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They took the tarp off again, but now it's sitting in right field so I don't know that means they are taking it off for good or just getting some more water off the tarp. Okay, WSSP is also reporting that they took the tarp off, but I don't know if it's completely off or not or just sitting in right field.

I would like to know who the genius was that has the Brewers opening up in Chicago, then coming back to Chicago again at the at of April, while the Cubs don't play in Milwaukee till the end of July. Here's an idea, I know it might sound radical, but how about the Brewers open up at home against the Cubs, then you still have the Brewers going down to Chicago at the end of April and have that July series in Chicago. Sure you can get rain and bad weather in July, but you don't have to potentially deal with snow. And it's almost a guarantee that you're going to have to deal with cold weather. I mean, if the Brewers are going to have to go back to Chicago anyway to play at the end of April, it would have made sense for the Brewers to open up at home. Like Brian, I took the day off tomorrow and now it looks like there is a good chance they won't be able to play tomorrow. And I have to work till 8 on Tuesday, so if it's moved to Tuesday I won't be able to catch the game at all. Agh!!

Can't get enough Claudio Vargas talk, so here are a couple things mentioned by Melvin and Yost about the move in the Journal Sentinel. "By keeping pitchers with options and reducing the payroll by nearly $3 million - dropping it from $82 million to about $79.3 million - Melvin said it could provide an opportunity to make other moves later. "We have flexibility to sign someone, flexibility to trade for someone," Melvin said." And "By placing Parra in the fifth spot, which gets skipped at times, the Brewers can control his innings somewhat. Parra pitched 133 innings last season between Class AA Huntsville, Class AAA Nashville and Milwaukee. "It's kind of a dual-edged sword," Yost said. "The Chicago series is very important, too. And the home opener is extremely important to me. We're trying to fit all of that, match up and get it right." Yost said there was discussion also of including non-roster lefty Chris Narveson in the mix. Narveson has been impressive this spring, going 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in six outings. "There were a lot of votes for Narveson," Yost said. "He has painted himself into the picture, a little bit."

According to what Yost said, it appears the Brewers could have sent him to triple A, but decided to just let him go. I was surprised he was cut and that they didn't send him to the minors as insurance. Right now they have 6 starters, so they should be okay if one of their starters go down, but if a second starter were to get hurt or perform badly enough to have to be taken out of the starting rotation, then Vargas might have been a good insurance option. We'll see if they end up picking someone off of waivers as insurance. They could have also just really liked what they saw out of Narveson and decided that there wasn't much of a difference between the two, so they could save some money by just letting Vargas go. At least, I'm assuming they are saving some money by cutting him now instead of later.

For those with Directv, the game is scheduled to be on channel 654 with the San Francisco TV feed of the game.

For anyone with Directv, the game is scheduled to be on channel 648, along with being shown on MLB.TV.

