strawbossisevil

In the long run, I still think Greinke will be fine. And starts like this may make a long term contract much more affordable for the Brewers. No one in the last decade has finished with a difference between ERA and FIP as large as Greinke´s currently is. I expect an ERA in the mid to low 3s going forward, in spite of how he´s looked to this point of the season.

Hardy's OPS is .907.Hardy doesn´t have enough ABs to qualify for the batting title, etc. Which is why I didn´t include him.

To give another perspective of it: Amongst OF (with enough ABs to qualify), Braun is #2 in OPS behind only Kemp. Amongst 1B, Fielder is #1 in OPS. Amongst 2B, Weeks is #1 in OPS. So we have the top offensive player in the whole MLB at two positions, and the second best at another. I can't even imagine the awesomeness of our offense if we could some how scrape together enough prospects to trade for the #1 OPS SS - Jose Reyes (as unlikely as that would be).

Yep, I think if a trade does happen it will either be Furcal or Scutaro. There is just too much bad blood with Hardy, and Reyes will be far too pricey.

Put me down as one who is really interested in seeing what Klinsmann can do with the national program. I know he would be a bit more of an expensive option than Bradley, but as is the case with many things, you get what you pay for. The US certainly does a very good job at set pieces, that is perhaps their greatest strength. Where they lack is in possessing the ball, creativity (although I was really impressed with Adu - the guy may finally have turned a corner), and defensive coherence. Too often under Bradley, the US' offensive strategy has been punt the ball and run. That works against the very poor teams that lack the height and discipline of a top tier soccer program, but it doesn't work as your only option against the giants of soccer. Watch Spain play sometime or the Netherlands. I love the fluidity of their play, constantly shifting the ball around with quick, crisp passes. Some of that is natural talent, but some of that is also coaching. It is something that needs to be emphasized in order for the US to move the program forward to a higher level. The other major flaw in our team is that we lack a striker with instincts. Watching Mexico's Chicharrito, the guy is certainly talented, but most of his goals in the tournament were simply a result of having an instinct of how to position himself on the far side of the goal for a deflection (the second goal against Honduras comes to mind). As good of a player as he is, his instinct is what makes him a world-class striker. Altidore doesn't currently have the same instincts up top. And if a player like Agudelo is going to develop those kind of instincts he'll need quality coaching. Bradley hasn't shown he can provide that. He had his chances, now is the time to move on.

I didn't know that you had an inconsistent view towards the value of signing an older OF vs signing an older SP. Signing Johnny Damon, A+ move. Signing Randy Wolf, Melvin stinks...or, in retrospect, not so bad...but down with Melvin anyway!!!! If Furcal is traded to Milwaukee, I would gladly take the bet that he will be around with the team during the playoffs. Comparing him to Takashi Saito doesn't make much sense either, seeing as Furcal is 7 years younger. As for your dismissing of a .700 OPS via a SS. Only 10 SS (out of 26 who have enough ABs to qualify) have a better OPS than .700 so far this season. .700 is above average for a MLB shortstop at this point. This is due to the fact that the Shortstop position is fairly weak throughout baseball. Of those who would be available next offseason...only Reyes and Hardy look to be better options, with Rollins and Scutaro being similar type players to Furcal. The biggest difference between Furcal and the trio of Reyes, Hardy and Rollins, is that Furcal will be much cheaper and can be signed to a much shorter contract. Scutaro may be another decent option, however he is two years older than Furcal. I would love for the Brewers to make a play on both Furcal and Scutaro on 1-2 year deals (preferably one year deals), having Scutaro fill in the Craig Counsel role next season. That would be an excellent remedy to our current hole at SS. Finally, I wanted to bring up Alcides. He's barely cracking a .600 OPS at this point. I don't think he'll be missed, nor do I think he'll amount to much. He's being outhit by Yuni B, and that is saying something. This is the guy you wanted to bring up not last year, but two years ago because he was "ready", and it was clearly time to move him up to the MLB and trade Hardy. In retrospect, trading Hardy was the mistake. Offensively, at least, Escobar still belongs in AAA.

Wouldn't the extra space on the 40 man be for Saito? Since he will be returning from the DL. Or am I wrong in thinking that a player on the DL doesn't count against the 40 man roster.

A few things, 1) Of course you won't like the suggestion of a Furcal or Hardy, they aren't young unproven minor league players. We get it. In your eyes there is never a purpose for signing an older player (tell that to your beloved Rays...and their signing of Johnny Damon). I don't believe it is realistic, sometimes you have to plug certain gaps with veterans. Yes, they come at a premium, but even the best run farm system has its holes.2) No one suggested a long term deal. I mentioned an extension, meaning one year, maybe two. Hopefully such an extension would give our system the time to either develop a younger SS or trade for a younger SS. No one is talking a Suppan type deal here. (Strangely enough, I haven't heard any "I was wrong" comments from you in reference to the Wolf signing). 3) I guess it is possible that he might spend some time on the injured list. However, that is exactly why he will come so cheaply in a trade, and in a short term extension. If he gets injured after we extend him, well, we got what we paid for. If he doesn't, then we'll have the benefit of an average to above average SS for average or below $$$. 4) I understand your abhorrence of ever trading a minor league player for a major league veteran, but having an above average SS for the remainder of the season and for the playoffs would be very nice. Who do you want batting in game 7 of the NLCS, Betancourt or Furcal? I'm sure you'll suggest you'd prefer to go and trade for a prospect SS, but most clubs are going to demand a significant premium in trading a major league ready SS prospect. Especially due to the utter lack of good SS options in the league currently. So, being realistic, our options are continue with Betancourt or trading a B or C level prospect for Furcal. Which would you prefer for the final stretch of the season/playoffs?

