brewcrewdue80

That's interesting to wonder on. You would think Houston isn't traveling that road again. I believe it was 4.5mil on the offer for compensation(off the top of my head) So based on last years allotments and who has them. You're looking at #1-4 as having that kind of money to spend on him. Houston has #2 and #5 So immediately the next lowest to afford him is the team spurned by. 1 is Arizona. 3 is Colorado. 4 is Texas. 6 is Minnesota and 7 is Boston Red Sox. Now, Colorado here makes a lot of sense as they have 3, 27, and the 38th pick. Only for Colorado they've picked SP with their 1st pick the last 2 seasons. Would they go a 3rd year in a row on the risky signing? Texas at 4 could offer him that kind of money. And considering their search for young pitching, I'd think it would make sense they draft him. But, lets say the money risk is too much for them to let slip away with their other picks. Come to Minnesota, Wouldn't he make sense there? They signed Santana, Hughes, and Nolasco, drafted Gordon in '14. I'd say the timeline makes perfect sense for an Aiken choice. But, by signing Santana, Twins have #4, then #73+80 picks of slot money. It'd be do or die in the draft for them. We get to the Red Sox. He's signing for less money now that the Astros offer. But, the prestige, franchise to play for and the big market. Red Sox getting Aiken may be cheaper to sign now, but one can argue down the line, he can more than make that up in asking price within team control over the Rockies and Twins and likely even Texas. Starting off with a Big Market team could be a plus for him and the Red Sox who have all this Offensive Prospect Kudos going, can use the potential arm of Aiken's, not costing them 15+mil per year for the next half decade. I'd guess that would be as long as he sits. Think about the sell off to fans. We went and got Moncada, and we have been fortunate enough to go sign a former 1st choice pick Aiken. The future is very bright in Sox Land.

Kintzler. He came in the games with 37runners on base and allowed 11 of them to score. That's why HIS numbers are good and others are worse because he didn't have that kind of inherited runner issue. He gave them up. Thats why some of us remember him as being awfully bad and others see him as a positive RP to have. He doesn't K people so the ball will be put in to play. Put it this way, he's below Avg. He doesn't belong on this team. There's no upside in keeping him unlike Jerremy Jeffress. And KRod is certainly a better RP option than Kintzler just has to be for a reasonable price.

TLB I get and understand that only Coulter isn't ranked in the top 20 of Baseball Prospects. I've fully understand Coulter moving from Catcher to OF likely comes with some defensive inabilities. I certainly wouldn't rank him in top 100 prospects either until he's had a year( like Schwarber needs) to prove himself.

The Crew: You don't like Alvarez's Mechanics? What is wrong with it? I voice my opinion of motion and effort and balance. And I watch the video posted in the Cuban thread not named Moncada, and I have no clue what can possibly be wrong with his mechanics? He looks like a normal SP in Baseball today. It's not fast/hurried, doesn't look like he is rearing back to get what he has(which I fear could lead to injury), Balance looks good, he's not falling off the mound. Do you just not like the guy? OR point out to the amateur posters what this mechanic issue of his is? I put in pretty lengthy detail what I didn't like about Nate's Reyes choice I thought with legitimate reasons to worry. I watch Alvarez' video and I can see the movement in his slider, hear the pop in the FB, and somehow he lacks control and has poor mechanics? Where's the problem in his motion? Fill me in.

I wonder if Gatewood has measured his Body Fat% in that after 30lbs weight gain vs his previous body frame. I thought maybe a human could add 1/2 a lb of muscle to his frame in a week at best which would be 60weeks to do so if true. Maybe he grew too? Maybe that's just his body filling out. I'm not 100% sure he added 30lbs of muscle, but it's nice to exclaim considering looking at his page of photos and seeing some comments about his frame being thin, to boast the weight-gain as "All" muscle. Anyway, Glad to see he's working hard in an offseason, adding bodyweight, especially now, because the 30lbs more weight, may show him defensively, if he's worthy of staying at SS or if he's too slow there and move him to a new position quicker, vs the now acquired Luis Sardinas who's kept his weight around 150 this whole time. Especially with Milw wondering on it's 3b future, maybe he moves their this season quicker vs it happening next season or the year after that if he just put on 5-10lbs a year on his frame instead. Re Knebel: Based on what the Brewers have in their system I'd guess Knebel wasn't in AA yet and would be moved there this season. It's frustrating how slow they move some prospects, and I think it reflects in the top 100 rankings. RE Pete and Touisaint/Bradley. That just it, how does Touissaint get ranked having had poor numbers as a Rookie like Medeiros and his motion doesn't look as impressive? As to Bradley, he was previously lights out back in 2013. Coming back from injury so I'll give that as some reason for the motion/wildness in 2014. Really, the point is that Montgomery seems to have the "prospect top 100 ranking selected talent' to maybe land one in 2015. Or he has the belief(Bauer was a top 10 SP rank a long time ago and what he done with it?)

