Matt Breen

I say sign Christian Vasquez and the position players are mostly set: C - Vasquez (R) 1B - Tellez (L) 2B - Turang (L) SS - Adamas (R) 3B - Urias (R) LF - Yelich (L) CF - Mitchell (L) RF - Frelick (L) DH - Winker (L) - Against right handers OF - Taylor, Ruiz INF - Toro, Brousseau C - Add someone or keep Caratini Vasquez starts 120+ games. Average hitter but a good receiver who is reportedly really great at handling a staff. Winker only plays against right handers. Other times we play Ruiz, Taylor and Brousseau (if its Taylor or Ruiz, you put them in LF and let Yelich DH).

I hope. Only against right-handers, please.

No team takes on $150m+ for a soon-to-be 31-year old outfielder who is a solid, but not that good. Plus he's aging and has an injury history. That's a disaster waiting to happen. Yelich's 2.8 bWAR is the best he's produced in three years. If he can do that going forward, he's still a valuable player. But does any team really think he can sustain that production when he's 35-36 years old? I'd love to see Yelich rebound - even a little - and just stay healthy. If he could hit .260-.270 with 20 HRs - he's a good player to have. Overpaid? Yes, but still decent. But no team is going to expect big things from him. They'll see a guy that has lost his power and skills, has a rag arm, and is past his prime. Why trade for that?

The main reason the Dodgers trade for Adames is they want to save their money to go big on other guys - such as Judge. But even then, it seems unlikely.

The main reason the Dodgers trade for Adames is they want to save their money to go big on other guys - such as Judge. But even then, it seems unlikely.

If you look at the career pitching leaders in Milwaukee Brewer history, there are only two players that fall in the top 10 in each of the following categories: wins, strikeouts, winning percentage, ERA, bWAR, FIP and innings pitched. One is Teddy Higuera - arguably the finest pitcher ever to wear a Brewer’s uniform. And the other guy? Sheets? Caldwell? Slaton? Bosio? Nope. The answer is Yovani Gallardo. Yovani Gallardo was born in Penjamillo, Michoacán, Mexico, in 1986. His family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, when Gallardo was four years old. In 2004, the Brewers selected Gallardo out of high school in the second round of the MLB draft. It didn’t take long for Gallardo, a righty, to become one of the organization's top starting pitchers. Gallardo struck out many batters with his five-pitch arsenal - particularly his fastball/slider/curve mix. Scouts liked his poise, athleticism, and ability to go deep in games (he led the minors in innings pitched in 2006). If you wanted to nitpick anything, it might be that he walked too many batters, and there were some questions about how high of a ceiling he had. Gallardo quickly worked his way up the minor league ladder and made his Brewer debut in 2007. Gallardo was impressive - starting 17 games while going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA. Not bad for a 21-year-old. The Brewers went into 2008 with hopes to reach the playoffs for the first time in more than a quarter century - and the young Gallardo was a huge part of that hype. However, Gallardo tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in spring training - missing the start of the season. And then, on his return, he tore his ACL in his right knee while covering first base. He was on the DL the rest of the year until he was activated at the season's end. He started Game 1 of the NLDS but took the loss. What followed next was six of the most consistent years of starting pitching in Brewer history. Gallardo - nicknamed Yo - started between 30-33 games each year, threw between 180-207 innings, and had an ERA between 3.51 and 4.14. He won 17 games in 2011, struck out 200 or more batters three straight years, and was named to the 2010 All-Star game (his only appearance). He also proved to be a quality hitter - winning a Silver Slugger award in 2010 - batting .254 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .504 SLG%. And then, before the 2015 season, with Gallardo just a year away from free agency, the Brewers made a dramatic move - dealing the reliable Gallardo to the Texas Rangers for Marcos Diplan, Corey Knebel, and Luis Sardinas. The move frustrated many fans, who had grown accustomed to the steady work of Gallardo. However, there were signs that he was declining - despite being only 28 years old. The truth is Gallardo was one of the most worked pitchers in the league. He not only threw a lot of innings and faced many batters, but he also threw a ton of pitches. Gallardo had an excellent 2015 season with Texas, which allowed him to ink a 2-year $22M deal with Baltimore. But the magic was gone. He bounced around for the next four years - playing for five different teams. His numbers went from solid to bad to awful (his combined bWAR in the last three years was a grisly -3.8). The 32-year-old Gallardo signed with the Brewers before the 2018 season, but he did not make the club and was released during spring training. It marked the end of Gallardo’s playing career. For his Brewer career, Gallardo played 214 games (211 starts) and logged almost 1,300 innings pitched. He had a solid 3.69 ERA, and the one category he holds the team record for is for strikeouts - his 1,226 punch-outs edging out Ben Sheets by 20. As a hitter, Yo hit a respectable .201 with a dozen HRs in his career. Some highlights of Gallardo’s time in Milwaukee include a 14-strikeout game against Pittsburgh, a walk-off pinch-hit double in the 10th inning against Baltimore, plus a game where he tossed eight shutout innings and hit a home run - the only scoring of the 1-0 game. All and all, Gallardo had a very solid career - but it was disappointing in a couple of ways. First, Gallardo never developed into a top-of-the-rotation ace as many had hoped for. He had a lot of good tools and skills - but nothing exceptional that put him over the top as a pitcher. He was reliable, durable, and a great asset to the team - but he never rose to the level of an elite hurler. The second disappointing aspect of Gallardo’s career was his rapid decline. For seven years, he was a model of consistency and durability. Yet by age 30, he was done as a quality pitcher. Despite those shortcomings, Brewers fans embraced Gallardo during his time with the organization. They loved his hardworking, stoic demeanor. And they loved his dependability - taking the ball every fifth day, year after year. Today, Gallardo and his family, including his wife, son, and two daughters, live in Fort Worth, Texas. He was inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor in 2021. Please share your memories of former Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo. View full article

