Bleacher Report - Articles by Jesse Motiff

Five Moves For a 2010 Milwaukee Brewers' Playoff Run

Jesse Motiff — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:37:24 -0500

After a very disappointing 2009 season, fans of the Milwaukee Brewers are anticipating GM Doug Melvin to make several moves this winter involving the pitching staff to bring the team back to prominence in 2010. Regardless of the pitching acquisitions, the Brewers will need some luck as well as several players having career seasons to achieve the success they did in 2008.

The Brewers have the talent already on their roster to compete and win the NL Central. In addition to the pitchers acquired for the starting rotation, there are five keys in 2010 the Brewers must do in order to bring playoff baseball back to Milwaukee.

Make Mat Gamel a full-time starter

Mat Gamel has bounced back-and-forth between the Brewers and the Nashville Sounds over the past two seasons. The inconsistent playing time stunted his growth at the plate and in the field. He hit .246 in 128 at-bats and made seven errors at third base in only 191 innings of action.

He has a very inaccurate arm, but that could improve with a regular role in the starting lineup. Even if it doesn't, the Brewers are no strangers to having a below-average fielder at third. Ryan Braun committed 27 errors at third in his rookie year of 2007.

Gamel's bat isn't at advanced as Braun's was, but he would still be a boost in the lineup. Casey McGehee had a breakout season in 2009, but no one is expecting repeat success for him in 2010. Gamel has the ability to be a big run producer, and his left-handed bat will help balance out a predominately right-handed hitting team.

McGehee can come off the bench for both Gamel and Rickie Weeks when needed. He performed well as a pinch hitter last year and should be able to adjust to that role again quite well.

Youth will be served

If Mat Gamel is named a starter for 2010, it will only add to the youth movement started by the organization already. JJ Hardy, Mike Cameron, and Jason Kendall are all gone and will likely be replaced with Alcides Escobar, Carlos Gomez, and Jonathan Lucroy.

Escobar has been handed the shortstop role with the trade of Hardy. He performed well enough at the end of the year to convince management that trading Hardy was the right move. Defense will be improved as Escobar has more range and a stronger throwing arm than Hardy. He has also developed significantly at the plate at every level in the minor leagues.

Carlos Gomez came to the Brewers in the Hardy trade, signaling the end of the two-year Mike Cameron era. Gomez is praised by everyone for his defensive work, and many see him as a future Gold Glove winner. The Brewers will lose a lot of power with Cameron's departure, and Gomez will need to show better plate discipline in order to remain an every day player.

Jonathan Lucroy had a very good year in the minors and followed that up with a spectacular showing in the Arizona Fall League. His play led Melvin to comment that he would not be surprised to see Lucroy as a starter in 2010, taking over for Jason Kendall. Although Kendall could return, it's quite unlikely due to the lack of available monetary funds.

Three new, young players up the middle defensively is a big risk for any team to take. Each will be counted on to show improvement at the plate to go along with an already solid defensive foundation. Adding Gamel to the mix over McGehee will make the Brewers one of the youngest teams in the league.

Let them run

Manager Ken Macha was very hesitant to let any of his players run last season. With Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder in the middle of the lineup, he felt anyone on base was already in scoring position.

The Brewers won't have as much power in their lineup in 2010, and they will need to incorporate a more aggressive, speedy approach on the bases.

Gomez, Braun, Escobar, Weeks, and Corey Hart are all capable of stealing at least 20 bases. Only Braun stole 20 bases last season and that number was low due to hitting in front of Fielder. As a team, the Brewers only stole 68 bases in 2009, ranking 14th out of the 16 National League teams.

While Braun may still not run as much as he would like, the other four should be putting as much pressure as they can on opposing pitching staffs. The Brewers should look to steal more bases and use the hit-and-run much more than in past seasons.

Manny be Manny

While Manny Parra will never be confused with Manny Ramirez, the former should start acting more like the latter in order to live up to his potential.

No one will argue the talents of Parra. He has the ability to be one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in the league. His problems are as much mental as they are physical. He seems to pitch well until the first sight of trouble and then seems to be overwhelmed by the moment, looking for any excuse to get off the mound.

He is entering his third year as a full-time starter for the team, but has only pitched in 332 innings.

Parra faces the age-old question of which came first: the chicken or the egg? To become successful, he needs to pitch with confidence, but to become confident on the mound; he needs to experience some level of success. No matter how it happens, Manny Parra must fulfill his potential and become a top-notch compliment behind Yovani Gallardo in the rotation.

Make the Prince a King

Prince Fielder is already signed for the 2010 season and under team control until after the 2011 season. It has been widely speculated that Fielder will leave the Brewers once he becomes a free agent, but the Brewers need to do everything in their power to sign him to a long-term deal as soon as possible.

Although locking up Fielder would constrict the Brewers' budget, it wouldn't totally restrict them from competing in the future. They could sign him to an average of $20 million a year and still maintain a payroll between $85-90 million.

Not only will this give the team a show of confidence for the future, it will also serve as a show of good faith to the fan base that the Brewers are serious about being perennial contenders.

Fielder showed in 2009 that when he is taken care of financially, he produces on the field. Prior to the year, he signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the team. He proceeded to have his finest season as a pro, breaking the club record for walks and RBI.

As with any small market team, it will be difficult for the Brewers to compete for the playoffs every year. They are in a unique situation to already have established superstars while bringing in new, potential stars to the team. With such talent, no one should be surprised if Milwaukee once again asserts themselves as a playoff contender in 2010.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Forrest Griffin-Tito Ortiz 2: The Meaningless Main Event

Jesse Motiff — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:19:37 -0500

Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin are unquestionably two of the most popular fighters ever to step inside the Octagon. Even in defeat, both men are cheered wildly as if they had just won a championship.

The two will face off for the second time in their careers on Saturday night, main eventing UFC 106. Given the recent history of each man, does their fight this weekend even mean anything?

Dana White is a walking contradiction; even the most novice fan understands that. For the past couple of years he has verbally bashed Ortiz proclaiming to anyone that would listen that Ortiz was finished as a fighter. White wanted everyone to believe Ortiz would never fight in the UFC again.

After Ortiz couldn't find employment elsewhere, White decided to capitalize on Ortiz's name recognition and re-sign him to a contract with the UFC. On top of that, he sticks a fighter whom he told the world had nothing left into the main event for his return fight.

White is every bit the promoter of Vince McMahon. He will do whatever he can to make a buck. However, even White's most adamant supporters must be wondering how it makes sense to bash a man for two years and tear him down as a fighter only to give him a spot in the main event of a pay-per-view. It is simply bad business to try and get others to belief in something you have spent so much time trying to break down.

Ortiz hasn't fought since he lost to Lyoto Machida in May 2008. Worse yet, he hasn't won a fight in over three years when he knocked out Ken Shamrock in October 2006. Fighting someone the caliber of Griffin could become very dangerous for a fighter with so much ring rust.

Forrest Griffin has had his own sets of problems in recent months. White basically fed him to the wolves when he pitted him against Anderson Silva. Griffin was the perfect big-name punching bag that could boost Silva's presence in the light-heavyweight division. Griffin not only was beaten by a superior fighter, he was humiliated.

This led Griffin to test his cardio after the fight by running out of the cage prior to the results becoming official, leaving some to speculate he ran straight back to Georgia. At least he still had his book to promote and was cover boy of the UFC video game.

It has been over two years since Griffin's last convincing victory. He's lost his last two fights and although he beat Rampage Jackson for the UFC light-heavyweight title, it was a decision that many fans disagreed with.

Even a big win over Ortiz won't put him in line for a title fight with Machida. White could stick Griffin and Ortiz in another fight to break the tie of their two battles. While neither will lose much popularity with a loss, the losing fighter would become irrelevant in talks about a future title shot.

The main event speaks to a bigger problem currently afflicting the UFC: injuries. Brock Lesnar is out indefinitely and now Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has pulled out of a fight due to injury. These may only directly affect the heavyweight division, but both fighters were slated to be in the main events of their pay-per-view which leaves White and company scrambling to throw together a replacement.

It is a problem that the UFC is adjusting to quite rapidly. Brandon Vera is a decent fighter but he is in no position to main event a pay-per-view. The same can be said for Mark Coleman when he fights Randy Couture at UFC 109. How long can White put on sub-par main events before fans being to tune out?

There are a few good storylines heading into this weekend's fights. Josh Koscheck versus Anthony Johnson has the potential to be a great fight. It will also be interesting to see how Antonio Rogerio Nogueira adapts to his first fight for the UFC.

Fans may be excited to see the return of Tito Ortiz and how Forrest Griffin will respond after two devastating losses. Unfortunately, to see the two fight each other isn't worth what the UFC is expecting fans to pay to watch it.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Should the Kansas City Royals Give Consideration to Trading Zack Greinke?

Jesse Motiff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:37:56 -0500

Zack Greinke's win of the 2009 Cy Young Award should be considered one of the best accomplishments in recent baseball history.

The Kansas City Royals weren't a bad team in 2009, they were awful. Greinke's dominance on a 97-loss team speaks to his greatness.

The Royals are in the very competitive but winnable AL Central. Any great team needs an "ace" of the pitching staff to always depend on, but the Royals have almost an entire roster full of holes to fill in order to compete with Minnesota, Detroit, and Chicago.

Kansas City is one of the smallest markets in baseball and must be creative with their money and players in order to compete. Would trading Zack Greinke be the smartest move for the long-term success of the organization?

At first thought, most fans would immediately say absolutely not. It would be a very difficult sell for the organization trading their most marketable star and hope fans would still come out to watch an awful team.

Trading Greinke could be a lethal blow to a franchise that hasn't been contenders since over 20 years.

While statistics will show that a dominant pitcher, like Greinke, is as valuable as any every day player, fans can only see him once every five days.

A position player that plays every day will draw fans to a game every day, but Greinke's drawing power only comes once a week. The front office will greatly favor someone that will bring fans to the ballpark on a daily basis.

If the Royals would decide to trade Greinke, they could get a huge haul in return. The Indians received four top prospects from the Phillies for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.

The Phillies picked up Lee's option for 2010, so they'll have him for a total of a year and a half.

Any team that trades for Greinke would have his services for three years. He's due to make just over $7 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011 and 2012.

That is an absolute bargain for a Cy Young winner that will only be 26 when next season begins.

He could bring a better haul than Cliff Lee, Johan Santana, or even what Roy Halladay might. That type of talent returning to Kansas City coupled with what little talent they already could make them a respectable team and a viable competitor in their division.

A team like the Boston Red Sox would match up well as a potential trading partner. They possess enough pitching and hitting prospects that could turn around the Kansas City franchise.

The Red Sox have multiple pitchers that would immediately slide into the Royals' rotation and bullpen. They also have young hitters and fielders that could become cornerstones of the offense.

Fans need to understand that although having Greinke on their team is special, but how important is he to the success of team if his very best is only able to get the Royals to 65 wins?

The Royals have available funds to spend on the team in free agency. They could choose to keep Greinke and take their chances on adding pieces that way.

Adding key free agents and making shrewd trades could also build up the team, but can they do it before Greinke hits free agency after 2012?

Dealing Greinke could turn out to be a public relations nightmare for the Royals, but it may be the only move the team could make to become a relevant franchise again.

Trading Cy Young winners has become a growing trend recently, but the Royals have nothing left if Greinke is traded.

