All-Time Brewers Team

[topper09er]

2B Molitor

SS Yount

LF Braun

1B Fielder

RF Yelich

3B Cirillo

C Nilsson

CF Cain

P Sabathia

RP Hader

 

No tenure requirements.

 

In that case I'll take Hank Aaron in RF

[MrTPlush]

2B Molitor

SS Yount

LF Braun

1B Fielder

RF Yelich

3B Cirillo

C Nilsson

CF Cain

P Sabathia

RP Hader

 

No tenure requirements.

 

In that case I'll take Hank Aaron in RF

 

I think actually being good is still required. No offense, but Hank Aaron was trash as a Brewer.

[Mays Hayes]

I don't know the older Brewers as well, but I'm a bit surprised that Yelich is in so few outfields. Being the MVP isn't good enough? Burnitz and Jenkins were very good and for longer than Yelich at the moment...but neither ever had a season like Yelich's 2018. Burnitz made one all-star game and his highest was 19th in MVP voting. Jenkins also made only one all-star game and was never ranked in MVP voting. I also don't know why Cain isn't in more outfields. I can understand the argument for Thomas a bit better, but I still think Cain is the better player.

 

I'm with you, I'm also surprised I'm the only one that took Nilsson at catcher.

[Outlander]

2B Molitor

SS Yount

LF Braun

1B Fielder

RF Yelich

3B Cirillo

C Nilsson

CF Cain

P Sabathia

RP Hader

 

No tenure requirements.

 

In that case I'll take Hank Aaron in RF

 

I think actually being good is still required. No offense, but Hank Aaron was trash as a Brewer.

 

Correct, just considering their time as a Brewer. Sheffield was a hall of fame type player as well but not so much as a Brewer. The Brewers have had four MVPs in their 50 years, each of them should be on the all time Brewers list IMHO.

[stalton]

Going by best season WAR on bref, we have: (skipping until all positions are covered)

 

Robin Yount SS 1982 10.5 WAR

Carlos Gomez CF 2013 7.8 WAR

Ryan Braun LF 2011 7.7 WAR

Christian Yelich RF 2018 7.6 WAR

Tommy Harper 3B 1970 7.4 WAR

Cecil Cooper 1B 1980 6.8 WAR

Jonathon Lucroy C 2014 6.6 WAR

Paul Molitor 2B 1982 6.2 WAR

 

Teddy Higuera 1986 9.4 WAR

Mike Caldwell 1978 8.2 WAR

Ben Sheets 2004 7.2 WAR

Chris Bosio 1989 5.5 WAR

Ben McDonald 1996 5.4 WAR

 

Rollie Fingers 1981 4.1 WAR

Corey Knebel 2017 3.7 WAR

JJ 2018 3.4 WAR

[MrTPlush]

Was Cecil Cooper actually good on defense? I would lean Fielder, but I suppose defense could sway it back Coopers way.

[stalton]

Was Cecil Cooper actually good on defense? I would lean Fielder, but I suppose defense could sway it back Coopers way.

 

FWIW Coopers 6.8 WAR season was 6/0.8 split. Prince did have an offensive WAR season better than Cooper

[tmwiese55]

Really Weeks could have a case at 2B and i've only seen him mentioned once on my quick glance through. Although I like the creative work to put Molitor at 2B as well since 3B is deeper.

[RollieTime]

Really Weeks could have a case at 2B and i've only seen him mentioned once on my quick glance through. Although I like the creative work to put Molitor at 2B as well since 3B is deeper.

 

I just couldn’t get myself to put Rickie in there. When I think of him, I always think back to him striking out swinging at sliders down and away in the dirt. Seems like he was good for at least one of those a game. Had pretty good power, but wow was he frustrating to watch. His defense left something to be desired as well.

[OldHeidelberg]

Was Cecil Cooper actually good on defense? I would lean Fielder, but I suppose defense could sway it back Coopers way.

 

Cooper vs Fielder is probably the most interesting debate in this, both had their career prime years during memorable Brewer runs. Cooper never hit 50 homers but he had three 200+ hit seasons. Cooper got MVP votes 5 consecutive years and Fielder 6 total but one was with Texas. For me it's Cooper because I was a teenager with great memories of those teams and was there to see him squeeze the final out in the ALCS. For younger guys I would guess it's Fielder.

[tmwiese55]

Really Weeks could have a case at 2B and i've only seen him mentioned once on my quick glance through. Although I like the creative work to put Molitor at 2B as well since 3B is deeper.

