Linebrink acquired for Inman/Garrison/Thatcher

[Invader3K]

I like the trade. The bullpen clearly needed help. We've seen what Grant Ballfour could do, and it wasn't cutting it. Melvin went out and got a proven Major League reliever, and didn't even have to give up anyone on the big league roster to do it.

 

I personally am not as enamored with any of the three guys traded away as some of you. Maybe Inman will develop into a great pitcher, but he apparently wasn't showing that right now.

 

My opinion is that all the young guys the Brewers were expecting huge things from are up now. It's time to go to the playoffs. Sometimes you have to give up a couple small chips to get something to help now, and that's what Melvin did.

[Oldcity]

I'm torn at the moment. They gave up a LOT, but Linebrink is a Type A. That's a lot of picks between Linebrink and Cordero to make up for that a bit.

 

Thing is Linebrink has not been that good this year.

[And That]

Doug just said no decision has been made on who to send down and none would be made until Linebrink reports Friday.

 

Now we're not even getting him for two days? This just gets better.

[ajgodson]

He's having a baby.....well, not him, his wife is having a baby. So he'll be there on Friday.

[kwelak21]

So I was just looking at his splits and for the last two season his worst era's for the year were in July. So past results show he should, key word is should, return to the Scott Linebrink we all wanted before the season started.

[mikerollins]

What a great great move! I am so excited. This move solidifies a already strong bullpen. I couldn't be happier. Prospects are just that. Prospects. Scott Linebrink is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball (leads the league in holds the last 3 years) and has playoff experience.

 

I think it was a no-brainer of a trade.

 

Quote:

---

"Linebrink's blown save on Monday -- his sixth of the season -- was the latest in a series of missteps for the right-handed reliever, who has already allowed as many home runs this season (nine) as he did all of last season.

---

 

Hmmmm sounds like Francisco Cordero before we got him from Texas.

[danzig6767]

Keep in mind the Padres are 1.5 games back and they still traded Linebrink.If they thought he was the same top relief pitcher he was in the past,why would they trade him?

[gregmag]

Hmmmm sounds like Francisco Cordero before we got him from Texas.

 

Right -- it's good when we acquire guys who have been pitching badly. That guarantees that they're good. Also, if they drown, they aren't witches.

 

Greg.

[Weirdos19]

I really think that this means something else is near. Trading a starter and puting Villy in the rotation might be it.

 

Linebrink is solid. The guy will stablize the pen alot like Cordero did last year. Typical change of scenery deal.

 

Maybe DM is talking extension with our new reliever, who knows?

 

I just remember everybody screaming about Cordero's numbers when the deal was made last year. He needed that same change of scenery.

[kwelak21]

I'm just going by the numbers he had the last two seasons and they look the same to me. It actually happened pretty close to the same dates too. So take it for what's it worth.

[Madtown Bomber]

Linebrink is not reporting until Friday because his wife is expected to have a baby tomorrow, which was a scheduled off day for San Diego.

 

Doug finished off by saying the team is done dealing for arms and he is extremely confident in this bullpen now. Said he would not have made the deal if Linebrink wasn't a type A FA but expects to try to resign him at years end. Said that all players traded were good players but there are players in the system that are as good if not better then what they gave up, I believe the Prince of Darkness responded by asking Doug who, and then Doug started naming all sorts of names. So it seems he is happy.

[Pedro]

I've heard for the last two years that the Brewers brass wasn't that high on Inman. Now that's a pretty broad assessment, and I don't really know if that meant he'd never make the big league club, or that he had a very low ceiling if he did.

 

I, like most here it seems, followed his minor league starts enthusiastically and penciled him in as a Brewer based on those stats alone. But, I've never seen him pitch and don't know what kind of "stuff" he has.

 

Apparently, based on what he fetched, what I had heard in the past was true and management didn't view his future as enthusiastically as we did.

[Team Canada]

If they thought he was the same top relief pitcher he was in the past,why would they trade him?

