ILuvDaBush

Technically, Clemens' contract was for $30M/yr. However, since he went to some Oriental Massage parlor for the first two months of the season, it was only pro-rated to be a bit over $20M. As for the value of pitching being significantly higher on a "year-to-year basis," look at 1-3 year arbitration numbers. Tiny Tim wasn't approaching Miggy/Howard. As for the value of Prince Fielder, it all depends on supply. On the current market, the only two similar players are Berkman/D. Lee. Both are much older and there is noticeable wear and tear (as well as a nasty problem with Berkman demanding his option be picked up). So one would think that Doug Melvin should look like a Brazilian supermodel at a Green Bay bar. However, to continue the analogy, there also happens to be a rumor circulating at the bar that some random Laker Girl is going to be gracing the bar with her presence in the near future, if only her friends would quit drinking (or in Adrian Gonzalez's case, quit winning). Now many would rather have try their luck with the exoticism of Giselle's li'l sis but in Theo's case, he's always wondered what the Laker Girl would look like...in his lineup. Me? I say "Ordem e Progresso."

Drick.... Actually the Dutch were the first team to advance and the Bras-burners have also punched the Knockout ticket. And I was quite right about the SoKo match. DAMN! Today's matches, however, are the most anticipated since...the last two for the US? I love the World Cup. But seriously, has anyone seen Robbie Van Persie? Did he get kidnapped by Somali pirates? Is he circumnavigating the globe? Is he wooing Mrs. Arjen Robben behind the "injured, but only according to Arjen...so we'll keep it air-quoted" midfielder's back? I don't know which is the bigger Oranje phantom, Van Persie's presence or Arjen's injury. And yet, they were the first procurers of the Golden Ticket. As for today's US game, I really think Altidore is going to score at least once. And even if Donovan puts on a Barcelona Messi-type performance, if we lose, he will never be considered the greatest to ever don the ugly American sash. No pressure, kid.

A player's coach. And while it is remarkable that the victory-fated Oranje have weathered their group without their top 2 players (Robben/Van Persie...wait, Van Persie has played both matches? I demand visual confirmation!), they have in 20/20 hindsight been given the goldenest of roads to the knockout rounds (which is best illustrated by them being the first to advance). Also, is anyone else excited about the SoKo v Nigeria match? SoKo wins and they're in (unless Greece beats a pissed off Messi...hardly).

But also, realistically, how many teams would be willing to give up a big piece of their future for one year of Prince, let alone two (and still boast of holding onto its best young pitcher in the majors as well as in the minors)? The Red Sox could be in play, but their primary target continues to be Adrian Gonzalez, and they continue to wait for the Padres to fall out of contention (or declare bankruptcy...) and watch as Lars Anderson loses all his value...again. The Angels continue to deny any interest in getting better. Maybe we can package Prince/Gamel and get a PTBNL from Washington's recent draft. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I was at a game at Miller Park vs. the Cardinals where it went to extra innings. Oh yeah, and Albert Pujols had to play second base because of an injury to Cesar Izturis, IIRC. I didn't see many runners go in hard to second after the position change.

Wasn't O'Connor originally mentioned as the Cubs' top target before they fell in love with the southpaw from DII?

If he's sign-able. I hear he is a top 3 prep arm, but he's about as un-signable as they come. Let's hope we get him signed because he immediately becomes a top-3 arm with Odorizzi and....Jeffress.

According to Grant Wahl, Ching simply lacked pace and speed. With the absence of Chuck Davies, we lacked a burner. Then again, I seriously doubt Bobby Findlay's fleet feet ever see the pitch.

If a Drogba falls in the box, and there's no one there to blame, does it still constitute a dive? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I always compared Derrick Rose to the Pistons' Rodney Stuckey, except with an actual basketball IQ. Rose actually knows his limitations and tends to put himself in a position to exploit his strengths. But both are encapsulated in combo-guard bodies with combo-guard games. Rose just can also run an NBA offense. As for Jennings, his biggest weakness 9 months ago was his swagger and his outside shot. Now, those are considered to be two of his biggest strengths. I feel like a Chicago Bull fan felt a year ago after watching D-Rose&Co. put on a clinic vs. the defending NBA champs in the first round. This season, D-Rose had a glass ceiling develop. He has a shaky outside shot that he has yet to address at all and he can be outran by the quicker points. Case in point, our point. They were probably the two best high school (point guard) prospects in their respective classes. Two completely different games. But while D-Rose may be physically bigger than BJ3, their psyche's are inversely Ostertag and Shaq, respectively. There is no bigger young personality in the league than our Young Buck. Throughout the season, we always saw BJ3 defer to Bogut and later Salmons. But late in the season, after the Bogut injury, you could see the maturation take shape. Now the best comparison I can come up with for their dynamic would be Puff Daddy/Biggy Smalls. Bogut will be the guy who will power the flight, but the guy flipping the switches, doing the little things, keeping the beats fresh and the egos in check will be Double Nickel Straight Outta Compton. Now we just need to get BJ3 a sugar cookie from Harlem and a glass of breast milk from a Cambodian immigrant.

