laserbomb

I'm thinking of showing up early somewhere, but I want to make a few calls first to try to see what's up. Hitting a 24-hour Walmart at midnight would be nicer than early morning waiting, but it's hard to count on them for much. RLuz, how'd you confirm it? I believe you, and I've seen the Wii Seeker site has had all these stores down for a 12/17 shipment for about a week now. I'm hoping to pin one down along with Madden. Even with rougher graphics than the other two new systems, the price is right, the price on the games is right, and I'm excited that somebody's trying to reverse the Learn-these-14-buttons approach to these games. I've never liked Zelda but it sounds like everyone's uniformly blown away, and I might have to look into it more closely. If anyone's talked to any managers or workers willing to stand behind any kind of timeframe, how'd you do it? I'm not sure if everyone's afraid of possibly telling a customer some wrong information, but no one I've talked to here in Indiana will stand behind anything except "If they send'em, we'll put'em out."

I would rather leave Hall in center and have four guys draw straws for the leadoff spot than extend much for Crisp, since it doesn't seem our spare parts will get it done. Looks like nice defense from what I know, and maybe he could bounce back a little getting used to the hand and if Boston was bad for him. Don't know, this isn't the first thread here where big supporters say they don't know why they want him so badly. Although it is the offseason where Dave Roberts, Kenny Lofton and Jeff Suppan are all getting us tickled.

This story was posted 50 minutes ago, and if there was any possibility he'd be up for trade, this thread would have been opened 50 minutes ago. Player opt-out option after four years, good for him, and good for them to be able to hang onto a player like him in Canada. Think they'll need to dump any salary after this one? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2698288

If his ground/fly ratio were a little more extreme and he struck more out, they could play Hall really shallow for 5 infielders in some situations. Hardy and Koskie could have the left side set, Hall could play behind second, and Weeks could cover for some of Fielder's range and have shorter, easier throws to make to first. Not that that'd make his evolution easier, learning a whole other set of throws, but it'd be interesting to see in a video game or something. Hart, Nix and Gross have all played center and could cover some ground, although they couldn't cheat too much to the center and away from the lines. I kind of miss Rich Donnelly and his alignment printouts. If Dave Bush struggles through the first inning in some of his starts, they could think about moving a defender to the outfield stands, too. Who has some insight about how well this guy fields his position (for someone who leans on that D)? I read (I think earlier in this thread) his pickoff move isn't great and he's slow to home. Step into my... I'd rather not, but thanks anyway for asking.

Unfortunately, it seems like Hall doesn't want to be locked up. There's not much I'd like better than to extend Sheets, but I really believe attendance would be hurt if they locked him up for a slightly lower price before he comes back strong; that's how much people would moan about hanging on to one of the best pitchers in Brewer history after two years with assorted injuries. Edit: Early season attendance, winning would solve anything. But an extension at this point would open them to criticism now, and in the event he has two more years like those in the next four. I'd also like to see Capuano extended but have the feeling he's destined to be traded before he gets the big bucks. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Molitor says he'll be here for a physical within the next 23 hours...

Is that purely a hunch, Molitor? I always want to throw around bold statements like that, but never really have anything to base them on. I think a 600-post thread called "Suppan to Milwaukee!!! 4y/$45M" would make a lot of weekends, though, and nothing wrong with riding the gut feeling. I agree that front-loading would be more helpful to the structure of the roster than back-loading, and along the same lines of my last post, if any ace wouldn't care that the #4 starter makes so much more than him, it might be Sheets. It's hard for me to see how Suppan and Zito are related. I don't like Zito that much and would rather have Suppan for the value, but I think enough teams put Zito in a class of his own. How could a 6 yr, hundred million dollar deal do anything to slot Suppan? And the other way, the salaries will be far enough apart that unless Suppan pulls in $14M average from someone, it won't affect him. If anything, Zito should wait for Suppan to sign, but I don't see how Suppan waiting could help him much. I get the waiting, next-best-thing thing, but can't see the Mets or Rangers saying, "okay, Jeff Suppan, here's $16 million a year, you had a good couple months for the 82-game winning world champs, and our fans will love your name." Although maybe that'd be better than nothing for Texas. Also, I don't think it cheapens the idea of signing Suppan for me to think that Sheets, Capuano, and Bush will all have better years than him. It's be one thing to get upset about the salary for that kind of year, but I'd be happy to pay a 4th starter $11M if that's what the weird, backward system calls for. Edit, I get you on the numbers and how the opening day spots don't mean much. I guess I'm thinking about how Bush ended the year as #3 for practical purposes if it mattered, after starting as the #5.

