Fatter than Joey

The new manager will likely bring in his own pitching coach.

I love the (for hunting) qualifier. Oh, I missed that. I thought we were robbing banks.

I heard the Remington 870 is a good value. 870s are great reliable guns -- I used them all the time as a kid.

FtJ, I've seen you express concern over Weeks' walk rate in a few different posts, and I don't really get the concern over it. I think there are 2 concepts that get interchanged in discussions about Weeks... 1.) Is Weeks a good 2b compared to his peers? -- I think that Weeks overall is probably at best a slightly below average 2b. I don't think he should be DFA'd -- but I think a competent GM, would be exploring upgrades either internally or externally for such a player. There was not one aspect of his game that was "significantly above average" offensively last year. 2.) Is Weeks improving? -- This concept gets intertwined with #1, as we can play a below average player today if we expect better things tomorrow. All of Weeks offensive stats declined in 2008. I expect BA to fluctuate from year to year, but I expect K and BB rates to remain constant. If a player dips down because his BA dropped, I can chalk that up to bad luck, etc... Weeks, SLG, BB% all dropped, in 2008, which makes me pessimistic about a significant improvement in 2009. Now, you are correct that Weeks's walk rate is good compared to other NL 2b, -- I have never said it wasn't. However, I was using it as a measure of Weeks's chances of improving. Of course, Weeks is among the bottom of all NL 2bs, in stats regarding hitting the baseball (BA, SLG) -- In short I think Weeks declining BB rate means he will have to improve on his ability to hit the ball, as I don't think pitchers are going to start walking him more -- the idea of Weeks needing to raise his BA doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy. Only one second baseman in baseball had a better walk rate than Weeks this year (Uggla). Fair enough -- Most starting NL 2bs though had better SLG and BA. Weeks OBP is driven by BBs -- when that declines you have problems. Seems strange to criticize or get concerned when his walk rate went from outstanding in 2007 to just very good in 2008. If Weeks is a .240 hitter, he needs to walk at a higher rate to remain a viable starting option.

Yeah -- I agreed with you for the most part -- I tweaked it when you were off.

Kendall - C. Crappy bat good glove Fielder - B. Weeks - C-. Terrible Defender, not getting walks. Hardy - A-. -- Really happy with JJ Hall - F. Oy. Braun - A-. Great D for LF, and solid year at the plate. Cameron - B-. Played a great CF. Hart - D+. Should have done more Bench - B-. Branyan, Kapler, Durham and Rivera probably could have been used better Sabathia - A+. Couldn't ask much more from him. Sheets - A. Solid year Parra - B. Very solid year from Parra, he unfortunately hit the innings wall. Bush - C+. Got Yosted with his demotion and silly home/away platoon. Suppan - D+. Suppan makes baby rabbits cry Bullpen - B-. When it sucked, it sucked. Yost - F. Why did he get to manage again this year? Overall - B. I am pretty happy with this season, had a blast watching -- Defense was too bad to give them an A. Homer -- F. His posting has regressed. He probably is a spambot.

St. Louis once had the advantage it no longer has of no teams to the South or West of it and consequently a vast fan base. This is my point -- almost all of the teams were large markets. There was 16 teams, spread over about 10 cities. I would love for you to show what teams had a market advantage and how they used it. If you could show me where the Yankees spent more money than other teams, I'd give the idea merit -- and of course you realize that the Yankees bought Ruth from Boston one of the 4 "large market" teams as defined by TLB.

The large markets always have & always will have a competitive advantage.... [by my count...] Of the 103 World Series that have been played since 1903, a team from New York, Boston, Los Angeles, or Chicago has won 47 times (Yankees alone account for 26). I am going to call you out on this statement -- 1.) I picked a random year 1917 --- 7 of 16 were from NY, CHI or BOS -- so it would be likely one of those teams would be in the playoffs. 2.) Philly was 2.5x larger than Boston, -- and Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis were bigger than Boston as well. Washington and Cincy were the only 2 cities not in the top ten for population to have MLB teams. I don't think there was anything as a "small market" team back then, thus no large market teams. 3.) I don't think you have any way of showing that the "market" of those teams gave any one a significant advantage. Free Agency really didn't hit the scene until 1976 or so.

FtJ, you know we're boys and all, but I'm pretty sure Junior Spivey is quite available right now if you'd like him back. My point regarding Spivey, was that at that point where Weeks replaced Spivey is when the expectations for Weeks went through the roof. While we traded Spivey for Ohka, when we needed pitching, it certainly did nothing but rise Weeks' stock. I don't think most fans recall that Weeks was a #2 draft pick -- unlike in the NBA and NFL where fans are more familiar with the draft. I clearly said that Weeks was cheap, and we didn't have any better options, Spivey included. Disappointing does not equal bad Improved does not equal good either. I'm still convinced that his breakout hitting season is coming next year or the year after that, and until it does, he just ain't killing the team like some around here seem to think. His numbers are decreased across the board. I don't see a lot of ceiling. I never said he is killing the team, only he could certainly be improved on.

I still don't understand why he's not tried in CF though. Agreed -- I could totally get behind trying Weeks out in CF. I would be borderline giddy if they tried it.

