With the brewers not playing and adding the fact with all these injuries. There is the debate of being sellers or buyers in Mid-june. Is Francisco Rodriguez now a luxury the Brewers really don't need? He was lights out the second half of last season. But he along with everyone else has had there problems. But still servicable and could do the job for another team. There is a market for closers and with the need for "back-ups" all these injuries have caused do we now move him eat part of his contract and get a decent middle relief guy and a back up somewhere that could help us long term??

Obviously this season has not gone well. I assumed this team was not going to score as many runs with Fielder gone. But this season has been unexpected. Obviously the injuries have hurt especially Gonzalez. It is good to see the pitching is getting a little better. It's good the brewers are in the NL Central and just have to hang around the .500 mark for a late run at the playoffs. But when is the point they decide to buy or sell? Is it mid June and are they really close to just add one player to make a difference. Greineke will want big money and not sure he's a true ace to tie all that money up. But if this team sells mid june doesn't that effectively made certain Greieke will not sign here. Obviously he doesn't want to sign if the brewers go through a rebuilding. They need to find playing time for Aoki. I would prefer to see Hart move to first base and let Aoki play right when Gomez comes back. With Weeks not hitting they need someone with speed at the top. I hope we are not pinning our hopes on a .245 hitting returning to the line up to get things going.

Its hard to determine who is in on prince and who is not. It appears the cubs could be in but why would prince sign with the cubs especially if they trade garza. They have little pitching to begin with then deal one of there better starters. It's been nice having Prince play all but one game in the past three years. But sooner or later those years are going to catch up to him physically. Do you see Prince grabbing all the money no matter what team offers the most? Do you see him taking less to sign with a winner? Or a combo of both? I'm guessing he will take less from a team who can win.

I guess I am talking more MLB hall of fame than the Brewers Walk of Fame. I see some guys posting about Jim Edmonds and possibly being a HOF candidate. Is it me or does the HOF not getting as impressive candidates. If you look at the numbers Gary Carter, Phil Ruzzuto, Bill Mazeroski probably shouldn't be in there. They were good players but not great. Maybe I am baseing it more on Ruth, Gehrig, etc. and the mystic of there careers. But I read that some people think Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Ron Santo should be HoFers.

OK last year I thought he was pretty bad on the broadcast. I just reupped my Fox Sports package which gives me four teams, not the brewers wrong zip code, but I get the pregame and post game show. I swear Davey Nelson sounds MUCH better this season. Is he not talking to much? Or he seems to want to just talk and talk like he did last year but stops. I was pleasantly surprised, he is sounding great!!

as we head into the new year. are you happy with the roster as it sits today going into spring training? let's assume no moves will be made and then as teams start to look at pitching they'll call the crew for their excess. IF they go into the season with the current roster.are we better off than last year? Where do you feel we're looking a little thin. How does the team match up versus last years crew. Also, with some teams in the central adding some players how do you feel about the coming season?

I see on espn insider that kenny lofton could be handed for milwaukee. Does this mean he goes to left? Or do they move hall again and put him in left and lofton in center. Don't see lofton in center since his arm is more suited for a corner outfield spot. Or does this mean Bill Hall is about to be traded. He is 40 but had some steals and hit for decent average. OH yes the veteran leadership this team so needs. Or so the "experts" think from last year.

OK, The Brewers talked to the cardinals about Scott Rolen. One thing the brewers do is hit well. They score runs and hit for power. Yes Ryan Braun isn't very good defensively at third. But why would the brewers think about this deal. Or any consider doing this. Rolen adds, average which we're ok with. He adds power which we're ok with. Why would we spend $33 million on an often injuried third baseman. We need pitching, as does every other team. If Braun is so bad, after only one season, why would we add salary. If they don't think braun can play third move him to left field. I'm ok with that. Then move Hall to third. He can play infield, its' been proven. Then fill in the outfield spot. We have a few candidates to do that. The result, we still hit good. We just shuffled players around. Best part is we didn't Add any $$$$. Hall can probably field better than braun. I don't see any reason to add Rolen. Now take that money and go out and pick up another couple arms. Last i read the Rolen deal is dead. But some feel the others will drop and they cardinals will come crying to us.  

