zzzmanwitz

I'm not a big proponent of "protection," but from a spectator's point of view, it sure seems like Braun has been getting a lot of strikes over the last few months. According to FanGraphs, He's swinging a lot less this year and making contact at a higher rate when swinging, so I can't really complain about his approach at the plate. His OPS has jumped about 60 points this year and he seems to have a better approach overall. I'll take it.

Patterson was 3 for 4 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs starting in CF today. 11 for 24 in 6 games. He's always had great talent. Who knows? Its VERY early, but maybe DM found a nice little gem here to be a stop gap for a year until Cain is really ready. Crazier things have happened.

CPatt with 2 HRs... wow!

Gamel batting 6th today. I really hope he starts to turn it around.

Step 2: Acquire a pitcher or two via trade (that can help)… A jolt of energy to the clubhouse Check

I'm going to the game tomorrow (if its not raining). I'll be sure to post some picks from the stadium.

Matt LaPorta -- I am sure LaPorta's peak value was not in 2008. Time will tell.

That is how i feel the difference between the very best manager in the league and the very worst. So if Yost was the worst, and let's say Torre is the best. The Dodgers get two games on the Brewers. Not every team gets 2 games on the Brewers. Maybe there is fact to back up your stance, I've never seen it, and until I do , I have a hard time believing that it really makes that much of a difference.

My problem with DM's trading strategy, is that it seems to me he has never traded a player when their stock was at a high point. Richie Sexson Scott Podsednik Dan Kolb Wayne Franklin Lyle Overbay (maybe not PEAK level, but still good trade) Matt LaPorta

I think Macha is a bigger problem as well, I just would hate to waste another year with Macha, and I am not convinced after Yost and Macha, DM is good at hiring managers. I definitely agree with this, but I will never believe that a manager will make that big of an impact.

Well... I guess I win! Valid effort though. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Zack, I'm done with the excuses, seriously. We can play what if all day, as there are 30,000+ combinations of ballplayers given all the teams and leagues. I don't have the short answer as to what he could have done, all I know is that he didn't do it. That's the only evidence I have, short of conversations overheard in the front offices. In addition, I said, Garza-type, not Garza himself. Its pretty clear that you and I will never agree on this, but like has been said before, its easy to judge after seeing results. Trades like Delmon Young for Matt Garza are not very common. The Rays were able to do it because of the large amount of talent they had from drafting in the top 10 for 11 straight years. It would have been the equivalent us trading Ryan Braun for Clayton Kershaw a couple of years ago. Teams hold onto their top home grown guys, you may disagree with that method, but it's pretty common practice throughout the league. I'm not too sure what else to say to that.

I doubt Gamel netted Garza.

How would you have gotten Matt Garza? He was traded for a former #1 draft pick with problems? What could the brewers have offered to get him? Matsuzaka wouldn't sign with Milwaukee, and he costs more than 8-9 Million, he was 50 million just to talk to him. Haren would be great. I'm sure Melvin tried to sign him. He's making 44 million over 4 years and maybe liked the weather in Arizona better than Milwaukee. Would I rather have Garza + Haren + TGJ over Cameron + Looper + Parra? Yes. But how do you get it done? Its not magic.

Eh... its just one game. The catch didn't add hardly anything to their win probability. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Is it possible that this entire topic touched a nerve and you're just glossing over posts? This topic has definitely struck a nerve with me, but it doesn't mean I just gloss over posts. What bothers me the most are a few major points... A) Jack Z is responsible for all of our success, but Melvin is to blame for our lack of pitching. Why is there a double standard here? If you want to give JZ the credit for our great hitters, then give him the blame for no young pitching depth. B) Bad Contracts to Cameron/Riske/Hall Cameron is a great deal at 10 Million, I find it hard to believe people still don't get that. Riske got hurt, we maybe paid a little much for him, but when he was signed, he was viewed as a candidate for the closer's job for 2-3 years. Hall had two great seasons and was a top 3 SS in the majors. He has actually saved money over the course of Bill Hall's arbitration years than if he had not signed him. (I don't like Bill Hall, but I understand why the deal was made). C) He traded Nelson Cruz... LOOK AT HIM NOW!!! Tony Gwynn Jr. is doing awesome and Gerut is doing nothing! Cruz never showed the ability to perform at the major league level when he was with the Brewers. Yes, he had skills, and he his showing them now, but he had his chance with the Crew and it didn't work. We got Laynce Nix out of the deal who is now a regular contributor to the Reds, and he's done damage to the Brewers this year. TGJ had a hot month and is coming back to earth. He's a singles hitter that plays average Corner OF defense and below average CF defense. Gerut has shown he can OPS over .800 for a season. I'll take him 7 days a week and twice on Sundays. D) He didn't fire Yost soon enough. Managers MAYBE account for a win or two a year. They just don't have that big of an impact. I think Melvin has made mistakes, but he's made WAY more good moves. Where would we be without McGehee or Todd Coffey? He picked them up off of Waivers. Dan Kolb came from no where. We got Jose Capellan for him, who netted us Chris Cody, who is one of our highest level good pitching prospects. He picked up Doug Davis from the abyss. The Richie Sexson trade??? It seems like one or two bad moves make Melvin the root of all evil and make him expendable in some brewer fan's eyes.

wow.... Wise is sick!

Gamel's Splits As 3B 23 G, 85 PAs, .267/.341/.493/.835 As DH 6 G, 27 PAs, .208/.296/.250/.546 As PH 19 G, 19 PAs, .143/.368/.214/.583

I don't know for sure, but I think he means that Gallardo was not someone that Jack Z thought would be a good pick for the crew. That's the way I interpret it.

This was the earliest Bill Hall opinion thread I could find. http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=9614?page=1

Is it more or less a feeling you have or is there some sort of tangible thing you can put your finger on? He seemed to perform very well when he started in the field and his extreme inability to get a hit coming off the bench brought down his overall numbers due his small sample size.

but for some reason he just doesn't win. Did I imagine going to my first brewer playoff game ever? I thought that was a few months ago... it must have been a dream.

Theres no point in firing DM now that Jack Z is gone. Jack Z should be our GM, not Melvin. Jack Z is solely responsible for our success As has been stated in other threads, he is also responsible for our lack of minor league pitching depth.

Here's the other thing... I much prefer a team that is in contention to win every year, even if they never have the best team in the league. I'd much rather watch a team that I know has a chance to win every day, than a team like the Marlins who put it together for a couple years, then suck for 7 or 8. I think the way this team is built puts focus on both the present and future. While this may bring some high expectations from fans, the overall enjoyment level will be greater.

Corey Hart has had one bad month and was an all star last season. Yes, Cruz would still be our 4th OF. OPS+ April - 133 May - 68 June - 108 July - 92 Cruz has also had one bad month. April - 102 May - 125 June - 54 July - 134 They have had two very similar season so far.