Milwaukee Brewer Talk

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 10:43 AM

Growing up, I played baseball every single summer until high school. I kept close tabs on the Brewers and enjoyed watching Yount, Molitor, Cooper, etc. My dad would take me a game every summer during this time period.

I continued to follow the Brewers but saw a trend I didn't like. Milwaukee would develop a star and then he would leave. As team salaries got worse, so did this pattern. The Brewers had become a farm team for the major markets.

Well...I'm going to be bored as hell at work, this spring and summer, without NFL football to chat about. I figured I might as well try to get back into watching Brewers baseball. Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio appears to be slowing trying to turn the franchise around in the money ball era.

All baseball fans are welcome. I didn't put Official because I'm going to be just getting back into following the Brewers more closely again.

jsheppard1 · 02-15-2008, 10:51 AM

The Brew Crew has some pretty stellar young talent. Producing runs won't be a problem with Fielder, Braun, Hart, etc.

Their starting rotation, on the other hand, is a crap-shoot.

EDIT: I forgot they got Gagne in the off-season. He's a crap-shoot, as well.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 10:56 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=mil

Espn.com must need to update their depth chart. There is no way that I would have Cappy as fifth in the rotation. If he hadn't tanked so bad, the Brewers would have won the division. I'm surprised that he is still around after the season he had.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=7132

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsheppard1

The Brew Crew has some pretty stellar young talent. Producing runs won't be a problem with Fielder, Braun, Hart, etc.

Their starting rotation, on the other hand, is a crap-shoot.

Braun struggled at third base. It will be interesting how fast he can transition to left field.

I will be waiting for the date that Sheets goes down with another injury. There were talks, on sports radio, that he may be better suited to a closer role. It's not going to happen but maybe a though for the future.

wsuwarrior · 02-15-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=7132

Espn.com must need to update their depth chart. There is no way that I would have Cappy as fifth in the rotation. If he hadn't tanked so bad, the Brewers would have won the division. I'm surprised that he is still around after the season he had.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=7132

I think Cappy will turn it around this season. His confidence was nonexistent last year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

I will be waiting for the date that Sheets goes down with another injury. There were talks, on sports radio, that he may be better suited to a closer role. It's not going to happen but maybe a though for the future.

Sheets gets stronger the more innings he pitches, he just doesnt have closer stuff. Hes a born starter. Maybe he would do good as a long reliever but then I dont think he would see the mound enough.

Its pretty sad that even though Sheets missed the majority of the season, he still tied for the team lead in wins.

Watch for Yovani Gallardo to have 15+ wins this season.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsuwarrior

I think Cappy will turn it around this season. His confidence was nonexistent last year.

Sheets gets stronger the more innings he pitches, he just doesnt have closer stuff. Hes a born starter. Maybe he would do good as a long reliever but then I dont think he would see the mound enough.

Its pretty sad that even though Sheets missed the majority of the season, he still tied for the team lead in wins.

Watch for Yovani Gallardo to have 15+ wins this season.

Brewers depth chart seems to be more accurate: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/tea...x.jsp?c_id=mil

I hope Cappy does because he lost a lot of consective games last year (not sure of the exact number).

Do you think that toughness is an issue with Sheets or is he just injury-prone?

If Gallardo continues to keep his ERA down, would he be a good number two (moving Suppan down to number three)?

BMatt · 02-15-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=mil

Espn.com must need to update their depth chart. There is no way that I would have Cappy as fifth in the rotation. If he hadn't tanked so bad, the Brewers would have won the division. I'm surprised that he is still around after the season he had.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...e?statsId=7132

I heard Cappy isnt even a starter anymore, heard they made him a closer?

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMatt

I heard Cappy isnt even a starter anymore, heard they made him a closer?

Brewers got him listed 6th on the depth chart behind Dave Bush: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/tea...x.jsp?c_id=mil

BMatt · 02-15-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Brewers got him listed 6th on the depth chart behind Dave Bush: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/tea...x.jsp?c_id=mil

hmm scratch that then.

What do you think about the pickup of Mike Cameron? It was kind of a head scratcher for me.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMatt

hmm scratch that then.

What do you think about the pickup of Mike Cameron? It was kind of a head scratcher for me.

He is going to have to serve a suspension (failed drug test - anabolic steroid...I believe). It seems strange to pick someone up who is going to miss +20 games. He is another player who strikes out a lot. As if the Brewers didn't have enough of history with that already.

Someone with more experience in Brewers baseball might be able to see the positives...good glove? Bill Hall struggled, badly, but turned it around in center field last year. Hall batting numbers dropped and signing the contract. Hopefully, playing third base will see a return in his past performance at the plate.

BMatt · 02-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

He is going to have to serve a suspension (failed drug test - anabolic steroid...I believe). It seems strange to pick someone up who is going to miss +20 games. He is another player who strikes out a lot. As if the Brewers didn't have enough of history with that already.

Someone with more experience in Brewers baseball might be able to see the positives...good glove? Bill Hall struggled, badly, but turned it around in center field last year. Hall batting numbers dropped and signing the contract. Hopefully, playing third base will see a return in his past performance at the plate.

I think its a horrible move. Cameron barely hits .250, plus you have LaPorta in the minors who can rake, knocking on the door to play OF. If anything move Hart to CF, Braun to RF and use a stop gap till LaPorta is ready.. rather than waste your money on an ageing, steroid poppin, Mike Cameron. I give him a .235 average off the juice, at best.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMatt

Someone with more experience in Brewers baseball might be able to see the positives? I'm a Brewer fan, and not a thickheaded one like yourself. Defending this move is stupid..