 

I just couldn’t get myself to put Rickie in there. When I think of him, I always think back to him striking out swinging at sliders down and away in the dirt. Seems like he was good for at least one of those a game. Had pretty good power, but wow was he frustrating to watch. His defense left something to be desired as well.

 

Agree, it's more of a comment on how weak 2B is for them, haha.

[RockCoCougars]

I don't see much love for Don Money. He's kind of forgotten now (George Scott also for that matter, but he was a good hand for the Brewers for the better part of a decade. I'd probably put him at third and slide Molitor to second My infield would be some iteration of the late 70's team (including Coop and Robin).

[MNBrew]

For what it's worth....

 

3B

 

Don Money had one really good year but overall wasn't much above ordinary -- not really a huge jump over Gantner as a hitter except with a bit more power (and that's not saying tons). Only 3 MIL years above 15 HRs. Only 4 MIL years w/ a BA above .280 and never a .300 year.

 

Don Money was a really steady veteran presence for a LONG time on increasingly better (& eventually elite) Brewers' teams in the '70s and early '80s. But Cirillo was better on both offense and defense.

 

Gantner's MIL career bWAR: 22.4 over 17 years (1.3 bWAR/yr) -- not noted here as 3B, just to support my assertion that he & Money were both pretty ordinary hitters.

Money's MIL career bWAR: 28.4 over 14 years (2 bWAR/yr).

Cirillo's MIL career bWAR: 26.2 over 8 years (3.3 bWAR/yr).

 

To me, they're both really good guys in different ways, but to me Cirillo was clearly a better player than Money.

 

1B

 

Cooper was a better overall hitter with a much better all-around bat (>.300 career BA, very good all-around XBH power, K'd only about 65x/yr in his MIL years) and high-end defense (2 Gold Gloves).

 

Prince had elite, prodigious power and walked a ton (OBP over 100 points higher than his BA).

 

Prince's power may be better than any single tool of Cooper's. But Cooper was also a very dangerous hitter -- plus a highly regarded defender at the time -- and over a much longer time. Prince averaged ~95 RBIs/yr in his 7 MIL years, while Cooper averaged ~85 RBIs/yr for 11 MIL yrs. However, Cooper was far more consistent at driving in runners when he wasn't hitting HRs.

 

Prince was a special talent but Cooper was the better overall player. Both were very good. I could see putting them on the same level (call it a tie, just like the '79 NL MVP) but personally I can't rate Prince above Cooper (and that's not any allegiance to Cooper or universally putting all the '82-era players on a pedestal, which I don't do).

[Brew crew 92]

Here’s my team:

C-Nilsson

1B-Coooop

2B-Molitor

SS-Yount

3B-Cirillo

LF-Braun

CF-Cain

RF-Yelich

DH-Hisle

 

Bench-Fielder,Simmons,Fletcher,Jenkins,oglivie

 

Starters-Higuera,Sheets,Caldwell,Sabathia,Eldred

 

Pen-Fingers,Plesac,fetters,Hader,knebel,Travers

 

Manager-Garner. Bench Coach-Counsell

3B Coach-Crandall 1B Coach-Howard

Owner-Bud Selig

 

Loved 78,79,82,87,08,11 Teams but partial to 92. That team like last

Two years Brewers Teams have special chemistry.

[MrTPlush]

C - Lucroy

1B - Fielder

2B - Molitor

SS - Yount

3B - Cirillo

LF - Braun

CF - Gomez

RF - Yelich

P - Higuera

 

Only debates, in my opinion, are 1B, CF, and P. I could see an argument for Cooper, Cain, or Sheets for those. CC was obviously insane, but I don’t consider him for such a list as a 2 month rental. Seems...wrong.

 

I assume we get to consider them at there best and that is why I went Fielder over Cooper. Cooper has some great years, but Fielder had a few that just were flat out better in my opinion. I will defer on the defense side of things because I wasn’t even alive to see him play. Cain is a valid choice, but Gomez was much better in defense in his golden years and had better offense. Sheets/Higuera is a toss up...I went Higuera just because he did pretty amazing things for the time period.

 

It seems people want guys who weren’t as wild with the bat (higher average and less K’s).

[jerichoholicninja]

CF is the only spot where I don't think you have at least 1 or 2 guys who are obvious options. I see a lot of people have CarGo who I wouldn't even consider. I suppose Yount would be obvious but there's no other obvious candidate for SS then. My CF would be Mike Cameron. I know he was only here two years but he was all around solid. My other thought was Podsednik. Then I looked him up and he too was only here two years. And his second year was flat out awful. I thought he was here longer and did not remember him being that bad at the end.

