Ron Robinsons Beard

Gonna hear the Brewers connected to anyone and everyone over the next week. Playoff-caliber team with obvious holes to fill, and a deep and talented minor league system. Plus being in on Machado till the end shows other teams that they have prospects that are available in the right deal. I wouldn't mind both of these guys, provided the cost is not astronomical. Considering what the A's got Familia for, Britton shouldn't cost a fortune. Archer is going to be more expensive, but obviously has multiple years of control. I just posted it since I hadn’t seen that tweet here. We have been linked to both pitchers. I did find it interesting that our pitching staff is currently 3rd in the NL in runs allowed. Sure doesn’t feel that way. They were buoyed by terrific bullpen work in the first half. Lots of low-scoring games due to our inept, inconsistent offense.

I agree. If you are only going to pitch a reliever once every 4 days, they might as well be starting.

They are a mess! First, they need to get as much as they can for Jones, Britton, Schoop and Trumbo. Davis is going nowhere, we thought Braun was aging bad, Davis is a train wreck and paid big money through 2022! If I'm them, I'd hang on to Bundy, Gausman and Cobb. Actually, I think a Brewers-O's trade would match up well! I'd offer Britton to the Brewers for Santana, Medieros and a lotto pick. Santana needs a change of scenery, don't think he will ever be the same again for Milwaukee. Did you see what the Mets got for Familia? I don't think there is any way the Orioles are going to get that kind of package back for Britton.

Except that it's not unclear at all. It's when you can look at your team and know that you don't have five plus holes to fill. It's when you can reliably expect the majority of your pitching staff to go more than five innings regularly. The difference between the two philosophies is simple and your post shows it. You look at the record to tell you when its time. Some of us look at the make up of the team and the competitive environment. You think a playoff appearance is worth gambling the future on. We believe that the World Series is the goal and you don't sell your future until you have that team. If Machado truly were the missing link, I'd have advocated giving up Burnes for him. I started cheering for this team religiously in 1990, and I'm afraid that if we are going to hold the team to that standard to decide whether we are a contender, we'll never actually get there. I'm by no means advocating playing fast and loose with our minor league depth to shoot for a Wild Card loss. There are smart ways to use the trade market to help the MLB team without destroying farm system depth. I guess I'm just getting sick of being told "Wait till next year."

Gonna hear the Brewers connected to anyone and everyone over the next week. Playoff-caliber team with obvious holes to fill, and a deep and talented minor league system. Plus being in on Machado till the end shows other teams that they have prospects that are available in the right deal. I wouldn't mind both of these guys, provided the cost is not astronomical. Considering what the A's got Familia for, Britton shouldn't cost a fortune. Archer is going to be more expensive, but obviously has multiple years of control.

What was Walker's OPS last year when we was essentially landed for spare change?

I don't want them to stand pat, I want them to sell. Last year too. My criticism of Stearns is that he's too close to the Bucks model. Sort of rebuild, sort of not. So we're left with a good team, but a team with more holes than can be fixed by a trade deadline deal or two. COULD they win the WS this year? Sure. But very small odds. I rather build a more talented roster and have multiple years of realistic chances at winning it all. Not saying I'm right, or anyone here is wrong. Just stating what I want him to do. The issue I have with your philosophy is it is unclear as to when you decide, then, that you actually have a contender. If 18 games over .500 (or 12 games now) isn't an invitation to shoot for the playoffs, then when is it? I guess I just think that selling now tells me "we are perpetually rebuilding, and will continue to be essentially a minor league team for playoff teams". That's '90s Brewers mentality, and I don't agree with it. You don't go out and trade for Yelich and sign Cain to all of a sudden start trading off MLB assets.

If the last few games has taught me anything, it's that "bullpenning" is not a sustainable way of playing MLB baseball. The only way it works is if your whole pen is throwing the ball well, and even then going into games with 3-4 relievers unavailable is not good. I was disappointed when they pulled Miley with a relatively low pitch count on Friday, which then taxed some of the pen. Then they used the big guns on Saturday (Burnes, Hader), which led to the debacle we say yesterday. They cannot keep up with these consistent short starts. It's time to either let these starters go longer, or perhaps give a shot to guys like Burnes or Houser in the rotation in the hope that maybe they can be stretched out to provide 100 pitches.