When CC Sabathia arrived in Milwaukee in early July of 2008, he didn’t say, “Get on my back. I’m carrying this club.” But he may as well have done so. Sabathia had one of the greatest half-seasons of baseball in club history. Over 17 starts, he was an absolute workhorse - carrying the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. It was a magical - if short-lived - time for Brewer fans. Carsten Charles Sabathia - aka CC - was born in Vallejo, California, in 1980. He was an outstanding high school athlete, receiving scholarship offers to play football and baseball. But professional baseball was Sabathia’s path after being selected in the 1st round (20th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in the 1998 draft. CC Sabathia moved quickly through Cleveland's minor league system - skipping AAA ball - and heading to the majors after only three seasons. He won 17 games as a 20-year-old rookie - and went on to anchor Cleveland’s rotation for the next seven and a half years. He was named to three All-Star teams and won the 2007 AL Cy Young award. However, the 2008 Guardians struggled to a 37-46 record through June of that season, causing speculation that Sabathia - who was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season - would be dealt. Cleveland was, after all, a small market team and didn’t want to lose Sabathia for simple draft compensation. And thus, on July 8, Cleveland shocked the baseball world by dealing the big lefthander. Many had expected the Guardians to trade Sabathia at the deadline - and to a big market club. But the Brewers stepped up to the plate - offering a package of Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Zach Jackson, and Rob Bryson. LaPorta - a power-hitting first baseman - was considered the big prize for Cleveland. The Brewers were 50-40 at the time of the trade, and General Manager Doug Melvin saw Sabathia as the missing ingredient to getting Milwaukee back into the playoffs. The result was a glorious three months for the Brewers and their success-starved fans and Sabathia was at the center of it all. In that time, he started 17 games, won 11 of them, tossed 130.2 innings, seven complete games, three shutouts, and even hit a solid .229 with a home run. The apex of Sabathia’s season was on September 28, 2008. It was the year's final game, and Sabathia took the ball on four days' rest with the Brewers' season on the line. The result was a 3-1 Brewer victory over the Cubs, with Sabathia going all nine innings while surrendering only four hits. The Brewers clinched the wild card spot about an hour later when the Mets lost - sending the blue and gold confetti down from Miller Park’s rafters to the cheers of tens of thousands of fans who had stayed to watch the Mets-Marlins game on the stadium Jumbotron. The author of this article was at that magical game - and can attest that it was one of the most exhilarating moments in Brewer history. CC Sabathia had come to Milwaukee and carried the club into the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Sadly, that was the end of the Brewers' run that season. The Crew lost to Philadelphia in the playoffs, Sabathia losing his only start. And that ended CC Sabathia’s short but memorable, run in Milwaukee. While fans hoped Sabathia would return to the club, most everyone knew the man was set on free agency. The result was a big deal with the New York Yankees. Sabathia spent 11 seasons in the Bronx - maintaining his dominating ways for the first four years with the club. He was named to three more All-Star teams and MVP of the 2009 ALCS. That same year, Sabathia won a World Series. Unfortunately, injuries, wear and tear, and other health issues - including a battle with drinking - eroded Sabathia’s skills, and he went from a dominant pitcher to a solid one for the rest of his career. He retired after the 2019 season, finishing with 251 wins and 61.8 bWAR - which may get him in the Hall of Fame someday. Since retiring from baseball, Sabathia has been heavily involved in charity work and has a podcast with sportscaster Ryan Ruocco. It is hard to imagine how critical CC Sabathia was to the Brewers in 2008. The club had missed out on the playoffs for more than a quarter of a century - and the fans were desperate to get back into postseason play. That would not have been possible without Sabathia’s monumental achievements of that summer. And while Sabathia did leave after the season, hardly anyone begrudged the man the opportunity. He had given his heart, soul, and body to the team - and to this day, fans are grateful for that impressive run. In the end, some argue the deal for Sabathia was for naught. We didn’t even win a playoff series - much less a World Series. And the cost was high - and not because we gave up one of the game’s top prospects - Matt LaPorta - who turned out to be a bust. No, one of the extra guys in the deal - Michael Brantley - turned out to be an All-Star. Brantley has gone on to be a five-time All-Star - and a career .298 hitter. No matter, CC Sabathia’s brief run in Milwaukee was a fantastic time in Brewer history. And it may have been Sabathia’s greatest stint in his remarkable career - which is saying a lot. Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher CC Sabathia. View full article

