FVBrewerFan

Why would you find it silly to use a resource like that when shopping for big ticket items? You'd rather just go by looks and how it feels during a 15 minute test drive? OT...but I can't resist. That's the beauty of human psychology. Some people will spend tons of hours on the internet for every detail on the purchase, others drive up to the dealership, look at a car and buy it on the spot. Neither is right or wrong, people are just weird.

I brought it up not because I relsih the fall of GM. My father worked his whole life in a factory (not GM.) I have family members who still work in factories. I would never relish anyone loosing a job. Also, I didn't claim in my post that unions are the sole reason for the plant closing. That would be overly simplistic. I have been around for awhile, and I know what the union mentality does to a company, beyond the higher costs the employer bares in payroll, benfeits, and pensions. It's the "to hell with it, I don't have to do that" attitude that is almost as big of a problem as the finanical side. Now, to cut down a couple myths. This attitude of "it's OUR fault for not buying GM vehicles!" is dated. It's 2008, and if I want a Toyota Tundra I will get one. That's the free market. I do have 3 American vehicles at the moment, but I have purchased foreign vehicles before, and I'm sure I will again in the future. Finally, even if GM could have anticipated the economy, gas prices, etc. they're still left with a TRUCK plant. If anything, I would argue they would have closed that plant much sooner if they scaled back on truck production. GM has plenty of hybrids, just as all the big automakers. Fact is, most people still don't want them. I want a big gas guzzling truck, and a gas guzzling sports sedan. I may hang on my vehicles a year longer for now, but when I will replace them with similar vehicles. I would imagine there's a whole lot of people in the same boat.

Hardy over Hall. In a line-up that includes Braun, Fielder, Hart, Weeks, Laporta and Gamel soon (hopefully) I can live with a SS that is steady in the field and hits .250. Plus, the guy has shown power, he is still very young. Stick with him and you may have a SS who is avergae ( or even above average) offensively and defensivley. With Hall, I think the book is pretty much out.

If Weeks ever gets his OBP over .100, sure. And I would flip Hart and Gamel. Just remember the line-up the Brewers have right now is almost exactly the one everyone here fantasized about for years. Shows you it never goes exactly according to plan.

Too many unions (one), too many pensions, too many benefits. That's the problem. Like it or not, GM competes in the world economy. It is a sad day for Janesville, but shouldn't be a surprise.

As I've said, Braun simply can not play CF next year, there's just no way. I read the debate about skills necessary to play there, and it was a good discussion. First, yes Braun has speed. But he doesn't have the type of recovery speed needed if you misjudge a ball initially. In LF, if you don't get a good jump in rattles in the corner and turns into a double. A lot of those balls would be doubles anyhow. In CF, if you make a mistake it's a gapper that turns a single into a double or triple. Very simply, Braun doesn't react immediately to the ball off the bat. Until he can do that, he can't play CF.

- Cubs have played 34 home games, only 24 road games. They have a big stretch of road games coming up over the next month. Let's see where they are then. - They have played a soft schedule, and avoided opposing teams #1 and #2 starters. Something that tends to even out over the course of the year. - Brewers get six more games at home vs the Cubs - The big "I" could come into play. What if they lose 2 or 3 pitchers from the rotation? Or Lee and Ramirez go down? Four months to go, plenty of things can happen. Those are all reasons you can logically point to as reasons the Cubs aren't a lock to win 90+ games. Besides the fact they are playing the best they possibly can right now. With all that said, I have stopped "worrying" about them as well. Keep focusing on winning, and target teams like the Cardinals, Marlins, Braves or Mets as the teams you're trying to chase for the wild card. Come September, who knows...maybe the Cubs will be there ready to be taken down.

I agree Torres remains closer until he proves otherwise. To me, the interesting question is how do you use the other relievers when Riske, Gagne, and Stetter return to the pen. Now you have those three in addition to Mota, Villy, Shouse, and even Dillard competing for the 7th and 8th innings. I know, a good problem to have. I would guess if they have 4 or 5 quality choices in the pen at that point, Villy goes back into the rotation. As far as Gagne goes, I don't see the point in keeping him for garbage innings. I say you package him with TGJ, Bill Hall, and Turnbow and try to get the best starting pitcher you can in return. Even if that means you eat some of the salary for Gagne and Turnbow. Never compound a mistake by trying to prove it wasn't one.

