Jarjohm

Pretty interesting article on Aoki on ESPN's Sweetspot: Brewers might import former 'next Ichiro' The article discusses an MLB projection for Aoki:

Yep, mentioned that in the same paragraph you quoted.

This is 100-percent speculation and I have no inside sources, but I've seen Graves Disease, or the treatment of it, mentioned as a possibility a few times since the news of Braun's positive test broke. After a quick search, I found that the disease causes the thyroid gland, which helps maintain natural testosterone levels, to become overactive. This can lead to wildly fluctuating levels of testosterone, although in men it seems to typically lower testosterone levels. Those pointing to Graves as a possibility have also mentioned that it often causes "protrusion" of the eyes, which can cause them to bulge out and appear larger. I'm no doctor (and I'm still not sure how this would explain the synthetic testosterone), but it at least seems a bit more plausible than the herpes theory. Any doctors out there who can add more or rule Graves Disease out?

A lot of what I've read since I ran across the rumor seems to indicate that medication for that issue would not influence a drug test or testosterone levels, but a poster on Brew Crew Ball did have this to say:

The rumor several of the posters have referenced is almost assuredly the same one that's been on social media sites and a couple of blogs the last couple days. Some of the dialogue coming out of Braun's camp does seem to line up with it as a possibility, but I haven't seen a real source even hint it could be true or that it's even medically possible this could influence a drug test. Here's a link: "More Braun Than Brains" - Hire Jim Essian

I hope it's Aaron.

Here's a screen cap: http://p.twimg.com/AahM-kVCQAEeUpd.jpg

How can you buy seats to a game that still might happen on the road? Do you just lose your money if Game 1 is in Philadelphia or Arizona?

It looks like the vote will go down to the wire. "New Noise" is only a few votes down from "Bulls on Parade," which had been down by like 30 yesterday. I dig Rage, but I think Miller Park Drunk put it best: "Hard not to like this one, but do we really want a song about the American military-industrial complex leading us into the ninth inning of a potential win? Isn't that a bit heavy?"

"New Noise" is up by 26 votes now on "Bulls on Parade." If it holds the lead, I hope Axford doesn't override the vote (although I'm sure he probably will). "New Noise" would be such an epic entrance song.

"New Noise" was within six votes of "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" last night when I checked, but for some reason "TGTB&TU" is making a charge today. It's up by almost 20 again. I don't get it. A closer's entrance song should pump up the crowd. You won't even be able to hear that song over cheers... If you haven't voted yet, vote "New Noise." If you have, tell everyone you know to vote: Axford's Entrance Song Poll - Round Two

I don't even really understand why "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" is an option. It wouldn't work as a closer's song at all. I get the Western showdown angle, but that music would not pump anyone up.

I've been calling for a closer to use "New Noise" for like 10 years. If it happened in Milwaukee, it would be amazing. Some have suggested that if Axford uses "New Noise," it should start midway through the song where it builds to the intense finish (since the song is long and has a lot of ups and downs), but I think the intro is too good not to use it. I think he should mash the two together so it'd be something like this: http://www.mdn.fm/files/242517_oeceq/The+Refused+-+New+Noise+(Axford+Cut).mp3 Watching Axford run out as "New Noise" blares over the Miller Park speakers would be epic. And it's so close, we have to make this happen.

Brewers MLB.com beat writer Adam McCalvy has also joined the competition. He informs me that he is not very well versed in college basketball. So, he's the early favorite to win.

Cory Melvin (Doug's son and a Brewers scout) and Kyle Lobner of Brew Crew Ball fame have also joined the fold this morning.

