Matt Breen

My 2011 Roenicke issues: 1. Sticking with McGehee all year when we had an option at AAA in Green - including making excuses to the effect that all rookies fail (and his citing of Mat Gamel's poor performance earlier as proof). It was inane logic. Maybe this was partly Melvin's influence, but Casey was horrible all year. The leash we gave him was staggering. 2. Lineup - that we kept Lucroy in the 8th spot all year was maddening. I'm not saying he was any great shakes, but when you have McGehee and Yuni ahead of him, that was odd. 3. Bunting, bunting and more bunting. I don't have a problem with bunting, but he seems obsessed with it at times. It has its place, but we did it way too much. 4. Wolf/Kottaras - this is fairly minor. If it really makes Wolf pitch that much better, I guess it's okay. But it's an insult to Lucroy, and it wastes Kottaras decent left handed bat at times. Perhaps this isn't totally RRR's decision. 5. Slow to make changes - I know RRR likes consistency. He likes roles. He tells players what's happening and sticks with it. There's a lot to like about that. But it also gives you an excuse to make some foolish decisions (such as never changing McGehee or 'Loe is my 8th inning guy'.). I give RRR a lot of credit as well. He clearly has created a positive environment in the clubhouse. He's doesn't get caught up in the moment and jerk players around (I remember Ned Yost starting Joe Dillon 3 or 4 days in a row because 'he was hot'). I believe it helps the players to give them their roles and stick to them. But it also requires some flexibility if players aren't performing, or if you don't have a player(s) that fit a specific role that you want filled.

I'm torn on Greinke. Briggs has some excellent points. It's tough to tie up so much in one pitcher. But, I fall on the side of making the signing. The reason is that there's virtually no way we can develop an elite pitcher for at least three years. And what we have - Bradley, Jungmann, Peralta, Thornburg - are no guarantees to be top of the rotation guys. They have potential, but there are so many things that could sidetrack any of them. And even if they work out well, Peralta is probably not due until 2013. Bradley and Jungmann in 2014 or 15. And to expect them to be great to start is asking a lot. Therefore, I think you go with Greinke if you can get him. I don't want to do a five year deal, but it's probably the minimum length we can do to retain him. Adding Zack solidifies the top of the rotation for the next few years (with Yo). It requires those young guys to emerge starting next year - because, we won't have a lot of money to fill other positions. It likely means the following: - Hart won't be resigned after 2013 - Marcum is gone after 2012 - Wolf's option isn't picked up next year - Gomez is gone, unless he resigns for cheap - Loe is likely gone - K-Rod is gone - Kottaras is potentially gone - Morgan could go if we think we have solid replacements in Aoki and Schafer - You'd have to rely on at least one of Peralta or Fiers to go into the rotation in 2013. Maybe both. - You'd have to count on several young players to step up and fill roles, guys like Schafer, Green, Maldanado, etc. It's not perfect, but it would work. I think the exceptional pitchers are so tough to find, and I don't see any in our system at this time.

Baseball-reference's WAR on Greinke reads: 2007: 2.7 2008: 4.2 2009: 9.0 (holy crap!) 2010: 2.3 2011: 1.7

I'm happy for Votto and the Reds. I think it's good for baseball that smaller markets can keep their superstars.

Gotta give Cain his due. The guy is consistent. Delivers the goods year after year. He probably is more valuable than Greinke, but Zach has that 2009 season to tease everyone about how amazing he can be. I'm thinking Greinke is looking at 5 years and $100 million.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/04/giants-to-extend-matt-cain.html $20 million a year for six years. Option for $21 million or a $7.5 million buyout. I'm sure Greinke is taking note of things. EDIT: Edited the years and value

we signed jarmillo. good on base skills. not much else as a hitter. probably could close this and link to the minor league thread.

