CAPUANO IN THE ROTATION AS ESTRELLA AND FRANKLIN ARE TRADED TO SF
The Brewers traded Wayne Franklin and Leo Estrella to the Giants for minor league pitchers Glenn Woolard and Carlos Villanueva. Franklin simply walks too many and gives up way too many homeruns. Franklin also has absolutely horrible pitching mechanics. I'm aware that this is a subjective opinion. Whenever a player has poor mechanics it is difficult for them to remain consistent, because so many things have to work together in order for the best results to be achieved. Franklin threw about as far across his body as I have ever seen a MLB pitcher throw (who wasn't a sidearm or submarine guy). Add to his poor mechanics, his propensity for walking hitters, his below average fastball (meaning giving up lots of jacks) and you have a recipe for ineffectiveness. Estrella had a decent year out of the pen for the Crew in '03 after being picked up off of the scrap heap by Doug Melvin. Estrella has lots of action on his fastball, which is why he was a pretty good fit in Miller Park. With all of the young arms the Brewers have though this is a good move.

Wayne Franklin in 2003
30 years old
10-13, 5.50 ERA
34 GS, 194.2 IP, 201 H, 36 HRA, 94 BB, 116 K
...Bad K/BB
...Too many HRA
...Lots of hits allowed
...Awful mechanics
...slow, straight fast-ball

Leo Estrella in 2003
29 years old
7-3, 4.36 ERA
58 AP, 66 IP, 75 H, 10 HRA, 21 BB, 25 K
...Poor K/BB
...Poor K/9
...High HRA for reliever
...Good sink on fastball

Carlos Villanueva in 2003 (at Scottsdale, R)
20 years old
3-6, 3.97 ERA
59 IP, 64 H, 1 HRA, 67 K, 13 BB

Glenn Woolard in 2003 (at Hagerstown, A-)
23 years old
8-9, 3.44 ERA
25 GS, 144 IP, 126 H, 10 HRA, 135 K, 43 BB

This was said by Ned Yost about Capuano's chances at the rotation...
"To be realistic, it's probably an easier decision now," Yost said before heading to the meeting. "(Capuano) is pretty impressive. Our goal as a (pitching) staff is to get better. He brings that to us. He threw 13-pitch and 14-pitch innings today. That's a key for for us, because it doesn't chew up the bullpen."

If Capuano is a decent back-of-the-rotation guy, the Sexson trade will look even better.