TooLiveBrew

I'd guess most players assume a little discomfort will just go away. This is crappy news, to be sure.

Kudos to Mariners manager Jim Riggleman, who's been managing the 9th inning like every other inning lately. He certainly hasn't appeared to have a set '__th inning guy', and just plays to the most favorable matchup.

Just now watching the Opening Ceremony out on the West Coast... this is the single greatest Opening Ceremony I've ever seen. The 2,008 Tai-Chi performers were just jaw-dropping -- not that the rest of the cermony wasn't.

From Dave Fultz's brewers.com article "Yost recognizes cycle of game": "Craig Counsell, who was back in the starting lineup on Friday, turned a hot streak into more playing time. 'You definitely try to ride the hot hand, and he's been playing well,' Yost said. 'We were struggling trying to get runners on, and Counsell had a good on-base percentage, works the count and took advantage of the opportunity.'" The red-hot Craig Counsell, who, over the last 28 days, has a line of .206/.243/.235/.479! I think the Brewers are lucky to have a manager that understands statistics & how to use them. The babble that spews from his mouth is just... unfathomable. I'm really concerned that Melvin either has no pull with Yost, or that Doug actually thinks Ned's decision-making processes are okey-dokey, and that.

and mentioned that its possible some European team would offer Lebron insane money to go the other way across the pond. Quoth Hammer: Expect Stupid Pundits Nightly

Let me first say that I don't disagree with any of the criticisms of Fielder's defense. However, I find it interesting that people aren't as up-in-arms about that criticism as some were when posters were discussing Braun's less than stellar OBP skills. In neither case is it people just looking to criticize; both players have those warts at this point.

A Bobby Knight quote comes to mind... I know we spend too much time debating the lineup order, but this stuff from Ned is just... ugh. Inevitable. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

J/K Wibadgers23. Great job on the stats! Agreed, Wi23. No one can woogie except for woogie himself. Your IGT lead is a great & informative post. I'd like to think the game logs on Balester will lead to less, 'OMG why do we always suck against crappy pitchers!' stuff, but sadly I think I know better than to expect that. Balester's results so far have been pretty solid. No BBs against that Phillies lineup is pretty impressive. Utley took him deep after Rollins had singled, and then Howard followed with his only hit of the night (single), but aside from that Collin scattered the remaining 3 hits & didn't flinch. Geoff Jenkins went 0-4 against him with 2 whiffs... ahhh Geoff! Clearly Manny Acta is being careful with Balester's pitch count, and wisely so. I don't know about his stuff, but his production in the minors was very impressive. Right around 2.6 BB/9 & 7 K/9 for the most part (jumping levels saw his rates spike, but that's to be expected a bit). This is a former 4th-round pick for the team (still the Expos then) who has taken a nice, steady (not slow) 4+ year road to MLB. From the looks of his numbers, I think we're facing a solid RHP tonight. Good thing Prince is hot. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif How far the mighty have fallen. Two years ago, this guy was one of the top prospects in the Bush administration, and now look at him! Playing shortstop for the Nationals... Is your team any good, Mr Gonzalez? I don't recall. Was there a time when your team was good, Mr. Gonzalez? My memory is unclear on that one. Did your organization ever condone playing for the Nationals? I don't recall. Brilliant! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Each week, there are multiple quotes from The Tennessean, the Huntsville Times, Florida Today, the two Charleston newspapers, the Helena Independent Record, etc. And we're pretty sure (OK, very sure) they're gleaming those quotes from the Link Reports. Nothing wrong with that, in fact, we're honored to indirectly contribute to the fanbase that way. And of course, those articles are correct in quoting "The Huntsville Times" and not the "The Huntsville Times via Brewerfan.net who made it convenient for us to get the quote", if you see what I mean. Hah -- yeah, gotcha. Thanks for clarifying MH. It must be pretty cool to see your work playing a role in the MSM stuff. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

You know, the interesting part is that Yost is one just 8 managers in the second article I linked that had, through August 1st, used his closer in 2 or more "tough saves" (as defined by Dewan: "Here are the managers who use their closer most often in the toughest situations (enters the game with the tying run on base)... Minimum 10 saves") endaround's favorite Manny Acta, along with Fredi Gonzalez, Cecil Cooper, Terry Francona, Dave Trembley, Bruce Bochy, & Bob Geren round out said list.

