The rotation

[dadofandrew]

DiFelice did not have bat splits in AAA because there are no LH bats with big pop in the minors, except for the rare Gamel type who has not been called up yet. When Brad Nelson and such are the big power bats to avoid, you'll have success, but that does not translate to the bigs.

 

As I said, his splits versus major league LH hitters is atrocious, and he'd be lucky to make it through a lefty laden lineup as a SP. When you have the numbers right there, and still think maybe he'd have success, the only argument is that stats are meaningless. He's correctly placed as a righty specialist.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I'd probably give Mike Burns first crack at a spot in the rotation, and if he can't cut it, I'd give the spot to McClung. Hopefully, these guys wouldn't have to cover very many starts before we can acquire another starter.

[ecjimg]

Why are we talking about revisionist draft scenarios from five years ago? It doesn't affect or help the current situation, which is looking to be that the Brewers only have 3 starting pitchers on their Major League roster right now.

Our current situation is..........that we dont have any MLB ready pitchers in AAA now (partly because the brewers havent drafted them). You mentioned giving Burns, Cody, and Dillard a shot.

 

Bailey is a bust? I guess the Reds should release him cause he only has success against AAA batters. If their pitching staff looked like ours, you can bet hed get the call over the retreads in Nashville.

[mkm13]

If we go and trade for a pitcher this year like some want I sure hope it isn't someone that we would only have for a year or 2 and we give up top prospects. IMO this rotation is more than 1 pitcher short of being playoff caliber. Gallardo is our only true top of the rotation pitcher, but he pitched so few innings last year and will likely be limited at times this year so he does not throw to many innings.

 

If I were the brewers, I would try to position myself for the next few years and use this as a transition year. By that I mean maybe trade Prince for a top young pitcher that will be here for awhile or trade JJ if you can get decent value in return.

[pebadger]

There is virtually no realistic trade that will get you anything close to equal value for Prince this season, and maybe not one for Hardy either.

 

I personally think JJ is one of the two guys that you want to build around, even with his struggles this season. I wouldn't put him in an untouchable category, but he's closer than anyone on the team other than Braun.

 

Everyone is hurting for pitching. I'd tend to hold tight and see what hapens this season. They'll need some luck and better performances, but they still ahve a shot at the division even as presently constructed.

[Milltownhooker]

I'm sure Doug is trying to add Doug Davis or Jared Washburn as we type.

[JJHardy7]

DiFelice did not have bat splits in AAA because there are no LH bats with big pop in the minors, except for the rare Gamel type who has not been called up yet. When Brad Nelson and such are the big power bats to avoid, you'll have success, but that does not translate to the bigs.

 

As I said, his splits versus major league LH hitters is atrocious, and he'd be lucky to make it through a lefty laden lineup as a SP. When you have the numbers right there, and still think maybe he'd have success, the only argument is that stats are meaningless. He's correctly placed as a righty specialist.

 

So where do LH power hitters come from? DiFelice pitched enough in the minors to face his fair share. I've seen him pitch qutie a bit the past two years and to be honest I'm on the fence about him as a starter or a relief type guy. I would just suggest you make your post more opinion than fact because at this point and time it's just an opinion. How does a guy that has pitched all those year in the minors never fact LH bats with pop? That thought doesn't make any sense to me. There's much more data to suggest he'll do fine against LH than 50 or so at-bats by LH in the majors.

[mkm13]

There is virtually no realistic trade that will get you anything close to equal value for Prince this season, and maybe not one for Hardy either.

I agree we couldn't get equal value to Prince in terms of what they would bring this year..but I would be fine with that. I think we could get equal or better value based on Prince for 1.5 years compared to the prospects 5+ years. Somewhere or somehow we need a couple top young pitchers that will be around for 5+ years. Prince should be able to get a couple really good young pitching prospects. I realize we have some good young pitching prospects at the lower minor levels but you can never have enough good pitching.

 

JJ definitly does have value and I do doubt at this time we could get what he is really worth just because his statistics are not the best right now. I would be completely fine with keeping JJ if we can't get good value in return. I just don't see any other player on the roster bringing what we need. Sometimes you have to give up to get.

[Never Outhustled]

I doubt Difelice's shoulder and elbow could handle going 6 innings on a regular basis. He had shoulder issues in Nashville last year, and continues to battle a tender elbow. That makes stretching him out right now a bad idea. McClung was just as good as our other starters last year, and he's a much better pitcher right now than he was at this time last year. Chris Cody has also earned an oppurtunity. I'll be uninspired if Mike Burns get a start.