What if we don't add a starter?

[82brewcrew82]

Thus, I am not buying that Stearns and MA are completely blowing smoke when they say they are ready to go into the season with this roster.

 

I don't disagree with you on this. I think they are fine with the roster that they have right now if they have to. They are being patient, and they should be. If the right deal comes available, they will do it. It's just harder for us as fans because we want to see movement but we just may not get it. And in the end, that may be okay too.

I feel like folks think I'm frustrated with the fact they haven't acquired a pitcher. I'm not. I'm not at convinced that standing pat isn't the right move. It may well be the right move.

 

My point is that if they were going to spend the resources for Cain/Yelich you would have thought they would have had a better read on the pitching market. Why waste a year of Cain/Yelich with a clearly inferior pitching staff?

[pacopete4]

Thus, I am not buying that Stearns and MA are completely blowing smoke when they say they are ready to go into the season with this roster.

 

I don't disagree with you on this. I think they are fine with the roster that they have right now if they have to. They are being patient, and they should be. If the right deal comes available, they will do it. It's just harder for us as fans because we want to see movement but we just may not get it. And in the end, that may be okay too.

I feel like folks think I'm frustrated with the fact they haven't acquired a pitcher. I'm not. I'm not at convinced that standing pat isn't the right move. It may well be the right move.

 

My point is that if they were going to spend the resources for Cain/Yelich you would have thought they would have had a better read on the pitching market. Why waste a year of Cain/Yelich with a clearly inferior pitching staff?

A lot of factors will have to play out before knowing it is a wasted year. Maybe they ride their starting five to the All-Star break and are in the mix. Nelson comes back and they add a pitcher via trade. All of a sudden they are contenders and there is no year wasted. I get your point, I do, but it seems as though we are always trying to play with a crystal ball and guess the future and usually it comes up in a negative light no matter what move we are discussing making or not making. And that is not directed at you but pretty much everyone on the boards, myself included.

[jjfanec]

My opinion: if they don't add a starter this team will be mediocre at best, fighting to be a .500 team

 

They really need two more starters.

 

I agree on one but not two depending on what they think about Nelson. Say Arreita or Cobb sign or they trade for Archer

 

Arrieta/Cobb/Archer

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

Woodruff then Nelson

 

That is good enough. They dont need to replace Chacin. He is a solid pitcher. Very good for a number 5. Woodruff and then Suter and Gallardo can fill in case of minor injuries. Major injury then maybe you make a trade

[jonescm128]

Thus, I am not buying that Stearns and MA are completely blowing smoke when they say they are ready to go into the season with this roster.

 

I don't disagree with you on this. I think they are fine with the roster that they have right now if they have to. They are being patient, and they should be. If the right deal comes available, they will do it. It's just harder for us as fans because we want to see movement but we just may not get it. And in the end, that may be okay too.

I feel like folks think I'm frustrated with the fact they haven't acquired a pitcher. I'm not. I'm not at convinced that standing pat isn't the right move. It may well be the right move.

 

My point is that if they were going to spend the resources for Cain/Yelich you would have thought they would have had a better read on the pitching market. Why waste a year of Cain/Yelich with a clearly inferior pitching staff?

 

Why does everyone think this staff, as currently constructed, is inferior? Anderson, Davies, and Chacin are solid pitchers and if Anderson can replicate what he has done the last year and a half then this is an above average top 3. Woodruff should continue to develop and will be a solid #4 and Guerra/Gallardo/Miley will be more than serviceable as a #5. Not to mention Nelson returning in June (though I am not counting on the pitcher he was last year).

 

Fans seem to think you need this All-Star starting rotation in order to compete but that is just one aspect of the team. You have an extremely improved lineup, both offensively and defensively, and you have a great bullpen with Knebel, Hader, and Barnes, not to mention the great year that Albers had last year. It's 2018, this is a bullpen game. I would much rather have a lock down bullpen than a great starting rotation. Look at what the Royals did in 2015. Their rotation was average at best but their bullpen was lights out.