I think its a horrible move. Cameron barely hits .250, plus you have LaPorta in the minors who can rake, knocking on the door to play OF. If anything move Hall to Third and Hart to CF, Braun to RF and use a stop gap till LaPorta is ready.. rather than waste your money on an ageing, steroid poppin, Mike Cameron. I give him a .235 average off the juice, at best.

I was speaking about myself...I don't have much experience with current Brewer baseball so someone else might be able to give Cameron's possible contributions to the Brew Crew. Your question was directed at me so I replied the best I could with the current knowledge that I have.

Thickheaded? I've already stated that I was just getting back into following the Brewers consistently. I'm willing to listen to everyone's input so that I can get back in the swing of things.

Hasn't Hall already been moved to third?

BMatt · 02-15-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

I was speaking about myself...I don't have much experience with current Brewer baseball so I don't stand by my statements like I would when talking about the Packers. Your question was directed at me so I replied the best I could with the current knowledge that I have.

Thickheaded? I've already stated that I was just getting back into following the Brewers consistently. I'm willing to listen to everyone's input so that I can get back in the swing of things.

Hasn't Hall already been moved to third?

Oh sorry i misread what you wrote i guess, i apologize. Yes Hall has been moved to third already.

BMatt · 02-15-2008, 12:04 PM

I still think the Brewers should have tried to develop Braun at 3rd, moving a ROY seems kind of ridiculous to me. I'm also afraid now that we have Mike Cameron that the Brewers are gonna be using Tony Gywnn Jr. as trade bait.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 12:16 PM

The Brewers don't seem to be very high on Tony Gywnn Jr. I had expected that he would move into a starting role in the outfield, eventually. Why is the Brewers coaching staff so down on him?

weakguy · 02-15-2008, 12:18 PM

go cubs! oh sorry wrong thread

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weakguy

go cubs! oh sorry wrong thread

Any baseball talk is welcome. I saw that Kerry Woods is under consideration for the closing role.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 01:09 PM

From what I heard on sportsradio, shortstop J.J. Hardy is arbitration with the Brewers. Hardy wants $3.05 million and the Brewers want to give him $2.4 million. To end the arbitration, the Brewers would have to offer him the midpoint of those two, I believe.

weakguy · 02-15-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Any baseball talk is welcome. I saw that Kerry Woods is under consideration for the closing role.

yup it's between kerry wood and bob howry i believe.

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsheppard1

The Brew Crew has some pretty stellar young talent. Producing runs won't be a problem with Fielder, Braun, Hart, etc.

Their starting rotation, on the other hand, is a crap-shoot.

EDIT: I forgot they got Gagne in the off-season. He's a crap-shoot, as well.

I actually like their starting rotation a lot. Sheets/Yovani/Cap is a great 1-2-3, especially in a division as wide open as the NL Central. The lineup is one of the best in the league with Braun, Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, etc., and once LaPorta comes up it'll only get better.

Other than bullpen, which can be addressed during the year (possibly a trade?) the team looks primed for a playoff push.

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Brewers got him listed 6th on the depth chart behind Dave Bush: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/tea...x.jsp?c_id=mil

Wow, I'd be surprised if he doesn't come out of Spring Training in the top 5.

Suppan is guaranteed a spot, and as long as Bush doesn't implode during Spring Training he should be in it as well. I'd rather see Villy in a 7th/8th inning role, though.

He was dominant as a setup man.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weakguy

yup it's between kerry wood and bob howry i believe.

Dempster is leaving the bullpen and is trying to get into the rotation.

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 02:03 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Claudio Vargas claimed the last spot in the rotation.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prezidential

I wouldn't be surprised if Claudio Vargas claimed the last spot in the rotation.

It looks like the Brewers give him very good run support when he pitches (looking at his ERA).

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

It looks like the Brewers give him very good run support when he pitches (looking at his ERA).

He's a very streaky pitcher. I remember last year when he was lights out while putting up a strong K/BB ratio, but at the end of the year it started to unravel.

I still say Villy is a better fit in the bullpen, especially if the Gagne project doesn't work out.

papi93 · 02-15-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prezidential

He's a very streaky pitcher. I remember last year when he was lights out while putting up a strong K/BB ratio, but at the end of the year it started to unravel.

I still say Villy is a better fit in the bullpen, especially if the Gagne project doesn't work out.

What happened to Gagne is Boston? I see he turned it around in Texas, later in the season.

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

What happened to Gagne is Boston? I see he turned it around in Texas, later in the season.

It's a lot of things rolled into one.

He didn't look at full health last year; I don't expect him to ever be where he was in LA, but he HAS to at least hit his spots, otherwise he's going to get tagged no matter what league he plays in. Also, facing top competition like NY during your return doesn't help; finally, the Bos supporters are a LOT different than Ranger fans; I believe the pressure got to him.

bc8436 · 02-15-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prezidential

It's a lot of things rolled into one.

He didn't look at full health last year; I don't expect him to ever be where he was in LA, but he HAS to at least hit his spots, otherwise he's going to get tagged no matter what league he plays in. Also, facing top competition like NY during your return doesn't help; finally, the Bos supporters are a LOT different than Ranger fans; I believe the pressure got to him.

Don't forget that they asked him to switch his roles from closer to setup in the middle of the season, which usually doesn't work out well. Fenway Park is also not the most forgiving ballparks for a pitcher.

weakguy · 02-15-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Dempster is leaving the bullpen and is trying to get into the rotation.

yea i know, i don't like him as the closer and i do not want to see him in the rotation

Prezidential · 02-15-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc8436

Don't forget that they asked him to switch his roles from closer to setup in the middle of the season, which usually doesn't work out well. Fenway Park is also not the most forgiving ballparks for a pitcher.

Not at all; Pesky's poll is a pitcher's worst nightmare.