local hero

He's a career .250 hitter. He's in the twilight of his career with about a collective .245avg over the last 3 years. Although I think MP may actually help him, I look at where he'll likely hit in this line-up and don't like his chances (look at where many of his AB's occurred in Toronto)...I know "protection" means nothing to some in these parts, so, sigh there, I guess. Most importantly, he's been a career back-up for good reason. He's been more than well-rested for the vast majority of starts over the last 6 years. Reality tells me that consistent starts for a 39 tear-old catcher who's not used to them will probably not end well. Those 2 sound pretty good to me. DOUG DAVIS GETTING ABSOLUTELY SHELLED RIGHT NOW, BTW. ANOTHER SOLID STARTER! James

Most around here like to keep it mellow. All of your assumptions may very well be correct. Others are showing you how Zaun has been better then kendall over the last 3 years. You are choosing to say a 100 point increase in OPS is nothing. Thats your choice. Alls I said, is that Zaun does not = Kendall. I will stand by that.well, he has been better than Kendall....just narrrowly enough however that, in my opinion, I would hardly call him an "upgrade". More like an uptick. I do not place a lot of faith in his year-long output to win games for this team. Just as I didn't with Kendall. Those who rightly said Kendall has been a poorer offensive player over the last 3 years are/were correct. If I seemed to infer otherwise, that was not my intention. James

Don't you know by now? Walks really don't get you on base, and a double is no better than a single? nice strawman....whoever said I (or anyone else) didn't? We're talking about the consequences of a 100 point discrepancy between two significantly below average offensive players. James

Ok. In two and half months (call it end of June) Zaun will be hitting between 225 and 235, 2-5 HR's, about 15-20 ribs, with an OBP around 280. hows that sound? James

BTW: what do some here THINK the "reactions" will be within a post entitled "after 2 games". It's a fan forum, for god's sake. James

duh. However, when you're dealing with two pathetic offensive players, a 100 point or so difference over the course of a season is SIGNIFICANTLY less imperative. Just look look at how sad BOTH players OBPS is. that ain't rocket science, either. James

I didn't compare "that game" or any other for that matter. But, lets! 4 earned runs, 9 hits in what, 6 1/3 (2/3's?) and a WIN. Didn't walk anyone though...nice there. Sounds like Looper afterall (remind me again where Loop ranked in run-support last year)! Can anyone see "wolfman"! escaping miller park with a sub 4.5 era? Let me know how. James

ok, semantics, Zaun turns 39 in 162 hours. Yep, you're right, he's not 40. LOL, thanks for stat-line... already pretty close in the last 3 years, thanks! A near statistical mirror in BA, but great point in the insanely over-hyped OPS stat...let's see where it matters in the runs and rbi dept. I'd say talk to me in 5 months, but it will prolly take half the time. James

^ I'll go ahead and keep my stance that 40 yr old Zaun will not be anywhere near an "upgrade" over Kendall in 5 months. This is where this all stems: someone taking issue with my basic: Kendall = Zaun...not because I thought the Brewers should have run out and signed Johnny Bench. Perhaps not a perfectly balanced equation, but I'll bet it will be pretty damn close when this plays out. James

