Tbadder

I love that Braunie has turned it around. He and Sheets are shoo-ins for the All-Star game and rightfully so. I also completely dig Ryan's contract. In a cynical, get whatever you can world, it strikes a balance between individual success and community/fandom hopes and wishes. Having said that, anyone check out Braun's OBP recently. Yesterday's newspapaer had it at .319. Any cause for concern? Any indication that teams aren't quite as afraid of him as we think. Does it mean he's more of a mistake-hitter (a damn good one for sure) than a smart hitter? It seems that most teams are willing to let Ryan go on a fishing trip low and away, and that he's shown a propensity to swing at that pitch enough over the course of this season, that a small problem is developing (Am I overanalyzing?) And could this be the reason that he's gone to a shorter bat? To force himself to lay off that pitch. Whadda think?

All humor is tinged with cruelty. Well played ESPN... you bastards.

Am I right to be a little concerned that we haven't signed Lintz yet? I realize that the first two picks are going to be complicated, and their contracts quite large, but the iron is not so hot now--it just feels like he's (Lintz) gonna bolt. Anyone hear anything at all?

The one thing we absolutely don't know is: was there a counter offer? What did Boras or Hart's agent come back with? If they didn't put numbers on the table I think that tells you something. I think it is fair to criticize Prince and Hart quite frankly. I know lots of regular people, good people, who turn down bigger money because they are dedicated or believe in a cause, or are motivated by more magnaimous reasons. And those people didn't turn down the difference between 10 and 20 million a year. They turned down the difference between 50,000 and 150,000 dollars--money that truly would've made a difference. The size of these contracts have every thing to do with what is right and wrong, especially now when so many people are hurting, when jobs are going overseas, when a permanent underclass is taking hold, etc. These outrageous contracts are an insult to fans as we are really the ones who pay Prince and Hart. It would be different if we were talking about the difference that guys like Flood and Messerschmidt fought for but Prince had only to sign that 60 million five year contract and retire before he was 30 years old--never had to work another day, forever. It is a complete slap in the face to people of good will everywhere and we have the right to criticze... and be the naive chumps we really are as Boras and Prince laugh all the way to the bank.

Cameron has been great. I know he stinks at some things but otherwise he is contibutor. I love hid defense; his power has been great; he's got a good head, and he's very good in the clubhouse if we can believe what we here. If he gets hot for a stretch he could reach 30 homers, doubt it, but you never know.

If the Dodgers believe Fielder is a consistent .280 50 homers and Loney is a .300 20hr they might bite. I don't think you build an offense around Loney, but Fielder, I can see that.

Prince to Dodgers for Loney and DeWitt (both lefties?) and Broxton. Cameron cut loose at end of season, Hart to centerfield. LaPorta in right. Gamel to 3B next year, DeWitt to 2ndbase next year, Rickie dealt for pitching. Hart R 8 DeWitt L 4 Braun R 7 Loney L 3 LaPorta R 9 Gamel L 5 Hardy R 6 Kendall R 2 Pitcher

I gotta say I love the idea of a non-player determining the result of a sporting event. This kind of human contradiction is fun (and no this isn't a blue ink comment so stop right there) and exciting. Betrand Russell pointed out that it is our irrationality that makes humans unique, not our rationality. By all means, if we have a way to correct an injustice or be more accurate, I think we should reject it for the sake of entertainment value, which is the highest priority.

The problem here is that McClung and Kapler are defying a career worth of evidence that they are fair at best and downright awful at times. The same really goes for Branyan though the argument is much more esoteric. The numbers say the current run for these players simply can't continue. Until someone disproves math I'm going to remain skeptical while very much enjoying and grinning and quite frankly guffawing at the idea of Branyan as an All-Star caliber 3Bman (what else do you call a guy who hits with that much power, walks suffciently, and hits .300) McClung as a major league quality #4 pitcher, and Kapler as a player who is obviously blocked by a contract but who is really a mini-Roy Hobbs.

1) I think you have to pay Hart before he moves to centerfield to keep the cost down a bit. 2) Tall people lose their speed faster than regular people, really? Why? (no sarcasm intended, really want to know). 3) While Prince has a much higher ceiling, he's got a much lower basement. 4) The money they give Hart can't be so much as to make him untradeable. It's been pointed out that we have far too many right-handed batters, and I think that's a real concern, especially if this team eventually becomes a consistent playoff bound team. 5) The money they give Hart or any everyday player can't stop them from signing proven pitchers. 6) If you can't sign at least one more young player this season, I think something's wrong for sure. And that the Crew is going to go back and be a seller in the near future like the good old days.

Hey, if you live by the stupid macho unwritten rule, you die by it. No big deal. Take your loss, grin and bear.

Isn't this way too early? Seriously.

