brewcrewdue80

After reading on a Tim Stauffer suggestion. My wonder is on Jeff Karstens? He was non-tendered due to only make 4mil.? ERA has been under 4 last 2 seasons. 3.54 in 41 starts. He had better than 4k-1bb ratio last year. 9 of 15starts were quality starts 2 were left over injury at a combined line:1.1 8H 6ER Taken away from his season stats he has a 3.43ERA. and its 9/13quality starts, 7of which completed 7ip or more. 2011 he had a 3.38era with 14/26 QS 8 of 7ip+ 1CG. CG SHO on 83pitches. Many of his 7ip stints also fell in the lines of 87-94pitch counts. I feel like the term "Crafty" comes to mind when being able to keep pitch counts low. Something that maybe he can provide some insight to this staff. We all know how high Gallardo's counts get, Peralta would seem to follow his mold. Oh, the Pittsburgh blogs I read aren't in favor of losing Karstens, questioning it. I guess with their young staff and low payroll 4mil was too high for them. People wanted McCarthy(me being one) I think Karstens follows the kind of outings McCarthy provides you. Honestly, why is he still on the market? 4mil is nothing on a 3.54era starter?

1-Felix 2-Verlander 3-Price 4-Strasburg 5-Kershaw 6-Cain 7-Lee 8-Hamels 9-Grienke 10-Gio G 11-Jered Weaver 12-Dickey 13-Cueto 14-Bumgarner 15-Wainwright 16-Sabathia 17-Halladay 18-Matt Moore 19-Gallardo 20-Shields 21-Jordan Zimmerman 22-Max Scherzer 23-Hiroki Kuroda 24-Josh Johnson 25-Lincecum 26-Chris Sale 27-Yu Darvish 28-Dempster 29-Jerremy Hellickson 30-Brandon Morrow Then you have about a dozen who I think are better but either are declining/were rookies/injured Brett Anderson,Dan Haren,Lance Lynn,Edwin Jackson,Jaime Garcia,Phil Hughes,Jon Lester,Ian Kennedy,Wade Miley,Jake Peavy,Jonathon Niese,Brandon Beachy,Alex Cobb It's not in order just had to find a link where I could see all pitchers. I'm sure I missed a few, guys who didn't pitch at all last year or less than 10starts.

How is this figured out? Plain eyeball test on stats sure doesn't make Gallardo look 1win less AR over Sanchez? What is it on his Defense? Gallardo walking more? Only thing Sanchez does better on stats is less walks/HRs given up. Something that on HRs can be argued on ballparks played in/quality of opponents. Gallardo wins every other category.

If it does happen. But then again this is a big market club who should be throwing money around at a decent rate. It will be great to see just how much better Gallardo is than Sanchez with him in a year in NL Central vs. what has mostly been a very weak hitting NL East. I'm not sold on Sanchez simply for that statement. NL East Opponents in Pitcher friendly ballparks. Add to it how well Gallardo can hit and that alone has to be worth another 1-2million over a poor hitting NL Pitcher. Heck Gallardo has won games with only his bat and pitching. Back to this signing. I don't think Garza/Sanchez is a better pitching 1/2 than Gallardo/Estrada. I believe Estrada is every bit of Sanchez and Gallardo is clearly better than Garza. Yeah surprise statement but Estrada just doesn't have the history like Sanchez for one to agree with it and it just shows how I don't trust Sanchez like others do. I hope I'm right and the Cubs being in division pay for the mistake of overpaying Sanchez. I see a 4+ERA future for Sanchez which obviously isn't Ace numbers. I still don't get how the "Ace" tag is thrown around. Sanchez isn't an Ace. On the Cubs, he'll be their Ace but his numbers arent Ace stuff. 5/75 was thought to be too high when FA started for him. Then the money got thrown around and this suddenly is a decent deal? I don't agree with that. To Me an Ace has to fall in top 30Pitcher in all of MLB since there's 30 teams. Sanchez probably falls in to the 50 range among all pitchers and after a season in the NL Central he will probably decline in to the 60s close to 70s. Over the next 5years having 15mil tied to a true 3 aging to 4 won't be good for Cubs keeping them in the cellar of the Central!

ESPN puts the idea of Trumbo being traded away. As well as the first 2years of deal being lower and last 3 paid higher so the Wells contract clears. Making Hunters tweet mute. If Angels shop Trumbo what can they ask in return? I see a Mets connection/Seattle in return for Pitching

Let the big markets expend their money now. Brewers didn't need to dabble in the high priced FAs. I expect them to be able to spend just they looked at what could be spent and are shaking their heads wisely no. These crazy contracts are going to become troublesome for these teams like the Yankees and Luxury tax. Its just fun to watch Angels grab the guy Rangers are targeting like Grienke last year. That is some serious 30-35+HR bats on that lineup now!

