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On Remaining FA Pitching and "Going in a Different Direction"

As readers of today's Frosty Mug know, Brian Anderson reports that Ben Sheets "has informed the Brewers that he is going in a different direction." 

I always thought that phrase was interesting, especially in this case.  I can see how an organization might truthfully use the phrase "going in a different direction" as a result of a chance in team philosophy.  An NFL team might switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, requiring more from an outside linebacker than your current OLB can offer, talentwise.  Or a team in any sport might decide that this is a "rebuilding year" and trade some established veterans for younger and less proven talent. 

I'd be curious to see if Ben Sheets actually said he wants to go in a "different direction," because that phrasing really doesn't make any sense when you're a person instead of an organization.  What direction are the Brewers going in that Ben wants to veer from?  Requiring that pitcher use their hands to pitch, and not their bare feet?  Catapulting pitches across the plate using your hat?  Before this season, you could say that the direction Ben wanted to go to was "winning baseball," but that doesn't apply anymore after the 2008 season.

Admittedly, this may merely be some inexact writing on BA's part --- it wasn't offered as an exact quote by Sheets or anything.  Just the same, it's the first time I saw a report of Sheets not wanting to return to Milwaukee, and I'd be curious as to why.

If true, then Sheets is out of the running, right on the heels of Derek Lowe signing with the Braves.  Assuming Pettitte is still in Yankees-or-retirement mode, that leaves the wildly enigmatic Oliver Perez as the last Type A FA starter.  Here's a list of the other FA starting pitchers:

Kris Benson (33)
Paul Byrd (38) - Type B, offered arb
Roger Clemens (46)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29) - Type B, offered arb
Tom Glavine (43)
Charlie Haeger (25)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Chuck James (27)
Jason Jennings (30)
Jon Lieber (39)
Braden Looper (34) - Type B, not offered arb
Rodrigo Lopez (33)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Mark Mulder (31)
John Parrish (31)
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27) - Type A, offered arb
Andy Pettitte (37) - Type A, not offered arb
Sidney Ponson (32)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30) - Type A, offered arb
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32) - Type B, not offered arb

It's not an encouraging list.  Avoiding another Suppan from this group would take some doing.

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments |

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Capuano/McClung

From that list you’d be looking for someone who has a good chance of being better than those two this year. I’m not seing too many on that list.

Randy Wolf? I’ve heard talk of multi-year deals for him, which doesn’t make sense from a team’s perspective. If he’d sign for a year…?

Jason Jennings? If he’d sign cheap with incentives for one year, and hope he comes back from the surgery. But you can say the same thing about Capuano, so I don’t see him as much of an upgrade.

Chuck James as a reclamation project?

Would John Lieber work cheap for a year?

Those are for possible, but much-less-than-attractive options (I mean that in a baseball sense, since I’ve always found John Lieber oddly beguiling). The rest of that list looks pretty toxic to me.

Wow, is it just me or did you think Livan Hernandez was older than 34? It seems like he’s been around since the early 80s. He looks like he’s 51. And he throws like he’s pushing 60.

Don't try to do too much with it. Just take the ball the other way.

by shooty babitt on Jan 15, 2009 1:18 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

If we experience some injuries like last year

As Capuano, Yovani, Sheets (still 31 starts) all missed time last year, we would be in serious trouble.

We could start seeing Trevor as a starter not our closer. Last year going into spring training I think we had 7 SPs… and let go of Vargas- and still had to trade for a starter and move a bullpen arm to a starting position for part of the season (McClung).

The only arm we could potentially convert would be villenueva this year… if another injury occurs then what? A below average pitcher from AAA?

One of these guys you listed will have to be added… but I dont want multi year deals with any of these guys, only if there is perhaps an incentive laden deal.

Livan Hernandez probably is older, like Alou, but just didn’t report it so he could get to the majors faster…

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jan 15, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Trevor? Hoffman? As a starter?

by HRF on Jan 16, 2009 3:38 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

a joke

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jan 16, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd like Odalis Perez on a 1-year 3 million type deal.

