UpandIn

Yeah...but it's self imposed restrictions. It'd be like not allowing Sal Frelick to play for you because he wasn't good enough at Math. It's really not that big of a deal to me. It's really just a gap between Ohio State and then the top of the SEC and one other school that's on a run. USC, Clemson, Oregon...whoever it happens to be. There are like 5 schools a given year who are going to dog walk the Badgers ALMOST ever year. We get lucky, we have a year where we go 13-1 only barely lose to OSU and then win our Bowl game and we show up on "top 5 teams that should have made the CFPs" lists(I just saw that and found it amusing). Strict admission standards, lack of in-state talent...and for all the complaining about PC, I don't even know if he's a good coach or not because our QB/OL play hasn't given him time to show his creativity or lack thereof. So at least we're more like the Brewers in this scenario than the Carolina Mudcats.

I think the bigger issue was the Badgers complete inability to match up on the backend and cover OSU...particularly without their top CB and one of their top safeties out. I'd also suspect if you played a 43 vs a 11 personnel, it'd have been an even quicker death than it already was. It was 28-0 before they really started gashing us with the rush.

A 2-4 scheme? We run a 3-4, same as the Packers. That's 5 guys on the LOS. As always, 3-4, 4-3, it's up to your DTs to keep players off your LBers. You're taking one game as an outlier. One game vs a supremely talented OSU team. The 3-4 was literally designed to stop the run...and you're cherry picking players. Last year the Badgers had Chenel who was 250, they've had Biegal and Watt who've had plenty of size. They've got one of the best defenses FBS since Aranda switched them to a 3-4....which gives you 5 guys at the point vs a 4-3 OSU was just...better. It's not because of our defensive scheme.

No, they'll never call a QB diving forward for a helmet to helmet or targeting penalty, but he can still take a shot to the ribs. It's just not something you want your QB doing unless it's a big spot.

The defensive scheme? What do you think a 4-3 does that this 3-4 doesn't? ESPECIALLY given the talent the Badgers are able bring in at LBer. Guys like Chenel, Herbig, guys who can rush the QB or play the run. The Badgers defensive scheme is definitely NOT the problem. That's an interesting take...I don't know if that's the case, but I do know we haven't had the same type of overpowering OL play. Then having a very limited passing attack, that doesn't help. For example, I don't think bringing in a...Kyle Costigan over a Logan Brown(or Nelson, etc...) helps you, but getting the OL to play as one unit and see continual improvement, that's been lacking. And as good as a 5 star recruit is, they're still capable of consistent growth and the OL can play with continuity. This is a younger group, maybe Bostad will be able to get them to play as a unit, to play better, but I don't think recruiting lower rated recruits who you believe have more rom for improvement or who maybe hungier will help. We just don't have the same in-state talent as OSU, we don't have NEARLY the out of state prescence, and OSU and Michigan, they just get MUCH better skill players. In the secondary, at WRer and at QB. The speed kills. The only area UW has remained consistent is their front 7 on D and they keep churning out RBs. They DO feel stale, but they have also had a couple stretches like this in the past. Hopefully someone like Burkett will be able to come in and be the Badgers Stetson Bennett(or more likely Tyler Donovan) and we can get back to double digit win seasons. Hell, we could still pull one off this year. But we're clearly NOT closing the gap on OSU. Just the opposite. I won't judge a kid on an interview, but the standards to get a player, even a really good FB recruit into UW and the standards at MOST every other B1G school are vastly different. NU has similar standards in their athletic department, but that's it. And the CFB playoffs are a massive difference. Knowing you'll likely be playing in an explosive offense with a QB guru, it's a helluva lot easier to get studs at those skill positions to come. But here again, Wisconsin doesn't produce an awful lot of those... When they went 13-1 and lost a 6 point game with a chance to get into the CFPs, the Badgers recruiting classes seemed to see a pretty significant bump. The results...not as much. But still nothing like the top 5 classes OSU is getting. ONE Marvin Harrison type WRer would be huge. OSU had at least 3 1st rounders on last years team at WRer and likely 4 with Harrison Jr, plus a QB that'll likely go in the top 5. We got Graham Mertz and hoped he'd change our outlook. I think it's more likely this program is just one that's going fall in the 10-20 range most years, some softer schedules and some player development and they have a chance to be top 10, some down years and they'll lose 5 games. Maybe we shouldn't really expect more since...we actually DO prioritize academics over winning at all costs.

