Will brewers acquire anybody?

[princeginterhallhelms04]

I am hoping that there is some sort of either RP/SP out there that the brewers can get cheap. But then again the sept. 1st call up could solve alot of our problems in house.

[fondybrewfan]

I think we should acquire an entirely new team. Trade every single player except Fielder and Braun

[Big Reed]

My contention when I started this thread was my belief that the brewers needed to acquire a pitcher when I wrote the first post and not wait until September for call ups. We've seen the inconsistancies of Yo, Manny, and Carlos as they got adjusted to pitching at the major league level. They have displayed flashes of brilliance and of what will come. However, they've also had their down days. What the brewers really need is not another fresh arm from AAA in September. What they need is a veteran pitcher who can handle the pressure and get three outs in an inning. Maybe that means they need a starter who can go longer than 6 innings. maybe that means a lefty specialist who can come in and get one specific batter out. But, we needed to do it 2 weeks ago, not wait until September.

 

if the brewers wait until September to bring up fresh arms from AAA, it will be like putting out the fire after the house has already burned down.

 

it appears as if the Cubs, Cards and Brewers are all playing a game of chicken waiting for the other team to panic and over pay and give up the farm to make the first move. A couple of months ago I would have said the Cardinals would be a good source of relief pitchers and that they were so far out of the race, they might be willing to trade us one. Well not anymore.

[MNBrew]

I don't think any more significant acquisitions are happening before the end of the season. But this year shows just why it's worth the investment in TOP-level starting pitching.

 

Maybe that means going out and ponying up for a Santana or Hudson -- someone of that caliber, not necessarily suggesting those two guys are acquireable -- with some of the money saved by re-staffing the LF position.

 

Melvin needs to be downright aggressive in going after who he thinks the Brewers need to get (Garland? random names from previous threads keep coming to mind), being shrewd enough to improve the team significantly without totally giving up everything left in the pantry to do so. They need to be the right moves, and only the right moves. And that's where I think Melvin's biggest job lies.

[MoneyballMan]

My contention when I started this thread was my belief that the brewers needed to acquire a pitcher when I wrote the first post and not wait until September for call ups. We've seen the inconsistancies of Yo, Manny, and Carlos as they got adjusted to pitching at the major league level. They have displayed flashes of brilliance and of what will come. However, they've also had their down days. What the brewers really need is not another fresh arm from AAA in September. What they need is a veteran pitcher who can handle the pressure and get three outs in an inning. Maybe that means they need a starter who can go longer than 6 innings. maybe that means a lefty specialist who can come in and get one specific batter out. But, we needed to do it 2 weeks ago, not wait until September.

 

if the brewers wait until September to bring up fresh arms from AAA, it will be like putting out the fire after the house has already burned down.

 

it appears as if the Cubs, Cards and Brewers are all playing a game of chicken waiting for the other team to panic and over pay and give up the farm to make the first move. A couple of months ago I would have said the Cardinals would be a good source of relief pitchers and that they were so far out of the race, they might be willing to trade us one. Well not anymore.

Give a suggestion - my point isn't that they should NOT acquire someone if someone is available. My point has been that there isn't anyone available.

 

[Big Reed]

at this point, I'd take almost anybody.

 

David Wells has cleared waivers. it was reported that the rockies and dodgers were interested in him. I have to ask if the pitching rich Dodgers are interested in David Wells, shouldn't the brewers be interested in him?

 

Contreras of the White Sox supposedly cleared waivers. I would prefer Garland or Vazquez.

 

but the biggest problem lies in the fact that guys like garland and vazquez may actually be available, but GM's don't want the public or the players to know who they placed on waivers or who they put in claims for. it's their big secret society. Gms don't want the public to know who's actually available because if we knew we'd all pressure our GM to make a deal and overpay to save the ship from sinking.

 

a congressman once said he was elected to do what was best for his constituants, so he did many things that went against their desires, because he knew while his decisions may have been unpopular at the time, in retrospect ten years down the road they would be looked upon as smart decisions. I'm sure melvin wants to please the brewers fans. but he also wants to do what's right for the franchise. and sometimes the desires of the fans don't match the priorities of the franchise.

 

As a fan, I want melvin to make a move. I want him to acquire somebody - anybody. give away the future to win now - this month! NOW! I want david wells. but then I say Bush gave us 6 innings and gave up 3 runs. Can Wells provide us anything better? I doubt it.

[Invader3K]

I don't think Wells is the answer at this point. Our pitching is struggling, so bring in a pitcher who is basically at the end of the line? No thanks.

