Cameron In, Maddux Out

Whether you like it or not, Mike Cameron will be patrolling center for the Crew next year. In an announcement made about an hour ago, the Brewers are picking up Mike Cameron's 2009 team option, worth about $10 million.

I'm somewhat surprised by the move. It doesn't surprise me that much that they've decided to bring him back, but rather how soon they came to this decision.

There are a few ways of looking at this though. While some will argue this helps their chances of retaining Sabathia because of how tight he is with Cammy, they're wrong. Sabathia left Milwaukee over the weekend when he filed for free-agency.

I think the team made the decision to keep him around because they know they've lost Sabathia and likely Sheets, there aren't many other options out there in terms of center field, and some teams (notably the Yankees) have already started to show interest in Cameron.

I don't mind having Cameron around, he hit 25 homers and drove in 70 runs, despite missing the first month of the season, but...BUT, he doesn't get on base enough, his play in the field is starting to slip a little (don't get me wrong, he's still a very good defender) and $10 million is simply way too much to pay for that. If this option was for $6-8 million, I'd have little to no problem with it.

The other developments to come from the weekend were on the coaching staff. Ed Sedar is returning as first base coach.

OK, that's not all, the team also announced that Dale Svuem's role would be the hitting coach, and Mike Maddux accepted the Rangers offer.

Starting first with Maddux, the Rangers made an offer he couldn't refuse and we couldn't match. Maddux started to come underr fire a bit this season, but the fact remains the man did an incredible job in his time here. Dan Kolb, Derrick Turnbow (at least for two years), Matt Wise, Doug Davis, Chris Capuano, heck even Brooks Kieschnick, names like that are just some of the many Maddux was able to get something out of when no one thought he could - or in Capuano's case he got a lot more out of him than any of us thought. He will be missed.

I don't know enough about pitching coaches in terms of whose available or what to look for to speculate on where they'll go, but Haudricourt stated in his story that Bill Castro is an option. I'd imagine he'll get the gig, just because of his familiarity with the staff having served all those seasons as bullpen coach.

The decision to retain Sedar is kind of surprising. I think there has been a noticeable drop-off in base-stealing/decisions on the basepaths since he took over for Davy Nelson, but on the flip side I don't think they'll be doing all that much of that under Ken Macha.

Lastly, keeping Svuem around as hitting coach when we keep hearing third base coach or bench coach is very surprising to me. I didn't expect Macha to make him his bench coach, just because of the potentially awkward situation that would create. I thought for sure he'd return to his role as third base coach. While he had a tendency to be overly aggressive, Svuem didn't do too bad of a job in that role, and down the stretch we saw what a bad third base coach can do (thanks Garth). Making Svuem the teams hitting coach means if the team struggles he'll be the first to go, thus eliminating a threat to Ken Macha. By saying that I don't mean that I think Svuem would ever take over again as manager, but it will be an awkward spot to have the former manager - and in that a guy the players love - on your staff for Ken Macha. Hitting coaches always take the fall when success doesn't come, so I'm kind of disappointed in this decision.

As Nate says, until next time...