The trade of Richie Sexson had pros and cons to it, depending whether you're talking inside baseball or bad public relations.
If you're talking the former, it made sense. Sexson's agent had given GM Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gordon Ash a definite indication his client wanted to test the free agent market after next season. That means the Brewers would have gotten squat in return for him, much like the Bucks got for Gary Payton this summer.
By picking up six players, Melvin now has flexibility to make some more deals. In fact, his next moves, and how a couple of the players who were acquired from Arizona develop, will determine the long-range effectiveness of the deal.
The Brewers do not need Junior Spivey. They already have Keith Ginter, who showed last season he is ready to play every day, and Rickie Weeks, who could be ready in a year or two, at second base. So, Melvin likely will try to deal Spivey for an outfielder.
Lyle Overbay, at 26, is a prospect still waiting to blossom. He could turn out to be another Scott Podsednik, but even if that happens Overbay is only holding down first base temporarily, until Prince Fielder is ready for his shot. Then, if Overbay has developed, Melvin could deal him.
Craig Counsell will be a great influence in the clubhouse and among the young players, but at 33 he is not going to form the core of any team.
Chad Moeller is one of those players who could make the deal if he develops. The Brewers are weak in catchers throughout their system. Moeller, at 28, has shown he can hit with some pop and is a solid catcher. If he develops, he could be around Milwaukee for a few years.
The two pitchers, Chris Capuano and Jorge De La Rosa, are the keys. Both are lefthanded, a valuable commodity in baseball. Both have given signs they could be very good.
Capuano, 25, was 9-5, with a 3.34 ERA, at Tucson in AAA last season. The biggest downside on Capuano is that he had Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2002.
De La Rosa, 22, was part of the trade with Boston for Curt Schilling. He was considered the top pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization. Melvin said Monday he is ahead of any of the Brewers' pitching prospects and could be up with the Brewers soon.
So, there are pros to the deal when you strictly look at inside baseball. The cons come into play when you start looking at public relations and the fans.
First, none of the guys acquired for Sexson will put fannies in the seats, at least not in the early months. Sexson was one of the few reasons to watch the Brewers. He played hard, showed up for work every day and hit a lot of beautiful, towering home runs. Without him, the Brewers don't have a marquee attraction.
Second, Sexson is the latest in a long line of good players who were dealt away or let go, because the Brewers said they could not afford them. It goes back to Paul Molitor in 1992. That gives the image of a team that can't afford to compete, and fans were told that would change once Miller Park was built.
It also gives an image, whether it is fair or not, of ownership that will not do what it must do to keep star players and win. Fans have to be asking what happens when Weeks, Fielder and the other young players get good enough to demand high salaries. Will they too have to be traded?
So, from an inside baseball standpoint, there could be pros to Monday's deal. From an image and business standpoint, there are cons that point out the weaknesses in the Brewers' current ownership structure.
The Name Game
Among the names coming up as Ulice Payne's replacement for the Brewers' CEO spot are former Braves president Stan Kasten, former Red Sox president John Harrington and former Yankees exec and MLB exec Bob Watson. These are the kind of veteran baseball people the Brewers should have gone after to replace Wendy Selig-Prieb the first time around ... Paul Molitor heads the list of Hall of Fame candidates released last weekend by the Baseball Writers Association of America ... Brewers TV announcer Daron Sutton was awarded an Emmy by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his work with Fox SportsNet telecasts ...Wave goalie Nick Vorberg has been named to the U.S. National Futsal Team. Wave coach Keith Tozer is coaching that national team.
Beyond Milwaukee Sports
UW- La Crosse and St. Norbert were eliminated in the NCAA Division III football playoffs. La Crosse was beaten by Mt. Union, 39-14. Mt. Union now has won 53 straight games and is 107-1 since 1996. St. John's of Minnesota beat St. Norbert, 38-13. La Crosse finished 10-2. St. Norbert finished 11-1 ... Tight end Joe Walker of Green Bay Notre Dame was named the Associated Press Prep Player of the Year. Ripon coach Rick Kelm was selected Coach of the Year.
Hot Tix
The Bucks host the Washington Wizards at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bradley Center. The Wave and the Admirals are on the road through the weekend.
In college hoops, UW hosts Detroit at 7 p.m. Saturday in Madison. Marquette plays Grambling at 8 p.m. Friday at the Bradley Center. UWM is at North Carolina State Sunday.
If you think you could play Arena football, the Green Bay Blizzard is holding tryouts from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, 6000 W. Ryan Rd. It will cost you $55.
The Packers host their arch-rivals, the Chicago Bears, in a crucial game for the playoffs at noon on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Read about it in On The Pack on Monday, exclusively on OMC.
Also, on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the top 5 sports stories in the state will be listed in this column. This is your opportunity to contribute nominations for that list by hitting the Talkback after this column or sending ideas to gregghof@aol.com. All nominations will be ended on Monday, Dec. 22.
Gregg Hoffmann writes The State Sports Buzz on Thursdays for OMC.
