Lathund

Opening day payroll went down for the second year in a row, while revenues increased (Or they did in 2017, we don't know about 2018 yet I don't think). As long as that keeps happening this will go on. The top tier of players were never the issue, Harper and Machado were always going to get paid.

It's an interesting question. To get any kind of discount on market value, an extension would have to be signed as early as possible. The closer he gets to free agency while still a star player, the less incentive to sign an extension for below market value. He might not be interested in a discount at all of course, in which case extending him now makes little sense. The downside of a below-market extension now is of course that it brings risk with it, that like Braun the latter years will be less than ideal. 20m AAV or less and I'd say go for it; it's a risk but with tremendous upside. I'm also very much fine with waiting.

"Cam Roegner is the Brewers #1 prospect" would've been a good one for today too.

I saw the title of this thread. I then glanced at the browser tab where I have Twitter, and there were no new posts. I glanced down at the bottom right of the screen where the date is displayed. I then said to myself "(I'm) not (falling for this) today".

Um ... what? You don't consider it a win already? It's a probable win, but if Brinson, Diaz, Harrison, and Yamamoto become good assets for the Marlins, the deal gets closer to a draw. Getting Yelich for another four years tips the balance more clearly in the Crew's favor, IMO. I don't really subscribe to this zero-sum theory of evaluating a trade. If Yelich keeps playing well, not even MVP level well but "only" 4-5 WAR, it's a win for the Brewers even if the guys we gave up become stars. Brewers wanted production starting in 2018 and several years going forward. Marlins didn't care about 2018 and 2019 but wanted production in the future. If teams get what they want from a trade, at a price they were willing to pay, it's a win no matter what the other side gets.

So it's confirmed that they are in fact in Milwaukee?

I'm rather happy right now. What a time for Gamel to get his first hit. A bit of luck for Cain to get on, but noone better to have at first there. And Yelich.... I don't even know anymore. I mean of course .500/.667/1.583 is very much unsustainable and will never last; but the thing is that when watching him, it doesn't look unearned, or lucky, or anything of the kind. Also, Hicks looks like the most hittable 100mph pitcher I've ever seen. Not just based on today, he just doesn't seem to get much out of that velocity. Young guy, all the potential in the world to get it working, but right now he doesn't scare me one bit.

If good Matt Albers is back that is indeed some great news for this bullpen. And I for one am encouraged by Burnes appearance. Has things to work on like any young starter, but keep pitching like that and good results will come out of it.

I think that's way too low for a 1 year deal. He'd have plenty of suitors for even a 4/40 type of deal, if he's taking a 1 year deal it'll be for a significant amount. I really like the idea of having a left handed starter who can go deep into games, I feel like that'll make our bullpen a lot better even without taking into account someone moving there. If that signing would mean that there was no room for deadline moves however I'd be a bit more hesitant, but I do like the idea of Keuchel.

Wilson looked good. Made Goldschmidt look silly. That two seam-cutter/slider combo seemed to really keep them off balance.

We've put up 5 runs in both games, against two good starters. Yelich looks like September Yelich already. Some guys have pitched well, some haven't. We've had some memorable moments already; Chacin homering and Cain's game-ending catch. It's been two games. If there are any issues with the bullpen, I trust that this FO has a plan. I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the ride.

There will be multiple teams trading relievers and plenty of time to make trades. I think Smith will be very good this year, but I wouldn't trade Ray for a rental unless he struggles a bit. I personally don't even view Smith as the most valuable asset in the initial trade. I view the 26 year old future closer as being more valuable than the older lefty with one year left. I don't really see why the Giants would want to trade a guy with 5 years of team control remaining. And if they did, it'd take a lot. Although with his relief appearance today against the Brewers, Alex Reyes lost his prospect status, which made Corey Ray a top 100 prospect again (at least with MLB Pipeline). [sarcasm]Should be able to fetch about twice as much in a trade now thanks to that[/sarcasm]

Not a good outing by Freddy, but it's tied after 4 and I fancy our chances both against Flaherty and their bullpen.

Everything dropping in for them this inning.

Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretti nasti That also takes care of not getting shut out or no-hit on opening day.

So the season starts with Chacin striking out Carpenter, Goldschmidt and DeJong. That's it, we're going 162-0.

I keep going back to this like I kept going back to, "it wasn't the part of the shoulder that you normally have wear and tear with so Nelson's recovery should be easier," type of optimistic thinking. The two aren't the same, but you're right, Knebel could be fine and if he's back, Jeffress certainly could be and the Brewers are back on schedule...(sorta, they're gonna be hurting while they go through a hellacious first half). But partially torn UCL that has the normally tight lipped Brewers "concerned" doesn't seem encouraging to me. Worst case scenario is they give him the plasma rich plalet injections and they try to have it recover on it's own and wait 3 months and then he's likely done through 2021. Best case, same thing he's dealt with and a little rest and he'll be back throwing 99 up in the zone and breaking off that nasty 11/5curve. Oh I'm counting on him being out all year, I have since they first mentioned it. It was more in relation to the idea that rehab never works, or that all UCL damage requires surgery. In some cases it's the better route to take. It's just that when it doesn't and surgery is required anyway you remember it so well since it's such a long rehab time.

