Matt Breen

I'd pass, but it's not a horrible idea. I like Napoli. He dislocated his finger in April, and played with that all year, so there might be some lingering issues. I guess, at worse he's a .260ish hitter with a .360ish OBP and 15-20 HR. That's pretty good. However, I'm not thrilled with the trade idea because I'm not on board with dealing a starter at this time. Our depth isn't good enough to count on a rotation of Lohse, Garza, Peralta, Fiers and Nelson - with Jungmann the next guy on the totem poll (unless Thornburg or Smith is moved into the rotation). Plus, I'd rather get a guy to fill the slot for at least a couple of years. Maybe spend the money on a guy like LaRoche or Cuddyer for two years. Or try a younger guy who's been blocked by other players in the past. It might be the kind of move you make next summer if 1B is a problem, and we feel okay about the rotation and depth. But now, I'd pass. I know 1B looks like a black hole, but a guy like Reynolds isn't that bad (he has a 1.7 WAR) - especially for $3 million or so.

Here's MLB.com's analysis (he's listed as #14 on their list): "Wagner was a closer at the University of Utah and moved to the rotation as a professional. He has pitched surprisingly well as a starter, finishing eighth in the Midwest League in ERA in 2013 and again ranking among the leaders in the Florida State League the next year. Wagner throws his fastball in the low-90s with heavy sinking action. He isn't afraid to attack hitters, allowing his sinker to produce weak contact, and mixes in a solid slider and a changeup. His command has improved as he's gotten more innings under his belt as a professional. When Wagner was coming out of college, scouts were divided about whether Wagner would be better suited by a return to the bullpen, where his velocity is a tick higher. The Brewers believed he could be a starter and Wagner has done nothing to change their minds." His great performance this year is no doubt influencing people. It happens. Brent Suter had a sub-2.00 ERA at the end of May and made the top 20 list. Now he's over 4.00 and didn't get a single vote. The thing I've read about Wagner is that he has a nice arsenal, but nothing overwhelming. But he's a good pitcher. A guy who can pitch can really fool the lower level hitters. The key will be seeing how he does against better competition. The margin for error just gets smaller. But a 1.60 ERA - hard not to get excited by that.

Good catch. There was one vote for an M.Diaz that I attributed to Brandon Diaz. My bad. I added Miquel Diaz to the 'other' list - gave him his vote (it was a #25 spot, so he becomes a Mr. Irrelevant). There were two other ballots cast for 'diaz' - but i'll assume they are for Brandon. If their owners want to correct that, just say so. I'll adjust the tallies. However, it won't change the rankings (other than move miquel diaz up a few spots).

I don't think Cravy's injury was season ending, I have a feeling he's going to be back before the season ends; hopefully he can provide a playoff push for Nashville. Thanks, I tweaked the verbiage to remove the 'season ending' part.

The BrewerFan.net Top 25 Community Prospect Project for August 2014 is complete. We had 29 ballots. Thanks to everyone who participated. The big result is Orlando Arcia taking the top spot, beating out Tyrone Taylor by a single point. Clint Coulter snagged the 3rd spot, followed by a bevy of talent from the 2014 draft (Medeiros, Harrison, Gatewood) and international market (Lara). Pitchers Tyler Wagner, Taylor Williams and Jorge Lopez climbed into the top 10 due to quality seasons, ousting older arms (Jungmann and Bradley). Some notes: Graduated (1): Jimmy Nelson Traded (1): Mitch Haniger Number of ballots: 29 (up from 22) Number of players on ballots: 61 Mr. Irrelevents (1 point): Omar Garcia, Carlos Benlonis, Luis Aviles, Miquel Diaz Number of players named on all 29 ballots: 7 Biggest jumps: Talyor Williams +22, Rogers +14, Wagner +13, Lopez +6 Biggest falls: Suter -33, Delmonico -20, Neuhaus -15, Morris -14, Reed -10, Bradley -9, Roache -8 Please let me know if you see any incorrect information. Thanks again to everyone for participating.

