Brewers need an ace in the hole

Without another starting pitcher, the rotation for the Milwaukee Brewers isn't good enough to win anything.

This is a team that NEEDS a Roy Halladay-type ace as current staff leader Yovanni Gallardo appears to be running on fumes.

And we won't even discuss how bad Jeff Suppan/Seth McClung and a host of other flunkies are.

The Brewers certainly are a team with a potent offense, even with guys like Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy having relatively down years.

They also have a loaded farm system in terms of position players.

With Brett Lawrie as the catcher of the future, Alicedes Escobar and Mat Gamel, the Crew has some of the top positional prospects in the game. And in the case of Escobar and Gamel, they don't have immediate places to play.

So what do you do if you're the general manager?

If I were I'd figure out by this weekend if I'm even a contender or not. While the St. Loyus Cardinals lead is only a game or two away, there are two other competitors in the division with the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros within striking distance of one and other.

If they are indeed going for it, the current team will not get the job done.

I would package either Escobar or Gamel but not both and call up one or the other to fill-in for a major league ready player that would already be part of a deal.

But if they really want to go all-in I'd package Gamel and Escobar along with Lawrie for Halladay and third baseman Scott Rolen. Rolen is among the league leaders in batting average and still plays will above average defense in the final year of his contract.

I would then package a couple of other minor leaguers for Zach Duke, a starting pitcher for the Pittsburg Pirates.

The Bucs always sell low on their players so buy now!

That gives you a formidable team with Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Scott Rolen, Corey Hart, Mike Cameron and J.J. Hardy pacing an offense that could be considered one of the league's elite.

Now add Doc Halladay to the staff and you have a decent 1-2-3 tandem of Halladay, Gallardo and Duke.

Sounds like a title contender to me.

If the Philladelphia Phillies weren't playing, they'd probably win the National League.