 

You must have a strong dislike of Gomez for some reason. I mean Mike Cameron? Carlos Gomez was one of the most electric players for his short stint of greatness. To be quite frank it isn’t close.

 

Not a fan of Gomez at all but Cameron barely outhit him during their respective times as a Brewer in terms of OPS+ 111 to 110. In terms of defense they each were about .5 dWAR every year except for Gomez's 2013 which was off the charts good for some reason. I'd say strictly on stats they were pretty equal. Then factor in Cameron being well above average at everything and Gomez being a hyperactive headcase full of flaws, I'll take Cameron easily.

[MNBrew]

That '92 team was really, really good. Just missed the playoffs. The wild card didn't exist at that point.

 

I liked Nilsson a lot but he was hurt a lot -- makes Braun look really good. 653 career games in 7 seasons -- barely over 4 full seasons' worth. Also, only played just over 300 at C -- not even two full seasons' worth. Personally I can't put him above Lucroy on that basis. Lousy arm, too, for throwing out runners, although it played really well in RF (like a LH Australian version of Charlie Moore except he could hit well).

[sveumrules]

All Time Brewers 40 Man Roster

 

C (3): Lucroy, Nilsson (Surhoff)

 

Surhoff probably makes more sense as the backup C since he caught way more than Nilsson, but I'll take Dave to bash RHP 40 games a year.

 

IF (10): Cooper, Fielder, Molitor, Yount, Cirillo, Money (Sexson, Scott, Hardy, Counsell)

 

No true backup SS on the 25 man but Molly (53) & Money (31) both played a handful of games at SS with the crew so they could cover in a pinch with JJ stashed should a long term need arise. CC makes it for his ability to cover any of 2B/SS/3B with plus defense, though he might have to resist the urge to play himself too much if he landed on the active roster.

 

OF (7): Braun, Gomez, Jenkins, Yelich (Oglivie, Thomas, Sixto)

 

Thomas probably deserves the nod over Gomez since he was here longer & was a better hitter, but I just can't live with that glove in CF everyday.

 

SP (8): Higuera, Sheets, Bosio, Gallardo, Sabathia (Caldwell, Haas, Colborn)

 

Definitely the weak link. Colborn gets the final depth spot on the strength of the 314 (!) innings he pitched in 1973.

 

RP (11): Fingers, Plesac, Hader, JJ, Knebel, Fetters, Wickman, King (Crim, Thornburg, Smith)

 

This could actually be a sneaky good pen. Gave the loogy spot to Ray King with apologies to Graeme Lloyd & Brian Shouse.

 

40th man (1): (Kieschnick)

 

Duh.

 

GM/Manager: Stearns/Counsell

 

Apologies to Dalton/Kuenn but given the weak rotation this team is gonna need a more modern approach to pitcher usage.

 

Owner: Attanasio

 

All respect to Bud for MKE even having a team to begin with, but MA has owned him when it comes to owning an MLB team.

 

Stadium: AmFam Field

 

Brewers never won a World Series at County Stadium or Miller Park.

[Brew crew 92]

All Time Brewers 40 Man Roster

 

C (3): Lucroy, Nilsson (Surhoff)

 

Surhoff probably makes more sense as the backup C since he caught way more than Nilsson, but I'll take Dave to bash RHP 40 games a year.

 

IF (10): Cooper, Fielder, Molitor, Yount, Cirillo, Money (Sexson, Scott, Hardy, Counsell)

 

No true backup SS on the 25 man but Molly (53) & Money (31) both played a handful of games at SS with the crew so they could cover in a pinch with JJ stashed should a long term need arise. CC makes it for his ability to cover any of 2B/SS/3B with plus defense, though he might have to resist the urge to play himself too much if he landed on the active roster.

 

OF (7): Braun, Gomez, Jenkins, Yelich (Oglivie, Thomas, Sixto)

 

Thomas probably deserves the nod over Gomez since he was here longer & was a better hitter, but I just can't live with that glove in CF everyday.

 

SP (8): Higuera, Sheets, Bosio, Gallardo, Sabathia (Caldwell, Haas, Colborn)

 

Definitely the weak link. Colborn gets the final depth spot on the strength of the 314 (!) innings he pitched in 1973.

 

RP (11): Fingers, Plesac, Hader, JJ, Knebel, Fetters, Wickman, King (Crim, Thornburg, Smith)

 

This could actually be a sneaky good pen. Gave the loogy spot to Ray King with apologies to Graeme Lloyd & Brian Shouse.

