TheCrew07

Parra made it back to AAA, I think Mark can get at least that far if his arm holds out. I'm still holding out hope. There's more pitching prospects though than the 3 you mentioned. There's still a couple of talented Latin kids (not Mercedes), Seidel, Braddock, and so on. I'm not jumping on the McClendon bandwagon yet, but there's potential there. Then again, I'm still holding out hope that Jones can become a valuable reliever at some point.

Surprising for sure, just about every IGT has a comment or 2 about him. Edit. IGT should be Link Report, sorry Mass.

I agree with the good riddence Latin Cappy sentiments. I was willing to dump him for nothing, and I've been on record cracking on people for the bag of balls thing in the past. His attitude and lack of performance irritated the heck out of me. Yo to the pen, and an A+ level arm, nice job Doug, even if the lefty doesn't pan out.

I must admit, I'm hooked, and now I've hooked 2 other people. The show is so odd, I was able to call some shots on some things, it's definately much different than other shows out there. Now that I think about it, that's probably the attraction for me. I sorta go my own way...

Wow that 3rd inning of the WV game was horrid... 6 runs, all unearned, an avalanche of errors.

The Brewers fouled off an astounding number of pitches in the first 2 innings in the first two games. Someone on northsidebaseball yesterday counted them up and it was low 30s on Friday and high 20s yesterday. I'd love it if the Brewers would take that patient approach again at the plate, but it will be tough to do. It's not like the Cub starting pitchers weren't throwing strikes. It's pretty huge to make the starter throw 2 innings worth of strikes that don't mean anything. A series win would be very nice, and would even up the season series correct?

I use the Baseball Cube. www.thebaseballcube.com/search.asp

Where did I say anything contrary? The conversation was regarding a fan's "right" to a winning baseball team. Fans have the "right" to have any opinion or think anything that they want. However, they don't run the franchise, and they don't really have a say. There are people up here in GB that complain about the funding for the stadium every time the Packers lose. As if somehow because they voted no and have to pay the tax anyway it entitles them to be garunteed of a winning team. The Seligs did hire Melvin and Jack Z did they not? It's not like Mark A bought the team, spent a ton of money, and suddenly the Brewers are winning. I find the notion that the Pirates don't have a plan foolish at best. Every business has a plan, sometimes they just don't work out. You really think the people running the franchise are trying to lose, ensuring they'll be out of a job? They have taken the exact same approach as the Brewers they just haven't been fortunate to get the same results, and for a long time the selling thing wasn't working for the Brewers either. Even the LaRoche move which seemed like a no brainer over the winter hasn't worked out well for them to this point, though he had a nice game last night. I can empathize with all the losing being a Brewer fan, but I wasn't one of the people who constantly whined and complained about it either.

People have the "right" to spend their money how they want and that's about it. "The promise" of a competitive team... ha.. how many times did we hear that in Milwaukee? Again, fans in this state were saying all the same things not so long ago... like this winter... A fan isn't "entitled" to anything more than buying a ticket for the game. If they really wanted to make a statement, don't buy the ticket in the first place. Again, when public money is used, your representatives have a say, they speak for you. Once it's done, it's over. You can speak to the owner, you can speak to the GM, but you have no rights or powers beyond offering your opinion to the people that actually can make decisions. I don't recall anywhere in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or Bill of Rights where it garunteed the right to a winning sports franchise. If you believe just because ownership promises a competitive team, you should have one, as if it's that easy. Everyone wants to be competitive, but not everyone is going to be. I'm really looking forward to all the "Brewers don't care about winning" comments when they won't be able to afford some of their young stars in the near future. Just because the market is larger doesn't in itself mean the team should be successfull. They aren't the only baseball team state, they aren't even the only team in the NL from the state. Milwaukee has 2 teams in major sports, and the Bucks aren't exactly a huge draw, the NFL team is in GB, and it still gets more pub than the Crew. The Steelers dwarf the Pirates in relative popularity, and are located in the same city. I see the Pirates in a very similar situation as the Penguins were in earlier this decade. I'm pretty tired of this sense of entitlement that people carry around with them.

Nice start for Will, good to see.

