Brew Crew Ball: FanPosts

New Brewers "fan"

2009-07-04T23:16:54Z

Hello, all. I use the word "fan" loosely here. Let me first off state that I am without a doubt a Kansas City Royals fan first and foremost - (yes, feel sorry for me, I know...) I grew up and live in KC and have been a fan for as long as I can remember - but in such a tough time to be a Royals fan, I find myself looking to "semi-attach" my baseball-loving heart to a competitive, actual major league team for the rest of the season, at least. I don't consider myself to be a traitor because of this. I will still watch the Royals on a daily basis and hope the absolute best for my team.

But, for Heaven's sake, I need to bring a little positivity into my life! So, I started thinking about what sort of team I could interest myself in - without being like everybody else in the world and calling myself a Red Sox fan. I dislike the large-market teams passionately, so the Brewers seemed a good fit for myself.

My dad's entire side of the family is from Miami, so I am a Hurricanes fan and followed Ryan Braun in college, hoped dearly that my Royals would draft him, continued to follow his progress through the minors after the Royals passed on him and was ecstatic when he got the call up to The Bigs. I immediately took a liking to the Brewers then, but never committed in a way such as this. So, I guess you could call me a closet-Brewers fan for the last couple of years. Braun is by far my favorite non-Royals player in Major League Baseball. (I am even wearing my Ryan Braun - throwback Brewers T-shirt/jersey - similar to this, only with this logo on the front - as I type this.)

As I said, I like in KC still and I do not have MLB.tv or anything that will allow me to watch every Brewers game, but with the welcoming from all of you here, I would love to take part in your nightly game threads and see if I can't learn a bit more about the Brewers and maybe even bring a little bit of new perspective to the site.

I look forward to chasing the MLB postseason [for the first time in my life] with you all this summer!

Rumorville: Corey Hart

2009-07-04T17:33:31Z

Busta Olney takes a look at possible Atlanta trade partners.

If the Braves were to market [Javier] Vazquez, they could just deal with the Brewers directly. Milwaukee has no need for Escobar, because the Brewers have Alcides Escobar on the rise. Milwaukee would not consider trading Ryan Braun in any deal, and more than likely Prince Fielder would be out of the question (he's a Boras client and the Braves have already been down the path of a Boras-client-type of rental with Mark Teixeira, a situation that didn't pan out).

Hart would be the natural fit, although it's unclear whether he would necessarily be a significant upgrade over Francoeur, given the streaky nature of his offense. "There are times when he just looks like he has no clue," said one longtime talent evaluator. "I've seen him this season when he's looked absolutely lost." Hart, 27, is hitting .246 and nine homers, and if Milwaukee talked about a possible Hart/Vazquez swap, the Brewers would obviously have to include another really nice piece in the deal.

Corey Hart's stats are here. Javier Vazquez's stats are here.

I'm not totally convinced the Braves would require "another really nice piece." For one, Vazquez, like Doug Davis, is pitching out of his mind right now. Before this season, though, only once in Vazquez's post-Expo career had he put up a season ERA less than 4.42. For two, Vazquez is owed roughly $17 million over the rest of this season and 2010. If the Braves are getting another really nice piece, I should hope they're kicking in some cash. (If you're wondering, Hart still has 2 years of arbitration before free agency in 2012.)

In any event, I don't see a move like this particularly likely, as we would be without a right fielder, assuming Gamel can't learn right field over the all star break.

Braves fan here

2009-07-04T16:52:25Z

I just heard on MLBTR that Buster Olney speculates the Braves and Brewers might make a trade soon. Since you all need starting pitching, and we need an outfielder, we could give you Javier Vazquez, and in return we get Corey Hart and maybe one additional player. I thought the speculation was realistic, and it made sense for both sides. We could finally get someone to replace Francoeur in right field, and you get a solid, durable innings-eater in Vazquez. So what do you all think about this possible trade?

Poll

If you were the Brewers, would you trade Corey Hart and a mid-level prospect for Javier Vazquez?

