lend d money

Hey, there's a game going on and some people are working! Where's the details??http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Actually, Mark, you are wrong. My son has at least one Ryan Knox bat in his room, we have signed cards in the cario cabinet and his old Snapper jersey can be found in my room. Way to show 'em Ryan, hopefully they will see you have greater value than the kid with the famous name.

Hey Roco, I saw that ball you were talking about that was hit to RF last night. However, that was Trefholtz(not Anderson) out there. Given his speed, I was amazed he wasn't even close to the ball. I can only assume he got a bad read or lost in the lights. As you said, he was frozen stiff. My initial impressions are this will be a down year for the Snappers. When more than half of your outs are recorded by strikeout and only two of six hits leave the infield, that speaks volumes for the "hitting". The Swing players were hitting ropes into the outfield and several on the track. Plus, the first three pitchers the Swing(gosh, I hate that name) threw out there were no good. If the guy who finished for the Swing, starts, we don't win. I would say savor the Culvers coupon from last night because there won't be too many more seven run games for the Snappers. Their offense appears to be very dependent on bunts and walks. IIRC, Guilder Rodriguez attempted a bunt for a hit in all but one plate appearance. I get the impression he couldn't beat Kenard Bibbs in a "long-distance" hitting contest. Ramirez doesn't seem to extend his arms when he swings.(BTW, the program had him listed at 165 pounds, he's gotta be close to 2 bills). Having seen Moss play last year, I'm not going to sound off any alarms on him, but as madbad stated at least swing the bat when you K, three times looking is no good. From the pitching side, Eveland didn't appear to be the type who would knock the bat out of your hand, but threw fairly consistent strikes with movement. Morreira, who followed him, was pretty much the exact opposite(hard and straight). All in all, I think the Snappers will be very dependent upon their pitching this year if they are to have any success at all. However, we have to remember our first two picks from last year are already in AA(one not deserving, but I will digress for now). When you take that into consideration, perhaps we should not have great expectations for this team.

John, if that was your prediction and it comes true, I will tip my hat(how do you like it)http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/pimp.gif to you. I can honestly say I was unaware of their offseason moves, but didn't think it mattered based on the direction of the Brewers, Reds and Pirates. Unlike basketball, baseball can be a sport where you truly are only as good as your weakest link. The Cards might be showing a little rust.

Igor, I would have to agree. I have stated all along the Cards would be much closer to first than they would be to fourth. While fully aware of their mainstays(Rolen, Renteria, Edmunds, Pujols, Matheny), I was unaware of Womack and Lankford as everyday players. Those two and Sanders will strikeout frequently. It's kind of an atypical LaRussa team. He prefers to have the interchangeable parts and be able to hit and run. I don't see him being able to do alot of that with the latter three guys. Since I don't like to backpedal, I won't at this time, but can say a fourth place finish(not necessarily saying the Brewers would be the ones finishing third) doesn't seem out of the question based on their roster makeup. They have no farm system from which to draw from(sound familiar) either.

I had an original concept. What if we start a FREE GINTER campaign? Just a thought.

C'mon Brewers and kiss(i.e. win) me baby one more time.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/pimp.gif

I went on the Quad City web site(scouting the opposition) last night and noticed a few interesting facts. First of all, they have TEN players returning that played at QC some time last year. In addition, their first round picks from the last two years will be there. As rookies in the Appalachian League, some of the team players won the championship. Lastly, they don't get to play a home game until......April 29th. Yikes! They are either remodeling or building a new stadium. I would sure love to be the team(s) catching them on the end of that road trip. If they can survive that stretch anywhere near the top, they should be a contender.

Though I fear the answers, I must ask what has happened to two of my favorite people within the minor league system. I don't see either Pete Esparagoza or Tony Stavros on the HD roster. Did they fall victim to the knife?

I closed a loan for a customer last week who went to the Cards-Brewers series last year courtesy of Matt Morris pass tickets. My customer's wife is a friend of Matt's wife, who evidently hales from Delavan.

(again) violating some sort of unwritten code(like being a Chuckie Carr type that won't take a 3-0 pitch) by doing that? If so, please accept my apology and I will try to refrain.

