paul253

So, pretty much Craig Counsell? How can you compare Theriot to Counsell? Theriot is younger, had a much high batting average, had a higher on base percentage, a higher slugging percentage, a better K:AB ratio, and more stolen bases. They may be the same "type" of hitter, but Theriot is a far better player.

I tend to agree with Dadoandrew. The fact is, the reason why counsell had a better walk rate than say, Braun or Hart, is because Braun and Hart were constantly swinging at pitches out of the strikezone, and Counsell was not. I dont think pitchers are simply going to throw a fastball right down the middle every time they get Brantley to a 3 ball count. They wont be as careful with him as they would with Braun or Fielder, but i dont believe they will always throw him pitches right down the middle, especially if someone is on base.

Is he a free agent? Can we even trade him?

I see Gamel more as a firstbasemen than an outfielder. I couldve seen the outfield being Braun, Brantley and Hart, with either Gillespie or more likely Cain replacing Hart.

Brad Nelson had a nice year in AAA, and really doesnt have anything left to prove there. My question is is there any chance he'll be on the roster next year? I believe he's a free agent so we'd have to sign him. I just wonder is he able to play another position well enough to be consider a utility guy? Can he play outfield well enough to be reliable? Obviously with the amount Fielder plays we're not going to keep him as only a backup first basemen. Or if Fielder gets traded is there a chance he's our everyday first basemen? It'd be a risk. I like him, and I'd love to see him back, but I just dont know if/where he fits.

Neither Brantley or Green would play for the Brewers next year and at best would make the bigs the following season. So there would be two offseasons before there is any realistic chance either guy would have been in Milwaukee. In two years, the odds of all Prince, Hardy, Hart, and Weeks all still being on the team strike me as very remote. Hell, one or two of them could possibly get moved this offseason. Cameron surely won't be here in two years and i'd bet against Hall still being here. How is it then that you can say in two years that the Brewers won't need some power or for that matter, claim to know at all what the team needs or shortcomings will be in two years given you can't know what the roster will look like unless you can predict the future years ahead? If you can, i sure hope you're betting on sports or playing the lottery and thus are insanely rich. Tone it down a bit there Danzig....when did I ever claim to know what the teams shortcomings will be in 2 years? Beside, you seem to be predicting the future when you said Brantley wouldnt play in the majors next year. I think there would have been a very good chance he'd play in the majors next year. If we are to sign CC and not pick up Cameron's option, he would almost certainly have had a chance to win an outfield spot. Even if not, if he puts together a similar season in AAA as he did in AA, he'd probably be the first outfielder called up if we had an injury to an outfielder. And while there is no way to predict what the roster will look like a few years, you can reasonably predict that a team like Milwaukee will be made primarily of homegrown players with compliments from trades and maybe a few FA's. You know Braun will be there. You know Salome will be there, same with Escobar and Gamel, and at least 2 of Fielder, Hart, Hardy, and Weeks, will probably still be here. So while you dont know who all the compliments are, you can make a fairly educated guess on who will be. Green is a good player. But in terms in walks, strikeouts, stolen bases, OBP, and pure contact, Brantley did better than Green in all those categories while about the same age and in a tougher league. If you dont agree with me that we need better OBP and fewer strikeout guys, thats fine, but thats what I personally think. And I personally think Brantley fits more of an offensive need than Green does (as in if you could only pick one, who would you pick). Although they are similar type hitters, Brantley was better at those categories while Green had more homerun power and a high slugging. All I am saying is I dont care if we have a guy that'll hit homeruns when we already have/probably will have enough guys will homerun power. I'd rather have the guy with a higher OBP who can steal some bases.

