Thursday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 1, 2011 10:37 AM CST
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSome things to read while making new friends.
We're 79 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale, and you can add one enigmatic Brewer to the list of people expected to attend: Tom Haudricourt tweeted yesterday that Zach Braddock is expected to rejoin the team this spring after missing nearly all of the 2011 season with vaguely identified issues (FanShot). Noah profiled Braddock yesterday as part of our Brewer-by-Brewer look at the 2011 season.
If Braddock can contribute to the bullpen next season, it'll make Doug Melvin's job a little easier this winter. Baseball America named Melvin their 2011 Executive of the Year this week.
Here are today's Prince Fielder notes:
- Miller Park Drunk continued their weeklong attempt to overhype Ryan Braun by saying the Brewers don't need Fielder because they still have the 2011 NL MVP.
- Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports thinks the Blue Jays could make a big splash this winter by signing Fielder.
Christina Kahrl of ESPN has a look at each NL Central team and notes on three things they need to fix this winter. The Brewers' three things should come as no surprise: first base, shortstop and the bullpen.
In the minors:
- Carlos Gomez was one of seven Brewers in action last night and went 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base in Aguilas' 7-6, 12 inning win over Escogido. You can read about that and more in today's Winter League Notes.
- This morning's edition of Offseason Notes shows that Caleb Gindl has dropped to seventh among Venezuelan batters in Carson Cistulli's SCOUT stat. Gindl's contract with his VWL team has expired.
Around baseball:
Cubs: Signed outfielder David DeJesus to a two year, $10 million deal.
Dodgers: Infielder Adam Kennedy's new contract will pay him $800,000 in 2012.
Phillies: Signed pitchers Brian Sanches and Scott Elarton and outfielder Scott Podsednik to minor league deals.
Rockies: Acquired pitcher Tyler Chatwood from the Angels for catcher Chris Iannetta and signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a two year, $6.5 million deal.
Royals: Designated infielder Jeff Bianchi for assignment.
Tigers: Signed infielder Ramon Santiago to a two year, $4 million deal.
Today in former Brewers: There are two Brewers among the first-timers on the 2012 Hall of Fame ballot. I could tell you who they are, but I don't want to give away the answers to today's Thursday Thinker.
Elsewhere in former Brewer-related things: The Outside Corner listed the interlocking logo the Brewers used from 1994-99 as one of the ten worst of all time. I'm still the only person who liked it, apparently.
If you've got a moment today and feel like prognosticating, FanGraphs' 2012 fan projection ballots are now open. I'm planning on filling mine out sometime soon.
We've already established that the Brewers aren't in the market for a Japanese shortstop, which is good because this one apparently isn't interested in them: Former Softbank Hawk Munenori Kawasaki intends to become a free agent this winter, but says he'll only sign with the Mariners.
Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement is the gift that keeps on giving...confusing new clauses and strange procedural changes. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has a look at one new addition, the "Competitive Balance Lottery" that could assign extra draft picks to the Brewers starting in 2013.
This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History commemorates the eighth anniversary of the 2003 trade that sent Richie Sexson to the Diamondbacks for six players, including Chris Capuano. Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's also been 6000 days since Paul Molitor's 200th home run.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to eat again.
Drink up.
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I like the sound of "competitive balance lottery"
Wish I knew what it meant though. And this is baseball, after all, so it will probably end up helping the big fish somehow.
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
It helps the small teams only
In that the only ones eligible for it are small market and small payroll teams.
At best it helps those teams get an extra early draft pick, so its something.
Brewers are eligible
Its really amazing what Melvin has been able to do with a team in such a small market
Get a ife broseph
Well Jack Z drafted very well offensively
And then the trades from last year for pitching helped out, but it will be interesting to see if he sticks around past this year, and what happens with the depleted farm system.
No kidding
Remarkable that Melvin led a team in the smallest(?) market to 96 wins, its the stuff that books like Moneyball are written about. Am curious to see how Melvin builds around the core he’s assembled.
Get a ife broseph
Milwaukee moved ahead of Cincinnati
According to this.