Overrating offensive production at the postion? Take a look at these 25 or so who played last year: Name TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OB SLG AVG http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 1. V Martinez* BOS C 155 588 88 178 33 1 23 108 282 75 74 1 0 .381 .480 .303 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 2. K Suzuki* OAK C 147 570 74 156 37 1 15 88 240 28 59 8 2 .313 .421 .274 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 3. J Mauer* MIN C 138 523 94 191 30 1 28 96 307 76 63 4 1 .444 .587 .365 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 4. R Martin* LAD C 143 505 63 126 19 0 7 53 166 69 80 11 6 .352 .329 .250 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 5. A Pierzynski* CWS C 138 504 57 151 22 1 13 49 214 24 52 1 1 .331 .425 .300 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 6. B Molina* SF C 132 491 52 130 25 1 20 80 217 13 68 0 0 .285 .442 .265 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 7. B McCann* ATL C 138 488 63 137 35 1 21 94 237 49 83 4 1 .349 .486 .281 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 8. Y Molina* STL C 140 481 45 141 23 1 6 54 184 50 39 9 3 .366 .383 .293 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 9. J Kendall* MIL C 134 452 48 109 19 2 2 43 138 46 58 7 2 .331 .305 .241 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 10. R Barajas* TOR C 125 429 43 97 19 0 19 71 173 20 76 1 0 .258 .403 .226 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 11. M Montero* ARI C 128 425 61 125 30 0 16 59 203 38 78 1 2 .355 .478 .294 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 12. G Laird* DET C 135 413 49 93 23 2 4 33 132 40 68 5 0 .306 .320 .225 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 13. M Olivo* KC C 114 390 51 97 15 5 23 65 191 19 126 5 2 .292 .490 .249 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 14. J Posada* NYY C 111 383 55 109 25 0 22 81 200 48 101 1 0 .363 .522 .285 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 15. M Napoli* LAA C 114 382 60 104 22 1 20 56 188 40 103 3 3 .350 .492 .272 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 16. D Navarro* TB C 115 376 38 82 15 0 8 32 121 18 51 5 2 .261 .322 .218 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 17. J Baker* FLA C 112 373 59 101 25 0 9 50 153 41 89 0 0 .349 .410 .271 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 18. J Varitek* BOS C 109 364 41 76 24 0 14 51 142 54 90 0 0 .313 .390 .209 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 19. M Wieters* BAL C 96 354 35 102 15 1 9 43 146 28 86 0 0 .340 .412 .288 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 20. G Soto* CHC C 102 331 27 72 19 1 11 47 126 50 77 1 0 .321 .381 .218 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 21. I Rodriguez* HOU C 93 327 41 82 15 2 8 34 125 13 74 0 2 .280 .382 .251 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 22. C Ruiz* PHI C 107 322 32 82 26 1 9 43 137 47 39 3 2 .355 .425 .255 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 23. C Iannetta* COL C 93 289 41 66 15 2 16 52 133 43 75 0 1 .344 .460 .228 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 24. R Hernandez* CIN C 81 287 25 74 13 1 5 37 104 33 34 1 0 .336 .362 .258 http://mlb.mlb.com/images/trans.gif 25. J Saltalamacchia* TEX C 84 283 34 66 12 0 9 34 105 22 97 0 2 .290 .371 .233Now tell me how I'm "overestimating the offensive output of the C position" when I expect more than an empty .220 - .240 BA? James

Wolf won eleven partly because he pitched in one of the greatest pitching parks in modern ML history (#2 last year). Look at his stat-line in Philly (granted, a hitters park) and you'll find a near Soup II: another .500 or so pitcher with a 4.5+ ERA. It's no coincidence he hasn't won 12 games in 7 years or had an ERA under 4.3 since 2002. Now he's just a year older and back in a park that can yield some runs. Not looking for much, here. As for Soup I: I called him the biggest bust in team history at the signing and still feel he is...that game four mess still burns me up to, BTW. And while I partly agree with the idea that the signing/keeping wasn't Suppan's "fault", I simply think the guy's about 20 pounds overweight and is nowhere near as "into it" as some others assert. sigh. James

To be perfectly honest, Zaun's signing was pretty typical of the Brewer off-season to me: a bunch 4-5/10 players that will not likely add much anywhere. I mean look at Zaun: ONLY because Kendall was so disastrous at the plate last year can you even begin to consider a guy hitting .245 an "improvement". However, with him nearing 40, I could easily see an almost worthless .220 - .230 5 month escapade. Sorry, just don't see much of an up-side to the guy. James

Although it seems laughably early, sometimes it's never too early. Both teams come into this series ready to go and pretty well rested up. COL was (and likely IS) a playoff team, so I don't think it's too much of a stretch to take something away from this series. I for one would be quite enthused to see them bounce back and take this series today. James

Id be willing to bet that you are completely incorrect here. Really? How's that? Zaun: A 40 yr-old career .250 hitter / .387 SLUGGING coming off a couple of years where he hit .240 and .259? I'd love to have it end up being an "upgrade" though....lord knows it wouldn't take much. James

I agree with Hawkins y-day. Some of his career stat-lines make me think twice about really counting on him though, including a 4.5+ era and 60-81 W/L...primarily in a relief role.

Sometimes when I look at this team the thing that scares me the most is that I think P&B will have to at LEAST equal last year's amazing campaigns for this team to even finish .500 James

Since you asked...no surprises at all after 6 hours, I'm afraid. Gallardo will be up and down and not yet a true number 1, and Wolf looks like Looper II. Well, let's take a look at the changes: Gomez < Cameron Zaun = Kendall Wolf = Looper Davis = Davis Escobar ~ Hardy Edmonds ~ Hart Hawkins = Hawkins How anyone sees this team doing anything outside of potentially bettering last years version by a few games is beyond me. Although a Weeks that plays a 150 games as opposed to 15 could be a sizable plus.

