Pudster13

Visited Brevard County on May 10th and talked with Braddock. The Brewers are indeed planning on moving him to a bullpen role. Weather the perplexing move is permanant or not, is anybody's guess.

I know we can all dream, but comparing Escobar to Hanley Ramirez or Jose Reyes is not fair at all to the kid. While he probably will have better defense than both those two, Escobar doesn't have as much power as Hanley or as much speed as Reyes. I think a better, realistic comparable player would be Orlando Cabrera. (.270 hitter, 10 hr, 25 sb) A solid player, but not a superstar with the bat.

Bennie, is that you?

If Indians fans were reading this thread and hearing us balk at trading Alcides Escobar for Cliff Lee, I'm certain that they'd laugh in our faces. A defensive SS prospect who hasn't proven himself at AAA yet (Escobar) for the reigning AL CY Young Award winning ACE pitcher (Cliff Lee). I just don't see the Indians trading Cliff Lee this season. Their fans would probably revolt if they traded a reigning AL CY Young Award winner two seasons in a row (Sabathia), especially to the same team.

Ben Sheets Not suggesting the Brewers make an offer. Just asking if you guys think the bridge is completely burned or not?

Yeah, Sparky is very unknowledgable. He thinks Gamel is as talented as Ryan Braun (delussional). On draft day, Sparky also said that if Stephen Stausburg fell to the Brewers pick at 26 (which was a ridiculous statement to begin with), he said that he thinks the Brewers should also pass on him because he doesn't like spending $50 million dollars on an unproven player and he thought since there are veterans making less money than that it would upset the clubhouse. I called in and said that largest contract that a draftee has ever gotten was $10 million (Mark Prior) and that the Boras $50 million signing number is completely bogus. I told him that I guarentee that Stausberg signs for less then $25 millon. Sparky completely gaffed at that remark and asked if I'd be willing to call back after Stausberg signs. I said I most certainly would. Gary Ellison (who knows more about football than baseball) even agreed that it would be stupid to pass on Strausburg. I really do like Tim Allen, however.

This is a very good point. The team needs to perform well in the next 3 weeks prior to the all-star break or at least "thread water" and stay in the playoff hunt. Our second half schedule is not as tough. Bottom line: BASEBALL IS A BUSINESS! While the ultimate goal is to bring a World Series back to Milwaukee, fans needs to keep in mind that baseball is a business. The REAL goal is to puts butts in the seats at Miller Park. Making the playoffs last year re-energized the fan base and has once again made Milwaukee a great baseball town. We are currently on pace to break last season's Milwaukee attendence record. Brewers merchandise sales is at a record level despite the current economy. The Brewers will NOT be sellers this trading deadline for these very reasons. The 20,000+ "fair weather" fans that have been coming to Miller Park each home game (of the 37,500 current average) can find other things to do with their money if the Brewers "sell" or give up on the season this year with the division/wild card up for grabs. The window of opportunity for this team is NOW! We're not playing for 2011-2013, we are playing for NOW! There is no guarantee that the Brewers can be in contention every season. With the large fan base of the Cubs/Cardinals, this division could easily have the look of the AL East (Yankees/Red Sox) in a few years if the Cardinals ever decide to start spending on free agents and if the Cubs ever actually spend "wisely" on free agents (Soriano/Fukudome/Bradley=Unwise) Like someone already brought up, we need to model the Twins, not the Marlins. The Marlins can afford to be "sellers" every year until they feel all the pieces are in place because they have a terrible fan base. It doesn't affect them too much financially doing it every year. We need to consistently mix veterans in with the fruits of a bountiful farm system each year to stay perrenial small market contentors like the Twins. Fielder, Hardy, Hart, Weeks, etc will all be free agents by 2012, and we won't be able to keep/sign them all beyond that. We have as much talent on offense as any team in the league. We have a young ACE in Gallardo. Our window of opportunity is NOW! Go out and get us a starting pitcher! In Melvin We Trust.

I'll throw my 6 guesses into the ring: #26 Matt Hobgood, RHP, California HS #39 Matt Davidson, 3B, California HS #47 Alex Wilson, RHP, Texas A&M #73 Jeff Malm, 1B, Nevada HS #74 Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Florida HS #105 Austin Maddox, C, Florida HS I'd do cartwheels if some of these guys actually fell to our picks. I predict this will be one of the toughest first three rounds to predict in recent draft history.

Check out this first round mock draft through the Brewers pick at #26, shot last weekend. A couple of guys have been improving their draft stock this week, namely RHP Jacob Turner. The Brewers have 5 of the first 74 picks in this year's draft. They have been very successful drafting first round hitters in the past decade (Fielder, Weeks, Braun, Lawrie), but have had little success with first round pitchers (Mike Jones, Mark Rogers, Jeremy Jeffess). Do you guys think the Brewers new scouting director (Bruce Seid) will stick with the best available player with each pick, or do you think the Brewers will(need to) focus on pitchers? Do you think it would be wise for the Brew Crew to load up on a mix of college/high school arms with those first 5 picks this year and hope that they "hit" on a few of them?

Remember last year when Ned decided to platoon our 5th stater spot (Bush/McClung) with McClung getting road starts and Bush getting home starts? That was some classic baffoonery.

Does anybody know Prince Fielder's actual height? I've seen him several places listed as 6 feet tall. Both MLB.com and ESPN.com have him listed at 5'11. I have a gentlemens bet with a friend that Prince is shorter than 5'10.

How do you pronounce Gindl's last name? Is it "Jin-dell"?

Enrique Cruz = The Gift that keeps on giving....