Game Thread #80a

2009-07-03T20:57:03Z

Maybe the Brewers can use extra innings to make this a day AND a night game.

Game Thread #79a

2009-07-03T01:56:51Z

It's either the "massive comeback" thread or the "let's just get this one over with before someone gets hurt" thread, depending on your optimism.

Suppan makes it hard to hate him

2009-07-02T16:05:29Z

As much as I love to bash Jeff Suppan for his on field performance he keeps showing he is a very good guy off the field

Suppan donates 10,000 to Honor Flight

Why do guys like Suppan and Gagne do stuff like this it makes it hard to wish for their deaths when they gack up a game ;) lol

I guess it is nice that he is giving something back I wonder if Barry Zito does stuff like this since his theft makes Suppan seem like a minor thief ;)

Draft Pick Signings [Updated 7/1]

2009-06-16T20:43:40Z

Bolded players have signed. I'll try to keep this updated as the season progresses; the signing deadline is August 17th. Links go to the player's Brewerfan.net scouting report. For more scouting reports and resources, check out my draft recap.

RHP Eric Arnett, Indiana University

OF Kentrail Davis, University of Tennessee

RHP Kyle Heckathorn, Kennesaw State University

OF Maxwell Walla, Albuquerque Academy (NM) HS

C Cameron Garfield, Murrieta Valley (CA) HS

SS Josh Prince, Tulane University

RHP Brooks Hall, Hanna (SC) HS

OF D'Vontrey Richardson, Florida State University

RHP Hiram Burgos, Bethune-Cookman University

OF Khris Davis, Cal State Fullerton

OF Chad Stang, Midland (TX) CC

LHP Jon Pokorny, Kent State University

C Tyler Roberts, Jones County (GA) HS

RHP Andre Lamontagne, Oral Roberts University

RHP Rob Currie, Tusculum College

1B Sean Halton, Lewis-Clark State College

2B Mike Brownstein, University of New Mexico

LHP Del Howell, University of Alabama

SS Scooter Gennett, Sarasota (FL) HS

RHP Tyler Cravy, Napa Valley (CA) CC

LHP Caleb Thielbar, South Dakota State University

OF Scott Krieger, George Mason University

OF Franklin Romero, Cerro Coso (CA) CC

SS Brian Vigo-Suarez, Fossil Ridge (TX) HS

RHP Mike Fiers, Nova Southeastern University

RHP Austin Pressley, Franklin-Monroe (OH) HS

2B Peter Fatse, University of Connecticut

OF Demetrius McKelvie, East Columbus (NC) HS

LHP Lex Rutledge, Tupelo (MS) HS

RHP Ryan Platt, UC Riverside

C Geno Escalante, Rodriguez (CA) HS

OF Chandler McLaren, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (ON) HS

2B Brandon Sizemore, College of Charleston

RHP Jose Oviedo, Miami Dade (FL) CC

OF Chris Ellington, Texas Christian University

3B Jacobbi McDaniel, Madison County (FL) HS

RHP Mike Ojala, Rice University

LHP Matt Costello, Valdosta State University

LHP Josh Turley, Texas (TX) HS

RHP Cullen Sexton, University of Minnesota

2B Casey Stevenson, UC Irvine

RHP Brady Rodgers, Lamar Consolidated (TX) HS

RHP Kyle Hansen, St. Dominic (NY) HS

OF Steven Sultzbaugh, Rice University

RHP Brad Schreiber, Kimberly (WI) HS

3B Kyle Dhanani, Thompson Rivers University

RHP Andrew Morris, Gulf Coast CC

C Richard Stock, Agoura (CA) HS

RHP Jordan Wong, Vauxhall (AB) HS

OF Trevor Kirk, Southern Nevada (NV) CC

RHP Reynaldo Cotilla, Miami Dade (FL) CC

SS J.J. Altobelli, Woodbridge (CA) HS

C Darren Farmer, West Lauderdale (MS) HS

Rumorville: Brandon Backe

2009-07-01T02:33:35Z

Adam McCalvy ~~spills the beans~~ gets a "you're really asking about this?" reaction:

