Poll: Who Should get the Majority of the Starts at 2B?

The votes are in, and you want Ray Durham at second base. 64% of you voted for Durham, while 36% want Rickie Weeks to see most of the playing time.

The Brewers acquired Durham before the trading deadline to bolster second base. Despite the trade, Rickie Weeks has still seen the majority of the playing time even though he's performed sub par this season. Here are their current numbers.

Rickie Weeks - .229 BA, 10 HR, 36 RBI, .335 OBP, 16 SB

Ray Durham - .285, 4 HR, 38 RBI, .375 OBP, 7 SB

Durham has had the much better year overall, and his on base percentage sure looks nice at the lead off position. Not only that, but Durham is also a major upgrade defensively. He doesn't have the best range but has only made three errors all season. Weeks has nine errors, and has made several errant throws on double play opportunities.

Weeks has come on strong though after the All-Star break, which he's been known to do over his career. Since the break Weeks is hitting .273 with a .369 on base percentage. Durham has not been as successful since the break as he's only hitting .229 with a .302 on base percentage. I wouldn't factor Durham's post All-Star numbers in too much though since he has had limited opportunities. Weeks has always been inconsistent, and the Brewers could use consistency down the stretch, which is why Ray Durham should see the majority of the playing time at second base.

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Prospect Watch: Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Jeffress, 20, is the Brewers' top pitching prospect. He was recently promoted to Double-A Huntsville after a fairly successful stint at High-A Brevard County. Jeffress is the youngest player on the Huntsville roster. At Brevard County, he went 4-6 with a 4.08 ERA and had 102 strike outs in 79.1 innings pitched.

Jeffress made his debut for Huntsville on August 13th, and it didn't go as well as he hoped. The young right-hander only went 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, two runs, and three walks, while striking out two.

The news that Jeffress was being promoted to Double-A was somewhat surprising. He wasn't extremely consistent at Brevard County, although he was a little more consistent towards the end of his stint there. The main reason for his promotion is the Brewers will most likely send him to the Arizona Fall League, where a player needs to be on at least a Double-A roster to be eligible.

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Yost's Fixation with Counsell

Ned Yost has always taken a liking to Craig Counsell, but this month he's taken his fixation with him to another level. Counsell has basically become the Brewers' every day third basemen. Why is he starting every day? That's a very good question.

The Bill Hall/Russell Branyan platoon has combined for 26 home runs and 66 RBI this season. Craig Counsell has one home run and 12 RBI. Hall and Branyan don't carry the greatest looking batting average, but neither does Counsell. Hall and Branyan together is almost like having another Prince Fielder in the lineup. With Branyan now out due to injury, that leaves the Brewers with just Counsell and Hall battling for time at the hot corner.

The reason Yost seems to like Counsell so much is because of his defense. He has a sure handed glove pretty much anywhere in the infield, but is that enough reason to start him every day? The difference he makes defensively is not a big enough reason to start him over Hall as their offensive production isn't even close.

The only reason I can think of why Yost continues to send Counsell out there is because he has a decent on base percentage compared to how putrid his batting average is. Counsell is hitting .229 but has an OBP of .333. What is so puzzling to me is the timing of this. July was Bill Hall's best month of the season while Counsell had one of his worst months in July. In July, Hall hit .288 with a .350 on base percentage, four home runs, and 16 RBI. July wasn't as kind to Counsell as he only hit .174 with a .286 on base percentage, and 1 RBI.

I have no problem with Craig Counsell as a role player. His fine defense makes him a solid option off the bench, and a defensive option with the lead in a late inning game. He is just not an every day player. It makes no sense that Yost stopped giving Hall playing time when he was tearing the cover off the ball and Counsell hasn't been hitting all year.

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Test: Making a Test post

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Test test!

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Where Are They Now?

Every year players come and go. Here is look at some of last years Brewers who have moved on.

Kevin Mench - Shrek currently is playing for the Blue Jays in a reserve role. Mench is hitting .233 with zero home runs and eight RBI in 86 at bats. Wasn't he supposed to be a power hitter?

Geoff Jenkins - Jenks has had a rough year in his first season out of Milwaukee. The former Brewers first round pick is batting just .243 with nine home runs and 28 RBI. He also has the lowest fielding percentage of his career at .965. It's tough to see how far he has fallen.

Johnny "I don't speak spanish" Estrada - First the Brewers trade him to the Mets for Guillermo Mota, and then the Mets release him. Ouch. Then he was signed by the lowly Nationals and has only registered 53 at bats on the season. He hit .170 and drew one walk, which gave him a staggering .200 on base percentage.

Tony Graffanino - Graffy is currently playing for the Indians Triple-A team, the Buffalo Bisons. He's hitting .321 with a .379 on base percentage in 53 at bats. Perhaps he'll see some action in the show soon with the Indians?

Damian Miller - Miller is now retired. He received some interest from teams in the off-season, but the only team he was interested in playing for was the Brewers.

Claudio Vargas - Vargas is playing for the Mets Triple-A team, the New Orleans Zephyrs. He's posted a 5-2 record, with a 4.36 ERA. He did receive some time with the big league team, posting a 4.62 ERA in 37 innings pitched.

Scott Linebrink - Linebrink has reestablished himself as one of the premier setup men in the game this year. In 39 innings of work for the White Sox Linebrink has a 2.30 ERA and outstanding WHIP of 0.92. Too bad the Brewers didn't get this kind of performance out of him last year.

Matt Wise - The change up specialist signed with the Mets this off-season and has not the had the year he was hoping for. Wise has only pitched 7 innings for New York and had a 6.43 ERA in them. He's spent most of the year on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

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Brewers Top 10 Catchers of the 2000's

Last year some of you might remember a post on here listing the Brewers' top catchers of the 2000's. Well there was a flaw with last years list, Johnny Estrada was on it. Here's a new updated list of catchers that have had Bill Schroeder drooling for years.

1. Damian Miller - The real life Jake Taylor has been the most stable catcher for the Brewers this century. He provided the Brewers with two serviceable years as the starter, and one as the backup. He also did a great job handling the staff while he was here.

2. Jason Kendall - Kendall's low average kind of sticks out at you, but his on base percentage isn't that bad for a catcher. He has played great defense for the Brewers and the pitchers have raved about how he calls a game.

3. Mike Rivera - Being ranked third isn't bad for someone who's never been the starter is it? Rivera has provided the Brewers with two quality years as the teams backup backstop.

4. Eddie Perez - While on the Brewers, Perez posted a .271 batting average. Eddie Perez = domination

5. Keith Osik - Osik knows how to draw walks. He posted a .342 OBP with the crew. How was this guy the backup? Oh yeah, EDDIE PEREZ.

6. Henry Blanco - Blanco may not have been the greatest hitter with the crew but his defense always got Bill Schroeder going.

