SoupTown

MVP lineup is terribly close to my thinking Rotation: Lohse, Gallardo, Peralta, Estrada, Thornburg Bullpen: Henderson, Kintzler, Smith, Gorzelanny, Figaro, Wang (Rule V guy), Burgos Lineup: C-Lucroy 1B-Reynolds 2B-Gennett SS-Segura 3B-Ramirez LF-Davis CF-Gomez RF-Braun Bench: 2B-Weeks, C-Maldy, IF-Bianchi, OF-Schafer, 1B/3B-Francisco

Every time I look at the next 'maybe' (some other teams castoff), I see that our Francisco is actually a better choice. Juan is coming to his age 27 season. He has history of .800 OPS. So I am now of the opinion that it is Ike or Juan/Halton. That will do me just fine. And if you have Ike, you still keep Franciso, I think. We need to be prepared for no moves at first base.

Estrada does not get a lot of love, hey. To be honest, on paper, our rotation is not too bad. But remember how Doug took the last month of 2013 and projected it to 2014. Oops. At least this year he is taking the last half of 2013 and projecting to 2014. I think the World Baseball Cup (or whatever they called it) really, really hurt us. With fresher guys this year, our rotation should be middlish. And if our batter perform toppish, then we should have a middlish-toppish team.

From MLB Trade Rumors Mark Reynolds is unlikely to return to the Yankees, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweets, citing a source who says the Yanks have only offered the infielder a minor-league deal. "He won't take that," Feinsand says. Reynolds, 30, clubbed six homers for the Yankees in 36 games after they brought him on in August, compiling a .236/.300/.455 line in New York overall. While that OBP is a step down from Reynolds' .329 career average, it's generally a vintage Reynolds line: big power and a low batting average fueled by one of the game's highest strikeout rates. I don't know if this was talked about on previous pages. But Mark is a real, proven MLB player. Should he come into the fold, say at the expense of Halton. He seems like a guy who could, playing a full year, be a guaranteed 25+ home runs.

If anyone is down on 2014 (roster wise), then 2015 will be a carbon copy. 2015 projects to be the exact roster... minus Weeks - who looks to be a bench player, so that is a minor roster change. I really am 'for' acquiring Ike Davis - as he has a really high upside (and downside ) But without Ike, surely the Juan Fran / Halton show will appear at first. And, either way Ike vs Fran-Halton, then 2014 1st base solution will become 2015s. I am of the opinion we will compete (at least enough to keep us fans interested until July). If we do not, then I hope the middle of 2014 is the MOST BUSY mid year ever. If we cannot compete with the roster in 2014, then 2015 is a loss. Then 2016 is really looking grim - as I think we lose our 1 and 2 pitchers after 2015. So, this roster must compete early or be blown up in mid 2014. Then last half 2014 and 2015 becomes a rebuild. I will accept that as a fan, if we get some exciting prospects. Surely a year and a half of Lohse and Gallardo and ARAM to somebody will net some prospects of hope. And the first half of 2014 then can show if really we have prospects - even a couple in the minors - that slot into late 2014 - 15 rebuild. The tragic path will be poor first half then Doug and Mark 'explain' our bad luck... and 2015 will the 'the year'. If they do that, then we will have bad 2015, 2016, 2017 - with no path to improvement. I sure hope they do not do that.

MVP lineup is terribly close to my thinking Rotation: Lohse, Gallardo, Peralta, Estrada, Thornburg Bullpen: Henderson, Kintzler, Smith, Gorzelanny, Figaro, Wang (Rule V guy), Burgos Lineup: C-Lucroy 1B-Francisco 2B-Gennett SS-Segura 3B-Ramirez LF-Davis CF-Gomez RF-Braun Bench: 2B-Weeks, C-Maldy, IF-Bianchi, OF-Schafer, 1B/OF-Halton

Should we expand this to put up our 25 man roster predictions. I would be interested how we can mix the bench (bats and bullpen) so we can keep the extra pitcher selected in the rule V draft. To me, selecting that guy is like getting a first or 2nd round draft pick. So I would do my darndest to work out how to keep him. That likely means bullpen guys that can go a couple of innings or are real proven 60-70 appearance workhorses. And also bats like Bianchi who can play all the infield positions. This is why I want Gennent to start in AAA so we are not having two 2nd baseman on the roster. And it makes Juan Fran a liability unless he is our main first baseman. My gut tells me we are not far from a decent roster. But the last 2 or 3 spots will mean a lot to us, I think.