So second smallest, I guess.
by The Left Button on Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
"but it will be interesting to see if he sticks around past this year"
¿que?
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Dec 1, 2011 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
The fact that he hasn't been renewed tells me
He wants to go elsewhere, possibly after taking a year off. After sucking the marrow out of the minors I wouldn’t want to stick around either.
I'm guessing they are working on an extension.
And that’s why they haven’t been very active on the free agent market yet.
Maybe, but its not like farm systems can't be rebuilt in a year or two
Just two years ago, via BA:
28. Blue Jays: Toronto would be No. 30 if not for last summer’s Scott Rolen trade, which brought needed pitching talent from the Reds. Toronto’s top hitters, such as infielders Justin Jackson and Kevin Ahrens and catcher J.P. Arencibia, had poor seasons in 2009, and the Jays also failed to sign three of their first four draft picks this year.
29. Cardinals: Ranked eighth last spring, St. Louis traded away both star power and depth in 2009 in acquiring Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa. What’s left is a bunch of role players and 2009 first-rounder Shelby Miller, a promising right-hander but a prep pitcher who has yet to play a full season.
Get a ife broseph
Different CBA now though, the route the Jays took is closed
The Cards drafted well and have a couple promising IFAs that have come through that were picked up with good money. The Jays have had stupid numbers of supplemental picks due to exploiting the elias rankings and have been one of the two most active teams internationally the past two years, and also traded away Halladay and Marcum in that period to grab talent.
CBA prevents you from trading for minor leaguers?
I don’t know, that seemes to be a supporting argument to the title. The point made is that is gives teams like the Brewers to opportunity to add more draft picks, thereby stocking their farm systems faster. I don’t see how that hurts their chances of drafting players to stock their minor leagues?
Ok, maybe it wasn't the SPECIFIC point that was made...
but you see where I’m going here: Quick farm system turnarounds shouldn’t be precluded by the new CBA.
I could be more difficult
But we don’t know the specific caps on spending, what impact it will have on talent going to college, what ways agents will work around it, etc.
At least at this point, you could argue the new CBA helps quick farm system turnarounds just as much as you could argue it hurts them.
Get a ife broseph
The new CBA does prevent a lot of things the Blue Jays did
with the requirement that a player has to be with a team an entire season to net comp. picks.
The Blue Jays stocked up on A & B players mid-season just for the picks—like this year’s otherwise bizarre Kelly Johnson/Aaron Hill swap.
by The Left Button on Dec 1, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
Which is theoretically balanced by this lottery. ST makes a good point about the level of talent in regards to the spending caps, but I don’t feel that’s going to be as pronounced as some fear.
You (sardonically) said "CBA prevents you from trading for minor leaguers?"
By knocking down the value (rather substantially) of midseason trades, it effectively does.
by The Left Button on Dec 1, 2011 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldnt go that far
An extra pick after round 1 or two doesnt really make up for the ability of a small market team to load up on bonus blowing contracts to later round draft picks or the international market.
My guess is that the spending cap is going to be pretty painful for teams like the Royals, Pirates and Blue Jays that have beneffited greatly from the ability to gain an advantage by offering big deals to players who fell in the draft because of signability concerns.
The Jays get off a little lighter
as they drastically increased their scouting staff two years back, and thus have more information than the other teams (the Rays have also done this). This has them in the position to find a few more bargains, and could put them ahead. For the other teams though, yes it’s going to be tough going.
I’d also throw the Rockies/Texas in the hard hit section along with a few teams who specialised in the international market. The new CBA really effects the value of the big latin american systems (especially the prospect logging requirements).
by TtD on Dec 1, 2011 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
It's still possible with the lottery to get some comp. picks
but the Jays were using it to the point of having five or six extra picks each year (they could have three first rounders, four supplemental picks this coming draft for instance).
The rebuilding game has now become a question of best scouting wins, with the ability to get value from the budget being the key gain (rather than the throw money approach of some teams). The $2.9 international budget could get you only one big certainty signing, or with good scouting you can sign a dozen $100k-$300k guys and rebuild your farm. Same with the draft, it will be a question of getting best balue with your picks.
by TtD on Dec 1, 2011 1:29 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, the Jays really get screwed here.