I don't understand all of the Perez love. Perez has a track record of being a mediocre at best reliever. He had one great year several ysars ago with the other years being blah with bad peripherals. IMO, he needs to pitch lights out in the spring or benefit from other guys getting injured to make the team. He's just not very good. Currently, he shouldn't be in the top 7 for the bullpen. He can change that, but past performance suggests otherwise. There is a reason he signed a milb deal. I recall looking at his Fangraphs and his Velocity in pitches has been very consistent. This for a RP who you'd assume up and downs. He throws hard. I prefer Gas vs Kintzler's velocity who I don't get why was signed and brought back. I think Perez has higher upside as a RP not via the numbers he's posted. There are guys that I think can have very good seasons. But to me, I'd guess Kinztler and Wooten their very good would be 2.85-3ERA seasons with 3.6 likely and 4.5 bad. Perez I think could have a 1.8-2.25ERA on a good season in the NL with 3.3 being avg and the 4.3 being bad. I'd rather have the upside Perez brings than the likely avg Kintzler and Wooten bring. Put it this way. Pittsburgh had 3 RPs last season who posted below 2ERA. Closer Melancon 71IP of 1.90ERA. Setup Tony Watson 77.1IP of 1.63ERA. 7th inning setup Jared Hughes 64.1IP of 1.96ERA. That's 212.2IP of under 2ERA from your closing the game guys who are 29, 28, and 28. Melancon was tossed away by 3 teams because he didn't have it, only to be lights out in Pittsburgh? Watson pitched better than previously, he appears good but wasnt lights out good prior to 2014. Hughes Fip doesn't like him. Got away with it last season. For a man with .609OPS on the season he had a remarkable .381OPS with RiSP and a stellar .515OPS when men were on base overall. I think Perez could have a season like Melancon's whereas Kinztler/Wooten are relying on out of this world Men on Base numbers like Hughes in 2014 just to be able to post the near 2ERA. I don't care about the experience, it's his stuff. I think the higher upside belongs with him vs the in-house option of Kinztler(I like Wooten's stats as a GB heavy pitcher)

I don't think you can sign him to a 1/6mil deal/ 2/10mil deal if he's asking for 10mil per. It has to be an option type deal with incentives. I think I put it down earlier of 1/6mil with incentives to 10mil~say saves. reaching 25 is 350k, 30 is 500k, 35 is 750k, 40 is 1mil. And/or Games Finished 50 being worth 500k 60 being worth 1mil. Could also see IP if he reaches 60+ netting a mil. Keep in mind not all of these suggestions to be used, just an example of what I'd think would get him somewhere closer to the 10mil pricetag he's commanding. Maybe you do the Option year at 10mil only. 1year 6mil with 10mil option. Kicks in at 40+saves or 60+IP? or 50+ games finished something like that?

Okay just a little Pick Speculation. BA came out with the Preseason High School All-Americans. Listed 14 High School players. Again looking at Montgomery's 1st rd Pitcher Heavy choices previously Going to highlight one of them. The BA link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-preseason-high-school-americans/ Probably 7 of these kids will be selected before Milw picks, maybe even 10 of them so I'm focusing again on a Pitcher and one that kinda mocks at or below Milw's pick currently. Read up the BA link on Beau Burrows. 6'2" 195lbs currently. Here's a youtube prospect video on him: I feel like I'm looking at mostly Fastballs and a Cutter FB? Both look fairly good to great with nobody on base. I feel he has some effort in his arm motion to the plate the elbow torque a little more than I like. But he does keep many pitches low which is a good thing in the future progression to already be there. Maybe seen 1 curveball attempt was high not very good. If he's throwing any changeups part of those lower pitches I didn't catch them if so, they would be spectacular. Edit wanted to add: When batter gets on base. Don't like his movement to the plate, rushed and he loses a lot in his pitch quality. That would have to be worked on for sure. The Cutters are great. FB is a little straight to my eye. He looks like a kid that could progress nicely, but definitely needs progress on an offspeed pitch or his FB isn't exciting for how straight it is. I liked Touissaint, Holmes, and Medeiros more if going off this video so I'm not sold Milw should pick him. Definitely not like my excitement for Aiken/Kolek/ and Ortiz last draft.

