Ron Robinsons Beard

Awesome!!!!!!! Guess this answers the "Why won't they spend money?" crowd! And the "We need to get to a World Series in the Yelich Window" crowd. This makes my day!

It's going to be real interesting to see what Dobbins clocks for a 40 time at his pro day March 25. He gives up nearly 20 pounds to Taylor, but is also an incredible athlete who was putting up 4.45-type times coming out of high school. Speed kills in the NFL, though, and some team is going to be enamored with Taylor's 40 time and size enough to make him the first RB off the board. As mentioned above, NFL coaches believe that fumbling is an issue that can be coached out of RBs.

There is currently a guy arguing with me on Twitter who believes that Stearns didn't know that Morrison would flat out refuse to go to AAA when he was signed. I mean, is there really any doubt at all that Morrison was simply signed as a flyer to see if his bat would come back if he's completely healthy? If the bat is toast, why would they want him clogging a spot at AAA even? But this guy on Twitter is trying to argue that Morrison was not truthful with Stearns, and that his comments from a few days ago are nefarious in nature. I mean, come on! There's no way this wasn't the plan with Morrison all along.

Burnes is 25, and has 5 years of team control remaining. He is also optionable. Why would him not getting a rotation spot at the outset of this season have any bearing on his potential availability in a trade? I am seeing the idea quite a lot around here lately that the five guys who get rotation spots from the outset are going to be set in stone for the whole year. That simply isn't the case. Didn't like 11 or 12 guys start games for the team last year? Even if guys like Peralta, Burnes or Lauer don't start in the rotation in April, I'd bet all those guys make starts for the team this season. Likely many starts.

If I were an NFL team, I would be concerned about him fumbling. He had, what, 15 fumbles in roughly 7 million carries at Wisconsin? I think that concern is pretty extreme nitpicking.

I tried to do a count on it. It's literally impossible to fit him unless they go with 12 pitchers. Enjoy your showcase and go door2door peddling your goods lomo. It really isn't. It's as easy as optioning Gamel and Healy.

With how deep this draft is in WR talent, I could see them trading out of #30, picking up another 2 and maybe an extra 3. Gonna be a ton of great WR talent left in the second round. I think that's the sweet spot this year. I doubt Taylor lasts until the 2nd round, though. I think he goes somewhere in the early 20s, if not earlier. There's just too much production and speed there for him to last any longer than that.

I haven't seen anything on him, his primary path to making the roster is probably taking Gamel's spot. Morrison has played a handful of corner outfield innings. He's a massive liability out there though, so it's not what you want. Morrison would have to really force our hand with his hitting to show he can provide more value in PH appearances than Gamel can with combined PH/PR/defensive replacement situations. With Holt in the mix, it's certainly possible that Morrison would take Gamel's spot as Holt can do most of what Gamel can do...though that still seems unlikely. My guess is AAA insurance or he has an opt out clause and signs somewhere else right away once available. The issue with Morrison is that he's already said he won't go to AAA. I'm sure he has an opt-out and would be gone if the team doesn't promote him by the opener. I'm also sure the Brewers knew his feelings and his situation going in ... which gives me the feeling that he'll ultimately make the team. Losing Moose, Thames, Shaw and Grandal certainly leaves a need for a LH power bat on the bench. My guess is LoMo makes it as the #5 OF, #3 1B and one of the first bats off the bench. It depends on whether the team feels comfortable enough with Garcia, Yelich or Holt spelling Cain in CF on his breather days.

Reports out of Maryvale this morning that Houser was forced from his "B" game start early today due to discomfort. This is why depth is important.

I don't remember either of them having good spring training numbers last year. Burnes had a 4.84 ERA in 22.1 innings, and Peralta had a 5.06 in 10.2 innings. Burnes did give up 3 bombs, which was a little bit of writing on the wall. Burnes did lead the team in Ks, while Peralta was 3rd.

I didn't give him much of a chance when he was signed, but given Morrison's comments yesterday and his hot start, I think there's a decent chance he makes it. The Brewers love lefty power bats, and aren't projected to have a ton of lefty power available on the bench. I still expect Smoak to make most of the starts at 1B, but we could theoretically see Morrison in there against tough righties, along with seeing time in the corner OF. Yea I don't see him getting a ton of starts(atleast early on) but I just can't see Stearns letting that depth walk. Maybe gets a start a week in a corner OF or 1b spot and then is one of the main pinch hitters off the bench He's gotten a ton of playing time so far, too. Given that he's already said that he won't be going to AAA, I don't think the Brewers would have signed him if they didn't have the intent of him being on the major league club. Of course, he needed to prove that the bat would still play, which he has so far. Given the Brewers' constant need to preserve depth, I could see Gamel being optioned to AAA, with Morrison, Holt and Sogard capable of filling in in the corner OF behind Yelich, Garcia and Braun.

I didn't give him much of a chance when he was signed, but given Morrison's comments yesterday and his hot start, I think there's a decent chance he makes it. The Brewers love lefty power bats, and aren't projected to have a ton of lefty power available on the bench. I still expect Smoak to make most of the starts at 1B, but we could theoretically see Morrison in there against tough righties, along with seeing time in the corner OF.

