Madtown Bomber

Hey guys, just wanted to update you on what was just on Fox Sports Radio this afternoon. I'll give you just the Brewers tie in's first. Geoff Jenkins option will not be picked up however look for the Brewers to be the front runner for re-aquire his services. Other teams that could be looking towards signing Jenkins are the Cardinals, Tigers, Padres, Dodgers, and Yankees. Rumored to be looking for 3 years at 17-20 million. Fransisco Cordero is likely gone from the Brewers. Brewers look to be only offering a 3 years around 26 million but Cordero is likely to get 4 years around 45 million on the open market. Teams likely to come after Cordero are the Cubs, Tigers, Orioles, Reds, and Red Sox. The Cubs are likely to cut ties with injured pitcher Mark Prior. Prior is arbitration eligable however he is expected to get a minimum 3 million due to some rule that says a player can't get 20% less then what they got the previous season. Prior who won't be ready to join a staff until late May would likely be either the Milwaukee Brewers or the Kansas City Royals. Other non Brewers stuff was: Jorge Posada will likely remain with the Yankees however if Posada chose to test the waters if Joe Torre would leave, Posada would quickly be persued by the Cubs, Padres, and Giants. Alex Rodriguez could be asking for 11 years at 400 million. There are only 3 teams in baseball that could afford him at that price, the Yankees, Cubs, and Red Sox. If Adam Dunn's option is not picked up by the Reds it is almost certain that Dunn would end up in San Fransisco. Oakland could be looking to trade Dan Haren but would require 3 Billy Bean moneyball impact players...whatever in the hell that means. White Sox are likely to get either Torji Hunter or Aaron Rowand with the other ending up in San Fransisco. The Dodgers seem to be the only team that will be willing to go after Andruw Jones with any sort of long term deal. There is no truth to the rumor that Johan Santana is available, he is as important to the Twins as it was to resign Brad Radke years ago. That is all they had time for. My thoughts...Prior cheap could be interesting. Cordero, let him go. I will take the picks. Jenkins is NOT worth 3 years and 20 million. 3 years at 15 then maybe, but it isn't my money. Watch the Giants spend some serious coin this year. Posada and Dunn? The lesser or Hunter and Rowand? If they could somehow get A-Rod too? look out. They had some guy talking about John Schuerholz leaving as GM. And they go into how Schuerholz has been Jeff Francouer's biggest supporter while many inside of the Braves organization aren't as high on him. Braves were offered Noah Lowry and prospects at the deadline for Francouer and while many in the Braves organization wanted to take it Schuerholz had no part in it. This same offer could be offered and/or many other teams might jump into the frey. WOW! Brewers need to get into this bidding war. Chris Capuano and any combination of prospects in the system not named LaPorta or Jeffers. How about this. Chris Capuano, Chuckie Caufield, Mat Gamel, and RA Dickey for Jeff Francour straight up.

Prince has been suspended for 3 games for his altercation with umpire Wally Bell according to Drew Olsen on OnMilwaukee.com and ESPN 1510. http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/princesuspended.html (edited to update thread title - hawing)

The Bonds taking steroids/HGH only holds merit if he was the only one taking it. While the whole Bonds backlash has occured the major issue for me is why nobody wants to look at the rest of baseball. Sure it is wrong but what Bonds did is still a remarkable feet. If you feel HGH was the cause of his inflated statistics then what does that say about the pitchers who were taking steroids/HGH? Oh wait Bonds, Giambi, Palmero are the only ones who took the stuff wink wink...yeah those animals! They are the reasons for alllllllll this tarnishing of the game of baseball. And pigs fly too. As far as Bonds wearing protective padding over his elbow, we are nit picking. I still wear a elbow pad while playing baseball. The better the hitter you are the more pitchers want to work you inside and away from the plate to set you up outside. I got hit more then the rest of the team combined. These pitches hurt. I remember getting hit right on the elbow with tailing 2 seamer from Don August a few years ago and I couldn't feel my hand for nearly a week...and you are telling me I can't wear a elbow gaurd? Sounds like a witch hunt to me.

Linebrink is not reporting until Friday because his wife is expected to have a baby tomorrow, which was a scheduled off day for San Diego. Doug finished off by saying the team is done dealing for arms and he is extremely confident in this bullpen now. Said he would not have made the deal if Linebrink wasn't a type A FA but expects to try to resign him at years end. Said that all players traded were good players but there are players in the system that are as good if not better then what they gave up, I believe the Prince of Darkness responded by asking Doug who, and then Doug started naming all sorts of names. So it seems he is happy.

