CheeseheadInQC

Eh, personally I've always thought some of the Clancy stuff was excessive as well, although I tend to think part of the criticism is more linked to the hyperbole-filled write-ups than the semi-contrarian perspective. As much as I might not agree with his lists, he introduces players into the discussion who get overlooked because they don't really have prospect pedigree because he doesn't seem to care about that at all. An echo chamber is no fun, but that's not what the issue is here.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'll gladly defend any part of my list if you ask. I think the issue at least I had with your initial comment was that it seemed more interested in ripping other people's opinions than either explaining your own or inquiring why they thought differently.

The approach change and accompanying walk and strikeout rates seem genuine even if the OPS is obviously inflated. Once you get by the top two, each come with question marks. Can Ruiz manage to wed some of his previous harder contact with the new walk and strikeout rates? Is Turang the guy we’ve seen recently or the one who couldn’t buy an extra-base hit for a month? Is Wiemer’s slump injury related or is streakiness just going to be a part of his game and can he keep the K rate manageable? Can Mitchell stay healthy and can he turn enough of the ground balls into line drives to take advantage of his power? It is just about which outcomes you see as most likely.

Was Cain with those guys, or did he replace Brantley after the trade?

It did, it just wasn’t Boise State like you think of today. I believe that was right around when it was transitioning from a 2-year to a 4-year school.

For pitchers it is a bit variable, but I am guessing the top few college hitters will.

I’m good, thanks. Everyone has their own things they look for and that concern them. For instance by talent and performance Mitchell would probably be No. 4 for me, but the amount of time he has missed with injuries sparks availability concerns.

Being the self-indulgent guy who goes to 50 again. Very little separation between 15-35. Jackson Chourio, OF Sal Frelick, OF Brice Turang, SS Jeferson Quero, C Joey Wiemer, OF Estuary Ruiz, OF Robert Gasser, P Tyler Black, 2B Garrett Mitchell, OF Jacob Misiorowski, P Eric Brown, SS Ethan Small, P Hendry Mendez, OF Jadher Areinamo, SS Stiven Cruz, P Carlos Rodriguez, P Abner Uribe, P Cam Devanney, SS Felix Valerio, 2B Victor Castaneda, P Cam Robinson, P Luis Lara, OF Hedbert Perez, OF Eduardo Garcia, SS Alexander Cornielle, P Mario Feliciano, C Robert Moore, SS Jakson Reetz, C Freddy Zamora, SS Joe Gray, OF Justin Jarvis, P Tristen Lutz, OF Brandon Knarr, P Alexander Vallecillo, P Luis Castillo, OF Russell Smith, P Patricio Aquino, P Johan Barrios, 3B Jhonny Severino, 3B Jace Avina, OF Darrien Miller, C Carlos Rodriguez, OF Logan Henderson, P Israel Puello, P Yujanyer Herrera, P Zavier Warren, 3B Daniel Guilarte, SS Anfernney Reyes, P Matthew Wood, C Noah Campbell, OF

I wonder where tonight's triple-A lineup ranks among the better prospect groups the Brewers have tossed out there in the past couple decades. The pre-Sabathia trade Huntsville group comes to mind, and I am sure there are some I'm forgetting, but five of the organization's top 10 prospects in a lineup together is something.

The Padres were doing all sorts of finagling to get under the luxury tax. I can't see how they avoid it next year, but they were bound and determined to stay under it this year. If the Brewers wanted this deal done, they were going to help. Lamet didn't use any of the value in the Hader deal. We couldn't have gotten some prospect instead of him. If you are making a baseball decision rather than a PR one, Lamet should have been evaluated just like everyone else. They did that and didn't think he was worth a roster spot.

Suter has been pretty good the last two months, Lamet gave up more runs than innings pitched when he was with the Padres earlier in the season. His minor league results were good, but so were a bunch of the AAA guys the Brewers have called up this year. If the Brewers thought his woes earlier in the season were more indicative of who he was at this point, him vs. Suter would be a pretty easy call.

Make that five with Vallecillo.

I thought it was fairly common knowledge Lamet was included for the financials. I figured the Brewers might take a week or two look, see if there is anything there they could recapture, but this isn't exactly a shocker here.

If Rosenthal were ready to start a rehab assignment now, I would understand dealing Peters as, when right, Rosenthal has been great. I don’t get dealing a passable prospect and paying the rest of the contract when you have no idea when or if he will be back this year.

Since I've kind of become the leader of his hype train on here, nice low-A debut for Areinamo. Like I've said before, I have no idea about his upside, whether some of those doubles can get turned into homers, his range and arm on defense, but I like that looking at his stats, there is nothing that you look at and say, "Well, he has to fix that." He takes walks, doesn't strike out much, has at least frequent doubles pop and hasn't made many errors on defense, at least by rookie ball standards.

I thought this was a bit of a canny move when I was figuring it was a money/change of scenery guy or second tier ACL infielder deal. Peters feels like a bit much given there is no guarantee when he is going to pitch.

He was great in limited action in 2020. Counterpoint to that is he hasn't pitched since.

During the January 2021 signing period, BrewCrewBall posted an initial list of 16 players signed by the Brewers. With the Areinamo and Castillo promotions, that make fully 1/4 of that list in full-season ball before they even complete their second professional season. It wouldn't shock me if that increases to half of the class by the start of next year, with Vallecillo and Aquino seeming like locks to be in Carolina next season if healthy, and Guilarte and Barrios having a decent shot depending on how the infield spots shake out. Guzman, Serrano and Albir all could easily eventually make it up there as well, even if not immediately to start the season.

Antoine Kelly would probably get protected and, if not, picked for the same reason Abner Uribe, who has much less of a track record, will almost certainly be protected. Big arms get chosen.

What makes you think he wouldn't have been added? I guess it leaves an extra spot for one of the other guys, but I thought Kelly was a near lock. The Brewers have invested so little in pitching lately that I hate giving up pitching, especially pitching that has a chance to be truly special. Kelly has that chance, be it in the rotation or the pen.

I looked at it and I think I have Small 13th right now. Even for someone who admittedly isn’t as high on him as some, that feels really low.

I’d feel better if Ruiz could definitely play center. The Brewers must buy that the improved walk and strikeout rates are sustainable.

This is kind of my problem with Laureano. You are paying for multiple years of control but if the center field defense continues to regress, his offense, which isn’t exactly trending in the right direction either, had better pick up, or you are quickly looking at an increasingly expensive fourth outfielder, which given the pitching arbitration increases coming up probably means non-tender candidate. He just hasn’t been good enough for me to want to pay in prospects what the A’s seem to be demanding.

This is kind of my problem with Laureano. You are paying for multiple years of control but if the center field defense continues to regress, his offense, which isn’t exactly trending in the right direction either, had better pick up, or you are quickly looking at an increasingly expensive fourth outfielder, which given the pitching arbitration increases coming up probably means non-tender candidate. He just hasn’t been good enough for me to want to pay in prospects what the A’s seem to be demanding.

I will admit I briefly had the "wait, they aren't promoting Chourio again already" thought.