Yes, I would say CF is a tougher position to play than LF, ther's a lot more ground to cover. I'm not saying Braun could never play CF, but if we're talking about next year, count me out.

Braun in CF??? Man, he is barely serviceable defensively in LF. I can see him developing into a decent LF, he just needs more time. But I don't see him roaming CF any time soon...at least I hope not.

I know there's not a pitcher in the system anywhere close to the top 100, and that's the real story.

Just a wild guess with no evidence, but it could be an internal joke in the club house in response to the media claiming they aren't "playing loose." Whatever it is, usually there's a pretty good story behind it.

Since only the OFs are doing it, it has nothing to do with a fad. Obviously it's a bonding ritual of some kind. Would be nice if someone on FSN would ask the question...

Cubs have starting pitching. Brewers do not. Any questions? Call it over-simplifying the situation, but sometimes the answer is just that simple.

I think they're dying to find anyone to put into the rotation, including Weaver. But the very simple fact is that this team doesn't have a shot at post season without adding a legit #2 type SP. It would have been diffiluct WITH Gallardo, now it's not possible. In fact, not only do they need to find a #2, they need Parra to magically become a legit #3. If your top 3 startrs are Sheets, Suppan, and Parra good luck passing the Cards and Cubs and staying there until October.

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:gOq3vkIGSDc8ZM:http://l.yimg.com/img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/08/74/0000040874_20070702183008.jpg

It is not condescending at all, the fact of the matter is that your Dad is the exception not the rule. Its not 1985 anymore where you can walk into anice job with no academic credentials but a high school diploma. The point is if you want to be able to compete with others for good jobs you have to make sure your education is the absolute best it can be. If you cannot get into the elite private schools, go to Madison, if you cannot get into Madison than go to the next largest state University you can...so on and so forth. Some people do succeed without higher education, but most who bypass college end up punching a time clock every Monday through Friday for forty plus years. All of our journeymen sheet metal guys make more then most on this board averaging about 48,000 to 55,000 a year and the steam fitters make more then that and I can guarantee that all of them didnt go to college. Now you are going to say, yeah but they work hard, yes that is true, but most will retire at 55 and make a really good pension. I was making more then I do now as a foremen and did little to no work. A good pension? For now, yes. What are the chances anyone entering the work force TODAY will have a good pension 30 years from now? I would guess somewhere between 0-5%. $48-55K a year is all relative. Some here would think that's a great working wage, others couldn't live on that. Sure, you can drive druck, work a trade, there are a lot of occupations where you can make $50,000 without a degree. To me it's not a value judgement. Some people can make $50,000 and live a fine life. Others need $100,000 (or well over $100,000) to live the way they want. As they say, whatever floats your boat.

"In any event, with your academic stats you should be able to get into some nice schools." Not necessarily these days. Competition for the "best" schools has never been more fierce. A 27 SAT won't get you near Northwestern for example. I'm going through this with my son as we speak, and it's eye opening. In fact, there's a kid who's graduating with a 4.00 and 33 (I think) SAT that was turned down by all the Ivy League schools, Northwestern, Michigan, and Purdue. He "settled" for Wisconsin. But that goes back to what I said earlier, you have to have communication skills and this kid has zero. (Plus he's a white male, but that's a topic for another day.)

First, you need to brush up on your writing skills. Regardless of what college you attend or career path you choose, success will be difficult in any field without strong writing and communcation skills. I realize this is just a message board, but GPA aside you're message screams 11 year old- not a Junior with solid grades. That's not meant to be an insult, just trying to help. Admissions offices would certainly have a huge problem if your cover letter was written in a similar style. With that siad, I agree with others that you are already behind. It doesn't sound like you've done very much research on a career path. Have you looked to see what the CIA, Homeland Security, etc/ require? Have you talked to anyone there for guidance? Same goes for any occupation on your radar. You need to research what types of positions are available, how diffiuclt it is to find a job after college in that field, what the job is REALLY like, etc. If you really don't know, or don't want to take the time to find out then I would suggest a two year UW school or similar. That will give you more time to figure out what you want to do, but in the process you won't break the bank and earn credits in the process. On the other hand, if you can really zero in on what you want to do as a career- that will steer you to the appropriate college to give you the degree you need. Just don't make the mistake of choosing a career without learning a lot more about what it's all about. Baseball shouldn't factor in to your decision. You have a couple years of ball versus your entire life afterwards. The right school with the right program is more important. There is alwats Land 'O lakes ball and other leagues around town to scratch your baseball itch.