Doug Melvin did an interview with WSSP on Monday and mentioned a few things. --Not corncerned about injuries. A bunch of minor injuries, etc... We'll see about Capuano later in the week. --Tough choices to make on the pitching staff. Would prefer to keep 12, but might keep 13. --Will probably wait to the last moment to make the final tough cuts, especially with players that they would lose. Gave example of when he was with Texas. People wanted him to cut Craig Worthington who probably wasn't going to make the team, but kept him on roster till last moment and Dean Palmer ended up getting hurt in the 5th inning of the last game. --Said that he thinks that Gross, Kapler and Gwynn will be on the team. --Craig Counsell will be on the team, no surprise --Backup catcher another decision that will have to be made. --Was asked about Dillon and said nice things about him. Has a better chance with Cameron gone. Dillion would bring a better bat and pinch hitter. Nunez would bring defensive. If they keep 12 pitchers may have room for one more position player. However, if my math is correct, if they do keep Gross, Kapler, Gwynn and Counsell, along with a backup catcher, wouldn't that already add up to 13 position players to go along with 12 pitchers. --Asked about calling other clubs. Said yes, but teams looking to trade or trade for players on the end of their roster, 5th pitcher and so on. Teams also looking at budgets and don't or can't take on 1, 2 or 3 million dollars. Thus, many teams just look within their organization instead. --Finally was asked about whether the team will ever be in a position to go out and get the final "superstar" to add to the team. Melvin said, open to anything, but with younger players already going to get higher salary, etc... If they took on a player and contract like Santana and he got hurt, it could be devastating to a ballclub. When a player like Ben Sheets gets hurt, it's devasting to the ballclub. Realistically, probably would be difficult to take on that type of player/salary. Said a few other things, but that was the basics. http://wssp.radiotown.com/audio/garycliff/TimSparkywMelvin.mp3 Edit: Logan and Sbrylski each makes a good point. With Cameron's suspension, that means one of Gross, Kapler and Gwynn will be making starts and thus there is room for one more player on the roster. Duh! I guess that's what happens when you write something right before you go to bed. With that in mind, then I think it probably comes down to Dillon or keeping that 13th pitcher on the staff. I guess they could keep Nunez instead of Dillon, but Melvin seemed to be leaning towards keeping Dillon as a good pinch hitting bat off the bench and also mentioned how well Dillon's been hitting this spring. Of course, Yost seems to want to keep 13 pitchers and we don't know whether he would prefer a batter bat in Dillon or defense in Nunez. However, they already have Counsell as a defensive replacement if need be, so I think it's going to come down to Dillon vs a 13 man pitching staff to start the season.

I actually made a post about this a few weeks ago. Not much new to add to what has already been mentioned, but here it is. The Brewers have come out with their TV schedule and they are going to televise 3 spring training games. I believe this has already been mentioned, but they are: Friday, March 14th at 9:05 CT Sunday, March 16th 3:05 CT Monday, March 24th 3:05 CT For those of you like myself who live outside Wisconsin and have a satellite dish, I don't recall if they showed the spring training games last year. In addition, the Brewer games are going to be televised by other teams. Monday, March 10th 3:05 CT CSN Chicago Monday, March 17th 3:05 CT CSN Chicago Thursday, March 27th 3:05 CT WGN I believe anyone who has a dish and also has the sports package can get CSN Chicago. In addition, I think anyone who has the MLB.TV games package can get these games, unless you live in the market area. There are still a few teams that haven't listed their TV games yet, so there could potentially be more. Add in the FSN Kansas City game on March 20th. I haven't checked my DirecTV guide to see if that is one of the sports channels they carry. Also, the March 5th game is going to be on MLB.TV at 2:05 CT vs Texas.

The Brewers have come out with their TV schedule and they are going to televise 3 spring training games. I believe this has already been mentioned, but they are: Friday, March 14th at 9:05 CT Sunday, March 16th 3:05 CT Monday, March 24th 3:05 CT For those of you like myself who live outside Wisconsin and have a satellite dish, I don't recall if they showed the spring training games last year. In addition, the Brewer games are going to be televised by other teams. Monday, March 10th 3:05 CT CSN Chicago Monday, March 17th 3:05 CT CSN Chicago Thursday, March 27th 3:05 CT WGN I believe anyone who has a dish and also has the sports package can get CSN Chicago. In addition, I think anyone who has the MLB.TV games package can get these games, unless you live in the market area. There are still a few teams that haven't listed their TV games yet, so there could potentially be more.

Blalock road numbers really make me hesitant about him. Here are a set of numbers, AVG./OBP/SLG/OPS for 3 players over the last 3 years. The first two are road numbers for a couple players, while the last is a current Brewer total stats for the last 3 years. .244 .296 .373 .669 .236 .275 .431 .706 .248 .337 .351 .688 The third line are the 3 year numbers for Craig Counsell. The second line are the road numbers for Pedro Feliz for the last 3 years. The first line are the road numbers for Hank Blalock over the past 3 years. Basically Craig Counsell has had a higher overall OPS than Hank Blalock has had on the road over the past 3 years. Now, Blalock has had much, much better home numbers, it's not even close. But, I do worry about the radically home and road splits that Blalock has had.

