brewcrewdue80

Looking at our pool of money 2.6mil would give the team up to 3.9mil after trading for slots from other teams(most likely Cubs/Rangers) to sign Lara w/o penalty. I'm thinking it stands that Lara is the Brewers one and only target in the International sign period based on the fact he's already projected over our pool of money and close to the max pool when slots are traded for. Would you think the team has a backup plan of signing 3 or 4 600k-800k players if Lara falls through? I feel more like they won't let Lara get away and he's the only one we sign.

That is a tough call honestly. Right now, Houston has a ton of high end upside premium prospects in Position players as well as Pitching. And they are going to pick Rodon or Kolek with the #1 pick who when they do those individuals are already better than any Brewers Prospect in ranking. I look at it like the Cubs, in around 1year or 2 the Astros can open their checkbook to 100mil and have 7-9 fantastic prospects all joining there ranks at under 1mil a piece. Houston could easily win the WS 2years from now. and be consistent contenders for the WS every year after for the next 3-5years. Brewers on the hand? They have this year and after that? Shrugs, I dunno. We could see Taylor, Delmonico, Roache, and Williams make good progress in ability and all would be well. Or they could go the way of Jungmann/Bradley and if they did, I'll take Houston every year for the next 7years after this season. They are going to have too many high end prospects to not fail as an organization. And open the checkbook for a few quality FA signings? Okay we're tapped out as we stand today with the lack of prospects coming. They can spend probably 75mil-85mil per season on FAs when they feel like it. But again, everything can change with just 1 big trade by Milw FO that brings in a couple high quality prospects for 1 replaceable stud player(Gomez, A SP) and all can look well on the home front.

Yep, under 25 talent, nothing to see here just keep moving. I'm truthfully surprised the Yankees are ranked below Milwaukee after their 2013 3 1st rd choices. Better than What Milwaukee has Brewing at the moment.

Let's out a big sighing exhale. Come on if we don't score 2runs off Harang My entire tune on this season changes. Our "expecting good Offense" is a joke and we won't win 72 games this year because of it's inability to score runs when its not via the HRs once again!

This plan the Yankees have. Let's think like them for a moment. When they go out there buy the entire top Dozen or 15 Interantional players when the signing period opens, the call for a draft due to how little impact the penalties effect the Yankees vs. the smaller market clubs will grow. And suddenly the international draft will be pushed forward very quickly maybe even by 2015. Well the Yanks will be the last team to corner the International player market and really not see a penalty aside from money come 2015 when they can draft a player probably in the 20-22nd range...something 250k they couldn't get that kind of player otherwise. Win win for Yanks.

Was there any doubt that was about to happen... I almost put o/u Ks for Kimbrel at 2.5 in the 9th with taking the Over.

The writing is on the wall for Reynolds to become the next Branyan fan favorite in the bottom of the 9th....a Davis or Weeks walk and a Reynolds tying 2run HR....Come on prediction! Insurance run equals game over....

Yeah, I seen the video replays of the "Standing O" but it wasn't like I watching fans cheer and clap with authority. Some of it was just grudgingly clapping with the moment. I don't get what the media expects from the Home crowd, opening day in Milwaukee. After the winter there, the tailgating, a promising team, it's called enthusiasm. Braun is the best player on the team with or without PEDs and he's not going anywhere anytime soon. So Damn right we stood up and cheered him welcoming him back! Forgive, and Forget and move on. He's been here too long and been the face of this franchise for 6+years and we have another 7years to continue being the face of the franchise. He's like a son to this fan base, and he made a mistake. He apologized, and I'm over it, there's too many more games left in his career here to not forgive him and continue to back him as a fan. He's broken my trust though forever, any kind of wrong doing he's accused of in the future, I'm not going to believe his explanation of non-guilt. Before he was innocent to proven guilty, now, I'll assume he's guilty til proven innocent but I'll always wonder. Anyway, the media certainly didn't toss blame to fans of Baltimore with Cruz nor did I see a single word about Peralta on St Louis. It's as if only Braun and ARod exist in their eyes of wrongdoing with PeDs. All those other names, they weren't MVPs so it doesn't matter to them.

