Brewers sign Cameron

team defense improves by 2 or 3 wins just like that...

Do we have to drop someone from the 40 man to make room?  (I think we were at 39)

I like the defensive upside, and I hope they got him cheap as a result of the down year offensively, but this really does feel like a stretch to fill a hole.  I know there hasn't been much market for the starters so far, but I can't help but think (fear) we could have done better than Cameron as the season approached by moving a pitcher or two.  

Then again, maybe Melvin thinks having the extra arms around is probably a good idea given the injury histories of Sheets and Parra, and Capuano's struggles since the all-star break of 2006.  

Are rebuilding organizations that bankrupt of talent and "finishing" a roster that appears ready to make a post-season run different skills?  Melvin and his front office (Jack Z.) have done a pretty good job of the former.  I sure hope they've done a better job of the latter than it looks to me that they've done so far this offseason.  The thing about this move that brings me down a bit is that they're probably done.  These are your opening day 2008 Brewers.  I guess it was naive to hope for anything more.  But knowing that (at last) and Olney's recent optimistic read on the Crew still aren't enough to give me positive vibes.  

With the Cubs perhaps having one last big move to go, I'm beginning to be reminded of the night before Agincourt scenes from Henry V:  the English (i.e., the Brewers) are outnumbered and huddled around their fires talking about death, while the French (i.e., the Cubs) are bragging about their shiny new armor and taking bets on how many englishmen they'll each kill.  (You can almost hear Zambrano saying, "Would it were day!").

I just hope it ends the same way.

There really weren't a whole lot of options out there and I feel this move upgrades the defense significantly and has the potential of having pretty solid offensive upside as well.

The only question is what the defensive alignment will be for the first 25 games.  I'd suspect Hart will man center and that's not a bad situation for the short term (he was just a touch below average last year).

It looks like the Cubs were interested too.  Hah!

This is all pending a physical on Monday.

I wonder if Bill Hall now wonders where he'll be moved to before the 2009 season.

Considering the guy is a proven major leaguer, signed for sub-Jenkins money, has a good fielding resume, and only one year ... this is a situation I can live with.  It now allows Hall to settle in at third, Braun to learn the outfield, and a year for LaPorta to learn RF (if they dare not switch Braun around again).

Another way to look at it ... if they think Gwynn is not just a replacement, it gives the kid another season to get acclimated and would be ready to take over CF next season (should LaPorta not be ready or someone is traded).  He's already going to get a great chance in April to show he's worth something.

Yet another way to look at it ... consider the names bandied about to "fix" this situation:

Luis Gonzalez
Pedro Feliz
Brad Wilkerson
Scott Rolen
Mike Cameron
Shawn Green
Ben Grieve
Jeff Cirillo
Hank Blaylock
...others I can remember

They all come with baggage and subsequent Brewers players position shifts, I can honestly say that I would only prefer Blaylock over Cameron (and the reason why he's probably not a Brewer is because the Rangers were asking for too much).  Defense rarely goes into slumps, right?  Well, then Cameron was the only guy you could count on of the above to do something on the field consistently above average.

I think it's a sufficient move and it helps the team, though the position shifts are troublesome.  If Bill Hall, again, takes this in stride, he'll forever be one of my top three Brewers with four l's in his name.

This move is a good stop gap it fill the remaining holes in the starting line up and as has been stated if La Porta is ready next season Cameron is gone with a nice 750K parting gift thanks for playing drive home safely.

But it was the pen that has failed us the last two season if the pen holes up we have nothing to worry about.

I think ;)

The past tells me to trust Melvin, but I said the same thing when I was very ambivalent about the Linebrink for Inman, Thatcher, and the other guy deal. If they have good seasons and propel us to the playoffs, I'll be happily surprised. But I'm not optimistic.

I don't think I can boo Bonds for steroid use anymore, though. Thank goodness I can still boo him for being such an a**hole (if he plays, that is).

We're inclined to think that Hall would think all his effort last year, including a poor offensive showing, were for naught, but until he says something ... well, then stop repeating that he's not happy about the move.  He hasn't said anything!

The physical required to complete the signing is tomorrow.

Wait, not Brian Anderson.  Drew Anderson, so say the JS Blogs.