splitterpfj

CC will control the situation, no matter what any agent, GM, or fan group may think. No matter where he signs, he's going to be unbelievably wealthy, so perhaps money won't be the deciding factor. If he wants the most money he can possibly get, there's no way he'll be back in Milwaukee, but if he's willing to merely have more money than he ever could have dreamed of, he could most certainly decide to stay here, if it makes him happy. I'm sure the odds are against him staying, but I do expect the Brewers to give it a shot.

How about Yovanni Gallardo? How about the Brewer bullpen? How about Ryan Braun? How about that one folks!

Congratulations to the Rays! Even the impossibly high prediction proved to be far too low!

The Milwaukee Brewers are bugging me. Have you ever heard someone say, "I had the worst hangover of my life after drinking such and such, so I never touch the stuff anymore." I feel like that. I'm also bugging me, because I know I'll be back for more.

Sorry I'm late....my check went out today.

1. I'm sorry this happened, because the team has collapsed, which stinks. 2. I'm glad they did it, I think they're a year late.

Russ is absolutely right, the voters are all over the board on these awards. Based on history, I'd bet anything that Lance Berkman does not win this award, and I'd bet strongly against Albert Pujols, unless the Cardinals storm back into the playoff picture. As far as Braun's .341 OBP goes, Jimmy Rollins won the award last year with a .344 - like it or not - HR, RBI, SB, AVE and a playoff appearance will probably matter more to the voters. I do think Berkman and Pujols have been the two best players in the NL to this point, but I'd say the list of favorites will include Braun, Wright, Utley, and possibly Jose Reyes. If you want a real dark horse for the NL MVP, I'll suggest Brandon Webb or maybe, (yes I mean this)....CC Sabathia. Forget logic, it's like a Heisman Trophy race, it's about PR and packaging. Albert or Lance will have to sell eye-popping numbers, so it'll take a "carry my team" September for either of them to pull it off. The Cubs have had the best team to this point, but nobody has huge numbers individually. The NL West is a mess, it's going to be very tough for a player out there to win over the voters. Teams most likely to produce the winner of this "individual" award...Brewers, Mets and Phillies. Playoff race most likely to go to the final weekend - NL East - which will hold the attention of the voters. My Pick: It's wide-open right now, but I'll say the Mets hold off the Phillies, and the voters go with David Wright in a very close vote.

Wow, six batters, six runs. It's a bad day to be Braden Looper.

Is it permissible to simply start listing family members' names in this thread? It's a long story.

Who's to say the whining and sniping from St Louis won't motivate the Brewers to sprint through the tape? Perhaps the Brewers will come out fired up, and stay that way.

The Cardinals, and their press, and a segment of their fans, are really embarrassing themselves right now. How many times do the Brewers have to tell the story behind the untucking of the jerseys before people will actually get it? It has nothing to do with their opponent...it's on the same level as a high five, or a handshake at the mound. Tony LaRussa is an arrogant jerk...and he always has been. No one in that dugout holds the high ground in this scenario, they would do anything to win, including showboating, throwing at opponents, whining at the umpires, or pouting to the press. I don't blame folks down there for complaining about the guys watching some of their home runs....but then you see the images of Mr Pujols doing the exact same thing. Get over it, or change your own behavior. Grow up down there, your team has had a good deal of success, and is still in the playoff race this season...act like you've done this before.

Has a team ever gotten a better return out of an 800K, retired guy?

I think the Cubs will lead the NL, with 98 wins. The Mets will win the East, with 92 wins, Philly will have 88 wins, the Marlins will have 84. The Diamondbacks will win the west with 88 wins, the Dodgers will have 86. The Brewers will win the wild card, with 93 wins, the Cardinals will win 91. The one thing that bothers me about the Brewers' remaining schedule? Sabathia will miss the Cardinals, Mets and Phillies. Sheets will pitch vs all three, a dominant run from Ben might make the difference.

I've thought Houston was the most likely spot for Ben for some time now. It's the closest team to his family, it's a huge market, with an owner who has already shown his willingness to overpay free agents, and that team has multiple holes to fill in its starting rotation. If you'd give 100 million to Carlos Lee, why wouldn't you go all-out for Ben Sheets?

