Matt Breen

Regarding Pickens, the Athletic did a round table with some NFL scouts and coaches, and some were down on the guy. They said he needed to grow up and was always getting in his own way - that sort of thing. One coach said his interview was terrible. And another said they basically took him off their board. Add in the fact he is coming off an ACL injury and it raises some red flags. And while Pickens is very competitive, he'll let himself get distracted from the game. He is a good blocker - but often doesn't try. He's also had some on-field incidents (fights) in the past. No one questions his talent. He could be a top 10 pick based just on talent. But they say any team is going to have to be willing to work with the guy to bring out that potential.

There are so many, but I'll suggest going to https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com They have hundreds of mocks on there - everything from amateurs to the bigger sites. But what you can do is click on the 'Consensus Mock Drafts' and 'Consensus Big Board' links and get an average of all the mocks and player rankings. It's all kind of wonky, but it works as a general overview of things. Also, from the home page you can get links to the most recent mocks. But there's a lot of terrible ones - so be careful who you look at. I remember one mock a while back had the Packers drafting three CBs in the first two rounds. So that's an example of how stupid people can be. But those dumb mocks get muted when included with hundreds of others. I'm sure people have their favorite analysts that they can share. I like a lot of the work by the staff at The Athletic - but that's paywall stuff.

I try and make predictions on the Packers picks, but with the extra selections, it just is so difficult because we can go so many directions. And the draft just looks really unpredictable. Who will drop to us just isn't that easy to discern. That makes it all pretty fun to watch unfold.

Walker has been getting a lot of buzz lately. Solid, three-down guy.

I was reading that quite a few teams want to trade down in the draft. Everyone likes to acquire extra assets. It means nothing will happen until teams are actually on the clock - as no one wants to make a deal to move up unless the guy they want is still on the board.

Latest mock at the Athletic had them grabbing Jones at #28 (along with Burks at #22).

If the Packers want Jones, they likely need to grab him at #28. I don't think he lasts until #53. I don't see it as a controversial pick. I generally have seen him in the 30-45ish area - so taking him at the upper part isn't a shocker. I've seen him mocked to the Packers on multiple occasions. Definitely would fill a team need.

Okay, fun hypothetical question. Giants pick at #7. Based on the Trade Value Chart* that's worth 1500 points. If the Giants called and offered the Packers that pick for our two first rounders - #22 (780 pts) and #28 (660 pts), plus a 4th rounder (#132 - 40 points) - do you take it. The Packers package total is valued at 1480 points. And if you do take it - what player (or players) are you targeting? Assume the trade wouldn't happen until the Giants are on the clock - so you only have to make the trade if your player is there. Note, the Packers have two 4th round picks, so we would still have one in that round. *Trade value chart: https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

