jazzytrav

I thoroughly enjoy smoking. It's not even about the nicotine anymore. I don't promote it, and in the big picture I don't like the fact that I'm a smoker, but I really like cigarettes. I probably shouldn't start gambling.

With the limited amount of times it could possibly be used, I definitely agree with it. It will be interesting to see some of the "fan interference" calls that will need to be made. Part of what makes replay in the NFL successful is the fact that discretionary calls are not reviewable. It's possible that a fan interference call could be discretionary, so I'll be interested to see how they handle those. I think the biggest thing that Selig and the 5 GM's that voted No are worried about is that this is obviously just a first step towards reviewing many other aspects of the game. I think they're hoping that this doesn't open the floodgates.

I've found this to be absolutely amazing. Go to a store, any store, and ask about something difficult to find like a Wii. If they're out (which they almost always are) they'll make up an excuse about how difficult they are to find and how you have to be on the ball in order to get one. They also give you bad advice about how you might go about getting one, or they try to sell you something more expensive. Then go to Target across town. If you have a Target in your town or city or anywhere relatively nearby, go there. There will inevitably be several there at all times. It's the coolest thing ever. Target rocks.

I mostly appreciate the way that shows like South Park and Family Guy find a way to get around the rules. I thought it was brilliant. I can just imagine the writers sitting in a room thinking about how they could fit the most terrible language into one episode, followed by one having a "eureka" moment. Think about this experience. Your main goal is to fit as much foulness into one episode as possible. Suddenly someone says outloud "Let's give Cartman tourettes!". Everyone's jaw drops. It's the holy grail of crude animated humor. It's so beautiful, you're speechless. They had a standard for the writers to live up to...and someone just went way above that standard.

There's a pretty good haunted woods around where I grew up...that is if you're willing to drive into the middle of absolutely nowhere.

Yes, they're just brutally unfunny. I could see if each press conference they used was really famous and memorable but it's just completely pointless the way they just use some generic footage of different coaches. The Dennis Green one was hilarious though. I agree that it's about 1 in 5...but that was definitely the 1.

Isn't Froemming retiring after this year anyway?...or am I thinking of someone else?

I fully agree with splitting up lefties. Case in point: the Reds last year when they had Jr. and Dunn batting 3 and 4...at which point we would just bring in Shouse and blow through the heart of their order.

I never even noticed that four of his first five games were against Maddux, Peavy, Smoltz, and Hudson. Quite a way to get thrown into the fire.

I don't think I like the idea of having anyone but the pitcher bat after Estrada. Extra-base hits are worthless with him on base, but he makes good contact so (crossing fingers) hopefully he can at least advance runners before him. Heck, I think I'd just have him bunt if there's anyone on base with less than two outs...the guy is a walking DP (and i stress the word "walking"). As for Hart, I like him in the 2 spot...especially with Weeks leading off. Both have been getting on base very well lately, and with Fielder and Braun after them, it seems like the logical lineup. Hall I believe will still come around, and would be a great guy batting 5th when/if he does. I know it may be wishful thinking, but I have this image in my mind of Weeks and Hart both with .400+ OBP's followed by Braun, Fielder, and '06 Bill Hall. At that point, I don't even care who the next three batters are.

Everything does seem really slow...i thought it was just my computer

Something needs to snap them awake, which I'm confident will happen. ...let's just hope it's not a no-hitter again http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Maybe today's heartbreaking loss was what they needed. Maybe it's just what Coco needed. I'm seeing too many guys jogging when they hit ground balls, etc, right now. Exactly, and considering how much time off Ned gives them, there is absolutely no reason for this. I think he needs to pound it into them that he gives them that time off so that they're rested and can hustle every play when they get on the field. No more watching home runs, no more jogging on ground balls, basically no more playing "not to lose". Ned talks about "battling" with "gritty" "gamers", so it's about time they start playing like it. A lot of us joke about those terms, but if that's what he claims to put on the field, then he better start putting that on the field. But I'm still having a blast http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

For the most part I agree with you. It seems odd that a few painful losses has many turned against a team that hasn't been in a pennant race this late in the year in a long time. On the other hand, I think it's probably the natural process. I'm sure there was plenty of this going on in St. Louis last year when the Cards weren't playing well. The other part, and i'm severely not trying to change the direction of this thread, seems to be that there are a lot of fans that didn't sit and watch the losing in order to appreciate the winning. Many don't remember 1992, not necessarily because they're "bandwagon", but possibly because they weren't alive or coherent enough yet. Hang in there everyone, we're still in first place http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I've always found the closer's role unique, and here's why: 1. It seems to have so much to do with confidence. We saw that with Turnbow last year. We've seen that with Lidge. One confidence blow and the next few games (or years, shudder) could shaky until that comes back. 2. During 7 innings by a good starting pitcher, they are going to make numerous bad, very hittable pitches. Sometimes they will get lucky, sometimes they won't. If you translate that into a closer's role, they may still make 1 or 2 bad pitches in what would otherwise be a good outing. The problem is that there is so little room for error because often a decent pitch will be hit between the infielders (as in today's walkoff hit), then it will be followed by a bad pitch and suddenly the game is out of hand. To me, it seems ridiculous to base a player's ability on a bad stretch of games, especially a closer for the reasons stated above. Mariano Rivera has had bad stretches, Trevor Hoffman has had bad stretches, and those are two arguably HOF closers. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a "closer by committee" until Coco gets his confidence back, with the ultimate goal of having him as the closer come September / October. Keep in mind that about a week ago we were talking about whether or not resign Cordero at the end of the season. A bad week doesn't make a pitcher bad, it makes him human.

