Fatter than Joey

No, I think it's all done except for the crying

Shane Victorino was thrown out today...from centerfield. He meant "ejected"

I'm on again tonight. 9:30 PM - 2:00 AM. where?

If you're going to keep ranting on this, prove it. I think he just went on ranting.

On a close call, umps are wrong almost every time. All 5 HR reviews have been changed. The umps are, simply put, embarrassing. C'mon Al, small sample. As for the coaching, it took 2 perfect throws to get him, fictionally. I have no problem with that. If you had to guess, how times out of 10 do you think Braun/Hardy get that throw to HP to gun out Counsell?

Joey, not sure what replay you saw but Counsell's foot clearly reached the plate before Rodriguez made the tag. I was watching Houston's feed -- He looked out to me. I'm not sure what I can tell you. The ump was not in position to make the call... I disagree. The ump clearly hustled out to get where he was supposed to be. I am sure that if you referred to the umpires manual, you would see he was right where he was supposed to be with a throw coming home from LF. He had to be on the 1st base side of Home, otherwise he could have been in the way of the throw. The most important thing the umpire has to see is the runner touching the plate. If he goes to far down 3rd base line, he can't see the runner touch HP, because the runner/catcher will block his view. It wasn't as if the ump never moved from back behind home plate -- I would love to get Luke's opinion, and I would certainly defer to him, as he would know better. El Caballo was out there in the corner in left, an argument could be made that it was worth the risk. I don't think Lee's arm has ever been questioned. He can be lazy, but I don't think he has a Juan Pierre popgun either. It took a great barehanded pick up by Lee, a great throw by Lee, and a terrific relay by Tejada to gun down Counsell. These guys are professionals. I thought the throws, while good, were somewhat routine. I think Braun/Hardy throw out Counsell 9 times out of ten on that play -- or really any LF/SS combination that doesn't flat out suck. It seems to me they should be setting up behind the right handed batters box, but for some reason they set up to the right of the left handed batters box. I think the umps have to do 2 things when that throw is coming in from LF. 1.) Stay clear of a throw, EDIT: I think as well, MLB positions the umps so that if they are looking at the plate, they don't have their back turned to where the throw was coming from. 2.) Be able to see the plate, I think if you were below the RH box, it is possible the catcher/runner would block your view of when/if the runner touches the plate -- even though you have a better view of the tag. On the replay last night you can clearly see that the umpire was completely blocked, and had no choice but to call him out. Agreed -- and I think this is the bottomline -- At some point MLB decided that setting the ump out where they do will give the ump the best chance for making the correct call -- however, there are just some plays where the ump is going to be blocked out. There is no magic position for the ump where they will see 100% of the plays. I think there was a play on Wednesday against LA where Counsell slid under a tag as well. Top of the 4th inning. Third out. Yeah, I thought Counsell was probably safe on that one. I think this is just a case of Joey disagreeing just to disagree. Dude, you asked for opinions -- not sure why you feel the need to get all Yosty. Frankly, your post was rather rantish, it wasn't airtight.

Maybe we can thank Parra for Fielder's improvement in that area. If that is true, that some huevos grandes.

Rock and BA sure made it seem as if Counsell was out at home by about 10 feet. Obviously, the ball beat him I got the impression Rock and BA weren't real thrilled with the send by Fischer. Obviously, the ball beat him but in my opinion it almost looked as if Counsell got under the tag. It was clear that the ball beat him -- Pudge had the plate blocked nicely as well. It looked like to me that Pudge tagged Counsell on the leg and then in the chest. I thought Counsell was out. Counsell probably didn't argue because he knows the drill....if the ball beats you there, you are an automatic out. Fielder didn't show any sort of emotion at all either after the call was made. I think both Counsell and Fielder knew he was out. It was still poor baserunning in that spot. I know I am splitting hairs, but Counsell was sent, I think he should have been held up though for sure. That's two runs just in the past week blown calls have cost us. Unacceptable. I am curious what other play you are referring to. As I stated above, I dont think last night's call was "blown" -- and frankly Counsell probably should not have been sent. I blame our windmill than I blame blue.

Don't forget the Choate

You have to like his 80% base stealing rate two years running. You can't steal first. OBP will dictate where he hits hopefully. I'd almost rather a great basestealer be in the 8th spot -- as they could get to 2nd/3rd w/o relying on the pitcher to get them over. Stealing 2nd with Braun/Prince up makes me nervous.

I wonder how much speed pays into it. Our pitchers throw slowly.

No We need better pitching.

Yeah -- I think the "Braun in RF talk" is primarily talk about "best option"

Did you guys know Junior Seau was the 3rd base ballboy?

Honestly, I think this could be as much of a distraction as it would be a "boost"

No way Kendall gets anywhere near $4m in an arbitration case. Sure there is.... If the Brewers offer $1M and Kendall Submits $4M -- Kendall will get $4M.

Where do they get replacement toes? Arkansas?

Now I'm really sorry I missed it. Not to belabor the point, but anyone who uses flatulence in a discussion to educate and inform, is bordering genius. It was beautiful while it lasted.

My first reaction was "I hope Cory finds his surgeon attractive"

I am virtually certain that it will not go down like it has in the past, i.e. everybody is offered arbitration, and only half a dozen or so guys accept because everybody figures they can do at least as well (and probably a lot better) on the open market as they can with the arbitrator. Agreed -- I think winter 2009, will be much like winter 2008 for FAs. I owe FTJ a coke Agreed.

I wish I knew what I missed. I think posters shouldn't presume to speak for others and posters shouldn't delete a good post based on one comment. The post discussed the effects on flatulence that an appendectomy has, among other things from a 1st hand point of view. It's up there with earwig awareness in my opinion.

The Brewers could offer Kendall $1m in arbitration to Kendall which he would reject and any team that would pick him up would net us a sandwich pick. If no one picks him up it doesn't really matter since Kendall would reject a low ball arbitration figure. This is NOT how Arby's works... Both Kendall and the Brewers submit a figure -- and the arbitrator picks one side or the other. If the Brewers offered $1M, the arbitrator would almost assuredly award Kendall the salary he submitted -- which could be in the $4-8M range. EDIT: When a player "rejects Arbys" -- they are not rejecting an actual monetary offer, they are rejecting the opportunity for an arbitrator to hear their case.

Ok, thanks. Actually, it was a pretty informative and not that long. Agreed -- I thought it was pertinent and well written.

I agree with this, greatly. I wonder if Manny is taking more care throwing what he is might like in certain situations more so? I've often wondered why catchers 'get' to tell the pitcher what to throw, anyway. I actually listened to a radio interview with Kendall -- and he basically said the catcher's role in calling a game is blown way out of proportion. He said that before a game the pitchers/catchers/coaches meet, review charts & films etc., and put together a game plan on how to approach the opposing hitters. It's not as if Kendall decides pitches on the fly during the game -- most of it is done before the game even started. I suspect that a variation may happen as a pitcher loses confidence in his ability to locate his breaking pitches, and perhaps wants to deviate from the "game plan".

Odd question, but for signings like the Molitor ones in Appleton/Madison in the coming weeks, they should have pens there for him to sign with, right (not just sharpies)? Or should I bring a blue pen just in case? I have been to a lot of the Madison signings -- they do a very good job keeping a variety of pens on supply, and generally they won't do crazy things like sign your baseball card with a paint pen, etc... That said, if you have a team photo, or something you want/need signed with a particular style of pen -- make sure you bring one. Also, make sure if you bring a new pen you "break it in", that is, scribble something on a piece of paper beforehand. -- sometimes, especially thin sharpies, can look sort of funky the first time they are used.