Austin Tatious

Big BA fan, so hope he stays.

I'm a huge fan of both of our catchers to be honest. I'd hang on to both for awhile, at least until we have another good catcher in the wings, which doesn't seem to be any time soon. Maldy's sample size offensively is rather small (especially compared with his minor league #s), but his defense will always be there. Of course, you always consider trade opportunities but you'd have to knock my socks off, e.g., if a team were desperate for a catcher.

If a loogy is lefty who only pitches to left handed hitters, what is the origin of that term?

Good pickup. I am also hopeful on Olmstead's ceiling. Maybe a half a year at Nashville to see him at that level, and if impresses...he could be a real imposing late inning guy. Maybe even a closer some day...

I have DirecTV and have a DVR from DirecTV. Being a sports nut, I am constantly struggling to have open space on DVR so I have to delete things I don't want to delete. Is anyone an electronics expert? Questions 1.Can you recommend a DVD-recorder that can connect to my DirecTV DVR? 2.is it easy to operate? 3.Can you record onto BlueRay? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. Here is some info that there are some good 3b prospects in the college ranks. We just need to snag the right one. http://baseballdraftreport.com/2012/12/ Relevant excerpt: 3B: San Diego 3B Kris Bryant and North Carolina 3B Colin Moran (2) Third base is the one position so far that an argument could be made has more star power at the top in the college ranks than it does at the high school level. This isn’t meant to disparage the above-average group of prospects that make up the cream of the prep crop, but is instead designed to shed some much needed positive light on what looks to be an all-around lackluster year for college position players. The outlook is bleak for teams looking for a quick fix bat at catcher, first, second, or short, but third base could provide up to a half-dozen regular big league third basemen from the college game alone. The two names that jump out as likely first round talents are Bryant and Moran. I no longer doubt Bryant’s future as a big league power hitter, but his defense at third remains a work in progress. He’s more athletic than often given credit, so, if nothing else, he should have a home in RF if his drafting team deems his glove at the hot corner unplayable. In many ways I feel like Moran has been put on the draft landscape just for me. That’s mostly because I’m an unrepentant egotist, but also because I a) love guys who consistently play above their tools, b) am a complete sucker for a pretty lefthanded swing, and c) have the importance of plate discipline, having a plan prior to every at bat, and generally taking a measured yet violent approach to hitting ingrained deep into my pitch black soul. Moran offers up a resounding check mark for each of those qualifications. I think he’s a better version of last draft’s Matt Reynolds with the upside of San Diego 3B Chase Headley. ***** Definite Maybes Virginia Tech 3B Chad Pinder, Arkansas 3B Dominic Ficociello, Texas 3B Erich Weiss, Stephen F. Austin State 3B Hunter Dozier, College of the Canyons 3B Trey Williams, 3B Cavan Biggio, 3B Travis Demeritte, 3B Wesley Jones, 3B Jan Hernandez (9) The next tier down includes guys like Pinder, Ficociello, Weiss, Dozier, and Williams. It’s a fairly tight bunch, so my advice is to pick your favorite and run with it. I wouldn’t rule out any of those names making a run at the first round, but I also wouldn’t count on it either. Analysis! Pinder’s tools and I think he could grow into a plus defensive player, but he’s got plenty to prove at the plate, especially with respect to his approach. I’ve always personally viewed Weiss as a poor man’s Moran, but a few friends in the game I’ve spoken to actually prefer the junior from Texas. Dozier reminds me of a less heralded version of Pinder. I currently prefer Dozier – more physical, better approach, similar athleticism, maybe a touch less defense but not far off — over the Virginia Tech third baseman, but the two are fairly close in my mind. Ficociello has a really intriguing hit tool, but offers less overall upside than the rest of the bunch for me. Finally, we come to Williams. Williams, for the 99.9% of the readership unfamiliar of anything written here before this precise point in time, was a huge favorite last year. Like, highest rated third baseman in the entire 2012 MLB Draft huge. I preferred him over Richie Shaffer, Joey Gallo, and Addison Russell, among hundreds of others. Nothing has changed since last June and now, so here’s a reprint of my notes on him then: 1. 3B Trey Williams (Valencia HS, California): big hit tool; potential plus to plus-plus raw power; advanced idea of how to hit, e.g. big opposite field power threat; strong arm often categorized as plus; potential star defensively at third base; great reactions and instincts; outstanding athlete; plus bat speed; plus hit tool; slightly above-average speed; very strong; has that special sound; pitch recognition to be monitored; super quick bat, solid approach: very patient, lightning in wrists; swing needs some work, but what is there is a fine building block; strong arm, steady defender; below-average speed, but quick feet and reactions at third; should be an average defender at worst with much more upside than that; big-time raw power, personally I’m a believer; 6-2, 210 pounds; R/R

