buckybrewer232

Honestly, this is what I'd like to see. I just don't know if it's realistic. I would imagine they have at least entertained the idea, but I would be surprised if it happened. 1st base production was not good last year after April and a core lineup of Cain, Yelich, Braun, Shaw, Santana would be amazing. Brewers could then trade Thames or Aguilar or both for bullpen help or low minors prospects. Sign a guy like Arietta, Lynn, or Cobb and I think you have a staff that could win. Anderson, Lynn/Cobb/Arietta, Chacin, Davies, Woodruff.. Guys like Wilkerson, Yo, Suter as depth. Nelson coming back at some point, Burnes could be ML ready at some point.. Not to mention they may still be planning on having Hader as a SP (I would).

That sums it up for me as well. Two chances at a WS run is better than one. Sure you could lose the 1 WC game right away, but you could just as easily be a quick out in the one series as division winner. I don't think I could name all of the division winners over the past couple years. Winning the division doesn't matter either, no one remembers what a team did unless they make the WS. 2 WC's gets you 2 shots, 1 division title gets you 1 shot.

Barnes isn't going anywhere. The rest are probably gone.

He does have value now, which is why they should try trading him this offseason. What concerns me the most is Braun in '19 & '20. His defense is bad and only going to get worse, his bat isn't what it used to be, and we all know of his injury history. What will he look like in a couple years at 35-36 years old? '19, '20 and beyond the Brewers could really be entering their competitive window IMO and I worry they could have a useless Braun at that time taking up $15 mil on the payroll. If some team is willing to take him on now, even if nothing comes back in return I would probably jump on it. It makes even more sense for the Brewers considering the clogged OF. Highly doubt it happens, though.

This is a huge deal in my book. The offense hasn't been great. The big question is how do you improve? One problem we have is that we have a lot of good - but not great - players. That's not a bad thing, but improving from good to great can cost a lot. Is Hosmer better then Thames/Aguilar? Yes. But is Hosmer at $20M (for many years) better to have than Thames/Aguilar at $5.5M? I don't think so. There's immense value in financial flexibility, and when we sink superstar dollars into a player who give us an incremental push improvement - it's not the best use of our dollars. To me, the best way to improve is by identifying the poor areas of production. That would be 2B and CF. The potential to improve 2B is there if Villar can rebound (big question), and the potential to improve in CF is there in Brinson and Phillips over Broxton. The Brewers really lack superstar position players. To get one costs a lot - either in prospects or in free agency. Thus, the best way for us to get an all star caliber player is to home grow one. Right now, the guy who has the tools is Brinson - but he's had injury issues and he's no sure thing. But if anyone is likely to become a consistent all star - he's the guy. The tough part is that there is no easy answer. Getting an all star caliber guy isn't cheap or easy. 'Letting young guys get better' is a strategy - but a very dicey one. But for the most part, that's what I would do. Fair points and I totally understand where you're coming from. A lot would hinge on really how much it would take to sign Hosmer. I'm also just not a huge fan of Thames going forward. He had the benefit of being an unknown and taking the league by storm the first month of the season, and I don't think you see a .870 OPS season from him again. Plus his defense negates a lot of his value and I think the Brewers have room for improvement defensively. You're a much better team defensively if you put Hosmer at 1st base and your OF is Santana, Brinson, Phillips compared to what we are seeing now. Also, totally agree on your concern of the Brewers having no superstar position players. This is one of the things that concerns me a bit with this organization right now. Brinson is about the only one in the system who I think has that potential, and I'm not sure if he'll ever put it all together. Look around the league and all the playoff teams have a superstar position player or superstars. They're all young too. The rest of the NL is loaded with them- Bryant, Rizzo, Harper, Rendon, Bellinger, Seager, Goldschmidt, Blackmon, Arenado, etc.

