The Big Cheese

This might be my favorite pick from Round 1. Those numbers are from another galaxy, even if it's only high school. Plus it sounds like he has an arm similar to Pudge's or Benito Santiago's in Benito's prime. Being short, the strike zone will also be smaller for him, meaning he'll have better pitches to hit. I just simply love this pick! I'm dead serious in thinking that this kid could turn into a future all-star....or even more....

Does anyone have any action pictures of Josh Baker from him pitching in a game? I'd really like to see how he looks and I can't access the MLB scouting video. So if anyone has any pictures of Josh please post them! Great pick in Round 4!

Does anyone have any pictures of Gallardo from him pitching in a game? I'd really like to see how he looks and I can't access the MLB scouting video. So if anyone has any pictures of Yovani please post them!

Would someone please tell me why the hell Bill Hall is bunting when Scott Podsednik, one of the fastests guys in the NL, is ALREADY in scoring position at 2B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean what the....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the link...forgive me if someone already posted this... www.jsonline.com/sports/b...159971.asp It's great to hear that if he does indeed sign this week, that he'll be joining Beloit to play with Fielder for the rest of the A ball season in 2003. Here's to a soon to be #1 ranking on the Power 50 for Rickie!!! From lifelong Brewer Fan, "The Big Cheese"

I hear you Colby, and certainly it all comes down to personal preference. I just wish that all those who question Weeks also acknowledge that he has just as good a chance to be a superstar.... And what a great day for him today. I certainly hope Southern can make the field of 8...I'd love to watch Weeks on ESPN, and hopefully by then he would be Brewer property...http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif From lifelong Brewer fan, "The Big Cheese"

Boy, no offense at all DHonks but if you were the Brewers GM, you would make the Detroit Tigers, very, VERY happy.......and the same goes for Jayson Stark... You know, if Weeks is such a question mark, then why isn't he plummeting on draft boards?? Maybe its because all the scouts who get paid for a living to evaulate talent see the same thing that I do, a potential franchise type middle infielder who has epic bat speed, outstanding eye (leads the nation in hitting), unbelievable athleticism, great speed on the base paths (27 for 27 in SB), tremendous power potential (hit a home run in the College World Series today...and that ain't the SWAC), a tireless work ethic, a burning desire to get better, great character, etc. I find it hard for you to be so concerned after hearing about positives such as those, because if the guys who do this for a living are saying these things, shouldn't that make you feel at least a little more comfortable about taking him? Question marks are just that, question marks. Don't sit here and tell me that Sleeth, Stauffer, Harvey and even Delmon Young don't have just as many, if not more then Weeks. What if Weeks turns into another Alfonso Soriano and we pass on him?? I wouldn't be able to watch another baseball game again. The thing the Brewers have to realize is that everyone has Weeks as a consenus top two player, so if they take him and he doesn't work out, who can really fault them? I sure won't. But if they don't take him and he turns into a superstar for the Tigers....oh boy, that franchise down there in Brewtown will never be able to get me off their backs... ...and you can put that in writing... From lifelong Brewer fan, "The Big Cheese"

I have to say I'm a bit concerned with the Weeks criticism that I've seen posted by some on this board. Fact of the matter is that EVERY player, whether its Weeks, Delmon Young, Kyle Sleeth, Tim Stauffer, Ryan Harvey, etc. have question marks. The difference is that the vast majority of PROFESSIONAL baseball scouts say that the top 2 players available are Delmon Young and Rickie Weeks, and that there is a talent dropoff after those too. I just am getting sick of all of the "concerns" people (some of whom are on this board) have with him. Geez, if Weeks has all these "concerns," then why the hell is he rated so high!?! I mean you have to give him his do. He has "franchise player" tools and ability and every baseball expert I've heard, from Peter Gammons to those at Baseball America like Jim Callis, have raved about those tools. I've just had enough with the doubting, because for every doubt that you have about Weeks, you must also acknowledge that there is a greatness to him (bat speed, base speed, power potential, athleticism, tireless work ethic, etc.) With positives like that, I don't know how anyone could be all that worried about him, because it's not like Sleeth, Stauffer, Harvery or even Delmon Young are THAT much more of a sure thing than Rickie.....

