Make your 09 team.

[Hate those Rodents]

Clancy, I respect your opinion as much as anyone on these boards, but do you really see/want Rottino having even a platoon role on next year's team? I could maybe see him as a bench guy getting up to 200 AB's, but not the 300-400 he would get in a platoon.

[clancyphile]

Clancy, I respect your opinion as much as anyone on these boards, but do you really see/want Rottino having even a platoon role on next year's team? I could maybe see him as a bench guy getting up to 200 AB's, but not the 300-400 he would get in a platoon.

A Gamel/Rottino platoon comes about from trading Corey Hart and Jeff Suppan to the Blue Jays for Halladay.

 

It's more about protecting Gamel from left-handed pitchers. I don't think Rottino would do badly facing off against mostly left-handed pitchers.

 

The other alternative would be to have Joe Dillon playing full-time at third, and shifting Hall to the OF (unless you think Dillon can be a left fielder).

[brewjihad]

It's more about protecting Gamel from left-handed pitchers. I don't think Rottino would do badly facing off against mostly left-handed pitchers.

 

In his minor league career, Gamel has hit .315/.375/.461/.836 against lefty pitching and .303/.373/.502/.875 against righties. If anything, he's a rare young guy that doesn't need to be platooned. In the same way, Rottino is extremely balanced: his OPS against lefties is .773, against righties .766 in his minor league career.

[reillymcshane]

Brewers acquire Halladay for Hart and Suppan

Halladay is one of the top five pitchers in the game this year - 4th in ERA, 1st in Innings pitched, 5th in Ks, tied for 3rd in wins. He's a certified #1 starter in this game - and there are few of these.

 

You don't trade one of the top pitchers in the game for an - at best - #4 starter (and an expensive one at that) - and a good, but not great outfielder, even if you get the guy for three years (compared to 2 for halladay).

 

If anything, Suppan is a liability in this deal at his salary. You're better taking the $25 million you'd pay Suppan and spend it on a better player than trading for him.

 

I suppose anything is possible, but it would be a foolish (and I think, massively unrealistic) deal for the Jays.

[DonMoney4Mgr]

1) Roberts 2B
2) Hardy 3B
3) Braun LF
4) Overbay 1B
5) Hart CF
6) Salome C
7) Escobar SS
8) Brantley RF

Trade Fielder, Weeks, Hall, Bush, and Soup. Acquire; Halladay, Overbay, Roberts and Cain
Rotation; Halladay, Cain, Gallardo, Parra, Jeffries
Bench; Kapler, Brad Nelson
Pen; Dillard, Riske, Torrez, Stetter, and Bateman

[ELCABALLO45]

I do see the Brewers possibly trading Hall in the offseason.

 

I would love to have Brian Roberts, however getting him from the O's will/would be hard.

 

I would also like to see us address 3rd base this offseason. Garrett Atkins would be intresting just to take a look and someone else mentioned Kevin K. who I would also love.

 

However sadley I see this being are line up next year.....

 

2B Weeks

SS Hardy

LF Braun

1B Fielder

RF Hart

CF Cameron

3B ??

C Kendall

[yoshii8]

ELCABALLO45, I'm not sure whats so sad about that lineup. It is pretty much the same lineup that is the current wild card leader by 4 games w/ only a couple of weeks to go. I think w/ a decent uggrade at 3rd base, that the lineup will be one the best in the NL for the next couple of years.

[JohnBriggs12]

Before I get to my 2009 lineup, let me point out that Paul Molitor was dubbed "The Ignitor" as a rookie in 1978 despite the fact he posted a leadoff OBP of just .301 that season.

 

That was because from day one Molitor played with an attitude that carried over to the entire team that I've yet to see from Weeks.

 

From the little I've seen of Escobar, he's got that flair that is contagious much like Molitor and despite the fact that he hasn't walked a lot in the minors, I think he should be batting leadoff and playing SS for the Brewers in 09.

 

So my lineup would look something like:

 

SS Escobar

2B Weeks

LF Braun

1B Fielder

CF Hart

RF Ibanez

3B Hall/Gamel or Lamb platoon

C Kendall

 

 

I think it's critical to balance the lineup and as good as Cameron's been, I'd rather move Hart and add a lefty bat like Ibanez as a FA. I'm on record as favoring a Hardy for Cain deal.

 

Bench: I'd bring back Kapler and Rivera, add a middle infielder and another corner OF.

 

Pitching has too many variables to project.

[endaround]

No way do I give up a first round pick to sign Ibanez. And someone will likely highly overpay for him.

[Oldcity]

Before I get to my 2009 lineup, let me point out that Paul Molitor was dubbed "The Ignitor" as a rookie in 1978 despite the fact he posted a leadoff OBP of just .301 that season.