Nate. I am going off the fact his swing appears timed poorly in his body, and results in being off-balance in the swing. So a FB he's fine, the moment he's thrown an offspeed pitch, his body leaves him no chance. And then there's the uppercut appearance in the swing+effort to do so. This means the bat isn't traveling through the zone as long meaning pitches can get by him. Watch his front foot how he is rolling back on it too much. Meanwhile, Watch Kevin Maitan's swing as Soup points out. It's far simpler, less effort to create the bat speed/power and it stays in the zone much longer. You can hear him barreling the ball more in his contact. I am very impressed with the Maitan swing for his age. Maitan doesn't use his front foot much at all, and you can see it maintains balance very well. His swing just goes through the zone looks a lot quicker bat speed to me than what Reyes provides. Holes in one's swing, vs not much hole in the other swing. Just watch the feet in Reyes. And the upper body and when the pitch goes through the zone. It lacks balance in a long swing. His Ab in the video shows that he swings and misses, then fouls one off where he flails at the pitch. 3rd pitch another one his feet are out front and arms trying to catch up as he fouls off another pitch, but that lower body motion if he hits it fair, it's weak doesn't get by the OFs if it's for a hit at all. 4th swing another offbalance foul ball. If the pitch was offspeed I see him whiffing right here which is what Big League pitchers will be doing on 2strikes. 5th pitch great weight shift and his foot kills him, he steps out(pull) and ruins his technique had his foot planted more square. Best swing of the AB Im guessing opposite field popout though. 6th pitch (1st of next AB) Way out in front manages to hit the ball, it was a pulled groundout. 7th pitch behind catcher view. Appears offspeed manages to take it up the middle(very nice) 8th pitch Looks like a very High FB that he's able to hit in this game(plus bat speed you mention) Doesn't take a pitch, swung at all 8. That lower body shift/balance he has to me plus pitch selection if not fixed will be exploited at the Big Level. How much tinkering can he take?

And they finished 3rd with the Yanks stopping at 27.5mil and Sox winning at 31.5. At least I've been led to believe. Realize finishing 3rd as a small market at 12-15mil is more than 2 times less offered than what Yankees and Sox put up. Now Fans everywhere should complain but again, the tax goes straight to MLB offices to be "used for future international signing/promotion" AKA hush money, look the other way. I mean, how much money based on the previous Taxes made do they need? This 31.5mil is probably more than what MLB has collected the previous 3 years combined. How many Millions of dollars do you need to promote the signing period and future? I'm going to be in belief MLB spends 3mil of it and pockets the other 28.5mil somewhere whoever has knowledge of how that money is spent. The funny thing is that, if we assume Moncada does become a star player and we further assume that the Red Sox glut of OF/3B/2B prevents him from becoming a full-time regular a season or two earlier (compared to the Brewers, who almost surely would have given him the 3B job in 2016 unless he looked awful in the minors), the value of an additional free agent year would be larger than the difference between the Red Sox and the Brewers bonus offers. I'm sure he is very confident in his abilities, but if you had a crystal ball and knew you were going to be successful the value of a direct path to the majors is probably >$15M. Of course, nobody has that, so he took the guaranteed money. I love this post. Again as I posted he has to be a 3WAR player from this point on to equal what was just spent on him his first 6years. Or, he could have taken the Brewers money and legit need for a 3b after 2015 and began his clock in 2016. If the FA WAR is valued at 4-6.3mil per, a 3WAR player is earning 12-18mil in year 7. Now Cano-his supposed comparison in value had 29.4FWAR his 4th through 8th years an avg 5year total of 5.88. So if he's Cano caliber and can be worth near 6WAR that FA year offers 24-36mil/per year(supposedly and thus why I say 4mil per WAR position) to him instead of year 3 of Arb he's being paid that kind of money. But, again time value of money and all today's $1 being worth more than tomorrow's dollar or that 8years down the road $1 I'm guessing monetary wise he made the smart choice, even if he's a year delayed from Free Agency. Oh, maybe the Brewers read that 30-40mil TOTAL cost could get them Moncada and 12-15mil was a realistic bid based off of that. Only after submitting it they were told no 30-40mil is the bid for Moncada not 15mil+15mil taxes....Right? Personally, I think the tax should be worse on the Red Sox for signing Moncada over their slot. Like loss of their 1st choice in 2015 draft. Regardless if it's protected, its not for this kind of money in my opinion. Maybe MLB could do a right thing for both draft/signing period and assess the penalty being on the draft plus 300k limit on international signings for 2years. So no 2015 or 2016 first rd selections on top of the 300k limit. Then see how much money is paid to these internationals players when it costs a team the right to first round money/selections in the next 2 drafts. How quickly then would the International market push to be part of the draft if this was imposed? It'd be even better if MLB kept the spending amounts of the previous years+3-5% inflation and spread it out over the first 10rounds of slots. So if Boston lost their #7 choice and 3.3mil roughly attached to it, MLB would spread 3.3mil out to increase the slot allotment of all the draft choices. (315 picks in 2014 for 10rounds) It'd add about 11k to every pick if done that way. Or if spread out say over the first 2 rounds only-$44,600 for every slot through 2 rounds. And that's just for the one tax on Boston. So if Boston wants to overspend on the next Moncada, every player subject to the June draft gets more money to even out who's paid.

