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Bruce Bochy was an excellent in game manager, especially in the playoffs. He knew his teams strengths and knew what buttons to push pitching aside. How many aces did the Braves have for the better part of a decade and how many championships did they win, 1? Braves had 5 - 100 win seasons under Cox where they didn't make the WS. Bochy took 92 win, 94 win and 88 win teams to World Champions and one more time taking the Padres to the World Series. Its not like they were the 100 win Yankee or Braves teams of the late 90's. Counsell managed very good during the regular season, I think his NLCS managing was subpar. JJ was struggling bad with his command in Game 2 7th inning as he walked in a runner and decided it would be a good idea to bring him back out for the 8th, we win that game its a whole different series. I'm not saying I hate Counsell or that he's the worst, but I think I bring up valid points and I think too many people give him credit for the pitching "strategy" they went with this year.

Just reading through some of this thread. Cain was robbed of the Gold Glove and Yelich was absolutely the MVP. Was fine with Counsell not winning the Manager of the year for the following reasons which probably won't be popular on this board. Does everyone really think that in spring training Counsell sat there by himself and was like, this year I am going to do something the league has never done before, I'm going to only let the starters go through twice through the order no matter what, won't let them touch the third time through and use the bullpen to the max....I doubt it. This "strategy" in my mind was all front office and forced upon through the coaches with what they were given based on all the analytics available. I think this was the reason that Coles and DJ left as well. They weren't allowed to do their jobs. Sure they may have been given more money, but to be that close to the World Series with the same cast in play, something doesn't seem right. I think the voters saw this as well and didn't want to credit him for something that wasn't his idea. The Brewers also added Cain and Yelich which were two of the best players in the NL this year which doesn't help in a Managers case for improving the team, one being the MVP. I think Counsell kept a great clubhouse from what was in the media, I don't think his in game strategy was the greatest as there were a number of head scratching moments during the year(pitcher pinch hitting for a pitcher with 3 position players not used during the game, pitchers hitting then taken out the next inning without pitching the next inning on several occasions, not moving runners over in the NLCS when needed, letting a struggling JJ continue to pitch in tight games in the NLCS with giving up the game losing HR in Game 2, loading the bases with no outs in game 3, giving up the dagger in Game 7. I think the Brewers had a better team then the Dodgers and home field advantage and we ended up losing partly due to coaching decisions. I think if we had Bruce Bochy or even dare I say Tony Larussa coach in the NLCS, the Brewers would have been playing in the World Series. Neither of those managers would have let JJ touch the ball late in a tight game and they would have manufactured more runs knowing the bullpen we had. Just seems like alot of people are giving this pitching "strategy" credit to Counsell when I think it was driven by the Front Office, help prove me wrong on this. For that, I think Stearns was absolutely robbed of being the executive of the year.

Braun/Villar/Catcher Kemp Grandal Forsythe(Down year in 17, but solid in 15/16) Mitch White Dodgers reduce payroll, we fill C and 2b and Mitch White looks legit Domingo stays in RF, Brewers release almost 15M off Braun’s contract

I was thinking catcher, no one would run on us

So if Darvish does sign with some other team, I'd hate to lose another draft pick with the other 3 top arms available. Lets say the Brewers were to offer Lance Lynn or Cobb hypothetically 3 years at 49M with team options for years 4 and 5, anyone know how the options come into play if that would be considered a part of the total offer or just guaranteed? Pretty sure the new CBA rules say that if signed over $50M there is draft pick compensation. That's the only way I'd want to sign one of these other 3 guys, but they'd(Cobb and Lynn) have to drop down to 3 years likely unless Arrieta does 2 years under $50M with team options in later years, but I don't see him doing that.

Anybody ever figure out what Stearns bought at the Metro Mart on Saturday morning????????

Thought HighHeat mentioned something about Darvish making a decision by Monday, you’d think 10 days away they’d want to get things rolling, hoping for some good news tomorrow

I inserted the bold Maybe To me it is a BIG Maybe Chacins slider is one of the best in MLB https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.beyondtheboxscore.com/platform/amp/2017/12/21/16803642/jhoulys-chacin-brewers-mlb-hot-stove-rumors-free-agent-contract-signing-slider He had a very good year last year because he used it more often Chase Anderson was nothing special coming to the Brewers and look at his last year. Pitching is a lot about looking at your strengths and staying away from your weaknesses. I think our pitching staff does a great job of getting the best out of their pitchers. Looking forward to a nice year from Chacin, he has the tools to succeed.

At OnDeck yesterday, it just seemed that both Stearns and Attanasio were holding back on something. Its like they wanted to announce something, but they couldn't. As others have mentioned, I wouldn't be surprised if something happened on the pitching side for us once Darvish signs, whether its with Milwaukee or some other team, it will allow us to trade someone or sign someone. As for Braun to 1st, I think its a smokescreen.

Schoop Schoop would be awesome but we'd probably have to add some for him. Idk their OF/2B depth situation but i think thatd be a lateral move for them and wouldnt really make sense. Apparently he skipped out on their fan fest yesterday and no one is happy with him right now

Schoop

So basically Cleveland is offering McKenzie and Meijia for Domingo and a throw in, why don’t we just do that, I would and not include Detroit. Anyone know if Fulmer is completely healthy from his injury at the end of last year?

Good List, I'd add two more guys: Robbie Ray - 3 years control Mike Clevinger - 5 years control I wonder if packaging Domingo with one of our other starters would open discussions with these guys? Domingo and Davies or Woodruff package offered for either of these guys, both teams seem to have some decent SP depth. They would drop off on SP pitching but gain in the OF. Ray/Clevinger Anderson Nelson Chacin Woodruff/Davies Suter

I would think Clevinger would be untouchable if I'm the Indians unless they are starving of OF help with pop. 3+ WAR pitcher with 5 years of control left. We would have to give up alot more than Santana to obtain him.

Stearns has to have something lined up and waiting for the Cain deal to be official before making it. I’d love to see Salazar or Duffy.