Green And Wilkerson And Feliz, Oh My!

by stevie ray Braun on Jan 10, 2008 6:39 PM CST

Doug Melvin, in his quest to be linked to every bad player available, is reported as being interested in Pedro Feliz, Shawn Green, and Brad Wilkerson (in addition to Mike Cameron/Kenny Lofton as previously reported). Link Here

All three of those names make me cringe a little bit, although signing Green could indicate a strategy of collecting every Jewish player in the major leagues, meaning someone decent like Kevin Youkilis could be down the road.

I don't understand why trading some of our excess pitchers isnt the first strategy. None of these free agents seem much better (although significantly more expensive) than just using the platoon left-fielders we already have.

What do you guys think of these new names?

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That's the conclusion I'm drawing

We already have a Grillon platoon in left on the cheap, so that should be the baseline. If we can't get someone who would be better than (a well-managed) Grillon, then why waste the money?

So far, the only name that's been intriguing has been Ethier, and that rumor died a long time ago.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jan 10, 2008 7:30 PM CST reply actions

two things i like

if we sign cameron and without checking the stats defense stuff i think he's a good defender out there...that also lets us move hall to third.

i also wouldn't mind a one year flyer on lofton.

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Jan 10, 2008 8:42 PM CST reply actions

OK lets end this nonsense..........

OK lets end this nonsense.mike cameron isn't what we need and neither is moving two or three guys to fix a rookie third baseman's defensive shortcomings. i'm definately not liking this cameron deal. he's mid 30's, low on base, but we have a center fielder. Let's just cut the crap and either go with the platoon in left. OR IF we have to choose one guy i'm all in for Brad Wilkerson. He's a good defender, has some pop, hits from the left side, can a little first base to give prince a break. All the rest can go to someone else. OR let's wait till spring training and let everyone come to us and ask for pitching and see how serious they need some and then pick and choose from current rostered players NOT free agents that no one wants.

Tim Bring back the chalet,frank charles at the wurlitzer organ, bob betts at the mic, and the barrell man logo!!!!

by storminTAZZ on Jan 10, 2008 10:26 PM CST reply actions

but it's not nonsense

to try and move Ryan Braun from 3B. He had more than just "a rookie third basemen's" problems last year. It's not just about him cutting down on his errors, it's all the balls he doesn't get to.

Last year, an average NL 3B had 1.96 assists per 9 innings. Braun had 1.53. That's almost a half a hit extra per game or about 69 hits over 162 games. So how much is 69 hits - it's the difference between teams hitting .266 (NL average last year) and .278. And if you think it's because the Brewers pitching staff doesn't give up groundballs to 3B, Counsell, Graffanino and Dillon all averaged more assists per 9 than the league did last year at 3B.

I say move Hall back to 3B, move Hart to CF (he played it ok last year) and see if Braun can play RF. He has a good arm, is athletic so he should be able to handle it. Sign Lofton for a year to play LF. That leaves LF open for LaPorta in 2009. With Hall at 3B, when Hardy gets hurt (and he always seems to have 1 DL stint per year), Hall can slide over to SS and Counsell and Dillon platoon at 3B.

by HH26 on Jan 11, 2008 8:05 AM CST up reply actions

of all scenarios

i like this one.

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Jan 11, 2008 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

Braun's defense

The problem wasn't his inability to get to balls, he actually had fairly good reflexes and made some good stops at 3B. He has a decent arm too, the problem has always been his footwork and tendency for throwing the ball away. Obviously Braun isn't going to win any Gold Gloves next year, but it's certainly not impossible (as other players have had similar turn-arounds) for him to be right around average next year.

And I'm not much of a stat-wizard, but isn't your statistic completely misleading? He was only scored with 26 errors last season (which expands, not necessarily accurately, to 37 over a full season.) There weren't 69 hits that he should have gotten and didn't.

Additionally, what no one seems to mention, is that Hall is a reasonably better defender in CF than he ever was at 3B. Moving him back would lower his defensive input immediately, not even taking into account the fact that he seems to take half a season to get back in the groove at a new position. Furthermore, you can't say that Braun is a historically bad defender at 3B but that he will be average in RF. Braun will improve next season, I guarantee it, and shifting our entire outfield just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

2008: The Year of #8

by stevie ray Braun on Jan 11, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

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