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Wade Miley sucks donkey balls 

Is this the typical fade around AS break? 

Don’t make a trade.  Hang onto prospects. Enjoy 2nd or 3rd place.  Rinse repeat 

Houser is consistent. 

Yeah consistently bad 

But he’s a prized prospect.  Or former prized prospect.  **** that 

Don't really care if they trade Houser, Miley and even Santana for a rental.  But you don't trade Huria, Broxton and Burnes for a rental. 

Right because we all know every Brewer prospect is a sure thing 

This team is on the cusp and a deal or two will put them over the top. I’m talking a Machado or front line pitcher.  They have enough scrap heap reclamation guys.  Make the goddamn move.  Hoarding prospects is great if they turn out to be Ken Griffey Jr. or Derek Jeter but good grief already.  Do you want to win or not?  Make a move.  Yes it will involve giving up a good prospect or two but WTF!!! 

If you think this current team and roster will hang on in the second half you aren’t a Brewers fan.  2014 and 2017 would tell you otherwise as would 2008 and 1982. 

This team has made the playoffs 4 times in the last 50 years.  Yet we want to keep building for the future.  OK then 

Stop making sense.

I might forgive you for being mean to me.

Tschmack posted:

Right because we all know every Brewer prospect is a sure thing 

This team is on the cusp and a deal or two will put them over the top. I’m talking a Machado or front line pitcher.  They have enough scrap heap reclamation guys.  Make the goddamn move.  Hoarding prospects is great if they turn out to be Ken Griffey Jr. or Derek Jeter but good grief already.  Do you want to win or not?  Make a move.  Yes it will involve giving up a good prospect or two but WTF!!! 

If you think this current team and roster will hang on in the second half you aren’t a Brewers fan.  2014 and 2017 would tell you otherwise as would 2008 and 1982. 

This team has made the playoffs 4 times in the last 50 years.  Yet we want to keep building for the future.  OK then 

I'm with you Tschmack.  Without 1 more strong bat, this team will have a very iffy 2nd half.  They also badly need to get Shaw and Braun back on track.  The all-star break is definitely needed for those 2.

The one disappointing thing is that they're down to having only 2 top 100 guys in their Minor league system, so their system has really been depleted from what it had been when I think they had 7 top 100 guys in the offseason.

Getting a guy like Machado/Escobar/Gennett/Dozier doesn't automatically put them in the world series, but without a move, this team looks like at best a wild card/early playoff exit type team.  Make the right move and they'll have the chance at something greater.

So tell me Tschmack, how do you KNOW that Huria or Broxton may not be better than Griffey or Jeter?  

Hiaura (sp?) looks like a special hitter.  Not sure he has great defensive skills,  but that’s yet to be determined.   I hope they can retain him. 

Not sold on Broxton.  He can be an elite defensive player, but I question his ability to hit consistently and for average at the MLB level.   Put it another way, he’s no Yelich or Cain. 

There are so many examples of “can’t miss” guys that don’t pan out and then you have guys like Aguilar that are diamonds in the rough without all the hype and fanfare.   It happens. 

Machado is an elite player having an incredible season.  How many games could they have won in the last month if he were in the lineup?     Braun is unreliable and Shaw is banged up.  Will Aguilar keep up this pace?  Tough to say but you add that type of bat to this lineup and they become very dangerous. 

I guess no matter what happens, I have faith the GM will keep things going in the right direction.  I almost cannot believe just how quickly he turned things around for the Brewers.  In 2016, this looked like a 4 or 5 year project and he got them extremely competitive very quickly without breaking the bank.

There's a part of me that wants them to make the big splash, but even if that doesn't happen, I think the window for this organization is still open for a few years.  Maybe the one fear would be that it will be tough to continue the great chemistry this team has had the past 2 years that has allowed them to maybe at least somewhat exceed their individual talent levels. 

The other fear would be losing Stearns.  I hear the Mets are interested in him, and I am sure he is on some other teams' radars as well.  Hopefully he likes it enough around here to stay for a few more years, I really like what he's done and don't want him gone anytime soon.

I'd trade Stearns for DeGrom

Yeah I have to admit, if we got DeGrom for David Stearns... that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 

Brewers schedule after the AS break will either catapult them or sink them... Dodgers, Nationals, Giants, Dodgers, Rockies, Braves, Cubs, Cards... we'll know by August 20th if they're still in the pennant race. 

I think they need to make a move to survive that gauntlet. 

Here is a winning lineup

In other news

Craig Counsell just said on @MLBNetworkRadio that Jimmy Nelson has begun "some light sessions" pitching from the mound, but was clear that they no longer have a timetable for his return at the moment.

— The Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) July 13, 2018

link

Time to run: Lost in the 6-3 defeat Thursday night was the fact that veteran backup catcher Erik Kratz stole his first base in the major leagues, and in his first attempt, no less. Kratz so surprised the Pirates that catcher Elias Diaz didn’t attempt a throw to second base on a curveball that Eric Thames took for a called third strike.

Why had Kratz, 38, never attempted a steal with any of his previous six teams in the majors?

“They never let me,” he said. “I didn’t have a ton of chances. I’ve had seasons in the minor leagues where I had as many as seven (steals). There’s a certain time to the plate, that if the pitcher is taking that long to throw to the plate, you should make it. They don’t pay attention.

“I’ve been wanting to get one for years. They just figured, ‘He must not be able to run.’ I finally got a chance. I don’t think most of the guys knew (it was his first steal). It was even better that there was no throw. I can tell my kids I was too fast."

