Playing Catch

Yeah, it's hard to say what the White Sox will do. And I'm sure they want to maximize the return as best they can. The Nats-Padres Soto deal is probably the baseline. But they'll never get that kind of return for Crochet. Not even A.J. Preller is that aggressive. If I were the Sox, I would be considering each trade offer on its own merits, and not necessarily chasing uber-prospects. It's impossible to compare to a thousand hypothetical trades, but if they received an offer that had Ashby and Frelick as a starting point, I think the value, for the Sox, is that firstly, they'd have two MLB players (they have to field a team). Secondly, those players would likely maintain trade value down the road a season or two. If the Brewers started with Ashby and Frelick, and added Luke Adams and one of the 20 year old pitchers, that would be enticing. The Sox don't ONLY need top prospects... they need prospect depth, too. As a franchise, they may be better off getting 4 regular big-league players than trying to find one MVP/Ace.

I really like Kim, too. Nervous about the injury, though.

If one was motivated by the points you mention, like Ashby's uncertain future performance but certain higher salary, and moving Frelick at perhaps, peak-value, than I see an Ashby+Frelick package as very desirable for a lot of teams, and that package would probably net a really strong return. Not a bad consideration at all. It could even be a decent starting point for Crochet.

He was the same kid who could be seen saying, "I ******* hate playing here," after getting mercilessly booed early in his career after booting a ball. I'm not at all predicting this, but just playing armchair psychologist, but maybe he'd flourish at a lower-key, more supportive atmosphere than Philadelphia.

All of the Twins fans I know talk the same way... the Pohlad's are cheap asses that ruined a good thing by cutting payroll. I just don't see it that way at all. I think it is quite similar to Brewers fans that don't fairly assess the differences between MLB and NFL/NBA. Not that the Twins didn't cut payroll, which may, or may not have anything to do with the Bally's fiasco, but just that their team was going to be younger and cheaper (and better), without major FA additions. Had they made the playoffs, I think most of the fans would still grumble about the Pohlads, but missing the playoffs gave them what they actually wanted... new ownership. Or, at least a team that is kinda for sale. All of this is to say, is to be careful what you wish for as fans. Twins fans had a borderline playoff team and playoff roster with young stars. Now, the fans have an organization in flux, with an uncertain short and long-term outlook.

It's hard for an outsider to look at this team and feel like they NEED a big move.

IIRC, they really needed a catcher.

Particularly this time of year, where we can reminisce of bygone prospects and forgotten rosters.

I liked that they held on to Willy and made him a QO. But that's a lot riskier play with a relief pitcher. With that said, I think I agree with the idea of keeping him unless they get a truly tempting offer. Although, Bohm might be tempting enough for me, especially with his extra year of team control. edit to add - A lot of this depends on if the Brewers can fill Willy's gap through free agency.

Feast Week with no Badgers is kind of a letdown.

54 second-half points vs. Pitt. This team is gunna blow the doors off of a few opponents this season once they really hit their stride defensively -- which looks like is an effort thing for this squad. I wasn't at all worried when they were down 14. McGee is really an x-factor right now. If he keeps this up, he'll be getting starters minutes every game, especially when teams go small. I thought it was interesting seeing them go with all 4 guards and Crowl for a spell there in the 2nd half. I could see the Badgers going small against certain opponents. The next stretch will tell us a lot about what the ceiling for this team is.

After some reflection, I no longer want Fickell fired this season. It's really hard, but I have to remember how bare the cupboard was when he arrived, I have to remember that their starting QB blew his ACL, and their best defensive lineman, too. I have to remember how brutal the schedule was. I have to recognize that the recruiting is markedly improved. They've shown flashes of progress, but have been really inconsistent. Losing on the road to Iowa and Nebraska isn't weird. Losing to the other teams they've lost to isn't weird. And losing next week to the Gophers probably wouldn't be weird, either. We all knew that even becoming bowl eligible wouldn't be easy, and that Fickell coming in would be a project. He hasn't done anything to earn my trust as a fan, and firing Longo when he did really put the program under the microscope. He does himself no favors with poor pressers, or by wearing that ridiculous vest (honestly, even if he ditched the vest, I think we'd all breathe a little easier). As much as I fear the program losing its mojo, there's simply too many years of identity and consistency for a third season of Fickell to ruin it.

