2020 Brewers News/Trades/Transactions Thread: Phelps to Phillies

[humanrefutation]

The offseason is coming to an end. Spring Training opens this week on Wednesday with pitchers and catchers reporting. Positional players report in a week.

[MickeyDavis]

This is the least enthused I've been going into a season for awhile. I hope we're at least in the mix until football starts. But if the Bucks play into June and NFL games open in July it won't really matter much.

[humanrefutation]

I'm not down on them, but I'm curious about how some of these random guys they've signed this offseason will fit in. I'm also really curious about this pitching staff.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I really have no idea what to think. Wouldn't shock me if they were competitive but also wouldn't surprise me if by July they are sellers and do a little mini reboot.

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[MVP2110]

Yea they have a wide variance to me this season. Like we all knew the Bucks would be really good. This to me is more like the Packers of last year where they could be really good but also won't surprise if they are a major letdown.

[MickeyDavis]

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[trwi7]

BrewCrewBall just needs to change its **** name to Milkmen Ball at this point. That **** face running it appears to only give a **** about that at this point.

[LittleRooster]

BrewCrewBall just needs to change its **** name to Milkmen Ball at this point. That **** face running it appears to only give a **** about that at this point.

That guy really annoys me lol. Once Guerra left it was over for him. #ourhero

ETA: Bring back Jeff Sackman


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[engelmartin]

BrewCrewBall just needs to change its **** name to Milkmen Ball at this point. That **** face running it appears to only give a **** about that at this point.

That guy really annoys me lol. Once Guerra left it was over for him. #ourhero

ETA: Bring back Jeff Sackman


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I can't believe he ever got sacked.

[MickeyDavis]

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[MickeyDavis]

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[ReasonablySober]

Brewers sign Brock Holt.

[humanrefutation]

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[MickeyDavis]

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell detailed plans for his overcrowded outfield situation this spring on Monday and it involved position switches for both incumbent corner outfielders.

For Ryan Braun, it's actually going to be a double position switch.

Counsell said he planned to move Christian Yelich from right field to left field, the position he last played for the Miami Marlins before being traded to the Brewers prior to the 2018 season. Braun will move back to right field, the position he played in 2014-'15 before moving back to left, but newcomer Avisaíl García likely will see the most time there.

Braun also will see action at first base, along with Justin Smoak, signed as a free agent over the winter. Counsell explained that when Yelich and García are both in the starting outfield, their skill set is more suited to playing left field and right, respectively. García has a strong arm that is considered a prototypical tool for right fielders.

"It’s putting ‘Avi’ in his best position, which is probably right field, and probably Christian in his best position,” Counsell explained. “Those are the guys that probably are out there more, the most games. With Ryan playing first base, he’s just not going to be in the outfield that much.

“Whatever we do, I’d like to keep Christian in one spot, and then Avi’s going to be the one that’s going to move around. That’s how he gets his at-bats. But that’s something as we go through spring training, we’ll make a decision on.

“It’s really about how we’re going to line up the most frequently and getting guys to their best spots. I think we’ve probably got to get Ryan comfortable in right field. The thing I would probably be a little hesitant about is Ryan in right field. But I don’t think there’s any question that with ‘Avi’ and ‘Yeli’ in the game together, Garcia belongs in right and Christian belongs in left.”

So, it is shaping up to be a spring of adjustments for Braun, 36, who is in the final year of his guaranteed contract with the Brewers. Not only is he moving back to right field, he is expected to see considerable action at first base, depending on how he handles it and how Smoak is performing.

“I’ve always been a little more comfortable in left field," said Braun, who understands this could be his final season in Milwaukee. "But because I’ll probably be going back and forth from first base and the outfield, I think ‘Yeli’ feels more comfortable in left and ‘Avi’ feels more comfortable in right. If they think it’s something that makes the most sense for the team, I’ll do whatever it is they want me to do.

“Tentatively, that’s the plan, but obviously all of these things are subject to change. I told (Counsell) I’ll do whatever. I talked to Christian this offseason and said whatever he is more comfortable doing, I’ll do (the other). When I went out there those couple of games in Pittsburgh (last season when Yelich was suffering back issues) and felt really comfortable, I said, ‘Maybe I’m better in right.’

