rickh150

At Maryvale Park Wed..... Saw a Brewers "practice" with about 25 other people. Cool! Sat front row....Talked to a few players(Lucroy, C. Gomez, Lind) after they finished hitting(by dugout), basically just said that I hope each had a good year. Each acknowledged my/our existence with a wave or "thanks"and moved on... Still cool,though. Other spectators did the same... A WI high school baseball coach talked to RR briefly too and got a nice response. Overall, a very small, laid back crowd... Strongly suggest going if you haven't. It's better than a Spring training game! Few thoughts from practice.... Braun hitting the ball HARD to all fields Gomez hit a few balls to left a ridiculous ways Ramirez looked slow, with his swing and in his walk RR had discussion with Gennett about his swing.... Something about a hitch in it is my guess based on RR body language in swinging motion. Maldy took a bunch of founders at 1B... Segura, speaking Spanish loudly with 3 or 4 other teammates, was the goofball joking and laughing a bunch today. He even took a few balls at 1B with Lind's lefthanded glove. First time I thought of why Jimenez, h. Gomez on the team.... Perhaps (partly) to keep a looser Segura in better frame of mind/more comfortable for improved play. Checked back fields.... Saw and heard Nelson talking with pitching coach. Oh yeah, Nelson wasn't doing the talking. Rather intense with occasional cursing... Not talking down, but pep talk to get him to "not make stuff up out there" and trust your stuff. He must have thrown a bit too, but didn't see it. Guys did about 20 min. of yoga to start practice.... Gennett didn't seem to follow instructors instructions much for some reason. Going again Friday!

I don't want the MOST out of Gomez, just his BEST. Being more disciplined on the bases(by now) shouldn't be optional. It should be expected and positive change should be seen yearly.

"What I don't think is going on is RRR saying lets not even try to lessen those instances of uncertainty. I have no doubt he talks over mistakes and works to reduce the number of uncertain times. Nor do I believe he would put up with a coach who had an unusually high number of those times." I have no info/proof/newspaper clippings to back any of this up..... What coaching is being done on the basepads? Anyone? Does anyone have an article with any Brewers coach over RR's time as manager discussing teaching tactics on the basepads? Sorry....Being aggressive can not be an answer. Specifics. I hear Schroeder talking about how a pitching coach or hitting coach helps a pitcher/hitter from time to time with a certain grip of the ball or changing the batting stance.... not a baserunner, however. Just be aggressive, right? What coaching is going into teaching guys how to run the bases with risk/reward in mind? Seems like we could have an article or fifty about this important issue when Hank THE DOG has had a few hundred. Since I presume there is none out there (or I would have read about it somewhere), I'll assume it isn't a priority in the organization. Easy to make that point and super sad to see idiots play the game the wrong way. Again, I am all for being aggressive on the bases when risk/reward is in our favor. Basically, I'm not for it in these situations: 1. making an out at 3b for the 1st or 3rd out 2. making an out at home for the first out 3. making an out on the bases when trailing big 4. making an out at 3rd on a routine grounder to SS 5. making an out on 1st, 2nd or 3rd on a liner, bunt pop up to an infielder (unless SB or hit/run called) Also, on a side note, I just talked to another Brewers fan.... I see him about twice a month. I asked him if he was watching many Brewers Cactus League games. He said, "Yeah, they haven't been winning much, have they?" I said, "Not yet." He finished the conversation with, " Yeah, and there baserunning is terrible!" To me it's been obvious.... the lack of smarts out there. I play in a co-ed league, and the worst teams in it do not make the mental mistakes like the Brewers do. Mind you, the Brewers play eight times more than we do and are three times as fast as most of us, but their aggressiveness which can be beneficial at times, often kills a rally and takes the air out of the sails of the entire club, especially when one of the Risk/Reward Rules are broken.

I'll repeat this thought again because the mental side of the game still hasn't been talked about by many on this thread, the team's media, or sadly the team's powers that be. The RISK/REWARD side of base running is rarely muttered in press conferences, tv broadcasts, radio broadcasts, or in print. At the most, a writer or reporter will talk about making a few too many outs on the bases. What is not mentioned is how moronic our decisions are at times, much more than the average team. There are times when it is smart to test the outfielder's arm, smart to not attempt a steal, smart to attempt a steal, smart not to try to go from 1st to 3rd, smart to try to go from 1st to 3rd, smart to get caught in a rundown between 1B and 2B to get that go-ahead run home, and smart not to do it when trailing by 5 in the 8th. A real education is needed for the entire Brewers organization and fans. I think Davey Nelson could handle a segment every series on how to run the bases effectively. Given a situation, he could quiz the players/fans on what could be done, should be done, or should definitely not be done.