[82brewcrew82]

A lot of factors will have to play out before knowing it is a wasted year. Maybe they ride their starting five to the All-Star break and are in the mix. Nelson comes back and they add a pitcher via trade. All of a sudden they are contenders and there is no year wasted. I get your point, I do, but it seems as though we are always trying to play with a crystal ball and guess the future and usually it comes up in a negative light no matter what move we are discussing making or not making. And that is not directed at you but pretty much everyone on the boards, myself included.

The negativity is earned by this franchise. Outside of a couple of small bursts this franchise has been pretty hapless. They have a legitimate opportunity and don't seem to be in a hurry to maximize that opportunity. OK, I trust Stearns to make the right decision but frankly I'm not sure this is one of the five or six best teams in the league. Heck, I'm not even sure this is a top three rotation in the division.

[82brewcrew82]

Why does everyone think this staff, as currently constructed, is inferior? Anderson, Davies, and Chacin are solid pitchers and if Anderson can replicate what he has done the last year and a half then this is an above average top 3. Woodruff should continue to develop and will be a solid #4 and Guerra/Gallardo/Miley will be more than serviceable as a #5. Not to mention Nelson returning in June (though I am not counting on the pitcher he was last year).

 

Fans seem to think you need this All-Star starting rotation in order to compete but that is just one aspect of the team. You have an extremely improved lineup, both offensively and defensively, and you have a great bullpen with Knebel, Hader, and Barnes, not to mention the great year that Albers had last year. It's 2018, this is a bullpen game. I would much rather have a lock down bullpen than a great starting rotation. Look at what the Royals did in 2015. Their rotation was average at best but their bullpen was lights out.

Because it is. Take anyone of Anderson/Davies/Chacin and put them in the rotation for Arizona/LA/Chicago/Washington and tell me which one, unequivocally, is not a back end option for those teams. What about Colorado? New York? You don't need an all star rotation but it would be nice to have AN all star in the rotation. Pointing to the Royals as the exception that proves the rule isn't going to convince me. By and large, contenders have TOR arms at the top of their rotation. Not guys the HOPE can be TOR arms.

[jonescm128]

A lot of factors will have to play out before knowing it is a wasted year. Maybe they ride their starting five to the All-Star break and are in the mix. Nelson comes back and they add a pitcher via trade. All of a sudden they are contenders and there is no year wasted. I get your point, I do, but it seems as though we are always trying to play with a crystal ball and guess the future and usually it comes up in a negative light no matter what move we are discussing making or not making. And that is not directed at you but pretty much everyone on the boards, myself included.

The negativity is earned by this franchise. Outside of a couple of small bursts this franchise has been pretty hapless. They have a legitimate opportunity and don't seem to be in a hurry to maximize that opportunity. OK, I trust Stearns to make the right decision but frankly I'm not sure this is one of the five or six best teams in the league. Heck, I'm not even sure this is a top three rotation in the division.

 

Stearns vision has always been to build a sustainable, competitive team. The moves this off-season are not just for 2018, they are for the next 4-5 years. This isn't the Doug Melvin era were we trade away our farm to get Sabathia and Grienke and go "all-in" for that year alone and then go through a period of rebuilding. Stearns is not going to strap this club financially to a long term deal on a pitcher the wrong side of 30, and he is not going to trade away his farm for Chris Archer. Standing pat allows for in-season moves and when teams under-achieve this year, there will be more players available at the deadline.

[jonescm128]

Why does everyone think this staff, as currently constructed, is inferior? Anderson, Davies, and Chacin are solid pitchers and if Anderson can replicate what he has done the last year and a half then this is an above average top 3. Woodruff should continue to develop and will be a solid #4 and Guerra/Gallardo/Miley will be more than serviceable as a #5. Not to mention Nelson returning in June (though I am not counting on the pitcher he was last year).

