paul253

What we need is for Jeremy Jeffress to come back from his suspension on a mission. I see Jeffress as having the same issues as Rogers....way too many walks. But you're right. If he can coming back throwing 98mph like he did before it will be another high upside arm in the system. If he can lower his BB rate just by a third if would help immensely. Same thing goes for Rogers though. He threw five shutout innings today, but as long as he is walking 4 or 5 guys per 9 innings, he's never going to be able to go more than 6 innings, especially with his injury history. As far as Capuano goes, you gotta root for him. He lit up A+, so let's see how Nashville treats him. Would it even be an option to have a rotation of Gallardo and 4 lefties (Wolf, Narveson, Capuano, Davis/Parra)? Speaking of Jeffress though, when does he come back? BC has played 30 games this year (Huntsville has now played 32). How many did he miss last season?

In the good ole days of 24, when he dialed that number and got the voicemail, it would have been someone that surprised all of us, like friggin Cole or someone. Jack was surprised, obviously, but all of us already knew it was Logan. I really wish the writers could have gotten warning a full season ahead of time that it would be the last year. I think they would have made it a lot better.

It would be great if some of these pitched well enough to actually be traded at the deadline if we are out of it. This rotation needs to be blown up starting next year. Bush, Davis, and Suppan need to go, and we need to get a young, hard throwing righthander in there. If only Mark Rogers could get his walks down!

What is the deal with Eric Arnett? Another rough outing today. Is he just not as good as we thought he was? I realize it's still early and he's only made 6 starts now, but he seems to be getting hit pretty hard. 5 home runs and 29 hits in 24 innings. It doesn't seem like a college pitcher who was a first round pick should struggle this much in low A ball.

Reading that article it was like a prospect all star team full of injuries. Cain, Schafer, Anundsen, Gamel, and Butler. All five are legitimate top 20 organizational prospects. It'll be nice to see them all get back on the field. I was just assuming that as soon as Schafer got better, he'd begin at Huntsville and Cain would move up to Nashville. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility though that Kentrail Davis moves up to Huntsville soon when Cain is ready to go to Nashville. Davis has been playing very well in BC.

I see Marquette just landed a much needed big man. 6'9'' close to 300lbs. It'll be interesting to see what happens because they now have more commitments than available scholarships. http://marquette.scout.com/2/967597.html

I've been playing a season in The Show on PS3. There are a couple of things that really irritate me about it. For one, the shadows. It's cool that they went into so much detail, but it's really annoying playing day games at Miller Park and having the mound be so dark you can barely see the pitcher, especially if he is wearing a dark blue or black jersey. Also, the defense. It just seems to go so slow. Like a ground ball that should be a routine double play is either much closer than it should be or the guy is safe at first because it takes too long. Does anyone else think the defense is too slow?

I guess it depends on where you look for that prospect #1 though. According to the last Power 50 before the trade (http://www.brewerfan.net/...Power50.do?power50Id=86) LaPorta was #2 and Brantley was #10 (Bryson was #24 and Jackson was unlisted). If we use Brewerfan's current Power 50, the #2 is Lawrie and #10 is Taylor Green. I know you'd have to include much more because you'd be getting him for 2 years, but my amended offer included prospect #s 3 (Braddock), 4 (Gamel), 5 (Salome) and 15 (Scarpetta), plus Manny Parra (thats's according to the power 50. I tend to side with this site more). 3 of an organizations top 5 and 4 of an organizations top 15 prospects, plus a young left handed pitcher who throws in the low 90's is a pretty good start.

Why can't that ever happen to Derek Lee or Aramis Ramirez?

don't forget Peralta. Peralta was in there. I listed him in the 2-3 range. It seems like a common theme amongst a lot of our guys is walks. Rogers, Jeffress and Yo all have #1 stuff but need to bring their walk totals down.

