Linebrink acquired for Inman/Garrison/Thatcher

[sbrylski]

Linebrink has actually gotten roughed up a bit so far this season. If the Linebrink of the three seasons prior shows back up, then this will definately be a boost to the pen. If he pitches like he has so far, we could see him struggle a bit. His current '07 FIP is a poor 5.69.

 

I agree with Ennder's comments about Inman. I had much more reserved optimism with Inman than I did with Gallardo.

 

Garrison and Thatcher are no slouches either. This trade could really go either way, but I'll bet the odds are for the Padres in the long run.

[FVBrewerFan]

I don't get it. If he was a lefty I would feel a little better. But to give up Inman and two other "prospects" for a solid but not spectacular bullpen arm??? I really thought we were ok there with Wise and Villy, not to mention Yo if he returns to the pen at some point.

 

The only thing I can cling to is that Melvin has proven he's not stupid. Maybe he knows something about Inman we don't?

[Brian the Automator]

The thing with Inman is that "poise" pitchers are a blessing and a curse. He has an equal chance of flaming out as he does of succeeding I'd say.... but I really did like him.

[zzzmanwitz]

We have a surplus of young pitchers. I have no problem giving up Inman who has struggled lately, he didn't really have a place on this team for the next couple years. I'm more upset we traded Thatcher, he could have been an asset in the pen next season, but Parra could be that lefty in the pen I suppose.

[Gopher74]

Guys, what has Inman done in AA so far? There is no more telling jump than from High A to AA ball, and Inman's struggled mightily with an ERA OVER 8.00.

 

Thatcher's nice, don't get me wrong, but he's a left handed specialist, and Garrison's not an MLB caliber ball player.

 

We just solidified out pen big time. We've not got the best pen in the game. We took a big arm from the top Dogs, and added him to our arm. Beautiful.

[tomwopat]

I guess Team Canada believes that Inman won't be that good, and/or that this year's team will be the better than the next 1-2 years, both which are reasonable gambles, in my opinion.

 

On the sunny side of things, Linebrink is an elite reliever and should give the Brewers some value for a few more years, even if you believe that he's reached his peak.

[Sheets4theHOF]

Quote:

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Well there goes the PCL, Southern League, and FSL championships. Im just so very angry right now.

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Um, you really care about those titles?

 

I dunno if i like this trade personally. Linebrink's strikeout totals are way down. I know Linebrink (as to say i know his name and that he's a relief pitcher for the padres). Is he a groundball pitcher, i worry about his recent numbers (which aren't overwhelming at first glance) being petco inflated.

[TooLiveBrew]

Quote:

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Inman, Garrison and Thatcher for 2.5 months of Scott Linebrink? Really? Why?

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They've been saying the search for next year's closer is on during the season. I think we've got what's behind door number two for the 2008 closer spot, and I like it. I don't think giving up Inman is great, but I've learned to trust Melvin & Co., which isn't to say they can't make mistakes. We gave up Eveland earlier, who didn't thrill me (but many others liked him), and I'm sure we can draft another promising pitcher next year to fill in where we lose Inman. Best of luck, Will, and Scott as well!

[brettac1]

On the sunny side of things, Linebrink is an elite reliever and should give the Brewers some value for a few more years, even if you believe that he's reached his peak.

 

He's not so elite...

 

His numbers aren't very good this year when you dig a little.

[zzzmanwitz]

On the sunny side of things, Linebrink is an elite reliever and should give the Brewers some value for a few more years, even if you believe that he's reached his peak.

 

Well, he is a FA at the end of the year, so i'm not sure how much he'll contribute to the Brewers after this year.

[And That]

Does this make Manny Parra the Brewers' #1 prospect? Hmm.

[Brian the Automator]

The thing that sucks about Linebrink:

 

Home ERA: 2.10

Away ERA: 6.05

 

The other thing that sucks:

 

May ERA: 1.42

June ERA: 3.09

July ERA: 9.35

[djoctagone]

that makes the roster full at 40.

 

moving koskie to the 60-day disabled list opens up a spot, as does outrighting balfour.

[And That]

They've been saying the search for next year's closer is on during the season. I think we've got what's behind door number two for the 2008 closer spot, and I like it.

 

Linebrink is a FA at the end of the season. Turnbow is still the guy in '08 as of right now.

[sbrylski]

Found the culprit of his high FIP. His HR/FB rate doubled this year, good news is that this should be straightened out with a larger sample. xFIP, which assumes league average HR/FB, puts him at 4.70, still not good, but better.

[jlau20]

Throw in another wow from me.

 

I liked Inman, but what are you going to do, we do have a lot of younger pitching talent.

 

Linebrink is ok...if anything you can look at Cordero coming from a not so hot (though not that bad) 1st half in Texas and coming here and dominating.

 

For whatever reason, I think this will end up being a decent move, Doug usually does well and I'm hoping this won't be an exception.

[whynotthebrewers]

So we do something to get help the pen and people are pissed? Now that really gets me. And now we are complaining that we are getting rid of minor leaguers? We gave up a guy struggling in AA and a couple others for a proven bullpen arm. So Balfour will probably be sent down so I really don't get why anyone would be upset. We are trying to win now and not really giving up anything that will hurt us short term. But I guess anything that happens will create some complaining either way. I think this is a sign that we are at least trying to improve and win now. We can worry about signing him a bit later on.

[trwi7]

Quote:

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I think we've got what's behind door number two for the 2008 closer spot

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Linebrink is a FA.

[Brian the Automator]

[ We gave up a guy struggling in AA and a couple others for a proven bullpen arm. ]

 

It all depends on how you spin it. I could say we traded away our #1 prospect for a guy with an ERA 6+ away from a pitcher-friendly Petco field.

 

The Brewers need to worry about the short term AND the long term.

[AJAY]

It looks like Linebrink has been struggling lately . . .

 

sandiego.padres.mlb.com/n...sp&c_id=sd

[Ennder]

Looking at his splits it seems he had a decent April, May and June and then just collapsed in July. 8.2 IP, 9.35 ERA, 3 HR, 4 BB, 4 K.

 

I don't mind losing the guys we did at all but I should hope there is more to this than just Linebrink, maybe a minor league player or cash that wasn't mentioned?

[dpapo]

I still think they gave up way too much for a rental and a rental that isn't pitching all that well at the moment. However, to try to take a look at the positives, 2 of his last 3 outings have had a real effect on his overall numbers. 1 and 2/3 innings where he gave up 7 runs which jumped his ERA from 2.55 to 3.80. So, hopefully he's just having a bad week.

[clancyphile]

Linebrink's worst outing was at Coors Field. Most of his outings have been scoreless. It's a good move, especially if it means Balfour's headed back to Nashville.

 

Thatcher is the guy I really hate losing in this deal. Shouse is getting old, and Thatcher was looking like a good replacement.

[Brewer Fever]

I can't get over how in love with minor league baseball some of you are. This team desperately needed a stabilizing bullpen arm, one that knocks everyone save for Cordero, down one rung. We haven't been to the playoffs in 25 years and we're gonna sit on our hands? Either that or live this fantasy where we trade nothing but B and C level prospects for talent that will actually help us. Nice job Dougie, now go get some more if you can.

[tyguy20204]

I'm not a fan of this trade at all.