UpandIn

I think the problem is two fold here. 1-We've been...mis-lead or at least they haven't come out and told us all the details from the start. He's had two further surgeries, so we went from hoping for a Jenkins like return, to this starting and stopping. 2-"Structurally healthy," and "Finally feels normal," doesn't mean "pain free," or back to 100% or that he's not still going to deal with scar tissue and just the soreness that a knee that's had reconstructive surgery and then two more surgeries comes with. I don't think it's "coach speak," saying you think he's fine, I don't think they're hiding anything. I don't think they'd have taken him off PUP. I think they're going to make damn sure he's all the way back this time before they put him on the field as I'd be willing to bet that game in Detroit last year set him back quite a bit and is the reason he's not playing or hasn't played yet. I'm still confident he'll come back and he'll come back and an elite level, be the same Bahktiari and I don't think the fact that he's going to practice twice a week and take a 3rd day off has anything to do with...anything other than the guy is coming back from an injury that has seen him play 27 snaps since Dec 2020 and the leading cause of injury...is fatigue. What did Collinsworth say about speaking to Bahktiari last night? Sounded like he was paraphrasing but he said something like, "it's been 20 months, 3 surgeries, forgive me(him?) for wanting to take a few more weeks to make sure it's fully healed." But it's also been 20 months, 3 surgeries and two missed playoffs, so while Bahk may want some understanding from the fans, he should probably understand those fans just want to see their AP LT, or at least get a clearer picture of his health and MOST people questioning him aren't doing so because they think he's soft or he's taking the money and he's not motivated(though I've seen some).

I'm not getting into another protracted argument on here. I simply pointed out that Peterson is having a career year and paying him based on last year...might not be a good idea and that HE himself was the exact player that "didn't exist," at this point last year.

They don't exist? They didn't exist last season either as Jace Peterson was coming off a 95 OPS+ and was a below average defender. All for re-signing Peterson...as long as he's not paid on his career year where he's posted an above average OPS for the 2nd time in his career(the first time being when he hit .200 in 61 ABs over 26 games in 2020 and had an OPS+ of...100).

Turang's played 6 games at 3rd, 7 at 2nd and 14 in CF(which he's VERY unlikely to play next year) vs 143 games at SS. Seems pretty reasonable that they think he's a SS. I also don't think anyone stated he WILL displace him...merely that it'd make some sense. That's probably your best defensive combination, so it's not really that crazy to hold the OPINION that's what they should maybe consider doing. They also don't need a utility IFer to "magically" appear if they don't re-sign Jace Peterson. They'd have Bosseau, Urias, Adames, Turang. Black and Devanney are guys who may at some point be ready next year. Hiura is not ideal, but an option at 2B and I'm sure they'd sign someone with versatility.

Agreed...on all counts. I preferred to see Frelick up. He seemed like the more obvious answer(between two very good choices). He was hotter for one. Mitchell had been a bit...uneven with injuries and illness in the minors. Nothing serious, always minor, but the margins were slim. I guess it just came down to the 2020 pick over the 2021 pick? I was starting to get nervous that Mitchell wouldn't get ABs because he was struggling in a very short sample size. But even then, he's been putting the bat on the ball, working the count. He's been rung up on a couple of bad 3-2 calls(couple of good ones as well...seems like he gets to 3-2 a lot). I think he's averaging nearly 5 pitches per AB. A little trouble it seems picking up the slider, but nothing out of the norm for a rookie. No problem getting to the FB.

Yeah, that does not make sense to me! You're still starting the same players. Who cares if his bat plays better for a 2B or a SS? And Willy IS an exceptional SS. And for those same reasons, he'd likely be an exceptional 3B. Given their current situation, it seems unlikely they'll extend their pitching. Maybe they extend Adames and ask him to slide over. 3B is obviously going to be played differently with the new shift rules, so his big arm and ability to cover a lot of ground, that could be a massive asset over there. Turang could play 3B as well. Doesn't have as big of an arm as Adames, but it's strong enough. Urias just seems to play the best at 3B. Adames seems like the type of guy you'd ask to move to 3rd and he probably wouldn't love it, but he'd get over it real quick. His agents would take issue. But even that, are people could forget he's a stud SS in 2 years when he's 29? I could certainly be used against him, but One last thought, if he shows he can play 3B, could that HELP his value? Look at 3B around MLB? The best 3B FA this year is probably...Jace Peterson while Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Jose Iglesias are at SS(Tim Anderson with a TO that will obviously get picked up). Correa will likely be back on the market. 2024 isn't a banner year for either, though Chapman is a FA at 3B. 2025-Anderson, Correa, Adames at SS, Bregman at 3B and I don't know if he'll still be a 3B by then. So maybe showing he can play both at an elite level doesn't hurt him and actually creates more options? You could at least make the argument.