I seem to go every year without an issue. Shocker: there's DRUNKS at opening day?! Bout as surprising as drunks showing up to Summerfest. I find so long as you go with your own crowd and mind your business, it's largely a non-issue. Seeing there's at LEAST 60,000 people floating around the park, what can you expect but a % to act, well, drunk? If you really think its that bad, try a NASCAR race. Those I've gone to make opening day in Milwaukee look like a bar mitzvah. I'm not trying to be the turd in the punchbowl here, but I think the day is overwhelmingly as good or bad as you want to make it. It's good to hear that it appears most here had a problem-free experience this year. And if you really dead-set on taking small children, spend the time to seek out and secure family section tailgating and seats...the world is not going to change because we decide to take our kids out of school (maybe not this year) to go to a baseball game. The vast majority act human in my experience. Planning for the others is an unfortunate but predictable reality. I'm not intending to come across as an ******, but I think some are as over the top about the behavior as those actually acting over the top. In a nut-shell I had a great time again this year. respectfully, James

4/5 - vs COL W 4/6 - vs COL W 4/7 - vs COL L 4/9 - vs STL W 4/10 - vs STL W 4/11 - vs STL W 4/12 - @ CHC L 4/14 - @ CHC W 4/15 - @ CHC W 4/16 - @ WSH L 4/17 - @ WSH W 4/18 - @ WSH W 4/20 - @ PIT W 4/21 - @ PIT W 4/22 - @ PIT L 4/23 - vs CHC W 4/24 - vs CHC W 4/25 - vs CHC L 4/26 - vs PIT L 4/27 - vs PIT W 4/28 - vs PIT W 4/29 - @ SD W 4/30 - @ SD L 16-7! 7+7+5= 19 Have to say a bit surprised by the low totals all around with 9 games vs PIT & WAS, and a home opener series vs COL where I think we'll take at least 2. Not really fearing the flubs at MP either. My home sweep of STL is my eye-popper!

Boy oh boy, can't tell you how excited I am to add Gomez to a line-up that desperately needed more guys to manufacture runs...sigh. 1. Escobar 2. Weeks 3. Braun 4. Fielder 5. McGehee 6. Edmonds 7. Zaun 8. Gomez 9. P

^ Maybe not doom and gloom, just a bit underwhelming at 3 and 4- especially when you're a bit leery of Wolf, you know? Don't mistake me for someone who thinks it'll be over in August. I feel they'll hang with the Cards, but simply do not have the firepower to eclipse them...and they're more than a single arm away from it too. James

For as much as I try to skew the numbers, I simply cannot fathom this team winning more than 85 games. But, I'll throw a pair on for what will surely be some cardiac comebacks with the 1-5 hunk of the order. Call it 87-75. Folks looking at the likes of Wolf and Davis as "upgrades", are beyond stretching it. While I think there may be a handful LESS of games that end 8-10, losses are losses. Let's face it, Wolf made hay in one of the best pitchers parks in the history of the game...it'll be a much different story making 15 starts in MP. Most here have of course rightfully pegged G as the only thing resembling a "stud", Parra is a bout as much of a wild-card as you'll find, and you just know Davis and Bush will win 11 and lose at least that many more. Narveson actually could be a difference maker, but who in their right mind would even consider it at this point? Gomez is NOT what this team needed. They will continue to primarily rely on extra base hits strung together to produce runs. They won't steal anything. They won't be playing small ball often enough. That said, this offense should once again finish in the top 3-4 in runs scored in the NL and they'll win a lions-share of the games because of it. Don't look for Melvin & A to sign anyone that any of us will be terribly pleased with in July/August, regardless of the team's position. Last year completely eradicated the CC move in 08'. They'll win a good amount of games and make many more much closer than last year, but there'll be no repeat of 08' Sad to say. James

Yes, unfortunately a phantom DL appearance looks more and more plausible to me. This is like trying to sell an anchor in the desert. James

I will elect to end this CC anthology. It's the wrong thread and a dis-service to those here to stay on point. Let's keep it focused on Soup-zoot-riot. James

Only useful when comparing contrasting it with the league "averages" which I will not employ the leg-work to pursue. I'm certain in your mind this renders my argument impotent. That's cool, i can live with it. A more useful (and easier but still arduous) method would be to look at the infielders who received comparable playing time/position in the batting order and looking at how often they scored and drove in runs. I certainly do not have the time, nor the resources to conduct such an exhaustive report. If you choose to pursue this, I suggest YOU prove me wrong that, relative to his postion, and position in the batting order, that CC is anything MORE than a below average offensive player. James