Jim French Stepstool
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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool
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I hope that isn't important, because there ain't nobody like that on the roster, at least that I can tell. I think there's value in that sometimes, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed having Prince Fielder here. Without saying much, I think Lo Cain was a great leader, a gamer. In a way they remind me of a girls' fastpitch team. Enthusiasm, today's a new day, we all love each other, let's have fun wearing the toy glove & ringing the bell. Trouble is, when things go south those are often the teams that wind up just staring at one another, not knowing which way to turn. Then, and only then, is when a mgr like Counsell can be a bit of----not a detriment, but not a solution either.
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Here's what I think will happen. They won't sell off players with value who aren't approaching FA. Nor should they. They aren't going to trade the "top guys" in the system, like a few on here fear. That would be silly under the circumstances. Some want to see them approach the next two weeks like the Chicago National League ball club did last year at this time. Won't happen, nor should it. I also don't think they put a lot of stock in the "This division sucks, they aren't going anywhere anyway" theory. If there's any GM out there with that kind of attitude, I'm glad he's not here. They'll IMO make some moves to try to improve, but the most eggs will be in the basket of the guys already here needing to play better. And they have the capacity to. Anyone who doesn't believe that, that's cool, disagreement is what fuels boards like this.
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Umps hang their hats on the "meant to deceive" aspect of it. I can see it applied to pickoff attempts at 1B, sometimes you can even pick it out from the stands if you're paying attention. Yesterdays' application was garbage.
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2022 Minor League Transaction Thread
Jim French Stepstool replied to Jim Goulart's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
Let's hope he's at least "very capable". -
With some of these guys, yeah, they "are what they are". But there are some curiosities. Urias is an excellent example. After watching him last season no one can tell me he doesn't have more to give, consistency-wise. Adames needs to fix his "chase-itis". The thing is, he often exhibits both ends of the spectrum--discipline & the desire to chase anything--within the same AB. Just really, really odd. Sometimes on-air guys talk about how the first two strikes are yours, the third one is for the team, in other words you shorten up. I want Adames to give all 3 strikes to the team. It would help his consistency, and there's no doubt in my mind he'd still hit with some power. Tellez to me is one of these guys who has power but still has pretty good bat-to-ball skills. The problem is, again, the chasing. He often does a nice job laying off pitches away, but needs to realize not everything in on him has HR written on it. I suspect when others struggle he tries to do too much, which is almost always a bad idea. He isn't Todd Helton or John Olerud but there should be much, much more consistency there. Those are the three who I think have more to give. I also had Wong on that list, but his struggles on both ends leave me a little pessimistic.
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DuWayne, I think you read him correctly. Like Treego said though, he has blown his top in the past. Given his demeanor, it's a pretty significant thing when he does, due to the rarity. IMO this instance warranted it.
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I think you're right that he isn't that type of guy. And if he tied to be it would probably grow old in a hurry. In this case, if he did rant I think it would be that much more effective, since it happens so seldom. The "crime has to fit the punishment", and I think this was a great fit left to rot on the side of the road. I would venture a guess (and hope) that there is a percentage in the clubhouse that would appreciate it. Like you said though, it's a hypothetical thing.
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I know they realize it won't change anything. And yes, I think they should complain.
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True. But the larger point (at least to me) is the idea of showing players you have their backs & will fight for them. I think many managers over the years have gone out to scream for just that reason, fully knowing a decision will not be reversed. The sad truth is we don't have that kinda guy in the dugout. At least I think it's sad.
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Anyone who wants to learn about a real piece of manipulation, do some research on the walkoff grand slam by Don Money (I think '73 or '74) that was taken away after some classic theatre by Billy Martin. Gotta be something about it online I would assume. Then fast forward to 2022, where standing up for your players is trumped by making sure you don't offend anyone.
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That Gustave brought his hands up & then stopped. He never moved his hands. He stepped back off the rubber, which is of course allowed.
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Presser is usually replayed on 1250 AM in MIlwaukee. Online if you're out of town.