Saw this interesting list over at Disciples of Uecker. I had forgotten about some of the players who populated the club in the 90s era. Rafael Roque? Don August? Steve Woodard? Sheeters was a Godsend. Brewers history of Opening Day starters: 2010s: Gallardo (’12, ’11, ’10) 2000s: Jeff Suppan (’09), Ben Sheets (’08, ’07, ’05, ’04, ’03, ’02), Doug Davis (’06), Jamey Wright (’01), Steve Woodard (’00) 1990s: Rafael Roque (’99), Cal Eldred (’98, ’94), Ben McDonald (’97), Ricky Bones (’96, ’95), Bill Wegman (’93, ’92), Mark Knudson (’91), Chris Bosio (’90) 1980s: Don August (’89), Teddy Higuera (’88, ’87, ’86), Moose Haas (’85), Don Sutton (’84, ’83), Pete Vuckovich (’82), Mike Caldwell (’81), Jim Slaton (’80) 1970s: Caldwell (’79), Jerry Augustine (’78), Bill Travers (’77), Slaton (’76, ’75), Jim Colborn (’74, ’73), Bill Parsons (’72), Marty Pattin (’71), Lew Krausse (’70) http://disciplesofuecker.com/brewers-set-rotation-to-start-2012/

Sure he has a chance, but I'd bet against him. Odds are that age and/or injury will catch up with him. That's my guess.

I really wasn't thrilled with the Ramirez contract. I had hoped they'd go with Green at 3B. But I understand the hesitation. I don't think anyone sees Green as a huge upside player. The team sees A-Ram smashing 25 HR, hitting .280-.300. What's hard not to like? Okay, the fielding will be bad. In Green, I could see a good batting average. I don't know if the power will translate to anything more than 12-15 HR. Average defense. That's not bad, but not great. Still, I think a .280 BA and 10-15 HR would have been fine. Especially at the price of minimum wage. You could have then brought back Jerry Hairston Jr. to be the righthanded hitting super sub. I guess I'm not going to argue with having A-Ram, but I think we would have been okay. He brings certainty (I hope) - although his age worries me. Not to mention the price tag in coming years.

Although the data size is small, Conrad has shown to be a good hitter against lefthanders. In the last three years, he has 244 ABs vs righties, and 69 vs lefties. Against righties he has an OPS of .845 - compared to .728 vs righties. I really think Green deserves to be on the team, but we are loaded with left handed reserves. You figure Aoki is going to make the team (along with Braun, Gomez, Morgan and Hart). And if Hart misses some time, Schaffer or Gindl probably get the spot for a couple of weeks. That means even more lefties. Kottaras is a lefty. Izturis is a switch hitter - but no one should consider that special. He's a bad hitter - no matter what side of the plate he swings from (over the past three years he as an OPS of .607 vs lefties and .561 vs righties - yikes). Assuming we go with 13 hitters and 12 pitchers, that means one IF spot left. Conrad's righthanded bat might be what gets him the job. Especially if Hart is on the IR to start the season. This sucks for Green, but it's how things will likely shake out.

i might be wrong, but I don't think anyone feels Keppinger is, defensively, a legit SS. I don't think he's played there for more than a handful of games since 2008 - and he was pretty bad, if I recall (as a shortstop). I actually like Keppinger, but we have to have a guy who can step in for an extended period if something happens to Gonzalez. Perhaps I'm wrong about Keppinger - I just seem to remember him being bad at SS several years ago - and that's why he's strictly a 2B type now.

I wonder if the team is concerned about izturis. Anyone know how he's looked?

This is pretty much it. We took a shot - a very good shot - at winning things. I hate to have lost Lawrie, but it happened. As you said, we probably don't make the playoffs. Also, would Greinke have approved the trade to Milwaukee had we not made the Marcum deal? Don't know, but it probably looked good to Greinke knowing the team was poised to do well.