 

Fans seem to think you need this All-Star starting rotation in order to compete but that is just one aspect of the team. You have an extremely improved lineup, both offensively and defensively, and you have a great bullpen with Knebel, Hader, and Barnes, not to mention the great year that Albers had last year. It's 2018, this is a bullpen game. I would much rather have a lock down bullpen than a great starting rotation. Look at what the Royals did in 2015. Their rotation was average at best but their bullpen was lights out.

Because it is. Take anyone of Anderson/Davies/Chacin and put them in the rotation for Arizona/LA/Chicago/Washington and tell me which one, unequivocally, is not a back end option for those teams. What about Colorado? New York? You don't need an all star rotation but it would be nice to have AN all star in the rotation. Pointing to the Royals as the exception that proves the rule isn't going to convince me. By and large, contenders have TOR arms at the top of their rotation. Not guys the HOPE can be TOR arms.

 

Like it or not, Anderson is a TOR arm. I think he has proved that the second half of 2016 and all of 2017.

[superfly]

 

I don't disagree with you on this. I think they are fine with the roster that they have right now if they have to. They are being patient, and they should be. If the right deal comes available, they will do it. It's just harder for us as fans because we want to see movement but we just may not get it. And in the end, that may be okay too.

I feel like folks think I'm frustrated with the fact they haven't acquired a pitcher. I'm not. I'm not at convinced that standing pat isn't the right move. It may well be the right move.

 

My point is that if they were going to spend the resources for Cain/Yelich you would have thought they would have had a better read on the pitching market. Why waste a year of Cain/Yelich with a clearly inferior pitching staff?

 

Why does everyone think this staff, as currently constructed, is inferior? Anderson, Davies, and Chacin are solid pitchers and if Anderson can replicate what he has done the last year and a half then this is an above average top 3. Woodruff should continue to develop and will be a solid #4 and Guerra/Gallardo/Miley will be more than serviceable as a #5. Not to mention Nelson returning in June (though I am not counting on the pitcher he was last year).

 

Fans seem to think you need this All-Star starting rotation in order to compete but that is just one aspect of the team. You have an extremely improved lineup, both offensively and defensively, and you have a great bullpen with Knebel, Hader, and Barnes, not to mention the great year that Albers had last year. It's 2018, this is a bullpen game. I would much rather have a lock down bullpen than a great starting rotation. Look at what the Royals did in 2015. Their rotation was average at best but their bullpen was lights out.

 

The only one out of Guerra/Gallardo/Miley that has a realistic shot of being serviceable is Guerra. The other two are waiver wire fodder at this point in their careers. Chacin solidifies the #5 spot if you get another arm, and we don't have to pray that Woodruff makes strides either. PLUS there will likely be an injury(s) which could leave us in a huge bind come midseason.

[jjfanec]

I dont think the rotation as currently constructed is really good. With a healthy Nelson it is quite a bit better. People seem to expect a dropoff with Anderson and Davies but I am not really sure why. Nelson is more of a question mark but if he comes back healthy then you have 2 guys who pitches like at least number 2 starters last year in Nelson and Anderson and a guy who was at least a 3 in Davies. You add Chacin who is at worst a 4 and you have the makings of really solid rotation. Add an Arrieta, Archer or Cobb you have what you need. People also seem to forget how good the team pitched post all-star break with losing Anderson and Nelson for a huge chunk of time - they had the 8th best ERA in baseball and 4th best in the NL behind only the Dodgers, Nationals, and Cubs.

[3and2Fastball]

My opinion: if they don't add a starter this team will be mediocre at best, fighting to be a .500 team

 

They really need two more starters.

 

I agree on one but not two depending on what they think about Nelson. Say Arreita or Cobb sign or they trade for Archer

 

Arrieta/Cobb/Archer

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

Woodruff then Nelson

 

That is good enough. They dont need to replace Chacin. He is a solid pitcher. Very good for a number 5. Woodruff and then Suter and Gallardo can fill in case of minor injuries. Major injury then maybe you make a trade

 

 

They might have some insight on Nelson, but zero guarantees. He might be the 4 something ERA guy he was previous to last season. Shoulders are tricky

[82brewcrew82]

Like it or not, Anderson is a TOR arm. I think he has proved that the second half of 2016 and all of 2017.

