JJHardy7

How often do players get tested? One would think Braun would have tested positive before?

Ah, yeah they should take it away. This is a totally different environment than during the "steroids era". Absolutely sickening. How many other MVP winners were actually 'caught' in regard to suspensions? If all true, Braun should personally give the award to his friend Matt Kemp. On somewhat of a side note, the value of the Brewers franchise just took a major hit. No way Mark can be thrilled about this. He should've sold the team and bought the Dodgers.

They wouldn't release it 25 minutes before a heisman ceremony that's already going to get good ratings because the winner is in doubt. They'd do it on a night when they have poker reruns or something else they could preempt. I don't think the Heisman show is really a great ratings draw to be honest. And ESPN keeps reporting that Outside the Lines is reporting this (branch of ESPN) and OTL has also taken on some critics for the coverage associated with the Syracuse issues. Like I said, I've defended ESPN more so than anyone else here...but to have two guys (Tim Kirkjan (sp?) and then another guy) available minutes after 'breaking the news' screams to me they were holding on to this for awhile. That....and during the Hesiman they can keep scrolling the 'Breaking News'. Clever on their end...but smells funny IMO.

What kind of clause are we talking about? Does everyone want to release him now because of this? He'll sit his 50 games and everyone moves on, what else can you do? If he has been doing this for awhile, we're paying him a lot of money for being a cheater. If he did it once, sure you might be right. He is costing us next year though by his dumb actions (again...if it is all true...that goes with all my statements...but history hasn't been kind). On a side note, I usually don't throw ESPN under the bus like a lot of folks, but tonight was kind of crap. The one Saturday that has NOTHING going on in sports (I know Indiana played a great game against Kentucky) since college football reguarl season started. And we get this? Now? 15 minutes or so before the Heisman starts? Just seems kind of as a ratings pull. It's all true that he failed a test, but they had two guys located somewhere to be interviewed on SportsCenter. This wasn't 'breaking news'. It was just news they decided to release at very clever time.

Can we have the 24-hour cursing thread back? I hope so! This is terrible news. I guess we should wait for the details to come out...but history hasn't been kind. This screws up next year (and years beyond that) and kills what we did this past year if it is all true. For Braun to be outspoken against all this...and then pull this (again if true) is just terrible. He's been my favorite player in the organization since the day we drafted him. He's smart, good with the media and fans, etc...I feel like I've been lied to. This feels horrible. If true I also agree, give the MVP to Kemp. I don't want any of this cheating associated with the Brewers. Again if true and depending to the extent, I somewhat hope Ryan has played his last game with the Brewers. You owned the city. I've lost all faith in sports heroes.

Does Paul have any say where he gets dealt? Not saying this is ideal, but 2 months from now he probably wouldn't mind going to a contender if NO is struggling. I wonder if the league is close to selling NO or they believe NO is worth more with Paul. Maybe there is some slight hope that the new owner would be able to convince Paul to stay? I don't think this trade was way lopsided, but I think NO should have received some high first round picks. I do agree the deal is obviously better than getting nothing...which is something that should have been changed in the CBA IMO as well.

I don't see Doug doing that though, that would be embarrassing for him to take on $2M of unnecessary dead money that he could have just avoided by declining. I guess I don't see it this way. They took a risk by offering it and it didn't work out. I'd rather just look at the $2 MM as sunk cost and move on. Not the end of the world, but I wish we would've used that for JHJ or something else. I really hope the plan isn't to keep KRod. That would be embarassing IMO.

True logan. I guess it boils down to if Casey comes back or not and the plan for either option. I really hope it's not Casey > JHJ. If both are gone, I hope we have a good plan for a backup the quality that JHJ is.

How is ESPN wrong on this? 35% Federal taxes, plus state taxes, plus agent fee. It might not be 50%, but it is closer than you think. I know Florida doesn't have state income tax, but players have to pay taxes based on home location and some states have non-resident rules so they'll pay taxes based on away games. I know ESPN has made some dumb mistakes. I get that. The image above is pretty bad, but I don't see the big deal here. The bottom line is these guys don't take home all the money reported...just like all of us 'normal' workers.

