bjkrautk

The only time I get caught up in HS v. College is that I don't like taking HS pitchers in the first round of the draft; the risk-reward just isn't there considering the multi-million dollar signing expenses. I'd rather take a good college SP who never lives up to his full potential (like Aaron Heilman for the Mets), over the HS guy with more 'stuff' who never throws an inning in the majors. I know that the college arm may flame out (Kyle Peterson-like....although the team knew about his mechanics when they picked him), and that some HS arms do in fact live up to the hype, but I'd be at least curious to see what % of first rounders from each group actually make it to the majors (for more than 1 year). Beyond the first round, take what you can get....but I think that the probability of a player making it to the majors should be one of the top considerations in weighing the options in the first round. Of the guys currently on the 25-man roster, I think you can at least make that kind of case for Sheets, Fielder, Weeks, and Braun. IMO, it's the one thing all those picks had in common, especially when compared to the picks that haven't made it (Jeffress being the potential exception, but he's got a long way to go).

My Bran-Crush just grew exponentially hearing that fact. What happened during the other 16 career GIDP then?

Stupid question: are you sure that the program you're watching has 5.1 sound? Easiest way to test that: try picking up an OTA (over the air) signal using your TV's tuner. (To do this, you may need to disconnect your cable TV connection, and plug in an antenna....and yes, an old pair of "rabbit ears" will do. Some HDTV's have separate inputs for cable and an OTA antenna, also known as an ATSC tuner.) Pretty much any of the prime-time shows on the major networks should broadcast in 5.1 audio, so that should give you a better idea of where your problem is. (Alternatively, you might have to check the audio output settings for your TV....but I'm guessing the problem is with your video source.) ...out of curiosity, does your cable package include any HD channels? If not, you may find that you want to keep the OTA antenna plugged in. (I have an OTA antenna plugged into one of the two inputs on my TiVo.) As long as I'm being all public service-y, the big, FCC-mandated conversion from analog TV to digital means that everyone is going to need an ATSC tuner to get over-the-air, broadcast TV starting in February 2009. It's not really an issue for you (since you have cable), but it might be for anyone else reading this.

Along with a preference on OBP, sabermetrics is generally credited with the decline of sacrifice bunts (by non-pitchers) and a reduction in stolen bases (as only baserunners able to successfully steal more than ~70% of the time have a net positive effect on runs scored). I was also surprised to see that while looking at J.J.'s splits.

I'll confess, I haven't even watched a full NBA game this season....but here's a trade that went through on the trade machine Bell and Redd to Atlanta for Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams. It's about a wash on cash (and points), but the selling point in the deal (to me) is getting an extremely talented player in Williams who is still improving, and only 21 years old (22 before the season starts). If he's actually available, it would be because he hasn't crossed over into the kind of star territory that his draft position (just behind Bogut in '05) would warrant....and the kind of payday he'd be looking at in 2 years. Bibby's not spectacular anymore, but should still be solid enough at the point to move Mo Williams to the 2-guard spot. I don't really see the upside for Atlanta in this deal, so I'll just put it out there for actual Bucks fans to digest.

Great recap, Colby. Realistically, any chance of Friedrich being available at 16? I'm a big fan of taking the best college lefty available (even though the Brewers never actually do it). Otherwise, I'd prefer Castro to Hewitt....but the team is probably more likely to go in the other direction. I'll be surprised if Fields is actually the first pick, just because the Brewers haven't taken a closer that high before.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/bjkrautk/ECSONDAVHDX275BK.jpg That's the back of the Sony DAV HDX275 (lifted from Circuit City's website). I agree that the red & white audio cables should send the sound from the TV's output to the receiver's input. (Although it's located next to the video outputs, it does clearly say it's an input.) What I can't find on CC's website is any information about the audio outputs from the Polaroid HDTV. Your receiver appears to have both a digital coaxial input (the orange-colored circle just beneath the fan) and digital optical input (the black square right next to the orange one); let me know if you can find a comparable audio output on your HDTV. (I'd recommend these two over the Left/Right audio cables, since they're digital and not analog.)

I know Batting Average isn't the be all and end all for stats argument, but he's lost about 20 points of batting average each year since hitting .291 in '05. His OBP doesn't follow the exact same path, since he had an extra 20 walks in his good year ('06). His Iso. numbers have barely changed, while his average has tumbled precipitously. It's almost like he's stopped trying to just hit the ball and get on base, preferring instead to swing for the fences every time he's up. ...I just don't "get" Hall. The talent is obviously there, just not the results.

