Ron Robinsons Beard

I think the opposite, actually. If the goal is to make the product more 'watchable' as we've heard basically since Manfred took over as commish, why would to encourage more boring 3-1 games? Pitcher duels are great for hardcore fans. Not for expanding the game to a new generation and expanding TV revenue. There's plenty of 3-1 games already, when teams' offense is essentially a solo HR and one 2-run blast against the other team's lone solo HR....then mix in 25-35 strikeouts across a 54-out game with no stolen bases, no hit and runs, and around 10 pitching changes. Yep, agreed. To me, watching a team like the Brewers strike out 17 times in a game, even if they win it 3-1, is boring. Getting guys on base is exciting. Seeing players like Christian Yelich come up in clutch situations with men on base is infinitely more exciting than watching him swing out of his shoes trying to hit a solo HR.

Oh, I think it'd have to be entirely dependent on him needing a rebound-type deal. If he's looking to cash in on who he used to be, that's a non-starter for a team like Green Bay, I'd think. For sure. The only reason the Packers were able to acquire Woodson back in the day is that they were the only team interested that vowed to keep him at CB. A few others, like the Bucs, wanted to sign him and move him to safety. I'm not sure where Peterson's head is at, but his career arch has been eerily similar to Woodson's ... college superstar at a big program who becomes a Top 5 pick, and plays up to that level for several years before injuries and playing on poor teams begin to take their toll. Peterson is roughly about a year older than what Woodson was when he signed with the Packers. The Packers also had a terrific #1 corner at the time they signed Woodson in Al Harris, although Harris was already 32 at the time, unlike the very young Jaire Alexander. Don't know if it could happen. Just saying there are some fun similarities to both players' situations.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I think they'll make several significant additions this offseason. Because if they go status quo again, Gute may soon find himself on the hot seat. It's time for this team to finally go big or go home. How? They have a $30M cap problem assuming the cap is about $180M and they can't just restructure it all away. They can, and they will in regards to restructuring. I expect them to restructure Rodgers and extend Adams, which will free up significant money. They likely won't be resigning a few free agents, and there will be some cap casualties like Kirksey and Preston Smith. The Packers are actually sitting pretty good cap-wise compared to a large chunk of the teams in the league. I think fans tend to focus on the cap too much when it comes to team building. Heck, look at a team like the Chiefs. They are seemingly right up against the cap year after year, and still find ways to not only sign their own stars to significant long-term extensions, they also find ways to bring in pretty big names to shore up their depth. Like David Bahktiari said earlier this fall when asked about the Packers being close to the cap before he signed his extension, teams can always find ways to make moves to bring in the players they want, and if they tell you they can't due to cap constraints, they are lying.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I think they'll make several significant additions this offseason. Because if they go status quo again, Gute may soon find himself on the hot seat. It's time for this team to finally go big or go home.

I have no idea where you're getting that number for Garcia, who hit more than 10 HRs in every full season he's played in his career. I meant to say 20 hrs is the career high for Garcia so projecting him for mid 20s makes no sense. He is probably a 15 hr guy if he plays 130 games or more which does not say big power to me. In the meantime other than Hiura the infield is pretty powerless unless you expect big things from Narvaez. We desperately need more power and Stearns doesn't seem to target too many power hitters. This offense was terrible in 2020 and pretty mediocre before that even with Yelich being the best hitter in the league. I put part of the blame on Haines being an inept hitting coach but the fact remains that we need to improve this offense and we really haven't done that yet. They literally signed Moustakas and moved him to 2B in 2019 to get another power bat in the lineup. Grandal is one of MLB's top power threats at catcher. The 2019 lineup was full of power bats, and they were inconsistent as heck. I for one would applaud an attempt to get more OBP-based players in this lineup. It's been an all-or-nothing approach seemingly forever.

That simply isn't true. This team's starting RF hit 20 HRs in his last full season in 2019, and the team's starting catcher hit 22 that year. You may not be happy with what Garcia and Narvaez looked like last year, but to not call them legit power threats is simply incorrect. The career high for Garcia is 10 HRs and Narvaez certainly can't be counted on to provide anything. Its fine if you don't think we need power to win but this team is severely lacking in pop. That isn't correct. At all. Also, looking up statistics is super easy https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garciav01.shtml Why can't Narvaez be counted on? He literally has 1,200 MLB ABs that say he can be a quality MLB hitter, compared to a small sample of 108 last year saying he can't. That is simply a terrible argument.

That simply isn't true. This team's starting RF hit 20 HRs in his last full season in 2019, and the team's starting catcher hit 22 that year. You may not be happy with what Garcia and Narvaez looked like last year, but to not call them legit power threats is simply incorrect.