Not e'en close. Yeah, the team didn't trade anyone I thought would be gone: Gallardo, Aoki, Weeks, ARam, and maybe one of Lohse/Estrada... So we played what was it 3-4 games over .500 down the stretch due mostly to how good the pitching was.

Yeah I know the writing hasn't been there for Melvin to trade Estrada after this season if it's positive. But as mentioned it's a depth situation. I think of Estrada as being potentially Doug Fister( I just hope a far better single player return for Estrada) when the season is over. And the move to get either Thornburg or Nelson in to the rotation for 2015 as a result of moving Estrada. I'm amazed there hasn't been a trade for Estrada already by a Pitcher's Ballpark team in the NL. San Diego? San Fran? Dodgers? Estrada's Control and K ability put in a non-homer friendly Ballpark? I think a team is acquiring a 3ERA SP. San Diego should be calling imo! They nabbed Cashner, Estrada would have made a great addition. Anyway, getting back to reality, Thornburg or whoever Spot starts in an emergency, these guys will go 65-70Pitches, 3-5ip as a stretch it out and then the next time out will be 85-90 which is enough to go 6innings. It's really no big problem in my eyes. You gotta remember Thornburg's role isn't tied to the 7th,8th,9th ip role. He's likely on a stretched out 25-45 Pitch outing where he likely has a day off to recover following. When he leaves the game he could pitch behind the scenes another 15-20pitches keeping him "Stretched out" to begin with.

What would Trout get in Arb year 1? 5mil? Then what 10mil? and finally 17mil? That amounts to 32mil so you stare at a FA signing of 3/112.5mil or 37.5mil a year in FA years. Pretty sure the Angels just paid Market value for him for his FA. Now one can assume Trout sees more money up front then what Arb would get him guessing something like 8mil/15mil/21mil At which point he's making 33mil his FA years...Probably a 30/35/35mil arrangement. For what he's done, it seems in line with expectations. Why do the deal though for just 3 FA years buy-out? Why not just go to Arb this offseason see where his initial demand is and then proceed to give him a 8year extension? Which would give you another 2 more years? The Brewers could not do this deal. They would have to trade Trout at some point(more than likely better off) but now way could we sign 30mil deal per year beyond the initial team controlled 6years. 20 has been Mark A.'s dollar amount and I can guess with new money he could make that 24mil but that is still far off of 30mil.

Ageed with was going to be my response pretty much to this: Look at it from Ilitch's viewpoint. He turns 85 in July and for obvious reasons, wants to win now. He's worth billions. If he's still around 5-6 years from now when Cabrera will likely be slipping, he's still going to be worth billions and he'll buy another star player. If he's not, well that's his heirs problem. He's in it for the kick of winning a championship while he's still alive and well enough to enjoy it. There's no reason Illitch couldn't have just extended Cabrera for 4 year 150mil beyond the 2 years he already has with Cabrera and accomplish the same thing he's done....oh that insane near 40mil per year? I doubt anyone here would really argue with that 4year extension for Cabrera vs the 292mil/10 year deal. I don't get it even with Ilitch's perspective, he's a billionaire, he owns Cabrera for 2 seasons to begin with. What's really the problem extending him 2 years from now for what it costs for 2 more years? or 3/4? Like I suggest, Is anyone really going to offer 40mil per to Cabrera in 2 years? Ilitch could being a billionaire if his true goal is to see a WS victory? And how dumb does this look if that is Ilitch's goal before passing away if Detroit wins the WS this season, even next season B2B? It's insane to guarantee any MLB years beyond the age of 36/37 years of age. 2 year deals fine but to be 6years away from the Age 37/38 season and guarantee 4 more years today? For what purpose? To save money? I mean isn't that sorta the purpose of these extension deals? To lock that player in for the future at today's market prices? The problem here is Detroit is setting the market with this deal, so it's pathetic. Not only that this deal being a market setter, is guaranteeing money to a player who is already past his prime and every year of it should deal with potential decline in ability at any given year as well as increased injury issues? This deal doesn't affect Milwaukee's ability to sign FAs. Nobody here wants the Brewers to commit 10years of money to somebody 31years of age. Also, clearly Cabrera has a DH future something the Brewers can't commit money to a position player with that as a backup plan as one ages. The deal to watch out for that will affect Milwaukee will be what Mike Trout gets. How many years. at what insane cost? Because extending players in the early 20s is about the only kind of extensions the Brewers brass should be invested in doing.

