Madtown Bomber

Tom Haudicourt today speculated on his D-List segment from the information he gathered that it was that he was indeed tipping his pitches somehow. He didn't get specific but just wanted to pass it along.

I just received an email my buddy in Florida and I just wanted to share part of it. I talked to several members of the Polk County and Indian River County Government in the past couple days and both feel that talks with the Milwaukee Brewers officials went well. Members of Polk County have already met with Milwaukee Brewers officials and Milwaukee City business leaders in early April and Indian River County officials plan on meeting with the same group at the end of May in Milwaukee. Talks were very productive with Vero Beach, Indian River County, and Milwaukee Brewers officials when the group toured the area May 5th. Personally with no inside information I think the Milwaukee Brewers prefer to be closer to the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area, which would still make Auburndale and Sarasota the top choices of the ballclub. Again like I said before the Boston Red Sox decision is going to prove to be a domino effect for numerous ballclubs. Doing some research on the Vero Beach site, it is going to take a major renovation to attract a new ballclub there. If the Brewers were indeed interested I would expect there to be a multi-million dollar improvement plan put into works here soon. Holman Stadium for all its charm is really outdated and needs some severe improvements. I would expect that is why their government officials want to come talk to Milwaukee business leaders to see if they would be interested in helping if they could land the Brewers. I heard from another poster who messaged me that Joe Attanasio has a winter home in Punta Gorda, Florida which is near Port Charlotte. I don't know if that would have any influence on anything. I am looking forward to hearing something from the local press soon. I can't see Arizona going down without a fight. The Minnesota Twins, the Baltimore Orioles, the Florida Marlins, and the Milwaukee Brewers are all waiting for the Boston Red Sox to make a decision. Auburndale still is my personal choice if the Brewers are to leave Phoenix.

If kids are taking steroids because Barry Bonds did then Barry Bonds isn't the blame the parents are. The most frustrating this about this whole steroids thing is that we are out here protecting the youth and showing these wrong do-ers that what they did was wrong. Well no kidding! I am so sick of people in this country and this government hiding behind the protecting the people, or protecting the kids arguement. Parenting in this country is HORRIBLE, and the government is looking for face time. When these people empty their closets out and then admit they are going after people like Bonds because they want face time then maybe I will take these 14 counts of purjury and obstruction seriously. In the meantime we allow multiple time DUI offenders to continue to drive around after they are sentenced to jail to let him kill a principal who was trying her damnest to mold the kids of this world and her kids but I am supposed to worry about whether or not Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens chose to cheat at a GAME. Excuse me while I go put my priorities in order.

I think I have to agree with Vero Beach that nostalgia wise it has to be the top choice. For me though the whole point of moving to Florida is to make it more a family destination. Moving that far south and being on the East Coast kinda kills that arguement for me. I guess it is really close to Bevard County which is a plus. Auburndale is ideal for me. Inbetween Tampa and Orlando. Close to a lot of places. Makes the perfect place to take the family.

I was at the game tonight. I don't know who's voice it was but it sounded like someone I have heard before but nobody could put their finger on it. But he was good, at times he sounded a grown version of the kids they let announce, but that is ok because it was full of energy. Wish nothing but the best and a speedy recovery to Mr. Edwards and his family.

It was never a who's right and who's wrong sort of deal. I was just trying to pass along some information and I am just glad people now know I won't post stuff just to post stuff. The thought of Vero Beach is nice in a way because having a whole town get into your ball club like they do in Vero Beach would be quite cool. I think there are many more pieces to fall before we find out exactly is going to happen. As little as we have heard from the folks in Auburndale have me thinking that something is happening because they were the most vocal about a team until Sarasota lost the Reds. I have no idea what Baltimore is thinking because according to a Sarasota news article that they would consider Fort Myers REGARDLESS of what the Red Sox do. Can a area like Fort Myers support 3 spring training sites? The Minnesota Twins could again be looking for a new home. Could the Twins head down to Vero Beach, or east to Auburndale? What will the Florida Marlins do? The only thing that has happened during this whole saga since my original post was the Houston Astros are getting the improvements they wanted. But I now think there isn't going to be much until the Boston Red Sox decide what to do and according to the reports I am reading it could be the end of the month to 90 days. I do now know for a fact that the Brewers have an 100% clean break out clause after next spring training.

You need to read the whole topic about the travel.

3 years unless he turns 21 before the draft. I think that is the rule. I don't know if that is the case but that could be one case for that.

I was really just trying to pass along some information. If I had made it up I wouldn't keep coming back and posting. Most outlandish rumor starters post and you never really see them again. I hope that I don't give that impression because it wasn't my intention to work people up so much. You can have whatever take you want either way and I respect that. I will continue to post as I find out any new information if people want it. I really don't expect much until the Boston Red Sox make decision.