[RockCoCougars]

Why would anyone want Sweeney back? He would definitely be on my "All Time Worst Brewers" team as their pinch hitter/backup OF.. I'd be thrilled if the Cubs or Cardinals picked him up.

[Big Reed]

roco, the point was not that the brewers would want sweeney back. the point was that teams in the running for divison races are making moves - even small moves- and the brewers are standing pat. the point was if Sweweney was available, there mus t be somebod y out there the brewers could use.

 

My guess is that those teams who have available pitchers are demanding an arm and a leg and the farm for them and melvin has just resisted meeting their asking price. the yankees were asking for the moon for Igawa and the Pads refused to cave in. I have to believe the White Sox were demanding a lot for Contreras.

 

it does get frustrating watching the brewers continue to lose and continue to stand pat while other contenders continue to pick up missing pieces to their puzzles. Conine was aquired rather cheap. Big impact? probably not. But at least his new team is doing something.

[Brian the Automator]

Reed, until you're able to point to a player who cleared a team better than the Brewers, record-wise, picked up and would be better than a player on our roster, there's really no argument... is there?

[dadofandrew]

Making a move to make a move...brilliant. Look at the players who have cleared waivers and not been pulled back...the best one is Josh Towers, and we already have Cappy. There's not a single relief pitcher even on the list of known players to have passed through.

[MoneyballMan]

Reed, until you're able to point to a player who cleared a team better than the Brewers, record-wise, picked up and would be better than a player on our roster, there's really no argument... is there?

 

That's my point as well - just give us a suggestion and we can debate. Just saying "move for the sake of making a move" isn't enough. It's just not that easy.

[Big Reed]

my point and question was to ask if the brewers were planning on making a move or just standing pat. My belief is that standing pat will not get us to where we want to be. I did include the names of about 15 pitchers I'd like to see the Brewers try to acquire.

 

rather than having a discussion of the merits of flaws of a certain player, i wanted to discuss the merits of standing pat verses making a move. Sometimes making a move even invloving an insignificant player can provide an incentive for the other players to play better.

 

how about comparing the records of the contending teams that have made a move verses those that decided to stand pat?

 

The Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets and Cubs have all acquired a player off waivers. has their record improved since?

 

I guess you could say the brewers acquired Weeks, Gross, and Mc Clure.

 

My contention that making a move just to make a move is actually a good thing. and should not be poo pooed

[Brian the Automator]

My contention that making a move just to make a move is actually a good thing. and should not be poo pooed

Teams aren't making moves just to make moves. As you'll notice, the players they're acquiring are players that are an improvement over other players on the roster.

 

[recte44]

Bob Wickman. 'Nuff said.

[Big Reed]

I have to believe that monroe , wells and wickman are all players better than what are on our current roster. Capuano and Vargus are both making Wells look good. Couldn't the brewers have put in a claim on Monroe just to stop the Cubs from picking him up? is gross better than monroe?

 

Please don't try to tell me there is nobody out there that is not better than what we currently have. When a team gives up 11 runs to the lowly Giants, there has got to be better players than what we are putting out on the field. When a team loses a series to the pirates and reds, there has got to be better players available than who we are playing. I don't mind losing. but it 's the way we lose lately that is frustrating.

 

rather than waiting until the August 31st deadline to acquire a fix, the brewers should have made a move over a month ago.

[brewdude15]

i'd love to see Wickman come back to the Brewers...

[brewmann04]

we need somthing to be done and melvin better realize that.

[Invader3K]

I wouldn't hold your collective breath at this point. I don't think Melvin is going to do anything right now. I doubt adding one relief pitcher is going to do much of anything for this team at this point, as bad as the starting pitching has been.

[MoneyballMan]

is gross better than monroe?

 

Yes, Gross is better than Monroe. Even pre-season projections on Gross by Baseball Prospectus had Gross being better than Monroe. And that's also obvious since Monroe was released. As for Wickman, the main reason the Braves released him (assuming they aren't able to get a low class A player for him) is because he has an attitude problem (didn't like pitching when it wasn't a save situation). Are we going to demote CoCo in order to acquire Wickman to close for us? Well, it would be a move I guess. But I don't see how that would improve the team.

[jackalope02ca]

Actually Wickman would make a lot of sense and probably wouldn't mind setting up for the rest of this year if he thought he was auditioning for next years closing job.

[kgbaseball]

Wickman would've been just what the Brewers needed: another pitcher who allows too many baserunners.

[brewmann04]

Lat few day to make a trade for the Post season any rumors out there?

[Brian the Automator]

If there were rumors, we'd already be mentioning them.

[RobertR]

Supposedly, the A's are shopping around Esteban Loaiza. If I was in charge, I'd be interested.

 

Robert