For what it's worth, in his latest blog Tom Haudricourt says, "I'm starting to get some vibes on Texas third baseman Hank Blalock." I'm have mixed feelings about Blalock and I wouldn't want to trade Bill Hall in a deal for him. That would just create another hole to fill and I'd just rather have Bill Hall than Blalock. I read somewhere that he worked really hard on taking grounders with manager Ron Washington. I guess it depends on what the Brewers would have to give up for him. However, I think I am going to do some more reading on Blalock just in case he does end up a Brewers.

Dotel was a name I was going to bring up a week ago, I know, yeah right http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif, as he has the type of power arm that Melvin likes, but his name has never been brought up in connection with the Brewers, including last season. Dotel is coming off injuries and he seems to be a level below the top closers. He blew 9 out of 45 saves in 2004 and 4 out of 15 a year ago. However, other than Gagne, he's probably the next best closer available on the free agent market. For the right deal, I think he'd be a good sign. The key for me would really be the amount of years rather then the amount of money. I'm sure they'll have to pay him more than people would like, but if it's a 2 or possible 3 year deal...I would rather just have it be a one year deal, but it would probably need to be a 2 year with an option for 3 or just a straight 3 year deal for Dotel to sign. Brian Anderson also basically said the same thing this morning about Turnbow that his comments were taken out of context. If Turnbow personally spoke to Melvin to assure him that he likes being in Milwaukee, that's good enough for me.

I'm happy to say that it appears I was wrong in thinking Torrealba might be that second catcher that Melvin was looking at. The following is from the Denver Post, "Brewers general manager Doug Melvin explained Sunday that his team was never in on Torrealba and is not pursuing the catcher." Also mentions that the Rockies and Marlins have made offers. http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_7500724

I have a feeling Torrealba might be someone the Brewers have an interest in. In his interview, Melvin stated that they were looking at a couple catchers. One, we know is Kendall, but we never heard who the other one was. Maybe the reason we didn't was because Torrealba was the other catcher who I believe reportely signed after Melvin gave that interview. Now that the deal with the Mets has broken down, we'll probably find out soon. We've seen with all of this talk about getting another catcher that as bad as Estrada played, there really isn't much better out there right now. I feel the same about Torrealba as I do Kendall. If they want to sign one of them to form a platoon of sorts with Estrada, fine. But, I'd rather just go with Estrada if the choice is between one of the three.

Asked what might make him go outside of the organization, Melvin said, "It would be someone that offers experience with the overall talent level in the National League. Someone that might have a presence in dealing with veteran players. "We didn't have a problem with our younger players but we may have a need for someone to talk to veteran players. That way, (manager) Ned (Yost) doesn't always have to do it." I thought that was a curious statement to make. At first I thought that was a critic of Yost, but after reading it a second time, it seemed to be a critic of the coaches. If there is a problem communicating with the veterans on the team, then it would seem to make more sense to hire a veteran coach who would be able to do that. If you think about it, we already have a number of coaches on this team who have worked with the younger players, but there does seem to be missing that veteran/major league experienced coach. Castro and Maddux bring some of that on the pitching side, but Sveum is still a young coach. Both, Sedar and Skeelan began their 1st year as major league coaches last year. Maybe Nick Leyva was suppose to fill that role and didn't do a great job of it, thus one of the reasons for his firing. If that is a problem, then their is less of a need to bring in another coach with ties to the younger players on this team and instead someone who can effiectively communicte with the veterans. If he already been manager for the Brewers, someone like Phil Garner might make a good choice. Maybe someone from one of the coaching staffs where the manager just got fired. Haven't had a chance to really look around. But, somone with that type of experience would seem to make more sense.