I have some tickets available too. Section 434 row 12 Section 423 row 9 two tix in each

Well that is true, but if you make contract decisions on whether or not someone is going to get hurt, you'll never risk any big contracts. It is a huge risk, but it could also be a huge reward. Sabathia has no history of injuries, which doesnt mean he wont get hurt, but its gotta tell you something. As far as the pre arby players, we do have some guys ready to fill roles. Guys like Cain, Escobar, Gamel, Gillespie, Salome, Green, Lawrie, etc will be cheap for quite a while. Braun is signed long term to a very favorable contract for 7 more years. And with the way we've been drafting position players, you'd think we could afford to take that chance. We're talking about signing one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. If anyone is worth the risk, its gotta be him. Lets just hope if we do sign him we dont have to pitch as much, as in finishing games when we're up 5-0 like Yost liked to do with him.

The whole "nobody is going to pitch around him argument" is another one I dont understand. Of course nobody is going to pitch around him, other than Braun and Fielder nobody in the lineup gets pitched around. The thing with him is he wont swing at those same crap pitches that Hart, Hardy, Hall, and Weeks swing at, so they'll be forced to pitch to him. Unless he ends up like Weeks with a .240 batting average, I see nothing wrong with pitchers pitching to him. He appears to be able to hit his way on, even if its only a single. Now I've never seen his hitting chart. Does he have a lot of hits up the middle and to left field? Like Postseason said, he's exactly the opposite of almost every one of our current hitters which at this point can only be considered a good thing. For all of those who think its ok to be homerun or bust, he's a guy who'll be able to get on base before that homerun. Again though, Taylor Green also appears to have very good plate discpline and plays a position we dont have as much depth at. Hopefully he continues his success.

Well Suppan won't be cleared for two more years, but when he does it will be a big clearing. Between Sheets, Gagne, Counsell, Turnbow, Capuano and Cameron should you choose to not exercise his option, you're talking close to $40 million coming off of next year's books. Add Mota you got 3 more. You're telling me you cant sign Sabathia with all that money freed up, on top of record attendance and increased vending/ticket/parking prices? Next year Kendall's contract comes off, the year after than Suppans. While you have to give raises to Hart Hardy Fielder and Weeks, you'd think at least one, probably Fielder will be gone soon. Hart is replacable by Gillespie or Cain. Weeks will be replacable within 3 years by Green or Lawrie possibly. Braun is signed to a very favorable long term deal. Gallardo and Parra will be cheap for a few more years. The bullpen you have three key pieces in Torress Villanueva and Riske back, and probable relievers in Stetter and Dillard. You can sign another halfway decent reliever or two for say $4 million a piece. Add an outfielder, I've suggested Jim Edmonds for a one or two year deal at say $7 million a year, if that. So an outfielder and two relievers for $15 million, while eliminating $43 million in payroll. No way we committ $28 to raises alone....say we committ $15 million in arbitration raises, thats still $13 million just to get to the current payroll. That'll buy a utility guy, a backup catcher, and some more pitching help. While a 6 year deal may be a huge risk now, it also offers a huge reward. In 6 years whatever Sabathia is making now will be a bargain. He's still relatively young, and he was dominant this year, and more importantly, healthy.

You act like Green is some undisciplined K machine that hacks at nearly everything while trying to jack home runs. The guy only struck out 59 times last year and walked 61 times, his overall plate discipline is a strength, not a weakness. Thats not at all what Im trying to say. When I talk about Brantley's stike zone discipline people counter with, well Green has more Walks than K's too. And while thats true, the BB:K ratio is not even close. While Green only struck out 59 times 418 at bats or so, which is an awfully good number, its still more than double the number of strikeouts Brantley had in a few more at bats. Green's OPS is higher, but not really by enough to use it to say he's a far superior hitter (like 33 points or so). Where Green has more power Brantley has more speed. And the argument that he has more power I dont really care about because, as I said, we dont need anymore power. Braun, Fielder, Hardy, Hart, and even Weeks will get you homeruns...you dont need more homeruns at the expense of OBP. And while homeruns win a bunch of games, they also cause you to lose alot when you rely so heavily on them and they disappear, as the Brewers offense has shown for 5 weeks now. I'd rather have a leadoff hitter that'll get on base then a two hitter that'll hit 15 homeruns and get on at a lower clip. I'm not at all saying Green is a bad player. I am excited to see him in a Milwaukee uniform. Its just that player for player, I'd rather have Brantley. Thats all. Its no bash on Green. Its all a moot point, though, as Brantley is gone and Green is here.