Apparently 2018 was the only possible year they could have extended Burnes. But this entire thread is about exactly when. Last year. They should have approached him after last year about an extension. And...yes, of course he would have wanted a long term contract. What sense would it have made to sign him to a 2 year contract extension if he had 3 years left? 5 years seems like it would have fit both sides pretty well. Burnes gets more money up front from arbitration, still hits FA with the shot at another...';Mega' contract that he and Johnny Depp could have gotten together and had a mega pint to celebrate...who's to say. I guess nobody now since it didn't happen.

Right...I don't think anyone's going to view him any differently. This guys take time to adjust. He won't turn 19 until after next season begins(well, until camp begins). Side note, your Dominguez comp is valid and makes perfect sense, but I hate the idea of him(not him, just the pomp and circumstance around him). He has to be the most hyped LA signing ever because he was...I don't know, signed by the Yanks and big? This guy is already Mike Trout with more power. Also almost 2 years older than Chourio...IIRC. Anyway...it's a perfect comp. A highly regarded young player moving up aggressively. Yankees fans have just been SO annoying about that kid.

Fair enough. As I've said on here, I'm more ignorant about our organizational depth than I've been in the last 15-20 years. I didn't know really anything about Cam Devanney coming into this year. You guys turned me onto him...and then I spent a lot of time looking at scouting reports and highlights, but I just haven't followed as closely. I get to 10-15 games in Appleton a year when I'm in the area, so I don't know anything about Lopez, I know a little about Clarke and Kahle and both seem like potential 4A or better players. Actually...even that I'm largely going off their line. Haven't really seen Kahle catch(did catch some of Clarke...looked alright...if he hits). I did not understand the Reetz situation. I thought he looked like someone who could be a MLB catcher, but...I guess the thinking there is you have depth in Caratini and Severino with Feliciano as an offensive first catcher and then some other guys coming up and he wasn't worth a 40 man spot this off-season anyway? Anyway, always appreciate the insight you provide on here.

What practice did you see him moving around in? I saw him at the end of camp and he looked like he was moving around just fine...and their rationale made perfect sense. That he'd had three surgeries in 20 months and...he had to rebuild the atrophied muscles back up. I understand the trepidation, but when he says his knee feels normal for the first time since the injury, when he, MLF, and Gutekunst all say they have absolutely no concerns about his long term health...and when we find out it wasn't his decision, but the Packers decision(not just with him, but with Jenkins as well) to hold them out and bring them back slowly, There is a lot of strength and conditioning that goes into coming back after that long of a layoff(though...again, even there I'd point to the Lions game when he was still not right and he was the David Bahktiari we've been accustomed to)...I think he'll be back playing at an AP caliber level. I think it's just as simple as being overly cautious at this point given the complications they've dealt with moreso than Bahk's knee being wrecked. That said, going forward, they should probably re-think their position on Toradol with some players. It's a miracle drug that it seems seems like very other team in the NFL is using but the Packers. I'll guess he makes his debut vs Tampa Bay and is good to go after that...with a limited practice schedule. But we'll see. I thought he was coming back last year as well and the Packers are very secretive about most of these things(which is why I put stock into what they say when they're so adamant about his long- term prognosis).

A-There's only so many times you can say, "but Yelich got hurt." So what? So that means you don't sign anyone to extensions again? B-Burnes was still 26 years old when he finished last season and he had 313 IP, had just come off a Cy Young season. C-These contracts are ALMOST always deals that buy out the remaining arbitration years and then either 2 FA years, usually via team option with a buyout. So he'll hit Free Agency at 29. He's not a Running Back. There's no rule about signing a pitcher who's 30 years old. If ANYTHING we're seeing pitchers dominating well into their 30s and we're seeing HS pitchers getting Tommy John surgery. You're tying yourself up in knots here to argue that they shouldn't bother anyway because...he'd be 30 a year after he would have qualified for free agency. If that goes sour, it does not "ruin" a small market franchise for a long time. They either decline the option, pay him and he enters Free Agency with more than he was worth, or the Brewers have a pitcher on their books for two more years who MIGHT get hurt... So then do you just never give anyone a large contract again? Or just someone who'll be 30-early 30s at the end of it? It's also kinda funny one argument is the potential risk of injury WOULDN'T play into Burnes signing a contract extension that would guarantee him more money than he's made while the other is the risk of injury is SO high, the Brewers wouldn't want to do it. Either way, it kinda adds up to, 'The Brewers made the right call and I'm not going to entertain the notion that it's possible in any way that they didn't.' Has this front office made ANY mistakes since Stearns took over? I'm just curious? Is it even possible for them to MAYBE, possibly make a bad call?