What if Aoki improves? He's always been a Batting Title contender on the Japanese team he was on. Having read his Wiki page Aoki is a great teammate and he accepts whatever role his manager asks of him. As poster above me stated. We have a .275+/.340+ hitter in RF at less than 2mil/year. He's a menace on the basepaths. I don't get what someone sees wrong in what he does for his price. He gives you great ABs. He's not a prospect, should be on team for 2 more yrs. I don't know what better is out there for Brewers than what Aoki gives at the price. As a small market club the team needs players like him, cheap veteran with quality ABs. He's a better hitting Counsell. Aoki at this point should only be replaced in house or from a trade that brings in a ML high prospect who's cost is similar to Aoki's.

Mlbtr has Melvin as saying after Dempster, they're only after relievers. Which would close the book on Marcum, as I thought they did when letting Marcum go on FA. I'm fine with that. All these concerns on our young arms and innings pitched. Marcum scares me when he hits 150in. 2011 he lost it completely at 175innings. Now after injury 124innings I just fear at start 22 and beyond him going out there for 4-5innings and 3-7runs given up. Then the injury risk does he get 21+starts? I think Melvin is doing the right thing by not playing the lottery this FA. There may be something to our prospect pitchers they have their eye on and feel confident using them. I said somewhere before, save the money break Spring training with a rotation figured out of the young guns. The offense should keep us around .500. Around the all-star game to trade deadline, there will be a better idea of what needs to be pursued if any.

Figured after 3yr offerings to the other two, Victorino and other name slips me, They offered Dempster 2/25 they probably had to go 3/39 would be the Hat Trick then on the 3deals 3/39s I'm glad with that. I think Dempsters numbers as a whole along with many other pitchers in the NL were fortunate. There were a ton of NL teams that were inefficient scoring runs. Then add serious Star injuries on teams Kemp,Votto,Tulo while I haven't gone game by game on Dempster to see who he faced there's a lot of luck out there to been had. 1yr would be fine, 2 is eh? The 3rd just wreaks of bad high price risk signing. There's a bunch of teams with pitchers to be traded to make room for the younger prospects. Brewers are in that stage where filling starters and young pitchers perform you now need to move someone. Who's easier to trade? 35+pitcher at 12+mil/yr? Or a team controlled young pitcher in Arb years? I dont want the young guys to be traded if they can be #3s/4s or better at low cost it creates wiggle room to sign the better players as they grow in cost. A Dempster signing doesn't do that.

I don't get it. So Bauer was hotheaded within the organization? You trade him away for a guy the GM relates as Jeter? But will likely never see .300 in any season. It almost seems questionable Didi is of ML caliber. Defensively reads yes, Offensively though is another story. Bauer a guy drafted in 2011, pitched for your team 2012, and you deal him away? This has Cliff Lee all over it for Cleveland. Only Arz got nothing in return! Heck, if you're going to get nothing in return, why not ask for an exception to put Bauer back in the draft for a compensation 1st rd pick? Not that is allowed but Bauer would go #1. Arz would get a 40s-60s pick that may actually make the team....well Didi has to play now...when its awful...man Arizona is just going to burst in flames from within. The turmoil will ruin the club for a few seasons....who knows and beyond? With all these 1-sided trades this year how can the Brewers not possibly get in on this?

Of arms out there. Jeff Karstens & John Lannan were non-tendered end of Nov. Lannan lefty and has had seasons with 31/33 starts. Numbers aren't eye popping but should 2yrs Dempster not happen a 1yr deal? Karstens. Another pitcher I think if could ever go 30starts would put together a better than expected run. Only he's never pitched more than 180in. Again a 1yr deal? See what you can get out of him. Just someone to eat some starts, reduce on the young staffers arms.

I've always thought of it as this, if its in the case of player asking for 3 while having solid offers for two, that player obviously has doubts at his ability for next 2years just as much as the owners do unwilling to sign him to 3. Kuroda just got 1yr 14mil at his age. Dempster and pitchers like him honestly shouldn't fear a difference at 2yrs vs 3. Like I said shows fear in his skills/injury potential to hold out for a 3rd yr.

Well Rays extended Longoria, McCutchen got his contract. I actually expect more contracts locking up the young guys before free agency. Harper/Trout? How long before they are extended with a payraise? Braun's extension is another example a 2nd time. The argument can always be made for every FA winner, there's the players who got injured, lost skills and lost value that 2seasons or so before FA would have led to a big payday. Signing 7year deals locking in more money today and long term has value over making below league avg depending on remaining healthy and continuing to perform.

