85 Games In...

We're a little past the mid point of the season and the Brewers are currently 40-45, good enough for fourth place in the NL Central. This is about what I expected, give or take about 3 or 4 wins. They aren't going to catch the Cardinals and they aren't going to win the wild card, that being said here's what they should do.

Trade Brady Clark. Clark has been a good story this year, batting .310 with an on base percentage of .374, 7 home runs and 28 RBI's. His defense has been great, a major upgrade over Scott Podsednik, but Brady Clark can't create runs the way it seems like the Brewers want their leadoff hitter to.

He doesn't have the speed or instincts to be a base stealer, like Podsednik was. He draws walks, takes pitches, has good at bats, and ocassionally has pop. Perfect fit for the way the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers run their ship, not the Brewers.

We've already seen Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks get their callups, roll the dice on David Krynzel. Move Brady Clark for some prospects, most likely mid-level AA guys, and let Krynzel get the playing time and see what he can do. Clark is 32 years old, he has started to struggle lately and part of that reason may be he is already only five at bats away from tying his season high. Maybe he can't handle a full season, at any rate he has no place in the Brewers future.

Once again the Brewers will be watching the playoffs from thier living rooms, so why waste the second half of the season with Brady Clark when it could be a valuable experience for Krynzel.

Secondly, play JJ Hardy more. Seriously. His bat is heating up, and he is started to get comfortable at the plate after nearly a full year of no at bats. Why does he continue to sit on the bench seemingly every other day? Bill Hall is getting way too much playing time, as is or was Wes Helms. If you aren't going to play JJ everyday then why even bother keeping him on the major league club.

I can understand that Yost may feel he needs more offensive production at a time when the team is struggling in that department, but JJ will never heat up by sitting on the bench. Look at the afore mentioned Wes Helms, he heated up when he started getting regular at bats when Overbay was hurt.

Tell Ned Yost to stop managing like Phil Garner. Just because a lefty is pitching doesn't mean you have to sit Overbay and Jenkins. If you believe in this theory so much, then why don't you call upon de la Rosa or Phelps everytime there is a lefty at the plate? The whole lefty vs lefty matchup is the most overrated concept in baseball. Who is your best first baseman? Lyle Overbay, then play him. The worst case was when Yost sat Overbay and Prince for Wes because a lefty was pitching. What? Why sit your two best options? I don't get it.

Give Jorge de la Rosa more appearances and a few shots in the rotation. Lefties who can bring it in the 94-97mph range are too hard to find, see what he can do. He has had comand problems, but you would think more work with Mike Maddux would help, time I honestly don't think he gets now being the last option in the bullpen.

If you should happen to get an offer for him take it, but lets face it, Geoff Jenkins more than likely is not going anywhere Brewers fans. No one wants an $8 million dollar contract and a .250 batting average and 8 homers in return. The Yankees and other big market teams aren't looking to senselessly add payroll like they used to.

If you follow baseball, one thing you know to be true is that you get more value in trades for pitching during the season and positional players in the offseason. That being said, move some of this pitching like Botallico, Ohka and Turnbow. I have no doubt that Turnbow is just the next Dan Kolb, and you have Jose Capellan as your closer (and excelling in that role) in AAA, he'll be up next season. The guys you can get the best value for that you should look into moving are Ohka, Wise and Botallico. Again, we're not going anywhere, why let a veteran waste a year on our team when we could turn it into a prospect?

This is not so much a what they should do, but what we are noticing. Ned Yost is getting a free pass. He has not had a good year at all. Allowing Sheets to pitch too many innings fresh off of vertigo when you know full well he's not 100%, playing too aggressive on the bases with guys who can't steal, trying to steal with Overbay and Lee at the plate, letting JJ Hardy toil on the bench, the whole lefty lefty thing. It hasn't been a good year, and this stuff won't go over well in a year or two when they're in the wild card hunt.

Some of you may look at this and say if they start dumping players again it gets discouraging for the fans and you risk losing some, but that's not totally true. Fans like the see young guys play and get called up, look at the excitement for Weeks and Fielder. If you move a guy just to lose a contract then that's true, but if you do it as part of a plan for the future and make room for a young guy on the roster then the fans will stick with you. At least for a little while.

Heres to an exciting second half of the season, Carlos Lee belting out 50 and driving in 140, Rickie Weeks winning ROY and the Crew finishing .500. Go Crew.