McHardcobar

1BCOACH — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:46:38 -0000

Hate to go "next year" already, but its the in thing. From my seat the Brewers are 1 #2 pitcher away from being a division winner. Some folks will argue otherwise and say all kinds of dumbfounded remarks. I say BS, it's as simple as 1 legitimate #2 pitcher. (Assuming the rotation would be Gallardo, #2 guy, Parra, Looper, Bush.)

Everything else is almost in place. In fact they even have an excess at a very critical (you could even call it 'glamour') position...shortstop. They have Escobar and Hardy...and then McGehee at third. In an ideal world, the Brew Crew would simply trade Hardy and get a legitimate #2 pitcher who goes 13-8 and gives the whole team that extra confidence that they had in 2008. The importance of that confidence I refer to cannot be understated.

However, things aren't that simple. Not sure Hardy can command that type of pitcher in a trade right now. So who can? To me it comes down to who has the most value to another team...McGahee, Hardy, or Escobar? McHardcobar if you will? Hardy is the flex guy that WILL move to third if asked (and McGahee is traded). Trust me. So maybe the question is just who can get the best pitcher in return...McGahee or Escobar? Package one of them with Gamel (seriously, where's he going to play in the Brewers lineup?) and they get that #2 guy. But which one carries more value to another team? (and that is the question...its not who the Brewers would be better off with...its who another team would want.) Your thoughts?

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McHardcobar