Now that the season is over, I'm still in the nay camp. It wouldn't surprise me if Yost is brought back with a contract extension or without one and on a short lease. In public, Mark A. seems to like Yost as manager of the team. Melvin on the other hand has said some good things about Yost, which you would expect, but has also been somewhat critical of him here and there. I'm not sure if that is a sign that Melvin has his doubts about Yost or if that is just Melvin's style. Melvin has praised Yost for the development or at least for the way he has allowed for the development of the younger players. Having patience with them and allowing them to learn and grow. He also has said that the players seem to play for him. Then again, he also said that if players were unhappy, he would probably be the last person to know about it. However, it seems the younger players like to play for him, it may be a different story with some of the veterans. Overall though, from what Mark A. and Melvin have said, it seems the players like playing for him. Melvin though has also been critical of Yost at times. For how often Yost changes the lineups and for taking Capuano out of the starting rotation. And he mentioned how even Yost himself has admitted to some X's and O's mistakes he has made. Along those lines, even Tom Haudricourt who has defended Yost time and again was even somewhat critical of how Yost used the bullpen. He actually defended him more than was critical, but it's about as critical as Haudricourt will probably ever be about Yost. "An overworked Turnbow also hit the skids (9.35 ERA) in the final month, making it even tougher for Yost to bridge the gap from starting pitcher to Cordero. Yost was accused of "bullpen mismanagement" and did make curious decisions at times but the fact of the matter was the number of viable alternatives decreased dramatically." I think the Brewers are now in a position that they need to take that next step up. Not only with whatever additional players they add to the roster, but also with the manager. A manager that can best take them to that next step. I don't think Yost is that manager. Do I think the Brewers can make it to the playoffs with Yost as manager, yea. I may not be a Yost supporter, but I know that a team with a bad manager can still make it to the playoffs if it's good enough. However, I don't want the Brewers to take that chance, or end up firing Yost next June if they really have doubts about him. There seems to have been a lot of emotions and frustrations about Yost this past year. Whether you think Yost if a good or bad manager, it's all just our opinions. Most of us don't even work in baseball, so if someone disagrees with me, I try not to take it personally. Doesn't mean I'm right and they're wrong. I've been on the other end where people have felt highly motional and frustrated with someone that I didn't think deserved it. Even if I don't agree with someone, I at least try to take the time to read what they wrote and consider it, just like I hope people would do the same with whatever I may write. Sometimes someone writes something that makes me rethink how I feel about something. And no matter how much I disagree with someone, I try to consider how I would feel if someone wrote me the way I may have responded. In the end we all want the Brewers to be successful.

Well, I won't be watching the game only because of Fox blackout rules, otherwise I would be watching it. So, if the Brewers win game no. 82, it'll be today. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I have not been a Yost supporter, but over the past few weeks, I've tried to step back and just let the season play out and hope for the best. Last nights decision to bring in Wise was not very smart, to be kind. But, this rant is for Drew Olson, who is in full defend and protect Ned Yost no matter what mode so far this morning. Bill Johnson made the comment that he may have put in Cordero in that situation last night instead of Wise. Drew Olson then went into full protect Ned Yost mode. Going on about how people should be mad at Linebrink and the bullpen for letting the game get to that point, bla, bla, bla... Basically blame anyone but Yost, even though of course Yost was the one making the final decisions on who to put in and why. Then he had to really start reaching to defend Yost by saying, "What other options that he (Yost) have" (other than bring in Wise). No other options!!! How many people do the Brewers have in their bullpen, including some guy name Cordero. Bill Johnson, who also a big Yost defender, said okay, that's all true, be mad at those players, but now at that point of the game, I would have brought in Codero instead of Wise. And Olson just continued to try to defend Yost, agh!!!! Then Dan was critical of taking out Bush when he did because he was, "gassed" from having to run from 1st to 3rd and making some of the same points people here have made about that. Bill and Drew Olson then went on to defend taking Bush out of the game at that time. I mean, he was sooooo gassed from having to run from 1st to 3rd, he couldn't put him back in. Cmon, no other pitcher in the history of baseball has had to run the bases and then come in and pitch the next inning. Okay, just had to get that rant out. Thank you. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

