Brewers Getting Greinke?

[GGGG]

Reportedly for Escobar, Cain and Jeffress.

Wow....they're going all in apparently.

[Hards Alumni]

totally worth it.

Now the Brewers have a shot.

Cain is the only loss that hurts.

Escobar couldn't hit anything for the last year.

[reinko]

As someone with the last name Reinke, and a huge Brewers fan. 

I approve.

[4everwarriors]

Good move by Doug Melvin who has to try and save his ass. Last year of his contract and the heat is on to book a winner. Next project is to figure out what to do with Fielder before Boras takes his big butt to free agency.

[GOMU1104]

Good move by Doug Melvin who has to try and save his ass. Last year of his contract and the heat is on to book a winner. Next project is to figure out what to do with Fielder before Boras takes his big butt to free agency.

Melvin is signed through the the 2012 season.

Like the move. I knew it would take a haul to get him, and that is exactly what they gave up. 

Betancourt is a terrible SS...so hopefully they are still exploring their options.

[MUBurrow]

rumor has it that Betancourt will be DFA'd anyway, which would make his inclusion a cost saving exercise.  Question then is who at SS? Orlando Cabrera? Christian Guzman? Whoever it is will likely some sort of 3-1 platoon with Counsell (provided they dot the i's and cross the t's with him)

Certainly seems like theres no way we deal Fielder until at least the break now.  With that pitching, Melvin is looking to win now. Only way we dont just take the picks and start restocking the farm (after giving up so much for Marcum & Greinke) is if one of two of those arms get hurt and we have no chance to compete by the break. 

[Henry Sugar]

This week Posnanski had a blog post about Greinke.  It's well worth reading.

http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2010/12/being-there-with-greinke.html

[Aughnanure]

As a Royals fan, I approve of the trade. We got 4 solid players, and one that would have been the #1 Royals prospect coming into last season..... and the Royals have the #1 ranked farm system at the moment. Jeffries' substance abuse problems worry me, but Im very happy in general.

And it allows me to continue to root for Greinke - one of my favorite athletes, and not just b/c he was on my team, he's just a different kind of athlete altogether, his interviews are hilarious.

And getting rid of Yuni is always a positive!

[BrewCity83]

What's the problem with Betancourt?  I'm not familiar with his story (or his game).

[dwaderoy2004]

He's got a little pop in his bat, otherwise he's below average offensively and defensively.  he's probably more like a utility infielder than a guy you want out there every day.  I bet he won't even be the brewers starting SS next year. 

[BrewCity83]

I have heard that his talents are similar to JJ Hardy.  Isn't Betancourt's career BA around .275 over 6 seasons?

[dwaderoy2004]

Yeah, but that means nothing when you're OBP is under .300 for your career.  he's not good. 

Hardy is a much better defensive player.  Betancourt has a negative defensive WAR for his career.

[MARQKC]

As a Royals fan, I approve of the trade. We got 4 solid players, and one that would have been the #1 Royals prospect coming into last season..... and the Royals have the #1 ranked farm system at the moment. Jeffries' substance abuse problems worry me, but Im very happy in general.

And it allows me to continue to root for Greinke - one of my favorite athletes, and not just b/c he was on my team, he's just a different kind of athlete altogether, his interviews are hilarious.

And getting rid of Yuni is always a positive!

+1

As a 27-year Royals season ticket holder, this trade makes great sense for our club at this time.

Early reaction here in KC was that once again, we traded away a star for a handful of somebody else's untested prospects. It's encouraging to see the fans of the other team express at least some dismay at what they gave up.

We weren't going to keep Zack long- term, and Royals GM Dayton Moore is looking hard to get the right parts in the right places and to create the right chemistry. With our top-rated farm system, these Brewers guys ought to work just fine.

It was time for Zack to find a club that would give him the run support he deserves. He shoulda been a 20-game winner his Cy Young year, and he shoulda won at least 15 games last year. The Brewers ought to put some runs on the board for this guy like KC never could.

