JJHardy7

This thread seems to get rejuvenated everyday? Your negative thoughts get rejuvenated every day around here. I enjoy most of your posts, but IMO they've been quite negative since the slide.

Supply is a bit low because of Ike, and GA has precise requirements, so replacing it involves, literally, making a "special batch". Is Wisconsin out of gas? I don't think hurricane Ike has all that much to do with this as it does people freaking out and filling every vehicle and all gas tanks. GA might have their own thing, but people in the south freak out about this stuff IMO.

I've seen Escobar quite a few times and he's a good player. I just think taking the AA jump to the bigs will have some bumps along the way. Escobar is a good prospect, but he hasn't done anything yet IMO to talk about trading Hardy at this point and time. Hardy is much more proven than Escobar is. I'd rather have Escobar at AAA and JJ in Milwaukee next year and then see where we are in a year. Escobar is going to be good in the field, but I still have questions about his bat. I think he'll 'grow' into his frame and the power will come, but I'd had to see him try and do that in the bigs. There are two major questions in relation to Hardy being traded. Are the Brewers rebuilding? Trading Hardy right now and starting Escobar may indicate that. Of course it depends on what we get back. What does Hardy want in terms of money? There's a lot of speculation here, but we really don't know.

Thanks for the reply JJ. I'm not sure I agree since I didn't see Hart improve at his new position as quickly as Braun or Hall did at the major league level but I certainly respect your opinion on the matter. I respect your opinion. I think the thing with Hart is that he was moved 2 times to 2 complete different positions IMO (1B, 3B, and OF). Kremblas should be the third base coach for the Brewers right now.

How in the world does an entire city run out of gas? Well, you'd actually have to live here to understand. When it rains the highways and roads are backed up like it is when there's a snow storm in Wisconsin. When there's mention of snow people run to the grocery store and buy milk, bread, etc and other items and in a matter of an hour or two the grocery store is all out of these items. My wife got four or five days off (she's a teacher) when there was a 'threat' of snow and one day off with a quarter of inch of snow that lasted a good 45 minutes on the ground. I don't think it's as much of a 'rumor' as it is a lack of planning. A similar situation happened a week or so ago. Trucks just aren't getting here fast enough on the weekends when most gas is being purchased. Combine that with people freaking out a bit and you get this. Nashville is a great place to live, but people get a little worried a little too quick. I do find it hard to believe it's all a rumor. One major reason why the weekends sell a ton of gas is because Nashville is a big commuter area. There are many workers that travel 30 minutes to an hour to work because the cost of a home is much cheaper than living in the Nashville area. People gas up at the end of the week and gas isn't getting here. For whatever reason, almost every gas station here is supplied directly from areas hit by the hurricane. People get nervous and need gas and this happens. On Saturday night we drove past a Shell and there was a line about a block or so from the gas station because a truck was coming...they were waiting for gas. My wife and I were lucky since we got gas a day or two before this mess happened. I would hate to wait an hour to get gas.

Frank Kremblas or Sveum should be at third. They actually know a bit about the speed of the players. EDIT: Any chance Kremblas was really fired just before Yost was because he was not willing to take Yost's job or even the 3rd base job under these circumstances? I don't think this is the case. He would've taken either job. The Brewers just didn't want to give him a MLB gig and that's why he was let go. It was more of a mutual thing than actually being fired. The sports news (which barely mentions the Sounds) down here mentioned he was fired because the Brewers told him he wasn't in their plans as far as a MLB job in any coaching or managing capacity.

If Lawrie starts out at catcher and doesn't stick, he'll likely end up a LF, as his bat will be more than ready before he has a chance to learn 3B, just like Braun. Just how ready is Lawrie to play 3b or 2b? Is he more MLB ready at those two or more so at catcher? Could it be the case that his bat might be ready (it appears it is from everything I've read) before any position he plays? This may force the Brewers to call him up before his defense is ready.

1) The Gagne signing. I can live with it since it is only 1 year so the overall risk was pretty low but there was no way he could have earned how much they payed him even if he didn't totally explode in the first half. I agree with you here. One of the main things I have against this signing is that IMO there were better options in AAA. If Gagne made the minimum, he would've been released a long time ago IMO.

I think it's interesting to think of what position he'll start at. Can Salome and/or Lucroy stick at catcher defensively? If they can, then I think putting him at 3b makes a lot of sense.

Turnbow was a real disaster, cannot defend that one at all. I don't think it was a bad deal when it happened and if IIRC it was low risk. I think Turnbow made around $3 million this year. It didn't work out, but who would have known Turnbow wouldn't be able to throw strikes. I know he had control issues, but this year it was beyond control issues. He started in Nashville because they wanted 8 innings to be able to comeback in a game. I was at the game where he walked like 5 or 6 guys in an inning and gave up a hit or two. It was beyond control issues and a mental thing.