Remember this was peter gammons on XM today.Peter has a tendancy to make some things up in the past. He said Scott Rolen is heading to the brewers. Would/Could make sense with pay structure, he wouldn't be a huge contract since he's been hurt. Braun has said he'd go to the outfield if needed. PLUS, what a slap in the face to tony larussa if Rolen came to milwaukee. With the past problems they've had.

OK after this past season there seems to be some more teams thinking this way. tieing up $10 million for cordero is alot of money. He seemed to breakdown toward the end. Why is wrong with spreading the money around. Signing more middle or past closers,....ie wickman,etc. Then just using the hot guy. i know during the season i wondered why they brought Cordero in when Turnbow went one or two outs in the 8th. I know I know Turnbow might not be the answer. But to me it would help spread around the closing. Plus our middle relief didn't seem to bad. THOUGHTS???

I just heard on the cubs broadcast last night that the cubs announcers said Johnny Estrada had a 10% throw out percent. WOW didn't know he was that bad. Is he worth the money and the slow base running to keep around? I remember when they traded for Henry Blanco that they wanted a defensive cather. Wouldn't that be better than what we have now?

OK i have the Fox Sports Network package BUT i only get games close to me which isn't the crew. But I do get pregame with him and Nelson. I know Nelson was a player, coach, etc. He's ok but gets tripped up on his words. What's the story with Craig Coshun besides the pretty hair what else does he do?  Is he a late comer to this whole jumpin on the brewers band wagon?

just wanted to get everyones thoughts on our situational left hander. Has Shouses' ran his course? Do you think we need to get rid of him and replace him with someone. Or with the log jam in the pen is there a place to add another left hander. Here are a few names to ponder that could be available for not alot of scratch.

Steve Kline SF

Mike Stanton Cin

Jimmy Gobble KC

thoughts???????????

there are suppose to be rumors of the brewers possibly trading jenkins or mench while the value is high. what are your thoughts on this. will it hurt team chemistry? PLUS what do you trade for? I guess you never have enough pitching. You know jenkins/mench won't keep up the hitting clip they are on. Do you wait it out? Deal now?

thoughts?

OK, so what did the brewers know and when. Were they being told Koskie is coming back? Did Koskie's agent tell the crew he's fine just give him a few months? Is this the reason that Graffino and Counsell were signed? I'd rather see Cirillo down there than the other two. I'm just surprised that they didn't know more than what they're letting on.

Besides, David Bell there are no third baseman hanging out there to give a shot.

I don't want to hear the Ryan Braun thing either. Let him go to Nashville. He's going to have a long career in milwaukee but don't rush him. No I don't think if Braun has a GREAT spring that he'll go north.

What about putting Billy Hall at third for a few years till Braun's ready. Then put Gwynn in center.

thoughts?

I was checking out the list of available free agents on line.

Is there anyone else that you see that would be worth a minor league deal?

I see these are possibilities. The crew can't look to bad to a guy trying to resurrect his career. Plus the history of injury has to help.

Tony Armas
Eddie Guardado
Rick Helling
Vinnie Castilla: worth a flyer in case koskie is done.
Bruce Chen
Mike Dejean
STeve Finley: might have one good year left in the tank.
Jason Johnson
Joe Randa: rumors last year of deal to bring him to crew. Might be worth a flyer on him.
Phil Nevin: back up fielder, DH versus AL with some pop

Apparently Omar Minaya contacted the brewers about Ben Sheets. He was told he was untouchable.

Why on earth wouldn't Melvin listen to at least an offer? He can be one of the best. BUT as we all know he's also injury prone. I'd rather have two pitchers who log some innings who can pitch decent. Then a stud starter who you cringe everytime he throws a hard breaking ball.

Why not listen if they're were young arms in the offer, plus, low salaries. this team might contend this year. But their are alot of IF'S. The mets have a nice full farm system.

I see where the Pirates are one of the teams looking at him.

Would the pirates pay more than the crew would for him?  Why wouldn't we just sign him after he figures out there isn't that much demand for him or for his salary request. His career can't be that shot for him to think his only place to play is for the pirates.

Are we ok with Cory Koskie manning third?

His career average is .275 with 20 home runs and 80 rbi's. Plus coming off a head injury. How safe are we at third base. should we be shopping for one. Should bill hall be given the third base job and be done with it. If not do we just run Braun out there and let him learn first hand.

