SB Nation User Blog: The Prospector

What should we do if Cordero leaves?

The Prospector — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:33:08 -0000

So now that free agents are free to talk dollars and cents with any team, I thought we should run through a list of things to do if Cordero walks. Listed, in no particular order (I used ERA+ and WHIP both because I was in a bit of a hurry and they're what I was most comfortable using in a hurry)

1.Sign Eric Gagne.
His second-half numbers this past year were horrid, but he's got a career 124 ERA+ and 1.13 WHIP. Doug was talking about getting him at the deadline last year, and I have no doubts that he would have fared better in Milwaukee than he did in Beantown (how couldn't he?), and he might come a <span style="font-style:italic;">tad</span> cheaper with what happened last year. At the very least, he'd be cheaper than Coco (Jon Heyman thinks he'll make $6M next year).
2.Sign Octavio Dotel.
He declined his option and filed for free agency. He also had a poor second half, and may not be the ideal closer, but he'll come cheaper than Coco or Gagne, and has a career 121 ERA+/1.24 WHIP.
3.Trade for Brian Fuentes. The Rockies are apparently willing to shop him for a starting pitcher, something we happen to have an excess of. He's got a career 124 ERA+ and a 1.26 WHIP, though is (I think) under control for just one more year, so we could trade and extend him (maybe). Or let him walk and get draft picks for a departing closer (again). He was a Type A player in this year's Elias Rankings.
4.Trade for Washington's Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch.
Apparently the Nats are looking for starting pitching and are willing to move Ryan Church as well. A package for both Church and Rauch/Cordero? Rauch has a decent career 115 ERA+ / 1.22 WHIP. The "other" Cordero comes in at 154/1.19. Plus, we wouldn't have to get rid of Coco's old uniform- we can just give it to Chad.
5.Trade for Scot Shields
This might be the one I would be most in favor of, but would probably be the hardest to pull off. I am sure we'd have to give them at least one big prospect, and I dunno what else, but it would probably take a lot, especially as they signed him to a contract extension earlier this year. Larry Stone notes that Chone Figgins could be made available if the Angels get A-Rod. He has played some outfield, so maybe a big time deal involving Figgins and Shields? I don't see it happening.
6.Trade for Akinori Otsuka. We know that the Rangers were interested in Tony Gwynn, Jr back at the trade deadline, and it appears that they still have some interest in him. I'm sure it'd take more than just Gwynn, but I wouldn't be opposed to it (depending on who else is in the deal)
7.Other FA RPs of note: Eddie Guardado, Dan Kolb, Jorge Julio, Ray King, Jose Mesa, Bob Wickman. Just kidding.
8.Convert one of our guys to closer.
It's been suggested maybe Ben Sheets convert to closer a la Smoltz/Meyers, but I doubt it would happen. Dave Bush was a closer in college, and I wouldn't be against the move.
9.Or, of course, give the job back to Turnbow.

What do you guys think?

Hey, Cubs lose! Cubs lose!

The Prospector — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:51:30 -0000

Well, the final out was just recorded. And as Brewers fans, although we didn't win the Central, we got as many postseason wins as the Cubs did. I may take a little too much pleasure in seeing the Cubs lose, but I was watching the game as well as perusing the bizarro BCB and have a couple of observations. First of, I don't know if some of them are just plain retarded or just preoccupied with the game, but when asked how many double plays are possible to get in one game (asked rhetorically), one commenter gave this insight. Luckily other fans corrected him, so not all of them are that stupid. Also, I think Daron Sutton has started posting over there.

Final series lines for some of the Cubbies:

Soriano: 2-14, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 RBI
Lee: 4-12, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 RBI
Ramirez: 0-12, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 RBI

They also had 4 GIDPs in the final game, one coming with the bases loaded and 1 out.

27 LOB (9 per game) doesn't help, either.

It sucks we didn't advance, but at least the Cubs won't go any further!