He’s projecting to be just about equal to the other O. Perez

---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com

by Jack Moore on Jan 15, 2009 1:33 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

As the second post states, are any of these pitchers actually better than Capuano, Villanueva, or McClung? Yes, possibly, but are they worth the cost? (I’m afraid that some of these may not even be better than Mark DiFelice in the rotation, to be honest.)

At this time, I’d say the Brewers are better off looking for minor league free agents or major league FAs willing to take a minor league or split contract so there are better alternatives at AAA than the 4 guys who got NRIs for this spring.

by morineko on Jan 15, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I agree if I'm reading you right

I actually don’t think it would be a bad idea to start with DiFelice in the rotation. Try and set him up so he doesn’t get a lot of heavy LH hitting clubs like the Reds. I wonder how Sam Narron, Chris Narveson, Lindsay Gulin or David Welch would do. Maybe they’d get pounded but I have to believe that whichever one of them is doing best in ST has to be better than Jon Lieber.

Rich Hill is out of options. I’d guess he’d be traded super cheap to someone like the Nationals or Padres who could cut him if he is still lost. He seemed like a solid #3 or so pitcher for a year.

Maybe Macha will bring a fresh set of eyes.

by ol Pete on Jan 15, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I think there are going to be a heck of a lot of guys auditioning for the #5 slot in ST, not to mention what may happen if Capuano does manage to make a full recovery this year.

The Red Sox just DFA’ed Charlie Zink and David Pauley within the last week. Zink was allowed one ML start, in which he absolutely blew up (but, in his defense, it was against the Rangers) so that’s really not the best way to evaluate what he can do. Neither of these guys are IMO anything better than a #6 but if they don’t want anything more to do with the Boston org but wouldn’t mind AAA somewhere else, the Brewers really couldn’t lose by trying to pick them up. (Unless Salome, Rottino, etc. want no part of catching knuckleballs)

…if all else fails and the Brewers are still in contention at the ASB, Paul Byrd will be available. Or even maybe Curt Schilling, but with him who knows? (or who wants, to be honest)

by morineko on Jan 15, 2009 2:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Winning strategy:

Sign Pedro and Clemens and spend the rest of the payroll building a three-seated time machine back to the late 90s for them and Hoffman.

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Jan 15, 2009 2:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Minor league free agents

are here.

But also see here.

"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 15, 2009 2:53 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Maybe he doesn't like Bill Castro as a coach

Or Ken Macha as a manager. Perhaps he feels put off by the Brewers not really talking to him about coming back.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jan 15, 2009 3:51 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Different direction ... 4-3 defense ... I get it.

Ben Sheets is a pitcher. He could have phrased it better, but what he means is that he wants to see fewer baseballs going in different directions.

“4-3 defense” suggests that Rickie Weeks successfully fields a routine grounder and Prince Fielder catches it.

“3-4 defense” suggests that Prince Fielder successfully fields a bunt and throws to somewhere near Rickie Weeks covering the bag.

I understand why he wants to play somewhere else. Maybe where Orlando Hudson signs.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jan 15, 2009 4:26 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

The phrase may not be his… but the Rangers?

by ol Pete on Jan 15, 2009 5:17 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

FUCK!!!

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Jan 15, 2009 11:27 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Rambling Al catches BA being sneaky

BA changed the Ben Sheets money quote!

Free agent Ben Sheets appears to be headed in a different direction but the door is never closed until he is signed.

Sneaky sneaky sneaky!

"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 16, 2009 12:29 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

and a good catch by you

I thank anyone who goes there and shares information here. The unthinking, robotic regurgitation of propaganda is too distasteful for me to go there. Naturally he doesn’t take comments.

What BA should have done is added an edit to the bottom of his post. I think there is a decent chance that “going in a different direction” is a description by Melvin of Sheets declining arbitration in order to sign a multi-year deal.

by ol Pete on Jan 16, 2009 9:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd take a flyer on Jason Jennings

I think the Crew may need to trade for a #2 guy. I like Greinke.

by grant76 on Jan 16, 2009 10:35 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

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