LouisEly

Heard that 41 was bumper to bumper all the way to Appleton after the game. I took 32 down to 10 and then 10 over to Appleton - was driving 60-63 mph the whole way (where it was 55). That's a nice way to go with no traffic at all. Part of Ashland/8th St. is closed due to construction. Parked on Potts at a business just west of Ashland (could have parked 5 blocks east of there off Potts in residential neighborhood for free, but for $20 I got a bit closer and was able to use the business's restroom). Supposedly the Titletown construction has eliminated quite a few parking spots (heard a couple thousand), so that could have increased the demand for other spots near the stadium and subsequently the price.

Funny you mention Ashland to Potts as that is what someone else told me. To avoid traffic I was told 57/32 and follow 32 across the bridge to Ashland and then Ashland to Potts. They said the same thing about Nebraska fans four years ago, how there were supposed to be 30K there, yada yada. Then Nebraska fans found out that Badgers fans weren't selling their tickets.

Just noticed something that makes me less enthusiastic about Pedro Payano. This is his fifth minor league season which means that, even though he is in low-A, he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft and will need to be protected. If that's the case, then: 1) If he's the guy then I'd be surprised if the announcement is made before the Rule 5 draft as the Brewers would have to protect him. Unlikely able to make the jump from low-A, but stranger things have happened (Wang). B) The Brewers will need to use his first option year next year when he is likely to start in A+, and his second option year when he is likely to start in AA; he will likely be on his last option year when he is ready to start the year in the majors. What is strange is that, looking at his DOSL numbers, why he wasn't brought stateside until his fourth year in the DOSL and age 20 season. He put up worthy numbers in his second season (age 18). Meanwhile, Jurado doesn't need to be protected until after next season. He pitched as well as can be expected for the Cal League, and after getting bumped up to AA has pitched very well for the Texas League. This is also why I'm not real keen on Garcia, and to an extent Taveras. Garcia, I believe, will need to be protected after his age 20 season and will likely have used a couple of options before being ready. Taveras is in his first season of pro ball, but I would want to see some level of success before taking him, regardless of how much bonus money he got. Palumbo does not need to be protected until after next season, same with Brett Martin. So my odds at this point: Jurado 5:1, Palumbo 8:1, Martin 8:1, Payano 15:1, Garcia 18:1, Taveras 20:1. They've already gotten one OF in the deal, so I don't think they go with two (Taveras). Highly unlikely the don't go pitching.

Interesting article about a piece of Seattle history that I was not aware of. With Boeing laying off 65,000 workers in the two years after the Pilots moved, you wonder how much attendance there would have been between 1970-1972. Would be interested to hear the thoughts of some of the folks who were around then (Briggs). Another interesting fact - if the team was more than 10 days late in paying players (think of the effect of low attendance on mid-season payroll) the players could become free agents. Could the team have declared bankruptcy and moved mid-season? And what would have happened to the AL baseball season if they did declare bankruptcy mid-season, or if they couldn't and were more than 10 days late in paying the players? https://gilmanpark.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/lights-out-in-seattle/

Didn't put this on LL.net because of relatively low traffic over there, but I'm going to UW-LSU tomorrow and it has been a long time since I've been to Lambeau. Tips on best bets for parking (would gladly spend an extra $5-10 to not be way out in the boonies), what exit(s) to take, etc., would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Jim, the criticisms of you on Twitter aren't fair - it's based on 83 innings with the Braves, not 65! But I'm with you, and the reason is like I've said before - Bradley has done most of this with a team in the same league as he was in, facing 90% of the same hitters. It's not like he's in a new league facing guys who haven't seen him before. Bradley's career K/9 is 7.1 but now is up over 9.5 with the Braves. He also hasn't given up a HR since going to the Braves (and only 2 on the season in 107 innings - he's always been a ground ball pitcher). Yes, Bradley is 26 but that's kind of the point - he didn't do this in four years here.

I think you're undervaluing Hutchinson. He's been on the DL this year, but he's only 25 and was in the majors by the age of 21. Two years ago as a 23 year in 184 innings he struck out 184 with only 60 walks. He also isn't a FA until 2019. McGuire is an excellent defensive catcher and while young has a long ways to go with the bat. Ramirez is also young and offensively kind of a cross between Reed and Wren - he'll hit for average (Wren) with a little power (Reed), but his OBP is heavily dependent on his BA as he doesn't walk like Reed/Wren do. He's been playing CF but his arm and athleticism (5'10", 220; successful in only 7 of 17 SB attempts this year) doesn't lend itself to staying there. I don't know how they both got top 100 prospect status as right now neither projects to be much more than a bench player. I'd say that McGuire projects to be like Maldonado (needs to improve the bat to even get that far), not sure who a comp for Ramirez is. There is a lot of projection involved in those rankings; I don't think either would be in the Brewers top 15.

Tulo was also under contract for longer and owed a lot more money than Braun and had more serious injury issues. From 2012-2015 Tulo missed 256 games, and 222 of those were in the three years prior to the trade (he missed 45% of his team's games from 2012-2015). Braun has had a couple of minor procedures but Tulo has had two major surgeries (groin, hip) that have ended his seasons, particularly two of the three seasons prior to the trade. Being leg surgeries they could hinder his future mobility and force him off of SS, and thus no longer be able to play a premium position. Braun will miss 20-25 games a year, but Tulo has missed 10 more games than Braun this year. It could be argued that Tulo is/was a bigger injury risk, and so far it is playing out that way.

