tmwiese55

We'll see, like I said I don't follow it closely anymore since its gone nuts. But, if that's how they allocate their money, well good luck to them, we'll see if they have jobs in a year. I think its been proven for years and years now that teams are built in the trenches and that's how to get to competency. Basically, even great talent positions can't do squat if the OL is trash. However, mediocre talent positions can still do very well if they have OL. IMO, you could've had Trevor Lawrence behind this line and he wouldn't have been able to do anything. If I'm them, I focus on OL and then a mid level QB like they've gotten the last few years will be fine if they stay healthy. Can you win the B1G or make playoffs with out a better QB? Probably not, but I'm not worried about that right now, just get back to being competent. Plus, what legit good QB is gonna want to come here right now anyway or want to play behind a bad line which gives him no shot of success. So, focus on OL and be satisfied with mid level adequate QB would be my route. Unless they somehow do have tons of money to do both, which I of course doubt.

I don't follow it closely anymore due to the craziness now. But generally speaking, it is much better to spend your money on OL than RBs. Especially at the current state of UW football. But just in general, its been proven for years now in the NFL that any competent RB can do well behind a good OL. Whereas drop Jeantie behind the Raiders OL this year and he can't do squat. Or years and years of high pick RBs flopping in the 90s early 00s because they got drafted to crap teams with no lines. You could have had Saquon Barkley behind UWs line this year and he wouldn't have done much. And go back to our prime running days here, its no coincidence that the 3rd string would come in and do just as well as the starter and whoever the new RB was every year still did well. Even no NFL talent guys like Anthony Davis and PJ Hill. First step to competency for UW is strengthening OL and keep building DL/LBs. In addition, OL is probably a 'moneyball' area of the market where you can get way more bang for you back than hyped RB/WRs getting overpaid. Now, did they spend or have enough money to buy or the knowledge to evaluate good OL/DL? IDK, don't follow it closely enough.

I also don't think its a lock that Quintana isn't back. I would guess his preference is to be back. However, with Woodruff and presumably Peralta back you don't neeeed him for depth like last year. But, if all he's costing is 4-5 mil there's nothing wrong with it either. I mean we all saw what happened, by the end we were down to two starters. Seems like a good guy liked by everyone, good mentor for the young guys. Maybe it would help them give some strategic in season breaks and keep guys fresh for end of year. that said, if I had to take over/under on 97 wins I'm taking under. That's more out of the flukiness of the two long win streak that inflated our win total. Generally speaking, as of right now there isn't any reason to think this team won't be as good as last years even though it might win 5 less games just due to baseball flukiness

If I recall they did get caught for this and had to pay several hundreds of millions in fines for it. Which to them is nothing. Since then they've probably bribed politicians to their way to change the rules or exempt themselves from it since the new SC has legalized bribery of politicians, pure speculation on that though

If this is true, wouldn't trading Woodruff be the solution in one easy move. Just salary dump him for a minor league flyer. Some big payroll team would take that one year risk easily. Unless there is some rule against traiding an Arb player, I looked a month or so back and couldn't find anything say you couldn't. Peralta is the more reliable pitcher at a drastically better contract.

Based on this deal along Woodruff probably made a mistake. I'd probably lean towards Bos overpaying as the more likely outcome though. But in another timeline how would Bos rather do what they did here rather than just give Woodruff 1/25

And it seemed they do like him and trust him. Of course the no options is an issue but they can use a couple DL stints with him throughout the year to manipulate that a bit or to give rest. So my guess is they'll keep him, but could obviously go either way

I did get a laugh on it. Thing is it would be an appropriate or fair take if they had just handed Grisham a say 5-110 mil type deal. 1/22 though isn't anything to freak out about. If he turns out to be a one year fluke, oh well. And you're the Yankees, it doesn't stop you from signing Bellinger. One could easily argue you'd rather have Grisham at 1/22 than Bellinger if he gets a 5 year deal in the 120 area, or even tucker if he gets 450 mil. Oh and some context on Montas, I'm pretty sure he has to have Tommy John.