So for which of the contending teams would Anderson be a #1 or #2? He may be a TOR on this team but not a championship team, like it or not.

[DR28]

Ok.... We dont have the money like those teams do to spend on Scherzer, etc.

[jonescm128]

Like it or not, Anderson is a TOR arm. I think he has proved that the second half of 2016 and all of 2017.

So for which of the contending teams would Anderson be a #1 or #2? He may be a TOR on this team but not a championship team, like it or not.

 

Depending on the publication you look at, Anderson finished with a WAR of 4.07 which was 18th in the league. Higher than the likes of Dallas Kuechel and Yu Darvish, among many others. He also missed almost two months so if you add in those starts based on his 2017 work as a whole, it would have been ever higher.

[pacopete4]

Like it or not, Anderson is a TOR arm. I think he has proved that the second half of 2016 and all of 2017.

So for which of the contending teams would Anderson be a #1 or #2? He may be a TOR on this team but not a championship team, like it or not.

Here is a list of the #1's & #2's on the playoff teams from a year ago:

 

Minnesota: Anderson fits in

1. Santana

2. Berrios

 

NY Yankees: Anderson fits in

1. Severino

2. Tanaka/Gray

 

Boston: Anderson does not fit in

1. Sale

2. Price

 

Houston: Anderson fits in, maybe

1. Verlander

2. Keuchel

 

Cleveland: Anderson fits in

1. Kluber

2. Carrasco

 

Chicago Cubs: Anderson fits in

1. Lester

2. Darvish

 

Washington: Anderson does not fit in

1. Scherzer

2. Strasburg

 

Arizona: Anderson fits in

1. Greinke

2. Ray

 

LA Dodgers: Anderson fits in

1. Kershaw

2. Rich Hill

 

Colorado: Anderson is the ace

1. Gray

2. T. Anderson

 

Milwaukee:

1. Nelson (injured)

2. Anderson

 

There are some teams here Anderson is not a 1 or 2 on but there are plenty that he is. Heck, he put up better numbers a year ago that Darvish or Lester and we are all deathly afraid of them.

[82brewcrew82]

Ok.... We dont have the money like those teams do to spend on Scherzer, etc.

Very true, but a valid reason for having an inferior staff doesn't level the playing field.

[82brewcrew82]

Like it or not, Anderson is a TOR arm. I think he has proved that the second half of 2016 and all of 2017.

So for which of the contending teams would Anderson be a #1 or #2? He may be a TOR on this team but not a championship team, like it or not.

Here is a list of the #1's & #2's on the playoff teams from a year ago:

 

Minnesota:

1. Santana

2. Berrios

 

NY Yankees:

1. Severino

2. Tanaka/Gray

 

Boston:

1. Sale

2. Price

 

Houston:

1. Verlander

2. Keuchel

 

Cleveland:

1. Kluber

2. Carrasco

 

Chicago Cubs:

1. Lester

2. Darvish

 

Washington:

1. Scherzer

2. Strasburg

 

Arizona:

1. Greinke

2. Ray

 

LA Dodgers:

1. Kershner

2. Rich Hill

 

Colorado:

1. Gray

2. T. Anderson

 

Milwaukee:

1. Nelson (injured)

2. Anderson

 

There are some teams here Anderson is not a 1 or 2 on but there are plenty that he is. Heck, he put up better numbers a year ago that Darvish or Lester and we are all deathly afraid of them.

I don't know who that Kershner guy is but what would it take to get him? Kidding. Either way, there are several NL teams that would have a one two punch stronger than what we have even if I conceded that Anderson is a TOR (and I don't). There are very few NL teams where he is better than a three on those teams.

