Melvin is pulling our collective leg...

by jax and rajah on May 2, 2007 9:37 AM CDT

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070501&content_id=1940641&vkey=news_ mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

Have you read Melvin's quotes on the 3B dilemma? I thought there were two interesting statements, neither of which one I believe that Melvin truly believes:

"We like what we're seeing right now," general manager Doug Melvin said. "We're winning, and I don't think there is any reason to look at making a change right now."

Hmmm... he's gotta know there is a reason to make a change, the 3B combo is the weakest position right now. And then he says,

"But we don't know what he (Braun) will do up here," Melvin said. "Say you go and trade somebody and he comes up here and hits .180 and makes a few errors and you have to send him back down. Now what's your option?"

What does that mean? I don't think someone as smart as Melvin believes that. I don't know that any GM really thinks that. This has got to be about getting to that magic date (June 1, right?) where they get Braun's rights for another year. Is there an other explanation for such statements?

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I saw that, too

My interpretation: "I really wish I didn't have to talk to you people. Here, have this line of BS, and this line of BS, and when I feel like bringing Ryan Braun up, you can read about it in the transactions."

by Marty McSuperFly on May 2, 2007 9:44 AM CDT reply actions

that's the mantra :)

it's what i say to myself when i'm channeling ned.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 2, 2007 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Nice

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on May 2, 2007 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Marty

Perfect translation.

by jax and rajah on May 2, 2007 10:05 AM CDT reply actions

Relax

Let's not rush Braun to the majors. Look how much Alex Gordan is struggling in KC. And he is a better prospect than Braun.

by stork02 on May 2, 2007 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

agreed...

...with a decent lead in the central right now, there's little reason to bring him up.

Patience is the smart play.

by brewproggy on May 2, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't follow

Wouldn't you want to bring him up and have him struggle while the rest of the team is playing well? Waiting until the team needs him seems like a guarantee that he'll pushed immediately into the fire, and his struggles will be magnified.

by Marty McSuperFly on May 2, 2007 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed

too late to "rush" braun. bring him up asap.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on May 2, 2007 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Yet another good call by Marty

Yeah, Braun can't be worse than the production we are getting right now. And why not let him make his mistakes and learn the game by playing on a hot team? It's time for him to come on up and take his lumps early so we can have him productive for the playoff push. Besides, the ROY race is still wide open, why not have another name besides Listach associated with Brewer's Rookie

That's not Bernie Brewer. It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on May 2, 2007 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

What exactly do you want Doug?

"We profile differently than what you normally get out of that position," Melvin said. "But right now we're getting defense, guys who make contact and other things that don't show up as 'production.'"

I thought production is something that would be preferable. Councell is not hitting but solid defensively. Graffy is hitting .255/.333/.308 and has 2 errors. I'm just wondering what he wants from the position? we are definately going to need beyond replacement player production once JJ cools off. This is unacceptable. It's almost like he's saying "things are good right now, why take a risk to make them great?"

That's not Bernie Brewer. It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on May 2, 2007 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

I must be missing something...

but what's the supposed deal with June 1st extending team possession of a player? As far as I can tell, Braun can't reach the necessary 172 days of major league service time this year even if he was called up tomorrow, so it wouldn't change anything...

At most you'll make sure that he won't be a Super-Two arb-eligible player after the 2009 season, though that only makes him a little cheaper for 2010 (and perhaps by spillover also for the other arb years), but doesn't impact the time he'll be under team control.

If I'm totally off-base here, please let me know.

by Zeyes on May 2, 2007 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Why not to bring him up....

because even if 3B is weak right now, the team is 18-9 and the 3B platoon while not strong is not killing the team either. If Houston was 18-9 right now they probably wouldn't have felt the need to promote Pence early. But the team is in a great position, and there is no pressing need to bring up Braun, so let him continue to get better at AAA. He'll be up at some point this year.

by Dutch on May 2, 2007 3:19 PM CDT reply actions

Win Now

I don't think the Brewers main concern now is what kind of arbitration situation they are going to be in 3 years down the road. The main concern is winning now, at least it should be. Let's face it the NL is completly up for grabs, and the Crew is off to a great start.

That being said, I don't thing that Braun makes the Brewers a better team. There is a chance he will come up and be spectacular, but there is a chance that he will come up and stink up the joint-- many players do when they first arive. He is unproven at the major league level. Counsell and 'Nino my not be the greatest, at least you know what you got. There versitility is a huge plus as well, where Braun can only play one spot.

Milwaukee is hot now, they need to get some room between them and the rest of the Central now. Come August and Septmeber they might be able to find some PT for Braun.

Braun will get his chance to prove himself. Someone will get hurt. Patience is the way to proceed.

by stork02 on May 2, 2007 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

braun's arrival date...

June 8th, we start a 10 day, 9 game road trip against texas, detroit and the twinkies...braun DH and if he's raking (and keeps up his solid defense in AAA up until then) for that road trip, he just might stay

by rschm on May 2, 2007 5:07 PM CDT reply actions

I can live with that...

I don't wanna push him along too fast.

I'm VERY surprised how bad Alex Gordon is doing.

by engbjm06 on May 2, 2007 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't Mess with Success

It's not intellectually satisfying, but I generally agree with this. We're 18-9, we're winning, baseball players are creatures of habit, so just keep things steady until that changes. I think Melvin actually believes this. There isn't a need to have him here, and it's debatable whether it's more helpful for him to wail on minor league pitching or learn the nuances of major league pitching.

For what it's worth, the Keith Law article on ESPN indicated that while he's been nearly error-free at AAA, he hasn't looked particularly comfortable at 3B down there. If a couple months in the minors where he's less challenged in the batter's box allows him to get his bearings a bit more at third, it's well worth the time down there.

The I-don't-want-to-make-a-trade talk, on the other hand, is a little weird. Unless we got an offer that really made sense, I presume Gwynn would be headed back to the minors and Gross would moonlight as a CF when Billy needed a day off.

by jackie t on May 2, 2007 9:55 PM CDT reply actions

Here's the problem as I see it.

When Ryan Braun comes up, its the end for Graffanino.

He would have to be waived if he could not be traded. He could not be sent to the minors without clearing waivers (which seems unlikely).

One of the strengths of the club is depth and bringing up Braun does not make the MLB club any less deep, but if any of the infielders goes down, who can you call up? Barnwell?

I think Doug does not want to throw Graffy away for nothing just to get Braun up to the bigs.

It could be Counsel as well, but he's a lefty and has the local roots, more of a fan favorite, etc.

by grant76 on May 3, 2007 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

I just read Jackie T's post

The Brewers could send down TG Jr I suppose and not have to waive half of the Counselino platoon.

There is an irony to having one weak spot on the team and having your one big time position prospect available to fill that spot.

by grant76 on May 3, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

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