JohnBriggs12
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Everything posted by JohnBriggs12
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I have a buddy in a quite high level position with Coors (he is a Wisconsin native I might add). I generally see him once a year around the end of June at a group get-together. Now most of us in the group are Miller product drinkers and it was always kind of funny that he was the only one ordering Coors. Now he can blend in with the rest of us without being disloyal. I figure he's had great access to tickets and/or suites at Coors Field but I never had the occasion to be in Denver since he's been with Coors so I never really asked him directly about it. Now I think I'll mention how much my family and I love Miller Park and see what he says.
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I don't think it's worth getting worked up over. Coaches come and go all the time all over baseball. Leyva was probably hired not because he was all that great but was the best available at the time. Now they want to make a change. Who knows how he and Yost got along. Kremblas is in a delicate spot now. It's obvious from his hire that Yost's leash does not extend all the way to the end of 08. If this team isn't playing to expectations into late June, I think they'll make a change and Kremblas will get the job at least on an interim basis.
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"JJ seems too intent at swinging at the first or second pitch every at bat". I think JJ took a lot of first pitch fastballs when I watched him. I think JJ's approach when batting 2nd was often to take the first pitch. But in that 2 hole, pitchers attacked the strike zone on him and got ahead of him. Once he got behind, he was forced to go after more pitcher's pitches. When he dropped in the order, he became more aggressive and more successful. Batting 2nd is a very tough place to draw walks. When you're hitting with Weeks on, you might need to take pitches to allow him to run and you get behind in the count. When you're batting with bases empty, pitchers will not want to walk you with Braun and Fielder coming up. The Brewers don't really have the ideal guy for that spot. But how many teams have a 2 hole hitter slam 25 HR?
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I've got another available guy who is the epitome of "professional hitter": Cliff Floyd. Floyd will be a free agent and according to article in today's Sun Times, it's likely he will "test the market" before deciding if he will retire or not. The article indicates he won't come back to be in a backup role, presumably meaning it would have to be at least in a platoon role. He's also wanting the situation to fit his family needs, which could work in Brewers' favor being close to Floyd's home. Now, Floyd's downsides are obvious. He has bad wheels and has to sit from time to time and doesn't cover much ground any more in the OF. But this guy can still hit and yes, he'll take a walk too. You'd need a good platoon partner, ideally one who could double as defensive replacement too, but Floyd's a name to consider. It could be ironic if the Brewers were to sign Floyd and Jenkins (blasphemy) ends up a Cub.
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"I want guys who will take walks, that is hitting like a professional to me" Ender does that mean you don't consider Braun, Hardy, and Hart to have been professional this year because their walk totals were low? I think Melvin is figuring that Braun will naturally become more selective as Fielder did this year and you will see both of them drawing a lot of walks as pitchers pitch around them. But behind them they will need guys who will more reliably get that RBI single instead of the Jenkins/Hall strikeout trying for that 3 run HR. Hart emerged late as a guy like that and they could use one more, preferably from the left side. Walks are just part of being a professional hitter. The two guys I mentioned, walk at about an average rate, but in the case of Ibanez, he drives in runs at a rate that is more than just coincidence, but is indicative of the ability to hit situationally. I'd much prefer Ibanez over Stewart because he's LH, has more power, and drives in more runs. But they have to give up more to get him, so Stewart is a fallback type. I'm sure Melvin thought he was getting that professional hitter in Estrada. Certainly the lack of walks from Estrada hurt his value, but just as disconcerting were his lack of RBI's and clutch hits. Melvin figured he could live without the walks from Estrada if he got the run production. He didn't get that.
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Weeks' finish to the season was the most significant development going forward. Unfortunately, his struggles from May through July contributed heavily to the team's losing it's grip on first. I had always thought that of all the young guys, Weeks could be the best of all. I based this on my belief that Weeks is more capable of producing against the top of the line pitchers than the other young Brewers. But by the end of July, my faith in him was nearly gone. He went a long way in restoring my faith in him in September.
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Torre started his major league career in Milwaukee. It's likely he would retire, but who knows after a year maybe he'll get the itch to manage again and what better place than where he started with a talented young team. Attanasio has been a Yankee fan his entire life and has to love the idea of Torre managing the Brewers. Heck Jack McKeon managed well into his 70's and Torre is "just" 67.