7. Raul Casanova - Three years of catching with the Brewers in the 2000's. How many guys can say that?

8. Gary Bennett - Bennett provided solid defense for the crew to compliment his .224 batting average. He also won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 06. Gary Bennett = winner.

9. Chad Moeller - Chad Moeller hit for the cycle. What other Brewers have done that lately? Oh yeah, none. Moeller > ALL

10. Robert Machado - Posted a .310 OBP in his one year with the Brewers. Johnny Estrada's OBP last year, .296.

Honorable Mention - Paul Bako - This gritty battler has played for TEN different teams in his legendary MLB career. TEN. Now that's an accomplishment.

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Prospect Watch: Brett Lawrie

Brett Lawrie, 18, was the Brewers' first round pick in this past June's draft. The Brewers selected the high catcher 16th overall. He just signed this past week for what is believed to be a signing bonus of around $1.7 million.

Lawrie is currently playing for Team Canada in the Olympics, where he will face advanced minor league pitching, and players with major league experience. He is the youngest player on Canada's roster. The right-handed hitting Lawrie will most likely begin next season at the Brewers' Low-A affiliate, wherever that ends up being.

Lawrie is known for his strong hands and quick bat speed. He has good power and a plus arm. There is some question as to whether he will stick as a catcher, but that is where the Brewers will leave him for now.

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Prospect Watch: Mat Gamel

Mat Gamel, the top prospect in the Brewers' farm system was just promoted to Triple-A Nashville from Double-A Huntsville. Gamel, 23, hit .329 with 19 home runs and 96 RBI's for Huntsville. He had an excellent .395 on base percentage, and a .933 OPS.

2008 has been a breakout season for Gamel. The third basemen has been named the Southern League's Player of the Week numerous times, and was selected to the MLB Future's Game. He will continue to play third base for Nashville.

Gamel's promotion comes a week before Major League rosters expand to 40 players. Nashville's season in Triple-A ends August 31, so the Brewers so will decide then whether or not they will call up Gamel for the September roster expansion.

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Poll: Should Jeff Suppan Stay in the Starting Rotation?

In our latest poll we asked if Jeff Suppan should remain in the Brewers' starting rotation. The majority of you believe he should not. 72% said he should be removed from the rotation, while just 28% wanted him as a starter.

This season has been a very up and down year for Suppan. He has put together some really good starts, but he's also put together some really awful starts too. As of now Suppan currently has a 7-7 record with a 4.70 ERA. Here's a month by month breakdown of his performance.

April - 5.19 ERA
May - 2.56 ERA
June - 4.33 ERA
July - 9.43 ERA
August - 1.93 ERA (Two Starts)

Suppan has been all over the place this season, and has been very erratic. His career numbers do show that he tends to come on strong towards the end of the season though. Last year Suppan posted a 3.90 ERA in August and a 3.86 ERA in September. In 2006 with the Cardinals, Suppan had a 3.44 ERA in August, a 2.15 ERA in September, and ended up as the MVP of the NLCS.

I think for now it's best to keep Suppan in the rotation. He catches a lot of flack due to his high paying salary, but I don't expect him to pitch like he did in July for the rest of the year. In the last three years Suppan has a 3.09 ERA after the All-Star break. The Brewers don't really have a better option than him, and based on his history he should finish strong.

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The Dugout Incident

During Monday night's game the FSN broadcast showed Manny Parra and Prince Fielder walking to the end of the dugout exchanging words, and then Fielder snapping on Parra. Fielder shoved Parra with full force back into the wall. Several Brewers then restrained Fielder from mauling Parra.

This is absolutely unacceptable behavior from Fielder regardless of what was said. Teammates fighting is not what this team needs right now, especially from Fielder, who is supposed to be a leader. Parra could have easily been hurt, and that's one of the last things this team needs down the stretch. If you have a problem you don't use physical force on a teammate to solve it.

Prince has been known for his temper in his time with the Brewers. This isn't the first time he's shown a lot of emotion. Showing emotion, or trying to motivate someone is no excuse for attacking them though. I wouldn't mind seeing Prince out of the lineup for a game to teach him a lesson.

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Prospect Watch: Luis Pena

Luis Pena, a 25-year old relief pitcher was originally signed by the Brewers in 1999 as a non-drafted free agent. Pena is currently playing in Triple-A for the Nashville Sounds.

Pena did well for himself in the first half earning a spot on the PCL All-Star team. There were rumblings about him being called up to the show to help the Brewers' bullpen, but since then he has faltered. Pena had a horrendous month of July with a 13.50 ERA.

Currently Pena's ERA stands at 5.89. Pena has a good fastball and was thought of as a potential closer by some, but he has struggled lately. He had been a shoe in for a September callup, but that may no longer be the case. It will be interesting to see how he responds down the stretch.

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Poll: First Half MVP

Our latest poll asked who was the Brewers' first half MVP? The winner of the poll was Ben Sheets with 47%. I was slightly surprised to see Salomon Torres come in second place at 29%, while Ryan Braun was third with 23%.

I can't argue with Sheets winning the poll. He was the teams ace in the first half, won 10 games, had a sub 3 ERA, and started for the NL in the all-star game. Sheets was fantastic, and definitely deserving of the honor.

I was surprised to see Torres get more votes than Braun, but he was great. The Brewers needed someone to take hold of the closers role, and Torres got the job done. After watching Gagne blow all those saves you understand how valuable Torres is to this team.

If there was an MVP in the lineup it was definitely Braun. He started in the all-star game, and was far and away the Brewers top hitter. He also provided the team with consistency, which most of the lineup had trouble with in the first half.

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Prospect Watch: Evan Frederickson

Evan Frederickson was drafted by the Brewers #35 overall in this past June's draft. Frederickson is a 6'6'' left handed pitcher out of the University of San Francisco.

After posting a 3.09 ERA in the Pioneer League for Helena, the 21 year-old Frederickson was quickly moved to Low-A West Virginia. So far he's off to a bit of a rough start. Through 13.2 innings pitched Frederickson is 0-1 with a 7.90 ERA. He's struck out 13 batters, but has allowed 18 walks.

Frederickson throws a mid 90's fastball and has a lot of potential, but he's not as polished as some college pitchers are. He has control issues that he needs to work on, but the stuff is definitely there. It will be very interesting to watch his progress. Right Field Bleachers recently had an interview with him, which you can read by clicking here.

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Unbelievable

The only word that can describe the Brewers right now is unbelievable. After sweeping the Cards tonight, the Brewers have now won eight straight games, and lead the NL Wild Card. They are one game behind the Cubs for first place in the division.

Ryan Braun is unreal. Is there anyone you'd rather have up in a big situation? Ryan Braun is the definition of pro. He was born for the big moment. A two run homer to take the lead in the 9th, and it secures a sweep on the road.