Personally, I don't feel good about Koskie at third. He's ok I guess for the money. But with him at third this line up is weak for a slugger.

here's why I say that. First off some of the guys are salary eligible this year. PLUS, we have three players who had sub-par seasons that could and/or will be dangled for trade bait.

Geoff Jenkins who is owed $7 mill and we're going to have to eat some or all of that.

Brady Clark who is owed $3 mill and we're going to have to eat some or all of that.

Derrick Turnbow who is owed (I THINK) $3 mill and we're going to have to eat some or all of that.

The prospects of making a deal with that load to me aren't very good. Unless we deal for another down turn expensive player. Where its a salary dump for a salary dump. In hopes of the change of scenario makes a difference.

OK i was just thinking of a batting order. Lets just say we sign Dave Roberts. let's also assume Jenkins is traded for a medium talent middle reliever with the CREW eating most of the $$$.

CF/Roberts
2b/weeks
lf/ hall
1b/fielder
rf/hart
3b/koskie
ss/hardy
c/ miller
p/

This line up doesn't strike fear in alot of pitching staffs. Are we to assume IF we sign roberts for obviously way more than he's worth. Does the pitching staff get all the dough of the increase in budget?

What happens when and if weeks, hardy, someone goes down.

I"m having a hard time understanding how the Brewers stack up for 2007. Let's say Billy Hall Should/Is moving to centerfield. Now obviously, Corey Hart gets a shot at a corner. Which would leave one corner outfield spot open. If Jenkins is still here and wins the spot we have the same outfield basically.

Around the infield fielder, weeks, hardy are a given. ONly to get better and better. So that leaves third base. It looks like they want to keep Corey Koskie at third. if that's the case the only player we're changing or adding is a corner outfield position. We're basically replacing carlos Lee with another carlos lee type aren't we???

I don't think we are better than a .500 team at that point.

THOUGHTS???????????????????????

OK does Yost stay or go?

Or do they fire some coaches to ease the heat off Yost?

Yost:  stays I think he's done a decent job. Managers lose or win about 5-8 games a year. He's done his fair share. I don't think his jobs in jeopardy because this team isn't there yet!! Its' just the division and teams in the NL aren't good and they could be contending if they put a run together.

Dale Sveum: stays
Dave Nelson: stays
Robin Yount: stays aire apparent to skipper team in the future???
Bill Castro: stays
Mike Maddux: stays
Butch Wynegar: not a good hitting team but is he to blame????  could be fall guy

how can we go from Carlos Lee hitting clean up.To having a 4 or 5th outfielder on the blue jays hitting clean up?  Is it that bad on this team? I realize at this point we're looking for someone to MOVE the ball.

This season is ending up like a bad dream. From an exciting team going back to the days when the brewers media guide was the only one to list injuries and there explanations.

OK here goes:

I don't get this guy. The brewers give up on De la Rosa who's left handed and younger. But they keep Ben Hendrickson around. He's 25 6-4 but he's turning out to be a career minor leaguer. Here's some numbers, is there a market out there for this guy anymore?

He's lights out in nashville this year. I understand the difference between AAA and the major leagues. But wouldn't you assume this guy would do better?

2006 Nash. 9-5 2.18 era .98 whip
2006 milw. 0-2 12.00 era 2.50 whip
career brewer numbers 1-10 7.41 1.86

I can't believe they let De la rosa go and kept hendrickson.
           

lets just say Geoff Jenkins has cleared waivers. Would you trade him to say a team fighting for a playoff spot and EAT ALL of his contract. I think he's signed through 2007.

Knowing that this would give Corey Hart the rest of the season to play full time?

But would also tie hands a little in resigning arbitration eligible guys and or free agents.

Your thoughts???????????????????

To me this weekend is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Crew has had a horrible road trip so far. Or at least for the purpose of moving up and challenging for the wild card. The Reds have made a move to add to there bullpen. They've played pretty well and are on the up swing.

To me this is the make or break weekend for the Crew in the second half. If they don't take 2 out of 3 in Cincinnati heading home to play the Pirates and Reds at Miller Park.

These are teams they SHOULD beat. If they don't they then become a seller not a buyer for the stretch drive.