[82brewcrew82]

Chicago Cubs: Anderson fits in

1. Lester

2. Darvish

 

Washington: Anderson does not fit in

1. Scherzer

2. Strasburg

 

Arizona: Anderson fits in

1. Greinke

2. Ray

 

LA Dodgers: Anderson fits in

1. Kershaw

2. Rich Hill

 

Colorado: Anderson is the ace

1. Gray

2. T. Anderson

 

Milwaukee:

1. Nelson (injured)

2. Anderson

 

There are some teams here Anderson is not a 1 or 2 on but there are plenty that he is. Heck, he put up better numbers a year ago that Darvish or Lester and we are all deathly afraid of them.

In fact, if you go Quintana & Darvish for the Cubs I don't think there is a single team I would have Anderson higher than 3 on in the NL.

[pacopete4]

Chicago Cubs: Anderson fits in

1. Lester

2. Darvish

 

Washington: Anderson does not fit in

1. Scherzer

2. Strasburg

 

Arizona: Anderson fits in

1. Greinke

2. Ray

 

LA Dodgers: Anderson fits in

1. Kershaw

2. Rich Hill

 

Colorado: Anderson is the ace

1. Gray

2. T. Anderson

 

Milwaukee:

1. Nelson (injured)

2. Anderson

 

There are some teams here Anderson is not a 1 or 2 on but there are plenty that he is. Heck, he put up better numbers a year ago that Darvish or Lester and we are all deathly afraid of them.

In fact, if you go Quintana & Darvish for the Cubs I don't think there is a single team I would have Anderson higher than 3 on in the NL.

So he can go out and out pitch these guys but you still will put him lower than them? Interesting.

[DR28]

If we sign Cobb... I would go...

 

Nelson

Cobb

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

 

Why the hell did Jimmy have to get hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Warning Track Power]

I will be supremely disappointed if the Brewers do not add another SP this offseason. As has been mentioned previously, the window is just opening for the Brewers to make the playoffs and they need to take advantage of it. As currently constructed though, they are an SP or two short specifically at the top of the rotation. Looking at the list above and add in San Francisco (Bumgarner, Cueto), St. Louis (Martinez, Wacha) New York (Syndergaard, de Grom) and the Brewers are certainly a step below most of those teams. Nelson and Anderson are certainly competitive if healthy, but Nelson isn't and may never be again. Archer and Anderson or Arrieta and Anderson certainly puts the Brewers back in the conversation with most of these teams. While I love Davies, he is an ideal 3 or 4 in the rotation in comparison against most of the top teams in the NL.

[MadThinker88]

Chase Anderson is a fine pitcher. That is not a knock against him. He is good.

That said he does not replace/ move anyone out of the top 2 spots in Cleveland (Kluber/ Carassco) or Houston (Keuchel/ Verlander).

[82brewcrew82]

If we sign Cobb... I would go...

 

Nelson

Cobb

Anderson

Davies

Chacin

 

Why the hell did Jimmy have to get hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT is the bummer in all of this.

[82brewcrew82]

Chase Anderson is a fine pitcher. That is not a knock against him. He is good.

That said he does not replace/ move anyone out of the top 2 spots in Cleveland (Kluber/ Carassco) or Houston (Keuchel/ Verlander).

Agreed with the bolded part. I'm not saying Anderson sucks but he, and the rotation as a whole, don't match up well with the other contenders.

[MadThinker88]

Chase Anderson is a fine pitcher. That is not a knock against him. He is good.

That said he does not replace/ move anyone out of the top 2 spots in Cleveland (Kluber/ Carassco) or Houston (Keuchel/ Verlander).

Agreed with the bolded part. I'm not saying Anderson sucks but he, and the rotation as a whole, don't match up well with the other contenders.

 

I was just responding to the idea that Anderson would be able to step into 1 of the top 2 spots of the various playoff contenders/ teams.

He would be shutout of more teams then what that poster believed (more than just Washington)...