#1 - Orlando Arcia, SS, Brevard County (A+), age 20. 697 pts (10 first place votes) - 29 of 29 ballots .289 BA, .346 OBP, .389 SLG, .738 OPS, 31 SBs Arcia heads to the top prospect spot with a strong second half. He edged out Tyrone Taylor by a single point. The slick-fielding Arcia has improved on his 2013 season in just about every way, boosting his BA, SLG and OBP. He was fourth in the FSL in stolen bases with 31. Those are good signs that 6'0", 165 lb Arcia will keep maturing physically and continue to improve his hitting at the next level. 2015 destination: AA #2 - Tyrone Taylor, CF, Brevard County (A+), age 20. 696 pts (12 first place votes) - 29 of 29 ballots .273 BA, .326 OBP, .388 SLG, .715 OPS, 23 SB - includes 5 games at AA Taylor holds onto the #2 spot in the BF.net Prospect List with a solid 2014 season. He lead the Florida State League with 36 doubles - often a sign of developing power - and has hit at a solid clip. He was 10th in the FSL in SB and 6th in RBI. 2015 destination: AA Taylor will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League. #3 - Clint Coulter, C, Wisconsin (A-), age 21. 671 pts (4 first place votes) - 29 of 29 ballots .287 BA, .410 OPS, .520 SLG, .930 OPS - 22 HR, 89 RBI, 73 BB. Coulter's return to Wisconsin in 2014 has re-established the luster of his top draft pick status. The young man's power and patience are undeniable. He led the Midwest League in HRs, finished second in RBI and top five finishes in slugging and OBP. Coulter will move from behind the plate in 2015. Likely options include 1B, 3B or OF. Coulter was named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year for 2014. 2015 destination: A+ #4 - Kodi Medeiros, LHP, AZL (Rookie), age 18. 526 pts (3 first place votes) - 27 of 29 ballots 17.2 IP, 13BB, 26K, 7.13 ERA, 2.094 WHIP The Brewers top pick in 2014 came in and displayed his wicked sidearm style by striking out 26 in less than 18 innings. However, the young Hawaiian also walked 13 batters. Medeiros can deal into the upper 90s, and he should be devastating against lefthanded hitters. As with so many young pitchers, it will be about developing consistent mechanics. 2015 destination: Helena #5 - Tyler Wagner, RHP, Brevard County (A+), age 23. 513 pts - 29 of 29 ballots 150 IP, 48BB, 118K, 1.86 ERA, 1.107 WHIP, 13 Wins What's a league leading 13 wins and a 1.86 ERA (second in the FSL) get you? How about a 13 position jump in the BF.net Community Prospect Project. Wagner has certainly captured the interest of fans with an outstanding 2014. A former closer, Wagner seems to be getting better the more he pitches. While he doesn't have a killer pitch, he attacks hitters and shows good command. A move to the upper minors will be the next test for Wagner, where his lower 90s mph fastball won't fool as many hitters. 2015 destination: AA Wagner will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League. #6 - Monte Harrison, OF, AZL (Rookie), age 19. 500 pts - 27 of 29 ballots .261 BA, .402 OBP, .339 SLG, .741 OPS, 31 SB, 32 BB One of three hyped picks coming out of the 2014 draft, Harrison sports incredible, but raw, tools. While he hasn't shown much power in his debut, Harrison has displayed tremendous speed (a league-leading 32 steals against 2 caught stealing) and a fine eye at the plate (a league leading 32 walks in 224 plate appearances). A three sport star in high school (Harrison had a football scholarship offer from Nebraska), he should refine his game now that he can focus strictly on baseball. Harrison may be the most exciting Brewer prospect to come along in years. 2015 destination: Helena #7 - Devin Williams, RHP, Helena, (Rookie), age 19. 489 pts - 29 of 29 ballots 66.1 IP, 20BB, 66K, 4.48 ERA, 1.417 WHIP The Brewers' top pick in 2013 (2nd round) pretty much picked up at Helena where he left off last season. The right hander strikes out a lot of batters (his 66 punch outs was seventh in the Pioneer League), but still needs to be more consistent. The raw tools are evident, but it will take time to harness them. BF.net fans still love Williams' upside. 