I like Gomez..... He's a Brewer. I just think we'd be better if the energy as an organization was spent on being a smarter playing team with a low tolerance for dumb.... If that means the bench at times, sure..... Shake things up. How did the status quo work for us last year? No more always swing from the heals, over aggressive, "Happy"(in May, mind you), what will be will be, team. I realize this is an exaggeration to a point, but there are issues with our team's baseball IQ.

Many teams are less "tolerant"of mental mistakes than the Brewers, and yes it makes a difference in clubhouse moral, team chemistry, respect of the manager, and in the standings.

Scorekeeper Called Defensive errors and mental errors are different to me and I'm not as critical with called errors. Called errors happen. Mental errors like throwing to the wrong base, missing the cutoff man, FORGETTING how many outs there are in an inning (Reynolds), getting chucked at THIRD on a single to left on OPening Day (Gomez), swinging yourself into the ground when contact would do in a situation, etc..... They bother me and they should bother more fans. Even more, the "agressive > wise" philosophy being pushed (management and players talk all the time about aggressiveness, not smart baseball) and bragged about by questionable decision makers is beyond foolish. For the "Gomez can do no wrong supporters (as long as he hits, that is)", "hear no evil, see no evil."

Great teams have a discipline about them. They aren't going to beat themselves often. The Brewers, over the last two or three years, have beaten themselves too often/more than their fair share, in my opinion. Is this the reason they missed the playoffs? Maybe! Yes, maybe. Although the offense was bad, the poor decisions made in the field and especially on the bases were bad too. Good baserunning and decision making could have won them a few more close games and could have changed momentum down the stretch. No question about that. All teams make boneheaded plays. However, when this team makes boneheaded plays, the top bonehead brags about how hard he plays, the manager champions aggressiveness, and the wrong message is sent to the rest of the team......play hard and take chances in the name of being aggressive. Now let's get to the nuts and bolts here... RR doesn't want Gomez upset with him. He won't say ANYTHING negative about him regardless of what he does. He could run the bases backwards from 3rd to 1st and he'd say how hard he ran, how he has a great energy. He might tell him privately that is unacceptable, but it's simply a slap on the wrist, like a lax teacher who lets the class clown do what he wants. Just put him in the lineup and let him play, right? I wonder if this would be an issue if Bo Ryan ran the show in Milwaukee, or Alvarez? I doubt it. Righteous anger (and the bench) has its place and they both know/knew how to use it. Most of you parents, teachers, and coaches know what I mean. I simply don't see RR going to the emotional level that would be needed to challenge/change Gomez and his careless decisions. Here's another classic from Gomez, complaining about Braun when he, Gomez, was chucked at 3rd on the 3rd out..... http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/carlos-gomez-questions-ryan-braun-after-baserunning-gaffe-costs-brewers-run-173357949.html Gomez's decision, alone, could have cost the Brewers that game. Yet, does he regret the decision? No! He'd try it again! How doesn't he realize the risk/reward part of the game here! Moreover, he blames a teammate, another team leader nonetheless, for not hustling home when it was ENTIRELY his fault! I agree with the commentary of the last paragraph in the article wholeheartedly. Here's hoping that Gomez and the rest of the Brewers start learning more about important baseball risk/reward decisions soon and start keeping their mouths shut about their superior aggressive play.

"Ron changed my career when he turned me loose," Gomez said. "He likes us to play like that 162 games. These guys run. If you are consistent with it, guys in the field feel the pressure. They'll try to be too quick sometimes and make errors. "For me, it's the way I do things. I can't slow down. It's me -- in the outfield, on the bases, at the plate. My kid [Yandel] is only 5 years old, and he's already just like me." - Gomez Huge issues with his statements.... foolishness to me to be proud of his moronic aggressiveness, an obvious weakness to the common observer. Being aggressive is great. Being over-aggressive and needlesslly careless is dumb baseball. As a team leader, to say these things proudly, undermining the whole team culture.............. beyond dumb. Ever hear these things out of Giants or Cardinals camp????

"He's crazy out there, running into walls, stealing bases. And he can throw."-RR True on all fronts.... crazy with needlessly throwing his body around (sometimes), crazy with stealing attempts (when the risk of an out is too much), and crazy when and where he throws the ball (air mail).

