phxMILWfan

I think CC brings more to the team than what he does in his starts, it shows the whole team and the fans as well as the rest of the league that we are serious contenders and want to win. It pushes everyone but sheets back as far as their role, helps the bullpen by moving either Bush or McClung out of a starting role. It would be huge.

What kind of payroll are we looking at for next year in this dream situation of keeping Sheets and CC? Taking Gagne's contract away and all the other assumed changes for next year. If its around 90 million I'm sure Mark A. could cover it. How about some sort of Packers selling stock or Lambeau situation too? Or just pass a bucket around the stadium and take up collection. I'd buy meaningless Brewers stock to help bring in CC and keep Sheets.

Also from Jayson Starks' column • Rocky time: Clubs that have spoken with the Rockies this week are reporting they're now open for business. Two weeks ago, they were hoping the return of Troy Tulowitzki and Holliday might launch them back into the race. But apparently, an 0-6 trip to Kansas City and Detroit ended that dream. So the first name they'll try to move is Fuentes, the only potential free agent on the roster. As reported previously, the Yankees, A's, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Rays are in. It's believed the Marlins also have checked in. Fuentes is coming off an ugly week, however (seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning over two appearances). So he'll need to straighten himself out before the bidding picks up. "Everything he threw was flat," said one scout. "To be honest, I didn't really see an out pitch." But Fuentes is so versatile, he might be the only reliever on the market who could be a closer, eighth-inning set-up man or situational left-hander. So he will get moved. The price tag, according to one club: "One good piece."

This is part of Jayson Starks' Rumblings and Grumblings, the whole thing is worth reading • Brew view: Clubs that have checked in with the Brewers say they're being so aggressive in their hunt for a big-time starting pitcher, they might even be willing to include J.J. Hardy or Rickie Weeks "in the right deal." The Brewers have onrushing 21-year-old shortstop Alcides Escobar tearing it up in Double-A. So their middle infield would be covered long-term, and some combination of Craig Counsell, Bill Hall (if he's not dealt) and Joe Dillon potentially could handle it short-term. Let's say this again: The Brewers are a team you should not take your eyes off in the pre-deadline hysteria. "They'd listen on just about anybody for the right pitcher," said an official of one club that spoke with them. "And they're still very deep in their system. We've got nine prospects on our list from their Double-A club alone." http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings Pretty cool to see that other teams are scouting 9 of our guys in double A alone.

If you get CC and some how miraculously resign him AND Sheets AND Hart, you'll need to trade Prince because he will be so pissed that everyone is getting paid but him.

Need a little help with my understanding of comp. picks... if we get CC and a type A reliever and lose both and lose Sheets but then turn around and sign a type A free agent pitcher in the offseason do we only get 4 comp picks? It sounds like many people on here think that it is a certainty to get 2 picks for every player lost but my understanding is that they weigh what you lost and what you gained in free agency and reward picks that way. If we go out and sign someone elses type A we could end up with renting CC, aquiring another pitcher, and losing our prospects without actually gaining draft picks anyway.

it can ruin their swing, see Carlos Lee a few years ago. Just skip it.

he's not the same off the juice

Let's hope he goes to Philly, does that mean they won't be bidding for CC?

I've had enough time to come back off the ledge. Yost managed the bullpen appropriately... the bullpen just blew it. It happens. 10 games at home now, lets get 7 of them and go into the break putting pressure on the cubs and cards. We can do this. I actually believe that.

I agreed with the decision at the time, but looks like we should have kept Gagne in for the 9th... can't believe I'm saying that

seriously how does this happen? Up 5-0 in the 9th and they can't get one stinkin out. NOT ONE! I want to puke. Way to derail all excitement of a pennant chase and CC rumors with the most ridiculous loss of the year.

upton stopped at third when the third base coach was sending him home, for those of you on gameday

i say you take gagne out now though. Let him feel good about this and get his confidence up

air conditioned stadium though...

ok i stand corrected, it hit the pole

I watched the play, several times, in slow motion, forwards and backwards, it was foul... I'm still glad they called it a home run...