The Brewers will do their due dilligence on right-hander Brandon Backe, the former Astro who was designated for assignment last week and refused a trip to Houston's Triple-A club on Monday. [...] "You have to at least take a look," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

Backe has been injured a lot over the course of his career, making only thirteen major league starts in 2006 and 2007 combined. He did, however, start a career-high 31 games in 2008, leading the league in earned runs and home runs allowed. He missed two months this year with an injury and was unimpressive upon his return to the majors, giving up 15 runs in 13 innings while striking out 10 and walking six. McCalvy notes his best moments came in the 2004 and 2005 postseasons, when he appeared in seven games with a 2.95 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 36 2/3 innings.

Brewers sign Dominican OF Jose Pena for $400K

2009-06-09T02:01:28Z

BP's Kiley McDaniel is reporting that the Brewers are, along with the Giants and Indians, favorites to sign the 6'4"/195 Pena. He's being compared to Jermaine Dye and Juan Gonzalez and wowed the scouts last month in a showcase against the Canadian Junior National Team when he homered off Jake Eliopoulos (a top-three rounds draft talent). McDaniel has Pena as the sixth-best international prospect this year and says that Pena's expected bonus has increased from $500K to $1M-$1.5M in the last couple weeks. Happily, McDaniel has video of Pena hitting. Baseball America's Ben Badler also has a scouting report:

Jose Pena, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right fielder has flashed some power in game situations from the right side of the plate, showing average speed and a plus arm. Pena has shown well in front of some teams, including a workout in front of the Dodgers' brass and at a showcase last month in the Dominican Republic where he hit a home run off Canadian lefthander Jake Eliopoulos, the Blue Jays' second-round pick. "He's grown bigger and stronger," said one scout. "He's the kind of guy who you might get out the first time, but he adjusts and finds a way to figure it out."

UPDATE: McDaniel tweeted yesterday that he expects Pena to sign with the Padres for $900K-$1M, but ESPN's Jorge Arangure says the Brewers will still make a play for Pena. Today, McDaniel is saying that he now expects Pena to go to someone other than San Diego and sign about a week after the July 2nd period begins, but yesterday Arangure said Pena would probably make his decision by tomorrow. The Yankees worked out Pena today but might not be as interested in him as others.

McDaniel also has the Brewers, along with the Rangers and Pirates, as favorites to sign 6'5"/210 1B Jacob Beltre, the 16th-rated prospect, who is expected to command a $400K-$600K bonus.

UPDATE: Lots from Arangure today on Beltre. A converted third baseman who was talked about as a first baseman, Beltre actually wants to be a catcher, though McDaniel says no teams believe he can stick there; Arangure appears to agree but thinks teams will allow him to sign as a catcher and play his way off the position. McDaniel has upped Beltre's anticipated bonus slightly to $400K-$700K, and like Pena, Beltre may wait a bit to sign. The Rangers and Pirates appear to have dropped out of the running for him, but the Brewers are now joined by the Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers.

UPDATE:Finally, there are a couple other names tied to Milwaukee. The Brewers may be "all over" shortstop Damian Arredondo, according to Arangure. Badler says of Arredondo: "Plus-plus runner, plus hands, plus arm. Bat needs a little work, but has tools." McDaniel says Arredondo will command at least $500K; both he and Arangure have heard the Yankees are very interested in Arredondo.

Also, McDaniel mentioned in the comments of his most recent international prospects article that the Brewers may also be interested in Venezuelan RHP Daniel Sanchez; however, there may be complications, as his scouting report mentions:

Sanchez has quite a range of possible bonuses. He opened the eyes of the 20-plus teams that attended an open workout in Maracay, as his fastball sat in the low 90s and touched 95, and he also flashed an above-average slider and feel for a changeup; he also showed advanced pitchability. Every scout there had one of two immediate reactions: he's a potential $2 million bonus baby, but also "there's no way this guy is 16." After digging on this one for over a month, I still don't know what to make of it. The vast majority of teams say that they've known he was older than 16 for months, but a few teams contend that they have documentation proving that he's 16. There has been unconfirmed talk about the US consulate in Venezuela reaching a decision on a travel visa and/or passport, but the bottom line is that there hasn't been a concrete announcement that I'm aware of regarding Sanchez's age. The rumor on what his age might be is that Sanchez is 19, and I have him ranked here because, in that event, he would presumably be suspended for a year, then sign for a bonus in the low six-figure range, because his talent is very real. That being said, don't mistake Sanchez having a ranking with me having any idea what's going on here.

