Matt Breen

Maybe the Jets will take Mac Jones here...

Maybe the Jets will take Mac Jones here...

It's on the internets. It must be true.

Some reports saying that the Packers told Rodgers he was going to be traded this off season - and then backed off that. Now, did Rodgers ask for such a deal? Or did the Packers volunteer that? Who knows.

I also want to point out that the Packers don't have a single WR under contract beyond 2021. I'm guessing we will get Adams on a new deal, but the other guys are question marks. A big season for any of them might put them out of reach financially going forward. And if they don't get a big deal - that probably means they don't have that great of a 2021. MVS and Lazard have been productive players - but also have been plagued by inconsistent play and injuries. A WR in the 1st round could easily supplant one or both of these guys as early as this season.

If any of these guys drops, the Packers will take: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame But I don't expect any of them to fall to us. Thus the guy I think will be there, and who we will pick, is: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss. Perfect slot receiver. Tough, fearless, good hands, competitive, productive. Should be able to contribute right away. At 5-9 ½", he lacks size. Moore's draft position in most mocks tends to be at the end of the 1st round through the middle of 2nd. I could also see the team taking WRs Terrance Marshall (whose stock has been rising). OT Samuel Cosmi out of Texas seems like a solid, safe pick, and has a very good chance of being there for us. Ditto for Alex Leatherwood (although some scouts feel he is best suited for OG). OC/OG Landon Dickerson is a fascinating player. Pro Bowl caliber guy who's had several major injuries in college. There are also a couple of interesting LBs that could be there for us - Jamin Davis and Zaven Collins.

Let's trade up to get Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase. Not just one of them - but both of them. Of course, that means we won't have any other 1st round picks for about 10 years...

I had a friend who was like you. Wiped out for three days after his second shot. I was lucky mine was almost nothing. So weird the different reactions. Oh well, glad we are both vaccinated!

Not terribly far though. They have a lot of picks, but mostly low value. The Athletic had the Packers trade with Tennessee - getting pick No. 22 (Tennessee's 1st rounder) in exchange for Nos. 29 and 92 (our 1st and 3rd picks). Packers then take LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

I wouldn't be surprised if they tried. Everything is pretty fluid. You never know who's going to drop. And if you have players you like a lot who will be there on a trade down - go for it. Of course, you need to have someone else to play along on any trade. But you should try.

I saw one mock with the Packers moving up to draft him.

Had my 2nd dose of Pfizer yesterday. Went better than the first. Very mild soreness in the arm - gone within 24 hours. A little fatigue. I even spent two hours working in the yard this morning. Took an hour nap after that - but that's the extent of any side effects for me. Good to be done with it for now. Looks like I'll need another shot in a year - but that's for later...

The variants are king of scary right now. But we'll see where it all goes. My wife was talking with an exec at the biggest system there, and he told her their COVID hospitalizations are something like 5x what they were two weeks ago. Starting to shut down elective surgeries there. They are seeing the average age of people is about 10 years younger, which has been a trend we've seen a lot of places. Young people just seem to be much more susceptible to this variant. I've read some numbers showing youth sporting events are one of the big transmitters at this time. Big thing is to get as many people - including young people - as possible vaccinated as possible. Still need more vaccines where we are. We are far better than we were 1-2 months ago - but her system is still only running about 40% of the tests they can be doing. They just aren't getting the vaccines. But it does get better all the time. Still, my wife's system is experiencing upturns in positive tests, hospitalizations, etc. for the first time in a long time. It's sort of a race. Still, roughly 30% of the people say they won't get the vaccine.

I liked Bledsoe, but his offense was just not good enough. And it's unlikely to get better. Holiday isn't a great scorer - but he's good. His presence really changes the complexion of the team. I can't wait for Tucker to get healthy and incorporate him into the rotation. I think that will be really good for the team.

