Happy Friday! I’ve been buried under grad-school finals and poorly-timed physical illness (perhaps not unrelated), so I was away last week and we’re going to keep it short and sweet this week. Maybe that’s appropriate as we enter the post-Winter-Meetings period of the offseason, which can get a bit dull, at times. As we bid […]
Category: Articles
Brewers Get Creative, Trade Rogers To Pittsburgh
On Thursday, December 17, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they traded first baseman Jason Rogers to Pittsburgh for minor-league outfielder Keon Broxton and minor-league righty Trey Supak. ***** The mark of a successful general manager is often executing the necessary moves with aplomb. Trade near free agents for prospects. Sign bounce-back candidates on minor-league deals. […]
Hope Springs with the 2016 Sky Sox
In September 2014, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel used the following headline to announce that the Brewers had a new minor-league affiliate: “Brewers Settle for Colorado Springs as AAA Team’s Host.” PR departments might cringe at the headline writer’s verb choice, but there is no denying that the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Springs Sky Sox came together out […]
Craig Counsell’s Approach to Stealing Bases
The Brewers, as a team, have their fair share of speedsters. Sure, Carlos Gomez has departed to so-called greener pastures [sobs], but Ryan Braun can still hold his own on the basepaths, as can Jean Segura. Plus, Orlando Arcia and Brett Phillips — who stole 25 and 18 bases, respectively, in 2015 — will arrive at […]
The Rising Cost of Elite Relief
About a month ago, I wrote an article about the weird timing of the Francisco Rodriguez trade with Detroit. I hypothesized that there were still a number of moving parts in the relief market that needed to settle. Among those moving parts, Darren O’Day has re-signed with the Orioles, Ken Giles has been traded, and […]
Matt Garza’s Distressing Future
When the Brewers signed Matt Garza prior to the 2014 season, they had to be hoping they were acquiring a pitcher who would be a fixture in their rotation for the next several years. Maybe even one who would push the team to a postseason berth. However, that is not what they have gotten. Over […]
The Brewers & Successful First-Round Picks
On Tuesday of last week, while I was away from my computer, the Braves and Diamondbacks cobbled together one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory (which was well recapped by the BP team). The Braves sent Shelby Miller and lefty Gabe Speier to the Diamondbacks for outfielder Ender Inciarte, right-hander Aaron Blair, and […]
Khris Davis And Ryan Braun: Different Changes, Same Result
One of the most interesting things about baseball, for me, has always been the fact that people succeed in so many diverse ways. A slugger such as Yoenis Cespedes can provide value by swinging at everything he sees, while the Joey Vottos of the world bide their time, take free passes, and do damage on their pitches. […]
David Stearns Is Accumulating Options & Isn’t Done
The first two months of the David Stearns Administration has been anything but stagnant. In just the past week, the club has traded Adam Lind for a trio of teenage pitchers, acquired former top-200 prospect Garin Cecchini for cash, and grabbed a pair of interesting prospects in the Rule 5 Draft. Stearns hasn’t made a […]
Adam Lind and the Robbery of Rebuilding
It’s understandable to feel a little bit underwhelmed with the Adam Lind trade, in which the Brewers received three raw minor-league pitchers, Daniel Missaki, Carlos Herrera, and Freddy Peralta — all teenage right-handers. Lind was going to be one of the best hitters in the Brewers lineup again in 2016 if he stuck around. Meanwhile, […]