Tbadder

I don't know why the Brewers would come out. I wouldn't have. I thought the fans were awful at times. And my loyalty to my teammates would preclude thanking the fans. They way we, as fans, treated Weeks, Hart, Fielder. Bush earlier in the season. Gagne--Torres when he struggled. I couldn't wait to get out if I was one of them.

We played more games than the Cubs--nuff said. Great season!

It is true there are big game pitchers. It is also true this is a temporary designation. Just like life. Usually we're dead, but for one stirring moment we're alive, and it counts for something. Lets pretend that Bush continued to be a hot pitcher and the Crew took the World Series. He would be a big game pitcher. It is measurable; it is important. It doesn't make it less real because it won't happen again. And isn't it a fact statistically that if something happens it is more likely to happen again, than if something never happened and then suddenly appeared? So the designation "big game pitcher" would seem reasonable even if it is flawed (like all performance).

Durham is wholly incapable of making any plays. Start Counsell. Durham will bury us.

I'm glad it's Brantley since I believe Cain is the real talent at CF.

Who cares as long as the Cubs get beat!

The Brewers are really between a rock and a hard place. As much as we would love to get rid of Hall; he's basically untradeable. He's so bad, and his contract is even worse. The best the Crew can hope for is a turn around, which not many of us believe will happen. Despite the bad news, I think we gotta keep him and Russell and run the platoon again. If Mark insists that something gets done, then I suppose that means free agency, which might also mean losing picks, something you don't want to do with Jack Z. around. 3rd base should remain a black hole until Gamel learns defense and offense (remember he was Corey Hart bad the second half of the year). Go with the platoon one more year and hope Gamel's the real deal. 2nd base is easy--keep Weeks! Offensively he's league average, and defensively he's a ton better than Durham who couldn't cover a phone booth. As soon as Escobar proves himself in AAA (I'm betting half way thru the season) he's your 2nd baseman. The most salient point here is that the Brewers need to be patient. There is no way they can be competitive next year. They're going to finish behind Chicago, Houston, St. Louis, and Cincinnati next year, so there's no reason to make mistakes in spending or rushing people or making desparate, nefarious trades. There's no way you can trade Fielder (although I hate players who can't see their toes much less touch them). Hart you can't get rid of because of his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde season. He's just going to have to sort himself out and prove he either stinks or he's a borderline All-Star. Trading him is far too risky. Next year needs to be a year where we experiment with the bullpen rather than dole out a lot of cash to has-beens. DeFelice, Dillard, Stetter need to be major fixtures. Shouse needs to be resigned (I think he's a free agent--might be wrong about that). The starters, well, what can you say. We're gonna be awful, but so what. The team as a whole isn't in a position for it to matter. Parra has to show improvement. Gallardo has to remain healthy. Bush and Suppan need to eat innings. McClung needs to get 10 to 15, 3 inning saves (one of the things I like about Sveum). Consider him a mini-starter who's really a reliever. Gillespie (sic) and Cain have to have big years, in the sense that they must prove they'll be ready for right field and centerfield eventually. Then after 2009 we can wheel and deal to our heart's content.

Of course it needs an overhaul. SLG % without OBP is pretty useless, and prone to crests and troughs too often. They gotta get OBP guys, period. Now, do any of the current guys have a chance to turn into high OBP guys--I'd think so. Braun, Weeks have good ceilings here. Fielder already is a pretty goo OBP guy. Not sure about anyone else.

Yost is what he is. A very good people person, one who is loyal, shows respect to all. He believes in hard work and doing things the right way. He has patience and the ability to plan long range. This is the Yost I feel bad for. He strikes me as coach, but he doesn't strike me as a manager. His thinking is entrenched at times and he lacks the subtlety to make the correct in-game decisions. He lacks flexibilty. And this Yost is the one who I don't miss. This is the Yost that was his undoing, and this Yost, even this Yost, I feel bad for. It's got to be eating at him. I know what he thinks of Simmons. I wonder what he thinks about Sveum.

Another brain-washed sheep. If we really want to keep CC a goat must be sacrificed on a stone altar, while naked virgins dance nimbly, all hailing the mighty sun-god.

Rays over Twins Angels over Red Sox Phillies over Brewers Dodgers over Cubs Angels over Rays Dodgers over Phillies Angels over Dodgers

I've really grown to respect and enjoy CC. I believe him when he says good things about Milwaukee because he seems like a sincere guy in a cynical world. Having said that: "West Coast here he comes!" The Brewers can only be the Twins--nothing more, nothing better. In order to survive they have to be the team that develops a Sabbathia or Santana, loses a guy like Hunter, and still remains competitive. CC staying here is like a "Deep Thoughts" skit from SNL. It's nice. It's funny. And it's ridiculous to think it could ever happen.