Spewing vitriol

The Prospector — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:23:54 -0000

There's a story by Al at the other BCB about supposed vitriol that we were coming up with during the game. Now, I don't deny we might not have been nice (what fans are ever nice to opposing fans?) but I wouldn't call it vitriol. Al (who genuinely seems like a nice guy, except for the whole "being a Cubs fan" thing) takes the high(er) and tries to calm down people on both sides (or so it looks). Which leads to one of their guys saying this. Which I find weird, because I think the reason that us "dumb asses" haven't mentioned that we've pissed away a HUGE lead is- well, because we haven't. The biggest lead we have had was an 8.5 lead on both the Cubs and Cards on June 22nd and 23rd. It's now at 6.5 games. I wouldn't exactly say that's pissing away a lead. So, to recap- 8.5 games- HUGE. 6.5 a week later (and a week closer to the end of the year), a pissed away chance that shall ruin us and send the franchise into a tailspin (ok, I exaggerated that, but still). Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying that a 6.5 game lead is huge. I'd rather we were up 15, because I'd feel safe. I don't feel safe at 6.5, and I didn't feel safe at 8.5 at the time. Now, if it were the end of August/beginning of September, I'd feel better. But there's a lot more baseball to be played. Another thing- I don't know why we'd fall down to "the old Brewer ball that we all know and love," because this isn't those teams. This team is better than those teams. I'm not saying we won't slip. We probably will. And I hope we can hold on and stay on top, because I've been waiting for the playoffs with this team for a long time.

Oh, and the reason we don't go choke on a brat is because we (unlike some other fans, apparently) can chew and cheer at the same time.

Buehrle off the block?

The Prospector — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:03:18 -0000

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that Buehrle has agreed to an extension with the ChiSox. This is good for two reasons- we don't have to give up any of our guys in a dumb trade, and he (likely) won't be wearing a Cardinals uniform next year. I, for one, never really thought he would be an upgrade over what we have, especially considering what we might have to give up. Update [2007-6-27 19:27:40 by Ball and Glove]: It appears that the extension might not happen. Chicago might be in talks with MB's agent, but nothing has been hashed out.

Brewers sign LaPorta

The Prospector — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:31:50 -0000

Per the Brewers website. He's gonna be taking batting practice today with the team.

Link to the Journal Sentinel article

Update [2007-6-25 18:15:49 by battlekow]: Figured this was bump-worthy. The plan, I think, is to have LaPorta play in a few games for the AZL Brewers and prove that his oblique is healthy, and then he'll be on his way to West Virginia.

Sorry, Tom-O

The Prospector — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:51:04 -0000

Bad timing for Tom Oates' latest article in the State Journal. Bad luck on that one. It does seem to me that he is fishing a little bit for reasons to like Turnbow. Especially when talking about the bad outings. If I read it right, he's basically saying "Well, in Turnbow's bad outings, he has a high ERA, but if you look closer, in his good outings, his ERA isn't so bad." Ummm....duh? Groundbreaking. And I mean, I know why I get nervous every time he pitches- CUZ HE'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. Example- game the other day where (luckily, with no one on base) he throws his first pitch OVER (not around, not through the catchers legs) the catcher to the backstop. Yikes. And when games are on the line, he gives us heart attacks almost every time! Don't get me wrong, I dont think he sucks, and I dont want to trade him, but come on. If you cannot see why people get nervous when he pitches, you gotta be missing something. If he just didn't throw so wildly or having his accompanying erratic motion/followthrough, I'd feel a lot better. Also if he didnt lose any more games.

Buehrle to Brewers?

The Prospector — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:42:24 -0000

I dunno if anyone has mentioned this, but I thought it was noteworthy of a diary. On MLB Trade Rumors, they link to a Ken Rosenthal states that the Brewers might be in on trade talks for Buehrle. It says that Braun or Gallardo might have to be parted with, and it is unlikely that Melvin would do that (thank God). Trade Rumors also speculates that Corey Hart might interest Williams. Personally, if I see us get rid of any of those players, I would be very pissed. Personally, I'd prefer to stick with what we got than pick up Buehrle for half a season. Your thoughts?