 |
View Old Forum Thread
Old Forum Index » Other Stuff » Sports Talk » The Milwaulkee Brewers
Smocko
The promise of the Brewers (the Brewers?, you say, scoffing) starts in the rotation, with Chris Capuano, Victor Santos and Doug Davis developing behind a true ace in Sheets. Tomo Okha makes for a nice fifth starter, with Jose Capellan possibly waiting in the minors. With a solid bullpen of young guys led by an emerging closer, and a lineup featuring youngish power in Overbay, Lee, and Jenkins leading heralded prospects, significant improvement at many positions is not unlikely.
With the Astros a year older next year and the Cubs being themselves, why can't the Brewers be a serious contender ?
Discuss...
[Edited on 8-9-2005 by Smocko]
The Milwaulkee Brewers
August 09, 2005 at 04:12AM View BBCode
A friend and I just got into an argument over whether the Brewers are legitimate 2006 contenders.The promise of the Brewers (the Brewers?, you say, scoffing) starts in the rotation, with Chris Capuano, Victor Santos and Doug Davis developing behind a true ace in Sheets. Tomo Okha makes for a nice fifth starter, with Jose Capellan possibly waiting in the minors. With a solid bullpen of young guys led by an emerging closer, and a lineup featuring youngish power in Overbay, Lee, and Jenkins leading heralded prospects, significant improvement at many positions is not unlikely.
With the Astros a year older next year and the Cubs being themselves, why can't the Brewers be a serious contender ?
Discuss...
[Edited on 8-9-2005 by Smocko]
skierdude44
August 09, 2005 at 05:17AM View BBCode
That doesn't mean that they can't win the Wild Card though. They also have some very crappy teams in that division to beat up on (Pittsburg and Cincinnati) and the NL West is dog crap. The NL East is fairly well balanced and those teams may suffer because they beat up on eachother all year long. However I'm not going out on a limb and declaring that the Brewers will reach the post season any time soon... but it's not as impossible as one might think.
barterer2002
I think they'll be OK in 2006 but we're talking around 85 wins which will have hopeful people referring to them as contenders but the possibility of playoffs is more likely in 2007.
Also, some might call them contenders right now since its mid august and they're only 4.5 out of the wildcard.
August 09, 2005 at 12:52PM View BBCode
It'll be interesting to see what they do this offseason. Are they going to deal Overbay or move either he or Fielder to another position. The best bet might be to trade Overbay for a shortstop or third baseman.I think they'll be OK in 2006 but we're talking around 85 wins which will have hopeful people referring to them as contenders but the possibility of playoffs is more likely in 2007.
Also, some might call them contenders right now since its mid august and they're only 4.5 out of the wildcard.
folifan19
Austin Kearns might be a nice addition.
August 09, 2005 at 02:56PM View BBCode
After seeing them on the tube playing the Reds, they look like they have a VERY bright future. Also seems another power hitter would serve them well. No one that really puts the fear in a pitcher. Ofcourse it will likely cost them pitching for a scarry power guy. Don't think wild card would be out of the question.Austin Kearns might be a nice addition.
DougB
This team will not win 90 games next year. They will not win the wildcard. They are simply not good enough. They have 1 good starting pitcher. Every other pitcher on the team is decent but does not strike fear into opponents. The lineup has one dangerous hitter - Lee. Everyone else is a scrapper who is only average at their position. Catching is getting older. They may need help there soon. And don't think these guys are all young just because they seem new. Many are re-treads with so-so ability. Davis and Santos are probably as good as they are going to get. Several of those relievers are also having re-surgent seasons in their mid to late 20's. Don't expect them to continue to improve. Heck Brady Clark is 32 years old.
This team has nice depth, solid players, a proffesional attitude, and the ability to win 82 games this season and 85 next season. They are maximizing their ability when they do that. It would not shock me if they had a loosing record next season. If they hold things together and Weeks and some other young players pan out without hurting the team maybe 2007 is their year to compete. They may have to trade 1 or 2 kids to do it though.
August 09, 2005 at 03:09PM View BBCode
I have watched most of the game for about 15 Brewer games this year and I'm pretty familiar with the players on the team and the best prospects they have.This team will not win 90 games next year. They will not win the wildcard. They are simply not good enough. They have 1 good starting pitcher. Every other pitcher on the team is decent but does not strike fear into opponents. The lineup has one dangerous hitter - Lee. Everyone else is a scrapper who is only average at their position. Catching is getting older. They may need help there soon. And don't think these guys are all young just because they seem new. Many are re-treads with so-so ability. Davis and Santos are probably as good as they are going to get. Several of those relievers are also having re-surgent seasons in their mid to late 20's. Don't expect them to continue to improve. Heck Brady Clark is 32 years old.
This team has nice depth, solid players, a proffesional attitude, and the ability to win 82 games this season and 85 next season. They are maximizing their ability when they do that. It would not shock me if they had a loosing record next season. If they hold things together and Weeks and some other young players pan out without hurting the team maybe 2007 is their year to compete. They may have to trade 1 or 2 kids to do it though.
