FVBrewerFan

You do realize not a single thing you mentioned slows the game down? These are all done before the game and in between innings. You don't think the relief pitcher is waiting on the mound for the bullpen car to clear the field??

And that's what concerns me, the slippery slope. Look at the NFL, they have been on a mission to extend games (to fit in more commercials) and increase scoring. In order to accomplish this, defensive backs can't touch a WR (unless they get away with it) you can't hit a QB, you can't hit or tackle certain ways. Some of that is good for player safety, but it is a rough game, and that's the way it was intended to be played. Now MLB is trying to speed up the game and score more runs. Mutually exclusive to some degree. But these rules will have little impact, other than possibly messing up a batter's routine. And what are unintended consequences? You haven important game down the stretch, or playoff game. Braun is at the plate 3-2, 2 outs, bottom of the 9th. Tying and winning runs on base. Braun steps all the way out of the batter's box, not thinking about the new stupid rule. Strike 3, game over. Is that really the way you want to see a game end in MLB? Worse, they will keep tinkering with the rules. How about limiting throws to 1B? No visits to the mound. 7.4 second pitch clock. Then who's guilty , pitcher or batter? Let's go to instant replay to find out. Sound crazy? That's where we're headed. I wouldn't even be shocked anymore to see them go to 7 inning games. All for what? If you really love baseball, who cares how long it is? And for the casual fans, they're not there to watch the game anyhow. I do agree with starting at 7:00, even 6:35 more often. Because I do think that feeds into the perception the game is a little longer than it is. Start earlier! I don't believe the pre-game has anything to do with it. It is the PRE game. I never watch that drivel, so I have no idea how long that is or what they banter about.

That's the whole point. He obviously doesn't know who he is, and he's trying to figure that out.

I know you didn't mention me by name, but I'm on record saying they won't be as good this season. I think they will still back into the playoffs, with less hope of winning the first series. With Knight, the team was getting better and better and I had this feeling they could get the 5 seed and win the first round. Chance of even making a little noise in the playoffs. I really do understand the concept of building for the future, but there is no future without an arena. And the best thing the Bucks could do this season is win as many games as possible, and better yet make a surprise run in the playoffs.

It's not a matter of making a change because he's not happy with his job, where he's playing, etc. He has a mental illness, and possibly an addiction. Very likely one is causing the other. We can all call him a bum (I know you didn't) but by all accounts Larry is a good guy, struggling with some demons. For anyone out there that have either gone through this, or have someone close to you go through it, you would have empathy. If not, you probably wouldn't. Let's also remember Larry didn't come begging or demanding an extension. It was the Bucks idea to lock him up early. And he didn't hold them hostage in getting out of the deal. Very fair, actually astounding considering his agent, the union, and who knows who else no doubt wanted a bigger buy-out. I for one will be very happy for him if he's playing again for someone a year from now.

Well, ratings were pretty bad so they may be right. I think people are sick of the whole format. It takes forever, you have to endure political causes from most winners, etc. It just gets old. Not to mention the movies weren't very good. I figured either Boyhood or Birdman would win best picture, so I made sure to see them. Honestly, I thought Boyhood was just ok. Great concept for a movie, but the movie itself was meh. Birdman? Didn't like it at all. I understand box office shouldn't determine best picture, but these artsy depressing movies just don't do it for me- or most people for that matter. They need to cut at least an hour out of the program, and maybe add new categories like "Comedy of the year" and "Action movie of the year." The Hollywood elites may cringe at these "low brow" movies, but that's what most people watch.

This was Herb Kohl's mentality and we all know where it got us. In the last 20 seasons prior to this year, the Bucks have had 6 winning seasons, one other season where they finished 41-41, and have a 2-8 playoff series record (both wins came in 2000-2001). Odds are we will still make the playoffs this seasons which will give the young players some much need experience while still adding assets needed for a deeper run in the coming years. This trade doesn't mortage thier future for the present like the Gary Payton trade did. It keeps them competitive this season while making them better going forward. This isn't the same thing as what Herb Kohl did. I wanted them to stay neutral this year. Kohl went far beyond that and traded the future for the present- that's a big difference. Yea, they'll still make the playoffs but limp in, and kill the enthusiasm that was starting to build. Finally, I just have to say this. Everyone is saying this is the guy Kidd wanted so I trust him. How do we know this was Kidd's guy? Unloading Knight was the primary reason for the trade, so could it be this is the best return the Bucks got? Doesn't necessarily mean MCW is the PG of the future Kidd really wanted.

