Tbadder

I just can't see the Brewers winning the division or making the playoffs. 1) they're too young, and learning to win at the MLB level is a process 2) Cubs have more talent and are more consistent 3) distractions: injuries, demotions, babies, you name it I think next year the Crew will be much better even after losing important pieces in free agency and the overhauls I suppose are coming in St. Louis and possibly Houston.

Big time ditto on that last comment Fatter! Well said.

These guys are competitors and sometimes frustration gets the better of us all. I think Santana's comments were explainable and real and honest. Why shouldn't he let his feelings be known? Now, I see the other side as well, and the twinkies are going nowhere this year because of the Tigers and Indians. Trade now if the young guys represent true value. Santana doesn't really appreciate long term viability at this moment. If management makes their position clear to him, and respects Johan's position as well, this should blow over. What's really scary is thinking about Johan in pinstripes, and 200 million does seem within reach. Gulp.

Even if the Brewers had lost last night, I think it would've been good for the Crew. I thought there was more intensity and focus last night. If they can maintain that level of drive they could "right the ship." The only weird thing about last night, and I mean weird, was Braun late in the game. I never thought I see him swing so ugly at pitches a foot outta the strike zone. I think maybe the pressure got to him for the first time this year. Otherwise, he been golden.

I really think this could be for the best. Letting Linebrink go to his family may be the thing that causes him to stay long term. An organization can't be too classy in my book. If both the mother and child are having problems it's more than the humanitarian to do. Lets give Elmer a start and let him get shelled. Go nine innings and rest everyone up; I know it's giving one up but at this rate were gonna blow every arm in the system. And who knows, Elmer has spun some pretty good games in the past, maybe he surprises us and gives up only 3 or 4 runs. It could be just what the doctor ordered. Rickie, we want you. Long term I still believe he's gonna be terriffic, but this wrist is a one or two year process. Get healthy and be great next year.

Maybe he's just too classy for the media to bother with?

The only real holes appear to be at catcher and leftfield. Everything else should be determined by free agency, though I can't imagine them holding onto their bullpen. I'd like to see Parra in the bullpen fulltime, maybe the set up man for Turnbow. I do agree that one of the starters will be traded for a leftfielder. The Suppan contract mistake might mean that Jenks gets the heave ho as they try to save as much as they can.

Hey anyone can get frustrated, but I'm most assuredly not frustrated. It's just an honest assessment about the Brewer chances. I live and die with them; watch ever game I can, and support them with my money by going to as many games as I can afford. Just one thing I'd like to take exception to, I didn't call him fat and lazy. I called him fat. There's a huge difference. But when a guy is as overweight as he is it's got to take a toll playing everyday. Why isn't it a possibility that he's run outta gas? I also don't always believe in the "things are as bad or good as they look." Sometimes things are definitely as bad or good as they look--sometimes, not always. But it looks to me that this is one of those times when things have soured. My only evidence is how the Brewers are losing. If they had just lost 3 outta 4 to a supposedly inferior team at their place I wouldn't mind at all. But good teams don't blow big leads, and good teams do the little things as well as the big things in order to win every game possible. I just don't believe there's any evidence that the Brewers are doing "everything" possible at this point in time, Maybe that's something a young team has to learn. peace all.

Although they'll need a major upgrade at 2nd base this year (which I assume will be a healthy Rickie hitting for power and OBP again) I don't like the idea either. Despite his problems I think Rickie plays hard. He seems to be a consistent hustler and I think the team needs that right now.

I think that all Manny has to do is take care of that arm of his. His future is near. I think it looks bright. I'd personally rather see him in the bullpen long term, hoping that that solves his long term injury problems. For now I'd rather see him at AAA, having success, rather that having to deal with the sinking ship at the major league level.

I'd rather take the high road and try to remain classy. The Cubs are a better team than the Brewers right now. Wish them luck and see where it leads them. The future is relatively bright in Milwaukee and I'm sure we'll have our day.