The way this team has come back late in these games has been amazing. These definitely aren't the Brewers of old, who we have seen fold so many times after squandering a lead, or would give up when down. This team expects to win, and they never give up. It sure is great to watch them play.

Next up for the Brewers will be the Houston Astros at Miller Park. The crew will look to win their ninth straight game. Then the Chicago Cubs come to town for what will be the biggest series of the year thus far.

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Prospect Watch: Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson was the Brewers fourth round pick in the 2001 draft. After being drafted Nelson quickly asserted himself as one of the Brewers top prospects. Then Nelson battled injuries, and saw his status as a top prospect take a nose dive. Last season things started to get back on track for him as he hit 20 home runs in Triple-A.

This season the 25 year-old first basemen is hitting .296 with a spectacular .402 on base percentage for the Sounds. He's also hit 12 home runs and has 52 RBI. Out in the field he's made four errors.

It's been a long time coming for Nelson, and now he's knocking on the door of the major leagues. Unfortunately for Nelson, he's blocked by Prince Fielder. If he continues to play well though he should receive a September call up when the roster expands.

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Brewers Acquire Durham

ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Brewers have acquired second basemen, Ray Durham from the Giants in exchange for minor leaguers, Steve Hammond and Darren Ford.

Durham is hitting .293 with a .385 on base percentage at second base. Rickie Weeks this is your wake up call. Durham's high OBP would look good at the top of the Brewers order, and he will press Weeks for playing time.

I really like this trade. Durham gives the Brewers the high on base guy they needed, and Doug Melvin did not have to give up too much for him. Steve Hammond was having a nice year pitching in Double-A, but struggled since being promoted to Triple-A. He's also 26 years old so he most likely won't make a huge impact in the major leagues.

Darren Ford has not been having a very strong season. The 22 year-old center fielder was only hitting .230 in High-A Brevard County. He did have 48 stolen bases however. Last year at Low-A West Virginia, Ford hit .335 with a .398 on base percentage, but he has not handled the promotion to High-A well.

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Podcast: Brewers Blog Roundtable EP 2

Along with Right Field Bleachers and Bernie's Crew we are proud to bring you the second edition of the Brewers Blog Roundtable. Jared, Jim, and myself discuss the All-Star game, the top prospect in the Brewers system other than Mat Gamel, the first half of the season, and the keys to success in the second half.

You can listen to the show by clicking here.

Please let us know what you think by leaving a comment, or by sending an e-mail to brewersfanatics@yahoo.com We really would like to hear your feedback!

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Mid-Season Grades - Hitters

Rickie Weeks - Rickie has been a real disappointment. He has all the potential in the world, but sadly it seems he may never live up to it. No lead off hitter should be hitting .217, and if Rickie hadn't been a #2 overall pick, and came to the team with so much hype he probably wouldn't be in the big leagues still. Grade = D-

J.J. Hardy - Hardy started slow, but boy has he been hot the last month or so. J.J. is near the top in every statistical category for shortstops, and has been solid in the field. Grade = B

Ryan Braun - Braun keeps on dominating. He hasn't let up much after his historical rookie season, and has been the best player in the Brewers lineup this season. Grade = A

Prince Fielder - Most players would dream of having a season like Fielder is having right now. Prince has 18 homers at the break, and after last years performance this is an off year for him. He's been a little more inconsistent than in the past as he is getting used to being pitched differently. Grade = B+

Corey Hart - Brewers fans have known about Corey Hart for a while, but he finally got the recognition he deserved by making the all-star team through the final vote. Hart does everything well and might be the most consistent player on the team. Grade = A-

Bill Hall - It's been a difficult year for Billy, but he's been heating up as of late. Since he began platooning with Branyan he's really upped his game. His average is down, but he is still hitting for pretty good power. Grade = C

Russell Branyan - The muscle returned to Milwaukee with a bang. He started off extremely hot, but has cooled off recently. He does have 11 home runs in 106 at bats, which you'll take any time. Grade = B

Mike Cameron - Cameron has provided the Brewers with another power bat and solid defense. His power is probably more than expected. However, he wasn't a very good hitter in the two hole as his average and on base percentage were not high enough. He is solid batting seventh though. Grade = C

Jason Kendall - Kendall has been fantastic, and is exactly what the Brewers were looking for after the disaster known as Johnny Estrada. All the pitchers seem to love him, especially Ben Sheets, as he calls a great game. Not only does Kendall call a great game, but his defense has been much better than advertised. A .339 on base percentage from a catcher isn't bad either. Grade = B+

Joe Dillon - Joe hasn't had a ton of playing time, but has been very serviceable when called upon. He posted a .359 on base percentage in the first half, which you love to see off the bench. Grade = B-

Mike Rivera - Speaking of minimal playing time Rivera has rarely seen the field as the back up catcher to Jason Kendall. Rivera only had 47 at bats in the first half, but when he's played you can't ask for anything more. Rivera hit .319 with a .360 OBP. Grade = A

Gabe Kapler - What an addition Gabe has been. It seems every time he is called upon he delivers. He's having one of the best years of his career; not bad for someone who didn't even play last year. Grade = A

Craig Counsell - I'm not going to lie, I've never been a big fan of Counsell. I didn't understand why the Brewers signed him back after he didn't do well in his first stint with the team, especially when they could have had Jeff Cirillo back instead. This year I haven't minded him as much. He's actually been pretty solid off the bench this season. He plays good defense and has been giving the Brewers good at bats when they need him to. Grade = C+

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Mid-Season Grades - Pitchers

We've reached the half way point of the season, and now is the time to hand out grades for the first half. Here's a breakdown of the pitchers.

Ben Sheets - Sheets is turning in a Cy Young type season, and started in the all-star game. The Brewers couldn't have asked for anything more. Grade = A

Jeff Suppan - It's been an inconsistent year for Soup. He had a really nice stretch where he turned in some great starts, but has also had some terrible outings. Now he's on the DL. Grade = C-

Dave Bush - Bush, like Suppan, has suffered from inconsistency. Bush got off to a horrible start, but has really turned things around since June by putting together some dynamite starts. Grade = C+

Manny Parra - Manny got off to a slow start but sure heated up. For a first year starter, Parra has been excellent, and gives the Brewers a chance to win every time out. Grade = B+

CC Sabathia - CC has done great in his two starts with the Brewers, but hasn't been around long enough to earn a grade. Grade = Incomplete

Seth McClung - McClung has definitely done more than most expected out of him. Many were shocked to see he made the team out of Spring Training, but he did a solid job in the pen, and has made some much needed quality starts. Grade = B-

Salomon Torres - Torres began the season as a 7th inning type guy, but quickly took the closers role after Gagne's poor performance. He's exceeded all expectations, and probably would have been an all-star had he been the closer from the beginning. Grade = A

