LouisEly

I'm going to revise my roster prediction a bit. Roster spot #52 is between Madison and McCray, and after re-watching the game I have it 50/50 if not slightly leaning towards Madison. He had two holding penalties in the game but there were positives to both. On the first holding penalty he got to the 2nd level very quickly and blocked the LB allowing a big run; apparently he held on too long, but he got to the 2nd level as quickly as I've seen any guard be able to do, and he did that several times during the game. The second holding penalty was on pass pro, but it wasn't his guy - Light got beat to the inside and Madison disengaged from his double team to try to pick him up. I saw Madison quickly and effectively disengage from a double-team block several times to pick up another rusher. He missed a couple of blocks during the game and I could tell that he's still a little rusty, but I saw him do things that suggest the talent is there and he just needs more practice. I didn't see anything like that from Pankey, and he's bounced around enough the last two years that I don't know that he's suddenly figured it out.

I agree with you there. The Cards have been winning vs. sub .500 teams while losing to teams of equal quality or better. I don't know about you guys, but with the possible exception of the Cubs I don't see any East or Central ball club beating the Braves AND the Giants to claim the pennant. They just have too many Aces. Giants or Dodgers?

Zack Brown coming out of the bullpen. Hope it's just an end-of-season thing and they aren't giving up on him as a starter. Tyrone Taylor making a strong push this month to not be the guy who gets DFA'd from the 40-man roster to make room for Suter.

I believe Luck has already collected the $12M roster bonus for this season and with the signing bonus allocation counts $18.4M against the Colts' cap this year. Not sure how I feel about that, but that could be grounds to be booed by fans. Luck's contract was through 2020, so after that I believe he is free to sign with another team. Right in time for Brady to retire. I don't even want to think about that.

Ehire Adrianza (remember him?) is arby-eligible this offseason, and with the Twins committed to Jorge Polanco through at least 2023 and Luis Arraez adjusting to the majors quite nicely, maybe the Twins don't want to pay a backup SS the $2-2.5M he may command in arby. He hasn't really had a spike in power this year - the increase in SLG is pretty much due to an increase in BA and OBP, as his ISO is only slightly higher than last year - but he is walking more and striking out less this year. I'm sure some of his career year is exactly that and he may easily regress, but an almost 10% BB rate and only 14.6% K rate is fairly appealing and pretty much independent of the ball being juiced.

Zippering, or anything for that matter, never works when there is construction because traffic slows at the point of construction. Zippering only works when the traffic past the zipper point is going at least the same speed as before. When traffic slows, it's simple process flow math - inflows are greater than outflows, and a bottleneck is created. Zippering certainly does not work at the last second. It causes the vehicle in the other lane to slow down quickly to create adequate space, which causes the vehicle behind that to slow down quickly, which then causes a chain reaction and everyone behind them to stop. It also doesn't work when people are going above the posted speed limit - again, process flow math, inflows are greater than outflows causing a bottleneck. The only time zippering has a chance to work is when a) people go the posted speed limit (and slow to the reduced speed limit where it is posted) and b) people zipper at the right point - not too early, not too late. Only about 5% of people follow a), and only about 10% of people follow b), thus almost always resulting in failure.

This is what I'm thinking for the initial roster. While eight WRs is too many and two RBs is probably too few, I think they'll IR ESB after they go to 53 and then re-sign one of Carson or D. Williams. Similar with Bolton - they'll keep him on the 53 and then depending on the severity of the injury they might IR him after they go to 53 and then re-sign Crawford. I have the 53rd spot as a toss-up between Marcedes Lewis and Fadol Brown, maybe McCray. With seven WRs I have a hard time seeing four TEs, and teams can be just as effective running with 3 WRs (forcing the defense to go to 5-6 DBs) and spreading the field as using a blocking TE. Since Brown is eligible for the practice squad, and since Gary/Z. Smith can slide inside on passing downs, I'll go with Lewis and add two DL to the practice squad (F. Brown and Simon). Entirely possible one of Kizer or Boyle gets traded; if so, they go 2 QB and add either a 6th DL or 5th OLB. QB (3) - Rodgers, Boyle, Kizer RB (2*) - Jones, J. Williams FB (1) - Vitale WR (8*) - Adams, Allison, MV-S, Kumerow, Davis, Lazard, Shepherd, ESB* (*to IR, replaced by RB Carson/D. Williams) TE (4) - Graham, Tonyan, Sternberger, Lewis OL (9) - Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Light, Turner, Jenkins, Taylor, Patrick, McCray, Linsley DL (5) - Adams, Clark, Keke, Lowry, Lancaster OLB (4) - Gary, P. Smith, Z. Smith, Fackrell ILB (4) - Martinez, Burks, Summers, Bolton* (*possibly IR, replaced by J. Crawford) CB (6) - Alexander, King, Brown, Jackson, Hollman, T. Williams S (4) - Amos, Savage, Greene, Jamerson Specialists - Crosby, Scott, Bradley PUP - Roberts Practice squad - Moore, Ento, Sheldon, Nijman, Sullivan, Wilkins, Madison, F. Brown, Simon, one of D. Williams/Ford

So far this year in 22 IP between AZL and Wisconsin, Jake Cousins has struck out 34 while walking none. A K/BB ratio of infinity. Probably a little old for A-ball to be a prospect, but impressive none the less. Bickford with his 12th consecutive appearance without giving up a run. What's been impressive is that eight of those 12 appearances have been at least two innings.

