SoupTown

stutterbrewmann... I hear in my read today it is Sardinas at short, with a bit of 2nd and 3rd to keep sharp. So I assume Rogers at third (one last try there for him... he is still learning). I am guessing Morris gets on last chance at first. And Clark will make the MLB 25 man. Would 2nd base in AAA be Herrera?

It really would be a cost savings measure to replace a couple $3 mill contracts with 500k ones. And the 500k ones, PERHAPS have the ability to improve into a lights out reliever or perhaps a mid/back end reliever. It seems the Brewers have a few young arms they should be banking on, at least for the last couple of spots in the bullpen.... next year.

Common sense would not project Segura's 'career' so far as the 'career' he will end up with. Anyone can grab any set of numbers over a short period of time to prove anything. So... aside from trying to prove 'anything' with a 'cherry picked' set of numbers... how about you contribute to the discussion. Do you have an opinion as to who should bat leadoff.

I am befuddled why Scooter would get any at bats leading off vs left hand starters. RR says it is 'between Carlos and Scooter' (as, of course, you cannot change the lineup leftie and rightie as the million dollar players would be too confused about not hitting in their normal spot every day) But, can I give a compromise. This is as Gomez is tipped to be a middle order guy by RR. You bat Segura lead off vs lefties and 8th v righties. And you toggle him with Scooter. Scooter is lead off v righties and 8th v lefties. Now Segura and Scooter are not yet multi million dollar prima donnas who can only perform if they see their name in same spot each game.

Brewers talked about DLing Henderson (and keeping him on the ML roster / not optioning) So, I go for 1) Put Henderson on the 60 day DL, backdated (which the Crew said they could do) 2) Give him a couple weeks in extended spring training 3) Give him a 30 day Minors rehab Over this time, you see what you have. And if the velocity does not come back, and Henderson needs to reinvent himself as a reliver with a 91-92 mph fastball, you just option him at that stage.

rogers is a first baseman they tried to move to third; it did not work; dont crucify an athletic first baseman who is below average at third; this is why the trewers are bad defensively across the system; they draft high k, long ball, no D guys; then they move them around like a video game

lind's back is so dickie they need to carry another real first baseman, so i guess rogers or clark are in front of shafer, also peterson can play first, but how well, also who is the guy with catching experience, is that also peterson or maybe jimenez

perez himself says his fate is in brewers hands so crew can do what is best for them; perez says it would be nice if he is offered to other teams if he misses the 25 man, but he knows he can be sent to aaa

i can handle scooter gomez lucroy braun aram lind davis segura v righties then v lefties the same lineup starting with gomez scooter 8th

I think Cotts said he was considering retiring. Until Doug came along with his $3 mill for a leftie. But,oops, left hand batters hit better off Cotts. I sure hope Cottsy turns it around. That will be poor to have an oldster at $3 mill as mop up. When you can have a youngster with a future at 500k

The recent chatter around spring training is that Jungmann has his fastball back. And they chat of that 95 mph (touch 97) one he showed in college. And Taylor just says 'oh, this past off season is the first off season since college that has been my normal off season - a long break and LOTS of physical work. Is it possible our first rounder becomes a first rounder - albeit three years late! That would be good for us (and him!)

If you stroll over to the Seattle spring page you will hear how Weeks is happy and liking and a duck to water in the outfield. So, in fact, Parra vs Weeks is completely comparable. One dude will do what is asked and one will not. Oddly, when RR was asked about Braun to first, he just said 'Braun does not want to do it'. It seems from last year or the year before comment. And that is etched in stone. Even RR said Braun to first was an intelligent thought. re Davis at first, RR just said Kris no good at it. And re guys putting up their hands and having a go... RR mentioned Parra and Maldy as the guys who will have a go and are trusting of their abilities to try anything. (not Braun?)

Tell me if I am crazy, but I see Garza and Peralta both stepping up this year. And them becoming a true 1.5 / 1.5 punch for the couple years after this. We have such a great history of having number four starters... that is, our number five is always good (a number four), and our number four is ok (a number four) and our number three not so good (a number four). But we just do not seem to have (since Sheets) some guy that really, really is worthy of an all night cheese sambo. I am tired of having a couple 2.5s and 3 number fours. I want a couple 1.5s and a bunch of threes. And we are then in EVERY game!

I am becoming worried by Lind. Management sure are not acting like they trust their trade one bit. My current hope (it changes daily) is that Clark does a Davis on us and hits like 9 home runs this spring and makes the 25 man. I really, really, really, really want a first baseman playing first. And if Lind's back is too dicky, then we will not want to spend the $8/$9 mill on him next year.

Lind, Jimenez, Lucroy, Clark, Rogers, Peterson, Parra, Maldonado What another great plan and forward thinking by the Crew management. I guess they sleep well at night saying 'well, that problem is well and truly covered'

I think you just trade Parra. If he is a stater he deserves to start. I posted before: if you NEED Parra to replace an injury in the OF then your year is likely kapoot. So trade Parra, get a decent prospect, and pray for health. The only sceanrio, perhaps, is that is Braun quietly tells Doug and RR is thumb is OK, but not 100%. Braun may need, say 25% time off. In that case you stick with Parra and THAT soft platoon, with a very soft LF platoon, is the only way you keep Parra.... he plays and you get benefit.

