Fatter than Joey

What sort of weight does a GM vote hold anyway? I assume the owner vote is the one that actually matters.

I don't see any reason why you can't review whether a ball is caught or trapped by an outfielder, or whether a runner touches home before a tag is applied. Well it is impossible to undo the action that happens if an umpire calls a trapped ball a caught one. If a runner got picked off w/o tagging on a ball such as that, you would have to rework all of that stuff as well.

At what point is something opinion vs. fact? Just throwing that out there for argument's sake. Yeah -- I think this is where the rub actually happens -- It's not the first post, but the secondary level of posts that oftentimes are way to strong and oftentimes opinion is presented as fact. I hate Jim for pointing out he's older then me. Much, much older. I would think you would hate him more for being much better looking.

First off -- I am hoping we can get past the whole "elitist" angle of this thread. Mass Haas is not only (IMO) the most important contributor on this site, he seems to me to be one of the site's nicest guys. Even if you really think that this original post is elitist, if one person deserves the benefit of the doubt, or should get a free pass its Mass Haas. It's the beginning of the "trade rumor season" and I think it is certainly reasonable to suggest at this point that everyone make their best effort, do some research, etc... Where the "elitist" talk has a lot of grab, is in the secondary level of posts where some posters seem to feel the need that every trade proposal needs their stamp of approval. If you find a trade proposal to be ludicrous or unlikely, I don't understand why it just can't be ignored, if no one posts on a thread, it will fall by the wayside -- and sometimes remember that life can be stranger than fiction.

Then, and this is the biggest thing, IMO, the thread just turns into "that's ridiculously stupid" and is a waste of space. I agree however, maybe the "that's ridiculously stupid" crowd should practice a little more discretion.

I don't see why it's our business on what happens behind closed doors with Cecil and Prince nor do I think we should lose any sleep over it or keep talking about it when it's obvious that Prince doesn't want to. I agree with the original poster. Unfortunately, Cecil v. Price is far from a private affair -- Whoever is at fault, I really hope that they resolve things -- I don't want the Brewers first playoff appearance in 2009 to be marred with stories about how Cecil can't get tickets to Miller Park. You can't compare Ned to perfection. Sure you can -- you can't expect perfection, but you can compare Ned to perfection. Mathematically speaking... LaRussa > Perfection > Pinella > Tic Tac Toe Playing Chicken > Color Me Badd > Head of Lettuce > Ned Yost > Kevin Costner. My #1 pick Moresoe than firing Yost, would be moving Braun and Weeks out of the infield.

FTJ, some of the worst kind of spam simply produces more spam if you unsubscribe. Right -- however he should be able to PM brewcrewreview and have take him off the list

can't you ask to get off the list?

Isn't that important Russ? I think what Russ means, is that they shouldn't be used as a tool to measure future performance -- of course they will have an impact.

Isn't that important Russ? I think what Russ means, is that they shouldn't be used as a tool to measure future performance -- of course they will have an impact.

how are the rankings created? They have been around for along time -- I think since after the 1981 strike. I am pretty sure that they don't take into account all of the advances in the last 25+ years. All I can say is that the owners and players had to agree on them so someone knows how they are generated. Interestingly 24 Troy Tulowitzki 67.033 B 47t Ryan Braun 49.714 (SS's and 3bs are ranked together with 2bs)

how are the rankings created? They have been around for along time -- I think since after the 1981 strike. I am pretty sure that they don't take into account all of the advances in the last 25+ years. All I can say is that the owners and players had to agree on them so someone knows how they are generated. Interestingly 24 Troy Tulowitzki 67.033 B 47t Ryan Braun 49.714 (SS's and 3bs are ranked together with 2bs)

wow -- Jenks missed the "B" cut by one dude -- Graffy is a B 35t Tony Graffanino 55.952 B 35t Rickie Weeks 55.952 B They are the bottom of the B's Miller, King and Koskie miss the B's

wow -- Jenks missed the "B" cut by one dude -- Graffy is a B 35t Tony Graffanino 55.952 B 35t Rickie Weeks 55.952 B They are the bottom of the B's Miller, King and Koskie miss the B's

I don't care for Bill -- however -- I am not sure that he needs to go or anything. I can ignore him easily enough. I'd probably lean towards keeping him.

