WICKDADDY

He needs to compete with Frelick, Ruiz, and possibly Wiemer for OF playing time in 2023. I look at Mitchell being a lock to be our starting CFer and Renfroe as starting corner OF. Looking into 2024 then the OF becomes more logjammed with Chourio potentially being ready. He needs to compete with Rowdy and Keston for playing time at 1b ... if he's even capable of doing that. Although I doubt it. Most likely I see him slotting in as LH half of a platoon at DH and getting spot starts in OF. We should target a RH hitter this offseason to get ABs at DH and 1B. I would target either Jose Abreu, JD Martinez, or Trey Mancini for that role.

His production relative to contract is the biggest problem facing this franchise. Also the “grief” he takes on here is nothing compared to what he would be dealing with in a major market. He is coddled by the media and fans here. Honestly he needs a fire to be lit.

Chief, you tried to do something but you got mixed up. It’s ok. Not everybody can follow along. You might want to sit the next few plays out though. You’re seeing ghosts.

Buddy I wasn’t the one who said he hits weak grounders… try to follow along.

Completely agree that Adames needs to be moved down in order. I wouldn't be shocked though if Mitchell and Frelick both project as better table setters for us given their ability to hit for average and speed.

He hits them hard ... and right at the 2b. The shift rules don't change that.

Do we though? Frelick is ready and projects to be a better leadoff hitter.

The truth is we're "under water" on his contract though. We can't move him. He has negative value relative to his contract. Given that reality, I'm saying we can't let that dictate our decisions going forward. We're paying his contract regardless of outcome, so we might as well actively explore options to improve over Yelich to compete to win now.

Frelick projects as the best leadoff hitter going into 2023 and beyond, Mitchell's speed makes him intriguing in that spot too. Yelich's future isn't in the leadoff spot IMO. The truth is he's had over 2 years to make adjustments to his swing. The results haven't been there. Maybe the shift will help him, but I'd need to see the data on why the shift would help him more relative to other players who have outproduced him. He's fine, but he should have to compete for his spot. Otherwise we're just accepting mediocrity.

To achieve our future potential, we need to recognize sunk costs and mitigate their damage. This is true in life and baseball. That's why this team cannot go into 2023 with Christian Yelich as a full-time starter. The sample size doesn't lie. Our eyes don't lie. A change needs to be made. 2023 should be an opportunity to see what we have with Frelick, Mitchell, and Ruiz. I also hope that we keep Renfroe - arguably our most productive all around hitter. To that end, I don't see a future for Yelich in the OF. He needs to learn 1B gradually and only be relied upon as a DH platoon. I take no joy in saying this, but it's time for the Brewers to make Yelich earn his spot back. Sunk costs should not dictate the direction of this franchise.

I think it's healthy to be disappointed as a fanbase as to how the season ended. To just be glad that we aren't as bad as we were in the 90s is a loser mentality that we need to shed IMO. Today, we should be getting ready to road trip down to STL for a 3 day takeover of Busch. Maybe we weren't WS material this year, but we sure as hell could have beat STL in a 3 game series in front of their fans if we hadn't mucked up our bullpen. It's gonna be a long winter...

Mitchell is gonna be a fun guy to watch for years to come. 8 SB already in his short stint with the club.

Don't forget when we lost 6-5 to the Cubs on 8/20 after we had taken the lead back not once, not twice, but three times ... and still managed to blow it.

CUBS WIN CUBS WIN

Hangin' around.... Hangin' around. Team's got alligator blood! Can't get rid of us.