DuWayne Steurer

I don't think any debate is over because one guy is slotted into a spot in the order in game 9 of the season. It might be over for you? If you've decided what you think is true based on 8 games, that's cool.

so Adames isn't a top 10 shortstop in fantasy rankings, when you put a 2B and a 3B (who's got 28 mlb at bats) into the group, and make qualifiers for Turner, who's played more than 122 games 2 times in 8 seasons. I don't think you'll find more than a handful of people who won't agree that the offense isn't struggling right now, but when you have to shift around the goal posts *this much* to make a point, it's getting almost silly. As has been pointed out many many times, by many people, the Brewers were 6th in MLB last year in runs scored after they acquired Adames. People are free to digest that however they want. Many seem to think the Brewers need a "superstar" bat. The Braves went out and got Soler, Rosario, etc, and went all the way to the World Series. If the guys they have hit, they'll be ok when the pitching performs. If not, they won't. It's simple.

I don't know how many more posts you're going to mention/wish that we would have signed Castellanos, but I'm gonna put the over/under at at least 300 posts.

Last season people were legitimately arguing that Adames could be an MVP candidate if he hadn't been traded for mid-season, and now the argument is we don't have *any* guys who are top 10 at their position? How is Adames both an MVP level talent, and not a top 10 shortstop? I don't care about fantasy baseball, and I'm pretty sure Stearns doesn't either. I hope he cares about getting wins on the actual field.

Ok, let's take a crack at this -- 154 game schedule -- get two more teams in here somewhere and go to four, eight team divisions and get back to the balanced schedule. And a lot less interleague play. -- Jerichoholicninja touched on this earlier in the thread, but it was something I'd have thought of as well. Much harsher penalties for throwing at guys/retaliatory beanballs. 20 - 30 games. 40 - 50 games for intentionally (intent to be decided by commish/panel) throwing at a guy's head. -- 7 - 10 game suspensions for "bench clearing brawls". It's just embarrassing to see 50 guys come slowly filing out on to the field, standing around pretending to want to fight. Watching the relievers run in from the bullpen (next to each other!) is actually funny. Stay in the dugout. Or get suspended. Aside from those things.... I wouldn't do a whole lot. I don't like a lot of the bigger rule changes that are taking shape in the game now. Baseball has always been an evolving sport, even while there's people that think it's not. Baseball can (and should) be a game that changes and evolves, and can continue to do so without big sweeping rule changes. The problem is we have a commissioner on the throne right now who by all appearances, doesn't appear to actually enjoy baseball. His solution to minor problems is changing rules to suit and fit triangle shaped pegs into round holes Understandably, some percentage of the players, fans, and anyone involved with the game aren't going to be happy.

The Padres cried about the Giants continuing to try to score runs in a 9 run game today, despite the fact that end of season ties are now decided by run differential instead of a game 163. Kapler also said he's going to do what he can to use up an opposing team's arms for the rest of the series. I'm all for these unwritten (and very dumb) rules just going by the wayside. Like Kylo Ren said. "Let the past die. Kill it if you have to".

On the Brewers, or in all of MLB?

97 pitches in his 2nd start of the season with a short spring training. That'll probably be enough for tonight. Not sure Williams is available, but the pen needs to close games like this out.

Somehow, I had a funny feeling Burnes didn't suck, despite sucking in 100% of his starts this season before today.

Many years ago when I started for a telecom company on the help desk, we absolutely had to apologize/say "I"m sorry you're having trouble today", and yes, it was literally a KPM/condition of employment that we had to say "I'm sorry". Most of the people I knew and associated with hated doing it, understood that most of the people we talked to hated hearing it, but "market research" led them to believe that it was important to lead off the call with a fake and insincere apology. When you're forced to say it, of course it's going to sound fake and crummy. Important perspective when you get tired of the person saying "I'm sorry".

I browse the site at work on my phone, and the ads don't really hinder the experience too much. They are plentiful, make no mistake (almost between every post), but I haven't noticed any issues with slowdown or any issues with sketchy ads or sites that would raise any red flags. I have WAY too many subscriptions right now, and I'm looking to trim back to be honest. If ads help pay for the site, I'd rather have to put up with the minor inconvenience of ads rather than have more and more of the sites I enjoy become subscription based.

that was exciting

Yeah, I honestly don't think they care what seed they ended up with. The only way it would make any kind of appreciable difference I think is if Charlotte knocks the Nets off in the play-in tournament. Even then, as far as the Bucks are concerned, I don't think the Bulls are that much of a threat to them compared to the Nets. And either way, they're playing the 2/3 seed in the 2nd round.

This is honestly, probably accurate.

They haven't been.

Don't take anything for granted. Anything can happen in the one game play-in.

I think some of these guys are gonna hover in the 400 - 450 PA range, like Rowdy, Cutch, etc. Urias is hurt, and I think 20 - 25 homers is legit his peak output (at this stage of his career at least). Yelich hasn't shown us ANYTHING to suggest he has his power stroke back yet. Between Adames and Renfroe, I feel like Hunter's just got that proven track record of 30+ homer potential. Adames can do it, but as long as Renfroe gets 550+ PA's, he's gonna sock 30 - 35 homers.

