Results tagged ‘ Corey Hart ’
Half full…Or, half empty???
This is it. The best time of the year. Football may be more popular in America, and soccer is the global sport of choice, but there is nothing better than the beginning of baseball season. The anticipation, new faces, and opportunities for everyone to compete. In about 2 days, I will begin my ritual of watching Major League 4 times, and texting my friends quotes of every line of the movie.
But the proverbial water glass- is the Brewers’ chances of making the playoffs half full, or half empty? Let’s take some looks from both sides. And of course, it is also time for preseason predictions.
Glass is Half Full – Brewers pitching staff is much, much better
While it’s not CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf and Doug Davis is a big improvement from last year. Our pitchers are healthy and ready to go. We have potentially 4 lefties ready to go, as well as a right handed ace who is ready to take the bull by the horns. Our pitching staff does not have to be the best, but they will be much improved.
Our bullpen also has some upgrades, including LaTroy Hawkins. Don’t forget, we will also have either Manny Parra or Chris Narveson (or both) in the bull pen to start the year, ready to fill in at a moment’s notice.
Glass is Half Empty – Our role players have not being playing their roles
Our big bashers are in place, but some guys have not been producing this spring thus far.
Hart and McGehee are leaving big questions to how the line up should play out. If the Brewers
want to go deep in the playoffs, if at all, they need these role players to step up and do their part. So far, not so good.
Glass is Half Full- Nobody in the NL Central improved more
The Cubs biggest move was getting rid of Milton Bradley. The Cardinals biggest move was Brad Penney. The Astros had a major overhaul, and the Reds and Pirates will not be able to win consistently. The Brewers added 2 pitchers to the staff, as well as a new center fielder, short stop, and catcher. We also have the best 4th outfielder in Jim Edmonds. I’m not seeing through Brewer glasses, am I?
Glass is Half Empty- Mediocrity runs wild
While no one argues we have a plethera of pitchers and position players battling for positions, it is hard to measure the importance of these battles. Yes, it’s good to have more in case of emergency, but are we just replacing mediocre players with more mediocre players? Sometimes in baseball, you want to have that clear cut athlete who is better and deserves to start. When your starters are just as good as your back ups, that might throw up some red flags.
Final Verdict- My glass is half full
While it’s hard to ignore the problems the Brew Crew are about to face this year, it’s hard to ignore how good we look!!!! I cannot wait for baseball to start, and even though I am in Alaska, I am already planning on going to 2 games this year in July and August, including a trip to Miller Park South. I see the Brewers making the playoffs this year. whether it be the wild card or the NL Central Champs, it doesn’t matter too much. Here, then are my NL Predictions for the 2010 Season.
NL East- Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies look tough again this year, if not tougher than last. I see the Braves making a run at them, but not being able to keep up.
NL West- San Francisco.
They have got the pitching. And they play in the same division as the Padres.
NL Central/Wild Card- Brewers and Cardinals.
Once again, the NL Central will get no love from anyone, but they will produce 2 playoff teams. Everyone will be shocked but this blogger here. I think the big key to both of these teams is avoiding injury and dominating interleague play, 2 things that were not perfect last year.
-Ben
Random Baseball Thought:
The DH really needs to go. Having the pitcher hit takes a lot more managing and strategy. It takes a while team to win in the NL. It is the equivalent of having the QB play defense in the NFL. And all the DH is, is an overweight batter who can’t play the field anymore. The DH was even kind of lame when Paul Molitor was around, even though he ruled. I have coached baseball for more than 8 seasons, and I have never once used a DH. It’s cheating!
Go Brewers!
If I could take a Hot Tub Time Machine
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Well, as we get closer and
closer to the beginning of a new baseball season, it is time to look back at
what I thought would happen over the
off-season. Let’s take a look at just how close I was to getting a
perfect score, and how things would have been if I could have taken a Hot Tub Time Machine and switched my choices…
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*Looper and Brewers both agree to the 2nd year option on his
contract.
