Thursday's Frosty Mug
Gord Ash chatted with fans yesterday regarding prospects and the offseason, and the transcript is well worth your time. Topics covered include Jeremy Jeffress, the future of baseball in Huntsville, catching prospects and much more.
Meanwhile, Rick Peterson remains the top story. R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs thinks the Brewers made a good hire, but need to find him some talent to work with. Rob Neyer used that post as a jumping off point to discuss the differences between Peterson's great Oakland staffs and the current lackluster one.
Of course, the Brewers could be looking to make a trade for pitching. It probably won't be anything like Casa de Machado's proposed deal.
In the minors and AFL:
- Jonathan Lucroy went 4-for-4 with a solo home run on Tuesday, but it was Zach Braddock who earned a Star O' the Day award from Jonathan Mayo. Braddock pitched two scoreless innings in a 14-10 game.
- I'm not an ESPN Insider subscriber, but if you are you can check out Keith Law's AFL diary, which includes a note on Lorenzo Cain.
- Matt Hagen of The Hardball Times compares the top prospects in the 2009 International and Pacific Coast Leagues, and lists Alcides Escobar as one of the PCL's top stars.
Around baseball:
Rangers: Removed pitcher Jason Grilli and C Kevin Richardson from their 40 man roster. Both will be minor league free agents.
White Sox: Claimed outfielder Alejandro de Aza off waivers from the Marlins.
Beyond the Box Score has an interesting "which is worse?" battle going on, in the Small Sample Size division: Would you rather know how a batter has performed in his last two games, or how he's done in a similar number of appearances against a certain pitcher? Sadly, even though neither stat is exceptionally relevant, I still frequently use both in game threads.
Remember Jeff Juden? He was only a Brewer for a short time but he's a pretty fascinating character, as it turns out. Brewerfan.net has a great interview with him, including some stories he's never told before.
Happy birthday today to two obscure Brewer catchers: 1977 Brewer Jamie Quirk, who turns 55, and 2003 Brewer Keith Osik, who turns 41.
I don't have any more baseball stuff today, but I do have a song for you to sing.
Drink up.
0 recs |
27 comments
|
Comments
Did you know Ikea is sweedish for Soul Sucking experience
And Burger Chef is the BEST!!! Not in Kopps’ league, but still great, though I wish they would throw in an shake to be named later for Weeks.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Oct 22, 2009 8:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
One thing missed mentioning in the Ash Chat
from Espin Insider:
If the Brewers were to consider a blockbuster deal to bolster their pitching, the same of Prince Fielder almost always surfaces. Forget it, says sssistant general manager Gord Ash, who dismissed that idea in an online chat on MLB.com.
“Doug Melvin has already gone on record that Prince Fielder will not be marketed this offseason,” Ash said. “Many, many analysts believe trading a middle-of-the-order bat for pitching is too one-sided a proposition, given the high risk of pitching.”
As for that pitching, Ash hinted that help from the minor leagues may be a few years away.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Oct 22, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Big Jerk Alert...
Missed 2 Brewer birthdays today —
Bobby Mitchell — who was a Brewer baseball card legend in the the early 70s.

Here is Bobby as a wide-eyed rookie in 1974, note the lack of cool accessories and awesome facial hair… After 2 years in Milwaukee he was transformed into a tribute to badassnessed.

1.) Badass airbrushed helmet? Check
2.) Badass huge glasses? Check
3.) Badass mustache? Check
Also missed Frank DiPino — He got traded for Don Sutton.
One thing I always liked about Jamie Quirk, in 1984, he got picked up by Cleveland, got one PA and hit a HR, for that elusive perfect 5.00 OPS.
Taking shallowness to new depths -- FtJ's blog
by Fatter than Joey on Oct 22, 2009 9:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I'll admit I didn't know either of those guys were Brewers.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DiPino

