Pedro

Gagne. 1-0. Proving what I've learned in my time here: won-loss records are not the be-all-end-all.

wheee...I'm having chest pains and it's only game one

So they are not one in the same Pedro? Is he very different in a personal encounter then he is in the booth or on TV? Or have people just caught him on a bad day? I just don't know that he's all fun and giggles, like we get on air.

I did the on-deck event last year and came away with the same impression after getting a stock autographed photo. Maybe he was on the lookout for Ms. Ladd, maybe he is tired of being on the lookout for her and not enjoying the atmosphere anymore. I know he probably wants to get in another playoff atmosphere before calling it quits, but one has to wonder if he enjoys it anymore. I think we all like the Bob Uecker "character" better than we'd like the actual Bob Uecker person.

Just an update for anyone interested. I received a "save the date" postcard today from the Brewers stating that the season ticket holders' autograph session would take place on April 26th from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Miller Park. More details to follow the week of April 14th.

Gopher, how do you feel Melvin has done in supplementing the draft talent?

You're right, and I didn't mean to make it an all or nothing scenario in terms of the drafting (to be honest, I don't know enough about the structure, procedure and internal relationships to have a real idea of who should get credit -- obviously it's never just one person). I simply meant to group the players and look at in general terms. If anything, I was probably trying to isolate the trades and free agent moves.

After reading through numerous threads the past week, I've come to rethink my "In Doug (Melvin, that is) We Trust" mantra. Should we? Has he received more credit than he deserves based on results and the current roster? Nothing fancy here, I just broke the team down into acquisition groups: Draft - I give credit here to Jack Z (whom Melvin did not hire) and his staff Ben Sheets (actually before Jack Z), Manny Parra, Yovanni Gallardo, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy, Bill Hall, Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, Tony Gwynn Jr Free Agents Eric Gagne, David Riske, Jeff Suppan, Derrick Turnbow, Mike Rivera, Craig Counsell, Joe Dillon, Mike Cameron, Gabe Kapler Via Trade Dave Bush and Gabe Gross (Overbay), Seth McClung (Grant Balfour), Guillermo Mota (Johnny Estrada), Brian Shouse (Enrique Cruz), Salomon Torres (2 minor leaguers), Carlos Villanueva (Wayne Franklin) There is also the matter of Melvin hiring and keeping Ned Yost. The core of the team is obviously the draft choices, which I am (perhaps unfairly) not giving Melvin much credit for. Of the free agent signings, the biggies are Suppan, Gagne and Cameron. The Suppan signing doesn't get too much love here based on the dollars and length. Gagne and Cameron are to be determined, but overall the one-year commitments don't seem too terrible. Riske seems to be a nice signing, but again, he's yet to play for us. Turnbow is the "nugget" who has fallen on more difficult times. And I don't think there was a whole lot of great things to say about the Counsell deal. The best trade at this point is Villanueva for Franklin, so credit to Melvin there. Shouse has turned out well. Bush/Gross (and ZachJack) doesn't seem to be the haul most expected for Overbay, but such is life. Torress could turn out well or just become another "Meh" transaction. There were other trades along the way that - although no players are on the current roster -- have resulted in the Brewers having plenty of early draft picks in 2008. But, based on the current roster, do you think Melvin has held up his end in putting together a winning team? Or should he have done more/better? What is the overall role of the GM and where should we give credit. I'm still a Melvin fan, but....we'll, I'll admit I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'll have to give it some more thought and would like to hear other opinions and comments. (sorry for this poorly written post, but I'm also watching the Wisconsin/Davison game)

To those of you who won something, it's all been shipped out as of today (I still need to arrange card pickup for a couple of you). To everyone else who responded with such kind words in this thread...it's appreciated, but assuredly overblown.

Well, the first drawing selected datrain711, but since he can't make it the next random number pulled up twobrewers. Send me your address and I'll get the tickets in the mail.

Okay, one more. These are for two Club Level seats on Thursday April 10th vs. Red at 12:05 p.m. Row 1, Sec. 323 Down side: you have to sit next to me and my buddy. Up side: maybe I'll buy you a beer. If you've played this game before you know how it works: random drawing amongst all who respond to this thread. I'll do the drawing on 3/27.

I've got to say, I'm really disappointed in the brewerfan.net community's inability to make it stop snowing last Friday. So, it was back to a random drawing. And the winner is.....gypcasino. Send me your address gyp, and I'll get the tickets in the mail to you.

Let's try another game. Sorry, no Gehl Club this time. Two Club Box tickets, Sec. 315, Row 2. April 9th game Vs. Reds at 7:05 p.m. If you can make the snow stop, they're yours. If no one has that power, then I'll do a random drawing of everyone who replies to this thread; the drawing will be on Monday the 24th.

Okay, I ended up with two sets of two. So, I did one drawing for everyone that put their name in and one drawing for just those with 1,500+ posts (seemed like a good idea). And the winners are... Menotti80 endaround please send me a private message with your addresses and I'll get these in the mail.

