SB Nation User Blog: baumann

Lorenzo Cain on BP 'Radio'

baumann — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:58:57 -0000

Lorenzo Cain on BP 'Radio'

BP's list of the Brewers' Top 11 prospects is out, and number six on the list, Lorenzo Cain, joins Brad Wochomurka on this edition of BP Radio. Cain discusses the power spike we saw from him in 2008, as well as the improved plate discipline he displayed while facing some of the game's top pitching prospects. Then Brad flip the table on him and allow Lorenzo to break down some of his minor league teammates.

Brewers Must Make Run at Griffey.

baumann — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:54:10 -0000

Brewers Must Make Run at Griffey.

I think I've linked this before, but now that Junior is a free agent, I think it's finally time to tap into the turn-of-the-century wisdom of the sage D. Orlando Ledbetter.

Corey Hart's Free Swinging Ways

baumann — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:41:04 -0000

Corey Hart's Free Swinging Ways

Fan Graphs, one of the finest analysis sites this side of BP, takes a look at something attentive Brewers fans were biting their lips over for the entire 2008 second half.

Another trade idea.

baumann — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:35:17 -0000

I read a few days ago that the Twins might be 'targeting' JJ Hardy. I'm not sure if we could somehow get Kevin Slowey off of them, but if we could, would you do it. I know I would.

Slowey, coming off a solid age 24 season, could reach Super 2 status in 2009 and be arbitration eligible after the season, but if he doesn't, he'll be pre-arb until after 2010.

Slowey doesn't walk anyone. His K% are decent (18.8% last season in the majors), but not great, though they would stand to improve in the NL.

Hardy's coming off seasons with 26 and 24 HRs, plays above average D at a premium position, had his highest walk rate since his rookie year, and will be entering his peak seasons, which still figure to be pretty cheap (he made $2.65m in 2008).

Why would the Twins do this? Because they think they can win now, and that have the pitching to do so.

What do you all think?

No NYCC.

baumann — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:09:06 -0000

No NYCC.

One executive said, "I think the Yanks will get him because of the money, but he is still telling all of his friends that he isn't playing in New York."

According to James, the Twins have six players in the top 100, eight in the top 120, and 10 in the...

baumann — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:05:24 -0000

According to James, the Twins have six players in the top 100, eight in the top 120, and 10 in the top 150. The major league average, says James, is five in the top 150.

The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo seems to think that Bill James is making up the fact that 150/30=5. Do people hate numbers that much?

Braun's walk rate.

baumann — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:49:57 -0000

Braun's walk rate.

So, what IS the plan for next year?

baumann — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:08:47 -0000

Regardless of how this season ends up, there's a lot of work to do, a lot of things to think about for next year. Are we really going to go into the 2009 season with Gallardo, Parra, Bush, Suppan, McClung/Villanueva as the rotation. I don't feel completely comfortable with any of those guys. Bush probably comes the closest for me because I have reasonable expectations of him: 200 IP of league average ball, and he's pretty much proved that he can do that by now. Gallardo: great star potential, but if he takes some time to get back to form, we might be off to a slow start. I'm very happy the team move Parra to the bullpen for the rest of the year, but he's had some health concerns in the past and this has been his biggest workload. Suppan and McClung -- do I need to explain? Villanueva is probably the next Aaron Heilman, and that's fine.

What I've been thinking, and based on what's been bandied about, is that the Brewers are going to give Jack Z a lot of picks in 2009, and the team is pretty good at producing above-average-to-all-star caliber hitters, but pitching is always tricky, unless you are the Braves in the 1990s and early '00s.

My question is, who/what do we put our faith in? The health of our pitchers and the ability of some of them to take big steps forward? Jack Z in that we trade guys like Prince and/or JJ for starting pitching and hope that Z will have us restocked in short order? (In the latter option we'd also be having faith in Gamel and Escobar to step up in regular roles, probably.) I dunno.