Scoop, I heard the interview too and the thing that makes me sick is the possibility of the Crew reaching for pitcher like Sleeth and Stauffer. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif ....Look, when you suck as bad as the Brewers did last year and "earn" such a high pick, you cannot, and I mean, CANNOT screw around with it. The thoughts of the Brewers reaching to take Stauffer or Sleeth, guys who are around the 4-7 rating in this draft, would be like the Detroit Pistons passing on Darko Milich or Carmelo Anthony with the #2 pick in this year's NBA Draft to take someone like Reece Gains or Chris Kamen. Stauffer and Sleeth reside at a talent plateau that is BELOW that of Rickie Weeks and Delmon Young. It's just not smart baseball management to not pick one of them!!! Personally, I don't think there's a snowball's chance that Weeks is gonna get $6 million to sign. That is a complete joke. I would say more likely between $3-4 million. Besides, I thought Mr. Melvin said signability wasn't an issue?? Geez, when you're churning out a $14 million dollar annual profit down there it better not be! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif Why do I just have this sick feeling that the Brewers will screw this up?? ...At least I can take solice in the fact that in the interview Callis said that right now, it's looking like Weeks will be the Brewers pick....and thank God for that! From lifelong Brewer fan, "The Big Cheese" PS - Hey, Brewers just hit a grand slam!! Maybe that's an omen?

Colby, I agree with you 100% on the need thing. When drafting this high in the draft, the philosphy always, always should be to take the best player available. I was merely pointing out that it might be more of a conveinence that we get Weeks due to our lack of a top flight 2B (I'm not yet sold on Cruz, and I thought he was a natural SS anway??). Like I said earlier, a Hardy to Weeks double play combination looks awfully, awfully nice. But the need arguement will be a moot point with Loewen out of the draft, because no matter who the D-Rays take, the player that is left from the "Big Two" WILL be the best player available, whether its Weeks or Young. As for our future OF, I firmly still have faith in Geoff Jenkins. I've been in love with him since that moonbeam home run he hit at the '95 College World series and I really think and hope that he will be in our long term rebuilding plans and sure up one corner outfield spot. CF of the future is a lock to be Krynzel, which leaves one corner spot open. Certainly Young would look very, very nice in that spot. But we do have Nelson being worked out there, as well as OF prospect Daryl Clark. Speaking of which, I read earlier in the month that Clark was leading all of the minors in HRs?? I'm not sure if he still is but clearly he is a nice prospect to have. As for my future outfield: Jenkins RF/LF Krynzel CF Nelson/Clark RF/LF Maybe Jenkins would move to right if Nelson was able to switch to the outfield due to Geoff's strong arm? And you can't rule out a future draft pick (maybe next year's #1) coming in as an OF. I guess all I'm saying is I believe its easier to find a stud outfielder then it is to find a stud second basemen. But please, don't get the wrong impression here...I love Delmon Young! I guess I am just most worried about all this Harvey talk. It seems like we would be reaching for the next best OF instead of taking a stud middle infield FIVE TOOL prospect in Weeks. By the way, has Young, or Harvey for that matter, been labled as a five tool type player? In other words do they have the tools to potentially be a 30/30 or 40/40 guy, because all I hear about them is power while it seems Weeks has the total package? Just a question...

I don't mean to torture the Loewen fans out there, but according to ESPN, Adam Loewen signed his Oriole contract at 11:55 PM last night. If he would have signed it only a minute past midnight, he would be forced to reenter the draft. Talk about cutting it close!! Here's the ESPN blurb: The Orioles have signed 2002 first-round draft pick Adam Loewen to a five-year deal -- barely. The pitcher signed at 11:55 p.m. on May 26. If Loewen had not signed by midnight, he would have gone back into the June 3 draft, and the Orioles would have received a supplemental-round pick. Loewen is a 6-foot-6 left-hander who went 6-1 this season with a 2.47 ERA at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Last year, Loewen refused to sign for less than $3.9 million, and the team said it would not offer more than $2.5 million. Plus here's a link to today's MJS with Doug Melvin commenting on Young and Weeks looking like the top two guys available.... www.jsonline.com/sports/b...143823.asp From lifelong Brewer fan, "The Big Cheese"