Eric Gagne - While Torres has exceeded expectations, Gagne has fallen far below his. The $10 million man has been a complete disappointment. He has an ERA over seven, blew five saves, and has two losses. Grade = F

David Riske - Riske was one of the Brewers' big acquisitions in the off-season, but like Gagne hasn't performed to the level the Brewers hoped. He's battled injuries, and has been pretty mediocre when healthy. The Brewers are hoping he puts it together in the second half. Grade = D+

Brian Shouse - The unsung hero of the bullpen. Shouse has been spectacular this year for the Brewers as their lefty specialist. He goes out there and gets the job done. Grade = A

Guillermo Mota - Well you can't expect much out of a guy when it only took Johnny Estrada to acquire him. Still, after showing promise early in the season it's disappointing to see Mota just melt down. Grade = D-

Carlos Villanueva - Expectations were high for Carlos, and things haven't gone as planned. He started off in the rotation, and now is in the bullpen as a long relief guy. He's been a little better in relief, but after his performance last year many thought he was going to be a quality starter. Grade = D

Mitch Stetter - Stetter definitely has some electric stuff. He's been solid for the most part, but has also had some control problems. You can't complain much about a 2.45 ERA though. Grade = B

Come back tomorrow for a breakdown of the lineup and bench players.

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Prospect Watch: Top 10 Prospects

We're halfway through the season, and it's time to put together the Brewers top 10 prospect list.

1. Mat Gamel - With Matt LaPorta gone, Mat Gamel is the number one prospect in the system. A .375 average and 15 home runs was good enough to earn Gamel a spot in the futures game.

2. Jeremy Jeffress - Jeffress perhaps has more potential than any other Brewers prospect. Jeffress has been inconsistent this year, but when he's on he's unstoppable. Jeffress has 80 strikeouts in 57.2 innings pitched at Brevard County.

3. Angel Salome - Salome has been mashing at Double-A Huntsville. The 22-year old catcher hit .345 with a .401 on base percentage in the first half. Brewer fans have been waiting a long time for a catcher that can hit and Salome might be just that.

4. Michael Brantley - Brantley was good last season too, but this year people are starting to take notice. He's only 21-years old and had a .407 on base percentage in the first half for Huntsville. The center fielder has also stolen 25 bases. He could very well be taking Mike Cameron's place in center field down the line, and fill the Brewers need for a lead off hitter.

5. Alcides Escobar - Escobar is one of the most exciting prospects in Huntsville. He hit .337 with a .367 on base percentage in the first half, and wreaks havoc on the base paths, having stolen 25 bases.

6. Jonathan Lucroy - Lucroy just keeps on hitting. He hit well at Low-A West Virginia to start the season, and has continued to rake at High-A Brevard County, currently boasting a .326 average. Lucroy along with Salome lead a suddenly strong corps of catchers in the farm system.

7. Taylor Green - The other third base prospect in Brewers system, who plays better defensively than Mat Gamel. Green also has a solid bat. He's not a big power hitter, but does have 10 home runs. He shows great plate discipline with his .368 on base percentage.

8. Cole Gillespie - The best word to describe Gillespie would be solid. He's not a can't miss prospect, but is a nice player. The 24 year-old outfielder, currently playing for Double-A Huntsville, has an impressive .379 on base percentage, and 12 home runs.

9. Jake Odorizzi - Drafted #32 overall in this past June's draft, Odorizzi was touted by many as the best high school pitcher in the draft. He can throw four different pitches, and has good command. He provides the Brewers' system with much needed pitching depth.

10. Chris Errecart - Errecart is one of the more underrated players the Brewers have in the minors right now. Perhaps it's because he plays in Huntsville, where talent is a plenty. The 23 year-old first basemen hit .291 with a .364 on base percentage, and 13 home runs in the first half.

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Poll: CC Sabathia Trade

After the big trade was made to acquire CC Sabathia we put up a poll asking if you liked the trade or not. 35 votes were turned in, and 27 people said they liked the trade, while 8 people were not in favor.

After today it'd be hard not to like what you see from Sabathia so far. After two games he's 2-0, and today he turned in an amazing performance with a complete game. He allowed only two runs, and struck out nine.

Oh yeah, and he hit a home run. Ben wrote when the trade went down that Sabathia would also help out the Brewers' offense. Good call on that one. Today was a great win for the Brewers heading into the all-star break. It sure is nice to have another stopper in the rotation.

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Bush Stepping Up

Two years ago many people were picking Dave Bush to be a breakout player. He was coming off his first season with the Brewers and finished the year with a 4.41 ERA.

Why were people picking him to be a breakout player? It wasn't the way he started the season, but the way he finished it. Bush posted a 3.79 ERA in August, and an ERA of 3.03 in September. The right-hander was primed to have a big 2007.

The 2007 season came and Bush did not have the year everyone hoped he'd have. Bush struggled out of the gate, and finished April with a 6.23 ERA. Bush's struggles eventually landed him in the bullpen for a time, before he went back into the rotation. He finished 2007 with a 5.12 ERA.

2008 came and the Brewers began the spring loaded with starting pitching. Now Bush was battling for a spot in the rotation. He did land a spot in the rotation, but once again struggled early on in the season. Bush finished April 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA. The fans grew frustrated, and many wanted him gone. What happened? Bush seemed to have loads of potential and many thought he was a potential all-star after his first season with the team. He was beginning to look like someone who didn't belong in the big leagues.

After continuous poor outings Bush was sent to Triple-A to figure things out. Bush only made one start in Triple-A, and it was a good one. He pitched six innings, allowing only one earned run. Then Yovani Gallardo went down with an injury and Bush was recalled to take his place in the rotation.

The results did not get any better at the big league level upon his return. Bush gave up at least five runs in three of his next four starts. It was to the point where Brewers fans dreaded every time he made a start. Then all of a sudden something started to click. Bush turned in an outstanding month of June by posting a 3.65 ERA.

Despite a solid month in June, Bush's status in the rotation was still in question. The Brewers made a blockbuster trade, acquiring 2007 AL Cy Young winner, CC Sabathia. The question when the Brewers made the trade was, who was going to be dropped out of the rotation? The most likely choice was Dave Bush or Seth McClung. However, shortly after the trade was made it was announced Jeff Suppan was headed to the 15 day DL.

Jeff Suppan was signed to the largest contract in Brewers history prior to last season, and is making over $8 million this season. When he returns from the disabled list it's assumed he will regain his spot in the rotation. That means one of Bush or McClung will move to the bullpen.

Bush has been making a real strong case by his recent performance that he won't be the one taken out of the rotation. In two starts so far this month Bush is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA. In his last start he allowed only one run and had a career-high, 13 punch outs. The heat has been on Bush to step up, and he is responding. Well done Dave Bush, well done.