I agree. I think this is the year they make some moves that could potentially be termed as "go for it" type moves. I expect them to find a way to grab a legit #2 WR and a run-stuffing DE in free agency or through a trade. I expect them to target CB and OT early in the 2021 draft. I also think we'll see a handful of ring-chaser type veterans signed as well. I fully expect the front office to take some chances, knowing full well they have a Super Bowl contender. I don't think they felt that way last year, and the moves they made in both free agency and in the draft bore that out.

Pretty sure Stearns was asked about Cain last week in his presser about Wong, and confirmed that he will be back for this season.

I get the feeling that the Brewers have probably made Turner a competitive offer (maybe even the best offer) to be their full time 3B, and he's weighing his options. If he re-signs with the Dodgers, as expected, then they'll pivot to a LHH like Miller or Lamb, and go with a straight platoon with one of those guys and Urias.

I mean, you knew this.

Suppose I should have said "replacement-level starting DB". Sorry for the confusion.

The Packers front office makes mistakes, but they aren't idiots. If Breeland was better than King, he would have been on the field against Tampa a couple weeks ago, not Buffalo. The Packers grabbed him in in 2018 because they were desperately thin at CB, and he ended up playing ok. They didn't resign him because they deemed him not better than what they already had coming back in 2019, despite the fact that they could have gotten him on a cheap deal. He signed a 1-year, $5 million deal in 2019, and after finding a cold market, resigned an even cheaper 1-year, $4.5 million deal for 2020. That is pocket change for a veteran DB. It would be one thing if it was only the Packers that were missing the boat on the guy, but literally the whole league could have had the guy 3 years in a row now, and for the most part, they've passed. That tells me all I need to know. He's ok. That's it. I think anyone would have been better than Kevin King on the field against Tampa a couple weeks ago. So yes, that does seem to have been a big mistake. He was PFFs #14 corner this year in yards per snap against outside coverage. Yes, at his worst, he's not been good. But at his best he's certainly been far better than replacement level, which is what you said. I am not saying he should have been brought back to Green Bay, we thought we had a pretty decent CB room. But the Packers FO is not immune to bad moves, and the coaching staff is not immune to bad moves. Maybe Josh Jackson should have had more opportunities. We'll never know. What are you arguing? The literally began my post by saying "the Packers front office makes mistakes, but they aren't idiots". If you want to say that not re-signing Breeland was a mistake, fine ... but that also means that every other team in the league has made the same mistake multiple times over the last 3 seasons. That seems much less likely, IMO. I view Breeland's skill level the same way I viewed a player like Davon House in his prime. He's a nominal starter at best. He's the type you can get away with as a #2 CB if you have a stud on the other side, or I suppose in the Chiefs case, an offense that can simply outscore everyone. His skill level is probably similar to a Kevin King. King has more raw talent, but Breeland is more consistent.

The Packers front office makes mistakes, but they aren't idiots. If Breeland was better than King, he would have been on the field against Tampa a couple weeks ago, not Buffalo. The Packers grabbed him in in 2018 because they were desperately thin at CB, and he ended up playing ok. They didn't resign him because they deemed him not better than what they already had coming back in 2019, despite the fact that they could have gotten him on a cheap deal. He signed a 1-year, $5 million deal in 2019, and after finding a cold market, resigned an even cheaper 1-year, $4.5 million deal for 2020. That is pocket change for a veteran DB. It would be one thing if it was only the Packers that were missing the boat on the guy, but literally the whole league could have had the guy 3 years in a row now, and for the most part, they've passed. That tells me all I need to know. He's ok. That's it.

Correct. Forgive me for trying to find a silver lining in the Barry hire. Not a fan of it, but I don't want to get all hot and bothered about it, either. Not in February at least. Hopefully he does something next season to show why Lafleur and the Packers have faith in him.

Come on guys. Bashaud Breeland? He's been a replacement-level DB even at his best.

So what you guys are saying is that Barry was dealt a poor hand with both his DC opportunities, but failed to gain any ground in the poker game. I would say that, given the talent he inherits on the defensive side of the ball in GB, he's been dealt a very good hand now. Let's see if that improves his poker playing ability. I will say that when his former players are asked to give an assessment on him, the words "passionate" and "aggressive" continue to come up. That gives me at least some hope, although I'm still not a fan of the hire.

I would have been more excited about a complete unknown like Eviro. Barry just has nothing in his past that inspires confidence that he can help them improve. But then, I was huge fan of Pettine's hire, so what do I know? Maybe Barry will be great?