I don't know if that $17M/yr 2009-10 was in all seriousness, especially combined with easily being able to trade him at that time. I'm all for creative paperwork, but I'm about speechless about how harmful that option would be. One thing that hasn't really come up, most of us probably considered Sheets' deal to be a bargain when he signed, maybe a little discount to stay where he likes it, bright future and all that. I still see this to be a huge bargain, even over the last two years for what he brings to the table, and especially with two years left at Gil Meche-type payroll. He doesn't seem like a guy who'd be bent out of shape about the #4 starter making more than him, but it's hard to see a good shot at keeping him after this contract, when he would be one of the best pitchers this decade to hit free agency with something left in his prime. I'd be happy if they offered him a 4 year, $55M extension today, last two years considered. Maybe they'd look at that next year if he bounces back strong this year, but the price would jump and it seems a lot easier to justify $16M for Sheets than $27M for Sheets and Suppan, over a third of any conceivable payroll we'd be looking at. I just think Sheets is one of the greats to wear the jersey, but I guess we have to trust Melvin and Attanasio to look at consequences while they try to improve the team. I'd have to close my eyes tight, ram my fingers in my ears and hum loudly when the contract terms are announced, but there's not much to do but trust they'd do their best not to make a move that would cripple the team in a couple years with so many guys due raises. With what's out there and what the Brewers are offering for trade, this is about the biggest move they could possibly make, and if the numbers fit together all right I'd be happy to see it. They're probably thinking about Sheets too, and we never know a guy but from anything I know, I've never heard he's been a prima donna about anything.

Ha, agreed. I'm almost anti-Wisconsin guys these days, with how much inferior guys can get built up in some parts.

I don't get it, do you mean baseball and the world are messed up? What if they spend an average of $5M a year for Braun, Bush, Fielder, Gallardo, Gross, Gwynn, Hardy, Hart, Villanueva and Weeks over the same time period (next 2 years)? It's been a while since I've seen Robocop, but I'd buy that for a dollar! I'd have ripped out my fingernails a month ago if I tried to compare all that to half a Pierre or Suppan. Bud Selig says if you want a chance to get attached to your favorite hometown stars, you should suck an egg and go watch football or basketball. It'll be a slow summer, but the NBA Finals will get you to minicamp.

Zing!!

You're right about different opinions. Maybe you're saying our 11 last year is our 6 now, and you mentioned Zach Jackson would move up from 10 to 7. I think I see what you're getting at, but when that 6 through 10 got hurt or largely bombed last year, like Peavey said, ignorance isn't bliss. And the only way you'll ever need to get anywhere near 10 is if 6-9 all bomb like our boys in 2006. In a perfect world, Villanueva wouldn't have to earn his way into the rotation a third or fourth time. I think if he shows the same through spring training, he won't have to. I don't know if that leaves Vargas as the long man/6th starter before injuries, but I'd rather count on him to step up as a fifth than Helling. I was high on Helling this time last year, too, and I even thought it might have been worth keeping him again this year. Hindsight helps a lot, but after losing the #1 and #5 starters likely kept us from knocking the world champions out of the playoffs, it's hard to hear we had deep starting pitching. I was happy about the pitching and the promise of the depth heading into last year, though, so I don't really have a point.

Hey Burnie, So you've heard Mariah say you're all she wants for Christmas (http://www.zshare.net/audio/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-mp3-hzh.html), and still nothing about the season makes you even a little happy?

With the total coma Melvin's put us into, maybe it'd pass the time to a move by guessing who'll be the first OF traded, who will all be traded, what the order will be (less important) and which teams might be involved. I'll guess Jenkins first, then Clark. As much I'd like to see a return on him, I'll say Mench stays. Hall, Mench, Hart, Gross, Nix in the OF, Anderson and Gwynn to AAA, it sounds really disappointing but I guess there's only so much wheeling and dealing to be done in a few months. I'd probably rather see Clark stay than Mench, and really rather see all three gone for decent returns, but this is my guess. I don't like to guess teams as much, but I'll throw Toronto and Texas out there, the odds are pretty good based on the past. Texas first, then Toronto and Oakland, hopefully some combination of three teams.

