Jim French Stepstool

First of all, there is no team anywhere that's looking to win that wouldn't benefit from having Maldonado on their roster. Whether it's sharing the job, backing up, whatever. Kinda like a poor mans' Molina. You can just see the experience, the moxie dripping off the guy. Cronenworth saved the day for SD by keeping Yelichs' ball on the INF, as did Sheets by going off the bag to save the throw. Frustrating, but top-shelf baseball. Funny, but outside of one AB (the HR on a horrible 2-strike pitch) I think we might've swung the bats better collectively then they did. That's not to say we were good, obviously. Durbin was a killer in the 2nd inning; waaay too overanxious instead of letting the ball travel a bit. And as good as he's been, it's difficult to imagine offering at a pitch as far off the plate as Yelich did in his next-to-last AB. I'll take my chances every day if we get work like Patrick turned in. And Ashby was downright eye-opening.

I'm kind of a local history nerd so that's interesting to me. Never knew that. My first year following baseball was 1968, thanks in large part to an older sister taking me to games the White Sox occasionally played in Milwaukee. Now THAT was a bad team. In an attempt to keep the thread on track, I would actually be willing to listen to what the Rockies were thinking re McMahon. But I would not want to give up much of anything & certainly don't want to pay him for the next 2.5 years unless they kick in a very substantial amount. And I doubt they'd go for that. Plus, we'd be adding another LHH which wouldn't exactly thrill me.

During off-seasons in the 70s, it was Rudy May. And yes, I'm old.

Yep. What makes this work is not needing much of anything past Priester. In two such games they've used the BP (after him) for one inning total. Beautiful stuff if it continues to unfold that way.

Whoever had Monasterio, Cameron, Haase & Collins combining for 7 ribbies..........yahtzee. Some real vindication lately. Had he still had options I would've sent Priester to Nashville awhile ago. But he seems to be taking to the bulk role (or whatever you want to call it) that he's been put in on the road trip. And this is a pretty nice infield to be hitting multiple ground balls at. Also Cameron. To me his ABs looked horrible in his first 3-4 games. But he's staying on the ball & it's starting to jump off his bat. Four-thirty-seven is no joke; didn't know he had that in him. He certainly has earned the ABs vs LHP if not more. Maybe the last two innings were a case of us being ultra-familiar with Miley. But I'm thinking he's cooked. A terrific individual who would be an asset to any organization if he chooses to make baseball a career when he's done playing. Here's what I think they're going to do with Ortiz: Nothing. I believe he'll be at SS for the remainder of the year & if he doesn't hit, then he doesn't hit & they'll send up a batter for him if trailing late. Monasterio might get a little more run there than he would otherwise get. They'll be content to live with Ortiz saving runs--he did it again today. I suppose if there's a non-contender that has a SS in his last year that can defend well---not so-so, well---a deal could happen. But I have no idea if there's anyone out there like that. Some of you who scour rosters might know better. If I'm the opposition Chourio would scare the hell out of me. Such a tender age, plate discipline & pitch recognition extremely inconsistent, yet he's still productive enough to put up more than respectable numbers. Whatever his ceiling is, we're all fortunate to see him working towards it here.

Too lazy to look back, but I think Peralta is the one guy he's extended a little--maybe Quintana once. The roll of the dice there was Fraley. Get him & you can face the #9 RHH, then BP for the top of the order. He walked Fraley, which might've been the biggest AB that no one is talking about. Ashby starting the inning certainly was another way to go.

Some real impressive work from Peralta. At the same time, some ammunition for the "He's no ace" crowd. I loved him wanting--badly--to go out for the 7th. Then he goes out there & promptly walks Fraley. And in the 5th, it didn't cost him runs but w/the runner on 1st & 2 down he walks Lux, with De La Cruz on deck. You. Can't. Do that. But like I said, mostly impressive. Durbin at least in part caused that bad throw in the 9th with his hustle. Goes hitless but still reaches base twice. That's the type of player he is. There's value there. Would like to see a full day off tomorrow for Contreras.

With all of the potential starters in the system, over the years, that get considered for BP work it's refreshing to have a crop that really (to me, anyway) profile as starters. Meccage, Hardin, Letson, Birchard, Cornielle, Miz. Crow fits that sme profile. It's been a LONG wait to get him on the mound & the results so far have been exciting.

You may very well be correct; but Megill would be the one most likely to usurp that IMO. If he sat I certainly would be OK with it. The other two should absolutely take a day off.

It wouldn't shock me if he was available tomorrow as well. Pretty low-stress 9th tonite.