There's really not a 'case' to be made about adding Trea Turner to the roster. He'd be awesome. He'd be pretty much awesome for any team. But it's about finances. Are we really going to drop $30M+ on a player - for at least five years? The case should be how can we manage that?

There's really not a 'case' to be made about adding Trea Turner to the roster. He'd be awesome. He'd be pretty much awesome for any team. But it's about finances. Are we really going to drop $30M+ on a player - for at least five years? The case should be how can we manage that?

Here we go: 1. Sign Christian Vazquez to be your primary catcher. Excellent defender, good reputation handling a staff, average hitter, guy who can handle 120 games a year behind the plate. Probably cost you $8M or so a year for 2-3 years. Gives us plenty of time to see if Quero - or someone else - can one day inherit the job. Probably can use someone cheap as reserve catcher to save a couple of million $$$. Vazquez offers stability, good defense and a steady bat. He's nothing great - and there's not much upside. But it would be nice to have someone like him in the lineup most days. 2. Have Yelich and Rowdy handle 1B/DH job. Who ever can handle the field better is your 1B - the other guy is the DH. I would hope Yelich could be a better 1B than Rowdy. But you never know. 3. Frelick to LF, Mitchell to CF, Renfroe stays in RF. Taylor and Ruiz are reserves. Defense is much, much better. 4. Add a #5 starter guy who is reliable, eats innings and won't cost too much. Jordan Lyles is an example. 179 IP, 4.42 ERA. Nothing special, but someone to out there every five days. Perhaps Lyles is the wrong guy - but something like this is fine. 5. Add a couple of reliable bullpen arms. This is easier said than done. I don't know the market to really figure this one out. Perhaps Houser in the pen is an option. 5. Move on from Hiura. He needs a change of scenery. Lineup C - Vasquez (R) 1B/DH - Rowdy (L) /Yelich (L) 2B - Wong (L) (could use Turang if Wong is dealt) SS - Adamas (R) 3B - Urias (R) LF - Frelick (L) CF - Mitchell (L) RF - Renfroe (R) OF: Taylor (R), Ruiz (R) IF: TBD. Could include Turang, who could play against lefties at 2B, sub at SS and 3B. SP: Woodruff, Burnes, Peralta, Lauer, new guy?, Ashby, Houser RP: Williams, good guesses Lots of rookies in the lineup. That's fine. Depending on how guys do, Wiemer could be called up at some point. This defense would be much better than last season - especially if Wong is healthy. Still lots of swing and miss in this lineup - but not as much as the past couple of years. I think the team's strength would be defense and starting pitching. Vasquez adds to this with his skillset and talents. Our bats won't be great - but they are passable - especially if the young guys like Mitchell and Frelick can develop. There will likely be some growing paints - but so be it. Gotta do it sooner or later. Of course, all of this takes money. And no one really knows what the Brewers will spend. We shall see.