While I think athletes don't know (and shouldn't be expected to know) what's in every single vitamin, prescription, twinkie, etc, etc, etc, I think we are also at a time in the drug testing program where guys know what *kinds* of meds can produce positive results, or could potentially have things in them that carry risks. Fertility drugs (we've known for a while) carry that risk. If you're going to do some family plannin', it's not a bad idea to do some extra due diligence and make SURE that what you're being prescribed doesn't contain something on the banned substance list. None of us know what Severino's true intentions are/were. No matter what we think, nobody that posts here or on twitter knows. But given that male fertility drugs continue to be used by athletes as PEDs, it's a question that's going to get raised every time someone gets suspended..... every time someone pops positive and says "we were trying to get pregnant". If you're using fertility meds, take the extra time to make quadruple sure it doesn't contain banned substances. You have a well paying career that kinda depends on it.

While I would have liked to have seen what Feliciano could do with some part-time at bats, I'm good with this move. Backup catcher shouldn't amount to more than 1/2 a win to a win over 80 games, one way or the other. Caratini is pretty much the definition of a mid-tier, average back up catcher. For all the hand wringing over Severino's suspension caused, backup catcher who's going to start 22 - 30 games for half a season just isn't going to impact enough AB's/plays/games to make enough of a difference in the W/L column.

While I would have liked to have seen what Feliciano could do with some part-time at bats, I'm good with this move. Backup catcher shouldn't amount to more than 1/2 a win to a win over 80 games, one way or the other. Caratini is pretty much the definition of a mid-tier, average back up catcher. For all the hand wringing over Severino's suspension caused, backup catcher who's going to start 22 - 30 games for half a season just isn't going to impact enough AB's/plays/games to make enough of a difference in the W/L column.

While I would have liked to have seen what Feliciano could do with some part-time at bats, I'm good with this move. Backup catcher shouldn't amount to more than 1/2 a win to a win over 80 games, one way or the other. Caratini is pretty much the definition of a mid-tier, average back up catcher. For all the hand wringing over Severino's suspension caused, backup catcher who's going to start 22 - 30 games for half a season just isn't going to impact enough AB's/plays/games to make enough of a difference in the W/L column.

While I would have liked to have seen what Feliciano could do with some part-time at bats, I'm good with this move. Backup catcher shouldn't amount to more than 1/2 a win to a win over 80 games, one way or the other. Caratini is pretty much the definition of a mid-tier, average back up catcher. For all the hand wringing over Severino's suspension caused, backup catcher who's going to start 22 - 30 games for half a season just isn't going to impact enough AB's/plays/games to make enough of a difference in the W/L column.

I think it's safe to say that almost ALL fiction has some political undertone (except maybe Thomas the Train Engine!) so I think let's just discuss what we like, what we're reading, be cool about it, and not derail the thread. That being said, the last couple two-tree years (damn you Sveumrules!) I've dove head first back into graphic novels (or "comic books" if you will) as I often do. I'll take a 3-4 year hiatus, and then see what's cool, relevant, or trending, and then grab a 6 - 12 month supply. I just finished the last volume of "Low" by Rick Remender not too long ago. If you're into Sci-Fi, the art is simply stunning. It's got a really limited color palette that kind of forces your perspective, and at times, it's simply bizarre. I've heard reviewers say the last volume felt rushed and incomplete, but I didn't get that feeling at all. The story says what it has to say without feeling like it limps along and it's a really good 5 volume, complete story for Sci-Fi fans. Also just finished up "East of West" by Johnathon Hickman. Another excellent sci-fi/fantasy Series. A little longer ( I think 10 volumes/60-ish issues) but the pacing is excellent, and it's got (again) a really excellent palette that brings the art to life and helps tell the story. I have 3 huge Omnibus volumes of Usagi Yojimbo (signed!) that I'm only about half way through. Stan Sakai is such a great storyteller. The art sometimes leaves a little to be desired. He's going for a serious, sometimes violent morality tale, and the art is really 'kiddy', so it clashes, and it's hard to mesh the two sometimes (for me, at least) but it's such good storytelling that I keep going back. And I'm sure if you're reading this and you read graphic novels, you're reading "Saga", so you don't need me to tell you to get into it.

2007 Brewers vs. Giants on June 18. Yovanni's first MLB start, and the first game me and my son went to just the two of us. We had gone to games as a family, or with other guys in my 'baseball friends' group, but this was the first time we went JUST him and me as "two guys" (he was 12 or 13 at the time). Yo pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and in the bottom of the 2nd he smoked a double to left in his first big league at bat. So maybe not the most memorable AB by a Brewers pitcher, but kinda special for us, and obviously pretty memorable for Yo. Brewers won the game 5-4 as well!

Oof. That was an ugly punt last night. I know the guys are managing minutes as the playoffs approach and yada yada, but giving up 153 is hard to do in 4 quarters, no matter who you have on the court. Covington dropping 11/18 on threes is crazy.