CheezWizHed

Player of the Year: Scooter Gennett - Let the when do we trade Weeks talk begin I should have predicted that! http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

Whats the deal with Jon Leuer lately? He's started the last two games, played 4-5 minutes in the first quarter and then never saw the floor again the rest of the way. He was defending Stoudamire and Bosch in those games. I think Skiles wanted to give him a shot at those guys, but then when he didn't play that well, pulled him for LRMaM. I think just giving him the start is a nice way to work him in. Skiles quote after the Hawk's game: "I don't know if people fully understand what some of these rookies have to go through. He's got Amar'e[/b] ( Stoudemire[/b]) in (Madison Square) Garden and he's got Bosh down (in Miami) - these are difficult things, and he's learning.

I didn't read through all 5 pages, so forgive me if I duplicate here. But here is my $0.02. Write a specific resume for each specific job you apply for. Not to lie on your resume, but to emphasize specific qualities for that job. Obviously, in order to do that well, you need to know what that job wants (which would be recommendation #2). My company is hiring quite a few people for engineering positions. But they are also being VERY picky about who we get. Not that there are so many candidates that we can choose among a pile of many. But because its so hard to get approval for hiring someone, that people want to be sure you are going to get a someone that can do the job. Less "chance taking" on someone with potential. BTW, if you know of any software engineers that have MatLab/Simulink/Stateflow experience that want to work in Detroit (follow Prince!), let me know! http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif

Well, I guess the Packers selecting Dan Devine as head coach over Joe Paternocan cause this to happen... Canadeo became livid when he learned Devine was about to be named coach. As Canadeo left home for the executive committee's meeting that day, he was so distracted that he smashed through a closed garage door as he backed his car out of the garage. A daughter had used the car earlier that day and left the garage door up. As Canadeo stormed out of the house, he didn't notice the door was up and hit the garage door opener, closing the door as he was about to leave.

The Houston Lone Stars or just Stars Well, the Dallas Stars may object to that... But it would be worth it for all the "Space Balls" Themed parodies or special offerings they could do. There's only one man who would dare give me the raspberry: Lone Star!

as Pujols is at least 5 years older, and possibly 7-8. I wonder what Albert's real name is.... http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

I'd rather have had Prince's .929 OPS. I don't think anyone is disagreeing with that. The point of my post was that despite losing one of the best hitters in baseball, the Brewer's didn't step off a cliff, but stepped down a notch instead. Beat writers are predicting a large drop from the Brewers, while predicting the Cardinals as champs. I guess, I see it as the Cardinals, Reds, and Brewers all having an equal chance at the Central (similar to what we said a year ago). One of those teams will probably have an off year (like the Reds did last year), but its not like we are going to be fighting to get above 500 this year either (save for injuries).

Ok, Prince is signed. Time to turn the focus to next year. So lets make some predictions on various "awards" Player of the Year: Ryan Braun - I think he beats the suspension and repeats maybe not MVP, but for the Brewers Pitcher of the Year: Zack Greinke - Better infield defense will help. As will a year of familiarity. Tight race with Yo. Rookie of the Year: Matt Gamel - ok, not sure he really has "rookie" status or not. But I'm picking him. Most Improved Player: Jonathon Lucroy - Year 1 was an early call-up. Year 2, he settled in well. Year 3, he steps up and posts a 270/330/440/770 line while improving defense. Questions Answered: 1) Who will get the first contract extension? Greinke 2) Who will be the first traded away or released (off the expected 25 man roster)? Nyjer Mogan 3) What position in the NL Central will the Brewers finish? Second w/ Wild Card Record: 88-74 edit- nice call in adding a Record prediction. Not sure whey I didn't think of that. http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

Ok, the off season is pretty much done. Time to turn attention to spring training, so lets make some predictions! Player of the Year: Non-pitchers that has the best season (not ceiling, but production), but has to be in the minors. Pitcher of the Year: Non-Non-pitchers for the same. New-Comer Biggest splash: Doesn't matter if they played last year or not. Who makes the most noise among last years draft (and FA signings if you like...). Most Improved Player - That guy that suddenly turned potential into production Here are my choices: Player OTY: Logan Schafer - Gindl and he are both blocked at AAA for the time being. I have a good feeling for Gennett at AA also, but Huntsville seems like a harder place to put up big offensive numbers. But unless Green or Gamel get stuck at AAA for some reason, I'd bet money on one of those three... Pitcher OTY: Thornburg - Peralta won't stay at AAA this year. Bradely and Jungmann also in contention. Much better competition up and down the minors for this one than the player OTY. NCBS: Bradley - Toss up between him and Jungmann. MIP: Kentrail Davis - I just have a gut feeling the guy doesn't like Brevard and the one everyone thought we drafted will show up at Huntsville. I'm expecting Bucci and Garfield to take big steps also.

Since the Brewers moved to the NL, the Twins have become my favorite AL team. So, I would have preferred him to go to Washington...