AA had some really great strategies for competing in the AL East, most of which are now gone.
And they’re not eligible for the lottery picks.
Hmm, MLB working to ensure the dominance of the Yankees and Red Sox? How odd.
by The Left Button on Dec 1, 2011 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Want to upgrade at 3B?
Supposedly Macier Izturis was part of the Ianetta to the Angels deal until Chatwood entered the picture.
He is locked up for $3.5 million next year, and the Angels might want an arm for their rottion now.
Marcum for Izturis straight up probably works if they are desperate for an arm, especially if they cant land Wilson.
Not as good of a deal as Marcum for Alonso would be, but it upgrades a position (3b or even ss) for a season, and you attempt to slide Peralta into the rotation right from the get go.
What scares me about this is that he’s never played a full season. His 122 games last year were a career high, and he played in fewer than 80 games in 2 of the last 4 years. I’m not opposed to trading Marcum while his value is high and letting somebody else eat the big contract he might get after next season, but I think they can get more than somebody who hovers around a 100 OPS+ and hasn’t been able to stay in the lineup. Trading value for need has never rarely seemed to work out for the Brewers, and by nature dilutes the talent base.
And assuming he can't play SS full-time
You’re looking at an upside of a 1.5-2.0 WAR player at 3B, which is probably pretty close to what McG/Green/Hairston/bum off the street can give them without trading Marcum.
Get a ife broseph
Wow
Just realized that when I read that about Izturis, I thought the guy they were talking about was Aybar.
If you put Aybar and Izturis together though, they about make up a decent one year trade for Marcum. The big question would be if the Angels could replace the entire left side of their infield then with prospects or Free Agents.
the $8.5 million in salary relief may give them enough ot sign Jimmy Rollins perhaps and the Brewers could throw in Casey McGehee for good measure, allowing a Brewer infield of Izturis, Aybar, Weeks, whoever at 1B, and subs Green and JHJ if they brought him back.
the only way the last scenario works out though is if you feel Peralta can give you 2 extra wins, which wouldnt be a huge stretch of the imagination, and Aybar/Izturis exceed the production that Marcum gives you. All in all the team comes out projected 2 wins better than if they did nothing.
McGehee/Marcum for Aybar/Izturis?
That doesn’t seem like something that would happen in real life, just seems like finding 4 guys and trying to match up WARs.
Get a ife broseph
It could work if you put certain scenarios in place
both of which are viable….
1) Jimmy Rollins signs with Angels
2) The Angels dont sign CJ Wilson and need a starting pitcher
Well yeah
Also put in the scenario that the Brewers don’t find a SS before all that goes down, don’t trade any pitchers, are OK with the depth they have, etc etc.
If all that happens on both ends, this trade can totally work.
Get a ife broseph
3B? Maicer Izturis could be our starting SS.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 1:30 PM CST up reply actions
Marcum is way too much though, come on.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 1:30 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, Marcum for Izturis would be ridiculous.
by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 1, 2011 1:35 PM CST up reply actions
In the end, this seems like a Lawrie for Izturis deal.
Crappy trade.
You gotta eat lightning and crap thunder, Plush!
by brewersfanatic on Dec 1, 2011 2:45 PM CST up reply actions
I think trading Marcum for Izturis is silly as well
But they can’t be afraid to trade a guy because of a previous trade (and I don’t think they are).
Get a ife broseph
It's not just Lawrie for Izturis
It would be Lawrie for one year of Marcum plus x years of Izturis (don’t know how long he’s under control for).
Still not good value, but that’s the proper way to look at it.
The old logo
You are not alone. I like it to. I have a poster with it on my rec room wall even
by Saberilliterate on Dec 1, 2011 12:50 PM CST reply actions
@Kevin_Goldstein
The #Brewers have signed former (and troubled) #Rangers OF Miguel Velazquez
Can he play SS?