2015 destination: A- #8 - Taylor Williams, RHP, Brevard County A+, age 23 483 pts - 29 of 29 ballots 132.1 IP, 28BB, 137K, 2.72 ERA, 1.020 WHIP (combined between Wisconsin and Brevard County) No player jumped in our rankings like Williams, going from the 30th spot into the top 10. The reason for the big leap has been a stellar season from the 4th round pick from Kent State. While Williams spent most of 2014 at low A ball, he finished the season at Brevard County. His peripherals are exactly what you want to see from a young pitcher: high strikeout rate, low walk rate, few HRs allowed. While not a big guy, Williams flashes a plus fastball and a developing slider and changeup. His 0.944 WHIPS was second best in the Midwest League. 2015 destination: Williams may return to high A ball, but considering his age and success, we're betting he gets pushed to AA #9 - Jorge Lopez, RHP, Brevard County (A+), age 21. 467 pts - 29 of 29 ballots 137.2 IP, 46BB, 119K, 4.58 ERA, 1.380 WHIP A 2nd round pick out of Puerto Rico in 2011, Lopez has worked his way into the BF.net Top 10 by improving on virtually every aspect of his game this year. His performance fell off in the second half of 2014, but his peripherals remained solid. Expect Lopez to continue to mature next season. 2015 destination: AA #10 - Jacob Gatewood, SS, AZL (Rookie), age 18. 418 pts (27 of 29 ballots) .206 BA, .249 OBP, .279 SLG, .528 OPS, 71k in 204 ABs Gatewood has struggled in his first season as a pro, striking out a third of his at bats (his 71 strikeouts were the third most in the league). But after a slow start, the power hitting infielder has settled in and improved his numbers (if modestly), leading the team in HRs and RBI. Expect a lot of power from Gatewood, but a lot of strike outs as well. He is a raw, powerful hitter, but will need time to develop. 2015 destination: Helena #11 - Gilbert Lara, IF, age 16. 413 pts (28 of 29 ballots) The 16-year old Lara signed this past summer for a record $3.1 million. Scouts rave about the Dominican's power and advanced hitting skills. Expect Lara to move off shortstop, potentially to 3B. 2015 destination: Dominican Summer League #12 - Taylor Jungmann - RHP, Nashville (AAA), age 24 385 pts - 29 of 29 ballots 153.2 IP, 61BB, 147K, 3.57 ERA, 1.308 WHIP (between AA and AAA) The Brewers' top pick in 2011 flourished at AA Huntsville before getting the call to Nashville in May. Jungmann started slowly at AAA, but the big right hander settled in and finished strong. While his walk rate spiked at Nashville, he maintained a strong strikeout rate. Jungmann may never be an all-star, but he limits HRs and induces a lot of grounders. If he continues improving next season, don't be surprised if he's in the Brewer rotation in 2016, when Gallardo and Lohse are scheduled to be free agents. 2015 destination: AAA #13 - David Denson, 1B, Wisconsin (A-), age 19. 366 pts - 28 of 29 ballots .244 BA, .371 OBP, .351 SLG, .722 OPS - 43BB, 88K (stats include six games in Arizona) The big-bodied sluggers missed half of 2014 due to a broken hammate bone in his hand, but BF.net readers are still entranced with Denson's power potential as well as on base skills. Denson still strikes out at a dangerous rate (88k in 242 ABs), but his 20%+ walk rate mitigates the issue somewhat. 2015 destination: while the Brewers could advance Denson to high A, expect a return to A- ball to start 2015. #14 - Brandon Diaz, OF, Helena (Rookie), age 19. 272 pts - 27 of 29 ballots .261 BA, .356 OBP, .368 SLG, .724 OPS, 22 SB After not getting any votes in the May ballot, Diaz jumps all the way up to the #14 slot in the BF.net prospect list. Although his numbers have faded somewhat as the the season has worn on, Diaz has shown a nice combination of speed and on base skills. His 22 SBs led the Pioneer League and he ranked fifth in the league with 33 walks. 2015 destination: A- #15 - Victor Roache, OF, Brevard County (A+), age 22. 