I prefer we do not get a one year fill in. A few have been talked about. We should try to catch lightning (cheaply) with Ike. Or we simply use Francisco/ Halton It is strange hearing we have no first basemen when we actually have three currently - Morris and Halton and Rogers. Four if you count Jan Fran

My thinkIng is most MLB guys cherish a major vs a minor contract. I am Santana agnostic. I just am wondering if there is a way the Crew can outmanouver the big spenders. Aoki was a great (albeit accidental) example.

Can not a team ('Brewers') offer a MLB contract? Say 2 Mill with incentives more. Now, if Johan shows he is not up to scratch in spring training, you simply cut him. I am not sure of what dates on the roster make you responsible for what percentages of the yearly salary. But it seems to me, the worst case scenario is the Brewers spend 25% of 2 Mill to get a the ownership rights for the rest of the year. They wont outbid teams, but they can be 'first movers' and 'gamblers' and 'risk takers'. This is not like the risk of 10 mill on Gagne. That was 10 mill blown. This would be a 500k 'option' on a player, so to speak.

Fiers had many articles written explaining that his odd, ball hiding, deceptive delivery caused his 89 mph fastball to be 'onto' hitters before they knew. I think a number of MLB batters commented to back that thinking up. Melvin is always funny how he can take a handful of games or weeks and then project that onto a player (his players) to explain how all will be OK going forward. If we end up having 5 poor months and 1 great one, Doug will explain the 'real' Crew is the 1 great month x 6. Ignore the other five months like they are the outliers. Even this winter we have the chant how the Crew was one of the top few staffs in baseball post all star break. And always slipped in there is: and our staff was better than the Cardinals.

Is it possible to have player that is .200 ave / .300 obp pre June, but post June is .260 / .360. And that is 'just the way it is'. If that were the case, you simply sit Weeks until 1 June, the make him the starter. I did like the logic put forth to sit Weeks and play Scooter - the first six week as well. And it was for the reason the Crew gets the 'good June+ Weeks' and limits his PA to under 600. If we can be so sure history will repeat, then it is simple. April / May sit Weeks. June / July play Weeks, then trade him end July, because he will have stellar numbers. Is it so easy?

I am sorry as sin to keep bringing up "Weeks should be the starter for the first 6 weeks of the year". There is a possibility he will be 'healed'. There is a possibility he comes out 'house on fire'. He has that capacity in him. And the fact that he is playing for his career can cause one of these amazing turnarounds. Now, if he starts out on fire, and keeps it going, then you have an all star on your hands again. And you WANT the option to vest. And you have the option of trading him mid year (if he is an all star like player). If he flops again after the first month, you just cut him. No grievance there. Right now, Weeks is worth NIL. But he could be a 'lightning in the bottle' guy Doug is forever looking for. I do not agree to give up on a guy with NIL value - when there is a 5% chance he could be great again. Let us play that 5% chance for a month or 6 weeks. The difference between Weeks 'worst' (.210 / .310 obp) lead off and Scooter for 4 to 6 weeks is worth the gamble. And I so much do not agree with platooning two 'only 2nd base' guys. Some power position platoon... I can handle. But not a middle infielder. That is just my opinion. And and, if we do not have an 'extra' 2nd baseman sitting around, our rule V guy is more likely to stick - that was a brilliant pick. If we can put up with Gagne and Axford with ERA's around 6 - we surely can have a rule V guy stumble through the year. I have such firm hopes for this team this year... and it starts with NOT THROWING AWAY WEEKS (just yet)

I agree. My opinion has always been ARam will be here the next two years. And I think that is a plus. It becomes curious to guess who will play 3rd in 2016

1. Keep the Rule 5 guy 2. Draft HIGH SCHOOL players more 3. Platoon Francisco/Halton at 1st 4. Let Weeks start the first six week with Scooter at AAA 5. Make minor league trades from positions of strength to upgrade weak areas (win-wn trades for Crew and trade partner)

I still think Weeks to the Dodgers for Beckett makes a lot of sense. The Dodgers signed Haren to go with Kershaw/Ryu/Grienke, but it depends on Billingsley's rehab progress and when he expects to be ready. If the Brewers agree to take on the extra salary of Beckett they should be able to get a prospect from the Dodgers in the deal. If the Dodgers have given up on Magill and Van Slyke, I'd be happy to take both plus Beckett and the extra salary for Weeks. That is some outstanding out of the box thinking. I sure hope Doug and Mark would be courageous enough to try such