Brewers also got our best-hitting pitcher among Royals pitchers with five or more at-bats in 2010. Yeah, that's just a bad joke. You've gotta be an American League fan to get it. Seriously, though: Zack likes to bat, and he can.

Yes, his interviews are hilarious. He's something of an enigma (Posnanski column referenced here nails it). Known for his goofy superstitions. During the season, he talks to the media only on days he's scheduled to pitch, for example. Who else does that?

Yuni might surprise if he ends up in the shortstop role. I've never understood the rap on his defense. We'd be sitting in the stands talking about what a lousy shortstop he is, and he'd instantly surprise us by turning a spectacular double play, or throwing out some guy at first from shallow center. He's no Jeter, but he has been better than most shortstops we've had in KC in recent years.



 

[Aughnanure]

Betancort just swings. Never takes walks, never works a counts....just rears back and swings. He's got some nice pop and will hit some homeruns and clutch hits for you, but he is not someone you want in your lineup everyday. Defensively, he isn't as bad as everyone tries to make him out to be....but he isnt good.

[dwaderoy2004]

Yuni might surprise if he ends up in the shortstop role. I've never understood the rap on his defense. We'd be sitting in the stands talking about what a lousy shortstop he is, and he'd instantly surprise us by turning a spectacular double play, or throwing out some guy at first from shallow center. He's no Jeter, but he has been better than most shortstops we've had in KC in recent years.

The occasional spectacular play does not make him a good SS.  Funny you should bring up Jeter, because he is not a good defensive SS anymore.

[Brecht]

Melvin is all in this year with Prince a free agent next year, it's world series or bust! The only thing I didn't like about the deal was giving up Odorizzi. I watched him pitch a few times in Appleton this year and he was phenominal!

[MARQKC]

Funny you should bring up Jeter, because he is not a good defensive SS anymore.

Picked that name because among SSs with 100 or more games at that position last season, he had the No. 1 fielding percentage (.989). But you're right. His Range Factor was 3.78, 19th of 21 SSs with 100 or more games at the position in 2010.

Yuni in 2010: .974 FPct (10th, I think), and 4.56 RF (6th).

Escobar in 2010: .964 FPct (13th), 4.16 RF (13th).

Based on a quick scan of MLB.com's sortable stats page.
 

[BrewCity83]

Yuni in 2010: .974 FPct (10th, I think), and 4.56 RF (6th).

Escobar in 2010: .964 FPct (13th), 4.16 RF (13th).

Well, based on that Betancourt looks like a defensive improvement over Escobar!

[dwaderoy2004]

Picked that name because among SSs with 100 or more games at that position last season, he had the No. 1 fielding percentage (.989). But you're right. His Range Factor was 3.78, 19th of 21 SSs with 100 or more games at the position in 2010.

Yuni in 2010: .974 FPct (10th, I think), and 4.56 RF (6th).

Escobar in 2010: .964 FPct (13th), 4.16 RF (13th).

Based on a quick scan of MLB.com's sortable stats page.
 

First of all, I never compared Escobar to Yuni, all I said was that Yuni is not good.

Second of all, just read this.  It states my case better than I ever could.  Basically, that despite the occasional outstanding play, Betancourt is most decidedly a poor defensive SS. 

http://royalsblog.kansascity.com/?q=node/627

[BrewCity83]

Thanks for that link, dwaderoy2004.  I'm starting to get the picture.  Betancourt is as good as Jeter.  Hopefully DMelvin is not finished putting this roster together.

[dwaderoy2004]

Thanks for that link, dwaderoy2004.  I'm starting to get the picture.  Betancourt is as good as Jeter.  Hopefully DMelvin is not finished putting this roster together.

Unbelievably, they aren't that different.  Yet Jeter just signed an extension for like 15 million a year.  crazy.