Rebuilding for 2008?

[pogokat]

is that mike watt?

[trwi7]

I'd love to seee an Abreu type guy on this team, anyone with a history of strong OBP skills would be a godsend.

 

That is exactly who I suggested on realgm only to be shot down by one poster who wanted Aaron Rowand because of his "gamer qualities."http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/eyes.gif

[brettac1]

is that mike watt?

D. Boon, bro.

 

[pogokat]

thought that picture looked too current to be d boon...what with him being all corpse-y and whatnot

[Invader3K]

I think the biggest change for next season will be the manager. Other than that, they will probably pick up one or two bullpen arms, and hopefully sign a big bat for the outfield.

[Klements Bratwurst]

Juan Rivera anyone? I saw this mentioned on another thread. Could he be obtained for something cheaper due to the broken leg injury in March? He had a decent OBP 2 of his 3 years, not to mention the 25 plus bombs last year.

 

However, Abreu or Rowand would be real nice guys to have in the 2 hole in front of Braun and Prince.

[brettac1]

thought that picture looked too current to be d boon...what with him being all corpse-y and whatnot

 

This is Mike Watt, present day:

http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/watt_mike/watt_mike.jpg

[TooLiveBrew]

'We need to upgrade our OBP': Bobby Abreu = correct

 

'We need to upgrade our OF defense': Bobby Abreu = horribly incorrect

[logan82]

Other than that, they will probably pick up one or two bullpen arms, and hopefully sign a big bat for the outfield.

The big bat talk starts already. I agree with everything you said except the big bat part. We are leading the NL in homers by a good margin. I think we have enough big bats for next year already.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think the 'big bat' talk is referring to upgrading our production from the LF spot. Perhaps Jenks can, but I agree we need more over the full season from LF. There is no such thing as too much power or too many HRs. Trust me - other teams are going to go out & get better, and the Crew needs to do the same.

[kgbaseball]

I'm just looking at the 2008 FA class, and a few interesting names come up. For outfield help, how about Milton Bradley or Aaron Rowand? Stick Hall in left, let Rowand play center. Immediate upgrade in defense and OBP, and he's got some power. I know the White Sox are going to make a play for him, and it sounds like they really want him back, so they may be the biggest competition. I imagine he'll get a pretty fat contract.

 

There's almost no starting pitching worth going after, so maybe a trade could get done to acquire another arm. There's plenty of good relievers, but perhaps none more interesting than Kerry Wood, who is a free agent. What about an incentive-laden contract for one year? He's still got his lights out stuff, it's just a matter of him staying healthy, which is why you give him a low base salary with a bunch of performance incentives. I wouldn't mind that at all.

[TooLiveBrew]

All this Aaron Rowand talk is making me ill. This is the same Aaron Rowand

who has a career .343 OBP, even with this year's career-best (thus far) .381, including the two preceding years posting .321 ('06) and .329 ('05). Historically, he draws BBs not a whole lot more frequently than Johnny Estrada, but Rowand strikes out much more. His BB/K rates are awful. But what a surprise - he's having a career year in a contract year, when players are getting more $$ than ever. This is a player to avoid, who is much more likely to regress to an OBP of roughly .335 than a guy who will somehow, magically, grow his OBP the rest of his career. As stated, he's sure to get a fat deal. Let's let the CWS be the ones who make that mistake, please.

 

EDIT: and calling Milton Bradley a "clubhouse cancer" hurts Cancer's feelings.

[bklynbrewcrew]

I would get rid of Jenkins and his 9 million option and replace him with Gross since he can put up better numbers than Jenkins. Gross is the OBP guy that this team needs and they can get a cheap platoon guy like Dillon to split time with Gross. The most important thing is to resign Sheets. It is an absolute must to bring him back to lead this staff for years to come. Every team needs a shutdown ace and Sheets has proven time and time again that he is that guy. If the team was willing to spend good money on the definition of mediocrity(Suppan) then it is an absolute must to spend whatever necessary to keep Sheets who is one of the best in the game. In order to win the team needs to spend on stars like Sheets and not give ridiculous contracts to average guys like Suppan or bring back a guy like Jenkins for 9 million when Gabe Gross is just as good if not better for 10% of the cost.

[Invader3K]

Again, it's not that I don't like Sheets, but I wouldn't be eager to give him a huge new contract until he can prove he can stay healthy/uninjured on a more consistent basis.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Invader, Sheets has had fluky injuries and will be just fine. The guy is an ace and this team is just not the same without him. If we can give Suppan 10 mil per year I dont see why we cant give Sheets 15 mil per season. Pay for stars not mediocrity.

[RU Rah Rah]

I think it's definitely more a matter of tinkering than rebuilding.

