When comparing a traditional five-man rotation to the six, seven, and eight-man piggyback variations, at the end of the day you’re essentially comparing two different routes to the same destination. As with most ideological battles in life, which one is “better” is a factor of several other variables. Thinking Outside the Box: A Bullpen for […]
Tag: 2017 Brewers
Jonathan Villar Powers Up
Last season, Jonathan Villar led the Brewers in fun. His electric offensive performance, his league-leading 62 stolen bases, and yes, even his occasional mind-numbing base running errors did much to elevate an 89-loss team into the realm of watchability. On a more practical note, he also led the team with 4.8 WARP and 79 bases […]
A PECOTA-Powered Case Against Trading Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun remains a Milwaukee Brewer, defying the expectations of many. It should surprise nobody, though, that Braun is projected to be the best player on the Brewers by a fairly wide margin. His 2.8 WARP and .288 TAV both dwarf the next best projections on the club, belonging to Orlando Arcia (2.0 WARP) and […]
How to Best Maximize the 2017 Brewers Rotation
As we approach the 2017 season, the Brewers’ rotation is relatively unsettled. Tom Haudricourt reported that only two spots are spoken for at this point in the spring: Junior Guerra and Zach Davies. That leaves three spots for the Brewers to fill, and they have the opportunity to be creative with those places. According to […]
Closing Windows
It’s a common refrain now: the Brewers are finished with their rebuild. In terms of shedding MLB contracts for minor league assets, Milwaukee’s front office is basically done wheelin’ and dealin’. As everyone knows, veteran superstar Ryan Braun is the last remaining true trade chip, and the left fielder appears to be in the organization’s […]
Thinking Outside the Box 2: A Bullpen to Match
There are, naturally, reasons why the piggyback-style rotation has caught on in the low minors while failing to score more than a random cameo here or there at the upper levels of professional baseball. Traditionally, a team carries seven, sometimes even eight, bullpen arms. Downsizing the cleanup crew to a four-man unit would require a […]
Replacing Chris Carter
When the Milwaukee Brewers non-tendered Chris Carter and his projected $8.1 million arbitration salary, many wondered why the team would get rid of the National Leagues home run co-leader and how they would replace his run production in the middle of the Brewers lineup. Almost immediately, the team announced the signing of Eric Thames on a […]
The Intriguing Brent Suter
Spring training is officially underway, and this year’s battle for roster spots should be one for the ages. On a rebuilding club like the Brewers, the first few weeks of March function as an extended open audition. You can see it all over the diamond. Keon Broxton digs in his cleats as Lewis Brinson nips […]
When Will the Brewers Spend Again?
For fans in other markets, the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers will enter the 2017 season with Major League Baseball’s lowest payroll won’t move the needle at all. Milwaukee is competing with Minnesota to the west and Chicago to the south, they haven’t ever won consistently, and are in the midst of a rebuild. And […]
Optimal PECOTA Roster
Given the chance, it’s safe to say that everyone would go back if they could and do something a little differently. Maybe you’d not spend your high school years with a chili bowl haircut, or last week you’d politely decline a second piece of key lime pie because your server has “never seen anyone eat […]