Well...Mertz threw the out-route and then immediately threw his hands up like...he knew he'd made a mistake. That was just a bad throw.

Right...we didn't sign the guy under the impression he was some ironman. I wanted Julio as well...and I'd be more than happy to have him. We just need that guy who went off and popped for a couple big plays for 93 yards last week for a couple weeks at the end of the year. 2M for a guy like Watkins....a waste if you're the Bears, a worthwhile risk if you're the Packers. We'll get to the playoffs short of an injury to #12. We just need these guys to make it through a few more games once we get there. Watkins went off for KC in their SB run. 302 yards in 3 playoff games. The year before he went off vs the Pats in the game they lost in OT. It's a 2M dollar risk that he'll help you in the big games because he's got the talent and he's been there before...but he's not the guy you rely on to get you through the season. If he were...as you point out, he'd be paid more than Pat O'Donnell.

You could easily argue this man is our 2nd most important player. It's been 20 months since he had what we were all led to believe was a normal ACL. Comes back, 2nd surgery, he needs to get a routine clean-up. Fine, that's relatively normal. Goes out, plays a game and DOESN'T recover. He's told it's fine, just let it calm down, let the swelling go down and it'll be fine. A couple months later he's hiking and he knows the knee's not right...and he's told he needs another surgery. 5 years in a row the guy is an All Pro LT(1st OR 2nd team) and then he misses two playoff runs and he can't get his knee right. Oh, and he getting paid a whole lot of money with 3 years left on his deal(which they could get out of next year if they don't mind paying the 23M+ cap hit to NOT have an AP LT. Not that I think any of this is news to anyone on here, but when you kinda step back and look at it. Everything he's gone through, I'd imagine the mental hurdle, the apprehension on both sides is about as high as you can get. That said, even if he plays poorly tomorrow and gets beaten badly a couple times like Jenkins did, I won't really care as long as he gets through this week fine. Which I think he will(I also thought he'd play vs SF, so...).

It really is...but I still like the Biggio one better?

4 of the 6 guys who've made the most starts for the Dodgers are either FAs or out next year. Tyler Anderson 15-2 2.52 ERA Not sure they'll completely buy into those numbers given his entire history. Kershaw, Healey also FAs, and Buehler is out for the year. They'll return Urias...good starter and a guy who's been in the BP for the most part his first four years. The guy is also 16-1, but is at 130IP this year and hasn't passed 55 prior to this year(and throws a splitter about ~30% of the time). Healey they should bring back...I'd assume, but he did have an ERA of of almost 6 in 2021. I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't go out and try and acquire at least one ace. There've been rumors Kershaw would finish his career with the Rangers for years. They could also go out and buy 3 or 4 of the top FAs as their payroll dips to a meager ~150 next year and I don't see a lot of landing spots for Turner if not back with the Dodgers. I don't know if they'll spend the prospect capital on SPing...particularly given how much is available on the FA market, but I would expect them to try and pick up at least one ace and maybe a 2nd...because why not when you're the Dodgers and you screwed the rest of the league on your TV deal.

Dodgers have and will continue to be my guess, but if I could hand pick the package, I'd definitely go all in on the Baltimore trade. I'd even go with a bigger package and would include Ruiz and Williams(they gotta add that Felix Bautista who has a uneven history, but has had a good rookie year).

I like that comp. I don't have one for Mitchell...but he helps you win. Just so smooth out there, turns singles into doubles, big arm...Wiemer seems like a Jay Buhner type player. Gotta figure out what we're gonna do with the two aces quick. Flip 'em soon so the arms we get are on the same timeline or...take that extra money that'll be coming in and try and extend one? Also Tyler Black could VERY possibly be in this group if not for a freak injury, Quero and Chourio a year or so behind. And hey, who knows. Maybe Rodgers takes Yelich on an ayahuasca trip and he gets back to his MVP status! Lots of bats coming through the system now. Even dark horses like Devanney who could certainly help in the future...there's a lot to like. Ashby developing into #1/2, Gasser into a #2/3 would certainly help matters, and they certainly have the stuff for it. The real question is who's going to be the guy to lead us the next 4-6 years. Does Stearns stay with the Mets in seemingly good hands or are they still planning on trying to poach him and slide him into that newly vacated POBO position ahead of Eppler?

