tmwiese55

I thought of Calgary too when I posted too as it checks the western box. I just felt like it being more in the central not on the coast wouldn't be as appealing. And then I looked up that Calgary counts as bigger "city", but metro populations google says Vancouver is like a million more people. For metro populations I believe Vancouver is 3rd

I recently watched the Expos documentary thing on Netflix and things like that started going through my head since it seems likely two teams get added at some point. Of course the obvious is to go back to Montreal as its the second biggest city and has the history, but IDK if the problems that plagued it before are really any different now. After that I thought Vancouver to kind of have a western and eastern team. For quick info: Montreal metro pop is 4.3 mil, Vancouver is 2.7. For comp MKE is about 1.5

Well, take the general framework I threw out. Would you not give that offer to say Crochet, Snell, etc or other top pitchers who've been available lately? That's generally our complaint or issue with FA, that we can only really do short term contracts in the right situation, so when they get a 6-7 year deal we simply can't do it. A 3/55ish deal is as low risk you can do for a proven pitcher. Basically just saying for any big FA of the last few years almost every time we'd have said yes to 3/55ish but we know they'd never take it. Here you have a situation where maybe he would or its at least worth asking the guy. Still expect a No but its worth a talk with him. But yea, pitchers can always get hurt so its fair to just have a never give 20+ mil per year to a pitcher in MKE's situation.

And to compare this year vs last year in the USA is a bit pointless. Last year was the dream scenario of LA/NYY. Any other matchup was going to be down

Have a WS weekday game start at 3 pm is basically as weird or odd as it ending at 2AM. Especially since the 2AM is a freak occurrence rather than planned. I would easily argue that 3AM is not ridiculous because you simply cannot plan on the once in 15 year like occurrence that a game will go 18 innings. One simply has to realize the world does not resolve around them and their preferences and that one's own preferences are not automatically better than others. For the once in 15-20 years to stomp ones feet about 3AM being ridiculous you'd have all the other games where everyone goes "***, why is this game on in the middle of the afternoon? that is ridiculous". And the answer would be, "hey once in a few hundred games it goes like 18 innings so we're making our plans on the 1% chance that happens." That is actually more ridiculous IMO because you're planning it with such poor logic And couldn't one say "awww poor WI fans having to stay up a bit late". The LA people are already being flexible or compromised enough to have it be at 5 local. Just think how many Brewers fans have complained the last few years that our playoff games were in the day and how inconvenient it is, now you're demanding the WS be in the middle of day since in this case it benefits you. ETA: FYI if LA Country alone was its own state it would be the 11th largest state by population. But yea, F those guys

FWIW, every person in my circle is a big fan of the ghost runner. I think all of us thought we'd hate it, but once it happened realized its good. Basically you have action every extra inning. I've actually never met a person in real life who hates/despises it. I'd also say that everyone I know is in agreeance with it not being a part of the postseason.

Something that's popped in my head as a possible way to help short term budgets now would be to go to Yelich and ask him to defer more of his money. He seems like such a team guy, kind of get the vibe he's felt bad about not fully living up to the pay he's getting, you know he really does want to win. I'd think he'd be at least open to talking about. Might help them keep a guy or two to help win in his last few years.

The initial thing I said was to rip it all up and turn it into 3/50-60ish. 3rd year being a player option. So he'd get a raise this year while having 50+ mil guarantee in his pocket in emergency. Only moves his FA back one year if all goes well and he doesn't get hurt. He risks one more year before FA, Brewers risk he gets hurt and they're on the hook for all that but get to 'go for it' for two more years with him. He still hits FA in his low 30s to get someone else to pay him a lot while he ages. Of course I know its a long shot and that's why I said wild or 'bold prediction' like some articles do. Some kind of thing like that is the only way I could see a compromise making sense. Can't imagine he'd want to move back his FA more than a year maaaaybe two. and no way we give him a long term big money deal. But my main point was I think they have a good relationship and are going to try and come up with something, unlike say Burnes where you knew there was no relationship/effort. Potential lockout stuff is a whole other variable I don't know enough about to factor it in either way.

