Wahoo Maniac

Yelich is signed through 2022. He’s going to be making 30-35M annually and we’re not paying that. He needs to be moved after 2020 or 2021 at the very latest. That’s your current window to compete. Trading him and Hader when they still have some control will net you (6) Top 100 caliber players whether they’re young MLB guys with 5-6yrs control or prospects still. That’s your next window right there with no rebuild as it’ll be a super quick turnaround

I actually like this a lot. I think they have Bichette penciled in at SS of the future, but I could see them liking Peralta as the feature piece. Obviously we'd need probably 1 more good prospect included in the deal and probably some lesser prospects. Peralta + Ray + some smaller stuff. I wonder if that's enough. Might need more as other teams may bid on the same package. Bichette is playing SS but based on scouting more people tend to think he ends up at 2b. If they add a clear upgrade defensively at SS in Arcia it’s an easy bump as Biggio can always play 1b or OF as they’re grooming him to be utility. Peralta I personally rank behind Burnes which is why I’m including him here. He’s had some MLB success, is super young and has 5.5yrs control so they can throw him in the rotation immediately. Add prospects not named Turang to get it done. For the rest of 2019 and 2020 we add Stroman to the rotation replacing Houser who then heads to the pen where he’s dominated while Giles replaces Peralta in pen and Dubon takes over SS. Upgrades everywhere. I understand Stearns covets young controllable players but at some point he needs to move one of them to bolster our chances for 2019/2020 as these are our best chances in the near term to win a WS.

Avoid the tag on the back side. Taking the "clear path" to the back side was an easy out. Go the opposite way Lucroy would instinctually go and you have a chance at being safe. No it wasn’t an easy out. Marisnick is a tall dude who’s athletic. With his length and speed he can dive south of the plate and reach his hand to clip the back tip. Lucroy still has to catch the ball then slide his body or dive to reach the southern part of the plate. Marisnick hit Lucroy before he even touched the ball and that’s AFTER he changed directions from inside to outside to back inside slowing himself down in the process. If he runs straight to the back corner he’s easily safe. That’s a fact based on all the evidence. Also, regarding that tweet someone posted above, they attempt to validate Marianick’s explanation by saying Lucroy flinched his left leg inward toward the line as if the throw was taking him to the backside of the plate therefore Marisnick chose to head inside. Except that doesn’t make any sense. Lucroy isn’t going to move several feet behind the plate to make a play thus opening up the entire front part of the plate for an easy touch by Marisnick. Not to mention Lucroys other leg was basically parallel with the ground therefore he was in a position to post up not shift drastically to the other side of the plate to make a play. Anyone saying there was no path to the backside or attempts to defend Marisnick needs thicker glasses. And none of this has anything to do with whether there was intent on hurting Lucroy or not. It’s like arguing whether someone’s DNA is actually their DNA on this thread - it’s black and white there’s no middle ground.

Supak needs to be promoted. He has a full season’s worth of time in AA and performed very well there last year and this year.

I'd focus on one trade. Stroman and Giles package. It's 1 move but feels like 2 given Houser gets bumped to the pen bolstering it with Giles. I'd look at using Arcia and Peralta as MLB guys to include in the package.

Marisnick is a liar. Plain and simple. How he describes what he saw and how the play actually played out are two different things. He's a liar

Hader's not being traded at a deadline until he has 1.5yrs remaining or is a rental. Both cases are years down the road

Dubon makes a ton of sense here as he could start at 2b with Crawford at SS but him being MLB ready with 6yrs control is super difficult for me to want to part with for 2 months of Bumgarner. I just think Dubon's skill set is what the Brewers need from the SS spot at this point in time. Brown makes sense. I'd pass on targeting MadBum as there will be a bidding war and no way Stearns wins that with the capital we have.