Ronnie Gideon, my oh my. The K:BB ratio (>4:1) needs improvement for him to sustain anything, but I can't remember seeing any position player come in and do anything like this in years. The Texas A&M roster has him at 240 and MILB.com has him at 225; wondering if he got himself in better shape and that's helped a little. Burgos is the type of pitcher who will do better than others at CS because he is a changeup pitcher. Curveballs/sliders won't do well there; changing speeds is what you need to succeed in that environment. I'm all for a spring training invite for him.

Maybe Nieuwenhuis should be moved to 1B and platoon there with Perez next year - Nieuwenhuis at home, Perez on the road. I'm only half kidding.

Luke Weaver... sounds familiar. Meanwhile, the Brewers pick from earlier that round... You would think that after playing against him for over a decade, the first line of Molina's scouting report would be: REALLY LIKES THE LOW BALL, THROW HIGH STRIKES

You're telling me the coaching at GA Tech is as good as the coaching in the pros? And having classes as your full-time job and baseball as your part-time job, as opposed to baseball being your full-time job, results in the same amount of development? Ok... So despite Reed's .342 BABIP, you're telling me it was a productive .736 OPS in a hitting-friendly environment in CS. The BABIP isn't good luck, but the .736 OPS in a hitter-friendly environment is bad luck. I get it now...

Hader was also a lot better than Woodruff at AA. Hader pitched almost as many innings at AA as he has at AAA. It's also a season-long award, not a last half of the season award. If it's a stats award, here are the stats for the year: Hader: 123 IP, 98 H, 5 HR, 51 BB, 156 K, 3.22 ERA (7.2 H/9, 3.7 BB/9, 11.4 K/9) Woodruff: 151 IP, 117 H, 6 HR, 40 BB, 164 K, 2.80 ERA (7.0 H/9, 2.4 BB/9, 9.8 K/9) Woodruff had the benefit of pitching 44 innings at BC, a very pitcher-friendly park. Take away BC and it's a 3.29 ERA, 7.1 H/9, 2.5 BB/9, 9.7 K/9 at AA. Almost identical ERA and H/9, lower BB/9 and K/9.

When you are on pace to set the all time team strikeout record, it's probably not a good idea to sac bunt to get runners over.

One step closer to a higher draft pick. If that doesn't make you feel better, maybe this will: The Real Cardinal Way

The Cardinals have blown through their best two relievers. They're down to Bowman, Kiekhefer, Jerome Williams, Socolovich, and... ... Zach Duke and Jonathan Broxton.

Elmore has a .371 OBP on the season - he has done a pretty good job of not getting out, exactly what you want from a PH.

It's Woodruff or Hader. CS is so tough on pitchers though; despite the high ERA Hader has 83 K in 66 innings in AAA. Perrin has had a great year and deserves consideration, but they go with the higher level pitcher. I think they go co-pitcher of the year with Hader and Woodruff. I think you're right with Diaz. If Erceg or Gideon had full seasons with their numbers they would challenge. Prospect or not, I don't think the Brewers care about BABIP when it comes to awards, and Wren has had a great year - overall .324 BA and .414 OBP. But Diaz gets the nod.

And Jungmann seems to have figured out something in Biloxi. There may be hope yet.

The Gyorko store called. They said they're running out of Cardinals.

Puig was reportedly claimed by "an unknown team". Stay tuned...

My first guess would be a LHP - Hader or Wang have to be added, only one lefty in the pen. If they can't find PT for Santana and Broxton, how would they find it for Brinson? Let him rest his hammy anyway. Maybe we are getting an early Christmas present in the naming of the PTBNL...

Milwaukee's own Gene Wilder, gone at the age of 83. Mel Brooks is now the only major cast member from Blazing Saddles still alive. Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Willie Wonka, Stir Crazy, See No Evil Hear No Evil (very underrated IMO), The Woman In Red - he left quite a legacy. A man who could make you laugh with just the expressions on his face. RIP Mr. Wilder, you will be missed.

I get the BABIP argument, but that is just in AAA this year; Wren's BABIP in AA this year was .327 and he still had a .383 OBP at AA. Reed's BABIP in AAA is .342 (.347 in AA last year) and only posted a .363 SLG and .728 OPS. Much of his prior offense was fueled by triples (13 in 2013, 7 in 2015) which isn't going to happen in the upper levels, thus his SLG drop this year. So I don't necessarily think that his past offensive performance is that relevant. The age argument means nothing to me. Reed is younger, but he's had two more years of professional coaching. I think those things balance out.

Thanks for the waiver claim clarification - that is likely the biggest issue for teams not claiming him. It would be a moot point. The luxury tax issue isn't just for this season. The Dodgers are already committed to $179M for next season; they will have to move salary next year too, which likely means poor trades and/or bribing teams to take contracts by adding prospects. The Giants are committed to $145M next year with several holes to fill and both closers plus other bullpen members as free agents. Bullpen is no longer cheap. The Angels will have payroll next season but they know the Brewers aren't giving away Braun and they know they don't have the prospects to get him. Bottom line is that the Brewers aren't giving away Braun, nor should they.