The Royals will have a hard time winning with him on the roster, but losing him will make it almost impossible and guarantee few fans will be around to watch what is left.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Milwaukee Brewers: What Is the Trade Market for Mat Gamel?

Jesse Motiff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:52:00 -0500

When the Brewers traded JJ Hardy for Carlos Gomez, they sealed their fate as to how they will acquire starting pitching this winter.

Other than John Lackey, the free agent class for pitchers is rather underwhelming, but Brewers' GM Doug Melvin is determined to find two starters on the market.

The Brewers still have players they could trade for pitching, most notably Mat Gamel. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that while a trade isn't out of the question, it is unlikely to happen unless the Brewers find another team willing to offer comparable pitching talent that is the equivalent of Gamel.

In the report, they note the logjam the Brewers could have in the infield. Rickie Weeks and Casey McGehee will enter the season as the starters at second and third base, respectively. Gamel will serve as the primary back-up at third, while McGehee could also fill in for Weeks at second on occasion.

If the Brewers decide McGehee is capable of being a full-time player, they could still decide to trade Gamel. He is, by far, the player that could bring the most in return to the Brewers.

Should the Brewers decide to go ahead with a trade of Gamel, what could they hope to get in return?

In the eyes of most fans, the Brewers received an unspectacular return for JJ Hardy. They wanted to focus on his 2007 and 2008 seasons as selling points, while ignoring his awful 2009 and hoping to get value from his previous successes as opposed to his current flaws.

While Gamel hasn't set the league on fire in his time in the majors, he is still a top left-handed hitting prospect that is under team control for several more seasons. The Brewers would like to get back a pitcher they could insert directly into their rotation with team control over the player for at least a couple of seasons.

Projecting possible trade partners is difficult. One must take into account that the trade must make sense for both teams, not just the Brewers trading Gamel to a team for the best possible pitcher, regardless of whether the other team needs Gamel or not.

The Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Orioles, Twins, and Mariners could all be looked at as teams that could give the Brewers young, controllable pitching and still have a need for Gamel in return.

The Red Sox and Tigers currently have options at third base; however, both Mike Lowell and Brandon Inge are free agents after the 2010 season. Acquiring Gamel now could shore up third base for either team in the long-term.

The Red Sox wouldn't give up Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard for JJ Hardy, but would they be willing to give up either for Mat Gamel. Michael Bowden is another name that came up in the Hardy talks. If Milwaukee thinks any of the three are legitimate future starters, dangling Gamel would be a smart move.

Edwin Jackson is reportedly being shopped by the Tigers. He is under team control for two more seasons. Gamel could see time at third base and designated hitter for the Tigers before taking over for Inge in 2011.

The Marlins are constantly looking to get younger and shred potential high-salary players. Ricky Nolasco is under team control for three more years and could be a huge addition to the Brewers' rotation. The Marlins could insert Gamel as an immediate starter.

The Orioles will be trying to replace Melvin Mora. Gamel could team with Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, and Brian Roberts as the foundation of the offense. Jeremy Guthrie is under team control for three more seasons. His numbers aren't overly impressive, until you remember he pitches in the same division as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays.

Milwaukee and Minnesota have already been involved in one trade this winter; could they be partners for another?

The Twins have a ton of young pitching they could trade and they have a hole to fill at third base. While none of the Twins' starters may be future superstars, filling a spot in the bottom of the rotation for the next several years is also a very important need.

The Brewers talked with the Mariners at the trade deadline about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Mariners' GM wanted both Alcides Escobar and Gamel for the three-month rental of Washburn. Obviously, that is something Doug Melvin never gave serious thought to. The Mariners have several young pitchers that could appeal to the Brewers, and if the Mariners don't re-sign Adrian Beltre, they'll have a need for a third baseman.

Trading Gamel will net the Brewers a good starting pitcher. It will also mean they are trading off the best hitting prospect currently in their organization. Casey McGehee is anything but a sure thing to maintain the type of production he produced in 2009. Given all that, Melvin will be very hesitant to give up Gamel.

The Brewers are likely to overspend for mediocre starting pitching in free agency. That's what the market will dictate. The Brewers would be smart to spend as little on these pitchers as possible and continue to develop pitchers in their own system.

With the uncertain futures of McGehee and Prince Fielder, Mat Gamel is too valuable to trade unless for a top-of-the-rotation arm.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Has Andrew Bogut Finally Turned the Corner?

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:06:35 -0500

To the surprise of most fans and observers, the Milwaukee Bucks are off to a fast start. In fact, Milwaukee sits atop the Central Division with a record of 5-2.

The league is buzzing over the hot start by rookie Brandon Jennings. Jennings has taken the league by storm, highlighted by his 55 point performance against the Golden State Warriors over the weekend.

While Jennings is earning all the headlines, another Bucks' player is performing as well right now as he has at any time in his career.

Andrew Bogut was the first overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft and has been trying to live up to all the pressures that go along with that.

Bogut was playing well last season before a back injury limited him to only 36 games. There was even doubt prior to this season if he'd be healthy in time for the season opener.

Bogut is averaging 15.9 points and 9.4 rebounds over the first seven games this year. The offense has opened up since Michael Redd's injury, and Bogut has benefitted from a more open and flowing system.

With Redd out of the picture, Bogut and Jennings are teaming up as quite a one-two punch. Jennings is shooting much better than anyone thought he would, giving Bogut more room to operate in the post.

The Bucks haven't had a successful low-post presence since Vin Baker. Bogut provides the same height and athleticism that Baker gave the team in the mid-90's.

Bogut should continue with his success even when Redd returns to the lineup. Jennings' offense will take shots away from Redd, but Bogut should still get his touches. Bogut needs to be the focal point of the offense, even if he doesn't lead the team in shots taken or points scored.

As long as Bogut's back remains healthy, he should continue to expand on the early success he's had this season. If the Bucks hope to return to the playoffs, they'll need a lot more help than the new hotshot rookie. They need a total team effort, led by Andrew Bogut asserting his dominance as one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Will Tim Lincecum Be the Same Pitcher in 2010?

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:35:51 -0500

Tim Lincecum has taken the baseball world by storm over the past two-and-a-half seasons. Depending on who you ask, he is at or near the top when asked to name the best pitchers in the game.

Lincecum won the Cy Young Award in 2008, and he put himself in a position to win another in 2009 with an even better year. Regardless of the outcome of this year's ballot, he will face a landscape in 2010 that he has never before dealt with in his life.

Two weeks ago, he was pulled over for speeding. During the traffic stop, the police officer smelled marijuana. Lincecum complied with the officer's request to hand over the pot and a pipe.

He reached an agreement with prosecutors to drop the possession charges, but he will still pay a fine for speeding and possessing a marijuana pipe. The matter must still be approved by a judge but there should be no further legal issues involving Lincecum for this case.

This is also the winter that Lincecum becomes arbitration-eligible. To say he will be in line for a huge raise is a bit of an understatement. Winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards would only raise the already astronomical figure he's about to make.

With a substantial pay raise, Lincecum will go from being one of the most under-paid players in the game to a likely record first-year arbitration figure for a pitcher. Along with a hike in salary, expectations will now be entirely different for the 25-year-old ace of the Giants' staff.

Even with a lesser drug charge, Lincecum will still face a barrage of drug-related questions when he comes to Spring Training. Along with those questions will come even more questions about his new contract and the pressure that comes from signing such a deal.

Given that so much is happening to him this offseason, it is quite reasonable to wonder how Lincecum will handle all the attention and stress recently added to his life. Can Lincecum handle everything that he now faces, and will he be the same pitcher in 2010 that he has been since being called up by the Giants in 2007?

It's reasonable to think he can overcome this and remain the dominant pitcher he's become. He faced high expectations as the 10th overall pick in the 2006 amateur and sky-rocketed through the Giants' system. He also proved in 2009 that his Cy Young season in 2008 was no fluke.

Even with his past triumphs over adversity, there is still a big difference from the pressures of trying to get to the Majors and having to answer ongoing questions about drug use and living up to a new contract.

Lincecum would be wise to mimic the actions of another superstar that faced similar circumstances last year: Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez was able to block out all distractions from a new contract and a steroid scandal to have a great season despite missing the beginning of the season.

For all of his short-comings, Rodriguez was able to maintain a singular focus on the games he played and the result was becoming a World Champion for the first time.

Lincecum already ranks ahead of Rodriguez in any popularity contest, so the public should be very forgiving of his offseason transgressions. They will be less forgiving about any struggles he may encounter due to the new contract however.

Lincecum would be best served to have a press conference to address all his issues early on in spring training. He can then put the issues behind him and focus on winning a possible third Cy Young award.

Regardless of what you're feelings may be on Lincecum and his recent run in with the law, it was a stupid and unfortunate incident. However, it doesn't resonate on the same scale as the Alex Rodriguez steroid scandal.

Tim Lincecum is as good of a pitcher as there is in baseball. He has proven time and again in his career that nothing can stop him once on the diamond. He'll need to focus like never before in order to remain at the top of his game. Giant fans should anticipate nothing different out of him than what they've seen in his first three years.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

Should the Detroit Tigers Trade Miguel Cabrera?

Jesse Motiff — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:44:02 -0500

The Detroit Tigers are coming off of a heart-breaking finish to their 2009 season. After squandering away the division lead to the Minnesota Twins, they lost a one-game playoff to them and missed the playoffs entirely.

The Tigers now seem focused on shredding payroll heading into the 2010 season. Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson have both been mentioned as possibly being on the move to lower a payroll that already sits at well over $100 million between just 10 players.

Ken Rosenthal speculates in a recent column that if the Tigers are willing to dangle Jackson and Granderson, they should look at moving Miguel Cabrera as an alternative. Cabrera, the highest-paid Tiger, still has six years and $126 million remaining on his current deal.

Rosenthal suggests that if the Red Sox were willing to offer Mark Teixeira an eight-year, $170 million contract last year, they should be able to take on Cabrera's deal with ease. He even offers up a proposed trade between the two teams: Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Lowell, and a top prospect, possibly Lars Anderson for Cabrera.

The Tigers' offense would take a severe loss with Cabrera's trade, but they could still trade one of their young pitchers to bring offense back to the team.

Detroit could still choose to go with what has been reported and trade Jackson, Granderson, or both. The team will save almost $60 million off their payroll after the 2010 season when Magglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, and Dontrelle Willis all become free agents. Given that flexibility, they may choose to keep Cabrera as the focal point of the offense.

Cabrera became a distraction at the end of the season after showing up at his home drunk and getting into a fight with his wife. The incident happened on the final weekend and cuts were visible on his face for the final few games of the year.

Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski commented about the incident after the season, giving no indication that the organization lost faith in Cabrera.

"I feel confident that he is going to address the issues he needs to address to take care of the problems he has."

Cabrera will just be entering his prime when the 2010 season starts. He won't turn 27 until the third week of April. Given that fact, Cabrera's contract is a relative bargain for teams with high payrolls.

How good is Cabrera at the plate? Over his first six full seasons, his career-low numbers are a .292 batting average, 26 home runs, and 103 RBI. His addition to any lineup, Boston especially, would be a gigantic boost in output.

If the Tigers would decide to trade Cabrera, a haul of Papelbon, Lowell, and a prospect wouldn't be enough. Lowell is a free agent after the 2010 season, while Papelbon has two years left of team control. While they would have a short-term impact, the long-term value of the trade isn't there, even with a top prospect included in the deal.

