naivin

I don't think there is any value there. At this point I think all the Brewers can do is hope that he remembers how to pitch.

I could certainly see that, and I have no idea if he'd be worth a damn, but I would hope he is at least in the discussion.

I agree, if a change is made, (I can't believe I am saying this) I would choose Sveum over Randolph. Actually, I would take a long look at Don Money.

Yikes. Add him to the Cardinals rotation, and it would be hard not to picture them in the World Series.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that they are. They sure don't seem to be helping much though. When things are this bad (and they are that bad), you almost have to do something.

After that first inning tonight, were I Melvinassio, I would have Peterson on the first flight back to Milwaukee (and I might consider putting Macha in the seat next to him). That's not because of Bush's pitching performance (although that, along with the rest of the staff is part of it), but the guy was drowning out there in more ways than one, and the Mad Scientist couldn't even be troubled to go out and talk to him? Go out and give him a chance to catch his breath? Offer some advice? Slow things down a little? At the very least, give the reliever a little extra time, so Bush can face one less batter. I realize the game was pretty much already over by that point, but still, That was embarrassing for the Brewer organization, and that guy needs to be gone.

I suspect if his next two starts go well, this is exactly what will happen, and they will insert him into the rotation, probably in place of Parra. Obviously Capuano is a risk, but this is a way to throw a bone to the fans, and potentially strengthen the pitching staff, if he continues to pitch well.

I would say he has already demonstrated in rather grand fashion, that is something he is more than willing to do.

Well Doug gave Macha the proverbial vote of confidence this AM. Can the firing be far behind? http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/94439374.html

The Brewers should absolutely fire Macha and see if it will make any difference. That is frankly a risk free move. While there is no compelling reason he deserves to be fired, there is no compelling reason to keep him either. If they can't turn it around over the next few weeks, then they can absolutely afford to trade anyone but Braun and Gallardo. The reality is, they aren't going to have to sacrifice much relative to ticket sales. MP will have near sell out crowds throughout June, July and August, almost regardless of the product on the field. Most of those tickets are already sold. This team isn't going to the playoffs, so September will be about the same no matter what. They have to be near 2.5M tickets sold already, and unless they make a playoff run, that number is not going to change significantly, fire sale or no fire sale. Firing Macha now is the right call, get some guys healthy, and you see what happens from there.

That is a great article, relative to explaining the what. Now, Trevor just needs to figure out the why. Obviously this could be a case of 42 years catching up with him, but I continue to have strong doubts about that. This is supposed to be Peterson's specialty, so hopefully that helps solve the problem, (and didn't create it).

Mariano Rivera a couple years ago comes to mind as well. I seem to recall he had an ERA solidly in double digits into May. The talk at that time seemed to be that he was done. Obviously the reports of his untimely demise were premature. He is/was obviously a bit younger, so I am not necessarily claiming the situations are the same, but I am having a hard time just closing the book when the only obvious change is hitters pounding him, with no real explanation, other than the theory that his age has caught up with him. Probably wishful thinking on my part, but I'm just not ready to sign off on the age argument.

If by the last two years you mean the first two months of the 2010 season, I agree with you. If you are actually talking about the last two years...what are you talking about?

And in the chemical era of baseball, you can typically come up with the specific reason very easily...particularly with the guys you mention, along with plenty of others. I don't think anyone would argue that PEDs (or lack thereof) are in play in Hoffman's case, as they were with the others you mention (Jones may have simply gotten fat and slow, but that is obviously a change that would lead to a decrease in production. There is no such evidence of anything like that with Hoffman.

This is pretty much what I was trying to get at earlier, and it appears Trevor agrees. Its just not adding up for me. Is 42 really that different from 41? What has changed between last September and this April? While not completely dominant, he obviously was perfectly fine last year, and suddenly he can't get anyone out. I don't know. I just find it strange that his ability is gone, just like that.

I'll say it. Yes, Jody Gerut is better than Gabe Gross. His numbers in every offensive category say so. He's better defensively as well. When you look at seasons where he has been an almost everyday player, its not even close (of course that hasn't happened in Milwaukee). Nobody is suggesting he should be teh Brewers everyday CFer or anything like that, but is he better than Gabe Gross? Yes he is.

Not sure why anyone is concerned with Jody Gerut, looking at this team. If he is ever anywhere near the top of the list of the Brewers' problems, we can all probably make World Series plans.

Does it matter?

This is just what I was thinking, particularly on the heels of the comprehensive beating they are likely to take at the hands of the Twins this weekend.

I guess I'm curious as to how/why he's just "done." While I completely acknowledge the possibility, it just doesn't make complete sense to me. Obviously he is an old dude, but he's less than a year older than he was at the end of last year. There is no noticeable change in his velocity, so it would almost necessarily have to be a command and control issue, coupled with the fact that he doesn't seem to be willing to throw the change up as much as he used to. So the question then becomes is the control issue due to his age, or is it more of a confidence issue (that not throwing the change up would seem to indicate) that can potentially be corrected. If anyone can draw on experience to straighten himself out, I suspect it would be Hoffman. I guess I have a difficult time believing that this is just a case of a guy losing it due to his age, six months removed from a season when he was just fine. The other question I have, is if anyone has seen any stories written relative to his interaction with Rick Peterson. My hope is that they haven't been anywhere near eachother. My fear is that they have. There is no logical reason for a pitching coach (any pitching coach) to be even talking to a guy, let alone tinkering with a guy that has pitched as long, and effectively in a specialist role as Hoffman has. I'm not saying that is the case here, I'm just curious. Trevor Hoffman has been as mentally strong and confident as any pitcher ever throughout his career, and that seems to have completely left him. Why? Is it strictly physical/age?

I am by no means a big fire the pitching/hitting coach as a quick fix guy, but I would have to say that the Mad Scientist's tenure as the Brewers' Pitching Coach has been an unmitigated disaster.

As I have thought about this, I fully expect that Dale Sveum or Done Money will be managing the team when they take the field on May 25th. While I see no real compelling reason Macha should be fired, I see no real compelling reason to keep him either. Therefore, if you are Melvinassio, change for change sake is a rather risk fee move. They will be looking at 2 months before the trade deadline, and that gives them ample time to see what they can do before potentially having to make a decision on Fielder. Continuing to flounder during that time without at least trying to do something would be a disservice to the team and the fans, potentially beyond this season.

Boy, I hope he can finish the comeback...it will be heartbreaking in a lot of ways if he can't come all the way back after getting as close as he already has, even though hat seems like it is probably the most likely outcome.

I don't disagree necessarily. I would say its both. But if guys don't have to swing at the curve ball, his fastball has to be pretty perfect. At this point, obviously it isn't. As someone esle pointed out, a two pitch starting pitcher is gonna have a real tough time if one of those pitches is just average.

If his velocity doesn't come back (and I have my doubts that it will), he will continue to get hammered. That big curve becomes rather irrelevant when guys can just sit on an average fast ball.