LouisEly

I was going to ask a couple of weeks ago (when Hoffman was still on the DL) if anyone else thought he was the best pitcher they had in the bullpen. I've always felt that regardless of "stuff" you should promote pitchers until they can no longer do an above-average job of getting guys out. As someone once said to me, "You don't draw pictures on the scoreboard." (Well, I had to leave a couple of adjectives out in order to make it fit for print.)

Hopefully Mercedes has found his niche - maybe he isn't cut out to start, but if he can turn into a Ramiro Mendoza type who is good in long relief that would be a success. His ERA wasn't great last year, but 112 hits with only 27 walks and 111 Ks in 113 innings isn't bad at all. No comments about my Mike McClendon post yesterday... another great outing today. Not sure why he fell off the radar, or why he is in the bullpen and Holliman is starting. Casey Baron is showing that he may have a future in the bullpen; I seem to recall when he was drafted that people commented that he had "future LOOGY" written all over him. I'm curious as to what his L/R splits were last year in Brevard. Not only a triple for Gwynn, but another BB too.

I would have to think that Hart or Hall could spell Cam in CF twice a month; I believe Hall has already seen some time in LF when Braun was out. I think Hall would be fine with it as long as he knows his primary position is as the starting 3B. Methinks this is just a Gibbons-esque move of insurance.

I caught that comment too. I thought it was later in the game though, but could be wrong. That is not appropriate to say over the air.

Gwynn has gotten off to a hot start at the plate, and has also walked more than he has struck out so far (.393 OBP prior to a 3-hit night tonight). The power will never be there, but maybe the plate discipline light bulb has finally gone on. Meanwhile, Chris Duffy... has not exactly gotten off to a hot start. Small sample for Duffy, and comparing AAA to the majors is apples and oranges, but if TGJ and Duffy continue on their current trends, how long before the switch should be made? Several relievers are off to a good start, but one guy who was talked a lot about two years ago who fell off of the starting pitching prospect radar and was for some reason moved to the bullpen last year is Mike McClendon. The ERA last year and H:IP ratio was not good for the FSL, but he only walked 15 in 88 innings and had a GO/AO of 2:08 so he was keeping the ball down. So far this year the walk ratio (2 in 20 IP) and GO/AO (2.28) are still there, and at 6'5" and 215lbs I'm not sure why he isn't starting. Anyone know what the word is with the brass/scouts on him? Similar with Donovan Hand... not sure why Hand and McClendon are in the pen and Holliman is in the rotation. Also, if Gulin and Cody continue on their current trends (a little concerned about Cody's 1.15 GO/AO), at what point do they consider swapping them?

Prior to getting sick, did anyone get head congestion/pressure for a day or two? I have had head congestion all day, specifically some pressure/clogging of the right ear/Eustachian tube, and have an eerie feeling that it is an omen for more serious things to come.

His stuff is very uninspiring. If by uninspiring you mean not overpowering, then I will say that neither CV nor Hoffman (at this stage in his career) have overpowering stuff. I doubt that either tops 87 on their fastball, but they use their changeups effectively. If by uninspiring you mean unable to get quality hitters out, then we shall see once he gets to AA. You're right in that it is unlikely that they move him to AA before the All-Star break. However, barring a significant reversal in performance, I would be surprised if he stays in Brevard all year.

My fear right now is that this strain could find it's way to Africa or Southeast Asia where people living with malnutrition or in areas of high instances of HIV/AIDS. It could wipe out millions in such environments. And that is the big difference between the flu of 1918 and today. While there was no such thing as AIDS/HIV in 1918, malnutrition was far more rampant in 1918 (especially after four years of world war) and in 1918 there was no such thing as "medicines" that people of today don't even consider medicines because they have been over-the-counter their whole lifetime to prevent things such as dehydration when you have the flu. Unless someone has a compromised immune system (examples mentioned above), it is highly unlikely that this flu will be deadly. And as for the flu attacking people 20-50 in Mexico, unfortunately malnutrition/dehydration and lack of access to basic medicines are hardly rare in Mexico.

