long ball

Does anyone know if Suter is throwing his full repertoire of pitches? Or is he just throwing fastball/change?

I agree with what most people have said already. Davies, Anderson, and Wodruff all appear to be trending toward a rotation spot (assuming all are with the team on opening day). I think the Brewers will learn from their strategy this season by relying too heavily on the young internal options. Peralta, Burnes, and Houser could all wind up in the rotation next year but I think they will make a more conscious effort to bring in some cheap veteran arms. That could mean retaining some of the impending free agents like Gio, Chacin, and Lyles or targeting other guys. I think they can afford to wait out the market a little on the SP front though and sign guys who last late into the off season. They don't need to jump at guys early in the off season like the Angels did with Cahill and Harvey last year. I think Nelson is probably a non-tender guy. Suter I like more in a swing man type role. Not sure on Faria, but he's out of options in 2020 and probably a relief/swing man type role. Colin McHugh strikes me as a guy who might be of interest to the Brewers. Low velocity swing man type who might be undervalued in free agency.

Going on Lyles this year, and with the Crew last year... I think he may have unlocked something. Giving him a deal on the order of three years (2020-2022) at $4.5 million each, with an option for a fourth at $6 million with a $2 million buyout is cheaper than what Chacin got. As for Gio, I think he is worth a deal in the 3 years, $17.5 million range. Option for a fourth at $8 million, with a $2.5 million buyout. I'd also lock up Pomeranz as a bullpen arm to replace Claudio - 3 years, $9 million. That would give the Crew Locks - Woodruff, Davies, Gio, Anderson Swing - Lyles, Houser, Peralta, Faria Young Guns - Supak, Rasmussen, Roegner, Bettinger, File Questions (injury/otherwise) - Nelson, Burnes, Suter Why give so many years? Guys like this just aren't getting 3 year deals in free agency right now. They'd all be lucky to get 2 guaranteed years.

Agreed, that sweep was much needed. Salvaged the road trip. I also appreciated a game that they controlled from the first inning with minimal stress. Hader gets a 3 day break and possible sets up to get 2-3 innings in the Texas series and 2 innings in the Twins series. If the diamondbacks hold on vs the Phillies the Brewers are back to being tied for the WC2 spot.

Because he's putting up roughly the same production as he did in 2017 and 2018 heading into free agency where he's average $8.5m in guaranteed money/contract.

Would you non-tender Travis Shaw? This is the hardest decision. If Moose accepts the mutual option, I'd non-tender Shaw. Would you pickup Thames option? For a net of $6.5 and no internal option or attractive free agents I'd say yes. However there might be some non-tender types that would interest me enough to be able to reallocate funds elsewhere. With the way Grisham has come on he may be the primary LF next season. Working Braun at 1b again during spring is probably going to be necessary. Anyway we can bring back Grandal and/or Moose? I actually think there is a reasonable chance Moose picks up his half of the option given his weak market the past two seasons. Grandal will probably get a better deal than the mutual option and it's probably not the Brewers. Pina is most likely starter next season. Are we going to upgrade shortstop or just bring somebody to push Arcia? I think Arcia is possibly non-tendered. Jose Iglesias or a Galvis type make sense. Better production and equal or better glove. Would love Didi Gregorius but I doubt the Brewers will be players for him. How do we fill out the rotation besides these three... Woodruff Anderson (I'd pick up his option) Davies Burnes, Peralta, Houser, Faria, and Suter are options. They'll need to add depth with probably two stearns like signings. Chacin, Gio Gonzalez, Miley, Lyles, Pomeranz etc type. I think Nelson is non-tendered. Decline the Jeffress option? I wouldn't decline the option. Probably can't keep all of Houser, Faria, Black, Guerra, and JJ though. BP options with options: Claudio, Suter, Peralta, Burnes, D Williams, Wahl. Obviously there's some overlap between rotation and pen options like this season. I think Strearns will learn from the lack of veteran depth this season and look for a veteran SP and RP.

If the Brewers are able to make it into September within a 3 games of a playoff spot (and not 4 teams between them and the 2nd wc) I like their chances. Really tough schedule coming up though after this weekend. Mid-late September is rather soft and expanded rosters is when CC really shines.

Kinda sucks to have a national TV game and no yelich and a bullpen game, but oh well. This is another reason why "upstart" teams like the Brewers don't often get on sunday night baseball. This national TV game is kinda looking like a dud.

How many chances has CC given Anderson to get more than 15 outs? Last year it was wise to pull a starter after five. This year if the starter is going well, I would rather him go through the third time in the lineup, versus an extra inning from the bullpen roulette we have. Anderson has made 18 starts this season. He's face more than 18 batters 13 times. I know it's only 53 batters, but numbers confirm that he's significantly worse the 3rd time through.

I suppose it's still possible to call up Supak, but it'd probably mean optioning Faria. I think they have enough available arms in the pen to get through today (D Williams not pictured in the graphic, but sure to factor into today's game). Especially if they lose and only need to cover 8 innings lol

I mean he did struggle in that inning. It was made worse by the play Moustakas failed to make that was scored a double, but Fraizer hit a towering smash down the RF line that hooked just foul before he grounded out, Reynolds homered to straightaway center, and Marte smoked a single at 101.7 MPH. I agree that the Brewers rarely jump out to big leads and when they do it feels like the pitching staff really "plays to the score".

Ya I was wondering about Faria too. I'm kinda thinking they go with Pomeranz as long as he can go. Then Williams makes his debut. Optimistically that gets them through 5. Then you go from there depending where the game is at. Guerra, Claudio, and Jeffress will all be available. Hader probably. Freddy maybe. Albers you probs want to avoid, but ultimately he isn't part of the future and isn't someone they're trying to protect.

Chase is solid. It's just hard to have a rotation of 4 guys who can only get 15 outs when the bullpen isn't as good or as deep as 2018. Woodruff, Anderson, and Davies are all probably in the rotation for 2020 if we are forecasting today. Who knows about the rest.

woof

The start of the Jordan Lyles Experience 2.0 turned out pretty good.

I love when they wear the all whites with white shoes. No pinstripes or piping, just clean white. These light green ones from tonight and tomorrow and nice too.

Anyone know what his defense is like in CF? A quick google search ranges from nope-average.

Let's get weird.

Passan just tweeted that Grisham is expected to join the Brewers soon. That could mean today since he wasn't in the AAA lineup.

I agree with this for the most part. Had to basically get in the August trade acquisitions in this month too because they eliminated the waiver deadline. Sure, I wish they did more but the only guy that got traded who was in my "realistic" SP target group was Roark.

I think knebel not pitching one inning was the most important thing. But yes burnes being bad hurt too Yep. Losing at least 150 good-dominant innings from Knebel and Burnes is the biggest killer. Add in a mediocre Jeffress and that's ~200-250 quality innings the Brewers were likely counting on when spring training opened.

This is the one perk of being an out of state fan. Although my parents have Dish Network at their cottage so it's either radio or bar time when I visit next month.

Agreed. Schwarber and Heyward in the line up against LHP is roughhhhh. Castellanos mashes lefties and averagish vs lefties. Probably means more Heyward in CF and less Almora.

Astros seem good. Not sure if the Brewers were on Greinke's no trade list, but it would have been fun to have him back on the Brewers.

As a note, Dubon is 25. Older than Orlando Arcia*** He's not the future at SS folks.