Bring Back the Stein

If it's still up by the time I have posted, I will say that the author was either brilliant or one of the above.

I promised to rent a fire truck when his contract expired and I still aim to do that.

Dawson's flaccid career got a bolt of Viagra by playing his glue-factory years at the sewer that is Wrigley Field. His HOF chances were further helped by a whiny fan base. (Jim Rice anyone?) However, I will gladly make a trade with the baseball gods for a Dawson in the HOF, versus a Ron Santo.

Great move. Gomez has a ton of upside and genuinely has five tools. Hardy merely makes grown men behave like "Glee" watchers.

Another notable fact: The average OPS of NL All-Star starters was .843 (.899 if you don't count the pitcher). That means having Suppan on the mound is essentially like facing the NL All-Star starting lineup every game...without the pitcher's spot!! Also, something that will really put the awfulness of the starting staff into perspective for those who don't like ERA. Of the 67 NL pitchers who pitched at least 100 innings, 4 of our starters appear in the bottom 7 slots for OPS against. Truly one of the worst starting staffs ever put onto a baseball field. I'm printing this out and bringing it to Thanksgiving for my stepfather/Suppan apologist.

I have had swine flu the last few days, which is apt preparation for a Suppan start.

I challenged a friend, the former Onion editor and a graphic designer, to come up with a...graphic response...to Ryan Braun's t-shirt line. Here is his hasty rejoinder: http://alturl.com/8oxo or maybe this works better: http://2726098744667548140-a-1802744773732722657-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/kaportfolio/tees/herpetee-/herpetee.jpg?attredirects=1&auth=ANoY7crwTpl7aRI-CyKbPxLfv5ozuy6VgYcWOV93a496f_m0cBnQ1Mk0rY1TKHpMQRL3305iBnfftXJHDBBNo3rAFUVA11nFdupHKYEN3JJ3L0kYxlqFDB7PQ7syWjAyIAiHg9kGuaA8AGTSI-uR5gpVSfqN7cnBRHVtcz921t_XtTt0LmTI_wNbIgnDw79JNZ83TpYNlAw298RD4mC3d-HNeBneQfzxkA%3D%3D

He IS fun to watch. Even a play he didn't make-throw was off line-showed range that had been lacking before.

I've begun to look at this Brewers season the way I look at my lousy golf rounds (which are most of them). Take the few good shots for the next round and be entertained. This season's done. There could be a flareup with the candy schedule coming up, but then cold reality should set in. I can see being double digits out by the second week of September. Of COURSE I'd love to be proven wrong. I'd also like to shoot par. Neither I see happening.

It was still poor baserunning in that spot.

Boy, I hope some of the posters here aren't in h.r. Using a bunch of high-profile instances to draw a sketch of the mental health of someone who surely will be mentioned as among the greatest Brewers ever? The g.m. and the clubhouse see this man day-in and day-out and all have said-repeatedly-that he is the rock upon which the Brewers will be built. If he was one half the goony-eyed hysteric portrayed here, people, either from the front office or the team, would have thrown him under the bus. But that has not happened. In fact, the incidents that are arrayed within the bill of particulars against Prince (on a Brewers fan Website no less) happen with much more frequency than any of us know. Nine times out of ten, they are handled internally. He is the victim of some bad luck in that there was footage. But ask any minor- or major-leaguer, this STUFF HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. Yes, even to the great Pujols. It is NOT an indication of anger-management issues. In fact, given all he's been through, including continued provocations about his father, of whom he has made clear he does not wish to speak, I'd say this 25-year-old is well ahead of the curve. The moment the Suppan contract expires, I hope they pull a fleet of Brinks trucks up to Prince's house and dump off extension money.

This is a bizarre construction. I've been in plenty of press boxes: Have you seen the awful Hawaiian and golf shirts worn there? This group of mostly fat men even wear...shorts, and comfort-fitting jeans. Why is wearing Fubu substantially different? I've also seen Witrado on the job and he conducts himself...like every single young sports reporter I've ever seen. Callow, cocky, maybe a bit insecure. It IS heady to be in his position. He's not a great writer and I disagree often with his analyses, but saying "he's a jerk" and other ad hominem isn't a winning argument.

Here here. Thank you, MLB network, for freeing me.

The incident motivates me to watch and see what happens tonight, which likely will be nothing. I agree with a poster above that it's outrageous to acknowledge intent. It's just something you don't do outright. Oh, and I don't think baseball is the sport where provocations fuel success. Beer league softball, maybe. My only wonder in all this is whether Mota's head would have been separated from his body had Prince caught up with him.

As for the substantive questions, Macha can do little with a rotation that's bunk and vets that are batting below their career averages (other than where they hit). I just don't feel this season, and I certainly don't want to trade the farm for the puncher's chance. Therefore, when I'm honest with myself, I'd rather go to this gangrenous end with the Aw-Shucks clear-eyed dignity of Macha than some of the other options. He's our morphine.