JJHardy7

Yes overreacting to small samples is a great way to run a franchise Is this directed at my post?

What about Weaver's salary and bonus if called up? Does anyone know the amount and exactly how it works (i.e. he is guaranteed $1 million if called up)? I think that could potentially be another factor the Brewers may consider. I do think the next few starts are huge for McClung and Bush. If both implode, I could see the scenario that CV is sent to Nashville to get "stretched" out for a few starts and Weaver heads to Milwaukee. A decision will then be made among Bush, McClung, Weaver, and CV as to who the starters are for hopefully the rest of the year. I wouldn't mind keeping CV in the pen, but I just don't like the way he's being used out of the pen right now (i.e. only pitching an inning) and I'd rather have him ready to start sooner than later.

It is nice to see a few somewhat positive things said about McClung after some of the hate he's received from this site. Again I'm not saying he's going to be an All-Star, but I think he could be a nice piece at the backend of a pitching staff. I still believe Seth is best served out of the bullpen and he's not going to be as effective in terms of pitching deep into games. I think he's going to be a 5 or 6 inning guy at best which I think in the long run could hurt the bullpen. I still have a feeling that Weaver is in Milwaukee after his next Nashville start. He's had some rough outings in Nashville and he hasn't pitched well the past few years, but he didn't really have a spring training and it'll be interesting to see if the Brewers think it's just "rust" or lack of talent. I personally would like to see DiFelice get a shot at starting and seeing what he can do, but my gut says Weaver up to Milwaukee and Dillard/DiFelice to Nashville.

You think its a coincidence that Branyan got signed in the offseason and is now our 3B? As much as I'd like to say yes, I'm going to say no. It's a coincidence that the Brewers' AAA team is about 15 - 20 minutes from his home in Tennessee. I think that is why "The Muscle" is on the Brewers. Now back to the thread...I know I read a few posts here that people have talked to Branyan and mentioned the site. I wonder if he's actually check it out yet?

Sorry in advance samwise... The Pirates select SS Yunel Escobar. Since I live in Tennessee and the Braves are the "home" team I've seen Escobar quite a bit. I think Escobar is a lead off hitter capable of hitting 20 - 25 home runs, have an on base at .375 - .400, and play 3B, SS, and 2B. This gives the Pirates plenty of flexibility in terms of positions of other players and gives them a potentially great lead off guy for years to come. The Pirates did have inside discussions about possibly taking Gamel here to add a power bat in the future, but the Pirates would rather take a player who will get to the show faster than what Gamel projects without sacrificing defensive liabilities.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20080604/ca_pr_on_ba/bbl_draft_cdns_1 Little background on Lawrie and some quotes about his big rise in the draft.

Where was this guy projected to go? Was this a reach or was it about right?

The age comparison is a joke. Kapler is 32 and Cameron is 35, that is only years. Camerons body is use to a full season as he had a longer playing career, while Kapler was out of baseball and has not had a lot of full seasons in the majors. Kapler is good in short spurts but not sure his body can take the day to day grind of the bigs. Couldn't you say the opposite thing and say that Kapler is a "young" 32 because he was out of baseball? And at least my thought behind it is that if you rest Cameron now and he ends up hitting like he's capable he might be better down the stretch and we'll need a rested Cameron in September possibly more than a rested Kapler.

Did Ben Stanczyk sign with anyone? I don't think I've seen anything regarding him since he's been release -- sorry if I missed it.

What happened to Munson this year? He hasn't had a ton of at-bats and didn't get a ton of playing time until Branyan got called up. Since Rottino is the every day catcher Munson had a hard time getting in the lineup with Brad Nelson playing 1B. Now with Nelson seeing time at 3B Munson was set to get a lot more playing time at 1B.