The smarter package for the Tigers to pursue would be a package of top prospects. The Red Sox have multiple high-level pitching prospects as well as Anderson at first base and Ryan Westmoreland in the outfield.

Rarely will a team that trades an established superstar receive enough quality talent in return to justify the trade. Just ask the Minnesota Twins if they received fair value for Johan Santana.

The Tigers could add to their rotation in free agency next winter to replace anyone they may trade off this year. Though the Tigers would find the most salary relief by trading Miguel Cabrera, the long-term plans for the franchise would be greatly altered. Cabrera needs to remain in the middle of the lineup, while surrounding him with a supporting cast.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Would Edwin Jackson Be a Good Fit For The Milwaukee Brewers?

Jesse Motiff — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:39:25 -0500

Rumors have surfaced in recent days that Milwaukee Brewers' GM Doug Melvin has talked with Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski over the possibility of acquiring starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. Jackson is being shopped in a cost-cutting move by the Tigers.

Jackson is coming off the best statistical season of his career, and he is under team control for two more years. He made $2.2 million in 2009.

It was a tale of two seasons for the young righty. He was named to his first All-Star team in July with a 7-4 record and a 2.52 ERA.

By the end of the season, his ERA had risen to 3.62 with a record of 13-9. Over his final 12 starts, he gave up three runs or less only three times. He finished the season with almost 30 more innings pitched than at any point in his career.

It appeared that he suffered from a tired arm, but it should be something that won't hamper him in the future. He's now been a regular starter for three seasons, building up his innings pitched each year. There should be no ill effects from the end of 2008, and he should have no issues throwing 200 innings again in 2010.

The Tigers could use help at a few different positions. If Curtis Granderson is traded, they could use help in the outfield. Brandon Inge will be entering the final year of his deal in 2010, and the Tigers could look for an eventual replacement at third base for him.

The Brewers have a couple outfield prospects that aren't ready for the Majors, but could be long-term solutions in center field to replace Granderson. Lorenzo Cain and Logan Schafer have became the organizations top two outfield prospects.

Corey Hart could also be a trade candidate. He has two years left of team control and could be moved to center if needed. Despite missing over 50 games due to injury, Hart still had a good season. His power numbers dropped, but he drew a career-high number of walks and raised his on-base percentage from .300 in 2008 to .335 last year.

Hart's price tag may be more than what the Tigers are looking to spend, so they could inquire about Mat Gamel or Casey McGehee. Each are cheap options at third base, however neither one is nearly the defensive player of Inge, but both are better choices at the plate.

The teams may run into a stumbling block in the Tigers want young pitching in return. All the good pitching prospects for the Brewers are at Double-A or lower in the system. Gamel should be enough on his own for Jackson, given that the young third baseman is under team control for six more seasons and still regarded as a top hitting prospect.

Even with an arbitration raise, Jackson would be a cheaper option financially than most pitchers on the free agent market. If Manny Parra can live up to his potential, a staff fronted by Jackson, Parra, and Yovani Gallardo would greatly improve the rotation from 2009.

Edwin Jackson is definitely an option that Doug Melvin should pursue. Jackson helps the depth of the rotation, while not having a lot of wear and tear on his arm. His numbers should improve in the National League, and he could very easily return to the All-Star form he showed in the first half of 2009.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

The Dodgers Would Be Foolish to Give Up on Chad Billingsley

Jesse Motiff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:33:06 -0500

The most valuable asset in baseball is good pitching. Good, young, controllable pitching could be likened to winning the lottery for a million dollars, and when you go to cash in your ticket, you find out you actually won five million.

To call the 2009 season a roller coaster for Chad Billingsley would be an understatement. He was named to his first All-Star game in July, but he also had his career-worst year statistically.

Things took an even worse turn for Billingsley when Dodgers manager Joe Torre only used him once in the team's two playoff series. He didn't make an appearance against the Cardinals and pitched once out of the bullpen against the Phillies.

This was coming off a drubbing the Phillies gave him in the 2008 playoffs. In two starts, he lasted only five innings while giving up 11 runs on seven walks and 12 hits.

Several reports are now surfacing that Billingsley is on the trading block. It's rumored he could be the centerpiece of a trade with the Blue Jays that would bring Roy Halladay to Los Angeles. It would be incredibly foolish of the Dodgers to pull off such a trade, especially with Halladay only a year away from free agency.

Despite having the worst season of his career, Billingsley will only be 25 years old on opening day next year. He's also under team control for three more years.

By the start of the 2011 season, the Dodgers could have the best pitching staff in baseball. They would be one of the favorites to sign Halladay next winter, so why give up on Billingsley and other talent when they can wait one year to get Halladay and keep all their resources?

A starting rotation with Halladay, Clayton Kershaw, and Billingsley as the top three would rival any trio in the game. The Dodgers would also still have control of all their young hitters, having retained them all by not trading for Halladay.

The next crop of Dodgers' prospects are not nearly as strong as has been the case in past years, so the team needs to hold onto them while not letting go of any of the young core already established on the team.

Even if Los Angeles were to lose out on Halladay, there will be a plethora of available pitching that they could lure into the fold. The key is just to hold firm with what they have and then attack the pitching market next winter.

Although that may not be a popular idea among the Dodgers faithful, they must take a realistic team that they now have. Even after they almost collapsed and lost the division to the Rockies, they are still the class of the National League West. There is no reason to make such a hasty trade.

Going after one or two starters this year could stabilize the rotation, but giving out a long-term deal to anyone other than John Lackey this winter is not needed. Most of the pitchers on the market could be signed to a one or two-year deal.

Even with his struggles in 2009, Chad Billingsley still has a very high upside. To give up on him now and trade him away would be like taking that same winning lottery ticket and throwing it away because you aren't happy with the jackpot amount.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

The Houston Astros Will Win Again, but Not With Oswalt, Berkman, or Lee

Jesse Motiff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:02:02 -0500

Building and maintaining a consistent winner in baseball is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. In football, basketball, and hockey rosters can completely change over within the course of two or three years.

The economics of baseball don't allow such turnover to take place. Guaranteed contracts and no-trade clauses tie a team to player regardless of performance or injury. While reconfiguring the economics of the game is an entirely different discussion, the Houston Astros are one of the teams most affected by the current set up.

Despite being the fourth largest city in the country, Houston is considered a "small market" thanks to their current television contract. With the combination of a large population and a still beautiful 10-year old ballpark, there is no reason for Houston to be lumped in with teams like the Royals, Brewers, and Twins for television revenue.

The team had their highest payroll in it's history last season that topped out at just under $103 million, but most feel the Astros will have to be quite frugal this winter to cut back on overall payroll for 2010.

In recent years, they have given out long-term, big money contracts to Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee. While no one would argue their abilities on the field, one must question the organization for handing out these types of deals.

While the organization was on the verge of long-time stars Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio retiring from the game, they felt they needed to sign established players to replace the two legends and bring "star power" to the team.

There is nothing wrong with signing a player to a long-term deal, but handcuffing the organization by giving a player a no-trade clause is a terrible idea for a team like the Astros. Oswalt and Berkman have a full no trade clause while Lee has a partial no trade clause for the final two years of his deal.

For the long-term good of the franchise, the organization must approach all three players on the possibility of waving these clauses. Each player is a huge fan favorite, but at least two should be sent packing for the organization to retool itself.

Although there is a club option for 2011, Berkman is in the final year of his deal. He could have a huge impact on the pennant race next year if he waves his no-trade clause and allows the Astros to deal him. Even if he is only a two-month rental, he could still bring the team quality players or prospects back in return.

Oswalt has two years left on his current deal with a club option for 2012. Again, if he would be willing to waive the no trade clause, he would be seen as a very impressive trading chip. Despite having the worst season of his career last year, he's still one of the best, most consistent pitchers in the game. Like Berkman, he could help restock one of the worst farm systems in the game.

Carlos Lee is the youngest of the three big names, but he may be the hardest of the three to trade. He has three years and $57 million still left on the contract he signed in 2007. No one can argue the value of Lee's bat. In his 11-year career, he has only hit less than 24 home runs in a season once, his rookie year in 1999.

The trouble with Lee is his defense. Right now he is protected by a shallow left field and giant wall behind him. He has an average arm, at best, and would be best served as a designated hitter in the American League. Even with his bat, he wouldn't return the kind of haul to the Astros that Oswalt or Berkman would.

Unfortunately for fans of the team, it's likely to get much worse before it gets better. Until the economy of the game changes, owner Drayton McLane and his staff need to take the mindset of other small market teams: build up the farm system, trade off stars that won't sign long-term deals, and acquire cost effective free agents.

It's hard to watch fan favorites get traded away, especially after watching Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell spend their entire careers with the team. Fans must take to looking at the team with a more critical eye and understand that, in baseball, what is best for the team isn't always what is best for the heart.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Could Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera Be the Launching Point for a New Division?

Jesse Motiff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:43 -0500

One topic that has picked up steam lately has been the talk of a new weight division being added to the UFC.

Talk first began after the Randy Couture-Brock Lesnar title fight for the Heavyweight Championship. Many saw Lesnar having an unfair advantage over Couture due to a 60-pound weight differential.

Despite any advantage Lesnar had, Couture was able to overcome it. Several times he was taken to the ground by his heavier opponent only to use his speed and positioning to work his way back to his feet.

The proposed new division could take form in a few different ways. The weight class would range between 205 to 225 or 230 pounds. Some have proposed calling it the cruiserweight division, while others feel it should be the new heavyweight division.

Fighters like Lesnar, Shane Carwin, and Cain Velasquez would fight in the super-heavyweight division.

Couture would seem to be a prime candidate for the new proposed division. He was quite small compared to most of the current heavyweights, but he walks around at 220 pounds and cuts down to the 205 limit for the light-heavyweight division.

Couture wasn't necessarily opposed to adding a new weight class when asked about it on Wednesday on the UFC's conference call, but it also didn't seem like he would push for it.

"I'm happy with the weight classes the way they are," Couture said. "I may be small for a heavyweight, but I've been fairly effective there. Whatever makes sense for the sport would be best, but I don't know whether it's really gaining any traction or if it would happen."

Brandon Vera seemed more open to the idea and thought it could help grow the sport.

"The sport is growing and will need more main events, so it would make sense to add one."

While being open to a new division, Vera doesn't mind the weight differential between himself and the larger fighters currently in the heavyweight division.

"I've fought bigger guys and didn't have a problem with it, but adding a new division could make new stars and build the sport even more."

Vera is right in saying the new division could potentially make new stars, but it is a process that would take a few years to fully adjust to.

Initially, the light-heavyweight division would be depleted of several fighters, but it also may give opportunities to fighters like Chuck Liddell and Couture to stick around longer and fight different opponents. While some will be opposed to that thought, they are two of the biggest draws in the sport and would be good for the division at its inception.

Adding smaller heavyweight fighters to a division with the heavier light-heavyweight fighters would be an interesting twist to the sport. It would spark great debate and interest among fans, as well as give a whole new group of fighters a chance for greatness.

The division may not be formed for another couple of years, but Randy Couture and Brandon Vera could very well be laying the foundation for the division with their clash on Saturday night.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Jon Garland

Jesse Motiff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:13:08 -0500

One of the most important attributes in building a pitching rotation is the durability of the pitchers. When a team can rely on a starter to go out every fifth day to make his start, they have the foundation for a very good rotation.