On Easter Sunday, April 19, 1987, the Brewers were riding a season-opening 11-game win streak. The day was hot - 80 degrees - and County Stadium was packed. But the Brewers fell behind the Rangers and entered the 9th trailing 4-1. Glenn Braggs walked, and Greg Brock followed with a single. With one out, slugging outfielder Rob Deer stepped up to the plate. Deer was a 3TO player before it was cool to be 3TO (meaning three true outcomes - a walk, a strikeout, or a home run). What followed next was the biggest hit of Deer's career - a towering blast to left into the wind. County stadium went wild. Dale Sveum followed with a home run of his own, and the Brewers had one of their wildest victories in franchise history. And Rob Deer became a legend as the home run was featured on the Sports Illustrated cover. Rob Deer was born in 1960 in Orange, California. He was a big, powerful young man and was selected out of high school in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers in the 1978 draft. Deer's calling card then - and throughout his career - was his prodigious right-handed power. He hit more than 30 home runs three times in the minors. However, while Deer took his share of walks, he had a big hole in his bat. He struck out at an alarming rate (especially for the 1980s, when striking out 180+ times in a season was frowned upon). Deer moved up the minor league ranks despite the strikeouts and low batting averages, reaching the majors in 1984. He spent all of the next season with San Francisco but struggled in a part-time role (.185 BA, 71K in 162 ABs). This would lead to the Giants shipping Deer to the Brewers for minor leaguers Dean Freeland and Eric Pilkington in the offseason. Deer was installed in right field, which he manned for the next five years. Despite low batting averages and huge strikeout rates, he quickly became a fan favorite as Milwaukee fans embraced the big outfielder due to his massive power. In those five years with Milwaukee, Deer slugged 137 homers while striking out 823 times. The strikeouts and low average (.229) would hamper Deer's effectiveness. The big issue was Deer's struggles against right-handers. If you dig into the numbers; he had a .922 OPS vs. lefties but a .701 vs. righties for his career. Modern teams would probably be more accepting of Deer's strengths and limit his exposure to right-handers. After 1990, Deer departed via free agency and took his 3TO act to Detroit for a few more years. Other than a 25-game stint in San Diego in 1996, Deer spent the last few years of his career in the minors and in Japan. He retired after the 1996 season. For his career, Deer led the majors in strikeouts five times. He held the American League single-season record for strikeouts before Jack Cust 'beat' him in 2008. And for a long time, he held the dubious honor of having the lowest official batting average while still qualifying for the batting title when he hit .179 in 1991 for Detroit. Chris Davis of Baltimore hit .168 in 2018. Home runs and strikeouts defined Rob Deer as a player. You never knew what would happen when Deer stepped up to the plate - which brought electricity to the stadium with each at-bat. Milwaukee fans will never forget the towering blast he launched out of County Stadium or the 1987 Easter Sunday game. After retiring, Deer toyed with racing but stayed in baseball as a hitting coach with the Padres and Cubs. He mainly works as a private instructor and runs baseball camps for kids. Deer struggled with alcohol and pain killer addiction (the latter due to various back surgeries), but he has put those demons in the review mirror. A fan favorite and icon of the latter 80s Brewers, Rob Deer was added to the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014. Please share your memories of Brewer Rob Deer. View full article

The draft is hard to predict right now due to the weirdness with QBs. One one hand, you'll see three QBs in the first round. On the other, you see none. Regarding WRs, not a lot of talk about Jahan Dotson. Lacks the height/size you want - but the guy is pretty much NFL ready. He's got speed, runs good routes and good hands. He could probably step right in and start. I think he'd be a good pick at #28.

Been reading some interesting takes on WR Christian Watson. Some analysts put him in the 1st round - others in the 3rd. Lots of opinions. Tons of talent - but a work in progress. Do the Packers take a guy who dropped 12% of his passes last year? Gotta love the workout numbers. Has all the attributes you'd want in a field stretching WR. Could possibly help as a returner as well. Has had some injuries. Fascinating player.

One thing people can do is if they are having a problem with someone - a moderator or whom ever - please drop me or any other mod you are comfortable with a message and we will look into the problem. I can't promise you a response you'll want to hear - but it will be discussed. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Folks, I'm going to ask now to cut the petty crap out. We don't need people parsing each others posts word for word, we don't need people acting offended anytime someone questions them, we don't need people having to 'prove' their point. If you believe something or want to correct something or want to offer a different point of view - say it - then move on. We don't need people arguing about semantics or whatever. And we certainly don't need it post after post after post. Logging off the computer and saying you 'won' an argument is not what this should be about.

To me, the great thing is that the Packers have a lot of good options - at multiple positions. Thus they can adjust depending on who drops to them. Of course, you have to look at need - that's huge. But if they don't like a WR at #22, they can grab someone they value - even if it's not at the position. They can then look at WR at #28 or in the 2nd round. Or even via trade or FA.

He'd be a nice addition.

I think the long speed guys will go at a premium in the draft. That means Wilson, Olave, Pickens, Watson, Dotson is similar - but not as big. No way Wilson drops, and Olave getting to #22 is a gamble. I'm guessing we hope to get one of those types in round one, and then hit up another receiver in round 2 - such as Skyy Moore, John Metchie, Jalen Tolbert - even a tight end, such as McBride. That's just a guess as you just don't know what the team thinks of a bigger guy like Burks or London. Or Jameson Williams - who probably would have been the #1 WR in the draft if he had not been injured. He should be ready around mid-season. But do the Packers want to mess with someone whose ETA is uncertain? Olave seems a perfect fit for the Packers - but will he make it to #22 is another question.