I'm surprised that everyone on here wants basically the entire lineup back as is, considering they are going to finish up a below average offense. And, that is with a lot of surprise guys having career years- Pina, Shaw, Thames, Santana, etc. That said, I fully expect somewhat of an adjustment next year which probably results in a step back. If I was I Stearns, would be looking to build and bridge toward 2019 and beyond when I think they can really compete for years to come. With that in mind, my first order of business would be determining if Santana or Braun can play 1st base. Phillips and Brinson are ready and I don't want to be platooning them right away, they are both everyday players IMO. Getting them established as full time big leaguers in 2018 will only help for 2019 and beyond. If Braun/Santana can't play 1st, I trade Braun. Yes, I understand they likely won't get anything of significance back. However, his payroll relief alone (if you get someone to take on most of it) will allow the team to improve elsewhere, either this year or in 2019 or later when our own guys are getting more expensive or we need a piece or two to put us over the top. Braun isn't what he used to be and approaching his mid 30's I expect him to get worse, especially defensively where he is already bad. Obviously, we all know of his health issues as well. Assuming, you trade Braun my 2018 roster would look something like this: C: Pina and Avila- let Vogt walk and sign Avila. Bringing Luc back would be tempting here, he'll be cheap. 1B: Hosmer- I'm a Hosmer fan, I think his bat is legit and he plays great D. Thames is traded 2B: Villar- Gotta figure out what you have with him but ideally Hiura is ready in 2019. Let Walker walk. 3B: Shaw SS: Arcia LF: Santana CF: Brinson RF: Phillips Bench: Broxton, Perez, Aguilar I guess Sogard would be OK but he was not good before this year. Would also be interested in a guy like Jon Jay. Type of hitter that is needed with this squad. SP: Anderson, Davies, Woodruff, Hader, Free Agent Pen: Would be interested in Swarzak but I think he gets expensive. Sign a FA or two and fill the rest out with all the options in house.

Sogard grinds out at bats really well, takes his walks, and plays solid defense at SS. He doesn't have the flashy ability of Arcia, but he's far more consistent. I don't necessarily agree with Arcia sitting everyday, that's probably Counsel's reasoning though. Sogard's line in September: .194/.325/.245 Not sure that screams needing to be in the lineup and leading off every game.

Don't get the infatuation with Sogard and having to bat him leadoff. Is it really necessary to start him over Arcia every game against a RHP? I know he had the big hit last night..

The things I didn't agree with were pinch hitting Broxton for Phillips and allowing Drake to pitch to Bryant. Righties KILL Drake but Counsell allowed him to pitch to one of the best in the game. I would've gone Hughes to start the inning, take your chances with him against Jay, have him face Bryant and then bring Drake in to face Rizzo. Jay most likely isn't going to hurt you like Bryant or Rizzo can. I also think Counsell is too obsessed with clearing his bench to platoon when relievers come in, although he kept Thames in last night which worked. Seems like every 6th or 7th inning Counsell clears his bench by swapping Thames/Aguilar, Broxton/Phillips, Sogard/Perez/Arcia, Vogt/Pina. Then, Villar pinch hits for the pitcher. Only leaving hopeless bats like Bandy & Susac. I get it for certain matchups, but I don't think it's necessary to do it for every one of those guys IMO. At least, please no more subbing Broxton for Phillips. He hits lefties just fine!

Game 5 of the 2011 NLCS was a tough one, game 6 was not IMO. I knew it was over and they had no chance with Marcum on the mound, he was done. Last night's loss was one of the worst I've ever experienced, especially considering it came on the heels of another gut puncher the night before. Just super painful to watch, just waiting for them to blow it. Missed opportunities with guys on (again) all game, come back and take the lead, Cubs get leadoff guy on in the 9th because Jeffress doesn't hustle to 1st. A call that could go either way, goes against the Brewers. Baez looks like a fool swinging out of his shoes and then shortens up and gets a hit on a super tough pitch.. Santana swings through a fastball right down the middle and then chases pitches way out of the zone.. Broxton jumps for no reason and drops a fly ball.. Counsell lets Drake pitch to one of the best right handed hitters in the game even though righties hit .350 against him. All while listening to obnoxious Cub fans scream in Miller Park. Ahh, that hurt!!!

I hope so.

I'm really not that worried about it. Hopefully Davies can go at least 6, but if he's off both Garza and Guerra are available to eat up innings. Jeffress may be unavailable, he threw 30 pitches yesterday. Still, you have Wang and Drake to play LOOGY. Hughes can go an inning, Hader should be available for at least one inning. Torres has actually been OK of late. Barnes threw 23 pitches last night, he may be available for part of an inning. Not worried about the pen. It will again come down to whether the offense can up with the key hits with men on base.

Would like to see Phillips start everyday from here on out. He was actually better against lefties this year in AAA, than righties. Sure, smaller sample size but still. Broxton should be delegated to late inning defensive help only, IMO. I'm sure it will never happen, though.

Don't understand why he stole on that pitch. You had to know Diaz just went out there and told Glasnow to shorten his delivery.

Another leadoff runner on and then nothing. This team swings through so many hittable pitches.