2025 MLB Season

[The Sultan]

They will also try to lock in talent at under-market rates long before a player even hits artibtration. Some players (Peralta, Churio) take the guarantee, others (Adames) do not.

But Willy's contract with the Giants is going to look pretty bad in a couple of years IMO. At least Yelich's, like Braun's before him, starts to look more reasonable over time as overall salary levels increase.

[Uncle Rico]

They will also try to lock in talent at under-market rates long before a player even hits artibtration. Some players (Peralta, Churio) take the guarantee, others (Adames) do not.

But Willy's contract with the Giants is going to look pretty bad in a couple of years IMO. At least Yelich's, like Braun's before him, starts to look more reasonable over time as overall salary levels increase.

Despite what certain segments of the fanbase think, it's one of the best run organizations in baseball.

It has flaws.  Not adding a bopper in the off-season or at the deadline gets them at some point, I believe.  I don't think the returns on Hader and Burnes matched what they should have gotten.  I'd argue that about Williams, too.  But guys that came from those trades or moved for guys currently on the roster have been contributors this year.

The roster decisions following the '23 season heading into the post-season were head scratchers, looking at you Jesse Winker.  But we can argue these things about every organization.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

You take out the horrible Yankees series to start the year, and the Brewers stats are pretty crazy from a run differential.

Take out the whole month of March (the yankees sweep and the 10 run loss to the Royals) and it's even crazier. From one of the worst four game starts in history,  to the best record in the mlb by 5 games.

[MU82]

Take away all of their losses, and they are undefeated!

[GB Warrior]

Despite what certain segments of the fanbase think, it's one of the best run organizations in baseball.

It has flaws.  Not adding a bopper in the off-season or at the deadline gets them at some point, I believe.  I don't think the returns on Hader and Burnes matched what they should have gotten.  I'd argue that about Williams, too.  But guys that came from those trades or moved for guys currently on the roster have been contributors this year.

The roster decisions following the '23 season heading into the post-season were head scratchers, looking at you Jesse Winker.  But we can argue these things about every organization.

I'll say this about the trades: the philosophy was clear and organizationally consistent. I didn't care for them getting Cortes in the package for Williams, but I understand why they did it.

I too wish they had gotten a bat, but outside of Suarez, there wasn't one to be had. Getting Hoskins back might be as good option as any trade at the deadline.

They continue to have a strong farm system with potentially elite top-end infield talent. We're probably a year away from Contreras on the move, and it's TBD if Quero can fulfill his promise (and avoid awful injury luck), but there are plenty of arrows left in the quiver.

[The Lens]

Since 2017:

Two GMs
Two Managers

Seven playoff appearances. They've played something like 6 meaningless games since 2017. They've lost their GM, Manager, Cy Young and (arguably) team MVP to "bigger" markets and the beat goes on.

At a certain point you have to tip your hat to Attanosio and admit that throwing money at things doesn't always work.  Instead he's invested tremendously in scouting and analytics and it's paying off.

I was at a Brewers STH event last month and an old timer was saying that Doug Melvin came by to tour the contruction of the new baseball ops construction (upper Right Field).  Melvin noted that when took the job there were like 8 people in baseball ops. Now its like 180 and they've doubled since he left.  The media loves to leave ouy all the investments that ownership makes in infrastructure.  I'd rather sending 80 million in infrastruture than 180 million in Willy Adames.   

[Uncle Rico]

Since 2017:

Two GMs
Two Managers

Seven playoff appearances. They've played something like 6 meaningless games since 2017. They've lost their GM, Manager, Cy Young and (arguably) team MVP to "bigger" markets and the beat goes on.

At a certain point you have to tip your hat to Attanosio and admit that throwing money at things doesn't always work.  Instead he's invested tremendously in scouting and analytics and it's paying off.

I was at a Brewers STH event last month and an old timer was saying that Doug Melvin came by to tour the contruction of the new baseball ops construction (upper Right Field).  Melvin noted that when took the job there were like 8 people in baseball ops. Now its like 180 and they've doubled since he left.  The media loves to leave ouy all the investments that ownership makes in infrastructure.  I'd rather sending 80 million in infrastruture than 180 million in Willy Adames.   

Thanks for pointing this out.  It's not just paying the talent but increasing infrastructure.  The Rockies are a great example of a franchise not investing on the field or infrastructure.

Selig once had a robust infrastructure but let it rot when he got into the commissioners office.

[Jockey]

I'll say this about the trades: the philosophy was clear and organizationally consistent. I didn't care for them getting Cortes in the package for Williams, but I understand why they did it.

 

A starting 3B and a 5th OF for a failed closer? That's how you improve the team.

[The Sultan]

Thanks for pointing this out.  It's not just paying the talent but increasing infrastructure.  The Rockies are a great example of a franchise not investing on the field or infrastructure.

Selig once had a robust infrastructure but let it rot when he got into the commissioners office.

Oh I think you are being charitable here. In reality he was a pretty poor owner. Yeah he got the team to Milwaukee, but outside of a five year stretch in the late 70s / early 80s, and a season here and there, the Brewers were largely terrible under his ownership.

There was about a two-year stretch of my lifetime when the following were all happening at the same time:

Bud Selig owned the Brewers
Herb Kohl owned the Bucks
Robert Parins was President of the Packers
Bob Dukiet was coaching Marquette
Don Morton was coaching UW football

How I managed to retain any interest in sports after this, I will never know. (Ironically this was during my time as a student at Marquette by the way.)

