I'll be doing "Upfront with Mike Gousha" on Sunday, April 27. It airs on WISN-TV, Channel 12 in Milwaukee, at 9 a.m. (Other stations carry it, too, but at different times: WISC-TV, Madison; WAOW-TV, Wausau; WKBT-TV, LaCrosse; and WBAY-TV, Green Bay)
Re: the "gamer" issue, I guess it depends on the injury. If you're feeling like 75% because of the flu, then I think you have to run your rear end out there and try to gut it out. But if you're feeling like 75% because of a twinge in your elbow, well . . . maybe it's a good idea to back off. (Discretion is the better part of valor, etc.)
Probably not the most baseball PC thing to say in April, especially when your franchise hasn't been to the World Series in 60-odd years. But I don't think it's totally insane to say that the team is thinking about its ultimate goal.
I remember that post, and I agree with it. Just like I'm not giving up on my boy Gagne, I'm not giving up on Weeks. But if he is not able to find "it" I am curious as to if they would have some combo of Hardy and Escobar up the middle. This is why I wouldn't want to be a GM. Maybe you stick with him until he blossoms, or . . . maybe you deal him and he blossoms someplace else, or . . .maybe he just never pans out at all.
You did the right thing, definitely, in terms of being up front with her about the issue. And I genuinely hope that things work out positively for you, in some way. (You might win the inaugural BF.net "Stand Up Guy" award.)
Whenever you see "sore" and "arm" in the same sentence about a pitcher, it's probably not good news. Initially, I had thought this was not going to be a big deal, but reading those post-game quotes has me slightly more concerned. Basically, he's had a week of soreness. That can't be good, especially since it's near where he was injured earlier. But it doesn't sound too horrible (yet?).
Yeah, and that's what frustrates me about it a little bit. Nothing is stopping him from throwing it more -- and being more effective -- other than sheer will.
If you're looking for something to keep you occupied during a rain delay, WPR has archived the call-in show. You can get there through my blog, http://lawandfaith.blogspot.com/. It was interesting -- a guy called from Wausau with some local political perspective.
It amazes me, frankly, that it has taken him this long to use it even sporadically. It can be a devastating pitch, and it has the additional benefit of creating relatively little arm strain. I don't really buy the "he didn't need it" argument. Benny has great stuff, but it's not like he's been in the sub-1.00 WHIP range for his entire career. I actually think it might have been more of a pride/machismo thing -- he has wanted to blow guys away rather than finesse them.
Davey Johnson, that's who I'd take. But I think it's premature to be revving up the anti-Ned bandwagon (on which I have ridden more than once myself) just yet.
The BA's for last night's lineup (save for Hart and Kendall) were absolutely cringe-worthy. But it's early. I won't genuinely start to fret until maybe Memorial Day.