Has anyone lost confidence in Stearns

[brewers888]

First of all let me say that he has done a great job before this last offseason but I disliked nearly every move that was made and this lineup is terrible. The minor league system is not close to providing any position player talent so I think we are at a crossroads.

 

What can Stearns do to improve the fortunes of this team. I would start by moving Hader if the right offer presents itself and after that I would restructure the scouting department. Fact is we haven't produced anything of note out of Latin America in many years which has been a problem way before we hired Stearns as our GM.

 

Stearns has stated that his goal is to be competitive and contend every year but I just don't see us being in that position with our lack of position player talent and a barren farm system. I would like to hear what others think of the state of this organization and what we need to see from ownership on down to improve our future outlook.

[pacopete4]

No. And if you have, eye yiy yiy.

[brewers888]

The minor league system is in shambles and we don't have the finances to sign star free agents. Unless we trade Hader I don't see how we improve this lineup. Signing scrubs off the scarp heap isn't going to keep us in contention.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Based off of 17 games in the wierdest season perhaps in MLB's history? Uh yeah, he gets a mulligan.

 

Some head scratching moves this offseason, but at least the majority of them are short-term.

[pacopete4]

Who played a large role of getting us into contention? Don't believe for a second that our minor league system is in "shambles" either. This is such an overreaction to a bad start to a weird season.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The minor league system is in shambles and we don't have the finances to sign star free agents. Unless we trade Hader I don't see how we improve this lineup. Signing scrubs off the scarp heap isn't going to keep us in contention.

 

Many of the team's top prospects have been traded off the last few seasons to keep those teams in contention. The state of the system right now is the price you pay for that.

[brewers888]

Who played a large role of getting us into contention? Don't believe for a second that our minor league system is in "shambles" either. This is such an overreaction to a bad start to a weird season.

 

Every prospect website and publication has our system at or very near the bottom of the league.

[brewers888]

LA is desperate to finally win a World Series and we need to use that depseration to pry Lux away as part of a Hader deal.

[pacopete4]

Who played a large role of getting us into contention? Don't believe for a second that our minor league system is in "shambles" either. This is such an overreaction to a bad start to a weird season.

 

Every prospect website and publication has our system at or very near the bottom of the league.

 

Usually means very little.

[Oxy]

Who played a large role of getting us into contention? Don't believe for a second that our minor league system is in "shambles" either. This is such an overreaction to a bad start to a weird season.

 

Every prospect website and publication has our system at or very near the bottom of the league.

 

Usually means very little.

 

It means nothing when we're last and everything when we're first!

[pacopete4]

Our system was last a few years ago too. Then we ended up a game away from the World Series and some of the most success this franchise has ever seen. Those rankings mean didly.

[Eye Black]

I have not. So far this year stinks, no doubt, but the Brewers are far better off under Stearns leadership than what organizations like the Reds and Pirates have been subject to.

[owbc]

No. I put little stock into anything that happens this year.

[balsamlaker]

I have not lost confidence in Stearns and, even though some have not worked out yet, I don't disagree with a number of the offseason moves. If the hitting doesn't turn around by the end of the year, Haines may be the first one I lose confidence in. If the Brewers continue to struggle, it will be interesting to see what happens come August 31st. I don't think it would be shocking to see Hader, Knebel, and/or Arcia be shopped. If everybody thinks they have a shot this year, the bidding war could be very interesting.

[pacopete4]

I’m too lazy to look but there was a thread like this last year. Maybe a couple of them. And then we made the playoffs, again.

[folly412]

We haven't seen evidence that would make me change the opinion that last offseason was terrible. But it's one offseason, this year is basically a lost year anyway given the short season, timing, made-up rules, and no MiLB, and I doubt it was Stearns' decision to take us from 16th to 23rd in payroll in one season.

 

Position player drafting/development/signing certainly is a bad spot right now. No way to massage that. Still think organizational pitching is underrated. There's a ton of talent in the minors. Getting Rasmussen and Perdomo in the mix today is just the start.

[HiAndTight]

LA is desperate to finally win a World Series and we need to use that depseration to pry Lux away as part of a Hader deal.

 

 

I really doubt the Dodgers consider trading Lux for Hader.

[CheeseheadInQC]

It seems a bit wrong to be listing the Latin American signings to be a reason for change now just when there might be reason for optimism on that front. Unless I'm remembering incorrectly, outside of the "let's sign Gilbert Lara and only Gilbert Lara" season, the Brewers didn't spend bonus-wise at a level similar to other teams until maybe the Abreu/Carmona year, and Abreu is still only 20. Any improvement that you might see from that increased investment hasn't had a chance to filter through the system yet. I believe last season was the first year that the DSL team had an OPS above .700 (all but one regular had an OPS higher than what the team OPS has been some years). The Brewers thinking enough of Perez and Garcia to bring them to Appleton before their first stateside regular season at-bat says something about what the organization thinks about them. There is finally some hope there, at least with the hitters.

 

The Brewers system has its issues (namely lack of a truly elite prospect and the fact you could make a case, if you count Dillard as a catcher, that the only corner infielder who belongs in the organization's top 40 has yet to take a stateside at bat), but saying it is in shambles, especially relative to where they have been picking the last few drafts, seems like hyperbole.

 

Overall, a few cost-constrained moves haven't turned out over a small sample size in a weird and disjointed season. I'll still back the guy who led the team to one of the best two-year stretches in its history.

[HiAndTight]

The minor league system is in shambles and we don't have the finances to sign star free agents. Unless we trade Hader I don't see how we improve this lineup. Signing scrubs off the scarp heap isn't going to keep us in contention.

 

Many of the team's top prospects have been traded off the last few seasons to keep those teams in contention. The state of the system right now is the price you pay for that.

