lithium75

Ennder, I agree that the rest of the team looked horrible, but give credit where credit is due. The only people allowed to judge Harang's performance are the people in and around the batter's box. Maybe the Brewers were a bunch of hackers, or maybe his stuff was just that deceptive. The bottom line is this, Braun destroys left handed pitching. Harang is a righty that made a bunch of quality major league batters look stupid. Braun was either 2-4 or 3-5 against him. He struck out in his first at bat, and made adjustments thas resulted in a nice day for him. We scored 8, 5, and 10 runs in the last 3 games. If the Brewers were so inept that they made a mediocre pitcher look like a HOFer, then we probably would not have been able to average 8 runs a game in the last 3 games, one of which was against Zito.

Braun continues to impress me. What makes me think that Braun is the real deal is games like today's game. Harang was rediculous. 10 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 run, 0 bases on balls, and 10 k's. How often does a pitcher go 10 innings? Today, Harang was a good pitcher on the top of his game. He was lights out, and it is a shame he did not get the win for the outing (this opinion is in the grand scheme of things, as a Brewer's fan, I don't want anyone to get a W against us.) Why didn't he get the win? A solo shot by Braun. Not only that, but I believe that Braun went 2-4 with the HR against him. He may have even gone 3-5, I don't remember. Rookies are not supposed to do that agains good pitchers. Teams are supposed to have figured out Braun by now, and he is numbers are supposed to be declining by now. I know that this season is still in the "Small Sample Size" catagory for Braun, but it appears as though he is seamlessly making adjustments, and is still getting better as the season goes on. He could be really special. I agree that our last ROY did not turn out that well, but Listach was a mediocre prospect who had a really good year. Braun appears, so far, to be an entirely different kind of player. So far, it appears as though he could end up being Albert Pujols godd, ARod good. Listach had the potential to maybe become Tony Phillips good. Honestly, Braun appears to have a bigger offensive potential than Fielder, and he could win the MVP this year. My final thought for this thread is this. Remember when we drafted him? Everyone was praying that gordon fell to us. If not Gordon, then Zimmerman. Neither did, and we were stuck with Braun. There wasn't a single person here, myself included, that was happy with Braun over Gordon and Zimmerman. It may change in the future, but right now, I am awful glad we were stuck with Braun. How things have turned around for the Brewers. Fate seems to finally be shining on us.

I just read through this whole long thing. I have to admit that my thoughts after reading the initial post was this. Why would the Reds want a middle reliever? Winning teams make deals at the deadline to shore up their bullpens. Losing teams trade players close to free agency for prospects at the deadline. That's just how it has always been, and will always be. Before it was exposed as baseless, I also had this thought: Man, the guy who made this up should have said Villanueva or Parra, in stead of Wise. At least that would have made sense from the Reds' perspective. Meanwhile...On that same note, pitching Wise as long as they did today was very odd. I don't remember him ever going 2 innings, let alone 3 innings and 53 pitches. Maybe they were not showcasing Wise at all. Maybe he pitched 3 innings because they didn't want to use Villanueva and Parra ...

I think he has gone to the same place Bill Hall, Rickie Weeks, and Jeff Suppan have gone. I hope they come back soon.

At this point in time, is anyone even close to Ryan Braun for the ROY? He could be the best of the group of homegrown youngsters we have. (Changed thread title to make it easier to Google --1992) (consolidated tags --1992)

Ok, anyone here that know anything about me would agree that this post is about as anti-me as possible. Do we exercise our option for Jenkins next year? $9,000,000 has become cheap for a slugger with jenkins' resume. I for one vote that we keep him on for another year. A proven veteran LF with his credentials would cost us far more than $9 mil to sign as a free agent, and LaPorta has yet to take a pro at bat. Should we keep him?

Yeah 3,000, but does he really deserve to be in the hall? Yes, i like his game. Yes, he is a good player, but since when did the hall include good hitters? He has never once threastened for the league MVP. He has never once even been the best player on his team. He is like Jim Gantner +3. He has never been an elite player. 3,000 hits is quite an accomplishment, but there are people who have won multiple MVP's that will never be in the Hall. I, for one think that the hall should represent a higher level of player. Longevity is great and all, but a long mediocre career should not classify someone as elite. Jim Rice has had 5 seasons better than any that Biggio had, but he will likely never be in the hall. Terry Pendleton won an MVP in Atlanta. No one will ever try to convince anyone that he belongs in the hall.