Not liking that kids swing at all Nate. Looks like a 30% or worse Strikeout player. A lot of work needed to shorten his approach and swing based on what I'm seeing. Like SRB said, I'd love for the Brewers to bid on Alvarez, and I thought he was going to be before the 2015 July signing period originally. You're looking at the Dodgers, Cubs, and Rangers all in the fray then on this kid to outbid Milw. Cubs/Rangers in 2013. Yankees in 2014. It'll be Dodgers,Cubs,Rangers again in 2015. Just a Rich Man's big spenders rotation. How about 2016? Maybe we can look forward to that year when 5 or more teams aren't involved? Oh Wait there be an International Draft come 2016 Exactly why these teams are overspending like crazy today unlike years past because they expect the current system to change.

Well, theres the answer. 31.5mil and to the Red Sox. So 63million cost in 6years of team control=2WAR in FA roughly. 2WAR a year from a middle infielder likely means he's making another 1.7mil+ 3.5mil+5.5+9mil total cost of 82.7mil. Means he has to accumulate near 18WAR in 6years or else he's a failure/overpay. And if he's just a 4WAR player he only saves the Red Sox around 25-30mil overall. Is that really worth paying 63million up front 2+years ahead of time? If time in money creates value it's even less than that then on top? I'm glad Milw didn't sign him it was a sunken cost far too great for them. Now of course the Red Sox can sign Moncada to an extension to help out their overall cost down the road maybe by not paying more than 15mil in FA years and hope Moncada at the age of 28+ is a 4+WAR player still at that point to see savings. Considering this 19yr old commanded 31.5mil in a signing bonus, I'm guess he's going to be asking $3 on the $1 in his future contract. Which is 8times too much money for Milw to even consider to extend. It's just pathetic he can sign for this kind of money while American kids his age have 0% chance of coming within 5 times that payscale.

I highly doubt Beachy gets $5M+ gauranteed for 2015. The Braves nontendered him because they didn't want to spend $1.5M on him coming off his 2nd TJ surgery. He likel signed for $1M base plus incentives with a team option for $6-8M ($500K-1M buyout). It appeared all he was looking for was a major league deal in 2015. Ok posted is 2.75mil. It was the Dodgers. I realize he's on his 2nd TJ surgery, but this was a SP with 2WAR ability and still in his prime aged years, very worthwhile to take a risk on. IF FA WAR is around 6mil per for SP that 2WAR is worth 12mil. His outlying numbers are ridiculous control/hits per 9. I was thinking LA would sign him for the most money this season to find out what he had. 2.75 is essentially an avg Bullpen piece price. Getting 60IP out of him would more than cover that. Insurance for the two mentioned with an injury history of their own. I think Atlanta did the wrong thing releasing him, when they did only to send so many elsewhere for mini-rebuild. It's just crazy to stare at the Dodgers Rotation situation and have Kershaw/Grienke/Ryu/Mccarthy/Anderson and have Beachy to find out on with Julio Urias to keep advancing quickly and may be ready come start of 2017. And then there's the ties to Alvarez if they go out and sign him. I mean for 2.75mil and a showing of what he's capable of, I'm surprised the Brewers weren't even involved. He'd obviously pitch in the minors for Rehab and show off where his shoulder is at. Considering where he was at as a pitcher 90% of him would be a very good #3 SP 80% a good #5. Nevermind if he returns to form. It's also the kind of signing where he's making his comeback around the trade deadline and not long before rosters expand after the Rehab. I guess paying him an amount that he's made thus far as a Major Leaguer is reasonable. But so much for that idea for Milw.