Oh, and just for fun. My three picks for the Golden Boot (sans Messi. It's like taking mid-decade Tiger). 1). Wayne Rooney. Caveat health. But I honestly believe ManU shut him down in the hopes of bringing national pride to the Isle. 2). Robin Van Persie. Great for Arsene and Arsenal. 3). Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast are my darkhorse for no other reason than the best striker in Africa. Chelsea's finest. And yes, that does make three EPL powerhouse strikers, but I refuse to take the Tiger Flea and I really don't think Team Ronaldo is going to overcome their group.

I've got the Dutch this year. Perhaps the best team never to have hoisted the cup. Team Oranje boasts some of the best talent in Europe. As for our own prospects, I'm quite excited to see Landon in his prime on the biggest stage imagineable. His transfer to Everton may have fallen through but with a top-shelf showing by us as well as himself, he could be a top target of more than a few clubs (Spain/France come to mind). Also, what does everyone think of Michael Bradley's prospects? He's been an even bigger fixture in the XI than Howard/Donovan. This would be quite the ideal time to silence the questions of nepotism. My three players who will ultimately be the barometers of our success: 1). Landon. 2). Bradley. 3). Timmy! Marcus Hahnemann may be playing well, but Timmy could quite honestly be the best goalkeeper the Cherries&Berries&Cream has ever produced. Even with his questionable groin, the Mutant Striker Rooney is going to give our back line nightmares. A healthy and fit Gooch should be just the antidote to the headache, but even moreso than that, Timmy between the posts is what will help me sleep at night.

The reason I throw McGehee out there as a possibility for the Astros is that their owner would probably prefer not to believe his team is rebuilding as much as it is re-tooling. If they were to get McGehee, they would control him for 4+ years, through his prime and then easily jettison him when he is nearing free agency with little regret. Prospects are great, but they're much more of a crapshoot than a player who has been doing it at the major league level for a year-plus. And the reason I throw Soup in there is because supposedly if the Astros want to move their once-and-former ace, they would need to eat salary. In this deal, they just have to eat the Soup.

What about the potential of Brooks Hall? Group B would be my guess, though without any pro date, it's a blind throw at a dartboard.

Hypothetically, if I were a white baseball player in the 1950's and I were in love with Mary Jane, a woman of a different race than myself, and there were laws on the statutes (as well as the minor league rules, though it is condoned once you reach the Show) outlawing my affair with this woman, would you feel bad for me if I couldn't help my forbidden love for Mary Jane? But that's a debate for another day. Today, I can't help but get excited about the highest ceiling prospect in our system chomping at the bit to throw darts.

Exactly. On a team of Prince-Braun-Yo-Weeks-Hoffman...with Wolf-Counsell-Zaun, how would Oswalt expected to be anything resembling "The Man"? He and Bush can look alike and pitch alike. His competitiveness has never been questioned.

I am definitely of the opinion that McGehee is going to be our best trade chip in the near future. I think of how Doug Melvin used Scotty Po, a scrap heap nugget, to entice the Pale Hose into shipping us Carlos Lee. In these trying economic times, the ability to supplement one's big contract with a frugal/efficient contract like McGehee's is very valuable. And while he does hold value for us, I am still of the opinion that Gamel is the future at the hot corner. What about: McGehee Suppan for Oswalt

The beauty is in the bat. I say we make Gallardo our #2 hitter when he's in the lineup. Let's be honest, it pays to put the four best bats in the lineup at the top.

I'm very excited about Lofgren staying in our organization. Outside of Zach Braddock, there isn't another southpaw pitching prospect.

Also, what happens when Sharpie Davis' ERA catches up to his WHIP? And I guess as our long man, his value truly would be minimal.

Jon Lester. Anthony Rizzo. And now Ryan Westmoreland. That's absolutely terrible. On top of the prospect world. I would imagine a slight majority of pundits would take Westmoreland over Lawrie before this. His defensive position has rarely, if ever, been questioned. The best of luck.

That is a very novel concept. I didn't even think about the idea of optioning Stetter to AAA and keeping Narveson in the 'pen as the occasional LOOGy (especially with 3 lefties in our rotation). However, does Soup have any value out of the 'pen? Something tells me it would be both Bush and Narveson to the 'pen. I just really hope Bush stays. He's the Rickie Weeks of the pitching staff.

Aren't the Twins going with Jon Rauch as their closer?

Exactly. Most would probably say Josh Butler was our best hope at AAA this year, and he's beginning to look somewhat hopeless, at least in terms of being able to help us early. I actually think the pecking order is: 1. Parra - Our former top prospect. "Perfect Game" memory still somewhat in the back of one's mind 2. Bush - For $4M, if you get pre-injury Bush, you have an immense bargain. 3. Soup - As alluded to earlier, there are always teams willing to take a chance on a guy with past success. The former NLCS MVP should have a bidder, even if it is Dave Duncan (which is why I want to see what Soup can do with Gomez and Escobar - and a healthy Rickie - up the middle defensively) 3a. Narveson - With Lofgren being offered back, we have a true dearth of YOUNG southies beyond Parra/Braddock. Few and far between. SOmething tells me he stays unless we can't get a deal worked out for Soup. Bush shouldn't be going anywhere. He's got the best baseball look on the Brewers outside of Prince's pajama look.

I'd take Rizzo over Anderson. The kid is just now scratching his power potential and he's a superb fielder. I know that sounds like the Big O but this kid could become Lance Berkman.