MadScientist

Sounds like more of a sensationalized report on a spitball session than an actual proposal.

True, but Cincinnati won it and was not accused of any wrong doing, so they should not be punished because of the criminal actions of their opponents. Houston won with the help of cheating.

True, given how things go with the Brewers, it could be career ending instead of just season ending.

I completely agree with this. It’s sucks watching a game and being down 8-1 after the 8th inning, but it definitely does bring a little bit of fun/humor to the last inning watching a guy come in that never pitches. There is nothing that is degrading to the spirit of the game at all by having a backup infielder or catcher throwing a few pitches. The offense gets excited to face him, the defense is probably the most engaged they have been all game and get some enjoyment seeing their teammate out on the mound, and the fans get a kick out of it from both organizations. Seems like a win all the way around. It doesn't sound like that is being changed. Just that position players can't come in when the game isn't out of hand. Down 8-1 in the 9th, it adds entertainment, down 6-1 in the 8, just means surrender and stop watching. The use of position players pitching used to be a novelty (less than 10 games in 2010 and 2011), last year it was 90. Honestly, these rule changes are not huge and not going to radically change the game or the balance between pitchers and batters. They just dial back some of the gaming of the rules on the edges. In two years we'll wonder what took them so long to put them in. In 5 years we won't even think about them, it will just be the way the game is played.

they have? i honestly haven't paid that much attention to roster construction other than milwaukee's, so i'd welcome a source. i find it hard to fathom that an american league team would carry only 12 hitters for the majority of the season. With the DH, there isn't a huge need for extra position players unless they have a huge L-R split. Extra hitters helps in the NL to pinch hit for pitchers, but extra pitchers is useful in both leagues.

It's Helfaer Senior Field. Honestly what I care about is the team on the field, not the name of it.

I'm worried. ZIPS doesn't suggest that the Brewers will suck this year. That's probably a bad omen.

I could not disagree with this more. This isn't about the teams record or how players did etc. This is about how poorly Yost managed the on field team. The fact he would bring in his loogy to face a righty in a big moment on a hunch, he would pinch hit with the wrong guys, poor lineup constructions etc. I'm about as forgiving as anyone when it comes to manager moves because i feel that there is so much we don't know about what goes into these decisions. Yost is the only manager I've ever seen though where there were 5 choices in the bullpen or to pinch hit and only one of them was clearly the wrong one and he would repeatedly go with that one. There might be one I prefer and 3 or 4 that I could understand and he would still pick choice 5. Then in the post game interview his reasoning would be, I had a feeling he'd do something. He was just terrible. Roenicke was bad with the clubhouse, Macha felt like he was asleep half of the time, but Yost was the only one I felt like a normal fan could out manage from an X's and O's standpoint. My impression is that Yost was good at handling the players and getting a good performance out of them relative to their talent, but wasn't all that good at the in game management. He was not fired because he used up all his good will, he got the axe because he wasn't handling the success of the team at the time and was making bad decisions. Milwaukee desperately needed a playoff appearance at the time and couldn't afford Yost blowing it down the stretch. Counsell is the best in game manager in the game. He absolutely maximizes the wins from the roster. I can't say if he is good at maximizing individual players performances, but my hunch is that he is pretty decent there. The only question is can the Brewers pull another playoff appearance without the super-sized September rosters.

Good thing they extended him before he actually wins manager of the year and his price goes up. (assuming the voters ever remove their craniums from their rectal regions)

The Dodgers are giving him 1.25M just to pitch in spring training. It's 2.25 to pitch in the regular season (with 2.5M in possible bonuses). I can see this as more than the Brewers wanted to pay for a flyer on a guy. Especially since other than his last outing, he looked more like a steam train fireman than a fire department fireman.

I still take the PTBNL, though. Two words: Manny Pina. Key contributor acquired as a PTBNL for K-Rod and looked like depth... until he wasn't. You always have a chance of a diamond in the rough. I agree with you on taking the player, but you are still using improper examples. Manny Pina had major league experience as the PTBNL in that deal. The type of players that are offered along with a cash option, in these cases, are not on that level. The type of trade the above poster was referencing would not have Brantley or Pina in the conversation as options... otherwise taking the player is obvious. I think Yeison Coca was the PTBNL in the Thornburg deal that was announced as PTBNL or cash. That might be the type of player they are looking at. Not much so far, but still more potential than the pittance of the cash option.