Arangure isn't sure that Sanchez fits in the Brewers' budget, but the Brewers may have an ace in the hole, at least in determining Sanchez's age: he's the brother-in-law of Milwaukee's Venezula scout.

For perspective on the numbers being thrown around, the (thus far wasted) $710K the Brewers gave Rolando Pascual in 2005 remains the highest bonus for an international player in club history. The $450K to Wily Peralta was better-spent, and Jose Garcia and Hitaniel Arias are promising. If you're wondering, Alcides Escobar was signed for a paltry $33,000 in 2003.

Curtain Calls

2009-06-30T14:57:25Z

Was at the Crew-Mets game last night, and got thinking about curtain call etiquette...

My brother-in-law and I got in a talk about when a curtain call is appropriate, and when it's overdone. No doubt McGehee's slam was a great moment, especially given the boofed pop-up in the top of the inning. Awesome thing for a young dude just trying to make it legit...

However, there was some disagreement about whether a curtain call was needed, given that it came against a mediocre Mets squad in June. My brother-in-law (a Mets fan) thought that it was a good thing, as long as it's done with some class; I thought it should be reserved for game changing plays/performances when more is on the line in terms of a season.

So, I thought I'd throw a couple questions out there:

Is there a right time and a wrong time for a curtain call? What circumstances call for a curtain call?

Also, anybody out there have an especially memorable Brewers curtain call?

Lets Trade for Ian Snell

2009-06-30T02:42:53Z

In a superb return to Class AAA Indianapolis yesterday, he fanned 17 batters over seven innings, including his first 13 outs of a 2-1 victory against visiting Toledo.

This came four days after requesting a demotion from the Pirates -- one that management already had been discussing -- because of what he described as "too much negativity" in Pittsburgh.

He must want "out" of Pittsburgh. His contract is a bit of a problem, but if the Brewers can get the Pirates to pay a good portion of it and it costs us a Mike Burns or a Chase Wright, why not do it?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09180/980537-63.stm#ixzz0JsRratR4&D

Game Thread #76a

2009-06-30T01:12:18Z

If Chad Moeller can hit for the cycle, J.J. Hardy should be able to do it...right?

Sadowski aided by the sun (glare)?

2009-06-29T16:07:18Z

Of course, he was! But, also of course, Suppan wasn't!

And then we can't forget about Giant hitters were helped as well? But the Crew can't see worth crap at Miller Park day games.

Unless the Brewer hitters would like to chip into a fund to improve the background for them - to boost their all-important STATS? Get the owners to chip in, as well. The pitchers? Except for Suppan, they probably like the background as is. But please, let's not ask the taxpayers to chip into the fund.... They've more than done THEIR part.

Finally, did anyone ask Sadowski whether the glare had anything to do with his getting nailed in the leg by a Ryan Braun screamer yesterday?

Crashing into an outfield wall, getting an ankle torn up on a slide into second, outfielders colliding, falling into a dugout, getting beaned all can and will happen. Add Miller Park glare to the baseball players' list of "safety" problems.

Ryan may, and probably does, have a point about glare. He's made it. Management heard him, lord knows. Let's move on....

(There's no crying in baseball.)

Rumorville: Doug Davis & Felipe Lopez

2009-06-29T04:37:34Z

Steve Gilbert at MLB.com talked to assistant GM Gord Ash, who said there had been "conversations" with the Diamondbacks:

"I think it speaks to what I talked about earlier, that because they are one of the few clubs that have available pieces, the asking price is way too high," Ash said. "So they don't have to make a deal yet."