I'm guessing the Packers' defensive philosophy in 2021 is going to be more offense. I expect the Packers find a way to give Rodgers a few more weapons this year, and we'll likely see a bunch of 42-38 games.

According to Demovsky, the Packers have picked Joe Barry as their new D Coordinator. I've been very excited about Lefleur's choices in the past. This is a huge swing and a miss, though. Hope Joe proves me wrong.

OK, now do a list of prospects they have traded while they still had prospect status ... I'm looking through the Braves transactions now. And you know what, there aren't very many top guys they have traded away. But you know what else? The Braves just haven't been involved in very many high profile trades over the last few years. I wonder why that is? Probably because their minor league system has been so good over the last decade plus that the team doesn't have to make those high profile trades. After all, even the most motivated trader isn't going to deal away any notable prospects when you are trading for the likes of- Tommy Malone Anthony Swarzak Chris Martin Shane Greene Mark Melancon (big contract) Justin Kelly Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy (in a Matt Kemp swap with the Dodgers that was a big crap contract exchange) Preston Tucker Shane Carle Ryan Schimpf Carlos Perez Jonny Venters Brad Brach Adam Duvall Kevin Gausman/Darren O'Day (the Orioles were hot to dump O'Day's contract and Gausman's was running at a 4.60 ERA and 4.52 FIP over his last 55 starts) Alex Jackson Tyler Pike Jamie Garcia (way past his prime) Luke Jackson Thomas Burrows Luiz Gohara Micah Johnson Brandon Phillips (way past his prime) Kevin Franklin Danny Santana Matt Adams Huascar Ynoa Connor Joe Tony Sanchez Justin Kelly Erick Aybar, Chris Ellis, Sean Newcomb (list these three together because here is where the Braves traded away Simmons) Ian Krol Gabe Speier Jose Ramirez (the pitcher) Then there was the big trade where they got Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte and Aaron Blair for Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier, probably the last real high profile trade the Braves made that wasn't motivated by contracts and that was on December 9, 2015. And that's where I stop listing every big-time, high-profile player they've acquired by trade while continuing to horde all their own prospects. Yeah, they haven't traded away a young Ronald Acuna, but they haven't been on the markets buying the Christian Yeliches because they don't need to. But even going further back....they traded away Jason Heyward in the deal where they picked up Shelby Miller...they traded away Kimbrel in the deal where they picked up Cameron Maybin (Maybin was still considered an upside "maybe" at the time). Back 7 years and still looking for that opportunity where they could have traded away a big-time prospect and I haven't found it yet. Maybe they should save face by trading Christian Pache and Drew Waters to the Cubs for Zach Davies. Thanks! This is interesting. Makes me think that there's no way they are going to give up a big package for Ramirez. A move like that just isn't in the Braves playbook.

Guess I didn't read it that way. I assumed that "they are looking at him at 1B" means exactly what it says, that they asked if he'd be willing to play 1B. The team loves versatility, and if Choo can play competently over at 1B, it gives them a versatile bench bat. I suppose it also mitigates a potential disaster if Hiura proves he cannot play there, but that wasn't where my mind went first.

I don't think they are. He'd be an experienced lefty bench bat. Maybe get a start at 1B or in the OF once a week. Otherwise he's a cheap pinch hitter. There's no way he'd be in a straight platoon with Hiura.

Agreed. If Barry does end up being the choice, that's terrible. The guy has already had two shots to lead an NFL defense, and was an abject failure both times. I would have rather just hung on to Pettine if Barry is the alternative.

Michael Brantley has worked out very well. Lorenzo Cain. Jake Odorizzi. Even Alcides Escobar had some solid seasons. Jeffress has turned into a solid player. Obviously Nelson Cruz was a huge miss. Grisham looked like a stud last year. I was talking top 50 prospects though. I don't think a single of these guys ever was one, at least not in the last decade. Escobar may have been, he was pretty highly touted but he was largely a bust. He played for a long time, that's about the best thing you can say about him. He basically followed the Orlando Arcia trajectory if Arcia never gets better. Most of the real home runs (Woodruff, Burnes) were less touted guys. I didn't include them because I was only talking about the real top prospects of ours this last decade and how they've panned out. But for the same reason I also didn't include Luis Ortiz, Phil Bickford and Jorge Lopez-- 51 to 100 type prospects. My bad. For some reason I was thinking you were talking about Top 50 Brewers prospects, not Top 50 MLB. I guess my point was that I would be leery of trading with the Braves because the prospects they have dealt the last decade haven't amounted to much of anything. They seem pretty good at identifying the guys they figure will make an impact, while dealing off guys who don't, despite high prospect ratings.