Brutal Failure

by Saberilliterate on Jul 25, 2011 5:59 AM CDT

2. When you have so much parity like this, it only takes one or two players having bad seasons to derail a potential playoff bid. Which teams have given the most playing time to bad players? Looking at the primary playoff contenders, here is how many plate appearances each team has given to hitters with an OPS+ (on-base + slugging percentage, adjusted for home park, scaled to where 100 is a league average hitter) of 75 or less, entering Sunday's action. (From Baseball-Reference.com.)

National League
1. Brewers, 1250
2. Braves, 823
3. Giants, 809
4. Pirates, 660
5. Phillies, 534
6. Reds, 461
7. Diamondbacks, 456
8. Cardinals, 231

The Brewers are the team that should be kicking itself the most if it misses the playoffs, high in star power but a brutal bottom of the roster. Yuniesky Betancourt's line was predictable, but Casey McGehee has been even worse. Both have held their jobs. What is inexcusable is giving more than 300 plate appearances to vets Craig Counsell and Mark Kotsay.

The fact that we are even in contention, speaks volumes on just how weak our division is.

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Although I agree with the premise here

There isnt really a lot the team could do to improve. Coming into the season, no one expected McGehee to be as bad as he has been (not even me), and there simply isnt a way for them to improve on those two positions, or the bench.

People will talk about Taylor Green, and they will have a valid point, but that still doesnt address the shortstop or bench issue.

While the Brewers have a seemingly easier schedule from here on out compared to the Pirates and Cards, but not the Reds, all three of those teams are in a position to improve themselves via trade.

I am going to stick with my preseason thoughts on the team and division that it will go down to the very end, but the defensive lapses and this issue you speak of, will be the thing that keeps them playoff-less come October.

by backtocali on Jul 25, 2011 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

couldn't disagree more

No, you couldn’t account for McGehee, but you knew Betancourt was terrible. You knew Kotsay was terrible. You knew you had zero bats on the bench. Fringe talent that can perform at or around league replacement level is very accessible.

How much would it have cost them to go get Jamey Carroll in the offseason or some 4th OF who can hit with something besides a wet noodle.

If they don’t make the playoffs, Melvin and Roenicke should be kicking themselves as they have as much front end talent as anyone, which presumably is the hardest thing to acquire.

The roster composition has been an utter fail.

by badgermaniac on Jul 25, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Signing Jamey Carroll in the offseason would have cost them too much money, preventing them from going out at the trade

deadline and acquiring Jamey Carroll.

http://www.mlbsoup.com

by tcyoung on Jul 25, 2011 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

The roster was built as best as the FO could have done it

With the resources they had. Everyone knows my opinion on this.

But If not for what Melvin did to build the current roster, This is probably a below .500 team (Heck, they have performed like one all year long with runs scored vs runs against). But the team doesnt have enough cash, or enough quality propsects on hand to build the roster to a point where it would be a “success”.

All in has its limitations, especially when your all isnt as good as someone else’s 75%.

by backtocali on Jul 25, 2011 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Bull

You know who isn’t on this list – The Astros. 35 games under 500 and they aren’t on the list.

by Saberilliterate on Jul 25, 2011 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

He was just looking at NL playoff contenders I think

by nullacct on Jul 25, 2011 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Ohh - I still call bull - just don't have the data to refer too

by Saberilliterate on Jul 25, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

The run differential is from interleague.

Against NL opponents they are around +50. The overall run diff. will fix itself in the next few weeks.

by Zorakathura on Jul 25, 2011 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't interfere with his delusions.

Haters hate. That’s what they do. Pointing out that their “logic” is flawed won’t change that.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 25, 2011 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

If not for what Melvin did to build the current roster, This is probably a below .500 team

If not what the GM did to build the team, there wouldn’t be a team… I don’t think I understand. If not for the work that was done to build Miller Park, there wouldn’t be an above average baseball stadium in Milwaukee.

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

by Jordan M on Jul 26, 2011 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I think he's saying

Melvin has had both good and bad moves as GM. The good moves have put the team where they are today.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 29, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions

what are you talking about?

i love how jamey carroll turns into the savior…

aaaaah, I gotta go!!

by b3nihana on Jul 25, 2011 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks.

It’s always nice to know what Giants fans think of the Brewers.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 25, 2011 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

Wow total shock that that is green

Nice pandering.

by backtocali on Jul 25, 2011 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Meh

Maybe some people on this blog, including myself, just don’t appreciate your schtick.

by Zorakathura on Jul 26, 2011 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Maybe some of us wonder why a Giants fan spends so much time on a Brewers site running down a team he doesn't even like.