Doug just said no decision has been made on who to send down and none would be made until Linebrink reports Friday.

Doug said Linebrink is a type A free agent. Said that he is the first in the big leagues in holds the past 3 seasons and Hoffman doesn't have all these saves without Linebrink getting him the ball with the lead.

According to the talking heads on radio even if this is a rental and Linebrink would leave via FA the Brewers would receive a compensatory pick at the end of round one and possible a second one depending on something I didn't quite catch. So it is quite possible that we can replenish the draft picks. Inman has struggled at AA and there has been many in the Brewers organization who though Thatcher had reached his ceiling. Don't know much about Garrison but I respect that Doug made a good move here. Look at it this way, the Brewers now have a case closed, hands down best bullpen in baseball...PERIOD! Now if Doug wants he can focus on getting a bat. This is a good day for the Brewers! We needed to make a deal the day before the rookies reported to Packers Training Camp.

Did anybody hear ESPN radio today when Van Pelt was talking to one of the baseball guys, I think it was Phillips but anyways they said the Brewers are one of the teams that have been calling the Giants about Matt Morris. Do we need a rundown 30 something pitcher? edit: added Morris' name to thread title

Yeah it was rediculous. It wasn't an official email but my buddy who has friends in the ticket office called him as a FYI. At the game last night nobody had bucketheads. We saw Sutton in front of the pressbox before the game and told him about our situation in which he seemed touched. That is all we were after. The croud last night was great. While the Buckethead section isn't needed anymore it would have still be something to say thanks to Sutton. Whether you liked him or not, he made the games atleast watchable when the baseball on the field always wasn't.

We figured that is would just be fun to show some appreciation towards a guy who tried to make Brewers baseball relevant in the market again. I always loved the Buckethead nights because there was just a different buzz in the air. We were and always would cheer for the Brewers no matter what.

I am sorry for posting this. I am a Brewers season ticket holder, and tonight we decided to try and show support towards a guy who made Brewers baseball interesting when the Brewers weren't that interesting. That's all. I will be quiet from now on.

So the sole reason I got tickets for tonights game is to wear buckets since Sutton is back in town and about 120 of my former frat brothers had tickets well a buddy of mine just sent me a email sending me a FYI that the Brewers ticket takers have been instructed not to allow anybody wearing excessive headware or buckets from entering the ball park with them. I am pissed off...maybe there is some truth to organization not liking Sutton for the reason he wasn't brought back. Don't you worry we WILL be vocal tonight. Grrrrrrrrr

During the game last night between Tampa and New York they stated that they have showed some mild interest in Capellan. No names were thrown out as possible trade bait but add that to the teams interested in him.

Pretend Major League Baseball was a big Fantasy League... If the New York Yankees called hypothetically and offered Alex Rodriguez but wanted Ben Sheets and a player...um Bill Hall? Would you do it? What if the Twins called and offered Johan Santana but wanted Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, and Gallardo? Would you do it? No real reason for asking other then PTI today, Kornhieser asked Wilbon about what it would take for the Yankees to part with A-Rod if they don't get a new deal done before the end of July...one of them said Santana...that was my motivation.

This was just on ESPN radio...SportsBash. When Florida inquired on the availability of Jose Capellan the Brewers reportedly asked for minor league pitcher Ryan Tucker while the Florida Marlins only were willing to part with a lower prospect or current bullpen member Matt Lindstrom. Well if it is a lower prospect OR Matt Lindstrom, I think it is pretty self explanitory what they think of Lindstrom. I don't know much about them but it is the first real substantial rumor with names regaurding Capellan.

I have been slacking on evaluating talent in this state this year so I am hoping for some help from the gurus of this site to help. I know college there is that Zimmerman kid from Stevens Point. There has been some rumblings that he may sneak into the end of round 2. HS wise I don't think there is much. The only one I have heard anything about is some Casey kid from Whitefish Bay who is going to Notre Dame.

Colby, FYI, I think Luzcak transferred to UWM at semester break. As far as UWM goes, there field is absolutly horrible. And there is absolutly no solution until the university believes that baseball is a viable asset to their university. There is no commitment from the university and the community that the baseball program is anything important. I remember the FOX 6 news report about UWM placing signage in the visiting bullpen that Miller Park was going to play host to more UWM ballgames. Well we are what 5 years into the process and still UWM plays no more then one day a year at Miller Park. There was talk of them moving a series to a neighboring community but that was shot down. UWM is a frustrating subject for me as Colby can attest...but lets not get into specific. ha Big Ten wise. I really hope that Wisconsin will some day see a return of baseball. It however will not happen in the near future...atleast until they can determine where to play home games during these spring months.