I like Dozier too, but is his value really that much higher than Neil Walker's was last year? Walker was having a better year, and was acquired for a spare part minor league reliever. There may be more competition for Dozier, and he has more name recognition, but I can't imagine that the return for him is going to be hugely significant. There is no way one of Ortiz or Phillips goes back for Dozier, much less both. Machado was a special case, because he's Many Machado. He's the type of bat that totally remakes your lineup. You pay for guys like that, even short-term. Brian Dozier is a decent bat, but he's not that.

Do I think there are moves Stearns can make in the next week that would make this team a sure-fire playoff contender? Yes. Really, I think they are a playoff contender right now even if they do absolutely nothing. Many of the injured guys are going to be healthy in the next week. They aren't going to stay cold like this much longer. Even great teams go through rough stretches. This is this team's rough stretch, and they'll come out of it. The idea that David Stearns is getting a "free pass" is nonsensical, though. Every move that he's made, from trading for Yelich and signing Cain, to calling up Nate Orf, has been scrutinized immensely, and every move has had its share of detractors. Even Yelich, for as great as he is and has been, prompted posters who were upset with the package that was given up to chime in. So if you believe that Stearns is getting a free pass from fans, I think that is incorrect. Now, the man making the decisions, Mark Attanasio, is also a fan, and we all know he wants to win. I'm sure that he is not happy at all with this rough stretch, when we had a team that looked like a World Series contender a week before the All Star break. But I also believe Attanasio can see the forest through the trees, and knows that this team, along with the minor league system, is being built for long-term stability. Personally, I believe this team is closer than many others do, and I'd love to see them put together a package or two of prospects and perhaps even major league talent from positions of larger depth to make a few deals for perhaps a middle infield and catcher bat, and an improvement to the starting rotation ... that aren't rentals. But it takes two to tango, and Stearns has made it clear that the Orioles were likely asking for Burnes in any Machado trade. If that deal would have happened, this board might have actually imploded.

Or is simply that the sellers are holding out until closer to the deadline. Most moves happen then.

OPTIMISM THREAD!

May have been a little provoking, but not political in the least.

Never a doubt Corey! (why do my knuckles hurt?)

Huge DP! Atta boy Corey!

Dang right! C'mon Knebel, lets get this thing done.

I would be giving that FREE American a standing ovation if I were at the game. Isn't politics fun? Plush said absolutely nothing political.

Thought it was pretty clear. Not have fans give him a standing ovation because he said a bunch of racist and homophobic crap. Because that's exactly what they were clapping for. Despite my many differences of opinion over the years here with many posters, I don't think I've ever told anyone on here that they are flat out wrong. I'm not going to start tonight. You are certainly free to think what you want.

Accusing those who support him of "showing enthusiast approval" of his actions is toeing a pretty fine line. He hadn't performed yet, so what would you call it? Showing support for a guy going through a (self-imposed) rough time. That's it. Seriously, what more do you want. Do you want him suspended? Released? Thrown in jail?

Accusing those who support him of "showing enthusiast approval" of his actions is toeing a pretty fine line.

No Fine. Don't criticize those who choose to then.

I hope this is the last in-game thread that turns into a "should we support Hader?" debate. The guy may have done some dumb stuff, but he's one of the best relievers in the league, and is probably the most important player to this team's chances now and in the future. You're dang right I'm pulling for him.

Showing support for a guy going through a rough time. Classy fan move. The only one's not ready to move on are Twitter warriors. He apologized to the fans and his team, and had one of the most exciting nights of his life ruined by this. Not real sure what other punishment he needs to endure. Showing support would be not booing the guy. Standing ovation is enthusiastic approval. I disagree. In fact, I vehemently disagree. That is crap. The last few days the guy has been through hell. Self-imposed hell, but still hell. He's shown remorse. He's apologized. Support him.

Showing support for a guy going through a rough time. Classy fan move. The only one's not ready to move on are Twitter warriors. He apologized to the fans and his team, and had one of the most exciting nights of his life ruined by this. Not real sure what other punishment he needs to endure.

Nottingham needs to play consistently, and he's not going to do that with Pina healthy. Counsell loves him some Manny.