The Brewers have said that if Lauer is the #6, he'll be in the AAA rotation. Peralta however would be in MLB rotation or pen. Team needs to trade away or wave Anderson because this is going to backfire. If they take Lauer a 2yr starter for SD and demote him to AAA when he's done nothing in Spring to warrant it? Talk about a major buzzkill on his confidence. This is why I think the piggyback needs to happen. Or move on from the 1yr contract that is Anderson. Burnes down to AAA can be reasonable due to his last season. Lauer? It'll be a problem. Lauer is a 24 year old kid, and it is practically guaranteed that he's going to be making (many) starts for the Brewers this year. They aren't going to flat out cut a proven starter in Anderson they signed to a $5 million deal just so they can jam Lauer into the rotation in April. I know it is rare that they team has actual starting pitching depth available, but why in the world would that ever be a bad thing? Having guys like Lauer and Burnes, and even Miller, pitching well in the AAA rotation and at the ready for call-up would be a phenomenal position to be in.

Faria was already DFA'd, cleared waivers, and is in camp as a non-roster invitee. I think Black's spot in the pen is pretty much assured too. Good to hear on Faria. I am not shocked the entire league passed on him on waivers. On another note, I doubt Black is a sure thing. He looked really really bad. A power pitcher having trouble with command a week or two into camp is nothing new, and probably not something to get real upset about. If we get to the last week of Spring Training games and Black still looks lost, that's the time to get concerned.

Honestly, I really hope not. I don't like Lauer out of the pen as much as I like him in the rotation. Pushing him out for Peralta to me says Lauer is in AAA to start the year. Also taking Peralta out of the pen makes it considerably weaker. I expected him to step up in the pen this year and be a 2 IP 3.5 ERA type guy. I'm not sure I feel the same about Lauer in the pen despite the look of his FB (playing up), cutter, curve trio of pitches. Hader Suter is great. Phelps Claudio Black looks like a bunch of barely getting by. Knebel isn't ready and they still need 3 more arms to fill the pen. I still want either Peralta or Houser in the pen. If they aren't in the pen. What are we doing? You put Burnes in as a starter and Lindblom and Lauer go to the pen cuz Anderson isn't headed to the pen, right? What makes that pen make any sesne? Rasmussen immediately? You might go Burnes in the pen is great. BURNES is a starter who has succeeded out of the pen. He needs to pitch as a starter but it's really hard to trust him day 1 at the MLB and at the expense of what guy being bumped? Peralta pushing towards a rotation spot and LAUER being looked at as the outsider makes this really puzzling. People will say it doesn't but they need to look at the pen. That's a strange pen and to make that even more uneasy, the expected leaders in the clubhouse for those spots started bad. Too many solid potential starters and not enough spots is definitely a good spot to be in, and a rare one for the Brewers. I think you are getting a little bit too upset about the potential of Lauer not taking a rotation spot right off the bat. He's pitched great, but he's just one of a handful of guys that are pitching well right now. The team has said on multiple occasions that Houser is a starter, they view him as a starter both presently and in the future, and they've basically handed him a rotation spot. He hasn't thrown much yet, but he certainly hasn't done anything to give that spot up yet, either.

Faria was already DFA'd, cleared waivers, and is in camp as a non-roster invitee. I think Black's spot in the pen is pretty much assured too.

What's the question? If it's a longterm shortstop, I think Urias is the answer. If it's a productive bat playing SS for the first half of the year and insurance for Urias in the second half, I think Holt/Sogard are quite possibly capable. That said, I also hope Arcia keeps it up! If the question is, "anchors on the bench alongside Gyorko while Urias, Arcia, and Hiura hold down third, short, and second," it's very good news for the 2020 Brewers if the answers are Holt and Sogard. Why wouldn't they play a guy in Urias acquired to play SS at SS? It makes 0 sense to give him a prominent role at 3B.

It's certainly been good news so far on many of the question marks, including Peralta, Burnes and Arcia. Heck, even Brett Anderson, who a few people here love to hate, has looked good. But ... it's still February.

What do you mean you're the skeptical one? I don't see anyone thinking that he's figured it out finally. It's certainly fun to be optimistic, though, especially in February. I think that's where most people are at.

You are correct. Daniel Jeremiah's first mock. He had Dobbins going to the Dolphins earlier. Dobbins elected not to work out at the combine.

They announced late last night a temporary extension while they continue to negotiate a long term deal. Pretty sure that's what happened with Sling too. There was a short extension (

I don't think he will last until the 2nd round he will definitely go in the 1st round but it will probably be late. He should really be a top 15 player but he will go somewhere in the 20-28 range. There is absolutely no reason he shouldn't be the first RB off the board.

Jonathon Taylor ran a 4.39 (officially) at 226 pounds. That's a heck of a statement. He's got every measurable you'd look for in a franchise 3-down RB.

Yep, Boldin ran a 4.72 at the combine according to P-F-R.com and measured 6'1, 216. Boldin also only had a 33.5 vertical, whereas Cephus had a reported 38" vertical. Cephus also led all WRs in the bench press, signaling that he will likely not get bullied at the line with press coverage and will be a good run blocker and special teams gunner. The concern with Cephus in terms of where he gets drafted will be the 40-time in combination with his hand measurement (a smaller-than-average 8 3/4"). If Cephus can run good agility drills (short shuttle, 3-cone drill), he could easily get drafted as a slot receiver. What is often said among NFL scouts is that they look for guys who outperform their measurables. If Cephus is still there at the end of the 5th round, much less the 6th where the Packers have three picks, I grab him in a heartbeat. Edit: well, the 3-cone wasn't impressive. I'm thinking he still gets drafted, likely 5th/6th round, but he will need to indicate that he is more than willing to play special teams. Gute taking Cephus when a huge majority of the fanbase (kinda rightfully admittedly) is begging for speed at that position would be such a huge "screw you!" I would love it.

All of these things are true ... but it's also pretty easy to forget that he's also only 25 years old. I don't think it's out of line to have a little bit of cautious optimism for the guy.