Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here.
Today's team NL is the Milwaukee Brewers and our guest is Andrew from The Grand National Champions.
1. You've been a proponent in the past of trading Prince Fielder, do you still try to make that move in the offseason if you are the Brewers GM? Do you just look for young pitching?
Not necessarily. The Brewers have a glut of interesting in the infield. And if they do the right thing and offer Felipe Lopez arbitration? They could do something really interesting in a package to potentially get a strong starter and something else good in the process.
2a. What are the Brewers going to do about JJ Hardy? Do you think he was plagued by injuries and will have a bounce back season?
I honestly believe JJ will be gone at some point during the offseason. They love what Alcides Escobar can bring to the table. And when you consider what the Brewers did in keeping him in AAA. They wanted to maximize all of his trade value.
Can he bounce back? Yeah. He's the sort of guy who has had half seasons where he played at a spectacular level. It goes without saying that he could put together a massive season. Just likely not in Milwaukee.
Andrew got me these answers back approximately 3 minutes prior but he was nice enough to respond back... He's not happy.
2b. What are your thoughts on the JJ Hardy trade? Think Carlos Gomez sures up the leadoff spot and centerfield for the future?
To put it simply? I hate it. The Brewers made a move to trade Hardy at his absolute lowest value and they got a poor man's Joey Gaithright in return. Ken Macha likes his guys to at the very least have a good approach at the plate. If Carlos Gomez gets 500 at bats, I fear Macha may kill him in cold blood for his general batting incompetency.
And we know JJ is a shortstop that has already shown he can hit .280 with 25 homers. And that's all they get for it? I give this deal an F. The Twins stole a shortstop.
You can find more of his take here.
3. Yovani desperately needs a sidekick, will he have one next year or will he still have to be surrounded by stiffs like Suppan?
As much as I want to believe, I think that unless Fielder goes? The Brewers are going to try another patchwork scenario. The names I'm hearing about are names in the Jarrod Washburn-Doug Davis ilk in terms of Free Agency and Brandon Morrow in terms of trade.
None of that vibes as sidekick.
4. You traded for Felipe Lopez midseason to replace the injured Rickie Weeks and he produced pretty well. Will the Brew Crew try to resign him or will they go with Weeks? Any chance they think about him to go back to SS and try to trade Hardy?
If the Brewers offer arbitration, they might be able to get him cheaply. (After all, Orlando Hudson went midway into spring training as the best second baseman in last years FA market.) I honestly think they may try and go with Rickie Weeks at second, but when you consider that the Brewers have Weeks/Hardy/Escobar/McGeehee/Gamel locked down in the right side of the infield? You don't have to sign Lopez and still be ridiculously deep.
But if they do? He in no way will play short. It's Hardy or Escobar.
5. Does Mat Gamel have the glove to be an everyday third baseman or will he just be stuck behind Prince?
I think he has to be moved at some point. The problem is that in recent years? Gamel would get off to these ridiculous starts and wear down as the season goes. He'll hit enough that he should start the year at third. But at a certain point? His bat won't hold up.
6. The Brewers signed Rick Peterson as the Pitching coach this offseason, what are the chances he turns around the likes of Manny Parra ala morphing Oliver Perez into a semi-decent starter with the Mets?
If Parra is healthy? I would say there's an 80% chance. Parra's already shown that he can be decent on the big league level. Peterson's a good coach. He can get him past what happened last year. But Parra was one of the Brewers multitude of pitching prospects who were slowed if not outright stopped by injuries in the minors. I am not entirely convinced that he wasn't hiding an injury.
7. You've gassed your owner and have convinced him to spend like the Yankees, which three free agents do you sign?
John Lackey, Cliff Lee, and Mike Cameron. The first two are obvious, but the Brewers seem to be dead-set on going with Jody Gerut as the full-time starter in Center Field and I just don't trust that.
8. Which Brewers prospect are you most looking forward to in 2010?
Considering the next-level of purely high-impact prospects are at least a year away? I would have to go with the winner of the Angel Salome/Jonathan LuCroy duel at catcher. The Brewers modern history at catcher has been awful. Blanco. Matheny. Kendall. Heck, we gave Keith Osik 300 at bats at one point.
Salome at his best is a great defender/decent offensive provider. LuCroy has excellent plate discipline, and has solid skills all-around. Either one would be a welcome relief.
9. I'm giving you the option to cut players without any salary repercussions, which Brewers do you part way with?
Suppan. He's going to be an eight-figure long reliever before this contract is up. Otherwise? I just want the Brewers not to resign Jason Kendall and Craig Counsell. There's a lot of youth and surprising decency on the roster. The shortest non-starter leash I would give belongs to Corey Hart.
10. Final Question, you've got a crystal ball, the Yovani wins the Cy Young in ______. Oh and when do the Brewers win the division too?
2011. 2011. Brett Lawrie is going to save the world. Canada-style.
