liveforoctober

I think it's safe to assume TGJ will break camp with the club now...

As far as I'm concerned, Suppan is a AAAA scrub, albiet one making eight figures. You can think what you want but the facts are you are completely wrong. Even in his worst year which was last year he was above replacement level and he has not been too far off league average in his time as a Brewer.And if we don't sign Sheets or acquire another front line pitcher.. Suppan and Bush may be the most valuable pitchers we are going to have this season. With Gallardo and Parra and #5 (Villa or McClung at this point) not likely to go past 6 innings on a consistent basis... our bullpen will be toasted by the all-star break unless Bush and Suppan eat every inning they can. We need Suppan and Bush badly this year to save our pen.

I think we all agree that JJ can pick it with the best of them... it's his range that is suspect. He's a perfect defensive 3rd baseman.

In my opinion, the situation isn't as shoddy as some here are saying, but we do have some work to do. I would love another bruiser starter or two. Suppan and Bush are the only locks to hit around 200 innings... and if we are sending Gallardo, Parra, and our 5th starter out there (currently Villa, McClung, etc...) and they are throwing only 5 innings regularly... our bullpen (which looks like it will be young and inexperienced largely) will be taxed and toasted by the all-star break. This is mainly why I am not at all opposed to Braden Looper joining the ranks... He isn't a world beater, but he at least has shown these past few years he will win you 12 games and will eat innings. If we can't get a top flight #1 or #2 (Sheets... come back my friend) this offseason... then we need to protect the bullpen, and a back end of Bush, Looper, and Suppan will do that. If we can get Looper for a favorable contract... I say absolutely sign him up. Of course, he does have terrible numbers in Milwaukee... but I am going to credit that to facing our lineup and nothing more. *closes eyes* I also echo what someone else said above. We need AAA pitching depth. The worst case scenario at this point is if we don't add depth and lose any one of our starters early and have to pull Villa or McClung out of the pen to start extensively. We cannot afford to tax that bullpen more than necessary. We need some replacement starters in Nashville... and pronto. Also... for the informed on this board... I know Luis Pena took a small step back this past year. What is his ETA? If he shows up well the first half is he a July call up? Is it possible with a strong spring he breaks camp with the club? I wish he was ready to go right now... he would help. Thanks.

David Hulse...

I would love to roll the dice with Randy Johnson as our closer. How intimidating is that? I know it would never happen, cause Randy needs his 300th ... but come on now. It would work.. I know it.

So for those of us who are challenged in the arena of baseball rules... we get which picks from the Yanks for Sabathia? Their 1st and 2nd?

Jorge Julio has been the lead in to way too many jokes with my brothers and I over the past few years for me to get excited about this signing. Whenever one of our relievers would go through a tough stretch... we'd always justify it by saying... "Well, think about it this way... at least we don't have Jorge Julio" ...but if Melvin thinks he can Turnbow this guy into a useful reliever and got him for cheap, God Bless both of them. I will gladly apologize and eat crow if he can prove me wrong... Here's to hope!

His homerun off Nathan was one of the highlights for me this year... Good for him though. He begged Melvin to give him a minor league contract last season when no one wanted him... worked hard, repaid his dues and now has a big league contract again a year later. I will miss the feeling of complete "I have no idea what is about to happen" when he pinch hit in the late innings though... Peace 3TO ... you were good to us... again.

Here's a link to the video of the slider that got Delgado... this was a nasty pitch. 9 to 3 seems correct.. I wonder how consistent he is with this pitch? http://video.aol.com/vide...irst-strikeout/1732682116

This could become interesting in a little bit... If CC stands pat about waiting until all offers are on the table... and the Red Sox can swing a deal right now for Burnett. I could see the Yankees panicking at the thought of losing all 3 of the top FA pitchers and pulling their offer to rush and sign Derek Lowe. Hopefully that would sour CC towards New York and the highest bidder may be out of the race... Just a thought.

Wow. Actually a very big surprise to me...

Pick up the option, no question. With the inevitable loss of Sheets and Sabathia... we are going to have to play some pretty serious defense next year if we are even going to sniff the post-season race. At this stage of the game... unless his money is required to sing CC... we can't afford to lose, arguably, our best defender when Suppan, Bush, and McClung are going to be starting 60% of our games next year.

I can never forgive Corey Hart for that at bat in the 1st... never.

Carrie Underwood, being caught by Jessica Alba... Seriously though... it has to be Uecker.

I am going to listen to this once a week for the rest of my life... not even kidding. Chills... just chills.

I believe the entire reason we signed Jeff Suppan is for this week...

Opposite of the other one... if there is something that is going to do us in... what will it be? 1)Unhealthy Ben Sheets - can you imagine if we had a healthy Sheets, Sabathia, and Gallardo right now? 2)Torres - we kind of need a confident closer in the post-season, and Torres has been iffy. 3) Small-ball - Every run is important now... and we have proven many, many times that we are a home run hitting team (much like Philly), but execution of the small stuff wisn games now, and it HAS to happen. Where are our flaws?

Just throwing out reasons why this won't be a "thanks for the invite to October, we'll be going now" week, and that we have some Colorado 2007 magic in us... 1) Yovani Gallardo - It's the smallest of sample sizes... but YoGa looked filthy in his only start back. If we have a healthy Yo ... we could be a dangerous team. 2) Clutch - How ridiculous have our players been in the clutch when we needed them during the last 10 days? 2 walk-offs, 2 virtual walk-offs, CC Sabathia (there should be a movie made about him), Cameron answering the call at the top of the lineup, etc... in the post-season all games are close and you need your players to come through in stress situations... this is what has me the most excited. 3) Lefties - We haven't been as good as of late... but we are going to see Hamels and Moyer in 2 of the first 3 for sure, and undoubtedly some combination of those 2 again if we go all 5. We were crowned the "left-handed pitcher's nightmare" early in the season and I don't see why it can't start back up now... 4) Momentum - Is on our side... What else am I missing?...

Solomon Torres... He has been shady as of late... but he was a savior for the middle 3 months of the season...

True story. Mets tied it at 2. My brother says "This can't happen...not again" and I said "No worries, Wes Helms owes us... if he is available to pinch hit... good things will happen..." Then we had a good laugh. Then, 45 minutes later... God Bless Wes Helms.

I have been praying nonstop for this to happen. I didn't make my screename "LiveforOctober" for no reason. I think if I had to create a lifelong bucket list... the Brewers making the playoffs would be as high as anything else I could come up with. God luck today fellas... it's been one heck of a season. I'm nervous.

First off ... I'm not believing anything until it is confirmed. Nothing against the guy who started the thread... but rumors can come from anywhere. Secondly, we can do a lot worse than Counsell's .355 OBP. Only Fielder and Durham have a higher OBP among people who play regularly. If Sveum just leaves Counsell in Hardy's lineup slot ... I have a problem, cause he has no power... but if you bat him 2nd ahead of Braun and Fielder... I really have no problem with it.

Ned Yost

Can you update us once it's done?