Domino Effect

I got to thinking today about Richie Sexson. Just kind of a random thought that came to me on the golf course, but it led to being confused how he lost the ability to hit in the last couple of years, but then it led to the trade of Sexson to the Diamondbacks. The more I looked into it, the more I started to see how the Brewers were still paying the dividends of that trade. Check this out...

The Brewers sent Richie Sexson along with Shane Nance to the D-Backs for Chris Capuano, Lyle Overbay, Craig Counsell, Junior Spivey, Jorge de la Rosa, and Chad Moeller.

Start with Moeller - He did his thing for the Brewers for 3 years, batting around .200. His highlight with the Brewers was becoming the fifth Brewer to ever hit for the cycle. Moeller was released and has bounced around to several teams since his Brewer days..

Junior Spivey - Spivey was acquired as a stop gap until Rickie Weeks was ready. He batted around .250 with a dozen or so homers in parts of two seasons for the Brewers. They flipped Spivey to the Nationals for Tomo Ohka to open that spot for Weeks, so basically getting Ohka for a player who was no longer needed. Ohka was serviceable for the Brewers for a year and a half including a complete game shut out in his first game for the Crew. They declined to offer him arbitration before the 2007 season ending this thread of the trade...

Craig Counsell - He has obviously been a very valuable asset to the Brewers. He has reinvented himself this year at 38 and is playing an integral role, much more that I assume the Brewers envisioned when he was in this deal.

Jorge de la Rosa - He was the "live arm" prospect the Brewers got in the deal. He was never able to harness that and have much of an impact for the Brewers but his potential was enough to trade him to the Royals for veteran utilityman Tony Graffanino. Graffy had his moments with the Brewers until a knee injury ended his Brewers tenure. Side note, de la Rosa is still playing in the league and having some success...

Lyle Overbay - Here is where the deal starts to get real complicated. Overbay was very good for the Brewers, but it became obvious he was just standing in the way of the Prince. When the Brewers decided Prince was ready, they turned an asset they no longer needed to the Jays for Dave Bush, Zach Jackson and Gabe Gross.

Dave Bush - He has been a staple in the Brewers rotation since that day and has had some very good success. It hasn't always been roses for Bush, but as a 4/5 starter, he has been a great pickup.

Gabe Gross was a very serviceable bench player for the Brewers and had some very big moments, pinch hit homeruns, walk offs. He scored the winning run in a game early last season and never stopped running until he arrived in Tamba Bay. He was traded for a young power pitcher named Josh Butler, who is having a very solid, if not spectacular year at three different levels in the minor league system. He seems to be climbing the ranks fast and looks like he could make an impact at the major league level.

Zach Jackson never had any success at the big league level for the Brewers, BUT was one of the pieces sent to the Indians for CC Sabathia! We all know what the big guy did for Milwaukee. When he left, the Brewers recieved two draft picks, which they used to select outfielders Kentrail Davis and Maxwell Walla. Obviously the jury is still out on those two.

Sooooo..... after trades, picks, etc, the trade looks like this..

Diamondbacks get:

1B Richie Sexson

Brewers get:

IF - Craig Counsell

C - Chad Moeller

SP - Chris Capuano

P - Tomo Ohka

IF - Tony Graffanino

P - Dave Bush

P - Josh Butler

OF - Kentrail Davis

OF - Maxwell Walla

Indirectly recieved:

Playing time for Rickie Weeks

Playing time for Prince Fielder

CC Sabathia

Playoff berth

Great trade.

Depression

This has probably been the most depressing week to be a Brewers fan since the week I realized that Jeffrey Hammonds was the worst signing in baseball history (at least up until Bill Hall)

But tonight starts the turn around!!!

Plan B

I'm starting to believe that the Brewers are for more than 1 player away from competing in the NL Central this year. They've watched as both Houston and Chicago have charged past them. They have lost 7 of their last nine series including all of the series they have played in July (they did beat the Mets in game three of that series on July 1st). They're hitting is too inconsistent, their pitching is too inconsistent and they might have to seriously consider themselves sellers at this deadline. I'm not saying to break the whole team up, they are one year removed from the playoffs, but I feel they have too much of the same thing on their roster. They have guys who bat .250 on their team, but it isn't a bunch of guys who go 1-4 every night, it's a team full of guys who go 9-13, followed by 1-37 and unless you get a couple guys to coordinate their 9-13 stretches, they don't win. And it isn't happening much. Prince has quieted down a bit right now, and Braun has started to hit the ball. No one was hitting the ball in May when Cameron was hot. JJ hasn't gotten hot and every time Bill Hall starts to turn the corner... nevermind, I couldn't even get through that one with a straight face. So who would some trade candidates be if the Brewers leaned toward the seller side?