Yeah, probably should have kept it to the article. I hope you're wrong on 1. On 2, you're probably right. 3, agree obviously. 4...he can be a helluva nice lefty so I hope you're wrong on this one, but I suspect you're not.

Yeah, probably should have kept it to the article. I hope you're wrong on 1. On 2, you're probably right. 3, agree obviously. 4...he can be a helluva nice lefty so I hope you're wrong on this one, but I suspect you're not.

Yup...no NL West Bottom dwellers willing to give up a superstar for an average package of prospects(and then pay for the privilege).

Fair enough, but each situation is different. Those prospects were all in rookie or A ball. In this scenario, we're talking about players several players who've already played at the big league level or who are on the precipice. Also, Seattle was pretty desperate to go for it. Not to say other teams won't be desperate next year, but Baltimore has been pretty patient. And they're genuinely cheap. That market and the Brewers have vastly outspent her the last 10+ years...

I'd gladly give up Ruiz if it meant Grayson Rodriguez and Jackson Holliday. I'd prefer that to the Mets deal as it includes the pitching prospect, but both are nice packages. I'm also assuming in any of these deals, it's assumed we'd also be getting a couple lower rated prospects. And sure, both are probably expecting too much in the way of top tier prospects, but we have that luxury at the moment. We don't have to trade either and we can sit back and wait to see how prospects develop next year or see how we're playing. But one truly elite prospect, one top 50 or higher prospect and then depending on how high that 2nd prospect is, how close they are, that should dictate what else we expect from the other two. But I'd like to get a top pitching prospect, corner IFer and then a couple talented young arms.

That...also time for Rodgers to give the rookies a little bit more of a shot. There's a montage of Watson/Doubs getting open and Rodgers not throwing it to them. Now...obviously there are reasons why you miss an open WRer on a particular play, but there were multiple plays last week where the Bears were in single high man with someone in press vs Watson...a situation Rodgers would certainly take note of and even if it were MVS likely throw the ball their way...and instead he's opted to check it down or hold onto it. I get he dropped that ball vs Minnesota, but this is an issue with Rodgers. You'll see other QBs go right back to a guy after a big drop, Rodgers doesn't with rookies. And rookie drops are hardly rare. Chase had a big drop problem last year(though his big issue was in pre-season, a luxury we didn't have with Watson). But even Julio, Calvin Johnson, TO, obviously Adams and Nelson in particular had issue with drops. James Jones was notoriously bad dropping would be TDs during that SB run in 2010. Even in limited snaps, Watson has been impressive with the ball in his hands. He is a tank, he is fast and he is also quick. It's not just a long stride, he makes people miss. So hopefully we can get the ball in his hands on some basic routes. Some slants, digs. Easy catches and then watch him run through the secondary(though Winfield and Tampa's secondary is pretty physical). But...if we have Bahktiari, Jenkins and Rodgers out there, I'm pretty confident the rest of the offense will figure it out. Also expect more out of Dillon as I think he's left a lot of yards on the field...which is a little outside the norm.

Willy Adames in AAA at age 22- .286/.353/.412 .765 OPS Brice Turang in AAA at age 22 .285/.360/.405 .765 OPS