I dont know if Mark A was behind the Gagne signing but I definitely think he was 100% behind the signing of Suppan. He actively recruited Suppan and I fully blame him for that signing. He fell in love with Suppans pitching in the playoffs that year and decided he had to have that "big game pitcher". We still have Suppan and are stuck with him at 25 mil for the next two years. So as much as gagne is a bust Suppan is far worse because we signed him for 4 yrs when he is a below average starter. I don't think Mark A is as worried about Suppan. He's pretty much had his career norms here in Milwaukee. The other players listed above are well below their career norms or were stretches at this point in their career. Suppan can at least be somewhat useful. Was he overpaid? Probably, but pitching costs money. I'm not really disappointed in Suppan's contract now as much as I was when I heard it. He is what I thought he was. Expecting more would be somewhat foolish or not realistic. I still think with a rotation of some young guys next year Suppan could be a nice piece to have since he will put the innings in and save the pen. I'm not saying Suppan is an all-star or anything like that, but with Yo barely pitching this year we can't expect a ton of innings from him and with Parra hitting the wall it will be interesting to see how these young guys perform. If CV is a starter, he's in the same boat. I think you need some veterans from some stability and that's where I think Suppan fits in. Suppan was also signed as a 'playoff' pitcher and he really can't do that if we're not in the playoffs. Pitching isn't cheap unless you want to trade a guy like Fielder or draft starting pitchers that make it year in and year out.

I personally think that Melvin's possible downfall could be that there is way too much wasted money on this payroll. I don't know if Melvin is gone, but I agree with this. I've pointed out in other threads and had had really no one post that agreed stating that Mark and Doug would have a 'talk' about the Gagne signing. We don't know if Mark has signed off blindly on things or how it goes down, but Mark is millions of dollars short based on some of the bad signings he had. That hurts his investment and I'm sure as a business guy he's not happy about that. He essentially could have $20 million + if these decisions weren't made this year and even more in future years. Every GM does make mistakes and I understand that. The question is how upset Mark is over the bad decisions.

I agree he is owning up to his mistake, and that's a good thing. But if he was indeed shielded, he should not have been ruling it incomplete. Premature on the whistle. Same thing with DeSean Jackson dropping the ball before the end zone. Don't blow the whistle if it's close and you're not sure (although in this case the stupidity level caught everyone off guard). Someone will eventually recover the fumble after hearing no whistle. Then go back and decide what your call is going to be so you have a proper resolution when or if it's reviewed. The only problem with this is that the NFL is already looking into 'cheap shots' by players when the whistle isn't being blown fast enough. I can see it both ways.

I think Sheets blew his cover and it's going to cost him big time. He went from a 3-4 year $75 million neighborhood, to if he's lucky 2 year incentive laden deal at best. Personally I wouldn't guarantee him more than $8 million for one year with an extra million for ever 50 IP he pitches in 09, and a team option for say $12 million in 10. I agree with most of your thoughts. I do think that there's quite a bit we don't know, but you do bring up some good questions. I'm not a huge Sheets guy because of his injuries, but I would do $8 million for one year. I just think he'll still get more than that if this injury isn't all that serious. If he's having major surgery, he'll really be taking a beating in terms of money lost.

I don't think Doug yells much at all. Are you thinking of Peter Brown? Nope. Maybe he doesn't do it anymore. I haven't listened to it in almost a year and a half. Maybe yelling is the wrong word. When the show first started when I lived in Wisconsin he would raise his voice and go on these rants to make a point. I wasn't a huge fan of that.

In other news, the sky is blue. Mine is black right now since it is night.

I also have a feeling DiFelice will be in Milwaukee's rotation next year. I've seen him plenty and I'm not saying he's going to be a stud. I will say I think he could be a very solid #4 or #5. His stuff isn't going to have scouts raving, but it will get the job done.

I'm sorry but isn't that just blind speculation? As if Sheets was ever really out of shape. It just seems odd to say that when we have CC on the team. I've posted rumblings in other threads from what players who have roomed with Sheets in the minors and played with him say about his work ethic. I won't get into it here since it's apparently a subject that gets people going one way or another. I would just simply ask why has Sheets' uni gotten baggy? Fielder gets a pass, but not Sheets? Sheets hasn't put on Fielder weight, but my guess is he's 25 lbs heavier or so since his rookie year. You can believe it or not, but I'm not going to go into throwing my 'facts' out and pissing people off. I think one fact is Sheets is 'baggier' in terms of uni than he once was. Even if I'm wrong...why does Sheets keeping getting hurt? Is it dumb luck or is there more to it? The Brewers would have a good idea bout this...and they didn't offer him a contract this past off-season...I wonder if there's a reason why.

