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lukevan

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Everything posted by lukevan

  1. lukevan
    See though you can do both. Yost would pitch Turnbow, a guy who doesn't do well back to back days, in 5 run games in the 9th and then bring him the next day and watch him have no control and let him give up the lead before doing anything. Yeah, I remember that instance, but that doesn't really have anything to do with leaving a starter in too long. He probably shouldn't have used him in that instance, but if I remember right that was early in the season and Turnbow hadn't had a lot of work the week before that. After that game, it seemed to me Ned saved Turnbow for more meaningful situations (of which he blew a few). Ned really didn't have much choice at times in pitching Turnbow back to back days, unless you wanted to throw Aquino/Wise/Spurling into the game in a late tight situation. A guy could look at the game logs and see if Turnbow was put into a meaningless situation again, he may have, but I seem to remember different. To me, our starters throwing short innings last year and the overall lack of depth in the bullpen are the obvious culprits.
  2. lukevan
    I went to a ton of games the last two years where every person in the stands knew the struggling pitchers were finished and Ned left them out there Grady Little-style to blow the game. And yet Ned has been criticized on numerous occasions by many for overworking his bullpen. I'm not saying you specifically have criticized him for that, but when people are criticizing Yost on both sides of a situation, the accepted truth becomes that Yost really fouled up the situation, even though what he had to choose from was lethal injection or the electric chair. I don't think Ned has a great feel for a game, either. He goes with guys on hot streaks too long (Gwynn, Mench). I'd like to see what Ned can do with more options in the bullpen, like he hopefully will have this season. If the Brewers are mired under .500 for any meaningful stretch, I think Ned will be gone with Simba taking the reins, at least in the interim. However, I think the Crew will start off fast again and sustain a more consistent win percentage throughout the season, leaving Ned neat and tidy.
  3. lukevan
    It's the pitcher's job to know what pitch to throw and where's it going but it's the catcher's job to call the "correct" pitch (according to scouting, coaching strategy, quality of "stuff") and give the correct target (inside/outside, high/low, ball/strike). Basically, it's not the pitcher or the catcher, but both who should be "calling a good game." Catchers who are good "game-callers" help pitchers stay in rhythm, but they also know what works to get hitters out as well or better than pitchers do. The effects aren't really tangible, a boost in team ERA could casually yet understandably be credited mostly to the pitchers have "up" years without a thought given to the "baseball smarts" of the team catcher. Maybe if our pitchers' ERAs are lower across the board in 2008 we could point to the Kendall/Estrada factor, however we may also point to an improved defense as affecting pitchers' ERAs. It's a difficult quality to quantify.
  4. lukevan
    1. Diamondbacks 2. Mets 3. Brewers 4. Rockies 5. Phillies 6. Padres 7. Dodgers 8. Cubs 9. Braves 10. Reds 11. Cardinals 12. Astros 13. Marlins 14. Pirates 15. Giants 16. Nationals
  5. lukevan
    Having down time occasionally at work. Discounted hotel rooms, discounted food (fine dining, american-style restaurant fare). Discounts on shoes (from a prime shoe company).
  6. lukevan
    I'd like to see Vargas flipped for a backup catcher better than Munson, if such a deal would be possible, I'm not sure. I just always envisioned Munson as AAA fodder.
  7. lukevan
    Brown trout. There's nothing more cathartic than pulling one out of the stream, wrapping it in tinfoil and frying it up over an open campfire, all in 10 minutes. I'm really bummed since the Whitewater River valley flooded and completely washed out this past summer. I'm not sure what to expect going back in there. Tuna would be a close second but I like any lake fish (bass, walleye, panfish).
  8. lukevan
    Jeff Greyson is the new studio guy right? I'm so used to listening to Jim & Bob that Brian & Bill just don't measure up for me. Schroeder does all right but I'm sure there are plenty of former players that could do better. BA for me, like some others is too dry and doesn't seem to get into the game enough. But then, does it really matter much when it's Brewers baseball? I'd listen if it were Bob Newhart and Bobcat Goldthwait calling the game.
  9. lukevan
    I thought the ridiculous dancing guy was pretty funny actually. 1) Do the robot dance (cliche but effective) 2) Pretend to beat the crap out of one of my friends (having him play along aids the process) 3) Dump the nearest beverage on my own head (I'd recommend soda only, if it's beer don't waste it) 4) Pretend to be singing an aria with apt facial expressions. I like the monkey/lice suggestion also.
  10. lukevan
    Beef. Apparently it's what's for dinner.