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Podcast: Brewers Blog Roundtable

Along with Right Field Bleachers, and Brewers Nation, we are proud to bring you the first edition of the Brewers Blog Roundtable. Jared from Right Field Bleachers, Jim from Brewers Nation, and myself discuss the latest on the brew crew.

Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a message, or e-mail us at brewersfanatics@yahoo.com with any suggestions, questions, or comments.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking here

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Prospect Watch: Cutter Dykstra

Cutter Dykstra, the son of former major leaguer, Lenny Dykstra, was one of the Brewers' second round picks in this past June's draft. (#54 overall) The 19 year-old is currently playing center field in rookie league for the Helena Brewers and is off to a solid start.

Though 10 games and 36 at bats Dykstra is hitting .278 with a .395 on base percentage. He has one home run and two RBI. Out in the field he's made one error. Dykstra will most likely begin next season in Low-A, whether that's West Virginia remains to be seen, since there are rumors the Brewers will not renew their contract with the Power.

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Corey Hart: All Star? Yes!

As of today through the first 24 hours of voting, Hart is currently leading in the final vote for the National League. He is narrowly leading David Wright of the Mets, who is followed by Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, and Carlos Lee.

Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays leads the voting on the AL side thus far, followed by Jermaine Dye, Jason Giambi, Brian Roberts, and Jose Guillen.

Don't forget to vote for Hart, or whoever you think the most deserving player may be. Voting ends on Thursday at 4 p.m. CT.

I will update this thread with results until Thursday.

Update 7/8: Hart and Longoria continue to lead, the current voting positions remain the same in both leagues.

Update 7/9: With 24 hours remaining in the final vote, the standings in both leagues remain the same.

Update 7/10: Corey Hart wins the NL final vote! He narrowly edges out David Wright. Evan Longoria wins the AL final vote.

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What the Sabathia Trade Means to the Brewers

Obviously it's a huge deal whenever a team makes a deal for the reigning Cy Young award winner, but what does this deal mean to the Brewers' chances this year?

It gives them a legitimate front of the rotation starter to be paired with Ben Sheets for the rest of the year, and with the opportunity for CC to make approximately 14 or 15 more starts this season, he can make a big impact on the NL Central race. Sabathia essentially replaces either Dave Bush or Seth McClung in the rotation, and whoever gets replaced (presumably McClung because of his previous bullpen experience and Bush's strong past few starts) will provide the Brewers with sorely-needed bullpen help and depth.

Believe it or not, he will also help the team on offense on the days that he starts. Sabathia is a career .300 hitter with 2 homers in 40 at bats. Most importantly if the Brewers make the playoffs; Sabathia, Sheets, and Manny Parra will give Milwaukee an imposing playoff rotation that will be able to compete with anyone else's in the NL.

This is an exciting day to be a Milwaukee Brewers fan, and hopefully the addition of CC Sabathia will allow the Brewers to break their 26 year playoff drought.


Update: Jeff Suppan will be placed on the 15 day DL, and Sabathia will be taking his place in the rotation.

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Sabathia Coming to Milwaukee

It's a done deal. CC Sabathia is a Milwaukee Brewer. Sabathia comes to the Brewers in exchange for Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson, and a player to be named later.

The deal was reported first by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt, and has since been reported on ESPN as well.

This is absolutely huge. It's tough to see Matt LaPorta go, but the thought of Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia in the same rotation has Brewer fans salivating. The Brewers now have two legitimate ace starters, and no team will want to face them in the playoffs.

The time is now for Brewers. They haven't been to the playoffs since 1982, and are looking to change that this year. Sheets and Sabathia will both be free agents after this season is over so it's playoffs or bust. Right now the Brewers are tied with the Cardinals for the Wild Card, and with Sabathia in the fold hopefully they continue their strong push towards the playoffs. Sabathia is expected to make his first start on Tuesday.

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All-Stars Announced

The All-Star team was announced today and two Brewers were selected to the game. Ryan Braun was voted in as a starter, and Ben Sheets was also selected.

Corey Hart is in the final vote so make sure to vote for him. Hart is one of the most underrated players in the game, and really deserves to go to New York to show everyone what he's all about.

It's disappointing not to see J.J. Hardy selected. No one has been hotter than Hardy in the past few weeks. Right now Hardy is hitting .295 with 12 home runs. I definitely think he's more deserving than Christian Guzman, and Miguel Tejada, who were both selected as reserves.

Then there is Salomon Torres. I wasn't surprised he didn't make it, but he's done a great job. He hasn't been in the closers role as long as the guys who made the All-Star team, but his ERA is right up there with those guys, and better than some of them.

One other guy who I think needs to be mentioned is Brian Shouse. I know mostly closers are selected as relievers in the All-Star game, but Brian Shouse has done one heck of a job this season. The guy has a 2.08 ERA and all he does is get the job done time and time again. Shouse really deserves some recognition but not many people give him the credit he deserves.

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Sabathia Rumor

There's been a rumor going around that the Brewers might be interested in acquiring CC Sabathia. Sabathia is a free agent at the end of the season, and the Indians might be looking to trade him if they can get the right group of prospects.

The Brewers could definitely use Sabathia, as he would give a much needed boost to their starting rotation. The question is, should the Brewers be willing to pay the price it would take to get him? I don't think he's worth it.

If the Brewers were to trade for Sabathia they would most likely have to include Matt LaPorta, or Mat Gamel in the trade. Is it worth trading potential all-stars for two months of Sabathia? I don't think so.

Last year the Brewers traded Will Inman, along with Steve Garrison, and Joe Thatcher for two months of Scott Linebrink. The Linebrink trade didn't help the Brewers win games, and Will Inman currently has a 3.18 ERA in Double-A. Inman was the Brewers' top pitching prospect at the time, and the Brewers system is defintely lacking in that department right now.

While it would be nice to have Sabathia, the cost of getting him is too high. What would be the difference in the win column if the Brewers acquired Sabathia? With a small sample size of two months it wouldn't make much of an impact. Then once the season ends the Brewers most likely wouldn't be able to keep him. Ben Sheets is going to be a free agent as well at seasons end, and he needs to be the Brewers' number one priority.

Brewers Nation recently wrote about some starting pitching possibilities.

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Prospect Watch: Mat Gamel

Mat Gamel just continues to produce for Double-A Huntsville. The third basemen is hitting a whopping .383 and boasts a .445 on base percentage. He's also hit 15 home runs and has 72 RBI. However, he does have 22 errors in the field.

Expect Gamel to keep raking in Huntsville for the time being. The Brewers seem to be in no rush to move him up to Triple-A, as they want him to continue to work on his defense. Gamel was recently rewarded for his stellar play this season as he was selected to the MLB Future's Game, along with teammate, Matt LaPorta.

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Fact or Fiction

Ben Sheets will start the All-Star Game?