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Shrug.
He’s 23, has never played above A ball and didn’t play anywhere last season. He probably fills a roster spot in Brevard County next year.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
Well yeah, nobody is expecting him to be in the major leagues in 2012...
But it is a good minor league signing for someone with a lot of upside.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
BBTIA (Rangers prospect site) in 2010:
Body type: Athletic with strong, muscular build; proportioned. Frame could hold additional bulk; lower-half could carry extra/bad weight as player ages.
Intangibles: Documented history of off-the field-issues. On the field, the player looks mature; responds to instruction. Noticeably competitive.
Abilities: Five-tool label with good combination of actualized tools and projection. At the plate, the hit tool shows some promise, with contact ability and barrel awareness. Starts with high hands and has a smooth, downward drift in the load phase, allowing for a quick path to the ball; fast trigger. Picks up the ball very well from LHP and gets excellent extension on balls out over the plate. Power is best raw tool, with fringe plus-plus potential. Uses raw strength, quick hands, and fluid hips to generate bat speed. Swing has natural loft allowing for good carry and HR potential. Hands might be best physical attribute at the plate. On defense, shows athleticism and instincts for RF; glove projects to be slightly above-average with solid-average range. Arm is plus with smooth glove-to-hand transfer, good carry and throwing mechanics allowing for plus accuracy projection. Speed is deceiving; slower out of the box with ~4.3 times to 1B, but slightly above-average present speed on the bases and in the OF.
Weaknesses: Missed entire ’08 season due to off-the-field issues; playing developmental catch-up. Five-tool potential, but only possesses one well-above average tool projection. Hit tool is currently fringe-average, with some mechanical flaws; body tends to stay too tall, with a stiff back. Plate discipline shows some promise, but pitch recognition skills need refinement; aggressive approach makes hitter susceptible to off-speed pitches, especially from RHP. Struggles to recover from bad guesses, which forces swing mechanics to breakdown causing upper-body swings and lunges. His leg kick can still get too high, affecting timing and balance. On defense, uses athleticism well, but needs to refine routes and angles. Limited to RF at higher levels because of average speed/first-step quickness.
Conclusion: Didn’t change OFP grade. Velazquez projects to have average-to-above average tools across the board; his hit tool, plate discipline, speed, and range all project to be major league average, his arm is plus, and his power has fringe plus-plus potential. Although his future projections all grade out as average or above, Velazquez will need to work hard to fully develop as a player, especially at the plate. His swing and pitch recognition skills need to improve in order to find success against better pitching at the higher levels. Tool-based grade: 56; first-division starter at the major league level.
Scoutingthesally.com in 2011:
Admittedly, I might be in the minority on this as a scout asked around and found Velazquez was considered a 55-60 all-around player by some.
However, his peak to me is as a fourth outfielder or starter on a second division team if his development is uninterrupted from here on out which is a mighty big IF. A more likely scenario is Velazquez becoming a AA/AAA player who sticks around for a number of years who maybe has a few isolated cups of coffee at the big league level.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
“Off the field issues” = being “sentenced to three years’ probation in Puerto Rico for an incident in which his brother shot a man who’d tried to kill their sister”
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I wouldn't exactly classify that as the standard "off the field issues"
Let somebody try to kill my sister and see what happens. Maybe that’s just me.
I got goons.
by Dikembe Meiztombo on Dec 1, 2011 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
How did the Angels take a pitcher who walked 4.5/9 and struck out 4.7/9 last season
and turn him into one of the better hitting catchers (and a positional black hole for them) in the league?
He's a 21 year old
Top prospect with nice velocity and the upside of a top of the rotation starter. The guy was thrust into the rotation very early and obviously had some growing pains. My assumption is that they are going to groom him for a closers role.
I thought most "would be" closers would strike out more than 7.6/9 in the minors
In fact if you look at his preformance in A+ and above he only struckout 6.3/9.
I know he has been rushed through the minor leagues but his numbers do not bode well for having to pitch at Coors
That picture of Braddock looks a little too much like Jeff Suppan
I freaked out for a second.
