Time For A Cool Change...They Say Good Things Happen for Those Who Wait??

I think it's time to make some changes as well 

The hitting has been feast or famine for weeks now and that's the downside of a Melvin built team that either hits HRs or strikes out.   They can't stack their lineup to that degree because good teams will find a way to beat you if you can't get guys on base and advance runners

I blame Hank.

Off season is generally where teams make changes.  The really bad teams will get started early occasionally.

Doug did everything he could including finding cheap 1b, OF, and bullpen help.  The team imploded mentally and that falls on veteran players and RR.  Something set this team into a downward swirl.  I suspect the demeanor of a couple vets.  Rickie?  Braun?  We will know soon.

Where would we have finished if Fiers didn't show up?

Whether or not one wants it blown up, no way that will happen with the starting staff they have coming back. Only Yo is in flux as he is in his last year at 13M with a $600,000 buyout. They have options to fill his spot set. I have other thoughts on off season tweaks as I see no reason they cannot contend again. Stay tuned for those...

I know you're all excited!

Listening now to Bob and Joe give the play-by-play call on the Brewers apparent win over Cincy with the current score at 5-0.  WoW!  Roenicke is actually going to let Lohse finish the game...hopefully.

They have been discussing the Crew's historic collapse and when you stop and think about it, it really has been a memorable and unfortunately unforgettable spiral down and out of the playoff picture.   Up until tonight, the Brewers had not scored more than 3 runs in a game in their last eight games.   At one point, I thought I heard Joe say up until tonight, the Brewers hadn't had two men in scoring position in one inning since last Thursday??

There it is...Kyle Lohse pitches a two-hit complete game shutout win at 5-0.

Keep the home fires burning there is still a flicker of hope...yeah, right.

Just from Doug Melvin's recent comments about the future of the Brewer's front office and management, I wont be holding my breath to expect any major or impactful changes, 

First 2 spots on the 40 man roster opened up today.

Rangers claimed Figaro off waivers and Pagnozzi was out-righted to Colorado(AAA).

They definitely came apart at the seems in September.

I also think that this team had the talent to make the playoffs this season, it was disheartening to see them go offtrack like that.

I feel like the pitching staff is ok.  They probably will move on from K-rod, because of the emergence of Jeffress at the end of the year.. and the trade for Broxton.  Im uncertain if they exercise their side of the option for Ramirez.. while at the same time, I'm not sure that Ramirez picks up his side either.. so I think he will be gone as well.  Weeks won't be back as well.

Looks like arbitration guys are:

Maldanado

Estrada

Parra

Kintzler

 I imagine they will offer it to all 4, with parra being the most likely to be untendered due to his current amount of 4.7M - might be too high for MKE for a 3/4 OF.  Im sure they will entertain trades for him as well this winter if they do keep him.  Kintzler should be pretty cheap and had an ok season.  Maldanado the same.  Estrada might start costing some money - but after giving up 29 hrs, i doubt his contract will pick up much despite his 4.2 ERA and his 1.3 whip (not horrible.. but the HRs just crushed him)  It could keep his cost down for next season though.  They don't need him for the starting rotation per say, but it never hurts to have an inning eater that can spot start out of the pen and eat up innings in long relief.. when **** happens.

Looks like when you figure in arbitration and such the payroll is already exceeding 90M and that's without bringing Ramirez back or K-Rod (which i don't think they will unless they move a pitcher like Garza in the offseason).

As for Melvin and Roenicke.. Im good with them both coming back next season.  They didn't finish the season out how they wanted.  Overall it ended up being a very mediocre season.

They had obvious setbacks with Braun's production, Segura's production (understandable post asb), and even Ramirez.

Bright spots were Gomez, LuCroy, and Gennett.

KhD wasn't horrible, but he needs to pick that average up.  1st base was pretty bad this season again... that needs to change.

Ramirez did not have enough production for a 4 hitter.

Braun the same for a 3.

I think it is fair to say that if either of these guys had an average year to what we expected, the crew would be in the playoffs.  Instead.. they had paltry power numbers and RBI total was not where it should be.  Overall.. if you want to blame people for this season.. i think you start with Braun (no steroids, or is it the thumb) and Ramirez (probably age, career decline trend).. not Melvin + Roenicke.