While I love Shouse, I would take a supplemental 1st round pick for him anyday. This makes me pull harder for a return of Ben Sheets. (If not, I'll be happy with the 2 picks) Go Brewers!

I have always felt that the Brewers franchise finally turned itself around the exact second that we drafted Prince Fielder.(June 2002) I do think that the fans view of Prince has waivered over the years, and I think he is mis-perceived. I think that he is frustrated in part by trying to escape his father's enormous shadow, both on and off the field. Prince has and always will be compared to his dad because of his body type. In spite of this, I always thought Prince would become a better player. (much better average, a little less power while playing average defense) Finally, 2007 was a magic season for Prince. -Clubbed 50 Hrs as a 2nd year player. -Made the All-Star Team. -Made strides defensively. -Took leadership role in the clubhouse. However, the team missed out on the division title the last week of the season (mostly b/c of Nedly) Also, Prince showed his immaturity by using his 50 hr press conference to make jabs at his father. Then came 2008... -Declared to the media that he became a vegetarian. (viewed negatively for the typical closed-minded reasons) -Brewers only offered him the minimum salary. -Got off to slow start. -Had dugout incident with Manny Parra. -Took a step back defensively. -Off-field financial problems revealed to media. However, the Brewers finished the season by finally making the playoffs (mostly b/c of not having Nedly) All of this, and Prince doesn't even turn 25 until May! Prince has gone through a lot of off-field issues for a young man his age, including raising a young family. With this two-year deal, Prince finally can put his financial problems behind him, and I think he will be an all-star again in 2009. I think all these factors have lead to Brewer fans having a love/hate relationship with Prince, thus far. Bottom line: If he hits, the fans love him and call him a leader. If he isn't hitting, he gets in the doghouse and fans want to get value for him in trade. My take is this ....PRINCE FIELER WILL SILENCE HIS CRITICS IN 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Brewers!

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9101340/O's-have-tough-choices;-Dodgers-primed-to-pounce?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49 In this recent Ken Rosenthal article, he points out that the Mariners are willing to trade RHP Aaron Heilman. Heilman wants to start but the Mariners are planning on having Brandon Morrow start, therefore, there isn't a rotation spot open for him. What are your thoughts on trading a few mid-level prospects to Jack Z and the rebuilding Mariners for Heilman? I have a feeling he could become a decent starting pitcher. I'd also prefer to do a bigger deal (Hart, etc.) for Brandon Morrow, but I understand the M's are 100% committed to him.

Suppan has negative trade value. I guess the Red Sox would want to pay him $12M+ a year to be their 7th starter, and have no centerfielder.

I have a source that has indicated that the Milwaukee Brewers have NO plans to trade 1B Prince Fielder during the 2008-9 Offseason.

http://msn.foxsports.com/...pears-headed-to-Milwaukee http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3818472 Sweet!

I would say that, at this point, the Brewers are stuck with Cameron and his $10M contract for 2009. The Yankees were the only suitor for him at that price tag and the Yankees (after signing Tex) have a glut of OF (Damon, Nady, Matsui, Swisher, Melky, Gardner). I say our bullpen would be fine with a low-cost Hoffman (1 year with an option) for closer and then try to bring back Sheets with a 2 year deal ($24-30M range).

Don't forget that Brandon Lyon is a Type B free agent. And what role is David Riske gonna play in our bullpen? Since I think the Crew can only afford two key free agents (thanks Mike Cameron!), I'd prefer it be Hoffman and Sheets.

Thanks for the feedback fellas. You're right, the interview skills need a little work. I always like to ask about the player's experience on draft day. I am curious to know how if feels to them, to be drafted by a major league baseball team. I'm really hoping Gamel can figure out his defense enough to stay at third. The Brewers really would benefit from him staying at the hot corner. I don't think his bat would play as well at 1B or a corner OF. When we visited Huntsville last May, Stars manager Don Money was working individually with Gamel at 3B during warm ups. I like the fact that Money has been promoted to manager of AAA Nashville in 2009, so he can continue to work with Mat. I wonder if the Brewers draft philosophy will change a little now that Jack Z is gone. I think focusing on drafting good hitters and finding a position for them in the minors has worked pretty well for the Brew Crew. However, I think it may be starting to be too much, having many players in the majors who have been moved to play out of position. I'm hoping the organization starts to emphasize defense a little bit more while drafting.

Below is a link to an interview with Brewers 3B Prospect Mat Gamel, conducted in May 2008 in Huntsville, Alabama. He seems to have a laid back, surfer dude type mentality. The Brewers desperately need his lefthanded bat in the lineup once ready, but he had a pretty bad second half of the season once LaPorta was traded and he no longer was hitting in front of him. My guess is that he spends most of 2009 at AAA Nashville, working on his 3B defense. What type of player do you guys think Gamel will become in the majors? Will he stick at 3B? Will he have the bat to move to 1B or OF? What major league players do you think he most compares to? Personally, I think he could be a solid regular if he sticks at thirdbase, but not an all-star type player. Thoughts?

This deal screws the crew in another way as well. It means we are 100% stuck with Mike Cameron for 2009. (Yankees being only team that were interested in him) The Yankees have no use for him now. Yankees: LF Nady CF Swisher (instead of 1B) RF Damon DH Matsui 4th OF Melky Melvin's gamble of picking up Cameron's option is probably going to cost us a chance at signing a better pitcher now. Instead of signing someone like Sheets, Penny or even Garland, we are probably going to be stuck signing a pitcher along the lines of Braden Looper.(#4-5 starter type) Great. Merry Christmas Signed The Steinbrenners

A second round pick is much, much worse than a 1st round pick because of the size of the 1st round supplemental round (sandwhich round). So yeah, THIS BLOWS like wisconsin snow!