Fatter than Joey

Sonnet to the Brewer Fan by Ned Yost (with apologies to E.B. Browning) How do I Yost thee? Let me count the ways. I Yost thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when falling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I Yost thee pitching Cordero everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and ballpark-light. I Yost thee freely, as Mench bats v. Right; I Yost thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I Yost thee with Craig Counsell put to use In my old griefs, and without the fanbase's faith. I Yost thee with a Yost I never seem to lose With my lost games, --- I Yost thee with the breath, Smirky grins, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but Yost thee better after death.

It's probably a zoo postcard.

where's the tiger's reflection? -- I think if EDR would have taken that picture he would have gotten the tiger's reflection as well.

Has anyone ever won ROY and MVP in back to back seasons? Fred Lynn did it in the same year. Moving Braun off of 3b makes him a much better option for winning the award -- that is for certain -- there is no way a guy playing D as bad as he did last year wins the MVP. I certainly don't think he will win it easily, nor do I think he is any sort of favorite to win it.

I really wish the Brewers had signed him for 2 years and 16 million dollars. I don't think Gagne gave the Brewers an option to sign him for 2 years (unless it would have for $20M+). In all likelihood we will have Gagne for one year. If he is awesome, he will get more than Cordero this offseason, if he sucks then we won't want him. I am pretty sure Gagne wants 2008 to set up a fat multi-year deal in 2009. That said, I am content with DM signing EG to a 1yr deal.

I really wish the Brewers had signed him for 2 years and 16 million dollars. I don't think Gagne gave the Brewers an option to sign him for 2 years (unless it would have for $20M+). In all likelihood we will have Gagne for one year. If he is awesome, he will more than Cordero this offseason, if he sucks then we won't want him. I am pretty sure Gagne wants 2008 to set up a fat multi-year deal in 2009. That said, I am content with DM signing EG to a 1yr deal.

Go see a Dr.

Ben Sheets's #1 guilty pleasure -- Mimes in a box.

Has any team had two 30/30 guys in the same year? I know the mid-80s Mets did with Strawberry & HoJo -- and I thought the Rockies did with Walker & Bichette.

Melvin spent a lot of money on a suspect bullpen, though, so that's a check mark against him, IMO. Agreed. I really liked the signing of Riske -- but I think Mota/Torres and Gagne were all rolls of the dice. Moving Braun off of 3b was epic. I think Yost should have been fired. I think he is at a "C" -- and that grade could go up or down by a full letter depending how the BP pans out.

I dislike you, because homer is influential and I am easily swayed by his arguments.

Cappy --I really like him, and hate to see the amount of crap he gets when the Brewers lose.

FtJ, each of Weeks, Hart, & Braun have sustained SB success rates north of 75% prior to, and basically including MLB. Not sure where the super-skepticism comes from. I think the Brewers, given their lineup, need to be north of 75% for stealing bases to be a worthwhile endeavor. You have to make bad Cs pay No you don't. It's like saying a pitcher that can't field the bunt well needs to be taken to task, or if the 3b is playing really deep, we should start laying down bunts. I am all for stealing in certain situations, but overall to me it's just like bunting -- a bad risk/reward proposition. if you are smart about stealing bases it is a valid tool Ned says hi! When we play games at say san diego where you can't hit the HR's and their C's can't throw guys out you have to be aggressive on the bases. We only will play 3-4 games at Petco this year, and the Padres won 89 games last year, if their C was such a liability, I doubt they would have been 15 games over .500. Guys like Braun/Hart can get from 1st to 3rd pretty well, I fail to see where trying to get more out of Braun's speed is worthwhile. All I am really saying, is that I hope Yost doesn't start putting lineups together that "allow Braun to run more" or anyone for that matter. When guys like Braun/Prince/Hart are at the plate, I am pretty AOK with no movement on the basepaths. Right, I just don't think moving your line up to get what is likely your 4th best basestealer (after Weeks, Hart, and Cameron) more opportunities makes much sense. I like Braun 2nd if Yost won't hit and run. I guess I don't trust him on that given he likes using it so much. I agree with this sentiment. As far as Kendall batting 9th, I think it makes a ton of sense when Yo is pitching. I have always thought it made some sense.

They toss one cigarette overboard to make the boat a cigarette lighter. It's a play on words. Well done!

One of the men is wearing glasses. He takes off his glasses, puts a drop of water on the lense to act as a magnifier and uses the sun's glare to create fire. Nope One of them has a lighter. you're on the right track, but they have nothing in the boat but three cigs. (think more wordplay, less survivorman)

I'm all for them stealing. As long as you're getting caught less than or equal to one of four times, groovy. I'm all for starting TGJ in CF if he hits HRs every time at bat http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif -- I just don't think it is likely. Outside of situational circumstances, the idea of Braun, Weeks and whomever else running, does not seem like a great risk/reward payoff. I think 66% is sort of the accepted break-even point for the average MLB team when they attempt to steal -- given the Brewers bats, I'd bet the success rate probably needs to be over 80% for it to make sense. I hope Yost doesn't set up lineups to maximize SBs.

2 men in a boat with 3 cigarettes and no matches -- how do they manage to smoke?

For those worried about getting Weeks and Braun stealing opportunities (I couldn't care less), I could, in that I would rather see them not steal.

Awesome -- I hope Madison has one

Hitting Braun 2nd means less opportunities for Weeks to steal. Trading opportunities for Weeks to give Braun more opportunities makes little sense. Now if Yost is going to throw out the steal, fine, but thats not his stated reason. And if this would cause him to hit and run with Braun..... Hitting and running with Braun at the plate.... I generally oppose the use of tasers, but if the Brewers start trying to "manufacturing" runs I am going to send Ted Simmons a taser for the dugout -- for entertainment purposes only, of course.

How did this go?

How did this go?

How did this go?

well -- I think it is a repeat offense -- I think he was on some sort of probation Indiana knew that this could happen

I was at that signing. My son said something to him that made him laugh -- and Russ said something to the effect of, "I like your kid" I wish I could claim that I only said "If it will make you happy you can keep him" in my head...