Another part of MLB's explanation for why there are 14 AL and 16 NL teams was that there are teams struggling to survive in MLB. Florida, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, ect. It would be stupid to expand when teams are in trouble. This is why the contraction talks were brought about. trust me when I say that it will be many years from now when MLB will expand again. There just is not any markets where a new team could succeed. If there were a market where a new team could succeed, then one of the struggling teams would relocate before a new team was added. Let's face it. It is not perfect, but we are stuck in a six team division. If 2 new American league teams were added, then there would be one division in the AL that had six as well, but we would STILL be in a 6 team division. The only way to make the 6 divisions work with an even # in the AL and NL is to contract to 24 or to add to 36 making 3 divisions of 4, or 3 divisions of 6 per league. Another possibility is to have 4 divisions in each league and eliminate the wild card. expand to 32, and have 8 4 team divisions. This would not work due to the fact that the wild card is a good thing. It rewards good divisions. Without the wild card, bad teams beat out good teams because they play in bad divisions. It is not fair that a team makes the playoffs ahead of a better team just because it plays in a weaker division. Also, this doesn't work because MLB has no where to expand to. Once again, we are stuck playing in a 6 team league where everyone else gets 5 or 4.

Eric Davis was a better base stealer and had more power than Corey Hart. Corey Hart will hit for a higher average than Davis. In the outfield, Davis was far more athletic than Hart. Let's just hope Hart avoids the colon cancer that ended Davis' career. Strawberry also had colon cancer, and, yes they were high school teammates.

Up until a month ago I would have totally agreed with this post. It is stupid to have 2 more teams in the NL than AL, and it seems unfair to play in a division with 6 teams when most others are in a division with 5 and one division gets to play with 4. About a month ago I read an article that explained it in a totally logical fasion, and I am convinced that the way things are is the best current soultion. The reason is this. There are 30 teams in Major league baseball right now. To even things up, there would have to be 15 AL and 15 NL teams. If that were the case, think about all the non-interleague games. If teams are only playing only teams in their league, that would leave 7 teams playing the other 7 in their league. Considering that most series' last 3 games, that would leave one team in each league that would be left with no one to play. One team a league would be forced to have a 3 day layoff from games. i agree that the solution to this is to have those two teams play each other, but according to the article, there would be teams who would have to have 3 day vacations, and scheduling would be impossible. In short, the reason why there are 16 in one league and 14 in the other is due to scheduling. One day off from games is enough. Imagine a June week where you would have 3 days with no Brewer games...

If there happens to be any Boras fans out there, this should put him over the top as the worst thing to happen to sports...ever. Man, who else would take more than a week to argue over "Language" of a contract? I understand that the "Language" part of a contract is very important, but just sit down for a good 3 hour lunch and hammer it out. There are still 24 hours in a day, and i doubt that the contract is not 600 pages long. How long does it take? If Boras cared at all about his client, the thing would have been done already and LaPorta would have a week's worth of experience in W Va or Helena.

Yasmani Grandal, Catcher, Miami Springs High School. Why? How fun would it be to have Yovani Gaillardo pitching to Yasmani Grandal for years to come... YoGa to YaGra...

I think he was referencing Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk, the Lightweight champion in the UFC. Although I have no Idea how much worth he has to the Brewers, though.

I don't know. i was happy to see Davis go simply because he was the single most frustrating player in any sport to watch work. I know his numbers ended up being ok, and he was an innings eater, but man was he hard to defend to all my friends who hate baseball because it is a boring game. On the other hand, there is a time for walks. Should you walk Bonds? Statistically no, but it sure does clog up the bases when you put a guy who uses a walker on first.

not trying to ruin the suspense for anyone, we are #5 in the Baseball America "Prospect Handbook."

Is it too soon to @#%$ about Toby promising a "Power 50," and then putting it off until what seems to be moths later? If so, then I am graciously waiting for the next "Power 50." If not, then Toby, what's the hold up? They aren't even playin anymore. How hard can it be?

So, to a lesser extent, is Soriano. And in 4 years, when Soriano is in the twilight of his career, but still has a couple of years at $16-$19 million per year, Shef will be not costing the team that gets him a dime, and that team can use the saved money on a free agent younger and better than Soriano, like Jason Bay.

These are all just preliminary broad speculation. The "Hot Stove" reports don't start getting good for a while. Probably some time closer to the Winter meetings, they'll start including stuff that any average Joe could have just guessed on their own. The only thing that either of the two list of rumors posted here brings to light is that there are a ton of free agent signings, and trades that need to be made before some poor, desperate sucker will be willing to take Jenkins. Also, it appears that none of the big market GM's even look at stats, as evidenced by the fervor that they are chasing Soriano. Honestly Sheffield would be a far better acquisition due to his better offense, and only one year left on his cheaper deal compared to th 5-7 year, and $75-$119 million Soriano will get. It means that someone may actually WANT Jenkins, and give something up for him.

As "And That" prepares his power 50, I'll throw a little curve out there. Here's my top ten: 1. Inman On the strength of vastly superior numbers as a 19 year old in WV 2. Gallardo on the strength of a fabulous season in A+ and AA 3. Braun The guy is a great bat who is young enough at 3b to be able to become a decent fielder 4. Eveland Little left to prove but in the big leagues 5. Gillespie Many will wish they had picked him sooner. 6. Jeffres He throws hard 7. RodgerSo does he, but has had more time (without huge success) harnessing it. 8. Jackson Wierd delivery, could find a nieche 9. Parra I'd like to see him in the pen, but if he gets healthy, he could be good for years 10. Fermaint Too good an athlete not to be here.

