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Here is the practice schedule for the fall team. Sunday August 17th , 2008 @ 1pm @ Konkel Park (51st & Layton) Schedules to be distributed. Wednesday August 20th, 2008 7pm @ Konkel Park Wednesday August 27th, 2008 7pm @ Konkel Park (Scrimmage vs opponent TBD) Sunday August 31st, 2008 @ 1pm @ Konkel Park. (Participation optional Labor Day Weekend) Opening Night is Tuesday Sept 2nd. Opponent and Times TBD. Of course, practices aren't mandatory, especially the Labor Day Sunday. I have to pay a nominal fee for the field rentals that I wont turn around and charge the players for. I just appreciate everybody who can make it and a decent excuse if you can't. (Work, spending time with the wife/kids, brewers tickets are good) (Getting drunk, re-arranging your puzzle collection, no good). Also, Please IM me with your jersey size and number preferences.

I wouldn't even know to be honest. My wife says any JJ Hardy Memorabilla, $40 cash sounds accceptable as well. Am not firm however.

When you say new, does that exclude worn? I have a black Razr that I am not using anymore. However, the camera feature does not work. For some reason, when I try and use the camera feature, the whole operation "locks up". I have to take the battery out of it and put it back in to the clear the phone. Perhaps someone with a bit of knowledge can repair it. I realize this doesn't sound very attractive, but it's in brand new shape otherwise. We got an Iphone a while back and it's just been sitting in a drawer.

Weeks 111/112 Simmons 114/115 Kapler 115/116 Parra 119/120 Skaalen 120/121 Mota 123/124

I've narrowed this down to a couple of options for the Madison guys and am waiting a response from their leader by his PM. Real quick, I need your guys input on what would be a go or no-go for each of you personally? Sunday Aug 17th - Softball 11am-1pm Private Tour 1:30pm-3pm Dinner/Brewers Game @ Dodgers 3:10 First Pitch, however only 9 days away! Saturday or Sunday August 30th or 31st. Same type of set-up however this is Labor Day Weekend. Monday Sept 1st- Our best chance to get a Brewer Game in, but this is Labor Day! 1:05 Brewers game vs Mets then 5:30 softball game. Friday August 22nd or Sept. 5th - Friday Night Brewers Games. Softball at 4:30pm and Brewers games at 7:05pm...however people have work. Brainstorm your feelings so that NeedMoreFans and I can get this done. Your travel and work considerations are my biggest concerns.

No wonder I get no responses, I can't talk right.

Wanted to buy; Any Branyan signed item. I can't find any on Ebay and keep missing his Auto Friday's and Block Party appearances. I will also trade a pair of very good Club seats to any Brewers game, a booble or autograph ball.

A deceased body not discovered for 4 1/2 days has to top my list. Foods include beets, for some reason they make me want to upchuck.

Matt, I was saving you a spot all along....had you on the brainstorm roster posted on page 1. I should have a schedule from the manager's meeting on August 14th. I plan to post a practice schedule by the end of the weekend and still hope to schedule a pre-season game with the Madison squad.

Yep, he meets them all right. My original statement was that I felt Hardy was superior in defense and intangibles than Weeks. It's a subjective statement based upon many working hours as an observant co-worker and many hours as an observant fan. Again, I think there are better options in the free agency market and maybe internally for 2009.

Webster's defines it as.....not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable. When I say intangibles, I mean things like leadership in the clubhouse, leadership in the community, charity events...being able to conduct interviews with fans and the press without 20 "you know's" in a paragraph. I didn't mean basestealing and being an athlete.

Yeah right, you know the park personnel will be ever so eager to hit the lights.

Thanks for the research. Given Hardy's home run total, making the All-Star team, I would've not guessed that. That said, a lot of these posts are ignoring defense and intangibles, something that Hardy clearly has the edge on. Not to make a comparisson of Hardy/Weeks, but if that is one of the strategies involved in replacing Weeks with Hardy in 2009 and promoting a SS from AAA or a free agent SS, then I would do it. Weeks has flashes, has potential, but I'm ready to explore other options. I can't ignore the defense and 1/2, 3/8, 5/16, however you want to label it, of offensive indecency.

I like this, but in respect to the playoffs question... If Ben goes Sunday in game #162, he can't go in Game #1 nor Game #2, Wed/Thur of the playoffs unless it is Thursday, but on 3 days rest.

I absolutely love this take and agree and it would not have to juggle the rotation for the regular season. Most likely, we are looking at a road game anyhow, so might as well burn the worst of the 3 in a game that statisically you'd lose anyhow..being on the road.

I get that. But talking about the draft, there are so many if, come, maybe's, yet speculating on playoff rotation due to a rainout is crazy? I dunno, seems hypocritical to talk about one, but the other is off-limits? If you dont want to talk about playoffs because it's a jinx, like a no-hitter in the 7th, I get that. I was just concerned about how the rotation lined up for the playoffs with regard to how it is set-up now, but I guess I am alone.

