Isn't it at least nice to have a team that people think is capable of something?  Yes, they are underachieving, and yes, they probably need another piece, but isn't it nice to be relevant.  The Brewers haven't been relevant since 1992.  So while all of you proclaim your hatred for Doug Melvin and love to tell the world what a terrible job he's done, remember that the Brewers haven't been relevant in 15 years, and he is the man who assembled this team, the first Brewers team that anyone has cared about in 15 years.

Give me a break. Jack Z assembled this team of home growners, not Melvin. Melvin will be remembered for bringing two druggies in that need the juice to be effective, and gave away 15 mill to them when hobody else was interested.

Melvin mistakes in the last couple years that will also cost him his job:

Gagme - 10 mill for nothing.

Cameron - 5 mill for nothing, and 25 game suspension to boot

Hall- 24 mill for a guy that is a utility player

Suppan - 42 mill for a 5th starter that can't get past the 5th inning

Turnblow - 6 mill for nothing over last two years. He was not arby eligible, so why waste money giving it away for nothing?

The only good thing he did in the last year was to sign Kendall, and that was only for 1 year I believe?

ragetti:

Give me a break. Jack Z assembled this team of home growners, not Melvin. Melvin will be remembered for bringing two druggies in that need the juice to be effective, and gave away 15 mill to them when hobody else was interested.

Melvin mistakes in the last couple years that will also cost him his job:

Gagme - 10 mill for nothing.

Cameron - 5 mill for nothing, and 25 game suspension to boot

Hall- 24 mill for a guy that is a utility player

Suppan - 42 mill for a 5th starter that can't get past the 5th inning

Turnblow - 6 mill for nothing over last two years. He was not arby eligible, so why waste money giving it away for nothing?

The only good thing he did in the last year was to sign Kendall, and that was only for 1 year I believe?

ragetti:

Give me a break. Jack Z assembled this team of home growners, not Melvin. Melvin will be remembered for bringing two druggies in that need the juice to be effective, and gave away 15 mill to them when hobody else was interested.

Melvin mistakes in the last couple years that will also cost him his job:

Gagme - 10 mill for nothing.

Cameron - 5 mill for nothing, and 25 game suspension to boot

Hall- 24 mill for a guy that is a utility player

Suppan - 42 mill for a 5th starter that can't get past the 5th inning

Turnblow - 6 mill for nothing over last two years. He was not arby eligible, so why waste money giving it away for nothing?

The only good thing he did in the last year was to sign Kendall, and that was only for 1 year I believe?

Really, so you sat in on the draft meetings and you know, for a fact, that Jack Zduriencik made every personnel decision?  Braun, Hart, Fielder, Gallardo, Parra, LaPorta, etc..Every one of those guys was chosen by Jack Z and not Melvin?  Melvin had nothing to do with those decisions?

This is my point.  You say that like you have any idea what you're talking about, when in fact, you have none.  Yes, I know that Jack Z. is the scouting director, and I know that the scouting director makes many of the draft day decisions, but you really don't have a clue who assembled this team, so you blame Melvin for the bad and give him no credit for the good.

By the way, Gagne has turned out to be pretty awful, but I found very few knowledable journalists who thought this was a terrible signing.  It was essentially a no-lose situation.  Either he's terrible, is replaced by mid-season, and his contract is off the books next year, or he is great.  Prior to the season, most people thought the Kendall signing was just as bad - I'm glad we all can look back now and judge decisions through our hindsight glasses.

ike1024:

Really, so you sat in on the draft meetings and you know, for a fact, that Jack Zduriencik made every personnel decision?  Braun, Hart, Fielder, Gallardo, Parra, LaPorta, etc..Every one of those guys was chosen by Jack Z and not Melvin?  Melvin had nothing to do with those decisions?

This is my point.  You say that like you have any idea what you're talking about, when in fact, you have none.  Yes, I know that Jack Z. is the scouting director, and I know that the scouting director makes many of the draft day decisions, but you really don't have a clue who assembled this team, so you blame Melvin for the bad and give him no credit for the good.

"Gagme - 10 mill for nothing."

One year deal - he's done being a closer and he was the best option on the market at the time.

"Cameron - 5 mill for nothing, and 25 game suspension to boot"

He's played like 10 games, is solid defensively, and has a track record of being successful - I'm glad you're such a talent evaluator that you can judge how great a signing was in under 15 games.

"Hall- 24 mill for a guy that is a utility player"

The year that he hit 35 homeruns.  Do you know how many other guys that have hit 30+ hrs and gotten 24 mil?  I'll go ahead and say it's been more than a few.