Hey, Just wanted to pass on the info for the Right Field Bleachers Bracket Challenge. It's just your standard NCAA bracket competition, but we're trying to make it as Brewer-related as possible (since we are a Brewers fan site after all). Jeff Cirillo, Trenni Kusnierek, Brewer Minor League pitcher Brae Wright and the agent of several Brewers Minor Leaguers Joshua Kusnick have committed to play so far. And we're working on a few other Brewers-related celebrities as well. If you're interested in joining, all you have to do is go to this link: http://rfbleachers.mayhem.cbssports.com/e. And use this password: rightfield. Hopefully we'll see some of you over there. -- Jared

Hey guys, Had the chance to interview Brewers Rule 5 draft pick Chuck Lofgren last night. It looks like it'll be an uphill battle for him to win a spot on the team, but he's got the right attitude about it. And he's got an interesting story too, including singing on stage with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood this offseason and dating a bikini model. You can check out the interview here: Chuck Lofgren Interview

Hey guys, I had the opportunity to chat with Seth McClung for the blog and thought some of you might want to check it out: http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com/?p=6046 The "normal guy" routine certainly didn't come off as an act in the interview. Actually, just the fact that he was willing to do an interview with a blog tells you a lot about how down to earth he is. And, as a fan, I appreciate how much he loved playing for the Brewers. I guess the most interesting parts of the interview to me were when he was joking around about his former teammates, especially the guys in the bullpen (i.e. Coffey's "man boobs"), and when he talked about Macha. It's obvious he didn't like Macha very much. He basically said he didn't see eye to eye with Macha because of the way he was used and because Macha did not support the players in the media or on the field. I figured Seth wouldn't speak for the rest of the team (and he didn't), but I had to ask if his feelings were widespread in the clubhouse. It seems like there are a fair amount of guys that aren't exactly buddies with Macha. I understand that's not Macha's job, but that situation definitely seems like something to watch in 2010, especially since it was part of Macha's downfall in Oakland.

I finally had a chance to put together all of the suggestions and a few of my own into a list. Let me know if there's anything anyone would like to add. I'll probably start working on the mix within the next couple of weeks here and there when I have time so I have the thing done by February or so. Brewers 2009 Highlights • 4-10 - Brewers Win Home Opener Against Cubs With Walk Off • 4-23 - Bush Takes No Hitter Into 8th Against Phillies • 4-24 - Yovani Throws Complete Game in Houston • 4-27 - Hoffman's Miller Park Debut • 4-28 - Hoffman's First Brewer Save • 4-29 - Yovani Pitches 8 Scoreless, Hits Home Run off Randy Johnson to Beat Pirates 1-0 • 5-4 - Weeks Hits Home Run in 9th to Extend Winning Streak Against Pirates to 16 • 5-5 - Brewers Winning Streak Against Pittsburgh Reaches 17 • 5-7 - Brewers Pound Out 20 Hits in 15-3 Beatdown of Reds • 5-7 - Braun Hits Grand Slam and Has 6 RBIs • 5-7 - Fielder Hits HR off Reds Shortstop • 5-8 - Braun Hits Go-Ahead HR in 8th at Wrigley • 5-13 - Weeks Hits Home Runs in Three Straight Games to Continue Hot Start to Season • 5-18 - Gamel Hits First Career Home Run • 5-18 - Kendall Reaches 2,000 Career Hits • 5-18 - Braun Makes Diving Catch in 3rd Inning Against Cards • 5-18 - Brewers Sweep Cardinals in St. Louis • 5-25 - Hall Hits Walk-Off in 10th Against Cards, Brewers Run Off Field With 1-0 Win • 6-15 - Brewers Come Back From 5-run Deficit Twice to Win • 6-15 - Fielder Hits First Career Grand Slam • 6-25 - Kendall Hits Game-Tying Double in 8th, Scores Winning Run on Error • 6-27 - Cameron Robs Home Run Against Giants • 6-27 - Prince Hits Walk-Off Double and Team Dog Piles Him at Second • 6-29 - McGehee Hits Grand Slam Shortly After Committing Costly Error • 7-11 - Prince Steals Base on Russell Martin • 7-13 - Fielder Wins HR Derby, Untucks • 7-20 - Lopez Goes 4-for-4 with a Triple in Brewer Debut, Arriving in Time Due to Rain Delay • 7-27 - Braun Becomes First Brewer to Start Career With Three Straight 20-HR+ Seasons • 7-29 - McGehee Hits Pinch-Hit Homer on Day His Son Threw Out the First Pitch • 8-12 - Prince Becomes Fastest to Reach 100 RBIs in Franchise History • 8-13 - Prince Hits 465-Foot Home Run Off Scoreboard • 8-16 - Fielder Hits 30th HR to Become First Brewer With Three Straight 30-HR, 100-RBI Seasons • 8-23 - Escobar Hits First Career Home Run • 9-6 - Brewers Turn Triple Play Against Giants • 9-6 - Prince Hits Walk-Off HR Against Giants in 12th Inning, Bowling Pin Celebration • 9-12 - Braun Scores 100th Run • 9-12 - McGehee Goes 4-for-5 With Two Home Runs and 6 RBIs • 9-13 - Escobar Ranges Toward Third, Gloves Ball and Makes Incredible Throw in Arizona • 9-15 - Braun Collects 100th RBI • 9-16 - Escobar Has Four Hits, Knocks in Three Against Cubs • 9-17 - Gerut Hits Grand Slam Against Cubs • 9-19 - Fielder Gets 127th RBI to Break Franchise Record • 9-20 - Fielder Gets 40th Home Run • 9-20 - Fielder Breaks Franchise Walk Record With 100 • 9-20 - Gallardo Notches 200th Strike Out in His Final Start • 9-26 - Braun Hits Walk-Off Against Phillies on Fan Appreciation Night, Finally Gets 30th HR • 9-30 - Fielder Scores 100th Run • 10-3 - Braun Hits Home Run for 200th Hit, Fourth Player in Franchise History to Reach Mark • 10-4 - Prince Homers Twice in Final Game of Season to Grab Share of MLB RBI Lead • 10-4 - Braun Gets 203rd Hit to Lead NL • 10-4 - Braun Gets 20th Stolen Base for 30 HR/20 SB Season • 10-4 - McGehee Gets Hit to End Season Over .300 • 10-4 - Brewers Sweep Cardinals in St. Louis to End Season