You had the right to vote no as a tax payer, once the decision was made, you had no more rights, that's democracy. The stadium district represents you, the elected officials represent you, you have no power or leverage with any sports franchise. You either choose to support them, or you don't. I don't want to get into a sidebar arguement about entitlement, but fans aren't entitled to anything more than a GM's best effort. How you spend your money and time is entirely up to you. Would the Brewers have kept him 3 years ago? Will they resign him to a much larger contract this off season? It seems to me they sold high with Kolb, Sexson, Pods, and Lee. Furthermore, the Sexson trade was brilliant, and continues to pay benefits for the current MLB team. What trade the Pirates made has come close to the same level of production? The only difference between what the Pirates have done and what the Brewers have done is the Brewers selectively chose to keep 2 of their players, which last year looked like a pretty bad way to spend their money. How easy it is to forget when Jenkins was slumping horribly and Sheets was on the DL... The Pirates have had some bad luck, but if they aren't going to contend, what sense does it make to be buyers? Again, look at the Brewers 3 years ago, even 4 and 5 years ago, they were always sellers. To me, the Pirates are exactly where the Brewers were in 2001, 2002... that's why I bring up Brewer examples from the past. Nope it doesn't, but spending money doesn't automatically make you a winner, spending it wisely does. What have the Yankees won recently? The Redskins? The Cubs? Al already pointed out Baltimore, how many more examples do you want? We can go player by player if you like, but spending money doesn't mean anything in itself. The Pirates have had some bad luck mixed with some not so hot trades, that's the big difference. The Brewers were horribly unlucky last year with the injuries, and look where they ended up. Well since I have to spell it out for you... You take small sentence fragments and break them out in a quote, usually out of context. Instead of cherry picking, why not quote the entire paragraph or message that you are responding to so people can make their own judgements without having to go backup and reread what was previously posted. Exactly my point. It's one to thing to think it and another to post it. I find cherry picking fragments to be an absurd way to prove one's point. Or is it just that you don't like your own post being called absurd? I don't disagree that there comes a time when you will need to spend money to win. However, if you aren't ever in contention, what good does spending that money do? Create more debt to the franchise? What if the Pirates spend the money, still lose, and no fans come out to the ballpark? The debt that's incurred to run the franchise is a healthy thing? Call the Pirates fiscally irresponsible to the fan base if you want, I choose to see it a different way.

nor me.

Isn't the best hitter available a subjective opinion, as in the eye of the beholder? They thought Fielder was the best hitter and repeatedly said so, even if he's "only" in the top 3 from that draft class, he's still a darn good pick. Laporta had the highest OBP in all of division 1 baseball... so if he's not the best college hitter available, I'm not sure who would be. edit. I should say that I definately see your point, and they picked Braun because 3B was a major hole in the system, but he was still a top pick in the draft regardless if the Brewer's drafted him or not.

Well since you're into breaking out posts here we go... Really? Wasn't the original line "It's a shame fans that do not understand the success cycle and think their problems will be solved by throwing money at a few mediocre FA's...haven't the Orioles proven this does not work? Support your team and shut up. If you want to prove your a bandwagoneer, support this foolishness". Taking one snipit out of the context of the post hardly does it justice. While that's not exactly the way I would have put it, I feel like telling people on this site who continually post the same rants about the same things to just shut up and support the team. What rights do we really have as fans? Were it is written that we have the right to demand this, or assume that? We're a free society for sure, but if you support something that fails, I'd say you made a bad investment. We have the right to buy a ticket and sit in the stands, other than than, we have no say, nor should we. What does that have to do with them being very poor trades in my opinion? In my opinion the Pirates have been run very Sal Bandolike for sometime now, and I'm thankful every day for Doug Melvin. Yep, because Sheets and Jenkins didn't come through the system, and weren't signed before this year? Turnbow was picked up off the scrap heap, and Cordero was aquired via trade and is relatively in expensive, he doesn't become a free agent until next season. Furthermore, Tbow and Coco are about as cheap as backend bullpen guys come, I really don't see how you supported your arguement well at all. The Pirates traded away all of their home grown stars for what has amounted to peanuts in the long run. What about the up roar when Sexson was traded and they resigned the cheaper Jenkins? Of course not! Obviously because I disagree with you and your faultless logic I didn't read your entire post. I'm not making any jumps, people around here weren't very happy with the payroll a couple of years ago either. Melvin cut away all the fat and started over, if the Pirates bottom out this year, and have similar success in the future what's the problem? Who's to say that if they spent money they would have had anymore success? After all Jeffery Hammonds made the Brewers a contender! It's not spending money, it's how you spend it. Ramirez wasn't exactly mr popular when he was with the Pirates, so while that deal looks really bad right now, I don't recall a huge amount of criticism of it at the time. The Pirates will not win until they build a farm system like the Brewers have, that's the key to success.