"Suppan - 42 mill for a 5th starter that can't get past the 5th inning"

This one I'll agree with, although there is something to be said for guys that never get hurt and throw 200 innings - see Carlos Silva.

"Turnblow - 6 mill for nothing over last two years. He was not arby eligible, so why waste money giving it away for nothing?"

I agree that he was not arbitration eligible so signing him after a good half-season didn't make much sense, but I think we can all agree that he has talent, he's just menatlly weak with poor mechanics.  And really, how much is six million for a power reliever these days?  But I agree that this didn't work out.

But to the guy who thought it was a bad move to let Cordero and Linebrink go: No 7th inning reliever is worth what Linebrink got.  He had a great year in San Diego - I would have a 4.00 ERA in SD.  He really isn't that great and they would have had to severely overpay to keep him and then we would have to hear about what a terrible signing that was and how they overpaid.  And Cordero is overpaid too.  Closer is the most overrated position in baseball and NO ONE should make 12 million/yr to come in and get three outs with no one on.  It's magnified because the Brewers have had so many blown saves, but I'm sure they can find someone.  Mota, Riske, and Torres can all come in and get three outs if no one is on base.  Hell, McClung and Stetter probably can too.

ptisme:

ike1024:

Really, so you sat in on the draft meetings and you know, for a fact, that Jack Zduriencik made every personnel decision?  Braun, Hart, Fielder, Gallardo, Parra, LaPorta, etc..Every one of those guys was chosen by Jack Z and not Melvin?  Melvin had nothing to do with those decisions?

This is my point.  You say that like you have any idea what you're talking about, when in fact, you have none.  Yes, I know that Jack Z. is the scouting director, and I know that the scouting director makes many of the draft day decisions, but you really don't have a clue who assembled this team, so you blame Melvin for the bad and give him no credit for the good.

I think you pretty much answered you own question ike....

Did I?  Or did I ask if you really have any idea?  When it comes to the 22nd round, I'm sure the regional scouts and Jack have the say.  My guess is that Doug had a pretty big say in all of the guys that I named.  But hey, since you were there...

 Melvin arrived in October of 2002. Keep in mind, the draft is in June. Hart was drafted in 2000. Parra was picked in 2001 and signed in 2002. Hardy was drafted in 2001, and Fielder in 2002, before Melvin was even here. Melvin has less say in those drafts than you think, and in many cases none (Dean Taylor may have). Even Brewerfan.net has been calling them "Jack Z's" drafts. Jack Z was here a lot earlier than Melvin as well.

ike1024:

Isn't it at least nice to have a team that people think is capable of something?  Yes, they are underachieving, and yes, they probably need another piece, but isn't it nice to be relevant.  The Brewers haven't been relevant since 1992.  So while all of you proclaim your hatred for Doug Melvin and love to tell the world what a terrible job he's done, remember that the Brewers haven't been relevant in 15 years, and he is the man who assembled this team, the first Brewers team that anyone has cared about in 15 years.

geddymd72:

 Melvin arrived in October of 2002. Keep in mind, the draft is in June. Hart was drafted in 2000. Parra was picked in 2001 and signed in 2002. Hardy was drafted in 2001, and Fielder in 2002, before Melvin was even here. Melvin has less say in those drafts than you think, and in many cases none (Dean Taylor may have). Even Brewerfan.net has been calling them "Jack Z's" drafts. Jack Z was here a lot earlier than Melvin as well.

http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewArticle.do?articleId=196

Fair enough, good point.

Although I think you're wrong about the amount of input that everyone has when it comes to the top 2-3 picks, but I agree Jack Z. runs the the rest of the draft.

shipitdear:

ike1024:

Isn't it at least nice to have a team that people think is capable of something?  Yes, they are underachieving, and yes, they probably need another piece, but isn't it nice to be relevant.  The Brewers haven't been relevant since 1992.  So while all of you proclaim your hatred for Doug Melvin and love to tell the world what a terrible job he's done, remember that the Brewers haven't been relevant in 15 years, and he is the man who assembled this team, the first Brewers team that anyone has cared about in 15 years.

I don't have any hatred for Melvin but he didn't do a good job in the off-season.  He could not have handled the Cordero thing any worse than he did and then compounded that mistake w/ the Gagne signing.  He deserves all the criticism he's getting.  In fact, most of the anger directed at Yost should be redirected Melvin's way.

Ok, but I really don't think he did as bad a job as everyone is now saying.

He is being held accountable for poor performances by players that no one else thought would be struggling.  I'm really not going to blame him for Braun and Fielder starting slow and Hardy not being able to hit .250.

