Wednesday's Frosty Mug

by KLSnow on Oct 22, 2008 8:23 AM CDT Comment 15 comments

Some things to read while looking for the perfect Scrabble word.

There's not exactly a litany of fresh stuff out there, but there is some more stuff about the managerial search: Tom H. says Willie Randolph interviewed yesterday and Buck Showalter is not a candidate. In-Between Hops has some tidbits and facts about Bob Brenly. Chuckie Hacks is still rooting for Ken Macha. There's an off-day during the World Series Friday, so it's possible the Brewers could request permission to announce a winner then.

In Seattle, some were predicting the Mariners would announce their new GM yesterday, but it didn't happen. There's also a rumor floating around that the Mariners will wait until after the World Series and interview retiring Phillies GM Pat Gillick. John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer squashed that one. U.S.S. Mariner likes all the options and just hopes the new GM will be allowed to clean house. Again, since an announcement wasn't made yesterday, Friday is the first day it could happen.

Mike Cameron leads the field of potential free agent center fielders. Brewed Sports is calling Cameron the free agent signing of the year. Certainly he was a better investment than one of those squirting flowers.

Remember the walk-off grand slam Ryan Braun hit against the Pirates this season? Want to re-live it over and over? Here's the iPhone commercial featuring it.

The World Series starts tonight, as you might have heard. I won't burn too much space here analyzing it, as I'm sure you've heard about it already. I will, though, point you to the only World Series preview I read, over at WhatIfSports.

Also worth noting: During the draft in Moneyball, Billy Beane is excited, to put it mildly, to see Scott Kazmir and Cole Hamels go off the board so he can draft Nick Swisher. Swisher is having a nice MLB career, to be sure, but Kazmir and Hamels will start game 1 of the World Series tonight.

Of course, on the bad decision scale Billy Beane is still light years behind Jim Bowden, who was diagnosed with skin cancer in June but waited to undergo treatment until this week, since he didn't want to miss a week of his job as GM of the National League's worst team. Here's hoping he doesn't end up regretting that one.

Here's a guy who will get a minor league deal somewhere and make it worth someone's time: the Rockies have released 2B Jayson Nix.

The youth movement continues in Cincinnati, as the Reds have extended offers for 2009 to David Weathers (38) and Jerry Hairston (32).

It's a study in contrast: Joe Posnanski shows how being willing to work harder than anyone else can pay off, and Home Run Derby shows that no matter how determined you are, if you can't run down stairs or climb a wall, you likely won't have much success as a streaker at Fenway Park.

Oh, and today is a Woot-off. I guess I know what I'm doing today (cleaning out my garage to make a home for more cheap electronics).

Drink up.

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Braun's slam (on iPhone)

As I mentioned in the fanshot, that grand slam clip never gets old for me. When that ad comes on TV, I just have to stop and watch it.

Loved Powell’s radio call of same as well. Slightly better, though, was hearing Ueck’s voice quiver as he called the 8th-inning Braun HR vs the Cubs the following Sunday.

Ahhh, good times.

It's called "playing the percentages."

by hilbelink on Oct 22, 2008 8:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I for one cannot wait to spend 10 Mil on Cam

I love Strike outs(I have no use for democracy)

I love watching him misplay balls in Center(hell I was lucky enough to see him do it in person at least 5 times, one of his misplays most likely cost Manny Parra the win against Baltimore)

Did I mention I love strikeouts

There has to be a better/cheaper option out there please tell me there is a better cheaper option out there ;)

Let me spell it for you Cub fans O N E H U N D R E D A N D O N E Y E A R S

by WSB Chris on Oct 22, 2008 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

cheaper yes better no

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Oct 22, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

excuse me while I go put my head in the oven

Let me spell it for you Cub fans O N E H U N D R E D A N D O N E Y E A R S

by WSB Chris on Oct 22, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Melvin did a series of radio interviews

As I was driving home from work I was able to hear him on just about every sports radio show, I just followed along.

Said that he was 49% / 51% for keeping Dale. Said he’ll make a great manager some day, who knows even with the Brewers once he gets seasoned. But hinted that they’d like someone completely outside the good old boys club of the 80s Brewers.

Wouldn’t comment on who is leading, IIRC think he some what gushed about Valentine. I think he said he has an interview with Brenley on Friday and has had phone conversations with Randolph.

Other interesting tid bits….
Soup Start – Said that he gave the reigns completely to Dale who made the choice to start Soup over Gallardo.

Weeks – He brought up the entire thing about how he was 5th in scoring from the lead off position. But is that a reflection of how good Weeks is or is a reflection of the hitters behind him? Pretty much confirmed that Weeks will be 2nd base and leading off.

Hardy – Talked about how great Escobar is defensively but said he’ll be over matched in year one most likely. The move Hardy to 3rd option has been talked about, but they will not make moves until manager is brought on board. Homer mentioned that he should have started Meth Head Joe Dillon at 3rd over all other options, I died inside.