This is a fact. Sheets is 9-1 with a 2.59 ERA. The only guy more deserving of the start is the Reds' Edinson Volquez, who is 10-2 with a 1.71 ERA. Sheets has been around longer, and has more name recognition so I think he'll get the start.

Russell Branyan will continue to produce at a high level?

Fact. Branyan is platooning with Bill Hall so he is only seeing right handers. If he were playing every day it would be fiction, but since he's only facing right handers this is a fact. This season Branyan is 0 for 11 against lefties, but is hitting .349 against right handed pitching.

Gabe Kapler should be the Brewers' every day center fielder?

Fiction. While Kapler has had a great season thus far his defense is no where near Mike Cameron's. Cameron's average is a little low right now, but it's a small sample size, and he has hit 12 home runs.

The Brewers should trade Bill Hall?

This is definitely fiction. Hall asked to be traded a few weeks ago but there is no reason for the Brewers to accommodate his request. Although Russell Branyan is an absolute monster against right handed pitching, he really scuffles against lefties. Hall hits left handed pitching well, and has a lot of versatility. The Hall/Branyan platoon have combined for 20 home runs, the same amount Ryan Braun has this year. Having them platoon has been like having another Fielder or Braun in the lineup.

Putting Eric Gagne in the setup role upon his return is a good move?

Fiction. It was announced when Gagne returns he would take over the role as the setup man. This is a bad move. He shouldn't close, and he shouldn't pitch the 8th inning either. When Gagne returns he should not be pitching in high pressure situations right away. He didn't prove he could handle the closers spot earlier this season, and until he starts performing he shouldn't have a crucial role in the bullpen.

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Prospect Watch: Jonathan Lucroy

Jonathan Lucroy, a catcher from Louisiana Lafayette, was the Brewers' third round draft pick in 2007. Lucroy, 22, was recently promoted from West Virginia to High-A Brevard County.

In 239 at bats at West Virginia, Lucroy hit .310 with a .390 on base percentage. He had 10 home runs and 33 RBI. Lucroy has played four games since being promoted and is off to a good start with Brevard County. He's currently hitting .357 with one home run and five RBI's.

Lucroy is one of the Brewers' prospects I find the most exciting. Catching has been very weak in the Brewers' sytem over the years, but it is starting to become a strength with Lucroy, Angel Salome, and the recently drafted Brett Lawrie. If Lucroy continues to perform well he'll have a chance to start next season in Double-A.

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Which Prospect Excites you the Most?

We asked which prospect excites you the most? The turnout was very good. The choices were Matt LaPorta, Mat Gamel, Jeremy Jeffress, Alcides Escobar, Cole Gillespie, and Angel Salome.

Matt LaPorta received the most votes with 16, which was good for 37% of the vote. Fellow Huntsville Star, Matt Gamel, finished in second with 11 votes, which made up 25% of the vote. Angel Salome was third with 13%, followed by Alcides Escobar at 11%, Cole Gillespie with 9%, and Jeremy Jeffress had 2%.

Matt LaPorta won the poll which makes sense, since he is probably the closest to the big leagues. Currently at Double-A Huntsville LaPorta is hitting .297 with an outstanding on base percentage of .411. He's slugged 19 home runs and has 58 RBI.

In all 43 votes were turned in. Thank you to everyone that voted.

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Prospect Watch: Taylor Green

Taylor Green, the reigning Brewers minor league player of the year, is having another stand out season at High-A Brevard County. The 21 year-old third basemen is hitting .316 with a .398 on base percentage. He has six home runs and 42 RBI's. While his bat is very good, he needs work defensively, as he has 11 errors.

Green is a very promising prospect. He doesn't have a ton of power, but he's a guy that could hit around 20 home runs in the big leagues. He's more in the Jeff Cirillo mold of third basemen than a Mat Gamel or Ryan Braun type. If he continues to play well he could earn a promotion to Double-A once the Brewers choose to move Gamel to Triple-A.

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Weeks on the DL

Now that Rickie Weeks has been placed on the DL with a sprained knee Hernan Iribarren has been recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot.

This is bad news for the Brewers. Ned Yost, please don't start Craig Counsell. Yes, Counsell is good defensively but his bat is horrible. He has zero power, and hits for a terrible average and has been this way since his first stint with the Brewers.

Why don't the Brewers start Hall at second base? If Hall wants to play he'd take the spot. Yes, he hasn't been hitting righties well this season, but it's a small sample size. Last season Hall hit .247 against righties, .261 in 2006, and .277 in 2005. At least have him split playing time with Joe Dillon. If Hall wants to be traded it doesn't help his stock by keeping him on the bench. At least he brings some power to the plate.

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Prospect Watch: Alcides Escobar

It seems like every week someone from the Huntsville Stars shows up on Prospect Watch and this week is no exception. Huntsville is stacked with talent. One of the more highly touted players on the Stars roster is Alcides Escobar.

Escobar, 21, has been swinging the bat extremely well this season at shortstop. Through 62 games Escobar is hitting .337 with a .374 on base percentage. He's also hit six home runs and has 42 RBI. Escobar has proven to be a threat on the base paths as well with 16 stolen bases.

It's amazing how talented the Huntsville lineup is. The way Escobar is going he could see a promotion to Triple-A this season, along with several of the other highly touted prospects in the Stars lineup.

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Brewers Nab Brett Lawrie in 1st Round

The Brewers selected Canadian high school catcher, Brett Lawrie with their first round pick. This looks like it could be another good pick for the Brewers. They took the player they felt was the best available as well as filling a need by taking a catcher. This now gives the Brewers three young quality catchers in their farm system with Lawrie, Angel Salome, and Jonathan Lucroy.

There was an article on yahoo that talks about how his stock had been rising coming into the draft. Here is one thing from that article that stood out.

"Scouts rave about his raw power and some believe he may be the most advanced hitter at age 18 in the country's history. But it's the intangibles that really seem to set him apart, what one described as "the ridiculous fearlessness" he shows on the field and a relentless competitive drive to dominate."

Here's what MLB.com's scouting report says on him.

Strengths:	Plus, plus raw power, generated by strong hands and bat speed.
Weaknesses:	His lack of a true position. Catching might be the best bet, but he's behind due to lack of experience.
Summary:	Scouting Canadian players can sometimes be difficult because of the lack of opportunity to see them. But scouts know all about Lawrie and his plus power potential, something he's been able to show off while playing for the Langley Blaze in British Columbia. What they don't know is where he can play, though he's shown the tools -- raw though they may be -- to handle being a catcher. It may take a while, but putting that bat behind the plate could one day make him a premium player.

The Brewers also had two sandwich picks after the first round. With pick #32 they selected high school pitcher, Jake Odorizzi. Here's his scouting report from MLB.com.

