JJHardy7

He got the Brewers Weeks, Hardy, Hart, Fielder, Braun, Gallardo, Odorizzi, Cain, Sheets, Brantley, Lucroy and Lawrie in the draft. That's probably close to as good as it gets. How much would our payroll be if we had the active players above with the Brewers still? We'd need a bit more pitching, but it would be manageable, right? I think the bigger issue with the Brewers will be the owner. I think this may be setup as Herb Kohl 2.0 or a sale of the Brewers unless someone can convince Mark a complete rebuild is needed we'll be doing the same stupid things. Free agency the past few years has really hurt this franchise. Instead of signing stop gap guys (I was and still am all for going for it the year with Grenke & Co), save that money for years where you have the talent to go for it. The Garza signing still makes me sick...

Why is the FBI involved in this?

Not trying to get political on the arena...when will this go to vote/be decided?

I understand Cruz gets compared to Braun a lot...just remember Cruz 'only' signed a 4-year $57M deal. He is older (which has some risk), but he is getting more than $40M less guaranteed than Braun. This has probably been asked...but has any other baseball player ever had this injury?

I'd like to make the outrageous statement that I've been thinking about the idea of trading Jabari Parker to the 76ers for the #3 to draft D'Angelo Russell. He really looks like a stud in the making and would make our team much better. Flip MCW to someone for a C or a draft pick and we're in business. Talk me off the ledge. Pre-ACL injury I'd say you were crazy...I could maybe...maybe be talked into it post-ACL injury. I just have a feeling for whatever reason that Parker isn't going to be the same after this injury. That just seems to be the type of luck the Bucks would have.

I think it's too soon to know if Braun's thumb will hinder his performance/prevent a trade. I am wondering if this treatment will keep working or not. I don't think anyone here knows the answer to that. It is in the Brewers' best interest that this treatment works (obviously).

I'll always be cool with the one per team requirement because it was the only way I got to see a Brewer in the All-Star game through most of my childhood. Of course, a few times the guy never got to play, but I still loved seeing him introduced for some reason. I did love that as well, but when Bones makes it for example that is silly. I feel like when I was growing up (I'm early 30s) I was always excited when Brewers that weren't really on the radar that were good actually made it. Are players still under the radar in this day and age? Difficult to seperate though since the whole premise of the topic is will he be blacklisted because of PEDs and his lies I agree with this. I don't think there would be this thread if he didn't do PEDs, etc. He'd be close to a lock to be in.

I'm excited to see how Wagner does. How long are Brewers tied to Colorado Springs?

I know we had a thread about it, but it is not the PED use for Braun...it is 100% how he handled the situation IMO and I think in opinions of others. We all know this country is very forgiving... Anyways...so is the K-Rod deal that bad of a signing so far? I just ask because I know a lot of people hated the signing (not sure if it was more because it seemed like a move Mark did, K-Rod's off field past, etc). I wish baseball would get rid of the requirement that one player must make the roster. I think based on Braun's numbers so far he should get in...so I'm not knocking on him (or K-Rod for that matter) getting in. I just think in general not every team needs/deserves an All-Star if they really don't have someone playing at the level of an All-Star.

It isn't easy to always be a Brewers fan with some of the tough seasons we've had, but one thing that always seems to excite bf.net is prospects. What prospect did you think was going to be the real deal that ended up in disappointment? I think for me...Manny Parra would have to be #1. I really thought this guy was going to be an ace in our rotation for a long, long time. Parra wasn't a total bust since he has developed into a serviceable bullpen arm, but I would say he missed expectations of most Brewers fans. Mat Gamel would probably be my #2 'miss'.

I am guessing clancy is again suggesting moving Braun back to 3B. I was a proponent of leaving him there after 2007 to see if he would improve, but this many years after that season I think the only place he should be moved to is 1B when the time is right and if he can field that position. Do people think if Braun played 1B he'd be less likely to get injured? I'm not sure if that would be a less stressful position for him?

Said back in 2013, wouldnt shock me the least if he never throws another meaningful pitch for the Brewers or anybody else. In fact, Im about counting on it. What made you say that in 2013?