When Brewers' GM Doug Melvin looks over a list of available starting pitchers this winter he'll find few pitchers that are more reliable and durable than Jon Garland. The Dodgers have declined their option on Garland, making him one of the more attractive options on the open market.

Since becoming a full-time starter in 2002, Garland has averaged 32 starts a season and over 200 innings pitched while winning an average of 13 games.

While his career 4.42 ERA may not be spectacular, he doesn't walk many batters. He also doesn't strike out very many batters either. He pitches to contact, so he needs to have a good defense behind him to achieve success.

He made $6.25 million last year when the market was slow. Many pitchers, Garland included, signed a one-year deal hoping the market would be stronger this winter and teams would be more willing to sign them to long-term deals.

Garland will only be 30 years old when the 2010 season starts, making him one of the younger pitchers available for a team. He will likely seek out a four- or five-year deal but could settle for much less if the market falters like it did last season.

Given his durability and success, Garland could easily demand eight million a season. Even with salaries dropping a bit, he is a better pitcher than some of those making several million more per year.

Like most of the pitchers on the market this year, Garland would fit well into the Brewers' rotation. He would give the team a dependable arm behind Yovani Gallardo. If the Brewers are willing to give Garland the contract he's looking for, he could prove very beneficial to the rotation and bullpen.

The problem with Garland will come with the current defense the Brewers have assembled. Carlos Gomez and Alcides Escobar are both above average defenders, but the rest of the positions are filled by average defenders at best. This could greatly have an impact on his effectiveness and result in career-low results.

While Garland is a quality pitcher and will help whichever team he joins, he wouldn't be a good match for the Brewers. The Brewers won't be able to pay the market rate that another team will likely offer him. Couple that with an inferior defense and he becomes an unattractive choice for Milwaukee.

The Brewers will find one or more pitchers to put in their rotation for 2010, but it's very unlikely that one of those pitchers will be Jon Garland.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

If Pete Rose Enters the Hall of Fame, Shoeless Joe Jackson Must Follow

Jesse Motiff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:27:23 -0500

Commissioner Bud Selig recently sat down with Bob Costas for an interview that aired on the MLB Network. Among the topics discussed was the possible inclusion of Pete Rose in the baseball Hall of Fame.

The topic of Rose and his possible admittance into the Hall has been one of baseball's most hotly debated issues since his lifetime suspension in 1989 by former commissioner Bart Giamatti.

He voluntarily accepted the ban from Giamatti, but after Giamatti's death, Rose had said that it was planned between the two that Rose would only serve a one-year suspension and then apply for reinstatement.

In the past few years the case for Rose's induction has gained momentum. After finally admitting to gambling in his book, My Prison Without Bars, many spoke up on his behalf, saying it was time for the suspension to be lifted so Rose could take his place among baseball's greatest players.

Hank Aaron, who happens to be a very close friend of commissioner Selig, has been most vocal in his support for Rose. Along with many others, Aaron feels Rose deserves the honor of being able to receive enshrinement in Cooperstown while he's still alive.

The most likely scenario will have Selig allowing Rose to appear on the ballot for the Hall, and it will then fall on the shoulders of the Baseball Writers Association of America to determine whether or not he is worthy of the Hall of Fame.

It can be argued back and forth until the end of time whether or not Rose should be allowed back into the game. We live in a society that is quick to denigrate an individual, but also forgiving enough to build that person back up once they are struck down.

Cheating has always been a part of baseball in one form or another, from gambling to steroids, amphetamines, and even putting a foreign substance on a pitched baseball. For all the wonderful aspects of the game, cheating in any form is simply a part of it, as well.

If Rose is allowed to make his return to baseball to enter the Hall of Fame, baseball needs to take swift action to give the same luxury to former Chicago White Sox outfielder "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

Most fans know the story of Jackson. He was a member of the 1919 Chicago White Sox team that lost the World Series to an inferior Cincinnati Reds club. It was later discovered that Jackson and seven of his teammates had conspired with gamblers to "throw" the series to the Reds.

Although Jackson did admit to receiving money from gamblers to throw the series, a fire later destroyed all evidence in the case. Jackson and his conspiring teammates were later banned for life by newly appointed commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

Jackson's career was cut short, and he would never have the ability to enter the not yet formed Hall of Fame.

If not for the lifetime ban, Jackson would likely be discussed as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He was the premier power hitter in baseball prior to Babe Ruth's explosion. In fact, Ruth said many times he copied the swing of Jackson.

Jackson played in the dead ball era, when power numbers were based off doubles and triples, not home runs. At the time of the suspension, the game was just entering a new era. In 1920, his final season, he hit .382 with 42 doubles, 20 triples, 12 home runs, and 121 RBI.

For his career, Jackson finished with a .356 lifetime batting average, trailing only Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. He finished with 200 hits in a season four times, while finishing his career with an on-base percentage of .423. He tallied 1,772 hits over his 13-year career.

Jackson was only 31 at the time of the ban, so there's no telling what kind of numbers he could have accumulated for his career, especially with the offensive explosion in the game.

3,000 hits would appear to have been an attainable goal for Jackson. Only three men that finished with at least 3,000 hits aren't in the Hall of Fame: Rose, Craig Biggio, and Rafael Palmeiro. Biggio and Palmeiro have not yet fulfilled the waiting period after their careers to be eligible for induction.

There are still millions of fans that feel Rose should never be reinstated to the game. Going by the letter of the law, he shouldn't be. It is a very delicate situation in which a good case can be made for both sides of the opinion.

However, baseball has proven to be very accepting of those that have done wrong, and it's easy to envision Rose receiving his day in the sun to join the Hall of Fame. If Rose does enter the Hall, Joe Jackson deserves the same opportunity and treatment, as well.

Rose may still have the chance to enjoy the honor; Jackson never will. Baseball, for all that is good and bad with it, is about making it home. Even 58 years after his death, Shoeless Joe must be allowed to enter his rightful home: the Baseball Hall of Fame.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

The Milwaukee Brewers Are Preparing for 2011, Not 2010

Jesse Motiff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:42:35 -0500

Although the offseason has barely begun, the Milwaukee Brewers are already making their plans for this time next year. Rebuilding, retooling, or reloading; call it whatever you like but that's what the Brewers are using the 2010 season to do.

While this may be hard for fans to swallow only a year after making the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, it's a harsh reality of being a small or mid-market team in the current baseball economy. The Brewers simply cannot hope to compete for the playoffs year in and year out.

Critics will say if the Brewers aren't trying to win a championship while they have Prince Fielder that they should just trade him now for the best package. However, the plan is for the Brewers to make their biggest push for a championship in 2011. If they are unable to sign Fielder, then they will at least have a foundation to continue competing after his departure. It's also the right thing for Brewers' GM Doug Melvin to do.

The team will spend 2010 having several members of their roster adjusting to life in the majors. Carlos Gomez, Alcides Escobar, and Jonathan Lucroy will all be 24 or younger next year. They will all be thrown into the fire of playing on a major league roster, each with significant roles.

Gomez and Escobar will take over for Mike Cameron and JJ Hardy at very difficult defensive positions. They will also have the freedom to fail and grow from those failures since they will be counted on as the unquestioned starter at their respective positions. Each will have many stumbles throughout the year, but both are talented enough to overcome any obstacle and become stars for many years to come.

Doug Melvin has come out in the past few days praising the play of prospect Jonathan Lucroy. Melvin is comfortable with giving Lucroy a spot on the big league roster in spring. Jason Kendall's departure is all but a certainty, so Lucroy will make the jump from Double-A Huntsville to the Brewers.

Lucroy had a very good year at Huntsville and has followed that up by playing superbly in the Arizona Fall League. It's not unheard of to have a catcher jump from Double-A to the majors, but he will have his work cut out for him. He may not catch every day, but he will likely see significant time with either Mike Rivera or another veteran back-stop the Brewers sign.

Lucroy may struggle with his bat early on, but it is unlikely he would perform any worse at the plate than Jason Kendall did in 2009. His main objective will be to learn the pitching staff and continue improving behind the plate.

While the Brewers have some cash to spend this winter, they will have a significantly more to spend next year. The contracts of Jeff Suppan and Bill Hall will finally be off the team's books. The team will only need to spend $2 million to buyout the option year on Suppan's deal. Another $250K will get them out from under David Riskie's contract as well.

The team will also face up to a $1 million buyout on Trevor Hoffman's deal. If they Brewers have no internal candidates to take over his role, it's like they would keep Hoffman provide he's healthy and effective for the entire 2010 season.

Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, and Yovani Gallardo will all be arbitration eligible, but the team will also be welcoming prospects like Angel Salome and Lorenzo Cain. Others like Brett Lawrie, Jeremy Jeffress, Taylor Green, and Zach Braddock may also be ready for roles on the team by Opening Day 2011.

All of those incoming talents will team with the veterans to provide a relatively inexpensive payroll. Given generous arbitration raises to those eligible, taking into account all the minimum contracts due to the young players, and picking up Hoffman's option, the Brewers could have a payroll of around $60 million needing to round out their roster with two to three pitchers.

The free agent pitching market next winter may be one of the best in the recent memory. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, Brandon Webb, Jorge de la Rosa, Joe Blanton, Javier Vazquez, and Aaron Harang are all potential free agents at the end of the upcoming season.

Halladay currently stands as the top dog of the market and will easily command a CC Sabathia-like contract. If Milwaukee doesn't make a play on him, they would no doubt be able to match almost any other contract offered to the remaining pitchers on that list.

The Brewers could pair one or two of those pitchers with Yovani Gallardo and have quite a formdable rotation. Their lineup would feature a good balance of speed and power, youth and experience. It is a similar formula that saw Milwaukee win the NL Wild Card in 2008.

Having between $20-25 million to spend on pitching would make the Brewers a major player in the free agent market. That number could drop if the Brewers sign anyone to a multi-year deal this winter, but they would still have a large amount to go after a marquee pitcher.

Giving a pitcher a one-year deal this winter will leave Melvin with a lot of wiggle room throughout the season. If the pitcher performs well, the Brewers would have the inside track of retaining his services in 2011. If the team happens to falter but the pitcher is having a good season, Melvin could trade him to a contender to help restock the organization's farm system.

If the Brewers are indeed taking a similar approach to this, fans shouldn't feel like 2010 will be a wasted year. Any lineup with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder in the middle of it will score a lot of runs. Trevor Hoffman closing games will make sure Milwaukee doesn't blow many games in the ninth inning. Yovani Gallardo should continue to establish himself as a top young pitcher in the league. His numbers will improve given the team provides him with more run support.

Acquiring a big-name pitcher to team with Gallardo would also shift the foundation of the Brewers franchise long-term. The focus would change from a power-hitting, station-to-station team with mediocre pitching to a balanced hitting team with strong starting pitching. The team will continue to be enhanced in that area for several years into the future with a farm system currently stocked with young power arms.

Fans may feel the Brewers have no chance of ever winning a World Series if Prince Fielder were to eventually leave. There is no doubt that it would be very difficult, but Doug Melvin needs to continue to look at the big picture and plan for every possible scenario. The short-term may see a decline in on-the-field performance in 2010, only to see the team rebound and be a very legitimate contender to bring a World Series title back to Milwaukee.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Jarrod Washburn

Jesse Motiff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:59:14 -0500

When the current crop of free agent pitchers are discussed, the name that most frequently comes up as a fit for the Milwaukee Brewers is Jarrod Washburn. This isn't the first time the two have been linked together. In fact, Washburn has been mentioned as an option for the Brewers almost his entire career.

