However, I think bringing up Gallardo is sort of a toss up at worst. The guy got hurt in freak baseball collision, it’s not like he has a history of injuries and he pitched 180+ innings the year before. McClung is anyone’s guess, although based simply on IP totals he won’t be able to go the whole year as a starter without wearing down. I almost expect a season like Parra’s last year where he wears out toward the end. Assuming Parra wore out due to pitching more than he has in the past, the natural progression of younger pitchers should lead to him being able to at least match last years IP if not exceed them. Bush, I’m not really sure what to expect. He looked good at the end of last year, so maybe he has turned a corner, but I’m not going to count on that. However, the lack of quality arms leads me to believe that even if he has an ineffective spell, he will have to work it out in the Majors without being sent down or taken out of the rotation. And then there is Suppan. I think we all know what he is good for and what we all expect from him. Regardless of what he does in his innings, I still think he is a better bet to pitch more innings than a Sheets could be counted on.

I guess I’m just a little more optimistic about some of the guys we have currently. Yes, I would love to see someone added that bumps Suppan or McClung from the rotation, but I don’t see it happening and I’m quietly confident the guys we have might be able to put together a half-way decent rotation.

It’s scares the hell out of me when KL says what I’m thinking. Why? Because when he doesn’t, I can convince myself that I’m wrong and don’t really know what I’m talking about. But when I think it and he agrees, then it’s not only true, it’s obviously true, and we’re screwed.

I thought Bush was sent to AAA because Gallardo came off the disabled list (and, well, he was ineffective in April and May, but if Yo hadn’t been hurt he would have never been in the rotation.)

If you wait until midseason and the team is 35-46 through 81 games, then your chances are already shot.

I know that most fans are not pleased with the underwhelming offseason so far, and rightly so. I just think that the team is in kind of a “holding pattern” right now, and they don’t really want to change that by throwing a ton of money around that might hurt us down the road. As you mentioned they are totally set up to be able to add on if need be, they just want to see things in motion first and I think I am OK with that now.

I see KL just posted discussing the possibility of being out of it at the mid point. Well, I think they are kind of covered if that situation arrises too; they just become sellers rather than buyers. They have assets that they will be able to deal to somebody and add prospects if we tank. If we underperform I would imagine they’d deal Cameron to the Yanks (or elsewhere), especially if he’s playing well and they’re in the mix. I’m sure someone would be looking for bullpen help, as they always are, and Hoffman would be available. If things got REALLY bad you might even start to hear discussions about Prince or JJ.

With the exception of dealing those last two guys, those might not be huge moves, but they would be moves made with eyes on the future. It really seems like there is a decent little team shaping up for a few years down the road, and I’m kind of excited for that. If I have to suffer for a year or two watching an 80 win team in the meantime, I can handle that. After 2001-2004 I can handle anything……..

I do think (knock on wood) that we have a pretty durable front five

First, Gallardo’s career high IP was 188 in 2007. He pitched less than 40 last year. To expect him to get to near 200 is ridiculous, and could set him up for a nice YAE in 2010.

Parra increased his IP by 33 last season, setting him up for increased risk of major arm injuries or a regression in development. (I know he’s 26, and Verducci’s analysis includes up to 25, but I’m sure it can be applied).

Dave Bush is perhaps the only one that fits your durability claim.

Jeff Suppan might get near 200 IP, but only if Macha doesn’t care if he’s giving up runs (unlikely).

And McClung hasn’t pitched 130 innings ever in his career. 160 would be amazing.

So…durable…I’m not sure that’s the case.

I would rather sign depth now when we don’t have to give up players.

Losing. Playing in front of 15,000 fans in September would turn an $80 million payroll into a big financial loser in a hurry.

Because he’s been in the majors before? You could just as easily skip McClung or Villanueva by using Narveson or Gulin. I doubt whatever guys like Benson or Mike Redman have left in the tank is much better.

In an unrelated note: I still like that Mike Redman was named to the All-Star team with a 5.27 ERA. Yay equal representation.

But he played for the Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!

You sent me scrambling to figure out the reference and I found this article showing how close Veritek is to Zaun, concluding Veritek is really worth ~$1.5M.

He may not be “good” at owning a sports franchise, by the standards you’ve drawn, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a good businessman.

In the real world, businesses grow by maximizing profits. Period. If you aren’t out to maximize profits, you aren’t running a business, but a charity or a hobby. Sports franchises typically do that by having consistent fan following as you’ve outlined, but the consistent following is a means to the profit motive.

I’m sure MA’s learning the differences between a sports franchise and a “real-world” business, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t — or shouldn’t be — focused on the bottom line. And it is difficult to have a positive bottom line without a solid top line (revenue). And he’s nervous about revenues because he isn’t sure how much money Joe Six-Pack and Sally Sob-Story will have for Brewers tickets this year.

One of these days, when Doug goes into his office, trudging through the snow in the bitter cold, he’ll yearn for the days when he worked in Texas, where it was 70 and sunny in February. He’ll think, “Oh, if only I were in Dallas. [lightbulb flashes on] …Oh, Dallas! Odalis! I knew we needed another starter!”

Ok, I admit, “better” is stretching it.