johnbriggs12

I don't think anyone has forgotten this. Some people appear to think it is the neighborhood that makes the park, not the other way around. It's more that the people make the park, and Rosemont would be a huge downgrade in accessibility, and therefore walk-up traffic. Are you serious? Rosemont is accessible from every direction via 294, the Kennedy, and NW Tollway. It has CTA service via the Blue Line. The added ease for those Cub fans in the suburbs would dwarf the loss of walk up traffic from those in the neighborhood. Why do so many Cub fans make the 90 mile trip to Miller Park when the Cubs play there? They don't get the "Wrigley experience" there do they? Part of that is that for suburban Cub fans, that's less hassle to get to than getting to Wrigleyville. I believe if the park were located in Rosemont, it won't be the same people in the park necessarily, but there are more than enough Cub fans who rarely go to games who would make up for them.

Cub Fan Dan, On one line you say Brewers could experience a slight decline offensively, then you pick them 4th saying they'll have big decline. Which is it? In pointing to Hart and Weeks falling off, I notice you don't mention that both Fielder and Braun combined for 21 HR and 69 RBI fewer in 2010 than they did in 2009. If McGehee and Hart falloff (certainly not a given), isn't there just as great a chance that Braun and Fielder bounce back? And what's with Brewers bullpen 4th? I'll take Loe (2.78), Saito (2.83), Braddock (2.94) and Axford (2.48. 24 of 27, 8-2 record) over any of the other three teams' core.

We won't know for several years whether the Brewers gave up too much. The 4 guys they gave up could all turn out to be quite good. Writing off Escobar as a just another "weak hitting SS" ignores the fact that he hit decent at every level in the minors, has exceptional range and a rifle. Cain's taken a while to get to the big leagues, most due to injury, but he's always had very impressive tools. Jeffress isn't "just a reliever". He's been clocked at 101 mph and consistently works 96-98. His questions have been all off the field. Odorizzi was the highest regarded A-level starter in Brewer system. But none of those 4 or even the group in total was likely to make anywhere near the impact of Greinke in 2011. You have to look at this deal in two contexts. One, is Melvin's status as GM. He's on his 3rd manager. If he fails the next couple years, he's gone. The other is that 2011 is the last year where they have all their big guns (Fielder, Hart, Weeks, Braun) together and all are in their primes. Finally this deal has undoubtedly boosted ticket sales for a team that relies heavily on the gate. Look for the Brewers to be back over 3 million this year after dipping below it last year. They still have a core of guys locked up for a while at reasonable dollars: Braun, Hart, Gallardo. They have enough coming off the books when Fielder and perhaps Weeks leaves to lock up a couple more, one of whom will undoubtedly be either Marcum or Greinke. They have 2 first round picks this year, and likely several extra picks in 2012.

Here's a Brewer fan perspective. They are assured one more season with Fielder and Braun together. With 3 solid hitters around them in Weeks, Hart, and McGehee, if there was ever a time to go "all in" this was it. If they get to the playoffs, they obviously won't be favored but throwing Grienke, Marcum and Gallardo out there as the top 3 gives them a chance against the Phillies or Giants. The biggest beneficiary of this deal and the one for Marcum may be Gallardo. Gallardo has ace stuff, but as a young guy has suffered from the burden of having to be the Brewer ace and carry the pitching staff. I see a huge year from Gallardo now that he won't be looked upon as the guy that has to win every time out. Don't overlook Marcum either. The guy's been a winner in the AL East. Chris Narveson quietly had a pretty solid year (12-9) and is the favorite to be the number 5 starter. As a starter, Narveson had the lowest WHIP of any Brewer starter last year. Oh, and he hit .293 too. I'll take Narveson over Lohse. Now the downside. None of the 4 guys they gave up was a throwaway. All were guys we really liked. Jeffress would have helped in the pen this year and was touching 101 in the Fall league. Cain and Escobar were key pieces in key positions. The Brewers are weakened up the middle though they still have decent CF defense in Gomez. The lineup didn't take a great hit, but Cain figured to hit second, and they have a rather glaring hole there. Odorizzi was looked upon as having the highest ceiling of any guy in the system. The long term indeed took a hit. But keep in mind, they have 2 first round draft picks in 2011, figure to gain 2 high picks if Fielder departs via FA, and possibly 2 more if Weeks has a good year and gets to type A status too. They'll likely flip Grienke before his contract runs out and even as a rental for half of 2012, he'll bring a decent return. They think they can sign Marcum to an extension. Bottom line is Melvin's been there for nearly a decade. He's on his 3rd manager. He's on thin ice. He's all in to save his job. I wouldn't say they didn't have a chance before this deal, but now they are at worst, co-favorites in the division.

Here's a rundown of the Brewer staff. Bush is no fluke. In 2006 and 2008 he posted outstanding WHIPS of 1.14. His bugaboo has been the HR. No reason he can't win 15 games. Villanueva is no fluke either. In 2008 in 38 relief appearences he posted an ERA of 2.12. Then he retired all 11 he faced in the playoffs. He has one of the best changeups in the game. When he commands his fastball, he's very, very tough. Suppan is what he's always been. His stuff isn't impressive but at the end of the year, he'll have 10-12 wins which is fine for a back end guy. Gallardo has excellent stuff but his number one attribute has always been his poise for a young guy. The only unknown is how he'll do over a full season. If he performs like he's capable, he'll be in the Cy Young discussion. Parra's stuff is well above average too. He still hasn't shown he's got the mental edge to be a big winner. If he gets that, look out. Looper is Suppan with slightly better overall stuff. Another very serviceable starter. Stetter's tough as they come on lefties. He does have bouts where he struggles with control. Hoffman won't go through the year unscathed, but the guy still has it and is a huge upgrade over Saloman Torres/Eric Gagne duo of 2008. DeFelice is the mystery man. We know he'll throw strikes. His K/BB ratio's are phenomenal in the minors. McClung provides a power bullpen arm that can be erratic. Coffey has mid 90's sinking fastball and could just be coming into his own. Julio is strictly roster filler at this point.

Since you Cub fans only see Braun vs. the Cubs, I believe your perception of Braun's defensive deficiencies are based on: 1. His defense at 3B in 2007 2. One or two balls he took bad angles on early in 2008 in his first weeks in LF. 3. Knucklehead radio personalities in Chicago like Harry T. declaring him the "worst LF ever" and similar such statements. The facts are Braun had 275 put outs and 9 assists in LF without out an error in 2008. He never mishandled a ground ball base hit that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never made a throw that got away that allowed a runner to take an extra base. He never dropped a flyball. Braun's defensive issues are that occasionally he'll get caught in between letting a ball drop and trying to make the great play. That's strictly the result of lack of experience at the position. Braun early on had also trouble on balls over his head, but no more. He know recognizes much better when he won't be able to make a play and he plays balls off the wall very well. As for taking bad angles, he does that no more than any other LF. His arm is strong enough that he could play RF. As Jenksfan points out, those of us that see Braun everyday in the OF know he is already adequate and getting better. It's time you Cub fans take off your blinders and watch the guy play more before you make you assessments.

Stone said nothing about "his sources" in regard to Hardy. He was purely speculating that because the Brewers insisted on keeping Escobar, that meant they intended to insert Escobar at SS in 2009, making Hardy expendable. Hardy has been white hot recently and there's no way the Brewers would include him. I expect the Brewers will slide Hardy to 3B as soon as Escobar is deemed ready. The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the PTBNL is Green or Micheal Brantley. The reason it's to be named later is that Cleveland wants more time to scout these guys. Green and Brantley are A- types. A cut below Milwaukee's top tier, but would be top tier in many organizations.