Joseph Zarr

Not much more to add other than a solid solid depth piece. Hard to complain about this type of vet at this stage of the off-season at that price.

Ostensibly, this is a very very solid back-of-the-rotation add at this late point in the off-season. Major boon to the overall quality depth of the staff. Plus, now he can't inexplicably shut down the Brewers bats once again. I think Ashby stays on board as a stretch swing man/6th Starter.Either way, the Crew suddenly has a wealthy of lefties. Wild times.

I think you'll appreciate this. From Tony Pauline via conversations at the Combine:

Last I remember hearing the Packers and Walker's Agent(s) were talking new deal? Maybe I am misremembering.

Seems like an overpay for McDuffie but I am sure the Packers like his dependability and see him as an improving player who fills a need in the middle of their defense. He is available. Dependable. Plays downhill. They have familiarity. That's a Top 40 contract as of today, however, at his position.

If I'm not mistaken, the Brewers now have Melvin; Klentak; and Eppler listed as an Executive Assistant or Executive and Special Advisor to Matt Arnold. I personally love giving Arnold this level of acumen and support. I do believe Eppler has been named as an advisor for scouting and baseball ops so perhaps that's a wee different?

This is a real simple question with an even simpler answer:

Well this certainly is interesting if nothing else. I'll be interested to hear what they have planned here. Any way you look at it a small market like the Brewers swooping in and grabbing a former Yankee Director of Scouting and Assistant GM; the Angels GM; and the Mets GM certainly says something. What exactly that is will be revealed over time.

Yes. Remember I was mistaken mis-remembering in season. I then followed up after the season because to my eyes it seemed he 'left some on the plate', so to speak. Turns out he did and he shifted back to his heater profile after having to commit to the new blend of pitches. I now see it kind of like Logan dropping his slider for near two seasons!😅 Anywho, this knowledge only made me dislike the non-40 Man add even more. Serious cope needed here!

I knew his bullpen and training sessions were sitting 97-98 after last season, yes. 99.6 is not surprising in the least in a jacked up ST game. *btw I am not referring to any conversations we have had - convos pertaining to in-season statcast data*

You mean THIS Shane Smith? I will never (and I mean NEVER) understand this decision. Didn't make sense then. Doesn't make sense now. I am in 'Loss of Smith' Rehab. It is ongoing. That's 99.6 mph. Yes. I was told he couldn't do this. Those who know? Know.

Damn you. Just no no no. 🫠 (Go Shane! Seriously. Go Shane!)

How has Rule 5 Lefty Connor Thomas looked? I keep seeing impressive Box Scores. But, I am perusing these while cleaning up my forest firebreak. Anyone have any data or thoughts here?

Not to mention, despite what others here have opined, in Musgrave I consistently see a player who lacks fluidity in his routes. He is fast, sure, but I continue to believe he just may not be that great of a football player. I sincerely hope I am wrong. But, after two years, I don't see it. And, for two years, as you point out, he has gone through long stretches of no availability. Like highly questionable post-season O-Line shuffles the Packers do seem enamored with holding on to limited oft-injured TE's. I present you one TE Tyler Davis, your honor. At least with Musgrave he has youth. I personally distinctly see a need for adding another TE prospect into their current mix if indeed they actually are walking the 'iron sharpens iron' mindset. I reallllllly wanted Warren but that is a pipe dream. In the end, I am just extremely grateful they have Kraft. He's a complete stud. Is TE a major need? No. Hard to find another player as impactful as Kraft. Would it be a luxury to add top end depth to the TE room? Absolutely. And a luxury I'd love to see as a fan. I think my Day 2 Guy is Terrance Ferguson out of Oregon. That's a guy I'd love to add to the TE mix in GB.

😅

Nevermind. Took me two minutes. There are whispers indeed:

Can you share any of these 'people around the League' thoughts or sources? To this point, admittedly I'm not hyper-focused on this, I've merely seen hints and suggestions the Packers should consider trading for him.

I think it's as simple (and others are alluding to this) as a maturing process that had to travel its road. I say this to my soon to be 7-year-old daughter all the time and it applies with Ernesto's career arc: the time it takes is the time it takes. Let's not forget his COVID year was also stolen from his development path. Then, very thankfully, he flashed quite a bit of promise at Low-A Carolina but we were wondering if he could cut down on the big swing and miss inherent in that version of his swing. In his younger days, he really lacked head discipline during his massive hacks. It was quite common to see less plate discipline and his head leaving the swing path and looking into the 1B side stands. As Jake mentions, very long levers. Then he missed nearly his entire 2022 season with injury. He played, yes, but he missed May, June, July of that season and most of the first week of August and the T-Rats weren't really sniffing playoffs in 2022 - close but no cigar. That's simply a significant gap of wondering where his game was truly at. The light really started turning on @ Cedar Rapids in late May of 2023. The second to last game, I literally have in my player notes: "I think I see a subtle shift in approach that could bear real fruit." Naturally, he went 0-for-3 with 3 K in the following and final game of that series. 😅 What do I know? However, from that point in time is legitimately when he officially started putting to rest my nagging questions I had had over his offensive game. If you remember, he went on an absolutely torrid run to close out his High-A work before promotion that summer. When he didn't skip a beat during his original Biloxi promotion? I started getting genuinely excited. Like, actually excited with reservations falling to the wayside by each game's completion. When he performed for an entire season in the Southern League, he very easily moved into my own personal belief he was the clear front runner as the best true first baseman in the entire system. I've stated this on more than one occasion. He had developed into a player that was clearly swinging harder and hitting the ball harder than pretty much any other player in the system - it was obvious - and he was doing so with control. Just a massive maturation. The defense always had many many more pluses than minuses. Sure, he may lose a bit of that lateral side-by-side agility in terms of diving for balls that are hit hard and in that 'no man's land' for a man his size. BUT, he more than makes up for that with his incredible hands and overall mammoth coverage. He makes everyone's job easier to the left of the infield. If we couple this with his incredible personhood - his personality is magnetic and his 'joi de vivre' palpable - he is just arguably the most likable player in all the Minors. This is why I have been pining for a career in Milwaukee. Let the investment give the fans real dividends. A man can dream. I continue to do so.

I do like this quite a bit: And this:

Goodness gracious: I take back everything I said earlier😅

My goodness. The sound of thunder. Thank you, Spencer.

You did truly wonderfully. Proud of you. (Not as proud as I am of one INF Josh Adamczewski, however.😉)

Welcome to the Board! And welcome to my Josh Adamczewski Fan Club. Those who know, know: that swing and that stick don't grow on trees. What a moment!

Has Cargo really hit three batters already in 1 2/3 IP? My goodness. Controlling his stuff is always the issue with him. No bueno.

I am entirely ALL for Team Trade Back in 2025 if nobody falls to the Packers selection. Once again it seems the consensus is the true 1st Rd Grades fall off around 15. It would appear having as many picks as the Packers can gather in that 25-100 range would be a wise strategy yet again. Plus, it would be nauseatingly fun to hear the collective mass groans and boos at the Draft while I sheepishly grin.