You're killing me Splitter taking Nola ahead of my favorite Ortiz! Please no! Lol Jose Fernandez part 2 in the making

The thing with Thornburg, I think his role is that of Bullpen. I don't see him as a Starter practically at all this year. My feelings are Smith starts first(removing one of the extra LH RPs) and when the 2nd SP is needed, I see Nelson getting the call. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe its Thornburg then Nelson with Smith staying in the pen all year long. Truthfully, I just hope the matter doesn't need to be addressed and Lohse/Gallardo/Peralta all go 33 starts this year and Estrada/Garza only go on the DL during separated occasions missing 2-4starts overall each. I'm a big fan of Estrada. His K ability and low BB rate really is what you want from your SP. We fully know what Marco possesses which will be a 3.6-3.8ERA starter who can give you 7ip...he pitched in the 7th inning his last 6 straight starts to finish last season. Thornburg in 2012 HR prone...suddenly in 2013 only 1HR given up. now, you look at his Minor stats and he gives up 2HR in the minors 2012...and 11 HRs in the minors 2013 So I feel he was a product of some luck last year with his 2ERA. His Ks were down in starts/walks higher not a good product when your luck turns on mistakes. The argument Estrada has 2years left with the team so put him back in the bullpen? Again, he finished last year with 6 straight pitching in the 7th inning starts. This is a team borderline 81win to 88wins, Estrada gives us the best chance to see to 88wins and a Playoff berth..Giving Thornburg his chance? I'd immediately drop the teams win total to 77-83wins. But hey we got to see Thornburg pitch as a starter. It's great for the team's future! You know what's great for the team's future? Estrada making 30starts or more this year. Then trade him in the offseason and run Thornburg/Nelson in his place next year.(of course kinda depends on the Gallardo option being picked up) Estrada is a real #3 SP. Thornburg's ceiling as been said is to be a #3 SP. We have that in Estrada, no need to figure out will Thornburg be a #3. Edit add: The argument for Thornburg getting his shot shouldn't be directed at Estrada, it should be directed with signing Garza. Garza's signing is what blocked Thornburg/Smith/Nelson from rotating their shot at the #5 rotation spot.

Who plays OF in a Game say Gomez collides with Davis and both have to come out? Herrera? Bianchi?

Rangers acquired Donnie Murphy from the Cubs. That ends the Weeks trade potential.

Yes, it failed miserably because putting a high SLG, Low OBP hitter at the top of the lineup is a bad idea. You want that guy hitting with men on base, not setting the table for your best hitters (because he doesn't set any sort of table). You want to put him 5th or 6th in the lineup. My prediction: If Gomez hits leadoff all season, he will lead the league in outs. I think Yasiel Puig will take that title as Leadoff. I liked what RRR said about the idea of Gomez leading off, a player of his caliber being locked in and taking advantage of when a SP isn't sharp early. Cranking HRs or powering leadoff doubles on the mistakes. Can Segura do that? The doubles sure but not the HRs, and Segura isn't exactly as "Locked in" as Gomez is at the plate, so you put Gomez ahead of Segura to take advantage of the mistakes. Now for me, I'd still much prefer Segura/Lucroy with Davis at 5 Gomez 6th. Just because I like Lucroy so much. I could see the 1st inning pitch counts being close to 30 with Lucroy/Braun/ARam battling out ABs early. Whereas with Gomez/Segura 1st inning may amount to 6-8pitches if Braun goes down early in an Ab. As we know Gomez/Segura aren't the walk types. compared to Lucroy.

