Episode 62 "Josh Butler Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Cleanup Spot/Lineup Construction 0:00-18:00

Break

Burgos Gets Call/K-Rod Signing 18:00-34:00

Break

Guest Interview: Adam Rygg of Brewer Nation 34:00-1:12:00

Break

Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 1:12:00-1:22:00

Episode 48 "Tim Dillard Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Bullpen Woes (It Aint 2011 Anymore) 0:00-20:00

Break 

Lineup Construction 20:00-39:00

Break

Guest Interview: Adam Rygg of Brewer Nation 39:00-1:03:00

Break

Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 1:03:00-1:14:15

The Real Solution At First Base

There has been a lot of talks in recent days about how to solve the conundrum at First Base in Milwaukee. Of course the current rumor is that they are moving Cory Hart from Right Field. Right now the situation is an odd platoon of Travis Ishikawa and Taylor Green.  The simple solution should be move George Kottaras over and call up Martin Maldanado. 

Looking at the current situation, I think it is easy enough to see that those options will not work long term. Green while being a top prospect for the organization in some form, he has a career line of .254/.262/.339 in the major leagues, granted in limited work. A first baseman should be able to slug at least .400 and be a major run producer in the lineup. Ishikawa or Trishi doesn’t fit the bill either. In over 300 games played, the first baseman doesn’t even have 20 home runs. In a full season, he has never even produced more than 40 runs. That production will not help an already struggling Brewers lineup. Even playing at a career high level, Trishi still is only hitting .246, well below his career average.

So, move Cory Hart to first base. Makes sense, the Brewers starting right fielder has slugged over .500 each of the last two season, has 20-30 homer power, and has shown he can be a big time run producer in the lineup. There is no doubt in my mind he could be a serviceable first baseman. The real question is who would replace him? Is it worth filling one hole in a starting lineup only to create another? Your options in right field after Hart include, Nyjer Morgan, Carlos Gomez and Norichika Aoki. All are plus defenders, but only Gomez has a truly serviceable arm in right. Morgan and Aoki both have lesser arm strength, and considering your right fielder needs to make the longest throw on the field, they could not play there every day. As late inning fill ins, sure, but not everyday. Next you’re looking at what type of production you want from a right fielder. 

The only right fielder without some pop in the majors is Ichiro. Every other player can hit at least 20 homers and probably slug above .470. Morgan, Gomez and Aoki can’t touch that. Looking at their career slash lines, .283/.343/.366, .244/.292/.361, and in a short sample size .295/.358/.426. None of those lines is the line of a respectable right fielder. 

So without creating another hole, the last option is move George Kottaras over and bring up Martin Maldanado. Kottaras is having a career year. The Brewer should want to capitalize on that and get their best players in the lineup. Hopefully that starts some sort of winning atmosphere when the lineup has a better chance to regularly produce. Kottaras has never had a career slash line of what you would like out of a starting first baseman, but he definitely has power. 

The most games Kottaras has played in a season is 67. In that season he had nine homers and 27 RBI’s. He only had a .396 slugging percentage, but in just 43 hits, 22 of those were for extra bases. That is proof that the lifetime backup catcher can smash. Also, that season Kottaras only had a .203 batting average. Maldanado may be an unproven question mark, but considering it’s a bat that would only be in the lineup every now and again, I can’t imagine it being a large enough factor compared to taking away power or playing an under producing player as a starter every day. I'd rather have a weak bench, than a lineup filled with backups. This is in my mind the most serviceable move for the Brewers to make.

-Brad

25 Man Roster Prediction As Pitchers And Catchers Report

Pitchers and catchers report to camp this Saturday and I could not be more excited. The first real sign that baseball is almost back full force. So with this on the horizon I thought now was as good a time as any to post my first 25 man roster prediction. This of course assumes Ryan Braun is not suspended and is active on April 6th when the Brewers open at Miller Park vs the St. Louis Cardinals. I will do another prediction right before they break camp. This is just my gut feeling before anyone even takes the field.

Starting Lineup:

1. Rickie Weeks - 2B
2. Nyjer Morgan - CF
3. Ryan Braun - LF
4. Aramis Ramirez - 3B
5. Corey Hart - RF
6. Mat Gamel - 1B
7. Alex Gonzalez - SS
8. Jonathan Lucroy - C

Bench:

George Kottaras - C
Cesar Izturis - IF
Brooks Conrad - IF/OF
Norichika Aoki - OF
Carlos Gomez - OF

Starting Rotation:

Yovani Gallardo
Zack Greinke
Shaun Marcum
Randy Wolf
Chris Narveson

Bullpen:

John Axford
Francisco Rodriguez
Jose Veras
Manny Parra

Kameron Loe
Brandon Kintzler
Marco Estrada

-Jason

My 2012 Milwaukee Brewers Christmas Wish List

So with the Brewers’ season over and the World Series at most a week from being completed, I am getting anxious for free agency to begin. I am constantly looking at the roster and areas for improvement, especially a few ways I think the team can make up for one big loss in Prince Fielder.