Because when he is healthy, he is a very good performer. Also he'll likely come cheaper than other alternatives. Finally, I'm not one who believes that injuries in the past necessarily mean more injuries in the future. Just because a player has been snake-bitten in the past by a few injuries does not mean he is necessarily going to be sidelined for long stretches in the future. Many called Weeks injury prone and didn't want him extended. I would guess that few would argue against his extension at this point.

I´ve been banging the Furcal drum since the offseason. He, by far, makes the most sense for our team. And with his injury history would probably be the easiest to get in a trade, and the most likely to accept an extension.

That´s 86...thousand. Not million. Unless I´m reading it incorrectly.

I am astonished every year how St. Louis manages to do well with players that in previous years were absolute scrubs. So frustrating.

Disagree, from the video I've seen of the play, it looks like Posey was in the path the player was headed on. He could have slowed down and slid to the outside of the base, but it would have required the Marlin player to slow down and change direction. http://mocksession.com/20...r-posey-gruesome-injury/ Here is the video of the play, if you are interested in seeing it again.

So, contrary to your first post, he was indeed blocking the plate, which is my point. You block the plate, you have to be ready for a hit. Posey's biggest mistake was trying to make the play while sitting on his knees rather than being up in a more athletic stance. It was a bit lazy on his part to be sitting down like that while in the basepath, and he paid a dear price for that laziness.

I just watched the video. His knee was on the baseline when he went to catch the ball. He then turned his shoulders into the baseline as he went to make the tag. It wasn't like the Marlin's player went out of his way to run into Posey. Posey was between him and the plate.

I'll just add that I'm fine with the rules the way they are. It is a sport, and injuries happen in sports. If a catcher wants to avoid a collision he has the ability to do just that, however if he positions himself in the baseline, he knows what is coming. The play is not all that frequent. It isn't like in football where players were being brutalized on a game by game basis with repeated shots with a helmet to the head. If the collisions at home involved a player slamming his helmet into the head of the catcher week after week, I could see taking measures because hits like that are dangerous and potentially deadly, but not so much with a body to body blow.

Find your local nuclear arms dealer. That should take care of it. Or I suppose you could trap it, traps aren't that expensive and are pretty effective.

Ryan's career slugging is .323 (and in the last two seasons .294 and .305). If we are going to trade for him, that means we will likely have to give away a prospect to get him. The difference between Ryan and Betancourt is not worth giving up any sort of prospect. Yes, Ryan is a better fielder, but he makes Craig Counsell look like a power hitter. He is that bad of a hitter. If this is the best the Brewers can do, I'd rather just save the prospect and continue with Betancourt until a better option comes along. Like I said before, when you take into account the difference in offensive and defensive abilities between the two players, the difference is minuscule, less than 1 win above replacement difference between the two of them over a full season. And in addition it would cost us a prospect and cash. No thank you. Also, it should be pointed out (small sample alert) that to this point of the season, Ryan's defensive value has been negative per fangraphs.

Because at least our guy with the terrible glove can slug his way out of a paper bag. Like others have said, the difference between a Ryan and Betancourt is miniscule. I would be very disappointed if we gave away any players of value to make such a small upgrade, if it would even be an upgrade.

If I were a ballplayer, I would always personalize the signature. (for example: To Fred: Prince Fielder.) It would likely mean more to those who are interested in keeping the signed item rather than those who simply are looking to ebay the thing.

Wow, 13 total bases. 7 RBIs. 1 SB. I wonder how this one game will impact his season's OPS.

Betancourt will likely be better offensively going forward, considering he is in his prime, whereas Punto is at the point of his career where is likely to regress.

But Punto is in his mid-30s and unlikely to be able to start everyday at SS. Continuing all this either/or stuff with Punto is bordering on ridiculous. Punto is probably a guy who could start at SS three times a week at this point while remaining effective. We needed someone who would be capable of starting everyday, or nearly everyday. Punto would have been a better option than Counsel, but by the time the Greinke trade happened we had already signed Craig. Punto has spent a limited amount of time playing SS throughout his career. Asking him to be a starting SS for the first time when he is in his mid-30s is asking for trouble. All this Punto talk isn't being honest, he isn't someone you bring in to be your everyday SS, he's a bench player or a platoon partner (simply because of his age and experience at the position). And unfortunately, we already had our bench player/platoon partner in Craig at the time of the trade.

Yuni is clearly slumping at the plate. I just wish there was/were a better option at SS. (Unfortunately there simply hasn't been a solid upgrade available...yet). Hopefully the small sample of ABs will regress toward his career norms going forward. Silver lining...at least we don't have Escobar and his .519 (last I checked) OPS. That guy for all of the hupe sure seems to be failing to live up to his potential.

Trying to figure out what bagging on Yuni has to do with RR.