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Around SBN: Full Coverage of 2012 Coke 600

Pretty Much Standing Pat

It looks like the biggest news of the day is the acquisition of Claudio Vargas, and I'm sure that's plenty underwhelming to most. Vargas is a good bet to outproduce replacement-level pitchers like Mike Burns in the rotation, and the cost was just a minor-league utility player in Vinny Rottino-- who has little value to the Brewer organization right now (maybe he'll resurface as a coach in a few seasons, who knows). 

It's been a frustrating few months to watch ineffective starting pitching, but I think Doug Melvin made the right choice here to not go out and buy a rental for the rest of this season. He investigated adding a pitcher who could be around for 2010, but it appears that was not exactly feasible. Without a deal for a stud pitcher like Cliff Lee or Halladay, Melvin made an offer for Brian Bannister of the Royals and was probably in extensive discussions for other pitchers. Things apparently just didn't work out.

In all it's probably not a bad strategy. Struggling at 3.5 games out right now, there's a chance the Brewers rally and make the playoffs but a 1 win upgrade for the rest of the season wasn't worth losing one of the nearly MLB-ready prospects. The options were probably to go for it all-out, stand pat, or get someone who isn't just a rental-- and I'm glad they didn't burn a valuable piece on a moderate upgrade like Washburn.

So where do we stand now? A pretty much straight-up average team looking to get hot and back into the playoff race. It's not out of the question to see a .500 team catch some breaks and win more games than should be expected. And there's still a chance to add another starter in August through the waiver deadline.

And at worst, the Brewers totally fall out of contention and start experimenting for next season. Gamel and Escobar will be ready to fill full-time major league roles at the start of next season, and the only major free-agents are Hoffman, Cameron, Kendall, and Looper. This team will have a ton of valuable trading chips in the offseason and will probably be able to acquire a starting pitcher to make this team a very realistic contender. Beyond those top two prospects, the catching duo of Salome and Lucroy, as well as Green and Cain, will play a role in the 2010 season-- maybe as major league contributors, and maybe as trade pieces. 

So though it's disappointing as a fan when the answer to "Buy or sell?" is "Neither!", it's hard for me to complain. My main hope is that Vargas and pitchers like Burns don't end up blocking someone like Nick Green, a righty starter at AAA who is recovering from an injury but has put up his usual 6:2 strikeout to walk rate at AAA while getting a pretty healthy amount of ground balls. Guys like Green, Chris Cody, and Chase Wright should get chances to pitch in the majors until Suppan and Bush are able to pitch again.

So to wrap up, Vargas is a pretty solid stopgap. He's not going to give you many innings, but he has solid skills, strikes out quite a few batters, and doesn't walk all that many despite his tendency to nibble at the strike zone. Whether he's used as a reliever or starter, he's a free major league arm with a track record of a little success, and he was obtained for free. And maybe there is a chance he becomes more effective, he's always had good stuff, featuring a low 90s fastball, a quailty slider and a decent change. He's not the guy we were looking for or the guy Doug Melvin was looking for, but he's a decent arm for free, so it's hard to complain.

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So it’s pretty much a guarantee that Hardy will be traded in the offseason to make room for Escobar. Hoffman has already said that if he comes back in 2010, he wants to stay with the Brewers, so it will be interesting to see if we bring him back, along with other veterans such as Looper and Counsell.
Another interesting note, is what will the Brewers do at 3B. Gamel will be ready to play everyday, but McGehee also deserves playing time if he continues to produce this year. I wouldn’t mind seeing Hart traded in order to make room for one of them in the OF. And of course center field will be a huge hole.

by Aceinyourhole on Jul 31, 2009 2:42 PM CDT reply actions  

From a McCalvy article on mlb.com
It’s too early to talk about whether there might be more seasons, though Hoffman, who will turn 42 in October, did say that if he pitches in 2010, he would like it to be in Milwaukee.

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090730&content_id=6150944&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

by Aceinyourhole on Jul 31, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Hilarious
Hoffman’s big brother, Glenn, is the Padres’ third-base coach, so Trevor will try to arrive early enough to commandeer the parking spot marked “HOFFMAN.”

"Cubs suck. I own them" -Doug Davis

by Metagen on Jul 31, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

im happy with what the brewers have done

if we went in BUY mode, we only MIGHT make the playoffs, which would be great, but this and last year has been a hell of a lot of fun. Go into SELL mode and it take the air out of the rest of the season. I will admit that I wasnt really even an MLB fan until we got an owner that was willing to spend a little dough. The Brewers feel like a real ball club now and the franchise is getting the respect it fought hard for. I’m proud to wear brewers gear and not feel like im wearing it for the logo. I agree with Trevor that we have the pieces in place to make a run for the playoffs and Im glad we didnt freak out to over pay and take risks. This year doesnt warrant it and with injuries piling up on other teams, in no way are we out of the hunt.
GO BREW CREW!