At this point I believe it is safe to say Prince Fielder is gone. I know management say they can make him a competitive offer, but there are teams with bigger budgets that will certainly be bidding the Brewers into a hole they cannot get out of financially. However the Brewers do have some pocket depth to deal with and may be able to make a bang financially in the market.

Now let’s stop with the introduction and get to the roster I would WANT to see in 2012 and the reasons I would love it. Below this is a more reasonable wish list.

1B: Mat Gamel
2B: Rickie Weeks
SS: Jose Reyes
3B: Taylor Green
C: Jonathan Lucroy
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Nyjer Morgan/Carlos Gomez
RF: Corey Hart
UTL: Casey McGehee, Jerry Hairston Jr., Logan Schafer, Martin Maldonado
SP: Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf, Wily Peralta
BP: Kameron Loe, LaTroy Hawkins, Marco Estrada, Chris Narveson, Mitch Stetter,
SU: Frank Francisco
CL: John Axford

Now, this is clearly a dream team and a lot of hope. The budget you save by having two non-arbitration players starting on your roster can open a lot up in your budget, including a star like Jose Reyes. If the Brewers can’t get Fielder, I think Reyes is an amazing second candidate to bring a star onto this offense. I think it’s safe to assume that Taylor Green can be as much an asset at third as McGehee was in 2011. His bat is electric, with great power and contact, and his defense is better than McGehee’s which will help. Reyes and Gamel will certainly be better than Betancourt and Fielder, not that either can replace Fielder, but Gamel can be a 20 HR player and a very good #5 hitter on a team while Reyes will be a ++++ replacement to Betancourt. If Peralta is at least a shimmer as good as he was in AAA he can already bolster a fantastic pitching staff. I see him as being comparable to Alexi Ogando and moves a versatile full inning lefty in Chris Narveson into the pen.

The oddest choice I see here was Frank Francisco as a set up man. My opinion here is formed from K-Rod as set-up last year. It’s nice to have a power closer as the 8th inning pitcher, but Francisco has shown some rust, but can still be an electric player. There are plenty of closers on the market that can fill a closers spot on another team, I see Francisco getting left aside and being a very cheap sign. He’s a good risk pick with high reward that and probably be easily replaceable. Otherwise I could see a AAA player replacing Francisco on the Bullpen roster with a trade off at the 8th inning much like the first portion of 2011. I see something like this being more successful and providing some insurance should Axford need time off.
That was my all time high for pickups in getting an all-star MVP candidate in Reyes, it would make the Brewers offense nearly as good as 2011 if not better depending on the performance of the Rookies at the corners, but I have strong belief that they could fulfill most of their expectations.

Here is my realistic hopes for the 2012 season:

C: Jonathan Lucroy
1B: Michael Cuddyer
2B: Rickie Weeks
SS: Clint Barmes
3B: Casey McGehee
LF: Ryan Braun
CF: Nyjer Morgan/Carlos Gomez
RF: Corey Hart
Bench: Jerry Hairston Jr., Taylor Green, Logan Schafer, Martin Maldonado
SP: Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf, Chris Narveson
BP: Kameron Loe, LaTroy Hawkins, Marco Estrada, Mike McClendon, Mitch Stetter, Cody Scarpetta
CL: John Axford

So this is what I think can happen. Barmes is a cheap available starter that does not bring star power, but can easily replace Betancourt and be much better both offensively and defensively (then again so is anyone in the Majors you put at SS, including bat boys). Cuddyer is someone who can bring in a great bat that would put a dent offensively at the corner where Prince once sat. Cuddyer can hit near .300 and 20 bombs supporting a strong offense, and with the power that he’ll be around in Milwaukee could see large increase in RBI’s and runs scored.

I think the above roster is a decline in bull pen from last year, but otherwise just as formidable if not more than the 2011 Brewers roster, it may not have two MVPs but it certainly has a lot of boom for the buck, and Cuddyer will probably come cheap with the bidding war some teams may get in over Pujols and Fielder, where the Brewers can sneak in and get Cuddyer cheaply if the Twins don’t lock him down first.

It would be nice to have the first roster since on paper it looks a little better but the second roster is probably just as good and could still win a division and go far in the playoffs.

-Brad

VFBC Podcast Episode 16

Breakdown of The Show:

What's With All The Roenicke Hate/Aggression? 00:00-201:03
Break
Roster Moves (No More Nieves, Kottaras Free!)/Lineup Talk 22:23-42:43
Break
Preview Red Sox Series/Chalet Award Winner 43:53-55:34

VFBC Podcast Episode 14

Breakdown of The Show:

John Axford Settling In :00-1156

Break

Corey Hart Batting 2nd, Gomez 8th 13:01-22:23

Break

3 Catchers? Misc. Bench Talk 23:23-34:51

Break

Preview/Around NL Central/Brewer of The Week 35:36-43:27

My Brewers 2011 Starting Lineup

If I ran the show, this would be my 2011 Opening Day starting lineup for the Brewers.