I mean he has had UCL damage for 4 seasons and pitched just fine. Masahiro Tanaka has had it for 5. It's very much on a case-by-case basis, "damage" can mean many different things. I'll happilly let the professionals decide on the best course and trust in them.

How dare you, sir! I am deeply offended and I take this as a personal affront. I demand satisfaction. *(I can't get no) Satisfaction starts playing* Goshdarnit Alexa, not now! We've talked about this....

His 3.20/3.34/3.47 ERA/FIP/xFIP for one. Since his debut in 2014, he's one of the 30 best relievers (min. 200 IP) in the park adjusted versions of all three categories. That's what he's not good at. He is however far better than Jennings against lefties, and Jennings isn't great at getting righties out either. To illustrate his abilities against lefties, since his debut in 2014 he has a wOBA against (Which is not park adjusted FWIW) of .216. Which is the 2nd best in the majors (Minimum 60 IP, the default setting for the splits leaderboard) behind Sean Doolittle. That includes both starters and relievers. 6th highest GB% in the majors in that time, .1% behind Jared Hughes. 13th highest soft contact % per fangraphs, again per the sample above. Statcast has him as the unluckiest pitcher in all of baseball in 2018 with regards to difference between BA and xBA. Average exit velocity against was good but not elite (56 out of 310 pitchers with 250 batted ball events recorded (The default setting)). .1 mph off Blake "0.78 ERA" Treinen. Very He is Nor does he walk anyone.

Writeups on a couple of Brewers starters who stood out this spring. This guy is extremely high on Woodruff's ceiling. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-11-pitchers-who-stood-out-this-spring/

2019 Brewers Predictions Win-Loss Record: 88-74 Playoffs (Yes, No): Yes Highest Playoff Level Achieved: Wild Card All-Star Game Representative(s): Christian Yelich, Josh Hader, Lorenzo Cain, Yasmani Grandal Offensive Player of the Year: Christian Yelich Starting Pitcher of the Year: Jhoulys Chacin Relief Pitcher of the Year: Josh Hader Most Surprising Player: Zach Davies Most Disappointing Player: Orlando Arcia Division has gotten better, win totals will be lower for all the teams competing for the title. I also think it's a fairly wide range of outcomes for the Brewers, high 80s seems most reasonable but it could be more or less without any real surprise. Mad Max Scherzer then comes into Miller Park as the Road Warrior and ends our hopes and dreams. As for the all-star game it's both about performance, reputation, which team you play for as well as competition. Which is why I don't see Shaw there. He's good enough, and I think he'll have a great season, but he shares his position in the NL with Arenado, Machado, Bryant, Rendon, Carpenter and Turner, it's super stacked. Don't see any of the starters going no matter how good they are. Yelich and Chacin for P/S of the year doesn't really need any explanation. Zach Davies is still young. This year he manages to consistently put together the ability he's shown in parts of his MLB career to date. Not an all-star, but a very solid 3.70 ERA over 180 IP. Arcia... I just don't know about him anymore. He makes the most amazing plays on defense, only to go on to make silly mistakes. But the defense isn't what worries me, it's excellent overall. He just doesn't seem to have any kind of method or process to his approach at the plate. He'll look a different player from one plate appearance to the next. He'll fall behind in almost every count, make the ugliest of swings at the ugliest of pitches. And yet it looks so sweet when he does make contact and hit the ball hard. I think we'll see plenty of Dubon and Saladino this year at short. I really hope to be wrong though.

Willians Astudillo did not record a single strikeout or walk in 51 spring training plate appearances, finishing with a .783 OPS. Quite a unique ballplayer.

"I have no specific information, but I would guess #sfgiants and #brewers are chatting. MIL has some key bullpen injuries and, from what I understand, some outfielders at higher levels of minors. New SF director of pro scouting would know them. He was hired away from Brewers." So he's just speculating, by his own admission. He could very well be right, it makes some sense, but I wouldn't read much into it.

Davies with another one of those outings where he struggles through the first inning, running up a high(ish) pitchcount and gives up a few runs. Only to from then on efficiently mow them down with the pitch count in good shape. Team should hire a hypnotist to make Zach think it's always the 4th inning in July and he'd be an ace. EDIT: Dugout interview with Davies, said that since his first start will be against the Reds today was all about trying to get through it while just throwing mostly fastballs and working on locating it. I just have the game on in the background so didn't actually watch all that much so didn't really notice myself. I've always been a Davies fan, so really hoping he has a good season.