Scooter played because of injuries. Weeks is no longer injured. Weeks will be the starter for at least two months. I bet Scooter will start the year in AAA The Brewers have quite a history of simply saying: if you make millions you start until we cut you. Similarly: if you are old and grizzled we play you over young no matter even if old performs bad and worse than young It is just a simple fact of how management views roster and playing time It burns me how every year the cards just bring up 1 to 3 players and let them play. Here we bring you up only if grizzled is hurt and millions is cut. Then we complain and cry how bad (before they play) our youngsters are Scooter was crucified here before he hit a MLB ball last year. 90% of pundits here said he had no chance to succeed. At least I said: he is only 23. Maybe he will grow to average at league min Now we have the same pundits here 'proving' Weeks is no good and Scooter is the man

It is sad we have had multiple reports on here (from secret sources) about how Milwaukee is not the organization it could be. We really need to be a positive to players / development / careers. But we do not seem to be doing much 'the best' or even 'good' in any facet of professional baseball. Things do need to improve.

Come roster crunch, I can even see Gennett starting the year in AAA. Assuming Juan is not starting at first, you have Juan and Jeff as infield bench. I don't think we need three infield backup guys. Given Halton seems to be the 1st/3rd/LF/RF backup, he could make the roster over Gindl even. So that gives you ANOTHER infield backup. If Juan is our starting 1st baseman, things clear up a little, but that would seem to be us waving the white flag. And 5 gets you 10 that Weeks will battle his bum off and end up showing a 250ish ave / 350ish (obp) - and look OK as a lead off guy. The first six weeks will be interesting. Scooter may need to wait until 2015 to be THE MAN.

Thank you for making my point. Halton could have had 100+ at bats. Or Morris 50+ Honestly. The brewers should trade their entire AAA and AA roster each year. Scooter only played because their were MULTIPLE injuries in front of him. The year before the young pitchers got starts only because of injuries in front of them If our roster did not have injuries and drug busts we would end up with 40 and 45 year olds throughout the 25 man roster If DM and RR simply do not trust or want rookies they should come clean. The rookies we were FORCED to play out did the vets they replaced. Yet still DM cannot figure out how to use them or trial them or evaluate them or develop them Can you imagine the groans every June by the dozens of youngsters when they hear their name after 'Milwaukee selects...'

The man leading the Brewers, last September, could not figure out that playing Yuni at first instead of one of our three AA/AAA FIRST basemen was unwise Why don't we just trade all our MLB players under 30. Then every year package up most of our advanced minors talent (assuming they are under 30) for a few more grizzled vets If we do this every year we can go for it and playoff push and be a perennial powerhouse

Worth a read. You will then think 'let us do a flyer on Davis'. His first half of 2013 was historically BAD for a proven hitter. So bad, you likely should ignore it! http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/ike-davis-and-the-malfunctioning-parachute/

I am sure Weeks will be the right hand bat of a platoon for the first six weeks or so. If he is recent Rickie, he will be released mid May - and we will bench up a batter short to keep the rule V guy. My opinion is he will find a bit of form and do a .260 ave / .360 obp and be a good lead off for his side of the platoon. He will get about half the starts (all vs lefties and a bit vs righties). He will not get his 600 at bats. And we will quietly part ways after the year. I actually even can think RR and Doug MAY send Scooter to AAA for the first six weeks to see how Rickie does. That is actually my preference. I feel we will platoon at first, so no need to platoon at 2nd as well.

I am unknowing about Moreland, but a bit of research shows he 'may' be available from the Rangers and is a plus defender at first. Oddly, MLB trade rumors explains Texas may need him as a DH. (Yet, why would you sit a great D, average O player from the field to DH). But, KC, for sure he seems worthy of a thought.

My thinking is clearly on the line of in house now. You can't have three first basemen at AAA. This organization hates to try rookies unless they are forced. Let's be forced If A-Ram can swap to first you can even pencil Taylor at third. It seems we have four prospects who might be value near leauge min. Scooter would have never seen one at bat ever unless Weeks was hurt AND we needed all our middle infielders to play first I say we let first base be for our in house first basemen. Not our roster non first basemen nor other teams replacement level off casts