twobrewers

Huntsville has 10 hits through 5 innings with only 1 run. That is just hard to do!

I wonder how close Gamel is to the list. Gamel has a better BA, OBP and SLG percentage. (And is 6 months younger) I always wonder how they rate these players. Does Gamel get punished because he isn't a quality defender yet? While LaPorta avoids that knock because he plays RF...

Patterson is better than other people? At what - making money?

Carmelo might be on the trading block this off-season. Camby is way to valuable to Denver. (Plus they have no back-up center) Denver gives up so much in that trade - and gets complete junk back. Redd + for Carmelo might be feasible however.

I realize having Mo and Augustin as guards would be problematic defensively. I just love Augustin's leadership. The Bucks could use some of that. Cleveland just doesn't work as trading partner. (Unless we find a way to give them Gadzuric and Simmons for a TON of expiring contracts)

I figured I would start a new Milwaukee Bucks thread since the last one mainly dealt with in-season issues. According to Ohio.com Michael Redd is on the trading block. Just to hear some ideas, what would you like to see the Bucks do this off-season. (Link to ESPN.com NBA Trade Machine) My starting point is Redd and Yi to the Houston Rockets for Tracy McGrady. Draft Augustin. McGrady and Yao have had enough time together to see that it is not going to work. Redd gives them a spot-up jump shooter who lets them run their offense through Yao. Yi gives them a power forward who will enjoy playing with Yao - and doesn't need to post up much. Bucks can move Mo Williams to shooting guard, Augustin to point guard and McGrady to small forward. EDIT- Title. -PF

Seeing as how Prince appears 100% set on heading to Free Agency, the Brewers are going to have to trade him at some point. If we wait until his last year, we are trading a rental player and will severly limit any package we could receive for him. The fact that he is 3 years away from Free Agency is what gives him so much value. Every year that goes by - his value goes down. Also, I think most believe that Prince is replacable at 1B by either LaPorta or Gamel. Lastly, I don't believe the Brewers will be able to compete next year without more pitching. So trading Prince for top flight pitching makes sense. (Do you think Gallardo, Suppan, Parra, Bush and McClung are going to get use anywhere in 2009?) Arizona trading Scherzer, Pena and Tracy for Fielder would make them the odds on favorite to win the World Series. They have enough pitching without Scherzer. Arizona is also 4-6 in their last 10 games. I would want Arizona to include Gerardo Parra as well. (LH centerfield prospect) That way we would hopefully have him as a CF for the future and another LH bat in the lineup with Gamel.

By all accounts Bill Hall is a great guy. But his attitude is starting to annoy me. I don't like his approach at the plate. I don't like how he always sits and watches his HR. (Even those that bounce back in for a double) And I don't like listening to him complaining. Villanueva took his demotion with a lot more class.

A few people have echoed similar sentiments. My question is - What is the difference between learning in the minor league vs learning in the major league? Unless the Brewers do something drastic (Sign Sheets or another #1 starter), I don't see us competing too much in 2009. Therefore, to me, I see little difference between Gamel learning 3B at AAA or the major league team. Do you worry about the young player's confidence? Are you worried about starting their arbitration clocks before they are "fully developed"? Or do you think the Brewers are going to be too competitive in 2009 to have players learning on the run.

My ferret would kill me to get a treat. Those treats are laced with crack. It is literally scary.

Major in the hardest program you can handle. The road to mediocrity is already full.

Congrats. Pretty sunny out today. I would think 4 hours in the sun has to zap some of your energy.

I'd say it is pretty obvious they were trying to keep him from being a Super 2. Braun called up last year right around this time. You had to figure they were going to do the same with Bruce.

I would imagine that is how Jeffress is going to go until he develops a little more "polish". (4.2 IP with 9 ER and 7K) I hope Weaver opts out. I just don't see how he can help our MLB team.

Not much anymore. Remember a few years back Washington didn't even trade Soriano because they didn't get any good offers? Two high draft picks in the hands of Jack Z might be better than most of the offers we receive.