Washburn is a Wisconsin native, having pitched in college at the University of Oshkosh. The Brewers had interest in him after the 2005 season, but he chose to sign with the Seattle Mariners.

His name came up this year prior to the trade deadline in July. Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik reportedly asked for both Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar for the three month rental of Washburn. Brewers GM Doug Melvin wisely spurned the offer, but is again trying to lure the 35-year-old lefty to Milwaukee.

Other than his win-loss record, Washburn was having the best statistical season of his career for Seattle last season before being traded to the Tigers. That was after having the worst statistical season of his career in 2008.

Injuries hampered him once he was traded to the Tigers, and caused him to be very ineffective while in Detroit. Although surgery to repair his injured knee will have healed well in time for spring training, Washburn will have a lot of convincing to a team to give him a multi-year deal.

As is the case with most pitchers on the market this offseason, durability is a chief concern. Washburn has only pitched 200 innings in his career twice, the last time coming in 2003 for the Angels. Only five times in his 12-year career has he made more than 30 starts.

Washburn had the luxury of playing in SafeCo Field the last few years, which is notorious for being a pitcher's ballpark. He also had a very good defensive outfield behind him. Although Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun may be future Gold Glove winners, they are both still young and still experience growing pains in the field.

While Washburn may be hoping for a multi-year deal worth several million per year, the market may dictate something completely different. He just completed a four-year deal worth $37.5 million. Dreams of another contract similar to that may have died with his struggles in Detroit.

Many fans in Wisconsin seem to enjoy the idea of "one of their own" coming in and playing for the Brewers. The idea tends to cloud their judgment when assessing Washburn's worth and value, something the front office can't afford to have happen.

With the current crop of starting pitchers, Washburn may very well be slotted as a second or third starter. That doesn't speak to his abilities as a quality pitcher; that speaks to just how awful of a pitching staff the Brewers currently have assembled.

Money, of course, dictates everything in baseball. Washburn could be at a point in his career that he may like the thought of pitching for his hometown team. Maybe he will realize that his value isn't as high as some have thought.

He may be open to taking a one or even two-year deal for around $5 million per year. If he were open to such a deal, Melvin would have to at least consider the idea.

Washburn could also realize that this is likely his last chance at a big contract and simply go to the highest bidder. No one would fault him for that. The Brewers need to be smart enough to back away from the table with him if that turns out to be the scenario.

Everyone loves to see the hometown guy come and pitch for his home team. What fans love even more than that is a winning ball club. To achieve the latter, the Brewers need to avoid Jarrod Washburn this winter and go after cheaper, safer options.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

What Does the Future Hold for Randy Couture After UFC 105?

Jesse Motiff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:27:11 -0500

Randy Couture is at a point in his life and fighting career where he has nothing to prove to anyone. Even his harshest critics would concede that Couture has overcome the odds so many times that to question him now is simply foolish.

While the 46-year-old UFC Hall of Famer shows no signs of slowing down, one cannot underestimate the importance of this fight for Couture. Despite being in numerous title fights and main eventing pay-per-views, his bout with Brandon Vera on Saturday may be the most important fight of his career.

On the surface it would seem Couture holds a decided advantage over the much younger Vera. The experience edge will heavily favor Couture. Couple the experience with all the big fights he has been in, along with being the smartest fighter in the UFC, and it's easy to see why Vera needs to have the fight of his life in order to come out victorious.

So without overlooking Vera, let's take a look at what may be in store for Couture, win or lose, after his fight this weekend.

What happens if Couture wins?

A victory over Vera could vault Couture to the top of the light-heavyweight standings. Dana White could easily decide to give him a title shot with an impressive showing. While a Couture-Lyoto Machida fight may not be the best fight possible in the division, it's hard to imagine a fight that would have better numbers on pay-per-view and make more money for the company.

If White decides on a Machida-Shogun Rua rematch, there could still be several possible opponents for Couture at 205. He could fight the winner of the Forrest Griffin-Tito Ortiz bout. Either fighter pitted against him would generate a ton of interest among avid and novice MMA fans.

Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans will fight at UFC 108. A Couture-Evans fight for the chance at a title shot could also be built up as a huge draw. A match with Thiago Silva wouldn't be as appealing to the general public, but it's a match that could provide unique challenges for him.

Another big-money fight Couture might pursue would be against Rich Franklin. Both are wildly popular among fans, and one would think a fight between the two would be must see television.

Couture could throw a curveball at everyone and move back to the heavyweight division after this fight. Brock Lesnar's immediate future his up in the air due to illness, and Dana White could decide to crown an interim champion like he's done in the past.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira against Cain Velasquez has been confirmed for UFC 108. White could set up a Shane Carwin bout against Couture having the winner of the two fights meet for the interim title. This would keep interest in the heavyweight division high until Lesnar returns to meet whoever the champion may be at the time.

What happens if Couture loses?

A loss to Vera could be devastating for Couture, and it may put him on the fast track to retirement. Vera isn't even a top-10 light-heavyweight in the UFC, and a loss would move Couture far down the list of title contenders.

As noted above, the move back to heavyweight is a possibility, but that too would be very difficult for Couture to find any measurable success. He's been beaten by Lesnar and Nogueira, and he would probably be a big underdog to Velasquez, Carwin, and Frank Mir.

Couture could decide to keep fighting even if titles would no longer be in his future. There are numerous fights that would keep his name in the spotlight and in line for several huge paydays.

It's hard to speculate what Couture may or may not do after this fight. He is a proud man that may have to learn to swallow his pride and walk away from the sport he loves should he lose to Vera.

Staying in the game too long may tarnish Couture's legacy, but it is legacy to tarnish if he feels the need to continue fighting. Very few would find fault with Captain America continuing his quest.

While a win or loss may change the course of the rest of his career, one thing is certain: Couture is the most beloved fighter in the history of the sport. No single win or loss will ever change how fans view him outside the Octagon. The best thing for fans to do is enjoy what is left in his career because the sport will never see another fighter with the heart and will to win like The Natural.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: John Lackey

Jesse Motiff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:51:35 -0500

Much in the same fashion that CC Sabathia was the top pitching prize last winter, John Lackey will find himself in that position this winter. Lackey may find more suitors than Sabathia did, but he won't command nearly the same contract the big lefty did.

No fewer than eight teams have been linked as possible destinations for the Angels' ace. The Angels, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Brewers, Orioles, and Astros have all been reported as having interest. Also, reports range in him getting anywhere from a three to six year contract with dollar amounts varying from $36-100 million.

Not only will the contracts vary on Lackey, but the role he serves will depend on which team he decides to pitch for.

The Yankees, Mets, and Astros already have established top-of-the-rotation pitchers. He would serve as a solid number two or lower pitcher for these teams.

The Dodgers could use him as an ace or mid-rotation pitcher depending on what they decide to do with Chad Billingsley. His acquisition would also serve as a jab at the rival Angels.

The Brewers, Rangers, and Orioles would all insert Lackey at the top of their rotation. He would have the pressure of being the ace of a staff, but he would do so with teams that wouldn't have the pressures to win like the New York or Los Angeles teams do.

The Brewers may have about as much chance to sign Lackey as they did with Sabathia, but it's a discussion Brewers GM Doug Melvin needs to have.

Lackey burst onto the scene by winning game seven of the World Series for the Angels in 2002 against the Giants. His performance served as a prelude to what would turn into a decade filled with reliability and consistency.

Since that time, he turned into the ace of the Angels rotation and one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Over the past seven seasons, he has averaged 30 starts, 199 innings pitched, and 13 wins.

Despite missing time each of the last two years, he has still averaged 25 starts and 170 innings pitched. In a market filled with question marks, Lackey is as close of a sure-thing that is available.

Lackey is a Type A free agent; meaning the team signing him will forfeit a first round pick to the Angels. The Brewers would catch a break with this due to the fact that they finished in the bottom half of the league record-wise. The Brewers would only give up a second round pick by signing Lackey. If ever there were a year for the Brewers to sign a Type A free agent, this would be the year.

While Lackey would fit well into the Brewers' rotation, his price tag would cost the team almost all available funds they planned to spend on pitching this winter. It's a risk the Brewers can't afford to make.

If Lackey had been available last year, it's quite reasonable to think that he and the Brewers could come together on a deal. He wouldn't have been the gem of the winter, giving a team like Milwaukee a more legitimate shot of winning his services.

For now, it will be a good gauge of the free agent market to at least have conversations with Lackey and his representation. It will give Doug Melvin a good idea the market value for other, cheaper arms available on the market. He will then be able to decide which pitchers will best fit in with the Brewers financially for 2010 and beyond.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Brad Penny

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:45 -0500

Remarkably inconsistent.

It's a phrase that not only describes Brad Penny, but almost all the pitchers on the free agent market this winter. There are no "sure things" on the market, and any pitcher that Brewers GM Doug Melvin decides to sign will come with a big risk in one way or another for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Penny had a tumultuous 2009. It started off with him signing in Boston over the winter for a one-year, $5 million contract. After a subpar first few months, he asked for his release from the Red Sox and received it.

He then signed with the San Francisco Giants for the stretch run and pitched better for them than at any point of his career. He went 4-1 in six starts and finished with a 2.59 ERA in 41.67 innings pitched.

Prior to the season, Penny was in a situation similar to what Ben Sheets, Erik Bedard, and Mark Mulder are facing right now: He needed to show he could stay healthy for an entire year in hopes of earning a big pay day at the end of the year. He did just that by making 30 starts and pitching a total of 173.3 innings.

That production will likely yield a multi-year contract between $7 and $10 million a year for Penny. General managers around the league should be very deliberate in their courtship of him before handing out that type of deal.

On closer inspection of his career, one will find that Penny has only pitched more than 200 innings twice. Despite a very good fastball, he has never struck out more than 154 batters in one season and that came back in his second season in the majors in 2001. His strikeout rate actually dropped after being acquired by the Giants to only 4.3 strikeouts every nine innings.

Penny will likely choose to stay in the National League since he was barely able to maintain a sub-six ERA in the American League with Boston. It is doubtful, however, that he'll be able to maintain the success he had with the Giants.

The Brewers are getting much younger with the departure of several veterans. Penny would serve as a good veteran presence in the starting rotation. He would likely be slotted in as a No. 2 pitcher for the team.

For a pitcher to have that spot in a rotation, his price tag wouldn't be completely outrageous, especially for a team paying $12 million in 2010 to have Jeff Suppan serve as a No. 5 starter. Doug Melvin can't afford another high-priced bomb like Suppan. He must sign as much of a sure thing that he can find, even if it turns out to be an unpopular choice.

A possible signing of Penny will come down to Melvin's willingness to take a chance on an oft-injured arm. He could get the same thing by signing Ben Sheets at half the cost of what Penny will demand. The upside of Penny would come from having him signed for a couple years, but that could turn into an anchor if he misses significant time with injuries.

The goal of every major league starter is to stay healthy and make as many starts as possible in a given year. Penny was able to do that in 2009 and will be rewarded accordingly over the next few months. Unfortunately for the Brewers, he's not a good fit for their 2010 rotation.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

How Would Gegard Mousasi Fare in the UFC's LHW Division?

Jesse Motiff — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:29:46 -0500

After his second round TKO over Sokoudjou last night, no one is wondering if Gegard Mousasi is for real. The question has now turned into: How good can Gegard Mousasi be?