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Professional hitter: Veteran, consistent run producer can hit .280-.300 year after year. Makes contact therefore not a ton of walks but will not expand the zone ala Estrada either. Hits all kinds of pitching. Carlos Lee was the perfect example of a professional hitter. Another who fits the description to a tee might be available via trade: Raul Ibanez I know I'm a broken record having mentioned this guy in the trade forums, but he totally fits the descpription of a professional hitter. Melvin acknowledging that he is looking for a professional hitter, tells me that Ibanez is on his radar. Those of you who've been long time readers of this forum may recall I sniffed out the Podsednik for Lee deal three years ago before it happened. I have the same feeling this offseason about Ibanez. Another name that might qualify: Shannon Stewart. Not a huge run producer, but he showed he was healthy this season and he's a veteran bat who will hit around .300. I recall reading the Brewers had some interest last offseason and now that he's been healthy I wouldn't doubt there's renewed interest on Melvin's part. Stewart will be a free agent.
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Mark Kirst, who was drafted by the Brewers in 1997 out of St. Norbert and spent 3 seasons in the Brewer organization was inducted into the St. Norbert Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 29th.
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Philly all the way. World Series game winning RBI: Wes Helms.
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Brewer infield: defense and hitting issues
JohnBriggs12 replied to RoseBowlMtg's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
I'd leave Braun alone for now. Aramis Ramirez made 23 errors in 96 games for Pittsburgh in 2003 and he's never topped 16 in any one year with the Cubs. I'd bet Braun will show noticeable improvement. If he doesn't he sure has the speed to be a good outfielder. If it were me, I'd flip flop Hall and Weeks. Weeks is faster than Hall. Hall is a better infielder than Weeks. Yes Weeks has improved, but I think any improvement from here on will be minimal. -
The White Sox are looking for relievers though Turnbow is very similar to the guys that burned them this year (hard throwers with inconsistent command) so I'm not sure if Kenny Williams would be interested in Turnbow unless he was part of a package perhaps.
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Bruce Ciskie, All the points you make about his other options are true, but we're trying to determine if he sent McClung in to hit Pujols. Yost could have left Linebrink in to start the inning, but that has not been his pattern before. He could have started the inning with Turnbow, but again his pattern suggests he doesn't use Turnbow down a run. He could have brought in Cordero after McClung was ejected, but he doesn't bring in Cordero when they're tied, so that he doesn't when they're behind is no surprise. My whole point is not that Ned's a wise manager, but that he brought McClung in to get two guys out. In that situation if you had asked me to guess who he would bring in there after King retired Ankiel, I would have guessed either McClung or Spurling. Again, that's not to say I agree with those choices just that it would have been what I figured Yost would do there. I didn't think they'd go after Pujols there even after it was McClung who came on.
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1. Do you think it was a good idea to put McClung in there? What have you seen to make you believe that? Answer: Yost's options there are not good. But he did the very same thing last Thursday trailing the Braves 3-1 and McClung pitched a scoreless 7th. He also used McClung to open the 11th on Saturday. Yost almost never uses Turnbow when they are behind. You could argue all you want that it was a bad decision but my point is that he didn't bring McClung in to drill Pujols. 2. Why did Turnbow become a good idea only when McClung got run? Answer: Maybe Spurling could have come in, but who else is there. His hands were tied. 3. Suppan buzzed Pujols. Answer: He never came near Pujols. The pitch was slightly up and in. If that wasn't Pujols and LaRussa who thinks the world revolves around his crummy team involved nobody would have thought anything of it. Pujols leaned away from a pitch. He didn't go down in the dirt, or move his feet. It was a ridiculous reaction by LaRussa. Suppan had absolutely no reason to go after Pujols in that situation. The Brewers were coasting and Suppan is not that kind of guy. "Either Ned had no faith in McClung". Ned rightfully so has very little faith in anyone in his pen. In the aforementioned Saturday game, McClung was removed after walking one batter.
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This will shock everyone. I am going to defend Yost on this one. I don't believe McClung was brought in to hit Pujols. The Brewers were behind by a run and Yost doesn't generally use Turnbow when they are behind. McClung had taken over Wise's role (remember Ned said he would no longer use Wise in close games), and it was his job to get throught that inning, not hit Pujols. If you've watched McClung though, he's a thrower who lacks command. It's been his problem his entire career. If he were trying to hit Pujols, he would probably miss. Yost isn't the brightest, but he's not that dumb either. This whole incident is LaRussa. Suppan didn't come anywhere near Pujols the night before. Suppan has control. If he wanted to hit Pujols he would have, but he didn't. The game at that time was well in hand. Thompson and LaRussa should have both been tossed after Thompson hit Fielder. Remember in that situation the base was open. What really irritates me about the reaction of the Cardinal broadcasters is that it's fine to throw at guys when you're not in a pennant race and the team you are playing is.
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Who's your scapegoat?