 

There's the rub. What playoff team goes out and trades a top bullpen arm for a bunch of minor leaguers?

[whizkid]

Don't like it at all. The Pads are in a race and don't see him as a significant contributor. I don't like rentals in general but for questionable bullpen help at the price of Inman this sucks.

[brewcru1]

Quote:

---

Now we're not even getting him for two days? This just gets better.

---

 

Um, tomorrow is the only day they'd be missing him...are there even flights that could get him to Cincy in time for the game? I guess if they wanted to put him on a redeye they could. Too bad teleportation hasn't been perfected yet.

[decktard]

I've always liked Linebrink and as far as the 5th best pitcher on the team goes... I'd argue that Linebrink has a better track record than most of the relievers on the team.

 

This year has been a down year for him though. His K count seems quite a bit below his past years. I hope that doesn't point to a lot bigger problem than just him having trouble locating his pitches.

[UeckerAddict]

I stopped doubting Doug a while ago. I figure if he traded Inman, there was something about him that made Doug feel he was expendable.

[Schlitz001]

It seems pretty fair to me. I'm upset that we had to give up Inman, but when I think great setupmen in baseball right now, Linebrink is high on the list. We were looking to strenghten the Major League roster for the playoff push, and none of the pieces we gave up (maybe Thatcher) could have done that.

 

I am suprised that SD didn't trade a bat for Linebrink though.

[jackalope02ca]

What's not to like. We just got one of the premier releivers on the market for some great young talent who weren't going to pitch in Milwaukee this year.

 

Inman, Garrison, and Thatcher all project as probable major leaguers and San Diego might think they've won this trade in 2 or 3 years but we are about the present.

 

If this doesn't send a message to the team nothing will. Now all we need is an upgrade in the outfield or another quality bat for the bench.

[Invader3K]

The guy's wife is having a baby tomorrow so he's not going to be in Cinci? Doesn't sound like a team player to me.

[JohnnysDanger]

If the Brewers are unable to re-sign Linnebrink next year they lose this trade. Regardless of attained draft picks.

[dpapo]

Actually, unless the Brewers are going to stick with 13 pitchers till the end of August, two pitchers will eventually have to be sent out, so both Balfour and Spurling will probably eventually go.

On Inman, he's the top Brewer prospect in the minors and is only 20 years old pitching in double A. It's not unusual for a pitcher that young to start off slowing in a higher level league.

Like I wrote earlier, if they had gotten Gagne from Texas, then I would be really excited, but I'm not so sure how much better Linebrink is going to make them.

[YostInfection]

I think part of this has to be looked at from San Diego's standpoint. Why would they give up Linebrink in the middle of a pennant race? The emergence of guys like Heath Bell and Cla Meredith as 7th and 8th inning guys makes Linebrink *expendable*. In addition, they'll control those two guys for a number of years. IIRC, San Diego is considered a "mid-market" team and watches payroll closely as well.

 

I'm sad to see Inman go - I looked forward to viewing the Link Report on days he was slated to throw, and I'll definitely follow him with San Diego. Thatcher and Garrison were intriguing, but expendable with the emergence of guys like Braddock, McClendon, et al.

 

I like it. I like Dougie Melvin. Hopefully Billy Hall gives the offense a nice shot in the arm with his return tonight. And here's to holding off the Cubs in this pennant race. (And to say just THAT right there - pennant race - is why a trade like this gets me excited)

[Tisko]

Too steep if you ask me, but in Melvin I trust.

[mothershipconnection]

I'm another voice on the side of "what the bejesus was Melvin thinking?". The first thing I thought of was what Brian said: he's trending downward and not doing well away from a pitcher's park this year. Replace Inman with Gywnn or Gross, or two lesser prospects and I'm happy, but this was too much to pay for Linebrink at this point.

 

Of course, if we make the playoffs and he has some success, you probably come back and say it's worth it, but that's a probabilistic outcome I'm not thrilled to have gotten for 3 solid young arms.