OT: Did the Brewers just trade Inman for a so-so relief pitcher?

[Big Papi]

Inman and 2 prospects for Linebrink.  A pitcher with horrible stats away from Petco field.  Oh brother.  Talk about a panic move.



http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=7/25/2007&id=26945

[MUDPT]

He has been rumored to be coveted by Hendry for a long time, if that means anything.

[Pakuni]

Linebrink is much better than so-so. He's struggled some away from San Diego this season, but over his career that's more exception than rule.

And it's worth pointing out that in 2005 and 2006 -- years in which the Padres were in a playoff race -- Linebrink's late season numbers were:

Aug.:  1-1, 2.31 ERA
Sept.: 5-2, 2.00 ERA

This what fans in baseball cities with competetive franchises call "going for it." Welcome to the club, Milwaukee.
Good teams trade away prospects for proven commodoties every year and very rarely does it come back to haunt them.

[ilovefreeway]

Linebrink is much better than so-so. He's struggled some away from San Diego this season, but over his career that's more exception than rule.

And it's worth pointing out that in 2005 and 2006 -- years in which the Padres were in a playoff race -- Linebrink's late season numbers were:

Aug.:  1-1, 2.31 ERA
Sept.: 5-2, 2.00 ERA

This what fans in baseball cities with competetive franchises call "going for it." Welcome to the club, Milwaukee.
Good teams trade away prospects for proven commodoties every year and very rarely does it come back to haunt them.

Yeah, but this smells a lot like Jon Garland for Matt Krachner (sp)

[Big Papi]

Linebrink is much better than so-so. He's struggled some away from San Diego this season, but over his career that's more exception than rule.

And it's worth pointing out that in 2005 and 2006 -- years in which the Padres were in a playoff race -- Linebrink's late season numbers were:

Aug.:  1-1, 2.31 ERA
Sept.: 5-2, 2.00 ERA

This what fans in baseball cities with competetive franchises call "going for it." Welcome to the club, Milwaukee.
Good teams trade away prospects for proven commodoties every year and very rarely does it come back to haunt them.

I am all for "going for it" but I think we gave up too much for what we got in return.  I can't take the credit for this but here are some numbers from Dodds board on the numbers from Linebrink that I am referring to:

"Linebrink away from Petco: 6.05 ERA .313 BAA 5HR 25 hits in 19.1 IP" Ilovefreeway

"ERA is at a personal four-year high (3rd year in a row it has gone up), and since the ASG guys are hitting .360 against him.  That's not news - - last year he was tagged at a .304 clip after the ASG (not to mention a miserable WHIP). "  NYWarrior

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=415&F=2861#S=415&F=2861&T=755728


Correct me if I am wrong but I thought Inman is a very good young prospect who was rated as the Brewers 3rd best prospect after Braun and Gallardo.  Furthermore, there are a lot of great prospects that get traded that do end up haunting their former team.  I just feel theat the Brewers should have received more in return for the prospects they dealt but hey I will take this disappointment over the disappointment of not even being in contention.

[Pakuni]

Linebrink is much better than so-so. He's struggled some away from San Diego this season, but over his career that's more exception than rule.

And it's worth pointing out that in 2005 and 2006 -- years in which the Padres were in a playoff race -- Linebrink's late season numbers were:

Aug.:  1-1, 2.31 ERA
Sept.: 5-2, 2.00 ERA

This what fans in baseball cities with competetive franchises call "going for it." Welcome to the club, Milwaukee.
Good teams trade away prospects for proven commodoties every year and very rarely does it come back to haunt them.

I am all for "going for it" but I think we gave up too much for what we got in return.  I can't take the credit for this but here are some numbers from Dodds board on the numbers from Linebrink that I am referring to:

"Linebrink away from Petco: 6.05 ERA .313 BAA 5HR 25 hits in 19.1 IP" Ilovefreeway

"ERA is at a personal four-year high (3rd year in a row it has gone up), and since the ASG guys are hitting .360 against him.  That's not news - - last year he was tagged at a .304 clip after the ASG (not to mention a miserable WHIP). "  NYWarrior

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=415&F=2861#S=415&F=2861&T=755728


Correct me if I am wrong but I thought Inman is a very good young prospect who was rated as the Brewers 3rd best prospect after Braun and Gallardo.  Furthermore, there are a lot of great prospects that get traded that do end up haunting their former team.  I just feel theat the Brewers should have received more in return for the prospects they dealt but hey I will take this disappointment over the disappointment of not even being in contention.