Talk about distorting reality. Go to the link below and scroll down to the video - the still pic on the left side of the video tells you everything you need to know and how absolutely wrong you are. https://deadspin.com/jake-marisnick-should-probably-be-suspended-for-this-1836180059 Catchers set up in front of the plate, meaning the runner has a clear path to run straight through the plate if running on the baseline chalk itself. That's what Lucroy did. When he parted from his initial positioning not only did he move up the line but also away from the line toward the middle of the field. Marisnick was running on the inside of the chalk line from the jump. Now go back and look at the pic I mentioned above - the ball isn't even to Lucroy yet and Marisnick not only took a step to the outside, where the direct open path was, but he then shifted back to the inside to dive directly at Lucroy who already shifted even more inside toward the middle of the field. At NO POINT during the entire play was the path to the backside part of the plate blocked. Marisnick was absolutely seeking contact and without question should be suspended. I won't say he was intentionally trying to hurt Lucroy because I don't think he was based on his reaction but his intent in seeking contact was clear as day. Shockingly bad baserunning on display there as well given he never he looked to see where the ball was then jumped backed toward the guy trying to catch the ball to tag him out.

Stearns is acquiring pen arms with Hader still here. There's no way in getting around that. Removing Hader from the pen, even with others being acquired, makes us worse "this year". Trading Hader now makes the org as a whole better but not the MLB team. The MLB team wouldn't be better until most likely 2021 as his return might need some experience at the MLB level before it clicks given you prefer it being all prospects. I doubt Stearns is worried about parting with prospects this deadline to make the team better since we don't have many impact prospects to begin with and the only FA are Moose/Grandal/Chacin/Thames (if options are declined) so it's not like a bunch of these prospects are going to be needed to backfill spots. If Shaw bounces back he replaces Moose so that's an internal fill along with Nottingham pairing with Pina to replace Grandal. Or they resign Grandal making Nottingham available to move. Or Moose is resigned and Shaw backfills Thames spot internally. Dubon either replaces Saladino or starts over Arcia. All other prospects can easily be traded. Stearns knows he has Hader and Yelich sitting in his back pocket to immediately improve the upper minors overnight while also most likely adding young, very controllable MLB players. Unless LAD parts with Verdugo, Lux to start or ATL parts with Riley or Fried + multiple other top prospects then Hader isn't going anywhere.

I have to ask, given you keep pounding on this, and I'm not speaking about the future because that's the point of the trade, to land multiple top tier prospects to help the team in the future. But if we're losing Hader in the pen "this year" then how do we upgrade that loss "this year" via the trade? Example: Acquire Will Smith from the Giants. Smith > Supek & Stokes & Griep Acquire Jake Diekman from KC. Diekman > Olzyck Claudio optioned for Diekman. I then also call up D Williams and IF he excels, I send Burnes down to start. We could win just as many games with this bullpen than if we had Hader, I believe. But if that’s not a good enough back end Trade for Colome, at least we’d have him next year too. The players given up in these trades are far inferior to the players acquired by selling Hader. Imo. Maybe I didn't accurately phrase my question. It was in regard to you saying previously that trading Hader, not anybody else, that can help this team win now. That's who I was referring to. Solely trading Hader. Stearns is going to acquire pen arms regardless at the deadline even with Hader still here. But if you lose Hader what exactly are we acquiring from that specific trade that makes us better "this year"? Because that's what you're said previously...unless I somehow misinterpreted everything

I have to ask, given you keep pounding on this, and I'm not speaking about the future because that's the point of the trade, to land multiple top tier prospects to help the team in the future. But if we're losing Hader in the pen "this year" then how do we upgrade that loss "this year" via the trade?