Glenn Braggs was probably - pound-for-pound - the strongest man in Brewer history. He was a chiseled 6’3” and 210 pounds when he arrived in Milwaukee - looking every part of a superstar in the making. But looking like an All-Star and becoming one are two very different things. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Glenn Erick Braggs was born in 1962 in San Bernardino, California. A right-handed hitter, he attended the University of Hawaii and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1983 amateur draft. Braggs quickly developed into one of Milwaukee's brightest young prospects, hitting .390 and producing an OPS of 1.189 in rookie ball. The powerful young outfielder quickly moved through the minors, hitting a robust .360 with 15 HR in only 90 games at AAA in 1986. It led to the Brewers calling up Braggs and installing him in left field that season (he bounced between left and right field during his career). Braggs struggled his first season, hitting .237 in 58 games. But in 1987, with some experience under his belt, he improved, hitting .269 with 13 HR and a .762 OPS. It was a solid full-season debut, and many saw stardom in Braggs' future. He had a sweet swing, and many said he was one of the most powerful men they had ever seen in the game. However, a shoulder injury the following season cost Braggs more than half the year, and his 1989 season saw him regress in many areas (although he hit a career-high 15 home runs). Things soured for Braggs as he tried to fulfill lofty expectations, and he saw less and less playing time as he struggled, particularly against right-handed pitching. In June 1990, he was traded to Cincinnati for pitchers Ron Robinson and Bob Sebra - neither of whom had any meaningful impact in Milwaukee. He settled in as a part-time player in Cincinnati for three seasons with modest success and was part of the Reds' 1990 World Series team, making a nice home run-saving catch to preserve his team's lead in game six. In 1993, he signed with Yokohama in the Japanese League, beginning a successful four-year run overseas. He hit .300 in Japan and, in 1994, smashed 35 home runs. Braggs retired from professional baseball after the 1996 season at age 33. After retiring, Braggs became a real estate agent. He married Cindy Herron of the R&B group En Vogue in 1994, and the couple had four children - although Herron filed for divorce early in 2022 after 29 years of marriage. Braggs has focused on his real estate business and doesn't do much involving baseball, but he has participated in past Brewer Fantasy Camps. He is a vegan, and he has a lifelong interest in fitness. Braggs hit .255 with 45 home runs for his career with Milwaukee, and produced a .726 OPS. His career was solid, if undistinguished. But in hindsight, the results were a disappointment to most. When he arrived in Milwaukee, he was a "can't miss" player - and one of the most hyped prospects in years. Scouts raved about his swing and physical tools. Everyone expected a star. Braggs later said that he felt that he tried too hard. Ultimately, his excellent physical tools weren't enough. He was stiff in the field and at the plate. Many great players have an effortlessness to their game - something Braggs never developed. As noted, Braggs was considered one of the strongest players in the league, looking more like a football player than a baseball player. One of the things people remember him for was the time he shattered a bat on his own back after swinging and missing at a pitch. Take a look - it's pretty amazing. Glenn Braggs' bat breaks on back"> Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer outfielder Glenn Braggs. View full article