-Well, this is the first one that bit the dust. In retrospect, I was an idiot for even wanting this. Looper’s numbers were terrible and he had waaaaay too much run support. It doesn’t surprise me that nobody has called him up yet.
*Cameron, who loves Milwaukee so much, will come back for a 1 year deal worth
$5 million, with a mutual option for the second.
-This is not true, but I think it will end up being a good thing for both parties. It’s good for the Brewers because they had to get something for Hardy, and CF is a position that we had up for grabs at the time, and now the Red Sox are stuck with Cameron, and well, hahahahahahaaha.
*J.J. Hardy will get traded to Boston for relief pitching.
Hardy did get traded, but it was to the Twins and for a Center Fielder. 1/2 right.
*Doug Davis will sign a 2 year deal.
1 year deal only. 1/2 right. But I should get bonus points for even guessing the right pitcher! C’mon, how hard is that!
*Jeff Suppan, who wants to win so bad and feels terrible for how he’s pitched,
will restructure his contract (I know, long shot here)
Suppan is currently fighting for his life in the starting rotation. If he didn’t feel terrible at the end of the season, he should right now.
*Jason Kendall moves to Mexico( OK, OK, enough with the silly ones).
Kansas City is right by Mexico, right?
* Corey Hart will get packaged with Mat Gamel and a minor league arm for either
an All-Star right fielder (see: Adam Dunn) or a #2 pitcher (Millwood, Baker,
etc.).
I want Corey Hard to do well for the Brewers and be the player he was 2 years ago, but I am still not sold.
*Brewers HAVE to find the come-back pitcher of the year next season (Early
Favorite: Francisco Liriano)
I thought I had this one locked up with Mark Mulder, and then he totally bailed on us. Thanks a lot Mark!
I give myself 1 and 1/2 right (I looked it up, Kansas City IS by Mexico). So, even though my counter part did better, I made more gutsy predictions and more specific, so hah!
Now, onto what to look for this year. There are 2 stories that I am excited to see how they fold out this spring. Both deal with position battles, and I think both could be handled in different ways.
1. Back-up catcher spot up for grabs
While Greg Zaun was signed to be the starter, Rivera was released as our back up. There are 3 people that are vying for it. Angel Salome, Matt Treanor, and George Kottaras. Inevitably, it seems like the starting spot will be for Salome, when he is ready. But in the meantime, he needs to play more in the minors. And although the Canadian Kottaras is a good player, Treanor is a better defensive player. Kottaras also bats left handed, which some might see as a hinderance. However, I don’t think that the back up catcher would ever be used in a pinch-hit situation, so that should not be a reason to worry. From what I read, it seems like Treanor is just a little more reliable and consistent. But from a fan stand-point I would love to see Matt Treanor
at Miller Park. More importantly, I would love to see Mrs. Treanor, aka Misty May-Treanor, the gold medal beach volleyball player. I think that right there should sway the vote. I mean, our back up catcher plays in what? 30 games? I don’t think it matters too much who it is, so why not give it to Misty May’s husband!
2. 3rd base show down
Casey McGehee did an awesome job last year at 3rd base. He played above average defense, was third on the team for home runs, and placed in the top 5 for rookie of the year. He also gives away baseball bats at Brewer games-even when I made it to the Metrodome last year. Mat Gamel, on the other hand, is the next top prospect to not have a starting spot. There is no question on if the kid can hit. But can he play defense is another topic of discussion. Some people thought he could play right field for a departed Hart. Some thought he would move into first base when Prince got traded. Those 2 things never happened. So, if I know Macha (which I do) he is going to give it to McGehee to start the season, and play it by ear after that. Macha is known for giving the guys who have earned their spots the same chance to earn their spots back on the bench. And Counsell can give our day-to-day guys rest whenever they need. He could also probably fill in for any big injuries. That leaves Gamel in some kind of limbo. Macha could platoon it having Gamel go against righties and vice versa with McGehee, but that doesn’t really seem like him. It is interesting to see Gamel’s name listed 2nd in the depth chart on the brewers official website, as seen here. Nonetheless, it should be something to keep an eye on.