So his age was the reason? He wasn't even 27 and a Cy Yong Winner. That makes absolutely zero sense. Also, MOST likely any contract signed by Burnes last year would have kept him under team control through roughly the same age Peralta and Ashby are under team control. So...that doesn't track at all. I ASSUMED the logic was sign them early, get them for 15.5M and if they don't pan out, it's not that big of a deal. Neither Ashby nor Peralta have to do much in order to have been worth extending and Peralta has already likely made that extension worth it. But that's not even the argument you're making. You're strictly going on age. So what age do you no longer consider signing a player? If 26/27 is too old...that seems like a poor organizational philosophy. And I'm curious why 2018 was the only time they could have reasonably talked with him about a contract extension? So no, that's not what you said, but that's the inference you continually make. Either sign them with less than 1 year of service time or not at all. Which is why I didn't quote you, but paraphrased what you said. But that's certainly the sentiment. I'm curious what you'll say when they talk to Woodruff about a contract extension...or Burnes for that matter as I'll just about guarantee they approach him with some type of extension now that it's a near given it's not affordable....at least if you listen to what Attanasio has said. How is that a strawman? You LITERALLY said; That's not a strawman, that's sarcasm, but you literally said they don't want to extend Burnes beyond his arbitration years(contrary to Attanasio's words...which have been pretty clear and effusive in his desire to extend Burnes, but not the Front offices actions...even the MOST minimal, basic, lowest possible expectations. Just communicating with him). You still haven't offered proof they're "not interested in doing one," other than the fact that they simply DIDN'T approach talk to him about one last. The excuses ranged from, he'll get 10/400M, it was a short off-season with the lockout, they'll do it this year and now the "they're not interested," again, despite Attanasio saying they ARE interested. Now THIS is a strawman. Burnes made 6.5M dollars this year. But the ONLY way they could sign him 3 years away from Free Agency...would be by paying him the same he'd make as if he was a FA RIGHT NOW. I KNOW you know that's not how it works. Could you please give me an example of a player who with 3 years left of service time was paid FULL market value on a contract extension? Did Mike Trout sign for full market value when he signed a 6/144M dollar extension with 3 years to go before free agency? Was that roughly what you think he'd have gotten on the open market? That's not how it works, it's not how it's ever worked, I'm fairly certain having read your post you KNOW that's not how it works. Players sign so they get their first significant contract, they avoid the arbitration process and they give up a couple years of free agency in the process. It's worked that way for EVERY other contract extension signed by a player who was entering arbitration. But somehow in this ONE case, the only way we could have gotten an extension done was by paying Corbin Burnres as though he was a Free Agent NOW, and not three years into the future? Walk me through that logic? How you arrived at that despite...again, literally nobody else getting such a deal? But lets say this was the case and they actually expected or asked for a 5 year 180M dollar contract despite 3 of those years being arbitration years and one of them worth 6.5M. Well then at least you know the ask is entirely unreasonable. You know how you DON'T know if he's looking for a reasonable extension? IF-YOU-DON'T-ASK.

Likely just rotating players. I'd rather see Ruiz in CF rather than Davis who is likely playing his final few weeks in this system, but...meh. I will say I'm encouraged by his production at Nashville. I'd thought perhaps his numbers with the Pads AA/AAA were aided a bit by hitter friendly leagues, but he just seems...legit. 5SB, 2Hs, 3-3 and a walk in the last...4-5 games? Seems likely one of our AAA OFers in part of a trade this off-season, but great "problem" to have.

I wonder is Quero would have been promoted...were it not for the depth we already have at catcher? In any event, there was no "bad" ending to this season for Chourio. So the kid isn't QUITE ready to dominate at AA. He's barely old enough to be able to purchase tobacco. Or, as someone else suggested, maybe he's just hit the wall. I suspect the only difference between 1-17 and 6-17 would have been a foot note in his prospect ranking where he'll likely find himself in the top 5 to start next year.

