UpandIn

According to the Buccs sub-reddit, the Jumbotron showed the play they were going to run on Brady's tablet after the delay of game! That'd be hilarious...and I'm very skeptical it's true because I'm not sure exactly when you'd have the tablet as it's not like you get a bunch of time in-between plays, but I guess after the TO... That'd be funny. And also sad as I'm sure Tom Brady would have the ball boy deflate that man after that...and then claim he didn't know about it despite his phone explicating showing he instructed him to do so.

I'm a little uneasy about not just the SU man but the Closer to be honest. The later I will get pushback from as it's totally irrational looking at his numbers. I just feel like we're treading toward K-Rod territory rather than overwhelmingly dominant closer who throws 98MPH and then comes back with that whiffle ball change. So there is literally no tangible reason to doubt Devin Williams ability to dominant moving forward...but it's still in my head. As for our SU man...yeah, I don't know. Maybe we'll get a bit year from Bush next year. He'll throw that big curve more often and throw that upper 90's FB with very little movement a little less. I could see that being successful for him. Throwing it UP in the zone seems like it'd certainly help as right now he throws straight and 98 right down the middle and in the lower half of the zone a bit too often(hence the HRs). But Britton is a guy I'd absolutely take a chance on. I also assume any number we'd be willing to go to, the Yankees or Dodgers or whomever would be willing to go there and higher. Chapman, again, all on board, but there I'm thinking you're still gonna be paying 10+. Matt Moore though...that is an interesting option. I was just looking at him. I wasn't even sure he was THAT Matt Moore. Don't think he'll break the bank. Also don't think he'll be that overpowering SU man, but a guy who can still give you multiple innings, has swing and miss stuff. Though his numbers are buoyed by why is almost certainly an unsustainable HR/FB ratio, I'd take a flier there. Also, it'd be cool to get the guy who was rated ahead of Trout and Harper as a prospect(and that's really the goal in the end, right!) In the end, if DS is still running the show, my guess is we pick up a couple relievers with big arms and hope one of them can develop. We seem to develop relievers pretty well...though it feels like we lost more games this year due to our pen than in a long time, it's really not like you can point to any one guy. Each guy seems to blow it on a different day(other than Williams...who I have an irrational fear or imploding next year). Finally, what the hell did Jeremy Jeffress do? Guy puts up ERA's of 1.54 and 1.29 in 2 of his last 3 seasons, wants to keep pitching and nobody will sign him? Not to suggest he'd be a good SU man, just curious situation there.

He's a nice pitcher and a good #3/4. I don't think he's in the conversation with the other 3 players we're talking about(or the 2 we're talking about and the one we're not talking about). I'd extend him...probably. But he'd be well down on my list of priorities. You DO have replacements for Lauer in your farm system...you don't have power arms ready to step atop your rotation. At least I don't think you do. Maybe Ashby and Gasser become those pitchers. I skeptical.

The way I remember it, Villar had a great year(at least relative to expectations on a rebuilding team)...but did some stupid things which you could live with when his OBP was over .350, then the Brewers got better quicker than anyone thought and Villar was struggling to keep his OBP above .300 and the Brewers had a chance to upgrade 2B. I don't really see any correlations between the two. Villar was replaced in 2017 for two guys with OBP near .400 and the following year for Shaw and Schoop. I do not see how he was run out of town. He kinda ran himself out. Two totally different situations. Villar lost playing time to just much better player. Hiura keeps losing it and getting PH for in situations where he's the better option.

I'm a huge CC fan and think he's an underrated Manager and THIS definitely drives me nuts. If he would have started Kotsay in CF, that decision would have been defended! I'm not you can break down this season to Hiura not playing, but...it is kinda baffling how he is PH for despite clearly being the better option. And I don't wanna hear how it's because he got hit by the ball. That's a fluke play and really not his fault. Also...apropo of nothing(well...something) but if you ARE going to bench Hiura for "bad baserunning," then could you MAYBE say something to almost literally anyone else on the team for just not showing effort at times? How many times has the ball bounced 3-4 feet away on a 3rd strike, nobody on 1st and nobody even runs? Or just jogging on ground balls. Again, get this isn't little league, but that's not hard to do. This one's been annoying me for a while, but I don't wanna sound like an old man complaining about it, but IF that was the reason Hiura was taken out, poor decision making/base running...then really everyone but Mitchell...Taylor and maybe Willy should have been benched at some point this year.