Which is harder to believe based on what we've actually seen as fans? A) A disgruntled team that worries too much about playing time, contracts, personality clashes, cliques, a lack of leadership that leads to underacheiving, fingerpointing, backbiting etc. who gets called out in a very small way by a national writer who is misinformed, who doesn't talk with colleagues around the country, and bases everything on hearsay and innuendo and small sample sizes. Or... B) A team that is closely knit, informed with professionalism and personal support. A team that has struggled, but those same struggles have brought them closer together with an "Us vs. Them" mentality, being accused of something that amounts to shoddy journalism because readers in Houston care very much how the Milwaukee Brewers' lockerroom will affect their own beloved Astros. For my money? I'd choose B.

I'll never be convinced that the Brewers are flush with money. Certainly they have a lot more money than before, but other teams are raking in the money as well and their ability to cause salaries to rise cannot be underestimated. Why would Benny settle for Suppan money (in Soup's last two years) when he's clearly the better ballplayer? I'll say this. If he doesn't sign before the season ends and he tests the market, he's looking at 80 to 100 million. The Mets or Yankees, heck maybe even the Tigers (they're nuts) will pony up. But in the end I jusat don't think it's a good idea to sign the Sheeter. I love the guy, but he's turning the corner and his injury history scares the crap outta me. Having said that, if we don't get substantial offers of at least one young stud pitcher and others , then the Crew probably is better off taking a chance signing him, knowing that they may end up with just a couple of draft choices.

I hate to even chime in here as this is a duck and run kind of question but here it goes. And I don't think it's any easier than this: teams who can score in a variety of ways on a consistent basis are better I suppose. Everyone love the three run homer, especially if it's the inside the park variety. But sometime, I'd even guess most times it's not needed. Certainly it's more desirable but Bill is getting at that small ball versus long ball strategy. In another way I suppose what were talking about is high OBP and little SLG versus low OBP and high SLG. I think.

Great selection for Minnesota. a lot teams are gonna wish they picked this guy higher.

Still, it woulda been nice to have signed jemile.

Yes, Houston takes Jason Castro. I was afraid the Crew were on him hard. I hope Lawrie is available when the Crew pick.

I'd swallow hard and take Hardy. Neither of them excite me much anymore.

3-3 or 2-4. Rockies can't be this bad. They gotta get somewhat better soon. And don't we usually stink up the joint in Houston? They'll be mad as hornets about the sweep in Milwaukee--danger Will Robinson, danger!

Cameron has fair power, very good defense, an occassional walk, and is great in the clubhouse. Kapler has a funky-butt swing, very good defense, and is excellent in the clubhouse. So do you want batting average or walks and power? Seriously, this is the Branyan question all over. Do you want an established major league player or a guy who was never really good enough to stick anywhere else? Don't get me wrong, I love what Gabe has done so far, but it seems like an illusion. The bubble's gonna burst, right?

Took off of work! 1st time in years. I hope that the best player available each time the brewers pick is some big, projectable, hard throwing pitcher. gotta take the best available player. Go Crew! Go Jack Magic!

Playing Rivera more should help both of them. Kendall for all his dedication and his "student of the game" mentality should know that resting a catcher, especially an older catcher is pretty much mandatory. I'd like to see Rivera play 2 in every 7 games.

I like Gamel better than LaPorta, but I'm no expert. He's younger than LaPorta and I think he's shown significant improvement as the competition has gotten more difficult. That bodes well indeed. I don't think that defense is going to be a problem, and I believe he could in fact be a better than average defensive player because I believe he's the first baseman of the future. When Fielder is moved I think there's a good chance it will be for an everyday 3rd baseman--just one speculation for sure. I think Gamel will hit for a higher average, be a better baserunner than LaPorta, and be prone to less slumps. I like Sbrylski's projections though I'd bump up the slugging pct. a bit as I see him as a Lyle Overbay type with more home run power and speed (25Hrs 45-50Dbs) with a .280 to .290 average. But really alot of the projected line-ups will have to do with Sheets' status. If he walks, moves gotta be made, and Prince could bring 2 or 3 young pitchers or 1 or 2 established pitchers plus young stud hitter. Then Gamel has to probably play 3rd. If they sign Sheets and Prince is moved then Gamel's at 1st. I don't know if it's fair to say, but I think Gamel's probably a more heady player, while LaPorta is more of a natural. Anyone who knows better about this care to make comment about this supposition? Line Up in two years: Weeks 2B Hart CF Braun LF Gamel 1B LaPorta RF Hall 3B but probably someone different catcher (?) Escobar SS Pitcher The key in this line up is for Escobar to develop as a hitter who can take pitches. That would move him to second in the order and bump Hart to fifth and LaPorta to sixth.

I swear guys, the Cubs aren't even worth thinking about. They won the division--so what. They're fans are impossible--so what. If they beat the curse--so what. I don't think they're even worth the effort I'm using to write this down--so I personally vow not to say another word, and I'd just encourage others not to waste their time either. Congrats to Chicago. DONE.