Are there any advanced 3b with good ceilings? Or SS who project out at 3b? I think we need a really good 3b, maybe 2, in the advanced levels of our system. (Just so long as he's not another Antone Williamson who we took 4th overall out of ASU.)

Melvin may not make the draft choices, but he runs the organization. That's all I meant. The people that make the picks report to him, and organizational structure and philosophy certainly are designed by Melvin. We are lucky to have him. This organization was like Siberia before he got here. Now it's a top flight organization.

Great job, Rams. May I ask--how do you have so much knowledge of minor league players? Our top 20 list looks great in terms of some potential impact guys. Arcia. Taylor. Coulter. Roache. Those 4 look like they have tremendous ceilings. Rogers, Nelson, Peralta, Hellweg, Thornburgh. Some solid MLB rotation guys. Doug Melvin has been phenomenal.

Who would know better than I that it was Briggs and not May with the 6 hit game on August 4, 1973 in Cleveland? It was that 73 team, led by May, Briggsie, and Boomer Scott, that was the first Brewer team to really win over fans to this new franchise. From June 1 to June 18, they won 15 of 16, and vaulted into first place. Fans took this team to heart right then. May later went on to record a 24 game hit streak that year (he hit safely in 32 of 33). Though they faded in the 2nd half (which would become a common thing in Del Crandall's tenure), that was one of my favorite Brewer teams of all time. In addition to those 3, it had Coluccio, Pedro Garcia, Jim Colborn (who won 20 that year), Slaton, Darrell Porter. Great memories. Sad day. Great story. I'd love to hear more. I was a little kid in the late 70's. May have been '77 or '78 where we opened with series with Yankees and Bosox and we did really well. That's when I got into it, although I have a hazy memory of the all star game being in County Stadium too.

Melvin says that Gamel will get work in winter ball at 3rd and right as well as 1st. He has a history at 3rd, but obviously had trouble with throws. But an injury at any of those positions in 2013, and he could get in there. The kid has a really good (left handed) swing.

I was hoping Fiers issue was a stamina problem. But there was a great quote from Lucroy citing more that there is now a better book on Fiers and that he simply needs to get lower in the strike zone and avoid the high pitch gopher balls.

I really like Kintzler's arm. I am a fan of him and Hendu for sure. Veras is serviceable. I'd prefer Estrada and Narvy in the pen. I guess we have to live with Ax but he should earn a role. K Rod, Loe, and Parra gone for sure. So, we need 1-2 vets to bring in, one with closing experience.

I'd re-sign Hart. Team guy. Character guy. Productive. Home grown. Proven. Guys like that don't grow on trees. i say we reward him with an extension soon.

Gallardo (would not trade him at all) Marcum Fiers Rogers Peralta I wish we could get Zack back but seems like a longshot. Estrada has a nice arm but he falters after 5 innings. I'd put him in the pen. Thornburg for a full year at AAA Nashville. I'd like to see some polish added to his game. He is going to be a technician and so he needs some refinement.

Peralta is the one I want to see the most. Maybe Thornburg, although I think Thornburg should be at AAA in 2013 anyway. But I thought DM or RR suggested Tyler was coming up. Logan Schafer and a reliever or two as well. De los Santos makes sense. I think it may be early for Burgos.

