Koskie to the Brewers

[jtownie]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060106&content_id=1292445&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

[BCVM22]

I would go as far as to say that this gives Milwaukee the legitimate power-hitting third baseman they coveted. A little bit of pitching, and look out, NL Central...

[T2E]

Pretty good deal by the Brewers. They're taking on some contract but they get a plus defender who has shown a potent bat in the past. For the Jays its a salary dump to help pay for Glaus.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I would go as far as to say that this gives Milwaukee the legitimate power-hitting third baseman they coveted. A little bit of pitching, and look out, NL Central...

 

I wouldn't say that yet...

 

Very young infield with JJ and Weeks, Prince is also very young at 1B. Keep in mind you have very little protection around Carlos Lee, Jenkins is about it.

 

I still don't see them over .500 next year. They have subtracted Overbay and added Kosky... While doing nothing with their pitching staff beside adding Kolb (you have to wonder why the Braves gave up on him)...

 

In other words, not scared!

[Outshined_One]

What's Koskie's contract look like?

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

What's Koskie's contract look like?

 

Per ESPN.

 

2005 Salary: $3,500,000

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Pardon me if the article covers it (I just don't feel like reading much right now), but what is to become of that Russell Branyan character?

[BigbadB]

Pardon me if the article covers it (I just don't feel like reading much right now), but what is to become of that Russell Branyan character?

 

I didn't read it either, but I'll guess 4th outfielder.

[BCVM22]

 

Very young infield with JJ and Weeks, Prince is also very young at 1B. Keep in mind you have very little protection around Carlos Lee, Jenkins is about it.

 

I agree, but if you look at that positional talent, there's reason to worry in the future. In the half-season he played in 2005, Weeks showed he's already a very solid defender and a hitter with very strong potential. We didn't see a ton of Fielder in the majors, but his minor league numbers show he's got power, and anyone this side of Jason Giambi is capable of playing a decent first base. As far Hardy, you're right, he hasn't shown much at the major league level, but if he falters, they have Bill Hall to take the job.

 

As for the lineup, I see their 1-6 spots going something like:

CF Clark

2B Weeks

RF Jenkins

LF Lee

3B Koskie

1B Fielder

 

which may not necessarily be a murderer's row, but it's solid. Thus I honestly think that if the young positional talents play to their respective potentials and the team adds a good arm or two to the rotation, the Brewers could at the very least make some serious noise in the division sooner rather than later.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Pardon me if the article covers it (I just don't feel like reading much right now), but what is to become of that Russell Branyan character?

 

I didn't read it either, but I'll guess 4th outfielder.

 

Right, I completely spaced off that he used to play a lot of LF too...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

[stitchface]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

 

didn't they win more games last year? I would say that lends some creedence to the idea that they are a better team. They certainly look like they are building a better corps than the Cubs.

[Tim]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

How about a friendly wager -- I believe the Brewers will outscore the Cubs this year. If the Cubs staff is healthy, I think we'll have a better record. But I like their offense more than ours at this point. Weeks played with a torn ligament in his thumb for much of last year. Fielder is going to be a monster in the future and should be pretty good in 2006.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

 

didn't they win more games last year? I would say that lends some creedence to the idea that they are a better team. They certainly look like they are building a better corps than the Cubs.

 

Yep, 2 games better than the Cubs. However, the Brewers did not have the injuries the Cubs did. I am not defending the way the Cubs played at times last year, what I am saying is I don't think the Brewers are even close to .500 if they had as many injuries as we did.

 

With that in mind, I would take CLee over Murton and Jenkins over JJones, that is all. Cubs have a better pitching staff than the Crew, better bullpen, 3rd, SS, 2nd, 1B, C, CF.

 

As a former Brewers season ticket holder and one who hears about it all the time at the office, I just don't see the Brewers making significant noise this year.

 

CLee is a FA and in a contract year could put up big numbers. Question, will Brewer ownership actually pay him a potential 11+ ?? They have already moved Overbay for fear of what he would demand, and I don't see them expanding their budget to allow them to compete for a playoff spot.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

How about a friendly wager -- I believe the Brewers will outscore the Cubs this year. If the Cubs staff is healthy, I think we'll have a better record. But I like their offense more than ours at this point. Weeks played with a torn ligament in his thumb for much of last year. Fielder is going to be a monster in the future and should be pretty good in 2006.

 

Sure man, they can score all the runs they want. I just feel at the end of the year, we will have a better overall record than the Crew. I hope our addtions to the pen and pray for a solid healthy season from Prior/Z/Wood etc... we can hold more games than the Brewres. Besided Turnbow and the potential resurgance of Kolb, their pen leaves much to be desired. I still don't like a 4,5 of Heiling and Ohka.

 

I question Brady Clarks potential, is he a "one year wonder" or the real deal. I believe Feilder is good, however...is he ready to compete with the real big boys in the NL Central. Pujols, Lee, Dunn? (if he actually plays 1B) 1B is a power position and although he may have good AAA power, is he another Dubois?

 

Don't get me wrong, I have a part of me that likes the Crew, I just don't see them any better than last year. Oh, that and the fact that I am married to the Cubs for life!

[Brian]

They have already moved Overbay for fear of what he would demand

 

I think it had more to do with Prince being a stud than money.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

They have already moved Overbay for fear of what he would demand

 

I think it had more to do with Prince being a stud than money.