DougB
They don't need a Shortstop. J.J. Hardy will hit .250 with 10-15 homers next season - nothing great but a huge improvement over the start of 2005. And I dare you to find a better defensive shortstop in the game. Maybe there are equals but I don't think anyone is better. Third base is sketchy. Do you continue to think Branson is going to become anything more than an all-or-nothing guy who socks 30 HR but hits .250 and strikes out 180 times? Or is that good enough? He's probably as good as he will ever be.
August 09, 2005 at 03:15PM View BBCode
Overbay is an average major league starting first baseman. If someone wants him badly the Brewers should deal him. The guy plays good D, hits .300 with average power.They don't need a Shortstop. J.J. Hardy will hit .250 with 10-15 homers next season - nothing great but a huge improvement over the start of 2005. And I dare you to find a better defensive shortstop in the game. Maybe there are equals but I don't think anyone is better. Third base is sketchy. Do you continue to think Branson is going to become anything more than an all-or-nothing guy who socks 30 HR but hits .250 and strikes out 180 times? Or is that good enough? He's probably as good as he will ever be.
hobos
I want to see Fielder field another position. His physique is very similar to his father's. Overbay is probably gone after this season, he could bring some decent players.
August 09, 2005 at 07:08PM View BBCode
Originally posted by barterer2002
It'll be interesting to see what they do this offseason. Are they going to deal Overbay or move either he or Fielder to another position.
I want to see Fielder field another position. His physique is very similar to his father's. Overbay is probably gone after this season, he could bring some decent players.
ME
Brady Clark is 31, a guy whose career has mostly been wasted in the minors. He will probably be an average CF or below average corner OF for a few years.
August 09, 2005 at 07:53PM View BBCode
Bill Hall has played pretty well this year - good power (.487 SLG/13 HR) but few walks (.317 OBP). He or Hardy may be moved to 3B at some point.Brady Clark is 31, a guy whose career has mostly been wasted in the minors. He will probably be an average CF or below average corner OF for a few years.
Smocko
August 09, 2005 at 08:25PM View BBCode
The Brewers, in '06 and possibly '07, have the advantage of a weak division (except for the Cardinals) and a weak wild card picture (NL East parity of strength; NL West parity of weakness). The Devil Rays have none of these advantages, playing in possibly the most competitive division in baseball. Also they are not nearly as far along as the Brewers. The Rays have no one who can compare to Sheets, Lee, Turnbow, etc. It's going to continue to be very tough for them in the forseable future.
ME
August 09, 2005 at 08:52PM View BBCode
The Devil Rays will not be contenders no matter how many top young guys they have as long as their current ownership/GM are in place.
INDIANSFORLIFE
August 09, 2005 at 09:48PM View BBCode
In '07 the Devil Rays will be AL East contenders (sorta like the Blue Jays now). Count it.
Smocko
And ME makes a great point. The fact that the Devil Rays have made it to 70 victories once in eight years and are still employing their original GM is an absolute joke.
[Edited on 8-9-2005 by Smocko]
August 09, 2005 at 10:15PM View BBCode
Sure, Baldelli/Crawford/Upton/Young/Cantu is nice, but where's the pitching after Kazmir? I could see the '07 Rays being like the Texas teams of '01, '02, '03, - piles of young hitters coming up and not a chance of making the playoffs.And ME makes a great point. The fact that the Devil Rays have made it to 70 victories once in eight years and are still employing their original GM is an absolute joke.
[Edited on 8-9-2005 by Smocko]
DougB
Well the apple pie doesn't fall far from the oven as they say.
But what position would you have him field? Left field? Carlos Lee is a poor fielder but I can't see Fielder as an improvement. We have no DH here.
August 10, 2005 at 09:27PM View BBCode
I want to see Fielder field another position. His physique is very similar to his father's.
Well the apple pie doesn't fall far from the oven as they say.
But what position would you have him field? Left field? Carlos Lee is a poor fielder but I can't see Fielder as an improvement. We have no DH here.
Vendrell
With delmon young, upton, kazmir, cantu, crawford, baldelli, and gomes as a good hitting core, they would also have kazmir and could spend more money (if they got new ownership or started caring about winning...) on some good starting pitching, they might be ok. Really, i see a team that has upside. Not like the brewers, but they might surprise us one year. Unfortunately for the Drays, they are in the AL east. Nuff said
August 18, 2005 at 05:58AM View BBCode
honestly, the devilrays are a better organization at the moment than the royals.. which isnt saying much, but i believe the rays will perhaps be an 80 win or better team, perhaps even a contender, if they actually spend some money on pitching. A good starter signed to accompany kazmir, and maybe trading huff for some more pitching, would really help. The zambrano trade to the mets was a shot of life for the pitching in that organization, and it made their chances of being good one day a whole lot better.With delmon young, upton, kazmir, cantu, crawford, baldelli, and gomes as a good hitting core, they would also have kazmir and could spend more money (if they got new ownership or started caring about winning...) on some good starting pitching, they might be ok. Really, i see a team that has upside. Not like the brewers, but they might surprise us one year. Unfortunately for the Drays, they are in the AL east. Nuff said
folifan19
August 18, 2005 at 07:55PM View BBCode
If nothing else, the DRays seem to have their way with the Yanks.