257 pts - 26 of 29 ballots .226 BA, .298 OBP, .400 SLG, .697 OPS - 18 HR No player has disappointed in 2014 like Roache. Many thought that after a strong 2nd half in 2013, and a year removed from surgery, he would blossom. But that hasn't happened. The power hitting OF started poorly and has stayed that way all season, save for a late season surge helped boost his numbers. Roache has arguably regressed in just about every phase of the game. There's still a lot of power potential (his 18 HRs were the third most in the FSL), but another poor year could signal the end of Roache's status as a prospect. 2015 destination: the club could return Roache to Brevard County, but don't be surprised if he's bumped to AA - away from the run-suppressing FSL environs. #16 - Jason Rogers, 1B/3B, Nashville (AAA), age 26. .296 BA, .365 OBP, .489 SLG, .854 OPS 238 pts (22 of 29 ballots) The Brewers 2013 Minor League Hitter of the Year got off to a slow start in Huntsville this year and was forgotten by most BF.net readers (he was 31st in our May list). However, a second half surge, plus a promotion to Nashville (where he raked), boosted Rogers up 15 spots in our new listing. Oh, and don't forget a September call up to the big league club. At 26, Rogers is getting old to be a big time prospect. His career minor league numbers (.287 BA, .824 OPS) indicate he's a good, consistent hitter, but he doesn't do anything exceptionally well to stick out. Still, he might be able work himself onto the big league club with the Brewers sporting an uncertain situation at 1B. Even if he doesn't start, Rogers could forge himself a spot as a right handed hitting 1B/3B/OF platoon/utility man. 2015 destination: AAA or Milwaukee if things go his way #17 - Jed Bradley, LHP, Huntsville (AA), age 23. 230 pts - 26 of 29 ballots 147.1 IP, 46BB, 124K, 3.91 ERA, 1.398 WHIP An excellent performance at Brevard County has been dimmed by mediocrity following a promotion to Huntsville. At AA, Bradley saw his walk rate rise and his strike out rate drop, Plus he has been very hittable. While it dampens the early season excitement, it doesn't mean all is lost for Jed. He showed solid progress in 2014, and the potential is still there. He may simply by the kind of player that needs time to adjust to each new level. 2015 destination: AA #18 - Tyler Cravy, RHP, Huntsville (AA), Age 24 225 pts - 22 of 29 ballots 82.2 IP, 20BB, 76K, 1.63 ERA, 0.871 WHIP (includes 3 innings in Arizona and 6 in Nashville) After a great first half, Cravy missed most of the rest of 2014 with an oblique strain. But before the injury, he put up spectacular numbers at Huntsville, demonstrating that he has learned to not just to throw, but to pitch. Cravy sports a nice curve and cutter to go with nice command. 2015 destination: AAA #19 - Michael Reed, OF, Brevard County (A+), age 21. 225 pts - 22 of 29 ballots .255 BA, .396 OBP, .378 SLG, .774 OPS - 78 BB, 33 SB After a promising start this season, Reed went on on the DL in late May and wasn't the same for the rest of 2014. His BA dropped almost 40 points and his OPS by over 100 points. On the plus side, Reed showed more pop than in past seasons (he hit 5 HR after only hitting 2 in 2011-13), cut his strikeouts, continued to display good speed (his 33 steals were second in the FSL) and took walks like no one else in the system (his 78 walks lead the FSL by a wide margin). His .396 OBP was the league's fourth best. Expect Reed to rebound in 2015 at the plate. His future, however, likely depends on how much power he can ultimately develop, since he profiles as a corner OF. 2015 destination: AA #20 - Wei-Chung Wang, LHP, Wisconsin (A-), age 22. 208 pts - 24 of 29 ballots 27 IP, 4BB, 22K, 2.33 ERA, 0.926 WHIP (between AZL, Wisconsin and Brevard County) 17.7 IP, 8BB, 13K, 10.90 ERA, 2.192 WHIP (Brewers) Rule 5 pick up Wang made the big league club despite never pitching above rookie ball. The Brewers stashed the talented lefty on the major league roster for nearly four months before moving Wang to the DL (meaning he technically doesn't qualify for this list, but we make up our own rules). The results were, predictably, not pretty. On his return to the minors, Wang has shown some solid numbers, even if the the sample size is small. Wang displays a strong arm, and the team's willingness to put him on the big league roster for four months shows they think a lot of him. 2015 destination: A- or A+ Wang will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League. #21 - Chris McFarland, 2B, Wisconsin (A-), age 21 181 pts - 20 of 29 ballots .284 BA, .331 OBP, .388 SLG, .719 OPS - 30 SB Despite a mid-season DL stint, McFarland has enjoyed a solid 2014 campaign while repeating low A ball. While he doesn't walk much, McFarland's speed (his 30 SBs were 10th in the Midwest League) and improved BA and power numbers, make him an interesting prospect. 