-Ben
Random Baseball Thought
I thought Jason Kendall was brought on because he is so good at handling the staff. but the Brewers had one of the worst ERA’s in the league last year. Tied with, you guessed it: The Kansas City Royals. And now the Royals have signed him on for a year in hopes of what? Doing the exact same thing? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills! I should have never stopped playing catcher!!!!!!
Do you have any ace pitchers? Go Fish!
As I write this blog, the Brewers are only 2 games out of making the playoffs, even though they just played terribly against the Pirates. I thought for sure that the Brew Crew would be able to right the ship after the all star break. Alas, the season is a marathon, not a sprint. However, time IS winding down on the trade deadline.
I think that the Front Office really screwed up by not having the starting pitching shored up when the season started. I think Suppan must have must have some dirt on somebody in charge, because being the opening day starter is a gift. I really think that as of right now, the only starting pitcher out there that would really help the Brewers is Halladay, and I think his going rate is too much for the Brewers, at this time. So, I think there are 3 other positional trades that can be made. I still have faith in Manny Parra (going to the game on Friday!), and Dave Bush can do a helluva lot better than One-Career win Mike Burns. So, without further ado, here are three trades that are not impossible for the Brewers to make, that could help the team in other spots than starting pitching. They might be a little far-fetched, but not terribly.
3. John Grabow (P, Pirates, Bats L /Throws L) for Bill Hall, Mike Jones, and a player TBD.
Unlikely for a couple reasons. Nobody wants Hall, even though a strong argument could be made that going to a division rival would give him a reason to play hard and a change of scenery could help. Mike Jones is always injured, but has big upside. But the biggest turn off is that the Pirates don’t want to help the Brewers. Might be more possible if you exchange Hall and Jones for McClung. Grabow would NOT be a specialist kind of guy and would pitch either the 7th or 8th, depending on if Coffey and Stetter are available. Could help shore up our bullpen, which is a pretty weak point for us.
2. Pedro Feliciano (P, Mets, Bats L /Throws L) for Mike Rivera, straight up.
The Mets need offense BAD. Mike Rivera can call great games ( No hitter, Manny Parra, AAA) and he can hit the ball very well. Pedro is another pitcher that we can use in the pen late in games. Brewers don’t use Rivera anyways, I might as well take a spot up on the bench.
1. Adam Dunn (RF, Nationals, Bats L/ Throws R) for Corey Hart, Nick Green, and Angel Salome.
I know, a HUGE trade. But if we can’t get the pitching, we might as well out hit the other guys, right? Imagine this line up: Lopez, somebody(McGehee or Hardy), Braun, Fielder, Dunn…. WOW!!!! You don’t wanna face that middle of the lineup at all, do you? We don’t use Hart’s speed anyways, and he has big upside for a team that is rebuilding. They also get a very good, very young pitcher in Green, and a guy who has a high possibility of being pro ready at the catcher position next year in Salome.
Being the most optimistic Brewer fan I know, this brewer blogger just bought some Brewers tickets and let me tell you, I am soooooooooooo excited to watch Manny Parra shut out the Braves on Friday night!!!!!! It’s going to be my last game for 2 years because for some odd reason I am moving to Alaska. I need desperately for the Brewers to leave a good taste in my mouth. Just one win. I am O-for-4 this year in Brewers games. But the smell of tailgating and secret stadium sauce will help me pull through this one. BREWERS! BREWERS! KEEP TURNING UP THE HEAT!!!!
Random Baseball Fact:
The only two days of the year in which there are no professional games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are they day before and after the MLB All-star game.
-Ben
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