I think there are some very unreasonable expectations. There just aren't 3B available. I agree with you that Adames to 3rd, sliding Turang in at SS, Urias at 2B, that makes the most sense. And I don't think we need evidence to know that Adames can play a few steps to the left. I don't get that, I don't get the Baez comp(he nearly won an MVP). I don't see Adames being worth 7/140 at THIS point...particularly, again, in a time in which it seems like there's an incredible FA SS class each year and he's got two years left. Best for the team is obvious. Adames-3B, Turang-SS, Urias-2B It also feels like we're glossing over the rules changes with regard to the shift. I think Willy having a GG caliber year at SS, then moving to 3B where I think it's a safe assumption to say he'd excel defensively, it wouldn't hurt him in free agency. But, if it would and if Willy really doesn't want to play there, then you decide to you either kinda force the issue or do you just do the same thing you've done this year with Turang, Urais, Brossea, Peterson moving around and playing 2nd and 3rd from day to day. I also feel like it should be mentioned that MOST people wouldn't be expecting 160 games from Turang next year. So Adames would still be playing 3B when Turang wasn't playing. As for why we're trying to get Turang into the lineup based on his AAA production...I've done this a few times now. It's like people don't understand 22 year old prospects are in the process of developing. Willy Adames in AAA at age 22- .286/.353/.412 .765 OPS Brice Turang in AAA at age 22 .285/.360/.405 .765 OPS And Turang also has 34 SBs and 2 CS this year. You're saving 8M to...MAYBE 10M(if you were to pick up the option and trade him). And that leaves money to improve your team elsewhere and you're improving your team defense...on a team built on run prevention. He's also a player who makes contact and can help manufacture runs and do more than station to station baseball. That helps a team that's been so reliant on the HR ball. Finally...if we DON'T want to or Willy doesn't want to move to 3rd, fine. Turang's not a square peg at 2B. That's never exactly been a position you expect a power hitter. I don't know why his bat would be better suited for SS vs 2B, but with the new change to the shift, the 2B is going to be expected to cover much more ground, so his glove is certainly perfectly suited for 2B. Now, that IS a bigger change than going from SS to 3rd, but he's already played some games there and he'll have a whole spring training to get ready for it...if he's not already. This really isn't that complicated. In order to acquire someone who ISN'T a "JAG" at 3B, you either trade an ace...and then during the season you lament your lack of aces or you...move Willy to 3rd. That is if you consider who we currently have over there right now as "JAGs." We're not throwing out an IF like the 70's Reds. So it's trying to piece together how the players best fit...and it's obviously purely academic as nobody running the Brewers actually gives a **** what we think they should do.

Houser? You think there's any chance they'd non-tender Adrian Houser? I hadn't even considered the possibility that he wouldn't be back, but...I guess, he's really only had one solid season. I still like Houser(as a #4/5). Big time GB pitcher, provides you some protection and he shouldn't be more than 4.5 next year, but I kinda see it now. Still think SPers are just too valuable to let go at that price regardless of Burnes. If Gasser(or less likely Small) throw really well in AAA or earn a spot, then I'd like Houser as a multi-inning reliever...and then if you can get a '21 type year from him, flip him. I'd thrown the idea of maybe picking up the Wong option and then dealing him before his 3HR game. Looking at the 2B market, ~6 WAR over the past two seasons and a solid finish to the year to get him to 3 again this year, feels like that's a really good deal for some team. And as I said in another thread, you can even eat 2M if it means getting back a valuable reliever. I'd consider bringing back Narvaez, Peterson or Rogers, but they'd all have to be cheap deals. Narvaez would have to be 1/2.5, Rodgers in the 5M range and Peterson 2/8, maybe 2/10. He's been an important player the last couple years. No reason to bring McCutchen back for next year...literally none. Even if the rookies can't hit better than him...which I think they can, you're saving ~8M and you're getting them valuable experience. I think this team looks largely the same. I expect you'll see a couple smaller trades. Try and bolster that BP with some more power arms. Kinda hope Suter isn't brought back as I think he'd be redundant with Milner and you have too many guys who COULD be good relievers next year like Gott, Gustave, Strezelicki, Cousins, Topa along with Ecreg who looks like he's really turned a corner in AAA. I don't think Attanasio is gonna want to blow this rotation up...even if it may be the better idea long term. I think he wants one more run and he'll take the diminishing returns. And we should also be able to push the payroll up to 150 this year with the new TV money coming in. So take the Cain, Wong(if he's let go), McCutchen contracts, Rosenthal, Rogers or just what we were paying Hader. I'd guess when you factor in money coming off the books with arbitration raises, we should have ~20-25M to spend. It's just hard to see where that money gets spent. 3B there's nobody worth adding. Vazquez at C, maybe Abreu at 1B...though I know he's loved by the CWS, they have too many 1B/DH only players. Maybe it's Josh Bell? Should be an interesting off-season.

