Thurston Fluff

yes the smell can get into the freezer or fridge. We had to clear out my mother in laws house when she had to move into a nursing home and she was a lifelong smoker who, to be kind, had let the house cleaning get away from her the last year or so she was there. All the food in the freezer smelled like stale cigarette smoke. I suspect she hadn't eaten much of it for a long time so it may have to be due to long term exposure but I know outside smells can get into the freezer.

But my point was simply that while the Brewers said they were looking for an experienced coach, they then went out and hired a staff that isn't particularly experienced or proven in their roles, and that does include Castro. I think it depends on what you call experience. He has experience in the majors as a coach and with this team in particular. He has a partial year experience as pitching coach after the Stewart debacle. After seeing the Kyles hire along with the promotions form within in the scouting it looks as though they are rewarding their own for helping turn this team around doesn't it? I don't really mind that. It keeps a certain amount of continuity and rewards good people did well for the organization. It also should help retain and obtain the high caliber staff Milwaukee needs to remain competitive.

i dunno, the obvious thing is to keep the door closed at all times, but she won't do that, cuz she likes it when the cat sleeps in her room.. Blame her for peeing on the bed and needing the cat to blame it on. Then you can force her to make the huge sacrifice of keeping the door closed to prove it was really the cat. Even if it doesn't work I bet you end up sleeping on the couch so problem solved anyway.

Volunteer work. It'll keep you busy there are many organizations that are always looking for help especially at this time of year. It also has a tangible benefit to the community. It looks good to future employers who see ambition and charity as positives. It may also help make you feel less poor by comparison.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I should mention (again) that I think the best RP should not be a team's closer, and I think Seth would be a decent fit (or at least worth trying). I'd rather not see him as a SP again, but he's not a terrible option if we have to fill out the rotation. I think McClung would be fine as a closer because closers usually come in to start the inning but setup and middle relief guys don't have that luxury. The walks wouldn't hurt him as much as it would coming in with men on base or as the starter. I'd rather they gave Villenueva another shot at starting if it was between the tow of them. DiFelice is still an unknown to me. He is older and doesn't have great stuff. I don't know if he can repeat what he did last season or if it was just his proverbial career year. He certainly deserves a shot at it and could fit nicely as a long man until we find out if he really is major league caliber. Shouse is old and a free agent. He might find someone willing to give him ore years than we are and move on. The Brewers may also not be willing to pay a loogy that much considering they already have a cheaper one on staff with Stetter. If Mota or Gagne could be had for Torres type of money I don't think it would be all that bad of a signing.

Good luck in all your future endeavors you were a good player and class act. I'm not as worried about the bullpen as last season for some reason. I think McClung and Villy are both more established now and we have a couple younger guys in Dillard and Stetter who can step in and contribute. Riske is someone who we haven't really seen the best of yet.

I haven't really gone in depth on this but is Parra that much worse numbers wise than Perez? I realize Manny has very little time in but he seems like he would be more likely to substantially improve than Perez.

He's an average pitcher who is having an average career so far. Next year I expect him to be average.

It seems 8 year old boys have been right all along. There is such a thing as girl germs. http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...nAUam3wizXKrzt7m2UUSs0NUE

From what I read in the article it looks as though they were more or less looking at places that have a high level opening in the organization as opposed to specifics about the Brewers. He hasn't really been in contact with other teams yet. The quote from the JS looked more like TH was speaking from what he was told by Melvin on the record. He used the words "Melvin said," which, to me, means it's straight from the horses mouth.

i've read the last couple days that the person primarily responsible for the acquisition of the above mentioned talent (arbuckle is his name, i think) quit the phillies after they picked amaro junior over him for gm. any chance melvin looks his way to fill one of the holes vacated by jack z, tony b or mcnamara? One of the holes maybe but it won't be Scouting director. I just read this in the JS. Scouting decision: Melvin said he planned to pick an internal candidate to replace scouting director Jack Zduriencik, who left to become Seattle's general manager. Melvin will choose between West Coast cross-checker Bruce Seid and Midwest cross-checker Ray Montgomery. I think going internally is a good move. The scouting as a whole was good not just Jack. Makes sense to promote so you can keep good scouts happy withthe organization. It can also attract young up and comers to the organization because they see it's a good place to progress in their career.