Started a good discussion. Picked a nice stretch to show there is a slump in him July 7-end of August. I only looked at actual month stats vs trying to look at every possible 30game stretch possible. Which July 7-end of August is more than 30games. Even an added stretch he finished the month at .260/.342. Putting his OPS means including his slugging and my statement was that he hits the ball to get On Base. When you're slapping singles you won't have a strong Slg obviously. But Aoki can steal 2nd to make up for that. What's your number on BA/OB to be a good hitter? .288 is levity for me. I've always thought .268+ as acceptable give or take 10pts depending on defense/power/OB. If Aoki worst month is .260 I can't see him not beating the .268 number I hope to see. Just wanted to add the key is Braun is consistent, Aoki Batting with consistent BA/ob means Braun+Aoki equals constant production each month. Braun as we know has 6+HRs/mo in him. Aoki is likely to be OB ahead of quite a few of them. Aoki's speed also translates to scoring on those Braun XBHs. How many times did we watch Aoki lead off a game and get OB?

Losing touch on Dempster topic. He's turned down 2/25 & 2/26 that we know of and wants 3yrs Everything about that screams Suppan/Wolf with his age and having questionable years to want to avoid year 3at high 13mil. This season between Wolf and Rodriquez I think hit Melvin/front office. Having a high paying contract in a down season and not being able to move them because those two performed so poorly nobody would take them on. Obviously, teams unwilling to go 3yrs on Dempster shows the concern of his skill declining with age.

Can anyone just attribute his ability to control the bat and hit balls on the ground where he feels an ability to make it to first? I don't see Aoki losing so much speed that attributed to legging out hits between now and next season. Saying "it's the kind of profile that makes you worry there's a steep cliff for a player on the wrong side of 30" would be worrisome to me if I were signing him as a FA based off of last season to a 4-5year deal. If he does fall off the cliff then the Brewers don't have to pick up his option for 2014. Of course I don't see how they couldn't even on a down 2013. I fully expect Aoki to continue doing well what he did last year. And Aoki could probably hit a higher line-drive rate if he wanted. Gotta remember he's a Japanese player who likely grew up on fundamental hitting vs. hitting for power/HRs as what's happened in MLB since the 90s. I'm actually hoping should he keep up with last year's numbers, Brewers go an added 2years with option on 3rd in 2016. He gets OB. ahead of Braun. That's what I'm asking for from the 1/2 batters for Milw. His worst OB month last year was .342. BA at .260 same month for a .288 season hitter. I love a consistent hitter lacks in slump spells. Braun is the same type of player. Aoki is one of the Least of my worries for 2013 like Braun.

Lefty here who loved playing baseball. Man I could have been getting paid at age 32!!! LMAO Let that be a lesson. Groom that kid of yours to be a Left Handed bullpen pitcher! Anywho on topic. Burnett would have been nice to have. I think it's the years involved at the price that's not suiting Melvin. I believe the farm has been stocked with bullpen arms that may be on the horizon for this team but signing a guy for 3years could only block them at a cost much less than when those arms are ready. I expect a semi revolving door with the bullpen and the minors this year. Trial and error. If a guy up doesn't cut it they will have someone else called up and the other sent back down. Last year Crew had Rodriquez,Parra,Veras,Loe,Hernandez at 14mil right there tied to a worst bullpen in baseball. So, I'm not upset with them not spending on Relievers. It doesn't guarantee results! Now, spending that 14mil on a proven starter who can give the relievers a break by pitching deep/200ip+ on the season is another story. I'll take one of those over 3/4 RPs making the same amount.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryu_Hyun-jin says 90MPH fastball tops at 95. MLB legitimate out pitch on a changeup. I'm surprised 6year deal at 36mil. This could be an amazing arm for Dodgers at that price for his 26-32years. I would have thought more in line of 4years so he'd be a FA at 30 and chance at bigger payday. Plus he had Boras as his client. Then again maybe that 90MPH Fastball will be a dud Homer ball in MLB and he doesn't last beyond a 2nd season.