“I haven’t done it in a little while, so we’ll see. But, whatever they think makes the most sense, I’m in for.”

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, García is a big, physical athlete who runs well and can play any of the three outfield spots. He is expected to also spell Lorenzo Cain in center field at times.

“He does everything well, for sure,” Counsell said. “He’s a good defender, very strong throwing arm. Hits the ball really hard. He hasn’t really stolen bases but I think he used that (speed) defensively. He actually did pick up his base stealing last year (10 with Tampa Bay).

“There’s no question, there’s a lot he can do. And the other thing is just the experience. He’s got the right amount of experience to where it can really take off for a player.”

A fifth outfielder, Ben Gamel, saw action in 134 games for the Brewers last season and has the skill set to cover all three positions but might have trouble finding playing time this year, barring injuries. Gamel started 36 games in left last season, 15 in right and 14 in center.

Gamel, a left-handed hitter, has a minor-league option remaining.

[neiLz]

Once again going into the season with 82ish win expectations and the crew probably win more. Unfortunately they still have zero shot at a WS unless every single thing goes right and almost everything goes wrong for the other contenders.

Is this the Brewers version of a treadmill team? I grew up not seeing a brewers playoff until 2008 and they've made it a few times, but never seemed to be close to a WS outside the Greinke Year (which they collapsed) and game 7 vs the dodgers (even then I think they lose to Boston quite easily).

Stearns does a fantastic job putting a solid team and Counsell manages well. but this year there is no expanded roster in september and im not sure Counsel can work september magic.

This may be the rebuild year and I hope if they are around .500 by the trade deadline and would need to jump a few teams to make the playoffs that Mark A, lets stearns sell off some of these free agents that are performing for a semi rebuild.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Once again going into the season with 82ish win expectations and the crew probably win more. Unfortunately they still have zero shot at a WS unless every single thing goes right and almost everything goes wrong for the other contenders.

Is this the Brewers version of a treadmill team? I grew up not seeing a brewers playoff until 2008 and they've made it a few times, but never seemed to be close to a WS outside the Greinke Year (which they collapsed) and game 7 vs the dodgers (even then I think they lose to Boston quite easily).

Stearns does a fantastic job putting a solid team and Counsell manages well. but this year there is no expanded roster in september and im not sure Counsel can work september magic.

This may be the rebuild year and I hope if they are around .500 by the trade deadline and would need to jump a few teams to make the playoffs that Mark A, lets stearns sell off some of these free agents that are performing for a semi rebuild.

The past three seasons is the best three year stretch of winning since the late 70's/early 80's, so basically 40 years.

You're right they would need a ton to go their way to win a WS but when you're a small/mid market team that's just kind of the reality of baseball with it's skewed economics that create a very uneven playing field. It sucks using that as an excuse but its still true.

I agree this could be a down year compared to the past couple and they have seemed to build a team with a bunch of short movable contracts where if things aren't going well in July they could pivot and do a little reset. But if things break right they could go the other direction and add a piece or two and hope things break right in the playoffs.

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[MAC1987]

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[trwi7]

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Attanasio is full of ****.

[humanrefutation]

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Attanasio is full of ****.

I don't think Mark would EVER say otherwise. It's effectively a mandate to inflate your losses in anticipation of the next CBA in 2021.

[Gianstoppable]

Call me crazy but I think this team will shock a lot of people and win north of 87 games. They got rid of a lot of the guys that dont factor in, obviously lost Grandal and Moose but if they could add another good bullpen piece, hopefully 2 I would feel really well. This offense is very versatile and thankfully will be better at making contact and getting on base. Defense took a hit and starting pitching didnt make a big improvement but I think Leuer will be a good #3 starter. That said, wish they would have pushed more chips in. I dont really buy the operating in a loss quote they keep using but who knows, maybe they were foolish with their money for CBA reasons. Looking forward to the new faces, just wish we had a legit farm to pull from for moves to improve pitching.

My prediction: 88-74