1. Jean Segura 2. Tyler Thornburg 3. Mark Rogers 4. Clint Coulter 5. Hunter Morris 6. Johnny Helwig 7. Jimmy Nelson 8. Tyrone Taylor 9. Orlando Arcia 10. Victor Roache 11. Wily Peralta 12. Khris Davis 13. Taylor Jungmann 14. Ariel Pena 15. Damien Magnifico 16. Jorge Lopez 17. Mitch Haniger 18. Scooter Gennett 19. Drew Gagnon 20. Jim Henderson 21. Hiram Burgos 22. David Goforth 23. Jose Pena 24. Logan Schaefer 25. Taylor Green 26. Fautino De Los Santos 27. Jed Bradley 28. Santo Manzanillo 29. Tommy Toledo 30. Jesus Sanchez 31. Chris McFarland 32. Cameron Garfield 33. Alan Williams 34. Yadiel Rivera 35. Juan Perez 36. Josh Stinson 37. Tyler Wagner 38. Josh Prince 39. Michael Reed 40. Zach Quintana 41. Eric Arnett 42. Adam Giacolone 43. Kentrail Davis 44. Jeff Bianchi 45. Nic Bucci 46. Brooks Hall 47. Caleb Gindl 48. Kyle Heckathorn 49. Angel Ortega 50. Cody Scarpetta

Phenomenal write-up. Very enjoyable read. I will re-read it numerous times. Great resource. I think we are a one more good draft away from having an upper echelon farm system again. With us heading for a top 10 draft pick next year, maybe this time next year, we will have a great system again. Just some random thoughts: 1. I hope at the end day that our teenage brigade of Coulter, Arcia, and Tyrone Taylor end up being in the the top 5 someday. I know Arcia is hurt so you slotted him appropriately, but these three have so much potential and upside, that hopefully they can grow together. Maybe someday we will look back at this list and say that those are the three that ended up as the biggest studs. 2. I wonder if Coulter can ever play 3rd? That, along with closer, are spots where I don't like our prospects. It would be nice if Coulter could become a Mike Olt type of prospect. If not him, somebody. 3. I hope I am wrong, but I think Peralta and Nelson are too high on your list. Peralta is pitching better of late, but his production overall just doesn't warrant this high of a slot IMO. Love Nelson's size and that he got his BB rate down. But, I think 4th is rather optimistic. 4. I like the Jungmann, Hellwig, and Pena rankings. Three guys I am high on. I wonder if Jungmann is a back of the rotation guy eventually. Hellwig may have higher upside in my mind. I see Pena as a Jose Veras type 7th inning guy. 5. Khris Davis seems awfully low considering how he just flat out hits. 6. I hope some good relievers come out of this. I liked Manzanillo, and hopefully he will really recover all the way from the accident. Magnifico, de los Santos, and Wagner are also possibilities (along with the aforementioned Pena). But overall, this seems like an area where we need really good coaching. Melvin has been trying to get some power arms so hopefully we can get an upgraded bullpen like some of our division rivals. 7. I like how low you put guys like Logan Schafer, Gindl, Heckathorn, etc. These were hotshot prospects a couple of years ago, but it shows the uncertainty of prospects since their ceilings ended up so low. I like Shafer's glove, but he just seems like a backup. 8. I'm not sure Gennett is really a front line major league starter. I think he projects as a marginal slap hitter. I'm not all that excited about him. 9. Interesting that you didn't totally throw Arnett under the bus. I had totally written him off and I hope you are right that maybe he could become a Kam Loe type guy. 10. I'm high on Thornburgh. If he gets his HR rate down, this guy can be a solid number 3 starter. I don't see reliever in his makeup but I could be wrong. I just see a classic solid starter. Overall, I liked your work here, and this was a tremendous read.

How about Game 162 in 1982 in Baltimore? Crew started series up 3 with a magic number of 1 (or 2 since head to head). O's won the first 3 of the series and bang Brew killed 'em. Sutton over Palmer.

Long time lurker. This is my first post. I love this thread. I am interested to hear thoughts on how Khris Davis projects as an outfielder? Can he play right fairly? I would not give up Gamel. There is no reason to. He is still under club control. He has one of the sweetest swings you will ever see. I think we need to give him a fair shot. I like our young arms, and I like some of our position players coming up. But, the one glaring spot is 3b. We need to develop a really nice 3b prospect. While I think Hart is one of the most under-appreciated Brewers, I would move him if we can get a really good 3b prospect. You're still covered with Gamel and Hunter Morris coming up.