monkeyman343434

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/reds-to-sign-edgar-renteria.html The Brewers are paying Betancourt as much as Renteria MIGHT make in 2011. If you're going to go for it, GO FOR IT.

Mike Edwards 1974 ($58,000 to $50,000) Mike Flanagan 1982 ($500,000 to $485,000) I feel like there was one a couple years ago, but I can't find anything

Fair enough Gobias. I have to admit, I don't know a lot of the "GM details" that surround the Bucks, other than checking on their contract situations from time to time. I really do hope they bring back both LRMAM and CDR. Would bringing both of those guys back use up all of Redd's expiring deal? I wouldn't think so, but I don't know any specifics. I feel like if they bring them both back, there will have to be some other deals. I know this is very very very early, but I would think they would have: Jennings/Dooling Salmons/CDR LRMAM/Magette/Delfino Ersan/Gooden Bogut/Sanders/Brockman With Boykins, Skinner, and Redd being FA's? I would think all 12 of those guys, with maybe Brockman as the exception, should see significant minutes, so I'm guessing there would have to be some shuffeling of players to happen, but great depth in case of injury as has happened this year. A true backup center would be very nice as well as grooming a new young backup PG. I know this isn't a perfect team, but I don't know where else they'd really be able to upgrade very much? I know it'd be nice if they could somehow deal Maggette or Gooden, but you don't want to lose too much of your depth. Would they be able to make any deals to stockpile future draft picks?

I don't think this could be further from the truth. Michael Redd is a huge expiring contract that could be used to pick up a piece or pieces at the deadline. I still say the Maggette - Gadzuric/Bell trade was really good. He can for sure score for about 24 minutes a game. The CDR for a 2012 2nd round draft pick was a really good deal. The Keyon Dooling signing was excellent. Wasn't a big fan of the Brockman - Jackson trade, but I think that's a pretty minor deal anyway. Trading Jerome Jordan was really head-scratching to me. They really needed a backup C, and dealt a possible true C backup away. Cutting Gallon and Hobson sucked, but that was a numbers game. Hopefully Hobson can still be re-signed. Loved the Sanders pick. He has potential written all over him. The Boykins signing I thought was a slight + Re-signing Salmons I thought was OK. Glad to have him back, 5 years seems a bit much, but hopefully he can just keep playing like he has. The one specific move I didn't like was signing Gooden. Not because he's a bad player, but because of the contract that he was given, I think Ersan is basically the same player, and because we had no true backup C. The one "general" move I didn't like in the offseason was not bringing in a true backup C. When Gooden, Brockman, and Skinner are your backup C's, you're in trouble. Wish they would have brought back Elson. Not that he was awesome or anything, but I feel like he's a perfect backup C. The thing that has really killed this team has been injuries. It's been brutal ever since the beginning of camp. Salmons shouldn't have been playing at the start of the season after his sprained ankle or whatever he had at the beginning of camp, I feel like they should have let him rest up and get in better shape before getting all the minutes he had been getting. CDR's fluke eye injury. Delfino's concussion. Bogut's back. Jennings broken foot. Gooden's bad foot. That's really tough to have six main contributors injured for significant time, and to play a difficult beginning of season schedule and to be too down on the team. As of now, they're actually in the playoffs, and the schedule gets more favorable towards the end of the season, when hopefully everyone is back and healthy to play. Hopefully they can click and get hot at the right time of the season again, like last year.

I hope this is a sign the Cubs will sign Prince. As long as it's at least a 5 year deal. I'd LOVE to watch Aramis making throws across the diamond to Prince. It's making me laugh just thinking about it now.

C'mon. We've been over this. Braun had 3 years of college. Lawrie is now 2 years out of high school and already in AA. It amazes me how often people just blindly compare minor league stats without taking into consideration the ages of players at each level. I stand by my Daric Barton comp. Barton was a year younger at every level so far and considerably better than Lawrie, but took forever to develop against higher level pitching and didn't break through until his age 24 season and STILL has no power to go along with a butcher's glove. Without the 100+ BB Barton is basically useless. Lawrie doesn't have that level of plate discipline, but has more power potential and speed. And that's if everything goes right. Dudes who duck tape 40's to their paws can have A LOT go wrong. Not to go too far off topic here, but my buddies and I used to do Edward 40 hands races, and I think we've done alright for ourselves. Graduated from a good school and now all have good jobs. Sorry we didn't stay in every Friday night to study. Yeah, it's dumb a guy on his level allowed pictures like these to be seen by the public, but he's 20, obviously full of himself, and has somewhat of a reason to be. With that being said, I do like the deal. It's not certain what position he'll be able to play in the majors, and who knows what his bat will really bring.

As a Brewer fan, I couldn't be happier with this deal. What a waste of money for the Cards.

I've absolutely loved what Hammond has done with this team, other than the fact of not acquiring a true backup center and that has really come back to haunt them. I actually like most everyone on the team and can't think of anyone I'd be really happy to see go. With that being said, Jennings, Dooling, and Boykins need to stay as the 3 pg's. Bogut and Brockman need to stay. Sanders looks like he should be very good in a couple of years. Just gave the contracts to Salmons and Gooden, so I don't see them leaving. That leaves Delfino, CDR, Magette, LRMBM, Ilyasova, Redd and Hobson. I really think he needs to make a deal of one of these last 7 guys I mentioned for a backup center, and I'd really prefer it being Redd. All of the injuries in the pre-season sure have killed them, as the team just doesn't look to click right now, as everyone is getting used to playing with each other. The talent is there I believe, and possibly too much talent as it's hard to get guys the minutes they should be getting, but it sure does help in the case of injuries, but they just need that backup center (and not one that's 6'7) with Bogut being injured.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what McGehee had as an OPS next year. It was only .801 in 2010. He's honestly just not that good, but at least he's cheap.