Chad Moeller sighting

baumann — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:41:51 -0000

Chad Moeller sighting

NEW YORK YANKEES
Team Audit | DT Cards | PECOTA Cards | Depth Chart Return to Top

Optioned RHP Dave Robertson to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A); purchased the contract of RHP Alfredo Aceves from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. [8/28]
Purchased the contracts of C-R Chad Moeller and LHP Phil Coke from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. [9/1]
Activated RHPs Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese from the 15-day DL. [9/2]

Will the Brewers have money to spend?

baumann — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:06:50 -0000

I took a little time to compile the list below of 2008 salaries and projected (or actual, for players already under contract) salaries for 2009.

A couple of notes:

1. for Sabathia and Durham, I only included the salary that the Brewers have to pay

2. in the "09 Option" column, Arb2, for example, means that the player will be entering his second arbitration year this upcoming offseason; FA is free agent; Club is club option on the 09 Salary listed

3. I'm not sure if the contracts given to guys like Callix Crabbe and Randy Choate count against what we normally consider 'payroll', because they are more veteran minor league deals. either way, they would only shave $1mm off this years total

4. for guys in arbitration, i estimated the best i could based on what some other players got. the estimation on Prince's salary could be high or low based on how you look at it. i think he takes a little hit this season, but he's still a lot younger than Ryan Howard. for J.J., i used Joe Crede's in his second arb year because he was a comparable player.

Please feel free to correct me or 'weigh in' because i just did my best -- i am no expert.

NAME                POS    08 SALARY         09ProjSal        09 Option
Sheets, Ben        SP    $11,000,000.00     $-                      FA
Sabathia, CC      SP    $4,950,000.00     $-                         FA
Gagne, Eric        RP    $10,000,000.00     $-                       FA
Suppan, Jeff       SP    $8,500,000.00     $12,500,000.00
Durham, Ray      2B    $2,541,000.00     $-                          FA
Cameron, Mike   CF    $4,980,000.00     $10,000,000.00     Club
Hall, Bill              3B    $4,800,000.00     $6,800,000.00
Kendall, Jason    C    $5,250,000.00     $4,600,000.00
Riske, David       RP    $4,000,000.00     $4,250,000.00
Capuano, Chris    SP    $3,750,000.00     $3,750,000.00
Mota, Guillermo   RP    $3,200,000.00     $-                           FA
Torres, Salomon RP    $3,200,000.00     $3,750,000.00     Club
Counsell, Craig    IF    $2,800,000.00     $3,400,000.00     Club
Hardy, J.J.          SS    $2,650,000.00     $4,500,000.00     Arb2
Bush, Dave        SP    $2,550,000.00     $3,750,000.00     Arb2
Shouse, Brian    RP    $2,000,000.00     $-                             FA
Weeks, Rickie    2B    $1,057,000.00     $2,000,000.00      Arb2
Kapler, Gabe       OF    $800,000.00     $-                              FA
McClung, Seth    RP    $750,000.00     $1,000,000.00       Arb2
Braun, Ryan        OF    $455,050.00     $745,000.00
Fielder, Prince     1B    $670,000.00     $8,500,000.00        Arb1
Branyan, Russell IF    $400,000.00     $-                              FA
Nix, Laynce         OF    $475,000.00     $-                            Arb2
Hart, Corey          OF    $444,000.00     $2,750,000.00       Arb1
Gallardo, Yovani   SP    $404,000.00     $450,000.00        Pre-Arb
Rivera, Mike          C    $395,000.00     $410,000.00        Pre-Arb
Dillon, Joe            UT    $393,000.00     $-                           FA
Munson, Eric         C    $525,000.00        $-                            FA
Crabbe, Callix       IF    $390,000.00        $-
Choate, Randy     RP    $500,000.00     $-
Turnbow, Derrick RP    $3,200,000.00     $-                        FA
Parra, Manny       SP    $392,000.00     $444,000.00       Pre-Arb
          $87,421,050.00     $73,599,000.00

So, it looks as if we'll have 'freed up' $14mm, but that assumes that Attanasio wants to keep spending that much.

I would guess that we have to spend a little bit on a SP somewhere, given the nigh departure of our two best pitchers, and the uncertain health of several others.

I also assumed that, at this point, we are set to pick up Cameron's option. He's exceeded my expectations, I don't know about y'all.