Tbadder

I agree. He's not really done anything to deserve the honor. He's suspect in the field and has lost his way at the plate. I wonder if this is a guy who need heavy protection in the line up?

Yeah, he didn't sign with the Brewers when they drafted him.

Roger Clemens (a sanctimonious jerk) Derek Jeter (a Yankee, nuff said) Bob Gibson (first class jerk, bent on all things macho) Cap Anson (no body actively pursued intolerance and ignorance like Anson--a real nazi) Babe Ruth (destroyed a perfectly good game, introduced AL style game--fat slobs who hit homers--whoopie!) Earl Weaver (the Eckstein of managers, both of them need to be spiked in the groin by Ty Cobb)

I think the only way CC wins is if he goes 16-0, and Webb ends up with something like 20-7. Give it to Webb; we all know he deserves it.

Durham just makes me cringe. His range is so shower-stall I can't see him as anything more than a second-stringer. I'll take Weeks and keep banging my head against the wall. With the lack of pitching next year we can afford to give Rickie another shot.

I'd keep Cameron as well. If he produces again, he could be a Type B or maybe A after next season. And not to get off the topic too much--what about bringing back the Branyan/Hall platoon as well? Is it for certain that we'll lose Branyan?

I think the Crew should target Dempster. His time in the bullpen may mean he's got lots of mileage left on his arm. Signing a pitcher away from the Cubs could also force them to into a mistake. I'd be surprised if Sheets is only worth 3/50, more like 4/78, but what do I know.

Selig has been a very good commish. I'm not a fan of interleague play (I've always found AL ball very boring). But I think I'm probably niggling here and there's no doubt the average fan loves it. Revenue sharing has been a success, and the more MLB does to support small market teams the better the game will become. I hope to see all television contracts go into a giant pot one day and distributed equally (not gonna happen though). The contraction thing hasn't had any lasting affects, but I thought it was a great idea. I would've contracted more teams than just the Expos and Twins though. There was some talk of even going back to a 154 game schedule, which would be great as well. I think Selig has helped to market the sport expertly, and he deserves kudos all around here. The Wild Card was simply necessary, and this more than any thing, has given the average fan hope. Great idea. Steroids...I just think we'll never know the truth, but I believe, and it's nothing more than a belief, that the baseball owners, trainers, managers, general managers, doctors, and the people at the highest level of baseball administration (read Selig, etc.) suspected steroid use on a massive scale and turned a blind eye. I don't think this is any different than what happened in the NFL or NHL or NBA or whoever, so I can't hold that against Selig. One man cannot change the whole culture. Selig's legacy will strengthen in time, and I think he'll be in the Hall of Fame some day. He is a true fan of the game, and whatever mistakes as a commish he may be responsible for will be overlooked and rightfully so. Now as an owner...don't even get me started. Suffice it to say, that the greatest day in Brewer history was when the Selig Cadre was bought out.

Winning the world series is number two on my list. beating the cubs in the playoffs--number one!

From John Briggs How do you know next year's rotation won't allow them to "compete for a playoff spot"?? Have you looked in your crystal ball and come up with the names in next year's rotation? Did you forget about Gallardo? What about other FA's and trades? You can't assume that just because Sheets and Sabathia are elsewhere that Melvin's going to chuck 2009. That isn't going to happen. I think the Twins are the perfect example. Melvin has plenty of options in the FA market or to deal to get starting pitching. Besides "competing for playoff spot" is the bare minimum fans can expect and they owe the fans that are coming out in record numbers a team that competes for playoffs. As for Blalock, the issue is his health. He's had recurring issues with his shoulder. Now if he's indeed healthy enough to help the Brewers in 09, then I'm sure the Rangers will know this and pick up his relatively modest $6.2 million option. If they don't pick up that option, it's a sure sign they don't think he can stay healthy. Reply from Tbadder: With CC and Sheets we are a wild card team. With Gallardo and the next best free agent pitcher we will not be as good. The Brewers should "chuck-in" next year, not in the sense of throwing in the towel, but in the common sense approach of taking a longer term approach. Blalock is short term thinking and I'd don't think he's that big of an upgrade from a Branyan/Hall platoon. In the past they were not a playoff team with Sheets/Gallardo at the top, why would they be next year with a Gallardo/free agent or trade pitcher at the top? I honestly don't understand it? I do agree that the offense needs help though. Woeful OBP from everyone other than Fielder--this is a team that needs stud pitching to compete at the upper echelons. Without that, I think they'll be a .500 team, very entertaining, and easy to support. peace Dan

Since next year's rotation will not allow the Brewers to compete for a playoff spot, I think the Brewers need to make long term plans. While I think the idea of Blalock is interesting and has a ton of merit, I don't see any real long term stability. I'd simply stick with Branyan and pretty much demand that Yost do the right thing and play the man. I'd also think that Lawrie has more of a chance to succeed at 3B rather than catcher. I'd play him there and try to get by for another 3 or 4 years unless someone suddenly stepped forward or a real 3Bman became available to us (as a long term solution naturally). Now if you sign CC by some miracle (I don't believe in miracles) then by all means the Blalock move becomes intriguing.

Methinks the kettle continues to blacken all of humanity.

It'll never happen for two reasons. Moral outrage, and the resulting ignorance.

Stetter's gotta be called up. DeFelice and Dillard deserve it but I'm not sure. Nelson and Rottino. That should be it unless they want a pinch runner--so either Stocker or Gwynn.

Great move for Az. Dunn's got the two most important offensive talents you can have--a high OBP, and a dung cart full of power.

Whatever idea you guys come up with (I like the charity idea) put me down for 50 bucks!

I'd much rather have McClung. And next year I'd much, much, much rather have McClung!

There's a time when a good team has to start to witch-slap a few horrible teams if they wanna be taken seriously. Crew take four against Nats.

I want the Cubs to lose two outta three, and the Brewers sweep all four against the Nats. I hate playing for the wild card. And I'd love nothing more than return last year's favor. But objectively, I know I gotta root for the Cubs. It's like rooting for Stalin against Hitler--great feeling.

Any team/player who gets cocky with a half game lead in the wild card race is just stupid. If you're not good enough to get your team in the playoffs, you're not good enough to watch your taters. And last time I looked these guys, as a team, haven't gotten to a playoff yet.

Hey, in three years the average cost of a major league starter who can't pitch more than 100 innings a year SHOULD be in the 10 million dollar range--so anyway you look at it it's a huge win for the D-backs. I think Teddy Higerua could probably pen a 2 to 5 million dollar deal right now. He'd be worth it.

Next year is going to be a down year for the Crew. They simply will not be able to compete for a playoff spot. Nothing wrong with that at all, it happens. So whatever the Brewers do next year, they have to concentrate on long term solutions, nothing patchwork. No more 1 year or 2 year 10 to 15 million dollar contracts. Everything should be geared to Fielder's last year with the team--a final push with this core before rehauling the big rig.

I'd love Lawrie at C or 3rd. The organization is probably going to lose a catcher or a 3rd baseman to the Indians. I'd put him at the position the Indians take.

And hitting Counsell behind Hart. Is Yost trying NOT to score runs? Stick to the platoon Nedly. Every time Counsell starts Yost should be fined.

Ahhhhhh...I feel just sick. Basically the same contract as Soup's. And he got it two years after Suppan signed. Where's the inflation? Man oh man did we overpay. I wonder if Haren's contract depresses the pitching market by a few percent. I think the player's union is going to be angry at Haren. Huge win for the Diamondbacks