Sheets / CC: Will make an offer (As stated 1000 times before). Has had brief conversations with Mark A about finances, but will not be making offers till both sign for Free Agency, and then will make offers between declaration and when other clubs can talk with them. Said he doesn’t expect any movement right away, as no big prized free agent hasn’t signed before they engaged other clubs in recent history. Said he’s had conversations about if signing CC would be a great idea. (Aka… % of payroll tied up in one player)

Homer tried to convince DM to start TGJ over Cameron. I lost a lot of respect for Homer when he said such vile and hateful things.

Commented on our rate of Strike Outs: Said that it’s frustrating to watch, but a ball in play out has th esame effect. Then noted how balls in play can also move runners, said he doesn’t mind strike outs as long as results still happen (Well duh)

I don’t remember any comments about Bullpen additions or Gamel etc in the minors.

No comment on Peavey.

by SgtClueLs on Oct 22, 2008 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just remembered..

He did mention Gamel. Said it was a shame he didn’t get more at bats during October. Said it was due to the close race, and not because he was hurt. (Silly DM)

by SgtClueLs on Oct 22, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard him on Homer's crappy egotistical self-indulgence

I thought he didn’t have an interview with Brenley scheduled but mentioned that he had talked to him on the phone.

The reference to Weeks arose in a discussion of the Brewers getting a lead off batter and Melvin defended the job Rickie did. I didn’t interpret anything that he said as verifying that Rickie’s status was guaranteed.

The comment about Hardy was in response to Homer’s the Fake’s suggestion that the infield lineup next year be Hardy 3d, Alcides SS and Rickie 2nd. His response was that that alignment had been discussed. I think what he said about Escobar at that point was that it would take him a year to adjust as a hitter.

He didn’t really respond to Dillon at 3rd, but I would have liked to see it some. I think its a good bet that the offense would have been better. The relative value depends on Joe’s ability to field the position and that’s probably not all that good.

I find the notion of TGjr playing as something vile and hateful as amusing. TGjr would bring some advantages like left handedness although I don’t think I’ve heard anyone argue that he is superior in total to Cam, just that he isn’t 9 million worse.

He also made a quick comment about Gamel that I can’t recall exactly, but it left me with the impression that he might be with the team sooner rather than later – that was a quick impression so don’t assume its true.

Also remarked that the lack of left handed hitting hurt the team more than the offensive problems usually cited. Also made a remark about the manager’s job and how he had to work with young players and said that the Brewers were a team that would have 4A players on the roster. When he used the term, it didn’t sound like a criticism of the players he was describing. Isn’t 4A or AAAA a term of derision meaning someone who can’t compete on a major league team even though he does acceptably in the minors?

The interview is probably up if someone wanted to listen. I probably got stuff wrong.

by ol Pete on Oct 22, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

Tony Gwynn Jr. is a terrible terrible major league baseball player. He has no business seeing the field.

by James Stanley Cocanower on Oct 22, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tom H

How much more full of himself can Tom H. get…

from the second paragraph of the story…

That makes perfect sense because I’ve written from the beginning that Randolph would be one of the candidates for the job.

That is exactly why DM interviewed Randolf… because Tom H said so….

by Saberilliterate on Oct 22, 2008 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

to be cynical about it...

part of the reason, which is also probably part of the reason Willie has interviewed so much in the past, is because he’s a minority candidate, and teams are required to interview at least one minority candidate. Before Willie got the Mets job, there was plenty of talk that he was the minority candidate everybody called…but had no intention of hiring. Not that there aren’t other quality minority candidates out there, but given Doug’s stated criteria, I’m not at all surprised Willie got an interview.

(Are there other minority candidates out there with a decent amount of managerial experience? Only one I can think of who managed recently but is not currently employed as such is Frank Robinson, and I have to imagine he’s retired. There’s Jerry Royster, of course…)

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 22, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really with success

Lloyd McClendon, Tony Pena, and Carlos Tosca all managed for a few seasons.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Oct 22, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

Willie it is, then. I guess among the known candidates, my vote goes to Bobby V. I wouldn’t hate Macha, but I’d much rather have Macha if he was still taking orders from Billy Beane.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 22, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Davey

he’s latino, right?

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 22, 2008 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

right

really had me confused, though, since I am stuck on Davey Johnson. Who is definitely not Latino.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 22, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

KL

Get suckered into any woot-off deals yet? I had to work all day so I’ve missed everything so far. Happy wooting from here on out though.

Congrats 08 Crew on a fine Wild Card achievement! What do you say we keep the next postseason drought to something a little shorter than a quarter of a Century.

by MadJimiBrewha on Oct 22, 2008 5:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	91	71	.561	0	Lost 6
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	83	78	.515	7.5	Lost 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	80	82	.493	11	Won 3
Cincinnati Red Reporter	78	84	.481	13	Won 2
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	74	88	.456	17	Lost 3
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	62	99	.385	28.5	Lost 2