I really don't have an opinion one way or another, still trying to find out more info, although I can't find anything "bad" about RR. I do have one honest question, and no, I'm not trying to be a smart-alec, but why are some people so upset about it not being Valentine? What would Valentine have done with the team that would make them 5 wins better than the next manager?

I agree with this very much. This would never happen. There's no way in h. e. double hockey sticks that the Giants would trade Bumgarner for Fielder. 6 years of controlable/cheap starting pitching, for one year of close to market value of a 1B? Along with depleting the system for 2 years of a SP at good value. I think if the Brewers deal for Greinke, they're basically trying to go for it in 2011 and/or 2012. In that case, Prince won't be dealt. I understand the SP needs to be upgraded, but Greinke really isn't a long term solution. I think it'd be a great pickup, but I'm a little wary of giving up too many prospects for 2 years of a SP, although it could be compensated with receiving two draft picks when he leaves.

I think it's funny how people jump onto whatever the media has to say. I mentioned Joey Cora in post #267 and no one said a peep. Now all of a sudden some writer brings up his name and people are on the bandwagon real quick.

and there's no way Victorino is 5'10... he's lucky if he's 5'8

I'll admit I haven't read all 14 pages of this thread, but I'll throw out two names, what about Bobby Valentine or Joey Cora?

Kind of like Gallardo, when everyone was saying how much better Homer Bailey and Phil Hughes were?

Colby, do you think Cole or Purke have a chance to fall to the Brewers at #12, and if either of them would, do you think the Brewers would come up with the money to sign either?

This is exactly how I feel. The guy is a total punk and I'd want him no where near the Brewers. I can't believe people actually like how he acted. He's been making boneheaded plays all year. The Marlins catcher the night before was off of the plate, he was setting himself up for a swipe tag, there's no reason to run over a catcher in this position.

I agree with Patrick, he's got to be able to go 200 IP this year. I think there are 2 major things holding Gallardo back from making the next jump up as a SP. 1) He just doesn't throw enough strikes. He has 1679 strikes in 2700 pitches thrown this year, just above 61%. That isn't going to cut it for an "ace." That means he's getting taken out of games way too early and throwing too many pitches to get deep into games. 2) He needs to start throwing a 3rd pitch to keep hitters off balance. Fangraphs lists his faseball being thrown 60% of the time, slider 17%, curveball 19% and changeup 4.5%. I lump together both the curve and slider as they're both breaking pitches (yes, I understand they have different movements and speeds), but I believe he needs to bump up that changeup percentage to around 8-10%. I think he would catch a few more guys looking and they'd have that extra pitch in the back of their minds. Plus, from what I've seen of his changeup, it's a pretty darn good pitch.

I'm still mad about the whole Hawkins thing. You knew he was going to be hurt for the majority of the season once Macha left him out in that one inning in Chicago really early in the season. Now that I looked back at his game log, it was April 14th, in which he threw 39 pitches in one inning, in Chicago, and if I remember right, it was pretty cold that day? There's no reason for a middle reliever to be throwing 39 pitches in one inning, especially in April in cold weather.

Please give Fielder the 8 year $200 million contract he wants. He's well worth it.

X, I don't know what your problem is, but your comments come off as very inconsiderate. It's not like he just found out he has mono or the flu or something that will go away in a few weeks to a month with proper rest and medication. This is something that is with him for the rest of his life. It takes a while to get over it on the physical side of things, let alone the mental and emotional side of things. I usually respect everything you post, although I don't exactly agree with you on everything, but I think you need to take a step back here and not be so rash to judge this kid and his family. There's more to life than money.

I just found out last summer, as a 23 year old, that I'm a type 1 diabetic. I'm still learning how my body reacts to everything that I do, playing sports, what I eat, how much I can drink, etc. For him going to a D1 college program, I think they'll be able to give him much better attention than the Brewers could have if he were to have signed. As a minor leaguer, I don't believe they eat very well, you hear stories of all of the fast food trips, and cheap meals. I'm guessing at SD, he'll be able to eat very well and very nutritious, and figure out the combinations of foods he should eat at each meal, which I think is the most important part in his life right now.

Why does Cain have to be the one double-switched out? Why not take out Counsell and put in Escobar? Oh wait, need those veterans out there on the field for the last two innings, because without them, it would be a for-sure loss!

I just don't understand how people would be happy with giving a league average RF $9 mil/year. That's terrible. That's not what a team like the Brewers should be spending their money on.

I'm actually worried that team team is a little too deep currently. I would think there has to be a trade in the works. There's 240 minutes/game to distribute. Just to throw out some guesses off the top of my head : Jennings - 32 Dooling - 16 Salmons - 28 Delfino - 28 Maggette - 28 LRMBM - 25 Ilyaslova - 25 Gooden - 28 Bogut - 30 That leaves no minutes for CDR, Sanders, Brockman, Gallon, Hobson, or whoever else may be on the team.