One thing that has become clear as the posts about how to improve our Offense trickle in is that the majority of us think that Gallardo should be kept while Inman may be used to trade for a bat such as Crawford. I am in the camp that thinks that both should be untradable. One question that has not been raised is this: Which projects to the better pro? Look at Gallardo; 6-3 record in 77.2 innings with an ERA of 2.10, K/Bb of 4.48, and a K/9 of 11.94 and a WHIP of 1.00 in A+ and a 5-2 record in 77.1 innings with a WHIP of 1.01, ERA of 1.63, 3.04 k/bb and a 9.89 K/9innings all as a 20 year old in A+ and AA respectively. Inman was 10-2 over 110.2 innings with a 1.72 ERA, WHIP of 0.90, 5.58 k/bb, and 10.90 k/9 as a 19 year old in A ball. Inman far outperformed Gallardo as a 19 year old. Gallardo throws 94ish with great control. Inman throws 93ish with great control. Inman appears to be the better strikeout pitcher. Both are very poised on the mound. Gallardo is closer to the majors, and thus must be the safer bet. Inman may very well blow Gallardo's performance as a 20 year old in A+ and AA out of the water next year. I think that the race is closer than most think, and think Inman may have a very good shot of supplanting Gallardo as soon as next year. I agree that Gallardo is the guy now, but I think that many are far too willing to part with Inman. Thoughts? Edit: Gallardo's #'s as a 19 year old in A ball were 8-3 in 121.1 innings, ERA=2.75, WHIP=1.25, K'BB=2.16, and K/9=8.16. Inman was far superior as a 19 year old in A balla s Gallardo was. i have not factored in strength of offensive prospects, or other factors, so whomever can add these to the discussion are welcome.

Looking at the box score Wednesday, 10/25, it appears as though Braun started as the DH, had one hitless at bat, and was pinch hit for. Why? he didn't get hurt did he?

The twins have built almost entirely from within. At least they haven't made any major free agent signing, at least nothing major like signing Soriano.

Here's why I wouldn't trade Gallardo for anyone: Remember, this is my opinion, and I have no statistical evidence to back it up, but there have been several occasions where gut feelings have proven true. Odds that: He is a total bust: 1:8 That he will pitch in the majors: I am 99.99% sure he will throw at least 1 major league pitch. that he will be a quality major leaguer: 1:1.115 That he will be a star: 1:1.4 That he will be a superstar: 1:1.8 That he will be a once in a generation difference maker: 1:7 I know that these odds mean nothing, but man, thus far in his career, I have no bad feelings, no reservations, and a ton of good vibes. He can flat out pitch. I have the feeling that he could be a straight power pitcher if he wanted, but he is too good of a pitcher to be so one dementional. He has the potential (and before you write your hate mail to me, remember that I said potential) to be far better than Sheets due to his versitility. Sheets can occasionally top 100 mph, and Gallardo maxes out at 96, but Sheets only throws 2 pitches, and the occasional changeup and two seamer. Gallardo has 4 pitches he throws regularly for strikes.

Bill Hall's rankings in the bBrewer's farm system: 2000-21 2001-2 2002-18 And those were in some pretty bad years for prospects. Hall really had only one decent part of a year, when he hit .303/.348/.529 when he spent most of the 2001 season in hitter's paridise High Desert. He did ok in 2003 at AAA, and then stuck in Milwaukee. As far as his prospect status, he was a relative unknown that exploded into our consciousness with his year in High Desert. He then proceeded to disappoint year after year, and pretty much everyone here had assumed he would never be more than a utility player. Then he had a decent 2005 year in Milwaukee. Some of us still doubted him because his prospect status fell so quickly. He DID only have the one good year, and his numbers WERE inflated by a high altitude band box. One degenerate troglodite idiot even had the nerve to suggest that we trade Hall in the off season between the 2005 and 2006 seasons for Hank Blaylock. That same sophmoric chump of a arm chair GM had him being shipped to Boston for Clement or Papelbon, (well, at least I would have gotten a decent player in return on that one). Point is that Billy Hall has established himself as a star now, and I have faith in him. I don't know why. I didn't see this coming. With Krynzel, it would take an even bigger leap. Could it happen? Maybe, but lightning doesn't often strike twice. Hall at least looked the part of a utility player. Krynzel doesn't look as though he could ever hit enough to do even that. Maybe with a change of scenery, but not with us. He's only a slightly improved Chad Green. edit: Oh yeah, and I believe I was also an advocate of trading him to Atlanta for Saltamaccia. Sometimes I am just plain dumb.

Yeah, I was going to compare Sheets to Mike Scott, but just didn't want to go there