nikip43

Great game stat wise for sheets 8 strong innings, one earned, 5 hits very solid Mr. Ben

0-5 for JJ Hardy...Im pretty sure that drops his average below .300...something I've never witnessed (haven't been following the kids career that long). Stuff happens, hopefully this is just a "post all star" game slump. I have faith in the kid.

That is crazy cool news Square. This truely is a great site, never found anything so comprehensive with coverage, Im just glad it involves my favorite baseball team. Ill have to admit that my interest of baseball has taken a 180 degree turnaround since years ago. Ill attribute the last 100+ degrees of my newfound love to this site, the minor league coverage and updating (especially the message board) is a pure joy. I guess this is my time to show my appreciation for everyone involved with this site and their hard work. I hope you continue to get attention, maybe an advertisement behind home plate in a few years (ok ok)

Very very smart move by keeping Ben to a sort of "pitch" count...hes thrown a ton of innings this season for a losing cause Hes never really "Ben" bothered by injuries and to overwork him this season would be silly. The Marlins (notorious for overworking pitchers) saw one of their top studs AJ Brunett go from being a future workhorse to missing the whole year plus more due to an arm injury. Add Brunett to the rotation of Willis and Josh Beckett, you've got something even more special. Besides, what needs more confidence, Sheets or the bullpen (more importantly, other teams watching Brewer games trying to gain confidence in pieces of the pen in which they wish to aquire)

you don't let a middle infielder with a .400 batting average with a great work ethic walk...unless he won't stay after he becomes a FA or will be demanding A-Rod type money. too much talent at a rare position

good anology with christmas presents its that our 3rd rounder Sweet Lou is performing awsome our 2nd rounder Junior is performing even better what would that mean for our 1st rounder had he started when Lou/Gwynn had? Things would just be that much more exciting for the rest of the season, and maybe if some of the non-hardcore fans in Milwaukee kept hearing updates about how their 2nd overall pick Rickie Weeks is performing, a midseason deal sending a bigger name would be more stomachable.

the kid sounds like a player another arm added to the system...great work management

I as well as everyone know how good these guys are based on the past three years, yet they are still mostly underated Garret Anderson and Albert Pujols Neither guy gets the media attention they deserve and you know what, they dont want it. These two athletes are like the Tim Duncans of sports. Keep your mouth shut and play the game. Very good guys (so was Kobe), no longer underated as they can hit homers effortlessly and many directions. Not just hitting to one area really, they kind of went all over, showing their range and their abilities. Very impressive.

Thats it...Ive seen enough of Richie. Maybe a team would TAKE him off our hands as part of a filler in a future John Vander Wal deal. Nothing more than a PTBNL...should be Sexsons nicname. What a bum. On second thought, at least he hit ONE. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif (im teasing about the "bum" statements by the way...though I wouldn't wince if he were traded)

I was just a little upset with the fact that someone wanted Yost "axed"...pure silly Yost has turned a bunch of guys... Helms, Podsednik, Ginter, JVW, Jenks, Eddie Perez, Franklyn, and Kinney to name a few.... into having their best years to date. A lot of those guys were set to rot in the minors or on the end of a bench, but they are actually producing on the Brewers at minimal dollars. A lot of that was good moves by Melvin but I think Yost and his staff has done something with practice or the way they manage and actually given the Crew some talent rather than relying on head cases who didn't produce like a big leaguer should (Sanchez/Jose K/Hammonds) One thing I did year during the futures game...and this probably has more to do with the draft/minor league forum, but they said that this upcoming draft will be one of the deepest pitching drafts in years. So you really could land a quaity player with the 9th pick or so....but when it comes to the 2nd round, having an early (1st/3rd) pick might catch you a guy who fell through the cracks. Too bad Sexy/Jenks weren't free agents this year, if they still offered consolation/supplemental/freebee picks for losing a free agent, right after round 1, Itd be nice to bolster the sytem. Something I noticed during the futures game....the D-Backs, A's, and Dodgers all have impressive prospects (small sample size), but it was nice watching these kidss actaully play. Harden the pitcher for the A's. Tracy the 3rd baseman for the Dbacks. The Dodgers had a power hitting outfielder (who K's a lot) but still was a prospect along with a pitcher. If that West races heats up....all 3 teams could use either a 1st baseman or corner outfielder to bolster their offensive punch