Only slightly less puzzling to me than that is why he’s allowed to do so.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 26, 2011 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Tbh, I'm less annoyed by his calculated disparagement

Than the unanchored, random wails of “omg they suuuuck” we get from actual fans.

by nullacct on Jul 26, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes. All of this.

If you’re gonna say the team stinks, at least tell me why you think they stink.

The only rally animal I ever want to see has a name, and that name is Gorman, dammit.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Jul 26, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

NULLACCT IS TEH SUX!

by Bush League All Star on Jul 26, 2011 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Come on, man

His Value Over Replacement Photoshoppers is off the charts.

by Cheeseandcorn on Jul 26, 2011 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

Rec/Comment Ratio very high

"...just throw that pill over the plate and I'll make it happen." - Tony Plush

by thefreewheelin76 on Jul 26, 2011 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

But his comment per thread average is too low!

And winning threads is not a true measure of actual poster talent!

/goes back to the drawing board to develop postermetrics formulas to evaluate posters and see if we need to trade them to EVIL BCB!

by Bush League All Star on Jul 26, 2011 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

It's all about the surplus value.

If it’s not high, trade him for some promising prospects on lesser Brewers blogs.

by Cheeseandcorn on Jul 26, 2011 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Wonder who we traded to pick up Plunkeveryone.

by Bush League All Star on Jul 26, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

BUCKS, of course.

Actually, I think we DFA’d him.

by Cheeseandcorn on Jul 26, 2011 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

No trade clause!

(I hope my agent filed it on time)

by nullacct on Jul 26, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

LOL!

by Bush League All Star on Jul 26, 2011 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Allow me to just say that I have an extremely blog-friendly contract and will not be a salary burden and please don't trade me

by Noah Jarosh on Jul 28, 2011 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Too bad your agent didnt turn in your list of blocked blogs.

by BrewCrewBrian on Jul 29, 2011 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Just found on Twitter:

From @SBNationTradePosters:

BCB is looking to shop NoahJ for two minor league posters and the remaining portion of his contract: ham sammiches. Buc’s and Evil BCB interested. #SMH

by Bush League All Star on Jul 29, 2011 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I've noticed,

for the past few season it’s always seemed like the team never got any offense out of anyone besides Braun, Fielder, Weeks, and Hart. And speaking of Betancourt (the other comments at the top), he still never walks but he has quietly gotten his average up to .252. Yeah, still mediocre but it’s an improvement from when it was in the .220s and .230s early in the season.

Anyways, if Casey MeGehee had his shit together and was batting .280 w/ 15 HRs and 50 RBIs like he should be (and we all expected him to be), we would have a solid lead in the division, despite the lack of hitting at the bottom of the order and on the bench.

"Had a dream I was king, I woke up, still king"
-Marshall Mathers

by BlackPack-fan on Jul 25, 2011 6:28 PM CDT reply actions

What does it matter if the offense isn't more evenly spread throughout the lineup?

2009: 3rd most runs in NL
2010: 4th most runs in NL

In the end, runs are all that matters.

You also don’t list McGehee as one of the producers over the last few years, but go on to say that you expected him to be producing in a big way…

http://www.mlbsoup.com

by tcyoung on Jul 25, 2011 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions

And also. 0.252/0.272 with7 HR (on pace for 11) is not "mediocre," it's pitiful.

Just for reference, when Mike Cameron did it with an OBP of 0.342 and 24 HR, it was pretty good.

http://www.mlbsoup.com

by tcyoung on Jul 25, 2011 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Not to mention plus defense.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 26, 2011 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Let's face it

There are a host of reasons- make that, a bunch of underperforming players on this team, that make them look so bad, so often. Sure, who could have foreseen Casey’s protracted problems? Corey’s issues? Counsell’s rapid decline? (Well maybe some could have seen that.) But come on….Yuni and Kotsay mostly suck donkey ‘nads, their recent signs of life notwithstanding. The pitching injuries could have been dealt with, it calls for opening the checkbook. Don’t call yourself “all-in” unless you really are ALL in.

The season is a long way from over. The weaknesses are glaring. The subject stat of this thread is just one more example. Sometimes the truth hurts, don’t it?

Well as a loyal fan I ain’t giving up. But I sure would like to see some better field management and front office assistance.

"The first roommate I had in pro ball was named Arturo Polanco and he couldn't speak a word of English. So he taught me Spanish and I taught him English. The first words he learned were 'Son of a bleach.' I think something was lost in translation." -- Jim Bouton, Ball Four

by PlusorMinusThree on Jul 26, 2011 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

If we are being honest...

…The title should really read, “Brewtal Failure”
Come on now

A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.

by TwoShoesMcGooze on Jul 27, 2011 5:04 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

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