 

40th man (1): (Kieschnick)

 

Duh.

 

GM/Manager: Stearns/Counsell

 

Apologies to Dalton/Kuenn but given the weak rotation this team is gonna need a more modern approach to pitcher usage.

 

Owner: Attanasio

 

All respect to Bud for MKE even having a team to begin with, but MA has owned him when it comes to owning an MLB team.

 

Stadium: AmFam Field

 

Brewers never won a World Series at County Stadium or Miller Park.

 

Mark A is a great owner no question. But Mr Selig not only Created this brewer franchise that we love so dearly,also made sure miller park was

Built to keep brewers from potentially relocating,And as Comissioner of baseball more than quadrupled baseballs revenues and convinced large

Market owners to share revenue. As brewers owner always spent money in fact in 1982 the Brewers had the highest payroll in baseball. There is a reason he’s in baseballs Hall of fame

[clancyphile]

I'll take my crack at a 40-man:

 

Catcher (3): Lucroy, Simmons, Nilsson

Infield (8): Sexson, Cooper, Molitor, Yount, Cirillo, Vina, Fielder, Weeks

Outfield (5): Thomas, Braun, Jenkins, Vaughn, Burnitz

Utility (4): Surhoff, Money, Kieschnick, Perez

 

Starters (9): Higuera, Bosio, Caldwell, Sheets, Gallardo, Haas, Wegman, Eldred, Nieves

Relievers (11): Plesac, Jones, Hader, Knebel, Turnbow, Jeffress, Crim, Fingers, Slaton, Axford, McClure

 

Manager: Tom Trebelhorn

Bench Coaches: Craig Counsell and Ned Yost

Third-Base Coach: Dale Sveum

First-Base Coach: Phil Garner

Hitting Coach: Harvey Kuenn

Pitching Coach: Mike Maddux

Bullpen Coach: Bill Castro

President of Baseball Operations: David Stearns

VPs of Baseball Operations: Harry Dalton and Doug Melvin

[wntrtxn21]

40-man roster

____________

Catchers/ Lucroy - Nilson (Simmons)

Infield/ Cooper-Molitor-Yount-Ramirez-Cirillo-Loretta (Felder-Money-Shaw-Vina)

Outfield/ Braun-Cain-Yelich-Burnitz (Parra-Gomez)

 

Starters / Sabathia-Greinke-Sheets-Higura-Vuckovich (Bosio-Sutton-Gallardo-Chacin)

Pen / Fingers-Cordero-Knebel-Jeffress-Hader-Smith-Plesac-Thornburg (Fetters-Turnbow-McClure-Rodriguez)

[RockCoCougars]

Since we are taking this past players:

 

Radio:. Uke/Pat Hughes

TV: Rock/BA (by a nose over Matty V)

PA:. Bob Betts

[Jenkins5]

3 Teams based on WAR as a Brewer

 

1st Team

1B Cooper. 30.7

2B Molitor 60

SS Yount. 77.4

3B Money 28.4

C Lucroy. 17.7

LF Jenkins. 22.1

CF Gomez 19.1

RF Braun. 46.4

DH Scott. 22.5

 

SP

T Higuera. 30.5

B Sheets. 25.8

C Bosio. 18.7

B Wegman 17.9

 

RP

D Plesac. 12.1

K Sanders. 8.8

R Fingers. 7.9

 

2nd Team

1B Fielder. 17.8

2B Gantner. 22.4

SS JJ Hardy. 11

3B J. Cirrillo. 26.2

C. B Surhoff 15.4

LF B Oglivie. 21.5

CF G Thomas. 18.4

RF S Lezcano. 19

DH J Burnitz. 15.7

 

SP

M Caldwell. 17.5

M Hass. 15.9

J Slaton. 15.6

Y Gallardo. 15.4

 

RP

R Fingers. 7.9

C Crim. 7.7

 

3rd Team

1B R Sexson* 11.4

2B R Weeks. 12.5

SS J Valentin. 11.3

3B K Seitzer 10.5

C D May. 11.4

LF G Vaughn. 15.4

CF D Hamilton. 11

RF C Hart. 15.3

DH J Briggs. 14.3

 

SP

C Eldred. 13.2

J Colburn. 12.4

L Sorenson 12.4

D Davis. 10

 

RP

J Jeffress. 7.7

M Fetters. 7.3

[TURBO]

Sexton?

[Jenkins5]

Sexton?

 

Long list typo. Clearly Richie Sexson