Houser? You think there's any chance they'd non-tender Adrian Houser? I hadn't even considered the possibility that he wouldn't be back, but...I guess, he's really only had one solid season. I still like Houser(as a #4/5). Big time GB pitcher, provides you some protection and he shouldn't be more than 4.5 next year, but I kinda see it now. Still think SPers are just too valuable to let go at that price regardless of Burnes. If Gasser(or less likely Small) throw really well in AAA or earn a spot, then I'd like Houser as a multi-inning reliever...and then if you can get a '21 type year from him, flip him. I'd thrown the idea of maybe picking up the Wong option and then dealing him before his 3HR game. Looking at the 2B market, ~6 WAR over the past two seasons and a solid finish to the year to get him to 3 again this year, feels like that's a really good deal for some team. And as I said in another thread, you can even eat 2M if it means getting back a valuable reliever. I'd consider bringing back Narvaez, Peterson or Rogers, but they'd all have to be cheap deals. Narvaez would have to be 1/2.5, Rodgers in the 5M range and Peterson 2/8, maybe 2/10. He's been an important player the last couple years. No reason to bring McCutchen back for next year...literally none. Even if the rookies can't hit better than him...which I think they can, you're saving ~8M and you're getting them valuable experience. I think this team looks largely the same. I expect you'll see a couple smaller trades. Try and bolster that BP with some more power arms. Kinda hope Suter isn't brought back as I think he'd be redundant with Milner and you have too many guys who COULD be good relievers next year like Gott, Gustave, Strezelicki, Cousins, Topa along with Ecreg who looks like he's really turned a corner in AAA. I don't think Attanasio is gonna want to blow this rotation up...even if it may be the better idea long term. I think he wants one more run and he'll take the diminishing returns. And we should also be able to push the payroll up to 150 this year with the new TV money coming in. So take the Cain, Wong(if he's let go), McCutchen contracts, Rosenthal, Rogers or just what we were paying Hader. I'd guess when you factor in money coming off the books with arbitration raises, we should have ~20-25M to spend. It's just hard to see where that money gets spent. 3B there's nobody worth adding. Vazquez at C, maybe Abreu at 1B...though I know he's loved by the CWS, they have too many 1B/DH only players. Maybe it's Josh Bell? Should be an interesting off-season.

I didn't expect Wong to go out and have a 3HR game, but he's not sitting at .252/.335/.441 with a .776 OPS 117 WRC+ 15/15 HR/SB If he finishes this season strong...I really picking up the option and then dealing him is the way to go. With a limited FA market at 2B, Segura is the #1 FA in the "rankings" I've found, but...10M for one year of a player who will have been worth 6 WAR the two previous years and his defense has been much stronger the last couple months. I went from thinking it'd be a way to just save a couple million and pick up a low ranked prospect, to...maybe you can get a nice ML reliever for him or a solid prospect. Not saying you'll get a top 100 or a teams top 10, but at 10M for 1 year for a team looking in free agency? That represents pretty good value. It might suck, but a deal with the Cards? Gallegos has 2 years left of arbitration, they've got some kids in AAA who can sling it. Just saying...with each of those Wong bombs, the chances that we might be able to go from paying 2M to get rid of him to actually getting paid by a team to take him...it might bend more towards us actually using him as an asset. And hell, if you have to send 2M in a deal to get a nice reliever, a guy who throws in the upper 90s and can be a dominant 7th inning guy, you were gonna spend it either way. I don't know his contract situation or if he has a no-trade, but Tommy Edman is gonna be their SS moving forward(I think) and I'd suck it up and deal with those clowns and he'd almost certainly accept.

There's a lot of teams in that position. Throw Detroit into the mix. They're kinda a mix of Texas and Baltimore. They have a whole bunch of young position players and spent some money and willing to spend money. Baltimore, we could go back to the SD well(though Korey Howell is not their #9 prospect, so...it's a top heavy system). They have some nice young arms. Snelling and Lesko among them. And then about a 10 of the usual contenders and that delusional team that pops up from year to year thinking they're contenders. There's always one or two of them like AZ. Also, Houston. If they lose Verlander, that team is still set up to win. I'd take Forrest Whitley back. See if we could fix him. Course he'd be the 3rd prospect. Hunter Brown, Yainer Diaz, Whitley. There should be a LOT of pitching prospects we could plug into this organization and hopefully come out with some MLB talent...whomever we trade with.

And your guy Devanney with a 2B and 3BB's in 5 PAs. They Brewers better smack Ashcraft around tomorrow after the Sounds pounded him earlier this week for 6ER. It'd be just a perfect encapsulation of this season to see the Sounds do better vs the same pitcher the Brewers have. Great for the future...not great for this years playoff chances. But hey, at least these guys are on their way to Milwaukee.