I thought the 6th & 7th were kinda the biggest keys to the game. Zastryzny had to deal with a couple RH PH & got the job done, & Koenig hasn't been pristine but got through the top 3rd of the order, although walking Lux & falling behind De La Cruz from the right side was a no-no. After that I thought we pretty much had 'em by the hairs as long as Uribe & Megill worked from ahead. No highlight plays at 3B but Monasterio had a solid game pretty much all-around. Contreras needs to take a breather either tomorrow or Wednesday. Seemed like a real opportunity to open things up a little bit, but a couple Cincy RHP's that have been vulnerable actually threw the ball well. Annoying.😐. So now Hall & Ashby should be next up vs a team that you really need LH bullpen availability against. Civale settling in after the 1st time through was also vital.

I agree with @CheezWizHed. I was happy when they acquired Crow, and Hunt has caught my attention. But especially with Crow having the long layoff I think they're both earmarked for AAA in '26, then go from there. No one knows what 5-6 people emerge from the starters' list. My main hope is that we can get to the point where we're getting 5.1, 5.2, 6 innings out of guys a little more consistently. Getting six from Priester & Patrick back-to-back was a beautiful thing; it led to Quintana only going five on Sunday being just fine. I guess that's my big hope for Woodruff---if he can settle in to going six & giving up 2 or 3 runs, maybe less as he gets more comfortable.

The roll they're on could become a verifiable hot stretch if they can win this one vs a lefty who's been pretty damned good. All of a sudden, the overworked pen has had at least two days off for everyone except Hall. That's a rare thing & very welcomed.

It really looked to me like Ortiz was starting to emerge a little bit in recent days, but yeah, he's backslid. Too often looks overmatched on fastballs middle-up, and on his last AB same thing with one at the knees. That being said, I doubt you'll ever see them lift him for a PH as long as they have the lead, which I agree with.

No, I consider him someone who has been asked to play 3B with very little experience, is settling in there & therefore isn't going to be moved around needlessly. You can hope to see them make the moves you suggested, but I think you'll have a long wait.

Also for those who've followed the farm for several years, Weston Wilson is on their bench. Actually has been, on & off, since '23.

I'll grant you Dalbec can move around, a little. But no team is going to go with only two people that can play middle INF. I don't count Collins.

Very strange to see the team high-fiving & congratulating each other after the 27th out, with a starter standing out there. I know Priester didn't actually 'start' but you know what I mean. That's how using an opener can work, if you can generate enough breathing room w/the offense. Nice to see. I thought it was a mistake to not let Hall stay through Schwarbers' AB in the fourth. I'm guessing it was imperative for them to have Priester come in w/o baserunners. One oppo HR, and one absolutely crushed to RF. That has to get you a little excited. Durbin is a gamer. Realizes he has no cannon but makes up for it w/the quick release. Still wondering if he can stick at 3B but he had an impressive day.

I'll be interested to see what the plan is re Hall tonight. With Priester following him I'd like to see them try to get Hall at least once through the order. Where is the line drawn? Does, say, three innings cause you to cross over from opener to piggy?

And go with zero INF backups?

Very nice writeup. Yeah, a switch-hitting version of Frelick, That's not a bad call for Lara. His recent hot stretch at Biloxi is very, very gratifying & really re-establishes him in the teams' prospect rankings. Despite the tender age, I'd love to see him get a week or three in AAA at the end of the year, given the "AAAA" nature of the OF there. It would be terrific to have the options that organizational depth at catcher could bring. If Quero can re-establish, Dinges continues to polish his defensive game & Luis Corobo builds on his work in the ACL.............likey.

A very good point that gets overlooked, which is a little strange since it was such a big part of their success in recent years. So far this year it's been one of the big differences between "Eh, they're a .500 team" & the national pundits asking "How do they keep doing this?"

I have to believe everyone (Henderson, Hook, Murphy) is fully aware of the need to monitor rest/availability regarding the pen. As I've mentioned before, so much of this is on the starters. Milwaukee is in the bottom 5 or so teams in MLB in avg innings per start. Peralta was in the mid-fifties in pitch count after two innings today, and he's one of the people you'd hope could give you some length. That has to change (as do the outings where a starter is doing OK pitch-count wise but gets pulled). The parenthesized is, of course, due to the dreaded "third time through" monster. Teams will always have pitchers capable of throwing 2 or even 3 times through an order. Milwaukee actually could build a staff like you suggest, once people get healthy. But I think the L vs R thing later in games will always supersede. I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries it someday though.

As for BP decisions today......I thought one difference could've been one inning out of Mears, then start the 7th with Alexander & go 2 or 3 innings with him--sort of like what Boston did. I'm not a huge fan of Alexander but you're to the point where you HAVE to get some length out of someone. Maybe it keeps Abreu in the ballpark in the 7th, too. Let's remember there really isn't much opportunity to 'sell now', unless you can find a single buyer & get that much better of an offer than if you were to wait. The trade market will get much warmer down the road.

I made room for it on my mantel. It's sitting up there next to 'cromulent'.