And I thought Gallardo going down for the season was the low point.

Well said. I think Gamel would be a great 1B. He plays a decent 3B, and certainly has the height to play a great 1B. But the Brewers need to keep that spot open for anyone who can't field.

I don't remember reading anything about Hardy complaining about hitting 7th. Do you have a link? This is Weeks 4th season with the Brewers. In my opinion, we are past the point of "yet". I just think this is pretty much the Rickie Weeks we are going to get.

Unless the Brewers resign Sheets or another top notch starter, I don't see 2009 as a playoff year. I think 2010 would be a more realistic shot. Probably, since I can't actually value it any lower. Do you honestly not worry with every ball hit to him?

In the minor league & trade proposal forum a lot of posters seem to feel pretty good about our young infield in Huntsville. At the same time, I am growing very frustrated with our defense in the infield at the MLB level. Brewers 2008 Infield 1B: Prince Fielder - OPS of 1.000 last year. OPS around .800 this year. Great player. Defense has hurt the Brewers several times already this year. Will not sign a long term contract with the Brewers. Much needed LH bat. 2B: Rickie Weeks - His defense is horrible. His offense comes and goes. Frankly, his offense is good enough for a 2B. The problem is that his defense is so bad it negates his offensive production. (He just can't seem to turn double plays) SS: J.J. Hardy - Solid defender, w/o a ton of range. His offensive production has taken a somewhat expected drop. He is the only infielder doing anything defensively. 3B: Bill Hall - Already has 11 errors this year. He is batting .155 against RHP. Platoon with Russell Branyan. The shine is really starting to wear off of Billy Hall. He might be best served as a super sub. I would prefer to promote most of Huntsville next year. We can trade the players we don't need. (Hopefully for top flight pitching) This would be my ideal 2009 infield. Brewers 2009 Infield 1B: Matt LaPorta - I would imagine he can put up a .800 OPS at the big league level. He should also play better defense than Fielder. He has 40 HR potential, but I don't know that he will ever be a 1.000+ OPS guy like Prince. Still, adding improved defense for a slight OPS dropoff seems pretty reasonable. 2B: J.J. Hardy - I am confident that Weeks will never be adequate at 2B defensively. He misses at least one play per game that a quality defender would make. Obviously, this would require a transition for J.J. Hardy. But I think he should be a decent 2B - and at least a quality double-play partner. SS: Alcides Escobar - His bat has improved. He still doesn't slug much. I would expect him a struggle in his first year at MLB offensively. (Maybe hit around .250/hope for an OBP of .300) But his defense is very good. He would make a great double play partner with J.J. Hardy. 3B: Mat Gamel - He had 53 errors last season. This year he is at 11 errors. Bill Hall has 11 errors. (Gamel's fielder percentage has increases .100 this past year) He has improved his defense this past year. Bill Hall isn't a very good defender anyways. At the very least, Gamel would be an upgrade over Halls offensive ability. (Plus a LH bat - of course, w/o Prince he would be the only LH) That is an improvement defensively at 1B, 2B, and SS with a slight drop-off at 3B. The offensive drop would be pretty minor. In addition, this move would also allow the Brewers to use the assets obtained from Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks to really rebuild the pitching staff. (Hall is starting to get expensive - not sure how much value he has) If the Brewers continue to struggle, changes are going to be made. I am sure the pitching staff will see plenty of new faces. But the OF seems completely set at two positions already. (And we can pick up an option on Cameran as well) Am I the only one who thinks the IF needs an overhaul?

Whether JJ ever hits 20+ HR again might be debatable. But to say last year is impossible to repeat is ridiculous. By definition that has to at least be within the range of possibilities since he already has done it!

Remember when Melvin said Rottino was our top catching prospect...

In 2007 Ryan Braun averaged .23 errors per game as a 3B. In 2008 Bill Hall is averaging .24 errors per game as a 3B.

It was a double steal. LaPorta stole second. Gamel stole home. Although, not exactly the two guys you would imagine on a double steal.

R.A. Dickey was called up to the Seattle Mariners.