pete

It's worth noting that Park had a tendon in his hand that required surgery and problems with his wrist as well. He took a Chris Sale pitch to the knee too.

Regarding the BP list, do insiders still have access to scouting briefs that are dated to times they were scouted? At one time non-subscribers had access to those. Admittedly it was a while back, 2 or 3 years maybe, but when I would look through their top 10 and then look at when they scouted the players, some of them hadn't been seen in a year or even two. That can be overcome to a degree by talking to scouts or even team personnel. I can't imagine how much time Sickels spends on a phone. But if a lot of it is chatter among their staff and pals, I say whatever.

I'd say there is an element of truth to many rumors, but that's much different than them being true. The only thing I've heard about Braun's lack of value is Cafardo, people reporting on what Cafardo said and the Dave Cameron types who extrapolate a webpage to negative conclusions. Is there any actual reporting other than Cafardo who is the only guy I can remember that Melvin felt compelled to state was flat out false is something he claimed.

Athletic and toolsy. I say pass.

Would the Braves be considered mid-market when they had that long run of competitiveness?

It was just an off season letter to the fans. I think they can be consistently competitive. I'd be happy if they never signed another expensive FA.

You're quoting a prosecutor in a NY Daily News Story. Following up would be trivial and profitable for NYDN. For that matter, the NYPD could likely gain information from Venezuela and perhaps did. What are the details? What are the facts? Please post the follow up information. How about the court's actions?

I think its completely inappropriate to claim that all the people who don't make a string of assumptions are ignorant or don't care about women being [abused]. That's pretty much the definition of being on a high horse. I can assure you that i'm not ignorant of the issues, the psychology or the politics, both through decades of involvement on the periphery of law and politics and recent experiences. The 911 people admit that they are used as a tool of manipulation in significant numbers. I don't know about Sussex, but in Milwaukee if there is a domestic violence call, 911 or not, if there is any evidence of an altercation and certainly if there is blood, someone has to be taken into custody. Its self serving or incompetent for people to write stories that include allegations without the insight brought about by full reports, follow ups or details like nobody taken into custody.

Breaking news: the NFL has treated their employees, the players, like human garbage. The Ray Rice suspension is about public image. I doubt Ray Rice's wife likes it. You speak as if you have inside information. You've determined that he's a "monster." This couldn't be based on a misdemeanor battery allegation. I'd guess that there are a couple hundred calls a day just in Milwaukee that involve allegations of violence. That's just a starting point of inventorying violence that occurs or is alleged. It couldn't be based on the witnesses not cooperating. That's so common that there are all sorts of euphemisms for doctors not testifying against doctors or law enforcement not testifying against law enforcement. Go ahead and ask that a medical procedure be videotaped. Until recently videotaping a crime occurring could make you a criminal, if the criminal was a law enforcement officer! What amazes me is that the popular response is that people who do certain things shouldn't be employed. Bad news: Australia is occupied now and all the misogynists, juvenile delinquents and pot smokers can't be banished to another land to maintain purity of the good people. I don't know if Ray Rice was convicted of anything, but given the evidence he could have been and treated as if he were a dishwasher. During the season he could have reported after work to spend the night in jail and spent off days there and in the offseason he could spend it in prison till he served his sentence. What happened instead almost certainly cost his wife millions of dollars. For all we know, the Brewers could have fully investigated the incident and engaged both Francisco and his wife in discussion if they felt it was necessary. They might have required him to engage in treatment as well. It could be far and away the best thing for him, his wife and his family. To steal from Solzhenitsyn*, good and evil cuts through the heart of every one. I don't think declaring someone a "monster" when you don't know the truth is the right moral direction. Check your compass. *Gulag Archipelago

It'd be interesting to know what the FO's thoughts were on so many HRs in the 2nd half.

Dustin Demuth is bright and was a 3 sport athlete. Has there ever been any chatter as to why he did so poorly his first season?

Those are some great notes. That Shuckers team is pretty exciting. I wonder if Seid's legacy will be much better than a lot of the heat he's taken along the way. He's certainly had some notable failures, but this last draft has the chance to be pretty monumental.

I think a healthy Aram will be just fine. I can't see him Cadillacing it. Maybe his comments are related to RR planning on not overusing his starters (crosses fingers). Earlier when I wanted to check my memory of Jimenez' defense, I came across this post: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/4/16/4231434/prospect-of-the-day-luis-jimenez-3b-los-angeles-angels He quotes his own comments from his book: I can't shake the feeling that something will click when he's 26 or 27, he'll take his game to the next level, and emerge as one of those surprise older prospects who "comes out of nowhere" and suddenly makes noise in the majors. Grade C+. Perhaps most importantly, Melvin seems excited about him so I'd guess he'll get a real shot. Rogers, I'm not so sure. He's never mentioned as a possibility for anything. When he got a September call up it turned out that Seid had been lobbying for the promotion. I can't help but wonder if he's doomed to be Melvin's emergency backup if all else fails, buried at AAA till he's contractually free to leave.