I will be thrilled if he's able to get the ball across half-court and start the offense without dribbling it off his knee or getting his pocket picked.

Why was some male Cardinals fan at a bachelorette party to begin with? Was he supposed to be "the entertainment?" I wasn't there, but my guess is it was Tony LaRussa, who stumbled into the wrong bar.

I can't imagine MLB coming up with a rule that dictates how long a relief appearance can be, number of relief appearances, allowed, etc. But if they do, that may be the last straw for me as a MLB fan. Maybe some day they can take all the strategy out of the game, just put a pitching machine out there and see how many HRs a team can hit in an hour. There. Two problems WHOAA SOLVVD. I just shortened the game and made it more entertaining. Why not? They can walk back to the on deck circle for more pine tar, go back to get a new bat, walk up to the plate slowly. They can slow things down as much as they want.

I didn't like this trade. Everything was rolling this year, great chemistry and a realistic shot to move up to the #5 seed. Very possible they could have won the 1st round series. Big deal right? Yes, it is. There is finally some buzz about he Bucks, which is exactly what is needed to get this new arena done. Now, there is no scoring. They are going to struggle to score 85 points a game every night, and that will be tough to win games no matter how good the defense is. I would have played this season out with Knight, kept the enthusiasm at a high level., and finally get a new arena approved. They still could have tried a sign and trade after the season. Or, you lose him. What's the big deal if that happened really? Ennis is horrible and Plumley is an end of the bench player. So we're talking about MCW. Philly loves draft picks and young talent, so the Bucks could have easily traded for him after the season. Inglis and two 2nd round picks, or whatever. Heck, throw in O'Bryant. If you can't get a trade done, find another MCW. I just think the Bucks got a major gift this season- a winning team. And they killed this season (a certain success) for an uncertain future. Normally, I would be down with that. But with the politics going on with a new arena, it would have really helped to have the best year possible this season.

I don't like these changes. Games are longer for two reasons. 1) More pitching changes (which nobody can do anything about and 2) Instant Replay. Keeping the Manager in the dugout will have no effect. If there is a close play, pitcher or batter can slow things down so their team has a chance to review it. Then it is challenged. Umpire leisurely walks over the dugout to put the headset on. Other umps leisurely walk over to join him. Eventually a decision is made (often incorrectly) and then the umps stroll back to their positions on the field. All of this so they may or may not get a call right that has almost no statistical effect on the game, let alone the season. As far as the batter goes, it's part of the game. The batter has been mentally preparing a certain way before every pitch for years. Making him speed up isn't right, and frankly good umpires do affine job on their own limiting too much in between pitch nonsense. I'm sure MLB has spent millions on consultants telling them to speed up the game, as often is the case they're wrong.

I like the look of that roster. BrewBalls for GM!

They could easily absorb that. Sanders, by all accounts, will save $9MM on the cap, plus if Irsan is dealt that frees up another what $8-9MM? And OJ will be in his final year next year. So they have a ton of cap space and flexibility. Finally, there are guys who will take a one year deal next season, hoping to cash in when the cap goes way up the following year. Bottom line, none of those three guys are max contract players anyhow, so very doable.

I think this got lost in the shuffle, and is far more fascinating than the flame-out rate on prospects. This tells me advanced metrics are a lot farther from perfect than I thought. WAR is great for looking at the past, along with all other advanced metrics, but not necessarily a good indicator of the future by a long shot. I'm sure the flip-side is true also, the other 40% of the top 100 had values far lower than what they produced.

