Is there anything wrong with the Brewers standing pat?

[dlk9s]

I know we need a good contact hitter (maybe in the OF or maybe at 2B) and I feel we could use a SP, but what if the Brewers just stood pat at this point? Would it be so bad?

 

Things are obviously shaky for the team right now when it comes to making a playoff run. The bats have gone cold, the starting rotation isn't putting together quality starts, Sheets is out, and the bullpen is inconsistent. The Cubs haven't shown signs of slowing down. While the playoffs are still most definitely a possibility (heck, we could still be wild card leader if we drop into 2nd in the Central), it is going to be a tough road for the next two months.

 

But how do we add those pieces? We don't really have much on the current roster to deal -- Graffy, Counsell, Mench, Vargas, and Bush are the only ones I see as at all possible to trade, and that's not taking into account contracts, desirability, other teams' needs, etc. We're not trading Hall, Hart, Braun, Fielder, Weeks, or Hardy.

 

We just traded three prospects for a rent-a-pitcher, so if we dipped back into the farm system to make a deal or two, that could really hurt the big strength of this organization. Our top prospects, plus the young guys I mentioned above, are the future of the Brewers. It is not worth risking the growth and success the team will hopefully have over the next several years to try to win this year, when this team, even with another piece or two, is most likely not a World Series championship-caliber team.

 

So, would it really be so bad to stick with what we've got, hope they can find a groove at least somewhere in between the hot start and the current funk, and see if Brewers can make the playoffs?

 

I think part of the negativity (mine included) surrounding the team is that after the hot start, the resurgence after the horrible May, and the 8.5 game lead, we all had dreams of ticker tape parades. If, before the season, we were told we'd be 2 games up in the division at the end of July, we would've been happy. I'm not saying we should be content with the current stagnation, but I'm just not so sure if there is really a great personnel move to be made at this point.

 

Thoughts?

[dadofandrew]

Other than a veteran OF for depth, I don't see any other moves in the cards.

[MoneyballMan]

I agree. Any major move(s) would be made in the offseason at this point.

 

I know what Melvin has said about not moving Gwynn, but someone could still knock his socks off. We may collectively dismiss him because we have Hall in CF, Melvin is correct in stating that teams covet natural CF's. How long have we looked for a solid one before Hall? We were actually seriously considering Lofton and Roberts last off season.

 

I guess I could understand someone taking a shot at Jenkins or Mench, but I'm not sure they could offer enough for Melvin to move either one at this point (can't break up Menchkins at this point!).

 

And I agree with another poster about picking up an OF like Dye. How would Menchkins react to that? Would we cause ourselves a bigger problem for a little upgrade?

 

I believe we have the pieces in place to be a playoff team. But as I've said in other threads, it could just turn out that we're just a tad young. But the good news is we're only going to get better. I know "wait til next year" is not very popular among Brewers fans, but this time it's for real. Even if we do make the playoffs (which I hope we do), I'm REALLY excited about '08 and beyond (which is why I hope we don't tear apart too much to go for it this year).

[igor67]

I would think you would be hard pressed to find anyone to disagree that the Brewers are probably done making any trades. For largely the reason you stated any significant upgrade would cost serious prospects and we don't have that many with that big cache and then you take Salome out of the mix (regardless of how he tested positive he still tested positive) there's not in the way of centerpieces left that you would feel comfortable dealing. We've got some other players who could emerge into bigtime prospects, but right now they aren't that valuable by themselves. So as a practical matter it does become about the depth.

[DrWood]

only thing wrong with standing pat is if they lose an opportunity to get better. An elite starter would be hard to obtain, and we don't need any 3-4-5 types. Brewers need someone that can rake against RH pitchers. If one is available, they need to go get him.

[JohnBriggs12]

Hasn't that ship sailed?

 

I think a key move (and Melvin even mentioned it on WTMJ yesterday) will be bringing Gabe Gross back after he has 60 or so AB's in Nashville.

 

He's got 5 hits down there in his last two games, and I think if he gets rolling there, he's going to see a lot more PT in Milwaukee when he gets back.

[litesrn]

Very cogent point, briggs. Combining two topics, there's nobody out there that would agree to come to Milwaukee (Griffey as an example) or wouldn't cost way too much in a relative sense when compared to guys already available (Dye).

[naivin]

I certainly don't see any minor moves being made at this point - don't know that there are any minor one's to be made. If the Brewers are involved in any more trades, I suspect it would be of the blockbuster variety, involving multiple big names, and I would say that is highly unlikely.

[brettac1]

Gross could definitely be a contributor, I wouldn't mind him getting a few more starts, especially if he gets a roll going with some consistent AB's in Nashville.