Ron Robinsons Beard

Add Pete Carmichael Jr. to the list ... With Carmichael and Dan Campbell getting interest, I imagine Joe Lombardi is getting some too.

No ... they are not, in my opinion. I mean, of course we are going to see some regression. But we also saw several players regress last year that should hopefully rebound. But I would peg that record projection at about a 0.5% chance of happening. The Brewers will/should be significantly better than that.

I could not agree with this more. That idea is entirely fan manufactured. The idea that the Brewers wouldn't have interest now because Johnson is no longer the pitching coach is a little crazy. It isn't like Hook isn't going to following most of the same philosophies as the guy he previously worked under. Derek Johnson didn't have any sort of magic elixir. The Brewers have simply adopted a philosophy of employing analytics to help put their pitchers in the best position for success, and that happened to coincide with Johnson's term here as pitching coach. I think that he was effective as a coach here, but I also think saying that losing him is a massive loss is probably blowing things out of proportion. I never really viewed it as a "need" - more of a "comfort zone" for Gray. I'm not sure who here thought that the Brewers weren't interested now - Stearns makes those decisions, not anyone on the coaching staff - or are you thinking that there are those who felt that the only reason why the Brewers would be interested was because of Johnson? The question remains, what would you be willing to give up for yet another #4 starter who has a chance to be better? Would you give up a significant asset, which is what the Yankees appear to be holding out for? Yes to the bolded part. There were actually posters that pretty much said that verbatim. As for the return, I guess it depends on what they feel is a "significant" asset. If we're talking Gray for Thames straight up, or even Gray for Thames or Broxton and a low-level prospect, I'd be good with that. I wouldn't give up an upper-end prospect, though. I'm not sure who else on the MLB roster would be a fit for the Yankees needs.

Depth is certainly a need, but it's going to be tough to determine how deep this draft actually is until the full list of players who declare early is available. With all the wheeling and dealing Gute did last year, though, I'd actually be a little surprised if they actually end up picking someone at #12. Another thing to keep note of - that #12 pick would be very valuable in a trade for a current NFL player. If, say, a rebuilding team makes a top pass rusher available (read, for instance, Von Miller or Chandler Jones), that would be a solid use of that pick as well.

I could not agree with this more. That idea is entirely fan manufactured. The idea that the Brewers wouldn't have interest now because Johnson is no longer the pitching coach is a little crazy. It isn't like Hook isn't going to following most of the same philosophies as the guy he previously worked under. Derek Johnson didn't have any sort of magic elixir. The Brewers have simply adopted a philosophy of employing analytics to help put their pitchers in the best position for success, and that happened to coincide with Johnson's term here as pitching coach. I think that he was effective as a coach here, but I also think saying that losing him is a massive loss is probably blowing things out of proportion.

Well the extra first rounder would seem to make a trade up to 5 possible but it gets exponentially more expensive to get higher than that and Allen seems to be top 3 on a lot of the early mocks. TT would have never done it, we will see what Gutes does. They are desperate for a blue chip pass rusher and there is usually one of the top 3 teams looking to trade down for a haul of picks. Should be one of the most interesting draft nights for us in a while. I agree regarding the interest in this draft. It can also be argued that they need all the high picks they can get in the interest of shoring up depth. They "should" be able to get a stud-type player at #12, and hopefully immediate or at least future starters with New Orleans' #1 and their own high #2. I look for Gute to target bigger upside with his picks, as opposed to TT who seemed to target either safe "Packer People" picks or guys that fit their system. I don't think there was any way TT would have drafted Alexander, but that is looking like a terrific pick so far.

The Brewers don't need to upgrade everywhere. They need to upgrade 2B, and arguably C, starting pitching and, if they are feeling crazy, RF. Yes, I believe they have the money to do that.

Makes a lot of sense, but still a bummer that the rich get potentially richer at a very low cost.

I doubt Pagano and Caldwell are legit candidates. I least I sure as heck hope so. Pagano would be more palatable than Caldwell. Every time I see that guy, I think of the blank look on his face while coaching the 2-14 Colts when they didn't have Manning and were obviously purposely sucking for Luck.