Well No surprise hear. As suggested/predicted- Beachy signed a 1yr deal with the Dodgers and an option in 2016. Easy monetary backup plan if/when Brett Anderson or Brandon McCarthy goes down with some absurd injuries. I seen commentary suggest a lowball amount like 1 or 1.5mil, plus Option. I know they are crazy wrong in my opinion. I'll guess he got paid 5.5-7mil with option. There's no doubt he had to be a hott commodity and not just for cheap( why would the Braves in a rebuild year dump him) If the Dodgers could pay Beckett, Billingsley, Anderson, and Mccarthy 10 mil+ these past few seasons to fill out their #5 rotation spot, no doubt they would and could offer Beachy more than 5mil to test him out. They hit they win. Either via the rotation, or in trade to somebody next offseason like Milw with Gallardo. We'll see how shocking the amount the Dodgers paid for him.

And I'm sure a young Cuban kid with huge dreams has just been dying to make that one franchise that he devotes his career to be located in Milwaukee, WI. Surely that's what every young Caribbean kid dreams about when he's flipping that baseball up in the air & imagining hitting the WS-winning home run. Don't get me wrong, I won't count us out until Moncada has officially signed with a team. But I don't think we've got any kind of serious chance to sign him. But, But, what about Major League and Bob Uecker? Mr. 3000? baseball movies with ties to Milwaukee. What if you grew up and those were the movies you saw, over and over again, and feel like Milwaukee is King for Baseball? Can't one just put a little hope in Bernie Mac and Mr. 3000 making Milwaukee Brewers hip in foreign eyes? It did come out in 2004 so 10years ago. Means Moncada or Alvarez for that matter were 8/9years of age. Could be Plausible at this point

What is Schwarber's defensive prowess in the corner OF? It's likely below avg and being below avg defensively to me doesn't make him a top 10 prospect in Baseball once the season is halfway through. Don't know how Milw will have 6 in top 100. Arcia/Taylor are two. You said it yourself Harrison+Coulter make sense that's 4. Gilbert Lara? 5. Need just one more. Brewers hired Montgomery who lets see has Touissaint in the top 100 along with Shipley,Bradley, and Blair is it? Brewers have 8th most money to spend in the draft how about the draft pick being in the top 100? Makes 6 and that's without Medeiros, Gatewood showing off talent. What if the Crew gets Alvarez? Likely top 100 immediately.

I was looking at that list, It amazes me how Kyle Schwarber is ranked #19 when Coulter likely becomes the same kind of prospect moving from Catcher. I mean for Schwarber to be ranked 19th already, I'd have to see him put up .315 32HRs 95+RBI and 35 2bs this season to justify it. Nevermind the defensive prowess, guy was a 1b/Catcher and is being moved to Corner OF. I thought pre-draft it was proposed an AL was going to pick him because he had a DH future due to his defense. But now he's #19th best prospect in the game? BA does know by ranking him 19th, based on graduates in 2015, he's a top 10 prospect then by year's end? Anyway, surprised Arcia comes in at 95. I'm telling you, he's a legit future ML ballplayer and 20% of these top 100 likely don't aspire to anything higher than AAAA or never making it. It's just going to be such a great 2015, because so many Brewers are due for recognition, I wouldn't be surprised to see 6 Brewers in top 100 next season and Arcia being top 40.

