tmwiese55

I've always found it odd how some people are the devil for this and others it just gets overlooked and eveyrone loves them. Cruz and Bartolo as basic examples. Ortiz walked right into the HOF, Pudge Rodriquez got a complete free pass.

Sidenote, but Cruz was in the exact same suspension/bust as Braun

I generally agree. But the media has been pushing Lindor lately due to the mets streak. And there is a legit discussion on account of him playing great D at the toughest spot while the other guy doesn't play D at all. So I think their WARs end up pretty close because of that

Think we just have to hope year 2 after the injury leads to a bounceback for him. I can't imagine anyone wants him right now, best case would be a straight salary dump and I'd still guess the other team makes us eat money. Obviously some guys get hurt and never bounce back, but there has been plenty in many sports who struggle initially then a year or two later are at least close to what they were. Think all we can do is hope he's one of those guys. From what we can see on TV he does seem to care, trying, has a good attitude so I'd bet he's very motivated in the offseason to not suck again (plus of course he's a FA after next year so wants a payday). Kind of hurts that Yeli might be so heavy on DH next year too which is where both should be, and Contreras needs games at DH too. Bit of a logjam, but hey at least the owner tried to win and wasn't cheap!!!

After doing so well with the strike zone and taking walks lately seems he's had some regression lately with some bad chasing Ks. Probably pressing a bit since team is struggling but still have to just take the walk if they're giving it. I'd assume Pit does all they can to sign Skenes this offseason to some kind of extension trying to buy 2-3 years of FA. Don't know his agent or if it'll work, but I'm sure they'll do what they can but ultimately he just might decide to gamble for the 400 mil. There's such a risk for injury though that there has to at least be a conversation to had about putting 100 mil in the bank now

These two Hoby moves this week made so little sense to me I think they were about giving him test for his roster spot than actually winning the games. Like if he can't be used against a lefty for 1 out then why's he there. If they win just 1/2 of the games they have a 3-3 so so week and its whatever. Instead both are blown making it 2-4. Two big head scratchers to me that I have to think there's more to it. I won't be surprised if he's DFAd or back on IL in the next few days

Civale will almost for sure be back as an innings eater. As we saw this year, you need way more than 5 guys. But on paper, that list of pitchers looks way better than the list they went into with this year.

He would be eligible fro the new rule where they get the extra high draft pick if he wins ROY, correct? Don't get me wrong, its still likely not worth it. but combine that motivation with the kids motivation to play and win the award and you might have a situation where they do go for it. Maybe the middle ground is to be anal on pitch counts/innings, basically getting him out after 5 innings.

Fair. And yea these are the types of things a team with money can do. Overpay for ok/solid guys. Chapman will already be 32 to start next year and has been a shaky hitter the last few years already. I'm sure they just hope to get 3 years like this out of him before he falls off, good luck. On relook I do admit I thought the last two years were more like 720 ops years instead of 750-760. But generally speaking he's only been a 750 type guy and he's already 32 and you owe him for 6 years. Once a 750ish guy falls to 700ishyou can get the same thing or darn close for league min pretty pretty easily. And I know he's good at D, but already 32 and you just need to pay big money for good D. But yes, this is the difference between big market and small market, they can do it and live with the last 2-4 years being trash. ETA: I thought I saw something a few weeks ago with Boston as sleeper for Willy. They have a 3B and young SS but I think idea was the other SS would move to 2B, essentially giving up on Story. If I'm Willy I'll take that option, fun to play in Bos and that lf wall is great for him. Try to get an opt out after 2-3 years and cash in again in his low 30s after hopefully pumping his stats off the wall

Yup, that has been the weakness the last 5 years and what we all feared going into this year. Besides the patchwork rotation, but most assumed some trust in the management to figure out pitching. Hitting has been the Achilles heel for years and it still might prove to be. But at the very least it looks better than the last few years do to Willy being a tick up and now Chourio taking off along with generally having more contact type ABs rather than HR/K type guys. Really sucks Yeli went down after bouncing back so well, that would have really helped to flip a replacement level bat for an all star, still might not have been enough but sure helps the odds. But when it comes down to it you have weak sub 700 type hitters at usually 3 spots right now so its still a hole but at least they have more speed/contact type approaches than past years weak spots. But as a small market team its impossible to not have holes. The deadline pickups last year helped but I'd still say these years situation seems better. Now lets hope the Mets somehow get that last spot to avoid the Dbacks/Braves pitchers and we don't get a repeat of last year.