Relief pitching is often volatile by nature. They can have fleeting moments (or seasons) of brilliance, followed by implosions that can send them into retirement. One of the most extreme examples of this is former Brewer relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow, who went from a waiver claim to an All-Star game to being done as a major league pitcher within four years. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Thomas Derrick Turnbow was born in Tennessee in 1978 and was selected in the fifth round of the 1997 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Derrick Turnbow was developed as a starter in the minors, but in 2000 he was nabbed by the Angels in the Rule 5 draft, despite having no AA or AAA experience. The Angels moved Turnbow to the bullpen for the year - essentially stashing him on the major league roster so they wouldn't have to return him to the Phillies. He was sent back to the minors in 2001, and the shift to the bullpen was permanent. An arm injury cost Turnbow much of the next two years, and he struggled upon returning to the bullpen. He tantalized with his explosive fastball but frustrated with bouts of wildness, and after several seasons with the Angels organization, Turnbow was waived in October 2004. Milwaukee claimed the big right-hander. Turnbow surprised many by making the club in 2005, and after Mike Adams struggled in the closer role, manager Ned Yost gave the job to Turnbow. He would have a magnificent season, posting 39 saves and a 1.74 ERA. He was second in the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. The Brewers rewarded Turnbow with a three-year contract worth $6.5M. The 2006 season began well enough for Turnbow as he registered eight saves in the first month. But then the old bugaboo - his control - would rear its ugly head. His play was uneven for the next couple of months, but he still managed to record 23 saves and an All-Star game nomination. But then the wheels came off - and would never be put back on. His post-All-Star numbers were an ugly 0-5 record and an ERA of 11.29 - causing him to lose the closer's job. Turnbow would rebound somewhat in 2007, managing a 4.63 ERA in 69 innings. But in 2008, things got ugly. He began the season walking 13 batters in six innings. The Brewers sent Turnbow to AAA, where things only got worse - 41 walks and ten wild pitches in 18 IP. The Brewers released him after the season. Turnbow unsuccessfully attempted comebacks in 2009 and 2010 with the Rangers and Marlins, respectively, but with no luck. After his release during 2010 spring training, he decided to call it quits. Turnbow was 32. After retiring, Turnbow stepped away from baseball, joining a financial planning firm where he now specializes in wealth management services. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his family. Turnbow is the classic example of a pitcher with a ton of ability (98 mph fastball, outstanding for the mid-to-late-2000s) but one who struggled with control. Many attributed his brilliant 2005 season to the work Turnbow did with pitching coach Mike Maddux. Fans loved the big, shaggy-haired righty who could throw heat with the best of them, and for one season, he was as good as any relief pitcher in baseball. Unfortunately, Turnbow could not repeat his success, and he quickly faded from the baseball scene. Turnbow's 39 saves in 2005 rank 4th all-time, and his all-time save mark of 65 ranks 80th. Please share your memories of former Brewer Derrick Turnbow. View full article