and all the offseason dominos are going to start and fall with the New York Yankees. It is already stunning to hear them replacing Torre with Panella. But this station set forth 5 goals for the offseason inorder for a quick rebuild. One had to do with the Brewers. They said that they wanted to trade Alex Rodriguez to the Florida Marlins for Dontrell Willis. Sign Hank Blalock to play 3rd. Finding a way to get Andy Pettite back to NYC. Getting what you can for Jason Giambi, dump Gary Sheffield. and then the kicker, their key to their offseason is find a way to get Ben Sheets. Then they started talking about different deals to get him. They were all laughable, laughable like a home team always believes they can get somebody for crap. But then one caller called in and brought up a decent trade I think for the Brewers...what do you think? Yankees get: P Ben Sheets P Matt Wise 2B Rickie Weeks a midlevel prospect Brewers get: 2B Robinson Cano OF Melky Caberra Again this was just a rumor a caller had, I just thought it was interesting. New York is such a fun place when it comes to sports.

Brewers just selected Chuckie Caufield from Oklahoma. Have followed Chuckie cause of Ryan Rohlinger. Chuckie is going to be a good player for the Brewers minor league club. Fast and will work his butt off. Great character guy.

If it is true he can hit 100 then what the heck. Colby come in the chat room.

Blazer or Colby, Since this is out of most scouting circles in this area you hopefully can give a better opinion without worrying about tipping hands, Where do you see the state kids that play out state possibly going? Jason Berken, likely the highest of the draftable kids, Can Ryan Rohlinger improve on the round from last year and where? And does Maday or Zink go?

Wow, well I guess I stand corrected then. I guess I didn't realize it was that strong at the HS ranks. You are right on the D-3 level. It is pretty poor. Thanks Colby and Blazer

Haha, I have even been around long enough to catch the sarcasm in that question. Do we even consider Johnny a scout anymore? He just comes to games and hands out information cards. That is a solid list. I do remember some of those names that you have mentioned. Now the question I have for you, answer this as best as you can Blazer since I know you have a responsiblitly to your pro organization. In your opinion how does this draft rank in compared to the Erik Corrider draft. I think that was his name. College list seems complete. Rohlinger, Berken, Goetz sounds right. Is Maday producing? I thought I remembered somebody saying on this board that he was struggling. Thanks Blazer...

Could the lack of interest be because of the lack of good quality kids from the State of Wisconsin for the exception or Ryan Rohlinger and Jason Berken? Or because the home town team has failed in picking kids with local ties? That can be the only 2 real reasons that I can think of.

Hey CJ! Sure I will give my thoughts. I think I am resigned to the fact that Ryan Rohlinger won't be a first rounder infact who knows if he will improve his stock at all from last year. I am kinda partial to him obviously but the scouts seemed to like him. He didn't play so hot until Sunday but he is a gem at 3rd. He just isn't a 3rd baseman though! I wish Oklahoma had the talent to move him to his natural positions of 2B and SS. Oklahoma continuly gets these top 5 supposed recruiting classes but where does it show? Obviously there is a lack of development there somewhere. The couple scouts I got to talk to that actually would talk to me about players said they liked Ryan but he lacked their ideal size but said he has great baseball instincts and is a gamer. So who knows what that means. But the 2 guys I talked to said the only other OU non-pitchers that had a chance were Chuckie Caufield an Outfielder and Kody Kieser a Outfielder. Let me tell you a little about the Texas every day players that impressed me. Carson Kainer, he played LF. I think he is a freshman or sophomore. He can flat out rake the baseball. He was patient and the ball just flew off his bat. Drew Stubbs, might have been the best player for the weekend. He is their CF and made termendous plays in the field and hit all over the place. It was fun to watch him play. A guy you mentioned Kyle Russell is going to be a STUD! Not only does he have a good approach at the plate but his defense is going to win them a lot of games. He has an absolute cannon for an arm! He reminds me a lot of Atlanta Braves OF Jeff Francour. Kyle McCulloch impressed me a lot. He mixed up all his pitches well and hit spots that were textbook. Didn't really throw hard as say McCutchen did for OU but pitched really well! Jordan Danks had a rough weekend and only DH'd so it was hard to tell with him but he hit in the 5 or 6 hole so Augie must have confidence in his stick. Did not get to James Adkins pitch. I went to a mid week 2 game series vs. Siena. J.P. Arencibia however was pretty good. He played really well offensively and defensively in game 1 but in game 2 seemed really disinterested because he was only the DH. He was yawning between pitches and that was a big no no to me. haha. If you have any other questions let me know. I will try my best.