Most fun in Vegas? Shooting fully automatic M-16s and AK-47s at the Gun Store (yes, automatic, not semi-automatic). Indoor shooting range, on Tropicana about 3 miles east of the Strip. Every cabbie knows how to get there; there is also a bus that stops about a block or two from there that will take you to the strip. It's about $1/bullet, but it's pretty freakin' fun to unload an M-16 on a target with a picture of Osama bin Laden on it. Or a .50cal Desert Eagle.

is Steffan Wilson being labeled a DH already I believe he is DHing because he is not 100% from being injured about a week ago. IIRC he came out of a game in the 4th inning (I think after a double, and was PR for), missed the next game, and has been the DH since.

That's seven scoreless relief appearances for Brandon Rapoza with only one walk I was just going to jinx him and post that same comment. There are three relievers in BC who have been on a nice little run going back to last year and Rapoza is one of them (Wooten and Almonte the others), going back to his promotion to Helena. I don't know what kind of stuff he has given that he has well less than a strikeout per inning but he has been very promising so far.

I drink Chill when it's really hot out Fortunately in southern California that is most of the year. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Be thankful that they allow tailgating at the Keg - tailgating not allowed in Chavez Ravine.

I think Braun will get moved from left field eventually because he's athletic enough and has a strong enough arm to play CF or RF; it's a matter of taking a couple of years getting used to playing the OF before the switch happens. Prolly 2011 at the earliest, but I think eventually a switch will be made. Then again, if Cain pans out and Hart is signed long-term, then Braun might stay. Something tells me though that in a couple of years Prince will be gone, Gamel will be playing 1B, and Green will be at 3B, but that's a comment for a different thread. Back to the topic at hand, the Posterior cruciate ligament injury is the least serious IIRC. ACL and MCL are worse and take longer to heal.

Cole Gillespie reminds us he can run as well, with his 3rd stolen base -- how's the elbow, Cole? 3 SBs? He's already legged out three triples. Personally I'm a lot more impressed by a triple. That's a good season for most people, and Cole's there in mid-April. Don't worry if Cole doesn't have a good enough arm to play CF or RF; I think with a little more experience Braun has a strong enough arm to move to CF or RF and Cole can play LF. Otherwise, it would be great for him to rake and be included as a trading chip for some pitching. I'd also love for Iribarren to rebound to high prospect status. He would be a great guy to have on the bench (or use as a trading chip).

If Yo gets hurt does Melvin even make a move for Sabathia? I don't believe so and believe he would have tried to make a deal for a more long term solution this off season. Can he move more prospects this season with holes looming on the horizon at C and CF in '10, SS and 3B in '11, and 2B and 1B in '12? Either I'm confused, or I think you meant to say "If Yo doesn't get hurt does Melvin even make a move for Sabathia?" Your hypothetical point is valid, but he did get hurt. If "ifs" and "buts" were candies and nuts it'd be Christmas the whole year 'round. It was either make a major move or another season of futility. Melvin's job is to deal with reality, not hypotheticals, and he did very well dealing with that reality salvaging a season and getting to the playoffs. With the downturn in the economy, how many tickets would have been purchased for this year if they had not made the playoffs last year? They would be hurting financially a lot more had he not made that move, and I'm sure Mark A. is very appreciative of that. Not sure why you think there is a hole at C in '10 (Salome?), SS and 3B in '11 (Escobar? Gamel? Green?). Was the Davis/Eveland trade a bad one? Yes. (Let's not forget the highway robbery that was Enrique Cruz for Brian Shouse, and letting a 40-year-old LOOGY go and getting a 2nd round pick in return. Or CV for Wayne Franklin.) Was letting Cordero and Lee go the right thing to do? Depends on how Odorizzi, Frederickson, Lintz, and Dykstra develop, but you can't say he isn't making moves to replenish the pitching in the organization given those picks. (And have Cincinnati or Houston been to the playoffs since? No. The Brewers had more wins each of the last two seasons than both of those teams.) Was trading Nelson Cruz a bad move? Debatable; yes he is finally developing, and yes Mench and Nix didn't pan out, but like others said Cruz would be sitting on the bench because he wouldn't be starting over Braun and Hart. The only reason people know what Cruz is capable of is because he is getting ABs; that wouldn't be happening in MIL so it is perhaps a moot point. No one would know his value because he wouldn't be getting those ABs. I look at the entire body of work. When Melvin took over the Brewers had garbage at the major league level AND the minor leagues. (Look at who the top prospects were when Melvin took over. When Allen Levrault is your best pitching prospect you have garbage in the minor leagues.) Look at them now. Is he perfect? No. No GM is. But if you make more good moves than bad ones you will be doing very well. And that IMO he has.