With a one-minute destruction of Babalu Sobral and his less flashy, but still effective beating on Sokoudjou, Mousasi has established himself as a dominant force in the light-heavyweight division for Strikeforce. Looking at the current division, it's hard to imagine anyone stepping up to dethrone the current champion.

His detractors will say Mousasi wasn't aggressive enough against Sokoudjou and could have ended the fight earlier. Those critics should be reminded that current UFC light-heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, took longer to finish off Sokoudjou in their fight than Mousasi did. Exciting finishes don't make great fighters; winning the fight makes great fighters.

A fighter must display controlled aggression in order to sustain a long, successful career. One overly eager move could turn the tide in favor of the other fighter. Mousasi shows enough patience in the cage that allows him to pounce when the other fighter is on his last legs and not a moment before.

There is only so much Mousasi can do in Strikeforce to add to his legacy. Before long, most will be pushing for his move to the UFC. It would be significant increase in the talent he would face, but how much success would he find in one of the deepest divisions in the sport?

Looking at the current rankings in the light-heavyweight division shows a couple things. Most notably, Anderson Silva is not on the list. Another is the high number of former champions in the top 10, which speaks to just how wide-open the division has become. For the purpose of this article, we'll just take a look at fighters that are ranked on the list.

Based on his age, recent successes and fighting style, there is no reason to think Mousasi couldn't compete with the fighters at the very top of the division.

Mousasi would likely be able to overwhelm Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz with his quick strike ability. He could do the same with Randy Couture, but he'd also have to fight a very smart, calculated fight against the former champion.

Forrest Griffin could give Mousasi trouble because of his size; however Griffin has been made to look silly by fighters that are much quicker than him. Mousasi would have a decided advantage with his quickness.

Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans would provide an interesting challenge for Mousasi. Both are quick enough to offset an advantage he may have. Each fighter was also stopped by current champion, Machida. Mousasi could take the same approach the champion did with both: a counter-punching mentality with the ability to finish the fight with one big shot.

Mousasi's judo background may be another factor that benefits him, especially against a fighter like Evans. He could use any number of judo throws to get Evans off his feet and employ a very dangerous ground-and-pound.

That leaves the current champion and the fighter that many feel should be champion, Shogun Rua. There is little question that these two are at a different level compared to all the other fighters in the division.

While Mousasi may still not be able to beat either fighter, he would be great competition for each. He possesses the toughness, quickness, and power that would make each fighter push themselves to the absolute limit.

Of course, very few people would be surprised if Mousasi beat either the champion or the number one contender. He is already talented enough to beat the very best in the world and very few would call it an upset.

At only 24-years old, Gegard Mousasi has already established himself as one of the great fighters in the world. He has enough time on his side to one day be called the very best.

For that to happen however, he needs to head to the UFC and fight the best fighters in the world on the biggest stage.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Doug Davis

Jesse Motiff — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:11:57 -0500

With JJ Hardy finally dealt, it's time for Brewers GM Doug Melvin to focus on fixing the starting rotation. We've already looked at Erik Bedard and Mark Mulder as possible answers, and now let's take a look at a former Brewer who is willing to come home again: Doug Davis.

Davis pitched in Milwaukee from 2003-2007 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Johnny Estrada. Davis compiled a 37-36 record for the Brewers with a 3.92 ERA in 111 starts.

He has turned himself into one of the most durable pitchers in the game. Over the past six seasons, he has only made fewer than 33 starts in a year once, in 2008. That season, Davis was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Incredibly, Davis made two starts after receiving the news before having surgery to remove the cancerous thyroid. He missed only six weeks that year while recovering from the surgery and chemotherapy before returning to the Diamondbacks. He finished the year making every start after his return, and he did the same in 2009.

The Brewers tried to acquire Davis in the 2009 season but were unsuccessful. In August, they put a waiver claim in on him but were never able to reach an agreement with the Diamondbacks for compensation. Melvin refused to give up any substantial prospects for a pitcher that would be a free agent six weeks after the trade.

The Brewers could use a reliable arm like Davis in their rotation. Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, and Manny Parra all missed significant time in 2009 due to injury or ineffectiveness. Pairing Davis with Yovani Gallardo as a stabilizing force at the top of the rotation that would lessen the strain on an overworked bullpen in 2009.

Davis has also hinted a return to the Brewers could be possible given the right circumstances. He's hoping to sign at least a three-year deal this winter. All signs and tests point to him being cancer free. He only takes thyroid medication and goes in for an annual checkup along with blood work as part of his current treatment.

Most experts feel Davis could command around $24 million over the course of a three-year contract. That is far from an outrageous amount given the contracts of some pitchers with lesser durability and success than Davis.

$8 million a year would account for more than half of what Melvin is allowed to spend on pitching this winter. He will likely be leery on giving out that much to one single pitcher due to past contract failures like Jeff Suppan. The Brewers can't sustain another high-priced bust from a starting pitcher and hope to remain in playoff contention every year.

Anything more than a three-year, $24 million deal for Davis would be a grave error on Melvin's part. If Davis would be open to taking less for a return trip to Milwaukee, Melvin should jump at the chance to acquire him. A three-year, $18 million contract for Davis would work very well for the Brewers, but would it be enough for Davis? It would give the team enough leftover money to obtain at least one more quality arm.

The free agent market will yield much higher priced options than Doug Davis. It will also feature pitchers capable of having far better years statistically. Very few pitchers, however, have been as reliable and consistent as Davis. He would be a great addition to the Brewers' rotation as long as his price tag doesn't hinder the team from acquiring more pitching talent.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Jodie Meeks: Finding His Place with the Milwaukee Bucks

Jesse Motiff — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:39:04 -0500

It's a difficult transition made every year by NBA rookies. They are used to being the big man on campus, the star of the team, the go-to guy.

Reality first sets in on draft night. After a few months of speculation, they are drafted by a team. Unfortunately, in most cases, they are drafted lower than hoped, and they embark on a journey that will result in little to no playing time, in which they will battle just to be noticed in hopes to catch their break to become a star.

Jodie Meeks knows this journey all too well. Meeks had a superb junior season for the Kentucky Wildcats. He set the single-game scoring record by scoring 54 points against Tennessee. He played so well he was named a second team All-American. Most felt he would be a first-round draft choice.

That's not how things worked out for Meeks. He fell into the second round and the Milwaukee Bucks selected him with the 41st overall pick. That meant no guaranteed contract, no big money deal. Nothing would be given to Meeks, and he would face an uphill battle just to make the roster.

Meeks never allowed that to be a hindrance. He listened to Bucks coach Scott Skiles when Skiles told him to always play hard and eventually, there would be a break for him to capitalize on.

That break came in the second game of the year when the Bucks faced the Detroit Pistons. Starting shooting guard Michael Redd strained a knee ligament that would keep him out of action for a minimum of two weeks. Although Charlie Bell has taken Redd's spot in the starting lineup, Meeks has worked his way into the rotation off the bench.

Meeks didn't adjust well in his first couple NBA games. He only scored six points while shooting 2-9 from the field in 22 minutes. He looked timid and overwhelmed by the moment.

Saturday night against the New York Knicks Meeks finally looked like he belonged in the league. In 27 minutes, he scored 19 points off the bench, shooting 7-11 from the field including 5-7 from behind the arc. The Bucks won an easy game over the Knicks, but more importantly, they may have found a future replacement for Michael Redd.

It's no secret that Bucks would love to trade Redd and his huge contract. His inability to stay healthy will make that very difficult for the organization.

Charlie Bell is also in front of Meeks on the depth chart. Bell only starts over him due to his veteran status. Bell no longer has the speed or moves to get off his own shot. Like Redd, he is a pure jump shooter and nothing more.

Meeks will see his playing time diminish once Redd returns to the lineup, but he should gradually take more time away from Bell. As a role player, the more defense he is willing to play, the more playing time Skiles will be willing to give him.

The hardest part for Meeks is already over. He's made an NBA roster and is already receiving significant playing time. Now it's a matter of allowing his natural abilities to come out in the games to showcase his talent.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Milwaukee Brewers: The Likely Fallout from the Carlos Gomez Trade

Jesse Motiff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:22:28 -0500

Now that a day has passed, and Brewers' GM Doug Melvin has spoken about it, it's time to figure out what the acquisition of Carlos Gomez means for the Brewers this offseason.

Melvin commented at his press conference yesterday that he received no offers for pitching that he felt was worth trading Hardy for. Gomez fit a need for the Brewers, and he was comfortable enough with the offer to make the deal.

Many fans figured Boston was the destination for Hardy that made the most sense. In fact, Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe confirmed that the Red Sox were in on the discussions for Hardy.

Melvin tried to get Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard, but Boston was only willing to part with Michael Bowden. Buchholz would have stepped right into the rotation behind Yovani Gallardo. Bard would have been a great arm in the bullpen, and he could have been a future closer after Trevor Hoffman left.

While Bowden may not be as well-known as Buchholz or Bard, he's still a very promising pitcher. He was ranked as the number-two prospect in the Red Sox system by Baseball America. Although he struggled in Boston this year, he made 24 starts for Pawtucket and finished with a 4-6 record and an ERA of 3.13. He projected to a number three or four starter in the majors.

While most are in agreement that the Twins got the better end of the trade, even those in the Twins' organization feel that Gomez could still turn into a very good player for the Brewers.

Melvin stated that Gomez coming to Milwaukee means the end of Mike Cameron's time in Milwaukee. Cameron is a free agent, and Melvin feels that money that could go to Cameron would be better served going towards free agent pitching.

Even in the best case scenario, this is a very risky move for Melvin. Cameron will be 37-years old when 2010 begins, but he is also a safe bet for an offense that finished third in the National League. In addition to a very good glove in center field, one could pencil him in for 60-plus extra base hits, 70-plus RBI, and 65-plus runs scored.

Gomez will cover much more ground that Cameron. He also has a very good arm. Melvin is hoping Gomez's great defense will be able to help improve the pitching staff. More importantly, he is also 13-years Cameron's junior. The Brewers were old in a couple positions, but Gomez will only be 24 at the start of next season.

Gomez qualified as a super-two player, meaning he will be eligible for arbitration this winter. It will be the first of four arbitration eligible years for him. He will make only a fraction of the $10 million Cameron made in 2009.

The wild-card for Gomez will be his bat. He must raise his career .246 batting average and .292 on-base percentage if he wants to remain a long-term starter for the Brewers. If he struggles this season, Lorenzo Cain should be ready for a shot by 2011.

By trading Hardy and not re-signing Cameron, the Brewers will save anywhere between $10-15 million in 2010. According to Melvin, all that money will be allocated towards starting pitching.

Most of the pitchers out there have been discussed already, and there are several options that could be obtained in a relatively cost-efficient manner. If Melvin can do this, the Gomez trade becomes more appealing.

Melvin could decide to throw a long-term, high-money contract at a pitcher as well. While reading this, Brewer fans are already envisioning another Jeff Suppan-type contract. In no way can he make another mistake like he did with Suppan.

If management is serious about trying to sign Prince Fielder long-term, they need to keep as much money as possible freed up for Fielder. Melvin needs to avoid the impulse of getting into a bidding war against other teams for John Lackey, Jarrod Washburn, and Jason Marquis.

