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Jim French Stepstool

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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool

  1. Jim French Stepstool
    BA: "Munoz is dialed in, now". Proceeds to miss with the next three pitches to end the game.😁 Dunn is clearly the difference maker tonite. If he doesn't drive in that run in the bottom of the 8th, we're down 5-4 in the 9th & I doubt we're anywhere near as patient at the plate. Credit Turang. It's tough to go up there and be asked to bunt, then take pitches that close w/o offering.
  2. Jim French Stepstool
    I think a lot of the guys that are transferring are doing so BECAUSE of NIL & the portal and wouldn't be doing so otherwise. Some would change schools anyway, sure. I just don't see the value in not only making that process easier, but actually encouraging it, which is what the current landscape does. "Big names" is a relative term, especially when someone is a middling fan of the college game & couldn't name a school in the OVC, Southland Conference or Summit League if their life depended on it (not saying that's you). But there are plenty of guys leaving schools in leagues of that ilk who are damned important to their programs. And some are losing multiple players. Haven't kept up on the recent developments, but last time I heard UWGB has something like 5 players leaving. I just don't want to see college sports deteriorating to a top 60-70 schools & a bunch of afterthoughts. That's very unpalatable to me.
  3. Jim French Stepstool
    VERY crowded infield. IMO at least one of those guys & maybe two should be at Nashville.
  4. Jim French Stepstool
    I'd give someone a free transfer every time a coach leaves, but only then. Otherwise you sit. I almost LOL when I see these tweets put out by a HS athlete when they make a college choice saying they're "committed". I'm afraid that in collegiate sports, the word "commitment" might go into the same dumpster as "typewriter" or "telephone". You may be right about ruining (at least a significant part of) fandom in the current climate. College sports fans, many at least, are a particular breed. I'm not talking about the football fans who need to get a Saturday fix because it isn't Sunday yet, or those who need something else to gamble on. Some people just prefer it to the professional model, and with every little element that makes the collegiate game more like the NBA or NFL, it floats further off shore from those fans. But it probably won't make any difference if someday the stadiums & arenas are 75-80% full, as long as the TV money keeps rolling in.
  5. Jim French Stepstool
    Yes & yes. Whether that hurts his chances at a 2-way I have no idea, as I'm unfamiliar with the guys that fill those slots in the NBA.
  6. Jim French Stepstool
    We'll never know, but I would imagine that Megill not being available may have made a difference Wednesday. That, and not using Hudson (Didn't see the last half of the game Sunday. I knew he went three innings but never looked at the pitch count). I'd also like to know if, had Payamps pitched an effective 7th inning, was he coming out for the 8th? If the answer is no (which I expect), then I disagree with the BP management. But like Brewmann04 said, it stems from having too short of starts through the last four games.
  7. Jim French Stepstool
    😄.
  8. Jim French Stepstool
    I believe this is key for Turang. Putting balls in play more often & drawing whatever walks he can extract will greatly increase his offensive performance regardless of power. Add in the speed on the bases & the knack for constantly saving the teams' nuts defensively and it's clear the guy doesn't have to hit a ton to be a huge plus for this team. His ability to lay down a bunt at the opportune time is a nice weapon to have too, regardless of what the analytics may say. Fortunately there are other options vs LHP as that's a step he won't be asked to take at this point, and shouldn't be.
  9. Jim French Stepstool
    I agree. Doubtful that this is sustainable w/o college sports turning into something I'd have very little interest in. IMO The old model was far from perfect but much better than what's going on now. As to recent news: BJ Freeman, who averaged around 20PPG at UW-Milwaukee over the last two years, is being contacted by many schools in the SEC, and also Syracuse. NOTE: In fairness, being contacted is a far cry from being offered; much of this is schools not knowing who is/isn't interested in them & simply performing due diligence. I feel Freeman has displayed a lot of the same strengths--and weaknesses--of AJ Storr while playing a much weaker brand of competition. UW target Frankie Fidler has narrowed his choices to the Badgers, Nebraska, Creighton & Michigan State and is expected to decide after this weekend.
  10. Jim French Stepstool
    I subsequently saw that too. I took the original tweet at its' face value, that he actually left on his own. If it is indeed a case of UW letting him go that sounds to me like creating a spot for Penney was a priority & they felt strongly he'd have other options if they didn't do so. He's developed a great rep in a pretty short time. This doesn't do Middleton HS any good. Olivers' son Isaiah is a pretty good FB & BB player there as a sophomore.
  11. Jim French Stepstool
    It was just announced that assistant coach Dean Oliver is leaving UW. Was there for seven years. Recruited the midwest, I believe mostly Michigan/Ohio/Indiana areas. I wonder if some of the speculation coming out of Iowa City regarding Mccaffery & his future has anything to do with this. He's a former Hawkeye & may think there's an opportunity there, either immediately or in the near future. I'm assuming Kirk Penney will be given the fulltime assistant position.
  12. Jim French Stepstool
    I don't know exactly what the NBA would be looking for, whether a team would overlook his shortcomings & "stash" him for future benefit, etc. But I'm pretty certain that the weaknesses in his game would more likely be improved in college than playing at the G-league level. Wisconsin would be one of those places, although it's almost certain that ship has sailed. Shortsighted, or greatly misinformed. Which is likely synonymous.
  13. Jim French Stepstool
    That's plausible. I once felt that there wasn't a number that would keep him in CBB unless his chances of getting drafted are next to zero, but apparently there is. Rumors are the 750K he turned down came after he asked for 1 million. Yeah, he wants to give the eval every chance, but people are making their NIL decisions & his options lessen if he waits that long. I just hope for his sake the people advising him aren't in the running for the Bad Advice Hall of Fame. I'm pretty sure the number UW threw at him was over $500K.