With Baltimore's last minute signing of Adam Loewen, sign me up to the growing number of Brewer fans who will rage with anger http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif if the Brew Crew doesn't take one of the "Big Two" remaining in this year's draft. The Brewers haven't had the luxury to choose this high in the draft in some time, and like any other draft, they cannot afford to screw it up be passing on the virtually unanimous top two players. I believe after Delmon Young's "Ken Griffey, Jr.-esque" performances at Miller Park and Tropicana Field, that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have no choice but to select him with the #1 overall pick. Delmon reminds me of a young Griffey, and he certainlly could develop by the later half of this decade into the type of outfield power hitters we saw in the mid-to-late 1990s (Bonds, Griffey, Sosa, Sheffield, etc.). Plus the D-Rays have selected a high school player in something like 4 out of the last 5 drafts, so it seems they have a tendency to like High School prospects (of which Young is one of course). So with Young likely going #1, I fully expect the Brewers to select Southern University 2B Rickie Weeks with the #2 pick. In fact I rate Weeks slighty ahead of Delmon Young, as in 1A to 1B. Since it seems that most on this board were hoping for Loewen and now seem to be targeting Young, I am guessing some of you might think I'm a lil crazy, but I've really fallen in love with Weeks and think we should all be very fortunate to get him if we don't screw things up (but with the Brewers unfortunatley, "screwing up" is a perpetual possibilty). So with that said, here are some comments and reasons for why Weeks would look beautiful in blue and gold: -- The Brewers have a glaring need for a blue-chip second basemen, and low and behold Weeks is a second basemen. If you look at the top (top meaning the top 5 or 10) Brewer minor league prospects, not one is a 2B. Meanwhile, we have many potential outfield prospects. I know the Brewers are tinkering with moving Brad Nelson to the OF and with Krnzyel, Clark and Geoff Jenkins, there isn't a desperate need to find an outfielder. -- Now some say Weeks will wind up in the outfield due to potential shortcomings in the field at 2B, but I believe when you're dealing with a player of Weeks' caliber that proper coaching and experience will solve any problems he may have out there. As for his offense, having a middle infielder who could be a 30/30, or possibly even a 40/40 player, would immediately turn around the Brewers franchise. Weeks has been labeled as a five-tool prospect, and due to his position and his sleek yet powerful frame, he has evoked comparisions to dare I say, Alfonso Soriano. Yep, that Alfonso Soriano! Now obvisouly those comparisons are still only comparisons and Weeks is still years away from possibly reaching that kind of level, but it's certainly not out of the question. Right now, the player that Weeks reminds me the most of is the Indians' 2B/SS Brandon Phillips. Phillips has begun to warm up as of late, flashing the power and speed that earned him the nickname, "The Franchise." I certainly feel Weeks can join both him, as well as Devil Rays' 2002 phenom B.J. Upton, in the lineage of "Soriano-like" middle-infielders that can be saviors for their respective franchises. -- Another benefit of taking Weeks is the ability for him to join our rising stars at AA Huntsville immediately, while with Young the process will take longer. Also, a future double play combination of J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks makes me think happy thoughts at night. This however is only a benefit, and SHOULD NOT be the deciding factor, since I, and almost every other fan here will want the Brewers to select the best player available, which very well could turn out to be Delmon Young. As for the other prospects, Ryan Harvey, Tim Stauffer and Kyle Sleeth, I am not sold on any of these players as the #2 overall pick. Harvey will likely go #3 to Detroit, and could be considered by us if Young is gone, but I just don't feel he's as good as Weeks and I certainlly don't think he's as good as Young. He heads up the tier of prospects that was a notch BELOW the former "Big Three" and the now current "Big Two." So yes, I guess that means I am NOT on the Ryan Harvey bandwagon - sorry. As for Stauffer and Sleeth, they aren't #2 material with Weeks or Young on the board. We have some very good young arms and can get some solid pitching in the second round, instead of reaching in the first. So if the D-Rays do seem to change their minds and take Rickie Weeks....I'll be happy, because we'll be able to draft Delmon Young. If they do what most experts expect them to do, and take Delmon Young, I'll be very, very happy because we'll be able to draft Rickie Weeks. And either of these two scenarios should make us all very happy! I can only hope and pray, that the Milwaukee Brewers agree..... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/ohwell.gif From lifelong Brewer fan, "The Big Cheese"

Tonight on Baseball Tonight Peter Gammons, when commenting on the Orioles' signing of Adam Loewen, said that the Milwaukee Brewers will use the #2 pick on either Rickie Weeks or Delmon Young...which ever player the Devil Rays pass on with the #1 pick. What are all your thoughts on this information from Gammons. I've always liked his inside information and I hope he is correct this time because I desperately want one of those two players to be a Brewer... From lifelong Brewer Fan, "The Big Cheese"