I would love to overpay one year, defer the money, then go into rebuild mode.... if we win a world series!

Looked up to see how Haniger went last year with Arizona. Not enough at bats to say much. But I do find he is listed as 6ft 2in. re Taylor Williams is the new MoneyBall, market inefficiency, undersized players.

I guess we all worked out Thornburg is going to be an AAA starter. That makes sense. That leaves KRod, Broxton, Henderson, Jeffress, Cotts, Smith, Kintzler Henderson injury and Kintzler performance are replaceable by Perez. (Do Perez and Willis have opt out dates/clauses) Cotts sure seems to have received a generous contract, but without knowing Henderson's status or KRod, one can understand the slight overpay.

I was a big fan of the Parra signing. But just read a nice article that if Shane Peterson has a good spring, the Crew should be trading Parra as a starter to where required for a prospect. That kind of makes sense to me. Even without a Peterson big spring you should be shopping Parra. (and a lot depends on Braun, I guess) My thinking... the Brewers are on the knife's edge to be considered playoff hopeful. Let us say Parra had to replace Gomez for a long time (remember Parra is insurance).... let us say Parra had to replace Braun for a long time... in either of those two scenarios we lose whatever playoff aspirations we have (in my opinion). A Parra for Davis in LF, would be line ball, I guess. But again, we need Davis to IMPROVE this year. My thinking then is simple: if we need Parra, then we dont need Parra. (that is, he will not resurrect the year if one of our three main outfielders need substantial replacement). And, of course, if we dont need Parr (Davis, Gomez, Braun producing and injury free) then we dont need Parra. Conclusion: we dont need Parra. (well, maybe we do, if RRR somehow works out how to intelligently give guys a bit of rest... say play him 2-3 days per week). Now I am back to the article that says... a good spring from Peterson is a big blessing. (and given Shane is a 2nd round pick of the all knowing Cardinals, surely he has the pedigree to jump to Parras level) I recall Davis being a 'no chance' to make the team a couple years ago and he just went nuts in spring. And that spring actually showed he was a true MLB guy. So, I am thinking, from the list in the initial post, that Gomez must be playing for his life this spring. Is he that original great prospect from the Rockies organisation. This SPRING is his chance to show it. If he has a poor spring, he may be replaced by Sardinas (if he as a big spring, but who wants a 21 year old utility infielder????) Let us hope for Peterson having a big spring and let us hope for Gomez having at least a good spring. Now, consider Rogers. The more I think of it, the guy was a first baseman (occasional (very) outfielder) until they tried him at third. Let us not be so stupid to try to turn career first baseman into third baseman at the age of 26... dumb, dumb, dumb (well, brilliant if it worked.. what chance of that, though) So, Rogers gets a bench spot on my bench.... here's hoping for big spring. So, my bench is Maldy Peterson has a big spring and we traded Parra /or/ simply Parra Rogers Gomez Jimenez If Shafer has an option, he goes to AAA to try to work out how to hit at least a little.

Nice short interview on MLB network from the locker room. My guy says he will be really relaxed and happy. My guess is relaxed and happy = a good year. Also, ARam himself said he would have a good year if he played 140-145 games. He said 'I will be 37 this summer, so I cant play all games' (I paraphrase a little). And he said RRR is good at knowing this. So he does not like to sit, but he will sit these games. I guess he will be the DH in the interleague games. And I do not see ANY problem for 3rd base for next year. Jimenez across AAA and MLB was .796 OPS last year. Rogers across AA and AAA and MLB was .846 OPS. Rogers D was not good with his first year at 3rd (from 1st bast). So let Jason just spend the year as the AAA third baseman and see what you have. Let Clark play 1st at AAA. One may even learn that Rogers is our first baseman after Lind. In short, a relaxed ARam likely has a good final year. And 2016 will be fine with Jimenez being average or average+ at league min $.

listening to the few videos on mlb network, and RRR said how much he liked Perez's first sessions; and Ron liked how Perez has done it before AND has to fight for a spot now; I am very satisfied with what it looks like we have... and Thornburg to AAA as starter 6 or long man call up it is not likely this year, but if you look at the splits of Jed Bradley, he is very, very tough on left handers the last two years in the minors; I could see him as a loogy / long man in 2016

Not sure how my eye is, but that Maitan swing seemed a lot simpler and not pull crazy like the Reyes one above it.

Dare I guess... 1 year, 6 mill... with a club option at $6 mill for 2016 and a $1 mill buyout.

what stats do you have to back up re Perez 'he was not a good pitcher' to me he looks like an average+ pitcher who has the attitude to not roll up and die come Aug and Sep. I would love a team of average+ guys who do not roll up and die as they cheer on their October fishing and hunting trips. Some guys yearn to DO what is required to play baseball in October. Our retirement home squads of recent years seem to be lacking the yearn. Note that RRR said re Lucroy how much he HATES losing and is committed to NOT LOSING. We often sign guys that are committed to themselves first ... Weeks, Reynolds, etc (I guess on Mark, as he was the only jettisoned, re the problem of 2014, a 'dont care about winning' problem noted by management)