Im not sure why anyone would ask for Yost to be sliced from Milwaukee....hes done everything Id expect in a manager and more Sanchez, Hammonds, Rusch, Quevedo, Leskanic. What more could you ask for? Sure Clayton, EY, DeJean, and half a dozen others, but pawning off/droping/sending down FIVE guys in half a season because they weren't happening is amazing. I believe hes the single reason behind Scotty Podsednik's success thus far. Everything Scott is doing this year is everything that Ned Yost preaches. Yost seems to really stick up for his players and he has had the Crew playing to win in every game. The bullpen blows. You can't blame him or anyone for trying to showcase DeJean and hopefully raise his value/interest from other teams before the fast approaching deadline. You have to look at things one of two ways A) Win this year B) Stockpile for the future I guess there are others...some grey area, but if you wan't to win now, sure mix up the bullpen and do the right things w/ pinch hitting. If you want to stockpile...show off whats available (EY/Clayton/DeJean) so maybe they can generate interest from other clubs. Also, hope that Sexy and Geoff are wanted bad enough that an unrefuseable offer is given. Theres grey areas everywhere....personally and while this doesn't go along with my favorite movie "Major League"...I wouldn't mind having Sexson/Jenkins/DeJean/EY and a few others TRADED this summer for younger and bigger upsided talent. Also (this sounds a little sick)...if noone feels that the Crew can win, why not lose so next years #1 in the draft is guarinteed ours. Sure would be nice to add anyone we want....like a great pitching arm. Just food for thought. I think the majority of people are in the "grey" (man I said that a lot in this post)...feeling that itd be nice to still win a few the next two or three seasons but then be pretty solid when the prospects come up. However, Id rather stink it up while continueing to bolster the system, then in 4 years they'd have a very solid shot at being dynamic and going for the division.

Thats awsome news about Gwynn Jr. Hes probably low and behold my favorite prospect Im really hoping for big things from him Great summary of the kid

I know its nothing very special as far as the majors goes...but getting on base in 36 straight contest is exactly what Ned Yost's philosophy encourages. For the Brewers in recent years...I think 36 straight games on base is uncharted waters. I may be wrong, but Podsednik has things figured out of how a player can succeed at the plate in major league baseball.

mothership... if you have any quesiton as to why the team is staying in games and you still have faith in a game this far into the season...I think the answer lies in one person Ned Yost Probably the newcomer of the year as far as managers goes...and with this bunch of players, I couldn't ask for too much more from the guy. Hes a winner with the right attitude...Milwaukee with Yost will be an exciting development in the making.

I guess people are either busy with the fourth or tired of the Brewers at this point. This is Matt Ford...start #2 4.7 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 82 pitches I think the most exciting thing is 82 pitches...and it was hardly Rusch like. Ford got a LONG way to go, but this outing showed he can go over half the game (and more in the future) and while I didn't watch it, by the boxscore he didnt embarass himself. Colorado has a fairly solid offense (home or away) so Im not focusing too much on the earned runs. It was good for the kid to get "roughed" up a bit, break any ego he had down and let him go back out there next time and focus. Any insight on the game other than the boxscores...its not over yet, Milwaukee still has a chance to pull this one out.

keeps the guys cheaper whenever they become arby eledgable...(no wins for starters that is) Im just glad the Crew won...and Jose Viz is back? I never got to see him pitch last year when he was "dynamic"....I saw him pitch a solid inning during the Cubs series...I hope he is indeed back...Id love to a success story in the pen Big night by EY means his value keeps going up up up

thats an interesting tidbit about John Stockton and Ray Allen. Ive always loved Stockton...I just appreciate an athlete who would rather play his game than talk about it. Quality man.