Traded with Kevin Bass and others to Houston for Don Sutton.
Taking shallowness to new depths -- FtJ's blog
by Fatter than Joey on Oct 22, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know why it annoys me
that people insist on still referring to Alcides Escobar as a ‘prospect’. I know its not that big of a deal. But…really…he’s going to be the starting SS. Why talk about him in any format with relation to the minor leagues?
I guess people who are broadly interested in baseball and the minor leagues might want to know about him in relation to his MiLB experience.
I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."
~Jeff Sackmann
by Charlie Marlow on Oct 22, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, he'll still be a rookie next year, technically.
And he spent most of the season in the minors. At the very least, he was a prospect while he was there…making him eligible to be the top prospect in the PCL this season.
I think Brewerfan.net lists someone as a prospect in their Top 50 until they’ve made enough appearances to no longer be rookie eligible. I think that’s a fair division.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great chat with Gord
This in particular gets me excited. When asked about a T-rats game at MP next year, Gord answered:
Yes, this game is scheduled again for 2010. In fact, in time we would like to broaden this concept to include some of our other Minor League affiliates. Perhaps even a “Futures” type game against another Major League organization in September.
How awesome would that be? Can I buy tickets now?
"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC
by BrewHaHeather on Oct 22, 2009 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That is pure awesome.
Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge
by Bush League All Star on Oct 22, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would pay to see that.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm looking forward to the sporcle (spelling?) game today!
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Oct 22, 2009 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Same here!
"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC
by BrewHaHeather on Oct 22, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jim Callis
JC did a chat in which he brings up the possibility that Bryce Harper falls.
Tim (Durban South Africa)
Could Nationals go with Taillon or Ranaudo over Harper?
Jim Callis (2:12 PM)
Sure they could. I’ll do a column on this at some point, but I don’t think it’s far-fetched to conceive of Bryce Harper falling out of the first round. It’s going to be almost impossible to live up to the hype, and if he falls short and is looking for big money—is Strasburg’s contract a starting point—he may scare off clubs, who know he can re-enter the 2011 and 2012 drafts and still have lots of leverage. It’s also possible that after spending $15.1 million on Strasburg, the Nationals don’t want to spend huge money on another No. 1 overall pick.
I couldn’t imagine him falling out of the first round, unless all the big spenders, all having draft picks later than the Brewers, sign Type A free agents and lose their 1st round pick. But could you imagine the talks we’d be having if he were still on the board when the Brewers pick?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Oct 22, 2009 11:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It would be quite tense I would imagine
Is $20 mil out of hand? Probably. But the Brewers have paid Jeff Suppan $30 mil over the past 3 years to be 1.5 wins above replacement level. He was worth 2.5 wins his first year with the Brewers and -1 over the past two. If they can make that kind of investment, it’d be stupid to pass on a guy like Harper. Maybe there’s a 25% chance he fails out in the minors, a 50% chance he becomes an averagish player in the majors (which would easily justify $20 mil), and 25% chance he becomes a superstar. I would hard-core argue for picking him in that scenario.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
by Jordan M on Oct 22, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As would I.
But I wouldn’t use Jeff Suppan’s contract as justification for it. As a matter of fact, Jeff Suppan’s contract should probably be used to argue against drafting Harper.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Oct 22, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well here's what I'm saying
If you’re willing to give $20 million to a decent free agent, why wouldn’t you be willing to give $20 million to a guy who has the potential to be one of the greatest players of all time? And if the answer is “He might be a bust”, well, I’m pointing out that there have been plenty of contracts given out for more than $20 mil that have provided negative value to the team.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
by Jordan M on Oct 22, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One problem with Bryce
is that he’s really young. By opting for community college, he’s getting himself into the draft a year earlier than high-school picks.
That’s good for him in the long run, but remember that the team that drafts him only cares about his first six years in the bigs.
Now, maybe Harper will be like A-Rod, show up and mash, but if he forces his way to the big leagues by age 19, he’s a FA at 25, with his prime ahead of him. “The potential to be one of the greatest players of all time” is only relevant if you’re buying some of his seasons of greatness.
…all that said, I agree with the general point that teams shouldn’t shy away from spending money on draft picks, and that it’s possible teams should be spending more of their budget to get the best possible amateurs (draft and int’l FA). Just look at how the Angels and Phillies got most of their current stars. And how the Brewers got most of their current players who don’t suck.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 22, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
unfortunately, i can't rec comments while i'm on my blackberry
So I’ll have to settle for ackowledging that this is a great point.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2009 3:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I rec'ed for you
So you owe me one, buster.
"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 Oct 22, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder
Let’s say he’s 25 and at the cusp of his greatness. Doesn’t the team that signed him have a better chance of re-signing him than team X? I’d think if you wanted Bryce at said cusp, you’d be more likely to get him by signing him than not.
Kind of like with Fielder: right now, if you were to give each team odds on having Prince suit up for them in 2012, would the Brewers be the odds-on favorite? I don’t know this to be true, but I’d assume it would be the Brewers by a decent margin over the Yankees/Red Sox, and a wide margin over everyone else.
"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 Oct 22, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
depends on who team a is.
If it’s the right market and a team that can afford a $100 million payroll, then maybe he gives a discount to stay. But if the Yankees want him, and their top competition is someone like the twins or marlins, I don’t think there’s a chance.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2009 3:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I suppose that's true
Just the same, who can say what a team’s payroll will be between when a player is drafted and when he’s a free agent?
"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 Oct 22, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right...
…I wonder how many stars (however one defines “star”) end up resigning with their original team. (Or signs a long-term deal like Braun’s or Longoria’s.)
I’m not sure how much one should factor that in to draft value calculations.
The extreme positive example is Pujols. He signed a huge extension and will probably sign another, but he’s worth even more than all that money.
The Pujols factor is something that I’m going to figure out at some point. Because roster spots are limited and plate appearances are even more limited, the value of having one massively productive player (think top five, Albert, Mauer, ARod; Prince is on the cusp right now) is probably more than WAR (or pick yer metric) says it is. Getting 50 HRs from one guy is better than getting 25 HRs (or maybe even 30) from two different guys, because that 50 HR guy gives you more flexibility to build around, and of course leaves another roster spot / lineup spot open.
Even by WAR standards, somebody every year is at or near 10 WAR, which should be worth $50MM. Almost double what ARod gets.
Those guys probably are worth a few mil in merchandising and putting butts in seats, too. If the “face” of your team is a massively good baseball player and homegrown, that makes selling the product much easier from year to year.
So…obviously it’s ridiculous at this point to talk about the possibility that Harper is one of the top five players in baseball in 2016, and what effect that would have on his value at the 15th spot in the 2010 draft, but it’s a more quantifiable way of thinking about the value of an “impact” player.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 24, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Braun Misses Super Two Status
The service time cutoff for Super 2 status in 2007 has been calculated at 2 years 141 days. The linked article mentions that Mark Reynolds was called up on May 16, 2007 and missed the cutoff by 3 days.
Not mentioned in the article is that Ryan Braun was not called up until May 25, 2007. This means that he will not receive the escaltor in his contract and the Brewers will save $6 million between 2010 and 2013.
Here’s the link:
by Brew Believer on Oct 22, 2009 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Good Find.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Oct 22, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
$6 million!
That’s half a Suppan!
"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 Oct 22, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs





