I haven't looked specifically at last year, but generally speaking Yeli hasn't been one who craters vs lefties. But just adding that the DH days for William could really be easy sell to just sit Yelich vs lefties and let Contreras DH. Saves some workload on him and gets Quero ABs, keeps old injury prone Yelich with plenty of rest.

Wow that 32 runs in last 16 games really hit me. It makes sense its that bad but I hadn't really thought about it or added it all up. But it made me think, they scored 16 runs in the first two Cubs games this year. So, assuming your initial math is correct, that means they scored 16 runs in the other 14 games. Brutal

Yea I'd be surprised if Brewers didn't offer to pick it up, its essentially 1/10. But yea no way Woodruff does. There's a small chance with their relationship that they work out some compromise again to stay. But at his age, he has to take as much money wherever he can. To the post above though, if the most he gets is 4 years in the 80-100 ballpark its at least in the neighborhood that MKE would do it as long as there is some deferrals. Get up to 5 years though and its probably a bridge too far to think it could happen. That very well be how this plays out though, he becomes FA and they tell him to shop for best offer and let them know while hoping the best he gets is like 4/80. Then decide if they can match or how close they will come to it. I suppose a negotiating perk brewers could do is offer an opt out after 2 years, so if he stays healthy for two years he can become a FA then go fleece someone to pay him an overpay contract.

Could probably argue firing Mac first (considering he's been very bad at other aspects of job too) could be the move since he's cheaper. Bring in someone from a power team that knows how the new world is working and have him come in and assess for a year. See how we're doing things differently than your teams that are having success. Make the changes you can right away, see how next year goes with Fickell and decide if he can do it. But like I mentioned before, it really does seem to far gone at this point

The best fit as an at least plausible option is probably Bellinger due to the OF/1B combo he can handle. If they were willing to 'go for it' a bit and he only costs a 2-3 year deal it could make a lot of sense. I still would not love the contract as he's got that flop possibility in him, but I'd certainly get it and hope for the best. If he gets to a 4-6 year type contract I'm a hard pass. Thing is if the best he can do is a 2-3 type thing I don't see why he wouldn't just stay in NY with the right field porch. Ozuna really doesn't make sense with Yeli on the roster

Another thing to note is the two NL juggernauts in PHI/LAD are starting to get old right as MKE should be at their peak years. Phi has a huge offseason here and potential makeover which could bring them down a clear notch. And Turner/Harper are going to start their decline at their age (while carrying massive contracts for like 7 more years). Wheeler said he's done after 26 even before that injury, so he might quit now Freeman is like 35/36 and guys like Betts/Teoscar are 33ish. Unfortunately LA is so loaded its likely they'll find a way to overcome this and just buy new players. Plus, they've already somewhat addressed it by investing so heavily in not aging SPs. But just saying at least their O could take a step back as those MVP types start aging. We'll see who else they buy though.

In a way the Cubs can take some credit. First, them being very good and still on the Brewers heals in spite of the run they went on forced MKE to keep their foot on their gas. They had that 18 in 17 type stretch and then another couple weeks after where they had to try. This likely contributed to several pitcher injuries towards the end of the year, along with extra use on the good guys who did stay healthy. In addition, stretching them to 5 in the NLCS put them behind the 8 ball going into the Dodgers who of course didn't need any help. That said, pitching was not really an issue. It really just came down to the same Achilles they've had the last 7ish years, not enough O vs elite playoff pitching. Maybe a few off days in Aug/Sept help a bit, but its tough to say the hitters could be all that burned out or tired with it being over in the last 1-2 weeks plus then having like 6 days off before the playoffs. Hitters just didn't hit after game 2 vs the Cubs and I'm not sure how much could really be chalked up to being tired considering the 2-3 weeks prior were cruise control and off.