I've seen every inning of every game this year and never once have I said to myself that Hiura was swinging for the fence. Thames will do it occasionally if the pitch he's looking for is there otherwise both of those guys have hard, controlled swings. Not to mention, Thames K's a lot to begin with and Hiura is like he was starting AAA with a high K rate as he's still adjusting. Just because they K with runners in scoring position doesn't mean they're swinging for the fence. Also, "putting the ball in play" is little league mentality. An infield pop up, routine grounder at a corner IF (or anywhere if they're playing in across the board), shallow fly ball, etc don't drive in runs. This notion that all someone has to do is "put the ball in play" and runs are automatically scored is a fallacy. We need a couple hitters CAPABLE to go the other way. Right now we have two, Yelich and Cain, and Cain might be a shell the rest of this year because of his thumb. This lineup is laden with power hitters, and 90% of those types of hitters aren’t bat to ball capable. Yelich is, that’s why he’s a superstar. We have another in Hiura, but he’s probably 300-600 PAs away from that. Grisham would possibly be one, that’s why I’d like to see him up in place of Cain, with Cain to the IL. I think Stearns recognizes he needs players with better hit tools, bat to ball skills, and his last 3 drafts have shown me he believes that, Hiura Turang, others etc. Cain, Yelich, Braun, Hiura, Aguilar spray the ball. You're saying Braun/Hiura/Aguilar lack the skill set/ability to do so and that's not true. Yelich does it better than anyone right now and typically Cain is right up there but, you're right, his thumb is clearly affecting his play. Braun still goes oppo/middle plenty but not as often as he did when he was in his prime and that's where his funks come into play, when he tries to pull everything. Yesterday I posted his numbers this year in the Braun thread going on as you typically don't hit that high BA wise if you're pulling everything (ie his 10 game slump in mid-April go back and watch film on it if possible and you'll see he tried to pull everything - literally everything - and it resulted in terrible ABs. When Braun has his middle approach he's still a 290 hitter. Pay attention to this the next time he starts rolling over left and right when he slumps as it's obvious). When Aguilar performs the way he's capable of (ie 270/330/830 - not his AS numbers) he goes oppo plenty and has a good approach. It's why Moose/Grandal will never be 300 hitters - they're not all pull but their comfort zone is pull so they do so more often than having that balanced spray approach. Hiura started being pull heavy when first came up but he's settled into his spraying everywhere. I agree with you that Stearns is looking for players that not only have great bat to ball skills but also an advanced approach at the plate except these players aren't a dime a dozen. That's the problem. I'm sure that's one of the things he really likes about Dubon when acquiring him. Dubon, Hiura, Turang all have that advanced approach combined with great bat to ball skills. Grisham he didn't acquire but no doubt it's one thing he likes about him too. It'd be a heck of a season if Grisham made his MLB debut this year.

Your probably right there. But that’s not why I’m trading him, I’m gonna get value back for a middling starter that starts to get expensive next year. I was wrong in wanting to trade Davies at this year’s deadline, I was looking for an excuse to trade him, because I don’t like him, but we need him in the rotation the rest of this year. This is what I've noticed in my brief time posting here. I'm glad you're honest about it. If people aren't going to objectively discuss players then they should state their dislike as a disclaimer so people don't put too much stock into what they're saying. We all have players we like more than others or even players we just don't care for at all as that's just the reality of it when it comes to anything - we're humans. But lets at least admit it when it happens, like you did here.

I know, right? Acquiring All-Star players in Moose and Grandal. What was he thinking? Thames has done nothing but perform while he's been here outside of the final 2 months last year (also had an injury prior to his bench role rest of that season). Aguilar was very good in 2017, excellent first half 2018, decent second half 2018, struggled hard this April and has had a solid BA/OBP for May/June was just missing his power and it appears that's starting to come back now. Shaw was very good in 2017/2018 and has hit a wall this year. I just recently joined the site and have followed here and there for a bit previously but I'm guessing there was no fake outrage at Stearns prior to 2019 for acquiring the wrong type of player when all these guys were performing.

I've seen every inning of every game this year and never once have I said to myself that Hiura was swinging for the fence. Thames will do it occasionally if the pitch he's looking for is there otherwise both of those guys have hard, controlled swings. Not to mention, Thames K's a lot to begin with and Hiura is like he was starting AAA with a high K rate as he's still adjusting. Just because they K with runners in scoring position doesn't mean they're swinging for the fence. Also, "putting the ball in play" is little league mentality. An infield pop up, routine grounder at a corner IF (or anywhere if they're playing in across the board), shallow fly ball, etc don't drive in runs. This notion that all someone has to do is "put the ball in play" and runs are automatically scored is a fallacy.