Not missing that at all...as I've said several times...as have others. I happen to be more invested in how this organization operates and less interested in how Corbin Burnes agency operates. But all these points were made on the 1st page by several others. I don't follow this logic. You either do it when they're rookies or you just...throw your hands up and say, 'well, no point anyway.' They don't WANT Corbin Burnes in his prime seasons? So Attanasio was lying about that? I'm struggling to see how the Brewers are BETTER off moving foward without Burnes as opposed to with him. I'm kinda in awe at how many people are genuinely arguing we(they) don't even WANT the Cy Young winner or...it'd probably be too expensive, so why bother anyway. The most valuable player you could have in a post-season series(arguably)...but, nah, pass. Why would you want keep a guy with 5 pitches who throws in the upper 90s and is one of the most dominant pitchers in the league?

Obtuse? From you? Oof...the irony. You couldn't wrap your head around a pitcher POSSIBLY wanting financial security 3 years before free agency because the example I happened to use was Jimmy Nelson sliding back into 1st base as an example of injuries pitchers can suffer. As for the As...last 8 full seasons, they've had 3 90 loss seasons(this one will almost certainly be a 100 loss season), they've had an 87 loss season and they've been in the bottom 5 of payroll...which now is apparently a good thing now as we're equally concerned with Attanasio's maximizing his revenue. That's what we're trying to build? They're in a constant tear down and rebuild cycle. Kina antithetical to the "more bites at the apple," ideology isn't in play all the sudden? I guess then we'll be trading Burnes, Woodruff, Adames and preparing for a rebuild next year then, no? Then we really could be like the As...with a fan base that doesn't care, doesn't come out and support the team and isn't invested. Yup, all in on the As way of doing things...while fans bemoan a team that's 1.5 out of the playoff race and on pace to win "only" 88 games, I'm sure there'd be a lot of patience for those 90-100 loss seasons.

I mean...it's really not that impressive. They bought an AS SS, an ACE and about 9 more players. I feel with a reasonable degree of certainty, if you gave the Brewers 160M more to spend...they'd probably have 13 more wins. Fill those other 47 starts in with Bassit and Scherzer alone and I think we'd be fine. I am more than a little skeptical of this. That they're friends may make it easier for Stearns to slide into that POBO's job and kinda take over the same job he's doing now, but I can't see him being alright having to run any trades past anyone other than Cohen(who I irrationally picture just chilling at a eyes wide shut party on a yacht at all times, occasionally taking phone calls...because of course it's his party so the no phones rule isn't applicable, and invariably answers "ya, I don't care what it costs, get him"). But...the point, I don't believe Stearns would go there without being the main decision maker. It has literally every other quantifiable thing you could imagine Stearns would want... There IS another job that may very well be opening up in Gotham that...may be appealing to Stearns if the Mets are happy with Eppler as their head baseball man. Would the former Mets fan run the evil empire? I'm not all that convinced Stearns would have that Andrew Friedman type success going from small market team that prioritizes player control and then meshes that with the large market, but I think he'd do pretty damn well in either situation.

Yeah, here again, if that's what you think, you're having a WHOLE lot of trouble with reading comprehension. My thought...and frankly I'm shocked I have to continue to dumb this down this much, but they are that the Brewers...SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN WITH BURNES OR HIS AGENTS. And guess what? That team that you were just "sighting," they DID offer Bieber an extension. He didn't sign it, but they DID offer it. They at LEAST talked about it...which for some reason, is a SHOCKING concept that you are absolutely blown away by apparently. Really? PLEASE do explain how it's "speculation," with regard to TALKING to a pitcher about a contract extension? Make that one make sense? Who the hell wants to emulate the Oakland model of team building?

That would probably be fair. It's too bad the Angels are just SOOO utterly hapless...beyond finding a once in a generation and a once in a lifetime talent. Judge has been so impressive in his ability to stay patient, Still, I'm suspicious. Their scouting director...Oppenheimer. They scout Aaron Judge. Oppenheimer...Judge's name starts with an A? Just saying...connect the Dots people. Robert clearly cloned himself multiple times over...the latest version spent a little while in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, to keep his cover, but all the while in the lab trying to manufacture the perfect Baseball player to HIT Bombs? Open your eyes Sheeple...