Does this have to happen every year? 90 AB is a hopelessly small sample size. To turn a career backup into a starter because of it is a recipe for disaster. What's the big deal in getting Gabe a few more starts? I don't understand how there are even this widespread differences of opinion. I don't think getting Gabe a few more starts (1 - 2) per week would create this "disaster". The point of this thread is should Gabe be playing a bit more and the way he's played so far I say why not. It's not like he's going to be that much worse than Cameron and maybe it will wake up Cameron a bit. We have the same issue at 2B, but we don't have a player the level of which Kapler has played so far to give Weeks some time off. Maybe start Gabe tomorrow night and just see what he does. Cameron isn't a spring chicken anymore either and I think keeping him fresh and getting Gabe some time might not be such a crazy idea.

but can we try? For my sake? Please? Russ has done a really good job in a bunch of threads lately explaining why "riding the hot hand" is a fool's errand, so I'll resist my urge to go into that as well. Well for my sake can we realize there are different opinions. Can we try? Please? I do believe there is such a thing as riding the "hot hand". We hear the word "sample size" thrown around all the time around here and that's fair enough, but some players get on streaks in this game. Look at JJ Hardy's crazy power last year. If he was a sub last year hittnig that well it would've been foolish to sit him while he was having a power streak. I'd also look at Branyan right now. He's playing well above his career norms, but he was raking in AAA and now MLB so it's safe to say he's on a hot streak. Will that last all year? Most likely not, but it doesn't hurt to ride it while it lasts. I tend to think "riding the hot hand" is having two different meanings. What's the harm in playing a sub a few games if he's hitting well? I don't think anyone in this thread is suggesting benching Cameron the duration of the season in favor of Kapler. Cameron is struggling and Kapler is playing well so there is good cause why some would suggest playing him against the Rockies.

I think there's a definite point to your peeve. After all, Jeff only has a little under of a season's worth of starts at Miller Park. If you take a look at the stats posted in the beginning of the thread, Suppan has pitched almost 230 innings at Miller Park. How many more innings does he have to pitch before we decide it's not a "sample error"?

He's in the bullpen now in AA... Mass linked audio yesterday or the day before with the pitching coach, who discussed Mike. Did he recently move to the bullpen? I saw him start a game a few weeks back (Sorry I haven't listened to the audio portion if that is what was mentioned).

Give Bill Hall what he really deserves a pat on the back for taking so much for so many years, think about all the good Bill has done in Milwaukee not only for the "team" but also in the community. Fair enough, but I ask based on Hall's performance this year does he deserve his current contract? It appears for the time being having Branyan in Milwaukee is making the team better. Doesn't Hall want to play on a winning team? I hope he turns it around, but Bill Hall has financial security for life and plays a game -- that's not a pretty bad life. I appreciate all that Hall has done, but I always thought of him more of a team player than what his agent has said in recent days.

Gagne's extended absence has to do with his wife's early trip to the hospital for their pregnancy. He's expected back with the team as soon as the family concerns are settled, and iirc Gagne & team officials have been on record saying that physically, he never needed the full 15-day DL stint -- the team did it with both his best (family) interests in mind & with roster flexibility in mind. Has their been any word since he was originally put on the DL though that he's healthy? I have my doubts that he is healthy, but either way I'd like to see him pitch a rehab game or two.

I'll take the Pirates...

I don't know if this has been posted anywhere else around here, but Gabe hit a walk-off home run last night for the Rays.

jj--would not the position changes equal your definition of agreeable 'excuses' for bill hall? c'mon--after his great year at shortstop, and 2 years in a row of changing position, and now the platoon, dont you think he has a right to vent? and it was his agent that did the trade talk to TH. He signed a lucrative contract and he's not performing well. I don't think he (or his agent) has the right to publicly ask for a trade. Hall and his agent have to think of how many MLB teams want Hall as an everyday player right now with the way he is performing. If his batting is all position change related, then let's put him at SS and see how he plays. He's back in the infield where most people around here wanted him so I don't really see that as an excuse. It's not like this is Hall's free agent year and the Brewers are potentially costing him future dollars by sitting him. He's a pretty well paid platoon player. i'd like to see how long it would take for weeks or hardy or anyone to complain if they were in hall's situation. frankly i think hall has been rather stoic about the whole thing until now I think this is comparing apples to oranges. If you're not performing, you shouldn't be playing. Hardy and Weeks still have that potential and young player labels attached to them and the organization seems to be more patient with them. If this is Hall being rather stoic about a situation that isn't even that old, I'll be interested to see how he feels in a month in the same position. If he starts hitting, all is well. This is on Hall and his agent and not the Brewers. I hope he starts hitting because I have to believe he's not going to bring back much of anything in a trade.