Braun should play shortstop, and i mean it... for one inning in a blow out. Clancyphile I"d guess you're wrong, but maybe i am. It'd be interesting to see a reel of all his defensive plays at 3rd. I can remember a couple going through the wickets, but my recollection is that a lot were throwing errors. When he had time, he'd do that double crow hop and then launch the ball over 1st.

They're not really out of style. You can buy new ones on Fifth Avenue or at a Gap. Regardless, I wouldn't mind the baby blues now and then. The logo itself uses lettering that is a bad imitation of a brush script used by "show card" artists. That's old.

Bell bottoms came back! Now wide wale, hip hugger, monster bells in purple, maybe not.

The M with the barley logo needs a refresh. Its an unfortunate mix of brush lettering with a serifed typeface. I think the "Brewers" would look better if it was ascending and not a crown shape as well. The typography that accompanies it is also poorly done. Hey Brewers front office, I'll help you with that if you want. The one uniform I rarely hear anyone say they like is the pinstripes - I love it with the block lettering M on the cap and the crown shaped "Brewers." Have the ball and glove logo with the baby blues now and then. I don't even mind the occasional 80s or is it 90s one in small doses.

Yeah, I mean how could that ever happen. http://www.studentsports.com/baseball/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2014/02/Kodi-Medieros-600-2.jpg

Is it okay with you if I just call you "jer" so I don't have to try and type out that handle you've given yourself? Also, its probably a stupid question, but who is that in your avatar? It looks like Billy Hamilton to me. But as to fan likes here and elsewhere, how about position players! Everyone thinks Melvin should have traded the players they don't like. Davis, Gennett and Maldonado lead the parade. Schafer should just be DFAd. Ramirez should have never been signed. Regarding the bullpen, maybe I'm too infected with homerism, but I think they have too many good relievers. I know as a concept that's kind of tenuous, but that's where I'm at.

I think the chance of Davis being sent down is close to zero. My guess at OD bench is Maldonado, Parra, Schafer, Jimenez and Gomez. I think that could be a great bench myself, especially if RR cycles in guys to get some at bats. If he does his thing with burying guys and then asking them to pinch hit against a good reliever after a week or so of sitting, none of them will do well and there'll be posts on how whoever has "proven" they can't hit major league pitching. While the Pirates are talking about resting guys more ala a basketball team (I think) and Maddon is going to do his carousel of players jumping in and out, hopefully RR modifies his approach. I know it would give them the ability to have a flat out awesome defensive team in late innings. Regarding Sardinas, if he gets regular at bats and his hitting comes around, he will have huge value either as a Brewer or in a trade. i don't think they would punt that to make him a utility player.

Lohse and Garza too I believe. I'm not sure what to think about it.

Personally, I like not having the best reliever pitch the 9th. Isn't that what the saber crowd advocates? I don't know and its probably a discussion that will go nowhere, but I doubt the FO doesn't understand new data analysis. I think if you look at subjects like computer analysis of pitching mechanics, pitch framing and defensive shifts you'll find 3 possible areas where they may even be the leaders. If you live long enough, you realize that "modern" often turns out to be wrong. What is the modern baseball game that they wouldn't understand? WAR? They have better data and more of it. Remember when the Brewers were derided endlessly for drafting bats and not worrying about their defensive ability or what position they could handle? There's a team that is considered very modern, with a lauded GM and superstar manager and more importantly is very advanced with all that modernity that is popular. That team seems to be focusing on drafting bats without a lot of concern over their defensive skills or position. That team even signed the mysterious character only known as "Tom Tango" a cultish guru to an exclusive contract and then signed Edwin Jackson to a fairly large contract. Really, do you think that Beane or Hoyer know things that Melvin doesn't?

I don't really care about "respect." But the lists are about a variety of things and identifying the best prospects to contribute to major league teams is only part of it. McDaniels to his credit admits it. I'd say Sickels states what his lists define, but BP and BA? The discussion about Coulter happened because some "experts" described him as "unathletic." Offering an argument that the most highly recruited wrestler in a high school didn't make the top 20 athletes of 20 years in that school doesn't seem to diminish a state champion. Like I said, I don't know how well his athleticism transfers to playing outfield. I'm not sure what makes you believe that Schwarber will be fine in the outfield, but given the fever surrounding him, a description of being more athletic than he looks makes me think there's a good chance he won't. I could go on, but I think a lot of the process of making those list is the garbage.

What statistic says he's replacement level - pitcher WAR?

By longer leash, do you mean he'll be used if he's not pitching well, because that's what big contracts make happen. I'd guess the reason he's going to be paid what he is, is because Mark Attanasio is taking calls from Boras and was sold him by one of the premiere salesmen in the history of baseball. Boras will never reveal what the other bidders offered, but I'd guess Marlins were something like 2/8 with no guarantee to close and any other straggler was less. So why give him what they did? The argument that he can handle the 9th doesn't work for me and i'm of the belief that many can't. The Brewers used Henderson, they got Broxton probably with that in mind and Perez is in camp and hey, somewhere along the way somebody who has never done it has to get the chance. Don't get me wrong. I kind of like him in the 9th. I'm thrilled that there won't be a Philly trade with all that entailed. But the idea that constantly adding pitchers, especially ones with FA contracts, will automatically benefit your team is wrong.