2015 destination: A+ #22 - Ariel Pena, RHP, Nashville (AAA), age 25. 102 pts (14 of 29 ballots) 128.1 IP, 75BB, 140K, 4.56 ERA, 1.332 WHIP The hard throwing Pena intrigues due to his big arm. The man can throw in the mid-90s without any issues, as his 140 strikeouts in just 128 innings attest. The problem is control (note the 75 walks). Pena is at the point in his career where his path to the majors may well be through the bullpen. He simply doesn't command his secondary pitches very well, making him highly erratic. 2015 destination: Pena is out of options, meaning he's likely going to make the big league club - or end up being dealt. With his power arm, the team is unlikely to get him back to AAA for another season. Note: Pena was originally going to participate in the Arizona Fall League, but that planned was shelved when he had some elbow pain/discomfort in the final start of 2014. The team is reportedly not worried, and feel rest is all he needs. However, Pena will have the elbow will be reexamined next month to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong. #23 - David Goforth, RHP, Huntsville (AA), age 25. 85 pts - 12 of 29 ballots 64.2 IP, 29BB, 46K, 3.76 ERA, 1.376 WHIP, 27 Saves Goforth is the only relief pitcher on our Top 25 list. While he has 27 saves at Huntsville (which led the league), nothing really jumps out about the man expect perhaps his consistency. To take things to the next level, he is going to have to refine his command. 2015 destination: AAA #24 - Sthervin Matos, 3B/1B, Wisconsin (A-), age 20. 85 pts - 12 of 29 ballots .256 BA, .285 OBP, .445 SLG, .729 OPS (at AZL, Helena and Wisconsin) Matos was one of the few bright spots on this year's Helena club, hitting .317 and finishing 2nd on the team in HRs. However, an 11 game stint at Wisconsin was a disaster (a .301 OPS). The young corner infielder still is very raw, offensively and defensively. Also, he doesn't walk - only eight free passes in 242 plate appearances this season. But BF.net fans love potential, and Sthervin has plenty. We'll just have to be patient. 2015 destination: A- #25 - Hunter Morris, 1B, Nashville (AAA), Age 25 72 pts - 8 of 29 ballots .275 BA, .322 OBP, .434 SLG, .756 OPS (most ABs at AAA) Morris plummeted in the prospect list after breaking his arm this summer. The injury, coupled with an uninspiring performance at Nashville, has many fans ready to send the former AA MVP to the showers. Depending on some decisions the club makes within the organization, the soon-to-be 26 year old Morris could even find himself let go before next season. 2015 destination: AAA The rest: Yadiel Rivera - 67 pts Tucker Neuhaus - 65 pts Nicholas Pierre - 54 pts Shawn Zarraga - 52 pts (Zarraga will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League) Nick Ramirez - 46 pts (Ramirez will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League) Joantgel Segovia - 43 pts Hobbs Johnson - 38 pts Nick Delmonico - 37 pts Dustin Demuth - 34 pts Johnny Hellweg - 33 pts Micheal Rattertree - 32 pts Troy Stokes - 10 pts Drew Gagnon - 10 pts Nathan Orf - 10 pts Carlos Belonis - 8 pts Joshua Torres - 8 pts Cameron Garfield - 8 pts Damien Magnifico - 7 pts Elvis Rubio - 7 pts Franly Mallen - 6 pts Gian Rizzo - 6 pts Johel Atencio - 6 pts Tanner Poppe - 4 pts Johel Atencio - 4 pts Hector Gomez - 4 pts (Gomez will participate in the 2014 Arizona Fall League) Angel Ortega - 3 pts Michael Blazek - 3 pts Francisco Castillo - 2 pts Johnny Davis - 2 pts Brent Suter - 2 pts Jordan Yamamoto - 2 pts Taylor Smith-Brennan - 2 pts Luis Aviles - 1 pt Carlos Benlonis - 1 pt Omar Garcia - 1 pt Miguel Diaz - 1 pt