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. It'll help a lot when I start working on the highlights this offseason. As far as the music selection goes, it's difficult to use anything besides hip hop. In 2005, I used some songs that didn't have vocals so it worked, but some of the song choices were pretty stale. In the 2007 and 2008 versions, I used hip hop because most of the songs were used by Brewers players at some point as at-bat songs and it's easy to find versions of the songs without vocals (because DJs put out versions that other artists can use in remix versions). If there are vocals in the music, it competes with the highlights or I have to turn the music way down and I don't like the way that sounds. If I could find rock songs without vocals, I'd definitely mix more in. If anyone has suggestions for where I could find rock songs sans vocals, please let me know. And keep the highlight suggestions coming!

It's mostly just a rehash of what's already here and on Brew Crew Ball, but I made a post on the signing over at Right Field Bleachers. There's another video and a couple more scouting quotes that I was able to dig up. Exciting news. It's nice to see the Brewers land a high upside international player like this and that they're willing to take the risk. Hopefully it works out. EDIT: Corrected link

Adam McCalvy sent me this e-mail on Kendall's eye: He got whacked in the eye on the off day but everything checked out fine. It's one of those deals that looks much worse than it is. Much, much, much worse, because it's even more knarly in person. - Adam I hadn't heard about his niece. Was that reported on JSOnline or Brewers.com? Just curious...

Anyone notice that Kendall's right eye is messed up? I noticed it in the pre-game. Looks like he has a bad black eye. It even looked like he was taking a whiff of some smelling salt at one point before the game. I took a picture from the telecast of him in the dugout and posted it HERE. He's playing so obviously it's not serious, but I thought it was a little strange.

Trenni was also on 1250 WSSP this morning and talked about her "new look" and the post on the site. It was pretty funny. You can listen to it HERE. I made a post about the e-mail and the interview and put another picture of her on the MLB Network up on the site earlier. You can check it out HERE if you'd like.

I've been e-mailing Trenni about some other things (she's been extremely generous with helping us out with some stuff for the site over the last year and a half or so) and she got back to me last night. She mentioned that she saw the post on her "new look": I think Trenni really is just a down-to-earth Wisconsin gal that is great at what she does. Anyway, thought you all might be interested in her response.