What might have been? In July of 1992, Cal Eldred arrived in Milwaukee and proceeded to put up numbers that Cy Young would have admired. The Brewers and their fans thought they had the makings of an ace. But it was not to be. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Cal John Eldred was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1967. He attended the University of Iowa and was drafted by the Brewers in the 1st round (17th overall) in 1989. Eldred was a big right-hander with everything you'd want in a pitcher - size, athleticism, and a plus fastball and curve. As an advanced college arm, he moved quickly through the Brewer system, enjoying a cup of coffee in 1991. But it was Cal Eldred's masterful 1992 debut that Brewer fans would forever remember. Eldred began the '92 season at AAA, logging 141 innings in 19 starts before being called up to the big leagues mid-July. Over the rest of the season, he threw 100 innings, produced an ERA of 1.88, and won 11 games in 14 starts. He finished 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. The team won 92 games - good, but not enough to capture the division (stupid Wild Card game - where were you when we needed you). Few pitchers have begun a career on such a high note - and certainly not one for the Brewers. Big things were expected from the young Midwesterner. With expectations high, Eldred came down to earth in his second year. He won 16 games plus led the league in innings pitched, but his ERA rose to 4.01. In 1994, his numbers continued to falter as his strikeout rates dropped and his walk rates increased. Then, in 1995, after only four starts, Eldred was placed on the Disabled List with a sore elbow. Tommy John surgery was next, and he missed the rest of the season, plus parts of the 1996 campaign. Eldred threw 202 innings in 1997, but he was not the same pitcher - as his 4.99 ERA would attest. He fought injuries and ineffectiveness for two seasons, including an ugly 7.79 ERA in 82 IP in 1999, before being dealt with Jose Valentin to the White Sox in return for Jaime Navarro and John Snyder. Eldred’s first season in Chicago wasn’t bad - until elbow problems flared up, and he was forced to shut down his season in July. But it was worse in 2001. Another elbow injury limited him to just two games. He spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 rehabilitating his arm, and in 2003, at the age of 35, he returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals as a reliever. He pitched three more years, retiring after the 2005 season. He was 37. After retiring, Eldred moved into the broadcast booth, serving as an analyst for the Big Ten Network and the Cardinals. He also served as a Special Assistant to Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. In 2017, he became the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. He was fired from that position after the 2022 season. Two of Eldred’s sons played collegiate baseball, including C.J. Eldred - who pitched for Iowa - just like his father. Looking back, Eldred's rookie season was electric. The team was competitive, and Eldred was a large part of that, as he produced a 4.2 bWAR in only 100 innings. He was a Midwest kid with a strong work ethic - an All-Star in the making. But it was not to be as injuries ultimately undid a promising career. Many points to the hefty workload imposed upon him in 1993 as the source of Eldred's woes. He was only 25 years old, and Manager Phil Garner had him work a league-leading 258 innings (after he had thrown 241 the previous year). A sore arm and TJ surgery were almost inevitable, and the rest of his career was marred by various arm injuries. During his time in Milwaukee (parts of nine seasons), Eldred threw 1,078 innings, struck out 686 batters, won 64 games, and produced 13.1 bWAR - all of which slot him in the top 10 in club history for each of those categories. Please share your memories of former Milwaukee Brewer pitcher Cal Eldred. View full article