Same here Patrick. Neither my dad or father-in-law have any interest in going to Miller Park anymore. Too loud, too much antics and music constantly going on. I get the sausage race, it's become a tradition. I could even get behind Bernie slide if the mascot wasn't so strange looking, and still slid into a beer stein. Other than that, you can keep the rest. Can't we just watch the game? Let's just be done with it, if people want 18-15 games, let the players use aluminum bats.

I saw this. Does anyone know the story here?

In response to the original question, yes, he is on the hot seat. And yes, he could be fired if the Brewers have a rough start. Of course "rough start" is subjective, but there is a point at which DM would pull the trigger.

Crazy idea I know, but why don't they use the strike zone from the...I don't know...Rule Book? Just observation, but it seems to me strike zone has moved down over the years. A pitch at the letters is almost never a strike (and should be) and a pitch below the knees is almost always a strike (and shouldn't be.) Especially change-ups are consistently called strikes just below the knees. Heck, even near the ankles. This tinkering with the game to shorten it and/or cause more runs to be scored is aggravating. Look, you either enjoy baseball or you don't. No matter what they do, it will not have the constant action that football and basketball provide. You could make every game 14-11 and done in two hours, and casual fans would still not be any more interested than they are now. Baseball is not on a clock, and it never should be. The one thing they could do to speed things up would be eliminate instant replay, and that would be fine by me.

Tyler Wagner or Taylor Williams could be options as well. The organization doesn't have a history of having guys take that leap, but both guys are old enough and if one/both are rolling wouldn't be shocking to see either one get a chance to start in Milwaukee.

Coach K

If this team had a healthy Parker and Sanders, they would be a legit contender to make the NBA Finals. Not the favorite mind you, but it would have been possible. Coming off a 15 win season, that is astounding. Also, for those of you who doubted me, you now see the state legislature has said no way will they pass Walker's plan for funding the new arena. At one point I was highly confident something will get worked out. Then, I'm constantly reminded this is Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and there's a real possibility this drags on forever and we'll be watching the Seattle Bucks in a couple years.

Henson has been forced to play a lot of Center this year, and he's done a decent job holding off his own man, so at least it's a draw. But yea, stats show what you're seeing. 5th in Opponents Offensive Rebounds. Other fun facts, many of these won't surprise you: 3rd in TO 2nd in opponents TO 25th in 3PFG attempts 27th in FT Attempts And the big ones: 6th in FG% 3rd in Opponents FG% So, they get out-rebounded, they turn the ball over a ton, and don't get to the line. But they're above .500 because they cause a lot of TO themselves, and more importantly out-shoot their opponent almost every night.

Isn't Knight a free agent after this year? So not sure a sign and trade makes any sense. Either they sign him, or he signs somewhere else. I would lean towards trying to re-sign him, but I still think he has a ways to go as a pure PG. He has too many turnovers, takes too many bad shots, but most importantly I just don't see him feeding guys for easy shots enough. Sure, Kidd CAN help him with all that but there's no guarantee. Pure PG skills can be taught, but there's also just natural skill/ court awareness too. What I like about this team is that it's now clear how to keep rebuilding. Every new player (whether a draft choice or FA) must play defense, share the ball, and be a good guy in the locker room. From there, you can look at what else they bring to the table. Interestingly, Parker really doesn't fit that description but they think he can get there. And GAME, I don't think they're at the point where they need a specific position in the draft. They need to keep adding talent, and at some point they can start thinking of need by position, and get a FA that fits. But that should never be done on draft day.

I guess I have a hard time seeing what would be so difficult to pass about this outside of politics given the lack of a tax. Because you're looking at this rationally. Nothing rational ever happens in politics. You have legislators in Racine/Kenosha cheesed off about the casino. Think they'll easily jump on board and pass this for Walker? Not to mention all the Dems whose beefs with him go way back. Then add upstate legislators that see nothing in it for them, other than having to explain this constantly to the folks. We all have to remember most people don't pay attention to details. They hear state helping the Bucks, and that's all they know or want to know. So you're not just dealing with the reality of no new taxes, you're dealing perception.