I'm amazed by this whole thing. I like Tom's blog, for instance, he was the one source who was consistently correct when reporting on Brewers' trade rumors in the weeks leading up to the deadline. ESPN.com, and Foxsports.com reported all sorts of wild ideas that never came true, but Tom went to the source, got it right, and reported it. In this respect, I think he does a fine job. I don't understand why Tom would allow himself to be drawn into this sort of controversy. You can disagree with people, and you can defend your facts and opinions, but a journalist has no business insulting his audience. Go ahead and ban a guy from the site if that is warranted, no one has said Tom should just tolerate people who are disrespectful or rude - but be a man about it - you can't expect everyone who reads your work to always agree with you and respond positively, sometimes people are going to tell you they think you're wrong. When they do, if you respond with "living in your parents' basement", or "I've been in this business 30 years, what do you know?", you sound like a child, and you entice the losers in your audience to pile it on even higher - waiting for your next immature response. 1. I think Tom is a fine journalist. 2. I think Tom's blog has been a great addition to JSOnline, and is a fantastic resource for Brewers fans. 3. Points 1 and 2 do not mean Tom is somehow better than everyone else. Check the ego, Mr H, you're damaging your own professional reputation - this is not someone else's fault.

The Phillies have had the West Coast Trip of Brewers Past. Thus far, they are 1-5, including a 4-game sweep vs the Dodgers, which has dropped them 2 games behind the Mets, and 5.5 out in the wild card race. The Mets have done what they were supposed to do, going 5-1 vs the Pirates and Nationals, with one left in Pittsburgh. The Marlins have not fared well, but could salvage their week with a win today. After dropping 3 of 4 to St Louis, they have split the first two with the Cubs. The tough schedule has left them 3.5 out in their division, and 7 back in the wild card race. The Cubs, just keep going, 4-1 so far this week, 4.5 up in the division. The Brewers, overcame a week without Ryan Braun, they stand at 4-2 on the week, with a 2 game lead in the wild card race. The Cardinals - have had a great week. After taking three of four in Florida, St Louis has won the first two with the Reds, they can close out a 6-1 week with a win today, and they are now within 2 of the wild card lead. The Diamondbacks - have had an excellent week on the road, getting 2 of 3 in Colorado, and then winning the first two in Houston. Randy Johnson vs Roy Oswalt today to close out the series. The Diamondbacks hold a 1-game lead in the NL West. The Dodgers - have also had a great week, sweeping the Phillies in four, and splitting the first two with Milwaukee. As mentioned, LA is 1 game behind AZ in the divison race. The Rockies - will probably see who they can slip through waivers at this point, this is their last mention, barring a quick turnaround.

Awesome, I call sudden death....game over!

A woman I know had this same sort of injury earlier this summer, she was stepping out of the shower, she reached for a towel, and suddenly she could barely move from the pain. Things stayed like that for about five days, she couldn't lift anything, it hurt to take a deep breath, etc, and then it stopped just as suddenly as it had started.

Sheffield is complaining about playing time in Detroit, and has also said he doesn't like being the DH. Jim Leyland has responded publicly, saying he had told Sheffield he would DH in a conversation prior to the trade, and that if he didn't like it, he shouldn't have accepted the deal. Sheff can't play the outfield anymore, his shoulder can't handle it. Dealing for him would be a major risk, and a very expensive one at that. No, absolutely not.

Short of being placed in the NL West, the schedule favors the Brewers about as much as you could hope for.

Mock Ya-a

1. Monty Python 2. Major League Baseball History 3. The Rolling Stones 4. The US Civil War 5. What's The Deal With Todd's Ex-Wife? 6. Famous Comedians

I ran out of Klements.

"I Know Everything" fantasy football guy is bugging me. Look, Dude, that tight end you've been scouting since his freshman year at Central Connecticut might be a great sleeper pick, and you're right, you saw him first. Are we good now?

From "Monty Python's Life of Brian" REG: Listen. If you really wanted to join the P.F.J., you'd have to really hate the Romans. BRIAN: I do! REG: Oh, yeah? How much? BRIAN: A lot! REG: Right. You're in. Listen. The only people we hate more than the Romans are the Judean People's Front. P.F.J.: Yeah... JUDITH: Splitters. P.F.J.: Splitters... FRANCIS: And the Judean Popular People's Front. P.F.J.: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Splitters. Splitters... LORETTA: And the People's Front of Judea. P.F.J.: Yeah. Splitters. Splitters... REG: What? LORETTA: The People's Front of Judea. Splitters. REG: We're the People's Front of Judea! LORETTA: Oh. I thought we were the Popular Front. REG: People's Front! C-huh. FRANCIS: Whatever happened to the Popular Front, Reg? REG: He's over there. P.F.J.: Splitter!