Texas Rangers have the worst record in baseball. Didn't see that one coming.

I'll go with A-Ram agreeing to a 2-year / 24 million extension this off season. Maybe even before FA gets going.

Today's the last day to submit your list. Get it done! Thanks to everyone who's posted so far. I'll post the final list within a day or two.

Nate, you skipped #7 on your list. I need you to add one more guy. Thanks!

I understand the temptation to let Gallardo go (leaving you with Garza, Lohse, Nelson, Peralta and Fiers in the rotation). But I just think depth at starting pitcher is so important. We've been immensely lucky this year. We've had one ineffective pitcher pulled, but we've only missed (so far) about 4-5 starts due to injury. That's a great statistic. I think back in 2011, when we made the playoffs, we had a similar thing happen. Look at the injuries to all the pitchers this year. I think something like 20 guys have had Tommy John surgery. It's really important that we're not trotting out Figaro, Hand or other scrubs at the back end of the rotation. Having Fiers or Nelson is such an important option. I have no illusion that we'll keep Estrada for $4-5 million. But keeping Yo should happen. If you don't, and you have an injury, you're counting on Jungmann or a Randy Wolf-like vet to take the #5 slot. I'd rather not do that. Jungmann may be an option down the road, but he's been very average at AAA. I'd give him another 1/2 year or full year to adapt.

Get your votes in soon! Two more days.

Crew07, go edit your list if you want. I haven't tallied your vote yet. RMS

I don't really care about Ned, I'm just happy for the KC fans. It's been a long time since they've been in a race.

1. Speed up games. Enforce staying in the batter's box, make pitchers make pitches within a set time frame, limit the number of visits to a pitcher during a game. 2. Limit the number of September call ups. Teams manage with 25 guys for 5/6 of the season, then suddenly get an extra 10 guys? That's just ridiculous. 3. Ramp up punishment for players (and coaches and even management) for throwing at batters. The Pirates recently lost McCutchen in a stupid tit-for-tat move. The meathead mentality should get out of the game. 4. Treat minor leaguers better. More pay, good nutrition, etc. Interns get more money than some of these kids. 5. Ban bad rip offs of the sausage races. In Denver, they have some horrible thing related to teeth. It's a toothbrush, toothpaste, a tooth - that sort of thing. Lamest thing ever. I'd probably look at something regarding competitive balance. I don't know if a salary cap is the answer, but I'd like to see something. Just don't know the answer.