This is where this all needed to go towards. Holiday, Middleton and Giannis are locked up for a few more years together. We get have Dante and Lopez for a couple of more years. Even Connaughton has been a positive for the club with his improved shooting. You can quibble about having different guys - but it's what we got and it likely won't change. Salary cap will now come into play big time, so we are not adding major players without trading one of the above guys (which is possible, but what we get back isn't anything special). I can live with this core for a 2-3 years. I think adding a couple of quality veterans at minimum salaries will be important every year. But those are sort of interchangeable parts. I think Tucker could be really good for this team - but I'm concerned about his age. Not sure if he is someone you want to re-sign - but it might be worth it. A knockdown 3 point shooter would be a nice addition as well - but money is the big issue there.

Tyrone Taylor almost made our Top 25. He was our #2 ranked prospect in our very first poll back in 2014.

Observations from this year’s poll - There’s been a lot of movement due to the year long wait between polls. - The emergence of the Latin American players continues. - The high placements of recent draft picks and international signings demonstrate who bereft the system was of high-end talent.

Thanks to everyone for participating in the latest version of our Top 25 Prospect Poll. It’s been a full year since the last poll, so there were a lot of changes. 
Here are some numbers: Exited Top 25: Rasmussen, Nottingham, Williams (graduated), Supek (released), Erceg, Dillard, Francis, Brown (dropped below 25) Newcomers - Mitchell, Zamora, Quero, Warren, Cantrelle, Chourio, Parra, Hamilton Number of ballots: 27 Number of players on ballots: 70 Mr. Irrelevant (1 vote, 1 point) - No one! Everyone got at least 2 points. Biggest risers - Perez, Bello Biggest drops - Ray Likeliest to graduate by end of the year - Tough one - but I’ll guess Small. Weirdest thing from poll: Copper Hummel got a 1st place vote. No one else listed him in their top 25. Please know that all write ups are my own observations and opinions. If you see any mistakes, please let me know.

