windiv07

Okay, after decompressing, I am looking forward to next season, I have been reading a lot of great things on this board as far as what the Brewers need. A new year calls for resolutions and looking back at the 2007 season, what is this that the Brewers definitely need to chalk up to experience and put behind them once and for all. My list is pretty long of what we need to change for good as we move to 2008 (including my screen name) http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/embarassed.gif but I'll start the list with just one item and see how the rest of my list compares to yours... My #1 2008 pick: The Prince vs Cecil controversy needs to be resolved by Prince & Cecil. One thing this team has fostered is a sense of small market familiarity (root word = 'family') and an honest effort to revive the kind of civilized role models that have distinguished MLB as a whole from other sports like NBA & NFL in recent years. Cecil needs to shut up and Prince needs to grow up and set a good off-field example for the younger fans. I don't care how it happens, but they need to reconcile and lift the dark cloud from obscuring this team's brightest young star.

I predicted this Thursday night. I was in a bar full of Indians fans in Montana when Old Man Lofton tried to psyche Beckett out on his way to the dugout. That was a huge gamble. I said "This is the turning point. If the Indians lose tonight, they will lose the series on account of that." I was roundly poo-pooed. How sweet it is. I hope our young roster was watching & learned something from that little lesson.

I really appreciate the facts shared in this two-way between Don & Jay. I have learned a couple of things that the stats have revealed. But I'm beginning to have a tough time following this emerging avalanche of analytical detail. I guess I am pining for the days of game-by-game when the images of the forgone proper decisions and missed opportunities are fresh in my mind and the invective evoked by such circumstances is swift and decisive. The Brewers missed the playoffs and I still blame Ned.

There are many myths. As long as we are doing an autopsy, how many times was youth blamed for a loss? I remember specifically when (with a 78 pitch count in the 7th inning, a runner on first, and the lead) Suppan was summarily yanked without any discussion on a first trip to the mound in Chicago within what Hardball Times so eloquently described in probably the most memorable Yosting in Brewers history (remember the look on Soup's face?)...the postgame litany from the grinning Brewer's coaching staff was, how later in that inning, 'youth and inexperience' cost us the game. How many times have we heard that? How old must a roster be to qualify for competent management?

If there is any creedence to this theory, you will have to wait until after Christmas to find out what you deserve. In the meantime, pass the Soup.

Has anybody thought about how moving from the left side of the infield to center field affects a hitters perspective? I realize that when you are up at the plate, you should be remembering what batting practice yielded that day, but what about timing? If you spend 50% of your time in the field (on defense) at a new position 200' farther from the plate than you did the year before, it takes the ball longer to get to you. Would that affect your timing at the plate somewhat and could this account for some of Bill's power slump this year? Just thinking out loud here.

but first a message to Mark A. & Doug M.... Don't prolong the agony. Please don't Yost us again. NAY

(drum roll, maestro)

Okay, this is my final post of 2007 in this thread so listen up... Ned Yost, Yay of Nay? Let me qualify what I am about to say: Given the player roster (age, experience, and overall & clutch talent) Ned had to work with, the injuries, the AAA & AA help he had to call up during the year, the in-game breaks he was faced with, the home schedule & the road schedule, the starting rotation, and the bullpen...here is my final and irreversible conclusion:

Keep Cordero, drop Turnbow, bring in another strong closer (hopefully a lefty), alternate closer and setup between Cordero and whoever we get to replace Turnbow for short relief (if the new closer is a righty, get a lefty here). Make them all work for the closer's job and structure bonuses to accomodate the plan. Send Mench back to Texas, and send Jenkins and Wise to the AL too and figure out how to parlay that (and some big bucks) into a #1 or #2 starter. That goes for Sheets too. He is a proven half-season pitcher now. We cannot wait for a healthy year any longer. As he gets older, this will only get worse. We need a Sheets-caliber starter who can give us a full year. Outfield: Gwnn, Jr. needs winter ball to be a starter. Make that happen & keep him. Move him to right next year and platoon right between him & Joe Dillon (who can also play 3rd in a pinch). I know...send Dillon to winter ball to learn right. He is a fast study. Move Hall to left and keep him there. Keep Hart in center (NO PLATOONS...he is an everyday player). If a switch hitting oufielder comes available, platoon Hall up with this acquisition. Infield: No changes. Keep Counsell to back up SS & 2B. Dillon is the second in the platoon when he is not in RF. Catcher: Tough decisions, good problem to have. Miller stays. Rottino should stay for his versatility (and needs winter ball too...send him with Gwynn). Boils down to Estrada or Rivera. If Estrada becomes a dealmaker for a starting pitcher, send him.

I was at Miller Park today watching my team for the last time until next year, not a Shea.

When ours come out of the washer with the colors, I will let you know if there are any hidden messages (like easter eggs sometimes have) before I ship them off to Mark A.

At the bottom of the tag: "Exclusive of Commemoration" You can say that again.

Truth be told, there are signals that tell me that Ned does not want to work in Milwaukee. Nothing specific you can really single out, but just a lot of little things the indicate there is more there than face value. Much of this heat we read in this thread Ned has brought on himself but I think it goes much deeper and longer than the second half collapse in 2007. If you compare even the on-camera the Ned of 5 years ago with the Ned of 4 years ago and so on up to today, a pattern & progression begins to emerge. I think there are issues both inside & outside of baseball for Ned that point in the direction that deep down, he just doesn't feel comfortable in Milwaukee anymore. So given the opportunity, I think he would jump pretty much anywhere to get away if a MLB manager's job presented itself for equal compensation. If he is voted manager of the year, that would look great on a resume and I would be all for it if it helps him land that other job.