Mike Cameron, CF - Cameron would be a very valuable asset to a team making a playoff push. Especially a team who could afford to bat him 7th where he belongs. He's basically an all or nothing hitter but as we know, can play centerfield with the best of them. He's a free agent after this season, so get something now before he leaves for nothing.

Jeff Suppan, SP - The Brewers aren't the only ones who think a veteran presance on the mound with successful playoff experience is valuable at this time of the year. You might not get much of a return on him, but a midlevel prospect while getting rid of his salary might be worth it.

JJ Hardy, SS - The day is coming when a decision is going to have to be made about Hardy with Escobar seemingly ready to go in Nashville. He is 26 years old, a former All-Star. Shortstops with 2o home run power aren't a dime a dozen and I imagine he is still very sought after around the league. A team with some young pitching depth could be intriguing. Think the Red Sox, Braves, Twins, Giants off the top of my head.

I don't believe this team is ready to make a serious run this year for the postseason. I hope I'm wrong, but maybe with a little retooling, next year could be a possibility. And remember, Halladay and Cliff Lee have a year and a half left on their deal, so maybe next year at this time, they could be available again to push towards the playoffs...

Felipe Lopez

I love the trade for Felipe Lopez. He offers a high on base percentage and some speed at the top of the lineup. It's the first switch hitter I can remember the Brewers having in quite some time as well. I pulled hard for the Crew to sign Lopez during the off season, but I'll take him now. I just wonder if it isn't a precursor to something else. Lopez will play second base for now and move Counsell back to a bench role which I think he prefers anyway, but it could also be an insurance policy at shortstop when the Brewers trade Hardy. Even if it isn't Halladay, it could net a good return. Despite his low average, JJ is still a valuable trade chip. All-Star shortstops with the ability to hit homeruns and play above average defense, are not a dime a dozen. Interenet buzz is starting to grow about Halladay to the Brewers however... Feels kind of similiar to when no one believed CC could come to Milwaukee just over a year ago.

Roy Halladay to the Brewers

Last year around this time, the Brewers struck a deal for the best arm on the trade market, CC Sabathia and it propelled them to the playoffs for the first time since 1982. It sounds like the Brewers might not want to wait another quarter century for another opportunity at that. Rumors have surfaced that they have more than kicked the tires on a trade for Tornoto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Fan response seems very mixed on the subject, but my opinion is very clear. Do it. Here is the trade that will get it done.

To the Brewers:

Roy Halladay, P

To the Blue Jays:

JJ Hardy, SS

Mat Gamel, 3B

Minor League Prospect #1 - (might have to be a Brett Lawrie caliber)

Minor League Prospect #2 - (Maybe not from the A list, but certainly high B list)

This trade is great for both sides. First off for the Brewers, the benefits are obvious. They get arguably the best pitcher in the game. He is signed through next year so it isn't a rental. At the end of his contract, you get at least a first round pick and supplemental pick. It things go haywire, trade him next year and replace the talent you gave up. It's a gamble (ask the A's about Matt Holliday) but with his track record, not much of one. They can replace hardy with Alicides Escobar who has been deemed "untouchable" in a trade. JJ Hardy is currently batting .230. Even if Escobar doesn't come in with guns blazing, he can bat .230. He adds speed to a lineup badly lacking speed and it also improves the defense if all the rumors about Escobar are true. It reminds me a lot of when Lyle Overbay was traded and it opened up the spot for Prince Fielder. It felt as though the Brewers were getting an additional piece in the trade with Fielder, and in this case with Escobar.