and most people in the general public seem to have a shrug the shoulder mentality on it, like oh who cares its just a little air out of the ball. Yet a guy like Braun is a pariah. It's the media getting people worked up in a frenzy about MLB PED use. To me it's all hypocritical and just doesn't make sense. They really need to kill this story as it's giving constant bad PR to a great game, and at this time the game can't afford the negative press. Braun brought the bad press upon himself. I don't see what the media had to do with this? Let's watch the press conference again: Some interesting quotes from the press conference... If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I’d be the first one to step up and say, ‘I did it.’ By no means am I perfect, but if I’ve ever made any mistakes in my life I’ve taken responsibility for my actions. I truly believe in my heart, and I would bet my life, that this substance never entered my body at any point. I will continue to take the high road because that’s who I am, and that’s the way that I’ve lived my life. We won because the truth is on my side. The truth is always relevant, and at the end of the day the truth prevailed. I am a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed the way it was applied to me in this case. As players, we’re held to a standard of 100 percent perfection regarding the program, and everybody else associated with that program should be held to the same standard. We’re a part of a process where you’re 100 percent guilty until proven innocent. It’s opposite of the American judicial system – it’s not an innocent until proven guilty situation. So if we’re held to that standard, it’s only fair that everybody else is held to that exact same standard. With what’s at stake – this is my livelihood, this is my integrity, this is my character, this is everything that I’ve worked for in my life being called into question – we need to make sure that we get it right. If you’re going to be in a position where you’re 100 percent guilty until proven innocent, you can’t mess up. And today’s about making sure that this never happens to anybody else who plays this game. Ultimately, as I sit here today, the system worked because I am innocent, and I was able to prove my innocence. After today I look forward to returning my focus to the game of baseball, being able to get back with my teammates, allowing my life to return to some sense of normalcy and focusing on helping our team get back to the post-season.

Also, every play caught in the PED scandals has initially lied about it, just like Braun. He's just the second largest profile. I mean, what was he supposed to do? He won the appeal, was he supposed to win the appeal yet come out and admit it? Also, from everything I read at the time there's still a very real chance that the mishandling is what led to such a drastically high test. Arod doing what he did with the lawsuits etc. is it's own thing. Players did lie, but Braun 'bet his life' that he didn't do it. That's...so stupid IMO. That entire press conference makes him look so bad. He didn't need to do any of that and still fight it if he wanted to do it. I honestly think if he handled it better his reputation would be completely different IMO. He got some bad advice from someone.

There's PED guys all over the league, they just don't get the hype that Braun and Arod get. I think much of the hype Braun and A-Rod get is deserved because of how the reacted to the accusations or possible suspensions. I personally think if Braun didn't lie about it and through an innocent person under the bus his reputation would be a lot different.

I can guarantee you probably 20 teams would take him today if the Brewers were just looking to "shed" his contract that isn't even that bad. His big payday starts next year (there is some deferred money) and I think that is enough to scare most teams off. Would you rather have Prince or Braun (they will be paid somewhat similarly by their respective teams given the fact Detroit is kicking in $6M a year to Texas)?

As I mentioned in another thread I would assume he has similar value as Heyward had (not a perfect example due to contract and defense), so perhaps thats the kind of package we'd be looking at??? I'm sure there are examples, but who has been traded that has been linked to PEDs related suspensions? I'm sure there are some and some of them have signed free agent contracts. I personally don't think it is possible to trade Braun as of today. He'll need to keep hitting the way he is for awhile to garner any type of interest IMO due to his contract.

I love 24 as well, but I'd rather them not do anything without Jack. Jack is 24.

#dadbod

Someone disappeared from the board a couple weeks ago. Who me? I'm letting Braun play it out. He's obviously played a lot better recently. I'm not rooting for him to fail since that would hurt the team. Didn't folks around here used to say 'small sample size'? I don't know if he's back to the old Braun or not, but the recent results would be encouraging. If Braun continues to play well and increases his trade value, would Brewers fans be mad if he was traded? Does he have a marketing impact on the team?

I think a key to all this is that the team needs to continue to struggle. If we were to win 5 or 6 in a row or win 8 out of 10, I could see the Brewers holding off on a fire sale. Right now (way to early I know) they are only 6.5 games back. I don't see Mark A doing a fire sale if they get that down a few games. It's kind of like the Bucks a year ago...hope for losses.

Thought I'd kill some time and watch the Bucks with the draft in the background. I couldn't make it 5 minutes. There's a reason I gave up on the Bucks long ago and became a Spurs fan. Give the Bucks another shot next year. You won't be disappointed.

This thread is just very, very depressing to read. This organization had so much promise approximately 10 years ago (seems like yesterday). I do think we have to take the emotion out of it. I'm sure most of us are pretty disappointed that what seemed to be the Brewers best chance for long-term success didn't pan out. Sheets, Hart, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder, and Gallardo are all gone. The one that stayed (Braun) has a few questions about his long-term future. Instead of looking at it this way, we did have 2 trips to the playoffs and some great memories. We had a lot of fun. I think it is time to be thankful for that, but also move on. Am I the only person here that thinks Mark A is a bit like Herb Kohl? I do think it is time to replace Melvin & Co. and let the new regime run all baseball operations. This isn't a knock on Melvin...I just can't see Melvin being successful here again based on how it appears Mark A has gotten too involved in Doug's job.

If Braun hits like he can, why in the world would we want to trade him? We'd have one of the best hitters in the game, on our team. Man... some of you guys floor me. What is hitting like he can? It is probably too early to look at his numbers this year, but offensively he is worse than last year so far. That can change, but the real question is what can we expect from Braun during the duration of his second extension that starts next year.

I think he saw this thread...