Confidence in Melvin

[sweepscc]

I'd be perfectly fine with Jack Z getting the promotion tomorrow.

I just joined your boat. Jack Z has brought far more to this franchise than Doug. Doug is a lucky man to have Jack.

 

[brains and braun]

How many mistakes can DM afford to make before he sinks the Crew? We aren't the Yankees here. I think DM's reluctance to take part in free agency is justified and savvy. People leveled the same criticism at Packers GM Ted Thompson the past few off-seasons. Why didn't you do such-and-such? How could you let Ahman Green walk away? etc. Now people can't stop fawning over him. Obviously the proof is in the pudding, but I think you find someone you believe in/trust to be GM and let them do it their way. I think the Crew feels this way about DM, and so do I. During his tenure the Brewers have gone from laughing-stock to legit contender. Doesn't he deserve a season or two more to finish what he's started?

[RU Rah Rah]

Overall, I've been a pretty big fan of DM, but the Linebrink deal made me start to wonder a bit. Thus far, the off-season hasn't exactly alleviated my concerns. (For one thing, the talk of moving yet another IF to the OF just doesn't make sense to me.) But it's still early in Dec., and there's plenty of time to get things straight -- in the bullpen and LF, most urgently. (I'd still like to see them teach Braun how to play 3B.)

[Invader3K]

You don't need to teach Braun to play 3B when you can move him to LF (just about the easiest position in MLB) and use your proven 3B as a starter (Bill Hall). I still like to see them get a proven veteran bat, though.

[tigerbrew]

Just wondering why DM has no interest in a high OBP good defensive OF in Fukudome? Getting him will cost the Brewers no players or picks. Has the payroll budget decrease? I read that Fukudome wants a 3 year contract.

[Brian the Automator]

Just wondering why DM has no interest in a high OBP good defensive OF in Fukudome? Getting him will cost the Brewers no players or picks. Has the payroll budget decrease? I read that Fukudome wants a 3 year contract.

Check out the Fukudome thread in the trade rumors forum for full-on Fukudomey goodness.

 

[Invader3K]

Just to paraphrase from said thread, it sounds like Melvin approached Fukudome's agent, and it didn't seem like they were interested in going to Milwaukee.

[hauser42]

I think they're being stubborn with their decision to move Hall to CF last year, like they can't undo it or something.

 

Hard to disagree. Hall hasn't forgotten how to play 3B and Hart roved last year that he can play CF competently. If they have to fill a corner outfield spot, that's a much smaller problem, IMO. If LaPorta is a the real deal, it's also something you can put a band aid on for 2008. 3B has a potential to be a problem for quite some time.

Bill Hall is a slight upgrade on defense to Braun but a huge downgrade with the stick. Hall is no the answer at 3B and it is worth it to let Braun start the season there to see how he does. He has only played 3B for two years.

[RU Rah Rah]

You don't need to teach Braun to play 3B when you can move him to LF (just about the easiest position in MLB) and use your proven 3B as a starter (Bill Hall).

That's certainly an option, and I'm not saying that it would be a terrible one, given the circumstances. But then you have:

1.) Braun going from SS in college to 3B in majors to LF.

2.) Hall going from "super-sub" to CF to 3B.

3.) LaPorta going from college 1B to minor league LF to . . . RF, I guess?

 

That doesn't exactly seem like good planning to me, esp. when we're talking about 3 players who presumably are part of the bedrock of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

[Brian the Automator]

You don't need to teach Braun to play 3B when you can move him to LF (just about the easiest position in MLB) and use your proven 3B as a starter (Bill Hall).

That's certainly an option, and I'm not saying that it would be a terrible one, given the circumstances. But then you have:

1.) Braun going from SS in college to 3B in majors to LF.

2.) Hall going from "super-sub" to CF to 3B.

3.) LaPorta going from college 1B to minor league LF to . . . RF, I guess?

 

That doesn't exactly seem like good planning to me, esp. when we're talking about 3 players who presumably are part of the bedrock of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

I would think that Braun, with his excellent arm would get shifted to right IF laporta pans out.

 

[Invader3K]

LaPorta isn't a lock for anything at this point...Milwaukee shouldn't be worrying about protecting a spot for LaPorta, or any other prospects at this point. Plus, let's face it, the transition from right field to left field isn't a huge one.

[Postseason2006]

 

Yea, he never got Texas into the postseason. Wait... what? Three times? Oh. Nevermind.

 

Just how many playoffs wins was that again with an unlimited payroll?

[crewcrazy]

Yea, he never got Texas into the postseason. Wait... what? Three times? Oh. Nevermind.

Just how many playoffs wins was that again with an unlimited payroll?

The Rangers ran into the Yankees all 3 times, and all 3 times the Yankees went on to win the World Series without much effort. I'd hardly hold that against the Rangers.

 

[RU Rah Rah]

LaPorta isn't a lock for anything at this point...Milwaukee shouldn't be worrying about protecting a spot for LaPorta, or any other prospects at this point. Plus, let's face it, the transition from right field to left field isn't a huge one.

It's not that I'm necessarily banking on LaPorta. It's more that I generally don't favor having guys switch positions unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

[Invader3K]

Well, I'm as big a Ryan Braun fan as the next guy, but his defense might necessitate it, assuming the Brewers go into Opening Day 2008 with their current lineup.

[TooLiveBrew]

It's only realistic to expect Braun's offensive rates/production to regress in 2008. I think FtJ mentioned this. If his O regresses, and his D improves marginally, he might cancel his O production entirely at 3B. He practically needs to be in LF in order to avoid doing so.