Well in just the last two pages this afternoon words of "brain dead", "very poor", "madness", not playoff baseball were all used. I don't even wanna see how bad it was last night. Again, its baseball, the best teams lose 40% of the time, crap happens, no one can be perfect but the team has proven to bounce back over and over. Its probably best to go with the flow than have big reactions on game by game basis in baseball

Yea I get its tough to break the pessimism as WI sports fan and with how the Brewers have flamed out the last 5 years in the playoffs. Its not like I expect them to win the WS either, but this is baseball even the best teams lose around 40% of their games. You just can't win them all so the team wins 7/8, obviously they're going to lose some soon (its baseball). That's not some grand indictment on the team or need to trash them, its just the game. I don't think anyone here doesn't realize they have well under 10% chance to win it all, but that doesn't mean they're trash either. And none of that says they don't have flaws or that in game decisions don't get made wrong, its just impossible to be perfect. And even when they lose in the playoffs it will suck but due to the nature of the game it doesn't mean they're morons or terrible. Especially if its a 3 game series which is a virtual toss up. And obviously the structure of the playoffs make it a crapshoot for all. Now add in the salary system its impossible for them not to have holes, which I think we all see and as you point out might ultimately F them. That doesn't mean they're bums, mismanaged, etc. We're rooting for a boxer competing with arm tied behind his back here as MKE fans. The one armed boxer is currently fighting way above its weight and every time they lose a game a faction trashes them claiming told ya so, then they bounce right back and folks go silent again. Their #1 and #3 starters are out for the year, best or top 2-3 vet hitter is out for the year, their AS closer missed half the year. They don't suck and they're not morons running the team to have pulled this off so far.

OK we got it. I think he's been good at this and that is a factor in their massive overachievement. And I'm 100% confident if you watched all other teams there'd be just as many if not more of the questionable moves to pick on. Its part of the game, many of these things can really go either way with no one being a moron and then it comes to down to luck/chance after that. For example, if that grounder goes 10 ft to the left its a routine out. In addition, we're not privy to all the info/reasons behind some questionable moves which might force a manager's hand but we're not aware. As I said, I didn't get the Hoby one from the moment it happened. And none of this to say mistakes don't happen. But based on the results, he's doing much better at this than other managers but of course no one is perfect. You can play the 'told you so' after the losses all you want though. I'd guess you weren't too vocal as they had just won like 7/8 games before that or whatever it was.

Toby move made no sense to me, one of the biggest headscratchrs all year. Their PH was predictable so your choice was Payamps vs LH or Milner vs RH who hasn't pitched in the bigs in a month. Just stick with the guy who had gotten 2 outs in 4 pitches. In addition, its an extras game, after extras the day before. You might need the arms, again just roll with the guy who'd thrown 4 pitches and live with it. And yea the pessimism is so funny to read, they'd just had one of their best hot streaks of the years, scored 14 runs a few days ago. Lose two games in extras and the sky is falling

Giants are gonna regret that one, can't believe they weren't just happy that he's had a good enough that he'd opt out of the current deal. For this thread, I'd rather give that to Adames than him and then Adames could move to 3B a couple years down the line when he slows down. I suppose they do have money there so could still sign Willy, and still move him to 3rd in 2-3 years when Chapman is perpetually on the DL, cut, or being forced to play 1B while being paid 25 mil to hit .205.