wow, a lot of low faith on young talent. Surprising when theres a bunch of faith in the Brewers young talent. I don't know how the lineup will shape but: Cain-of Escobar-ss Hosmer-1b Butler-dh Gordon-of Moustakas-3b Perez-c 2b Francoeur who in 2011 had: .285/.329/.476 slash 47 2bs 20HRs 22SBs 87Rbis 77Runs scored And he's being bashed because of last year. Take Shields 2011 vs. 2012 even though 2012 was still fairly strong. 11CGs! Almost 250IP 225ks and a 2.82ERA on that 249.1IP I don't get how Jackson is wanted said to be a #2 yet show me that kind of season from him? Meanwhile Shields isn't an ace? Gallardo cant put up that season! Shields is a huge asset to the Royals in what I've always thought is a weak hitting Central. See Detroit WS. Like I said Watch the Royals make the Post Season 2013. as they stand now. Do I agree with the trade for the Royals. If you want a Playoff berth with the offensive pieces you have now. Yes. Long term? Obviously no. I figure 18years of prospect player control to 6years with Shields making as much for his 2 as the three lost probably will combine for the next 4. Add to it you have Butler and Gordon through 2015. Hosmer,Moustakas,Cain,Escobar,Perez beyond 2015 and Meyers would have been as well beyond 2015. That's a solid 8player lineup to wait for a 2014/2015 run. But again, I feel this is all on a plan that 2013/2014 KC can win now before the big FA year comes in arms, before the Yankees spend again. Angels/Rangers lost Grienke. To me eyeballing the AL KC as did Tor is trying to seize the opportunity where the normal powers are weaker. They still have to beat Detroit and that's very questionable. 2 year window. Coincides with Shields contract. Let's watch how it plays out. Those bats play to an avg year on ability I'd say they're better than the Brewers Lineup. Perez a full season? look out!

This article nails the big issue with this trade. It's a poor deal for the Royals because now they simply will give Francoeur 500-600 plate appearances. Sure you upgrade your pitching. But you're doing at ruining your chance to dramatically improve RF. Dave Cameron said it best in the article - "Trading Myers for Shields doesn’t make them (the Royals) better. It just makes them differently bad." To top this off, KC is throwing in their best pitching prospect (Odorizzi). And they even get a former top 20 prospect (Montgomery) who has struggled the last year or two, but is one of those guys that you don't want to give up on too soon. This is an awful trade for KC because the simple fact is they are not a starting pitcher or two away from competing. Myers had the chance to be a superior power hitting outfielder. Now they have Francoeur. I suspect that Moore must be feeling the heat to win. I realize a starting rotation of Chen, Guthrie, Odorizzi, Santana and Hochevar wasn't going to win you any championships. But does one of Wade Davis, Guthrie, Shields, Santana and Hochevar or Chen? And let's not forget it's Francoeur in the lineup everyday instead of Myers. Oh well, not my team. I think KC has more faith in a playoff run then others do on them. Wade Davis is solid as pitcher just bogged down with Tampas supply of Starting pitching. The Francoeur bashing. The Royals had him at #5 much of the season, there's expectations there that he didn't fulfil. Cain was out, Moustakas was breaking in. The Royals won't put Francoeur at 5 in lineup and he's one batter to throw in the 8/9 now. Honestly Francoeur was a guy at 15/15level and he just had a season long slump, Adam Dunn style. Dunn bounced back. There's most likely a bounceback from him, as well as Hosmer much like we talk of Weeks. The Royals also may not be done. Swisher is still out there it wouldn't surprise me if they went on a run at him. I don't see a World Series team in KC but I definitely won't rule them out on winning the Central. Poster above me stated the Sabathia run was worth the loss in prospects to win the title. This is KC's version

Yes this trade was slammed. Brewers are no where near what Tampa is in losing an Ace caliber pitcher. After Gallardo its.....Estrada? Tampa has Price,Moore, then Shields who's an Ace at #3 in their rotation. Yes Moore is ahead of Shields, moving forward. Tampa has 3+ 200in 200k guys pretty much to work with for years to come. Milwaukee? It starts with Gallardo ends with him. The Peraltas,Jungmans,Bradley and such are two years behind minimum where Tampa is in losing Shields. So that's why the trade was slammed. My memory is Ben Sheets, Yo Gallardo as Aces brought up by Milw in farm in past 15years? Tampa has 3 today Hellickson a 4th? I do wonder with Washington,Phi,Atl,Dodgers moves how realistic a shot Brewers have in 2013/2014. I would consider Gallardo,Hart,Ramirez,Gomez tradeable at this stage if the offers seem decent enough for a 2015-2018 resurgence. Thinking the prospect pitchers/Braun,Segura,Morris,Lucroy bats are in place and the added prospects for the 4earlier are ready for impact at the ML level as well at that point. It is something as a small market to think, is trying to maintain 75-85 wins year-year better than putting a 2-3year hiatus at 70wins saving on payroll 70-85mil? so to have all the pieces in place for a 85-95win stretch and ok running a 95-110payroll to buy two missing pieces. As Washington is in.