 

That was because from day one Molitor played with an attitude that carried over to the entire team that I've yet to see from Weeks.

It was also because in all likelihood the person who did the dubbing did not know the value of OBP.

[piccione88]

The only change I would make, would be to trade Hardy for some young pitching(i.e. Sanchez) and have escobar take over. Gamel could also take over for billy at third if his defense improves enough to be passable.

[JohnBriggs12]

No way do I give up a first round pick to sign Ibanez. And someone will likely highly overpay for him.

You argued last offseason when I was talking up trading for Ibanez that he wasn't that good and yet he's put up numbers this year that with a good team would put him in the AL MVP discussion.

[endaround]

If by numbers you mean August, yeah he was incredible for one month while being pedestrian for the rest of the season with bad defense.

[nate82]

I put this in another thread but what about trading Weeks for Polanco. I know it is not the best solution but it does make sense for both the Tigers and Brewers to some extent. Trading Weeks allows the Brewers to start Escobar at AAA next year and then either move Hardy at the trade deadline or during the off season.

[BrewCrewForever]

All I know for sure is something needs to be done about 3B and maybe even 2B. If Brian Roberts can he had, so long Rickie.

[PeaveyFury]

My 09 team has the Brewers picking up Cameron's option, and keeping much of the same lineup. If the Rangers decline Hank Blalock's option, I sign him to play 3rd. I think you explore a trade for Brian Roberts as long as it's feasible, but since I expect the O's to be completely unreasonable as usual, Rickie is probably our 2B starter again.

 

Bring back Kapler and Branyan for the bench along with Rivera, try to upgrade Counsell with another utility IF.

 

Pitching is a heck of a lot more tricky. I'd offer a bunch of money to Derek Lowe and see where that gets us (assuming that certainly one of Sheets/Sabathia are gone), and make a legitimate effort to sign CC first, then Sheets if CC goes (as expected). They certainly need to sign at least one starting arm, whether it be Lowe or someone like Burnett or Garland or Randy Wolf.

 

Bullpen arms are a must. Pick up Torres' option, let Gagne and Mota go, and make a reasonable early run at Fuentes, who might get lost in the whirlwind of the K-Rod sweepstakes at closer. Jeremy Affeldt and David Weathers would make sense in middle relief, otherwise the options there are almost depressingly thin.

 

The Brewers should have some money to throw around this offseason, though a bunch is going to go to raises for the young hitters. If there's an offseason for the Brewers to really spend some dough, this one is probably it.

[MNBrew]

My take on the '09 Brewers is that most of this year's roster ought to come back. Within that...

 

Position players:

- 3B needs to be upgraded significantly and Bill Hall needs to be used as part of a package to acquire another player.

- Cameron is back in CF and spends the whole offseason on that Cirillo/Loretta tennis ball 140 mph pitching machine -- anything to improve his strike zone judgement to cut down the Ks and maybe net a few more hits & walks.

- Counsell is back as a minor league manager

- Kapler & Rivera & Dillon are reserves

- Brewers acquire a solid backup middle IF who can hit better than .230 (Nick Punto or Brendan Harris of MN? -- Bill Hall would be a huge 3B platoon upgrade w/ Buscher)

- Vinny Rottino is the starting C at AAA

 

Pitching:

- CC re-signs (whatever it takes); if not, someone comparable is acquired

- Mota comes back, but only for a comparable or slightly lesser salary

- Gagne, Turnblow, Capuano no longer have Brewers uniforms with their names on them

- the Brewers make a deal for an underperforming closer (like Lidge last winter) -- maybe this is the deal where Bill Hall is dealt

[MNBrew]

One more thing:

 

It wouldn't be bad if Durham could be re-signed at a reasonable cost and Weeks could be pawned off on someone who still thinks he's a stud prospect.

 

His ceiling is clear rather than hopeful or prospect-like, but the dumb play quotient reduces considerably.

[kramnoj]

Punto has only had two seasons that could be called good. Luckily for him, it is two of the last three seasons, so he may get some interest. But his career OPS+ is 73. That's not somebody I would want to give much more than the minimum to. I'd rather give guys like Heether, Irribarren or Crabbe a shot at winning the UI job. I also don't see a reason to bring Dillon back. His slugging percentage in AAA cratered this season. He'll be 33 next year, he could just be done as a useful major leaguer.

 

Do you prefer Salome repeat AA instead of getting the job at AAA next year? IMO, Salome gets the job at AAA next year and is groomed to take over the major league job in 2010. Lucroy gets the job in AA. I don't know the low minors enough to see who should be catching below that. I assume Lawrie gets some starts in rookie league. Rottino could be backup C and utility corner for AAA.

