Jim French Stepstool
-
Posts
6,393 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
24
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Events
Milwaukee Brewers News, Rumors & Analysis
2026 Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospect Rankings
Milwaukee Brewers Videos
2022 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Milwaukee Brewers Trade & Free Agent Rumors
Milwaukee Brewers Fan Guides & Resources
2023 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2024 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
The Milwaukee Brewers Players Project
2025 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2026 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool
-
Three Bad Decisions Sunk the Brewers' Playoff Run
Jim French Stepstool replied to Tim Muma's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Or maybe, just maybe, batters have come to the mindset in recent decades that hitting for more power, more OPS leads to securing a bigger contract. And that's the priority. That doesn't mean a many of them wouldn't suck at it either way, I'll admit that. -
Three Bad Decisions Sunk the Brewers' Playoff Run
Jim French Stepstool replied to Tim Muma's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Ah, consistency. It's a word I've brought up from time to time this season. There's been a lot of talk in this thread about hitting with RISP and rightfully so. But there were also many times this year there was a runner on 2B with no outs, and the inning ended with him still spot-welded there. Also the runner on 3B with less than two outs thing. Those might not have anything directly to do with RISP stats since you don't necessarily need a base hit to score the run, but I think an offense can run much more effectively when contact is made, when situations are respected. and when you have the type of skill set where it isn't out of your element to do so. That's where I become intrigued with a Frelick, a Turang, A Mitchell or Ruiz. No one knows what or how long the growing pains will be given the youth. But I get intrigued at the potential for more consistency. Gotta say though, I'm really dubious about Ruiz getting reps at 2B. -
Three Bad Decisions Sunk the Brewers' Playoff Run
Jim French Stepstool replied to Tim Muma's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Ah, consistency. It's a word I've brought up from time to time this season. There's been a lot of talk in this thread about hitting with RISP and rightfully so. But there were also many times this year there was a runner on 2B with no outs, and the inning ended with him still spot-welded there. Also the runner on 3B with less than two outs thing. Those might not have anything directly to do with RISP stats since you don't necessarily need a base hit to score the run, but I think an offense can run much more effectively when contact is made, when situations are respected. and when you have the type of skill set where it isn't out of your element to do so. That's where I become intrigued with a Frelick, a Turang, A Mitchell or Ruiz. No one knows what or how long the growing pains will be given the youth. But I get intrigued at the potential for more consistency. Gotta say though, I'm really dubious about Ruiz getting reps at 2B. -
Grade the Deadline
Jim French Stepstool replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Had he been here & performed as he did in SD, Hader would've saved us some games recently. he also would've cost us some games in the weeks after the deadline. Games that DW DID save. I suspect at the end of the day it would've been more of the former, and there's also the factor of DW being in the 8th inning role had he stayed. I gave it a C at the time. If grading it strictly on the remainder of the season it's certainly an F. But it never was strictly about that. What the prospects do, what avenues they open up for future deals, if one or both get flipped themselves---it certainly does make a difference. The Rosenthal deal bothered me more at the time, and still does. -
As long as he can figure out a way to get strike one to start an AB, the sky's the limit. Strzelecki has established himself as a bullpen piece. Is Gott on a 1-year deal?
-
93%.
-
This. All of this.
-
I think most guys feel they're best served by that approach. I don't think their teams always are though.
-
I was in the stands for a lot of the games when Chryst was the OC, and would remark about how often he seemed to want to throw the ball, even to a fault. I guess when a guy isn't in a position where the buck stops at his doorstep, it's easier to be more wide open, willing to take a few more risks. At the end of the day Bielema could (and from what I understand often did) reign him in at times. It's just different when you're the head coach. Maybe it shouldn't be, but I get it. Of course a lot of those teams were humming when they had the ball, & often had great field position due to the defense. A lot more challenging so far this season.
-
Throw in the bowl of potato salad in the dugout & half-barrel at 2B and I'm there.
-
Part of me wants Bob to just go fishing, but then I realize this IS his fishing, if you know what I mean. The guy is living out his life doing what he enjoys, surrounded by people who get a kick out of him, and vise-versa. God Bless 'im.
-
I'd love to see the fundamentals improve--shortening up when appropriate, going the other way--but I fear the shift ban will work against that. Let's say you're pull-happy. Now, instead of three INF on your pull side, there's only two. That's going to make you go the other way, or shorten up with 2 strikes? I'm skeptical. The best chance of that happening IMO comes from the youngsters, because I think they do that more naturally anyway. Mitchell needs to tone down the K's obviously, but his contact has come largely up the middle & oppo. So I think 2,3, & 6 kinda tie in together. Health is a given, with any team. As far as the pen, putting together a group that can perform has been something they've done often in the past, and by & large their off-season pickups have generally worked out pretty well.