For a film that was 19 years in the making, I felt the script was very weak. Spoiler [+] Aliens? Really? They never explain the death of the apparently-immortal Henry Jones, Sr. who drank from the holy grail in the last crusade. The Russians break into Area 51, holding place of all of America's unexplained scientific secrets....and only take the one thing. Last I checked, that Ark of the Covenant thing was pretty powerful, too. Why not bring a few trucks, and add on to the shopping list? And what was the deal with the CGI prarie dogs? (I think the monkeys will get enough condemnation without my adding to the discussion.) I can almost deal with the villains' inability to hit anyone with a fired gun, but it only highlights the lack of any real sense of peril for the characters. I liked the chemistry between Karen Allen and Harrison Ford, probably for nostalgic reasons. Shia LeBouf was in the unenviable position of having a role in many of the unfortunate script decisions. Finally, this is what a real crystal skull looks like: Spoiler [+] http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/crystal-skull-3.jpg The British Museum's skull. http://www.redicecreations.com/specialreports/2005/10oct/crystalsun01.jpgThe Mitchell-Hedges skull mentioned in the film. Notice anything missing? Here's the movie version: Spoiler [+] http://www.vintageculture.net/images/the-crystal-skull.jpg Unfortunately, I can't find a side-profile online just yet. Never let the real thing get in the way of the story you want to tell, I guess.

A/V cables are one-way in nature. You're getting sound off the DVD player, because the output from the DVD player (and subsequent input cable into the surround system) is internal. With an HDTV, I'm guessing there's an coaxial / optical cable output which could be connected into the surround system (as an input). Regardless, you need some sort of audio output from the TV into your home theater receiver...a digital connection would be best (especially since the other connection is HDMI, which is also digital).

The team announced that the corresponding player move would be announced later. You have to assume that they decided to put ailing closer Erig Gagne on the disabled list, but why they wouldn't announce that immediately, I don't know. Perhaps they're up to something else. http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2008/05/23/brewers-summon-dillard.aspx I tend to agree with the Prince of Darkness on this one; why not announce Gagne to the DL....unless something else is afoot?

I predict that, 6 months from now, one or both of the Davids will have a CD on the clearance shelf at my local Target.

How much of a leash do you think McClung will be given if he struggles? (Does he get two starts? three? etc.) My basic perspective on things is that they'd rather risk losing Weaver than McClung down-the-line (ie., when Riske comes off the DL). IIRC, Weaver's contract can make him a free agent if he's not in Milwaukee by June 1; that gives McClung two chances to hold on to the spot in the rotation (5/24 @ Washington and 5/29 v. Atlanta). That should also give them at least two more chances to see if Weaver can improve on his minor league numbers, to prove whether or not he actually deserves a shot at the rotation.

I can think of at least one (probably because I was there to see it).

Call me old-school, but where can I sign up for all those demotions? (or at least the Branyan promotion; not a 3TO guy, but I prefer walks homers and strikouts to just homers and K's.) If 14-30 days of close proximity to the Grand Ol' Opry would bring back the good Rickie Weeks....then get Crabbe on the first Midwest Express flight to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, I think Rickie's problems are in large part due to good old fashioned bad luck (.220 BABIP v. .312 over the previous 3 seasons), and the prospect of Counsell and Crabbe at 2b until he gets back doesn't excite me. I still don't know what to make of Gagne, and we're nearly 2 months into the season.

Steve Woodard, Jason Bere, and Bob Wickman for Richie Sexson, Kane Davis, Paul Rigdon, and Marco Scutaro. Let's give the man some credit for the good trade he managed to make. I think he was in the ultimate no-win situation: the major league product wasn't all that good, and the farm system was nearly as barren. He did make some pretty good decisions, starting with bringing in Jack Z. to run the scouting and draft process....which led to Sheets, Fielder, Hardy, etc. (just during his tenure). Jose Vizcaino for Jesus Pena was another fleecing, as was getting Ray King from the Cubs. He also managed to get .800 OPS seasons out of Tyler Houston, Matt Stairs, and Devon White. Whenever a player performed, they were trade-bait to cover up the holes which couldn't be patched through free agency. He needed to get major-leauge calibur players in trades (particularly guys under 30), since talented players didn't want to come to Milwaukee (unless paid like Hammonds), and the team didn't have enough major-league roster filler to make out a 25-man roster. Good players had to go, because the team couldn't afford to sign Burnitz, Vina, Cirillo, etc. to a fair-market contract (or Hideo Nomo, who left in free agency before Taylor's first season). And, the players who were traded weren't good enough to get top prospects (remember Gord Ash not being willing to give up Carpenter, Escobar, or Halladay for Vina?). Hard to get much for Cal Eldred after a 7.79 ERA season. I think that Taylor's plan was to try and field a competent major league team while rebuilding through the draft. His largest flaw is that the centerpieces of his trades (other than Sexson) failed to live up to the hype. Jamey Wright never lived up to the hype (remeber Ringolsby saying he'd win 20 games in Milwaukee); Grissom's production fell off a cliff as soon as he got to Milwaukee, and went back up a year or two after he left. Glendon Rusch would have been at least average but for freakishly bad run support. Quevedo was a huge disappointment (pun intended). He might have been better off if he had stuck with cheap AAAA-type players, but I think there was some pressure from ownership to go out and get a big name player or two. Heck, my biggest gripe at the time was not letting Belliard play, but he wasn't that much better than the guy they replaced him with.