I don't think it hit the pole. Looked foul, third base umpire ran down the line had a great view of it. Diamondbacks bullpen, sitting right under the pole argued it was foul. The umpire talked it over with the rest of the umpires who didn't have a good view of it and decided to call it fair, saying it scraped the pole. Darron Sutton and Mark Grace made the point that don't you think the bullpen full of players right there wouldn't have protested if it hit the pole because they would have heard it ding. When the ball hits the pole it makes a sound... I'll take the bad call but it was clearly foul.

This is how all trades work though. GMs don't have the advantage of knowing the other teams offers. DM already has in mind what he is willing to offer and if the Tribe wants to play hardball and say other teams have a better offer on the table then so be it. We can call their bluff and keep our proposal on the table, maybe make a slight tweak to sweeten the pot but nothing like "throwing in" a top tier guy. I say offer something like this: -Their choice of Salome OR Brantley -Gillepsie(or any OF not named LaPorta if they prefer) OR Nelson -Then they pick two more guys of their choice off of a list of lower guys (Dillard, Irribaren, Bray, Braddock, etc) I would not in any way include LaPorta, Gamel, Escobar or Jeffress. The more I think about it the more I pray we don't give up these potential studs for a dozen starts from a guy. I'm even reluctant to give up Salome or Brantley. I am happy to hear DM leaning towards a quantity trade. We have some guys, especially Gillepsie and Nelson who are solid and almost ready guys that would be higher rated prospects in most organizations but get somewhat overlooked in the deep Brewers system. It's that depth that allows us to take a chance in a quantity deal. I still think if we move any of the four I bolded above we better be getting a Cain or someone we control beyond this year. Edit to add: I totally disagree with people proposing trading LaPorta because he is another righy bat. So what, a special bat is a special bat. You can get lefties with the last few positions you fill in your order. I think you summed up what I was trying to say but couldn't really figure out how to. I've just read stuff where people think that we just have to beat other teams offers and there is no real way to know for a fact what that is. I also agree with you on LaPorta but I'm not entirely sure that they will move Prince or that moving him is a good idea. I was against trading TGJ but there has to be a point where we realize you can only put 9 guys on the field at a time and if he isn't in the plans to be a starter, isn't making a legitimate run at even making the playoffs worth losing a 4th outfielder? If some combination of Hart, Braun, LaPorta, Gwynn Jr, Nelson, possibly Gamel if he can't play third, Iribarrenor any other prospects in the system will be our starting outfield, I think it's worth putting together a deal of TGJ, one of Weeks/Hardy/Escobar, and someone like Dillard to make a run at the playoffs. The compensation draft picks will only help to restock the farm system and you can have so many guys that will all be ready at the same time in your system anyway.

People have mentioned that other clubs don't have the prospects we have, or probably wouldn't "sell the farm". How would DM know what other clubs were really willing to give up? It's not like the Indians have to be honest and say "yeah other teams aren't offering much so just give us some lower level prospects". Their going to lie and say that they are getting great offers and that it IS going to take Laporta, Gamel, or Escobar. Then you enter a situation where you are bidding against yourself really.

I just wonder how much JJ's appearance last year will cost the team. The other way of looking at it I guess is if he is part of a deadline deal, how much did him being all-star help our cause?

Ok I don't understand this... why do we want our young players to make the all-star game anyway? It raises their value and makes them harder to resign. Personally I'd rather they rested for 3 days for a pennant chase.

Thanks splitter, and great info. With all of the young catching we suddenly have I'd love to see Salome be a big part of the deal. I think Gamel is the one player I wouldn't trade out of the names given. Who plays third long term if we move him? There are 5 or 6 great or potential great players in the organization that can play first. I can't wait until things start happening. Is there a limit to the number of compensation picks if we do get CC and lose him and Sheets? If Cordero and Linebrink brought the picks they did I can only imagine what CC and Sheets would be worth.

Would Cleveland do Bill Hall, Laporta, and Gwynn Jr? Even if we throw in a pitcher I think both sides could be happy. We rent Sabathia for the rest of the year and get extra picks and lose Hall's contract. The Indians get atleast 3 big league players. Just interested to hear what everyone would think of that.

seriously where was hardy on that infield single by barajas? taking a nap? he never even showed up on screen... I mean atleast come trailing in at the end and pretend you were paying attention.