Are the Brewers really looking for a last guy in the bullpen type? I don't think so. It seems to me the hole in the pen is finding a righty to alternate pitching the 8th inning with Smith. And that isn't a 7th or 8th bullpen arm type position. We are looking for quality, so as was said the only quality guys that will clear waivers have a cumbersome contract in tow. Roderick nailed it. The only quality right handers that will be available are going to have bad contracts. Papelbon is an example. He'd be awesome to have, but he's likely going to cost $25 million over 2015-16. And he'll still cost a prospect. It sure would have been nice to have Henderson or Thornburg come back and pitch well.

Interesting what happens with A-Ram after this off season. He's on pace to play 125-130 games. If he stays relatively healthy the rest of the season, and produces at his current rate, he could easily end up with 20 HR, 80 RBI and a .300 BA. His walk rate is really low, however, and his OBP is currently at .336. It's a good season - not a great one. Considering the team has no one in the minors to take his place, I bet the Brewers pick up their side of the mutual option, which is for $14 million. If they don't pick up the option, they owe him $4 million. May as well pay $10 million for a good player. At that point, A-Ram could accept his side of the option and get $14 million in 2015. However, he may want one more good sized contract, and decline his option. That leaves the Brewers off the hook for his $4 million buyout. If so, would the Brewers tender him a qualifying offer. Last year the QO was $14.1 million. So even if it goes up to $14.5 million or so, we'd probably give him the offer. If some other team comes up and offers A-Ram stupid money, we can take the draft pick and say thanks. But you have to wonder what team would pay A-Ram crazy money (and years), especially with draft compensation tied to him. Outside of the qualifying offer, I'm wondering if the team and A-Ram agree to a new contract for two years - maybe with a third year option. You could probably pay him closer to $10-12 million annually on a two year deal than $14-15 million. Either way, I think A-Ram is back next year. Either at the Qualifying Offer rate, or on a new deal.

yes. but any of those players would first have to be activated from the minor league disabled list, recalled by the brewers, and then placed on the 60-day disabled list. any of those players would then be earning major league service time and major league pay. Thank you.

In a playoff race the extra guys are really nice to have - especially pitchers. Wooten, Pena, Blazek and Figaro are all on the 40-man roster, so you bring them up. We already have three quality lefties, and the extra arms allows you to do a lot situational moves. Personally, I hate all the extra guys because it slows down games, but you're foolish to waste the opportunity. As for hitters, Schafer, Gindl and Rogers are all available, so bring 'em up. With the open roster spot, I bet they bring in another catcher. Perhaps Pagnozzi or Weisenburger - or maybe a veteran who's out of work. But it's a wise move to have that third catcher. Can the team shift Hellweg, Morris and Burgos to the 60-day DL? If so, that opens some other potential slots. Hermida would be a decent left handed PH guy. You could add Falu or Velez to pinch run. In a playoff race, I say you use all your resources. I know it clutters the clubhouse, but I think that the options are nice to have.

Reminder, one more week to get your lists in! Keep them coming, everyone.

A note from MLB trade rumors saying that some of Lester's old teammates expect him to sign with the Cubs this off season: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/rosenthals-latest-tigers-lester-front-offices.html The Cubs will be seriously pitching challenged next year, even if they sign a starter or two. Plus, some of their young guys will no doubt need some time to adjust to the majors. I won't be too worried about them until 2016 or 2017. And even then, a lot of these prospects need to pan out for them. And injuries can derail a team pretty quickly.

Man, the Giants have a lot of big guys. These last three relievers have been quite a load.

No, but a tad closer than Braun failing to hold up and then swinging at three garbage sliders. Yeah, that was pretty awful. It's amazing how bad Braunie has looked at times. He's swinging at a lot crap this year. I don't know if he's just guessing more or what, but it's tough to watch.

Did Gomez swing at any strikes?

Rickie looks awful in the field.