Im giggleing about the Jose Lima comment...I knew that he wasn't as bad as his past few years suggested...and now hes what, 3-0 and off to a solid start in 2003...thats somwhat of a humbleing story...comeback player of the year? Is that even an award in baseball? Oh well...BTW, 35 more days!!! Can't wait to start breaking down Nall vs Akili on a small sample size...which one will be the next great QB in Green Bay by judging a handful of throws. Oh wait. PLEASE NOBODY DO THIS. One Preseason doesn't dictate a career, but it will be interesting to see.

lighten up kiddos just wait...year and a half to go

When DeJean was my AllStar vote 2 weeks ago...he was just coming off being NL player of the week...things change I guess Ill tell you this though...a team will NEVER win without a solid bullpen...if not a stellar one, unless you've got 5 horses who eat up 8 innings a game, you NEED a solid bullpen. Can't just blame DeJean, Leskanic probably couldn't even pitch tonight (bad arm). I guess we could play Estrella 4 innings but you gotta figure hes not that quality.

Im telling you (and Im sure Im not the only one)...Gwynn will be Best In Show for the Crew sooner than later...whatever that means defense speed a pure hitter IIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCHHHHHIIIRRRROOOO

Ill stand by my viewpoint and Ill let you have yours Milwaukee has a weak bullpen Yost has left pitchers in games longer than he should have for the very same reasons that he can't trust what hes got to work with Ill agree that Milwaukees pen is stronger than those of other teams in last place, but whenever this team starts competiting for division titles...theres no way guys like VLDS or Kolb are going to cut it (in my opinion) Dotel-Wagner Stanton-Rivera Mota-Gagne some of the strongest 1-2 punches in the past few years all belong to winning teams Now it is my own belief that the bullpen is the most underated part of a team and that the key to success is via the relievers, but I can see others arguements I think a future bullpen led by Neugie and Diggins is a great start...the Crew would be foolish to try and bring these kids back as starters when they could turn into dominating releivers...again, my opinions All in all, the Brewers will continue to blow saves due to lack of quality men in the pen...and while Im not a fan of Milwaukees releivers, you won't here me pin a loss on one particular pitcher/play

a lot of your evaluations seemed to say "incredibly" or "on fire" so let me ask you a question...would our bullpen "not be a problem" if we were 3 games back in the NL central? NAME G W-L-Sv-Hld IP K/9 WHIP ERA Paul Shuey 26 3-1-0-6 31.1 7.8 0.89 1.15 P. Quantrill 39 0-1-2 0-10 34.1 5.2 0.93 1.57 G. Mota 32 2-2-1-6 46.2 8.5 1.03 1.93 Eric Gagne 39 1-2-29-0 39.1 15.8 0.71 2.06 Tom Martin 34 0-1-0-11 23.0 8.6 1.13 2.74 (ESPN.com statistics) LA Manager Jim Tracy does all his worrying with his offense...but when its time to turn to the bullpen...where CAN he go wrong? Only Leo Estrella and Matt Ford wouldn't look out of place in this bullpen.

I was reading the messages as my play by play...skipped to page two happy as a fiddle, and then it ended "ouch"....eek, what happened???? AAH yes, Blown save, blown opportunity, blown win, just blowin' Never can underestimate the power of a great bullpen, and frankly, Kolb/Leskanic/VLDS/Estrella/DeJean...wheres the greatness. Speaking of Johan Santana, if the Crew somehow did aquire him (or a player like him), Id be all for leaving him in the BP. A strong force to bring into the game is sooo important, espeically with a young pitching staff (next few years). Guys will be on pitch counts, and Yost and Co. need reliable arms in the pen to go to in pressure situations...which by the way, will increase in pressure as the team gets better. I feel that any team shoping a middle relief guy thats young and only needs some work would be a good investment. Think Franklyn Germain (sp) of the Tigers, hes young and inconstant, but don't think he won't become a solid force for Detroit in a few years. Bullpen is bar far the best investment a team can make. While they pitch about 1/3-1/2 the games innings, the make very little money. Invest in a bullpen, and loses like this will become an all too distant memory....oh, they'll occur, but not as often

Milwaukee has Brad Nelson to replace Geoff Jenkins down the road...he and Prince can't both play 1st. Aside from that though...look at Seattle Cameron, Winn, Ichiro, Maclamore (not sure)...neither of those players can hit 30, 20, heck, even 10 homers (though Cameron has hit some before). Your outfielders don't have to fit the protypical bill of "power hitters". The only big bat in Seattles lineup is Brett Boone...their 2nd baseman, and I doubt hes hits 40 a year consistantly. You dont necessairly need power. Gwynn, Pods, Krynzle