SoCal Brew Crew Fan

Just heard Gagne soundbite on WSSP's postgame show and he said he shook Kendall off. Kendall wanted the changeup (the correct call). Gagne said that's a learning experience and he should probably trust a guy that's been around for 25 years. For what it's worth, I saw him drop a couple of naughty words as he walked to the dugout and he looked extremely angry at himself. I was screaming at the TV to throw the change!!! Gagne is by no means the dominant "Game Over" pitcher of the past, but he can still be extremely effective. It will just take better pitch selection and location. He had that with the prior two batters. He set up the batter prior to Patterson well and got two strikes on Patterson, then he fouled off the heater. That's when the adrenaline overtook him with the crowd on it's feet. He needed a little Greg Maddux there...the louder the crowd yells...the slower he throws it. It won't be the last save he blows this year, but I think he'll be a decent option.

I wonder what the current Brewers think about someone like Coco getting booed.

To me there are 3 key players in the everyday lineup they need to lock up - Prince, Rickie and Braun. Prince is the franchise...and needs to be locked up now. Rickie next, because the upside is so huge. He really makes the lineup go. Then Braun...but there is little gained in doing it now. For the most part, the rest of the guys are somewhat replaceable. JJ and Corey would be great to extend too, but at some point they do need to be cost conscious. I think the amount it takes with them dictates whether they do it or not. Later in these contracts, some minor leaguers should begin to percolate up into Milwaukee...hopefully maintaining their production at a much lower cost. To keep this thing going it will take a certain amount of below market production.

I agree with TLB. At this point I'd wait on Braun. We've got him for 6 years anyway. The only way I do it is to buy out a couple years of FA and extend the Brewers competitive window. The guy to work on is Prince. They should do a 6 year deal with him now. Buy out his 3 years of arby and 2 years of FA now. They can afford a year or two of him as an FA, but he'll be looking for a longer deal by the time he is one. We won't be able to afford that. If things fall apart, he can always be traded in 4-5 years. Having Prince and Braun back to back for 6 years gives us as good of a 3/4 as anyone in baseball. If it works with Prince, start locking in Rickie and JJ...in 1-2 years, then you look to Braun.

I love Prince, but he's been a veggie for how long? Two weeks? That's like me drinking too much on Saturday night and having a front page article on Monday that "SoCal Brew Crew Fan permanently gives up alcohol". I can't buy it yet.

Pot, meet kettle.

Did anyone see the Tulowitzki contract? From what I understand, it takes him one year beyond his arby years with an additional option year. I'd love to see the Brewers construct something like that for Prince. He'll be a Brewer through 2011. If they paid up a little and offered him a contract now, they perhaps could get him for the first couple years post-arby. If they wait until he's a FA, he'll get a longer term deal that the Brewers won't be able to afford. Offer him a 6 yr deal now. It gives him certainty for 6 years without worrying about injury and we get 2 extra years we probably couldn't afford otherwise. This could line him up with Braun's length and keep the window for the Brewers to compete open a little longer.

Weeks doesn't appear to have the arm. Don't mess with success...keep him at 2B.

I think the whole Brewer TV crew is very good. Brian Anderson was outstanding and had great rapport with Rock. I thought he was funny, insightful and while rooting for the Brewers was not afraid to point out their shortcomings. The Brewers Live show with Coshun and Davey is great too. Living in SoCal, these guys are my lifeline to Milwaukee baseball. When Extra Innings has the other team's announcers on, it's usually a dark night. Half because they are homers for the other team (I prefer my own homers) and the other half is they flat out aren't as good. When you see someone every night like you do in Milwaukee...it's natural to get tired of them or notice their shortcomings. Trust me...we've got it very good with these guys right now.

I'm more optimistic on Turnbow than most of you. I think his biggest problem was overuse. 77 appearances for someone who throws like that and is not effective on consecutive days is poor bullpen management. They overused and abused him. Less appearances could make him more effective. I thought he did well most of the time, but when he blows up it's nasty. Definetly re-sign Coco...although that will be tough. How about Villy back in the pen in the 6/7th "Carlos Marmol" role? Could be an option. I thought Marmol was the biggest difference maker between us and the Cubs down the stretch. Then again, if he started the way he did down the stretch...maybe we wouldn't be so desperate for relief help in the 6th!

1) While there are plenty of sportstalk show blowhard opinions on Yost calling for his head, there are also some well educated, reasoned and calmer posters that are Nays. I respect those opinions. 2) I vote Yeah. If Melvin & Mark A think he's the right guy, I'm going to assume they know more than I do and that's enough to get me off the fence. 3) There are plenty of reasons we are a couple games back vs. a couple games ahead. Pitching (alternating between starting & bullpen), defense, a lack of clutch hitting and some questionable managerial decisions (how's that for a summary of the obvious). I hope Ned is open enough to learn from any shortcomings he may have had this year, but it's just a piece of the puzzle and I don't think it's the biggest. 4) If the Nays are indeed right, it's not like things can't be changed in the future. I'm behind Ned and don't think it's a good use of energy complaining about him anymore...at least until he uses Turnbow 3 days in a row. GO BREWERS!!!

Wow, now I finally know who this Belling guy is. What a baseless, uneducated opinion.

Prince...he's the MVP. I'd have no problem with Hart either. Weeks could even walk to get the bases loaded and get you to Hardy.