There's no way Casey should even be a starter on opening day. I don't see how losing JHJ, saying you're out on Prince, and giving Casey an everyday job improves this team. I really, really hope something else is going to happen. It would've made a lot more sense to non-tender Casey, sign JHJ, and have Green and JHJ split some time at 3B. That makes almost too much sense.

I hope we use this money on something useful. This kind of hurts at the moment, but we'll see how the roster shakes out.

The idea is somewhat interesting, but like folks have said her likely not to happen. I wonder how it would've worked out if he was a few years younger. Is there any more risk of Rickie playing SS in regard to injuries? He hasn't exactly had a clean bill of health.

The coaches get paid like NFL coaches. On the surface...I really don't think this is true. For example UW head coach makes maybe $2 MM per year? I believe MM in Green Bay is double that (roughly). Anywho...I'm 100% against paying players. They have full rides in college. That isn't cheap. They do get the school attention etc, but once you start paying players you go down the wrong path. Have the past few years in college football proved nothing to us? In the current environment, the NCAA can't regulate. Could you imagine if players got paid? In regard to the age, the NBA requires one year. So be one and done, etc. Most players that do this don't make an impact in the NBA. Again, that is 'most'. The one and done rule is not good for college or pros. I'm open to that changing (i.e. NFL rules). In the NFL, there aren't many guys that after their true freshman or sophomore year would be viable in terms of drafting. We're talking a very small percentage. In the NFL, size does matter. College sports are great for what they represent. I respect what athletes do in college, but they are given a lot. Let's not act like free tuition and room and board is cheap. It's not.

Thanks Mass. Your work is what led me to check out bf.net. Good luck to you!

I thought and think this guy will be really good...only question is how good and if he can stick in the outfield. In regard to his attitude, I agree with homer. It does matter to the Crew (see Money's flattering comments regarding Gamel, Mat).

People can enjoy the team and still be frustrated with how the lineup is being handled. Taylor Green was a little bit of a forgotten man until this year (looks like he fully recovered from his injury) and now we assume he's good again because he is healhty, is guaranteed to be better than Casey? I honestly think he is, but I'm not sure how big the gap is between him and Casey. I do agree I'd like to see him get some starts, but like I mentioned maybe when the magic number goes down a bit more he'll get some playing time. I do agree that he should get some time. I just don't have a huge reaction since he hasn't yet. I'd have a much bigger reaction if he's not getting a shot at the 2012 job when we'll need to improve offense if/when we lose Fielder. We're not there yet. The question that I'd like to see answered (and I don't think it will be until Taylor starts) is Taylor's defense vs. Casey's. I've read and seen mixed results of Taylor's, but I haven't seen enough to make a conclusion. I'm wondering if that is really the 'reason' (i.e. the gap isn't all that big between their defensive skills). I would guess though that Taylor's defense can't be any worse. Just throwing it out there. I agree on the chemistry items and with NDOG. I think Taylor should get some time, but I'm just not sold that it is making that much of difference. We won't know until Taylor gets some time. And Gamel has ripped the cover off the ball in AAA for a few years and we've seen the playing time he's received when he's been in Milwaukee...

Why don't we worry about next year's roster ideas after this year? Enjoy it! I don't see anything wrong with Taylor sitting the first few games and getting used to the atmosphere, etc. Any ideas that he was going to take over for Casey obviously were not based on anything we've seen this year. He'll get his shot. Let's just relax a bit and let the kid relax. Let's windle the magic number down and see how much playing time Taylor gets. He was likely brought up to be part of the playoff roster...I have no problem with easing him in. I do agree it would've been nice to do that awhile ago, but so far really can't complain about where the team is at.

Well, I'm out, we've got 2 Betancourt threads where we're arguing whether he's just REALLY bad, or REALLY REALLY bad. I guess I'm personally sick of the how really, really bad stuff with Yuni. I think a fair compromise would be to say he's really, really helped the offense the past month. Doesn't mean he's great...but the guy in some views here will stink no matter what. He is what he is...I'd just like some to say he's had a good month offensively. That is all. Just admit that without taking a shot saying but this, that, etc. It's gotten old. That's why the last thread and this thread will go on and on and on. Yuni isn't the worst baseball player in the history of baseball players. He has some big weaknesses...but I think a major part of why we're sitting where we are sitting over the past month...is Yuni B's offense. He could start stinking again...but I'll give him props when due. And not add...but he still stinks! Let's enjoy the ride.

