Although I hate paying for people to NOT be on the team, bringing Looper back would mean having two batting-practice ex-Cardinals in the #4 and #5 spot, each with an ERA over 5 from 2009. (Appropriately, the first syllable of their last names kind of rhymes with “oops.” I’m thinking of calling them both Oops from now on.) I haven’t really been on the Fire Doug Melvin bandwagon that much yet, but having those two anchor (not in the good way) the rotation in 2010 might just get him fired.

do not resign Cameron(bet you did not see that one coming) Looper Kendall

Try to move Hardy and maybe even Parra I think both need to be moved on.

See what you could get for Prince but also talk to the Prince Of Darkness and see if a long term deal can be worked out with Prince.

try and figure out a way to keep Lopez and find a position for him to play maybe in Centerfield I believe Lopez has played some outfield and Upton in Tampa made the move from 2nd to Center yes he is younger but I do not want to lose Lopez as out lead off man.

Oh and I would get rid of Macha I have no idea who I would replace him with yet. But Macha must go.

the one major problem is the lack of FA pitching out there that is why deal trading Hardy is going to have to be a work of art by the Mustache that is his best option to get some pitching

Oh and speaking of pitching I would let Weathers go did not really like what I saw from him.

And just for fun I would at least try and see what it would cost us to get Dave Duncan to come to Milwaukee and be our pitching coach I know that is a long shot since he is on the short list to replace Bobbie Cox in Atlanta.

Here is my opening day 2010 line up and batting order

C Lopez
2nd Weeks
LF Braun
1st Prince
3rd McGhee
R Hart
C Rivera
P pitchers spot
SS Escobar

Starting rotation is Yo and the Albatross Suppan(last year of his deal huzzah) Bush and ?? and ???

Try and bring Hoffman back for one year

that is my hopes for this offseason

Here’s how it will go down…. make a bid on some big name all star right away. Lose to , he will publicly cry foul about market size determines the good clubs. Then do lipservice to internal options but already know he’ll extend looper.

Pick up Loopers options. He will then extend Looper and use the following two lines.
14 Game Winner. He’s a gamer and know how to win.
He was injured last year with a bum knee, we expect him to improve.

Looper’s option will be picked up complete with quotes about him being hurt all season and ready to go next spring. Lopez will be offered arbitration but otherwise allowed to leave. Cameron will be offered arbitration and a deal for next season. Weathers’ option will be declined but an attempt will be made to bring him back at a cheaper salary. Counsell and Hoffman will be offered one year deals. Claudio Vargas will look to sign elsewhere.

Kendall will be brought back on a cheap deal because he’s a veteran who knows how to handle a pitching staff (handle it right to the bottom of the league in pitching!). Rivera will not be offered arbitration and, as such, will be allowed to leave. He’ll be replaced by one of the cheap career backups floating around the hot stove. Hardy will be traded, as will Angel Salome. One of Mat Gamel or Casey McGehee will also be traded and, it would frustrate me, but it will probably be Gamel. The trade(s) will bring back pitchers who aren’t exactly thrilling. Weeks will be inked in as the starting second baseman.

Burns and Dillard will also be wished farewell. Iribarren will make it to spring training and be waived because he’s out of options. He’ll probably clear but who knows. If there is a rotation crunch next spring, Dave Bush may be the odd man out. He started 2007 and 2008 (sent to minors!) badly, was awful last season and will be the cheapest guy not named Gallardo or Parra. So, bulldog or not, he could be cut at the end of spring training a la Vargas.

Keep Macha.
Keep Looper.
Keep Kendall.
Sign Doug Davis.
Keep Gerut and start him in CF.
Let Cameron walk.
Let Lopez walk.
Deal Hardy for for a couple of relievers, or perhaps one reliever an a AAA depth starter.
Sign Hoffman.

The opening day rotation next year will be Gallardo, Davis, Suppan, Parra, Looper. Bush will either start the year in long relief or be sent down. Gamel will open at AAA. Macha’s opening day lineup will be:

Weeks 2nd
Escobar SS
Braun LF
Fielder 1st
McGehee 3b
Gerut CF
Hart RF
Kendall C
Gallardo P

I’m pretty sure Counsell will be on the bench, but other than that I’m not sure. I don’t think they’ll deal Gamel, though it won’t be for lack of trying. In the end I don’t think Melvin will be happy with what he’s offered in return and he’ll opt to pursue Davis instead. There will be plenty of discussion about how they almost signed or traded for a big name, but it will never be clear who that was, and Melvin will give numerous interviews about: 1) How much he likes this team; 2) How much confidence he has in Macha; and 3) How there just weren’t any opportunities to make a bigger splash in the offseason.