PRINCE is the KING!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait for good pitches...hit good pitches.

Rickie = MVP (post-Aug 10)

I'd love it if Castro ran out from the bullpen to argue a call. That would be great.Don't even open the fence he'll just hop over and run. I don't think Eddie Sedar could get thrown out if he tried. "Gee golly Mr. ump that call was a darn shame." It's why I love that guy. How about sending Graffy on his crutches out from the dugout?

I say we let Pujols get an early 2 out single so they pinch run for him. If we'd have let him get a garbage 100th RBI last night, we'd be done with him the rest of the series. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

I agree with a lot of that TooLive, my question is what is the biggest part of the lack of plate discipline? Is it the coaches or the choice of players. I think lack of plate discipline has been a recurring theme for the Brewers over the last 20 years. A great deal of that is our mix of players. When your in a small market I think you get taken in by some "value trap" type ballplayers that mash some homers, but strikeout too much to make them effective. We had Rod Carew, perhaps the best hitter of his generation, as our hitting coach once and he couldn't get through to these guys. If one took a "Moneyball" philosophy, you either have plate discipline or you don't, there is a limited amount that can be learned. I wonder if taking one/two players that are lower OBP guys out of our lineup and replacing them with higher OBP/lower power types would help the overall mix of the lineup. One dramatic improvement that has been nice to see has been Weeks. Whether it's health, a better approach or even the coaching, his plate discipline and BB total has been outstanding since his recall from Nashville.

We're 36 hours away from being a game out. We win today...Pirates have their only hope on the mound today...and go on a home stand tear. It's not over Brew Crew Fans...hang in there!!!

Let's give Ned a little credit tonight. He managed a good game. He was aggressive and forced Cox's hand. I know it seems "bandwagonish" after a big win to give Ned some props because things worked out, but it was a different Ned tonight. He went for the kill earlier (Stocker as a PR), managed his lineup to force the other manager's hand (Gross for Rivera then Dillon) and had a fresh T-bow. Plus, he had Cordero warming up in the 7th and ready to go. Who knows, if he had been this aggressive in the last game of the 'stros series...maybe they have a better chance of winning that one...but for tonight, let's give credit where it is due and not just because they won...because he went for it. Now for gosh sakes...please leave T-bow back at the hotel tomorrow.

The Baseball Prospectus article is the strongest evidence to date I have seen for the Nay side. I've been very "on the fence" on Ned because I like him and I think the team has a great attitude. Some of that cohesion must come from the manager. (What can I say... I thought Bart Starr needed a ninth year to hone his skills) But his in-game management and bullpen management do not withstand the scrutiny. Fans do indeed get too emotional on hiring/firing a manager or coach and I dislike it when the talk radio tomahawks come out. However...putting all that aside, Ned really has brought much of this upon himself. In a game like baseball, playing the percentages, means giving your team a small edge. 5-10% better chance on an in-game move max. There may only be a big decision every couple days that give that type of edge. For each mistake he makes, it has to be netted out against good decisions he makes...of which even the detractors would say are there. It just seems there is a lack of consistency in the moves and when push comes to shove, he often makes a questioanble call. Percentages one day, gut the next. The bullpen management has been a series of errors that has fed on itself over the course of the year. How they have not figured out the proper use pattern for T-bow is beyond me. The fans should not be booing the guy...he is what he is. Look at his splits...the guy is gassed and can't go 2 days straight because Ned & Maddux have burned him out. Bigger issues for the team have been pitching, defense and clutch hitting...but managing has to be included in there as well. I wouldn't call myself a Nay (or a Yay for that matter), but I sure do see many of their arguments as rational.

That's hilarious...same impression I got. It's interesting to actually see the press conference and then read the article the next day. I am much less impressed with the reporters now that I see what's behind the curtain. They are afraid to ask Ned a tough question and frankly, they don't seem that bright. I can't tell who is asking what so I can't comment on a specific reporter, but as a group, they are weak. I'll give Ned this...he really knows how to handle them.

I hear Ned on the Wise issue. I guess what I don't get is we are playing each game like it's our last. We've now said Coco will go 2 innings if need be. He could have put him out there for the 10th, gotten through the meat of their order, then if we got the lead, trotted out there for the 11th. Maybe if we didn't get anything going...go to Wise then against the bottom of the order. I will concede that Ned has been consistent on this issue all year...not using Coco on the road until it's a save, but I think last night would have been a good time to change. Two other probs I have with Ned in the last games. T-bow stunk last night. Look at his splits...the problem was he pitched the night before when he wasn't needed in a blowout. The guy is gassed from overuse and can't go 2 days straight. I'd have no problem throwing him into the fire in a key situation...with rest. He should not have been in there on Tuesday. I believe that caused the ineffectiveness last night. Second, Bill Hall is not yet a good center fielder. I can't completely recall the situation that got him in the game, but he could have been more prepared to make a throw on the tag to third in the 10th. Please tell me he wasn't a defensive sub. He holds the runner at 2d and he doesn't score on the Pence single.

I have the Extra Innings package...so I've seen just about every National League announcing duo this year. I think Brian (& Billy for that matter) rates right up there with any of them...if not higher. He's a big upgrade and does an excellent job. Some of these announcing guys are brutal...anyone ever seen a Pirate or Astros game? Yeesh.