Madtown Bomber

There is no doubt that Haudicourt said all this stuff. Go to the 540 ESPN page and listen to it. I believe all Haudicourt's segments are linked on there.

Haudicourt on 540 ESPN just said on the D-List that Macha is basically all done except for the press conference. Said that both Melvin and Macha have contacted Jason Kendell. Also stated which I think is more interesting that Mike Maddox, Bill Castro, Ed Sedar have all signed contract extentions, and Dale Sveum will likely be named the bench coach. Sveum back? wow...

Try not to throw up in your mouth. Rosenthal said that Larry Bowa has been in contact with Doug Melvin. If you are into hard nosed, old school baseball you have your man. He is a older version of Ned Yost in my opinion. Rosenthal really didn't have much more insite then Haudicourt had in the paper this morning.

Sorry guys but that list is really unattractive. The only person on that list that even remotely perks my ears up is Bobby Valentine. If that is the list we are choosing from I rather take somebody new. Mattingly or somebody like that.

I rarely stick up for Tom Haudicourt but on this occassion I am going to. If you happened to listen to the D-List (so much better with Trenni apart of the show Bill Johnson not) Drew Olson and Tom Haudicourt discuss these grades and how a beat writer has to go about them. Haudicourt uses Gabe Kapler as an example and says it isn't Gabe Kapler vs. Prince Fielder or Gabe Kapler vs. Mike Cameron it is what Gabe Kapler did vs. what Gabe Kapler was expected to do. In that case you can understand why Gabe Kapler recieved the grade he did. He was out of baseball, and expecting to be a fringe role player/pinch hitter and what Kapler did was blow the expectations out of the water. Looking at it that way you can understand a little on where they stood and why they choose the grades they did. Ofcourse there are going to be some grades that we disagree with but I would say a good majority were right. Forget what was written in the notes about Cameron. Cameron gets downgraded because of the expectations that were placed upon him. From the moment we signed him Yost and Melvin talked about how he gets extra bases and doesn't make dumb mistakes. When the offense sputtered in April it was Ned Yost who claimed that a returning Mike Cameron would break the offense out of it. Those were some pretty unrealistic expectations that the Brewers put on Cameron and not Tom Haudicourt. And if you measure Cameron's production against those expectations I think that you are right there with that grade. The Mota vs. Suppan arguement doesn't apply either. Different positions. Mota did fail to meet the expectations put forth by BREWERS MANGEMENT. In the early part of the year when he did well those expectations rose. I expected more out of Mota. Shoot he was handed the closer role and then the set up role and he flunked bad. He did right the ship in the last 6 weeks however. Jeff Suppan is another story. Haudicourt even admitted that his grade for Suppan was almost a D and would have been a D if not for a pretty dominate stretch from after the allstar break to September. People forget that he was pretty darn good there. I know this cause he filled in on my fantasy team while I had a few injuries in my staff. C- is about acurate. The thing about these grades are it is the whole body of work not just what you remember most. Ryan Braun doesn't get points because he decided to play hurt and struggled. Corey Hart doesn't get a pass for looking like crap for 7 weeks. Grading these things are very difficult to do. I would love to see some people do this. Take all the emotion out of it, take all parts of the season into account vs. expectations and see where your grades line up.

No offense but PUKE! First off Corey Hart is the true 5 tool player. I've heard old players and scouts call Corey Hart the best baserunner they have ever seen. He has speed, he is going to win a gold glove some day, he has a cannon for a arm, he has modest power, and he can hit for average. Minus for a 7 week period he was pretty good. The only thing you can complain about is his lack of patience at the plate. Lets not give up on him because he had a few bad weeks. Next the trade to the Royals...no way! You can get a lot more for Corey Hart. I would think you can get some legit players for him. Teahan has underachieved to the expectations he had on him and DeJesus could be a older version of Tony Gwynn.

The contract was total not per season.

Just got this email from a good source. I'll let the email tell the story: Nice to see since he was arguably the best relief option in September.