My goodness.
Buster Olney just tweeted:
“MILW last formal offer to Prince Fielder was 5/100, but as part of current talks, they’ve let it be known that they could stretch to 6/120.”
and
“Keep in mind MILW/Fielder talks — it’s a fluid situation, and MILW is probably in play unless somebody offers in the 170-200 range.”
link:
by kotsaythebuzzkill on Dec 1, 2011 4:11 PM CST reply actions
If they sign Fielder
Someone gets traded……
Hart maybe? And then you have to worry about 2013 forward with 4 and 5 players accounting for around $60 million in payroll and more.
I don't think there's any chance they re-sign Fielder, even at 5/$100
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 6:17 PM CST up reply actions
So unless some team offers either 7 years at atleast $25million per year
Or a team goes to 8 years (which what I think Boras is looking for) then the Brewers have a small chance of signing him.
Personally I think that he will get closer to 25million than 20 and therefore it will all come down to which team offers him the longest deal. Initially I thought a 7 year $168 million contract would be about what would be needed to get him to sign but maybe the lack of most of the big payroll teams needing a 1B (apart from the Cubs) will keep the price down a bit. I guess we will know more after the winter meetings next week.
NPB Tracker / sanspo.com says that the Brewers will bid on Nakajima after all
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Dec 1, 2011 4:43 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Google Translate says
NEW YORK, May 30, 11 (December 01, Japan time) – the Major League Brewers, posting system (bidding) Infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima on Seibu aims to measure transfer (29) found that the move to acquire . December 02 at 5:00 pm EST (7:00 am Japan time the same 3 days) before the deadline for bid.
Dark horse appeared. Active army is now clear, solid infielder Uni Esqui shortstop option Court was positive (29) has already waived the right to contract extension. Mets infielder from Hosereiesu of FA (28) Because of the difficulties negotiating with these big shortstop, caught Nakajima seems to work.
Some pipe. Mr. Gregg served as a representative of Gen ski Nakajima, All-Star second baseman second baseman Rickie Weeks forces are active (29) is also a customer. GM Dagumerubin active military (59) and there’s a hotline.
Active military baseman Prince Fielder is a big gun (27) is concentrated in the FA transfer. There is sufficient money than usual reinforcement. Such bids are expected for the Giants, is up to the amount you can bid. But only after waiting for the results.
On this day, attended the convention Nakajima professional baseball, “I can say nothing from nothing is not decided yet,” said Todometa to.
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Dec 1, 2011 4:44 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs
"solid infielder"
Translation issue.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 6:33 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Are we going to war?
BCB: Pointless Exercises in Devils Advocacy
BCB Fantasy Football League 2 Champ
by Jeo on Dec 1, 2011 4:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
That's just the letter Japan sent to the U.S. Embassy before Pearl Harbor.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 6:18 PM CST up reply actions
"Active military baseman Prince Fielder is a big gun"
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 6:19 PM CST up reply actions
Also, "Hosereiesu"
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 6:33 PM CST up reply actions
Now we know how to translate Alcides Escobar to Japanese.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 1, 2011 7:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
We also know how good of an arm Nakajima has.
Escobar had a hose, but this guy has a pipe.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 1, 2011 8:03 PM CST up reply actions
My favorite part
GM Dagumerubin active military (59) and there’s a hotline.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
Rumor mill is going into overdrive
-Brewers might offer Prince 6/$120
-Brewers may have bid on Nakajima
-Brewers are in play for Alex Gonzalez
-Brewers are in play for Aramis Ramirez
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
I love it!
Even if none of it turns up, it’s better than the nothing we’ve had so far.
by kotsaythebuzzkill on Dec 1, 2011 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
25 | 20 | .555 | 0 | Lost 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 21 | .543 | 0.5 | Lost 2 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 23 | .488 | 3 | Won 4 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
21 | 24 | .466 | 4 | Won 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 26 | .422 | 6 | Won 2 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 30 | .333 | 10 | Lost 10 |
(updated 5.26.2012 at 6:00 PM CDT)
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