Ha! Nice! I love that flick.

Linkage This is a great read, and definitely tackles a topic we discuss often here at BF. Caple refers to a SABR study done by Dave Smith (linked in the article). Also was pointed to (not from the article) this article by John Dewan on closer usage. Here's how it starts: "Does it seem to you, like it seems to me, that the only way managers use their closers these days is to start the ninth inning?"

I'm going to buy you a Twins hat, TWR. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Oh, Papaya King comes with huge recommendations. My gf's dad grew up in the Bronx, works in NYC, and he raves about this place.

I say you root Cubs. The Brewers have such a small chance of catching the Cubs for the division, so why worry about them or their lead. If the Cubs can knock off the Cardinals, thats one less team to worry about in the playoff chase. This is true. It's exceedingly hard to separate the utter loathing I have for all things Cubs, but I shall do my best. Maybe I can trick myself into believing that all I'm doing is rooting for the Cards to lose, and nothing more.

TooLiveBrew, I love ya man but you're flat out trolling. Are you a lawyer? Is it really flat out assault? Was it as random as you paint it? Charges? Are you serious? Dude, I would love to see a judge have his time wasted with a plaintiff pressing "pushing" charges. Get real, friend That's trolling? Ok. Fielder had to be restrained by 2 or 3 teammates, and that's the only reason it didn't escalate further, and into more physical harm. This wasn't just 'pushing'... not to mention that you conveniently 'forget' to mention every time that he went after Parra's face & head as well. I'm not saying that Prince should have been prosecuted for what he did -- that seems like a stretch -- but rather just pointing out some possibilities This is all I'm saying. I think you projected some meaning onto my post, banana, and perhaps I could have been more clear. 'Get real', though? Ironically, you're in the vast minority here that feels what Prince did was 'what needed to be done' My point was, *if* charges were filed, it was assault. I'd find it incredibly unlikely for that to happen, and if I were in Parra's situation, I certainly wouldn't have done so (even if it wasn't MLB... another workplace dispute)... However, even outside the ballpark, I'd guess that the huge majority of the time, the police wouldn't be called, and the situation would be handled by whoever was present just like this one. This is what I mean. Maybe not a huge majority of the time, maybe so, but I agree with the spirit of Casey's post.

After all these dismal decades of horrible baseball, it's important to step back every few days this summer and remind ourselves what a great season this has been. Great thought, joepepsi. I know I get tied up in that desire to see the Brewers win... I try to not let it affect my enjoyment of the season, but the expectations this year are the highest they've been since I can vividly recall. The team has played well this season, and I do my best to step back & enjoy it as a whole. The Marlins and Phillies are good, but I just don't see the wild card coming from there. The Phillies have spotty pitching, a recently unreliable bullpen, and major consistency issues with their hittings, so I think the Marlins will eventually eke out that division. August will probably sort out the serious contenders, and especially in the East. The Marlins' bullpen has logged a ton of innings, and I don't think their pitching staff as a whole is any better than Philly's. The Phils are the team I think will take the East, but I certainly can't write off the Mets or Fish just yet. Atlanta has certainly fallen out of contention, and soon another team probably will. I don't think there's anyone that can be written off yet from PHI/STL/FLA/NYM, but I do think that the Brewers' talent level, combined with the surprisingly soft August schedule, gives Milwaukee an edge over those four teams.

