Light the Hot Stove fires

Is Koskie going to be ready to go?

 

Do you have a link to this luxury tax threshold change that explains these numbers?

 

A cheap middle infielder who hits 35 homers....

What am I missing... is this a joke?

 

If he isn't, they can use Cirillo/Graffy/Counsell as a stopgap measure.

 

What I don't understand is why put JJ Hardy over Bill Hall in the first place. Hall's defense isn't awful and a shortstop who can hit 30+ HR seems more valuable than a corner outfielder who can do the same. Melvin says that Hall would be third on the dpeth chart at short behind both Hardy and Counsell! Why the lack of love for Hall by Melvin? Has anyone seen any quotes by Hall about how he feels about moving to the outfield?

The Brewers won't be truly competitve by selling off their Kevin Mench's and Geoff Jenkins. They will have to make a bigger move (IMHO).

Pope - what do you think about their centerfield by committee arrangement? Who do you think should be the starter among those three - Brady, Nix and Gwynn? I'd probably roll the dice with Nix.

 

My guess is that Hall will simply be happy to have an everyday spot, as opposed to playing position of the day. Is Hall a better SS than Hardy? Yes. But Hardy is a talented player in his own right, so why not fill two holes instead of having Hardy riding the bench? Here is a trade that could work for both teams: Milwaukee sends JJ Hardy, Carlos Villanueva and Ben Hendrickson to Tampa Bay for Rocco Baldelli. Tampa gets a SS for the future and two pitching prospects and Milwaukee solves their CF dilemma. Follow it up with Mench for Lopez and Matt Wise for Horacio Ramirez and I think the Brewers got something there.

I think the key for the Brewers is patience. They can't afford to make a major splash in this market. So they need to bide their time and let the young players continue to develop. In a weak NL, if they stay healthy, they can compete right now. If Sheets, Ohka and Weeks had been healthy all year, they could have challenged the Cards for the division.

I would put Hall or Hart in center...I think both have the athleticism to be decent CFs. And then I would roll the dice with Gross in LF/RF. If the Crew can't find a good deal for Jenkins, I wouldn't mind having a lineup of Hart in LF, Hall in CF and Jenkins in RF. I am not a Laynce Nix fan in the least -- he is one of those guys who has all of the athletic tools in the world, but is not a good baseball player. I would keep him in the minors until it clicks for him (if it ever does). I think Gwynn's future is as a career backup -- he plays great defense and can grab a walk, but he is not much better than that. And Clark was a one-season wonder.

 

I don't think they would trade Hardy for Baldelli straight up.

 

You seemed to answer your own ? with that trade prop.

Getting Hall and a LF into the lineup for 65 HRs is pretty appealing, as opposed to sort of wasting Hall's unique ability in the OF.

 

Villanueva is a pretty good prospect. The Brewers are considering him for the No. 5 spot in the rotation this season. He projects to be about a No. 3 starter. And Hendrickson projects to be a No. 5 starter-long reliever. I think those three make a pretty fair package for the oft-injured Baldelli.

And Columbo, you are right that the trade answers the question. But as long as they plan to keep Hardy, I would rather have him and Hall on the field, even if that means Hall plays out of position.

 

Pope - the problem with that Hardy for Baldelli scenario is the fact that the Rays probably want to slide BJ Upton over to short.

 

I just think that keeping Hall at SS and loading up with another power stick in left would be the best move.

 

In an ideal world, definitely. But what power stick could the Brewers afford?