The Jays would do it because Gamel is the Brewers "prized prospect." That's the kind of talent they are looking for. Scott Rolen can be traded to open up a spot at 3rd or stash Gamel down in AAA until next year. JJ Hardy gives them major league ready talent with All-Star Potential at a position they are week at. Marco Scutaro is solid, but not signed beyond this year. He is more suited for a platoon role anyway. The two other prospects who are included are necessary to get a Cy Young pitcher with a year and a half on his contract.

Everyone always wants to make the arguement that the Brewers can't trade away their future for one guy. Well, let's remember one thing. The future of the Brewers is still Ryan Braun, 25, Prince Fielder, 25, Corey Hart, 27, Casey McGehee, 26, Yovani Gallordo, 23, Rickie Weeks, 26, Alcides Escobar, 22... That makes LF, 1B, RF, 3B, 2B and SS all roadblocked with young high ceiling talent. Remember that players in your farm system are there for 3 reasons.

1. Develop your young players for the future of your team.

2. Creating depth and competition for your orginiation.

3. Use as trade chips to make your big league club better. Teams draft and sign upwards of 20 players every year. Every one of those guys is not going to play for the team that drafts them.

Putting Roy Halladay at the front of the Brewers rotation makes everyone better. If Manny Parra really is back to form, it forms a formidable rotation with Halladay, Gallardo, Parra, Looper and Suppan. Halladay replaces Mike Burns. I think that's a decent upgrade.

Unbelievable

Just in case you haven't seen THIS video yet, take a look.

It's one of the more ridiculous things I've seen in quite some time. This guy should definitely be punished. The worst part is, it appears that his teammates give him a five and they smile about it at the end of the video. It's disgusting. If I were coaching him, I'm not sure he would see the floor again. What an embarrassment to the Houston Cougars program. If they don't see it that way, then they are an embarrassment.

Ben Sheets

It's no secret that Doug Melvin and the Brewers love their draft picks. And that's great, a lot of them have been used to create a deep, pretty talented organization. But I think it's ridiculous to let Ben Sheets go with the compensation looking like it will be nothing better than a secound round pick, possible a 4th rounder if the Yankees step back in and sign him to be their 5th starter... Sheets is becoming a bargain on the free agent market. The Brewers could step in and sign him either to a one year deal or a very affordable 2 year deal in the 16-18 range. Remeber 2 years ago they had to pony up 48 million to sign Jeff Suppan. I mean are you kidding me. Take advantage of it. Get Ben Sheets back. If they need to free up some salary to make it happen, revisit the Cameron trade talks. Take a bit less back from the Yankees, maybe just Cabrera, or even a mid level prospect or two. I think the Brewers would be far better with Sheets and no Cameron then with Cameron and no Sheets. Even if they had to pay some of Cameron's salary, I think it would be worth it. I would rather them have Sheets for 8 and pay 4 of Cameron's deal for a total of 12, then to not have sheets and 10 million wrapped up in Cameron. Just my idea, who knows if the Yankees would even do it with the pleothora of outfielders they have. But to me, they still don't seem to be settled in centerfield.

Thoughts on Michael Redd Injury

Michael Redd has been lost to the Milwaukee Bucks for the remainder of this season with a torn ACL and MCL is his knee. It's obvious that this is a crushing blow to the team's tenuous playoff run this year. It's possible that they can sneak into the 8 spot still, but not likely. But I think the injury has deeper ramifications that this season's playoff chase.

An injury like this can cripple an entire franchise. John Hammond has started to make substantial roster changes for the better in Milwaukee, and I still think that trading Michael Redd was in the plans. Well, scrap that idea. Not only can it not happen now, but not in the next two years either. No one will want to take a risk on a guy who comes back from reconstructive surgery. The Bucks will be stuck with his contract. It would be tolerable if he was playing but for a year and a half of it at least, he won't even be on the court.

Just when things were looking like they were turning around in Milwaukee, there couldn't have been a more devastating blow. If Bogut doesn't get healthy, this year could turn real ugly fast. And the future once again looks bleak.

Brewers Status Check

Well, it hasn't really been the most exciting of off-seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers. I think that I read too many rumors and got too many thoughts cluttered in my little brain and felt let down as every one of them passed without coming to fruiton. It's probably my own fault if I feel like the Brewers didn't do anything because I set my sights so high. But let's be honest, there isn't always going to be acquistions the magnitude of a CC Sabathia. So the big question remains... Did the Brewers, sans a blockbuster move, make themselves better? Let's take a look.