This came up in the Crabbe thread earlier this week. Byrd is a decent option as a stop-gap, but at age 37, he's not the type of player that you can acquire and hope to keep on your team for a few more years (e.g. the Cordero trade). About the only way that I can see Byrd in a Brewers uniform this year would be if one more of our starters goes on the DL (or if DM flat-out gives up on Bush or Villy as a starter). Unless the team goes into fire sale mode, I doubt they'll move for any player who they wouldn't be willing to sign to a 3+ year extension (or control for at least that long). I'd rather give up a prospect or two and get Sabathia (with a Suppan-sized contract extension) than trade for a guy who could conceivably retire before next season. I'm not sure C.C. is 'the guy' to go out and get, or even necessarily worth that price, so much as saying that I'd rather have someone like that than someone like Byrd.

"The Indians currently have 7 capable starters in Sabathia, Carmona, Lee, Byrd, Westbrook, Sowers, and Laffey." Westbrook has been on the DL since late April, and I can't see the Indians trading Lee or Carmona for a player hovering around the mendoza line (be it Weeks or Hall). Paul Byrd would be a decent innings-eater, but he makes $7.5 million this year at age 37. I believe that both he and Sabathia will be free agents next year, so both are probably available. (Ironically, despite being the worse pitcher this year, I think C.C. would get more in a trade, but only because he has more upside from a free-agent compensation standpoint.) Laffey is the guy I'm most interested in, as he's gone 7 innings in 3 of his 4 starts....at age 23....but is he actually available? Ditto for Sowers at age 25 (minus the pitching into the 7th, as Jeremy hasn't shown himself to be any better at pitching late into games than Manny Parra at this point in their careers). Unless the Brewers are willing to let Byrd eat innings for them, or they want to take a gamble on C.C., I don't know there's a good fit here.

.699 OPS v. RHP .763 OPS v. LHP

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28466 His numbers are way off his performance last year; he had more Quality Starts in September 2007 (4) than he has through 9 starts in 2008 (3). Right handers are hitting .390 off of him (1.137 OPS). It's hard to say he was overworked last year as a whole, as he was great down the stretch, and the team was pretty good about not over-pitching CV and Parra in September (even when they were the Brewers best option on the mound). Parra's inability to pitch through the 6th inning has been a disappointment thusfar, but CV is quickly turning into the new Designated Rotation Stooge. Dave Bush may be mediocre as a starter, but it's rare that the Brewers have been 'out' of a game when he pitched (he's actually only allowed more than 4 earned runs twice in 7 starts; by contrast, CV has allowed more than 4 runs 4 times in 9 starts). Is it an effect of the Brewers' tough schedule, the results of pitching too much in 2007, a mechanical flaw, or just me setting expectations too high for a young player? (In reality, I could start this topic about 3-4 other guys: Hall, Parra, Weeks, etc. CV is the guy who just seems to be flying under the radar, as Parra has had innings trouble, and Bush was already removed from the rotation once.)

The problem with that thinking is that, absent artificial prosthesis, he isn't good enough to run in the Olympic games. This is by no means the only issue of technology affecting olympic performance: Olympic swimsuits were a minor subject of debate during the 2004 games, steroids in Olympic competition date back more than 20 years, and I have no clue when the Olympic athletes stopped using wooden tennis rackets. My biggest problem with having this man compete is determining that balance between disadvantage and competitive advantage. In this case, the runner uses carbon fiber blades....giving him an competitive advantage over anyone using wood, plastic, graphite, steel, aluminum, titanium, etc., for their prosthesis. How does one determine what technology will give this runner parity with Olympic-level athletes? (...and does that basis for comparison essentially establish parity where it may not otherwise exist?) Finally, what happens in 20 years when there's a substance that's better than carbon fiber? (Does the runner automatically get the most advantageous equipment, or can a level of equivalence be locked in?) I'll be the first to admit: if the things looked more like human legs, it probably wouldn't bother me as much. I'd love for him to be able to compete; I just don't know enough about the issue (nor, honestly, do I care to) to say that his competing would still be fair to the other competitors.

Someone get that man 20 cc's of pencil protector, Stat (...geek)!

An important episode, but it didn't do much more than whet my appetite for the season finale in 2 weeks. (On a related note, I'm glad Nestor Carbonell's show on CBS appears to have been cancelled, as it gives the writers much more freedom in using the Richard Alpert character.)

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Zach-Jackson.shtml Looking at the numbers, his BB/9IP is actually lower in 2008 than his prior 3 turns at AAA. Lest we forget, despite having been called up 2 years ago during the Great Pitching Drought of '06, ZacJac is still only 25 years old. It's far too early to give up on the guy. As long as he can keep his BB totals down, he should be a pretty effective one-inning guy, assuming he hasn't changed his delivery style.

Piggly Wiggly Scouting Report Indicates J.J. Hardy Enjoys Rib-Eye Steaks I assume that "The Onion's" writing staff still has one or two employees in the Madison office. Surprised that I don't see another thread on this one (which is to say, sorry that I've most likely double-posted this information); I found it on Digg.