If you have to drive drunk, please do us all a favor and drive a Smart car or a motorcycle so that you are the one killed in the accident and not innocent other people. Not entirely sure that statement should be in blue. Unfortunately I doubt that this "individual" (cannot use the most accurate term due to filters and the three strike policy) got drunk at a bar - he doesn't seem like the type who can afford to get drunk at a bar. All of the enforcement of drunkenness at a bar will never stop drunk drivers who get blitzed at home or at a buddy's place, of which I will bet is where plenty of drunk drivers get intoxicated. For those of us who live in Southern California, after looking at his mug shots it is not surprising at all that he lives in Riverside. There are good, responsible people in Riverside, but unfortunately a lot of scum like this too. My sincerest condolences to Adenhart's family and friends, and the family and friends of the three others in the car. Apparently the one who survived lives just a few miles from me in Manhattan Beach.

My guess is one of Burns/Ginter/Houston gets dropped. Rottino is going to play third at Huntsville. I'm assuming that Taylor Green is hurt and not ready to go? So is the 'Hurricane' back to being a 2B now? I hope so. Lawrie is a long way off and I think Iribarren is the next best guy they have. I think he could be an adequate stop-gap for a year or two between Weeks and Lawrie.

To be fair, I think Money in the Bank was kind of screwed over by injuries this year. Evan Bourne and Wisconsin's own Mr. Kennedy (....Kennedy) would have been two good bets for the match instead of Kane and Mark Henry, but were both out for extended periods of time (Bourne returned a couple weeks ago, Kennedy's still out). I was surprised that they had Shelton Benjamin drop the U.S. title to M.V.P. just a few weeks before the PPV...maybe they're getting ready to push him with a MITB win, and they didn't want him to lose momentum by losing the title after he already held the briefcase? Two very good points. Kennedy definitely would have been in the match. I must be the only person who wants to see a Mark Henry push. I recall the little feud with Mysterio where Mysterio went for the pin on Henry and got the two count, but then Henry sat up (still holding Mysterio), rolled over backwards and up to his feet, and did a power slam on Mysterio for the win. I thought that would propel him to a push but apparently not. MITB is usually about 1) who has paid their dues and is ready for a push but hasn't held the title before, and 2) who is the hot new talent signed and the push is in their contract. This leaves Benjamin (definitely paid his dues), Christian (perhaps the push was in the contract to get him to leave Jarrett's promotion), and Henry (paid his dues). Henry's the long shot, but the threat of "the world's strongest man" cashing in a title shot at any time, particularly after a long brutal match or a gang-style "beatdown", could be well-played by the WWE.

Yeah, I'm still partial to Culver's as far as burgers go, but you've gotta have an In-N-Out double-double with some animal-style fries while you're here. 4x4, animal style, the hell with the fries. And yes, I'll give the nod to Culvers too. As far as ballpark food goes, Garlic fries are like the Giants' version of a brat with special sauce at MP...something you gotta have while you're here. If you've never had them, I would recommend the smallest order you can find and split them if you can. For me, garlic fries have a peak marginal utility of about 3. After that the law of diminishing returns takes over very quickly. Two other hotels, not in that area but inexpensive with free parking if you have a car (which can be a $40 value or more), are the Cow Hollow Motor Inn and Chelsea Motor Inn. Clean, comfortable, right in the middle of the Marina district and lots of restaurants/bars within 3-4 blocks. They are on Lombard so easy to catch public transportation. This time of year rates are around $100 or less. I've stayed at both, and I can assume that their sister properties are just as good. MoMo's across from the stadium is usually packed, but a good scene.