Not an accent thing but on the mispronunciation topic is comfortable being pronounced cumf-ter-bull. Almost everyone says it wrong, even pro talkers in tv/movies/news, as its just easier that way. I naturally say it that way too but consciously try not to now

I'd agree the last two years of spending on a guy you knew couldn't pitch was bad/stupid money spent and very surprising for a team like MKE that is so frugal. This though, a one year 22 mil deal is not stupid at all. Pretty much every good FA that comes out we say 'hey if the guy somehow has to take a 1-3 year deal we should do it since we can handle that risk'. It rarely works out that the guy has to take it, in this case the guy did. Essentially, if someone like him was available as a FA we'd be generally be ok with signing him on a one year low risk deal. My guess is unless they get overwhelmed on Peralta offers they'll keep both and 'go for it'. And I'm also guessing they're trying to work out a 3-4 year type deal with Woodruff, or both, behind the scenes right now.

I didn't double check, but I'm almost positive Skubal is from the area originally. so it's probably a play for them trying to sign him long term. So just adding that bit of context. Think how many big ticket FAs they get involved in but none of them actually sign, they might think he's the one that finally does. Your point is generally right though with their SP strength already. But maybe they try to trade Castillo to offset some money. IDK the contract status on the younger guys, but maybe they trade one to restock the farm rather than commit money to them if they have Skubal instead.

Never noticed the Milwaukee thing either, but now that you say it I think its right. At the very least there isn't a hard L or ILL in it. I've said it a few times to myself now and realized I barely include an L if at all.

I've never been given grief for it, but I say it the same way. And I've noticed it over the years and try to say it correctly. Good point you make though, its the same logic when people try to tell me Oregon is pronounced Ora-ghin or Missouri is pronounced Missoura because thats what locals say. People have argued with me about that in the past adamantly saying what locals say is default right (no matter how clearly wrong they are and really its just an accent). Same logic would apply to what you say here

In today's world of top top prospects not being traded (other than by SD) I would think Made and Pena are essentially off limits to anyone that would be feasible for us.

This is one I think they should be trying on. Lots of things that make sense making it a fit and the rare contract price/length that MKE can take on. If Woodruff leaves you could try to expand into Ryan too.

Yea if you can't have find anything better there is nothing wrong with running it back. They're all good at D and are competent with the bat. However, since Frelick is such a slap/contact hitter with little power I'd really prefer to find another who is a better hitter to balance that out a bit. It's not the worst thing run back, but it would be nice to pick up some power/O in that 3rd spot to help with our perpetual October issue. There's also the flex to have Frelick or Chourio play CF to accommodate the ideal spot for the new person. Just can't bank on Mitchell at all. But a fair route since you have the other ok guys as depth could be to give him 2 months to see if he can stay healthy/perform. Then look at the deadline if needed, assuming he or none of them step up to take the job.

I would expect IU to cover that spread and likely very easily, assuming normal weather. A note on MD as I looked a little closer when word got out that he was fired. I was of the opinion that they should stuck with him, especially this year with all the other jobs open so looked a bit closer. MD is not some traditional power and he's had them generally competitive and making bowl games. He's made and won bowl games the last 3 years, went 4-5 in B1G the last two years. Of course, that's nothing special, but considering this is MD it is pretty good. They'd made 3 bowls in the previous 10ish years total and hadn't won above 7 games since 2010. And yea this year was gonna be worse, though still a chance at bowl but was hurt by Rut loss last week. You pointed their losses since playing us but it left out the context of only lost by 4 to WAS, 3 to Neb, 3 to UCLA. Rut was 15 pts but were down one TD with like 5 mins left. A few plays here or there and they have a fine record for MD and have been competitive/in every game other than IU (which almost no one is). IMO, you're MD and the guy has been doing fine just giving him another year or maybe ask him to change his contract to move some of his pay to NIL money to help next year. Side note: before typing this I thought he did get fired 2-3 weeks ago but turns out they must not have followed through yet. Maybe saves money o do it later or they went through the same logic I said here and are holding off.

