What We Learned: Looking back at better years

Brewers News & Notes

• The countdown to Opening Day is at 81 days. Continuing in a streak of posts looking at teams of the 1980s, Derek looks at the 1981 Brewers.
• The FanGraphs win projections came out earlier this week, and had the Brewers predicted to win 71 games in 2016. Kyle takes a look at the projection and discusses how realistic the prediction is.
• Continuing in his offseason update series, Travis takes a look at the current state of the infielders.
• Wily Peralta's performance last season was a bit of a disappointment based on what he should be capable of doing. Ryan Romano of BP Milwaukee focuses on Peralta's slider and if it can be fixed to improve his results.
• While other positions have seen some building of depth, the same can't be said for center field. Seth Victor of BP Milwaukee asks if GM David Stearns will make any more upgrades at the position, but doesn't see much for additions there.
• When rebuilding the rotation, one area of focus is the fourth and fifth innings, where the Brewers struggled the most with their pitching. Nicholas Zettel of Disciples of Uecker analyzes the Brewers struggles in those innings and how they can be improved.
• What was the greatest infield of all time? According to David Schoenfield of ESPN, the Brewers infield in 1982 may be the best ever.

Minor League Update

• A report came out yesterday that the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Brewers Triple-A affiliate, may move to Texas in the near future. Travis looks at the report and discusses the feasibility of Colorado Springs moving and the Brewers helping them move.
• After being designated for assignment last week, Josmil Pinto passed through waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He also received an invitation to major league spring training.
• The Brewers announced the coaching staff for each level of their minor-league system yesterday. Rick Sweet remains the manager at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Mike Guerrero will take over at Double-A Biloxi, Joe Ayrault is still at High-A Brevard County, and Matt Erickson remains the manager at Class-A Wisconsin. The full staffs for each team are listed in Jeff Levering's Minor Details blog.
• Monte Harrison is recovering from an ankle injury last season and hopes to get back into form this season. Kyle Lobner of TimberRattlers.com has a story on Harrison's recovery and path through the minors so far.
• Adam McIntosh of Reviewing the Brew has a profile of Gilbert Lara.

Around Baseball

• MLB will host two spring training games between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres in March of this year.
• The Diamondbacks acquired RHP Cody Hall from the Giants and designated RHP Matt Stites for assignment.
• The Dodgers signed outfielder Jordan Schafer to a minor-league contract. Schafer will attempt to transition to pitching.
• The Marlins signed second baseman Dee Gordon to a five-year, $50 million contract extension.
• The Nationals signed catcher Wilson Ramos to a one-year, $5.35 million contract, avoiding arbitraiton.
• The Padres signed RHP Carlos Villanueva to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
• The Rangers signed RHP Tom Wilhelmsen to a one-year, $3.1 million contract, avoiding arbitration. They also signed infielder Pedro Ciriaco to a minor-league contract with a spring training invite.
• The Red Sox signed outfielder Brennan Boesch to a minor-league deal.