---Good post and again, I write too much. If you don't want to read it, I'll just summarize by saying, I agree with you. I wouldn't make any knee jerk reactions because this year didn't go as well as hoped, but I'd listen to offers and make a trade if we got a return that made it worth it. The only reason I'd extend Wong at this point, is if you thought you could extend him and that a team would want him for ~10M a year. I think that's a pretty fine line. His defense has been one of those baffling developments this year that...just doesn't make sense. How does he go from such an elite defender to such a poor one? So many of the errors seem to be on just poor throws. With the limited shifting, he may have been worth it, but at this point? I think you try and re-sign Jace Peterson. He's been out standing defensively...minus one particularly bad inning vs the Cards, and he's just good, reliable player. I'd rather spend 12 over 2 on keeping him and then bring up Turang. He's played 3B, 2B, SS, CF. One a quick side note, I wonder if MAYBE this is the season to try and extend Willy Adames? He's had a down season with regard to BA/OBP, but a big part of that is hitting into poor luck. His BABIP last I checked was in the ~.240 range. That's down about 90 points from last year and even more from past years. His walk rate has also dipped to about 8%, but the power he brings, plus the defense? I only suggest that because I think it's a REALLY hard sell to ask him to play 3B 2 years away from Free Agency and I think he might be our best option. Turang plays short, 2B is Urias/Peterson and maybe on occasion Hiura. The shift is going to make IF defense that much more valuable and Adames/Turang/Peterson/Rowdy is a pretty good group. You could obviously do better at 1B, but you have what you have. OF-I'd definitely bring back Renfroe. If the rookies force the issue, great. You have depth. But I really only trust Frelick to step in and produce right out of the gate as a rookie and he brings very little power as of now. Mitchell is ready, but I think he'll take a little bit to full adjust and you can get him plenty of ABs with Yelich in LF. Ruiz...still see him as a trade candidate...and I love Wiemer, but he's too boom or bust to throw him out there next year...I think. So I agree. As for Burnes...I could see one of two things happening. With SO much proven SPing talent available and the Mets having deGrom and Walker(among others) up, the Dodgers down Buehler, Kershaw, Heaney(who's been outstanding)...and I can't foresee Bauer ever pitching again(at least in LA) these teams could just go nuts. I could legitimately see deGrom getting a 3/150 type deal. I know that sounds crazy, but he's healthy and when he's healthy, he's the best I've ever seen personally...and it's hard to imagine a pitcher who has better stuff, Mets, Cohen...not hard to see him setting the market. Verlander could get a Scherzer type deal. He wants to pitch into his mid 40s and the man is back from TJ and should win a Cy Young. Rodon is a guy I'd be a bit Wary of, but he's been outstanding and his velo has ticked up as the season went on this year as opposed to last year. He seems like a Yankees type overpay. Maybe 4/120? In all you've got(copied and pasted from MLB.com) Carlos Rodón (30 years old, 10.3 WAR) -- Can opt out Aaron Nola (30, 9.6) -- Club option-Obviously will be picked up Jacob deGrom (35, 6.8) -- Can opt out Adam Wainwright (41, 6.7)-He's either retiring or staying in STL Nathan Eovaldi (33, 6.4) Chris Bassitt (34, 6.3) -- Mutual option Clayton Kershaw (35, 6.2) Charlie Morton (39, 6.1) -- Club option Tyler Anderson (33, 5.4) Justin Verlander (40, 4.8) -- Player option Sonny Gray (33, 4.6) -- Club option Kyle Gibson (34, 4.5) Sean Manaea (31, 4.2) Corey Kluber (37, 4.0) Martín Pérez (31, 3.9) Chris Flexen (28, 3.6) -- Vesting option Jameson Taillon (31, 3.5) Wade Miley (36, 3.5) José Quintana (33, 3.3) Taijuan Walker(29, 3.2) -- Player option Throw in guys like Sale, and Healey as I said(Dodgers sure nailed that one)...it's either a great off-season to trade for a pitcher who's cost controlled for two more years and who you could sign to an extension now and save some money on the FA years, or there's so much pitching available, he's got less value. I tend to think this is the year his value is going to be at it's highest. I've suggested the Dodgers, but teams like the Rangers who really went all on in Seager and Semien, those mid market teams may not be capable of spending for a legitimate ace, but they have the prospects to trade for one and then sign him. I also think Brandon Woodruff is...SOMEHOW underrated. I guess just being in a rotation with Burnes. Detroit with their young bats, they still have a good system and play in an extremely winnable division. And hell, the Padres still have a LOT of really nice pitching prospects...go back to that well! And that should only be in a light shade of blue. But I'd let the market play out. If you're trading to Texas, ask for 4 prospects and it has to be headlined by Jung or Lieter(I'd actually prefer the later as I prefer a TOR type arm who's closer, but we've struggled to develop 3B). Same with the LAD. Miller, Vargas and then Stone and Pepoit. Do what the Pirates did with Bryan Reynolds(but maybe not QUITE as stringent as they reportedly asked for both Julio Rodgriquez but also AND Marte). Otherwise...hold onto them and I'm fine with playing it out and hoping Adames bounces back and puts up a line closer to his 2021 line with the Brewers(making him an MVP candidate), Turang and Frelick I think can produce right out of the gate and add another component to this team. Renfroe, Rowdy, Yelich...I expect them to produce similar to how they produced this year. We'd all love to see a vintage Yelich season...even if it's Miami-vintage, but solid, reliable contributors who should be more effective with the limited shift(particularly the lefties). And then just play it out. I'm not as down on this team as others are. This same team won 95 last year and could have won 100 if they needed to. The ONE thing I wouldn't do is react to the team "only" wining 85-88 games this year. I'd be proactive with one of the two aces if the trade made it worthwhile, but I wouldn't panic and substantively change how we do things. That can/could wait until next years deadline if it's needed. Oh, one other team I'd look at...the Braves. They have a DEEP and nasty lineup and they're almost all locked up long term...they lose Morton. If you could pry Strider+a couple lower level prospects away for Burnes/Williams, I'd definitely consider that. The only reason I could see them parting with an arm like Strider is because 4 of their 5 top prospects are pitchers, they have Fried and Strider isn't quite an ace just now...and because they've struggled to find a closer and despite all evidence to the contrary, Williams decreasing Velo makes me nervous and makes me think he's on more of a late career Hoffman or KRod type trajectory. A really good reliever...not the guy who's putting up the Hader-esque line he has. It'd also give the Brewers an arm who's upside is limitless. But that's pretty far fetched. The Braves don't need to do anything. They have Riley, Albies, Olson, Harris, Acuna Jr locked up long term, Swanson is a FA but their #1 prospect is a SS who's got an ~840 OPS in roughly 150 PAs at age 21 and they even have d'Arnaud signed for another year, a catcher with an 800 OPS. If there was one team I would try and model the Brewers after...it'd be ATL. Lock up the prospects early when they come up, and just keep developing the pitching. But if they want to keep pace with the Mets and the Dodgers, that may require a slightly out of character trade for them. I'd roll the dice and accomodate.