I am very impressed with the depth of the Brewers pitching prospects, especially compared to where they were even 3 years ago. However, looking up and down the system I'm wondering how many of them have true #1 or #2 potential. I thought it would be fun to make a list of all the prospects and see where everyone would rank them in terms of potential (especially people with a lot more knowledge on the subject than I have). So of all the listed prospects, list them in terms of either a) #1 starter b) 2-3 starter, c) 4-5 starter d) bullpen Arnett, Odorizzi, Heckathorn, Bucci, Peralta, Scarpetta, Fiers, Anundson, Periard, Rogers, Jeffress, Rivas, Butler, Lofgren and Braddock For my groups I would go Group A Jeffress (if he can lower his walk total and you know...pass his drug tests) Group B Arnett, Odorizzi, Rivas, Peralta, and Rogers Group C Anundson, Butler, Scarpetta, Bucci Group D Braddock (I think he could be in group A or definitely group B if they moved him back to starter) Periard, Lofgren, Fiers and Heckathorn. Obviously a lot of these guys have a long way to go, and quite of few of them don't have much time in the system, but that's how I see it as of now. Feel free to add any prospects in there that I maybe forgot to mention.

He's pitched so well lately that I assume the answer to this question is no, but has he ever had to get through the "second time around' with a lineup? In other words, has he ever faced a hitter more than once in any of his outings? I wonder if he would be as affective the second time through a lineup as he has been so far with the first time through the lineup. Ebba, when you say he threw a lot of pitches, do you know about how many? Over 50? I assume if he threw over 50 pitches he could probably go 3 innings.

With the way Ken Macha plays young guys, I imagine even if he does get called up Braddock will throw about an inning a week.

Trading Greinke now would be like if the Brewers had traded Braun after last season. You just don't give up a superstar like that when he's under such a team friendly deal. I don't think that's true. Milwaukee after last season had a much better chance of winning soon than KC does now. I would liken this more to the Brewers trading Richie Sexson a few years ago. While he was far and away their best player, they just didn't have the talent around him to win. They needed to trade him to obtain some of that talent. What they did was upgrade a lot of positions in one trade while downgrading one. I think that's something KC would need to consider. Plus, even though he's still pretty affordable, after this season, when I am thinking the trade should happen, he only has two years left on his contract. There was a lot of talk on this board this past off season about trading Prince Fielder while he had two years left because he'd bring more in return with two years left on his contract as opposed to one. Teams aren't going to give up the farm for one year of a superstar. I think KC is in the same boat with Greinke as we are with Fielder. When free agency hits, he's gone. Whoever his agent is is going to have an asking price only a few teams can afford, so KC can either trade him or let him walk with hopes of receiving a first round pick and another pick in return. KC is just one year behind us as Greinke has two years left whereas Prince only has one.

I hope Jack brings down President Taylor. I was never much of a fan of her and she's being a real you know what trying to pass this peace deal.

Why do you say that? Offensively, both Salome and Gamel have much, much more offensive potential than Escobar does. He is a defensive shortstop, albeit a very good one, who is still learning to hit. As far as Lawrie goes, I'm sure there is some package that could entice KC that wouldn't involve Lawrie.

So, he's signed through 2012 at 9.5M a year give or take, I really don't see him tacking on another 3 years, Yeah I phrased it incorrectly. I knew he was signed through 2012. I meant 4 years starting from after this year, so it would be an extension of 2 more years. I'd bet if the Brewers managed to get him after this year, and offered him a 2 year, $50 million extension, he'd take it. It wouldn't be that much of a risk for Milwaukee because it's not some absurd $25 million a year for 7 or 8 years deal like one Fielder will be looking for. Greinke would receive a huge raise after 2012, comparable to what most of the best pitchers are making. He'd still be young enough after the deal expires to sign another big contract. It's hard to see KC parting with their most popular player who is signed relatively cheaply I think KC would be smart to move him. They are going nowhere fast, and they need to start over. Trading your best pitcher would be tough, but bringing in 3 major league ready players plus another pitcher and a low level prospect could immediately pay dividends for them. The Brewers have shown how good young hitters can turn an organization around, and KC has some pitching prospects that Milwaukee never had when they were trying to improve. I think Milwaukee has enough talent in the minors to absorb the loss of so many prospects. And I don't think that the salary, even you extend him at 2 years $50 million, would be much of a problem.

So what if you substitute Eric Arnett for Josh Butler? Or Zach Braddock? Gamel/Salome/Scarpetta/Braddock/Parra is nothing to laugh at. When the Brewers traded for Sabathia a few years ago, what they gave up wasn't even comparable to this package, though admittedly they only got Sabathia for half a season instead of 2 seasons. We're talking about 4 guys who could presumably go right onto the major league roster, plus another high ceiling pitching prospect.