both Green and Brantley had more walks than strike outs this year. One of them, however, also hit 15 HRs in one of the worst offensive parks in the minors. While this may be true, Brantley's walk to K ratio was much better and while Green struck out once every 7 at bats, Brantley struck out once every 15. The absolute last thing this team needs is more power, so the fact that he hit 15 homeruns isnt anything that excites me. Brantley's OBP was higher in AA than Greens was in A+ and he steals bases. I'm not saying Green is a bad player, and I am very excited to see him with us. I also realize its a moot point since Brantley is already gone. I just wish we had him back. With the trades of LaPorta and Brantley, our outfield situation is certainly clearing up. I'd like to see Green moved back to second and Brett Lawrie play third. Both would have clear paths to Milwaukee.

Fielder, Braun, Hardy, & heck even Weeks have. We have two or three absolute black holes in the lineup right now in the 6-7-8 range, though. Hard to keep things going. Fielder and Hardy continue to swing at pitches out of the strikezone. Cameron and Hardy drew nice walks in the first, but Fielder's was intentional. Look at game one...of the 10 or so strikeouts they had, i dont believe more than 2 were actual strikes. Thats what I mean when I said pitchers have learned how to pitch to them. They know if they throw in high Fielder will swing. Hardy too.

I dont think this has anything to do with the postseason. They Brewers are doing the same thing they've been doing since August. They are swinging at pitches they shouldnt swing at. The are playing terrible defense. And they are completely unable to put together multiple hit innings. In my opinion, teams learned how to pitch to us and we havent made adjustments.

Count me as disappointed. I agree with colby on the fact that we need his OBP. Some have suggested that his lack of power will keep him down, but i disagree. For one, power is always the last to develope, and two, he'd be a lead off hitter and the last thing a leadoff hitter needs is power. The fact that he walked once every 7 or so at bats while striking out once every 15 continues to amaze me. That says to me he doesnt just get on base, he works the count, and uses up pitches. He is exactly what every current Brewer is not, and having painfully watched the Brewer offense completely tank for the last 5 weeks, thats not a bad thing.

Ryan Theriot is currently doing it as well. He's exactly the kind of guy Milwaukee needs, IMO (Theriot)

The thought of Jose Reyes makes me more gitty than the thought of Wright. I'm not saying Reyes is better, but we need him more, in my opinion. We would have a legitimate leadoff hitter for the first time since Podsednik, and someone who could actually get on base ahead of Braun and Fielder. As far as the organizational logjam at short, I dont see it that way at all. Either Hardy or Escobar, both major league ready players would go. The remaing one could very easily switch positions. We have Green at third, although i suggested he go in the deal, and Brett Lawrie can play some third. Plus for the immediate time we have Hall, Branyon, and Mike Lamb. But if we keep Green, we have Green and Lawrie, one of who should be ready by 2010. Not to mention we move away a bit from this homerun or bust offense, which is currently very painful to watch, and have someone that might be on base when we do hit a homerun. Kapler and Cameron can return, youd have Gillespie, Gamel, and hopefully Brantly available internally and could go after a guy like Edmonds or Abreu in the FA market. Assuming its Hart, Hardy, and Taylor Green SS Reyes CF Cameron LF Braun 1B Fielder RF Abreu/Kapler 2B Weeks 3B Hall/Branyon C Kendall AAA has Escobar at 2nd and Gamel in RF Gillespie in LF Or Escobar, Hart, and Green SS Reyes 3B Hardy LF Braun 1B Fielder RF Abreu/Kapler CF Cameron 2B Weeks C Kendall Lawrie plays 3rd in the minors and is ready when Hardy wants out.