It feels like he's just always kinda trolling people. The SECOND he said that thing about Atlas Shrugged, I knew he was just saying that to get Twitter all worked up. I wasn't AS sure this time, but I was a little skeptical he'd unlocked the play from the Jumbotron.

I love Rodgers, but you're never quite sure with him. Was he just trying to get a reaction from Tampa...like he is right now? Is he just trying to be the smartest guy in the room(or field)? Did he pass on some insight that sealed the win...like "hey, have Dre play the flat." But Tampa's talking about it and it's working...one way or another. So that's fun.

Lets stop acting that trading off Chris Archer was some brilliant act on behalf of the Rays. We all laughed at that trade in real time. And you don't think there have been any players they might have wanted to keep, but were unable to afford as they run out one of the 3-4 lowest payrolls year after year? Every time we develop a good player, we really don't need to hear, "But the Rays." Yeah, the Rays are really good at what they do. Mostly in identifying talent and developing it themselves more than anything. That doesn't make me want to trade ANY of our best pitchers or our young SS. But we're also not the Mets. So we won't be able to keep them all. I get that. There are no stringent standards we absolutely must adhere to.

I love Willy, but it'd be Woodruff. Having an ace to anchor our BP would definitely my preference and as you say, I think it's easier to go find a SS than it is a TOR arm.

I'd again just...object to the idea he played a 2-4-5. It's the same thing that the Packers are playing when they run nickel. And they ran a 3-4 in run situations and they still didn't stop them. With regard to recruiting, PC has recruited pretty well. Not a lot of 5 star recruits, but some. Mostly guys who aren't quite playing yet. https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/Sport/Football/AllTimeRecruits/ He's done as well as most and I think people just had these hopes that Mertz would be the guy to elevate the position and he wasn't as good as expected and the OL hasn't been as good as we expect it to be for several years. But I'm with you. I think they'll end up with a 10 win season.

That's...hilarious!

I thought the extra 5 yards might even help them. Give them more room to operate. As for the call, it's really not a big deal to me. There's so much wiggle room with when the play clock starts EXACTLY and you're talking about split seconds. Aaron Rodgers did this multiple times yesterday. I'd have been annoyed if they didn't call the second because it was much more clear, but...just not something I care all that much about. With the NBA shot clock, it's more about the defense forcing you into that situation. With the play clock in FB, it's usually about a late audible and the time is negligible and you're not really gaining an advantage over half a second.

LOL...yes, and those 10% where you can take away their two biggest strengths, those are the Ohio State, Alabama, UGA and then the team that makes a run. Nebraska in the 90s, then Miami(FSU for about 30 years), then Florida, USC and that's pretty much how it goes. A couple USC teams and a couple other teams from schools with talent just falling onto their campus...like USC or Miami(not so much Nebraska, that was just a dirty program). This isn't the Packers or the Bucks. It's a LITTLE bit like the Brewers where you just kinda have to resign yourself to the fact that we just don't have the resources to win...but worse because the Brewers could definitely break through in a year. Eliminate the recruiting standards, bring in Urban Meyer and spend as much as Texas A&M and I still just don't see this program competing with Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia...etc... They'd just spend more money, sell out and people would yell louder and cheer the recruiting rankings more.

