If the free agents from our squad go unsigned and we don’t pick up anyone in the offseason, he’s how I think our rotation would line up next year.

1. Gallardo
2. Bush
3. Parra
4. McClung
5. Suppan

I personally wouldn’t mind tossing McClung by the side of the road, but unless CV steps up, I don’t think there’s anyone to fill that hole. McClung might be more handy out of the bullpen.

We have a few options here
1) Kendall
2) Rivera
3) Salome
4) Rottino

I’d personally like to see Rivera getting more reps. Maybe he could be a battery mate for a bottom-of-the-rotation starter or they could pinch hit him late in games and have him work with the closer. He should at least get more chances during spring training. That being said, I still think Kendall’s our #1.

Fielder is obviously our man-for-right-now, but he had some prolonged struggles during the season. We also have to face that he might be trade-bait for a quality starting pitching option, especially from an AL squad.

So, who else could fill in at first?

1) Gamel – although his absence near the end of the season was striking. Is he a clubhouse cancer? Is he dealing with a nagging injury?
2) Rivera
3) Joe Dillon
4) Mike Lamb – maybe this is why they signed him late-season?
5) Brad Nelson

our highest-ranked prospect at first base is still in rookieball, so I don’t think we have anyone else to plug in here.

Although Weeks struggled most of the season, down the stretch he really heated up. Is he just now starting to demonstrate his “upside” or is he pretty much a shot experiment?

I don’t know how much longer Durham is on contract, but I peg him to be Week’s platoon mate. There’s also C.C. In the mix as well as a possible transfer by Hardy or Escobar

Here’s how I see the depth chart.
1) Weeks
2) Durham
3) Hardy
4) Counsell
5) Escobar
6) Hernan Iribarren – I was frankly unimpressed by him
7) Brad Nelson?

This should be the position of greatest contention. Do we keep Hardy or plug in Escobar? Is Escobar ready for the show? Can he handle big league pitching? I guess spring training will help to answer that question.

Because of all of the unanswered questions surrounding Escobar, I think it would be foolish to trade away Hardy yet. Otherwise we’re left with Counsell or Hall filling the void, assuming Graffino is playing elsewhere by now.

Personally I think Escobar is the top candidate to play short next season, with JJ getting reassigned to a different position.

I’m left tremendously unsatisfied at this position. We have only Hall and Branyan occupying this position, both 3TO players, with emphasis on the K option.

I have to think the depth chart looks somewhat like this
1) Hardy
2) Branyan
3) Gamel
4) Hall
5) Lamb

I think Hart is due for some time in AAA, learning how to deal with down-and-away sliders. So that leaves right field open.

Even though Kapler is up-in-years I think he’s our number 1 option here, assuming Cameron is playing center.
1) Kapler
2) Gamel
3) Hart

I’m assuming it’s a foregone conclusion that Cameron gets re-signed, but perhaps not with the amount of money it costs and the fact that we’ll probably be entering a rebuilding year.

1) Cameron
2) Kapler
3) Tony Gwynn Jr

I think this one’s a “well duh”

Braun will be in left, barring any injury/extended suckage. I can see plugging any of the other outfield backups in for him to give him a day off from time to time, but I can’t see moving him elsewhere in the outfield nor platooning him with anyone, so this position is his and his alone.

I seriously hope that Mark A. consider acquiring a solid closer. However, as closers are really expensive on the FA market as well as from other teams, it might be wise to wait on acquiring a closer and giving up some victories unless we appear to be a team in contention around the all star break. Torres did a great job in the first part of the season, but dropped off. I think he’ll definitely be part of our bullpen regardless (hometown FA discount) whereas I think Gagne will be tossed aside due to his lackluster start and potential high demands for salary.

1) Torres
2) McClung (if not starting)
3) Pena
4) Gagne

I think Jefress, Odorizzi, and Gillespi should all be invited to spring camp, but I doubt any one of them is ready to begin the season on the roster.

So, that leaves the standard pen we have now, with Coffey serving as set-up man in the 8th. Here’s how I see roles, assuming we have Mota available.

8th) Coffey
7th) Mota
long or 6th) Villy
LOOGY #1: Shouse
LOOGY #2: Stetter

Parra or McClung may be bumped to long relief if we acquire a decent additional starter.

Here’s another obvious “position” to fill
Sveum has the potential to be a big-league manager but he’s still a bit too much trust-my-gut for me. He seems smart, but slightly stubborn. A lot more affable than Yost, but who are the other options?