I'm not advocating signing Sheets to a long contract. Too much risk in years 3, 4, etc... The Brewers will NOT be a better team with whatever they do with that $12 mil next year, though. I'd rather have 150 innings a year of 3.25 ERA than 200 innings of a 4.25 ERA. Maybe I am underestimating what you can get for that kind of money, starting pitching wise? Well your posts tend to come of as your right and others are wrong. What are you advocating? It seems like you're saying the Brewers should let him go and in the end it seems like others are agreeing with you.

My point was simply that I'll NEVER understanding people getting angry AT a player for getting hurt. Get angry/sad/frustrated at the SITUATION and you'll hear nothing from me. But at the PLAYER? It's like getting mad at someone for getting hit by a car. I know your not posting based on my posts, but Sheets injury history around here is a huge debate. You have those saying he's injury prone, those saying he's not and it's a fluke, and people like me (probably wrong) saying it is Sheets' fault since he doesn't keep himself in shape. He doesn't want to get hurt, but I don't think Sheets tries as hard as I would like to avoid injuries. All these 'fluke' injuries IMO point to the fact that he hasn't kept himself in shape. The injury is tightness of the right forearm. Bye, bye Ben.

Sheets doesn't want to be hurt, but this is typical. I know we'll see threads that say 'it's not arm injuries, it's not major, it's all a fluke'. Well what the heck is this now? I don't care if it's arm injuries or what. He can't stay healthy. No way in hell I sign him to the dollars we've been talking about. It's not 'arm injuries', but I can't pay Sheets that type of money. No way no how and he may have just been the final blow to the Brewers not making the playoffs. I thought Ben was the golden boy though? On a side note, it will be interesting to see how the bullpen does. I've made a few posts about how the guys called up were barely used. I hope they've been pitching a lot on the side or else we really don't have a 'long' guy.

Doug Russell is great in the mornings. When I worked in Milwaukee, this guy drove me nuts. I believe he's good, but I can't stand when he would really get upset at something and yell on the radio about it. I don't know if he still does it and his show isn't bad. I just recall him 'yelling' about players/coaches and their decisions in an effort to make a 'big' point. I wasn't a fan of that.

The Stars and Brewers renew for two more years. Did they announce this today? Do you have a link/source? That is good news IMO.

What was the West Virginia attendance compared to the capacity? I guess it'll get all those West Virginia Pirates fans excited, but to be honest I think having a low A team close to a MLB team makes little sense if it's one of the main reasons. I think having a AAA team close to the MLB would be pretty cool and makes more sense IMO. I grew up a handful of miles from the T Ratts and one summer I think I missed 15 home games (grass seats were $3) one year and collected over 150 baseballs. I met some guys that I still talk to (Brian Fuentes, Ryan Anderson, Quincy Carter, etc) and I have to say it's a great facility. I just don't know if it makes a ton of sense to have a team in Appleton due to the crappy weather in the spring. As a fan, I think it'd be great that the Brewers would be in Appleton (even thought I'm about 700 miles from there), but if I were a member of management I don't see why it makes sense. As many know here, I live close to Nashville and go to a ton of Sounds and Stars games so I'm a big fan of both. I say that because I think it would be awesome if the Brewers somehow went to Appleton and made it their AAA team. I know it sounds crazy (no pun intended), but it makes a ton of sense in my mind. I also think this would allow the Brewers scouts and management to see the AAA guys a lot more and next year there could be a pretty talented team for the AAA team. I know it's not likely and I believe the Brewers have a year or two left in Nashville, but that stadium is a joke. I wish everyone here could go to one game and then compare it to the T Ratts place. The T Ratts have a nice stadium, but compared to Greer Field it's a mecca.

There are about 100 different scenarios that could play out this season, more than in years past. Agreed. I just thought I'd throw it out there since I haven't heard it mentioned, but you are right that there's tons of things that could happen. I cannot imagine a situation where I'd want to move an athletic, decent defensively OF (with the potential to be well above average) to a position in which his low OBP will make him well below average. I'm not trying to say this would be a great move. I just threw it out there. I think I just would love the fact of having a really tall 1B that IMO would be a huge upgrade as a whole for the defense (granted we'd have to find an OF). I think Hart's length would reduce errors and non-errors that are currently happening with Prince. I don't think Hart is terrible in the field. I just think this team's defense is not where it needs to be and if they lose CC and Sheets the team is going to have to improve fundamentals if it wants to make the playoffs. Keeping Cameron is a non brainer, but what else can be done? As long as Prince is at first, I think our defense will be average at best. He's just too short and his weight isn't helping. Prince has been very hot of late so his trade value could be high this off-season.