Trevor Lawrence, yes, but Kelly Bryant wasn't anything special and he couldn't beat him out.

In his last seven games: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 13 K Post-All-Star break: 14 IP, 7 H, 4 R/ER, 7 BB, 21 K I think he is slowly cementing his spot on the roster next year.

I've been watching Miami-Florida tonight and keeping tabs on the Brewers on MLB gameday and am unapologetic about it. That might be the worst football game I’ve ever watched Both teams could have used another week of practice. Both just gift-wrapped the game for the other several times. Makes me feel a lot better about the Badgers, because I haven't seen them make that many stupid mistakes in a game in decades.

Juiced baseball Eric Sogard is a good player. The ball has turned several players that were contact hitters that can hit the ball to all fields into superstars or useful players. This is interesting. May explain why some are having better seasons (better hit tool/contact) versus others such as Corey Ray, who doesn't have a good hit tool/not a contact hitter.

Juiced baseball Eric Sogard is a good player. The ball has turned several players that were contact hitters that can hit the ball to all fields into superstars or useful players. This is interesting. May explain why some are having better seasons (better hit tool/contact) versus others such as Corey Ray, who doesn't have a good hit tool/not a contact hitter.

Juiced baseball Eric Sogard is a good player. The ball has turned several players that were contact hitters that can hit the ball to all fields into superstars or useful players. This is interesting. May explain why some are having better seasons (better hit tool/contact) versus others such as Corey Ray, who doesn't have a good hit tool/not a contact hitter.

South Florida was 3-5 in conference last year, 7-5 overall, in a weak conference that only had two teams with less than five losses overall. I don't see how the Badgers aren't favored against them. The Northwestern game last year was a fluke. UW lost three fumbles, and it was Coan's first career start. Northwestern lost their senior QB from last year, and even though they were 8-1 in conference last year they were 9-5 overall and extremely lucky - they were only +14 on point differential for the entire season (UW was +88). Yes, they have a formerly highly ranked recruit who transferred in, but he lost his job and left Clemson for a reason. I don't see why UW is not favored at home. Wisconsin beat Michigan at home two years ago. With Hornibrook as QB. Can't see why they can't do that again. This is the same Michigan State was 7-6 last year. Barely beat Utah State, lost to Arizona State, also lost to Northwestern, only scored 6 points and lost at Nebraska, and barely beat Rutgers. I don't see why UW isn't favored since it's a home game, and I believe Homecoming. I really think there was something funky in the locker room involving Hornibrook last year with either Edwards, the receivers, or both. All reports say that the vibe this year is quite different than last year. Barring lots of key injuries, I think 9-3. Losses to Ohio State, and two of Michigan/@Nebraska/@Minnesota. Sure, they could lose to others, but they could beat Michigan at home just as easily as they could lose to Northwestern or Michigan State.

I'm not terribly excited about Zavolas, due to his 6.9 K/9 and Carolina being a pitcher's park/league. He's interesting, but his upside is very limited unless he learns a new pitch.

No mention of Shelby Miller, with his best start in a long, long time. 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R/0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 71 pitches. That could be a shot in the arm in September.

Wonder if he's an AFL candidate? Do you mean eligible or likely? For eligible, yes; as for likely, I'd say that depends on whether the Brewers intend on protecting him. If they do intend on protecting him, then I'd say it's likely. If they don't intend on protecting him, then I'd say it's unlikely that they want to give other teams a look at him.

You get that one day in the majors, and then you make a minimum of $80K per year playing minor league ball. Not a terrible gig.

The Brewers at best will have the money to sign one free agent starting pitcher. You need to have five of them.

Hasn't worked for Moustakas each of the last two offseasons... why would he get a big contract now?

Prior to this game, among 64 NL pitchers with at least 80 IP this year, Chase Anderson was 23rd in ERA. Ahead of Strasburg, Syndergaard, Ray, and Darvish. After this game, his 4.54 ERA would rank 45th, or in other words a #3/#4 starter. But that's what we do around here, we overreact irrationally. The wonderful thing about this game is that it only counts as one loss.

I'm sure he's at his best when he has to pack his bags on a moment's notice and take an overnight or 6am flight, travel halfway across the country, and rush to the ballpark. Which has been about 2/3rds of his career appearances.

San Antonio was at home yesterday, and there appears to be a non-stop from San Antonio to Baltimore departing at 6am, arriving in Baltimore at 10:20am.

All defensive stats are somewhat flawed, but Arcia hasn't committed an error in exactly two months - not since June 18th. That stretch (44 games) is second longest in team history for SS. Obviously it doesn't tell the whole story (range factors, arm strength, etc.), but it measures what a player can control - executing when he should. Teams should always look for opportunities to improve, but keep in mind that the Red Sox won the World Series last year with arguably the worst offensive production in all of MLB at two positions - catcher and 2B. If the Brewers don't improve at SS it isn't the end of the world, so long as they improve in other areas. Baseball is always about the sum of the parts.