SoCalBrewfan

Without getting too political, (if that's still possible) it's interesting to note that the UAW president Walter Reuther long ago suggested to the auto companies that government health care and pension plans would be in their long-term best interest, and asked them to join him in lobbying for national health care and pensions. He argued that the companies would be better off down the road if the goverment had the responsibility for these costs, which he felt to be something to which all working people should be entitled. The companies, and many others, opposed such proposals, primarily based on a fear of socialism. Now the wheel has turned, and pension and health care obligations are cited by US auto companies as hindering their ability to compete with companies in other countries. In the more recent past, the management of GM made a big mistake IMO by ignoring the possibility that fuel costs would increase in the way they have. They and their US competitors have focused on bigger vehicles, SUVs and trucks, which was arguably a strong strategy in the short term but showed a lack of foresight. Ford has done better in this regard than GM and Chrysler, with the Escape hybrid for example, but none of them can touch Toyota or even Honda. Add that to the very real difference in reliability and resale value that already favored 'imports,' and it's not a surprise to see GM having trouble. My sympathies to anyone affected by this closing. I'm sure there are a lot of people whose economic situations were already tenuous that will feel this particularly hard...

Callis says (in the Blue Jays comment) that Lawrie doesn't make it past the Brewers, and that seems true to me, but I may simply be swayed by all the Lawrie love on here these days. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif With the Twins and Dodgers immediately ahead of the Brewers, I expect the Brewers war room to be tense when 14 hits, particularly if Lawrie and Hicks, and to some extent Friedrich, are still around as predicted in the BA mock...I'd expect both the Twins and Dodgers to be looking at the same guys as Milwaukee, just based on their histories. Though the Twins do seem to look for different things in position players in many respects....

The old BA prospect handbooks characterized him as good to great defensively, but routinely praised his instincts, reliability, and arm (both strength and accuracy), while noting that he wasn't exceptionally quick. I think that's consistent...he was and is regarded as smooth and instinctual, but without the pure range that some shortstops have. I didn't see any of them (02 - 05) call him a potential Gold Glover. Early books called him 'great' but by '05 his range was described as 'good.' (I've heard suggestions that defense peaks early, very early even...maybe JJ is already slowing down?) For what it's worth, the most recent book says of Escobar, "smooth shortstop, with nice range, soft hands, and a strong throwing arm." The '07 book says 'fluid actions, soft hands, and a plus arm.' (There's a lot of similarity there, but the same guy writes them almost every year.) I seem to remember someone who had minor league defensive stats saying that Escobar was good but not great. Hard to say for sure with these things...it's reasonable to wonder if Escobar is all he's cracked up to be. I think DHonks sums up very nicely what I would have said about the two. Also, please play nice. Joe, you noted that you exaggerated for effect in making the Jeter comparison...people are going to call you on things like that.

uwisfan, I was thinking about a similar analysis. But don't forget that a healthy portion of the roster spots are occupied by players never eligible for the draft, i.e., those from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Japan, etc. Thus one average starter from the draft and a role player or two is probably par for the course. Getting a full-blown all-star out of any given draft is very unlikely.

As I said somewhere else, the Dodgers worked out Collier as well as Dykstra. They pick just before Milwaukee in the regular rounds... Lawrie intrigues me greatly but I've learned in past years that I don't know Jack.

The LA Times said that Dykstra and Collier worked out for the Dodgers...which is interesting given the draft order (Dodgers pick one slot ahead of Milwaukee). Logan White seems like a guy that would be looking for similar things to Jack Z, so there may be some anxiety in the Brewers' war room every time the Dodgers pick.

If the Brewers have somehow conjured a good starter out of Seth McClung...well, that's some kind of black magic. I'm all for it, mind you, but I can't say I would have ever predicted Seth would go six innings, no walks, 1 run against a good team. Congrats, Mr. McClung...my hat is off to you tonight.

I'm not trying to be an ass, but I'm wondering what Williams you're talking about here. Ted batting the other way might well still be in the top 10. That or a fan of Gerald "Ice" Williams with no sense of proportion. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif And actually, a list of OPS+ should have percentages above average OPS. +150 OPS in 1950 is more impressive than it is now. OPS+ of 150 means 150% of league average, not 150 points above league average...if league average is 700, an OPS+ of 150 would mean 1.5 * 700 = 1050...so it should be roughly able to compare across eras.