No way would I want to trade a guy, just entering the "prime years" of his career, for some guy in his early to mid-30s. I would. TGJ is entering the "prime years" of his career, I would trade his unlimited, -- nay, infinite unbounded potential for a more established presence -- I don't know why we couldn't sacrifice a little "potential" for something more guaranteed. Actually, if you combine major league and minor league numbers, Utley had 2039 ABs before he broke out. Weeks has had 2386 ABs in his career (majors and minors). Why would I want to do that? -- Weeks has had 1600 ML ABs, and his numbers declined this year across the board. I think if Weeks were to break out, I think he'd have done it by now. I don't know why we keep comparing to Weeks to Phillips and/or Utley -- First, (speaking offensively) Phillips is not that super, he hits a few more HRs -- but I don't think he is going to hit 30 jacks ever again, and I am not sure Weeks "improving to Phillips" is that exciting. Weeks is not anywhere near the player Utley is -- nor is he going to be. It is just as likely he could become Mark Bellhorn. That said, he is cheap, and the Brewers don't have a super sexy option to replace his matador defense, so I wouldn't want to DFA him.

At age 25, Chase Utley was a less-accomplished hitter than Rickie Weeks is now (Weeks was 25 this season), and then broke out at age 26. Utley had only ~500 ABs or so before he "broke out", Weeks has ~1675 -- I think this is an apples and oranges comparison. The number one goal is to get on base, something that Weeks excels at. Weeks does not "excel" at OBP, he was not in the top 40 of the NL, and was in the bottom half of NL 2bs -- I certainly agree that his striking out all the time gets overemphasized, but on the other hand his BB rate has decreased and that makes me very nervous. I think people really get hung up on the #2 pick thing... He is a cheap league average 2B right now with some upside, dont' really see a reason to give up on him. I disagree with the #2 thing -- I think once the Brewers ran Spivey out of town and put Weeks in the lineup -- that's when expectations went through the roof. I agree with the 2nd part of the statement though, he is below average overall with upside, and is cheap -- and the Brewers probably don't have an internal better option. I certainly would hope DM would look for upgrade options if they became available, but we probably have bigger problems to address.

White sox or Cardinals

My inlaws -- half past a bottle of Wild Turkey.... Some of the local corn mazes, are pretty fun -- for those with smaller kids. My wife and kids have a blast at those.

I am stunned to say the least. A rating difference of more than 2 to 1. 26 years vs a crappy packer team. Milwaukee area fans, can you clue me in to any possible reasons. This coming from the guy who has a Brewers logo photoshopped on a FB helmet? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif A lot of people hate baseball. Football is an easy sport to watch and understand. It requires zero attention span and no knowledge of the game or players in order to enjoy it. Baseball is an acquired taste. I don't think that this is a fair statement at all. In the last 15 years the Packers have had 11 playoff appearances and only one losing season -- they have done a far superior job in creating and maintaining their fanbase. I think the difference in a large part is solely in the success of the franchises. A lot of people keep forgetting that in 1982 when the Brewers went to the WS -- they had 4 years of 90 win baseball before that, so there was momentum heading into 1982 -- if the Brewers keep winning 90 games, in 4 years when the players are more familiar, etc... things will be a lot closer between the Packers and Brewers.

Cake is for dipwads. Pie is for kings.

Here's a question for debate. Since the trade essentially ended up Bush for Overbay, who got the better end of the deal? Who is more valuable, a league average position player or a league average starting pitcher? I don't think your question is a fair one. The Blue Jays have 4 above average starters in Burnett, Halladay, Litsch and Marcum, and they have a league average guy in McGowan as their #5. Pitching depth is cool and all of that -- but I think that Bush is way more valuable to the Brewers than he would be to the BJs. Overbay had no place on the Brewers with Prince coming up -- The BJs got a big upgrade over Hinske at 1b, and Overbay did very well in 2006. Both Overbay and Bush struggled in 2007. We didn't need Overbay, and the Jays didn't need Bush. We probably shouldn't have given up on Gross when we did. I think it was a sensible and effective (albeit not sexy) trade for both teams.

I don't believe there was any 2007 carryover. I think the one thing that did "carryover" was Yost's firing. I am sure the 2007 tankjob was the #1 reason for firing Yost as they did in 2008. A healthy Sheets and perhaps we split in Philly in games 1&2, and save CC for game 3. I think we limped into the playoffs weakly, and got handled in the same manner. 2008 gives us something to build on for sure.

Over the last two years, Bush's K rate has lowered and his walk rate has raised. He's Brewer property for 2 more years. No need to extend him. I agree with this - while I think Bush is solid, I am pretty sure he will always be a pitcher with his warts, and significant ones at that.

I think it should be rluz's new BF.net title Big Game Poster.

Can you explain the holidays thought? Obviously, they have any legal holiday off, do they have to make up that day? The PO operates on Sunday and holidays -- they may not actually deliver to houses -- but the sorting and transportation of mail happens behind the scenes.

Exactly OHP, plus I think DM could get offers from other teams -- Regardless of how it happens I am not sure that DM will be back in 2009 -- so it may be premature to expect urgency in hiring a manager.

If management decides to hire someone other than Sveum, they have the advantage of being the only team to be looking for a manager right now. No other team has fired their skipper. Not so fast. I don't think DM knows if he is even coming back. That is to say -- It's possible the Brewers may need to hire a GM first.

I think the odds of him staying are less than 50% I think they are more like 5%. I have always liked Mike Hargrove.

Do we bring Sveum back? No, and Hell NO. I think that MA will fire DM, or DM will resign, a new GM will come in, and regardless of their abilities, the whole coaching staff will be nuked (except for Bill Castro of course)