I'll say this and leave it alone:

The Brewers are a franchise that haven't made a playoff appearance in 25 years.  They haven't sniffed a playoff race in 15 years. It's nice to say they have a good solid coore and will contend for the foreseeable future, but there's no way of knowing that. And there's no reason to believe the sCrubs won't continue to spend money like the NL version of the Yankees and that 2007 isn't a one-year abomination for the Cardinals.

Under those circumstances, I don't see how a fan could be upset about obtaining a proven reliever to bolster what might be a rare playoff opportunity in exchange for a Double-A pitcher with an ERA over 5.45, a decent relief prospect and a throw in. Yeah, it may not work out, but when you've been as miserable for so long as the Brewers, how do you not take a reasonable gamble to win now?

As for Inman's propsect rating, ingest with a large grain of salt. The Brewer's #1 prospects over the past decade have included the likes of Todd Dunn, Valerio de los Santos, Ron Belliard, Nick Neugebauer (twice) and Brad Nelson.

[CWSKeith]

Inman and 2 prospects for Linebrink.  A pitcher with horrible stats away from Petco field.  Oh brother.  Talk about a panic move.

Not really.  Linebrink is a free agent at season's end, and he'll qualify as a Type A free agent.  So if the Brewers offer him arbitration at the end of the year and he declines (they will and he will), the Brewers will get two top 50(ish) draft picks in the 2008 draft. 

This move adds nice depth for the Brewers.  Linebrink probably isn't as good as his ERA has indicated over the past few years, but he's still a nice set-up guy to have -- I'd rather have him than Turnbow, that's for certain. 

To hold off the Cubs, the only move I can really think of that will keep the Brewers on top is keeping Gallardo in the rotation once Sheets eventually comes back.  Gallardo is clearly the second best starter Milwaukee has (when everyone is healthy).  One of Vargas, Capuano or Bush (I'm a Sox fan so I'm not really sure who is and isn't going well for the Brewers right now) need to be pushed to the bullpen ASAP.  Other than that, there aren't a whole lot of trades out there that can really help Milwaukee.  Just gotta hope the young guys keep playing well; gotta hope Weeks heals up a bit and plays better for it; gotta hope the Mench/Jenkins platoon can pick it up a tad; and finally, gotta hope you get a little lucky.  God knows the Sox wouldn't have won it all in 2005 without some of those "bounces" going their way.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Pakuni is right, besides he's a pitcher and you need quality arms down the stretch.  Good move IMO.

[NYWarrior]

Pakuni is right, besides he's a pitcher and you need quality arms down the stretch.  Good move IMO.

They coulda done much better, and should have considering how many MiLB arms they coughed up to make this work.

Linebrink is spent, just as he was in the 2H of last season when a number of teams backed off of pursuing him   Consider that he had a WHIP of 1.606 after the ASG (and owns a scary 2.11 WHIP since this year's ASG).

Linebrink BA against after the ASG in 2006:  .304 (.190 in 1H 2006)
Turnbow BA against after the ASG in 2006:  .309 (.223 in 1H 2006).

Linebrink BA against after the ASG in 2007:  .360 (.219 in 1H 2007)
Turnbow BA against after the ASG in 2007:  .333 (.173 in 1H 2007)

The Brewers still need bullpen help.

[NYWarrior]

.

[muwarrior87]

He is one of the best holders in the league the past few years.  He keeps the team in the position they were in before he came in. If they have a lead, more than likely they will have a lead after he comes out of the game. That, and he has post season experience which is something they were looking for.

[NYWarrior]

He is one of the best holders in the league the past few years.  He keeps the team in the position they were in before he came in. If they have a lead, more than likely they will have a lead after he comes out of the game. That, and he has post season experience which is something they were looking for.

Lets hope.  Still, the numbers show Linebrink is in decline.  Here's another measure

ERA+ - K9
2004: 187, 8.89
2005: 210, 8.55
2006: 118, 8.09
2007: 106, 5.00

maybe a change of scenery can rejuvenate his stuff.

If it cost this much to get Linebrink (Thatcher alone has a 2.08 ERA and a 33/7 K/BB in 21 AAA innings), imagine the ransom the Royals will get for Dotel, or the Rangers for Gagne.Otsuka.

Wow.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This is called a panic move!!