Some majors are better suited than others to the two-year college route. I would not recommend it for anyone even considering a science or engineering major, as I've seen it end up backfiring on many students, costing them in terms of both money and, more importantly, time to degree...I can elaborate if you wish. It should be noted that my experience may not apply to Wisconsin, though I suspect there are some general trends. I also think that people focus way too much on jobs when they consider college and potential majors, and that you're far better off pursuing things that are of intellectual interest, even venturing into things that you wouldn't normally be exposed to. Look at college as a means of broadening your horizons, learning new things, meeting people you might not otherwise have met. Try classes that challenge your preconceptions, seek out other students or professors who believe differently than you do. You're only young once, and you'll have a long time to worry about jobs and paying bills.

The big question for me is this. How many people in the audience thought that McClung could get through the fifth? Yost makes one. Maddux? McClung? At most three, and I'd bet that Seth himself had his doubts. Not that the offense was any great shakes, but you just knew that the game was going to be out of reach right there...it's a galdaarn horror movie, watching the cheerleader blunder obliviously into doom.

Nothing magical about the leadoff spot, guys. That can't be true. Scott Podsedncik single-handedly ran the White Sox into the history books! If that's not magic....?

I think Tavarez is the next guy to end up in the rotation. He's only extending this inning so he can get stretched out for his coming start.

I had to leave for a conference call after 4 innings. I said to myself, you know, McClung's going to hit the wall pretty soon, maybe even in the fifth...the pen is pretty fresh, maybe we'll go with the quick hook this time rather than letting the game get out of reach. People have said that McClung sucks...I don't think that's right...but his track record indicates that he's not going to give you six innings, and that anything beyond three or four is asking for trouble. Putting a player in a position where he's extremely likely to fail...that is a management failure, and I don't know how anyone can think otherwise.

I think it's easy to forget that these guys are human beings...it must truly stink to have lost it the way Turnbow has. Someone might point to the money, but he's got to be just shredded mentally right now. Meanwhile, after 7 HR in 1600 previous minor league at bats, Alcides Escobar has 5 in about 200 this year. Something must be leaking out of the NASA facility into the city water in Huntsville.

A quick look through the H'ville hitters' numbers shows almost all of the key guys are quite a bit better at home. Not sure why...didn't think that park played as such a hitters' haven. Didn't have time to check pitchers....

To me, the sign of a team in panic mode is the phenomenon in which a rookie throws a good inning or three, and then is embraced by the fans (or worse, the team) as either a potential closer or fourth starter. Dillard is off to a good start, and I'm glad to see it, but I'd like to see him succeed over a longer time frame before coming to any conclusion about him. The team has always liked his sink, I think, and it does seem that he's got more giddyup coming out of the pen...between that and his merely adequate performances as a start, I'd be reluctant to move him back into the rotation any time soon. The Brewers are more than due to produce a meaningful relief prospect, so I'm glad to see a few of the youngsters show some promise in that role...I feel like those of us who geek out over minor leaguers have been predicting that the team would produce a reliever any minute now for about three years. Of course, the team has done its share of this already. Stetter goes from nobody to a key reliever, and back again, in a couple of weeks. McClung goes from garbage time to starter. Julian Tavarez...oh, my. I guess the guys they have aren't getting it done in some cases, but sheesh.

While this signing doesn't seem to add quality, it does add quantity. While quantity is a second choice, it's not like we can't use it. Quantity has a quality all its own. (To quote an obscure dictator...) I suppose there's no hope of Tavarez becoming a Class A free agent this offseason...? It is for moments like this one that the term 'meh' was invented.

Hey, Taylor Green, just in case you're reading...you know you're a prospect worth noticing when clancyphile tries to move you to catcher. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif It's a challenge to get a read on offensive ceiling in Brevard, even more so in seven weeks or so of Brevard. The Cirillo comparison is one I've thought of before...a lefty Jeff Cirillo would look very nice on the current Brewers squad. It should be noted that Green is even younger than Cirillo was at a comparable stage...Green's season in WV at 20 was even better offensively than Cirillo's excellent season in Beloit at age 22. OTOH, I would be surprised to see Green, or anyone else, as good defensively as Cirillo was...

Cool, and odd to see that his two positions are occupied by players above him on that list. The list is a nice reminder that there is still plenty of hope for the franchise, recent road trips notwithstanding. It's very odd to see how much local sentiment has turned against Prince Fielder...though I suspect that a patented Prince hot streak will put a sock in that one of these days. Still, some interesting decisions ahead for the GM, and some real challenges as well, as there is a growing sense that the talent here, though considerable, needs some major realignment.