1) Sveum
2) Kremblas (assuming the bridge isn’t burned)
3) Don $

What are the statuses of other managers and top bench coaches/3B coaches around the league? Anyone know who is on the market so we can be a bit more intelligent about this discussion?

Here’s my 25-man to start the season. Those with *s after, I believe should get the boot when a minor leaguer (listed after) is ready for promotion – either off the team or down to the minors. Those with #s I think could conceivably begin the season in the minors to be promoted rapidly, but I think they’ll likely start the season on the 25-man regardless (due to voids in our defense).

1) Fielder
2) Weeks
3) JJ
4) Escobar#
5) Kendall
6) Braun
7) Kapler
8) Cameron
9) Gallardo
10) Free Agent/Trade Market Starter (hopefully CC)
11) Parra#
12) McClung
13) Bush
14) Suppan*
15) Carlos Villy
16) Torres
17) Mota
18) Shouse
19) Stetter*
20) Riske
21) Durham
22) Rivera
23) Branyan
24) Hall*
25) Coffey

Minor league to start: Gamel, Hart, Pena, TG Jr, Lamb (if eligible for minor league service)

Would Braun ever be considered for a move to Center? He is athletic enough. I know he occasionally takes a bad route on a ball but maybe that has more to do with him reading the amount of hook/slice on a ball hit to left. I think you can get a truer read on a ball hit to center.

Announcers is Mr Baseball coming back? Brian Anderson did TBS work are they going to steal him from FSN? Who we listen to is just as important as who we are watching

The games played by Fielder, Hart and Braun this year. I don’t think its a random coincidence that the three most important offensive cogs all went thru a slump in September as they passed 145 games played. They need to find the outfield equivalent of Counsell, a guy that can play all three positions, start 60-70 games and hit 250ish. They have it in Kapler right now, but who knows if Gabe will return. If Kapler moves on replacing him and his defensive flexibility is the most important gap to fill this offseason, because if Fielder, Hart and Braun performed offensively in September and October like they were in July the Brewers are making travel plans to LA right now(or kept pace with the Cubs and LA is making the travel plans).

Ray Durham is likely to retire, Weeks will likely be back for one more break out season and its either Hall/Branyan or Hardy at 3B depending on Escobar’s progress. Hardy/Escobar is the only switch I can forsee in the starting lineup, excluding the potential Prince/Cain trade. Counsell will perform his usual 55 games started at 3 different positions to provide day’s off, and if the new manager has a brain Rivera will see 50 starts at 1B/Catcher.

could Nelson be the guy to play 1st/LF/RF occasionally? He has the type of bat that could fit in the middle (where corey/braun/fielder would be)

I don’t get a chance to see Hardy that much because the Brewers don’t get a lot of national TV coverage and I am not paying for the MLB Package these days. However, if you told me that my team was going to have a 25 year old SS that plays above average defense and will hit around .280 25 75 with an OBP of .340 w/o a ton ok K’s..I would be overcome with Joy. Escobar may be a really good prospect…but he is still a propsect. Hardy is a top flight ML SS. If you move Hardy to 3B you lose much his value. A decent fielding 3B with his numbers gives you Casey Blake-nothing that specatcular.

If Escobar is indeed taking over at SS then I would hope that the Brewers are moving Hardy and getting A LOT in return. I can think of several teams that would LOVE to have Hardy-White Sox, Cubs, Detriot, Cleveland, Pirates, Boston, Twins, Royals hell if he was playing for the Royals or the twins he would be batting clean up and drive in 100 RBIs, Giants, Seattle, Oakland etc.

My point is that Hardy should be playing until he gets surplanted. Which I don’t think will be anything short of 1-2 seasons away.

I really think the Brewers need a type of offensive player in their line up and that if they can find that type of hitter, they can move people around defensively to cover. Worst case Hall can cover wherever he is needed.

However, I think the Brewers need a true lead off hitter and a true # 2 hitter. If you look up and down their line up I think they are lacking those types of players. Someone who make consistent contact, doesn’t strike out a lot, and can get on base. Personally I would let Cameron go and see if you can find a cheaper, more effective option. I would also love to see the Brewers get a Loretta type player to play 2B or 3B. I don’t think Loretta is the option anymore, as he is too old to count on. However, someone like a Freddy Sanchez or Mark Ellis would be a good option to play 2B and bat 2nd.

As for Weeks…package him and get some help elsewhere. I just don’t see him being a long term option for the Brewers at 2B.