SoCal Brew Crew Fan

The bullpen looks a lot like last years pen...it's just this time my expectations are more in line with reality.

Never saw this coming. Given his exceptional D, he should at least earn the contract value. There is upside if last year wasn't an aberration at the plate. I like Carlos personally as well so I'm a fan of the deal. 3 years for that price isn't a monster risk outside of injury. I'm surprised he didn't go FA given he's a Boras guy. Very unusual. The bear thesis seems to be around paying fair value for too many players, given the Brewers limited payroll, takes away the opportunity for cheap upside. Without cheap upside, the ceiling of the team is capped. At some point there is a limit to these type of deals.

Big BA fan. I hope he can retain his national work while continuing with the Brewers. Have to think he's had plenty of offers to go elsewhere. I would think the new Fox Sports venture could be a big risk, but maybe that just takes him from his TBS work. As pointed out by WTP, losing him risks a blowhard like Sutton or a snore-fest like Joe Block coming in. BA walks that fine line of fun, informative, a little vanilla but entertaining. Good rapport with Schroeder too. He does a great job on BTN as well.

I would have thought they were better than that as well, but it's just the sheer lack of thought from Williams that drives me nuts. If the Astros won 60 games and were replaced by a .500 team on average...over 17 games isn't that a 2 win difference? Maybe 3? How do you get 6-7? That would be like replacing the 1962 Mets with the 1927 Yankees in the division. Listening to Williams' analysis is like some drunk guy at the bar who spouts stuff out of his posterior and all you can do is think of how do I get away from this dude.

I actually like Alex Gonzalez so I'm not in this camp, but when he becomes the opening day starter at first base it will be a brewerfan meltdown.

I'm not quoting directly, but Williams said something to the effect that not having the Astros in their division could cost them 6-7 wins relative to last year...then the announcer mentioned they went 9-8 vs. the Astros last year. Classic.

It would take more than just the starters imploding to get the low end. Regressions and/or aging among the position players like Hart, Ramirez or Gomez are certainly a possibility. Weakness in the starters feeding into a suspect bullpen that gets Macha-ed out. The division getting stronger at the bottom end with the Cubs a little better and the Astros gone. The NL in general will be stronger this year. Again, not predicting it...it just wouldn't shock me to see a rough year. I'm not going to spend too much time defending the bear case (just acknowledging it exists). Being a negative Nelly is bad for my psyche...and I am genuinely excited and interested in this year's team.

Record: 79-83 Division: 3rd...Reds struggle through a patch...then win division with 88 All Stars: Braun, Weeks, Axford. Disappointment: A couple of the starters...just not sure which one, but a couple will implode. Surprises: Hiram Burgos is in rotation after all-star break...and pitches ok. Seriers: Tigers beat the Braves in 5. Despite that prediction...a playoff spot is still a possibility for the Brewers. The team has a much wider band of probability than normal, depending on their pitching. 90 wins wouldn't shock me...neither would 70.

Russell has been playing in a Russian League and was responsible for that "meteor" last week. They just aren't used to his supernatural powers. I fully expect to still be lobbying for 3TO's return when Prince Fielder's son is nearing the end of his arby years with the Crew.

I'd like to see RRR with a little more selective fire when dealing with a bully like LaRussa as well. The message should have been delivered during the season. I'm not a big eye for an eye guy, but baseball's unwritten rules date back to Neanderthal times and seem to be the only language certain Neaderthals like LaRussa understand. Other than that it's the running themselves out of innings, first inning sac bunts or the overly stringent bullpen roles that defy logic or a situation that really get me. That being said, he's not much different than most managers and seems like a decent enough fellow so I try not to get too bent out of shape about it. I'm willing to cut Mark A & DM some slack on the payroll. They probably stretched enough to lose some money last year...his pockets aren't so deep he can do that forever. He's shown a willingness to spend and/or trade when they see an opportunity. Signing one of this year's overpaid FA pitchers or trading what few prospects we have left would be the only thing they could have done different and that would have elicited even more outrage. The best thing to do with money is to spend it when you get a good return on it. The bench may be thin, but the bullpen should be better. They have room to increase payroll if the starters keep them in it. Let's see if these youngsters can carry us. Who knows, maybe this .500 team can catch some breaks and contend for a wild card spot. I wouldn't project it, but the odds are high enough that they have my attention...especially in Febraury.

Is that light at the end of the tunnel? Thank goodness! Thank you Ben Brust for helping me get through the off season...ok, Brew Crew...time to take it from here.

At least Corey Hart won't wreck his knee running to Braun's first spring training presser this year.

Good pitcher...over rated person. Perfect poster child for the hypocrisy of the Classies...good riddance is right.

I like the winning uni. The barrel man is cool...and I really like the patch. The shirt is ok. I wouldn't mind seeing them incorporate the patch and barrel man in to a cool alternate uniform. For the most part I've liked the Brewers logos/unis. The only exceptions were that awful MB late 90s era and those mustard things they were wearing at the on deck. I love the BiG and the current logos/unis.

If Todd Coffey was "not Seth McClung", does that make Badenhop "not Kameron Loe"?

Ryan Dempster was far an away the league leader in flippy dippy. I think fangraphs has his FDip at 173, although park factors brought his FDipA down to 158. I think Wolf was running second before the trade at 7.3.

I couldn't really argue with Braun or Kemp last year...or Braun or Posey this year. All deserving of the award. I thought Kemp's supposed statistical edge over Braun was overstated last year, so a virtual stat tie should go to Braun. Braun had a stat lead over Posey as well, but when factoring the park, division, position and team factor...not to mention the intangible of overcoming his injury, it's a story to feel good about. Congrats Buster, well deserved...you too Ryan, way to overcome your own adversity. Haven't seen it mentioned, but how about ARam coming in 9th? Terrific season there as well. Certainly put a number of contract fears to bed with his 2012. He may be in the red in 2014, but he'll have plenty of accumulated black going into it.

I would bet his agent is using this as a way to get the bidding up for other teams...seems the Brewers have become the agent world's new favorite decoy.

I've never seen a guy demolish batting practice like Glenn Braggs. I can't help but think if he tried some yoga instead he might have lived up to expectations as a ball player.

Guess we know where some of the struggles came from this year. Always liked the Wolf man. Whether he plays again or not, he'll have plenty of cash to make for a nice rest of his life.

I only have one of these so I ordered it. I'll let you know how it looks. Merry Christmas Me!

I'd love to see Prince go nuts in a 4 game sweep over the Classies.

Since openly rooting for the Nats didn't work, I will be sporting a Dodgers hat during this series. That's right Giants, I'm talking to you. I'm sporting your rivals colors until you prove to me you have what it takes to stop evil in it's tracks!

The Nats need to move back to Montreal.

A couple hours ago I was ready to buy a Nats hat. Now just the thought of them makes me nauseous. Another example that Washington is completely incapable of properly conducting our nation's business. For the love of all things good, please Giants, end this nation's nightmare. Our children's futures are at stake.