don1481

Thanks for the number crunching, RoCo. Given the "only" slight drop-off, I'd have to agree - mismanagement ("Hey Villy! Warm up, kid - you're going in for the 100th game in a row!") is the most likely cause at this point.

That makes my stomach churn, Russ... the Brewers could get back into first?? I need a drink just thinking about this.

It matters because if the bullpen has had to be used a lot more often recently, it's going to be more taxed here and now than if it was used consistently 3 - 3 1/3 IP/game over the course of the entire season. I'd be willing to guess that the recent average (over the past month or two) has been closer to 5IP than 5.8. And that translates into potentially having to use an additional reliever/game to bridge that 4th inning of relief. Meaning that the arms in the pen don't get as many "days off" as they may have had earlier in the season. Let's say the opposite trend was true - the starters were going 6.2 IP/start or whatever as opposed to 5 or whatever they've been averaging of late. That's close to 2 IP/game fewer that the pen has to be in, meaning that most likely, one or two fewer arms out of that pen would have to be used each game. The pen would, consequently, be not run down. This is a situation where it's important to look not only at the season average (IP/start) but also the more recent trends of how deep the SPs are going into games, since the season average alone does not paint the full picture.

Backup: Averages are for the whole of the season, including the hot start when pitchers went deeper into games and were overall more effective than now. In the (at least) recent past, the starters have not been league average in terms of IP and walks. How much worse than league average is the real question here. For example, let's say there are two SPs: One goes 6 IP/start for 3 starts. The other throws two complete games and then can't get an out. Both have thrown 6IP/start but the second one has resulted in a much more tired bullpen. An extreme example, maybe, but I think it conveys what I'm getting at here.

I agree with that statement, RoCo. Sometimes I wish that Suppan could go 9 IP and throw 300 pitches and for some "unknown" reason have his arm fall off, but really - who do the Brewers presently have that can come into the rotation and take his spot? Zach Jackson? I'm going to say "no" on that. As an aside: The only reason why I threw out those caveats in my previous post regarding those stats is a morbid curiosity as to how much the rotation has become ineffective after two "key" turning points - the end of the fast start and Sheets going on the DL. And BtA - I suspect that if Ned were to throw Parra and Yo out there for 130 pitches/start he'd probably be fired before he could say "Kerry Wood and Mark Prior." No need to even joke about shutting down BFhttp://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif

RoCo, the only issue that I have with this is that it's the season average, including when the Brewers were "hot" and the starters were going deeper into games. I would imagine, unfortunately, that the "average" start for a Brewers starter, say, after the hot start is below that... and after Sheets got hurt, even lower still. If the pitchers aren't presently going deeper into games, the bullpen is going to be more worn down than, say the Padres'.

I wonder if Barroid read Powell's commentary about him being a cheater in that chat. Very well-written answer by Jim.

Indeed... I've heard from semi-reliable sources that he had extended pharmaceutical benefits. Well maybe he was just under pressure to impress Lisa Dergan. But if what Automation is suggesting is true... maybe it explains why he "all of a sudden" got "good" for awhile there...

Indeed... I've heard from semi-reliable sources that he had extended pharmaceutical benefits. Well maybe he was just under pressure to impress Lisa Dergan. But if what Automation is suggesting is true... maybe it explains why he "all of a sudden" got "good" for awhile there...

Over/under on Ned questions? 6 Over/under on Sheets questions? 3 Over/under on Weeks questions? 4 Over/under on Bonds questions? 5

But what about about Zambrano and his "emailing" habit? Or Clint Barmes and "Deer-Meat-Gate?" Or heck, just read this list of fun ones: Top 10 List of Strange Injuries