Nothing was posted because there was really nothing new to report. The Brewers officials met with Sarasota officials Saturday, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs on Sunday, and Vero Beach on Monday morning. I don't want to release names because I don't want to cross any lines that could be troublesome but the Brewers group was 2 officials from business operations and the corporate marketing departments and Sunday were joined by someone in the baseball operations department. I don't think much is going to happen until the "big" prize, the Boston Red Sox, decide on what they'll do before you see any dominos fall. Sarasota and Fort Myers are going to be slugging it out for the next few months and then when that falls you will see more things happen. Fort Lauderdale has just started to try and keep the Baltimore Orioles from moving to Vero Beach. I think everybody can state for fact that "Dodgertown" won't be without a spring training team for more then a year, since Vero Beach is the most known spring training facility in baseball. There was no mention of Auburndale so either they are backing away or already have another deal (for the Florida Marlins) to come. I'd prefer the Brewers, if they were to move to Florida, to be in Sarasota. The Fort Myers area is quite nice but further away from the family areas that make Florida attractive. Vero Beach would also be nice but I still think Baltimore ends up there. I don't know much about Fort Myers (Cape Coral and Bonita Springs), does anybody know anything about these communities? I never knew people would get so emotional over a spring training site. Patrick if the Brewers move to Florida are we going to have to put you on a suicide watch? sheesh...it's not that big of a deal to talk to people in business.

I know TGJ isn't the problem but as a young player they need to get him some playing time considering he was hurt he hasn't had hardly any. If Russell Branyan is going to be hot it might as well be in Milwaukee considering they need a DH next week in Boston.

They haven't even publically admitted they've talked about replacing the closer and Melvin is all of a sudden going to fire the manager? As much as said about bouncing Yost isn't there a progression that needs to be followed? I just don't see Melvin as being the type of guy who does knee jerk things.

I guess I am going to use the Tom Haudicourt tactic when talking about Ned Yost...What has Ned Yost done wrong during this current skid? Unfortantly Ned Yost is going anywhere unless they are 10 games under .500 come August and even then I don't know if he is a lock to get canned.

There is not one guy listed that people have talked about that interests me at all. Do you really want a guy who doesn't have one game of MLB coaching expierence to come up mid year with a supposed playoff hope coming in? I don't... Maybe after the season but not mid season. You are not getting Valentine mid year from the Japan league. You think Ned Yost handles pitching staffs bad? Wait til Grady Little is the manager. Hargrove? The same guy who quit on his team mid season? The same guy who recently stated that he has no interest in returning the game on a every day basis? Ted Simmons? He would me the most logical mid season but what has he done so far this year that is different from Yost? If you want to win this year there is no magic pill to coach this team. Unfortantly we're tied to Ned Yost for better or worse this season.

I don't know if anybody caught that verbal fight on the D-List this morning but a lot of interesting talk came out of it. Bill Johnson who could be one of the most irritating radio heads in Milwaukee started in early about when the drums start beating Ned Yost and that he needs to take the fall. Haudicourt asked if Johnson thought the coaches should be on the hot seat in Colorado, Detroit, and San Diego which didn't sit well with Johnson and Needles because Milwaukee is not those cities. Haudicourt then basically said that Ned Yost would have to be double digits below 500 in August to get bounced before the end of the year. Good questions asked by Haudicourt and Olson: If the Brewers raddle off a 7-0 homestand does the talk go from firing Ned Yost to do you give Ned Yost an extension. When will the Brewers get above .500? If you fire Ned Yost who do you want to replace him with? What has Ned Yost done wrong in this current skid? Why does there always have to be a sacraficial lamb when a whole group struggle? At the end, Haudicourt did say that he expected that there will be a whole different look to the pitching staff next week. Later on Olson stated there could be upwards to 4 moves. (Branyan, DiFelice, Weaver, Pena)? Those are my guesses. Bush, Parra, Carlos V, and TGJ to the minors for the time being. Everyone agreed that the Brewers need to win the next 3 series to not dig to big of a hole.

WHAT are you freaken serious? Then I guess no trades will be made at the deadline if they don't trade young players. Proven prospects makes perfect sense. Matt LaPorta is a proven prospect. He may not make it at the MLB level but he is living up to his first round billing. He is proving to be a top prospect. You could take some shmuck next year with your extra pick that could stink the joint up or get hurt.

I know these two would never happen and I am not even proposing these deals to do. I am just trying to figure out each of their values. Maybe I should have worded it like if you were to trade Prince or Sheets what would you expect in return. I just don't know what their true value is. I totally 100% disagree about not trading Sheets if we are out of it come July. I will take my already proven prospects or good young MLB players then 2 picks you could totally miss out on. What about Prince Fielder for Clayton Kershaw? I know the Dodgers have Loney but talent for talent would that be about Prince's value?

I had a arguement/discussion with a buddy at lunch today and we talking about the Brewers problems naturally and he I believe that he was overvaluing Prince Fielder and Ben Sheets. It is a natural thing to overvalue one's star players but what is the real value of them? I am going to give two hypothetical trades and these are what we based our arguements on Prince and Sheets and tell me who got the better end and do the Brewers get screwed or are the Brewers screwing over the other teams. Ben Sheets and Mike Cameron to the New York Yankees for Melky Caberra, Ian Kennedy, and prospect Brad Suttle. Prince Fielder to the San Fransisco Giants for Matt Cain, and prospects Clayton Tanner, Sergio Romo, and Pablo Sandaval.