 

 

I don't even think the state of our system right now is bad.

 

We lack the assets to make significant trades, but we keep churning out solid major league players. I'm confident Small will be up and contributing in a year or two, Rassmussen could be a elite closer...we've got pitching depth and we do have two elite prospects. Turang and Mitchell. One in his first year of pro ball put up ~300/400 line most of the year in Appleton and the other is already the 69th ranked prospect.

 

 

It's not great for going out and getting another Yelich, but it's not NEARLY as bad as it looks. Then factor in the young guys we have. Hirua, Urias, Burnes, Peralta, Houser, Williams...all good young players to varying degrees who were either in our system last season or acquired by players in our system last year....when it was considered to be an awful system as well.

 

 

 

I'd also point out that we're 2 games out of a WC spot...if there weren't expanded playoffs this year. So even if this was a NORMAL year...like the past few when we've gone on runs to get into the playoffs, even THEN, we'd still be a whole 2 games out. But as has been pointed out, it's not a normal season. It's a weird, 17 game sample size.

 

So no, I'm not losing faith in Stearns. I have ZERO issues with what they did in the off-season. I was actually a fan of most of the moves.

[3and2Fastball]

I think Urias is gonna be really good. It hurts to see Davies doing so well but you gotta give to get...

 

There’s been a weird shift in culture with the Brewers. Aguillar, Villar, Santana, Perez all gone and replaced by players like Smoak, Healey, Gamel, & Holt. The really fun Latin American culture in the dugout replaced by guys who maybe remind Counsell of himself. Really, really boring so far. Not a ton of energy. Feels like a team without an identity.

 

I’ve always been a Hiura fan. Like I said I think Urias will be good. Yelich is a superstar.

 

But, yeah... it’s been a weird change.

[HiAndTight]

I think Urias is gonna be really good. It hurts to see Davies doing so well but you gotta give to get...

 

There’s been a weird shift in culture with the Brewers. Aguillar, Villar, Santana, Perez all gone and replaced by players like Smoak, Healey, Gamel, & Holt. The really fun Latin American culture in the dugout replaced by guys who maybe remind Counsell of himself. Really, really boring so far. Not a ton of energy. Feels like a team without an identity.

 

I’ve always been a Hiura fan. Like I said I think Urias will be good. Yelich is a superstar.

 

But, yeah... it’s been a weird change.

 

I think at least some of that is the lack of fans in the stadiums and then obviously when you're not hitting well, you're not really having a lot of fun. Aguilar's energy was negligible last year when he wasn't producing.

 

I do agree with the premise though. LA players TEND to play with a little more flair, to be more outgoing. I loved watching Gomez play the game...yet he was pretty well hated by many teams around the league for his "antics."

 

I think we need to see how the rest of the season plays out as I think there is still a lot of personality on this team.

 

Of course it's not just the Latin American players...Lo Cain opting out hurt us a lot in this area as well. But if they can get on a roll, I think we'll start seeing them having more fun in the dugout as we have in the past few seasons.

[brewcrewdue80]

The minor league system is in shambles and we don't have the finances to sign star free agents. Unless we trade Hader I don't see how we improve this lineup. Signing scrubs off the scarp heap isn't going to keep us in contention.

 

Hi. Welcome to being a Brewer fan. I estimate began 6months ago. Because if it were a year or more ago, you would have known guys like Hiura, Burnes, Peralta, Houser, Grisham gradiated from the minors not to long ago. Plus guys like Brinson, Harrison, Diaz, Yamamoto who play for the Marlins were used to acquire Yelich. There are probably a 10more who were used in trades that are or were used in the majors-Brett Phillips, Garrett Cooper, and Jorge Lopez quickly off top of my head for example.

 

We used out finances to sign Yelich to an extension who is a STAR. But I guess if you are a Brewer fan of the past 6months you dont know Yelich as an MVP or shoe in MVP last season had injury not got in the way. I'm pretty sure I seen you post something negative towards that contract..so which is it? Sign Star Free agents? Or not shell out expensive high priced contracts to a Star player? Lorenzo Cain was an expensive contract for a FA signing. Youre upset that one of Grandal or Moose werent brought back on contract. Yet it was Stearns luring them to 1year deals to raise their FA earning potential and both got paid having done so. Yelich as an overall player is better than one of Grandal or Moose alone. The combined price for the two exceeds the Price Stearns paid for him. Is any of this helping paint the picture on this offseason? Urias was not projected to be healthy and ready to go by start of season. My guess to Sogard signing. Yes he signed a bunch of journeymen but they were to 1yr+option. You gotta look at the big picture plus the past transactions that led to a near WS and playoff team also last year. Calm down on the hate.

[sveumrules]

There’s been a weird shift in culture with the Brewers. Aguillar, Villar, Santana, Perez all gone and replaced by players like Smoak, Healey, Gamel, & Holt. The really fun Latin American culture in the dugout replaced by guys who maybe remind Counsell of himself. Really, really boring so far. Not a ton of energy. Feels like a team without an identity.

 

They also brought in Avisail, Omar & Luis this year. All of whom project to play more than Healey & Holt (& Gamel before LoCain opted out), so kind of weird to leave them off the list.

 

In response to OP, I believe the 649 game sample from 2016-19 where the Brewers won the 9th most games in MLB (more than the Rays, A's or Braves) is more indicative of Stearns & company's true talent level than a 17 game pandemic sample.

[Boomer5]

He is very over rated but this isn’t the season to grade much. It simply is not a real season and to be fair any GM was building for 162 games.

[pacopete4]

He is very over rated but this isn’t the season to grade much. It simply is not a real season and to be fair any GM was building for 162 games.

 

Just out of curiosity, why do you believe he’s overrated? Do you mean just by Brewers fans? Or by the baseball world I general?