paul253

We are talking about how to replace Prince and we are talking about 1B that is right at replacement. Thats just not going to get it done. No one player is going to replace Fielder's offensive numbers. Someone else already mentioned it but you have to hope to replace him by upgrading several other positions. There are a lot of options but they all hold some risk. The obvious option is to replace Fielder with Gamel. I doubt this will happen because despite his numbers is AAA this season Milwaukee just doesn't seem like they want him in their lineup. Another option is to move Hart to first and then get a new rightfielder. There don't seem to be a whole lot of attractive FA outfielders out there though so you may be stuck with a platoon. If you're going to spend big on a free agent, I think it has to be a shortstop (Reyes or Rollins) or a third basemen (Ramirez, but I'd only sign him to a two year deal). I still think a big trade needs to be made. Marcum or Hart would be my most likely candidates. I'd love to see if someone overvalues one of them and will give us something good in return.

Peralta won't be in the rotation unless there are multiple injuries or trades in the off season Remember though the 5th starters spot was Peralta's to lose, which of course he did, when Greinke was hurt. But he had a huge year in the minors after that and pitched against a lot better competition then he did in 2010. I would have to think that unless he wilts under pressure he has to be the first candidate for the 5th starter spot if there is a trade. I still think you need to trade Marcum. I never really wanted to, but he just looked so pedestrian the past few starts. He looked like he was throwing everything he could think of and nothing worked.

194 is NOT a small sample size It is when you consider that only 44 of those at bats have come in the past two seasons. The most AB's he gotten in a season is 128. That's what, a quarter of a season? If Caleb Gindl came up next season and only hit .225 through 40 games would you declare he's had his chance and we need to let him go? When Gamel did get a decent number of AB's, he had an OBP of .338. It's not earth shattering but it's something, especially for a rookie who got irregular playing time. Also, he's poor defensively at third base but I doubt his future in Milwaukee is at third. I can only assume, but I would think he's better defensively at first or right field. You have to see what you've got with Gamel before you just cast him aside. They don't have nearly enough impact bats in the minors to throw a potential one away without at least giving him an every day status in the spring. I think the same thing with Green. Give him a shot and see what happens. You can always use Jerry Hairston as your everyday third basemen if he doesn't cut it.

Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart are reasonably good at making baseballs go far. Weeks and Hart have major flaws in their swings. I don't know if Weeks was still reeling from being hurt, but St. Louis absolutely exposed him this series. Yeah he hit two home runs, but until he's willing to go the other way on a consistent basis I can't see him being an effective 4 or 5 hitter. St. Louis pounded him away with fastballs and he just couldn't get away from trying to pull the ball. Hart also has a tendency to swing and miss quite a bit. And for whatever reason he just isn't comfortable batting 5th. I think it's a huge waste of his power when he bats first. As for Fielder. First off, let me say that I highly, highly doubt he will resign. But why not try this. Sign him to a 5 year deal. Trade Hart, which will save a bunch of money and replace him with Gamel. Trade Marcum to the White Sox for Escobar and replace him with either Peralta, Estrada, Fiers, or a veteran starter signed to a one year deal. This would also save money and allow Bentancourt to go. That would save even more money. You'd have to spend to upgrade the bench, ideally getting Hairston back. Third base would be a battle between McGehee and Green with the loser going to the bench. Sign a veteran right handed hitting outfielder as insurance for Gamel and then a solid late inning reliever. I'd be ok resigning Saito as the new 8th inning guy. The roster would be: Outfielders: Braun, Morgan, Gamel, Gomez, FA Infielders: McGehee, Green, Escobar, Hairston, Weeks, Fielder, Lucroy, Kottaras Pitchers: Gallardo, Greinke, Wolf, Narveson, Peralta, Axford, Saito, Loe, Braddock, Parra, Estrada, Kintzler/McClendon/Defelice/FA

paul, he will be a Type A free agent, no questions asked I was just making sure. There are going to be some very good potential free agent pitchers that offseason. I didn't know if that may push him down to a type B. The other issue though would be the new CBA. I suppose it's possible the draft compensation rules will be changed.

To answer my own original question: Whatever his value is it is dropping by the minute. At this point I almost say we have to hold on to him because we aren't going to get anything of value. If a team is willing to give us a pitching prospect who has the ceiling of a #3 and is at AA or higher, I'd take him. Or if we can get a prospect who has the ceiling of an every day player and is not a second basemen or center fielder, I'd take him. But, they may just be better hanging onto him and hope he can be a type A. It seems like outside of Fielder, Marcum is the biggest question mark.

How about Hart at first and Gamel in right? That would be to a better defensive situation. I'd rather let Gamel try his hand in right than to go with a platoon. Gamel would be playing most of the time anyway. I used to think that, at some point, the Brewers would have to see what Gamel can do. Now I'm pretty sure they're just going to, well, not ever give him a chance and either trade him or let him rot away on the bench.

I guess tickets haven't been sold. Unfortunately I now have to leave to work for 12 hours. I should be able to check my email at work but it might not be til a little later. I'll give out a good price for the tickets for whoever is interested. If you are interested, pm me your phone number and how late it is ok to call tonight. Thanks.

Thats cool man I have tickets in the same row....small world!

