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.