 

I think Capuano is coming back. He still is under club control through 2010. He will make about $3 mil in 2009 and could be useful in the 2nd half of the year.

 

I think the Brewers will need to give small roles to system players and will need to save their money for higher leverage players, wherever the money fits, whether that be a rotation guy or a couple of bullpen arms.

[MNBrew]

I look at Punto or someone similar as a replacement for Counsell. The Brewers seem to favor a 1st-string backup IF with decent major league experience -- and in the case of replacing Counsell, they need someone who can start regularly at SS or 2B if needed. Heether, Iribarren, & Crabbe haven't shown yet that they really even deserve a promotion to the majors. Organizational soldiers fit the bill for 25th man, not 1st-string backup IF. Anyway, Punto doesn't get paid like a starter and is a clear upgrade at the plate from Counsell, who may take a good approach at the plate but at the end of the day still has the indisputable results of a banjo hitter.

 

I'd rather see Salome as starting C at AAA. Sorry for the oversight. My point was that I don't believe Vinny Rottino, for all his sentimental value, has come close to earning a 25-man roster spot.

 

A 2nd Tommy John surgery puts Capuano in prime position to be non-tendered. He's a total wildcard to play in 2009 if ever again at all. I don't think any team would pay him $3M just to hope he could start pitching in August. A pre-arranged minor league deal with a spring training NRI seems far more likely. Capuano has a very long and formidable road ahead of him.

[logan82]

I think Capuano will be ready to pitch by midseason next year. Not as a starter though. I am not sure they will be willing to offer him arbitration and $3M though.

[kramnoj]

Anyway, Punto doesn't get paid like a starter and is a clear upgrade at the plate from Counsell, who may take a good approach at the plate but at the end of the day still has the indisputable results of a banjo hitter.

 

Isn't Punto expected to be a FA this year? I don't think we know what he will be paid. If the Brewers can snag him for cheap, Punto could be useful, I just don't think he's a player to put more than minimum resources into. He's a career .650 OPS player, and it was below .600 last year.

 

As for Capuano, I have heard from Drew Olsen a couple times that he thinks Cap will be back. $3 mil would be about the lowest he could make in arbitration, and some team may decide to take a flier on Cap if the Brewers non-tender him. Maybe he and the Brewers sign a 2 year deal, where Chris makes like $1-$2 million in 2009 and $6-$8 million in 2010 based on GS or IP.

[rousieboy]

A Gamel/Rottino platoon comes about from trading Corey Hart and Jeff Suppan to the Blue Jays for Halladay.

You would be lucky to get Cecil for Hart and Suppan...

[igor67]

Just throw this out there: Hall and Weeks for Adrian Beltre and have Escobar play second. Offer CC a huge contract, and trying and keep things going by replacing hitters from the farm system.

[colbyjack]

As much as I would love to see the team take a radical approach towards pitching and defense (target a guy like Orlando Hudson in FA, bump up Escobar, move Hardy to 3B, move Weeks, Hall and Fielder for pitching), I think the current lineup is going to be kept relatively intact. The top 5 in the lineup for most of the season (Weeks, Hardy, Braun, Fielder and Hart) are going to be 26, 26, 25, 24 and 27 when the 2009 season opens. That means none of them have hit their baseball prime yet.

 

Without a doubt, third base needs to be addressed. I still think Hank Blalock is the best fit in a strict platoon with Hall, that is if he becomes available. If so, give him a one-year deal similar to Cameron or even Gagne with an option for a second. Gamel and Escobar would be best off for a good chunk of '09 at AAA to make sure they're as close to as ready as possible when they do make it for good, as Gamel in particular would provide good depth should Blalock's health continue to be a problem.

 

I would suspect the lineup could be significantly different in 2010.

 

Of the players that are available, or at least ones that could be, I would really like to see either Brian Giles or Bobby Abreu brought in. Yes, they're both old, but they both have the exact type of offensive approach that the team is desparately lacking. Such a move would probably mean Hart moves to CF while Cameron moves elsewhere, and this is also assuming one of Giles or Abreu even becoming free agents (although reports out of SD and NY may lead one to believe that either or both may indeed become available).

 

I think Ibanez is going to get too crazy of a deal, especially for his age, otherwise I agree with JB that he's another bat the Brewers lineup could really use.

 

Obviously the team needs to address the bullpen, and I hope Melvin studies some of the best bullpens in baseball to determine how they were constructed. It seems as though the Padres always assemble one of the more successful bullpens in baseball (even before they moved into Petco) on a fairly reasonable budget (outside of Hoffmann).

 

A starter is likely going to be needed, although I wouldn't rule out a return to the rotation for Villanueva.