bjkrautk

I think you should hold on to the autographed bats (which would increase in value if either player died of zombism) and buy an aluminum bat precisely for the oxymoronic rise of the living dead. You can generate faster bat-speed with aluminum, plus are much more difficult to break. That increased swing-speed may be too dangerous for MLB use, but should the need arise to prevent your brain from being consumed by the undead....take any advantage you can get. As an added bonus, the pinging noise of the metallic bat will inspire confidence as you fend off you wave upon wave of zombies. Go aluminum; save the lumber for the vampires.

My recommendation (and I think this came up a few months ago) is to hit before you buy. Most Dicks Sporting Goods stores have a hitting area that tracks the velocity and trajectory off the clubhead, and gives you a sense of how you'd hit in the wild (it even averages the results of multiple hits). In my case, when I bought over the holidays, the low-end set of Taylor Made clubs were actually the ones that I hit the furthest and straightest. It made me feel a lot better about my decision....although I haven't tried them out on the course yet.

This thread has made programming my TiVo a lot easier! (Yes, not surprisingly, I decided to buy.)

I'm thinking that we're probably looking at Dillon vs. Nelson vs. Branyan for that last spot on the bench. I'd lean towards a lefty, probably Nelson, for umpteen reasons stated above. Offensively, I'm not sure what Dillon gives you that Kapler doesn't. Robert Dillon can play on the corners in the infield as well as the outfield; Kapler can play all 3 outfield spots, but that flexibility isn't as necessary. Seeing as how there is no backup for Prince, and Counsell covers the other 3 infield positions, I can see the need for another infielder on the roster.(Yes, I know that Branyan fellow can play the IF corners....but that wasn't Robert's question. Of course, the question wasn't about defense either....but that's not my point.)

What's funny about you asking, is that a quick google search pointed me right back to Brewerfan.net.BaseballCube stats. 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and an (early) second-round pick in the 06 Draft. Seems like a pretty good return, but it'll probably be a year or two before he pitches in Milwaukee....if he makes it that far.

Welcome back Tony Gwynn Jr. Best of luck to Gross.

6 consecutive fastballs over 96 MPH....a pretty good reminder of why McClung wouldn't get through waivers.

Just to point it out, even with a 14-man pitching staff, the only remaining relievers available at this point are Turnbow and McClung. (Here's hoping Mota can throw a few innings....or that the Brewers can push across some runs.)

This game is a perfect example of why I argued that Parra should be the one to lose his rotation spot with Gallardo coming back. Not getting to the 6th inning forced the team to burn two relievers (just in that inning). As those innings build up, they're going to continue to take their toll on the bullpen.

Watch without fail: Brewers Lost Heroes Office Earl Scrubs 30 Rock South Park Family Guy Watch if it's on (or if I remember): Mythbusters Boston Legal Iron Chef America Saturday Night Live The Soup Burn Notice Top Chef Good Eats Ace of Cakes

I guess I don't understand the idea behind this thread: are people concerned that the Brewers won't be able to afford Rickie in a few years (when he's FA eligible), that he'll have to be moved because he doesn't hit well enough to stick at 2b (which, IIRC, is fairly similar in OPS production to center field), or that he'll have to be moved because he can't stick defensively - 2008 small sample notwithstanding? Weeks will "get his" as soon as he hits his arbitration years, much like nearly every young player in the league. For a guy who is difficult to project, unless he has a monster season that is deserving of a long-term deal....he'll be a year-to-year guy.

Most widescreen sets have some sort of adjustment features available when viewing 4:3 content. (I happen to be partial to "Wide Zoom" on my Sony tube HDTV.) Generally speaking, when an option is greyed out, it's unavailable for whatever content is currently being displayed. Stupid question: what channel were you watching when trying to set up "Wide Fit?"

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i144/bjkrautk/usb_panic_1.png

I'm guessing blister for Sheets....except that I haven't seen him biting at one like he usually does.

Still hard for me to understand just how Brandon Phillips was released by anyone prior to his being picked up by the Reds a few years ago. (Weren't the Brewers one of the teams trying to sign him?)

Given Counsell's good day at the plate yesterday, in addition to Weeks' 1-for-13 history against Arroyo, picking today to give Rickie a game off seems like a sound decision.

I assume this is the same area behind the handicapped seating in Right-center, the former home of the hot tub and furniture promotions? At $1,800 / game (for non-marquee), that's probably more money than they were getting for other advertising. Seems like a good idea to me.

There have been a number of threads which start to touch on the question, but none which seem to ask it so bluntly? (Mods, feel free to correct me, and lock this thread in the process.) Gallardo is scheduled to come off the DL on Sunday; whose spot does he take in the rotation, and who's spot on the 25-man roster? I realize that the second question is confused a bit by the Stetter and Gwynn, but the likely result is that 1-2 of the pitchers currently on the active roster won't be there a week from now. The likely candidates: Dave Bush, 16.2 IP, 7.02 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 10 BB: 13 K Carlos Villanueva, 16.0 IP, 6.19 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 7 BB: 10 K Manny Parra, 13.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 8 BB: 14 K Seth McClung, 6.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 4 BB: 4 K Derrick Turnbow, 3.2 IP, 9.82 ERA, 2.73 WHIP, 5 BB: 1 K Parra has the best numbers, but his low innings total through three starts give cause for concern; he hasn't made it through six innings yet this year. Villanueva, IMO, has the least upside of the three, and may ultimately be a bullpen guy. Bush has looked imminently replaceable in his first three starts, but he has a track record of being consistently mediocre, and actually has the only "Quality Start" out of the three. Looking at the numbers, I'd have to option Parra down to AAA. While I'd like to keep a lefty in the rotation, I'm more concerned with the cumulative effect of short starts on the bullpen, and Manny is the worst offender in that respect. It also helps that he won't have to clear waivers to be sent down, and that the club should be looking to limit his innings (which is much easier to do in AAA). As for the other transaction, I'll make it simple: Stetter goes back down after the Reds series, and Gwynn takes his spot on the roster.

He was due.

Cheap double....but I'll take it! :D

Watching the heart of the order all make outs....just sad.

1 AB, 1 Brewer getting himself out on a non-strike. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

If you compare the Brewers starting lineup's P/PA numbers from 2008 v. 2007, Hardy is the only one whose number has gone up (likely a consequence of having the pitcher in the # 8 spot). The reason why the coaches are stressing it is because the players aren't doing it, and - as Yost noted when talking to the J-S about Braun, are getting themselves out by swinging at bad pitches.

Charter (Central WI) right now, but I may switch to Solarus (a local provider) by year's end. I already know that Solarus works with TiVo (as they rent their own units), although I'll have to do some work to configure the thing if I do make the jump. I don't currently have a digital cable box (as I won't pay for HD content), so I shouldn't have to worry about setting up a cable card....as I understand it. Right now, the only device I have for recording video is a VHS machine....so pretty much anything is going to move me forward on the technological curve.

I think that part of the reason for the extreme splits come from the slow start that the heart of the order is off to. 40 of Prince's 50 HR last year came off righties; Braun does have a sizable righty/lefty split from last year, but he still managed a .845 OPS against RHP. Some of the guys will improve on their splits as the year goes on, and the Brewers might have to look for a lefty bat in a trade at some point. (Thus calling forth the question: where do you look to replace one of the position players?)