And we can just agree to disagree on the Cordero/Gagne situation.  Cordero is not worth the amount of money that he is being paid and Gagne was the best option available at the time.  I'll stand by my comment that no closer is worth that amount of money, Cordero included.

Plus, I still think Cameron will be fine - can we at least give a solid, proven player a few weeks before we call him a failure?

ike1024:

I still think Cameron will be fine - can we at least give a solid, proven player a few weeks before we call him a failure?

I am good with that.  But at the same time I am glad he is not starting today.  He looks to be struggling a bit, and Gwynn could use some playing time, too.  I am one of those who think he is well-suited to the two hole, so I am pleased to see him hitting there today. 

ike1024:

shipitdear:

ike1024:

Isn't it at least nice to have a team that people think is capable of something?  Yes, they are underachieving, and yes, they probably need another piece, but isn't it nice to be relevant.  The Brewers haven't been relevant since 1992.  So while all of you proclaim your hatred for Doug Melvin and love to tell the world what a terrible job he's done, remember that the Brewers haven't been relevant in 15 years, and he is the man who assembled this team, the first Brewers team that anyone has cared about in 15 years.

I don't have any hatred for Melvin but he didn't do a good job in the off-season.  He could not have handled the Cordero thing any worse than he did and then compounded that mistake w/ the Gagne signing.  He deserves all the criticism he's getting.  In fact, most of the anger directed at Yost should be redirected Melvin's way.

Ok, but I really don't think he did as bad a job as everyone is now saying.

He is being held accountable for poor performances by players that no one else thought would be struggling.  I'm really not going to blame him for Braun and Fielder starting slow and Hardy not being able to hit .250.

And we can just agree to disagree on the Cordero/Gagne situation.  Cordero is not worth the amount of money that he is being paid and Gagne was the best option available at the time.  I'll stand by my comment that no closer is worth that amount of money, Cordero included.

Plus, I still think Cameron will be fine - can we at least give a solid, proven player a few weeks before we call him a failure?

ike1024:

ragetti:

Give me a break. Jack Z assembled this team of home growners, not Melvin. Melvin will be remembered for bringing two druggies in that need the juice to be effective, and gave away 15 mill to them when hobody else was interested.

Melvin mistakes in the last couple years that will also cost him his job:

Gagme - 10 mill for nothing.

Cameron - 5 mill for nothing, and 25 game suspension to boot

Hall- 24 mill for a guy that is a utility player

Suppan - 42 mill for a 5th starter that can't get past the 5th inning

Turnblow - 6 mill for nothing over last two years. He was not arby eligible, so why waste money giving it away for nothing?

The only good thing he did in the last year was to sign Kendall, and that was only for 1 year I believe?

Really, so you sat in on the draft meetings and you know, for a fact, that Jack Zduriencik made every personnel decision?  Braun, Hart, Fielder, Gallardo, Parra, LaPorta, etc..Every one of those guys was chosen by Jack Z and not Melvin?  Melvin had nothing to do with those decisions?

This is my point.  You say that like you have any idea what you're talking about, when in fact, you have none.  Yes, I know that Jack Z. is the scouting director, and I know that the scouting director makes many of the draft day decisions, but you really don't have a clue who assembled this team, so you blame Melvin for the bad and give him no credit for the good.

By the way, Gagne has turned out to be pretty awful, but I found very few knowledable journalists who thought this was a terrible signing.  It was essentially a no-lose situation.  Either he's terrible, is replaced by mid-season, and his contract is off the books next year, or he is great.  Prior to the season, most people thought the Kendall signing was just as bad - I'm glad we all can look back now and judge decisions through our hindsight glasses.

JUST SHUT THE F UP!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING THE POSTER SAID WAS VALID-THE MEDIA AS A WHOLE THOUGHT THIS WAS A STRANGE SIGNING-WHAT F'N ROCK WERE YOU LIVING UNDER-DIDN'T YOU SEE WHAT HE DID IN BOSTON. HE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED COCO. KENDALL IS JUST OK-HE LOOKS GOOD TO US BECAUSE MELVIN BROUGHT IN THAT SACK OF CRAP THE YEAR BEFORE AND ANYTHING RESEMBLING A MLB CATHER WOULD BE A HUGE UPGRADE. WHY IN THE HELL DOES IT ANNOY YOU THAT MELVIN IS CRITICIZED

A lot of people think Melvin and Yost are tied at the hip. When one goes, the other will follow. Seems a package deal to me.

As for closers, I hear Bob Wickman is still a free agent. I'm sure that he can't cost all that much.