The Brewers could still acquire pitching via trade. Mat Gamel, Angel Salome, and to a lesser degree Brett Lawrie could also be dealt for a controllable, inexpensive starter. While Gamel could get the best return in a trade, Salome may be the most likely dealt. Jonathan Lucroy has passed in on the organizational depth chart and is playing very well in the Arizona Fall League.

Brewer fans may never be happy with the return Doug Melvin received for JJ Hardy. They need to remember that a mid-market baseball team must be creative to remain competitive over the long-term. Carlos Gomez gives Milwaukee a defensive anchor in the outfield that will be cheap for the next four seasons. Now the real offseason will begin for Doug Melvin in his quest to improve the pitching staff.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Milwaukee Brewers Say Good-Bye to JJ Hardy and Hello To Carlos Gomez

Jesse Motiff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:30:42 -0500

The day that many Brewer fans have been waiting on for over a year has finally arrived. JJ Hardy was traded by the Brewers to the Minnesota Twins on Friday for centerfielder Carlos Gomez.

All along it was thought Hardy would be traded for a starting pitcher, but Brewers' GM Doug Melvin obviously had other ideas. Getting a non-pitcher for Hardy is very surprising to most, but Melvin undoubtedly has more moves in his arsenal to improve the team.

Hardy fell out of favor with the Brewers this year and was sent to the Minors in August in favor of top prospect, Alcides Escobar. Escobar showed enough in his time with the Brewers that Melvin felt comfortable trading Hardy.

On the surface, most will probably think the Twins won this deal. As of today, they probably did.

The Twins receive a former All-Star shortstop that will add good defense and a power bat to go along with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Hardy is under team control for two more years. This move alone could keep the Twins atop the AL Central over the Tigers and White Sox.

Carlos Gomez will serve several purposes for the Brewers. The biggest attribute he'll bring to the Brewers is his speed. If Ken Macha decides to institute more of a running game, both Gomez and Escobar could very easily steal 30 bases next year.

Another upside with Gomez is his affordability and control. He is under team control for four more years and won't command too high of a salary in arbitration this year. It's imperative, however, that Gomez improve at the plate.

This move likely signals the end of Mike Cameron's time in Milwaukee. Cameron is a free agent that will likely command a high salary in 2010. The Brewers will lose power substituting Gomez for Cameron, but the defense shouldn't take much of a hit. He needs to raise his average on-base percentage significantly in order to justify getting rid of Cameron.

Cameron was a clubhouse leader with a great veteran presence. The 2010 Brewers will now be Prince Fielder's team on and off the field. Fielder would usually step aside to Cameron for matters in the locker room.

The Brewers had the third best offense in the National League last year, and that will take a severe hit losing Cameron. It's hard to imagine Ryan Braun and Fielder having better years than they did last season, so Melvin will be hoping that both Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart have above average years at the plate to offset Cameron's departure.

As a stand-alone move, this isn't a great start to the offseason for the Brewers. They lose too much offense while not addressing their starting pitching concerns. Luckily, the hot stove just got fired up and Doug Melvin has a few months to improve the team. Be patient Brewer fans as to not turn this into your winter of discontent.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

What's Next For Pedro Martinez?

Jesse Motiff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:20:18 -0500

Unless he's pitching against your favorite team, it's quite difficult not to be a fan of Pedro Martinez.

Martinez is more than just a future Hall of Fame pitcher. He's an entertainer that often leaves his opponents baffled one minute but cracking up with laughter the next.

Lost in the Yankees' celebration of their 27th championship, and a Phillies team whose pitchers seemed to be struggling, there was Martinez. He was a mid-season acquisition that propelled the Phillies back into the World Series and was able to answer the bell two final times on the biggest stage in the game.

After a performance in the NLCS where he looked like the 1999 version of himself, he had a subpar World Series that saw him lose both of his starts. That will leave him with many questions to answer this offseason.

One must be careful when evaluating Martinez as a possible starter in 2010. On the one hand, he pitched phenomenal on extended rest. On the other hand, he struggled when called up to make consecutive starts on regular rest.

To be fair, reports have come out that Martinez was suffering from the flu for both his starts.

Martinez was able to show, in spots, against the Yankees just how effective he can still be. He has enough pitches in his arsenal with a wide enough variance in speed to still make batters look foolish.

He needs to continue to pitch similarly to Brewers' closer, Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman lost significant speed off his fastball but was still able to put together an All-Star season at 41 by pitching smarter and relying on movement over speed.

Martinez needs to continue to be able to accept his new makeup as a pitcher, but he also needs to spend the entire offseason preparing and training for it.

He has not made more than 24 starts in a season since 2005. Teams won't be willing to take a chance on him, no matter how good he may be, if he can only make a handful of starts. It's quite unlikely he'd go to a non-contending team, so he will be heavily counted upon to be a key member of a rotation.

The Phillies will likely be the top suitors for Martinez again. There will be several other teams that will come calling as well. He will be wanted, but will he reciprocate the feelings to a courting team?

Once Martinez decides if he will pitch in 2010, he must then figure out just how much he wants to pitch in 2010. He may decide to be a half-season pitcher like this season.

That will cost him a few million dollars, but it would also save a lot of wear and tear on his arm. It would also give him a chance to basically hand pick which contender he would want to pitch for.

Of course no one would blame Martinez for walking away at this point either. He is a sure-fire, first ballot Hall of Fame pitcher. He dominated the game in the middle of the biggest offensive era in the history of the game.

His final two performances would only serve as a footnote in his career, not as a defining moment of it.

Martinez may view his legacy differently. If sports fans have learned anything from the Brett Favre saga, it's that the legacy's ending belongs to the individual, not the millions of fans.

Only Martinez can decide how he wants to be remembered.

Regardless of his decision, Martinez will be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. Despite his small stature, he was a giant on the mound that dominated peers far superior in size with a style and charisma that likely won't ever be duplicated.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

The Most Important Offseason in Milwaukee Brewers History

Jesse Motiff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:40:01 -0500

Expectations for the 2009 season were sky-high for the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite the departure of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, many felt the Brewers would still compete for a playoff spot after successfully making the playoffs in 2008.

Unfortunately, the starting rotation assembled my Brewers GM Doug Melvin didn't perform up to expectations. The team fell on hard times due to injury and ineffectiveness, and the team slipped to third in the division with an 80-82 record.

In retrospect, finishing 10 games worse in 2009 wasn't really a horrible drop-off after losing two ace-quality pitchers. Fans need to realize that success in baseball is fleeting. As bad as 2009 may have been, the Brewers still have enough quality pieces to compete in 2010, as long as Melvin realizes that now is the time for the Brewers to go for a championship.

While some may scoff at the idea, with a few strategic signings and a few gambles, the Brewers could enter 2010 as the favorites in the NL Central and a serious threat to the Phillies and Dodgers for the pennant.

Now Cardinal and Cub fans will roll their eyes at that thought, but each team has their own set of issues this winter which will greatly affect their chances at winning next year.

If Matt Holliday decides to leave St. Louis, they will be right back to an offense with Albert Pujols and not much else. Should Holliday stay, they will be the favorites in the division heading into spring training.

Does anyone really believe Mark McGwire will help the Cardinals as their new hitting coach? McGwire is a beloved figure in the city, but this appears more of a public relations move than it does a baseball move to help the team.

Cub fans can be a bit like Oakland Raiders fans in their thinking: myopia can take over and reality is disregarded. The team is saddled with aging stars and contracts that are next to impossible to trade. Derrek Lee had a great year, but he'll be 34 entering the year. Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are also on the wrong side of 30. Many of their players will be a year older, not a year better.

Priority one this offseason for the Brewers will be to upgrade their rotation. Number two on that list will be to try and sign Prince Fielder to a long-term deal. That isn't likely to happen, which makes finding starting pitching all the more important.

Melvin has said he wants to acquire to starters this winter, but he should set is sights so low. There are so many pitchers on the market that could be had for a bargain price, that he should allow himself a limit. Instead, he should try to acquire as many arms as possible and let the abundance of arms sort themselves out in spring training.

In one of the worst kept secrets in baseball, even the most novice fan knows that JJ Hardy will get traded this winter. Although Buster Olney speculates that Hardy will be one of the many players non-tendered, don't believe it.

Hardy can still bring value pitching back to Milwaukee. Glen Perkins from the Twins and Brian Bannister of the Royals are a couple of the latest names being thrown out as possible pitchers coming to the Brewers for Hardy. Either would be a welcomed addition to the rotation.

Free agency will be where Melvin picks up any other pitcher he acquires. Ben Sheets , Erik Bedard , Mark Mulder , Doug Davis, Jarrod Washburn, Carl Pavano, Jon Garland, and Rich Harden have all been talked about as Milwaukee being a possible destination for their services.

Each pitcher has his own set of questions. Some must overcome injuries, others ineffectiveness or inconsistency.

With Prince Fielder likely to leave Milwaukee after the 2011 season, Melvin must take a unique and rogue approach to the available pitching this winter.

By spending $10-15 million specifically focused on the starting pitching, the Brewers could have a surplus of arms to choose from.

Noah Lowry, Mulder, and Rich Hill could all be had for as little as a Minor League contract.

Sheets, Bedard, Harden, and Brandon Webb are coming off of injury concerns and an incentive-laden deal could entice any of them to come to Milwaukee. A one-year deal to prove themselves for a bigger, more lucrative contract next winter will be what each seeks.

Davis, Washburn, Pavano, and Garland will all be seeking more expensive, long-term contracts that might be too much for the Brewers. Davis has pitched for the Brewers before and has hinted he would be open for a return.

Doug Melvin won't be alone in his pursuit of starting pitching this offseason. Several teams have the resources and opportunity to do the same thing as the Brewers. That's why he needs to be the most aggressive player this offseason and stockpile as many live arms as possible.

A team can never have too many pitchers, and the window to win a World Series title in Milwaukee is rapidly getting smaller. Those are two great reasons for the Brewers to be bold this offseason. It's a big risk that could blow up in Melvin's face and ultimately cost him his job. It could also result in a World Series title being raised in Milwaukee.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings: Too Much, Too Soon

Jesse Motiff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:33:24 -0500

One week into the NBA season and already several great stories have made their way into the spotlight. Perhaps the most surprising story has been the play of rookie point guard Brandon Jennings.

The journey of the 10th overall pick by the Bucks has been well-documented. He spurned college after high school in favor of playing pro ball in Italy. It's a decision Jennings himself has credited to his early success.

Jennings made it very easy for fans to get excited about his future. In his debut game, he was one rebound and one assist shy of recording a triple-double. He followed that up with back-to-back 20-plus point games against division rivals Detroit and Chicago.

Fans and most media outlets have fallen in love with Jennings. They have vaulted him to the top of Rookie of the Year talk, and some are already throwing out phrases like "future superstar" and "perennial All-Star." That's very high praise for a player who turned 20 less than two months ago.

Before everyone is so quick to anoint Jennings as the next great anything, they should take a closer look at recent Bucks' history. That history will show he is already a player the team might not need.

One of the biggest criticisms of former Bucks point guards was their shoot first, pass second mentality. Throngs of fans became bitter and eventually booed Mo Williams and even Ramon Sessions for their propensity to find their own shots before getting teammates involved.

In his first three games, Jennings has taken 54 shots. To his credit, he is shooting over 48% from the field, showing no signs of intimidation in his new surroundings. He's shooting an even better percentage behind the three-point line, hitting half of his attempts.