I don't see shopping a SS you don't have a ready replacement for. The other thing is what are the amount of years being discussed? It's one thing if this holds true for the team controlled years. It's another thing when the sides have a gap that are talking Free Agent years. You hold on to Segura no matter what happens in these discussion this season and next barring some, "they are nuts to be offering up this package for Segura trade proposal". I'm in the wait through this season camp to look at an extension. Marte's deal now that it's done is the kind of deal I think Segura has to attach himself to. The difference though is that Segura likely has been trying to attach himself to the Castro/Andrus/Simmons deals for money...Andrus' extension and pay really inflated SS price tag. The thing for me with doing an extension is why rush it to save a few to 10 mil? Like I posted in the Weeks' thread there is a large influx of SSs having begun their careers or about to, I feel the rush to extend a SS 3-4 years ago would make a ton of sense. But now? There will be plenty of them out there that will be serviceable. Also, what about Arcia? I approach it as give Segura and Arcia a full season to truly get a gauge of what their future may be. We could be looking at extending Segura 6-7years only to now be locked in a deal blocking Arcia. Let's say Segura kind of busts out being under .700OPS moving forward? You've essentially guaranteed a contract where when the payment gets high/Arcia is ready to join the club and Segura is an unmovable Roster'd player. What about Gennett in this? Again Arcia is your SS of the future and sure Segura can go back to the keystone 2b position. Only what if Gennett is a 12-15HR .285-.310 BA player at that time? I feel like not extending Segura may open the door to make a great trade in the future with Segura for some kind of serious impact player the club needs. I'm thinking Dodgers/Yankees in this idea where the money to extend Segura won't matter, and he becomes a long term solution for them 2years from now. Now, if we didn't have Arcia in the pipelines, I'd be doing a 180 and say, meet Segura's demands today or pretty damn close to his demands.

ESPN's Prediction 4. Milwaukee Brewers ESPN FORECAST Difference +2wins 76-86 .469 Jerry Crasnick: The Brewers are an intriguing team for a bunch of reasons. They're strong up the middle with catcher Jonathan Lucroy, shortstop Jean Segura and center fielder Carlos Gomez. Ryan Braun swung the bat with authority in the Cactus League, and, if anyone is resistant to the abuse that a lengthy PED suspension will invite, it's the Hebrew Hammer. Braun and Aramis Ramirez combined for only 529 at-bats last season. If they can give manager Ron Roenicke 1,200 or so ABs this season, it will provide a major boost to an offense that was middle-of-the-pack in most categories a year ago. The big questions, as usual, revolve around pitching. The Brewers spent $50 million on Matt Garza this winter, and his performance this spring didn't exactly advance the narrative that he's a great fit as staff leader. It's imperative that Garza, Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta and Marco Estrada eat innings so the bullpen isn't overtaxed again this season. The Brewers could challenge the Reds and Pirates for second place if a lot of things go right. More likely, they'll have to settle for fourth in a challenging NL Central. Jim Bowden: For the second year in a row, owner Mark Attanasio got personally involved in landing significant free agents. Last year it was Kyle Lohse, and this year it was Matt Garza. The Brewers suddenly have a solid rotation led by Yovani Gallardo, who should have a bounce-back year, and Wily Peralta, who is due to finally break out. The middle of the diamond for the Brewers is one of the best in the National League, with underrated Jonathan Lucroy at catcher, Jean Segura at shortstop and Gold Glove center fielder Carlos Gomez. Ryan Braun should have another MVP type season with the PED issues behind him, and the Brewers should be in a tight race with the Reds and Pirates for second place in the NL Central as well as a wild-card berth. Edit my Take: Apparently, ESPN thinks the rest of Baseball will beat up on the Central this season. As the top are projected to lose 20more games overall and the Brewers/Cubs gain just 5Wins. So there's 15wins being taken from the NL Central of '13 in to '14. We suddenly have a solid rotation and potentially 600+ABs more from Braun/ARam but only 2 more wins? I mean the mention of an overtaxed Bullpen but a solid rotation? Where's the logic? Better Rotation=less taxing bullpen...More Braun/Aram=more Runs yet it amounts to +2wins? Where's the simple mention that removing Yuni should have added +2wins to this team? It's going to be fun to watch this team exceed expectations, but of course they make mention we're an intriguing team so when the team reaches the AS Break these pundits will say, they knew we were capable to be 10wins over .500 it's really not a surprise to them.

