rickh150

Shifting gears.... This is technically a Brewers related topic now, right? It's a promotion/theme night for cryin out loud. Shouldn't you be calling out the Brewers instead? If we fans ought to confine politics and "religion" into one forum thread on one little website because of misguided/unneeded conflict or because these issues are considered non-baseball topics, why give the Brewers a free pass to do the same in public to the masses? Otherwise, break out the pro-life night, the pro-Trump night, and traditional marriage night at Miller Park. Then the hypocrisy will really begin. Pro-Trump (or anti-Trump) and pro-life (or pro-choice) nights would very much be political, nor is anyone clamouring for either one, so I don't quite see their relevance. Pride night isn't even specifically about marriage, but sure I'll go with it; There is a difference between the two. Noone is trying to deny anyone the right to a "traditional marriage"; it's still there. One is inclusionary, one is exlcusionary. I don't see Trekkies up in arms about Star Wars night, nor any real grumbling about any of the other more or less silly promo nights. Yet spending 1/81 home games trying to include a group that's historically marginalized in society in general and in (team) sports in particular gets people complaining about it. The difference with "pride" day, unlike your Star Wars nights, is that it is a moral issue. Many consider it a sin and/or against their beliefs/faith. Regardless of your view, whatever side of the fence you may reside, the promotion is encouraging division on a moral issue. This is drastically different than all the other promos you talk about. Agreeing with you, no one is clamouring for these promotions. A pro-life day against killing the unborn would be the same-a clear moral issue first (then the politicians get involved).

Shifting gears.... This is technically a Brewers related topic now, right? It's a promotion/theme night for cryin out loud. Shouldn't you be calling out the Brewers instead? If we fans ought to confine politics and "religion" into one forum thread on one little website because of misguided/unneeded conflict or because these issues are considered non-baseball topics, why give the Brewers a free pass to do the same in public to the masses? Otherwise, break out the pro-life night, the pro-Trump night, and traditional marriage night at Miller Park. Then the hypocrisy will really begin.

Being gay is a cause? Man.

Instead of being at worst "neutral" on a moral topic, the Brewers organization is picking a side? THAT's a good precedent?

Still waiting for traditional marriage night.... maybe next year, right? Since we are so inclusive and progressive nowadays.

Pride night? Like Brewers pride?

Still like the idea of going big for a Mets starter- de Grom tops the list. Would de Grom for Knebel and Brinson get it done?

I don't think the game of 'does paying a top FA pitcher make you a playoff contender' should be an issue. The issue is building a rotation for the near future. Getting a stable long-term piece for the next few years, to go along with several young in house candidates, should be the goal.

In some ways it's like 2011. We need to cash in some of our chips for pitching. Our OF depth is beyond nuts and something has to give soon, along with the high number of players that will need to be protected a year from now. We need another plus arm or two in the rotation and a big upgrade at 2B to have playoff expectations, not just hopes. In other ways, regardless of what we do from here on out, the Cubs will be the favorite in the division for the next few years.

Arrieta

Scott Karl, Dave Burba, Doug Davis, Brandon Looper.... If you think this Brewers' team with Anderson, Davies, (insert name here), (insert name here), (insert name here) is going to contend for a WS crown ... I love the optimism, but don't want you running my team, with all due respect. If you think this Brewers' team needs another season+ to develop its core and rearrange its roster to position itself for success... and need a 180+ inning arm to help hold this season together... yes, Chacin is a good signing. I agree with you. Hold this season together? What does that mean? Be .500ish? You are talking out of both sides of your mouth. You don't want the team to go for it and add a couple of FA or trade prospects because we are not ready to contend for playofffs this year. And you also want them to sign middling starters for 7.5 mil a year instead of playing a multitude of young cheap farm arms that could be ready or seasoned for future seasons. What actually could be happening.... Stearns sees playoffs this year as an actual possibility. He believes this makes the team better. This move looks pointless to me and many UNLESS a big move or two is still coming, and Yo/Chacin are in to give veteran depth to the back of rotation and not as a stop gap.. The more this offseason develops, the more I can envision big moves still coming. If not, I question the recent signings of Yo/ Chacin. Like everyone, we didn't see this coming.

Scott Karl, Dave Burba, Doug Davis, Brandon Looper....

A good 75 win team starter....

Our CF dilemma is solved.

Totally agree. They'd be nuts to mess with him now.

Stuff I've been hearing on mlbtv and other baseball sites..... His fastball was at its best last season in terms of mph. He still has an above average curveball. He is only 31/32 years old.

If the Brewers gave him anything north of $2 mil, I'd be surprised. Yo should see that he has a real opportunity being in the rotation in Milwaukee this season. He's got an inside track if he does well in ST, unlike most other places. Smart move.