He made some dazzling plays in the field last year while I was in Huntsville. But, the kid had an awkward way of holding his hands while hitting and barely hit above his meager weight.

I "fought" with Toby last year over his placement in the Power 50. Simply stated, he couldn't throw strikes. IIRC, his first half was OK, but during the entire second half the plate was completely dancing on him. As a result, people like Jason Baker(long since released) passed him up in the rotation down the stretch.

I might be telling you something you already knew, but Brandon started with the Snappers as a corner OF. My guess is he was moved due to a lack of speed.

I forgot to make mention of Brandon. With Prince, what are their plans for him? When they play in DH games, their already potent offense will be even stronger by comparison to most other teams.

The absolute only reason I can see starting Dennis in AA and Manny in HD(if ,in fact, that is the plan) is because of season-ending and offseason health concerns. Otherwise, IMHO, Manny at the very least is equally refined as Dennis.

I have to admit to being somewhat surprised about Jon only because of last year's High Desert staff. Hopefully, they have people planned for there that are at least equally as good. Huizinga was used alot during the Snappers 2003 playoff push. He was utilized down the stretch much more than Bausher. He was Ok, but not spectacular. That type of player seems to be the type we bury in HD.

MB, you nailed it on the head. On top of that, I found it ironic that this type of commentary would come from someone hitting below the Mendoza line, yet on a major league roster. Kade is a stiff. He will never see a major league game, unless we have a huge injury bug at that position that prompts a quick cup of coffee. He should be damn grateful that he is on a major league roster. Quite frankly, I think he is fortunate to be in organized baseball. He is closer to the independent leagues, than the majors. Thankfully, it will be short-lived as we have several worthwhile candidates who will need to assume (his) a spot in 2005. I don't care what you do in life, if you are handed $650K out of the box, please don't look for tears. It's embarrassing!

A friend provided me with a copy of Sports Weekly(who by the way rated our farm system EIGHTH, that's nuts) this weekend. It stated that Jorge de la Rosa allowed one or zero runs in 17 of 22 starts last year. That's phenomenal! It made me wonder somewhat why everyone seems to be so sour on the Sexson trade(perhaps, its just the surrounding circumstances of losing a valuable player). Someone like that must have some serious upside. I think we got a capable catcher(something we didn't have) and two pitchers(also an area of need) who at the very least should be strong competitors for immediate or future rotation spots. If they parlay Spivey into something, then that has to be factored, as well. That's not too bad for someone you would lose in a year anyway. I'm personally unsure of Overbay, so I'm not really counting him and Counsell is one and done. Getting back to my original thought, are their surrounding circumstances(age, league, etc) that should temper my enthusiasm over de la Rosa??

My family and I have made trips to Huntsville the last two years. Unquestionably, the Braves are the "cat's meow" down there. I am kind of ambivalent about Huntsville. I really like the people and the cheap flights, but I don't know if we could find somewhere closer and a better stadium. A good number of their seats are downright embarrassing(no backs, cracked, etc.).

My wife and I questioned Snapper players about Dustin over the last two years. We usually got evasive answers, which led me to believe his disappearance was related to something other than baseball. I saw him pitch most of his 8.1 with Beloit. It's a shame as he had a quality arm.

He states "the injury report on him is not good." I thought he basically received rehab clearance from a well-known doctor. Did I miss something?

Colby, I was going to include similar information about his football "prowess" in my initial post but decided against it since I don't purport to be a football expert. I never played the game competitively and therefore don't know all of the nuances. Plus, DB's are often outside of a TV screen. But, yeah, I'm not impressed with Page the football player, as well. Hopefully, he can justify his decision on the diamond.

I mentioned to a friend I was watching the game with that he was a former Brewer draft pick. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how well he has done for the Bruins on the diamond?

I am curious about the "more likely he will have arm problems" comments about Mike Jones. He didn't have any IIRC before the draft. This his only incident since then. I can't help but wonder if, like some of our posters, he feels all Brewer pitchers are doomed to arm troubles or if it is based on something physical or mechanical.