I've been reading http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/111633252/lyle-spencer-carlos-gomez-embodies-all-out-mindset-of-brewers] and the dialogue of these undisciplined, I'm sorry, morons of players talk nonsense is too much. What's more is that RR, the MANAGER, fans the flame. Now, I've been stressing this topic of stupidness for the last couple of years... Simply put, it seems to not be gaining enough traction with fans or management of this team. I'm not talking about skill or physical talent. I'm talking about unforced errors- not making the common sense plays that any co-ed softball team makes routinely. Now, I'm a huge fan of the team.... Go to a bunch of games, heading to spring training, read a lot o Brewers news/ quotes and watch listen to almost all games. I AM NOT over reacting here. I'm calm and not upset with any recent results of any game. Simply put, the organization is missing the mark on what needs to be talked about and emphasized this season- wise decisions of Brewer players when playing the game of baseball. A huge problem.... HUGE.... Is that our players make too many mindless plays in the field and run into too many needless outs on the bases. Being aggressive is one thing, and playing DUMB is another. There is time for trying to get that extra base (even if thrown out) and time when it is not worth the risk; a time when to chuck the guy at home and to lob it to 2b to keep the runner at first. Sad to say, a couple key Brewers players are too dumb to know the difference. What's more is they talk so boastfully about being aggressive in the field or on the bases to gain a few victories over the course of a season. What I saw last year was the opposite, losing a few games on needless running errors or (Gomez) air mailing a throw home. How many times last year did guys get thrown out at 3B on a routine grounder to SS?...... Thrown out at 3rd or home for out 1?.... Caught stealing 3B (on their own) for out 3?.....Gomez chucking it over every infielder's head to try to get an out at home that simply isn't there, guy goes to 2B.Really, Gomez makes a dumb play every other day.... If we count over swinging, it's very day. What is even more OUTRAGEOUS to me is the lack of talk from RR lips about how stupid his team plays at times. Call a spade a spade, dude! When are you going to clean this up? Pull a guy from a game, bench him to make a point, go nuts (there is a time for it, Ron) in a team meeting on stupidness, trade a player, praise a player for making a WISE DECISION publicly, not just an aggressive one. You are the manager. Your fault that this goes on! Don't tell me "That's Gomey". All I hear is "Not my Problem..... Can't change my star!" I can stomach losing games for lack of talent. I cannot stomach losses for stupidness and passive managing problem areas.... Even more I vomit on top players' and manager's bragging attitudes of a perceived strength (aggressiveness) when it's a weakness (stupidness) holding back the team. FED UP!

Going May 1......... Got upper deck seats behind the plate on StubHub for $24. Pumped. Any word on northern suburb places that I can park and take a shuttle to Wrigley?

Not a fan of mark a overstepping Doug's turf....... Give Boras Doug's number and stay out of it....definitely not the packer way; more like the cowboy or redskin way

Parking up a couple bucks.... $11 advanced general $12 day of gen (m-f) $15 day of gen (sat-sun,OD) $16 advanced pref $20 day of gen (m-f) $25 day of gen (sat- sun, OD)

On spring madness seats for first weekend games, advanced general parking is $11.

Any word on prices for 2015? On the brewers site under Weather Day, they have advanced general parking at $11 and advanced preferred at $16, both increases I believe.

Brewecrewdude, I'm ok with about everything you said, including your comments about Taylor. However, Playing Arcia daily at the major league level, now, would have us yearning for Betancourt to spell him. Very intriguing thoughts, however.... It should be a very interesting hot stove week.

I'm as conservative as they come, and I like Melvin and Roenicke alright. I was as disappointed as anyone about the Brewers collapse last year, yet I saw some wisdom in keeping DM and RR together. "Let's not overact here" seems to be our battle cry right this winter. Our GM basically said the same that we're set at almost every position with about all players back from last year's team, a team that would have been in the playoffs with an average year from Ryan Braun. That being said, we are in serious trouble if we stand put and pat just a year later. A mild upgrade at 1B and a huge question mark in the pen and at closer do not put my mind at ease. Asking Lucroy to have a similar year and any more from ARam than last year seems to be a stretch. We're due for major pitching injuries to pop up in our starting rotation, as well, in terms of law of averages. Our staff besides Peralta seems fairly average at best (definitely not bad, though) with some of our guys trending down on the back half of their careers. I'd like to say that we have the spitfire to overcome some of these possible situations, but I really didn't see that down the stretch last year. We played hard and tried hard, but I didn't see the anger or bitter attitudes that guys naturally should have if they truly believe they belong in the playoffs and are outed by inferior opponents. Guys seemed more depressed and sullen. Some groups just don't have that collective fire; we've probably all been a part of groups or teams that just didn't gel/communicate/inspire/like/motivate well together. It happens. Thus, the puzzle should be blown up a bit to help the present and future... I'd start with.... 1. Shopping Gomez and a SP for a couple of good young pieces if available (we can't afford to re-up Gomez AND Lucroy anyway, right? The Parra trade and re-upping with him this year, along with the Brewers best prospect being a CF, is hinting that Melvin could pull off a big deal this off-season) 2. Getting a couple spare part contact players who can drop down a bun and/or steal a base 3. Focusing on getting smarter on the basepads (Please, oh please, no Gomez in the leadoff spot) 4. Signing veteran Toritani to shore up our left side of the infield, allowing Segura to play some 2nd or ARam to play some 1B. Is Melvin truly ok with being set and merely listening to offers or is Melvin doing his typical low bar thing of setting Brewers fans up to be blown away by a trade or FA signing? We'll see.

