naivin

Why does Darron feel it necessary to try to protect these guys so much? "You can talk about the defense all you want, but..." But nothing. Weeks screwed up. Hart screwed up worse, and that is the primary reason the Marlins have 4 runs right now. Up and coming rookies or not, everyone saw what happened and Darron makes himself look like an idiot by trying to pretend it is somehow more complicated than that.

Tonight could be a very big game. Considering the seemingly unfavorable pitching match-up, you'd have to predict a loss. If they get a win however, this one could truly be a lynch pin game for the rest of the season. A win puts them at least in position to get a swep they desperately need on this homestand. If they want to be in the thick of things and continue to play meaningful games for another month or so (they aren't going to win the WC), simply winning series won't cut it. They have got to get a sweep or two in the next week+. They need to win 9 or 10 out of 12, or 5-6 in a row, to get themselved back into reasonable strinking distance for September. A loss wouldn't change what is needed, but winning one you pretty much expect to be a loss, could be a very very big deal.

Scoop's got it right. Nobody believes they are going to win the thing, but as long as they can remain in a position where a modest winning streak would put them right in the thick of it, they will continue to play meaningful games. Isn't that realistically all we can ask of this team this year, meaningful games in September (I realize it is still August and they are just a modest losing streak away from the opposite happening)?

Or, do what gives you the best chance to win the game. Giving guys a chance to hit against Roger Clemens, simply for the sake of giving them a chance to hit against Roger Clemens really doesn't do much for me.

4. Have him pee in a cup and give it to MLB for a steroid test.

As soon as they have more wins than losses, I will renew my interest in WC talk. Hopefully that happens within the next week or so.

So let's see they managed two runs off Jamie Wright tonight - driven in by the pitcher no less. So knowing what we know about this team, what are we thinking about tomorrow? They should be good for 6 or 7 off Clemens right?

Ya know I was thinking the same thing about Helms. Has he carved out a whole new career for himself as a PH? Not a bad guy to have on your bench right now.

Without looking it up, me thinks when Turnbow works more than an inning, the results, well they're not good.

Unless they get a few runs here, no, you go with Turnbow in the 9th.

You gotta get the guy in there sometime. That's what he's here for. Like it or not, he is our set-up guy right now. The alternative is to be afraid to use him and let him rot like JDLR did the middle of the year. His history would seem to indicate he is better when the heat is on anyway. There aren't exactly a ton of alternatives out there right now anyway.

Looks like they're gonna have to! Good to see helton up there though. Eeesh!

Spalding get your foot off the boat!

Sorry, no offense but D&D is near the top of my must own list and this has been driving me crazy... "Just when I thought you couldn't get any dumber, you go and do something like this...and totally redeem yourself."

What a surprise.

They don't necessarily DL guys, but they usually come out right away and say if a guy is going to miss time. Spivey tried to play here and there during that time. They seemed to be hoping Sheets issue would clear up a lot sooner than it did, and they have not really waivered that they hope Clark will play this weekend (thus no DL). They don't typically try to pretend a guy isn't hurt, when they obviously know he is. Not exactly like the Cubs who immediately come out and say Kerry Wood or Mark Prior might miss his next start, and he goes on the DL two days later.

I forgot about that. That's interesting, especially since he never was sidelined (was he?). Boy that would be something. Although, I'm with you. Test or no test, he's a user.

Weeks scratched. That doesn't sound so good. Count how many times Darron says, "Don't worry, nothing serious." The more he says it, the more you need to start worrying. Although, the Brewers are not generally a team that tries to downplay injuries, ala the Cubs, so maybe it is just a day off.

Hall is a strange choice. Maybe he has had success against Wright? I suppose Rickey does need a day off at some point though. I guess I'd rather have him sit against Wright, than Clemens, et all this weekend.

I don't necessarily think there is anything to the "rumor," but I am one who believes Clemens is/has been every bit the steroid user as Sosa, Bonds, Palmiero, etc. The pitchers haven't gotten much attention, but Clemens and Gagne are two guys you will never be able to convince me have not used the stuff.

You really don't know? Jenkins and Overbay have to play. There are really no good options at those positions. There are alternatives at 3B. Why put a third left handed bat in there when you don't have to? Besides when they bring the righty out of the pen, now there will be more than one left handed option beside everyone's favorite switch hitter.

Difference in philosophy, but you're crazy. By the time a guy like Oswalt, Carpenter, Halladay, Clemens, Pedro, etc. gets done making his starts, your team is already 15-20 games over .500. In case you haven't noticed, baseball is all about pitching. Everyone likes Weeks a whole lot, but don't think for a second that Melvin wouldn't trade him for a guy like Hallady in a cocain heartbeat (assuming they would be willing to accept the financial consequences, which would be the only thing to stop it).

Yeah, and he seems to have learned how to pitch. Be kind of nice to have him back.

I don't think you can discount the possibility that any player on the Brewer's roster could be traded, so you can not automatically say they have no use for any particular player. If for instance the GM of __________, called Doug Melvin and offered, Zito, Oswalt, Halladay, (insert relatively young established big time SP here), for Rickey Weeks, as good as Weeks is/going to be, you make that move in a second. Obviously that isn't likely to happen, but you just don't know what kind of deals may crop up.

You're kidding right? Here's what you do...you pick a team, you look at the roster and you look for players players that you think could help make the Brewers better. You then determine if you can sign them as a free agent (if they will be a FA) or make a trade for that player that would help improve your team. Here are a couple examples since you don't seem to have the brainpower to figure it out... Rafael Furcal Marcus Giles Johnny Estrada Tim Hudson Jorge Sosa Juan Pierre Luis Castillo Paul loDuca AJ Burnett That is just two teams, do I really need to go on? Which of those guys are past their prime? Would all those guys be available? Probably not. Could some of them? Why not? Again, that is just two teams, and those are just front line players. Have you seen the Brewers "bench"? Why do you want to pretend that there is no way for the Brewers to upgrade their talent level beyond simply going with guys from the minor leagues. That will not get it done. The team is also going to have to increase payroll. I've got news for you, if the Brewers want to improve, they are going to do it both organically (which they are in process of doing) and through acquisition to augment the homegrown talent. Bringing guys who have had success at the major league level can be an important part of that. As I said, the Brewers have one guy (Miller) who has been a contributor in a winning organization. The FA crop is pretty weak, so in offseason trades, Doug needs to be looking for good players with some experience who can be a leader on a team of very young and talented players.