TooLiveBrew

He carries onward the torch of Sharpie... I wonder how hawing feels about this.

A catcher just makes a suggestion, the pitcher has to approve it. This is what always baffles me about the 'calls a good game' pat on the back for catchers. It just seems like something for which you give credit when you don't have much else good to say about a C.

I guess my avatar is pretty useless now. You could always photoshop a Yankees hat on him & show your support! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Given the surplus, colby, could you see the Crew spending a pick on Posey & then another on Petey Paramore? It appears Paramore may not be able to stick behind the plate, but can really hit. Between Lucroy & those two, you'd have great depth at C.

Time will tell if this will be the Ensberg with whom (or at least with his OBP) so many of us were enamored this offseason, or if this merely becomes Josh Phelps - the Sequel! Low risk, and really low $$, I'm sure, by NYY standards, for exactly the kind of bat to slot between Jeter & Abreu.

I'm sure there was a bit more to it than that.

Their lineup is still very good, but defensively, age and injuries are starting to limit their abilities (with the exception of Reyes and Wright, obviously). I don't think Beltran has hit any wall yet, either... the addition of Ryan Church is one that could well pay dividends this season, too.

Interesting that Gamel was omitted. I guess any cutoff number is inherently arbitrary. Mat can really put himself on the map this season imo. Ftlow, per thebaseballcube.com, Bailey threw 45 1/3 innings in 2007.

But I haven't seen anyone explain what justifies seeking out the sort of personal information reported here, especially information about political activities. Exactly. If they're making sure their umps are maintaining their eyesight, fine. The rest of it is pure 1984. Since I know the level of training it takes to get to be a MLB Umpire, the dedication, the strain it puts on your family to spend year after year in the minors working your way through the system (with VERY low pay I might add), I think being an umpire is one of the more difficult jobs out there. You don't hear about NFL refs having one employer, you know that all of them work at their other jobs during the week, lawyer, teacher, accountant etc. Very well-said... better that I could have.

Again, I'm not saying their job is easy. But you'd have a hard time convincing me that it isn't easier (at least as far as in-game performance) than being an NFL or NBA official. What does this have to do with the invasion of umpires' privacy? Like you said, your employer doesn't probe into your personal life. The MLB does. If the umpires don't like it, they're perfectly free to explore opportunities at jobs that won't probe, which, as you mentioned, are definitely out there. That's life. If they value their privacy more than their job, find a job that offers more privacy. This is a throwaway argument imo. It's incredibly easy to say in a hypothetical... ignoring the hundreds/thousands of hours of training & work in leagues below MLB to get there. Obviously this work is one for which these men have a passion. To me this is like the 'If you don't like it here in America, then leave!' argument if someone disagrees with domestic policy in some regard. I get randomly drug tested at my job, as do many athletes -- for some, that would be very unappealing, and such people probably shouldn't seek employment that requires random drug testing. If MLB wants to random drug test their umps, you won't hear a peep from me. But gestapo-ing it to their residences to accost their neighbors? Over the line, uncalled for, and inappropriate. And I'd be saying the same thing if this were a discussion about sanitary workers, accountants, teachers, etc. There's a big difference between 'it comes with the territory' and an employer stepping over their bounds. I'd bet that had MLB come away with any 'evidence' from such inquisitions, it would've been nothing short of easy for any ump's lawyer to have a court dismiss it. So then you have to ask, 'what's the point?'

considering the Diamondbacks beat them in the playoffs That was an ol' fashioned visit to the woodshed, not just a defeat. What are you gonna do, it's Chicago...

The griping from MLB umps the last few years is getting rather annoying. They're quite priviliged IMO, to have the job they do for the salary they earn. MLB umpiring is, with all respect to the umps, by far the easiest officiating job of the three major sports (baseball, football, basketball). It's the only sport that you could replace one umpire with Joe Blow for one game, and the average fan isn't going to notice. I have to respectfully disagree with that. The task they have to perform is grueling & meticulous. I'm with the MLB on this one...If I choose to accept a job, I also accept the conditions of that employment. If they don't like the conditions of their employment, they can seek another job Does your employer unprovokedly accost your neighbors & ask if you're into drugs, partying, hookers, [what have you]? I know mine doesn't.

But if the premise supposedly was, "OMGzzz! That NBA ref gambledz!"... what the hell do the KKK, parties, and growing weed have anything to do with anything? MLB has no right to interfere with their umpires' personal lives in this manner. It's really not as much the questions (which should say a lot - totally strange) as it is the method(s). MLB should be ashamed.