Duff77
For godsakes, move the D-rays to a town that likes baseball. I know they've sucked from the beginning, but their crowds are shameful. Still better than watching a game at Oakland Alameda McAfee County of Schwarzenegger's Network Associates Memorial Multi-Use Municipal Stadium in Suburban San Francisco, where the crowd is as quiet and dull as those freakin' broadcasters you people have to put up with. Awful.
August 18, 2005 at 09:12PM View BBCode
The Rays have some real talent. I've been impressed. I bet the 85 people who regularly attend their games have much hope for the future.For godsakes, move the D-rays to a town that likes baseball. I know they've sucked from the beginning, but their crowds are shameful. Still better than watching a game at Oakland Alameda McAfee County of Schwarzenegger's Network Associates Memorial Multi-Use Municipal Stadium in Suburban San Francisco, where the crowd is as quiet and dull as those freakin' broadcasters you people have to put up with. Awful.
FuriousGiorge
August 18, 2005 at 09:48PM View BBCode
Come on. For all any of us know Tampa Bay could be a great baseball town, and in fact that's what everyone assumed for 2 decades. Tampa was THE place to threaten to move for most of the 80's. Then they finally do get a team, and it's so ineptly run that it feels like a really long 12:52 sketch, not to mention that MLB decided that the Tropicana Dome was a worthy place to host regular season major league games. It's not, it's a big spring training bauble that was called up to a level over its head. If MLB is going to expand to a market and then give up after 8 years because people haven't shown up to watch a Mickey Mouse team play in an ugly eyesore of a stadium....well actually, that sounds like exactly the sort of thing MLB would do. But you don't have to buy their newspeak about noncompetitive markets. It's a smoke screen disguising the real problem, which is that the screening process for MLB ownership is a disaster where being a FOB (friend of Bud) is about 100 times more important than being a smart, fiscally responsible businessman who is able to execute a plan of success for a baseball team.
DougB
It will not be Hardy. I do not think there are more than 5 shortstops on planet earth who are better fielders than Hardy. And Hardy's bat is hardly corner infield material at this stage of his career.
August 18, 2005 at 09:50PM View BBCode
Originally posted by ME
Bill Hall has played pretty well this year - good power (.487 SLG/13 HR) but few walks (.317 OBP). He or Hardy may be moved to 3B at some point.
It will not be Hardy. I do not think there are more than 5 shortstops on planet earth who are better fielders than Hardy. And Hardy's bat is hardly corner infield material at this stage of his career.
FuriousGiorge
August 18, 2005 at 09:52PM View BBCode
Maybe. I saw him in Philly a few weeks ago and I was decidedly unimpressed by his defense. He missed a couple of fairly routine plays because he was in poor position. And his bat sucks, of course.
Duff77
I admit, it's probably not as bad as it seems. I'm judging by when the Orioles are in town, and that's probably not fair. An O's--D-Rays game is not exactly a spectacle. But they've still been dead last in attendance almost every year of their existence, which is well behind what the Fish were able to do in their early years. Granted, that team never reeked as bad as the D-Rays have. It's hard to say, really, because all the recent expansion teams have made the playoffs within a few years of existence, except for Tampa Bay.
All I know is, watching a game at the Trop (on TV, never been) is enough to put even the best baseball fan to sleep. It's worse than the Kingdome.
August 18, 2005 at 10:11PM View BBCode
Originally posted by FuriousGiorge
Come on. For all any of us know Tampa Bay could be a great baseball town, and in fact that's what everyone assumed for 2 decades. Tampa was THE place to threaten to move for most of the 80's. Then they finally do get a team, and it's so ineptly run that it feels like a really long 12:52 sketch, not to mention that MLB decided that the Tropicana Dome was a worthy place to host regular season major league games. It's not, it's a big spring training bauble that was called up to a level over its head. If MLB is going to expand to a market and then give up after 8 years because people haven't shown up to watch a Mickey Mouse team play in an ugly eyesore of a stadium....well actually, that sounds like exactly the sort of thing MLB would do. But you don't have to buy their newspeak about noncompetitive markets. It's a smoke screen disguising the real problem, which is that the screening process for MLB ownership is a disaster where being a FOB (friend of Bud) is about 100 times more important than being a smart, fiscally responsible businessman who is able to execute a plan of success for a baseball team.
I admit, it's probably not as bad as it seems. I'm judging by when the Orioles are in town, and that's probably not fair. An O's--D-Rays game is not exactly a spectacle. But they've still been dead last in attendance almost every year of their existence, which is well behind what the Fish were able to do in their early years. Granted, that team never reeked as bad as the D-Rays have. It's hard to say, really, because all the recent expansion teams have made the playoffs within a few years of existence, except for Tampa Bay.
All I know is, watching a game at the Trop (on TV, never been) is enough to put even the best baseball fan to sleep. It's worse than the Kingdome.
Pages: 1