bsglorydays

Madrx, I think Niemann would be a nice target for the Brewers. As you mentioned, he is out of options. Barring a bunch of injuries in spring training, Niemann definitely does not have a rotation spot and likely won't make the bullpen either. He also has had trouble warming up quickly over the course of his career, so he is better suited as a starter. He's had a nice minor league career (career ERA of 3.58 and 9.12 K/9) and really has nothing left to prove in AAA. The question is what it would take to get him. He's had some injuries, but he could be a good risk to take if the price is right. If he doesn't make the Rays, they would have to pass him thru waivers and TB would get nothing for him. If the Brewers could offer a decent prospect with options remaining, they might be able to get him. At best it could be a steal and at worst Niemann would add depth to a thin rotation and/or pitch in long relief. Adding Niemann also would not change the financial outlook of the team in terms of players payroll, since he will make the league minimum or close to it. The Brewers would still have the flexibility to add a player during the year if they need to try to make a run.

Attanasio made an Angelos decision this week when he fired Yost. Sure, Yost was probably going to get canned at the end of the season anyway. But, what Attanasio did (I'm not convinced a "baseball man" like Melvin would not have made the move, so I'm saying it was Mark A.'s decision) set the team back in the next few years, in my opinion. Here's why: Let's say the Brewers miss the playoffs this year, and they open a managerial search. If there is a "quality" veteran manager on the market, why would he want to come to the Brewers? He could be having a great year, but a couple of bad weeks (none of which could be pinned on the manager - its not like the Brewers were losing a bunch of close games) could cost him his job. The Brewers made a managerial change for one reason and one reason only - to shake up the team. Making that move in mid-September was a bone-headed move that will cost the team this year and beyond. They are already too far removed from the firing to get any benefit from it for this year. If anything, you could argue that Iorg coaching at 3B - the result of Yost's dismissal & Sveum moving to manager - has already had a significant impact on one loss (Thursday's game vs CHC when he sent Hardy home with nobody out, only to see Hardy get gunned by 20 feet).

Brewers fans weren't the minority at MP the last 4 days, it only seemed that way because the Cubs took it to us big time. It was probably 60/40 Brewers fans, but you wouldn't know it, because we sat on our hands for 4 days. If you were watching on TV, it also gets skewed because Cubs fans snatch up the expensive tickets behind home plate (in a way, we should be thanking them for that). I'm tired of listening to people say that they don't go to Cubs/ Brewers games because Cubs fans are "obnoxious" or whatever word you want to use. The bottom line is this... if the Brewers play well, you will not hear the Cubs fans. Cubs fans think we're obnoxious, too, when the Brewers win. Its perception. There are no better games to be at than Brewers/Cubs or Brewers/Cardinals...rivalry games... no matter what ballpark they are played in. If your team wins, you have no problems. If the other team wins, you're gonna hear about it. When 2 teams are so geographically close together, the crowd is going to be split. If you are going to complain about the number of Cubs fans at games, do something about it - come out of hiding and buy tickets.

In Braun's case, it would take a 7 year deal to buy out 1 year of free agency. He's still 6 years from free agency, if my math is good. That's not happening. I could see a couple years of arby bought out, but not free agent years.

The only way this makes any sense for the team is if it is very cost effective. Ryan Howard winning his arby case could be one reason to look at locking up players like Braun and Fielder, if and only if you are getting them at salaries below what you project they will make in their arby years. Otherwise, it is pointless, IMO. These guys are already under Brewers control for their first 6 years, so there is no reason to throw a bunch of money at them, especially (in Braun's case) after less than one year of service.

Last year, Saz's tickets went on sale the same day as the individual game tickets (or very close to it). So, in another week or so, you should see something on their site, I imagine. The Saz's package was well worth the $70 bucks last year, IMO.

If Sheets stays healthy, the Brewers are most likely in contention, IMO. There is no way you trade your best starting pitcher if you are in contention.

I'm not quite sure how Sickels came to the conclusion that Yo will be an ace early in his career and then morph into merely an innings eater in the not-so-distant future. The only reason he gives is concerns that Yo could have weight issues to deal with. Of course, in the comments section following the article, Sickels does admit that it is more of a "gut feeling".

So, no new inductees?

I'm still looking for the John Sickels 50/50 list (top 50 hitters / top 50 pitchers), if anybody wants to share it.

Okay thanks guys! I'll keep digging for the rest of the lists.

Does anybody have John Sickels' (minorleagueball.com) 50/50 prospect lists for this year. If so, could you please post them or send them to my inbox? Thanks in advance. For those who are unfamiliar, Sickels ranks the top 50 hitting prospects and the top 50 pitching prospects in separate lists. At his blog recently, he reviewed his lists from 2007. His 2008 lists are out there somewhere, but I haven't been able to track them down.

Actually, that's well put - in that, it illustrates that no matter what happens, if the Brewers lose, Yost somehow mishandled the bullpen in the minds of many here.

To anybody who thinks Yost mishandles his pitching, I hope you saw Cecil Cooper blow a chance for the Astros to at least tie the game in their (offensive) half of the 9th tonight. Scenario: 3-1 Cubs lead, no outs in the bottom of the 9th. Loretta leads off with a single that should have been an out (it caromed off first base). He's replaced by a "faster" player (notice the use of speed in this inning). The next hitter gets a hit to left center and then ends up at 3rd base on an error in the outfield. 3-2 Cubs, runner on 3rd, still nobody out. The next hitter, Luke Scott, swings at the first pitch and hits a "cue shot" off the end of his bat to 3B. 1 out, runner still at 3rd. Cooper summons a PH, Orlando Palmeiro, who walks. He's replaced at first base by another (assumingly faster player, since Palmeiro is not exactly slow) pinch runner. 1st and 3rd, 1 out. The only thing that can hurt you now is a double play. Who does Cooper PH with? None other than a backup catcher, Eric Munson, who runs like Johnny Estrada. He promptly grounds into a (predictable) double play. Game over. It can always be worse.

Its hard to blame the manager when he goes with the "best" guy and that guy doesn't get the job done. The fact that Turnbow pitched yesterday means absolutely nothing. He was obviously available today or he wouldn't have been used. Nobody is rested at this point in the season, but I'm sure (I hope) they all want the ball and proclaim themselves available every day. If anybody but Turnbow or Linebrink would have been used and got the loss today, Yost would have been bashed for that, too. Linebrink pitched last night, too, so take your pick. Using Turnbow to start the 8th was the right move IMO. That said, if somebody else was already warmed up in the pen after the 2nd walk, I would argue that Turnbow should have been pulled at that point. But, I don't know if anybody was ready or not. I'll take my chances with Turnbow vs the likes of Josh Phelps any day.