I beg to differ. It is over. The Brewers will not be going to the playoffs. Here's my thinking. They are played out. A young team that must learn to win at the major league level and hasn't. While there are always anomalies, good teams in general are not miserable on the road. I take it that this is proof that they are unmotivated or worse simply untalented. Any team that can't perform simply because they are outside their comfort zone is a team in trouble. I see a team that had a good run, had a taste of first place, but will fade badly the rest of the year. Cappy and Suppan and Bush have been major disappointments in my book. 3/5s of our rotation kinda sucks in that they are inconsistent. inconsistent is synonymous (sic) with losing. Vargas has got to be the luckiest pitcher I've see in a while--I'll take it. Sheets continues to get hurt. In true Brewer fashion I'm sure the next team he plays for will be DL free. It's been our curse with decent pitchers since Teddy and probably before that. We stink in leftfield, are struggling in centerfield, and are adequate in rightfield. Fielder's done. I'm confident he can keep his average in the .270 to .290 range but I'm guessing the long ball won't be back in force. He's fat and outta shape and it's taking a toll. Weeks. I hope it's the injury and not that he's lost all confidence as has been suggeted elsewhere. It's been a wasted year at 2nd base and if we are serious about being a playoff team next year we'll need a major upgrade here. J.J. is back to form. Good defense, hurt a lot, no power--he's had his career year. Bravo for him. I like the way he plays. Braun is Braun, who could ask for more. Catcher is a real problem and Doug is going to have to find a replacement. The guy is a millstone around the offense and defense. The bullpen is a shambles. Say what you want, pull out all the stats you want, but it is haggard, and pressing, and it'll continue to screw up. Cordero is gone. Linebrink, if he's got a brain, will sign elsewhere. Turnbow is Turnbow. meaning there's no long term winning with him. He'll stay hot till he implodes and then the rest of the season will be 50/50. It's a long season and the Brew Crew had their run. It was enjoyable and exciting.

I was disappointed to see the change. Too many players are already in the HOF and now they're going to dilute it even more--sad affair I say. I wish they'd take up the old Bill James idea of an inner sanctum only for the best of the best. I'd make it uber exclusive with only two players at each position. And that when a new one came on board an old one would be pushed out. For instance when A-Rod gets elected to the inner sanctum then Mike Schmidt gets the nudge (just an example). I know there are problems with multipositional players but no system is perfect.

YES!!! Half-hearted at bats have been driving me nuts too. The win in Cincy the other night was the exception. Back to back Braun and Prince took pitches, fouled off pitches, and really had a professional approach. It was a joy to watch. I thought, hoped, that maybe the team would watch and learn...but nothing. Same old approach next game and after that.

Interesting. I'm betting B as well, from the Brewer's brass point of view. But could the Brewers be suffering from that syndrome that overrates homegrown talent? And is winning this pathetic division all they want? Does anyone really believe that Brewers have what it takes to go deep into the playoffs? St' Louis winning it all really hurt the Brewers I believe. They were the anamoly not the rule, but now the mentality seems to be just get into the playoffs and lets see what happens. I still think the Brewers need a productive LF and an awesome pinch hitter for when Estrada comes up late in the game. So I'd personally go A with Bush or Capuano as big time trade bait.

This is any thing but fun or interesting or fulfilling or whatever. A pennant race is when two or three teams are playing well, fighting everyday, etc. Not when one team just starts to implode with ridiculous loses to ridiculous teams. When one team takes hold of it's destiny and another simply gives it up. This is torture; this is Wrigleyville!