::Another 95% plus FanGraphs win goes right down the fucking tubes:: Indians fan after Prince's Grand Salami

by Wizzyconsin on Jul 31, 2009 2:47 PM CDT reply actions  

My question:

If we’re going to have “a ton of valuable trading chips” this offseason, how come we don’t now?

by Mykenk on Jul 31, 2009 3:00 PM CDT reply actions  

Is Escobar ready?

We do have a lot of valuable trading chips. Did you want to trade them for Jarrod Washburn or another guy who’s gone after the year? I’d rather get someone this offseason.

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Jul 31, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

The starting infield and corner outfield are under contract

There are two top prospects that will be ready, plus Cain, Green, and the two catchers right behind them. There’s a lot of room for some moves.

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Jul 31, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

Trading in the Offseason

I think the Brewers can get more value out of someone like Hardy at the end of the season because either he’ll have the chance to go on a hot streak to get his value up, or teams won’t be considering immediate performance as much

by drezdn on Jul 31, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions  

Because trading everyday starters like Hardy, in the middle of the season, would really hurt team chemistry, on a team that still has a chance to make the playoffs.

by Aceinyourhole on Jul 31, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think they're valuable now,

but they’ll be more valuable in the off-season, when you’re not just dealing with the handful of teams that are looking to add a piece to make a post-season push. More teams involved in the trade market in the off-season, is what I’m trying to say (though I’m apparently having a hard time spitting it out).

by Rubie Q on Jul 31, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

So... if Rivera is catching Parra now...

what happens when Bush returns? Will Rivera also remain his catcher? If that’s the case, then Rivera gets ~40-45% of starts the rest of the way.

I haven’t seen anyone ask Macha that question.

by RobertArthur on Jul 31, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions  

Haudricourt's twitter:
Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he tried to do something bigger than Claudio Vargas but it didn’t happen. Sounds like he wanted Washburn.

by Aceinyourhole on Jul 31, 2009 3:54 PM CDT reply actions  

Could be referring to the Bannister offer as well....

BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.

by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 31, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

n00b Question

What’s Haudricourt’s twitter link? I can’t seem to find it.

What was with Kendall's shaved head?....looks like a fist with eyes.
scsteve (Pirates fan)

Correction: Jason Kendall IS a fist with eyes.
Derek (Brewers fan)

by bluejazz04 on Jul 31, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

@Haudricourt

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

by TheJay on Jul 31, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions  

*facepalm*

What was with Kendall's shaved head?....looks like a fist with eyes.
scsteve (Pirates fan)

Correction: Jason Kendall IS a fist with eyes.
Derek (Brewers fan)

by bluejazz04 on Jul 31, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

Nice analysis.

I agree. We’ve got a good enough team that they could make it interesting in these last months, but there was no trade out there that seemed like a good deal for us. Will be interesting to watch how McGehee plays for the rest of the year and what his role will be next season.

by Cervercero on Jul 31, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions  

I really like McGehee

With McGehee, Counsell and Lopez all batting and getting on base fairly well, things are going to get even more crowded next year with Weeks coming back (unsure of this but Lopez was only one year deal?), I guess Counsell may not be around, Gamel may be back up, Irbarren is currently up unless he was sent back down in all of this pitching back and forths… it’s going to be a crowded infield for options even before considering Escobar/Hardy

It’s exciting, but I don’t want McGehee to be the one lost in the shuffle, he’s been fun to watch this season and I hope he keeps that up (and I know all talk of his catching days are forbidden… but…)

by pharom on Jul 31, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

Though so

It still feels far too early to get excited for next year, because I’m still overly hopeful for this season. Seeing Weeks back with the guys slapping hands after a win is awesome though, really wanted this to finally be his breakout season but eh, shit happens =(

by pharom on Jul 31, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

McGehee and DeFelice

Have been my favorites. Nice to see guys finally make it and perform better than expectations.

What was with Kendall's shaved head?....looks like a fist with eyes.
scsteve (Pirates fan)

Correction: Jason Kendall IS a fist with eyes.
Derek (Brewers fan)

by bluejazz04 on Jul 31, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

Vargas to be used in relief

Says Melvin, so hopefully he’s as good getting out of other pitcher’s jams as he is at getting into and out of his own.

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

by TheJay on Jul 31, 2009 5:45 PM CDT reply actions  

Unlike the Brewers

He’s had a fairly impressive July

by pharom on Jul 31, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions  

He'll wear #50

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

by TheJay on Jul 31, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

46 should be available

According to your sidebar Chase Wright wore it though

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Jul 31, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

Game notes say #50

Maybe he wanted it the first time around but Spurling wouldn’t give it up.

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

by TheJay on Jul 31, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

I wouldn't mess with Spurling either

E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).

by Jordan M on Jul 31, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

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