What will happen during Monday's meeting?

[bklynbrewcrew]

Maybe Melvin will say he is not "motivated" to make a managerial change at this time.

[DrWood]

Ned: My guys are really battling. The hitters are getting good AB's, and the pitchers are pitching good, except for a mistake or two.

Doug: all righty then, nothing to worry about. good meeting. see you guys later.

[jazzytrav]

actually, I think this is a great chance to forego the entire "closer" issue, and pitch whoever is rested and appropriate for the batters he'll face.

That's madness!

And I completely agree. If Griffey and Dunn are coming up in the 9th, bring on Shouse or Stetter. If it's 3 righties, bring on Mota or Torres or Riske. Just pick the guy who is most rested. We have plenty of arms, and with Stetter doing well as another lefty (and I think that's a big deal), we have some very good options to always be at an advantage in the 9th. If Yost does this, I will... *gulp* ...respect him for it.

[logan82]

I fully expect them to do nothing.

My expectation as well. I really hope they just go with Mota, Torres, or Riske for the 9th inning if one of those guys pitched in the 8th instead of bringing in another pitcher. Also with 2 lefties in the pen I would like to see Shouse and Stettter brought in if there are a couple lefties in a row in a lineup. Much like Sunday's 9th inning.

 

As far as the 40-man roster, I am pretty sure we only have 37 guys on it right now so we wouldn't have to do anything to add a guy.

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=mil

[MJLiverock]

If it's 3 righties, bring on Mota or Torres or Riske. Just pick the guy who is most rested.

Or even take it a step further, if a guy just pitched a pretty good 8th inning and appears that his "stuff" is on why take him out? (other than obvious L/R matchups in key situations) Why run the risk the guy coming in won't be on his game on that particular night, can't throw strikes, breaking stuff not there etc. I thought most of the bullpen guys could go multiple innings this year. Sure you might not be able to bring the guy back the next night after 2 innings of use but everyone else should be well rested. Of course a 2 inning save wouldn't fall into the new tradtion of 1 guy for the 8th and 1 guy for the ninth.

 

 

(pared back long nested quote --1992)

[jazzytrav]

Absolutely MJLiverock. If one of those guys throws 10 pitches in the 8th, I don't see any reason why they couldn't stay out there for the 9th. And that doesn't mean we can't have someone warming up just in case they see some trouble. This would also help make the decision for the next night. If Riske throws one inning and Torres throws one, it would leave it up to a decision to choose who pitches. But if Riske throws two innings and Torres rests, it makes the decision for the next night that much easier.

[patrickgpe]

with this pen and everyone in their revamped roles, don't we need another reliever. I wouldn't be surprised if Dillard was up here tomorrow. Also if Bush has another bad outing I'm sure Weaver will get a shot.

[TooLiveBrew]

Or even take it a step further, if a guy just pitched a pretty good 8th inning and appears that his "stuff" is on why take him out? (other than obvious L/R matchups in key situations)

 

The more this conversation evolves, the more I'm loving it. Anything that can get back to the 'fireman' RP, as opposed to the CP and/or one inning specialist, is wonderful. It makes the most intuitive sense, and should work best in actual practice of the concept, too.

 

I'd love for the Brewers to be the trendsetter (retrograders?) in saying, 'Screw the "closer", we need our best pitchers facing their most favorable matchups.'

[Yeti73]

This may belong in the rumor section, but the Trib suggested today that the Crew go after Maddux. Think a TGJ for Maddog may be a good move come June if Pads continue their terrible streak.

[TooLiveBrew]

Absolutely no way Gwynn lands Maddux alone. Greg would probably be helpful, though.

[jazzytrav]

I'd love for the Brewers to be the trendsetter (retrograders?) in saying, 'Screw the "closer", we need our best pitchers facing their most favorable matchups.'

If it's presented to Yost this way, I imagine he might be willing to give it a shot. Just think Ned, new bullpen management propels the Brewers to the playoffs under skipper Yost! People would think you're a genius!

[joepepsi]

I think the best way to win a game is to have your best available pitcher in the game during the most critical point. It may be the 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th.

[getupgetouttaheregone]

Move Hart to leadoff and Weeks to 7th or 8th and get rid of that stupid pitcher in the 8th spot strategy.

