SS Upgrade: Realistically What Do You Expect?

[FoxyFoxes]

After thinking about it some more I guess I could warm to Carroll. PLay him 3 out of every 5 days and rotate beteween Short and 3b in those 3 games basing it on matchups (no not YB is 2-3 against pitcher A type matchups either RR) . If the managemenet can play the matchups they cuold get average production out of those two positions. I would then cut Yuni (keep counsell for defense and josh wilson can at least play out in the outfield as well). Then you hope like hell Stetter/Braddock can help the lefty situation in August September and October. I hope MElvin stuns us all with a big name ss but I am starting to grow weery of it.

[The Truth]

The only problem I could foresee with Carroll would be that RR/DM would see him as depth and not a direct replacement for Betancourt. I don't want Yuni B ever starting for the Brewers again and instead he may still be starting a few games a week with Carroll starting 3

[PrinceEatMeat]

Good news for all the people on the Barmes bandwagon. Via Danny Knobler's twitter.

 

Brewers checked in on Beltran, Crisp, Jerry Hairston Jr., Carroll, others, but most likely acquisition could be Barmes of HOU

[Warning Track Power]

I hope "others" means Brendan Ryan.

[HiAndTight]

Good news for all the people on the Barmes bandwagon. Via Danny Knobler's twitter.

 

Brewers checked in on Beltran, Crisp, Jerry Hairston Jr., Carroll, others, but most likely acquisition could be Barmes of HOU

Carroll and Barmes might be necessary though. Both of them are needed here and getting both could be absolutely huge.

 

In a dream world, get both, call up Green and platoon Green and Carroll. Maybe not a strict platoon, and more of a 50/50 platoon with Carroll getting a chunk of starts vs right handers as well. But the bench and both starting spots are upgraded. I don't really see a big weakness on this team if that was to happen.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Others is probably people who aren't as big of names as the guys listed. So yeah, could be Ryan.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I can't see Doug trading for both Carroll and Barmes, although he should. Why? Because who would he cut beyond Wilson. Yes, Counsell or Yuni should get dropped, or McGehee demoted, but we all know none of those things would happen.

[HiAndTight]

I can't see Doug trading for both Carroll and Barmes, although he should. Why? Because who would he cut beyond Wilson. Yes, Counsell or Yuni should get dropped, or McGehee demoted, but we all know none of those things would happen.

Probably not. But there are three guys, two of which to my way of thinking are fairly easy to demote and or DFA. Counsell would be tougher because I still think he can bring value to this team.

 

But McGehee should go down, Wilson should be cut, and if we were to get Barmes and Carroll, in a perfect world, Counsell should be DFA as well and bring up Green.

 

I agree, that type of overhaul is likely-UN-likely.

[Warning Track Power]

I can't see Doug trading for both Carroll and Barmes, although he should. Why? Because who would he cut beyond Wilson. Yes, Counsell or Yuni should get dropped, or McGehee demoted, but we all know none of those things would happen.

In a year like this, with so much riding on the success of this season due to Prince's impending free agency and the Greinke and Marcum trades gutting our farm system, it doesn't make sense for the Brewers to continue to roll with the bench they have. Relatively modest moves for Brendan Ryan, Jamey Carroll and Reed Johnson would SIGNIFICANTLY make this team better. Imagine how much stronger the team becomes with a starting lineup that includes Ryan at SS. Now add to that a bench with:

 

IF: Counsell, Carroll

OF: Johnson, Kotsay

C: Kottaras

 

If that isn't the grittiest bench in the history I don't know what is. Heck, maybe the Brewers could trade for Kendall to complete the gritty bench look!

 

In all seriousness though, I would be dumbfounded and put away if acquiring all of these players (Ryan, Carroll, Johnson) is something that is so farfetched and unrealistic that Melvin couldn't pull off. DFA YuniB and Wilson, sub in Carroll and Johnson and while the bench still wouldn't have much pop, it would at least be a viable bench full of veteran bats that would be better than what it is today.

 

I am getting real scared of the rest of the season if we do not make multiple moves to make this team better by Monday.

[PrinceEatMeat]

There's no doubt Melvin could get 2 or 3 guys to make the team better. Especially the guys you just listed. Will it happen though? The answer to that is no. And the reason is like I said before. Melvin seems to think McGehee and Yuni are good players, who will "turn it around" and there is no way Counsell gets let go. That leaves one spot in the IF. I could see an OF be added though to replace Carroll, but that seems unlikely as well. I hope he finds a LH reliever though too.

