re: Some Starting Pitcher Possiblites

Ryan Topp — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:31:45 GMT

Ghost,

You're right, there really isn't an ideal candidate here. Harden for the injury reasons and Burnett for the likely short term nature of being able to keep him.

They need to wait a while and honestly assess where they are around the AS break to determine just how much future they are going to be willing to give up for now based on just what is possible for this year.

It may well turn out that the team just isn't close enough to justify giving up premium talent to get one of these guys.

I know that it's just one game, but what I saw from Perez last night has me thinking that we could realistically look at him as a starter a tier down from the Harden/Burnett ability to fill in the 3rd or 4th spot in the rotation at a minimum cost of prospects. Right now, things are bad enough with the rotation that I think he could upgrade at least 1 spot (Bush) almost certainly another (McClung) and possibly even 3 (Parra).

It might be worth a shot.

re: Some Starting Pitcher Possiblites

ghostdog_on_the_beach — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:00:27 GMT

I think the only real option for the Brewers present pitching woes is to obtain a front end starting pitcher. I think this needs to be approached as a long term move by Melvin. A stop gap move with the eye on the now could have terrible ramifications for this franchise.

Guys like A.J. Burnett and Rich Harden will be expensive, and what are you paying for in both instances.

(a) Brewers fans complain about Ben Sheets durability. If Benny lacks "heart" and "toughness" as some ill informed folks have insisted what would they say about Harden. Has he ever had a stretch of more then 2 months without missing a start (Answer: No). In what amounts to 5 seasons roughly since he was called up Harden has started 81 games (let me repeat that for you 81 games). Since 2006 he has appeared in 18 games. Harden's stuff electric but Harden's durability non-existent.

(b) A.J. Burnett is the baseball great unsolved mystery. The guy has stuff equal to any pitcher in baseball. His career numbers are very good. A career WHIP of 1.283, but if you make move to get him (it will cost you a SS...). If you trade Escobar for him for example, losing him at the end of the season might be. However if you trade them J.J. Hardy you have to resign him at the end of the season which is problematic because he and Sheets are the same pitcher except Sheets is a couple years younger.

In the short term, Hardy for Burnett might be a move you can survive through 2008 but if you lose him and/or Sheets at the end of the year it is not a good move. If Melvin is thinking long term and pulls the trigger on this type of trade I guess it will be OK.