Your points on the watching for stats is one of the reasons I got annoyed with NFL over the years and people who cram it down your face, but in that case it was fantasy football. Which is really what propelled to be far and away past all other sports in the US. On and on how great it is but you're not even watching it for the game itself, but rather your $10 fantasy team so you just care about random stats in it

Was intrigued when I saw this since I knew he was signed on a not ridiculous yearly amount. However, never would've guessed he's already this old so I don't think it makes sense for MKE at all.

I of course see the argument on trading Peralta if this gets accepted. However, there is just as much logic the other way and I'd be more inclined to fall on the side that with this spent it makes more sense to keep him. Peralta being so cheap balances out with how expensive Woodruff is. And generally speaking, you know if Peralta leaves they'd look for a Quintan/Junis etc type cheap innings covered guy. But that guy is gonna cost 5-8 mil, so might as well keep Freddy at the same money(unless its a godfather offer). Essentially, looking at pure financially if Woodruff accepts this and they want that to happen it shows they're 'going for it' as much as MKE can. So might as well keep one of the best valued contracts in the league for that year. If they had the attitude of 'we can only pay one' you'd rather keep Peralta and have the remaining 15 mil to spend elsewhere. ETA: Side question, if the player accepts this can the team trade him just like any other play under contract? Did some googling and can't find anything that says you can't. Thus, in the scenario discussed here if you can only afford one wouldn't they be looking to trade Woodruff. I know it would be unlikely since they could've just signed for 1/25 to beat the QO, but there are scenarios where it could happen. Or say MKE didn't expect him to accept, then they could just look to clear the money for a couple flyer prospects. The other team keeps their pick instead

Gameday festivities/pageantry is still a good time and I have multiple ND family connections, so I'd guess I still go to the ND game but it won't be a whole weekend. And I'll buy a cheap secondary market ticket and not go through them, almost a lock to be able to get a better price than face value since so many people are checked out Yea this was my first year without having seasons in about 15 years, good call that was. Instead of the 1000ish per ticket I've maybe spent $100 total going to four games so far and I don't think I'll go to another since weather looks trash this weekend. Was very blunt on the cancellations process on the reasons. TBF, I did do the Bama trip but that was more out of the SEC thing than anything and it just happened our team was down there this year. But the money in future years will be spent on traveling to good college football environments rather than on UW. Those games blow away UW gameday environments even when were good by a lot anyway

fairly spot on post by Joseph. I'm also one who does these big game trips. Since the team sucks now we've been doing SEC games instead lately. Ireland has been in the plans but at this point I'm not sure there is a need to force it at that time. Anyway, I was just thinking yesterday about the Notre Dame game at Lambeau next year. Normally, that would be an event, stay there a few days, etc but now its like do I even want to bother. Its opening game on Labor Day Sunday so won't have any games before to see if some progress has been made to just have basic competency Instead, you're going into it expecting an all out blowout

Well Grisham's stats this year were very good. But yea, I don't want to be the team banking thats the real him rather than the 2-3 years prior while taking him away from the RF porch in NY. Plays good D though, I'd assume he and yanks know its best he just stays there And if now there is multiple predictions on Woodruff in the 2/35-40 area that's a good sign for him staying and working something out. Just when we've seen such blah old/washed guy for years still getting 15-20 per I think he'll get better than those predictions above. 1 year prove it type thing here could be in play though if those guesses are accurate-ish

If that's all it takes I think most here would be on board. I'm just an idiot, but I think he does better than that on the market. However, if thats all there is or not much better I could see the logic in him taking another 2 year here (2nd being player option again) to try and get a full healthy year under his belt and then become FA next year hoping for the 5/110 type deal from someone. We'll see, with how expensive starting pitching is and what mediocre guys still get I think he'll do better than prediction though.

I think I mentioned him at some point in the season as a buy low. The keys to if MKE is up for it would be their assessment on if he can play 3B to at least an avg level. No way they'd use him at SS or CF as of now. And second, if they think his mental lapses and focus will improve once he's in a better team winning environment than the mess that is Pit. You'd probably need someone with a personal relationship with him to really know on that one.