[The Lens]

Oh I think you are being charitable here. In reality he was a pretty poor owner. Yeah he got the team to Milwaukee, but outside of a five year stretch in the late 70s / early 80s, and a season here and there, the Brewers were largely terrible under his ownership.

There was about a two-year stretch of my lifetime when the following were all happening at the same time:

Bud Selig owned the Brewers
Herb Kohl owned the Bucks
Robert Parins was President of the Packers
Bob Dukiet was coaching Marquette
Don Morton was coaching UW football

How I managed to retain any interest in sports after this, I will never know. (Ironically this was during my time as a student at Marquette by the way.)

Thats a HOF of terrible.

Selig's problem was he had no money. The Crew was solid in '87, '89 and famously '92 but once big money entered the equation he was left behind.  Bud Selig in 1993 would not pass today's covenants for ownership. He might have had he team taken away. If Bud had any money he would have spent recklessly he was way too competitive and took each loss way too seriously. 

I actually think Attanosio has been reformed.  He once had Suppan over for dinner, got drunk on good wine and gave him $44 million.  Doug Melvin let that stuff fly...Stearns and Arnold don't.  They see holes in the team 5 years from now and work today to address them. That's how you have a championship quality team and a top 5-10 farm system.

[Uncle Rico]

Oh I think you are being charitable here. In reality he was a pretty poor owner. Yeah he got the team to Milwaukee, but outside of a five year stretch in the late 70s / early 80s, and a season here and there, the Brewers were largely terrible under his ownership.

There was about a two-year stretch of my lifetime when the following were all happening at the same time:

Bud Selig owned the Brewers
Herb Kohl owned the Bucks
Robert Parins was President of the Packers
Bob Dukiet was coaching Marquette
Don Morton was coaching UW football

How I managed to retain any interest in sports after this, I will never know. (Ironically this was during my time as a student at Marquette by the way.)

I think Selig was fine as an owner until they got nailed for collusion and lost the war with the union.

The front office of Harry Dalton was deep and they did a great job rebuilding the farm system post 1982.  Their best players from '78 through '92 were largely homegrown and the guys they added in that timeframe were all damn near contributors.

'83-'86 was age catching up to them but they replenished the bigs with decent talent between '87 and '92.  Once he became commissioner, he was a terrible owner.

He had too many conflicts of interest.  Fighting labor while owner, trying to get the stadium deal done and then given control to his daughter and son-in-law.  It was bad decision after bad decision from November of '92 until they hired Doug Melvin. 

[BM1090]

No disrespect to the Brewers and the amazing job they've done with a low payroll, but this is also the financials of MLB.  Any time a team does well with players that haven't hit their service time to get to FA, this will happen. 

Its actually kind of amusing, if you look at it.  The Brewers are being fueled by a bunch of "young" guys in their first few years of MLB action.  But they (Collins, Frelik, Vaughn, Turang) are all in their late 20s.

Turang and Frelick are 25.

[Jockey]

Turang and Frelick are 25.

Early late 20s.

[GB Warrior]

No shot the league is signing up for a salary floor and cap while this team is breaking baseball

[cheebs09]

A Mariners-Brewers World Series would be fun, and it's not that farfetched of a notion.

It would be kind of poetic for the Brewers to play the team that replaced them in Seattle.

[CreightonWarrior]

It would be kind of poetic for the Brewers to play the team that replaced them in Seattle.

finally getting revenge

[CreightonWarrior]

Dont think the Paul Skenes has what it takes to make it in this league. Olivia Dunne needs to dump his @$$.

[Jockey]

They're just showin' off now.

[MU82]

MVPete just slammed down his bat and helmet after flailing away with the bases loaded.

Fine young player, obviously, but he hasn't homered in 3 weeks and it's been a really rough August - .081 BA (3-for-37) with 0 HR and 0 RBI.

[MuggsyB]

The Brewers are about to be 7 clear of the Cubs.  Wow....just wow. 

[Jay Bee]

This morning the Pohlads announced they're keeping the Twins. Damn it. We're screwed.

[MU82]

It would be kind of poetic for the Brewers to play the team that replaced them in Seattle.

Mariners have erased a 7-game deficit in a month. After winning again last night - 8th straight - they are tied with Houston for first place in the AL West.

To which the Brewers say, "Not bad. Keep trying."

[GB Warrior]

Mariners have erased a 7-game deficit in a month. After winning again last night - 8th straight - they are tied with Houston for first place in the AL West.

To which the Brewers say, "Not bad. Keep trying."

All the more reason for the Brewers to not read their press clippings too much. Can still change fast especially if the Cubs can muster 4 days of offense next week. Realistically, if the Cubs can't take at least 4 of 5, I think the division is on life support.

Meanwhile, Dodgers and Padres now tied. The Brewers H2H tiebreaker with the Dodgers may yet prove important if for some reason the Brewers can't hold onto the division.

[PointWarrior]

Mariners have erased a 7-game deficit in a month. After winning again last night - 8th straight - they are tied with Houston for first place in the AL West.

To which the Brewers say, "Not bad. Keep trying."

It helps the AL is weak this year

[cheebs09]

All the more reason for the Brewers to not read their press clippings too much. Can still change fast especially if the Cubs can muster 4 days of offense next week. Realistically, if the Cubs can't take at least 4 of 5, I think the division is on life support.

Meanwhile, Dodgers and Padres now tied. The Brewers H2H tiebreaker with the Dodgers may yet prove important if for some reason the Brewers can't hold onto the division.

Even if winning the division, the tie-breaker could come into play for the first round bye.