Ahhh... MSC saves my sanity. I can't believe I'm only the second to mention swordfish. It's perfect for WI, too... it grills soooooo nicely. It's certainly not a 'fishy' fish, though, in terms of flavor or texture. Very pricey, but worth every penny when cooked correctly. The Halibut's popular out here in the NW, too.

What does everyone else think? That Howard Kosell would have a much harder time breaking into TV sports nowadays... http://www.jamescampion.com/cosell.jpg EDIT: Btw, "Trenni Kusnierek" looks like someone just put the letters E through U in a hopper, and picked randomly 15 times.

Look at Knoblauch's stats from 1994-1997 and tell me that he wasn't a star at that point. Basically the Twins trading Knoblauch would have been like the Brewers trading Molitor after 1982. More like the O's trading Brian Roberts than the Crew dealing Molly. Molly was 25 in '82, so it's not entirely accurate to point to Knoblauch's ages 25-28 seasons and think it's a good comp... not to mention the major injuries Paul incurred during his age 24 & 26 seasons (which really stunted his development imo). It's really apples to oranges beyond that they both played some 2B. Ages 22 & 23, Molly was vastly superior. Then his injuries at 24 & 26 really throw off any comparison. Knoblauch was a fine player, to be sure, but nowhere near the caliber of athlete Molitor was, imo. Paul really peaked as a hitter once his body didn't have to deal with the wear & tear he put on it in the field. I'm not sure you can equate Knoblauch's demise to that... he just didn't sustain. He even logged some time as a DH in his age 31 & 32 seasons, and that wasn't a solution. Btw, there's no question Chuck K. was a star, but using the public perception as a reason to not trade a player, or define a trade as 'blockbuster' or whatever, is what I took issue with. EDIT: I said "Minnesota teams", not Minnesota Twins. I think one thing that caused confusion was that you gave the impression that other Minn. franchises somehow affect/influence/predict the Twins. I'm assuming you were more making a comment about 'hard luck', though.

Are you saying that stuff like this from the MLB office could potentially contribute to poorer job performance? Yes... perhaps it's a stretch. However, the umps already appear to feel overscrutinized, and now Bud's asking their neighbors if they're growing weed. Which is totally connected to the NBA ref gambling ... ? ... I think Bud has many strengths, but tact simply ain't one of 'em.

Great... just what MLB needs - umpires that care even less. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif For all the good Bud's done, there have been many PR gaffes under his tenure. Add another one to the list.

He's discussing the Santana trade, called Minnesota a joke of a franchise... Now isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!

I disagree, Pierzysnki was nowhere close to the fan favorite that Knoblauch was at the time. Popularity has little or nothing to do with trade value or value on the field.

spent all of last season at AAA or in the majors. Turned in a nice performance in the PCL. .360+ OBP/.400+ SLG from a 21-y-o.

Maya Angelou

Hey, Davey Nelson is as nice as anyone, and is one sexy hunka man meat... doesn't mean he's good on TV. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

I have that pic saved to my computer. It's going to come in very useful someday. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Thanks for that find, logan - a great quick read. My favorite part: "A few weeks later, I got to see Fielder play for the first time in person, ironically against the A's team containing several of the college players from the 2002 draft. I got to the stadium early that day and walked over to Prince, who had just hit his first home run in A-ball the night before. Up close, compared to his teammates, he looked like a man among boys. His arms were bigger than my thighs, but he didn't look fat-he just looked huge. I asked him to sign a ball and we chatted for a few minutes about the homer. Fielder was over-matched that day and went one-for-five, but that one hit was sure memorable. It was a hot shot down the first base line. Okay, actually it was a jam job that trickled down the line, but the memorable part was Fielder's reaction. He bolted out of the box, busted his butt down the line and eked out the infield hit. This didn't seem like an overweight slugging machine; this was a guy who really cared about the game and played his heart out. The next night I was treated to a now-classic Fielder moon shot, opposite field just over the 355 sign. I was hooked. I had a new favorite player." I laugh at you, Billy Beane.

Is the Humber - Rogers comparison a fair one? I see Humber's had his injury WOAHs, too, but Rogers hasn't had nearly the amount of production. I do love the equating to Brewers prospects in deals, though - it really helps lend an understanding to value(s) involved. I'm startled that NYM went for this deal. Is not facing him 2-3 times a year worth not getting the biggest return? Or perhaps the deals that were rumored were just inaccurate (wouldn't surprise me, esp. given the Bos. & NY media markets).