splitterpfj

Arnie's a quote machine, I talked to him again yesterday... “It was my last spring training, I was with Houston. They asked me if my arm was ok to throw BP, and I said it was. Cesar Cedeno was the batter, and he was complaining because he didn’t like what I was throwing up there. I got tired of it, so I threw one behind his back. With that, Cedeno charged the mound, and everybody started jumping in there to break up the fight. When it was over, Preston Gomez, who was the manager, walked out to me and said, ‘We got about a million bucks invested in Cedeno, we got a plane ticket invested in you. If you throw another pitch like that last one…it’s gonna be two plane tickets.’” -Arnie Costell

What's your decision? http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=774

Arnie was just great on the phone, and that came out of the blue, I had no idea who he was when he called me. He's as big a fan of baseball as anyone you'll ever meet, you can hear the love of the game in every word he says. He sent me a message this morning, it reads, "Todd, you did a phenomenal job, thank you, I'm off to throw a bullpen." He's 61, and he's had one hip replacement and two Tommy John's...and he's off to throw a bullpen. What's not to love?

Arnie found my name somewhere on the web today, and he called me, before that I had never heard his name. We went on to have a truly FUN conversation, here it is... http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=747

This is funny, I just logged on to tell you I'd checked with Will Carroll on this...BaseballintheBlood...is me. Specific to Cano...he, Boras, and MLB have all denied a positive PED test.

The Brewers are now linked to Harang, as is Baltimore...and it shouldn't really surprise anyone, there's no question the Dodgers will trade a veteran SP. Harang is signed for 7M this year, with an option/buyout for next year.

http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?attachment_id=734 If I had thought of this, I absolutely would have done it.

The Hall of Fame is filled with pitchers, outfielders and first basemen...second base has been a tougher ticket. Here's Lou's case... http://www.baseballintheblood.com/?p=719

Patrick, a friend of mine was just telling me about Ryan Thompson, at Franklin Pierce U. Have you seen him?

I've been a fan of this team since 1974, when I was all of 7-years-old. I remember all but the first few seasons of the franchise, so I've got great memories from plenty of different eras in team history. I was trying to decide what my favorite Brewers memory is, and it's not easy, but I picked one. My favorite Brewers memory happened in 1978. My dad and I went to a doubleheader one Sunday, to watch the Brewers play Toronto twice. (Yes folks, they used to schedule two games on the same day on purpose). The Brewers took a huge step forward in '78...Molitor came up, Larry Hisle signed here, Mike Caldwell turned into an absolute stud on the mound, and the Brewers stayed right in the race most of the way. This, after being horrible in '76, and only modestly better in '77. That day, the Brewers won a close Game One, on a late-inning home run by Larry Hisle. Then they won game two, when Robin Yount hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 9th into the left field bleachers...final score, 5-4. What I remember most about that was the crowd reaction after the games. No one wanted to leave the stadium...the weather was beautiful, the team was on a roll, and it was really FUN to be a Brewer fan. As Dad and I walked to the car, there were people losing their minds all over that place. Guys were dancing on the hoods of their cars, people were high-fiving total strangers, the whole thing felt like more of a gathering of friends than a chance meeting of strangers. I think that was the first time I felt like the game I had gone to was more than just watching a baseball game, it was a great experience at the ballpark. That's my favorite Brewers memory...what's yours?

My subject has been voted, "Preseason Pitcher of the Year", by the coaches in his conference. He's heard from 8-10 MLB teams now...it's really been fun to have a close look at this process.

I'll go with Mark Rogers having respectable numbers, but torching the bullpen with his 5 1/3 IP starts.

I'll give you the warning signs on Covey, that's a good point, but Seid still wound up with what he was after...two pitchers in the middle of round one. When you list off the guys Jack hit on, the obvious point is that several of them were top ten overall picks, which Seid hasn't had, but yes, until this last draft, the team has leaned toward safe picks in recent years. I wonder if that was done by intent, since the team had traded so many prospects out...draft the guys who are most likely to reach the big leagues, because we've left a huge hole in the farm system. I've always felt like Jungmann was exactly that...a safe bet to reach Milwaukee. The farm system had been aired out to get Greinke and Marcum, and the last #1 pick didn't sign...so they played it safe. I don't think Seid has been great, or terrible. Like I said though, this is the year the AAA and AA rosters will be filled with "his guys", it won't take much longer for all of us to know for sure.

On Seid's drafts...my grade is "Incomplete." Seid's guys are at the top levels of the system right now, so the next couple of years will really tell his tale. I don't blame him at all for Covey, that was just bad luck, for me, the focus there just shifts to the two guys he took the next year. Seid's first two number ones will not help the Brewers...Jack Z's first two number ones didn't either. The Brewers have plenty of prospects in the system right now, guys who profile as future major league players...they just don't have the "wow" guys. Maybe Victor Roache will change that. Bruce hasn't had the top ten picks Jack had to work with, but Jack hit on Hardy, Hart, and Gallardo with later picks, let's see what we get out of Morris, Gennett, Thornburg, etc.

I'm wondering why Pittsburgh hasn't gotten involved. They wouldn't have to give up their pick, and they've been "almost" the last couple of years, maybe Lohse would help. It makes me think Boras is still holding out for a multi-year deal, I think if he'd accept a one-year, with a guarantee from the team that they wouldn't make a qualifying offer after the season, some of these other teams would call back.

As this drags on, it becomes more likely Lohse will sign a team-friendly deal somewhere, most likely trading some dollars for an assurance that the team he signs with will not make him a qualifying offer at season's end. In that scenario, Lohse goes back in the pool, and likely gets a "Dempsterish" contract. Lohse would be an ok add, but I'd only do it if I thought the Brewers would become real playoff contenders by doing so. That's not out of the question, but at this point, there are too many "ifs" on the team -I'd probably just keep the draft pick.

Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Lee Smith, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens

I'll take it - the Brewers are doing a nice job of bringing in solid relief arms without breaking the bank. Most relief pitchers are impossible to predict from year to year anyway, so I say stack up a lot of 'em and sort it out as they go.

Pittsburgh gets a package of prospects, but I don't know who yet.

"They" are suggesting Capuano to Pittsburgh. I have no idea if that's a real possibility or not, but the MLB Network guys have said it a couple of times.

At the rate the Dodgers are going, both Capuano and Lilly may both be available soon. I like Lilly too, but there's no way I trust his health right now. If the Dodgers can get someone like Hanrahan for Capuano, I'm sure that's more than the Brewers would be willing to part with.

OK, after Ken Rosenthal and Bob Nightengale said it was done...Sanchez' agent says they're still talking to two other teams.

They've opened the wallet.

Hamilton came in at the top end of what I thought he might get, good for him, I don't see any way he'd have gotten a better deal somewhere else. The Angels had better win soon, because their payroll is going to be a mess in a few years.

When you look at the dollar amounts for both Dempster and Hamilton, I think if the Brewers were in an "all in" mode, they could have done either deal. It seems as though they've meant what they said...they're cutting the payroll for next year, and they're going to see what the young guys can do.