2019 is so far away. The entire roster of that projection could be about overhauled by the end of July. Milw could trade for somebody with 3 or 4 of those prospects to try to win in 2015. I do like the team acquired Diplan an international SP signee from 2013 and can see the room/great idea to acquire Alvarez and end up with Medeiros/Diplan/Alvarez all growing up in the minors at the same time together, hopefully being winners to create that atmosphere and future expectations. The team should honestly strongly pursue Alvarez even if it costs 2 years of 300k+signings. That future rotation could be amazing. I see no Peralta projections, and hopefully he nets the team 1 strong 25man player come 2019 that you're not even considering. Davis too. I just think it's perfect Alvarez at 18 already so he's advanced enough to not be sat around like Lara for the season once signed. And the young man could speed through the system ahead of Diplan/Medeiros because of his age and ability already. Could bridge the gap for the team in 2017 a lot quicker than expected if he would be ready to start. This opportunity doesn't happen often, and with the new rules likely less now. Jump on it while you can.

Meanwhile, the day this topic is posted, Jurickson Profar is having surgery for his shoulder and who knows how long he'll be sidelined for. Former #1 prospect. Mike Trout/Bryce Harper/Stephen Strasburg kinda sprung all the excitement of prospects and took the value of them to a whole new level. Mike Trout especially. I believe a top 100prospect list is often drained via potential vs what one already possesses. The idea that a hit tool will catch up with the amazing defense like Andrelton Simmons. Getting caught up with the power of a Jedd Gyorko or Javier Baez, but not the K issues. Age. I over-valuate prospects I'm sure, but like Monty said- $1 30% of the time is likely better than $1000 50% of the time. Because let's face it, That $1 can turn themselves in to 2-3 more valuable $1 tickets if/when traded. Or, you buy them out long-term adding a Franchise Player for the next decade. I've always wondered why 15-20 prospects make a top 100 list every half year, because their numbers either look terrible to not back that assumption up, or it's based on potential and performance in the Rookie league. Some of them are based on the draft pick selection only sometimes or the selection+the team they were selected by(Toussaint-Arz/Holmes-LAD) Just assuming they'll cleanup their deficiencies. I think putting prospects 3 years away from reaching the Big Leagues, helps lead to the problem. I don't think any individual should be listed in a top 100 their first professional year until it's over. When the prospect has played in a league or two and shown his talents what he has, beaten his opponents with it. Also, the fact that being a season/2 at most away would help the success rate. Because injuries derail prospects. Wait til these prospects are in AA before giving them a top 100 ranking. Just list them as prospects to watch.

Yeah, I saw the 10 million tag next to what he's seeking. I don't think the money is the problem just doing 2 years. Going to guess a team signs him for 6million with 4mil in incentives on a 1year deal, like J-Ninja said, teams just don't have 10mil in their budgets to spend. Not for 2 years. I don't get how he can command 10mil after his HR rate last season. Sure, if that falls to normal levels, he looks very good, but he was a 9th inning closer who set that mark in the most pressing time. He also had that terrible ERA for the Orioles after being traded( though again it was put in very non-important situations) that the risk involved+money makes him like Papelbon, a salary dumping trade who nets nothing back in trade. Boras+KRod have gotta understand, his value to 60% of teams in the league is to be a cheaper option that could be the answer to them winning late and putting them over the top to do so. At 10mil per, he's priced beyond that and is now available to the top 40% of the league to afford him, and by now, They've spent their funds filling the position KRod would assume one would assume. It can't be great for a "closer" market with Papelbon being dangled out there(and at 10mil cost for KRod explains how Papelbon is an option for Milw) and at the same time, the some of the best closers of the last few years, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman, are both on teams that are expected to lose in 2015. I believe then it makes monetary sense these two could/ought to be traded before this year's deadline for the return/while they are still cheaper. (cheaper than KRod's 10mil pricetag at the moment) The guy is the perfect incentive deal RP and the 10mil tag could be at least the money he should be getting offered if he met the incentives, but as above shows certainly not guaranteed!

Well just thinking based on International money for 2015 if it went there, the DBacks will have more money than the Brewers...The Nationals, won't. And if these are the two leading the way for the signing, I believe Milwaukee can compete with that.

I would do a backflip, If I could, if the Brewers signed Alvarez. It would be the feeling of excitement two fold, like the moment in the 2014 draft the Brewers selected Jacob Gatewood. The Greg Vaughn went rogue, and made his own choice comment may be the best line I've ever read here and signing Alvarez after seeing that video would exceed that excitement level. Man, the Brewers being attached to this kid and the potential of him signing with Milw being real(unlike Moncada) is just prayer worthy.