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I'd love to see if the sports networks make an issue of this. I doubt it because: The Brewers aren't located in NY or Boston; and Our manager didn't seem bothered by it.
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More Dreckman: "Not to mention, LaRussa wasn't involved. Buck Showalter wasn't in the house. Lou Piniella retired. Billy Martin has gone to his reward. What, Craig Counsell is going to say something? Give me a break".
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Just want to also say, I'm not a Suter fan but I thought he was fine. I understood why he was used. He got a couple of outs, one legitimate hit & one little league fly ball by Flores that was a hit because he didn't hit it well enough for it to be caught.
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When you're a competitor, you can't help but react when something like that balk occurs. Can't reverse it? Wouldn't do any good? Didn't have a good look at it? None of that matters. I'm just dumbfounded Counsell simply stood there with his "analytics" face in that situation. My jaw dropped when the call was made, only surpassed by his dead-in-the-water reaction. Kudos to Lauer. If there was a "big game" for him this season, this was it & he was magnificent. Here's the deal: Counsell isn't going anywhere. If anyone it would have to be your hitting coach/es. I know the song & dance about how it's not the hitting coaches' fault, and I largely agree. But things like this happen, and change for the sake of change, as unfair as it is, oftentimes works in sports. I've coached (obviously not at this level), and a different set of eyes, a different way of conveying info, even if it's the same info, can sometimes be all it takes. Plus, frankly I'd love to think that, if it happens, the position player group would feel responsible for it. Anything to try to light a fire, to feel a sense of consequence. Rant over. This organization seldom if ever does stuff like that.
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I actually like Peterson, and with the season Wong is having (and him) I don't really mind him playing as often as he is. Just don't get both of them hitting ahead of Renfroe.
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Would love to know the thought process behind Renfroe hitting behind both Wong & Peterson.
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That, and figure out w/Chris Hook what was tipping his pitches. I agree with the theory that he's affected by all the family stuff. But the 2nd HR he allowed yesterday came on a changeup. Considering how seldom he throws it, it's hard to believe it would be hit that well. Swing-and-miss, yeah. Miss the plate badly, yeah. But a HR? I think it's time for an adjustment, mechanically as well as emotionally. I agree we have people who can cover the 7th-8th if need be.
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keston hiura recalled from class aaa nashville
Jim French Stepstool replied to djoctagone's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Yahtzee. -
keston hiura recalled from class aaa nashville
Jim French Stepstool replied to djoctagone's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
It's getting comical how this is made by some to be a Hiura vs McCutchen argument. They aren't competing for the same roster spot. This more than anything is a byproduct of having to have Davis on the roster (due to the loss of Taylor & Cain being released), combined with having to have three catchers (unless you just want to release one w/o trying to get something in return, which in our position would be irresponsible). And if it WERE between the two, I feel the choice they made is the correct one, especially when you factor in the glove. -
keston hiura recalled from class aaa nashville
Jim French Stepstool replied to djoctagone's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
I for one am lookng forward to the huge haul we receive in the next two weeks if we decide to trade our best hitter. -
Williams is having problems? Last statement is spot on. As I mentioned after the game, the ABs in the last 3-4 innings were IMO horrible.
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Like I said last night (this morning?), I think all the stuff he's gone through is hard to dismiss, since it's pretty much coincided with the ineffectiveness. But it CAN go hand in hand with it causing mechanical issues, or a lack of attention to detail. The second HR he gave up last night was on a changeup. A CHANGEUP!!!!! One can complain about that pitch choice if they want, but I find it next to impossible someone was looking for that pitch from Hader w/o it being tipped off. It's his third best pitch, he seldom throws it. I can see him getting a swing-and-miss on it,or missing badly with it. Waiting back & hitting it in the chairs w/o knowing it's coming? Hard to believe. So I think all the family stuff has caused an issue, but those who bring up mechanical-procedural stuff aren't wrong either. It goes hand-in-hand.