If the Brewers win, I'll have my seats for sale again. My work schedule doesn't allow me to go to any of these games. Same as usual, 428 row 1. Have a price in mind but don't want to post anything over face on here, so if you're interested just let me know.

Tickets are sold.

I was actually very surprised when I heard she was in her 40's. I was thinking early to mid 30's.

Section 428 row 1. PM if you're interested and I'll let you know what my asking price is. Includes parking, btw.

He was. 2 of those hits came after my post though. And even with those 3 hits, his OBP is still .275 in the post season. Weeks, meanwhile, is down to a .135 BA and a .220 OBP. These are two of our first five hitters we are talking about.

It's time to bench Weeks. He is obviously not 100% and is a major liability defensively. He approaches his at bats like a slow pitch softball player would: Swing as hard as you can, try to pull everything and hope it goes far. He provide no protection whatsoever for Fielder and it seems like Fielder has been expanding his strike zone lately. I don't know if it's just because of Weeks but I'm sure it doesn't help. Hairston to second and either McGehee or Green to third. I also think you need to platoon Hart. He's not having a good post season either. He has been terrible defensively and his misplay of the ball in game 3 may have lost them the game. He's not getting on base like a lead off hitter should be and he has shown zero strike zone discipline. Kotsay is probably worse in right field, but I don't going from bad to worse is that much of an issue. If someone isn't going to catch the ball, what difference does it make who it is? At least Kotsay has been getting on base. This team just frustrates me to no end.

prognosis of Stetter? Braddock back. McClendon. De Le Cruz. Defilice/Dillard. And Manny Parra!

The guy hit .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI. I'm not sure he'd risk alienating the Red Sox fans so he could try to get a few million more out of Boston, especially considering that other than New York or Boston, where else would he go? He can't go to the NL. And how many AL teams would give a soon to be 36 year old DH the kind of money he is asking for? Maybe Anaheim or Texas, but certainly not a lot of teams. Then you also throw in the fact that he may be a type A, so if Boston offers him arby, which they can probably afford to do, the signing team would have to forfeit their top pick to sign him. I don't know, I don't see a whole lot for him to gain by saying what he said.

http://www.fannation.com/...rtiz-considering-yankees This article talks about the possibility of Ortiz leaving Boston for NY. I would love that. Prince would be a natural replacement for Ortiz. And if NY has a spot for Ortiz, wouldn't they also have a spot for Prince? Just speculation of course, but if those quotes are true and not taken out of context, it doesn't really seem like Ortiz wants anything to do with Boston next season.

You're not going to pull that pitch Rickie. Quit swinging like that and go the other way.

Heyward might be able to be had, though I would guess Hart would have to be part of the deal which I'd be fine with. The FA crop is weak. I think right field is all Hart's, otherwise you fill it from within with Gamel or Gindl or use some combination of Gomez/Schafer/Morgan out there. No power but great defense. How about the five outfielders as Braun, Morgan, Gomez, Schafer, and Gindl? Half kidding, half serious. I think they need to trade Hart while his value is still high.

I'll say it right now. Even though Albert just got a hit, it was his third at bat with the bases empty, a huge change from previous games. This is the key to the entire series I think.

Keep in mind that while losing a player like Fielder is an awful blow, it does give them payroll flexibility to spend elsewhere. That's why there is discussion about Reyes. Wouldn't that be something. We lose Prince, sign Reyes and come away with no first round picks because of this stupid system they have in place.

If anything they will have to give up a #5 OF which the Brewers have plenty of in their farm system If Kyle Blanks has more potential than Green, why would they trade him for a 5th outfielder? I'd definitely give up a fifth outfielder type for Blanks but I don't think that'll get it done.

I'm curious why you say Butler wouldn't be enough? He seems to be a pretty decent OBP guy who can hit for some average and power. I assume he'd move to first base right away leaving Gamel with nowhere to play. My only issue with him is that he is owed a lot of money over the couple of years ($8 million a year for the next three years with a team option in 2015). What about Marcum and Gamel for Butler and Odorizzi? KC's offensive would take a hit but it would be a big help to their rotation. And for what it's worth this article talks about how their lineup seems mostly set but the big question is pitching. Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis are free agents and they may have to look at potential trades. http://kansascity.royals....mp;fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

Given how patiently & effectively the Royals have rebuilt from within, I don't see them being a buyer on a 1-yr. guy like Marcum. I guess my thinking is that while they have built effectively from within they still need a lot of help. The Brewers are the perfect example of how a team with a ton of high ceiling hitters can struggle without the pitching to go along with it.The key is pitching. This is just going off stats which I know isn't necessarily the best way to look at it, but it looks like they still have a ton of holes in their rotation. Mike Montgomery, one of their best pitching prospects, got lit up in AAA last year. Danny Duffy, another of their better pitching prospects, got lit up in the majors. John Lamb looks like had TJ surgery and may miss most of next season. I realize they all have a ton of time to find success, but what if they don't? What if they all end up as 4-4.5 ERA type pitchers? Marcum would be a fairly substantial upgrade over anyone currently under contract with them. And if they only have to give up one player, a prospect no less, wouldn't it make sense? I'm not suggesting they take the Brewers route and trade away every prospect they have for established major leaguers, but they do desperately need pitching.