Then they will not have the ability financially to upgrade at C or SP this offseason, because Lowrie will sign for a zobrist-like AAV for at least 3 seasons. Getting him to agree to a shorter term contract means paying an even higher premium. If you're good with that, great - I think the Brewers are better served to upgrade at C or SP, and paying market rate for Lowrie isn't going to give you that much more value on the field than what a league minimum tulo would provide. Heck, a perez/spangenberg platoon makes more sense than doling out $15m more to Lowrie with the current roster they have, without factoring in Dubon or hiura at all. 1) I'm tired of hearing about penny pinching. If M.A. can't afford to sign someone like Lowrie and another starting pitcher he needs to sell the team to someone who will spend the money to get a team to the World Series. I'm not asking for Harper or Machado or anyone even remotely that expensive. 2) No one knows if Tulo can even play anymore. The Jays ate his $38 million owed for a reason. I keep seeing that the Brewers are financially strapped, but there is absolutely nothing to back up that. It is simply speculation. I, on the other hand, believe that thy have the money to upgrade any and every position they feel is upgradable. They aren't going to go out and spend just to spend, though.

Helps that like 15% of the population is Asian and it is one of the most diverse cities there is. Milwaukee is like 3% Asian and is the most segregated place in the US. Can’t be much of a selling point. Yep. As soon as it was revealed that Kikuchi sought to sign with a West Coast team, that took the roughly 1% chance the team had of signing him down to 0%. The Brewers play in one of MLB's smallest and least racially diverse markets. It's always going to be tough for them to sign international free agents, let alone minorities. It is what it is.

I have about as much hope of Dubon contributing in 2019 as I do Hiura, if not maybe a little more. Dubon was actually hitting the ball very well when he went down last year, and was likely only a day or so away from getting a call-up and a lot of playing time at SS/2B at the MLB level. He obviously doesn't have the hitting upside Hiura has, but he's also further advanced. Watching him at SS and Hiura at 2B at AAA is going to be fun to follow this season.

Worst case he's another #4 to throw on the pile. Best case is probably as a strong #2. The added depth would also free them up to trade a starter to shore up another position. It is for sure a calculated risk, but depending on the return to the Yankees, I think it's worth taking.

Munchak makes sense simply because it would continue the trail of Mikes. I choose to not acknowledge the Ray Rhodes one-year debacle. I'd be ok with McDaniels or Campbell. Both high energy guys that can command a locker room and aren't going to let Rodgers run the team.

You are forgetting Burks at ILB. I'm hoping he's given more of a chance to contribute next year. They need that kind of athleticism on that side of the ball.

I think they are fine at RB, WR, LT, C, QB, DE, NT, ILB and CB. They need big upgrades at G, RT, TE, OLB and S. I think offensive line is the biggest priority, as keeping Rodgers upright and protected needs to be of the utmost importance. Next is OLB, then TE and S. They should be able to get what will probably be one of the top 1-2 offensive linemen or pass rusher in the draft at #12, then grab a starter at TE or S with the late 1st and early 2nd.

I think it's time to spend draft capital or find some way to acquire a young, athletic TE. It's been retread after retread after Finley was forced into retirement, and not having a consistent weapon in that spot has been a big detriment. Going into last season, I was hoping they'd grab Trey Burton as a free agent, but instead they spent more on a clearly over-the-hill Graham. Graham was terrible by any means, and he played hard all year, but he clearly wasn't the difference maker he was billed as, and it's because his speed is gone. He can still be a sold role player, but isn't worth near the money he's getting.

I agree that it would be a very "inside the box" hire. But Fitzgerald's connection to Murphy may be the only reason he'd even consider an NFL job. He has strongly resisted NFL overtures in the past.

Pat Fitzgerald was an All-American middle linebacker for Northwestern in the 90s, and has been a very solid coach for a team who's high educational standards can make it difficult to compete with other Big 10 teams. He'd be a very solid hire.

A healthy King is the best CB on the field. Yes, even better than Alexander. That dude is good. Now, health is obviously an issue, but I think you have to pencil him in as a starter, while hoping guys like Jackson and Brown show improvement. King strikes me as the type of guy who will leave the Packers after an injury-plagued early career, and become a star someplace like Seattle. I'm not sure what the answer is at safety. It is pretty obvious that they need a smart "field general" type back there to direct traffic. Both Brice and Jones showed signs of competent play at times, but the consistency definitely wasn't there. I think they are going to have to find one starting safety from the current roster, though. Maybe that player is ultimately Josh Jackson.

Vikings getting some gift penalties to keep drives alive. Man the Vikings look like absolute garbage.

So far so good. #SKOLOL

I would think/hope that ship has sailed. Kind of a raw deal for Philbin, but I'm sure he knew the score going in. I'm sure he'll be on McCarthy's staff in Arizona/New York/Cleveland.

Seeing the Bears and Eagles knock the Vikings out of the playoffs would be a decent silver lining today.

This would be me if we lost last week and guaranteed ourselves the 7th pick. I just read that with the way things shook out today, the best the Packers could have drafted with a loss last week would have been 8th. 2-4 spots isn't really enough of a difference to get upset about.