 

The biggest decision might involve Jenkins. I've said elsewhere that I'd rather give Gross a shot (at $500,000 or whatever) than pay Jenkins $7-9 million. You take that savings and cram it into the bullpen somehow.

[Tbadder]

The Brewers are the Brewers. They can probably afford 1 good player a year. If you sign Sheets, lets estimate 65 million for 4 years, then forget about any of the young guys eventually. There's no way to sign Fielder (and I wouldn't want to either, never liked Mo Vaughn that much). Hardy's defense doesn't overly excite me, though it's solid, and his offense I'm very leery of. Braun is just too young to tell yet (he's gotta prove he can hit without suckling on Prince's teat). Nobody else on the roster is a difference maker as I see it, although Yo might surprise. But for next year I think the rotation is Sheets, Gallardo, Parra (gotta have 1 lefty), Suppan, and Bush. Linebrink and Cordero walk (Melvin will find a closer, he's an expert, and besides closer money is usually a huge waste). Trade Vargas or Capppy (extra p for good luck) as I believe both still have excellent value (pitching always will). I'd love to see Jenks walk at this point.

[mark brouhard is number on]

wow dude, do you like anyone on our team even? are you even a brewers fan?

[rluzinski]

Yes, Braun has a 1.000+ OPS right now because he was batting before Fielder for some time. The notion that pitchers drastically change their approach for a batter depending on the following batter is a complete myth. There are some slight differences but it's generally very suttle. I dare anyone to show otherwise.

[TooLiveBrew]

Braun is just too young to tell yet (he's gotta prove he can hit without suckling on Prince's teat).

I don't really know what this means, and I definitely don't agree with it, but hot dang it made me laugh. Apparently Prince's teats are on both his chest and back...

 

[Tbadder]

I like all the Brewers. I like every Brewers that was, except Charlie Moore. I'm a Brewer fan. But liking and being good have no relationship at all. And anyone who is good nowadays, will be a Brewer only temporarily. Fielder appears to be good, even outstanding, therefore his days as a Brewer are numbered. The exception, as I see it, and I could be wrong, is that the Brewers can really only afford one large contract a year, maybe 2 at most. If we sign Sheets to a big contract that pretty much means the minors will have to keep cranking out cheap replacements, and we'll lose some if not all of the young guys who have talent. I just can't remember a Brewer team that had a large payroll compared to the rest of the league (although I'm sure I'm probably wrong about that too).

[endaround]

Except that none of the young players will be due for a big contract until Sheets' (and Suppan's) deal is up. Heck right now since Weeks was sent down for two weeks, Hardy might be the only one who will be arby eligible next season. The Brewers have another 3 years of Hardy, another 4 of Weeks, 5 of Fielder, 5 of Hart, 5 of Villenauva, 6 of Braun and 6 of Gallarado.

[billyhallfan]

our rotation is a mess........we gotta get rid of Suppan and Capuano

 

 

The Brewers didn't sign Suppan to trade him, he is a quality pitcher and he is going no where. This team isn't rebuilding at all.

[Thurston Fluff]

I guess it all depends on how one defines rebuilding. To me rebuilding is the same as starting over from scratch. Doing things like trading established veterans for prospects because the team is failing with that core of established veteran players. A firesale for salary purposes also falls into that category.

I don't think replacing potential free agents with in house options, trades or free agents is rebuilding. I don't think filling a couple roster spots constitutes rebuilding either. I could see the Brewers trading players who have worn out their welcome or became expendable because younger more talented players are ready. But that falls more into building a better team than it does starting over.

 

I'm all for signing Sheets to a long term contract. The injuries Sheets has had are not ones that have any long term effect. I'd be way more wary of guys who have had elbow or shoulder problems in the past then had one or two good years after that. Carpenter comes to mind off the top of my head that would be to risky for my taste. Sheets will command a lot more than 5 years $60 Million but the team will be paying for something differant from Sheets than they did for Soup. They paid Soup for stability and health. They'll pay Sheets to be Sheets.

If someone wants Cappy I'd be ok with trading him but only if he nets something of value at a lesser price tag in return. That might help clear up some money for Sheets. I certainly don't think they should just give him away to clear space and money but if he can be traded for something useful and cheap fine. I also think the money Jenkins would make next year could be better spent. Gross has shown enough potential to be worth taking a chance and use the extra money elsewhere. I don't know if he can produce like Jenkins but if the saved money translates into solidifiying the pitching staff he won't have to be as good.

[Tbadder]

Except that none of the young players will be due for a big contract until Sheets' (and Suppan's) deal is up. Heck right now since Weeks was sent down for two weeks, Hardy might be the only one who will be arby eligible next season. The Brewers have another 3 years of Hardy, another 4 of Weeks, 5 of Fielder, 5 of Hart, 5 of Villenauva, 6 of Braun and 6 of Gallarado.

 

Which is great, and hopeful, and I'm really glad.