It is hard to think a team will miss a player whom missed the entire previous year, but this holds true with Milwaukee Brewers in 2014. They did not have Corey Hart all season as he battled a knee injury, and they will no longer have Hart as he went to Seattle for one year for six million dollars, but with incentives, Hart can earn up to 13 million dollars. This leaves Milwaukee in flux at first base and I start pondering officially having your favorite player move professional teams.The fact of the matter is money talked like it does in any contract scenario, and Seattle's two million dollar increase plus an extra seven million incentive made the difference. Milwaukee was not willing nor could they afford to give Hart that sort of money especially given his struggles with health in the recent couple of years. In fact, it is probably a good thing Milwaukee did not equal Seattle's dollar amount when it came to the incentive part of it. The risk would be on Hart, and my question is would it be performance or health-based incentive? In the last five years, Hart's career high in games played is 149 out of 162 in 2012. He could have a clean bill of health in Seattle, but 'could' is the key word in this whole situation.
The other thing I have to wonder about it is if Hart will produce like he did at Miller Park. SAFECO Field is not all the sudden a hitters park because they brought in Robinson Cano, Hart and Logan Morrison. Further, Hart has been an All-Star twice, but he really does not like the limelight at all. He wants to lay in the shadows and be a player where people use the now overused phrase 'sneaky good.' Hart will not have that luxury in Seattle as he will be highlighted as one of the cogs to bring Seattle back to relevancy as a baseball team. It will be interesting to see how Hart handles this newfound pressure. That's not to say Hart will not be missed on this Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.
In 2013, Milwaukee's first base position had the worst OPS in the history of Major League Baseball. The long history of the national pastime. It might not get any easier for this team. At this very moment, it appears the plan will be James Loney or Ike Davis with a side of Juan Francisco. Many people are scoffing at the idea of Loney, Davis or Francisco and I agree it could be one of the worst MFK's in the history of the Internet yet there is at least some glimmers with these three so there is no reason to sell the farm on first base cannot be saved.
Loney is not a prototypical first baseman, but he can truly get the job done for this Brewers team. Only once did Loney's batting average dip under .260. Additionally, the only year Loney did not have 100 hits was his first year in the league where he only played in 48 games. I could write more defending Loney, but he needs to be in a Milwaukee uniform for us to have that discussion. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reported it is done to Brewers or Tampa Bay Rays for Loney's service in 2014. I doubt either of these teams will overpay the Texas product.
Davis is a real interesting piece. He is only 26 years old and hit 32 home runs in 2012 with 81 of his games at Citi Field. Imagine what he could do with 81 games at Miller Park? Now his .227 average scares the living hell out of me because he is basically Francisco with more established power. But he is a young player. Carlos Gomez will always make me believe in a player for a couple more years whether that's a good or bad thing. If New York Mets do not want a player like Tyler Thornburg, taking a flyer on Davis will not hurt this ball team.
In 2007, I wanted a baseball jersey. I did not want someone who was completely established like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder because all of my friends had those jerseys. It was between Yovani Gallardo and Hart. For whatever reason, I liked the way Hart played more than any other Brewer and wanted his jersey so I purchased it. I took some heat for the jersey honestly because Hart definitely had his struggles in those first years of jersey ownership, but that's what made it fun. I will probably retire Hart's jersey onto the wall remembering all the good times whilst looking for a new jersey - Probably Gomez.
Charlie.
The other thing I have to wonder about it is if Hart will produce like he did at Miller Park. SAFECO Field is not all the sudden a hitters park because they brought in Robinson Cano, Hart and Logan Morrison. Further, Hart has been an All-Star twice, but he really does not like the limelight at all. He wants to lay in the shadows and be a player where people use the now overused phrase 'sneaky good.' Hart will not have that luxury in Seattle as he will be highlighted as one of the cogs to bring Seattle back to relevancy as a baseball team. It will be interesting to see how Hart handles this newfound pressure. That's not to say Hart will not be missed on this Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.
In 2013, Milwaukee's first base position had the worst OPS in the history of Major League Baseball. The long history of the national pastime. It might not get any easier for this team. At this very moment, it appears the plan will be James Loney or Ike Davis with a side of Juan Francisco. Many people are scoffing at the idea of Loney, Davis or Francisco and I agree it could be one of the worst MFK's in the history of the Internet yet there is at least some glimmers with these three so there is no reason to sell the farm on first base cannot be saved.
Loney is not a prototypical first baseman, but he can truly get the job done for this Brewers team. Only once did Loney's batting average dip under .260. Additionally, the only year Loney did not have 100 hits was his first year in the league where he only played in 48 games. I could write more defending Loney, but he needs to be in a Milwaukee uniform for us to have that discussion. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reported it is done to Brewers or Tampa Bay Rays for Loney's service in 2014. I doubt either of these teams will overpay the Texas product.
Davis is a real interesting piece. He is only 26 years old and hit 32 home runs in 2012 with 81 of his games at Citi Field. Imagine what he could do with 81 games at Miller Park? Now his .227 average scares the living hell out of me because he is basically Francisco with more established power. But he is a young player. Carlos Gomez will always make me believe in a player for a couple more years whether that's a good or bad thing. If New York Mets do not want a player like Tyler Thornburg, taking a flyer on Davis will not hurt this ball team.
In 2007, I wanted a baseball jersey. I did not want someone who was completely established like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder because all of my friends had those jerseys. It was between Yovani Gallardo and Hart. For whatever reason, I liked the way Hart played more than any other Brewer and wanted his jersey so I purchased it. I took some heat for the jersey honestly because Hart definitely had his struggles in those first years of jersey ownership, but that's what made it fun. I will probably retire Hart's jersey onto the wall remembering all the good times whilst looking for a new jersey - Probably Gomez.
Charlie.
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