The only part about this I'd quibble about is that Selig-Prieb lost fans. I think Bud was pretty damn good, but your point is obvious. He was basically hands off by the time the Molitor situation was just butchered by Bando(though he was brought in at the last minute and offered arbitration and tried to salvage the situation, though failed). Other than my slight nod to Bud, I think you nailed it. We can't and won't ever be able to contend with the big markets fiscally, but we're also not the Rays. We can afford to sign another player along with Yellich and his 22M...particularly if we continue to produce via the farm system(Which seems to be coming along quite well at the moment). We're seeing even Tampa Bay committing massive resources to a totally unproven player. The Indians extending Ramirez for 7/142 when everyone assumed it was a given he was gone. There are owners like the Nuttings who are seemingly in it for the tax free revenue their Sports team generates, but I've never got that impression from Attanasio and...again, I believed him when he said they could have made ANY trade that was out there and been able to afford it. I don't think the trade deadline was a mandate, I think it was Stearns just making a call. We won't be competing for Aaron Judge of Ohtani in free agency...but we should be capable of extending proven MLB players prior to their FA years...on occasion at least. As always, the earlier the better.

It's not 2007 anymore, the Brewers are getting 120M a year via TV and revenue sharing before they even account for attendance. They're still getting a WHOOLE lot less than the Dodgers...Yankees, Cardinals, Braves. But they're not losing money at 120 with these new TV deals.