Frustrating? You betcha. But disappointing? Compared to last year, we should be at least hopeful about our future. The youngsters are starting to show their value (caveat: hopefully JJ will get back on track and stop trying to think he's solely a pull-hitting power hitter and Rickie'll correct his issues - whatever they are - and get back on the positive development path) and outside of having Sheets out and Hall DL'd for a few weeks, this team has stayed relatively healthy. Again - that's more than we could say last year. Our rotation hasn't had to worry about having a revolving door of Designated Rotation Stooges in the 4 and 5 spots of the rotation. As much as I don't think Vargas is an acceptable member of the rotation beyond this season, I'll grant that he is significantly better than what was thrown out there last year. In terms of immediate help, yes - that's a statement I can agree with. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that we don't trade anyone this offseason (fat chance, I know). We have seven guys that we could throw out there: Sheets, Yo, Bush, Capuano, Suppan, Parra, and Vargas. While it does seem like a lot of our SP depth is now somewhat lacking in the minors - especially at the upper levels - I suspect that if Sheets walks after next season, the Brewers are already planning for a rotation of Yo, Bush, Parra, Cappy, Soup for '10. Of course, the caveat of having Jack Z (plus, in theory, enough draft picks in the first couple rounds to completely change the look of the Power 50) means that this depth is probably not going to be lacking for terribly long. Let's just see what the team ultimately does before calling '07 a disappointment.

But Jamie, what about Dusty the Squirrel?http://static.yuku.com/v2//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif Unfortunately, you're going to have to accept that there will be more of the cavemen on TV soon. There's going to be a TV series about them...

http://www.pastdeadline.com/images/spartacus_kirk_douglas.jpg I am Spartacus! Or, like those credit card commercials from a few years ago - "I am Emmitt Smith!" JJHardy7, out of curiousity, how do you know the accounts are legit...? Tell that one to Zambrano.

?Did someone say Don West?http://static.yuku.com/v2//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif

Um... GormanHarvey, That is not in haiku form! Hmm... that might be tough...http://static.yuku.com/v2//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif GoBrew23Launches a big haiku swing Way back! Way back! Gone!

IMO Bonds was already a legend to begin with pre-steroids. He was definitely one of the best of his generation; my issue with Bonds boils down to "if you were already pretty much a lock for the Hall of Fame, why did you have to get greedy?" He didn't need the competitive advantage, he was a great ballplayer in his own right. That's what makes me mad about all of this. As far as Russ' point before, I really don't know where the points made in that article make all that much sense. I agree with Russ; the list just moves from "meh" to "reaching frantically for straws" in short order.

Why couldn't the game be an hour later? It's interfering with my quality VH1 programming tonight @ 8! Well... who wants to take the over/under on Vargas going... 5 2/3. I'll take over (6 IP) on that. I hope I'm not being too optimistic here, but Claudio could help the pen a little by going deeper still...

Bucks, I'm sure that if Davey Lopes was the Phillies' manager and was announced as such at the start of the game, he probably would have been booed. Wes Helms was announced each time he came up to bat. He was the center - for that moment - of everyone's attention. Granted, Wes is nowhere near as "boo-able" as, say Gary Sheffield, but in many people's eyes he did "wrong" the club and accordingly got booed.

I can see booing Wes Helms, Jeffrey Hammonds, or other players that are commonly-perceived to have "ripped off" the Brewers (in Helms' case, by not showing up in shape after the contract; in Hammonds' case, by never being able to make it through an entire season). However, there's no reason why the fans should be booing players like Cirillo, Davis, or Clark. All three of those guys "played it the right way." That said, I think Wes' comments are a tad out of line; does he forget why he was ridden out of town, or does he still blame it on a wet ramp in Puerto Rico...?

See now, for some odd reason, I don't really see Braun as "cocky" or "overconfident" or whatever. He's confident, yes, but I don't think he's over-the-top so. He's just someone who is comfortable with his abilities and knows what he wants to be for this team. But back to the topic at hand, yes - I do see Corey Hart as a guy who is very humble. I just don't think it's appropriate to call him the anti-Braun.

Hmm... would a game of paintball help them out? Yeah, yeah... I know... "what if players get hurt?" I wonder who'd be shot at the most...

Whats that supposed to mean? Any thoughts on that? If that quote's true, Donald Trump would love to contribute his two cents on Ned's future here: http://www.scripting.com/images/archiveScriptingCom/2004/02/24/theDonald.jpg

A very interesting Q&A with Jenks on the 6:00 Fox news: Q: You have any fears or things that could become harmful against the team? Jenkins: Like what, sharp objects?

Oooh! Shiny toy! Good call on the cut-over, Brian. Looks like a nice upgrade.