. And when you compare the talent on this team, and in the minors, to the other teams in our division--we're getting blown out of the water.

Wow, Paul Goldschmidt is having an historic season. Stole his 16th base tonight. In the history of the game, no player has ever hit .350 with 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same year. Goldschmidt is on a pace to do just that (though the average will likely drop some by season's end). And he might not even win the MVP by doing that.

Nope, he's not. The comment was that since Braun, the first rounders have been busts. That is a pretty dead on, accurate statement, and easily comprehended. Those other ten players drafted in the first round in the years I listed have produced one Major League average player (Lawrie), and a pitcher showing flashes of potential in his fourth season (Odorizzi). None of the other eight players have really amounted to a hill of beans at the Major League level. None. That one or two might have been traded to other teams stupid enough to think they might amount to something does not change that we completely whiffed on first round draft pick after first round draft pick. Most of those guys are out of baseball, or will never reach the Majors, with Jeffress being the exception. I hope he continues on and has a solid career. It would be nice to have something from all those picks that is still paying off for Milwaukee, because Odorizzi and LaPortta stopped paying off for us a long time ago.

Um, Shelby Miller is 5-4 with a 2.07 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 1.095 WHIP and a 182 ERA + this year for the Braves, and leads the NL with a pair of shutouts. Kolten Wong was third in the NL Rookie of the Year last season, and his hitting .281 on pace for 18 home runs and 16 stolen bases for the Cardinals. He has a 2.2 WAR in 81 games as a 24 year old.

What first rounder since Braun has done anything substantial at the Major League level?? /cue the Jeopardy music

Perhaps bust is a bit strong for Lawrie. He's not lived up to lofty expectations that were projected, but he's not been bad. He was great as a rookie, but has had trouble staying on the field since. We'll see. Maybe he's another late bloomer.

I don't think you ever sit a hot hitter unless they match up so poorly against the pitcher. Parra has hit lefties to the tune of .262 this year. Why would you sit a guy with a near 1.500 OPS the last week? Especially against a rookie in his second career start.

Banuelos has had an interesting career, thus far. He was once the top pitching prospect in the Yankee organization (he and Dellin Betances, who has really become a fine pitcher). He was up and down, and if I recall correctly, had some injury issues. Anyhow, let's jump on him tonight, and get a win on the board. Another win streak would be nice! And, before that can happen, we need a W!

So, an athlete should just "toe the line, and be a good little soldier" while the ship is going down? How do you know that he hasn't addressed these things in private? That assumes an awful lot. I think it takes a bigger person to speak from the heart, and say the things that we sometimes don't want to hear. That's called character. Integrity. I'm sorry you don't like what he had to say, but can you honestly tell me he's that off base?