JohnBriggs12 replied to mothershipconnection's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
My scapegoat is Doug Melvin because he thought having Turnbow and Wise as cornerstones of your bullpen was enough and he didn't aggressively pursue bullpen help in the offseason. That was the fatal error of this season not related to Yost and his problems. Capuano certainly deserves some blame. Hall is well down my list. Everybody is not going to have great years. His year was disappointing but not devastating. -
1 basehit to send us to the playoffs - Who ya got?
JohnBriggs12 replied to Menotti80's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Cecil Cooper. Really though, I'll say Jenkins if it's a righthanded pitcher. Hall if if it's a lefty. It would be poetic justice. -
First of all, the criticism of Yost was not unjustified. He made many tactical errors managing this ballclub from questionable lineups, sticking with guys too long or giving up on guys too soon. The fact that he had explanations for his moves makes no difference. Of course he's going to have explanations. That doesn't make them the right moves. I figured though that unless they finished under .500, Attanasio would not have the will to fire him (why this isn't Melvin's call is another topic). After all, Attanasio likes Ned. Remember the smiles after the dinner with Suppan last December? Ned has successfully ingratiated himself as a close associate with both Melvin and Attanasio. Melvin's future is tied to Ned too. So I'm not surprised about this. Optimistically, I continue to watch to see if Ned learns from his mistakes. Sometimes I'm encouraged, as for the last several days he's gone with the lineup that should have been out there the entire month. But more often than not, as soon as you think he's finally got things under control, another move comes along that just defies logic. If Ned can take the criticism and learn from his mistakes, we have hope. I don't think he'll ever be a great manager, but this team has a ton of talent that even an average manager should not be able to mess up.
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Cubs NL Central Champs T-Shirts on Sale
JohnBriggs12 replied to owbc's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
The Cub fans and Chicago media is acting as if it's over already. If the Cubs collapse now, I will have to avoid walking near tall buildings. Let's hope the Marlins have some 2003 mojo this week. -
Sheets to the Yankees proposal
JohnBriggs12 replied to tony2sweet's topic in Transaction Rumors & Proposals
"how about Sheets and Zach Jack to Seattle for Balentien and Clement" If you could then trade Balentien for a nearly major league ready arm (either starter or reliever), then that's not a bad return. I think you'd have to get some pitching back as part of any Sheets deal. -
"I'm as angry at...Hall" Why would you be angry at Hall? Because his 10th inning hit with a runner on 2nd was hit too hard to score the runner? As I watched the top of the 11th, I considered Yost's best choice to pitch the bottom to be between Linebrink and Vargas. I would not have had a problem with either. I did not consider Mclung. My anger is directed toward Cordero for allowing a game tying HR, Weeks for booting a possible DP ball, Counsell for failing to get the runner in, Miller for swinging at ball four that would have brought in a run, Mclung for walking the leadoff hitter, and last but certainly not least, Yost, for having Counsell bunt with 2 strikes in that situation, and for starting the 11th with Mclung instead of a veteran like Linebrink or Vargas and for picking Capuano to start tomorrow over Vargas.
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Yost staked his managerial future (and the Brewer postseason hopes) on a guy (Dillon) who prior to being inserted into the every day lineup, had 84 major league AB's at age 32 and another guy (Gross) with a bit more experience but never as a regular with up and down results over the guy who is second all-time in Brewer history in HR and in the top 5 in most offensive categories, and another guy who was the team MVP just a year ago. He made is bed, and he'll have to lie in it.
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Sheets to the Yankees proposal
JohnBriggs12 replied to tony2sweet's topic in Transaction Rumors & Proposals
The team out there that could really use Sheets is Seattle. They have catching that they could deal but don't have that young arm that the Brewers would also want back. "Next year, while we still have Sheets is...our best chance." The problem with that is we don't ever know if we will still have Sheets. His history suggests when it's crunch time, Ben will be nursing some body part yet to be determined. "Is Prior Available" He could be. He's arby eligible and there's a chance the Cubs won't tender him. -
Ned's explanation shows how stupid he is. He is just regurgitating what is a stupid baseball "rule". The game is much more at risk tied with a lesser pitcher on the mound, than it would be later (hitters tend to tire as innings pile up) with a lead and a lesser pitcher on the mound.
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Lukevan, How on earth is Spurling who has an OPS against of .814 just as likely to keep momentum on his team's side as Cordero who's OPS against is .539? Sending in the likes of Spurling and Wise, just reinvigorates the opponents who have to face them. That's like saying the Packers are just as well off after a big turnover, to send in the third string QB (if they had one) instead of Brett Favre.