[Loeffle]

November 2007 - Milwaukee Brewers - Offseason
Manager and GM Fritsche

Offseason could also become interesting outside Milwaukee, as it is rumoured MLB having big plans for some key changes. Realignment, expansion, end of interleague play and much more strict drug controls are only three key topics going to be discusses during the Winter Meetings.

1st November 2007:

Claudio Vargas signed a new two year contract worth $ 1,030.000. In regard to the $ 2,500,000 he made this season and his hot streak this autumn, we decided to offer him a contract instead of heading to arbitration.


4th November 2007:

American League Golden Gloves

P - Mark Buehrle (Chicago)
C - Victor Martinez (Cleveland)
1B - Lyle Overbay (Toronto)
2B - Omar Infante (Detroit)
3B - Alex Rodriguez (New York)
SS - Michael Young (Texas)
LF - Hideki Matsui (New York)
CF - Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle)
RF - Vladimir Guerreo (Los Angeles)


National League Golden Gloves

P - Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
C - Bengie Molina (San Francisco)
1B - Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
2B - Kazuo Matsui (Colorado)
3B - Scott Rolen (St. Louis)
SS - Stephen Drew (Arizona)
LF - Lastings Milledge (New York)
CF - Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh)
RF - Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati)

Not that surprsing to see no Brewers here.


5th November 2007:

American League Rookie of the Year

3B Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay)
.293, 155 G, 621 AB, 100 R, 182 H, 40 2B, 6 3B, 37 HR, 130 RBI, 38 BB,
115 K, 15 SB, 1 CS


National League Rookie of the Year

3B/LF Ryan "Calamity" Braun (Milwaukee)
.353, 141 G, 573 AB, 122 R, 202 H, 37 2B, 6 3B, 40 HR, 120 RBI, 53 BB,
101 K, 13 SB, 8 CS

Well done Ryan!


7th November 2007:

American League Cy Young Award

SP Rich Harden (Oakland)
20-8, 2.78 ERA, 35 GS, 243.0 IP, 220 H, 80 BB, 246 K, 1.23 WHIP


National League Cy Young Award

CL Juan Rincon (Florida)
4-3-37, 1.99 ERA, 60 G, 68.0 IP, 44 H, 29 BB, 75 K, 1.07 WHIP

Maybe a surprise selection, but when keeping in mind that no National League starter was dominant this season, an understandable selection.


8th November 2007:

American League Most Valuable Player Award

RF Vladimir Guerrero (Los Angeles)
.359, 135 G, 558 AB, 95 R, 204 H, 34 2B, 3 3B, 32 HR, 102 RBI, 48 BB,
63 K, 21 SB, 4 CS


National League Most Valuable Player Award
1B Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
.367, 146 G, 577 AB, 118 R, 212 H, 40 2B, 0 3B, 46 HR, 141 RBI, 75 BB,
46 K, 19 SB, 8 CS


9th November 2007:

Trade
We sent RF/LF Kevin Mench and $220,000 in cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for Outfielder Shane "Flyin' Hawaiian" Victorino. We initiated this trade as both outfielders are eligable for arbitration next week. Mench made
$3.400,000this season, while Victorino made only $380,000. Victorino has less power than Mench, but can play all outfield positions. I considered Mench as being too slow to be a great outfielder.
Nevertheless we wish Kevin well, as he always had been a loyal and fine member of the Milwaukee organization.
Victorino went .252 (424 AB) with 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 17 stolen bases this season.


12th November 2007:

Trade
We sent MR Lindsay Gulin (3-3-5, 3.39 ERA, 1.24 WHIP in 79.2 IP for AAA Nashville) for 16 year old Aruban SP Alexander 'Worhorse" Stamfordham (1st Round Draft Pick in 2007, which we also had on our priority list then), RF John Stewart (2nd Round Draft Pick in 2007) and C Kyle Blumenthal (.261 in 403 AB with 4 HR and 32 RBI for AA Tulsa).
It seemed that the Rockies were in desperate need for a lefty in their bullpen. Why would they give up their two top draft picks otherwise?


15th November 2007:

Arbitration Hearings Results

SP David Bush - $ 2,304,000
SP Chris Capuano - $ 2,600,000
OF Shane Victorino - $ 380,000 (Kevin Mench was awarded $ 2,700,000!)
2B Richie Weeks - $ 5,482,400
C Mike Rivera - $ 380,000
CF Laynce Nix - $ 380,000

After the hearings we have $ 15,132,396 for player or staff signings.