With the current state of the Milwaukee Brewers, who now resemble their Triple A Nashville Sounds team more than a collection of Major Leaguers, I thought it might be entertaining and amusing to dial up some Brew Crew players from yesteryear who could certainly help the team if they were still, indeed, in the organization.

This isn't an exercise to call out general manager Doug Melvin for moving a chess piece then wishing he didn't take his fingers off for a snap-back retreat. Let's just have some fun and conjure up thoughts of what a baseball team in Milwaukee might look like had they stood pat with certain players, and the digits they are compiling with their current clubs translated to similar numbers with the Brewers.

Nelson Cruz

How terrific would Cruz look in the Brewers outfield the last handful of seasons? Imagine Braun in left, Hart in center and Cruz in right. We have to imagine it because Cruz was dealt to Texas in the six-player Carlos Lee deal in 2006 when it became apparent Lee would not sign a long-term deal to stay in Milwaukee. The Brewers got Francisco Cordero, who didn't stick around as a closer for very long, plus Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, while the Rangers got an eventual All Star in Cruz, who tore it up in the 2011 post-season.

Brett Lawrie

To borrow the popular "you have to give up something to get something" slogan, a desperate and pitching-thin Brewers team parted with their former top draft pick to get Shaun Marcum in return from Toronto. Without Marcum, perhaps the Brewers never have made it to the post-season in 2011. But how would Lawrie look at third base right now? A terrific and gifted young player with a fiery attitude, Lawrie has been compared to Ryan Braun for his upside ability. Two Brauns on the same team? Wishful thinking.

Alcides Escobar

Same formula here as the Marcum-Lawrie deal, because to acquire Zack Greinke from Kansas City, the Brewers had to part with four prospects, including Milwaukee's starting shortstop. Ou…