Especially considering how huge a role he had in those WS. I f a script was to be written for a career there would be worse ones to follow. Have success for a long time. Be a WS champion twice and the MVP in one post season run then finish off with the career helping the team you grew up following back to prominence. Not bad at all. If only we could all have that many good memories when looking back at our careers.

Not surprised by this. The team needs have changed. The gritty veteran on the bench to guide the players is no longer a need with the maturation of the core players. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he retires. He's had a great career and the sooner he retires the quicker he can be eligible for the Hall of Fame.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif I'm wondering though... are they trimming bench payroll because they are preparing to put a lot of money towards someone? I think the raises many of the arby eligible players are due will take up most of that. At this point I think the Brewers can skimp by with cheap young bench players easier than they can afford to eat up valuable money with older bench players. The circumstances are different now than they were even a couple years ago, This is a much more established core of players now. The need for veteran leadership and bench players who have been there done that are not nearly as high a priority as two years ago. They served their purpose and now it's time to move on. If the Brewers knew this sort of move was coming, why didn't they do it sooner so Joe Dillon didn't have to be DFA'd upon the arrival of Casey McGehee? Casey had some nice ideas of why but I also think it could be an indication of what they really thought of Dillon overall.

If Castro hasn't earned his way to the pitching coach spot at this point, I'd kinda just feel bad for Bill. Now, if he's not in tune with 'protecting young arms & pitch counts'... then I wouldn't feel bad. perfectly stated. His 02 audition as pitching coach went well IMO. He focused on mechanics where Stewart focused on attitude or some such abstract bull. I thought at the time it was a shame Castro didn't get the job. Mike Maddux showed he was qualified and was a good choice but I don't think Castro would have done any worse than Maddux did.

I think Melvin just knew he wanted Macha, but didn't want to interview only Macha & Randolph (minority candidate). That's my complete guess of a hunch. Yes i think that is right but I keep thinking Ray Rhodes. Wolf had it in his mind he wanted an established head coach and had Rhodes on mind pretty much to the exclusion of everyone else. Granted football coaches have way more to do with the team's success than baseball managers but it still isn't a good idea to limit the search IMO.

I think it was a mistake to limit the interview process to just the three guys. Good point. I don't know what purpose is served by limiting the number of candidates.

Is anyone else concerned with the lack of confidence a 2-year contract shows? It seems to raise a lot more question marks than today's presser answered... I think Melvin was asked about that or referred to it as part of another question essentially he said the length is something largely irrelevant. Managers get fired at all different points in their contracts. If they do well they get extended anyway and if the don't it is relatively unimportant how much time is left on their deal. This was the same length of deal Yost originally got so this looks like it has more to do with Melvin's philosophy on managerial contracts than Macha in particular. If he's not a believer that you have to win with small-ball, and he's not a cancer in the clubhouse, and he's not going to kill the bullpen, and he doesn't come with a big price tag, I'm good with it He certainly isn't married to small ball which is fine by me. Melvin has made comments several times in the past that make me believe he isn't fond of that either so it makes sense he wouldn't hire a manager who lived by it. Macha did mention that you play to the type of players you have. I think he would be versatile enough to adjust to a smaller approach if that was the cards he was dealt. Which is fine by me as well. I am not a small ball guy but I want the manager to be willing to do everything at his disposal to get the most out of his players. If the Brewers have players with speed and no power I think he would be ok with playing that style even if it isn't the preferred way to play. I liked the fact that he thought the most important part of managing came in how he prepared his player to play. It seems as though he realizes the biggest part of his job comes before the players get on the field. After that the players have to do the job. If he is ok at managing the pitcher the rest should be taken care of by proper preparation. i also liked to here he thought production was linked to playing. This was Ned's greatest fault IMO. One I understood considering the state of the team when he got here. It's a different situation now. I wanted to see a guy who could light the fire under the young guys You don't have to yell if you make it clear playing time is inexorably linked to production. The desire to play should be strong enough a fire. If not then the player is the problem and needs to be replaced.

If your wife forgot about it I think someone found the perfect Christmas gift for her.

If you don't go to court or pay the ticket by that date it automatically assumes a guilty plea and they send you the information saying such and you get a bill. if you don't get a notification saying something like that they must have received the check and have it in their system as having received it. They may not have cashed it but they know they have it.

In 2007 we spent more money on clothes for our gorilla than we did for ourselves.

Was it the Thomson Twins, Simply Red or some other one hit wonder 1980's big hair, overproduced, made for MTV, band that came from Wisconsin?