There are many "what might have been" moments in the history of any franchise. The Brewers reportedly wanted to draft Mike Trout in 2009, but the Angels took him one slot ahead of Milwaukee. Or how about if Nomar Garciaparra had signed with the Brewers after he was selected in 1991 instead of choosing college? Another great ‘what if’ surrounds Gary Sheffield, who came up with Milwaukee with great fanfare in 1988 at the age of 19 - only to be traded after showing promise - but also inconsistency and immaturity. He went on to have a long and stellar career. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Gary Antonian Sheffield was born in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 1968. His uncle is Dwight Gooden - who was four years older. As a senior in high school, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The Brewers selected Sheffield in the 1st round of the 1986 draft - the sixth overall pick. It didn’t take long for Sheffield to become one of the top prospects in baseball. At Helena, Sheffield hit .365 and walloped 15 HR in just 57 games. He was only 17 years old. The abuse of minor league pitching continued as Sheffield showed an advanced hit tool, power, and a great eye at the plate. In 1988, at 19, Sheffield would debut in Milwaukee - playing 24 games. However, there were signs of trouble ahead for Sheffield when he was arrested in early 1987 - alongside Dwight Gooden - and charged with resisting arrest and battery of an officer. Later that year, he was arrested for a DUI. Besides a 7-game stint in the minors in 1989, Sheffield stayed in the big leagues. In his rookie campaign, Sheffield had mixed success as he battled several injuries - and a move to third base in favor of Bill Spiers. He hit only .247 in 94 games that year and said his move to third was race related. 1990 demonstrated the enormous potential that Sheffield possessed. Working with hitting coach Don Baylor, Sheffield hit .294, although his considerable power had yet to emerge. But the fans and the Brewers thought they saw a star in the making. But there were cracks in the relationship between Sheffield and the organization and the fans. His willingness to candidly discuss racial issues was not common at the time, making many fans, members of the organization, and some of his teammates uneasy. Sheffield complained about the team favoring white players and how the organization mistreated him. He was generally portrayed as a talented but disloyal and immature malcontent. Had Sheffield come into 1991 and hit well - all of these things would likely have been put aside - at least for a time. Instead, it would be a lost year. Various injuries would limit Sheffield to 50 games - and he hit a paltry .194. Fans booed Sheffield mercilessly, who later admitted he was miserable and requested a trade (something he had already done more than once). Organizations are often hesitant to trade talented players - even if they are struggling - for fear they will find themselves in a new city. But the Brewers had had enough of Sheffield. On March 26, 1992, they pulled the trigger on a trade sending the talented but troubled infielder to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Ricky Bones, SS José Valentin, and OF Matt Mieske. Much to the Brewers' chagrin, Sheffield turned into an all-star in San Diego, hitting .330 and 30 home runs and winning the NL batting title. The Brewers won 92 games that year - but missed the playoffs. Had Sheffield been in the lineup, things may have turned out differently. We don’t need to go on about Sheffield’s career, but the numbers are quite astonishing. 509 HR. Almost 2700 hits. 9 All-Star teams. More walks than strikeouts. Sheffield was not without his warts. He was never a good fielder. After leaving Milwaukee, he stayed at third base for a time before being moved to corner outfielder and finishing his career as a designated hitter. He never went back to shortstop, save for a few games here and there. He was also a baseball nomad - playing for eight teams in 22 years - often wearing out his welcome due to his quick temper, outspoken opinions, and a seemingly never-ending desire for a better contract. Sheffield’s supporters say he was simply an honest man - willing to talk about uncomfortable topics that many felt were too often swept under the rug. Sheffield also had other issues - including multiple arrests for DUI, speeding, and altercations with fans. But the issue that - to this day - looms over Sheffield is regarding performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Sheffield was mentioned in the Mitchell Report and implicated in the 2004 BALCO scandal concerning using PEDs. And he was named in the book Game of Shadows as having received testosterone and human growth hormone from Greg Anderson, the personal trainer he shared with Barry Bonds. Without those accusations, Sheffield may have reached the Hall of Fame. He received 40% of the vote in 2022 - but with only two more years of eligibility left in his candidacy - he’s unlikely to receive the 75% needed for induction. After baseball, Sheffield formed the Sheffield Management Group and became a sports agent. As we think about the ‘what ifs’ of baseball - it’s easy to look at 1992 and wonder if having Sheffield in the lineup would have helped the Brewers capture the NL East crown (the Brewers were four games behind Toronto). Kevin Seitzer had a solid season at 3B for the Crew that year, but it was nothing like Sheffield’s monster numbers. Yet even if Milwaukee had kept Sheffield, you have to wonder if he would have realized his full potential, especially considering the animosity between him and the organization. Even if Sheffield had stayed in Milwaukee and played well, it’s unlikely he would have lasted with the Brewers. The team went into a long string of losing seasons starting in 1993, and Sheffield would have likely been traded at some point. His bat would not have elevated the team to playoff contenders during that time, making him more alluring as a trade candidate than a long-term fixture. The only good thing would have been the team could have netted a more substantial return than what they received from San Diego. Regarding the players brought in from San Diego, the results were uninspiring. Mieske was average in many ways. Ricky Bones wavered between ‘not bad,’ ‘bad,’ and ‘really bad'. Only SS José Valentin emerged as a solid, everyday player and would later be flipped for pitcher Jaime Navarro. The Brewer career of infielder Gary Sheffield was tumultuous. He was a talented young man, but the Brewers and Milwaukee were the wrong place for him to start his career. He was immature in many ways, and in an era of staying quiet and letting your bat do the talking, Sheffield was not embraced by the blue-collar - and mostly white - Brewer fan base. Please share your memories about his short - but controversial time - in Milwaukee. View full article