Wow, this actually turned into work, figuring all this out. Anyhow, after many hours of thoughtful analysis, soul-searching, and random-number-generating, we have our winners: Melvin Ball - And That Eldred Ball - Patrickgpe Roberts Ball - molitor fan Driver Photos - mlcrispy, lukevan, big jase, brewcrewin2004, wesrob1, elcaballo45 Weeks Ball - brainsandbraun Gantner Ball - mikevan1818 Cooper Bobble - logan3825 Vuke Bobble - dlk9s Molitor Bobble - bullox Sheets Bobble - thablingster All Star Program - Hawing Leaf Baseball set - pitchleague (i'll mail) Football cards - TheBrewer Upper Deck cards - decktard Please send your addresses to my inbox. For the card winners, I hope you can pick them up (except for pitchleague, I'll mail his). And, while I mean to send these items out quickly, my track record has been pretty poor. It may take me a few weeks to get it out. I apologize in advance. Thanks for all the responses and helping me clear our room for more stuff. I hope to have more later in the year; perhaps a Hall of Fame special in August after I return from Cooperstown.

Okay, I'll end it here and figure everything out later this afternoon. Thanks for playing. edit: First, a little Rainbow Six Vegas 2, then, I promise, I'll sort the winners out.

FYI, I added a slightly dented 1975 All Star Game program.

The Melvin Ball is definitely yours. I mean, who else could I possible give it to, and that?

Mods...not sure if you want this in this forum or Trading Post. Please move if it's inappropriate here. I just wanted to make it available to those who don't normally visit that forum. Well, time for my annual spring cleaning...and here's what I've unearthed this year (so far) that I no longer need or have room for. Yes, it's free. No, there's no cost for shipping (with the possible exception of the baseball card sets, see below). If you're interested in any of this stuff, just reply in-thread. If there's multiple requests for a particular item...I'll probably do a random drawing for it, or figure something out in whatever manner suits my fancy at that time. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Here's what I have that I'll be happy to ship free of charge: Doug Melvin autographed baseball (I don't know why these keep turning up in my house) Cal Eldred autographed baseball HOF Pitcher Robin Roberts autographed baseball (for some reason, I got his signature twice when I was in Cooperstown) Donald Driver autographed photo Rickie Weeks autographed baseball (slightly faded) Jim Gantner autographed baseball (moderately faded) Cecil Cooper powder blue mini bobble Paul Molitor white mini bobble Pete Vuckovich white mini bobble 2005 Ben Sheets white bobble 1975 All Star game program (slight dent on the open side) I also have a bunch of relatively worthless baseball and football card sets (some in binder/sheets, some in boxes). I really don't want to pay to ship these suckers, but if you're in the area, perhaps you can pick them up. I'm not quite sure what to do with these, but I want 'em out of the house; if no one wants them I'll just take to Goodwill. Baseball Card sets 1992 Stadium Club Series 2 1991 Leaf 1990 Upper Deck 1991 Upper Deck 1992 Upper Deck Football Card sets 1991 Pro Set Platinum 1991 Upper Deck 1990 Pro Set 1989 Pro Set 1994 Fleer 1993 Playoff The cleaning continues, if I come across anything else I'll just add it to the list.

I know it's only March, but the weather's warming and I'm feeling slightly depressed from hearing Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)" while in the car today so I decided to do something positive: the first ticket giveaway of 2008. Two tickets to the Gehl Club for Saturday, April 5th (12:05 p.m.vs. Giants). Like last year, I'll do a random drawing from everyone who responds to this thread that can use the tickets. I may also have another set of two, but I won't know that for a little while yet. If I do, I'll just do another random drawing based off these responses. I'll do the drawing on March 21st. And, for anyone interested in other random stuff, keep an eye open for Pedro's 2nd Annual Spring Cleaning Giveaway (or whatever I called it last year).

My full season tickets showed up today.

Pedro Garcia. One of my first Brewer heroes. Don't let that .220 lifetime average fool you. He was 2nd in the 1973 AL Rookie of Year voting and eventually was traded for Gary Sutherland who promptly hit .217 and slugged .261 for the Brewers. Of these things are childhood memories made.

Inspired by the analysis of the merits (or lack thereof) of Nickelback's songs and lyrics in the "Why do most of you hate Nickelback" thread, I thought I'd start a separate topic on people's favorite song lyrics. I'll start with a real oldie: "I Wish I Were In Love Again." I've always appreciated the cynicism and wordplay of Lorenz Hart. The song is from 1937, but it still plays well (with the exception of the black eye reference...spouse abuse isn't quite so casually laughed at now). It's probably best known as a Sinatra song. Here's my favorite part: The furtive sigh the blackened eye, the words "I'll love you till the day I day" the self-deception the believes the lie I wish I were in love again! When love congeals it soon reveals the faint aroma of performing seals the double-crossing of a pair of heels. I wish I were in love again!

I'm heading down on March 3rd and will do my best to post some pics.

That's a reference to Jim Powell, I think it was 2 years ago, he accidentally said Hope Springs Attorney and he'll never live it down. I believe it was Kent Sommerfeld, the producer/engineer who said this, not Powell.