Sometimes I see threads where someone asks about the location of some other older thread, because it's as useful to type the search terms into your belly button as it is to try ezboard. But someone almost always comes through in the pinch, with a link to the old thread. How do you they do it? Is it just a matter of finding the right forum and flipping back back through pages until the right title shows up? Actually, I just realized that searching only this site through Google does wonders. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Hey, I'm thinking of picking one up when there's one available, and it really helps to see stuff like apparently there's 512 kb internal, and other things that I missed looking through pages on IGN and elsewhere. I might just stick with the system, Wii Sports, and pick up a second remote and nunchuk for now. I'd be interested in hearing personal opinions about the basic play and interface, and how impressed or unimpressed you all have been. I should probably play the heck out of Wii Sports for a while before buying more games, but I'm really curious about Madden (gameplay and new game options sound really fun with the new controls), Rayman (lots of mileage out of all the minigames?) and Second Opinion (performing surgeries, what's the deal, is it fun?). Any little things that've really stuck out to anyone, and that you feel like typing in, I'd be happy to read through. Thanks, never thought I'd hop on a system with the "worst" graphics so soon after launch but the idea of those controllers might have us on tennis ASAP.

This is related more to San Diego than to Mench, but Keith Law made a pretty good point: I'd most rather have Graffanino out of him, Cirillo (close second) and Counsell, and I don't like the idea of counting on the starters to play 130+ each in front of one guy who admits he can't play a week in a row and another guy I'd hate to see doing it. Maybe that's why Melvin says they can definitely keep all three, and to a point it really seems smarter than the alternative. But it sounds like GM talk at this point. Maybe Graffanino will sign somewhere, I'd guess San Diego would rather give up a pick than a player? Otherwise, maybe Mench + Graffanino could keep the relievers out of a trade. SD might as well protect their $16M investment and try to get something out of him beside "veteran leadership." PS I know this is the rumors and proposals board, but if everyone could consider doing me a little St Nick's favor and sticking it out through this thread without mentioning (rhymes with Wake Weavy), I would really be grateful to all.

That's cold, comparing anyone to Wendy Selig-Prieb. Did Kevin Towers make a drunken pass at your mom, or hit and run a biking kid or something?

I read a couple weeks ago that Kevin Towers personally told Peavy he'll be in San Diego as long as he runs the show. I know it's a business and promises are made all the time, but I think there's a better chance of getting Manny and Schmidt.

As exciting as this signing would be heading into 2007, wouldn't $15M a year blow any chance of another discount on Sheets in two years? Capuano will be due soon too, and I'd rather stick with those two at their ages given the domino effect the big signing would cause, maybe it'd even have an effect on Hall staying. It'd definitely be more inspiring than any trade involving Mench, Jenkins and more than likely Turnbow, but even though it's nice to be able to dip a toe in instead of watching with shoes on, $40M for the top three starters seems impossible unless the next wave of offensive prospects (behind Fielder/Weeks/Hart) collectively blows our mind over the next year or two.

Is this how the process actually works He's going to get on a conference call and burp the offer while drinking a glass of water. Edit: Ha ha, Team Canada below

Ha, a guy named Lifer posts about this, this thread definitely doesn't bug me. I'm worn out on all the winter meeting stroking with no action, though.

8. Fermaint 7. Thatcher 6. Gwynn 5. Jefferies 4. Rogers 3. Gallardo 2. Braun 1. Inman It's time for some dissent, unanimous anticipation for a young savior pitcher makes me nervous in these parts.

Hah, your low-rent enterprise isn't putting you in a position to succeed. But when you get a few minutes to catch up with the sock puppet you named "Ryan Braun," I'd be curious to know what he thinks about potentially playing the outfield, a story about the biggest clubhouse prankster he's ever played with, his predictions for both his first year on the All-Star team and his total number of All-Star appearances, what he thinks he can bring to a major league clubhouse, and when the Brewers will break their playoff drought. Thanks for asking.

I think it's definitely a valid point about Rivera possibly not clearing waivers. I liked watching him late this summer and I'm sure other teams noticed. We're assuming Closser will clear, so for the sake of figuring out what to do, let's assume for now Rivera wouldn't. We've been talking about him like an up-and-comer, though, which I thought he was a little more of, but he's a few years older than I thought: he's 30. That's only a couple years away from bouncing around for 2-year backup deals while only GMs and people like us care or notice, and I don't think he'd leave and tear our hearts out catching 100 games and hitting .270 or anything. Probably any other GM would know our situation and not offer much for either one, so let's enjoy it while it lasts and we should still be in good shape in April. They're not even approaching their payroll ceiling yet and there's a good chance they won't have to eat anything off Jenkins so I guess I'd rather see what Miller can do if he stays a little more fresh. Seven years difference is enough to seriously consider making sure Rivera stays close, especially until we get a better idea whether Salome can really woah solv the way Palsmo hasn't. But he'll get his shot and plenty of time to make his case. Turning 37 couldn't possibly have been any harder than trying to carry Chad Moeller's 210 (am I talking about his weight or his battng average??) for months.