As a poster in the Roenicke Hot Seat thread posted: True. But especially with the extra wild card I like our current route better than the old Marlins way of doing things. Most important thing is developing your own pitching as a small market club and somehow we've managed to compete without that due to how many position players we hit on at the same time (who were all cheap at the time). For all the genius that was Moneyball, if he didn't happen to have 3 Cy Young level pitchers come up at the same time at pre-arbitration or free agent pay, none of that would've been possible. If Peralta, Nelson and one other young guy all become good at the same time while they're cost controlled we can keep this going for a while longer. If they all flop, we're looking at a really rough stretch a few years from now. And then look at Montgomery's 1st rd selections above, he seems the perfect fit to make that SP focus happen. I just think of the immediate such and such team has a chance in the playoffs because of: in Miami its Jose Fernandez. In Chicago its Chris Sale. Obviously Kershaw with the Dodgers. Meanwhile, that is why the Brewers are looked/predicted at under .500 as a team. They don't have the Ace. Think about the Pirates. Gerrit Cole heads their rotation as a 90win potential. Obviously St Louis with Adam Wainwright. I hope Medeiros becomes somebody along with who ever is drafted in 2015 with the Brewers 1st pick.

Live DaveGo says, I like better pitching in the league than hitting. Pretty much can't stand coming to the 8th/9th innings when beer has stopped being served, and a team can comeback from 6runs behind only to give up 4 runs and score 2 in the 9th because the Pitching Bullpen isn't good vs superior Offensive Batters. Having 2-4 Batters to fear is good when its their turn in the lineup. Having to worry of any of the 9 coming to the plate because they are .800+OPS batters just nerveracking. You just assume that team is going to score and win. Can't stand 8th/9th innings that last 1hour or more when the first 7innings took 2hours roughly. Now, I really like the idea of a Pinch-hitter 26th man for the SP who gets to stay in the game after that AB. I think you could see old-timers like Jason Giambi who just retired play longer for their careers just for that role to get 162PAs over the season. IF the idea is to add to Offense. Problem is what do you do about the AL teams? They don't get that 26th man and vs NL teams on the road what do they do? What is it like 14games on the road InterLeague? That rule would only be 14PAs? Do you make this rule to ditch the DH in the AL?...Actually sapping Offensive numbers in the AL? Or do you make that rule, and tell the 26th man, he cant bat vs AL teams? Since they won't have that 26th player? Or do all teams carry that 26th man, and he has to Pinch-hit once in every game so he gets 162PAs. Imagine Manny Ramirez coaching a team in a few years and being the 162PA Batter? Player/Coach? Batting yourself in the game? Anything that maybe makes more teams pitch to the #8 batter in the NL because they have to fear that PA where they don't face the SP? End up making that #8 batter better creating more offense? Lets say the 26th man can only be somebody over 30, so it doesn't effect the 25man roster by playing say a AAAA guy 23-27 for the ABs? I just wonder the money that could be made by this. Some Jersey sales All Batters wear #26 for being the 26th man? Have the guy wear special Colors, doesn't have to match the teams game jersey that day. It'd be like a testing jersey for teams, throw out a jersey idea for him, and if fans buy it up, they could turn to playing in that more often? Consider it the answer to the NFL's "12th man" in Seattle, Baseball's "26th Man" Derek Jeter could be the 26th man on a team for example this year. At the very least you make 1 PA more likely to impact a game than the SP getting the PA, who also gets to rest and not risk injury via a Bean Ball or while running. Nostalgia, Players fans like and wish would still bat because he's going to still be a better option than Kyle Lohse getting that PA. That could be a question, who would you want as the Brewers 26th man this year if that were in place?

KC, what is the league exactly? How do you have 1st 3 picks? Olivera is the only one I read that has a strong chance of playing in 2015. There was a thread for fantasy baseball 2014 in off topic. Maybe post your entire scenario in a New fantasy Baseball 2015 thread. Things to tell. How many Teams. Who's available say list your top 12 to pick from? What you already have for a Team. What are the counting stats or H2H matchups? It's hard to give advice because what's good strategy in one league is terrible in another. What positions does your league use on gamedays? OFs or LF/RF/CF...Utilities? or DH only? How many SP/RP slots? That's just stuff off the top of my head, there's more still to consider.