Sunday promotions are aimed at making the entire experience a fun one for families. Getting families in the park is essential for creating new fans. That's the lifeblood of a franchise. Why anyone would have a problem with that is beyond me. Families come other days of the week, as well. My family comes weeknights (early starts 6:40). Why anyone would have a problem with putting a few more promotions for families on other days is beyond me. Families with grade school & younger children are not taking their families out to an evening game in anywhere near the same proportion that they will go to an afternoon game. Maybe they'll add more promotions to other nights, but they certainly won't reduce what's being offered on Sundays. As was already pointed out, the lifeblood of a team is drawing fans - and you have to start cultivating that interest at a young age so the whole idea is to make sure those kids have a blast on Sundays, and are much less interested in schedule flexibility for older fans. Is the root of your gripe that you'd like to go to more games on Sundays but they've become too crowded for your liking, or that you'd like to avoid Sundays but can't because you want the promotional item? The root is that one day of the weeks gets a disproportionately high amount of promos/events/specials. I don't attend Sunday games and miss out on several perks. So part of it is selfish, but most of it is amazement that one day gets all this attention when clearly other days bring in large crowds and many families. Even weeknight summer games get 30,000 some nights. Not upset just puzzled.

Sunday promotions are aimed at making the entire experience a fun one for families. Getting families in the park is essential for creating new fans. That's the lifeblood of a franchise. Why anyone would have a problem with that is beyond me. Families come other days of the week, as well. My family comes weeknights (early starts 6:40). Why anyone would have a problem with putting a few more promotions for families on other days is beyond me.

I've been meaning to write on this for a while now, but with the promotional schedule out today it seemed like the right time. Do others feel, like me, that Sunday's have way too much crammed into them? Promotions, deals, festivities, freebies are loaded on Sundays. Let's take a look.... Brewers On Deck- Since 2010 or so... a Sunday. Giveaways- 11 Sundays (next closest- 5 Fridays) Free Food (Kids)- Sundays Helfaer Field (Catch with kids)- Sundays Camp out at Miller Park- Saturday nights to Sunday morning Kids Crew Parade on Field- Sundays Kids Run Bases- Sundays I don't get to any Sunday games. For my selfish reasons, it would be nice to have some of these things spread out a bit more among the other days. I know that I'd like a little more flexibility in the schedule. Why have all these things on one day throughout the entire season? Mix it up a bit and offer catch at Helfaer on a Tuesday night. Have a few more giveaways on Summer weekday afternoon games. Let the kids run the bases on a Friday night. Anyone else feel the same?

If they non-tender Villar..... First, I'd be thrilled. Not a fan of his. He might be a fine person and all, but I'm not big on noncontact leadoff men who can't run the bases. Funny thing is that he played little in Sept. and CC didn't want him pinch running. Can you believe that? The guy led baseball in steals in 2016! Second, they would be eating serious crow. They played this guy well into the latter part of the season with few positives. They led him off, actually. And when Walker was added, they HAD to keep his bat in the lineup and play him in CF for a few games. How could they be this high on playing him in August and so low on him now? We'll see what they do. Finally, the $ can't be a deciding factor, can it? Maybe $2 or $3 mil? It will be fully based on their belief of what he can do, right? Or will they roll the dice, non-tender him, and try to sign him for a little less? Very interesting day tomorrow...

My Highly probable fearless off-season forecast.... Hader will stay in pen. Would be fairly gutsy to try to mess with him now that he has had success in the pen in a unique and extremely valuable role. An outfielder (Broxton, Brinson, Phillips, Braun, or Santana... in that order for me) will be traded. Just too many bodies there with more prospects on the way. Brewers will add two starters by way of trade ( or risk losing a small group of prospects to Rule 5) AND free agency ($ itching to be spent on obvious need). Our 1B position/platoon is not settled. One or both will be rumored in trades. Our lineup will look really good on opening day.

This is not necessarily true. Right..... sometimes a sac fly or a mere grounder to second gets it done.

Count me in on getting Abreu.... - a bit more of a sure thing at 1B - big upgrade with BA, and we need it with runners on base - golden if one of the 1B is included and not a great prospect(s) included

I like the idea of having Neshek in the pen.... maybe at 2 years for 16 mil? He's another late inning option, a veteran, a crafty sidewinder that complements our hard throwers. We have all the $ for it. I'm all for making the 2018 pen the best pen this organization has ever seen. Knebel as the closer. Keep Hader in his role. Bring in a Neshek and another solid piece. Figure out the back of pen in ST..... we have many quality candidates. Our team lost tons of leads last year. A top 3 bullpen turns the table on that.