It's Sheets and Parra By Tom Haudricourt Tuesday, Aug 28 2007, 06:03 PM Chicago - Hoping to inject some life in a sagging starting rotation, the Brewers will send Ben Sheets to the mound Wednesday night against the Cubs and follow him with rookie Manny Parra on Thursday. That's assuming Sheets' middle finger doesn't fall off in his sleep tonight. With Ben, you never know. Sheets, who went on the disabled list July 15 with a sprained middle finger and had his return delayed by a blister on that same finger, cleared his final mini-hurdle this afternoon at Wrigley Field when he played catch in the outfield without damage to the blister. The starting rotation has not fared well in Sheets' absence, posting a 5.55 ERA. One guy shouldn't make that much difference but with Sheets, somehow it does. "It gives everybody a boost," said manager Ned Yost. Yost selected Parra to start the series finale because the Cubs have not fared as well against lefties as they have against righties. They are batting .252 as a team against lefties and .274 against righties. They are 12-20 against left-handed starters and 54-43 against right-handed starters. http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/08/28/it-s-sheets-and-parra.aspx

Villanueva has already pitched the 1st inning of his start today in Nashville, so I doubt he's going to get called up.

It appears as though Vick has reached a plea agreement that probably includes some prison time. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20350573/

The following is from Steve Hawk who is a writer and surf consultant for John From Cincinnati. The following did help me understand a few things better, though I have to say I was disappointed in the season finale as well. I tried to replace any swear words in the article with words that have similar meanings or just placed (darn) parenthesises http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Inside the Episode With Steve Hawk The Future Tense of Joy David Milch, JFC's executive producer and head writer, likes to talk about the many ways in which the future continuously reinterprets the meaning of the past. In that context he often quotes a poem by his mentor, Robert Penn Warren: "This is the process whereby pain of the past in its pastness / May be converted into the future tense / Of joy." That concept came to life several times over the course of the first season of JFC, but perhaps never more so than in this episode when Butchie (Brian Van Holt), Cissy (Rebecca De Mornay) and Shaun (Greyson Fletcher) leave the Snug Harbor Hotel together to help Mitch (Bruce Greenwood), who's back at the Yost house, levitating to the ceiling. As the three generations of Yosts climb into Cissy's car to drive away, John smiles and says, "Meet the Jetsons." John's recalling a moment from the show's first episode, after Butchie challenged his father, Mitch, to a fistfight and in anger said to John, "You want to meet a happy family, watch the Saturday morning cartoons, John. Meet the (darn) Jetsons." To which John replied, in his parrot-like fashion, "Meet the (darn) Jetsons." Here, eight days later, the meaning of that line has been reversed: Butchie is joining his mother and his son on a mission to help his father. And thus the future reinterprets the meaning of the past, and the pain of the past is converted into joy - or at least something approaching it. A Shepherd Without Crook or Understanding The scene in which Linc (Luke Perry), Jake (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and John (Austin Nichols) buy an El Camino from the Dealer (Peter Jason) at the Cherry Oldies car lot is probably the most important puzzle-solving moment of the season. It's not my place to provide a line-by-line interpretation, but I can say this: If you sensed that the car-buying sequence provides some clues about why John has come to Imperial Beach -- and about the show's fundamental cosmology and intent -- trust your instincts. Here's a transcript, with narrative from the original script: EXT. CHERRY OLDIES USED CAR SALES - DAY Linc and Jake and John with the owner/operator of Cherry Oldies Used Car Sales. The Dealer's appearance invokes P.T. Barnum's trustworthiness, and his manner Chicken Little's hurried angst -- DEALER: I feel that you boys are ready for this Camino .... LINC: (Includes Jake) Between the two of us we own more cars than you have on this lot. My guess is that your feeling's probably right. Linc meant to put the Dealer off his pitch and thereby abbreviate their business; instead the Dealer bridles -- DEALER: That's not what I mean by ready - number of vehicles owned. Jake and Linc tag-team their message of impatience -- JAKE: What do you mean, Pops? LINC: We got to, uh, boogie. The Dealer comes over their top -- DEALER: Oh, so I've got to know what I mean before I can have a feeling. Do I have to know that you'll understand me? Do you have to know you'll understand before you'll listen? Which appears to put Jake in a different, passive state -- DEALER (to Linc): Twenty-five cars between you -- you should've let me sit down before you told me. I got that many dealerships in each of that many sectors, and brands on god (darn) franchise. I've got to boogie, me. John indicates the Dealer, in whose rhythms and accents he reproaches Linc and Jake for their failure to take the Dealer's premise on its face -- JOHN: He feels you're ready for the Camino. Where Jake's gone, Linc has now gone too -- DEALER (to John) You're off-line now, Country. JOHN: I don't know Butchie instead. DEALER: (To Linc and Jake, re John) How's he for high-performance? And he ain't who's worst-underpowered. If the Dealer had suspenders he'd flex them to indicate who he means -- DEALER: Intrusions, evanescences - I'm a shepherd without crook or understanding. Fits and stops and starts. Waves and ripples and ramifications. Busted knee, mother-son handjob .... Christ, Jesus Christ Jesus Christ. The Dealer's tight smile is not fully persuasive -- DEALER: Crosses and shoulders to bear 'em. He smacks his hand on the El Camino -- DEALER: El Camino, fifteen thousand, as is. Linc and Jake have regained their faculties -- LINC: Is it gassed? JOHN: Darn-A right it's gassed Linc. As John puts on the counter the fifteen thousand dollars in