I can already hear the moans from people thinking, "there's no way we can get Greinke", but just hear me out. KC appears to be going nowhere again this year. I am sure they don't want to trade Greinke, but they'd be wise to trade him before he gets too close to free agency. The Brewers have a lot of prospects, especially hitting prospects, at the upper levels of system, but they actually have some decent pitching prospects too now. It would all depend on signing Greinke to a contract extension. I'd offer him $15 million a year over 5 years. He's young, and a Greinke/Gallardo duo would be one of the best young 1-2s in all of baseball. So here's my offer Brewers get: Zach Greinke Royals get: Manny Parra: Still relatively young with some upside. Having a good year. Could fill Greinke's rotation spot immediately and wouldn't cost KC an arm and a leg to re-sign if they wanted to. Mat Gamel: With McGehee at third, and Taylor Green not far behind, he appears destined to move positions anyway, or be on his way out. KC could move him to first or the outfield, or let him DH Cody Scarpetta: Struggling a bit this year but once he gets his control back he'll be fine. Has a lot of upside Angel Salome: Let's face it, we have a catcher to spare. Josh Butler: He's essentially a throw in. While I think he could have some MLB impact, I can't see him as anything more than a 4th or 5th starter. However, he's a young arm that could ready for the majors by the end of the year. It seems like a ton to give up, and it is. But you would be acquiring one the best pitchers in all of baseball. Again, this is dependent on Greinke signing an extension with Milwaukee, at least 4 years. I don't know how KC's farm system is, but adding guys like Gamel, Salome, and Scarpetta would certainly help. However, Milwaukee's most of Milwaukee's top prospects (Arnett, Rivas, Cain, Lawrie, Braddock, Green, Schafer, Lucroy, etc.) are still here. What do people think? Would KC do it for that package of players (I realize Butler and Gamel are hurt and Salome is out, but I was thinking about this as more of an off season trade then a right now trade)?

Was this the first time Jack gave someone his word and then didn't keep it? Or doesn't it count since Dana tried escaping?

If Gamel can stick at 3B I would move McGehee over to 1B. If Gamel and McGehee are going to fill first base and third base, I'd just assume keep McGehee at third and move Gamel to first. I think McGehee's defense at third base is better than Gamel's. I also think Gamel would have a little bit of an advantage at first base being left handed. I agree with not moving Braun to first though. I think he should stay in left field. He's an average defender, only going to get better, and an amazing hitter. Just leave him be. In the coming years, there are going to be enough players switching positions. I'd like to try to keep at least some consistency.

I'd like to see what Weeks can do batting somewhere other than lead off. All these years and we still haven't had a better option. I'd be interested to see what he could do hitting second or hitting sixth.

Lawrie could possibly be ready to play 2B next season. Something to keep in mind regarding Weeks. I don't see the need to rush him. Although he's in AA now, he isn't exactly putting up all star caliber numbers. He needs at the very least a full season in AA, and might possibly need to repeat it. Otherwise I think he'd definitely need a year in Nashville. Personally I'd rather extend Weeks, trade Fielder and Hart and move Lawrie to either right field or first base (with Mat Gamel taking the other spot).

If he does get called up, what role does he serve? I doubt Macha would move away from the Hawkins-Hoffman 8th-9th inning combo. Coffey and Villanueva have been pitching very affectively as well. I'd rather see him move into a 2-inning closer role in Nashville. Have him pitch the 8th and 9th innings. It gives him experience as a closer and keeps him from the one inning role. Ideally, they'd stretch him out a bit and put him in the rotation, but I guess they don't feel the same way.

I don't expect much in return for trading anyone we have now, except Fielder of course. I think guys like Hoffman, Hart, Edmonds, Vargas, and maybe even Zaun if he keeps his numbers somewhat decent would all be good candidates to get traded. I think Melvin should focus on getting young hard throwing pitchers from the lower levels, maybe guys that are struggling a bit. I'm thinking someone comparable to Evan Frederickson. Or a low level athletic type like Brent Brewer. Not saying that I want guys who aren't doing well, just guys that do have some upside if they can put it together. The last thing the organization needs is more soft tossers.