jerichoholicninja

Agreed. Or an actual starting pitcher like Estrada.

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1373523.html Move this elsewhere if there is a better place for it.

I wouldn't have been a huge fan of that deal. Cespedes and Puig are getting people really excited about Cuban players. Those two are the exception not the rule. They also were much younger then Abreau is. The Brewers would be getting him at his peak for a few years and then likely decline. Plus, that's a lot of money for a team like the Brewers to invest for a virtual unknown.

I have 2 separate thoughts on this on this and similar posts. 1) K-Rod, he's a first class freaking douche and character should always matter, maybe that speaks to a larger issue with our society in general that so many people won't care who or what a guy is as long as he offers the perception of helping them in some way... in this case the "we're a better a team with him" mentality. In addition to his abusive past his mechanics also stink so he's prone to extended bouts of leaving the ball up where he gets shelled. As TLB noted, we have no idea which K-Rod is going to show up this season, he could be a disaster regardless of the price. 2) Just because a contract may not be as bad as a previously horrible FA contract handed out by the organization, that doesn't make the current contract being discussed a good deal, or money well spent. I always have and will always struggle with the reverse justification of "well it was better than player X's contract"... doesn't matter if people are talking about Hammonds, Suppan, Hall, Gagne, whomever. While that idea may be true on paper, spending money poorly is still detrimental to the organization, there is really no excusing away dead money. The organization literally has a ton of good relief and back of the rotation options between AAA and AA, we didn't need K-Rod on a 1 year deal to solidify anything. This is like having 4 1st basemen on the 40 man roster, with 2 more veterans on ST invites, or bringing in more 3-5 starting pitching types, it just doesn't make much sense as those moves do nothing to push the organization forward. These strategies continue to be incredibly micro in nature, where they only way they really make sense is if you narrow the focus to needing "Y number of established veterans for the 2014 MLB club". It's entirely possible that a youngster like Goforth would have outperformed K-Rod if given the chance. Now that he's signed I don't really have a choice other than to hope he pitches well, but that doesn't mean I have to like the deal or the idea of bringing him back in general. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fuFn9aGQKXQ/URv8-NXj4eI/AAAAAAAADC0/JZC3uKeI7t8/s640/Debbie%2BDowner.png

I have no idea how people can be addicted to pain pills. The two times I've been prescribed them they made me feel worse than the pain.

I didn't read the article but according to a headline I saw they are going to CGI him. Not sure how they would handle his voice. Then again, I've never seen the movies so I have no idea what his character is or does.

He could barely crack an .700 OPS playing in the silo that is Minute Maid Park. I hope there is no interest from the Brewers.

Can't believe he got a major league deal. Not that it will really make a difference to the Marlins one way or the other.

Yes the numbers don't lie but what about home park advantage/disadvantage? Marlins stadium/Mariners stadiums they both aren't hitter friendly. And neither are the ballparks they have played in their divisions. Reynold's/Francisco's slash lines are mostly of the opposite playing in friendly homeparks/divisions. When you look at Morrison's line and that homepark/division he really stands out as far as career numbers go. Bump everything up 20pts lets say to a .269/.357/.447 line then is .824OPS I wouldn't think that is out of line. The only problem is Seattle gave up Carter Capps for Morrison. 3rd rd pick in 2011 mind you so while his numbers aren't great in appearance he possesses 10k/9 ability and just may have been rushed up too quickly due to all those Seattle pitching injuries. So to me if I'm Seattle and I'm asking for a player in return it comes around that kind of value. Probably like Burgos/Figaro/Kintzler/Nelson list of guys. Maybe Blazek/Hellweg even. Just my guess, I can't see Thornburg being traded away at this point unless it was for somebody truly helpful to the Brewers Roster future or present. And not just for a guy who's replacement level with the hopes he does better than that playing in Milwaukee. Career OPS+ for each: Smoak - 97, season of 82, 106, 85, 113 Morrison - 107, seasons of 129, 116, 89, 95 (his OPS+ took a nose dive with the move to Marlins Park, I'm thinking that might have to do with not having enough data to make a correct park effect factor yet) Francisco - 95, seasons of 200 (25 PA), 88, 97, 88, 93 Reynolds - 108, seasons of 109, 96, 127, 97, 116, 107, 96

Marmol is like the worst of Axford, but even worse than that.

I was thinking that too. He can be the insurance in case one of, or both of, Week and Gennett flops while still being able to backup everywhere else.

If Maldonado gets any number of PA at 1B things will have turned out worse than they did last year.

The would be a horrible trade for the Brewers.

Can't believe he was only 46. He looked more mid-50's.

I just don't get it either and I've pointed out the stats plenty of times. The guy is as good, if not better, than Gallardo. I was just reading some preseason fantasy stuff from before last year. Estrada was the only starter in MLB in 2012 to have a k/9 above 9 and a bb/9 below 2. If you went to a k/9 above 8 and bb/9 below 2 the list is Estrada, Sabathia, and Cliff Lee.

Former NBA All-Star Tracy MacGrady is attempting a pro baseball career as a pitcher. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/former-nba-star-mcgrady-eyeing-baseball-career.html

Oh they'd take an arm for sure. The back end of their rotation is wide open. Not that I'd deal an Estrada straight up for Ackley. Maybe package Estrada with a prospect for Smoak and Ackley. I can't see the Mariners trading both Smoak and Ackley even after they signed Nelson Cruz. Right now they have Smoak, Morrison, Hart, Ackley and Saunders to play 1B/LF/CF/RF/DH. Adding Cruz or bringing back Morales frees one of them to trade in a package with a guy like Nick Franklin who's now blocked from the Robinson Cano signing. I don't know if that's what I'd be looking for if I was gonna trade Estrada but it's tempting. I wouldn't give up Estrada for those two. Smoak and Ackley may be upgrades at those two positions but losing Estrada is definitely weakening the rotation.

For as bad as the parents and coaches act the kids seem to be pretty grounded. I was actually laughing during halftime when the coaches are screaming at the kids and they are more interested in their orange slices than the coaches.

Nothing on TV today so I watched 2 episodes of Friday Night Tykes. Good Lord, it's everything that's wrong with youth sports.

You could say that for most clubs. Yes, they are blowing their first rounds picks but they are blowing every other pick too. It seems most other franchises can turn later draft picks into major leaguers. The Brewers not so much. Take a look at the Rays and the round they were drafted: Price (1), Hellickson (4), Moore (8), Cobb (4), Zobrist (6), Jennings (10), and even consider James Shields (16).

They were immediately after but didn't they decline pretty quickly after which was part of the reason Punk was de-emphasized?

He certainly does have a gripe and for the most part he's right too. But why would WWE care? They've shown in the past that they don't and since the kiddies keep cheering for Cena they really don't have to change.

I can't believe no one has said this is a work yet. Punk and WWE did it once before. Having said that I don't think it's a work but I bet Punk will be back for Wrestlemania. Maybe this is a ploy by Punk because he has an offer to be the top guy in Jeff Jarrett's new promotion.

That should be in blue since they signed Omar Infante to be their second basemen.

Obligatory "Al Gore-related" comment.