My group has been trying to not be negative and that logistically it make sense to try and give one more year. Get to an easier schedule and see if a step in the right direction can be made next year. Constant firings and all that can lead to spiral quickly, and then add in the money needed. But its gotten so bad and the team is so bad that I just don't think there's any other choice at this point. It just seems complete lost cause or lost locker room level of ineptitude where you just don't have a choice. I think I've posted a time or two on here in the last year that the people I know around the program have been saying its absolutely brutal behind the scenes, which is showing on the field now and it sounds like things are even worse. It just seems like they don't have a choice but to fire at this point. And with the money that will cost I don't see the next coach being a proven expensive guy and the NIL pot won't be too full since so much has to go to buyout and interest is low, lots of dark years ahead. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if they negotiate that 28 mil number down with him. He seems to have given up (in spite of still wearing the stupid vest) and probably prefers to just be gone. I guess lesson learned to the people that spent the good years of the programs calling for axing Gard/Chryst etc or for the people who pushed a guy like Franklin out of PSU. Careful what you wish for, its nearly impossible to turn yourself into OSU/Bama or Duke/Kentucky, but it is very easy to turn yourself into Northwestern/Kansas at football or say Nebraska/Oregon st at basketball

I said wild, I know its longshot and agents are going to want to gamble. Just get the vibe there is a good will on both sides so they might find a way to do something that works for both. But some details I think are being glossed over its essentially a 2/42ish extension. Thats in the neigborhood of yearly value, and say is 2/50 its the same general idea. He gets a raise next year and the player option lets him opt out if all goes well the next two years. So its only moving back his FA one year from where it as as of now if all goes well, while letting him put 42-50ish (whatever number the agree) extra mil in the bank right now no matter what. He's taking the risk on delaying by one more year, MKE is taking the risk that if he gets hurt we're out that money.

I'm gonna take a wild guess that I think the team has a good relationship with him like they do Woodruff and they work out a short extension this offseason. Something like turning 1/8 into 3/50 ballpark with the 3rd year being a player option. He gets a raise next year, doesn't risk injury, locks in money before potential lockout. Still can hit big FA at age 32/33 and try to get a dumb contract from someone else. Chances are his agents would not recommend something like this being one year away from a potential 200 mil contract but that's why I said 'wild guess'

odds on Ohtani walking to start the game, 50%, or even higher? first two pitches curves in the dirt?

Yes, I think a hard cap or even one like the NBAs is probably an automatic No from the players. So your solutions are probably on continuing to crank up penalties on the top teams for spending above X amount, and it compounds more and more as time goes on. Perhaps there's 2-3 tiers of that as well, like the nba. Along with that some kind of min spend rule or else you don't get a cut of the share. The deferred payments have to be addressed. Sharing of local TV money should be shared. Not sure how it is now, but if its fully not shared at all right now perhaps you have to start with a partially sharing it and then gradually moving to sharing more at the next CBA, and so on. I'd toss those out as 3 realistic things that could be addressed at next cba

IF there's a game to give Mona a start its probably with Freddy at P due to the K rate and being generally a fly ball pitcher. Still, I doubt we see it

I know its obvious. But I saw something a few days ago that Dodgers are the likely winners on him. Conforto flopped for them and his contract expires this year I think. If I recall the article mentioned how others (even big ones like Yanks/Mets) will balk at the Tucker mega contract because he's good but not thaaaat good so not only do you know the backend will be bad but even now in his prime you're way overpaying him too. But of course LAD doesn't care about that backend. On paper Tucker is perfect fit for NYY in that park, lefty to pair with Judge. But I know if I'm the Yankees or really anybody I'd rather have someone like Bellinger on a 2-4 year deal than this guy for 10 years 400 mil.

I don't think its tired for him. He's always felt like a nerves/pressure/mental type guy over the years when he loses his command. Obviously playoffs ramp all that up and we see the results. That said, at some point he'll get comfortable and over it and get back to his normal self. hopefully that's tonight. Another thing I'd add on him is that they can't forget the guy throws 100. If the breaking stuff is way off like it gets when he's struggling, just remember you throw 100 and gas it in there over the plate. Don't have to rely on the breaking stuff

Wonder if these guys have dropped another Pod or are keeping quiet after the last two days. Probably a comparable Brewers one with sky is falling talk like this too now

I was so close on Wednesday to nailing a Monesterio game winner prediction I made when he got put in. Was on deck when Bauers struck out with bases loaded