I will do what I want to happen first (minus CC and Sheets) then I will do what I think will happen: Trade Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, and Dave Bush to the Yankees for Robinson Cano and Phil Hughes. Trade Bill Hall and Luis Pena for Reggie Willits Trade prospects to Colorado for Garrett Atkins. C- Jason Kendall 1B- Prince Fielder 2B- Robinson Cano 3B- Garrett Atkins SS- JJ Hardy LF- Mat Gamel CF- Reggie Willits RF- Ryan Braun Bench- Mike Rivera Bench- Jay Gibbons Bench- Brad Nelson Bench- Gabe Kapler Bench- Tony Gwynn SP- Yovani Gallardo SP- Phil Hughes SP- Manny Parra SP- Seth McClung SP- Jeff Suppan RP- Todd Coffey RP- Carlos Villanueva RP- Mitch Stetter RP- David Riske RP- Rafael Soriano RP- Eric Gagne RP- Salomon Torres What I think will happen? Bill Hall to the Tigers for Placido Polanco. Sign Rafael Soriano C- Jason Kendall 1B- Prince Fielder 2B- Placido Polanco SS- JJ Hardy 3B- Mat Gamel LF- Ryan Braun CF- Mike Cameron RF- Corey Hart Bench- Gabe Kapler Bench- Rickie Weeks Bench- Brad Nelson Bench- Mike Rivera Bench- Jay Gibbons SP- Yovani Gallardo SP- Manny Parra SP- Dave Bush SP- Jeff Suppan SP- Seth McClung RP- Todd Coffey RP- Carlos Villanueva RP- Mitch Stetter RP- David Riske RP- Rafael Soriano RP- Eric Gagne RP- Salomon Torres

The D-List this morning said that there would be no decisions made for atleast a week as upper managment has been given the week off due to the long hours of the past month. Also they said that Doug Melvin would be traveling this week to Arizona for a few days to check on Arizona Fall League players.

I don't see any way that Robin takes the job if Sveum is brought back since they are BFF's.

I deleted it myself thank you very much. But thanks for showing the world what a jerk is.

Regular: Al's Ramblings Semi-Regular: Brew Crew Ball Aaron Gleeman John Sickels Occasional: MLBtraderumors

Ken Rosenthal on Fox Sports radio just said a whole lot about the Brewers staff and I will try disect it and reorganize it. 1. If the Brewers are one game up tomorrow and Sheets comes out of it healthy, Dave Bush will start tomorrow, CC Sabathia would then be ready for a one game playoff or Game 1 vs. the Phillies. 2. If the Brewers are one game up tomorrow and Sheets leaves early and the Brewers are forced to pitch Dave Bush tonight, CC Sabathia will start tomorrow, Yovanni Gallardo would start either the one game playoff or game 1 vs. the Phillies. 3. If the Brewers and Mets are tied after today's game CC Sabathia pitches. 4. If the Brewers clinch today then Dave Bush will start with Manny Parra in relief. The perferred Brewers rotation for the playoffs will be Sabathia, Sheets, Bush. If the Brewers are forced to use Sabathia anytime before game 1 of the NLDS it will likely include Gallardo in the rotation. Rosenthal believed that as of right now both Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan would be left off the NLDS playoff roster, replaced by Gallardo and Todd Coffey who is eligable due to Dave Riske going on the DL. Rosenthal also stated that it is possible that Russell Branyon returns to the DL or Gabe Kapler goes to the DL to make Mike Lamb playoff eligable. Also said if the Brewers only keep 12 pitchers then Escobar would make the roster if 13 pitchers then Parra would make it.

I was just reading our friend Al's Ramblings Chat from a week or so ago and a question referenced a Peter Gammon's comment about the Red Sox's closing in on a deal with Sarasota and that the Brewers could be next. Then I just came across this on baseball america about the Rays moving to Vero Beach? I don't know if I read that right. who knows. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/business/?p=116 It will be interesting to see what happens now that the shoe dropped on Appleton getting the Single A team.

