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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Which Young Pitcher Will Have the Best Year?

We asked the question, "Which young pitcher will have the best year?" and the choices were Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, and Carlos Villanueva. Unfortunately, it can no longer be Gallardo since he is most likely out for the year with a torn ACL. What's surprising is that Manny Parra tied Gallardo in votes, and this was before Gallardo went down with the injury.

Parra, 25, made his Brewers debut last season and pitched in 26.1 innings. He posted a 3.76 ERA. This season he's off to a rocky start with a 5.86 ERA and a 1-2 record. With the exception of his last start in Houston where he allowed 5 runs, Parra has pitched well enough to keep the Brewers in games. Expect the lefty to finish the season with an ERA in between last years and his current one this season.

Carlos Villanueva, 24, is in his first full season as a starter. Like Parra, he's also off to a rough start. Villanueva has a record of 1-3 and a 5.56 ERA. He's been effective most of the time but had two starts where he has been roughed up for at least 5 runs. His career ERA at the moment is 4.14. It should be expected that he lowers his ERA. Right now Villanueva is killing left handed hitters holding them to a .203 clip but right handers are batting .386 against him. Once he lowers that average versus right handed batters he should return to performing at his career averages.

Neither Parra or Villanueva is going to perform to the level of Yovani Gallardo. However, both should be serviceable starters. They are an upgrade over what the Brewers have had in the past from number 4 and 5 starters. Expect them both to have an ERA of around 4 to 4.50.

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Prospect Watch: Angel Salome

Angel Salome, the Brewers' top catching prospect who is coming off a 50 game suspension is currently playing for Double-A Huntsville. He's off to a fairly decent start. Salome has played in 15 games and is batting .288 with a .327 on base percentage while hitting 2 homers and 6 RBI. He has not made any errors yet.

It's good to see Salome bouncing back after the suspension. Catching has been weak in the Brewers' farm system for years. With the exception of Salome, and Jonathan Lucroy, who is playing for High-A West Virginia there isn't much to talk about in that department.

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Gallardo Tears ACL

The Brewers have suffered a major blow today with the news that Yovani Gallardo has a torn ACL. Tom Haudricourt from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the news. Here's what he had to say.

"Houston - As it turns out, Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo did not escape serious injury Thursday in a collision at first base in Chicago.

Far from it.

An examination in Milwaukee this morning revealed Gallardo suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in that collision with Chicago's Reed Johnson near first base in the fifth inning. He was placed on the 15-day DL and right-hande Dave Bush was recalled from Class AAA Nashville to replace him.

No decision will be made on surgery until the swelling subsides in Gallardo's knee. But he in all likelihood will miss most if not all the rest of the season, a severe blow to the Brewers' chances in 2008.

Gallardo, 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts, was injured when he tried to leap over Johnson near first base after Johnson tried to beat first baseman Prince Fielder to the bag by diving head-first on a bunt play. It appeared immediately that Gallardo was seriously injured as his knee hyperextended but he shook it off, told the medical staff he was OK and pitched the sixth inning, giving up two runs.

The Brewers must have figured something was wrong, however, because Gallardo was sent to Milwaukee to be examined instead of accompanying the team to Houston.

Gallardo missed the first three weeks of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair torn cartilage."

What an absolute shame this is. This is really going to hurt the Brewers' post season chances.

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Turnbow Cut

The Brewers have cut Derrick Turnbow. This news isn't too surprising after his last outing where he gave up 6 runs. Turnbow had a 15.63 ERA this season.

Turnbow could never regain his All-Star form after his breakout season in 2005 when he posted a 1.74 ERA. The problem for Turnbow was that he could never locate his breaking ball. He got progressively worse after 2005. Here are his numbers with the Brewers.

2005 - 1.74 ERA, 39 Saves, 64 K's
2006 - 6.87 ERA, 24 Saves, 69 K's
2007 - 4.63 ERA, 1 Save, 84 K's
2008 - 15.63 ERA, 1 Save, 5 K's

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