I agree, but I don't get not talking about it. Heck we talk about the 2009 draft around here already http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I realize that. My question was, should there be a sense of urgency to clinch sooner to avoid this? The likelihood of rain diminishes greatly beyond August 15th as the earth moves towards the autumn equinox. Perhaps set up the rotation different now, and plan to use DiFelice for a day so that perhaps Sheets and Sabathia can pitch Friday, Saturday instead of Saturday, Sunday?

The direction of this thread can change, but in the talks about the rotation, there seems to be a discussion over whether Manny Parra or Jeff Suppan would be the #3 pitcher used in the playoffs. My question is this, Do we need to wrap up a playoff berth sooner than we think? If the current rotation plays out, we'd have CC Sabathia going on Saturday (9/27) and Ben Sheets on Sunday (9/28). Typically, the NLDS starts on Wednesday, irregardless of a 1-game playoff, which was used last season. With that, does Sabathia go on 3-days rest to start the NLDS and likewise Sheets on 3-days rest to start game #2. I realize there are a lot of different scenarios, that include perhaps being with striking distance of the Cubs over those final two games and therefore wanting to throw Sheets and Sabathia and win the crown for home field advantage. However, do you think it is much more important to get a little farther ahead in this Wild Card Race and clinch, so that perhaps the rotation can be altered to get them normal rest for the playoffs? DiFelice could get a start somewhere in there? I'm very concerned at this point being only 1/2 to 2 games ahead going into the Cubs series and having to throw Sabathia and Sheets on that Sunday. While the following Wednesday,Thursday won't matter if we don't get in, I'd really hate to pitch them both on 3-days rest.

Oh, I stand corrected. I'm really not in the mood to argue salary, but I will try and make a point or two. I personally don't contribute to the paycheck and never once have found the need to complain about salary in relation to a player's performance. It's pretty standard that you earn a contract based on a previous season and nobody can predict the future (See David Beckham ref pro soccer). The benefits to the community, etc, I don't know how you put a price on that. It's like Joe Citizen claiming to a police officer, "I pay your salary". You're absolutely correct, 4.61 isn't that exciting, but really 4 to 5 runs over 9 innings, keeps you in the ballgame a majority of the time. I don't think .ERA tells the whole picture either. Minus missing the start prior to the All-Star break, he's been an innings eater and there are several other factors to evaluate his worth, even things off the baseball field that I dont think can be quantified to argue about his salary. I think the problem is people still expect him to be the #2 starter, throwing Sheets like stuff, when he's a #4-5 starter at best. Don't blame Suppan that this team had a bunch of nobodies in the rotation (minus Sheets) when they signed him and he was forced to fill a role that he didn't have the stuff to fill.

Really, eat crow over one game? And trust me, when you spend 50+ hours a week at Miller Park, I'm not a hater of any player, especially not a Rickie Weeks hater. When you see the effect of getting sent down or traded or released has on these players, I dont wish that upon anybody, regardless of income. But I'm also a believer that for the most part, zebra's don't change their stripes. While Rickie Weeks may not be a career .225 hitter, I don't think he is a .457 hitter either, so I prefer to stop going back to this fallacy argument about his "potential" as a reason to have him as our 2nd baseman for the next 10 years. Should Rickie Weeks rot on the bench, no, but I'm of the opinion that an upgrade should be pursued over the winter months. I hope Rickie Weeks goes somewhere and pulls a Brandon Phillips, I really do. I want to see him succeed and therefore am not a Rickie Weeks hater. But let's be a realistic. Fast bat or not, he makes horrible decisions when to swing at a pitch and is very often "behind" on pitches, fouling them to the right side. Kudos to Rickie Weeks for his wonderful day. I'm glad he was the game MVP, but I'm not going to sit here and drink the kool-aid that "he's found it" over 4 singles in a three hour stretch. His season is what it is, .239 with 9 home runs, none at home. For all the power potential, where is it? And I dont buy the argument that he has to temper his thinking because he bats leadoff. Soriano hits them (20), Sizemore hits them (27), so leadoff hitter or not, why is he not showing this potential 1500 atbats into his major league career? But I truly hope he finds it, I want to see him succeed, just somewhere else. Coupled w/ his defensive issues, I'm ready for a change at 2b in 2009.

I have to agree with the last two posts. Throw in what he does in the community and the overall picture of having Jeff Suppan in a Brewers uniform is definitely more valuable. They showed his career .ERA numbers by month yesterday during the telecast. It was something like April .300 May 3.5 June 4.5 July 5. August 2.75 Sept. 2.0. You aren't going to have studs 1-5. And even though he may have originally been the #2 starter, that was two Christmas' ago. It's ok to change your mindset with the addition of guys like Sabathia, the emergence of Parra, Gallardo, and even Villanueva and be ok with the thought that getting 9-10 wins out of a #5 slotted Suppan is outstanding.

Sure enough, blue moon this evening. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I suspect he just got a late swing on a fastball a few times. More luck, less skill