I'd rather have Reyes. He's the leadoff hitter we need, hits a switch hitter, and he puts the ball in play. Wright is just another, albeit better, version of Fielder, Braun, Hart and Hardy.

Agent, I asked this before but I dont think you ever responded. Do you know who the pick will be? All I'm looking for is a yes or a no. If you say yes I wont ask who or make any other comments, I am just curious. If the answer is no, how do you know its one of your clients?

Its like watching a bunch of minor leaguers trying to hit a major league pitcher. Pathetic. This team needs a complete makeover, offensively. This all or nothing offense has been nothing for 4 weeks now

Cnnsi suggested the Mets might be willing to trade Reyes and/or Wright as a bit of a shakeup this year. I'm assuming we have enough to get him, we could center it around either Hardy or Escobar, then move Hardy to 3rd or Escobar to second. Reyes leads the league in multi hit games with a pretty decent OBP and he can certainly run. I dont know what his contract is like, but Reyes for Escobar, Taylor Green and Corey Hart? Pick up Cameron's option and add a FA outfielder to a one or two year deal.

Paul, I'm pretty sure he is sharing inside information by telling us that the Indians haven't made their choice yet because if they did, he or one of the players would have heard by now. I don't understand what else you want him to say. Its not like he can just openly tell us everything, this is his profession, and I think its very cool that he shares as much as he does now. If Cleveland made their choice you'd think they would announce, so by saying they havent made a choice, thats not really inside information. WHat do I want him to say? I dont want him to say anything. But like I said, dont go bragging about how you know so much if you're not going to tell everyone else. Its childish. But I do apologize, I dont want to seem like the bad guy so i will drop it.

But yes, Brantleys numbers in AA are better than our 2 worst hitters on our major league team. I am not saying he is not good, he has a chance to be a good major league player, but at this point..he is still a prospect who may or may not improve enough to be a good major leaguer. Dont take this the wrong way, but you are the one who originally compared Brantley to Kendall and Counsell, not me. And you said players like that are easy to find, which they are not. Yes, Kendall and Counsell have more walks than strikeouts, and yes, Brantleys numbers are in double A. But for his level, Brantley is a very good hitter, and theres no reason to think he wont continue to progress. Obviously only time will tell when he hits the majors, but all we have to look at for any minor league prospect is minor league numbers. Cain, Lucroy and Green may also wind up not doing anything in the major leagues, but looking at the four of them, like I said, I feel that what Brantley brings offensively is closer to what I feel this team needs than any of the other guys. I am not saying he's going to be an allstar, but i think he'll be a good hitter. Gillespie really reminds me a lot of Hart....and ironically enough may end up replacing him. Cain seems to have a really high upside and could end up being a great centerfielder for years to come. I am excited to see both of them in Milwaukee.

Comparing Kendall and Counsell's major league numbers to Brantley's AA numbers in an extremely hitters friendly ball park will not tell you much. There were a lot of guys in AA that put up ridiculous numbers. Not all of them will turn out to be quality major league players. Also, there is a difference in running against AA catchers and pitchers and MLB catchers and pitchers. I realize Brantley had good numbers in AA, I am not sold he will in the MLB. Completely understand where you're coming from in terms in majors vs minors. I was just pointing out that other than more walks than strikeouts, the numbers arent even comparable. Brantley blows them away in just about every other category. Besides, the walks vs strikeouts ratio, stolen bases, even on base percentage.....even if it were a hitters park, that really doesnt even affect any of those stats.

No, its not that we have the "right to know"......no offense agent I just get tired of all this, "I know but I'm not telling you, but here.....read my blog" posturing you got going on here. If I had inside information on something which I assume agent does, I'd either share it with everyone or not even bring it up and involve myself. What I wouldnt do is tell everyone I know and then refuse to tell them what it is. Again, I mean no offense to you agent, its just a pet peeve of mine.