The thing with Rogers is that even when healthy he wasn't a very good starter. He doesn't have three or four pitches he can throw consistently. It leads to a lot of balls, high walk rates, etc. He'd be done as a starter in 5 innings because he'd already thrown his pitch limit. That is why i think he should be a reliever. Let him focus on mastering two pitches instead of three or four. I will say this about Rogers - I don't recall his repertoire very well since it's been so long since I've seen him pitch. But if I recall, he seemed to struggle with his secondary pitches. Perhaps that's wrong. But I like the idea of simplifying things for him. I also wonder if it will help his arm, since he doesn't have to throw as many taxing pitches.

Over at BCB it is a pan of lasagna. I think a tree or a an of lasagna would have drawn more walks than Yuni. The lasagna or tree will probably draw more walks than Gonzalez. But Alex should smoke them in the field.

I was surprised he actually got some ABs. I'd forgotten all about that. At least one was in the game where Gamel got his first career hit and Gabe Kapler became my least favorite baseball player of all time. September 7, 2008. Was that the game Kapler hit the HR in the 8th inning to break up the no hitter. I was at that game. Kapler hit the HR and my dad and I left. It was something like 9-1 in the end.

I don't see this as unrealistic. I just wish they'd put him in the bullpen and let him go from there. We don't over stress his arm. Tell him to master his fastball and one other pitch. Tell him to come in and unwind for 20 or so pitches and be done. There's virtually no way K-Rod is back in Milwaukee after this year. If Rogers could make himself into a solid 7th or 8th inning guy, that would be huge for the team in 2013 and beyond. Even in the 'good' times for Rogers, he usually threw so many pitches he was gassed by the 5th inning. As much as I'd like him to be a starter, he just doesn't seem to have it in him. Perhaps I'm wrong on this. Maybe starting is actually 'easier' in the sense that you have more off days, you get more regimented. It would be pretty cool to have Rogers, Veras, Axford and Braddock coming out of the pen and pumping in 95 mph pitches by the end of the year.

I think the numbers can only go up and up for Greinke. Look at the TV deals being signed by the Angels and Padres. There's going to be more and more money available - and the players and the agents know it. I just hope Greinke likes it in Milwaukee and is happy with the team and its future. He's a unique person, and that will, hopefully, work out for us.

How many teams lined up to add Yuni as SS this off season when he was a free agent? That's right - none.

I love deli shaved pastornicky on rye, with some provelone, a little mayo.

If Gonzalez can produce a 1.5 WAR in 2012, it's a solid upgrade over Yuni - who was at 0.5 for Fangraphs (0.7 for baseball-reference.com). I think he can do it. He was at 1.1 last year for Fangraphs (1.3 for base-ball reference). His hitting should improve at Miller Park. At 35, the age is a concern. Guys can fall off a cliff at this age. People are going to get frustrated by his strikeouts, but I know what kind of player he is. I also know what the options were on the market (and the prices attached to various players). Would I have liked Jimmy Rollins? Sure. But not at the price. Gonzalez is an okay guy to have, considering the alternatives. I think we overpaid, but the options weren't attractive. I'm happy that we have a guy who can actually make the routine plays. I'll give up some strikeouts for a much better fielder.

I think Greinke will wait to see how the team is doing during the season. I think his biggest fear is getting caught on a bad team. As we know, he hates losing, and it really gnaws at him mentally. I think he wants to make sure he feels the Crew is going to be decent for the next few years.

I considered some of these guys. Braggs, James and Belliard spent a lot of time in the majors, so while their careers were disappointing, it's not like they didn't do anything. Sheffield a lot of people want to add, but we gave up on the guy way young (and he gave up on us). I'd forgotten about Angel Miranda. That was a good one.

Coming from Madison, last year I learned to take 94 as long as I could, and then when we came to a halt (usually around State Fair Park), I'd hop off the interstate, cut over to Greenfield, and then come in on Canal. It's just getting freakin' more and more crazy. I guess it's good that more people are coming to the game, but I miss the easy in that it used to be.