hundred dollar bills which has materialized in his pocket the Dealer's stern gaze goes to Linc -- DEALER: You and your twenty-five cars. Circle and line on the wall, and zeros and god (darn) ones, is what to turn the both of your gifts to -- The Dealer's "both" appears to include Jake -- DEALER: -- and not one damn minute to waste. JOHN: Ragheads are going to get themselves eradicated. DEALER: (vigorously interrupting John) Country, I took you off-line. (calling off camera, re El Camino) Manuel, get a cage on this thing. John leans over the hood of the El Camino and employs the entirety of his wingspan to offer it a hug. Off which -- Why I Don't Come Up Here If Linc and Jake's encounter with the car dealer is pivotal for its code-cracking aspect, the season's most powerful emotional moment (to me, anyway), comes at the end of this episode, when Bill (Ed O'Neill) finally works up the nerve to return to his late wife's sick room. Bill's soliloquy contains one of Milch's trademark "watch what people do, not what they say" moments. "Safely returned, happy outcome," Bill says as he shares the good news with Lois that Shaun has come home. But listen to his voice and look at his face - he's clearly on the verge of breaking down from his continuing sadness and loneliness over the loss of his wife. It could be argued that Bill's final scene, in terms of its artistic import, is more representative than the car-lot scene in communicating the central point of JFC: to move viewers in ways that not only surprise, but also sometimes fail to rise to the level of consciousness. I know not everyone felt the same gut-punch that I did from Bill's speech or Zippy the parrot's sudden return, but if that scene got to you, ask yourself this: when's the last time you teared up because a bird flew in a window? The World's Best Skateboarder The red-shirted skateboarder who appears a few times toward the end of the episode is street-skating legend Rodney Mullen, who gets my vote as the best skateboarder in history. Today, in his early 40s, he still rides better than anyone. He's also without doubt the most kind-hearted skater I've ever met. I've known Rodney since he was a teenager, and I invited him to meet Milch last summer. At the time, we thought the John character might do some skateboarding in the show, and Rodney agreed to help train Austin Nichols, who plays John. Rodney and Milch hit it off, and Rodney ended coming in for several visits. It was a pretty big deal when he agreed to appear as a background skateboarder in the season finale, because Rodney almost never skates in public anymore. He prefers to ride in isolation around the streets of Los Angeles from midnight to daybreak. When he began performing tricks on the set in Imperial Beach, it nearly stopped production. His skateboard talents are otherworldy - combination ice skater, gymnast and punk - and people can't help but watch. While we were shooting the scene in which Bill is handcuffed, Paula Malcomson, who plays Jerri, stood transfixed by Rodney's skating. "When I watch him," she said, "I just feel so ... happy." The End is Near One of Milch's favorite themes, given voice throughout the first season of JFC, is that mankind's perceived differences and estrangements are both illusory and dangerous. He's particularly concerned about the way technological advances, in the form of 24-hour news channels and the Internet, have outstripped society's ability to deal rationally with the unsettling images that bombard it daily. Here's what he said in the writer's room about that subject during a brainstorming session last October: "What makes the danger of ethnic cleansing so much more acute in contemporary times, and one of the things I want to engage in this series, is the extent to which we now reside in virtual space, and the homicidal impulse that's generated by the violation of our virtual space. After the planes flew into the World Trade Center, we were subjected to the stimuli of those images in our virtual space over and over and over again. And because of the way we're set up physiologically, we experience those as continuous ongoing attacks. They predispose us to a violence toward the people whom we take as the perpetrators, because we can't individuate. And because of the way we receive information, we identify the attackers as Ragheads. Our willingness to respond in a genocidal fashion, I think, is not to be underestimated, and that's one of the reasons that this postulated force from elsewhere [John] has dispatched these various miracles - to arouse the recognition that the apocalypse is upon us." Before shooting the climactic Stinkweed "street fair" near the end of the episode, Milch gathered the entire crew together to explain how the scene, and especially Linc's speech, fit into that broader theme. Here's an excerpt: "Here's the thing. If you've (messed) up unremittingly for decades you wake up and you say to yourself, 'How the (heck) am I still alive? Don't they come and revoke the license at a certain point?' That's what the universe gives us every morning. No matter how far we have veered from reverence for the miraculous fact that we exist in a universe that we don't understand, every day we get a chance to start over... "John is the chance that the universe gives you every day. And commerce, in the form of Linc, has been persuaded to enlist itself in the service of a miracle. Now, Linc's going to think he's bull(wasting), because no one is ever sure of their sincerity. The only way that you demonstrate your sincerity is in action. Whatever Linc thinks he's doing, however uncertain he is, he has decided to take action and enlist Jake in protecting John's identity, so that the anxiety that people feel when they see a plane flying into a building, which makes them want to kill a stranger, doesn't happen to John. And the way that commerce is going to try to protect John is by saying, 'All these miracles that have been going on? It was all Stinkweed. It was all bull (waste). It was all commerce. It was a big (darn) promotion.' ... What we're seeing is the elaborate resourcefulness of commerce once it has devoted itself to attempting to protect the universe." http://www.hbo.com/johnfromcincinnati/inside/index.html?ntrack_para1=feat_sec1_title