They were getting picked apart in the passing game. That played a far bigger role in giving up 28 in the 1st Q. They've played their base...which is bigger and more physical than the 43 they used to play, they just do not have the DBs to matchup with Ohio State's speed, size and athleticism on the outside. It's making a point. For all the hand wringing over the Badgers, they've been a pretty damn good program. 2021-Lost to Mich(CFP), ND(they were down a score in the 4th before getting blown out), PSU and then Minn for the 2nd time in...~20 years. 2020-Covid 4-3(including a blow out vs Michigan which is apparently a guaranteed loss if their on our schedule). 2019-10-4 two losses to Ohio State, a 1 point loss to Illinois, and then lost a 28-27 game in the Rose Bowl vs Justin Herbert and Oregon who...we kinda dominated, but had 4 turnovers. 2018-8-5 2017-13-1 Blew out Iowa, Michigan, lost a 6 point game to OSU 2016-11-3 -Beat Leonard Fournette's LSU team week 1, lost 7 point games to #4 Mich, #2 OSU and #8 PSU 2015-Lost 35-17 to Alabama, 10-6 to Iowa and 13-7 to NU Barry Alvarez is lionized because he brought back UW Football...and he should be. But if we're looking at actual results...no, I don't think we need to take anything to point out it might not be wise to get rid of Chryst and just take Chryst's success for granted. Alvarez had about a 61% winning pct at UW. Chryst is at about 73% winning pct at UW. He was also the OC when we had a whole LOT of success. Also, Barry Alvarez, AFTER returning UW to being a competitive program had a run of 2001 5-7 2002 8-6 2003 7-6 2004 9-3 So...it's not just so much as being on drugs as a little more objective overview of the trajectory of the program over time, not just calling for the firing of a very successful coach while mocking the comparison of the HOF coach nobody questions. UW has a 4 year run like this...and everyone will be calling for Paul Cryst's job...though, that's a bit difficult as it seems like many are as it stands.

Again...you keep pounding this drum and it just doesn't make any sense...and it's MOSTLY based on the premise that Herbig isn't as big as the 240 LB DEs they had playing in the 43...when their defenses weren't as good. They didn't get beat because of their defensive scheme. They could come out plus Mullins, Benton and Johnson, 3 big interior DL, take a LBer off the field...and OSU is going to pass all over the offense even more than they did in the first half(which is primarily how they built their lead). They're missing their top CB in what's already and overmatched group...and they're missing a really good safety they were counting on for games exactly like this. What it really comes down to is a 4 man front and...one of those defenders is listed about 10 pounds lighter than back when they were an objectively worse defense and played a 4-3. I REALLY don't get this. Their defense has been...elite. The front 7 is their area of strength and has been since Dave Aranda came in here. They absolutely are though. Wisconsin has lost some of it's top athletes in multiple sports because they did not meet UW's academic standards. Northwestern is the only school in the B1G with similar academic standards and I know for a fact there have been a couple athletes coaches at Wisconsin wanted and tried to get into UW who ended up at Nortwestern. So yeah, it's absolutely the entrance requirements.

Ok, I get that there are injury risks...but those are inevitable in all professional sports. Feels like Brewers fans are a bit snake bitten by Yelich...and I guess to a lesser degree by Braun(though the 2nd extension was always a little...well, stupid). You'd better be sure you can develop other pitchers into aces if you'd be willing to let both go without offering deals...IMO and without trying to reignite the Burnes thread. I meant from the Brewers end and sure...deGrom is a better comp for Burnes. Also a better pitcher with a much stronger history at the time of extension. Yeah, I don't agree with that. You can absolutely be the "Rays-lite" and we've been pretty much just that. The Rays draw about 9 fans a game and they're generally from the opposing teams. We carry a payroll about 40-80M higher than the Rays or the Guardians. The Guardians for SOME strange reason didn't flip their 3B who everyone was absolutely certain they'd trade. Also, who said we have to follow either teams philosophy exactly to a T? Finally...every player is aging. There are no Benjamin Buttons in professional baseball. 5 years for pitchers the Brewers have been EXTREMELY careful about not abusing and overworking isn't quite like locking up Verlander for a 5 year deal(Which...honestly, I would bet would also work out just fine in that particular situation).

I think they got a very good deal on Castillo. I feel like this deal would be a no brainer for either Woodruff or Burnes...and I don't get the trepidation. There's always risk with pitchers, but these are the two best pitchers we've developed since...Teddy Higura? It'd be nice to be able to keep one of them(ESPECIALLY with all the position players we have coming up who will or would be on relatively cheap deals through the next ~5-6 years).