you're right -- my bad.--

Wouldn't the network showing baseball even try to schedule a WS game at the same time as MNF? Well the difference is, is that MNF is not a network show any longer. There was a WS game on Sunday when NBC had their game on. I even noticed that my wife's show Desperate Housewives ran against the WS. You never see though new programming on the networks during March Madness, or in the NCAA bowl season. I think TV people are embracing the fact that FB > MLB (probably both NCAA and NFL)

So, I am genuinely curious as to where you see more strategy with the DH. Well generally speaking -- the "NL strategy" doesn't come into play until the late innings, seventh through 9th. In today's game you are going to see 3 types of relievers -- the LOOGY, ROOGY, setup and closer. A lot of pitchers get removed because of matchups, or are only going to be allowed to pitch one IP-- this happens in both leagues -- Ray King comes in, to face a guy, and then gets the hook because a RHer comes up (if Yost isn't managing). Specialists do not get removed because their spot in the lineup has come up, they get the hook because of matchups -- Generally speaking setup guys/closers are going to only pitch one inning, so they are going to get the hook, after getting an inning pitched regardless of where their spot in the lineup is. If a home team is leading in the 7th -- they bring in setup guys and do a double-switch and that spot in the lineup is not even likely to come up. I just don't see the double-switch as some wonderful crazy strategy. At some point managers in the NL run out of pitchers and batters, so you get stuck with pitchers batting in extra inning games (often) Now on the other hand.... So basically in innings 1 through 6, you have automatic outs, and guys like Craig Counsell getting IBBs because they are batting 8th -- I just fail to see it as interesting baseball -- Making a pitcher deal with a David Ortiz/Edgar Martinez/Paul Molitor/ -- and moving Craig Counsell to the 9th spot, means there are more interesting pitcher/batter matchups -- and that is the strategy I find interesting -- Pitcher v. Batter rather than Manager v. Manager. I would rather watch a top flight pitcher like Jake Peavey square off against David Ortiz 3 times than seeing a double switch in the 7th inning. That said -- I have no interest that the DH comes to the NL, and I have no interest in the AL losing the DH. I certainly understand that this is my preference, and different strokes for different folks... No strategy and if a player can only hit, but not field, he is not a baseball player... he is just a hitter. I disagree -- with the strategy part -- but I have found the other part of this argument a bit flimsy -- There are plenty of relief pitchers in the NL -- who will never see the plate -- likewise there are a lot of pinch hitters that have ended their careers (Thad Bosley, Rusty Staub, Manny Mota) going up to the plate in the NL pinch-hitting for a pitcher and returning to the bench -- In 1983 Rusty Staub batted in 104 games but only took the field in 10.

The stat that blows me away is the Counsell numbers for 2008 -- Apparently Counsell is going to get a lot of ABs in 2008.

NEw #B coach..Dale Sveum. Ted Simmons becomes Bench coach. I just can't imagine Simmons as a traveling coach -- certainly he could help out.

Yost was foolish Prince got Yosted

Chase Utley.

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. If we take DM at his word -- the Brewers are lacking a coach that can help the vets. I assume that Maddux and Castro fill the role for the pitchers -- the curious thing to me, is that we really don't have any vets, that aren't platoon/role players -- with the possible exception of Estrada. Plus if Jenks/Mench are jettisoned then who is this guy supposed to coach -- Craig Counsell? It seems like "3rd base philosophies" have nothing to do with the hiring -- and perhaps the way it should be, and really they are hiring a coach more for non-gameday services. The question I have is, why can't Dale Sveum fill this role? -- He has been in baseball for the last 25 years, has been a manager -- coached for the WS Red Sox, etc. Like others have said -- It is nothing to lose sleep over, but it is a bit curious.

Besides - it's harder for an idiot manager to screw up, that's especially relevant as a Brewers fan. Yeah -- Ultimately though -- I have always felt that there is more overall strategy when you don't have automatic outs in your lineup.

Who has the ultimate decision-making power on coaching staffs, though? I suspect with Ned's short leash, he may have less decision in this. I'd rather have Narron getting cleaned out than someone like Jennings or Driver. EDIT: Oops watching pre-game -- should have been "Money or Kremblas"