1. Lorenzo Cain - CF
2. Corey Hart - RF
3. Rickie Weeks - 2B
4. Ryan Braun - LF
5. Casey McGehee - 1B
6. Mat Gamel - 3B
7. Jonathan Lucroy - C
8. Alcides Escobar - SS
9. Yovani Gallardo - P

My thought is Lorenzo Cain wins the CF job with how he has played at AA/AAA this season and how he will play in September. Corey Hart goes through arbitration gets a nice raise and if the Brewers are out of it trade him at the deadline. Fielder is traded in the offseason for pitching. The Brewers decide that Gamel has better range and arm so he sticks at 3B despite the errors and they move McGehee to 1B. Weeks signs an extension and slides down to the 3 hole, also with the extension for Weeks, Brett Lawrie is moved to RF at AAA. If Hart is traded Lawrie will be up to play RF in Milwaukee. Of course the Brewers will miss Fielder's production, but I think they still have enough offense. And depending on what they do for other trades/free agents they should have better pitching including what they get for Fielder.

Not saying this will happen, probably won't. Just my crazy brainstorm for what I think should happen.

Just Thinking Out Loud Here: Possible 2011 Lineup

After Keith Law's comment in his recent chat about Brett Lawrie possibly moving to the OF if his glove is not good enough at 2B, it got me to thinking. If he would move to LF and we keep Weeks around to play 2B long term, what would that lineup look like? Well with a few other prospects probably another year away from the big club, this could be the Brewers opening day lineup in 2011. This is under the assumption that Fielder is kept around and not traded, even if he does not sign an extension. Remember, he is under team control through 2011. I have to say, this lineup make me giddy looking at it on paper.

1. Alcides Escobar- SS
2. Brett Lawrie- LF
3. Ryan Braun- RF
4. Prince Fielder- 1B
5. Rickie Weeks- 2B
6. Mat Gamel- 3B
7. Lorenzo Cain- CF
8. Jonathan Lucroy- C

It would be a pretty young lineup, but one with a good combination of speed and power. Lawrie, Cain and Lucroy would all be in their first years but should all be ready to contribute to the big club in 2011. Braun, Fielder and Weeks are your veterans (young ones at that) and Escobar and Gamel will both have 1+ years of MLB experience as they should be starters in 2010. You look at this lineup and it is very young, but I think loaded with potential and the talent to win right away. What do you think?

Funny Isn't It?

As I made my last post on Monday I bitched about how Yost should shake up the lineup a bit to try to get something going offensively and I gave my suggestion. Guess I should bite my tongue because Ned's lineup has worked the last two games. Granted they were against the Pittsburgh Pirates who are terrible but still they are starting to swing the bats (and it's not just Braun and Hart!) Monday night they scored 7 runs and last night they scored well only 4 but had key hits with 2 outs and runners in scoring position to score some of those runs, which is something they just were not doing. Also Weeks and Cameron at the top have gotten on base in this series. They have a chance to sweep the Pirates tonight as they get ready to head to Washington for a 4 game series with the Nationals. While I still think Yost should be canned, I will never root for the Brewers to lose games just so that will finally happen. If they can continue to win despite their awful Manager then so be it.

How About A Lineup Change?

Well still no word yet of Yost getting fired today, but the day is not over so we can only hope. But I was thinking about how we could shuffle the lineup a bit to try something new and maybe get some of these guys hitting that are not hitting. Here is what I came up with:

1. Jason Kendall- C
2. JJ Hardy- SS
3. Ryan Braun- LF
4. Prince Fielder- 1B
5. Corey Hart- RF
6. Mike Cameron- CF
7. Bill Hall- 3B
8. Rickie Weeks- 2B
9. Pitcher

Let me explain, Weeks and Cameron need to be removed from the 1st and 2nd spots in the lineup. Neither has a very good OBP and they both K a lot. I put Kendall 1st because he has a good OBP, has batted leadoff before and he actually has pretty good speed for a catcher. I put JJ 2nd because he has started to hit a little better lately and has had his best success in his career while batting in the 2 hole. So with Kendall at 1 you move the pitcher back to the 9 spot and you place Cameron 6th since he does have some pop and can drive guys in and put Weeks 8th although you could put him 7th and Hall 8th either or. I say they give this a shot, with Kendall and Hardy 1-2 I think Braun and Fielder will have an opportunity to bat more with guys on for RBI opportunities. Because lets face it with Weeks and Cameron at the top you have two guys batting in front of Braun and Fielder that are not hitting over .200.