Klements Bratwurst

It was amazing how Counsell was able to shot-put the two throws to first base that last inning. It would be nice to see the Marlins throw two away next half of the inning. I'll take the win anyway we can now.

Yost has already said this to be the case. Vargas will be skipped.

I did miss him in my original post. No way do you trade Braun either. I was thinking along the lines of pitching I suppose when I was thinking of the Nats and there lack of pitching. I agree it is feasible for the Crew to be thinking about.

Sheets is getting hit a bit. I have no audio. Is he getting crushed? Missing spots? Velocity good? I know, I am just worrying.....

To second or third what others have said, as long as a trade doesn't involve Gallardo or Inman, I would be willing to make a trade for Cordero as it would bring a top notch bullpen arm to our bullpen. Zach Jackson makes sense as he could start as mentioned. Aquino also sounds like a good match to clear room for Cordero. I am not sure about what other nuggets the Crew could send or what Washington might want.

Wow!! Braun. Unbelievable. It will be tough to cut him. Can't he just flip the ball to J.J. to throw to first?

Not what I wanted to see out of him this spring. I was hoping for seeing spectacular diving plays on the evening news, but all I have seen is what, 3-4 throwing errors? It might be a May 1st call up at the earliest, which might help him get the rust off and figure out his throwing mechanics. Plus also help with the free agency clock issues. I hope his elbow isn't still bothering him.

Any news on Sheets' outing? Throw many curves? Did he look good? ( 3IP 2 ER's)

The following link is an article from the Pittsburgh newspaper. The author is suggesting that the Pirates are in need of another big bat and that they continue to focus on LaRoche. Jenkins' name is mentioned near the bottom of the article and it is obviously pure speculation, but what Pirate piece if any would satisfy you in a Brewer-Pirate trade? www.post-gazette.com/pg/07016/754103-63.stm

This whole Mench/Jenkins platoon thing sounds great on paper, but don't we have concerns of these two players won't like being part of a platoon because they believe they are full time players? It is like you would have to tell them, "don't worry, you will get your AB's" but realistically, can they get enough to make them happy in Brewer Blue??? Then Gross could maybe due what Jenkins can for cheaper. I still think Jenkins goes, and it becomes a Gross/Mench platoon. Although as stated before I wouldn't be against keeping Jenks around if for sure he never sees the pitchers right shoulder when the pitcher is looking in for the sign (probably a slider down and in) against him. If that doesn't happen, then Yost has done it right......

I agree. During the season, I couldn't wait to get the guy out of town, but with the free agent market pretty much devoid of talent and many teams as of now not ready or willing to make trades, what else can you do to improve the team? Part of me believes he might put up a monster season due to his anger because of his benching and his contract year. I would hate to miss out on that. However, if he fails early and often, wait to the injury bug nips some other teams in the early '07 and deal him to give Gabe Gross/Kevin Mench the spot as a decent platoon. Some other people have mentioned that a nice fit here in Milwaukee could be Marcus Thames. He hit 26 HR's in only 110 games last year and hits righties and lefties OK but with some decent power. I thought I read that the Tigers were looking for a lefthanded bat (hmmm Jenkins??) and we could use a right handed thumper like Thames. He seems like an up and coming player. What would it take to get him???

If some team gives him that (4yrs/$40 million) it would easily be the worst contract of the offseason. He was 3-10 with a Mile High ERA and he didn't even pitch in Colorado. After the Angels cut him, he was LUCKY to find work in St. Louis!!! Sure he had a few good starts late in the season but so did Wayne Franklin and Matt Kinney. No one paid them 4 yrs/$40 million!!! Go Cards, please overpay!!! Although, Jockerty isn't an idiot. Minaya, isn't either......

How could I forget something so simple regarding the NL having more teams? I just opted for the quick and dirty approach for sure, just to get an idea. Filthy Frog has some good thoughts too in relations to reserve players. I suppose you could plug in Gross somewhere, Clark somewhere, but at how much at each position? However, I do like Hall in Center though!!! Or SS for that matter!!!

Ok here goes a quick analysis of the Brewers starters and nothing scientific. Thanks Robert R for the link. MLB average is a simple average of both leagues. Brewers Averages assume a simple average for catcher of Miller and Estrada OPS. Geoff Jenkins remains the rightfielder. Corey Hart is the leftfielder. Hall in Center. Koskie- 3B, Hardy SS, Weeks, 2B, Fielder 1B Pos AL AVG NL AVG MLB AVG MIL AVG C 749 743 746 744 1B 819 879 849 850 2B 727 758 743 784 3B 780 826 803 788 SS 745 737 741 760 LF 796 837 817 798 CF 770 753 762 836 RF 817 798 808 816

Does anyone have data/link to what the average OPS is per position by league? I am curious to see how these projections for the Brewers compare to what the league average is per position.