-
We don't know how many chances we'll have left to do that. Very cool idea.
-
Only two more times will we hear these rhymes. They don't enthrall me, but they also don't gall me. So if they're not to your liking then just go hiking (to the next post). ? OK, I need some time off.
-
One has to be careful when assuming the recruiting has slipped. As Upandin & I have been bantering about, in many cases it's been more about development. No, you can't just take a few 325lb kids from the Milwaukee City Conference & make them into a solid line, but for 30 years now it's been about finding more or less "average" recruits who have the work ethic, desire & attitude and making them into more than the sum of the parts. That's been evident over the years in the front seven & O-line, but it wasn't relegated to that. One needs only to look at the walkons who have contributed greatly, including the new coach. Big picture, I'm OK with the recruiting, as far as the success rate & how the kids are rated nationally (as far as that goes). The overall development capabilities of the staff, and recognition of who the "right" kids are to fit the culture, that might be something Mac saw as an issue. And if so, that buck stops with Paul & the staff he put together. I'll be very interested to see how this gets parsed out regarding the responsibilities of Engram & even Leonhard himself. Does Leonhard involve himself in play-calling, and to what extent? Is he still in full charge of the defense? Interesting times.
-
You watch Wohler last year on special teams, and you just KNEW he was going to be a mainstay at safety. Good instincts. Savvy. Everything you say about the OL is true. I just hope Bostad can elevate the level of play without having been with these guys for 3-4 years. The combination of technique, footwork, practice reps, all the while instilling the work ethic & the "nastiness" takes a while to ingrain. I just hope for week-to-week improvement. Riley Mahlman being able to get back on the field wouldn't hurt, either.
-
Prospect update time!
Jim French Stepstool replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
1. Jackson Chourio OF 2. Sal Frelick OF 3. Jeferson Quero C 4. Brice Turang INF 5. Garrett Mitchell OF 6. Joey Wiemer OF 7. Robert Gasser P 8. Tyler Black INF 9.Stiven Cruz P 10. Jacob Misiorowski P 11. Esteury Ruiz OF 12. Eric Brown JR SS 13. Cam Devanney SS-3B 14. Alexander Cornielle P 15. Cam Robinson P 16. Carlos Rodriguez P 17. Justin Jarvis P 18. Brandon Knarr P 19.Jadher Areinamo INF 20. Hendry Mendez OF As is the case with Sveumrules, I'm a little flinchy about some of the K rates (Garcia, Avina, Perez, some of the AA corner INF types) & that kept them off my board. Here's hoping for Feliciano. I really thought he handled himself well in the game or two I saw him w/ Milwaukee, but the defensive #s at the 'Ville don't lie. If he can become just average defensively to go with the bat, then you have both him & Quero and you're sitting pretty. -
I tried to convey that a few posts ago. You did it in a much neater, cleaner fashion. Cheers.
-
The Cain money is spent? Did we help with the Chryst buyout?
-
Time will tell. People judging it now are waaay too premature. It was never about the last two months of 2022 only. If looked at in that context, yeah it didn't help.
-
Feliciano isn't close defensively unless there's a gargantuan jump in his game over the offseason. And if ever there's a position that isn't "the bat plays" it's catcher.
-
Something interesting (to me anyway) tonight. Woodruff went six innings & threw 100 pitches. The leadoff hitter for 'Zona in the 7th was Walker, a RH hitter, followed by lefties. CC starts the inning with Milner. That's when Walker doubled & they went on to score two runs. Henry is left in to start the seventh to face Yelich (L vs L), then is pulled for the RH. Now, there was a difference in pitch count (15 or so) but I'm pretty sure Woodruff had one more hitter in him. And remember, at the time it's a one run game, and you absolutely had to win. I just thought at the time that was an egregious error. As is the case with all managers, if you follow a team through 162 you'll see things you have reason to disagree with. I saw more than I usually see this year. And no, I don't think Counsell should be fired.
-
I can only hope you're limiting yourself to the 40 man roster when you say that.
-
They'll be within shouting distance of that this year, even with all the disappointments.
-
Plus it's not like the farm needs to be rebuilt. You can never have enough depth down there, but the system is in better shape than it's been in a long time. There will be moves made, but I think those who are hoping for some kind of teardown will be disappointed and fortunately saved from themselves. That said, if the haul is big enough you have to listen to offers on one of the aces. Has to be a treasure chest though.