The P must keep the runner close to 1st, and not throw out of the stretch. I don't know of any pitchers that use a full windup with a runner on base. And if i'm Dave Bush, i'm really not too concerned with keeping Klesko close. Late in the game, its a 4 hit shutout, how concerned should you be with a guy moving to second? Understood. But the steals were coming early in the game. I believe it was still 1-0 when Klesko stole second and they got a 2-run rally started. Bonds was coming up, you would walk him withthe open base any how. Who cares that its a steal. So we just let a guy steal because we know that we can walk the next guy? Based on that argument, you're allowing the open base to happen just because you want to walk Bonds anyway, so why wouldn't you walk him every time...open base or not? I can't stand the idea of walking him. I even disagreed with Yost walking him with a runner on 2nd and 2 outs. This is not Pujols, Howard, A-rod, etc. This is mortal Barry, and he really has come down to earth to the point where we can get him out.

Plus ZackJack still has an option left. I never really thought he was anything special, or maybe it was just the aesthetics of that windup that drove me nuts. Either way, whether he becomes a good pitcher or not is something we have another year to figure out.

I'm not really all that concerned looking at that list. Aquino, Balfour, Gross, Nix, and Sarfate. As mentioned, Sarfate hasn't done much. If Jenkins' option isn't picked up, Gross is a left-handed outfield bat next year, most likely platooned or off the bench. Balfour and Aquino may be arms that we need next year if we don't get any more bullpen help either before the deadline or this winter. Nix...eh...I'm so torn on what to think of him. I just have this feeling that he'll do something weird like go on a complete tear, make the big league club next spring...then completely bomb with no options left. I think the important thing to remember is that one or several of these players could be valuable to some other struggling teams simply trying to fill their bullpen or outfield and get through the year, so we may not see all of those names on the 40 man come August 1st.

As far as knowing when to cheer, as in the case of a sac bunt, it really doesn't bother me all that much. I'll cheer for it, and I can appreciate it, but if some one pays money for his ticket and he would rather just sit there with his arms crossed, then he has every right to do that. Now if that same guy jumps up to "boo" when things go bad...then I have a problem with him. Again though, he paid for his ticket and can use it for whatever legal purpose he so chooses. The wave I'm mostly torn on because I grew up not having the opportunity to get to very many live sports events. I can understand the frustration when someone gets out of their seat in the middle of an inning (or even worse, right when the pitcher is winding up), but normally they stand there for awhile trying to inform others that they need to be let through, and basically it ends up just being a rude act. But in the case of the wave, you miss a split second of baseball just to partake in something that can be kinda fun. And you really don't even need to miss that split second if you watch the game while you stand up and throw your arms in the air. I see it as a bonding thing really. In an obscure way it connects you with another Brewer fan that's clear across the park. I completely agree on the programming thing though. They don't quite seem to understand where the important parts of the game are that could use a little fan-boosting. It doesn't usually bother me though because there are at least a few knowledgeable fans in every section that know when to start the slow-clap, etc. And often the fans around them will join in because they're simply looking to have a good time.

Weird...I was at the game today thinking that I was gonna come home and start a thread about this. I don't know what his actual stats are, but as a just a gut feeling, and possibly knee-jerk reaction, I don't feel like he's able to throw anyone out. I had to look twice today to make sure it was really Ryan Klesko that stole on him. Seems like Bush has a slow delivery though, so that may have had an effect today.

As several have already said, I see no reason to not pitch to Bonds unless it makes sense in the context of the game. I don't even understand why pitchers are so freaked out by it. It's ONE HR. That's it. Your name won't forever be remembered as the guy who gave up the home run other than by a select few. I seriously can't remember who gave up McGwire's 62nd, nor Bond's 71st. If I was a pitcher I would love to give up #756, then strike him out 2-3 more times, and have that be the only hit I give up while pitching a complete game with the final score being something like 8-1.

I like the disclaimer on top: Remember, Brewer fans, this is a Power Ranking -- and you can't deny or ignore how well the Cubbies are playing at the moment. Plus, it's only July, and ... no one is taking this seriously, right? Seems the ESPN power rankings are based on how well a team is playing at the moment, or perhaps over the past month. So as much as I can't stand ESPN, they're right...I can't deny or ignore the Cubs absolute tear right now. Well okay, I can at least try to ignore it, but I can't deny it.

Does this mean no more Ned Youst and Richie Weeks? Well I'm disappointed...

I would agree with Weeks. Otherwise I would say maybe Hall could use a jumpstart since he carries the possibility of coming back cold.

Just for reference, and I'm not trying to start anything else, but what kind of comments did Melvin make around the Sexson and Overbay trades? Were there any raging internet rumors during the Overbay process that Melvin downplayed? I know he remained relatively low-key during the Carlos Lee thing, but I wasn't around the internet stuff yet during the other two biggies.

"With my offensive presence, they better be getting a lot for me," -Matt Wise Way to keep it light Matty http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif