Tbadder

Booing a team that is less than a slam dunk to win the division, that is basically built with young, in-house people, that is going to have to battle all summer, is a sign of ignorance. That our team is devoid of jerks in general, moreso after Estrada left, that plays very high on the effort scale, that is talking up Milwaukee as a place to be, shows a fundamental disconnect between booing and reality.

Thanks Twobrewers, I just upchucked my eggs and bacon. 3rd best manager?

I think Doug at this point should always get the benefit of the doubt. Promoting Jack Z. was brilliant (I bet he had a huge hand in that move). The Crew need to keep other teams away from him. But I do get this sneaking suspicion that the Brewers are turning into Texas Rangers North--all mashers, few pitchers or well-rounded players. That bothers me some. But still, he's got a lot of restraints other teams don't have, even though this has gotten considerably better under Mark A. I agree with many that not moving Yost on his way has been his biggest mistake so far.

I think Hall hitiing fifth, especially against right handers is just plain dumb.

It seems obvious that the Crew has tried to trade TGJ in the past. I think this is showcase time hoping someone bites down the road.

With the Brewers upside, yes indeed the Brewer rotation could be better. But if both were healthy would you rather have Hamels or Sheets? I'd take Hamels on pure stuff, but I can understand taking Sheets. Everyone but Suppan is an "if" in the Brewer rotation. I think Myers and Dempster are going to do well. They are veterans with quality arms. I think Lily will continue to do well because his difference was in switching leagues. Well, he's still in the lousier league and he still gets to face the pitcher 1 in 9. If they don't do well, then I'm wrong about the Phillies and Cubs. Nothing would please me more. But that still leaves us considerably short of the Mets and Diamondbacks. I know that this means nothing around here, and in many ways I agree with the assessment, but listening to Dibble and Kennedy last night on XM, both didn't even have the Brewers on their radar. Kennedy picked Cubs, Cards, Astros, Reds and never even mentioned the Brewers until a caller made the point about the Crew, and then Kennedy did say he liked the Brewers. But both mentioned that Cappy was gone, the Vargas cut was unexplainable, Sheets is always hurt. My point is not that they are right about their individual points, but the Brewers' "ifs' seems so much bigger to some than other teams. Hey I like Villy and Parra alot, but it still doesn't mean that they're proven. Bush and Suppan are solid, but I just don't think they're the kind of pitchers that get you in the playoffs, although once there Soup seems to turn it up a notch for whatever reason. And as a 1/2 combo Sheets and Gallardo don't really strike fear into the opposition I think. Now, having said all that, I admit I probably overstated the Phillies rotation and am more inclined to say you got the best of me there Gopher. Thanks.

I think the Cub starters are more reliable, but the Crew has more upside. But this really isn't the correct question. That should be, would you rather have the Mets or Diamondbacks, or Phillies rotation? The Cubs and Crew aren't really serious contenders for the NL Pennant precisely because of their rotations. Each has a knife-edge rotation where every thing has to fall just right just to win the division. The winner of this division is gonna have a hard time not getting swept like the Cubbies did last year.

I can't tell you how much I want this to be true. I'd spend my reincarnated life as a dung beetle if our next All-Time Home Run Champ was juiced.

Karma demands that he signs with an NL Central team and he beats us three times this year. But yeah, I hear it's all about the Mets.

First off, I thought Soup's contract was bigtime back loaded making him harder to trade after this year because of its size. Secondly, you reap what you sew, only more so if you're a small market team. No one can complain that the Crew can't sign a younger, bettter player because they locked up a solid and unspectacular pitcher who is a good 4/5 but a lousy 1/2 in the rotation. Third--you blew it. I'm not taking responsibilty for this one, "he's got virtually no injury worries"? Dang it Gopher don't say that kind of thing out loud. This is the Milwaukee Brewers. Now we gotta find a replacement starter for him as well as Sheets. Insert smiley drunken face dude.

I'd agree with the above but I'd switch Yo and Benny.

I'm just glad they didn't pick Rottino. At least every so often Rivera muscles up.

Okay: Angels: in house pitching solves all their problems. Kelvim who? Indians: Detroit pen is so bad that Cleveland sneaks in. Yankees: Young pitchers take control of the division, Manny and Ortiz are actually a combined 97 years old Tigers: Wild Card Diamondbacks: pitching still beats hitting, Haren is the move of the year Cubs: Brewer starters let the Cubbies sashay Mets: Who else? Wright is not the best player in the league but he is the most important Phillies: Wild Card Yankees take down Detroit Phillies surprise Diamondbacks Last year in the house that Ruth built--what did you expect? This year will represent a fundamental shift in baseball. One where the Yankees finally realize they can do it all--sign the best free agents, cultivate titanic talent in the minors. Can you say beginning of a new dynasty. Oh yeah, I heard best seats in the new Yankee home could go for 2500 bucks a seat. makes ya all warm inside.

Soup is a perfect #5 pitcher. Eats innings, great teammate, throws the ocassional beauty, takes his turn every time. Is he worth 42 mil? No one is. But that's the glory of the marketplace that we've been shedding our blood for, for the last 240 years. Is he gonna be traded? How is someone gonna pick up that contract when he's like 34/35? I think the Crew are gonna eat this big time, and deservedly so.

IMO Braun has to hit 2nd. How many times during the course of the season is Fielder going to see 2 men on base when he comes up. I put some stiff 3rd and put Prince and Hart. Let Hart run wild. i suspect he's better than braun in that respect anyways.

I tell ya I like Villy and Parra as a number 4 and 5 pitcher, but Bush and Suppan are ugly as 3 and 2. It's kinda like yelling uncle that first series.

I keep reading that the Mets are the likely signees at this point. I really think he's gonna be snapped up, and not just for the major league minimum.

Okay, I'm done being angry. Kinda. Vargas would've been the perfect long relief guy for the Crew--eventually that will bite them in the butt. Seth? Give me a break. Walk, walk, Home run! Get used to it. The baseball season is long and injuries will happen. And again I think they'll regret not having him around to spot start. Dumping salary--okay, I can accept that if they've got a plan. Are they going to sign one of the young guys to buy out some arby? Is there a plan? But what really bugs me is, does Melvin know pitching? I'm convinced he doesn't. Not in Texas and not in Milwaukee. He should've known that the Brewer starters were adequate for a .500 club, but not for a true contender. He attacked the bullpen problem admirably, but the jury is still out--we'll see. I think it'll work, but it could also implode. But he did absolutely nothing for the starters. i know I might be the only one who sees our starters as adequate but not much more, but I smell dissapointment coming on. thank god we're in the NL Central. Can you imagine the Crew in any other division. We'd be an also ran for sure. Okay ignore that, I'm ready to bite the head off another chicken. Maybe Kaplar could pitch?

The thing is, there is a chance we'll finish 3rd. I admit it's not as likely as 2nd. But I'd give the Crew a roughly equal chance to take 1st as 3rd. SI on the other hand has stopped being a source of plausible information long ago.

This was just plain stupid. Losing Cappy, Cutting Vargas, Sheets going down eventually, Yo hurt, doing nothing in the off-season. It was just a week or two ago I had myself convinced that the Crew were better than the Cubs, but forget it now. Rant, rant, rant, sending down Villy or Parra, what is Melvin thinking?

Jenks was a super loyal guy through a lot of lean years. He went out with class and a sincere sense of belonging and graditude. That's good enough for me. I'll cheer him every time. I know his time is over, but he still makes or nearly makes the Brewer All-Time 25 man roster.

How does Houston Summers (boring and too obvious) beat out Sundrendy Windster (just plain bizarre)? There's a lot of questionable ones already. I think the fix is in.

I understand all the pro-florida-arguments and they are good points, but I'm worried that the weather will make it more difficult to get pitchers ready for the season. I also worry that the Brewer players will be more apt to get injured on slick surfaces, etc. I'd stay in AZ.

Gwynn needs to play in Cameron's absence because he has more potential value than Kaplar. Again, if Gwynn can get hot at the beginning of the year we might be able to deal him, which is important because it doesn't look like we're going to be able to deal any pitching. And while Gross is the better hitter now, neither is adequate long term. If you're going to play Gross, I'd play Dillon and put Hart in center.

I wonder if they'd take Hart plus a prospect for Cain or Lincecum. ow I'd do that in a heartbeat.