I don't think offering Braun or Gomez would pry Bradley from Arz. We argued the idea of Gomez for Bradley last season and for the most part the Bradley side was the winner. Bradley imo is untouchable aside from say offering up both Gomez and Braun for him. Maybe you offer Gomez and Lucroy for Bradley and Montero. Bradley isn't like Skaggs or Bauer where being an Ace was sorta the upside thought but so was being a #4 pitcher. With Bradley the hype is pretty much he's going to be an #1 Ace or bust if he performs as a #2/3. Now, Didi. Yeah he's available. But how does he really fit for Milwaukee? He doesn't until we've unloaded Weeks first. My two cents. We missed out on Davidson,Skaggs and Holmberg I think it was(Eaton too but we really don't need him) I think Arz has run out of trade pieces in prospects. Owings was the man but putting Didi on trade block shows Arz is moving forward with him on their team building not Didi. I imagine Didi will be used for a Prospect filler and/or a ML SP as time goes by if their options are struggling(Im not a real fan of Miley/McCarthy/Arroyo holding their own and even Cahill seems suspect. I much prefer the Brewers 5 SPs over Arizona's..At least until Bradley/Delgado/ establish themselves and Corbin returns in 2015.

This post is really hard to take seriously. Opinion is great & all, but let's use some objectivity here. I'm in the thought process Weeks will lower his BA this year below .200...Meanwhile Yuni (like Casey McGehee) finds an .800+OPS over in Japan and becomes desired for 2015. Weeks is going in the wrong direction. 12HRs or fewer this season, and it just goes in to the idea of decline moving forward with him. We all know his defense affects a team negatively. w/o a return of his power stroke what really does he provide as a 2b? a better than 10% walk rate? The BA would for a 3rd year be empty. These type of players don't stick on a ML club. I guess for 1mil or 1.5mil next year he can be touted as a bounceback/player who's been there veteran signing for a club. Let's also add that there's a large influx of 2b/SS coming in to the Majors, or have recently joined and are taking over the older lacking talent players Weeks is becoming. Consider at 2b/SS joining this year or next: Bogaerts/Baez/Lindor/Russell/Seager/Hanson/Sardinas/Owings at SS Wong/Odor/Alcantara/Schoop/Lindsey/Rosario/Johnson/Flores at 2b. That's 16 or 60 Everyday positions. You can add that in 2013 2b/SS to move forward were: Gennett/Gyorko/Rendon/Franklin/Solano/Cosart/Simmons/Iglesias/Miller/Gregarious/Villar/Dozier/Hechavarria/Rutledge or LeMathieu in Col There's 14 more so 30 of 60 2b/SS positions filled with younger better long term solution vs Weeks. 2b isn't like 1b situation right now where upcoming talent just isn't in the pipelines. I still know my suggestion was a little out there but, looking ahead 2b/SS has a bright future coming for baseball. I'm giving recognition to it.

Think of it this way. The Brewers just outright released Juan Fran who to me has more upside for 1/9th the pay of Weeks. There isn't a trade partner that exists who will deal any single prospect for Weeks. Weeks has an untradeable contract the Crew are stuck with. Maybe in late Sept the Crew can send him through waivers for a trade if, Weeks has you know any kind of value to some team then. Weeks clearly has about 1-3years left in all of his baseball career. Yuni probably stands a better chance of playing next season for a MLB team than Weeks.

Last Night's episode....First peak at Terminus. The way the season has gone I feel like what will happen is Carol and Daryl will be knocked off in the final episode along with Bob. Obviously the gang Daryl is reluctantly traveling in will be hellbent to kill Rick and Daryl will sacrifice himself to fend them off. Carol likely shows up just in time to also save the day but go down in the fight. Bob saves Sasha. And when all this fighting comes to its end the Terminus gang wind up taking the remaining crew prisoners. Anyway, just a random prediction. Truthfully, I think they are rushing this final episode of the season and could stand to have 1 more episode. They now have 1 hour to fill in all of the gang reaching Terminus/ exposing Terminus/ The inevitable battle with that Gang and Rick/ the emotional reconnects of Sasha/Tyreese Rick/Carl and Judith. Beth? are they really going to just have it seem she was kidnapped and not spend another minute before the season ends to kinda opening up what happened to her? Other question I have is if Glen/Maggie crew reached Terminus are Rick,Daryl, and Carol on different train tracks? So they don't see the Blood messages Maggie/Sasha/Bob left on the route?