[brewmann04]

I am sure they will decide that Bush and Villy get one more shot before they get replaced.

a very big outing tonught for Mr Bush

[jazzytrav]

Yeah, but saying "one more shot" could mean a lot of things. What if he goes 6 innings with 1 run allowed, then goes out for the 7th and gives up 4 more runs? Is that a bad outing?

[joepepsi]

Yeah, but saying "one more shot" could mean a lot of things. What if he goes 6 innings with 1 run allowed, then goes out for the 7th and gives up 4 more runs? Is that a bad outing?

That's what Bush and CV both did their last starts. Ned wised up for Parra's start and yanked him after 5. I don't want to wear out the bullpen but I think that's going to have to be the strategy for awhile....yank these guys at the first sign of trouble from the 5th on.

 

[shelmark]

If Bush sucky tonight, he goes back down. Bring up Dillard. Bring up Difelice for Thursday game and send Parra out. Bring up Gamel after Thursday game...ship Difelice out. Send Gamel out after Sunday game, bring Parra back. Simple.

[TooLiveBrew]

Why burn up options like that for a handful of games?

[DrWood]

defelice's options are pretty much immaterial as he is 31 years old (assuming he has one, anyway). dillard's doesn't make much difference either, he'll be up in September, probably. Only one to worry about is gamel.

[shelmark]

I don't know, maybe to try and win them. I would doubt Gamel would be a guy to worry about options. I don't know all the rules, but he doesn't seem like a guy that will be "Gwynning" for his career, so will options be a problem? Didn't we do that with Prince? I guess I was just thinking that it would be nice to have another LH bat for Fenway.

[Menotti80]

here's what i hope will happen during today's meeting.

 

1. The brewers officially decide today that they have been teasing cardinals/cubs fans for long enough, and now is the time they are all going to start trying and playing to their potential. it seemed too boring to them to be in 1st place the WHOLE year...

2. they reveal that: they were kidding about Yo's ACL tear and they just wanted to freak us all out. Yo doesn't need surgery and will be fine for his next start

3. they reveal that: the brewers hitters made a bet with themselves on who could start off the slowest this year. the contest is now over and they will start trying to hit now

4. they reveal that: the brewers pitchers (besides sheets) are no longer going to attempt to throw the most pitches in the first 5 innings. that game is getting old because they all got so good at it. they will now start trying to get into the 8th on a regular basis

[jazzytrav]

I don't know, maybe to try and win them. I would doubt Gamel would be a guy to worry about options. I don't know all the rules, but he doesn't seem like a guy that will be "Gwynning" for his career, so will options be a problem? Didn't we do that with Prince? I guess I was just thinking that it would be nice to have another LH bat for Fenway.

 

I imagine we didn't ever think we would need to use any of Weeks' options, either. You just never know, and moving guys all around messes with a lot of things. Just the paperwork alone would have the front office's collective head spinning.

[TooLiveBrew]

Gamel... is not going to be part of this 2008 Brewers team until Sept. at the earliest, barring horrible injury WOAHs. He is not ready. Why would you not worry about burning one of your top young prospect's options? Iirc, your scenario uses two options. Is that wrong?

 

I think the situation presented is a bit more complicated than your example suggests.

[nate82]

Move Hart to leadoff and Weeks to 7th or 8th and get rid of that stupid pitcher in the 8th spot strategy.

Having the pitcher bat 8th has actually worked if you look at the stats. Having Hart hit leadoff is a bad idea. If you put Hart in the leadoff spot and Weeks in the 7th spot you lose production out of the 5th spot and lose protection for Prince. I love Hall but he is not a good #5 hitter he is best left at the 6th spot in the lineup. Hardy won't give Fielder any protection at all since he doesn't have as good of power as Hall or Hart.

 

Now if you move Weeks down you have a big gaping hole in the 5th spot that you can't fill with the current players on the team. Also if you put the pitcher batting 9th when Kendall is catching you are now basically putting Counsell in front of the pitcher. Kendall will be useless at the 8th spot. The lineup right now the way it is is the best it can be.

[jhart05]

They will not promote Gamel or LaPorta straight from AA ball.

 

Please move on people.