Thanks for the quick response. So your opinion is that he projects better as a pitcher? 96 and big framed. How is his secondary stuff? Or is he to raw to really judge him on that yet.

Colby I don't know if you have the answer to this but I will ask you and everyone else. Has anyone been drafted say in the past 20 or so years that pitched and played the field early on after signing? I know Micah Owings has played first in spring training but I am wondering if anybody was drafted not knowing until a season in.

I just heard a report about Kyle Long (NFL HOF'er Howie's son) on Fox Sports Radio's segment with Johnathan Mayo from MiLB.com. He stated that the one player who is on the move is Belfield High School Senior Kyle Long. There is always one kid who flys up the board come May and it sounds like Long could be it. He is 6 foot 8 monster at 290 pounds. Mayo was saying that he has light pole power and 90+ arm. Says he could go from 13 to second round. Wow is all I can say. Add me to a person that could be interested in him come sandwich round.

Personally I feel that LaPorta is ready now...JMO. So you are saying TGJ is not the answer in CF. And let me clarify about my other point. I fully expect Braun to get an extension before the season is out, Fielder will likely get the 10 million tender next year as Ryan Howard got it in his arby hearing, Hart should be considered for a extension soon, and Sheets will likely get a 100 million. If you feel this nucleus can win are you prepared to have 3 or 4 guys take up over a third of the salary? You asked if I think there are guys in the draft that can be up in a year? If you would go to the draft forum there is two pretty good bets to make it up before the trade deadline in Cole St. Clair from Rice and Josh Fields from Georgia. If you think you can win now with 6 picks in the first 2 rounds you can snatch one and get him up. That was the point. If you don't believe that this nucleus you could see the Brewers draft high school kids or high ceiling college kids. That was the point, what do you want?

Personally I believe that this team is handcuffed with negatives that detract from the good. Hardy has shown (except a few stretches) that he will never be more then a average at best hitter. His inablility to hit anything other then a fastball is quite worrysome. --No offense, but there isn't much legitimacy to the 'scouting report' here, though I think he's clearly the most limited of Fielder/Weeks/Hart/Braun/Hardy Ah, I guess I just take more faith in guys like Drew Olson, Tom Haudricourt, and Bill James who said on 540 ESPN the exact thing I said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weeks is frustrating because while he hits balls on the button he still is around .200 batting average. While batting average is a worthless statistic when a player is relying on walks a majority of on base appearances that is cause for concern. You also can't forget about his hole in his glove at 2B. Are the Brewers going to be content with his defensive play or will they be forced to move him to the outfield. --Inaccurate, especially on the defense -- Rickie has been surprisingly better in 2008. You're saying there's something inherent in Weeks's swing that his BA is limited? Rickie draws BBs very well... even when he's not slugging the ball well (which is a rare combo) -- this is a good thing. Surprisingly better from what? Horrible to slightly Horrible? He makes way to many mental errors and his turns on double plays are rediculous. They have been since he came up. That isn't short sided. He does draw a lot of walks and I give him props on that but at some point he needs to put it all together...this year or next, he also strikes out waaaaaaay to much. His tools are HUGE, but the orginal post asks if he should be moved to the OF. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Like Melvin's teams in Texas you have to be worried about the lack of pitching depth in the system and at the MLB level. Your number 2 pitcher (Suppan) should be a 4, your 3 and 4 (CV and Manny) have trouble getting quality starts, and your number 5 (Bush) was just sent to the minors and forced to come back after 1 start. --So Melvin is not only not praised for acquiring good SP (Gallardo, Bush, Villy)... he's actually ripped because the 'best' he was able to do in Texas is take the franchise to its only 3 playoff appearances? Did Melvin's nucleus win a championship at Texas? And I give Melvin credit with Gallardo and Villy. Dave Bush was steal. The fact of the matter is that there really isn't a talent wealth in the minors. And the point of the statement was do you trade to get it or draft for it to help now if you think this nucleus can win now or do you draft for the future. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't think I can sit here and say I believe that this nucleus can win and God do I want them to! I just think that after overhauling the bullpen, and working on improving the defense they decided that they would continue to live and die with the long ball. I know you are taking care to focus on the long-term, but a lot of your supporting 'evidence' is very, very knee-jerk stuff. The supporting evidence is only knee jerk if you think that this nucleus can win now. And I am taking it that is your stance.

Thank you...exactly what I was going after. Great points.

I know what you mean, the worst part is that it is a lot of people overreacting at once. I really wish there would not be a new thread with people freaking out after we lose. This isn't a overreaction or freaking out after we lose. I wanted to post this before Yo got hurt. It just happens to be the only time I had time to post. I am a full season season ticket holder and have been for some time. I supported this team from when they sucked until now. I would like to see something good come of this team. We have some pieces that can bring in a LOT of talent to help the overall team. Hypothetically a Prince Fielder trade could bring a new ace and fill a lot of holes. Now is the time to think long term. The draft is in a month, the trade deadline is in 3. If you feel that this nucleus is going to win do you want to take a pitcher like Fields from Georgia who would likely be in Milwaukee within weeks of signing or do you go long term. That was the point of the topic, not a overreaction to a loss.