Strengths:	Four average or above pitches and the overall ability to command them. He's got a quick, easy arm action and room to grow on his frame.
Weaknesses:	He doesn't always command the four-seamer consistently, his changeup is behind the other pitches and he surprisingly doesn't make hitters swing and miss as much as you'd think.
Summary:	A high school pitcher with "helium," Odorizzi is moving up charts thanks to an excellent repertoire, good command and smooth delivery. He's got four offerings that grade out as average or better, a projectable frame that has room for growth. The only things that could hold him back are some questions about his competitiveness on the mound and a commitment to Louisville.

Then with pick #35 the Brewers selected a left handed college pitcher, Evan Frederickson from San Francisco. The 21 year-old Frederickson is a towering 6'6''. He had a 5-3 record with a 4.54 ERA this season. In 75.1 innings pitched he had 109 strikeouts.

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Brewers Keep Turning Up the Heat!

The Brewers just continue to roll. After sweeping the Diamondbacks today the Brewers are now 32-28 on the season. They've won six in a row and nine of their last ten.

There were unbelievable performances across the board today. The entire offense is raking right now. The fourth inning was the most exciting inning of the year. In the inning we saw Braun hit a triple, Corey Hart hit an inside the park homer, and then watched Russell Branyan homer in the next at bat! Seeing Hart hit the inside the park homer was one of the most exciting plays I've seen in a long time and is definitely the play of the year so far for the Brewers. It sure is fun to watch this team clicking on all cylinders.

And how about Manny Parra? The offense will get the most attention but he turned in possibly the best performance of his career. Parra went seven strong innings allowing only four hits and one run while striking out eight batters. Manny is following suit with the rest of the starting rotation and is beginning to turn in some solid starts.

The Brewers will have the day off tomorrow and then head to Colorado for a three games series with the Rockies. Ben Sheets will take the mound for the crew and try to keep turning up the heat while Brewers fans clap their hands and stomp their feet because the taste of victory is oh so sweet.

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Prospect Watch: Michael Brantley

Can you say under the radar? Michael Brantley, the Brewers' seventh round pick in the 2005 draft is tearing it up playing center field for Double-A Huntsville. You may not have heard about him yet because of all the other talent there like Mat Gamel, Matt LaPorta, Angel Salome, Alcides Escobar, and Cole Gillespie, but you will be hearing a lot about this name in the near future.

Through 51 games and 204 at bats, Brantley, who just turned 21 a few weeks ago is batting .322 with a .402 on base percentage. He's also stolen 16 bases. These are very strong numbers for someone his age playing at Double-A, or any age for that matter. Last season Brantley hit .335 with .413 on base percentage for Low-A West Virginia.

Brantley has done a fantastic job batting lead off for Huntsville. He's getting on base and letting the big guns drive him in. He certainly has a bright future ahead of him. Brantley most likely won't see the big leagues this season but don't be surprised to see him called up at some point in 2009.

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It's Coming Together

How about that series? The Brewers sweep the Astros and have won six of their last seven games. Everything just seems to be clicking for the team right now.

Dave Bush was outstanding today allowing only one run and has put together back to back great starts. We've seen glimpses of this in the past with Bush but this season he had not been performing well. He's really stepped up his game as of late.

Once again Ryan Braun proves how awesome he is as he homers on Ryan Braun bobble head day. He is so consistent. Braun now has 15 homers on the season and is hitting .297.

Speaking of awesome, Russell "The Muscle" Branyan has been tearing it up since joining the team from Triple-A. He hit his third homer today. The platoon he has going with Hall seems like it's going to work out very well.

How about Ben Sheets' performance on Saturday? Big Ben continues to deal. He's 6-1 with a 2.71 ERA. If the Brewers continue to play well Sheets could be a legitimate Cy Young candidate. Doug Melvin are you listening? Sign this man to an extension!

And how about the pitching in general? The starters have been picking up their performance lately and the bullpen has been lights out since Turnbow and Gagne have been gone. Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota, Brian Shouse, and Tim Dillard have been turning in outstanding outings. All of those guys have ERA's under 3.20.

Things finally seem to be coming together for the Brewers. The bats have come alive and the pitching has really improved. The Brewers record currently stands at 29-28. Now they'll try to close out this home stand with a series victory over the NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

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MLB Draft

The MLB Draft is just a week away and the Brewers have six picks out of the first 62 selections. Here's what some of the mock draft site's have as the Brewers' pick.

MyMLBDraft.com - Jason Castro, C, Stanford

MLBDraftSite.com - Kyle Long, LHP/1B, HS

MLB-Draft.com - Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia

Baseball America - Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia

CBS Sports - Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia

Brewerfan.net - Jason Castro, C, Stanford

Josh Fields seems to be the most popular choice right now as he is the top closer in the draft. He recorded 16 saves and had a 0.66 ERA. Fields also appears to be near major league ready, which for the Brewers is appealing. However, Brewers scouting director, Jack Zduriencik is known for surprises when it comes to the draft and will most likely take the player who he feels is the best available.

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Who Should Close?

We asked the question, "who should close?" and the winner of the poll was Guillermo Mota. The choices were Mota, Eric Gagne, Salomon Torres, David Riske, or closer by committee. Gagne and Riske are both on the disabled list so neither of them can close obviously. Before Gagne was placed on the DL I said Guillermo Mota was the right man for the closers job. Now I believe the right man is Salomon Torres.

Torres has been doing the closing since Gagne's been on the shelf and he's done an admirable job. On the season Torres has 3 saves with a 2.81 ERA in 32 innings pitched. The only reliever with an ERA better than Torres besides the newly acquired Julian Taverez, is lefty specialist, Brian Shouse. Shouse is just that though, a lefty specialist, not a closer.

Guillermo Mota has been a very sold addition to the Brewers bullpen. He's pitched 21.2 innings and has an ERA of 3.32 with 25 strike outs. He makes a very solid setup man. However he hasn't performed too well in the ninth inning when given the chance.

Someone who looks very intriguing is Tim Dillard, who was recently called up from Nashville. He hasn't allowed a run in the few appearances he's made thus far and looks promising. He's got excellent velocity throwing 96mph. I don't think he should be put into late inning situations just yet but he seems to have the potential to close down the line.

For now it's good to see Torres closing ball games, something Gagne unfortunately wasn't able to do with any consistency. If Torres continues to pitch well he should continue being the teams closer upon Gagne's return.

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Prospect Watch: Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Jeffress, the Brewers' 2006 first round pick has had three starts for High-A Brevard County since returning from his 50 game suspension. The results so far have been mixed. He allowed five runs his first start, pitched a five inning shutout in his second start with 10 k's, and allowed nine runs in his last start.

Through three starts Jeffress is 1-2 with a 10.33 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched. He's allowed 21 hits, walked six batters, and struck out 22. He definitely has the potential to be dominant. He's been striking a ton of guys out. I believe he'll become more consistent as he gets more starts. The Brewers are really hoping Jeffress can perform with how weak starting pitching currently is in the system.