[The Lens]

Stop for a second...how many bad moves has Doug Melvin made?

I think he's earned a little benefit of the doubt.  He may know that those minor leaguers are just like Nelson Cruz, AAAA players.

[NYWarrior]

This is called a panic move!!

Not sure its a panic move.........but that's a helluva price to pay to rent an average middle reliever for two months.

[Chili]

This is called a panic move!!

Not sure its a panic move.........but that's a helluva price to pay to rent an average middle reliever for two months.

and when he leaves the Brewers will get two top 50 picks. i dont know if that is really all that high. it is one more veteran arm who has post season experience - something the Brewers pen, and team, lack.

[ecompt]

Wouldn't say it's a panic move. It's something the Brewers felt they needed to hold off the Cubs. Inman wasn't going to help them this year, Linebrink might. Teams have to do what they can while they have the chance. A few years from now all their good young players will be Yankees.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Hold off the Cubs? Please.

If the Brewers were New Orleans, the Cubs would be Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, Hurricane Lou is just a few miles from shore.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Pakuni is right, besides he's a pitcher and you need quality arms down the stretch.  Good move IMO.

They coulda done much better, and should have considering how many MiLB arms they coughed up to make this work.

Linebrink is spent, just as he was in the 2H of last season when a number of teams backed off of pursuing him   Consider that he had a WHIP of 1.606 after the ASG (and owns a scary 2.11 WHIP since this year's ASG).

Linebrink BA against after the ASG in 2006:  .304 (.190 in 1H 2006)
Turnbow BA against after the ASG in 2006:  .309 (.223 in 1H 2006).

Linebrink BA against after the ASG in 2007:  .360 (.219 in 1H 2007)
Turnbow BA against after the ASG in 2007:  .333 (.173 in 1H 2007)

The Brewers still need bullpen help.

Turnbow was on the Angels when I was there...never impressed...we cut him loose.  He's not the answer.

And Inman, again not overly impressed.  How he's had the success he's had this year is startling...screams flash in the pan.  I know he's projected as a 4th or 5th starter, but a guy that doesn't get to the 90's usually isn't going to make it unless your stuff is wicked.

[Chili]

Hold off the Cubs? Please.

If the Brewers were New Orleans, the Cubs would be Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, Hurricane Lou is just a few miles from shore.

Because the Cubs have a history of finishing strong......

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hold off the Cubs? Please.

If the Brewers were New Orleans, the Cubs would be Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, Hurricane Lou is just a few miles from shore.

Because the Cubs have a history of finishing strong......

Or because the Brewers have a history of running away with divisions....

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Turnbow was on the Angels when I was there...never impressed...we cut him loose.  He's not the answer.
[/quote]

The Angels also released Bobby Jenks, who's phenomenal. You've got to take into consideration that the Angels bullpen has been off the charts since their WS year.

[NYWarrior]

Turnbow was on the Angels when I was there...never impressed...we cut him loose.  He's not the answer.

And Inman, again not overly impressed.  How he's had the success he's had this year is startling...screams flash in the pan.

Not sure how you could be overly impressed with Linebrink (who was also once released, courtesy of the Astros).  Inman has actually struggled lately, but its early in his career.  Thatcher has been sick in AAA.  It is amazing that a rental middle reliever on the decline commanded three minor league pitching prospects.  The Royals must be salivating over Octavio Dotel's escalated value.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Hold off the Cubs? Please.

If the Brewers were New Orleans, the Cubs would be Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, Hurricane Lou is just a few miles from shore.

Because the Cubs have a history of finishing strong......

I cannot believe Brewers fans say stuff like this. If Cub fans were in the same situation as Brewer fans, the team would be giving out bobblehead dolls of Jerome Walton, Domingo Ramos and Luis Salazar every Friday night.

[muwarrior87]

Hold off the Cubs? Please.

If the Brewers were New Orleans, the Cubs would be Lake Pontchartrain. Unfortunately for Milwaukee fans, Hurricane Lou is just a few miles from shore.

Because the Cubs have a history of finishing strong......

I cannot believe Brewers fans say stuff like this. If Cub fans were in the same situation as Brewer fans, the team would be giving out bobblehead dolls of Jerome Walton, Domingo Ramos and Luis Salazar every Friday night.

Speaking of the Cubbies and bobbleheads, I liked how after they traded Barrett, they had a Michael Barrett bobblehead day.