I've got no reason to doubt you at all. Tmy point. If you got feelers out--you're probably not up to snuff.

I apologize if you thought I was addressing your comments--I didn't even look at your post.

Who would want it? What serious, non-desparate guy would want this job? They've got no chance next year. They got a GM with a one year contract, and they got an owner who's willing to fire a manager when his team is tied for the Wildcard. Anyone who wants this job is by definition not a very deep thinker, or he's trying to get his foot in the door and hoping for a miracle.

Yeah, look--this isn't some little boys game. You've either got a pair or you don't (and Melvin's obviously got 'em). This is a small market team and arguably the worst in major league baseball history. If you've got a chance to make the playoffs you've got to go for it. Period. If you don't make it, so be it, you suffer the consequences. You know the consequences, you take responsiblity for them, but you don't roll over and play dead. The Linebrink and the CC deals were exactly what was called for. Like 'em or don't like 'em who cares--you gotta make the effort. The whining and snivelling in hindsight? Well, that's always easy to do.

I can't believe this is a big deal. It's not going to change the team. Oh sure, there might be an imporvment in game strategy, but will it be enough to help? No, not really. The hitters are still unprofessional in their approach, with an absolute refusal to make adjustments at the plate. They still refuse to take the walk or work the count. The bullpen isn't going to get any better. I think the Brewers are now just desparate and hoping for some voodoo to get them over the hump. Yost is not toast, the Brewers are.

All I can say is wow. Give a guy a team with no talent at all and fire him. Give a guy a team loaded with talent that fails to make the playoffs, and keep him on. I see cracks in the dike my friends--the beginning of the same ol Brewer franchise.

At this point there's probably too much psychological damage to pull things together. On the bright side Yost should be shown the door, maybe even Melvin. If true, hopefully Jack Z. gets a shot.

I really don't think there's much to do. I agree that Rivera needs to play a bit more. It's just a fact that the season is long and everyone gets tired and needs rest. I don't buy he-man routine. Is that enough to make a difference? Doubt it. The only extreme thing I would do is establish a kangaroo court. Anyone swinging at pitches "12 inches off the plate and in the dirt gets fined--100 bucks. Anyone pulling outside pitches--that's 500 bucks! Any first pitch pop ups--bingo, 1000 bucks!

Why would anyone want Fielder? Who goes out and trades away the most valuable commodity in baseball for someone who can't see his toes much less touch them? I do agree that they'll simply stand pat and then trade away players as they get too expensive or too old. Hence Salome makes to the bigs before Escobar or Gamel. Keeping players in the minors as long as you can, can maximize their value. If Escobar and Gamel spend the entire year in AAA next year good things will happen.

How can anyone panic? How can anyone be worried? This is the Milwaukee Brewers we're talking about. Just look at the track record--therein lies our future. "It's the end of the world as we know it--AND I FEEL FINE." When the Titanic is going down don't scream and pray--rape and pillage.

This is very astute. Gamel was so bad the second half of the season I don't think we can count on him now or in the future. He'll need at least a year at AAA, and if I had my druthers he'd start next year at AA, and have to prove himself all over again. That means we need to look long term at 3rd not interim. I don't know who that means though, probably a youngish AAA player whose team undervalues him, or is blocked at the major league level. 2nd and short will take care of themselves. Hardy and Escobar are too talented for us not to have solutions. Weeks? I'd still stand behind-there's just too much raw talent, but I understand people's objections and if he left that could work out well for the Crew. That leaves 1st base--ol tons of fun. We gotta hope he's having a down year and he'll bounce back, but I'm more apt to think last year was his career year, and he's already starting the slow decline. If someone overpaid I'd move him in a heartbeat, especially since that heartbeat could be his last one. But, he's the only lefty right now and we are truly stuck with him. Too bad really. If he had any discipline he would have had an monster career. But what he really has is a major eating disorder and he needs to be put under a doctor's supervision replete with major therapy and counseling. At this point he may have the life expectancy of an NFL lineman and that should scare him and scare the people who love him and care about him.

Who are these Packers? Sounds really nefarious, if not worse.

Nice call on this one Briggs. Good forward thinking on Melvin's part. (edit: long quote --1992)