It's absurd to post that an opinion is absurd... So like they should spend on money on free agents like Milwaukee has to build back into success? Cause this team is loaded with free agents? Ohh maybe you mean like the Twins and A's have built their teams from free agency? Wait the D backs built their team with FAs... err, it just looks like the large market east and west coast teams spend the majority of the money, with the Cubs and Cards.. If you want to build a competitive franchise without deep pockets, you have to develope from within. They've had decent players come through their system, they just haven't had enough at one time to make a run like the Brewers. Not to mention some seriously poor trades along the way, at least in my opinion. Spending money is the mantra of the casual fan, I hear it all the time from people in Green Bay who think that Suppan is the reason the Brewers are 14 games over 500... the Brewers finally spent money, so now they are winning... it's laughable if you really think about it. Health, experience, and a growing maturity are the reasons why the Brewers are playing well. Suppan has been a welcome addition, but he's not the sole reason the Crew is winning.

Every pitch that was hit was hit hard, and was high in the zone down the middle of the plate... it was an observation that he was at 100 pitches and was probably upset about how he pitched the 6th. I didn't make it sound like anything, you interpeted it how you wanted.

Wow Sheets for 8th... End, don't sweat that 98navigator guy, he's a tool. He only sees things one way, it's obvious when even his follow Cubs fans are pointing out how wrong he is.

JJ is just resting. edit. why sheets in the 7th? because he grooved pitches for 2 runs last inning? I understand he's probably upset, but he's at 100 pitches.

With Lee and Ramirez out, I don't even care if Capellan comes in to finish it out after this inning.

I must say, reading northsidebaseball is fairly fun today.

I would have said laughable instead of hilarious, but I'm with you on that.

Keep putting up those 0's Benny, give these guys no hope. edit. 45 pitches through 3 though.. he needs some quick innings to go 7 or 8 tonight.

Wow Grace has put on quite a bit of weight, I don't feel so bad about myself.

I wonder, what does the organization do with Gamel at his current pace? His error rate is horrific, he's blocked by Braun, but once again his bat is carrying him. I wouldn't mind seeing them try him someplace else this season. The outfield seems logical, first base might not be a bad move as Prince will price himself out of Milwaukee quickly. However, if first base is in his future, then there's no reason to move him off of 3rd. You could bump him to AA as Brantley probably belongs in the A+ outfield, but whom would Brantley replace? If not Brantley there's no place for him to go because Katin isn't going anywhere. Gillespie isn't hitting but doesn't belong in WV, Ford just got bumped up, Cain has been moderately slumping lately (.250 in his last 10) but he's been solid and is moving up a level a year right on schedule. The A+ and A outfields are just loaded with decent prospects, especially when LaPorta arrives in WV. I just don't see how they can convert Gamel to the outfield without hindering the developement of other prospects. This is a very nice problem to have, but very difficult to resolve.

Yep I saw that, and I also saw he had 2 more SOs, and is one of 2 players without a hit tonight... but that's an avalanche of runs, and Brewer is still my boy. Mercedes with a with a nice line thus far tonight, hopefully more will follow. edit. Looking at Salome's final line after tonight's game, I'm jumping on the promote Salome bandwagon, and I'm also for bumping Lou to AAA. edit2. Gindl with a drag bunt basehit, this kid can do it all at this level. He's going to be fun to watch. edit3. I may have jinxed Mercedes, sorry.