4-0.

I think the percent chance of that happening is about 99.9%.

Badgers dominated a decent opponent on a (somewhat) neutral floor. I thought the decision-making offensively was extremely impressive and decisive. They moved the ball really, really well. This team is one of the most skilled Badger teams 1-7 that they've had in a long time, and might be the most entertaining watch since the F4 teams.

Because I think the Badgers will go into most games with an advantage at the guard spots, I think a lot of the games versus better-than-average teams this year will come down to if Crowl/Winter can matchup effectively enough on both ends. Versus UTRGV they were ineffective on BOTH ends. If one or both can do it at least on one end, that will give UW an advantage. Looks like UCF likes to shoot FTs and go get orbs. I'll say it will be a 78-75, Badgers win in a physical, choppy game with lower shooting percentages where one or both teams blame the environment.

I don't feel strongly about the who-plays-where debate, but one reason some would like Turang to stay put is the, "if it ain't broke," idea. I also wonder that having a superior defender at 2nd isn't more valuable than we realize. There are more hitter-platoon advantage ABs for lefty hitters, and often times, the 2nd baseman needs to cover a larger space than short because the first baseman is holding the runner.

The "arena," for the Greenbrier is a theater/ballroom space. I can't imagine they can fit more than 1200 seats in there.

Someone should have opened up an IGT for this news.

3 wings, or positions 2, 3, 4... either way, I agree that typical Badger teams on the last 20 years featured more defenders at the 2 and 3 spot, and that the offenses often hummed with 1, 4, and/or 5.

I realize it's still very early, but is it possible that this version of the Badgers is better than the hypothetical 2024-25 team that includes Hepburn, Storr, and Essegian?

I'm with everyone else. The Deivi Garcia signing is not your normal minor league free agent pickup. His minor league numbers are very intriguing, and it's easy to explain-away his difficulties the last couple of seasons -- becoming a swingman/reliever, being waived and not picked up, going to... the White Sox. I'm probably as excited as one can be about a minor league free agent. Also, this excitement has EVERYTHING to do with the Brewers recent success with pitching. If the 2001 Brewers pick this guy up, he probably gets worse.

One reason I like this forum is simply to keep a lot of dumb stuff (no judgement! I like dumb stuff sometimes) off of the main board. Also, THIS board has also been pretty light lately. But there really isn't much to talk about right now. I think everyone is just waiting for stuff to happen.

My random thoughts on last night... The Vaqueros shot great last night. The kind of performance that wipes out a 3-seed in the tournament. But the Badgers won. I'm not going to think too hard about it. Janicki took 2 steps forward last night. NOT a liability defensively, as I thought a couple of games ago. He also handles and passes so confidently, to go along with his shooting. He's gunna have a very nice four years. The other bench guys are also plus. McGee and Gilmore do what they do, of course. And while Amos still needs to work on defense and general positioning, his ball-handling and shooting are good for a guy his size. It seems like the last couple of seasons, we've thought they'd have "depth," simply due to numbers, but the quality of the depth was, IMHO, lacking. Not the case with this group! Blackwell. He very well could end up my all-time favorite Badger. That's a crazy thing for me to ponder. I just love his background as a recruit, his humility. He just seems like a really, really good kid. And then when you watch him, he simply rises to the moment, time and time again. It doesn't matter if it's one of his first college games in Arizona last season, or versus UTRGV last night. He senses the moment and responds in all facets to try and lead his team to victory. Someone on the other board made mention that Crowl and Winter are neither big enough, or quick enough to take advantage of a mismatch. I think that is spot on. They are fine versus players that are similar to themselves. I think the rebounding and rim-protection will continue to be THE achilles heel of what could end up being a pretty good team. Particularly if they aren't getting the calls. Speaking of calls, any time I see a group of officials that includes D.J. Carstenen, I know it will be a frustrating, unpredictable, inconsistent performance from the zebras. Last night was no exception. The Badgers probably benefitted last night, but you just never know.

Since no one else will whisper it... (Maybe they are cheating?)