It looks like the JS has gotten the scoop now too. Melvin believes the Crew has a shot based on what Suppan's agent seemed to indicate. Haudricourt story

Sure did!! No denying that!! Stupid me. But I was there for Ben's bunt single this year against the Astros, before his long DL stint. It was a thing of beauty!

Ben Sheets says hi!

I really like the idea that Melvin has been talking to him. He is a solid veteran that has started 30+ games all the way back to the 1999 season. He is not an overpowering guy as has been stated, but the kind of guy that seems to have the right intangibles to win. What I think is interesting is that he is a pitcher that has blossomed later in his career kind of like his St. Louis counterpart in Chris Carpenter. By no way do I say that he is as good as Carpenter, but he is a solid #3, maybe a #2 on the Brewers. Take a look at the stats of Carpenter and Suppan Chris Carpenter Jeff Suppan Both of these pitchers seemed to have the best years over the last three years since joining the Cardinals. Obviously, they were playing with good teams, but statistically speaking, it is as if they both figured out how to get it done on the major league level more consistently. It is kind of like they both came out of nowhere and became some of the better pitchers in the NL. Now with all of this said, plugging him into our rotation would make me extremely excited for the 2007 season. We would have a veteran pitcher with playoff experience on the team, that would improve the #3 spot in our rotation from the 2006 Doug Davis version. If he is slotted for #4 behind Dave Bush, he would be a huge upgrade of Tomo Ohka from last year. Bottom line- In my opinion, a signing of Suppan, could greatly help our chances at competing for the division this year. Plus as DHonks stated, it opens up more trade possibilities to unload Mench/Jenkins/Clark for bullpen arms or a cheaper righthanded platoon partner for whomever is leftover in the outfield either Jenks or more likely Gross.

While on the subject of Brady Clark, our neighbors to the south seem to want him. They believe he could be a one year stop gap to get them to Felix Pie. For what it is worth....... mb9.scout.com/fchicagocubsfrm1.showMessage?topicID=29921.topic

Be careful TLB, I got scolded for using the Reggie White comparison signing on this board by a few posters, when I stated that the Crew needs a big name to sign here and to give us credibility in that the Crew CAN COMPETE with all the young talent here. I agree with you! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

I posted this in another thread last week, that over the course of the past season, another Brewerfan.netter found a quote or something that Schmidt took his family and rented a car and drove up and down the lakefront and he said he really liked the city and might consider living here. But dollars talk, but it is interesting to see the Brewers listed as a player. Sheets Schmidt Capuano Bush Vargas Villaneauva Tough to beat that!

I agree completely with John Briggs on this one. Especially given the friendly contract situation as well. I wouldn't give up a top tier guy, but a couple of promising good players and a nugget in Aquino- sure. Where does Doug sign?????

No way would I trade for Hudson and give up Hall and throwing in Inman too. Atlanta would say yes sooo fast to that one it would be ridiculous. Our best offensive player and our second best pitching prospect dealt for a mid 4 ERA guy, just doesn't seem fair. I like Hudson and wouldn't mind him on the team, but not at this cost. Pogokat brought up a real good point in another thread about trading Hall. Someone posted whether or not you would trade Hall for Miguel Cabrera and of course there was interest in doing that. But a poster said Hall + Inman/Braun (or something similar) for Cabrera and pogo said why wouldn't you do that almost straight up Hall for Cabrera? Hall will give you 95% of what Cabrera will give you, so you shouldn't have to throw in another big time prospect. With that said, while I respect your opinion, getting Hudson for Hall would be way to expensive for my tastes considering what he gives you at age 26 and that the Crew controls him to 2009. Also, coupled with the fact that if you really look at Hall's stats compared to other players, you would have to assume that you would be talking about better pitchers than Hudson or positional players like Crawford, Cabrera, etc. as fair compensation for a trade.

Didn't we all expect between 12-14 million is what he could get? I still don't see him going to Chicago, but rather staying on the West coast. Too bad about that thread a few months ago, how he was quoted as saying that he took his wife and kids around Milwaukee, up the lake front, and said he really liked the city. Money talks so does his desire to stay near his home on the coast. I don't think he would ever consider coming here. Sometimes I wonder if the perception of the Brewers by free agents is that the Crew are always going to be a below average team and unwilling to spend and hence don't ever consider this team as able to build a winner despite the young talent around. Heck, Bruce Bochy didn't even know that Bill Hall hit 35 HR's here in Milwaukee. If he missed that, why would some "hot stuff" free agent pay attention to Milwaukee and the goings on here? I just wish the Crew could have that Reggie White moment where a particular player looks at the core of young talent and says, this team has a future and I want to be here. Perception is close to everything, and until we make the playoffs, we might not be able to change that.