With ARam gone in a year and with Segura struggling, I'd like to see the Brewers show interest in getting a steady glove and bat on the left side of the infield this year. Segura could play some 2nd base for Gennett, as well, this year. We'd be somewhat covered in 2016 at SS and 3rd.

Van Slyke for who?

Although I'm not a big "no managerial experience is a good thing"guy, I'm happy for Paul. He is the smartest ball player I ever watched and know some of it translates to the dugout. He ran the bases so well! I still can't get over it. And bunted for hits when a sacrifice was his backup plan . Out hustled lazy talent. Hard-nosed, clutch. Yet common and personable with charm. So glad he was (and is) a Brewer....A true ball player with experience on winners and perennial losers. This will serve him well as he begins his managerial career. Hoping he does well so we can meet him (and beat him) in the World Series soon.

Give Yost credit. He set that bullpen up and switched lineup in Sept. to get them in the playoffs and advance. Still, as of now, we didn't lose the trade. Knowing what we know now about Cain and Escobar, I think we still would have made the trade to try and win it all with Greinke in 2011 and 2012. If KC wins the World Series, and Escobar or Cain (or Shields ala Odorizzi trade) play very well, then KC wins the trade. Cain and Escobar are hot now, playing well. I just see them as slightly above average players though, not stars. That pitching, particularly the relievers, are the stars of that team and got them to the World Series.

Brewers officials no sure what to do this offseason.... like Attanasio said, "We're not at a crossroads, we can take take two paths." That being, one path is to come back with this veteran club, add an old first baseman, a new bench and a few new bullpen guys. The other is to back off, trade a few pieces for younger talent, and shoot for the playoffs in a year or three. As said other places, the Brewers are seeing what fans are thinking.... http://www.brewcrewball.com/2014/10/15/6982697/brewers-survey-fans My take..... They don't know what to do and what ramifications will happen when they ultimately choose one of two paths. I'd rather take a different path than those two.... We could trade a SP and Gomez/Davis for something good now- a young 1B or 3B Let Nelson be the 5 Play Parra in the OF and/or get Aoki back to leadoff Start ARAM (if he's back) at 1B to save his legs If the Brewers choose to stand pat, I see this as not a good sign for the season, both on the field and off. This chemistry of players was terrible down the stretch and when they struggle next season, it's going to be even tougher to bounce back with all this year's baggage around their necks. Also, standing pat is not going to get people in the seats early in the season. Going the other way and trading off players willy nilly won't get fans in the seats either, although that is probably the way they should go. Yet, the 3rd path, a good trade or two could keep us competitive for a playoff birth, make us younger and better in two or three years, and get the fans excitement up again.

Retool? Obvious? What does that mean exactly? We want the playoffs certainly next year. With or without Gomez, that's a different question. If/when we lose ARam in a month, we have huge holes at 3B and 1B. Do we really want costly, aging FA players to fill these spots? If you say yes, are you prepared to pay over their prime players big money on 3 to 5 year contracts that would hamstring us later? Trading Gomez and either Lohse/Gallardo to fill gaping holes at 3B and/or 1B (and/or young pitching) short term and long term looks better to me. Maybe nothing is out there to get at the corners. We should see first. Finally, I disagree about the return after 2015. Gomez, with two very salary friendly contract years, could be dealt to any team on the market this offseason. Next year, only the big boys would be in on him in hopes of resigning him to a bigger deal. Small markets would be scared away, having to give up a bunch for just one year. We'd also be risking Gomez getting hurt or having a down year in 2015, both very real possibilities considering his wrist and his mediocre 2nd half.

Why? 1. Primarily, we can get more for him now, rather than next year, his last 2. Are we really going to pay him Braun money to keep him from 2017-2022? 3. We sorta have the OF covered for the short term (Parra, Davis, Braun) and long term (Coulter, Taylor, Harrison, Braun, Davis) 4. We could get younger and smarter 5. We could fill a hole or hole at 1B and/or 3B Always, it depends on what teams are offering in return, but we should be aggressively looking to trade a unique talent in Carlos Gomez for the betterment of our club.