Ron Robinsons Beard

Tyrann Mathieu fits Pettine's defense as a slot corner. Packers obviously have a need. No inside info here, but easy to connect the dots.

Today's line-up against the White Sox: 1. Cain (CF) 2. Yelich (LF) 3. Braun (1B) 4. Shaw (3B) 5. Santana (RF) 6. Thames (DH) 7. Piña © 8. Villar (2B) 9. Arcia (SS) Save for Thames at DH, this is what I expect the opening day line-up to look like. Which is awesome!

You absolutely nailed the situation perfectly. The makeup of the roster is weird, which leads me to believe Stearns likely had some moves in place that fell through. But the notion that Santana is losing value because of a down spring is odd, to say the least. He's hitting a very respectable .276. Santana is what he is ... a lumbering corner OF who provides power, a decent average and a lot of Ks. Nothing he's done this Spring Training is disproving that. I've been all for trading him not because he isn't a good hitter or doesn't provide value, but because he doesn't fit the make-up of the team that Stearns is obviously trying to build. He seems to be placing an emphasis on defense and on-base skills, which just isn't Santana's game. I know there is still time to get things figured out, but the closer we get to opening day, the closer "let it ride" time with this roster sets in. Which means Aguilar likely gets the boot. Which is unfortunate.

Yet hitting a very respectable .276. Santana is what he is ... a lumbering corner OF who provides power, a decent average and a lot of Ks. Nothing he's done this Spring Training is disproving that.

Absolutely wasting Santana's value/potential. Not starting one game has no effect on Santana's value/potential. Even if all of Thames/Braun/Cain/Yelich/Domingo are perfectly healthy all year long (they won't be) there are plenty of PAs for everyone. Keeping players well rested & facing favorable match ups may even result in better production. Pretty sure that's not what he was getting at. He's saying Santana will be warming the bench because he is not performing well in Spring Training. Which would be an odd decision after the season he had last year.

Or threw up a bunch of predictions, and simply deleted the ones that turned out wrong.

I'd say no with 100% certainty. But do you have a statistical analysis to back it up?!? Nope. 2009 Brewers finished with a 22-10 Spring Training record, and expectations were sky high. We all know how that season turned out

I'd say no with 100% certainty.

I think Swihart is more name and hype than anything. Red Sox prospects are always hyped. He could be a useful player on the Brewers' bench, but the talk of having to give up Broxton+ to get him is far fetched.

OK, I'll take a stab at this. I think you'll see on my list a preference for players closer to Big League-ready: 1. Keston Hiura - 2B - showing in Spring Training how special he could be. He's going to be a quick riser 2. Brett Phillips - OF - love his defense and makeup. Hard to believe he's still only 23. 3. Brandon Woodruff - RHP - he is MLB ready and IMO should be in the rotation. I see him as the next Jimmy Nelson, just hopefully getting the results sooner. 4. Luis Ortiz - RHP - I am still extremely high on him, and think he's going to have a breakout year. Love the stuff and potential. 5. Corbin Burnes - RHP - I like him, but not as much as a lot of others here do. I hope he proves me wrong and nails that #2 starter prediction. 6. Mauricio Dubon - 2B - Slick glove and underrated bat. He could be the reason the team didn't go after Neil Walker in FA. Team will have an issue when both he and Hiura are knocking on the MLB door in August. 7. Taylor Williams - RHP - His stuff is absolutely electric. If he isn't in the MLB pen to start 2018, they are making a mistake. 8. Lucas Erceg - 3B - It is so nice having a legitimate high-end 3B prospect in the system for once. 9. Corey Ray - OF - Time to rebuild that value, buddy. Potential currency for a deadline addition. 10. Adrian Houser - RHP - Another MLB-ready pitcher with great stuff. If he pans out, man that Gomez trade is awesome. It actually already is. 11. Tristen Lutz - OF - My first baby on the list. But watching him play does bring to mind Mike Trout. Not a bad comparison. 12. Trent Grisham - OF - Even with the trade of Brinson and Harrison, this system is still loaded with talented outfielders. 13. Jacob Nottingham - C - He is going to tear things up offensively in Colorado Springs, firmly establishing himself at the Brewers' catcher of the future. 14. Troy Stokes - OF - I rest my case. This team is very rich in OF currency. 15. Cody Ponce - RHP - He screams middle-of-rotation workhorse. Those types are very valuable. 16. Phil Bickford - RHP - I still really like him as a potential middle rotation starter. Gotta get his velocity back up, though. 17. Jake Gatewood - 1B - The fact that he is so far down is a testament to how deep the system is. He has absolute stud potential if he can cut down on the swings and misses. 18. Freddy Peralta - RHP - I see him as a bullpen piece without overwhelming stuff. Still valuable, but not as great as other have him. 19. Kodi Medeiros - LHP - Brewers are being aggressive in his placement. Hopefully he shines and makes a move. 20. Bubba Derby - RHP - He's been overlooked, but is still young and just continues to get results. Now is one step away from the majors. I think he at least turns into an important bullpen piece for the Brewers. 21. Nate Kirby - LHP - It's time for you to shine, sir. Hopefully he is finally healthy and able to live up to his high draft status. 22. Jorge Lopez - RHP - Has the tools to be a shutdown late-inning reliever if he can put it together. 23. KJ Harrison - C - Nice hit tool. Hopefully he can stick at catcher. 24. Trey Supak - RHP - #2-3 starter potential down this low in the rankings is awesome. 25. Jon Perrin - RHP - Always a place for crafty pitchers. This guy will be a Big League starter somewhere, someday, because he knows how to pitch. Honorable Mentions: 26. Kyle Wren - OF 27. Chad McClanahan - 3B/OF 28. Je'Von Ward - OF 29. Marcos Diplan - RHP 30. Caden Lemons - RHP