Today's team NL is the Milwaukee Brewers and our guest is Andrew from The Grand National Champions.1. You've been a proponent in the past of trading Prince Fielder, do you still try to make that move in the offseason if you are the Brewers GM? Do you just look for young pitching?
Not necessarily. The Brewers have a glut of interesting in the infield. And if they do the right thing and offer Felipe Lopez arbitration? They could do something really interesting in a package to potentially get a strong starter and something else good in the process.
2a. What are the Brewers going to do about JJ Hardy? Do you think he was plagued by injuries and will have a bounce back season?
I honestly believe JJ will be gone at some point during the offseason. They love what Alcides Escobar can bring to the table. And when you consider what the Brewers did in keeping him in AAA. They wanted to maximize all of his trade value.
Can he bounce back? Yeah. He's the sort of guy who has had half seasons where he played at a spectacular level. It goes without saying that he could put together a massive season. Just likely not in Milwaukee.
Andrew got me these answers back approximately 3 minutes prior but he was nice enough to respond back... He's not happy.
2b. What are your thoughts on the JJ Hardy trade? Think Carlos Gomez sures up the leadoff spot and centerfield for the future?
To put it simply? I hate it. The Brewers made a move to trade Hardy at his absolute lowest value and they got a poor man's Joey Gaithright in return. Ken Macha likes his guys to at the very least have a good approach at the plate. If Carlos Gomez gets 500 at bats, I fear Macha may kill him in cold blood for his general batting incompetency.
And we know JJ is a shortstop that has already shown he can hit .280 with 25 homers. And that's all they get for it? I give this deal an F. The Twins stole a shortstop.
You can find more of his take here.
3. Yovani desperately needs a sidekick, will he have one next year or will he still have to be surrounded by stiffs like Suppan?
As much as I want to believe, I think that unless Fielder goes? The Brewers are going to try another patchwork scenario. The names I'm hearing about are names in the Jarrod Washburn-Doug Davis ilk in terms of Free Agency and Brandon Morrow in terms of trade.
None of that vibes as sidekick.
4. You traded for Felipe Lopez midseason to replace the injured Rickie Weeks and he produced pretty well. Will the Brew Crew try to resign him or will they go with Weeks? Any chance they think about him to go back to SS and try to trade Hardy?
If the Brewers offer arbitration, they might be able to get him cheaply. (After all, Orlando Hudson went midway into spring training as the best second baseman in last years FA market.) I honestly think they may try and go with Rickie Weeks at second, but when you consider that the Brewers have Weeks/Hardy/Escobar/McGeehee/Gamel locked down in the right side of the infield? You don't have to sign Lopez and still be ridiculously deep.
But if they do? He in no way will play short. It's Hardy or Escobar.
5. Does Mat Gamel have the glove to be an everyday third baseman or will he just be stuck behind Prince?
I think he has to be moved at some point. The problem is that in recent years? Gamel would get off to these ridiculous starts and wear down as the season goes. He'll hit enough that he should start the year at third. But at a certain point? His bat won't hold up.
6. The Brewers signed Rick Peterson as the Pitching coach this offseason, what are the chances he turns around the likes of Manny Parra ala morphing Oliver Perez into a semi-decent starter with the Mets?If Parra is healthy? I would say there's an 80% chance. Parra's already shown that he can be decent on the big league level. Peterson's a good coach. He can get him past what happened last year. But Parra was one of the Brewers multitude of pitching prospects who were slowed if not outright stopped by injuries in the minors. I am not entirely convinced that he wasn't hiding an injury.
7. You've gassed your owner and have convinced him to spend like the Yankees, which three free agents do you sign?
John Lackey, Cliff Lee, and Mike Cameron. The first two are obvious, but the Brewers seem to be dead-set on going with Jody Gerut as the full-time starter in Center Field and I just don't trust that.
8. Which Brewers prospect are you most looking forward to in 2010?
Considering the next-level of purely high-impact prospects are at least a year away? I would have to go with the winner of the Angel Salome/Jonathan LuCroy duel at catcher. The Brewers modern history at catcher has been awful. Blanco. Matheny. Kendall. Heck, we gave Keith Osik 300 at bats at one point.
Salome at his best is a great defender/decent offensive provider. LuCroy has excellent plate discipline, and has solid skills all-around. Either one would be a welcome relief.
9. I'm giving you the option to cut players without any salary repercussions, which Brewers do you part way with?
Suppan. He's going to be an eight-figure long reliever before this contract is up. Otherwise? I just want the Brewers not to resign Jason Kendall and Craig Counsell. There's a lot of youth and surprising decency on the roster. The shortest non-starter leash I would give belongs to Corey Hart.
10. Final Question, you've got a crystal ball, the Yovani wins the Cy Young in ______. Oh and when do the Brewers win the division too?
2011. 2011. Brett Lawrie is going to save the world. Canada-style.
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