So he has essentially been a league average hitter with below average defense who needs a good amount of time off. Not really a starter at this point in his career. I LOL’d at that one because that’s all you can do. Apparently a brutal 10 game stretch in mid-April renders his 120 area wrc+ the rest of the first half meaningless making him a league average hitter. He also has a positive DRS (1) in LF so there’s that as well. His defense no doubt is regressing but he’s still easily an average LF with a good accurate arm. Also, he’s on pace for 538 PA, which amounts to starting 3 of every 4 games. He’s 35 and has always had nagging injuries so I’d say that’s a pretty good pace. Maybe Logan82 should reread my last sentence in previous post because he’s proving my point.

I guess it may be semantics to decide on the definition of 'productive MLB player,' but he's been above replacement level every year (yes, including 2018) other than his partial first-year of 2016. When you perform better throughout almost your entire career than the guys you can plug in at the position each offseason, I DO think that's a productive MLB player.... As you say, "productive" is a subjective term in the eye of the beholder, but if your definition is to be above replacement level, I would argue that that team of "productive" players will be a really bad team. I think the average MLB starter is somewhere in the ballpark of a 2.0 WAR. Perez has outperformed Arcia in 2016 and overall from the start of 2018-present. That’s not being productive when you’re a starter. He’s had one productive season but not a productive career. If people want to use WAR then according to BR he’s .3 overall between 2016/2018/2019. Fangraphs has him at -.4 over that span. I think WAR is flawed to a certain extent but this is what it says. I don’t want to use the 2 WAR line in the sand for every player because I think a productive player is someone who’s average or better in their given role (ie starter, utility, traditional backup, pinch hitter) as it’s more difficult to accumulate a 2+ WAR season if not starting. Just curious, are below-average performers considered productive in anyone’s place of work? Back to Dubon. Excellent AB today. Looked like a vet. Balanced, poised, controlled, went with the pitch on every foul ball and the ground out. That was a professional AB. With Arcia being back after the break they’ll obviously send Dubon back down but if Saladino struggles or there’s an injury then a Dubon will be back up.

Arcia's been a problem at the plate for a large portion of his MLB career. His K rate is like 2.5% lower than Braun's too this year and he's 11yrs younger. It sounds like you think Braun and Arcia are comparable hitters, which they most certainly are not. Arcia hasn't matured over his time. He's like Perez; they go about their business and never take that next step. He's a slightly better version of Alcides Escobar but with more power, less speed. He absolutely has been a hole in this lineup most of the time offering no consistency. Low BA, low OBP but his power came back (which was obviously going to happen as well). Dubon is a high BA, high contact/low K bat who brings consistency to any lineup. He's been that way his entire career. Arcia had what used to be called a sophomore slump for most of 2018. Other than the 5 months of 2018, he's been a productive major league hitter. His career K rate is actually below major league average. His BABIP rate would indicate he's hit in bad luck particularly this year. His OPS is 125 points higher with BABIP rate down 40 points? That's not easy to do. His walk rate could be better, but as the 8th hitter, I'd rather he be swinging with 2 outs and runners on. When he bats 9th, he gets better pitches to hit and he's slugging .487 in that spot compared to .410 with the pitcher batting behind him. Let's see what Dubon does against major league pitching. Most guys K rates go up pretty significantly with the jump to the majors. I think he's ready to be a decent major league hitter, but I don't expect much more than something like .270/.320/.400. Useful sure. A future star? Doubtful. I strongly disagree on Arcia being a productive MLB player outside of 2018. His 2016, 2018, 2019 he hasn't been productive offensively and his defense has been overrated the entire time. No analytics we have access to nor the eye test says he's played at an elite level ever. Every player, MVP or 25th man, has bad and great stretches. And Arcia is no different. He's had months over his career where he's flashed his potential but most of the time he's been unproductive. I don't care if Arcia's K rate is lower than the MLB average. All that means is he puts the ball in play more than the average MLB player. That doesn't mean he's making good contact. I also don't care what Arcia does in the 9 hole when he has 12 games played there. And the eye test says he's not unlucky this year, it says the opposite. He's swung at plenty of garbage this year getting lucky that it resulted in a run scoring hit. It happens often enough where it's definitely noticeable. Since the start of 2018 his BA is 238 and OBP is 284 with a 22% K rate. That's his last 10 months of baseball - Perez has outperformed him over that span. His SLG this year bounced back to his 2017, which is expected, but his BA/OBP still suck. Literally nobody is saying Dubon is a future star. It seems most people here don't think highly of him at all. I personally think Dubon can post somewhere in the ballpark of 275/320/740 as a rookie and improve from there. He might never reach 800 OPS but he doesn't have to if he becomes a 290+ hitter like he's capable of.

