A lot of people have asked me about how I feel about this weekend's blockbuster Brewers trade for Zack Greinke.
In short, I'm all for it. Despite its long-term ramifications, despite the fact that the Brewers have completely depleted their farm system, and despite the threat of a key injury or two away from a disastrous season, the Brewers are poised to win. Now.
And having patiently waited 26 years between playoff appearances, I'm delighted that I might not have to wait much longer -- even if the Milwaukee Brewers of 2014 might be a bust.
Let's worry about that later.
One of my best friends is a die-hard Royals fan, and we spend most of each spring training taunting each other. But in this case, we both totally agree: this was a good trade for both teams.
It's unfortunate to lose a player with the potential of Lorenzo Cain. Alcides Escobar blew me away last spring in Arizona, but I'm not convinced he was the talent he was projected to be. And Jeremy Jeffress is a big talent, but he's also one toke away from a lifetime ban (which might not be a problem since apparently MLB doesn't test for marijuana).
While I have only seen Greinke pitch in a few Cactus League games, people in the know tell me he's the real deal. For so many reasons, he's the right guy for Milwaukee.
But don't take my word for it. Here's an opinion from a similarly giddy and patient Royals fan, my friend Oscar:
"Actually, Royals are the consensus No. 1 farm system but, you're right, Greinke won't be part of that influx to the majors. My only beef is that our GM seemed to target a couple of positions where the team wasn't loaded instead of just taking the best available talent for Greinke. I also worry that he deliberately tried to target NL teams so we wouldn't have to face him instead of taking the best offer, even from an AL team.
"I'm still learning about your prospects and it's amazing how wildly the evaluations vary. Escobar's D and speed will make him valuable even if he hits .250. If he can come anywhere close to regaining his minors hitting success (.300 hitter), he's an incredible get. That's still an "if," though. (I don't really worry about one rookie year). Likewise, Cain could be anywhere from an average supporting cog to a real contributor at a tough position to fill.
"As for the Crew, this was a smart deal. You guys are really going to like Greinke, if he pitches to his potential. He's a competitor so I think he'll be revived, having something to pitch for. I think it's a three-team race in the NLC with the Crew, Reds and Cardinals."
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
