Pork is a Poor Substitute for Winning
If the Brewers’ organization really believes that mixing up their sausage races will deflect attention away from another losing season, then they have a bigger problem than is attackable in this modest forum.
I mean, let’s be honest. Who among us (Randall Simon, please don’t respond here) doesn’t love a good sausage? And watching them race is probably among life’s greatest pleasures — a rare treat that’s gotten even tastier with the announcement yesterday that the races would be supplemented by Chorizo joining sausage brethren Italian, Polish, bratwurst and hot dog. (Why the Brewers didn’t honour the New Orleans disaster by adding Andouille is beyond me; what a great tribute opportunity they let pass.)
But does all this wonderful sausage talk mask the fact that the Brewers are six games under .500 in a season that was supposed to mark the beginning of a new era of winning for them? Other than home runs, the team is near the bottom of nearly every offensive category. So what’s the plan?
Trade away their top home run hitter, Carlos Lee.
The reported deal with send Lee and outfield prospect Nelson Cruz to Texas for closer fallen from grace Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.
This is actually a pretty sweet deal for the Brewers and both Nix and especially Mench, are solid young bats to help build around an already young nucleus. And adding Cordero will help stabilize a bullpen that’s been swiss cheese-esque, led by closer Derrick Turnbow, who’s looking very much like a one-year wonder.
So by dealing their best player, the Brewers were able to address a couple of issues, and I still believe the future is bright in Milwaukee given the breadth of talent in the organization.
But with all due respect to the world-revered sausage races, the arrival of Chorizo should not be the highlight of the 2006 season. I don’t care how tasty that is, it’s just sad.
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[...] While Abercrombie looks to work his way back to the majors, another 26-year-old outfielder and former top prospect appears to be slipping further away. After hitting a two-run homer last night, Laynce Nix has picked things up with hits in four straight games and an 851 OPS in August, but really, it’s been a major year of regression for the one-time Rangers’ prospect. Taken in the fourth round in 2000 by Texas, Nix headed to the Brewers’ organization in the Carlos Lee deal last year in a move I thought would have a positive impact on his career. At first, the move did wonders, as Nix tore it up for Nashville last year, earning himself a 10-game trial with the Brewers in which he held his own. But overall, this year has been a forgettable experience as horrible struggles in July (626 OPS) have brought his overall numbers down (.244 BA, 44 runs, 16 homers, 51 RBI, 24 walks) in a season in which he actually had to spend four games back down at Double-A. Nix, a veteran of 250 career MLB games (.241 BA, .411 SLG), has yet to appear with the Brewers this year, and while his recent streak is promising, I doubt it’s enough for him to get a look in September on a team that will be in the midst of a playoff race. [...]