People questioned if that magically 19th date would happen. While I haven't heard exactly it would definatly make sense. He hasn't had one setback along this road. It sounds like he will start in the pen in a Joba Chamberlain type role but don't be surprised if the Brewers make and then advance to the NLCS that Gallardo is that bridge starter in a game 4.

Here is what I got from a friend of mine from the MLB office in Milwaukee tonight. I don't know much about Decker, and I would be highly shocked if they would hire a single A manager to take over at the major league level. I could see it making more sense in Nashville but Milwaukee, no way. But who knows, this is the same organization that fired its manager with 12 games left to play and tied for a playoff spot. ha Personally I am all for Mattingly or atleast somebody with no 82 Brewers ties. New blood please.

Jim Leyland or Tony LaRussa will not be the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. There is no possible way expecially if Doug Melvin is still around. Leyland is up there in years and if LaRussa goes he is going by his buddy Walt in Cincinnati.

Homer at 540 ESPN is reporting some kind of report from Peter Gammons that Doug Melvin's employment could be hinged on these last 12 games. Whether that means that JZ time is now is debatable but quotes from Melvin seem to lead that this came straight from Attanasio and not Melvin.

This is my feeling who replaces this current cast of characters. Likely Candidates to replace Ned Yost: Don Mattingly: Current hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers: Has the most coaching experience of the people from Attanasio's days following the Yankees and his Dodgers connections. Seemed to screwed over in New York after they fired Torre last season. Would come in with a culture of winning. Steve Decker: Current Head Coach of the San Jose Giants: Attanasio's good friend and considered in many circles the "best" minor league manager in baseball. Some talk he would be considered the replacement for Bruce Bochy in San Francisco but Bochy is likely safe. Strongly Considered Candidates to replace Ned Yost: Dale Sveum: Current Interim Head Coach of the Milwaukee Brewers: He has 12 games at least to make a case. I don't know what his chances are knowing what we know now. Likely to make huge staff changes if they miss the playoffs. Bobby Valentine: Current Head Coach of the Chiba Lotte Marines: Former New York Mets Manager has been rumored to be coming back to the big leagues and Milwaukee seems to be a attractive choice with the talent base in place. Anti-Yost with a STRONG personality. Bob Brenly: Current Play by Play Man for the Chicago Cubs: Should have been a canidate for many of jobs in the past but for some reason hasn't. Considered Canidates to replace Ned Yost: Robin Yount Paul O'Neil Don Money (mod note: added to Designated Threads List; also note that the How much credit does Dale Sveum deserve? thread has been designated for discussion of Dale's 2009 managerial performance. --1992) (edits: title updates --lots of mods) (edit: code broken by one of the edits --1992)

While I think this move was written all over the wall the timing really stinks. In a way it is like they now have a built in excuse if they end up not making the playoffs. This is a distraction I don't know how the players can avoid. This move was totally made by our owner and definatly not of Melvin who might have to worry about his skin next.

I believe all the sim game stuff and bullpen work is done prior to pitchers batting practice.

Yovani Gallardo's next sim game is going to be Saturday prior to the game, and will be 50-65 pitches. If that goes well the schedule is to go the following Wednesday and Sunday the 14th. If these go well that September 19th date is more then possible. I wonder if a compromise will be reached that Gallardo will be allowed to come back IF he goes to the bullpen even though I know he is itching to get back into the rotation.

ok, here is how Tom Haudicourt explained it to me. If any player is on the DL on September 1st is eligible to be on the playoff roster. If come playoff time the Brewers have 3 current DL spots (which they still do) then the Brewers can select upto 3 players from the entire organization to take those spots, thus being eligible to play in the playoffs. The one thing I am not sure of is if the player isn't in the organization August 31 if that doesn't make him eligible. On the topic of Lamb, it is a good move because nobody can be worse then the 2 headed turd we are starting there now.

I am not advocating throwing Gamel in there against the Cubs and Phillies right away but get his feet wet with the likes of the Padres and Reds. If the worry is defense go look at Bill Hall's defensive stats. If Bill Hall's defense is your reasoning behind not playing Mat Gamel then you need to come up with a different arguement.