The difference career wise between A-Ram and McGehee is microscopic. Both are slightly below average. I'm pretty certain JB was speaking about defense here. I can't imagine anyone trying to compare the two on the whole (offense and defense) as the same player. But I still don't see the point of the argument. Its not like football where you have dedicated offensive and dedicated defensive players. A players worth for baseball is always combined: Defensively: ARAM - McGehee - Lets call it a tie Gonzalez - Yuni - Here we have a clear upgrade. Gamel - Fielder - I'll call this a tie for the sake of the argument. But I think we can also say that Gamel has potential to be better and much better. Offensively: ARAM - McGehee - Career OPS: 842 vs 746 (note that ARAM beat that last year, Casey did not) Gonzalez - Yuni - 690 vs 682 - I'm going to call that a wash, despite YB's great ability for sac flies. Gamel - Fielder - 800 vs 929 - No, that isn't Gamel's career numbers. But I think its a fairly safe prediction. His career numbers present too small of a sample anyway. Average OPS is 777 vs. 817. Yes, we downgraded our offense. Do doubt about that. But improving our defense, especially at shortstop does balance that some. If Gamel does improve on defense at 1B, we probably end up with as much production one the whole as those three spots last year. None of that can predict what will happen this year (people having off years, new players in the club house, injuries, career years, etc...). But I think its reasonable to say that for losing a player of Prince Fielder's caliber (or caliper if you want to bring his waist into it), our team as a whole hasn't suffered a significant drop off like some want to predict. We might not win 96 games this year, but I don't think its a stretch to say we should be in contention for the NL Central again.

Money's burying him I still say this is WAY overblown. Someone asked for his opinion on the guy. He didn't say anything more than we didn't already know or what others said (immaturity). It wasn't a vicious indictment. It was an honest evaluation of what he needed to improve. And we act like he insulted our mothers.

The mascot would be a side of meat! PETA would have a field day! People Eating Tasty Animals! The Rockets thing reminds me of the 90s techno group called Utah Saints, whose name managed to riff on the New Orleans Jazz move and Mormon theology in one stroke. Plus they were British. I'm still awestruck. And oddly enough, the "Saints" would work in Utah or NO. You just have you change your religion... http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

Obviously, Prince signed the 2nd biggest contract this offseason. But consider that its still less than AROD's contract with Texas (10 years, $252M) and he signed that over 11 years ago.

Well, I was going to give that much in deferred money, but I unfortunately invested it in a ponzi scheme...

In the "Prince Fielder signs with... " thread in the transactions forum TooLiveBrew was the first to utter "Detroit". Looks like you and Prince are the big winners of the day. You have earned yourself 0% of Fielder's winnings... http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif And we were so close to getting him back for a 1 year $20M contract...

Uh... Houston? We have a problem... edit: Although, I will say that I associate the word "Astro" with the Jetsons before Astronaut. I honestly had to think a second before the real association made sense.

At least Volstad was decent-ish and Lawrie turned out nicely so far. Shawn Green, Lance Berkman, and Nick Swisher weren't too shabby either...

I, I, I did not know thaat... Ed, did you know thaat? I'm actually pretty surprised by that. Well then, if they could sell Mountain Dew + Sprechers Root Beer and Creme Soda, I'd be happy as a dog with two tails. You can keep the Coke Freestyle machine... http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif On a side note, this thread lasting 100+ posts with no real information in it is a good indication that ST can't get here soon enough... http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

Short history of the #16 pick of the MLB draft: 2011: LHP, Chris Reed 2010: RHP Hayden Simpson 2009: 3B Bobby Borchering 2008: 3B/2B Brett Lawrie 2007: 3B Kevin Ahrens 2006: RHP Jeremy Jeffress 2005: RHP Chris Volstad 2004: LHP David Purcey 2003: RHP Jeff Allison 2002: OF Nick Swisher 2001: RHP Kris Honel 2000: LHP Billy Traber 1999: RHP Jason Jennings 1998: RHP Kip Wells 1997: OF Lance Berkman 1996: SS Joe Lawrence 1995: RHP Joe Fontenot 1994: LHP Matt Smith 1993: RHP Alan Benes 1992: RHP Rick Greene 1991: OF Shawn Green Just remember that past results are not an indicator of future returns. http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

Miller might have an issue with them selling Sprecher's beer... Maybe Miller is coming out with a line of pop (rootbeer, creme soda, etc..) a la Sprechers. http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

They print money in Boston. Actually, that would be in DC and Fort Worth, TX. The mints are in Philadelphia and Denver. They just spend lots in Boston. http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif

That makes sense. Wasn't really thinking clearly after a long day in airports... ugh

Maybe the Twins then or the LaCrosse Loggers! Ok, I'll bite. Why the Mississippi?

One thing to keep in mind is that the toughest jump is from the minors to the majors. Unless you are a can't miss rookie (Braun, Fielder), you generally get broken into the league a little slower. Not facing all the tough matchups, given a few extra days off. Tough call since some players do better when they can work through slumps, while others need a bit of rest to refresh their approach. To support what Ennder just wrote, Gamel generally played around 130 games from A-ball up.