Kratz said he was trying to get the actual base used in that inning. Clubs change them out every inning (to sell as game-used merchandise), so equipment manager Jason Shawger was trying to track it down so Kratz could have a souvenir.

"You've got (to) check all the boxes," Kratz said. "Now, I need a triple."

I want to have beers with Kratz

The only thing he could do to make me like him more (other than hit), is if he punches Yadier Molina in the neck.  

Not a well played game tonight

Could not get any clutch hits and Guerra got lit up. 2 errors as well. 

They need to make a deal sooner rather than later because their 1st half magic luck might be running out 

Tschmack posted:

Not a well played game tonight

Could not get any clutch hits...

Definitely a growing trend 

I hope Stearns is the kind of GM who makes his decisions based off of 3 game losing streaks

Yes then they played bad it doesn’t look good but I think the Crew has proven with their 55 wins they are not as bad as this stretch has shown. They are banged up and a few days off are going to be well received. 

After tomorrow, July 15th, I think they will have played 16 games in the month.

Yes, they need some rest.

And we get a double header today, short one player (Thames) and with a pitcher fresh off the DL (Suter)  

At least there is this

.@travis_shaw21 is batting a whopping .786 (11-for-14) with 3 HR against today’s starter Ivan Nova, including a 1.571 slugging percentage and .824 on-base percentage (2bb, 1hbp).

— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) July 14, 2018

I want to have a beer with Kratz and Orf

Nate Orf had not left Pittsburgh yet to rejoin Colorado Springs after being optioned a couple of days ago. So, his recall was easy. He basically had been a tourist in Pittsburgh. "Been seeing the sights," he said.

— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 14, 2018

Given all the injuries and plug in players all I am saying is it’s tough to expect them to duplicate what they did in the 1st half without making a move or two.  Chacin and Guerra have pitched much better then expected.  Will that continue?  Not sure.  It would be nice if Anderson and Davies looked better but maybe they’ve overachieved as well until this year and are coming back to the norm?   Then there are the hitters.   Nothing out of the catcher position.  Pina and Arcia are well off their pace from last year.   Villar is Villar.  Just when you think he’s turning it around he’ll go into a slump.  Shaw has been hurt, as has Braun.  Cain and Yelich can be counted on but can Aguilar keep up this pace?  That’s a lot to expect from the guy. 

Then there’s the long term question of Jimmy Nelson - will he come back and if so at what level of performance? 

Another proven starter or reliable bat either at catcher or the infield would really help to steady the ship and solidify their contender status.  If they stay at the status quo I have a strong feeling it will be last year all over again - close but not close enough.  And right now I would not trust any of their starting pitchers in a one game playoff (wild card).  

It appears Stearns is working the phones but if you were ever going to make a bold move now is the time.  You don’t want to limp into the AS break (again) and give the Cubs anymore confidence than they have and Milwaukee can’t afford to lose anymore divisional games. 

Can Anderson pitch for Jesus in the Homer Derby?

No kidding 

Shawn Marcum would be proud.  All that’s missing is Anderson throwing his glove in the air after allowing yet another bomb 

Anderson looks awful today, he's been saved by some very good defense.  

Another loss

no clutch hitting 

Kratz, Pina, Villar, hell half the lineup just sucks 

Make a deal Stearns 

No pitching, can’t hit.  This team needs a break.

Needs a break.  They need a godaamn shake up 

sleep walking into the AS break is inexcusable 

they pissed away 3 months of good ball in one week 

their record in NL Central is a joke 

we don’t need Machado we can get more Sogard and Kratz type players 

JFC it’s same old schit 

Tschmack posted:

 

...

they pissed away 3 months of good ball in one week 

 

...

They actually had a really good April and May.  But they were 12-13 in June.  And there 7-8 so far in July.  Although they were 7-3 prior to the disaster in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget losing 2 of 3 to Miami 

Pittsburgh is OK but they have schooled the Brewers not only this week but this season

Brewers record against NL Central is dreadful 

They’re in danger of a 5 game sweep at the hands of a team that came into the series one game out of last place. And they’ve looked listless in doing so. 

Stearns should probably be selling at this point

Maybe the Brewers are tanking to get better draft position to horde more prospects 

can’t wait for the next Broxton or Gamel or Laporta or Houser 

Tschmack posted:

Maybe the Brewers are tanking to get better draft position to horde more prospects 

can’t wait for the next Broxton or Gamel or Laporta or Houser 

 

 

Don't forget Lewis Brinson or Brett Lawrie.

For every John Smoltz given up in a trade there are 5-10 LaPortas or Cameron Maybins (can't miss prospects that end up being "just guys" at best). 

Tschmack posted:

Maybe the Brewers are tanking to get better draft position to horde more prospects 

can’t wait for the next Broxton or Gamel or Laporta or Houser 

 

 

We traded for Broxton (he was a steal), Gamel was a 4th round pick and Houser was part of the Lucroy trade.  Laporta was a first round draft pick, taken 7th, so he was a tank pick.  

My point is, don't let a bad week make any ****ing decisions for you.  They've been in a grueling stretch with a banged up team and played like it.  I think this team is built to play well for awhile, so I don't want to piss away prospects for rentals (I also don't think Machado makes this a WS team, I think health and an ace do).  If you think they are one player away, then by all means, sell the farm.  If they are not, then use the farm to either beef up the big club, like they've done with Hader and now, Burnes, or to get controllable assets, like Yelich (we gave up a top prospect for him, I loved the move).  

162 game season, fans take losing streaks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to seriously.  Teams needs to play better after the break, but this was a first half that exceeded my expectations.