Me too. I hope we win our 82nd today and don't have to put the pressure that against Peavy tomorrow.

Here is what Brewers fans were issued (both sides). Please compare to the Phillies' handouts: http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/2d0258eac797e0853f1be0b2e83201708b81044.pjpg I wonder if there is a subliminal message in the choice of vendors or the verbage on this tag... http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/7aa250eab49d30f1384b757c53f94fbac009a11.pjpg Phiilipines: circa 1942 perhaps?

That's tonight, isn't it?

1) This from an owner who, at the focal point of an exclusive television special about himself (that has run several times on FSN now) says he 'does not like to lose'? Sorry hawing, but in light of such a proclamation, that much lack of foresight for the consequences of issuing 40,000 white flags is just plain stunning. 2) Trust me, the Brewers organization monitors this site. 3) And yes, there were some pretty obnoxious Cubs fans in our section last night adding to the frustration of our fans there. Several were escorted out when it was discovered they sneaked down from the upper deck, but (and this is unusual for a Friday night) there were only 2 ushers for the entire area in front of the pressbox (maybe the rest were pulling double-duty handing out surrender towels downstairs) and not very many police on the loge at all last night for some reason. I suppose the cops were busy upstairs. Otherwise, more overgrown Cubs fans would have been asked to leave for their treatment of Tony Gwynn, Sr. in the ESPN broadcast booth during the 6th inning. I generally spectate quietly when these things happen, but when they become confrontational and there are no police around, there is not much anyone can do. My approach was to ask first if they were Padres fans in Cub regalia, then to ask if they were Cubs fans, then to congratrulate them, then to ask why they were not in Cincinatti celebrating with their team? An XXL jersey fits me tight, so it pretty much simmered down after that, but it should not be expected of us Brewers fans to police our own stands when people from out of town make it unpleasant for sportscasters and regular season ticket fans. Have fun at the game today, hawing. I hope you see some good baseball and that you (and we) are lucky enough to see Prince eclipse his father's record.

A promotional death wish is what it looks like to me. They could write a long and sordid book on similar promotions or lack thereof entitled: "How to Alienate Your Fan Base". Ever tried to clap while twirling a white towel? Give it a try. It is physically impossible... LET'S GO BREWERS! poof-poof poof-poof-poof

When we came home from the game, my wife told me we are out of toilet paper and I am too tired to go to the store right now. I DO have 4 terrycloth surrender flags issued at Miller Park for the mass giving up of the season tonight that we can use until I get to the store tomorrow.

And I recommend anyone else who was at the game and got one of these to do exactly the same. Please feel free to copy and paste.

We received four (one for each full-season seat). I have instructed my wife to launder them with the colors which will tint them pink. When they come out of the dryer, I intend to insert them into the FedEx envelope I received my post-season and World Series tickets in along with a the following note, all adrressed to Mark Attanasio's personal attention: Dear Mark, Enclosed you will find the blank white surrender flags your organization issued to your loyal fans prior to the elimination night game Friday, September 28, 2007. I have tinted them pink to match the slips I recommend you issue to the following employyees of the Milwaukee Brewers along with these color coordinated crying towels: 1. The person who came up with this ridiculous idea to humiliate everyone cheering for the Brewers in the stands by waving the universal world-wide signal for giving up. 2. The scoreboard operator who for an hour and fifteen minutes after the Cubs / Reds game was over left the score at 6-0 with 0 outs and a man on first in the bottom on the 9th in Cincinnatti while we waved these stupid things. I noticed you left your seat during this time for an extended period and returned just before the final score was posted. 3. The electronic marquee operator who chose 4 times when the crowd had already began to chant spontaneously, loudly, and in unison (LET'S GO BREWERS) to interrupt and prompt the waving of these surrender flags, thereby silencing the groundswell for the sake of waving these stupid things making our fans look like a disorganized rabble of idiots. 4. To Ned Yost for singlehandedly demotivating this highly talented team and mismanging it from a juggernaut back to a .500 record in the span of 2 1/2 short months. The inappropriateness of 1 through 4 is undeniable. I urge you to take swift and decisive action. Sincerely, windiv07 (soon to change my screen name) Edits in blue to correct syntax & accuracy...sorry, it was late last night. Paste away.

Go with those graphics, Woogie. They are top-notch! Look for me at the game guys. I have a sign tonight which I am sure will be on when Cappy notches this W. You'll know when you see me. Tivo is set for the pregame, post game, BBT, Sportscenter and the ballgame both on FSNWI and ESPN. Time for some divine intervention tonight guys. And we have Yogi 'the-math-is-on-our-side' Yosta back in the dugout so keep these home fires burning and don't give up yet.... ...and that goes for YOU TOO BREW CREW!!!!! our magic number is 6

Oral Hurshizer iz jest a nuther internet manijjer wannabe mundee mornin corterback hoo never manijjed a inning of mayjer leeg baseball in his life. An besides, he wuzz jest a pitcher wenn HE played. What do THEY noe ennaway? He iz az stoopid (if not stoopidder cuz hees awn TV) az us nay-Ned posters wenn it **** two manijjing Ned's spayshul kidz. Hoo in the wide wide wurrlda sports duz he think he iz? Good thang Mark Anteenozzee-o (hoo promissed us awl playoffs or bust) noes bettur or weed be in one heck of a pickle write nayo ensetedda too games out with 3 lefta play. We got that goin fer us and everboddy noes the math iz awn OUR side two. Its az plane az the noze on yer fayce, Oral.

Okay, to all the Yost apologists. Was tonight's loss due to him not being there to give moral support to his kids. And if Yost were NOT suspended, what would he have done differently to win this one?