Here is some footage off YouTube from his 10 strikeout performance.

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Dillard Gets the Call

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Tim Dillard has been called up from Triple-A Nashville. Dillard, 24, was pitching in relief for the Sounds. He had a 2.01 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched.

I like this move a lot. The pitching right now is not getting the job done. Gagne's status is now up in the air since he has rotator cuff tendinitis. I'm hoping Dillard gets a shot at starting. Dave Bush can't keep going out to start games with an ERA around 7. The Brewers are hoping Dillard can give them a much needed lift. They recently called up Mike DiFelice and Zach Jackson from Triple-A as well but they don't appear to be the answer.

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Prospect Watch: Matt LaPorta

The last time we checked in on the Brewers' top prospect, Matt LaPorta, he was absolutely raking for Double-A Huntsville. What's he doing now? Absolutely raking for Double-A Huntsville. LaPorta is hitting .314 with a .426 on base percentage, and an outstanding 1.048 OPS. He also has 11 dingers and 39 RBI's. Defensively he has yet to commit an error and he has been named Southern League Player of the Week twice already.

The Huntsville lineup is downright nasty and LaPorta is the top guy in it. Expect him to move up to Triple-A Nashville around the All-Star break. I would also expect to see him selected for the Future's Game that goes on All-Star weekend.

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Braun Gets Extension

Ryan Braun is staying in Milwaukee for 7 more years. A press conference was held this morning to make the announcement. The deal is for 8 years and worth $45 million. The contract is the richest in Brewers history. With the deal the Brewers buy out Braun's first two years of free agency.

This is a huge signing for the Brewers. It's nice to see the Brewers lock up young talent. Now it's time to start working on a new contract for Sheets since he is a free agent after this season.

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Eveland and Inman Updates

Dana Eveland and Will Inman were two of the more highly touted pitching prospects out of the Brewers' farm system in recent years. Both are doing well in 2008.

Dana Eveland is pitching in the starting rotation for the Oakland A's. He's 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched, and is holding opposing batters to a .228 average.

Will Inman is pitching for the Padres Double-A team, the San Antonio Missions, and is dealing. Inman is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 43.2 innings. He's struck out 44 batters and has an outstanding WHIP of 1.08. For those not familar with WHIP, it's walks plus hits per inning pitched.

Doug Melvin has been on the winning side of most trades in his time with the Brewers but the trades in which these two left are not looking good right now. Eveland was traded with Doug Davis and Dave Krynzel for Johnny Estrada and Claudio Vargas. Obviously that trade has not worked out for the Brewers.

Will Inman was traded with Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher to the Padres for Scott Linebrink. Linebrink left the Brewers this off-season and signed with the Chicago White Sox. Right now this trade isn't looking good either but the verdict is still out. Inman has yet to pitch in the majors and the Brewers do get two compensation picks for losing Linebrink.

Still, losing these guys hurts considering the problems the Brewers have had with their starting rotation. You can never have too much pitching depth. I thought the Brewers gave up on Eveland too quickly. He's only 24 and came up with the Brewers at a young age. The knock on Inman is some don't think he projects well to the pro level, but he's dominating a hitters league right now in Double-A and appears to be getting close to major league ready so we'll find out about him soon enough.

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Ryan Braun = Awesome

Ryan Braun is quite good. Another game, another two home runs for Braunie. Braun has four homers in the last two games and his batting average has risen to .287.

What I love about Braun is he does not tolerate losing. He let it be known that he wasn't happy with losing and he actually went out and did something about it. Braun doesn't go on long cold streaks. He is the definition of pro. Nice job Ryan Braun.

Also, props go out to Dave Bush for his performance tonight in the win against the Cards. He's been scuffling lately but he came through big tonight allowing only one run in six innings. It sure is nice to see him have a good outing.

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Mota Should Close

Since removing Eric Gagne from the closers role Ned Yost has decided to go closer by committee. This is a bad move. These types of situations never seem to work out.

Guillermo Mota is the best choice to close right now. Mota has been fantastic thus far for the crew. He's pitched 16 innings and struck out 19 batters. His ERA is a sparkling 2.25. He's made 14 appearances and only allowed a run in two of then. Mota has been the most consistent guy out of the bullpen and he deserves a shot to close.

Who do you think should close? Let us know by voting in our poll. Our friends at Right Field Bleachers took a little more in depth look at the closers position so check that out.

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Prospect Watch: Cole Gillespie

Cole Gillespie, a 23 year-old outfielder for Double-A Huntsville was the Brewers' third round pick in the 2006 draft. The former Oregon State Beaver is doing well for Huntsville this season. Gillespie has hit 6 home runs and driven in 27 runs. He's batting .273 with a .359 on base percentage.

Gillespie seems to be hitting for more power than last season. He already has 6 homers. Last year at High-A Brevard County, Gillespie hit 12 the entire season. Huntsville is currently 26-11 on the season and Gillespie is a big reason why. With a lineup consisting of Gillespie, Matt Laporta, Angel Salome, and Mat Gamel, Huntsville should continue to see a lot of success.

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Time to Put up or Pack up

I have not been as hard on Ned Yost as most but now it's time this team starts performing. The underachieving needs to stop. The Brewers are far too talented to be 16-18. Six straight losses, and two straight sweeps is unacceptable.

Tonight begins a seven game home stand for the Brewers. The first series is with division leading St. Louis, followed by a three game series with the Dodgers. These two series are crucial for the team and Ned Yost. If the Brewers are swept by the Cardinals I find it hard to believe Yost will still be the manager when that series ends. The Brewers need a winning home stand and that starts with scoring more runs. The lineup has been abysmal lately and I have a few ideas on how to fix it. What this lineup is lacking is people who get on base. Right now most of the teams approach is head to plate and try to hit a home run but what is happening is they are striking out. Here is a lineup I've come up with.

1. Corey Hart
2. Jason Kendall
3. Ryan Braun
4. Prince Fielder
5. Bill Hall
6. Mike Cameron
7. J.J. Hardy
8. Pitcher
9. Rickie Weeks

Corey Hart would make a great lead off hitter. Weeks is almost too selective at the plate. He's drawing walks but is hitting .188. Weeks has shown decent pop however as he's hit 5 home runs. Moving Weeks down would benefit his approach. Corey Hart is hitting .295 with a .360 on base percentage and 4 stolen bases. He's the best option to hit lead off right now. Moving Jason Kendall to 2nd in the lineup would also be beneficial considering his .361 on base percentage. Right now Mike Cameron has an on base percentage of .302. Weeks' .316 OBP and Cameron's .302 OBP don't cut it batting 1 and 2.

The bottom line is changes need to be made. The same lineup can't be sent out there everyday and be expected to kick things into gear. This team is struggling. It's not time to put up or shut up, for Ned Yost it's time to put up or pack up.

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