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MUCH better, he retired the first 18 batters he faced tonight, en route to a 2-1 victory. 0 BBs, 10 Ks...and one big smile.

MRI shows a probable re-tear in Johan's shoulder. Surgery is likely, and would cause him to miss the season....oh, and the Mets say it appears as though his contract is not insured.

It's almost Opening Day, and oh by the way, Kyle Lohse looked pretty good today. Yay for happiness and ice cream!

Per Ken Rosenthal, five years, 97.5M, covers 2014-2018.

Scooter has a future as a major league player, obviously he's blocked by Weeks at the moment, so it's possible he'll wind up with another organization at some point. Scooter is going to be an average defender, probably no better, he's not a power guy, and he doesn't draw many walks, so his OBP will be tied to his batting average. The plus side there is, he gets a lot of hits. He's the classic, "Gritty", "Battler" type that drives stat guys crazy, wherever he is, he'll probably be a fan favorite because he's the classic underdog type.

McCarver is hanging up his mic after this season. There's a lot of venom on the board right now concerning Lohse and Betancourt, so I thought I'd provide some of you with a fresh outlet.

Check this out, I think it's a cool angle the Brewers have come up with. You buy tickets to nine games in Bernie's Terrace, and every time the Brewers win one of those games, you can upgrade one level for $2. If they lose a game, you stay at the last level, with no back sliding. If they get hot on your dates, you could wind up in excellent seats. Meanwhile, no kidding, there are Marlins Opening Night Tickets on Groupon, and if there's a home game on your birth date this year, the Mets will give you a free ticket to that day's game - just show a photo ID at the ticket window. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/brewers-nine-game-ticket-plan-offers-upgraded-seats-055448763--mlb.html

As soon as I saw this today, I cracked a huge smile and started the thread. I may mail Doug Melvin a Thank You card on this one, he could've signed any guy to fill a bench spot for a while, but he chose THIS guy...simply wonderful. I wonder who's coming in tomorrow....

No, I am not kidding...minor league contract.

Check out this Tweet from Tyler Barnes... Average Brewers tickets sold per day this time of year is 7,000. With news of Lohse signing, team sold 34,000 today.

Lohse will open the season on the active roster, Melvin says they may carry 13 pitchers to open the season, until Lohse is at full speed.

Honestly, Briggs, I thought the Brewers would add a veteran starter in March this whole time, I just don't think Mr Attanasio can sit and hope young guys all come through, he's a competitor, and he plays to win. I thought they'd stick to their guns on the draft pick with Lohse, and trade for one of the guys the Dodgers have. Now, if you REALLY want to hear some noise...what if the Brewers still trade for a guy like Capuano or Lilly, thereby bumping both Peralta and Fiers from the rotation?

MVP2110, that's really what this is going to be about. Either Lohse is a much better pitcher with the sinker, and we'll get that benefit, or he's a guy who's about to put up a 4.4 ERA, because he's not in St Louis. I think his stats will be ok, I wouldn't expect him to be the guy he was the last two years, but I think he'll do a respectable job, the thing I'll worry about is injury. That's not based on anything I know about Lohse, it's a generalization for pitchers his age. If the arm holds up, this deal is probably one year too many, which is the price you pay for filling holes via free agency.

Depending on how this move pans out, I think Lohse, Melvin and Attanasio just entered the running.

IIRC, one of the reasons given for the Suppan signing was his great career numbers at Miller Park.

This thread is great entertainment. I've said I wouldn't have done it, because of the draft implications, and I wouldn't have, but some of you guys are losing your minds. I can see a negative reaction to just about any transaction, but this is no catastrophe, it's just not a move I would have made. The contract is not a killer, baseball economics will never make sense in any of our worlds, but the team can handle this move financially, and there is NO WAY Kyle Lohse is not an upgrade for this team. NONE, ZERO. The Suppan signing was a mess, and the Wolf signing was one year too many, for those of you who keep saying neither of those moves worked, Mr Wolf helped this team for two seasons, and had a lousy season at the end. You never know, Lohse could blow his arm out tomorrow, but he could also be the best of the three moves, by a long shot. If any of you really won't root for Lohse as a Brewer, I'll never understand that. He's on the home team, and he'll be trying to help them win, what's the alternative...to root for a loss? Whatever happens on the field, I'm already grateful for the entertainment value off the field, this really is great reading. I wish it was two years, but that wasn't going to happen with a free agent pitcher who's coming off strong numbers. I wish we still had our first round pick in June, but it's gone now. I wish St Louis wasn't the team that will add an extra pick based on the move, but they are. That's it for me, no panic, no hate, no lynch mob, I just would've kept the pick.

Brewmann, the Brewers have an extra pick after round two, as a result of the "Competitive Balance Lottery."

Right, I misspoke, it isn't "our pick", but we don't have a pick in round one now, and St Louis gets an extra pick. I said it wrong, but the sentiment is there. I wouldn't have done it, because of the pick.

Adding Lohse makes plenty of sense, for the sake of upgrading the 2013 rotation. BUT I would have kept that pick. Without even thinking of how St Louis gets the pick, even if it was going somewhere else...I would have kept the pick.

I've been waiting for this to materialize, just by doing basic math, you'd figure LA would deal one of those guys to fill some other need.

http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=935

What Gammons is really getting to is, there are team owners who are receiving revenue sharing, which is designed to increase their competitiveness...and they're keeping the money. While this happens, their teams stink, which, in theory at least, gives the teams in their divisions a better chance at reaching the playoffs. I don't think he means to say those teams should have to spend money just to spend it, but if this is the path they choose, they should not be given revenue sharing, and they should not have their picks protected, should they choose to sign a free agent. I see his point. I don't think teams should ever be expected to sign guys, just to make things look good, but if you're going to go cheap, by design, then you don't get help from the system. In any event, anything that limits the power of Mr Boras, makes me smile.

RockCo, as I stated above, I hope MLB sticks to their guns, and limits some of the agents' power, but Boras certainly isn't the only one who thinks there are team owners who would tank based on the new draft system. Peter Gammons has been commenting on this lately, he thinks it's happening right now in Miami and Houston, and he has suggested removing their revenue sharing, and their protected picks, until they attempt to compete. One of the points he raised was the possibility of three playoff teams coming from the AL West, while they beat up on Houston. He believes those two teams are essentially competing for higher picks, and hence more cash allotted to sign their picks, for the next 3-5 seasons.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/scott-miller/21925819/brewers-camp-report-prince-greinke-gone-but-dont-underestimate-crew

Jack, I'm sure it's because he was advised not to. I'm sure Boras told him he'd get a long-term contract for him, like he has time and again for so many others. That philosophy landed Michael Bourn in Cleveland, where he never thought he'd be, and has kept Lohse unemployed. I hope MLB sticks to their guns on this issue, agents shouldn't be deciding which teams can acquire talent.