Well not specifically accountability, they did put in earlier retirements, which might be used to push out some of poor umpires.

As long as he isn't the 2018 version, this is a useful signing. Sogard is: 1) plan B for 3rd base 2) LH PH that doesn't K often 3) Backup infielder when guys need a day 4) Defensive replacement for Huria at the end of games. 5) Gritty vet with a great nickname

At best a 4A type player, but at AAA, that's perfectly fine.

Perhaps they think an outfielder who put up 800 ops in Florida might wind up doing better in Miller Park. Also this frees up Braun to play 3B.

Looks like his vesting is 165 innings (easily avoided) OR 27 starts (harder to avoid if healthy and not a train wreck). Looking at the splits he really falls off after the 4th. Unless he's a swing man, I don't see a good role for him on the Brewers staff. This is not a good year for a starter that has trouble going even 5 innings.

Fingers was with the Brewers for 5 years (one injured and didn't pitch) and was outstanding in 3 of them, including a Cy Young and MVP in 81. Sutton was with the Brewers for 2.5 years, was a .500 pitcher, and the Brewers lost both of the WS games he started. Not worth immortalizing.

I think any non-tendered player would consider it insulting to get an offer from the team that non-tendered him. They had every opportunity to bring him back, but only want to now at a discounted price?! I wouldn't take that deal, and I'd try to land on a division rival just to be spiteful. One of my great joys in life was walking away from a job after being expected to accept a pay cut. I can't imagine a competitive athlete would be any more forgiving than I was. If the Brewers are offering a player more than other teams, even if it is less than what they would get in arbitration, the player will sign with the Brewers. Less than the arbitration value could still be a pay raise for some, just less than the arbitration formula. For someone like Nelson, they might be able to work out an incentive laden contract. However for all of them, once the Brewers have said they won't meet the arbitration number, it makes complete sense to see their value on the open market. Additionally with a pitcher like Claudio, the formula almost certainly does not reflect the value of the player under the new rules for relief pitchers.

Miami has claimed Jesus. I somehow don't think that will help his power numbers.

I'm good with the new ball and glove logo in the navy and gold colors. I really like the pinstripes. Neither of the road uniforms really grab me, bu maybe they'll look better on TV. Not at all a fan of the cream. I don't like the color and every time the Brewers play at SF, I think the color balance is off on my TV. Now I'll get it most home games.

I do prefer the darker color scheme. The ball now looks more like a baseball. The original logo looks a little more glove like, as moving the ball to the center looks like it is on the heel instead of the pocket of the glove, and the wider 'fingers' of the m compensates better for it being a 3-finger glove. However I think those changes make the m and the b pop out better, considering to this day there are some who totally miss that from the original logo and think it is just a glove. As for enclosing it in a circle, just looking at how bad the Milwaukee Brewers lettering around the original logo is, having a circle to guide them is a good idea.

If you think Stearns told Chase about a plan for 2020 in early November I don't know what to tell you. All of this because Chase said " It's going to be a different group there next year, but they know what they're doing." ? Yeah it's going to be a different group......Chase is gone.....and they really only have 1 guy who we know for sure will be in there. My guess is Stearns told Chase something like this " Chase we've traded you to Toronto. I want to thank you for everything you've done for the Brewers in the years you've been a Brewer. We wish you the best of luck in Toronto" Agreed that Sterns didn't tell Chase much of anything. At most, if Chase pushed, I expect that Sterns said something generic like needing more roster flexibility. Anderson has seen enough goings on with the Brewers brass to know they have a plan and they know what they are doing. Best of luck to Chase, I hope he becomes a real thorn in the side of the Yankees and Red Sox.

I didn't think he hit well enough to win it.

Pop without striking out a ton is a pretty good starting point. AA is known to be a big jump, plus the leagues are not the best for batters. This year should be a big indication as to whether he can adapt and progress up, or is likely to stagnate and be cut eventually.

I was hoping they would hire Kapler. Hopefully Ross will work out just as well. As for Bryant, he was called up 12 days into the season. He wasn't down long enough to do anything except reduce his service time by just enough. Still, he will lose the case, because the Cubs can point to some injuries at the time that necessitated his being called up, 'earlier than they had intended'.