monty57

While teams can always use more starting pitching, I think TLB hit it on the head that the likelihood of Schmidt or Zito becoming a Brewer (especially Zito) is basically zero, and I am comfortable with next year's rotation of Sheets, Capuano, Bush, Davis, Carlos V (or one of the other AAA guys if they can beat him out). Therefore, the one FA I'd make a strong push for would be Aramis Ramirez. It may seem illogical to get a player at a position where we currently have Braun, Hall and Koskie, but here's my logic. If Koskie is healthy, he has a long enough track record that we could trade him. He has nothing to prove except that he is healthy. If, God forbid, he is not healthy, then we'll have more need of a 3B next year, and all we can do is hope that he will be able to bounce back and live a normal life. Signing Ramirez to a long term deal will solidify most every position for the foreseeable future with above average talent at most positions: 1B Prince 2B Weeks 3B Ramirez SS Hardy RF Hart CF Hall LF Braun Catcher would then be the only position without a long-term solution locked up. I'm not an advocate of players switching positions, but Hall seems like he will be able to handle the switch to CF, and Braun, by many accounts, is a great LF candidate. For next season, we would probably need to start the season with a Gross/Mench platoon in LF, bringing Braun up when he's proven himself ready. I feel that this one move would put us in a good position to be playoff candidates for years to come, so I think we should make every reasonable effort to make it happen. Maybe there is no chance, but I think we should at least give it a shot.

Watching Eveland (which wasn't a ton, since he only got in 27 innings), he looked scared to make mistakes. It's that look players have of failing, instead of just trying to do what they do well, and letting the chips fall. The merry-go-round of relievers was frustrating to fans, but if you're one of those players, it's got to be maddening. Just my opinion. I do agree, but I'd guess that Eveland and the others were probably more scared of the hitters than they were of being yanked. What I like most about Carlos V. is that when he came up, he wasn't intimidated and scared to pitch. He went after hitters, and you could see in his demeanor what the other AAA guys were lacking. It's that attitude thing that many on this board are unable to admit makes a difference. Some of the other pitchers have better "stuff," and may well have better careers, but it certainly didn't show this year. In Yost/Melvin's defense, the Brewers were playing for a playoff spot this year and already had an exhausted bullpen, so they really didn't have the luxury of letting someone get repeatedly whacked around. They had to try someone else, which they did until they unearthed Carlos. Had they stuck with Eveland, Carlos may never have gotten his chance, and he certainly wouldn't be a top-runner for the rotation next year. As for being prepared for injuries, I'd say they were as prepared as their budget would allow. The Brewers aren't going to be able to afford to keep starting-quality backups at many (if any) positions. They can handle some injuries, but not the quantity they had this season. I'd argue that even a team with the Yankees' payroll would have a hard time keeping enough depth to make up for the losses the Brewers suffered this season. The Brewers should, however, be more prepared this coming season simply due to the fact that their prospects (including the aforementioned pitchers) are one year closer. I do agree that the Brewers (at least on paper) look to improve next season even if they don't make any moves, although I'm sure we'd both agree that that's not going to happen. Probably 5-6 of those "8 outfielders better than Macgruder" will be moved. If in moving them, we can end up with someone like Burrell, I won't be disappointed (that is, after all, what this thread started out discussing).http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif One last point, as far as trading Davis to get Burrell (vs. trading Jenkins), I'd only consider this if we were certain we were bringing in someone of equal or better value for the rotation (Schmidt, Buerhle-?sp, Ohka, Suppan, etc) to replace him. There is no reason to add a 9th outfielder at the expense of one of your top 5 pitchers, and after seeing them this season, I'm scared to death of starting two of them in the opening day rotation next season.