  14. Jim French Stepstool
    I wonder if Murphy was planning to use Payamps for 2 innings, had the 7th gone well. I'm guessing not, but if he wasn't then I didn't like going to him in the 7th regardless of where Minnesota was in their order. Having said that, I thought Wilson did well enough to leave it at 3-3. Jeffers was putting up pretty smart, lengthy ABs today and did the same vs Wilson. Worked it to the point where he got something he could handle, and he handled it. Cautiously optimistic re Ross. His walk rate was more than acceptable pre-injury, so hopefully this spring--and today--is just a case of rust removal. But starters not named Peralta have to start giving us more length soon, otherwise the Grand Central Station of Counsell constantly having to dip down to AAA for relievers will look like 3AM in Palmyra in comparison to what Murph will be having to do.
  15. Jim French Stepstool
    Thanks guys, it's nice to view the finalized rosters for the affiliates. The sheer depth of talent on the INF on both A-level teams is very, very exciting. Also can't wait to see what kind of season Satchell Norman turns in. Heard good things but just don't know very much about him. Quick scouting report, anyone? Thanks!!!
  16. Jim French Stepstool
    A step in the road back for Ashby. Agree with Brewcrew82, it just feels like it'll be awhile before he can be a plus addition in Milwaukee. Thanks Zarr for putting up with the technological pratfalls. You put me in mind of someone in 1943 hunched over a ham radio set. "This is 17ypx33 calling home base......come in home base......🎧"
  17. Jim French Stepstool
    Don't know exactly what to think about this, except that all the people that complained over the past few decades about universities making money hand over fist at the expense of the student (COUGH!!!! COUGH!!!!) athletes should be thrilled beyond their wildest dreams. Years ago, I was dumb enough to think that, eventually, the scholarship athletes would receive an across-the-board stipend besides their free education. And that NIL would mean that they could, if they chose, go out & make whatever deal they could for endorsements, autographs, etc. without the school being involved in any way. Foolish me. I AM getting the feeling Storr has gathered info & is, shall we say, less optimistic about his draft expectations than he was a few weeks ago.
  18. Jim French Stepstool
    And Peguero for 81 wins.
  19. Jim French Stepstool
    As do I. From the neck up the quality of the guys' ABs in 2023, for someone with his lack of experience, was way too impressive to start dumping on him after 3 starts in 2024.
  20. Jim French Stepstool
    Only if the stealer makes it to 3rd after stealing.
  21. Jim French Stepstool
    It isn't easy for a 1B to stand out defensively compared to other spots on the field. Bauers had to deal with some tough plays today & did it very smoothly. I wasn't happy with the trade, but maybe they win w/o him today....and maybe not. You just have to hand it to this organization for identifying people that fly under the radar a bit but can help win games. Dunn & Hudson are the early leaders in that particular clubhouse, I guess. I had no idea how much, if at all, Junis was stretched out in March. But I was disappointed he didn't come out for the fifth. After what happened in NY & the walk today to the first man he faced, I thought Milner looked much more like his 2023 self. Bottom of the 7th was frustrating. Jay Jay goes deep into the count vs everybody but Adames swings 3-1 leading the inning off, then the CS. Coulda shoulda. That was one impressive play by Uribe on the back end of that DP.
  22. Jim French Stepstool
    Yeah, the 3 sec rule for mens college hoops is unique to other levels & genders as far as I know.. The rule was well-intentioned when first implemented, trying to keep the Mikans & Chamberlains from simply camping out 2 feet from the basket. It was also (IIRC) created pretty much in junction with the widening of the lane. Look at old clips of basketball in the late 30s & 40s. What came to be known as the 'paint' was really, really narrow. Anyway, the suspension of the 3 second count by lifting the foot only works if the other foot is outside the lane. I suspect the Purdue staff are masters at ingraining stuff like this, since they've done so well at developing big men to their advantage. And I guess part of it is knowing what you can get away with, because as you said there's so much going on the refs aren't going to see everything. If you google "college basketball 3 second rule" there's some stuff that specifically mentions Edey & explains it pretty well. Don't get me started on batters standing there crowding the plate with their padding & body armor. I give credit to guys like Don Baylor & Ron Hunt, who would at least take one for the team without being layered up like they were training attack dogs.
  23. Jim French Stepstool
    The way the rule is enforced in college hoops, You can have one foot in the lane, and one outside, and that will start the 3-second count. However, if one foot stays outside, you can simply lift the other foot (the one in the lane) and that terminates the count. When he drops it back down in the lane it starts over again. Not saying he doesn't get more than his share of calls, but the 3-second claims are largely false. Don't shoot the messenger.😬
  24. Jim French Stepstool
    W/O getting all analytical, I loved the defense played in the 1st three games. Looking at runs scored on balls staying in the park---IOW, without the aid of a home run, balls you were able to make a play on---the Mets scored 2 runs in three games. I have no idea if that's a 'thing' but it's something I noticed. Unable to watch the last half of Sundays' game. Would really have liked to see the work Hudson turned in. As for Chourio, you could see it in the first game. Not once but twice he was looking to go oppo. Doing something like that, with purpose, at age 20. And doing it successfully. I'm sure there will be rough patches, but I've seen all I need to see.
  25. Jim French Stepstool
    They might. But I'm partial to the ones where the dialogue is a second or two ahead of the video. On second thought, maybe the new ones still feature that, too.😜
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