I looked at the thread in question, and you responded to the following statement: if the Brewers could get back in the race for the Central, LaPorta could be a prime trade chip for them to make upgrades at the deadline. They'd be looking for someone to help them now, though, which from a matching up with the Red Sox/ pitching perspective would probably mean Masterson rather than Bowden. The argument seems to be that Milwaukee would be looking for a young pitcher to plug into the rotation, and use Laporta to make it happen. With all due respect, you provoked a response when you called Masterson a middle relief prospect. Someone responded, hey that's not quite right, though I still wouldn't trade Laporta for him. I didn't see anyone claim that a one-for-one trade would make sense. Then you went off into a bunch of arguments that seemed to boil down to 'Masterson's stats weren't as good as Tim Dillard's or Ben Hendrickson's so he isn't any good.' Pulling Greg Aquino into the discussion was a bold stroke. But I don't think you really addressed the original intent...I also don't really agree with your point, which seems to be that if Ben Hendrickson failed, then Masterson's ceiling is as a middle reliever. And it should be clear to anyone that right now there aren't many starting pitching options in the high minors for Milwaukee that can be expected to provide any hope of immediate success. I think it would be safer to say that the teams don't seem to match up well right now and move on. Presumably a deal involving Laporta would involve a pitcher more established than Masterson if it happens during the season, but one never knows I guess. The scenario in which Boston is dangling a big league pitcher for prospects during the season is pretty hard to imagine, and during the offseason the urgency will have drained away.

There is good pitching in the system, but it's mostly in A+ ball and below, in the person of very young guys as well...most of the best pitching prospects at the lower levels were drafted out of HS and/or signed as DFEs after a year or so of JC ball. They have a lot of 20-year olds, like Jeffress, Braddock, Bryson, Anundson, Periard, and it's going to be a while before any of those guys will throw 180 innings in the big leagues. (If it ever happens, that is.) Barring a Gallardoesque run of dominance, those guys are going to go step by step through the system. (It's not out of the realm of possibility that Jeffress or Braddock could move more quickly but there are reasons for caution in both cases...and almost all very young pitchers need to develop secondary pitches as well as build up to the innings count before they can be counted on as possible rotation help.) They do have a few older pitchers in A ball who could move a bit more quickly, but they tend to be second tier prospects. Hammond is probably the best SP prospect in AA/AAA right now, but the jury is still out on him. He throws harder than the other lefties in the high minors, and appears to have rebounded from a very disappointing '07 season. (The BA prospect book says he bulked up too much and lost velocity last year.) If the bottom falls out on the Brewers' pitching this year (we're close already, to be sure), and Hammond continues to pitch well, we could see him in Milwaukee this year, but I doubt that would happen in the immediate future. Someone in the system was quoted as saying that Derek Miller would pitch in the big leagues, and he's got a great minor league stat line, but the reports I've seen suggest that his stuff is not at the level of some of the other guys. Welch has his advocates as well, and there's always hope that Narron could get some Jamie Moyer mojo. But I would guess that any of those guys would struggle against big leaguers, at least at first, and that we wouldn't see them in 2008 unless and until the team is cashing in its playoff hopes. Still, times are very nearly desperate, so things could change quickly. I sure didnt see a scenario coming in which Jackson, Dillard, Defelice and Stetter would have pitched in the bigs by May 25.

Yeah, I recall that quote. IIRC in the same book he also got a comparison to Ron Cey defensively...for those who only remember Cey as a Wrigley field statue, that might not seem like a compliment, but Cey was a pretty good defender at third at one time, so I think that's meant to indicate that he might be good if not flashy.

Hand is moving quickly through the system. Quicker than the eye, perhaps? Didn't Jon Lucroy identify Hand as a guy he loved to catch? I think of him as a finesse pitcher, but I don't know that I have any idea what he throws.

The best thing of all about Dillard is that he's a former catcher, thus allowed Nedly the possibility of a triple switch, in which Dillard moves from pitcher to catcher, Kendall moves to first, Shouse comes in to face a lefty then Dillard moves back to the mound again afterward. And then of course Gwynn would play first after that. Congrats to Dillard on his debut, a nice clean inning at that.

Chris Cody's nickname should be 'commander' (or 'commando' if you are truly old school). I'd guess he'd be on the way to Brevard soon, especially given that the rust seems to be less than anyone could have expected?