Snoebird

Ryan Braun's cohort disappeared when 97 mph became the speed of an effective fastball. Miz and the Brewers could help speed some of the current greats into retirement. As for Yelich, he could transition into a player/coach role. Or Mark A. eventually could offer him a personal services contract if he retired as a player. I think Yelich is still trying to figure out what he can and can't do as a hitter.

Tom Verducci followed up his terrific profile of Misiorowski for Sports Illustrated with a story that asserts that this is worst time in MLB history to be a thirtysomething hitter. The rise in velocity and spin on pitches is humbling a lot of hitters in their 30s. It's dragging down Yelich, but it could be a silver lining for the Brewers. The Brewers are working with an age curve of 28, according to Mark A., and they continue to shed players approaching free agency. Staying young will allow them to compete with the big-market teams that indulge in free agents.

There's a new, voice laying out the trade options this year, and his name is Thad Levine. The ex-Twins GM is a very personable and persuasive fellow, and he sees himself as a "what if" adviser trying to give Matt Arnold a route toward maximum success.

If the ask on Skubal is too rich, how about Jett Williams, Coleman Crow and Jayden Dubanewicz for Sandy Alcantara, who rarely has a bad day at the office?

Old Man River jus' keeps rollin' along.

I think this potential pursuit of Abrams started with Thad Levine saying, "What if . . . ."

The Dodgers should have a remarkably good farm system. Andrew Friedman is the father of the Tampa Bay Model, and he was Matt Arnold's mentor for nine years. Practitioners of the Tampa Bay Model are absolute sticklers about player value, and that's why Arnold is resistant to overpaying for an acquisition. Friedman has the luxury of being able to overpay whenever it serves the Dodgers' betterment.

Not only did the Marlins get gut punched, but let's put a face on it. Pete Fairbanks is a Milwaukee native who likely had an assemblage of friends and relatives on hand. He blew what might have been the Marlins' best pitching performance of the season -- two hits allowed through eight innings. But there's a flip side. The Contreras brothers are very passionate. Willson is prone to bullying and displays of anger, but of late has broken down on the field over the plight of his fellow Venezuelans. William is the peacemaker who wears his sentiments on his chest protector. He's been slumping but holding back his feelings on the field. Until the cork popped Sunday. He had to let go.

Are there any contractual expectations on either side? As an impending free agent, does Woodruff expect to remain under the Brewers' umbrella during his rehab? His age is working against the Brewers' age curve as well as his odds of a successful return to MLB. But his loyalty needs to be reciprocated in some meaningful way.

Yeah, there are players who can impact those around them, and I think the Brewers see that in the Ebel brothers. It's the Brice Turang effect: Dad played in the majors, knows how to carry himself and how much work to put in to succeed, and becomes a team leader organically.

Given Chris Hook's success with fixing pitchers, we should consider that he's been asked to review videotape of struggling starters, such as Freddy Peralta, and weigh in on the possibility of acquiring one or two such pitchers.

Joe Ryan is far from a certainty to being traded. The new face of Twins ownership, Tom Pohlad, is trying to establish credibility with the fan base after last year's massive deadline selloff, and his team has gotten on a mini roll. The Twins' first two series after the break, at Wrigley Field and four at Cleveland, likely will have a significant bearing on Ryan's trade status.

I meant to say holes plugged WITHOUT a trade. Any trades would be for pitching.

Here's another potential wrinkle: Eddys Leonard is promoted from Nashville when rosters expand in September. The left side tandem is Leonard-Ortiz with Frelick backing up third base and the outfield. Lineup holes plugged with a trade, and Murphy has more weapons.

This likely comes down to, "Do we trade for someone like Jo Adell, or do we promote the kid we've already rewarded with a long-term contract to plug one hole in our lineup while keeping Frelick as a player capable of giving us more than we're getting at third base, which could save us from making a trade at that position?" Sal would become even more of a fan favorite if he pulled off a midseason move like that.