Draft was last night with my #4 pick I got: Catcher: Sleeper? Mike Zunino 22nd rd 1b: Goldschmidt 1st rd 2b: Brian Dozier 21st rd. SS: Ian Desmond 3rd rd 3b: David Wright 2nd rd. OF: Starling Marte 6th rd OF: Wil Myers 7th rd. OF: Will Venable 13th rd. OF: Austin Jackson 16th rd. Util: Brandon Belt 17th rd. SPs: Fernandez(4), Grienke(5), Fister(8), Cole(9), Ryu(10), Wacha(11), Walker(18), Cueto(19), Peralta(20) RPs: Reed(12), Soriano(14), Rodney(15) It's a H2H 13 cat league. Avg, OB, Slg, HR, R, RBI, SB.....QS, W, Whip, Save, ERA, Ks I'm fairly okay with them all. Obviously Dozier/Zunino could be poor but I looked at what I can pick up if needed being plenty available...once I figure out what stat I could improve on. Didn't like having to choose to Wright at 21/2nd rd but it was filled with 2b/1b and Desmond as my next in line rankings....I feel like 2b has improved depth-wise guys like Dozier/Rendon/Gyorko I didn't want a premium 2b in Pedroia/Kipnis/Kinsler for a 2nd rd pick. I wanted Wainwright at 3rd rd but he was chosen just before and I reluctantly took Desmond(my plan originally was to reach on Bogaerts and have flexibility at SS/3b with him but Wright/Desmond closed that off) Then it came to pitching, pitching, pitching(I wasn't selecting a C early) and the OFs I stared at kept being nabbed ahead of my picks. Either way I have a lot of promising young OFs which I think is better than older grisled vets because typically they will steal more bases in their young age. I think my pitching will be damn near elite overall with it's depth. Cueto/Peralta/Walker as late rd selections? All three or any of the 3 could be a #2 pitcher as the season progresses...Or at least solid #3 depth pitchers. I think I got very secure closers on mostly winning teams. Rodney pitching in Seattle/AL west I think is a very safe closer to not have blow up your stats. Overall looking at the stats from last season and adding up the projections for my team this year I seem to have a team filled with 2nd-4th in almost all the counting categories. I think I did well in my draft aside from not really nabbing a multipositional player stud type in case of injury(Prado/Zobrist/Craig/Carpenter) Belt though is another 17th rd pick? Pick I love to put in my Util and have as backup to Goldschmidt. He's going about 150 adp to espn and I got him at 196...he's a nice player going the right way in his career. I feel like the 68/17/75 projections for him are low....and if he steps up and goes 85/24/88 I got a top 10 rd player 7 rounds under value. Anyone care to chime in? Saturday is my Keeper League draft I kept Puig,Miller, Hamilton at 17,18,19th rd cost in picks. Same 13 cats 12 team league H2H setup. I'll post my team after the draft from that league.

Why not? Because that's terrible strategy. Unless you think Segura is basically the equivalent of a pitcher with the bat. I don't see it as terrible strategy when bunting can be effective when done in the right hands. And Segura I believe either lead the all of baseball...or at least in the top 3 last season when it came to infield hits. Think of what Gomez can do though on the basepaths to defenders...Okay you go and make a quick throw to 1st to nab Segura...Well great you didn't watch Gomez go from 1st to 3rd on the bunt...or say from 2nd all the way home because you didn't pay attention to him having to rush your throw in order for it to beat Segura at 1st. You're also talking about the bunt idea putting Gomez in scoring position or at 3b with 0/1outs for Braun...an elite, elite hitter in baseball. And this strategy doesn't have to be implemented in the 1st through 5th innings....We're talking when the score is tied/ or the team is down 1 you do this to better manufacture the 1 run you need. I would also think it's a good strategy vs. a premium pitcher with strong K ability who basically dominates Brewer hitters/all hitters in the game for that matter. Should Gomez get on base you play this small ball to sneak a run in against that type of pitcher.