Hundley is as good as gone. The Packers plan to trade him to anyone offering a low-round pick. There is interest from at least a couple teams too. Kizer isn't being viewed as the surefire #2, though. They consider him more of a developmental guy, as saw his potential as better than pretty much any QB in the draft, other than the top 4 guys. Look for them to eventually acquire a veteran QB for the #2 role. It will be a guy like Matt Moore.

This is probably more legit: Chris Larson ‏ @Chris_Larson25 11h11 hours ago More Just heard on MLB Network Radio that the #Phillies, #Brewers, and #Orioles are the 3 teams acting the most aggressively to try and sign Alex Cobb. #HotStove #SpringTraining #MLB

I knew Vogt was a fun dude, but this was great. I hope he does make it back before the regular season and sticks on the roster. Seems like a solid "glue" guy. If he has to take a rehab assignment to AAA, he and Dillard would make a fun goofball battery.

saints wanted him, but at a big discount. He said no, and talks broke down. That's when the Packers swooped in. Will be interesting to hear what the numbers are.

Are we assuming someone scoops him up or that he would decide not to stay in Milwaukee's system? Question was simply on how many catchers would be on the 40-man roster. He could certainly sign a minor league deal with the Brewers, but then he would no longer be on the 40-man.

Bummer ... oh well, I guess they are going with Bandy or Bethancourt as the #2 guy then.

Agreed. Dickson and Lance Kendricks are pretty much the same guy.

Packers talking with Jimmy Graham today. Gonna cost big $$$ though. Looking at Ed Dickson as a fallback. Personally, I'm not real excited about either. I'd rather take a chance on a cheap deal with Eifert.

The Cardinals have pick #15. They will have to vault a few teams to get up high enough to get one of the big 4 QBs (Rosen, D'arnold, Allen, Mayfield).

It's like the Cardinals brass put their heads together and asked, "Why can we sign that is the most like Carson Palmer?" Blaine Gabbert will be starting again by Week 3.

So he made up the 7-14 days part? I know you are grasping at straws, but please just stop.

They have the money available to go out and get anyone they want, but they aren't going to be crazy/stupid about it. The deals are going to be at their price. If you look at the huge dollars being thrown around today, it is from either from mismanaged teams (Bears) or desperate teams (Vikings).

Follow baseball insiders, read all rumors, report rumors as coming from personal "source", then quickly delete those tweets if rumor proves incorrect. I feel like we've been down this road before. We shall see... Nightengale posted about Arrieta and Cobb more than likely signing this week. This guy tweeted about Arrieta signing with Phillies or Nats on 3/1 and saying it would likely be 7-14 days before something happening and Jake signed on 3/10. Again, he throws educated predictions up, says they are from a source, then quickly deletes if they don't come true. Hell, I could do that, and my only source is the voices in my head!

Follow baseball insiders, read all rumors, report rumors as coming from personal "source", then quickly delete those tweets if rumor proves incorrect. I feel like we've been down this road before.