I guess I'm working on the theory that: Fielder is wearing down, a real surprise given his body type and level of conditioning Week's injury will not go away this year, and that hitting simply reaggravates it on a daily basis J.J. had his offensive career half year and is more or less done at bat, and that he is injury prone and will miss more time Braun is well, I don't know, too early to tell that Jenkins and Mench will hover where they are, which isn't really an acceptable major league leftfielder that Hall will continue his mini-comeback but can't carry the team that Hart will slowly, very slowly get worse across the board that Sheets will comeback and get in 4 or 5 starts before departing once more that Gallardo will run out of innings but the Brewer brass will push him with not so good results this year or next that Suppan stabilizes as a fair to mediocre pitcher, and that St. Louis uses 40 million dollars to sign an above average player who contributes to a winning team that Bush continues to fluctuate that Vargas, who is currently selling his soul to the devil, continues in his blasted good luck that Capuano pitches so bad the Brewers have a chance to sign him cheaply in the off-season that the bullpen as whole continues it's downward slide to the league average while having some superb moments that the Brewers miss the wildcard but not closely as Atlanta makes the right moves down the stretch that's the theory I'm working on. And if I'm completely wrong, and hopefully so, that the young Brewers will go out in the first round of the playoffs because how a team wins and loses on a daily basis is important, and they are losing in such a ridicously non-competitive, lacking mental toughness, way that anything they do do well is nothing but false hope. That's my working theory.

It's pretty obvious that the Reds are just a better team. And I'd really like to attack this idea (though not the person(s)) that things are never as good or as bad as they appear to be. Not true at all. In baseball, if you're not in first then they are as bad as they appear to be--period. First place is why everyone plays. There is no motivation greater or more important. The Brewers are in first place, but will soon vacate that position. That they had a significant lead makes it even badder than it appears to be even among pessimists. So the current situation is by definition bad right now. The fact is, it would be easier to be the Pirates right now than the Brewers. False hope and false talent is much worse than being flat out bad.

I don't buy the leg problem at all. If it's true then I still don't buy it, because then he shouldn't be hitting in that kind of situation. Estrada or Yost be damned. It was one of their or both their fault and they need a dressing down for it. This is another example of how the Brewers just don't take the game seriously. I know people have jumped on me for this idea, but to my mind it won't go away. The Brewers as a whole lack motivation at the plate, and Yost will not push buttons when they need to be pushed. Estarda's at bat was just another example. he's getting pounded inside all night. Does he make an adjustment? No. He sits in the same spot all night, and never lets himself get hit or take the inevitable balls that, that kind of pitching inevitably incurs. As has been said for the millionth time, Estrada shouldn't be hitting fifth. Again, Yost clearly doesn't know what he's doing. Welcome Brewer fans to the new Cubs.

To me, it looks like Grant doesn't trust his stuff and he doesn't have a decent 2nd pitch. Without either of these he, and the Brewers, are doomed. Getting chewed out by Yost on the mound didn't help, so I suspect he's gutless as well.

I must say that I'm surprised and disappointed. I really thought he would excel at a straight platoon, something like .290, 25 homers, and 80RBIs. But right now he looks awful and his plate discpline has been downright poor. I think we're seeing the slow degradation of his career. I was hoping the Brewers would pick up his contract next year, but right now I'd say release him at the end of the year.

I can accept the home run watch to a certain extent. It is natural and as long as you're heading to first without being too demonstrative, cool. I also accept that Bill needed to look a little longer because he hasn't been exactly tearing it up. But I can't accept watching the double off the baggie. He needs to get off his horse and run. What if there had been a bobble in the outfield, he could've been on 3rd. if I was Yost I'd fine anyone for that. On a larger note, the other sports are so rife with showing off, acting out. It's really sickening to me. It's contributed to my decision not to watch NFL at all, and barely watch the NBA. The pure classlessness of the other sports I'd prefer to keep out of MLB. I realize it's just me.

If they advance him to the big club in only two years, then yes, I'd really be happy. Three years and I'd start to worry; 4 years and I'd say it was a mistake pick. I trust the Brewers, but if you're gonna draft old players they've got to pop a wheelie in the minors and pull off a zero to 250mph in less than 10 secs.

If sending him to WV means that this is where the Brewers believe he's "at" competition wise it will be a very sad day. If you draft an ancient player, who only has 2 or 3 years of "prospect" left in him--then I'd think he should go straight to Huntsville or at least Manateeville. Any lower and I think the Brewers are sending a signal I don't want to think about.

I couldn't agree with this more. The Brewers, if they want, could try Thatcher, Parra, and Jackson as lefty bullpen. I think that these need to be explored.