I'd think he looks like an easy replacement for Bauers roster spot next year. Saves them a few million and while not exactly every day ABs there will be plenty of opportunity. Bauers should end up around 300 ABs for the year. If you show promise in that role they can trust you as the full time regular the following year once Hoskins is gone. I'm guessing they've given up on him at 2b/3b especially with how much they value D, but he has to keep working on OF to give them a bit of extra flexibility. One wrench in this is what will happen with Yelich's defense plan next year and if he's full time DH.

Good for him and glad he's hit so well this year to help us out. Seems like a good guy so glad he's going to get paid. But I'll be happy to not be the team paying him 25-30 mil per year once he's not in a contract year along with aging and he starts hitting more in the 220/300/430 type area of the past and his D falls off. That said, with his body type and arm a move to 3B should be very easy for him and still provide value there moreso than OF/DH/1B types. And while being happy to not be on the hook for this contract, I also see how replacing his production next year at whatever position isn't exactly going to be easy. I suppose, in theory Yeli should cover a chunk of it. But the new infielder next year I really hope is a hitter rather than Turang D first type person.

For this discussion the first thing that probably needs to happen is not have Turang in leadoff and then see how it affects the avoiding back to back lefties from there. The question after that is whether to have Chourio lead off or if you want him at 2/3 instead due to how good he's gotten.

Yea there's been a lot of lineups this year that quick eye test look weird then you dig a bit deeper and you see its all about L/R manipulation in the lineup. And since the team has so many lefties you see how it can lead to oddities to try and avoid the multiple lefties in a row.

So pretty much every guy in the BP had issues the last two days. Good thing there is a guy in AAA who throws 99 with a big movement and big slider who's sported low 3s ERAs the last two years who can come up when needed

Could actually be a reason for Contreras to get a 1B glove so he can do that on his rest days and potentially still have both him and Yeli in the lineup ETA: double checked Yeli has 4 year at 22 per year left on his deal after this year. Figured that might save some others a google. Not brutal and its getting close to the end. Some complications due to deferred payments and buyout at the end but that's generally where its at

What makes them look so much better is because their top 3 in the lineup are clear cut HOFers. There's nothing you can do about that, that's no reason to bash our own team that continues to win and play well in spite of the doom and gloom. They're just a freakshow over and start at a ridiculous advantage due to having those 3 players who make more or close to as much as our whole team

His changeup moves much more than a normal changeup that is just about being slower. His changeup borders on knuckleball type movement at times. But yea the overall point by OP on this topic is something I said about Rivera for years. A cutter fastball is a normal pitch, how he could be that dominant with just that blew my mind.

But then later said being in these spots is not above him, which is arguing against yourself. I've said being the 8th inning type go to guy is above him and is more than in the past, I hope he's a notch or two below that. I also hope we can somehow field a bullpen that gives up 0 runs. Sadly I don't think it will ever happen

So being in the 8th this year and the #2 man for this stretch is not going up a notch? You realize you've essentially now started arguing against your own arguments? You started saying he's been being missused and used at higher spots than he should, now you're saying he's not. You started off saying how much he sucks and is being missused to be in those spots, now you're saying being high leverage 8th inning guy is not above how good he is. I know I'd prefer Megill is his old self, Hudson gets good again and Peguro can be moved down as I trust him less than when those guys were grooving earlier. But sure I am wrong a guy that has produced these results has been fine and has been the least of our problems. I don't know what else you expect, 4 guys get hurt and this guy who supposedly sucks and should demoted puts up 12/13 scoreless innings and 2 era in that rough area and a 3 for year. And we trash him. I mean, good luck with those standards. And to the other, yes Hudson hasn't looked the dominant force he was, Koenig too, Payamps had been getting going again but can't recall specifically the last week or two. Now we have to see how Megill looks when back too. But you know who has kept on putting up 0s way more often than not, this guy who sucks and should be demoted and I guess I don't know who they should have been running out there while all these guys were hurt that would've given up 0 runs instead of the 1-2 runs this bum gave up. Guy has stayed healthy and been a solid contributor all year and we're trashing him instead of appreciating how much he's helped. These types of standards are just way out of line on what to expect, guys cannot be perfect.