I live in the area and go every year. The fact UW-W (I'm an alum) is in it again is all the more reason to go.

Kelly Clarkson (Season 1), Carrie Underwood (Season 4), and Jordin Sparks (Season 6) won American Idol are all pretty popular, the first two moreso than Jordan. Other notables who have not won include, Blake Lewis, Elliot Yamin, Clay Aiken, Kelly Pickler, and Chris Daughtry. I'm not talking about pretty popular....I'm talking about being a pop superstar....one with staying power. That was the sell from the beginning. Take a no one and make them the biggest thing in the world. Clarkson was alright.....Underwood is more country than pop. Usually, the winner of the competition is (or should be) the best, yet you listed more under the "did not win" category than the winner. Just wake me when the whole thing is over. I don't remember AI ever claiming to take a nobody and making them the biggest pop star with staying power for years and years. In fact, who is (or was) the last perosn or group you would call a superstar? I think you have to go back to the 80s. But Clarkson, Underwood, even Daughtry (sp) are very popular for their demographic. (I couldn't name a song by any of them.) Hey, I don't even watch it every week. I DVR and scan through it for the most part. Frankly, I watched off and on since Season 1, just so I knew what the heck everyone was talking about.

I believe you guys, but it's funny to me that Idol is the #1 rated TV show yet nobody from BF watches it. If nothing else, it's part of our culture and it wouldn't hurt to know a little bit about what's going on out there that millions are interested in.

What??? Are we talking about actual results, or expectations? With the way the rotation has been, it's pretty easy to say that Cappy/Davis/Ohka/Santos was better than our #2 thru #5 this year, but I sure don't think many would have told you at the beginning of the season that they would take those 4 over Suppan/Villy/Parra/Bush, and I can guarantee you no one would have preferred the bottom two (Okha, Santos), over Parra and Bush at the beginning of this year. Why would we have been building our rotation to get worse over the last 3 years? 2005 Turnbow vs. 2008 Gagne looks like a landslide now, but I'm sure we were hoping, if not thinking, it'd be close at the beginning of the year. I'm sure there isn't a fan out there who thinks Prince isn't as good as the .276/19/72 that Lyle put up in 2005 -- it's not like we can say that they're pretty close to equal just now just because Prince hasn't been as good as hoped so far. If we're just comparing raw results, there's really no point in doing this. Hindsight is 20/20. Obviously Villy has been awful so far, but I'm sure we were thinking in spring training that his career sub 4.00 ERA would look a lot better than 2005 Tomo Okha. I'm looking at mainly results, but also potential. I believe many people here had unrealistic expectations for Bush and Villy in the rotation and Weeks, Fielder, Hardy, and Hall for position players. (Ok, not that many people here are huge Hall fans.) I just don't think the overall talent is as good as many think it is. That Sheets/Cappy/Davis rotation was pretty special looking back. If we can't use hindsight, I don't think anyone would have thought Cappy would have fallen off the cliff. Suppan is not doing anything Ohka or lots of other guys could do. Santos is Vargas...Bush...McClung...etc.

Ok all you closet Idol fans....which David wins tonight? I predict an upset- Cook over Arch. I think either way both will have successful careers. Arch can sell records immediately to the tween girls, and Cook can put together a nice Alt Rock band.

2005 team was better. Very simply, the rotation was better, and the closer was better. The rest is just conversation. Sheets is athe constant. Cappy/Davis/Ohka/Santos far better than Suppan/Villy/Parra/Bush. Not even close. 2005 Turnbow vs 2008 Gagne- again not even close. I think what we're seeing is the margin of error is very small for this team. Gallardo makes a huge difference.