I feel the fact that Mench didn't play much during the final few weeks shows that he won't be back next season, much like how Jenkins was treated during the final few weeks shows he won't be back. I think we're in for a bit of a roller coaster ride this offseason

From the sounds of things, Burrell and Jenkins may have one big thing in common: The fans have soured on them enough that they pretty much have to be traded this offseason. That said, trading one for the other (with cash & possibly low-level prospect throw-in in some way) could work. From a PR standpoint, it would actually look like a big move, even if actual production doesn't change that much. The corwd's favorite whipping-boy Jenkins would be gone, and we'd have picked up the big right-handed stick everybody's asking for. If nothing else, it could spur some extra ticket sales early on. Of course, everything is dependent on passing the physical. On a side note, if we did this, kept Koskie and landed A-Rod, the Brewers could have other teams paying more salary for the Brewers players than they're paying themselves.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Russ, In one post, you are ripping the announcers for using small sample size. In the next post you refuted one poster - who gave 16 years worth of data showing that CF outhit 2B -by giving one year's worth of data. Compared to sixteen years worth of data, one year's data is statistically meaningless. Therefore, as you stated in your first post, one would have to be "ignorant" to use it, as second basemen couldn't "magically" become better hitters over one season. I know you're not ignorant, and I don't mean to imply that you are. In fact I really enjoy reading your posts. However, it shows it's easy fall into using stats that back an argument, even if they're "statistically irrelevent." I tend to give the announcers the beneift of the doubt. It would be very hard to speak for three hours a night, 130+ times a year without saying some things that sound dumb.

I found good splits on ESPN.com. This year: (AB, HR, AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS) Total 129, 9, .295, .343, .628, .971 vs. LH 34, 6, .412, .474, 1.000, 1.474 vs. RH 95, 3, .253, .294, .495, .789 2005 Total 501, 17, .291, .342, .495, .837 vs. LH 125, 3, .336, .407, .560, .967 vs. RH 376, 14, .277, .319, .473, .793 I know the "be wary of small sample" argument. I mentioned the splits because I thought I remembered that he hit lefties better than righties last year. Now, while there appears to be a discrepency between LH and RH, I must note that (1) he's young and there still is only 630 AB in this sample, and (2) hitting near .800 OPS vs. RH for someone who plays four positions relatively well is pretty good. The reason for the discrepency is that he simply destroys left handers! For sake of how he did in 2004 to compare him experience wise with where JJ is at now: Total 390, 9, .238, .276, .374, .650 vs. LH 105, 3, .190, .239, .333, .572 vs. RH 285, 6, .256, .290, .389, .679 Hardy ought to be able to cover that pretty well. I guess I believe that SS is Hardy's position. Billy will continue to spell him once a week or so. However, Billy cannot sit on the bench too often. I think Yost is doing a good job with his personnel this year, and, since injuries do happen, it makes someone like Billy even more valuable.

If someone knows of a good site to find splits, let me know. I was amazed when FSN showed that Billy is hitting over .400 against lefties (with 1.000+ OPS) and around .230 against righties. I know, batting average isn't looked highly upon by many on this site, but that's a pretty amazing difference. Could it be that Billy's terrific numbers this year are partly because the Brewers have faced an inordinate amount of lefties, and Billy has had some days off against righties? If that is the case, if he were put out there everyday, thereby facing more righties than lefties, his numbers could drop drastically.

Jack Z. mentioned that Inman is a likely sign for $500m. They apparently talked to him before the draft and he didn't care if he went in the 3rd round as long as he got 2nd round money. Sounds like signability is no longer an issue, and it sounds like he's excited to get going.

My biggest problem with compensatory picks is that a free agent signing should effect two teams: Team A gains a free agent Team B loses a free agent To help keep "parity" in the league, Team B gets Team A's draft slot. Okay, no problems here. However, by also granting a compensatory pick, every other team in the league suffers by being dropped one spot. Call it a crapshoot if you'd like, but no team in the league would gratuitously give up the 44th pick for the 45th, so there is a loss of value by being "bumped."

So, does this mean that Cirillo will be our 25th man?

C. Lee is being held back from attacking Marte for hitting him w/ a pitch

Turnbow blew it in the 9th - Padres win 4-3

milwaukeebrewers.com says that Lee's hand is not broken. Sounds like the MRI was the team being extra cautious. Great news!!