I was also going to say that I am amazed that people are puffing out their chests over the play of Yuniesky Betancourt, but we can't be the first fanbase to have seen that. I can't say this for everyone, but I'm not puffing out my chest. It is nice to see Yuni contribute in a good way for however long it lasts. It's nice to see it to be honest. It doesn't change what he is, but during the stretch w/o Weeks so far Yuni picked the best time to go on a hot streak. I don't think that can be said enough. We lost Weeks and we're still rolling. Hopefully he can keep it going to a certain extent/Weeks comes back soon. I don't see any way Yuni is back with the Brewers. He'd have to play multiple IF positions and who knows what that would look like. He'd also have to take a paycut.

I'm happy Greinke has been pitching pretty dang good as of late. Hopefully he can keep it going.

I like Thome. I hope he was clean, but not sure the information below compels that: The consistency of his career numbers, peaking at age 31, with as many HRs from age 23-30 as from age 32-40 Wouldn't this indicate he was juicing? I get the consistent thing...my mind is warped regarding steroids and to me (I don't think Thome juiced) the statement above isn't a good thing in that regard.

TLB - Why would you put Peralta on the roster? Not asking that in a snarky way. Is it simply Peralta > Estrada?

Boy...I hope we don't pick up his contract. I'm so sick of the Yuni threads repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over...and over again. Yuni is hitting the ball well. Go Yuni! What's wrong with that? Seriously...the guy could hit a game winning HR in the clinching game of the world series and some folks would mention right away that he sucks at defense...we get it. This thread (I think) was to give Yuni some props. It doesn't say Yuni = MVP or anything like that. It doesn't say he's awesome at defense. It does say IMO that while we were screwed when Weeks went down Yuni has big-time picked us up on offense. If you think about it (sorry stat folks), this is/was the perfect time for Yuni to do that. I hate to say it...but offensively we'd be hurting w/o Yuni. I know that's against all logic since Yuni is the worst player to ever play for the Brewers. I'm sick and tired of the Yuni hate and even if he played for free next year I'd pass...I don't want another 100 page thread telling me how bad he is, if he is the worst in baseball, etc. I'm just going to enjoy this season. He's not the best, he's not great, he makes bad plays, etc. So what? Yuni is what we're going with and I say go Yuni! * I don't think we should pick up his option or anything like that. He'd have to be real cheap. I just don't think he's so bad that the sun won't rise tomorrow. We can win with him. We should focus more on 3B where we have in option in AAA to replace a guy. SS...we don't have much. And...it takes moves like that to get pitching. Again, I ask what SS should we have traded for? If Yuni sucks, fine...who should be SS of the Brewers right now?

So confused after the last few posts...why would we want to take on Dunn's contract? I don't get that. The White Sox would be thrilled to trade him w/o picking up the money. I don't think too many teams in baseball would do that at all. Trading for Dunn and paying him...we might as well go back to the early 2000s again. Dunn has no value unless the Sox pick up all of his contract. His defense is pretty terrible as well. I know this forum hates Yuni...Dunn this year would make the forum crash...

So...who should they exactly trade for? What specific players? No way they can get stars at this and point given what is in the minors and how the Brewers need to build that back. I don't think it makes any sense to make the minors completely bare. This team is not bad. Our starting pitching has been fantastic the past 3 weeks or so and Greinke seems to be Greinke. Yuni has been hitting in July (I know very small sample). I think we're in good shape when/if Yuni goes back to being Yuni and Casey struggles. I still think if Green isn't involved in the Mets deal he'll be up if Casey struggles and even Mat the Bat might get a shot at 3B. I understand being frustrated with the moves other teams have made and we haven't, but we really can't and shouldn't IMO given where we are. What stud 3B is out there that we can get? Same thing for SS?