I heard Melvin say in an WSSP interview a couple days ago something along the lines of expecting Parra to be a key contributor over the next couple months, so I think Parra is going to stay. My guess is that it comes down to Dessens being waived or Villanueva being sent down. It could be Spurling, but for the most part he has done a pretty good job. It could just come down to have much confidence they still have in Villanueva at the moment to get out of his pitching slump.

It sounds like it was more than just Estrada, "The skirmish happened at the end of a tunnel that connects the dugout to the home clubhouse and was captured by the Mets' television crew. It was a confusing jumble of players and coaches that apparently started with a confrontation involving Yost and catcher Johnny Estrada and continued between Yost and infielder Tony Graffanino. In both instances, other players and coaches, including pitching coach Mike Maddux and bench coach Dale Sveum, served as shields to keep things from escalating further." and "I think there was some frustration expressed on a number of different sides about our style of play and about the way we've been playing," the manager said. "We handled it and took care of it, like good teams do." Hopefully this gets the team going in the right direction. Maybe letting out some steam and frustrations is what this team needed.

A few of the names that Melvin considered when Yost was hired. Buck Showalter, who I believe is a former minor league teamate of Melvin. Ken Macha, who turned down the job, thus leading to Yost being hired. Jerry Narron, who I believe has a connection with Melvin during their days in Texas and I believe another minor league teamate of Melvin's.