Alas, here we sit waiting for news from the West Coast as to what changes...if any...the Brewers will make for the upcoming season in 2015.  I can only worry that any change forthcoming may not be the right ones.

You only have had to have watched the playoffs the last couple days to see how real winning teams built on belief, confidence and tremendous desire win succeed down the stretch into playoffs. 

Our Brewers did the exact opposite of what these teams had done and some will continue to do.   Case-in-point (and I dread having to point to them) the STL Cards.  Trailing the Dodgers they won despite facing the best pitcher in MLB.  And more importantly it was how they won.  With confidence and bravado.  When was the last time you saw the Brewers dugout look that way?  

The Cardinals have no fears and no doubts.  KC is playing on adrenaline, guts and aggression.  SF too, is rolling on a wave of poise and experience.  The Orioles have never looked back after Buck Showalter demanded and commanded that they will never fear the Yankees again.

And the Brewers?  All we hear is "well, we're going back to the drawing board" to find out why.   Really?   Seems to me Doug and Mark had the entire month of September to see why.  I did take some comfort in what Mark Attanasio had to say after the season.  His words inferred there was enough disappointment to go around so that making any change was neither too great or too small.  But then I saw he was keeping Melvin.  ugh!

The next day we read what Doug Melvin had to say.  "Going to wait until next week to evaluate everything and everybody."  Going to dig for answers about what, who and why.  In other words...business as usual is on the agenda for 2015.

Should Roenicke stay?  IMO, no.  And for that matter, I thought Mark should have let Doug go as well.  Winning begins at the top.  The epic collapse by the Brewers this year began back in July.   The guys at the top, left room for doubt, disbelief and low expectations. 

They coasted as the controls.  Rather demanding consistent performance, they were over-confident about getting to post-season.  But instead of charging ahead and playing to win, they began looking the rear mirror and then feared being the hunted.  In the end, they crumbled like a stack of toothpicks in a gentle breeze coming up from Missouri.

So, unless Mark and Doug have some real magic up their sleeves, I think the Brewers are destined to have another under-achieving year.  Like I said, the guys over-looking the field failed just as much as the guys on the field.

He back.

RR back. Huge mistake. The least inspirational manager imaginable. Just presided over one of the biggest choke jobs in history, and he keeps his job. Unbelievable!!! We'll just keep bunting along for another year.

Well........off to another flying start....

meh

Heard and read some of Melvin's comments.  Like he did not ever think RR should lose his job.  Okay.  Fine.  Then why not say that right after the season was over?  Instead of waiting for two weeks.  Then he says they are look deep into everybody's role...blah, blah, blah.  Same old stuff.  Was it all worth waiting for?

If you read any of the articles, RR, Melvin and MarkA scheduled to meet a couple of weeks after the season. This was because MarkA stated he needed to 'cool down' a bit. Good move on his part.

Not sure why waiting a bit would bother anyone. Also, if the manager is too blame, please explain why the Royals are unbeaten (I can only assume RR bashes were Yost bashers as well) in the playoffs so far?

Methinks it's because they are playing well. Also, Oakland had a late season meltdown as well and snuck in by the skin of their teeth. Can Melvin (Bob) and Beane?

You know, I've had fun with your post.  I rather enjoy meaningless tripe about "wanting it more" and "bravado" and "poise" - stuff that fans say that they think explains things about professional athletes yet really doesn't mean a thing.  I'm not sure a post could include more meaningless armchair manager buzzwords, but I suppose someone could try.

I hate to break this to you, but the Cardinals didn't beat Kershaw because they have a higher bravado% than him.  They won because they strung hits together and got a huge series from Matt Carpenter.  The Royals did not win because they have more adrenaline and aggression that Oakland or California, they won because their bullpen was lights out and they got key hits in extra innings.   BTW, I guess Buck Showalter forgot to DEMAND AND COMMAND that the O's not be afraid of the Royals.  THANKS OBUCKA!