This is ridiculous and I've entertained this long enough. Your "feeling," that I was comparing the contract Corbin Burnes was going to contracts given to young pitchers who've yet to become full time starters and who's combined guaranteed money is 36M dollars is...insulting. Just say, "you're a moron who doesn't understand some VERY basic concepts of baseball," it'd be simpler and more honest than saying, 'I think you think Corbin Burnes is gonna get a deal like Aaron Ashby and Freddy Pertalta signed.' Particularly when I cited Jacob deGrom's 5/137.5 extension at the time as a baseline...with Burnes coming in either under or sans the option because...he hadn't been as good as deGrom. So no, NEVER under the impression they were going to sign Burnes for a grand total of 15.5M guaranteed and then two options for 8M. And yes, I WAS using Scherzer as a comp because this conversation went off the rails and we started talking about free agent value for a guy who, in this scenario had three years of team control left. But I was also using Bauer who got a 3/102M dollar deal before his...activities became public, and the overall trend in baseball in the last 5-6 years where pitchers get shorter deals with higher AAV. Though even that was pointless AGAIN, Burnes not only WASN'T a FA. That's not insignificant here. He was ACTUALLY closer to Ashby in service time than he was a Free Agent. He's also looking at a FA class that...as things stand or as they stood last year, was about as good as it could possibly get with guys like deGrom, Scherzer, Fried, Buehler, Wheeler, Glasnow, Bieber and about another half of dozen pitchers who either are or have been aces. So probably not getting a 10/400M dollar deal in that class. Probably not getting a 10/300M deal in that class. Finally, if the Brewers aren't "willing" to give Corbin Burnes 6/125...which was much lower than anything I'd suggested, BUT, lets go with your hypothetical, if they're not willing to do that, they're just not a serious team. It's just that simple. You sign him to that deal and his trade value ALMOST certainly INCREASES. He hadn't yet turned 27 years old at this point. If you're not going to pay him THAT contract...at a time when you're getting conservatively ~120M a year after increases in National TV Money, Local TV money and revenue sharing...AND you have a whole farm system of highly regarded position players on their way up, then when would you? And we can only put so much on Christian Yelich. He's costing 22M a year, not 40. And I'm not even complaining about NOT signing him. *****...some people treat questioning the front office on here like a Vampire popping his head out during the day. The idea that you would have offended him by just BROACHING the topic of a contract extension with 3 years of service time and MAYBE not offering enough...well, it's kinda moot when you clearly offended him by those discussions NOT taking place. I just don't see any possible argument for NOT feeling him out and inquiring about an extension at what was LIKELY that last time when that was a realistic option.

Who should be the MVP this year, Ohtani...or apparently Brewers to be Aaron Judge? I'm throwing out WAR on this one as it does a woefully inadequate job of really valuing Ohtani IMO...but Judge is also having one of the 20-25 greatest offensive seasons of all time. Side note...I did NOT know it was easier to hit a HR in the Angels Stadium than in the Yankees? Think I'm going Ohtani because a top 8 hitter and a top 8 pitcher is just more valuable than the #1 hitter...but we all know storylines play a huge role in MVP voting. And now that WAR is given more weight, we find the guy who isn't appropriately judged by WAR because he broke the system.

Edit-That wasn't at all directed to your little quip or aimed at you. It was more just the confusion how these players aren't fully embracing EVERYTHING that can protect the very thing that makes them the They look stupid, but apparently they've got a design where that padding is INSIDE the helmet or at least between the inside padding and the hard shell. This is supposed to reduce impact by 20%. These aren't as effective, but the other once were more costly, so the company didn't have enough. The NFL should ABSOLUTELY mandate those other helmets. No Grandfather order like they did with the older ones, no exceptions. No whining because it's 12 inches heavier. These guys do shrugs with 4 racks on each side. They're not awkward 8 year olds who haven't grown into their body and just fall over when they're running because they don't have great balance yet. Sit EVERY player down, show him the story of Mike Webster, Junior Seau, Jovan Belcher who killed his Fiancé for no discernable reason, then went and thanked the Chiefs before eating a bullet. I just listened to "Bussin with the Boys," and someone ELSE on there was whining about them(And I think it was a new one, they're not even using them anymore). I get chronic migraines. Sometimes it's 4 in 6 months, sometimes it's 0 in 6 months, sometimes it's a little more, whatever. They're awful. Pucking, I feel like a vampire. I've had a lot of concussions, don't know if there is any correlation. But it is BRUTAL. These guys with serious CTE get them daily and it's changed their personalities. They find no joy in life. They're 40 and they're used up. So mock the helmets or...ya know, embrace protecting your brain JASON KELCE. /End rant