I've seen Ebiketie mocked more in the 2nd round, but he's been showing up in the lower reaches of the 1st round more often of late - including being picked by the Packers. Love the guys work ethic and non-stop motor.

I never saw any information about a book. So I'm guessing it just fell by the wayside.

I never saw any information about a book. So I'm guessing it just fell by the wayside.

I never saw any information about a book. So I'm guessing it just fell by the wayside.

I never saw any information about a book. So I'm guessing it just fell by the wayside.

The numbers were phenomenal. 18-12 record. 280 innings pitched. 17 complete games. Only 14 home runs and 50 walks allowed. Three shutout innings in the All-Star game. It was 1978, and for 22-year-old Lary Sorensen, it was one of the finest years any Brewer pitcher ever put together. Sadly, he would never match his glorious 1978 campaign, and Sorensen's personal life would eventually overshadow his baseball achievements. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Lary Sorensen was born in Michigan in 1955. He attended the University of Michigan for college and was drafted by the Brewers in the 8th round in the 1975 draft; He rocketed through the Brewers' minor league system, needing only 45 games to reach the majors. From there, he became a rotation mainstay for four seasons. Sorensen was a sinkerball pitcher who rarely walked batters (for his career, his walk rate is an impressive 2.1 walks per 9 innings). He hated walking batters, and he said that walking a batter sometimes made him more upset than giving up a home run. He never struck out many batters either, inducing countless grounders throughout his career. Sorensen's rookie season was promising, but it was his sophomore campaign in 1978 that made people take notice. Sorensen was a workhorse, averaging roughly eight innings per start. Surprisingly, his 17 complete games did not lead the team that year - Mike Caldwell had 23. Named to the all-star team (his only appearance in the mid-season classic), Sorensen worked three shutout innings in the Midsummer Classic. While Sorensen appeared to be a star in the making, the workload would take its toll on his arm. He had decent seasons in 1979 and 1980 but was far less dominant than his 1978 campaign. His innings and effectiveness waned with each season. Sorensen was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1980 season in the famed deal that brought Pete Vukovich, Ted Simmons, and Rollie Fingers to Milwaukee. Sorensen would have a solid (but injury-limited) year in St. Louis before being traded to Cleveland. By 1984, his career as a starting pitcher was almost over. He would bounce around the majors and minors until 1988 with limited success. He was done as a player at age 32. During his four years in Milwaukee, Sorensen won 52 games, averaged 213 innings pitched a season, and had a 3.72 ERA. He produced a solid 12.2 bWAR / 11.6 fWAR. After baseball, Sorensen got into broadcasting, working for ESPN and then the Detroit Tigers. He was praised for his quick wit and friendly nature. However, Sorensen won't be best remembered for his time on the diamond or in the booth. Instead, his life has been littered with drug and alcohol-related problems. The first incident occurred while he was still a player when he was one of 11 players fined for admitting to cocaine use during a drug trial in Pittsburgh. In 1992, he received a DUI - the first of seven in his life. In 1998, Sorensen was let go as a Tigers announcer due to substance abuse problems. Things continued to spiral downhill for Sorensen. In the 2000s, he served two prison terms related to his alcohol-related arrests. In 2008, after crashing his auto, his blood-alcohol level was a staggering .480 - a level that would kill most adults. He lost his job, freedom, and marriage to alcohol. In 2014, Sorensen landed a broadcasting job for Wake Forest baseball and then added football in 2017, which he continues to do. But more importantly, he got - and stayed - sober. He credits much of his recovery to his now-wife, Elaine. Before becoming a lawyer, Sorensen's son, Mark, pitched for Michigan State before spending four seasons (2008-12) in the Detroit Tigers minor league system. Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher Lary Sorensen. View full article

I'm just starting to look at 'the Beast' and it's pretty cool. Obviously, I can't give it to people - but if you are interested in seeing what they do, here's a snippet (Chris Olave's write up). They do this for 400 players. PS - I think you can sign up for a free pass with the Athletic. Or get it cheap for a few months. Or if someone you know has it, they can give you a 30 day pass. They limit the 30 day passes - and I think I've given mine out (but I can check if you have no other options). PS - this is just a snippet of the guide. I think that's cool to post. If not, let me know and I'll remove.