In Jennings' defense, Michael Redd has only played a game and a half and will miss at least the next two weeks due to a knee strain, giving everyone the opportunity for more shots. Coach Scott Skiles needs to make sure Jennings doesn't get in any bad habits, however, by taking too many of those shots.

Even when Milwaukee is at full strength, they have no "superstar" player on their roster. They must take on a true team mentality and find the success from the greater good as opposed to any one individual. Hakim Warrick and Andrew Bogut should be the ones to benefit most from Redd's absence, not Jennings.

There is no doubting Brandon Jennings' talent. It's easy to see in the speed and confidence he shows on the court. He may very well be the next great point guard in the NBA, but his time isn't quite yet.

No matter how great of an experience Italy was for him and how that might have sped up his maturity level, he's still just a wide-eyed 20-year-old rookie. Before he grabs the NBA by its throat, he needs to do the same with the Bucks and be a true floor general. He can then worry about being a true superstar.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Mark Mulder

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:06:32 -0500

In the first installment of looking at pitching options for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010, we took a look at Erik Bedard .

Injury-prone lefties may be popular this offseason, as Mark Mulder will be looking for employment as well. The Brewers may be near the top of his list of possible destinations, and Milwaukee should have equal interest in the former two-time All-Star.

Mulder hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008 and hasn't pitched a full season since 2005. Any team that signs him to a contract is taking a big gamble as far as possible injury risk.

The upside to a potential suitor for Mulder is his relative inexpensive price tag. Any team that offers him a big league contract will have a decided advantage in obtaining his services. If they are willing to make it an incentive-laden deal with the possibility of a few million dollars provided he stays healthy and pitches well, Mulder will almost certainly sign the deal immediately.

The Brewers will be able to dangle an ace in the hole for Mulder as well. The team recently hired Rick Peterson as their pitching coach. Peterson served as the same role for the Oakland Athletics when Mulder experienced his greatest success in baseball. Ken Macha, the current Brewers' manager, also happened to be the manager in Oakland at the same time.

Peterson also worked with Mulder on his mechanics earlier this season when he was trying to prepare to throw for scouts. He was never able to get to that point, but there's no doubt that he and Peterson are very close.

From 2001-2005, Mulder was one of the best pitchers in baseball. In those five seasons, he averaged just under 18 wins a year.

His ERA only rose above four in 2004, and he only pitched less than 205 innings in 2003, although that was the same season in which he led the league with nine complete games.

Although no one would expect him to put up those type of numbers, he would definitely help a starting rotation that had zero starters pitch 200 innings, and only one (Yovani Gallardo) finish with a sub-four ERA.

The Brewers have had issues with injury-prone pitchers in the past. Unlike Ben Sheets , however, Mulder won't come with the price tag that Sheets did in the past or even for the upcoming season.

The Brewers should lay all their chips on the table and go after Mulder. A one-year deal with incentives totaling up to $3 million should be enough for his services.

The team could then look into a longer deal at the end of the season if he can maintain his health and pitch effectively.

Acquiring as many potential starters as possible should be priority number one for GM Doug Melvin this winter. A pitcher like Mulder could pay enough dividends to help transform the Brewers rotation into a whole new unit next year.

There is very little if any risk for the Brewers to pursue Mulder. If he doesn't pan out or gets injured at any point in 2010, the Brewers will be out less than a couple million dollars.

Should he remain healthy and regain any form from the early part of the decade, the Brewers will have acquired the biggest steal of the offseason.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Milwaukee Bucks: New Year, Same Old Michael Redd

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:58:33 -0500

For several years Michael Redd has been a good shooting guard that has played little defense. Over that same period of time, fans of the Milwaukee Bucks have been waiting for Redd to become a complete player.

Since becoming a full-time starter in 2003, Redd has averaged at least 21 points per game every season and shot consistently between 44 and 46 percent from the field.

The highlight of Redd's career came in 2008 when he was a member of the Gold Medal winning US squad. Although he was overshadowed by most of his teammates, many thought spending so much time with players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would make him a more complete player. In turn, he would become a better leader and more fierce competitor on the floor.

Redd has never been able to take that next step to an elite-level player. He needs to realize that he can separate his on and off court personalities. He can still be a cold-blooded assassin on a basketball court while being a pillar in his community as a giving and humble example of all that is right in sports.

He has been a leader both on the court for the Bucks and in the Milwaukee community. In a league that has suffered from image problems for the better part of the decade, Redd is a beacon of shining light and example to fans what a pro athlete is capable of being.

Despite being able to score points in bunches, Redd still doesn't do much else on the court. He will never come close to making any all-defensive team. His other significant stats won't make anyone stand up and confuse him for a superstar either. For his career, Redd has averaged four rebounds, two assists, and a single steal per game.

Redd has been a trade candidate every since John Hammond became Bucks' General Manager at the end of the 2008 season. Hammond hasn't publicly said Redd is on the trading block, but if anyone is willing to take on his contract, the Bucks would be hard-pressed not to make a deal.

After the 2004-2005 season, Redd signed a six-year deal that was worth $91 million. It was a bad deal for the Bucks financially, but one they needed to make for public relation reasons as Redd was the public face of the franchise.

Sadly, he never became that player on the court. He is nothing more than a one dimensional player. At age 30, it's unlikely he'll ever be more than a good jump shooter. Regardless of any good will he brings to the community, the Bucks would be best served to unload Redd and his contract as soon as possible.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010: Erik Bedard

Jesse Motiff — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:30:59 -0500

Brewers' GM Doug Melvin has made it perfectly clear that his top priority this offseason is to upgrade a starting rotation that finished last in the National League in ERA. In fact, he is hoping to add two arms for the team in 2010.

One arm is likely to come to Milwaukee from the imminent trade of JJ Hardy. While the other could come from a trade as well, the more likely scenario will see Melvin look at the available free agents.

This year's crop of free agents won't have a superstar like CC Sabathia, but there are several arms on the market capable of significantly improving the Brewers.

Over the next couple weeks, I'll take a look at potential targets and how each one may or may not fit with the 2010 Brewers.

When Erik Bedard was traded to the Seattle Mariners for five players in 2008, they thought they were getting a left-hander on the verge of becoming one of the best pitchers in the game.

Instead, they got a pitcher who made fewer than half of his starts over the last two seasons.

Despite making only 30 starts in his two seasons with the Mariners, Bedard still produced "ace" quality numbers.

In 2008, he finished with a 6-4 record with a 3.67 ERA and averaged eight strikeouts for every nine innings.

His 2009 numbers were even better. Although he was just 5-3, he had a 2.82 ERA and averaged just under 10 strikeouts every nine innings with a 1.193 WHIP.

Bedard is very similar to a former Brewers' ace, Ben Sheets. Both are great pitchers when healthy, but the major problem comes when trying to keep them to make their regular starts.

Bedard is projected to be a type B free agent, meaning the Brewers wouldn't give up any draft pick compensation to sign him.

In fact, the Brewers wouldn't lose their first-round pick if they signed a type A free agent either, due to their finishing in the bottom half of baseball, record-wise.

Regardless of his injury history, Bedard has several positives going for him as he moves into free agency.

A powerful, lefty arm from a starter is always a valuable commodity. He will only be 31 when the season starts in 2010.

His career ERA of 3.71 has come entirely as a starter in the American League and would likely drop if he decided to pitch in the National League.

Assuming Bedard comes back completely healthy from surgery on his left shoulder and labrum, he must still show his ability to pitch a full season. He has never pitched 200 innings in a season and made only 30-plus starts once in his career.

Bedard likely cost himself a big contract when he was shut down for the season in August. A desperate team could throw a multiple-year, high dollar amount his way, but that isn't very likely.

A one-year, incentive laden deal should be what Bedard receives. It will give him a chance to show the league he can remain healthy for an entire year, and then he can seek a more lucrative deal next winter.

If Doug Melvin does feel like gambling, Bedard would provide the possibility of a high reward in return. Although he would be a big addition to the Brewers' pitching staff, it's unlikely they'll pursue him.

Having a rough history with an injury-prone pitcher may make Melvin very hesitant to sign Bedard, even to a payroll-friendly contract.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here .

Prince Fielder: The Key To a Milwaukee Brewers Championship

Jesse Motiff — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:33:39 -0400

The biggest questions for the Milwaukee Brewers organization this winter all center on a pitching rotation that was dead-last in National League ERA.

For the fan base, something much bigger is on their minds: Prince Fielder. Fielder has just completed the best season of his career, but all Brewer fans can think of is just how long he'll continue to be the anchor of a potent Milwaukee offense.

If not for Albert Pujols, Fielder may have positioned himself for his first MVP award. He posted career-highs in the following categories: games played (162), hits (177), triples (3), RBI (141), walks (110), batting average (.299), on-base percentage (.412), and OPS (1.014). The walks and RBI were franchise records for the Brewers, and he tied with Ryan Howard for the league lead in RBI, as well.

It is pretty much assumed by most fans and media members that Fielder will bolt from Milwaukee after the 2011 season when he become a free agent. The fact that Scott Boras is his agent only adds to the feelings of impending departure.

Most fans support one of two solutions for Fielder's situation: do whatever is possible to sign him to a long-term deal this winter or trade him for the best possible trade package to re-tool the roster.

The reality of the situation is likely to be a different scenario altogether. It will also be the scenario that gives the Brewers franchise the best chance for a World Series title.

The Brewers will spend this winter overhauling the pitching staff, something that can be done without trading Fielder. The team has already re-signed closer Trevor Hoffman. General manager Doug Melvin can now spend the rest of the winter focusing on finding starters.

Currently, the staff has a couple of pieces to the puzzle in place to build around.

Yovani Gallardo proved himself to be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher in 2009. Gallardo would have easily won 18 games with better run support. Dave Bush was also having a fine year until a Hanley Ramirez line drive off his pitching arm caused inconsistency the rest of the season.

JJ Hardy, Mat Gamel, and Corey Hart have all been brought up in trade discussions. Trading two of those players should return a good middle-of-the-rotation pitcher at the very least. Milwaukee can then look to the free agent market and sign any number of pitchers to round out the rotation.

It is true that the trade market for Fielder will be at its apex this winter, but acquiring equal value for the 25-year-old isn't likely. The Brewers would want a very good pitcher and someone to take his place in the lineup in return.

There are very few teams that even have those types of players to make such a trade, and even fewer willing to give up that talent for the robust first baseman.

Fielder has turned himself into an all-around player. While he will never win a Gold Glove, he is no longer the defensive liability he once was. Only Pujols is a more feared hitter in the National League.

Fielder's value is much more than his value at the plate or in the field. The protection he provides Ryan Braun has turned Braun into one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball. Teams think about Fielder two or three hitters before he even gets to the plate, making the pitcher more vulnerable to those at the plate.

Fielder is also the heart and soul of the franchise.

While Braun may be the mouthpiece, he doesn't command the respect in the clubhouse that Fielder does. Braun is a leader with his words, but Fielder a leader with his demeanor and actions. With the possible departures of Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall, Fielder will take on an even bigger role for the 2010 team.

Despite popular opinion, Milwaukee isn't very far away from competing for a playoff spot. Removing Fielder from the team will make that destination less of a reality and more of a mirage.

Milwaukee will have a very difficult time winning a world title with Fielder on their roster, but they will have no shot at winning one by trading him away. The team needs to take their chances the next two years before Fielder leaves for good and hope for the best until then.

To read more from Jesse Motiff, click here .