#1 ( new ) Garrett Mitchell, OF, age 22 631 points (17 1st place votes) - 27 of 27 ballots The Brewers top pick in 2020 has impressed this spring. Mitchell has exceptional speed and first-rate defensive chops in CF. Most scouts believe he has more power in his bat - it’s just a matter of unlocking it. If Mitchell can do that - he’ll be the best offensive prospect to emerge from the organization in ages - which is why he tops the 2021 prospect poll. #2 (-1) Brice Turang, SS, age 21 612 points (4 1st place votes) - 27 of 27 ballots Plus hitting and speed. Solid defense. The Brewers were impressed by Turang during his time at the alternate training site in 2020. He has added some weight, so it will be interesting to see if that translates into some additional pop. #3 (-1) Ethan Small, LHSP, age 24 558 points (1 1st place votes) - 27 of 27 ballots Polished left-hander could reach Milwaukee with a good showing this year. Small has impressed in his limited appearances. He has a nice arsenal and good command. although he doesn’t throw hard. #4 (+1) Mario Feliciano, C, age 21 557 points - 27 of 27 ballots Feliciano broke out in 2019 (and reportedly impressed at last year’s alternative site), and Brewer fans are hoping he emerges as the organization’s first quality starting catcher since Jonathan Lucroy (sorry Jacob Nottingham). While Feliciano doesn’t walk a lot, he has power and a promising hit tool. His defense has steadily improved since being drafted. #5 (-1) Aaron Ashby, LHSP, age 22 552 points - 27 of 27 ballots Ashby continues to impress everywhere he goes. His slider is an absolute killer. The big question is if he can harness his pitches enough to stay in the rotation. At worse, he could emerge as a high leverage reliever with a nasty slider/fastball combination. It will all come down to his control. #6 (+1) Antoine Kelly, LHSP, age 21 546 points - 26 of 27 ballots Using his plus fastball, Kelly was outstanding in his pro debut in 2019. A big man (6’6”), Kelly has demonstrated greater command and control as he’s matured - meaning he could really be something special. #7 (+5) Hedbert Perez, OF, Age 17 515 points (4 1st place votes) - 25 of 27 ballots The son of former major leaguer Robert Perez, Hedbert has impressed thus far against older competition. Perez boasts a well rounded tool set, and he has the speed and ability to stick in CF. Everyone is excited to see the kid face live competition in 2021. #8 ( New ) Freddy Zamora, SS, age 22 433 points - 26 of 27 ballots Athletic shortstop with a plus arm, glove and range will make his pro debut in 2021. Zamora missed all of 2020 with an ACL tear - which was a big reason he fell into the 2nd round of the draft. He is a good hitter, and doesn’t strike out a ton, but did not generated a lot of power in his college career. #9 (-3) Tristen Lutz, OF, age 22 409 points - 26 of 27 ballots Big outfielder is looking to translate all his tools into the power bat the Brewers envision him to be. Lots of potential, but the organization is looking for Lutz to take that next step in his development. #10 ( - ) Eduardo Garcia, SS, age 18 396 points - 25 of 27 ballots First rate defense player with intriguing hitting tools that could very easily turn him into one of the game’s better prospects. An injury limited Garcia in 2019, but he should be one of the most watched players in the system in 2021. #11 (+2) Carlos Rodriguez, OF, age 20 274 points - 23 of 27 ballots Speed, batting average and defense are Rodriguez’s game. He is a slap hitter that hits for a high average, but his lack of power and willingness to swing at just about anything could limit his upside. Still, it’s hard to argue with a guy who has hit .327 thus far in his pro career. #12 ( new ) Jefferson Quero, C, age 18 243 points - 21 of 27 ballots Quero was signed out of Venezuela in 2019 - and has thus not made his professional debut. Scouts have praised his defense (cannon for an arm, plus blocking skills) - as well as his his hit tool. #13 ( new ) Zavier Warren, C, age 22 222 points - 22 of 27 ballots Warren played IF in college, but has been moved to catcher by the Brewers. He is a switch hitter with a strong arm and a good hit tool. Warren did struggle at the plate in 2020 when playing for an independent league team - however the Brewers were more concerned about acclimating to him to his new position #14 (+3) Luis Medina, OF, age 18 217 points - 20 of 27 ballots Only 18, Medina is one of the system’s most intriguing power bats. With his strong arm and plus power, he projects as a RF down the road. #15 (+10) Micah Bello, OF, age 20 212 points - 25 of 27 ballots Bello has has reportedly added some bulk to his thin frame, giving us hope that he will emerge as more than a light hitting defensive specialist. Could emerge as an exciting prospect. #16 (-2) Max Lazar, RHSP, Age 21 204 points - 20 of 27 ballots Lazar broke out in 2019 with some outstanding numbers at Wisconsin. He doesn’t throw hard, but has a plus changeup and good control. It will be exciting to see if Lazar can continue his success against better competition. #17 (-2) Dylan File, RHSP, age 24 200 points - 22 of 27 ballots Unfortunately, File - who showed great promise moving through the Brewer system in 2019 - will miss at least the first half of 2021 with a fractured elbow. Ideally, File will be able to return later this season, get into playing shape - and then be full steam for 2022. #18 ( new ) Hayden Cantrelle, INF, age 22 179 points - 20 of 27 ballots The Brewers 5th round draft pick in 2020, the switch-hitting Cantrelle projects as a good speed/field/OBP with little power infielder. He had a solid season playing in one of the temporary independent leagues last year. #19 (-1) Payton Henry, C, age 23 164 points - 18 of 27 ballots Catchers often take time to develop - and the Brewers hope that Henry ups his game in 2021. He has plus power and has become a good receiver. But he has a bit of a hole in his bat - limiting his hitting. And nothing will fix is below average speed. #20 (+2) Alec Bettinger, RHSP, age 25 163 points - 17 of 27 ballots A nice 2019 - and an increase in velocity on his pitches - vaulted Bettinger up the prospect rankings. Bettinger has succeeded by throwing strikes. While he has some elbow issues this spring, the Brewers expect him to be pithing soon. If he does well at AAA, he could make his MLB debut some time this year. #21 (-12) Corey Ray, OF, age 26 159 points - 17 of 27 ballots The clock in ticking for Ray. There has been little buzz surrounding him the past year - and thus his stock has plummeted in the prospect rankings. This may be the last go around for the highest Brewer draft pick in ages. #22 ( new ) Jackson Chourio, SS, age 17 118 points - 13 of 27 ballots One of the top 20 international prospects in 2020, Chourio has all the tools to be special. He has a tall, projectable frame, a good arm, plus speed and good hitting tools. Some scouts foresee him moving to outfield down the road - but the Brewers will keep him at SS for the time being. #23 ( new ) Jesus Parra, 3B, age 18 107 points - 15 of 27 ballots Young and strong and with room to bulk up on his 6’2” frame, Parra profiles as a power bat. While he lacks speed, Parra has a plus arm. #24 ( new ) David Hamilton, INF, age 23 100 points - 12 of 27 ballots Coming off an Achilles tendon injury, the Brewers snagged Hamilton in the 8th round in the 2019 draft with an above slot. Hamilton’s calling card is his speed and on-base skills. He did well playing in one of the temporary independent leagues set up during 2020’s pandemic. #25 ( - ) Clayton Andrews, LHRP, age 24 91 points - 12 of 27 ballots Who doesn’t like the idea of a crafty left handed reliever and speedy reserve outfielder? That’s what the Brewers have in Andrews - whose versatility offers him the chance to contribute in a unique fashion. The rest Zach Brown - 84 points Tyrone Taylor - 76 Thomas Dillard - 67 Joe Gray - 63 Noah Zavolas - 47 Nick Bennett - 45 Phil Bickford - 40 Je’Von Ward - 34 Nick Kahle - 29 David Fry - 27 Bowden Francis - 27 Leo Crawford - 27 Cooper Hummel - 25 (1 1st place vote) Abner Uribe - 22 Quintin Torres-Costa - 21 Scott Sunitsch - 20 Lun Zhao - 20 Justin Jarvis - 19 Weston Wilson - 19 Thomas Jankins - 19 Lucas Erceg - 16 Joey Wiemer - 15 Cam Devanney - 13 Pablo Abreu - 12 Jheremy Vargas - 10 Brandon Ramey - 10 Braden Webb - 9 Enersto Martinez - 9 Reese Olson - 9 Justin Topa - 9 Zach Green - 7 Ryan Aguilar - 7 Victor Castaneda - 6 Luke Barker - 6 Carlos Roa - 6 Alexis Ramirez - 5 Israel Puello - 5 Garbiel Garcia - 4 Korry Howell - 4 Gabe Holt - 4 JP Feyereisen - 3 Angel Perdoma - 3 Miguel Sanchez - 3 Nash Walters - 2 Felix Valerio - 2 Ages are as of 04/01/2021 Original voting thread: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=40258