Wow wrote a nice post on Myers trade forum and it was closed down. Anyway, sum it up: Myers for Shields, fine. Davis for Odorizzi fine. How Royals lose Montgomery?..... Tampa is beyond stockpiled now! It's sick. I think their top level farm is better than Marlins team to be playing this year! Of course a few will be playing for TB in the Bigs, Myers being one of them. Tampa may become the best team in the East without spending 150mil+ and its a joy as a small market fan to witness. And to think they still have Price to trade away for an even bigger haul at some point, Leaving Moore as their ace and then the prospects. KC. Must feel with Boston/Yankees in rebuild/payroll constraints. Grienke in Dodger Blue vs. Rangers/Angels that this is the move to make their run at a WS this year and next. They have a nice young (Brewers like 2007-2011) lineup to work with in Cain,Escobar,Hosmer,Butler,Moustakas,Perez. Francoeur who was one of the worst offensively can only improve....or does KC break it open with Swisher? Royals are hurt long term but this has all the makings of the Sabathia trade plus 1. Things I've always thought about is when a team gets better a H2H win is worth 2games. KC may be looking at H2H over Chi/Det improve by 3-4 each and now it's find 6-10 more wins and you have a division. Hosmer/Francoeur were awful all last season batting in the 3/5holes. There's a lot of runs to be had by an expected year from those two. So foolish to lose what KC lost long term. But with the added WC, I fully expect them to make the playoffs with only Det standing in way of Division title. If as a Franchise KC feels a Playoff appearance and real attempt at Division title is needed this is a great trade for them. Shields for all the troubles he had up to the AS Break last season pitched to a great final line. Take that struggle out of the blocks and he's probably in the Cy Young running. Fun Stuff happening in the AL. Both Yankees and Redsox are questionable to make the playoffs!

What is going on!? So we want to place 13mil for a Jackson/or Dempster and let a guy like McCarthy go at 2years 15.5?! If you would tell me Anibal Sanchez will get 15mil/yr this FA and McCarthy only 15.5 on 2years I'd laugh at your face! I'd also have matched this deal threw in a 13mil option on 3rd year since I have no doubt McCarthy will pitch to the 13mil/yr he deserves in today's market. My question is why Dbacks signed him? They have those young pitchers, better than Milw's. And to me its on that they are trading away for a SS? I'm not a huge fan of Cabreras. Lose Upton and Bauer/Skaggs for Cabrera? And who else? Just seeks Arz is trying to destroy themselves. Back to McCarthy, I would have thrown a 2/17-18 offer to him no problem before seeing he signed at 2/15.5 I don't like the 2nd tier pitchers in FA and that 13mil+ price tag. They all have risk to them but McCarthy was had at 60% their price with more upside/slight more injury risk.

I compared him earlier to Swisher. Who trade rumors just raised his asking price from 4/44 to 4/60 mil! I would have to fully believe Brewers have offered 10mil/yr as what posters above me have suggested being offered. The asking price seems to be 13-16mil/yr suddenly for fringe all star players with the likelihood to make an all star in the next 4 seasons. The really sad thing is everyone is talking about the draft pick compensation like its a given. It's not only upon a Qualifying offer which after this crazy FA could be 14.5mil on 1year. As with Francisco Rodriquez, the Brewers could make that offer w/o wanting to sign Hart but to get the draft pick only to get the financial screw job by Hart taking the offer. I think Rodriquez is responsible for all the problems now with payroll. In that his 11? 12?mil was it? Expense to the team was never calculated in the budget. Here's what I see happening. The QO meant to help small market teams either retain their players with a decent 1yr offer or at the very least get compensation with the draft pick. The rising avg in price has made for a basic asking price and then some. Even though the player is on that barely worth the QO. Much less more. The Yankees I believe were the only ones to extend multiple QOs, and why not? They can run with a 18mil/yr 40man roster and still make money! Small market teams are actually hindered in whether to risk the offer for the compensation or risk being overbudget and losing money. In Hart, the Brewers may not have the wiggle room to throw 14mil at him next season as a QO and thus don't even get the pick everyone is expecting. I'd trade him if DM has that worry after Rodriquez, and get your prospects who you've studied versus a gamble on a 45-65 type pick that has no guarantee of making it through the minors.

Venters,Walden,Kimbrel. I realize some people may think highly of Hanson. But he's become that ineffective will he get past the 4th inning type pitcher. Take away a SP who has begun taxing your bullpen and then solidifying your 7inn reliever? That's impressive. Not only for shutting down end of games but there has to be an effect on the team offensively to keep digging away when behind knowing the guys are there to keep adding zeroes for you to come back. Washington and Atlanta are going to be quite the teams this season.