  11. lukevan
    To answer the question, I'll say Cameron 1, Riske 2. Cameron's impact is that Hall and Braun play more fitting positions and Cameron also upgrades defense in CF, not to mention the potential offensive boost over Menchkins in terms of OBP and speed and the boost that Cameron's numbers may take going from a pitchers park to a neutral/hitters park. Riske I think will be our most consistent guy out of the pen. I see him pitching in a lot of 7th & 8th innings in tight situations. I'd like to see him as the main guy who replaces Turnbow when he walks the first two batters in the 8th. Not trying to slam Turnbow either, he should give us lots of great outings and hopefully his blowups will be minimalized with our new depth.
  12. lukevan
    the talk in Chicago is that there is no competition in the division. That really astounds me. I thought even homer-iffic Cubs' fans would recognize that we're at the very least legitimate threats. edit: wrong thread!! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/embarassed.gif
  13. lukevan
    Jack Kerouac?
  14. lukevan
    Thanks Haas.
  15. lukevan
    Haven't they been talking about Cuddyer in CF? I know I read something about it, but don't know if they're actually doing it. He'd be more valuable out there if he plays average defense, though I'm not sure he has good enough speed to be average. I won't really argue Cuddyer, I consider him to be very average as well for a corner OF. As for Gleeman, am I missing a link somewhere? I'm not sure which article you're referencing but would very much like to read it. Morneau was dead middle of the pack for starting 1B in terms of OPS in 07, but was 6th among 1B in OPS in 2006. He may not have been the true MVP of 2006 and he may not have the great OBP other 1B like Ortiz have, but that doesn't mean he's just an average 1B. He's still only 26, a year or two from the magical age 28 season. I think he could reasonably put up .300/.380/.570 this season, which would be just below what we'd expect out of Prince Fielder this season.
  16. lukevan
    Morneau average? 2006 OPS+ 140 2007 OPS+ 121 I know he had a bit of down year last season from his MVP campaign, but average? Maybe you can clarify what you meant or how you think he's average. For that matter: Cuddyer 2006 OPS+ 124 2007 OPS+ 111 You're right that they can't afford to lose Mauer, especially now with Morneau and Cuddyer signed. For me he's always the most important player for that offense/defense. As for the Twins contending, I think staying within 5 games of Detroit/Cleveland would be pretty impressive.
  17. lukevan
    So now we get a bunch of 17 year old and younger kids dropping their video game controllers and heading out on the town for some non-violent crime? At least they'll get a little exercise I suppose.
  18. lukevan
    Cirillo only hits LHP and he doesn't hit them as well as Bill Hall. I don't think Cirillo fits with the club no matter how much we want him on the team. As for Loretta, when would he get to play? Twice a week at best?
  19. lukevan
    "Hmm, these clothes bore me. I think I need some different ones; about seventeen thousand dollars worth should last me until March."
  20. lukevan
    With an improved defense and pitching, i doubt the brewers will come close to hitting as many homers as they did last year. they won't need as many homers to win games. Zuh? How is that going to make a difference? I don't think you'll see Braun swing any less hard just because we're up by a couple runs. I guess we'll lose about 10 HR from Estrada to Kendall and about 6-10 from Menchkins to Cameron, though Cameron could put up better numbers playing in Miller Park instead of San Diego. I think we may have a few less HR this season (still near league lead) but I don't think they'll be far behind the 07 squad. I think we can expect conservatively an OBP improvement of about .030 from each position however, which should offset any lack of homers.
  21. lukevan
    I'm seriously considering making the trip down for a weekend/few games. I have a few friends that live in the Phoenix area that I haven't seen in too long. There was a good thread last offseason (I believe in the off topic forum) that included lots of good spring training advice and experiences.
  22. lukevan
    I really like Koskie and would've been for bringing him back before the acquisition of Cameron, but in the instance of Koskie coming back, I would be compelled to start a 100% Corey Koskie against all righties and I don't want to see that happen to Bill Hall.
  23. lukevan
    Home Run 10 Triple 9 Double 7 Single 4 Walk 2 Steal 2
  24. lukevan
    Plowed last night. Haven't drank that hard in months. Still queasy at 9pm. D'oh. But there was a rousing rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" involved, which is nice.
  25. lukevan
    Trade Vargas for a cheap reliever or two. Doesn't hurt to have backup plans for a bullpen with some question marks. I'd advocate for keeping Dave Bush (long relief) and Chris Capuano (#5 starter) around.
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