I've not seen much of spring training other than some highlights, but I was kind of hoping we'd move on from Vogelbach. McKinney could have handled back 1B, and I think Taylor would have been deserving of an OF slot. But there's plenty that can happen. I think Tyrone is going to do well this year.

I've got my first shot taken care of as well (last week). Second one later in April. Arm was sore for a day or so. Mild enough that I didn't need to take anything for it. A little extra fatigue as well - but nothing major. I'd plan on avoiding weight lifting and push ups and stuff like that for a couple of days - but nothing big. Just happy to get on the vaccine bus.

One of the first vaccine related study was just released today. The Pfizer and Modern vaccines are showing to be 80% of preventing infections after the first shot, 90% after the second. The study is one of the first to estimate vaccine effectiveness amongst the participants against infections - rather than just monitor for symptomatic cases. 2,479 people in the study were fully vaccinated. 477 in the study had one shot. the participants were healthcare workers, police, teachers and firefighters and other essential workers. So it was working people who had contact with people in an everyday capacity. The clinical trials had shown 905 effectiveness after 2 doses - and the new studies supports this. There is some speculation that the vaccine helps make getting COVID less severe - but that's not part of the study, and there are no hard numbers I know of regarding this.

I love Archer. And she was phenomenal. The guy who voiced her husband - Ron Cadillac on the show - was her real-life husband - Ron Leibman. He died only about a year ago. Most people will remember him as Rachel's obnoxious father on Friends.

Thanks to everyone for voting. We'll post the results in the next week or so.

Number of vaccines reaching Wisconsin has dramatically increased the last couple of weeks. A great sign.