Starting Lineup - The starting lineup looks to have very few, if any changes from the one that took the field last year. The outfield will again be Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron and Corey Hart. I guess you can't say that the same guys are better or worse than themselves, but you would hope that Braun and Hart would continue to develop and get better. If they do, then you'd have to say it's better. Around the horn the Crew will be Bill Hall, JJ Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder. At least until Hall loses his job. I would think that Casey Mcgehee who they picked up off waivers from the Cubs will get a shot at the job along with Mike Lamb. Otherwise Lamb will be a solid left handed option off of the bench. One intriguing option out there still available is joe Crede. Sounds like he is willing to sign a one year deal to prove himself. That should perk the ears of the Brewers brass and maybe bring him in for a look. Maybe this will be the year that Rickie Weeks breaks out. Sort of like last year was supposed to be the year. Or maybe it's next year. In my opinion, it's now or never for Rickie. I like to believe it's now. Hardy will be solid again, Prince will be Prince. Say what you will but at 24 he's hit 86 home runs in the last two years. That's good. Jason Kendall is annoyingly powerless at the plate and isn't really that good at anything else in that department, but apparently we have to love him because of his work behind the plate. Whatever. He'll do until one of the kids are ready. But I don't really know if he's going to be any better as he continues to get older. Going him with again is a step backwards. In my opinion, you might as well take a step back with a young guy who will develop like a Angel Salome. Put Mike Rivera with him and I think the two of them could handle the job.

Bench - We've already mentioned Lamb and outside of him, you have Mike Rivera. Tony Gwynn stands right now as the fourth outfielder. And for all of you out there who still think he should be the starting CF, I will say this... You're wrong. He will never be and he should be traded to anyone who thinks he might have value. Word is starting to surface the Brewers are working on bringing back Craig Counsell as their utility infielder. That burns me to my very core. I thought he was useless and washed up last year and was so excited that the Brewers seemed to show no interest in bringing him back, until today! There's only so many washed up old, "veteran influence" guys you should have on your team, and I think the Brewers are dangerously close to crossing that line. I hope the bench includes Brad Nelson. I think he could be a solid backup guy if there is a second position he could play.

On position players alone, unless guys take a step forward this year, I can't say they've gotten any better. It's impossible to know which Corey Hart might show up, how much Prince might weigh or if JJ or Braun can stay healthy. If those are all postivies than I think they can still compete.

Later, pitching staff.

UPDATE: Since the last post, the Brewers have officially signed Craig Counsell and I have offically been disappointed once again. I understand he's good defensively and good in the clubhouse, but it'd be nice to sign someone who bats higher than .220. Yes, you could come back with, well, his OBP is .330 or something like that, but imagine if they looked for someone who batted around .260... imagine that OBP. You don't have to settle for him just because he's from the area. How many "veteran influence" guys do you need in one clubhouse. If Cameron and Kendall are as good as they say they are in that role, you don't need more. Talent wins, managers help build clubhouses. Get more talent. Bring up Escobar or something. Good God man.

Uncharacteristic Badgers

I haven't seen a ton of bad losses by the Badgers under Bo Ryan, but this past week they suffered one of the worst. Two things made it as bad as it was. Number one, it was poised to be a very big win. A chance to establish themselves in the upper echelon of the Big Ten this year. It was a chance to slow down the juggernaut being formed by our neighbors to the west. But that all fell by the wayside.

The second thing that made it so bad was the way that they lost. The Badgers pride themselves on being solid in several areas, team defense, taking care of the ball, making free throws and making good decisions. All four were absent down the stretch. They, led by Trevon Hughes, did not take care of the ball against the Gophers press at all. They tried to beat it with the dribble and after countless unsuccessful tries, their lead slipt away. I have no idea why Jason Bohannan even attempted to shoot that lay-up up by 4 points and 25 seconds left. He should have dribbled out of it and ran 5-10 seconds off of the clock and trusted his ability at the free throw line. He could have made it a six point game 10 seconds later than that layup would have done. It's just not smart basketball.

It just wasn't smart basketball. Which is what the Badgers have been about for the last decade plus. Hopefully it was an abberation and not an identity for this year's team.