Look at it this way. Let's say we attached a bunch of ankle weights to Cameron, so he had the exact same speed as Carlos Lee. Who would you rather have playing CF? I understand your point, but I think at this point and time Braun hopefully hasn't reach his ceiling. If he doesn't make better adjustments on balls he won't be able to play CF. I think from seeing LaPorta in the OF we're going to need the player that can cover the most ground in the most efficient way in CF to make up for his lack of speed/instincts. I do think LaPorta can improve, but Braun is a lot faster than he is and has a higher defensive ceiling IMO.

As far as I can tell, Hopf hasn't really LEFT the Sounds. He's been in the dugout each time he's been "assigned" to Helena. I'd been wondering why he was always here even though he's assigned elsewhere. Yea I've seen him too when he's been assigned and talked to him once or twice. I guess that's kind of why I'm confused. It's not often in realistic terms that a player gets moved from AAA to Helena ball. Are the Brewers "abusing" the system here?

3) Bill Hall was stupid to let his trade demand out. Agreed. That was one of the major issues I have with it. Weeks and Hardy might be slumping, but they don't have huge contracts with the Brewers. and i feel that hall is getting a raw deal right now. he was starting to hit with some consistency a few games before branyan was called up--this is what may irk him the most. perhaps these comments by him may actually help him/brewers through this situation. I think this point here is one we'll just have to agree to disagree. When looking at Weeks, Hardy, Braun, Hart, and Fielder when they struggle there are somewhat valid points -- injuries, adjusting to mlb pitching, mlb pitching adjusting to them, etc. What is Hall's excuse? I'm not saying I hate the guy or anything, but I think his lack of "excuses" makes it easier to trade him or bench him compared to the younger guys. Hall appears to be regressing at a stage in his career where should more or less be in his prime -- at least he's getting paid like it I guess.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=82714 I hope all is well with that situation/relationship. I did find out through that article that Branyan has a home in the city I work in -- I knew he was in Tennessee, but I just thought it was in Nashville.

face it, hall has been ripped off by the brewers since their love affair with j.j. I can't blame Bill Hall for being upset because he has a right to be in many rights. He has taken many bullets on Doug Melvin and Ned Yost's whims and didn't complain one bit. Hall is still getting paid as one of the best players on the team though, correct? Hall shouldn't be complaining about anything. He isn't matching the contract he signed and because of his poor performance he's platooning. If he'd play better, he'd play. I don't like the idea of trading him now because I think his value might be a bit low -- hopefully I'm wrong. If anyone should be upset, it should be the Brewers for giving Hall a contract that doesn't appear to be matching his performance.

But he doesn't have the type of recovery speed needed if you misjudge a ball initially. Isn't it too early to come to that conclusion? He's only been playing the OF for a few months. If he gets better in the outfield at reacting to balls of the bat that will improve his recovery speed and then Braun has an entire off-season to hone his skills in the OF. I think the more important matter is what would make the OF the best for the Brewers as a whole. From what I've seen those that don't like Braun's defense are going to hate LaPorta's defense and his current range. I do think though that LaPorta can improve and I'm not going to write him off. I think if LaPorta is in Milwaukee next year it will be a matter of hiding him in the OF should he play there. Braun and Hart are quite a ways ahead of LaPorta IMO.