I'll definitely second a stop in Healdsburg on the way up to or back from Sonoma. Just a neat little town, and a quaint little downtown area around the town square. Another place "to say you've been there" as long as you will be in Emeryville is the original Trader Vic's. It's in the Emeryville marina, just past the Hilton Garden Inn, not too far from where the train station is IIRC. At night in January it will be a little nippy, and one of their hot buttered rums will warm you up just nicely. Be careful if you're driving; they have such an interesting drink menu that it's easy to have one too many. I doubt you will see any werewolves drinking any pina coladas there; more likely to see that at the London one. Too bad I no longer have SF anymore. And too bad that the only series the Brewers play there is opening week. Very difficult for me to get up there during the week now. Joel, you'll have to come down to the San Diego series at the end of July/beginning of August.

Gallardo threw one in the dirt that got away from Kendall about 10-15 feet towards first base; Furcal went for home but Kendall was able to get to it and toss to Gallardo covering. Initially no signal from the umpire, so Gallardo quickly realized that the ump thought Furcal missed home so he tagged him out trying to get back to the plate. The biggest thing though is that Manny sat there at first just watching - he never went to second. With the missed tag/touching home, Manny had plenty of time to take second. Then the ground ball that got the DP. Dodger fans, prepare to see the real Manny. One other thing I noticed is that I saw a different approach from the Brewers with two strikes. Both Weeks and Hart were down 0-2 to Billingsley in the first inning, but both of them and the rest of the batters managed to fight off pitches, shorten their swing (great use of hands by Hart to get the single), and work the count, which made Billingsley throw 30 pitches that inning. If both of your first two guys up get to 0-2 in the count but the pitcher ends up throwing 30 pitches that inning, you have done a great job of working that inning and setting the team up for success later in the game.

While it was a spring training game, it was nice to see Lindsay Gulin and Adam Heether take the field in a major league stadium. A nice touch for two guys who have toiled for a while, neither likely to play in the majors. Also found it interesting that the first reserve OF to get in the game was Logan Schafer. They promoted him last season, then (IIRC) sent him to Hawaii, and now bring him in as the first OF off of the bench in a major league park. I didn't know that Cain and Gillespie were hurt, but I get the feeling that they are really high on Schafer.

Hey, Melvin got CV for Wayne Franklin and Shouse for Enrique Cruz, and I don't see TGJ as being much worse than either of those two. Never count out Melvin for getting a nugget in return for nothing. TGJ, we wish you well.

I will be there, field section 28, row N, just past first base. Look for the familiar Helena Brewers Tropical Tuesday jersey.

I'll second the trip to wine country. Sonoma is straight north of SF off the 101. I highly recommend the Ferrari-Carano winery outside of Healdsburg. Entertainment - Teatro Zin Zany is fun and indoors. Beach Blanket Babylon is supposed to be fun, but I'm not sure it is still playing. Restaurants - you have to do Izzy's Steakhouse, just off the corner of Lombard & Steiner. Been around forever and has lots of character, and a filet and two sides cost $25. I'll second the "do not eat at a chain restaurant"; there are way too many local places. I haven't been to SF in so long so I've forgotten many of the places. Right next to Izzy's is a great sushi place. Hotels - If you want something economical I highly recommend the Lombard Motor Inn or the Chelsea Motor Inn. Nothing fancy, just a basic clean room and it sounds like you won't be in the room much, but it is right in the middle of the Marina district and you can walk to a lot of nice restaruants (including Izzy's, just around the corner). Last I was there rooms went for $100/night in January, which is a bargain for SF. Free wireless internet, and they also have free parking if you will have a rental car; something to consider, because parking at many hotels can cost $40/night. During January you sometimes can get the Hilton Union Square for under $150/night, so you can check out that area of town.