Lil Dummy

"Ricky Bones is back in the league? And as a hitter?" Jim Rome always referred to Barry Bonds as Bones. I don't if it's a real nickname, or just a Rome thing, but either way, that wasn't a typo! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

On that note, what kind of a prospect is Blevins? I only saw the impressive ERA this year pitching for the Cubs A and AA teams, but that doesn't really tell the story...

This just in - the Brewers are in the middle of a pennant race. Give your ticket to somebody who cares about what's going on on the field, and sit in the parking lot with a bucket on your head and get tanked.

I still don't understand why he didn't drop the appeal when they started that four game set against the Nats before the break. After the Gints leave town, the Cubs have about 2 1/2 weeks of pretty tough games to play. They'll certainly miss him if he's sitting out right in the middle of that stretch.

"But having Graffanino hit for him and then having him sit Sunday seemed to have negated what confidence he might have gained in those two games." Yeah, pinch hitting Graffanino didn't work out at all. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

I think San Fran will split this series. Will be interesting to see if Bones can bop a few out of Wrigley, which would cause an insane media circus to descend on Milwaukee this weekend...

Here's to seeing anyone not named Weeks starting at second tonight. Preferably Counsell.

"As a long man, one of Carlos' roles is to eat innings in blowouts." True. And at the start of the season, I think we were all OK with that. But as the season has progressed, and CV has shown himself to be one of our most reliable pitchers, the idea of burning him up for the next 2-3 days with an extended outing in a blowout has lost a lot of its luster. It's a nice problem to have; I'm guessing you can count on one hand (and maybe on zero) the number of teams with a better long man than Villy has been over the first half this year. What to do about it? Paging Claudio Vargas....Claudio Vargas to the bullpen.... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

"Of course, the media is just going to give to the manager of year award to the manager of whichever team is over performing their expected performance the most." Bingo. Still, nice to see good pub about Milwaukee.

"And it doesn't compel competitors to say "good enough" in round 1 and try and save some for round 2." If it's like last year, they won't even be able to quit while they're ahead after Round 2. The "10th out" last year in the 2nd round was some sort of a moneyball, with every HR hit with it paying like $100k to charity. I guess Howard could have stopped after he wrapped up the spot in the finals, but he would have looked like a jerk. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Good grief, no Jenks today. Alright, if Ned has faith in the Gwynn/Gross combo, I'll give it a shot. Gabe Gross, you're my (replacement) pick to click today.

Good vibes today. Let's go into the break with a (one game) winning streak. I called for Mench on Friday and Fielder last night. Let's go for the triple crown: Jenkins with a big day at the plate today to key the offense.

Well, if that's our starting eight behind Soup, I guess I like the way the lineup is put together. Probably see Counsell tomorrow, then.

What do people think of Lilly and the Cubs vs. Van Benschoten and the Pirates? I've got no gut feeling at all here. Pittsburgh is playing well, whatever you think of their team, but V.B. didn't exactly blow me away when we saw him pitch. Would love to see the Pirates win this one, especially since I don't like their chances against Zambrano tomorrow.

The All-Star game is a lot of fun. I'll definitely watch.

Suppan hasn't looked that bad in his last couple of starts. Facing Simontacchi, one would hope he doesn't have to be perfect to get a win tonight. I miss power hitting Prince Fielder. How about he starts his warmup for the HR Derby by hitting a few bombs in this game?

Ahem.

"I'd say that it's beaten to death about as much as the phrase, 'I know it's a small sample but...'" Completely agree. Moving on. "He would have to perform well offensively for an extended period (200+ AB) before I'd readjust my personal opinion of him. Can you literally just not see Gwynn being able to do that?" Well, I can't see Gwynn getting 200+ AB this year, if that's what you're asking, so I'll live with the fact that you're not going to like him, regardless of what he does or doesn't do, until at least mid-2008. My goal is more modest - a simple cessation of posts about Gwynn's limitations. We all know. We all get it. It's beyond tedious at this point. "My post was prompted by you suggesting that Gwynn is being unjustly criticized on this board but we'll just have to ignore that fact. I think it's only fair for you to be able to call posters out without fear of having to actually justify your position." For the third or fourth time today, my point in the initial thread is that, regardless of what Gwynn does, he's going to take heat on a daily basis on this board. No other player (not even Turnbow!) gets this treatment. This much negative energy directed towards any player in a Milwaukee Brewer uniform, on a Brewer "fan" website, is both sad and embarrassing. The fact that Gwynn performed well enough over 49 games this year to get the callup from Melvin (a better judge of baseball talent than you or I by a longshot) makes it rather silly, to boot. That's all. If my fundamental point still eludes you, Russ, let's just agree to disagree.

You're listening to me Russ, but you're not hearing me. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Small sample size is real. Beaten to death on this site, but real nonetheless. My point is that, if Gwynn does return to Milwaukee, there is literally nothing he could do on the baseball diamond that would prohibit a series of critical posts about him. It's both sad, and bizarre. I don't know whether the kid has a future as an everyday player in the majors, a future as a utility outfielder, or no future at all, but if Melvin sees fit to call him up, that means he's the best man for the spot right now. Doug knows a thing or two about baseball. But listen. If you feel the need upon rumor of Gwynn's "cup of coffee" return to cover an injury, to repeatedly hammer home the point that he doesn't statistically project to be an everyday center fielder for Milwaukee, go with your gut.

Oh boy, here we go. IHere's a prediction. If Gwynn plays poorly, he will be roundly criticized on this board. If Gwynn plays well, the anti-Gwynn crowd will flood the board with pre-emptive posts about small sample size, etc..., and be completely dismissive of his good play. Sigh. Good luck, Tony.

Pittsburgh is going to beat Chicago tonight. Maholm is a good pitcher, and Marquis will take off the Superman cape from last weekend and crash back down to Earth against the pesky Pirate bats. So let it be written.

Take heart, Brewer fans. PNC Park is a disease for our beloved Crew, but playing the Nationals is going to be the cure. I haven't figured out the particulars yet, but I'd bet good money (as opposed to bad money) that Milwaukee wins 2 of 3 here, and takes at least a 4.5 game divisional lead into the Break. Based on the pitching matchups, tonight is probably the best bet for a loss - so if they pull it out, I'll get greedy and start thinking sweep. Having to start either Jenks or Gross against a lefty is nauseating - hope Ned goes w/ Jenks and plays Hart in center, before giving GG back to back starts on Saturday and Sunday. This has the feel of an "unlikely hero" game. I'll say Mench. Why not?

" Consider him to be day-to-day, but it looks like he may miss at least one or two games. " After a lefty tomorrow, the Nats are starting righties on Saturday and Sunday. Start Jenks tomorrow and play Hart in center. Start our man Gabe in center on Saturday and Sunday. If Hall isn't ready out of the break, then I'd say retroactively DL him and call up Gwynn for a week or so.

"Every fan seems to think only their team is streaky." I don't think that's true at all.

Banish Gorzo! Summon Prince!