Gilbert notes that the Brewers are in the market for help in starting pitching and at second base. Though the D'Backs have potential fits there with both Felipe Lopez and Doug Davis in the final years of their contracts, it's unclear if the talks were centered around those players.

The Brewers sit at 40-35, a percentage point above the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central, but were knocked around by the Giants today 7-0 and saw the rival Cards pick up Mark DeRosa last night.

Thougts on this potential deal?

The fight for rotation #5

2009-06-29T00:53:09Z

So there have been call ups from AAA in Narveson and Burns to pad the rotation while Manny Parra is enjoying some Nashville sun and Dave Bush rehabs his busted tricep, and there has been some shuffling of the bullpen in Seth McClung to start. However, i don't really feel that comfortable about son of clung dealing from the mound. what i'm interested in is how you feel the pitching situation is being handled, and what might be foreseeable in the future as far as starting pitching is concerned.

Burns has made a single start, and i don't feel he should be written off just yet. McClung i feel may have another shot too, but again i am uncomfortable with this. is it a bad idea for Carlos Villanueva to maybe start getting stretched out to fill in? what are the pluses to either of these two on the mound for more than two innings? the minuses?

BCB Fantasy League Update:

2009-06-28T20:47:40Z

I've got a sore neck. I don't feel like writing much, but it is interesting that the top team doesn't have a ranking over 17, or 4th. If I could only get some pitching, I'd have an incredibly competitive team. Here are the standings. I'm looking for a starter, and have power to trade. Send me an offer.

1	Oconnobe's O...	140	-1
2	Acheron's Br...	138	-0.5
3	The Hoffmanc...	136	-5
4	Catalyst's C...	135	+0.5
5	Adam P's Her...	132.5	-1.5
6	Rendezvous S...	131	-2.5
7	BrewCrew Shr...	125.5	+6.5
8	The Scottis...	124	+4
9	Noah Anti-Su...	120	+2
10	Mr. McGehee'...	119	-2
11	SabrIllitera...	118	+1
12	Brewtown Bea...	113	-3.5
13	Hyatt Likes...	111.5	+1
14	Grobbins' Gr...	91	-0.5
15	Cheese, Corn...	84.5	+2.5
16	Token Cubs Fan	67	+2
17	Dikembe's Bo...	63.5	-1
18	Team Jaha's...	60.5	-0.5
19	Splitfinger...	49	-2
20	BrewerBlue87...	41	+0.5

Why Braun in LF, Hart in RF?

2009-06-28T17:51:12Z

Sorry if this has been hashed out before, but is there any particular reason Braun's in LF and Hart's in RF, instead of vice versa? By my account Braun has the stronger arm, and it seems that his plus range and low error rate would be a better fit for RF where uncaught balls and mistakes are magnified.

I could be completely wrong with my assessment of Ryan's defense, or I could be missing something obvious. Ryan's inexperienced, and Corey's plenty fast too, so the answer could just be "it wouldn't make much of a difference".

Game Thread #74: Giants (39-33) at Brewers (39-34)

2009-06-27T23:07:33Z

This is corporal Pete. I don't know what happened to the officers. And this fanpost might be targeted by an enemy drone. All I know is there is a ballgame about to begin and we need to do battle. I do have good news for the troops. The enemy Giants won't be sending their warrior Lincecum against us, instead, it'll be a reserve soldier. We're going against the once great Zito tonight and he has shown some of his old moxy, but the boys should handle him. Let's go!

Looking for League-Normalized Minor League Stats

2009-06-27T11:57:06Z

Is anybody aware of any websites that post league-normalized statistics (e.g. OPS+, ERA+, etc.) for the current minor league season. Since some leagues are more favorable to pitchers or hitters and I was looking for a good way to put some the stats we see in the daily box scores in perspective. I've checked the usual web-locales such as BP and Fangraphs but haven't found anything. Perhaps repeatedly calculating league-average statistics is too gruesome of an endeavor?

Game Thread #72a

2009-06-25T20:00:26Z

One last interleague overflow thread.