I hate Rickie Weeks, he only strikes out and makes errors. !!1!!!1!1!!!! OMG UR SO FUNEEEEE!!!11!1!!!!!!!!! ... seriously though, that was funny. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

So, if Prince is the BA Baracus of the Brewers, is Ned the Hannibal? Is Braun Face? Or Kendall? That 'scene' had me doubled over... very funny. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Braun as Face... genius. If Elijah Dukes or Milton Bradley had done it, there would be outrage. In my eyes he's less of a man because of it (except in the belly), not some muscle enforcer the Brewers count on. I agree. This was not some 'well, somebody had to do it' kind of player reprimand. This was flat-out assault, and if that happened to someone in a bar/on the street, charges rightfully could have been pressed.

Yost is probably just giving Counsell a good amount of AB's because he wants to send a message that he's still a big part of this team and over time, Branyan will probably get a lot more starts at 3B than Counsell will in the remaining games so this discussion is probably moot. This is why I'm concerned. If anything, Yost has proved that he defies logic (and not in a good way) when it comes to lineup/playing time decisions. I don't think it's a moot point at all. The no-brainer part to me is letting Russ face RHP 'everyday', Hall lefties 'everyday' & getting Counsell his PT in spot-starts at SS v. RHP & a once-in-a-blue-moon start v. RHP at 3B (basically when Branyan is fatigued), and in late-inning D replacement. If Yost wants to 'send a message' by playing Counsell over superior options, what he's sending is that he'd rather his own pride be more important than the team. Counsell has plenty of roles: spot-starting for Hardy, PH option, late-inning defensive replacement. Any more than that & we're sacrificing the best chance to win for Yost's unpredictable whims.

Is it really that big of a deal that Counsell gets a couple starts at 3B against a RHP when you can keep Branyan as your ace in the hole in the 9th inning to bat for the pitcher? My answer is yes, because 3+ AB > 1 AB. I dislike strategies that play for relatively unlikely events (ie. tied or close game late, with no LHRP left/available)

In fact if they do what you suggest, they shoudl be able to get CC and Sheets playing at least 5 of their remaining 10 games against contender (Cards, Mets, Phillies, and Cubs twice). I'd like to see the end of the season play out like this I recall Yost saying last week that he'd filled out his SP 'map' with those Cubs & Cards series in mind. I assume he & Maddux/Simmons/etc. have got their eyes very sharply trained on our highest-leverage series that remain.

But he strikes out a lot! It doesn't make sense to me that Yost wouldn't want to utilize a player that gives his team a better chance to win, especially with how unafraid he is to seek out new ways to try to help improve the team (SP platoon is an example of such searching). What concerns me is that he consistently demonstrates an inability to understand and/or correctly utilize splits/platoons/stats. It's commendable that Branyan has done so well while not getting any regular PT. If he hit a walk-off HR, you can bet your butt Ned would be 'riding the hot hand' then, though.

That said, and accepting batting average can be overrated, Rickie does indeed need to hit for a higher average. Too many players on this team have spent too much of the season hitting in the .220-.230 range. I feel this is the main reason they aren't in 1st place right now. If Rickie hit .270 everything else about him would be fine and he'd be considered one of the best young 2B in MLB Great point. I think that sometimes in the SABR-influenced world of analysis, it can be relatively easy to overlook singles. Sure, they aren't much in & of themselves, but high BB rates are so prized right now when singles = OBP too. I'm not pointing any fingers, but just a general comment. I love BBs, but toss 10-20 more singles (a .273/.286 BA range) into what Rickie's done so far, and we're probably not even discussing how he's so gawd-awful. In fact, we'd probably be loving it. That said, his BA has been rising steadily basically since mid-May. There were a few downturns in there, but mostly moving upwards. And as a throw-in, 'just for fun' stat... Rickie's BABIP so far in August is .538!

It's underrated if someone says 'it doesn't matter'. Clearly it does, but those much smarter & better informed than me about baseball rank it, along with LF, the two least impactful defensive positions.