Not every Brewer was great (or even good), but that doesn't mean players can’t make their mark with the team. Outfielder Matt Mieske was such a player - a guy who was never a difference maker - but had his share of memorable moments in his time with the organization. Matthew Todd Mieske was born in Michigan in 1968. He became one of the state's most heralded players, earning all-state honors in high school three times before going on to Western Michigan, graduating as a three-time All-American with 11 school records. Mieske's college success led him to be selected by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round of the 1990 draft. A right-handed hitting outfielder, Mieske was not the most athletic player, but he had a good swing that led to early success, including .340 and .342 batting averages in his first two years at A ball. Then, just before the 1992 season, the Padres sent Mieske, Ricky Bones and Jose Valentin to the Brewers for disgruntled infielder Gary Sheffield as well as minor leaguer Geoff Kellogg. Mieske got a cup of coffee in 1993, then established himself as a semi-regular with the Brewers in 1994. He spent the next four seasons with Milwaukee, essentially serving as an adequate, if uninspiring, right field option on a series of poor Brewer teams. He hit double figure home runs each year from 1994-1996, and produced an OPS ranging from .753 to .794. His best year at the plate was 1996, when he hit 14 HR and had a .278 BA. Mieske was a classic replacement level player (his career bWAR is 0.1) whose value came against left-handed pitchers (he had a .913 OPS against them in his career). His problem came when he was forced to face righties, as his .638 OPS attests. He was also a tweener; a guy who played corner OF, but didn't quite hit enough to justify claiming the spot full time. After a poor 1997 campaign, the Brewers allowed Mieske to become a free agent. He went on to spend parts of three more years in the big leagues, bouncing between three different teams. After retiring following the 2000 season, Mieske returned to his home state of Michigan, settling in Saginaw, where he became a Certified Financial Planner. Matt Mieske is not the sexiest player in Brewer history - not even one that makes you think of worthy of a retrospective. But the man had his moments. He fought the odds of being a 17th round pick to play parts of eight seasons in the majors. Fans liked his hard working, Midwestern approach. (Gotta love those gritty battlers without a lot of talent). Mieske hit 41 HR in his four full seasons in Milwaukee, and had a .753 OPS. If the Brewers had utilized him a little less (meaning fewer at-bats against right-handers), he would have posted some better statistics. Unfortunately for Mieske, he will probably be remembered mostly for being part of the ill-fated Sheffield trade. Please share your memories of former Brewer outfielder Matt Mieske. View full article

I have a crush on Dodger 1B Miguel Vargas - who is generally ranked around #25-50 in prospect lists. I think he could be an elite hitter - a guy who could pop 20+ HR and hit .300 every year. he struggled in a cup of coffee this year - but has absolutely mashed in the minors. He's listed as a 3B and OF on various sites - but most people say he is destined for 1B duty. That's fine. I'd happily get the guy and let Rowdy move to DH or let him walk (and move Yelich to DH). Vargas is right-handed, but doesn't have huge splits. Although better against lefties, he hits righties just fine. Thus he could play everyday. With Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers don't have a 1B slot open. So maybe they'd be willing to part with him. The tough part is what would it take to get the guy? Burnes or Woodruff would work (with more coming back to Milwaukee). Same with Adamas. But then you open up a different hole in our lineup. I'm not keen on giving up our own younger guys - Mitchell, Frelick, Wiemer, etc. But who knows. A lot might depend on what happens with Trey Turner. If he goes, that have a huge hole at SS. Oh well, just spitballing.

The title of the article was a simple mistake. They can happen.

The title of the article was a simple mistake. They can happen.