Yeah, it's definitely just grading the snaps a player plays. I'd be surprised if he played more than about 1/3rd of their total snaps last year. Nixon's been great. Not sure Ford is a good safety, but he's been a big STs boost. I'd imagine we'll still need to add someone at some point, but with Abernathy, Thomas still on the PS, we're in good shape now. We do need Amos and Savage to play better. Yesterday both were pretty solid.

Yeah...I think they could extend to 150 next year. More money is coming in. But I'm looking around at where they'd add players that'd be reasonable...and I can't find it. And I think the prices for SPing is going to explode even more this off-season. 3B-Arenado and then Jace Peterson is pretty much the #1 real option. Arenado would be opting out of 5/144 and has already expressed a pretty clear desire to stay in STL. So...I think we can spend a little more. I don't think we can get ridiculous. 1B/DH-Jose Abreu makes a lot of sense and would be a guy I'd like...and the White Sox seem like they HAVE to make a move or they're going to have several guys who should be DH/1B playing regularly, but Abreu is kinda their cornerstone and still playing well. Josh Bell-MAYBE...depending on the deal. But .194/.313/.298 in the 2nd half. JD Martinez would be a McCutchen type signing and...meh, he's just not a big enough bat to restrict the roster like that at this point. By the end of '23 or early into '24, they could have pre-arbitration players at the top 4-5 OF spots. 2 of their starting IFers potentially in Turang and Black. Hopefully a few of those players are both worthy and interested in those early contract extensions, but unless we're talking about a trade...or internal extensions, it just doesn't make a lot of sense to spend on the players who appear to be available. I'm also good with that. IF they choose to bring Burnes and Woodruff back for one more year, I still think this team, with the influx of some young talent, some young athletes who can help produce runs in different way than HR or nothing. So I'll guess 120 and hope for an in-season extension...

And we'd still clearly be one of those 40-50 teams and we'd still be getting abused as we did last week.

Per PFF; That 71.0 grade...I'd like to see how that was broken down as 71 is a very good, solid starter. He wasn't that at CB. I think more of his value came when they slid him inside into almost a nickel LBer(which is what they they went and got Quay Walker for). Seems like a good idea. For a guy who came into the league with a shoulder injury. Spend the year rebuilding his body, Meanwhile in GB, Keisean Nixon looks like a very nice slot CB, a helluva gunner and a perfect #4. I would have to guess the Bills would be back in on him, calling his agent, seeing how he feels with the deluge of injuries they're dealing with.

Yeah...clearly we're idiots...because it seems obvious that at LEAST Tom is as good as Newman right now and offers not only more upside, but you can do more with him. How many plays do we ask our guards to get out on the edge pulling or block in space on different screens? He must not be ready yet...I guess?

Adams with 34 targets and 17 catches. They're trying to FORCE the ball into him and he's still not getting the catches. I get he wants to have this HOF career and Rodgers wasn't clear about how long he'd be here...but he really only signed a 3 year extension. But, whatever. We don't win this game without Campbell and not just because of that last play, he was great all day. Tonyan may not be back if Adams is, Watson wouldn't be here...most likely. Or one of Walker and Wyatt. Maybe Doubs.

And all the people trashing Bakh need to be shamed and ridiculed with all the pettiness online. Not the people who just were unsure if he'd come back, but the people calling him a princess who doesn't care or quit once he got paid. Bold Prediction-Bahk comes back and has the highest pass blocking grade of anyone on our OL. MAYBE it'll be Jenkins his 2nd game back, but...I'm skeptical. I'm also skeptical about the general outlook for this game, but usually when that's the case, the Packers end up surprising.

Yup. I'd be willing to bet the Packers would have went after Allen Robinson pretty hard if they knew Davante Adams was gonna leave. And I have a REAL hard time blaming them for not offering Adams 27M+ a year ago before anyone else was getting paid anywhere near that at the WRer position. There were some really good deals on really talented WRers(DJ Chark for example)...or we'd have brought back EQ. But we were just in a bad situation with Adams. I really didn't think he'd leave in the end. Rodgers sudden waffling didn't help, but, whatever. It's over.