… that there will be no announcement on Macha and then, around December or so, Melvin will mention casually in an interview that he gave him a 2 year extension?

Macha back 2010 with a 2011 option. All others back except Bosio and Klyes. Not sure why Kyles. But my guess they are all fall guys.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: 14 wins is the most on the ballclub!

Plus, now The Mustache has a convenient excuse in Looper’s knee issues. He’s already making excuses for Macha and how “difficult” the situation was for him this season.

Please, Mark A., wake up and smell that coffee!

But I’d let Cameron go, let Gerut play center for cheaper, and Gerut’s a prime candidate for a bounceback year.

I’d also keep Kendall next year, and let him and Salome platoon with each other… Kendall could certainly teach Salome a thing or two, since catching doesn’t seem to come naturally to Angel.

Trade Hardy during the offseason, and move Gamel to RF… trade Hart during midseason so that Gamel can get some RF reps in AAA and learn the position a little better. Keep the IF Counsell/McGehee-Escobar-Weeks-Fielder.

As for pitching, don’t pick up Looper’s option, as you can find an equally good (bad) pitcher for cheaper than $5.5m. Try your hardest to give Suppan away for whatever you can get.

In an effort to boost the starting pitching, the Brewers sign Carl Pavano….

stroke his mustache in a thoughtful manner, and then package up hardy and gamel for some hoo hum SP. probably move bush to the bullpen. hopefully retain narveson, deal mcclung, and be on the lookout for gritty former rangers to put on the bench.

1.) Retain Macha?

What DM will do — DM hates “lame duck managers” — so Macha will get some sort of extension/option for 2011. So Macha is not a “lame duck”.
What DM should do — Fire Macha, and tender his own resignation.

2.) Pick up option on Looper.

What DM will do — Looper won twice as many games as he lost, so DM will declare Looper to be a valuable part of 2010, and pick up the option.
What DM should do — Declare that wins are a stupid stat to judge a pitcher on, refuse Looper’s option, and then tender his own resignation.

3.) JJ Hardy —

What DM will do — I think DM, had his mind made up Hardy was not going to be a part of the 2010 when he sent JJ down to AAA. JJ will be traded to the highest bidder, even though the Brewers have little leverage, and we will get a crappy SP for JJ.
What DM should do — Look to see if Escobar can net us a better return, and then tender his resignation, allowing his replacement to handle the negotiations.

4.) Mike Cameron —

What DM will do — I think DM acquired Gerut in the hopes that he could replace Cameron, that said, I also think DM doesn’t want to let Cameron go and let the fans think we are giving up on 2010, I think DM signs Cam to a contract.
What DM should do – I do not see the point in the Brewers retaining Cameron with a staff of Looper/Parra/Bush/Suppan, I think the smart thing to do if you are DM, is let Cameron walk w/o offering Arby’s and take your lumps in 2010.. and then of course tender your resignation.

5.) Lopez -
What DM will do - If Weeks is still hurt and shaky for 2010 I think DM will offer Lopez Arby’s with the hope Lopez accepts. If Weeks is 100% healthy I think DM still offers Lopez Arbys, and Lopez will accept, creating a zim-zam for Macha.
What DM should do — If Weeks is healthy, do not offer Lopez Arby’s, if Weeks is not ready for 2010, offer Lopez Arby’s and then tender your resignation, so DM and Gord Ash can finally produce their 2 man “tribute to Tor Johnson”, in Canada’s finest theaters.

6.) Kendall -
What DM will do - Like that Jim Belushi sitcom, I think Kendall will keep coming back and back and back and back for no apparent sensible reason.
What DM should do — Issue a restraining order against Kendall preventing him from coming within 150 ft of Miller Park Home Plate in a Brewer uniform. Then DM should photoshop some pictures of him and Gord Ash pounding Budweiser at Busch stadium.

someone will need to go. Gallardo and Suppan have two spots (unless they can somehow miraculously trade Suppan) nailed down.

1) DM will pick up Looper’s option.
2) DM will put in a second-tier offer for John Lackey.
3) DM will wait for Lackey to accept an offer with the Mets or Angels.
4) DM will overpay for Jarrod Washburn (3 years/$25-30MM)
5) DM will package Hardy, Parra, and others for an Atlanta Braves pitcher.

- Gerut will Start in Center, I have no idea what he will do with the Catcher spot.