He would probably get three at decent money or he could go one year and take a shot at 5-7 years for more money next year. It really depends on what he wants. If he's willing to wait and take a chance he can get more security and huge pay down the road or he can get partial security in the form of three'ish years at very good pay.

Add another 45-50 million to the 40 he made on his last contract and Ben will have made enough that he won't ever have to worry about money again, along with being able to help any family/friends he wants to. I think the money he made already is why he can take a chance at much more later. I think his family and friends are already tended to.

My dish network customer service experience. The smart card for Dish is being upgraded and a pop up o n my screen says if you see this call this number. So I do. Automated response asks for my phone number and I give it. I have 4 lines and didn't get the right one so it transferred me to a live but not indigenous to the US person on what sounded suspiciously like a free sports illustrated shoe phone from the 80's. The following is the conversation. Rep- nann ann nook plles Me- what? Rep nann ann nook plles Me- my name and number? Rep- yss sire Me- Phil and I think the number you have on file is.... Rep - no doss ttoddo Me- that isn't right? Rep- no doss ttoddo Me- how about this one Rep - No doss ttoddo Me- how about this one Rep - No doss ttoddo. Me - those are the only numbers it could be. Rep - hoew boate yer acomt nubero. Me - what Rep hoew boate yer acomt nubero Me- my account number? Rep- yss sire Me- I don't know I have no bill in front of me. Can i find it on the tv? Rep- yss goe tu nune Me- (learning the strange language as I go very well I thought) go to menu? Rep - yss sire (I go to it and see the number she wants) Me- it's xxxxxxxxx Rep - Phel whte cnn i hepl you wht? Me- I was prompted by the pop up on my tv to call if i didn't receive a new smart card so I'm calling. Rep- whaatt dioo the msosge sayh Me What did what message say? Rep- thhe onke om thoe tmv Me- it said what I just told you. I was supposed to call this number if I didn't receive the smart card. Rep- thire sooumd boe a numger in th riohgjt comner ot toe mesdsageo what id it? Me - a number in the top right corner of the pop up message? Rep- yss sire Me- i don't know when you told me to go to the menu to find my id number I had to cancel the message. Rep - itb cusem uop ery fuir ouhrs. Me - it comes up every four hours. Rep - yss sire Me- I don't see how that's supposed to help me now. Rep- youe nedg a nef smaor krid maidls. Me- yes I need a new smart card mailed to me. (they get the address and surprise surprise they have the wrong zip code) Rep - okey philed youus hsiould reovned a new smaort cord with ni 30 dasys. Jsut deostug the origunnl one woi sent Me - I'm supposed to get the new one within 30 days and if i get the first one just destroy it? Rep- yss sire Me - how am i supposed to know which is the first one you sent me as opposed to the second one. REp- if vo don;t woks its the fixt one Me- so if it doesn't work its the first one fine. Rep - you musldt instro the negw ssmalrt kard wiht sn21 days or oyu wil habe sifrupted stivce. ME- I thought you just told me the new card could take 30 days to show up? Rep- yss sire Me - but if I have to insert the new card within 21 days or have disrupted service isn't that a problem? Rep - you musldt instro the negw ssmalrt kard wiht sn21 days or oyu wil habe sifrupted stivce. Me - I know I have to do it within 21 days but you just told me I would receive the new on within 30 days. Don't you see the problem I'm having here? Rep - you musldt instro the negw ssmalrt kard wiht sn21 days or oyu wil habe sifrupted stivce. (repeat the last six lines above four lines more times verbatim.) Me- I know... never mind thank you. Rep- sin ther anithing els i cna duie ofmt youm? Me- no thank you you've done quite enough. Rep - thnakis you fored dinng a sisk netowrk soutemnr Me - (lightly sobbing) your welcome.

In some ways I see this as a good thing. I thought as much of him as anyone but he deserved to move on. In that respect I'm happy for a worthy man getting his due. I also think the Brewers as an organization takes a leap forward as how they are viewed by others in the business. Young talented evaluators want to work for good organizations and learn from good people. I suspect Jack taught those under him well and some of htem may be ready to take the next step. If we lose a great one it cost us but if we get a lot of interest from other talented people we can more than fill the void long term. Maybe we lose the top man but enhanced reputation makes the overall talent level of our scouts better. Optimism is needed now. When teams win they lose those who made them win. I hope this is a problem we have for years to come.