The Brewers fell apart not because they didn't want it enough, or the didn't have belief, or they didn't have poise or because stupid Ron Roenicke forgot to DEMAND AND COMMAND that they not fear the Cardinals.  THANKS RON!  How could he forget that!  They fell apart because almost every hitter hit a slump in the 2H.  Because their bullpen blew up and because their starting pitching was pretty mediocre.  Ta-da!  

None of this is to say that I don't want to see moves this off season.  But here's what I would like to see the Brewers look to doing.  Improve their hitting especially would like to see a few improvements in the OBP department.  I'd like to see a 3-4 starter emerge somewhere.  I'd like to see an improvement over guys like Wooten and Kintzler.  

What I don't want to see is trying to go after the guy with the highest Bravado percentage, or most adrenaline, or the Most Poised Player.  BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE MEANINGLESS WORDS THAT DON'T MEAN A THING.  

And if you are already giving up on 2015 when the post season of 2014 hasn't even been completed yet, then leave and don't come back to the Brewers.  Seriously.  

I can only hope that Melvin can go find a guy with TREMENDOUS DESIRE!  That will fix everything!  

Well, I've heard that is because RR may not have given guys like Braun and GoGo some time off in the first half. Even though Braun seemed to be rested on regular basis and even spent some time on the DL in the first half. GoGo was only putting together a first half that had him in the MVP running and a start in the All-Star Game. I guess RR should have put out that b-squad lineup more in the first half so they could have lost some game that would have won in the second half if rested.

Narron and Iorg are gone, that should fix things.  

Neither had much grit

Call it what you want: timely hitting or poise under pressure to get the hit; lights out pitching or bravado to make the right pitch at the right time.   Getting your team fired up to play winning baseball or sitting in front of the microphone and telling listeners "I don't see any drop off in effort" despite losing another game by failing to get the big hit or make the big pitch.

Call it what you want.  I will call it what I want.

And I have no intentions on turning my back on the Brewers next season.  I hope Doug makes some good moves this winter.  I hope Ron gets his guys playing to win and not just coasting.

The 2 castoffs apparently lacked the effort or patience to sit down and talk to these Kids when needed.

Where did this under achieving come from??

Most Baseball publications had the Crew finishing either 3rd or 4th before the season.

They actually OVER achieved for most of the season, until their fade back to normal at seasons end.

where was this "fade?"

they fell off a cliff.  9 game losing streak.  

Fade, fell, dive, crashed, whatever; it still remains the Crew OVER-achieved during the '14 season.

True enough.  You can scrap the projection stuff once they achieved 50 wins before any other team in MLB. 

I am still waiting for that house cleaning.  If only 2 bench coaches went there must be a lot of messy players needing a good cleaning.  I wonder how long before the roster changes?

Melvin better have some wild cards in his hand, because it will be a long off-season if all he does is tweak a few spots.

Count me as one who feels they only need to 'tweak' two spots. A few is more than two and in my estimation they really only need to address two for sure:

1. Pen: Always a tweak for every team every offseason.

2. 1B/3B: The ARam decision will dictate this.

Every other position is set. Rotation is set even if Yo goes. Outfield is as strong as maybe it's ever been with Parra on the books for next season. I would add a veteran RH IF who could spell Scoot and also play short if Seggy if the Seggy of 2014 is the real Seggy.

The biggest 'tweak,' IMO, already happened. The Braun thumb surgery. Whether or not the 'tweak' worked remains to be seen.

Here is a feel good move.  I sense big changes for 2015.  from jsonline.

With the return of Aramis Ramirez in doubt, the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday added some depth at third base by claiming Luis Jimenez off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

With the move, the Brewers' 40-man roster now stands at 39.

Jimenez, 26, played a total of 52 games the past two seasons with the Angels – 18 in 2014 and 34 in 2013 – hitting a combined .234 with no home runs and seven runs batted in over 151 plate appearances.

He also hit .286 with 21 home runs and 76 runs batted in over 117 games at Class AAA Salt Lake City in 2014.

Jimenez, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was signed as an amateur free agent by the Angels in 2005.