[endaround]

There's no doubt Melvin could get 2 or 3 guys to make the team better. Especially the guys you just listed. Will it happen though? The answer to that is no. And the reason is like I said before. Melvin seems to think McGehee and Yuni are good players, who will "turn it around" and there is no way Counsell gets let go. That leaves one spot in the IF. I could see an OF be added though to replace Carroll, but that seems unlikely as well. I hope he finds a LH reliever though too.

Based on what? Picking up Wilson? Going hard after Carroll and Barmes?

[PrinceEatMeat]

Based on the fact that he stated over and over again that he has faith in Yuni and Betancourt. The fact that the players he's going after are both capable of playing SS and 3B tell me that he only wants one guy to help spell both Yuni and McGehee. I just don't see him trading for 2 IF's when he said that RP was his biggest need after the K-Rod trade. He won't drop McGehee, Yuni, or Counsell. It just won't happen. He'll get one guy, drop Wilson, and be done with it. I don't like it, but that's what will happen.

[FoxyFoxes]

But Betancourt is absolutely even more worthless as a pinch hitter. He has to start or go home preferably go home.

[jmeks23]

I think the most likely scenario is a smaller SS deal (crossing fingers on Barmes or Ryan) and then perhaps a surprise big deal like Beltran. Then for other INF depth and backup OF, they will pickup someone off the waiver wire transactions. I just don't see Doug making 3 moves (small or not) in rapid succession in the next few days. Like I said, if he makes multiple moves I think one will be a splash deal.

 

Carroll and Barmes/Ryan would really improve this team though. I still don't think you'll see Counsell or Kotsay cut simply because Counsell is still an icon to fans, and Kotsay is Ron's go-to guy (for whatever reason). So in those scenarios you'd see Wilson DFA'd with hopes he'd go to the minors and Yuni completely let go. Fingers crossed boys.

[Warning Track Power]

Going to be honest here...If the Cardinals jump out and trade for Furcal it might not matter what move we make to upgrade SS. Adding Furcal to StL would make them the odds on favorite in my opinion. If Rickie hadn't gotten hurt and we traded for a Barmes for SS, I'd still consider us the favorite but Rickie's injury has put us into a situation where we desperately need to make mulitple moves now. Rickie's injury may preclude or limit him even when he comes back.

 

We need to trade for an upgrade at SS and 2B now and role with McGehee. YuBet at SS and Counsell/Wilson/Farris at 2B will kill out chances in my opinion. I think we have to bite the bullet now and do whatever it takes to get Furcal at SS and Barmes or even Carroll at 2B. We need offense in the absence of Rickie and Furcal could bring some of what is missing. While I have been advocating for a D-first SS, Rickie's injury has made that less of a concern. We need an SS upgrade to bring offense and defense and the best option for that is Furcal IMO.

[RockCoCougars]

There was talk a few weeks back that the Dodgers would be trying Furcal at 2B. He hasn't played there yet, but I wonder if he's capable or not. He seems like a textbook LaRussa acquisition to me. Maybe his manlove for Eckstein will carry over and he will want Carroll though.

[jmeks23]

There's three spots on the roster that are easily replaceable at this point. Brett Carroll, Josh Wilson, and Betancourt. Obviously we are still looking for a backup OF so he would be the one who replaced Carroll but yeah, get a starting SS to replace Yuni and a Jamey Carroll type to replace Wilson and play second until Rickie is back. They'd probably just send down Farris until Weeks is back then cut Wilson though.

[FoxyFoxes]

I think at this point we can roll with what we have for backup outfielders now that 2 (maybe 3 if Casey don't straighten out) infielders are way below MLB average. Two trades. One massive Chisox trade...... anything Doug . For real you cannot stand pat on 2 roster moves that need to happen. I wish he read this freaking site.

[yoyomayoma]

I think Furcal will be a Brewer before Friday's game. Good upside if he gets healthy and don't have to give much up to get him.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Will Furcal play 2B for the time being if we trade for him?

[Hate those Rodents]

We jjust traded for felipe lopez.

[RockCoCougars]

I think there's still a spot for Furcal because Lopez will probably be used mostly at 2nd. The way Betancourt has been hitting, I'm not sure if Melvin will make the move or not. I'm glad that he did something, though.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Seeing as Lopez is reporting to AAA there is definitely a spot for Furcal.

[The Truth]

Furcal is starting to hit like Furcal in the last 6 games with a .318 BA and .444 OBP, and a .347 OBP in the last 12 games, (49 plate appearances)

[TheCrew]

PLEASE get Furcal - then also find an upgrade at 3b or even give Gamel another shot there.