 

Really? I have read several articles in the local paper with question to why they would trade Overbay now when he made so little. While I do believe Prince had some to do with it, Overbay and Lee with contract issues played huge in the decision to move "O"...

[abuck1220]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

 

didn't they win more games last year? I would say that lends some creedence to the idea that they are a better team. They certainly look like they are building a better corps than the Cubs.

 

Yep, 2 games better than the Cubs. However, the Brewers did not have the injuries the Cubs did. I am not defending the way the Cubs played at times last year, what I am saying is I don't think the Brewers are even close to .500 if they had as many injuries as we did.

 

With that in mind, I would take CLee over Murton and Jenkins over JJones, that is all. Cubs have a better pitching staff than the Crew, better bullpen, 3rd, SS, 2nd, 1B, C, CF.

 

As a former Brewers season ticket holder and one who hears about it all the time at the office, I just don't see the Brewers making significant noise this year.

 

CLee is a FA and in a contract year could put up big numbers. Question, will Brewer ownership actually pay him a potential 11+ ?? They have already moved Overbay for fear of what he would demand, and I don't see them expanding their budget to allow them to compete for a playoff spot.

 

they lost sheets, by far their #1 pitcher (and likely better than any of the cubs' pitchers), for a pretty significant time. also, they didn't have a full year of weeks at 2b or turnbow as closer. fielder won't be much of a downgrade (if he's a downgrade at all ) from overbay. my plan for them involved trading capuano and prospects for blalock and signing weaver, but koskie's decent.

 

they were better than the cubs last year, and they're still likely better.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Wait a minute -- with Koskie, Weeks, Hardy, etc., any chance Bill Hall becomes available?

 

I'm not sure Hall catches the ball well enough for Hendry to have much interest.

 

All kidding aside, he is brutal in the field. He will snag the occasional ESPN highlight, however...his day to day defense makes Walker look like a Gold Glove.

 

Brewers have a nice foundation, I would argue there are many more questions to be answered by their roster than ours, yet some on this board seem to think they have the makings of a better team than the Cubs. Go Figure...

 

didn't they win more games last year? I would say that lends some creedence to the idea that they are a better team. They certainly look like they are building a better corps than the Cubs.

 

Yep, 2 games better than the Cubs. However, the Brewers did not have the injuries the Cubs did. I am not defending the way the Cubs played at times last year, what I am saying is I don't think the Brewers are even close to .500 if they had as many injuries as we did.

 

With that in mind, I would take CLee over Murton and Jenkins over JJones, that is all. Cubs have a better pitching staff than the Crew, better bullpen, 3rd, SS, 2nd, 1B, C, CF.

 

As a former Brewers season ticket holder and one who hears about it all the time at the office, I just don't see the Brewers making significant noise this year.

 

CLee is a FA and in a contract year could put up big numbers. Question, will Brewer ownership actually pay him a potential 11+ ?? They have already moved Overbay for fear of what he would demand, and I don't see them expanding their budget to allow them to compete for a playoff spot.

 

they lost sheets, by far their #1 pitcher (and likely better than any of the cubs' pitchers), for a pretty significant time. also, they didn't have a full year of weeks at 2b or turnbow as closer. fielder won't be much of a downgrade (if he's a downgrade at all ) from overbay. my plan for them involved trading capuano and prospects for blalock and signing weaver, but koskie's decent.

 

they were better than the cubs last year, and they're still likely better.

 

So can you honestly say if we have a healthy year of Wood, Prior, Aramis, they are a better team?

[abuck1220]

 

So can you honestly say if we have a healthy year of Wood, Prior, Aramis, they are a better team?

 

let me know when that happens.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

 

So can you honestly say if we have a healthy year of Wood, Prior, Aramis, they are a better team?

 

let me know when that happens.

 

No need, you will be chearing for them in the playoffs while the Brewers are sitting at home!

[jdbrew]

Cubs fans... time to worry

 

The Crew is stacked full of young talent that has nothing but upside.

Rickie Weeks had a bad year and was an immense offensive threat last season. Carlos Lee will hit over .300 this year in "the keg." He had a hard time adjusting to the NL last year.

 

Honestly, Milwaukee had no need to upgrade it's pitching staff, it was one of the most consistent last season. Sheets, Capuano, and Davis give you a strong start to the week. The Brewers have about 10 guys competing for those last two spots.

 

Here's one thing you forgot about... the Brewers win under Yost. They play harder than anyone else in the league... can you EVER say that about a Dusty Baker club?

 

Milwaukee will win between 85-95 games this year. Mark my words.

[Drew Doughty]

I don't think they're going to win 95 games, but then again, it might only take 90 to win the central this year. They're in it, definitely, probably better than the Cubs (too many variables for the Cubs), and might be just behind St. Louis. A couple injuries to the Cubs or Cards and they could take over. I don't know what the Astros are doing right now. They still have a decent three without Clemens in Oswalt/Pettitte/Backe (with Backe being the weak link, by far), but their offense is still pretty bad. The Wilson signing didn't make much sense... They have Taveras, Burke, Lane ready to play the OF even if Bags isn't healthy, but whatever.

 

This would be my guess at the year-end standings

 

Cardinals 90-72 (will Carp regress and how much, loss of Walker, Sanders, Grudz, and Morris will hurt)

Brewers 88-74 (young and talented)

Cubs 84-78 (could really fluctuate. Might be below .500 again, might end up with 90+ wins)

Astros 84-78 (depends on the offense)

 

Not going to do the Pirates or Reds, but that is what I get so far.