Braun's numbers this year since a ton of posters think he's not a starter anymore. Anybody that actually watches the games could easily have seen the numbers below play out in real time. March 28 - April 7 (32 PA) 281/281/906 (126 wrc+) April 8 - April 19 (38 PA) 088/162/280 (-26 wrc+) April 20 - present (231 PA) 300/352/836 (117 wrc+) I shouldn't be shocked given people that think this of Braun also think Thames isn't performing and Aguilar should be DFA'd. If they looked at the numbers they'd be surprised - like they will be when they see Braun's numbers above. From my perspective, it boils down to people having this preconceived notion of each player for various reasons and looking for every little negative thing they can to confirm their belief.

What you said previously is clear as day so maybe you should go back and read it. The conclusion trwi7 and I drew was spot on based on your comments. Back track and spin all you want dude but it doesn't change what you said and meant.

This is false. Arcia was not 2yrs younger per level than Dubon. Dubon's first exposure to A+ he played half a season at 2.7yrs young while Arcia was 3.7yrs young. His first exposure to AA he played half a season and was 3.4yrs young while Arcia was 4.1yrs young. His first exposure to AAA he played half a season and was 4.4yrs young while Arcia was 5.5yrs young. Also, Dubon's bat profile is much better than Arcia's. Arcia was, and still is, a glove first player. Dubon is the opposite. He's a high contact, low K, high BA hitter with a great understanding of the zone while offering much better base stealing/running. He'll hit more doubles/triples just not HR. Dubon will most likely be a solid SS while having a solid arm (plenty good to play SS but not great). The way Arcia is playing defense this year I'd bank on Dubon not being worse. Dubon has the potential to be a plus bat he just won't have the over the wall power.

What Chris Welch says is irrelevant. Houser's always had 3 pitches and developed a slider this year I believe, which is a very nice pitch for him. But that doesn't make him a starting pitcher. He's been excellent as a multi-inning pen arm. He's been terrible as a starter. He has 4 starts this year in a true starters role plus one he started in a bullpen game so I'm not counting that one. The 4 true starter role starts have been bad. He was great for a couple innings the first start (like he always is as a pen arm) and good through 4-5 innings vs Cincy but there's where it ends. He's a pen arm. He's had zero great starts in 4 attempts. He's starting because why not have him start compared to our other internal options at this point. I'm a huge fan of Houser. I've been wanting him up since the start of last year but in a pen role because he'll be excellent in that role. We need a vet starter with an expiring contract to take his spot so Houser can go back to the pen giving us a win/win - we improve the rotation and pen at the same time.

Arcia's been a problem at the plate for a large portion of his MLB career. His K rate is like 2.5% lower than Braun's too this year and he's 11yrs younger. It sounds like you think Braun and Arcia are comparable hitters, which they most certainly are not. Arcia hasn't matured over his time. He's like Perez; they go about their business and never take that next step. He's a slightly better version of Alcides Escobar but with more power, less speed. He absolutely has been a hole in this lineup most of the time offering no consistency. Low BA, low OBP but his power came back (which was obviously going to happen as well). Dubon is a high BA, high contact/low K bat who brings consistency to any lineup. He's been that way his entire career.

Your boy Perez is 0-9, 4K in AAA