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Tuesday's Frosty Mug

Got opinions? Go share them in this week's Fan Opinion Poll. Got half an hour or so to kill and want a quick recap of stuff from around the web? Grab your Frosty Mug.

BDD Recaps
BP Postseason Odds: 84.1 wins and a 20.2% shot at winning the NL Central.

With Ben Sheets returning to the mound and Mike Cameron making his Brewer debut, in Chicago against the Cubs, Tom H. wants to make sure you know today is kind of a big deal.

Thanks to reader Michael M who pointed out that The New York Times did a story on Prince's new eating habits. It's a New York Times story, so it displays all Wisconsinites as raw meat eating savages, but aside from that it's a good read.

The JS Blog notes that Prince hits more than his share of home runs at Wrigley, so this could be a good week for him.

Is Prince the best first baseman in the NL Central? The Cub Reporter wants to know. They're also asking about second basemen.

On injuries:

Hank Blalock has a torn hamstring and is out 3-4 weeks.
Troy Glaus is trying out some clear sunglasses to help him see the ball at night in St. Louis.
Alex Rodriguez has reinjured his quad and is out of the lineup for at least a few more days.
Grady Sizemore has been out since Saturday with a sprained ankle.
John Smoltz will miss his next start and may have to go on the DL with shoulder trouble.

Dusty Baker is drawn to grittiness, but apparently every now and then he incorrectly hears it: He reportedly thought Ryan Freel told him he didn't want to play everyday. That's like saying no to ice cream. Who does that?

As noted below in the minor league report, Nashville lost again last night to drop to 5-18. How long do we give them before we start worrying about the fact that our top minor league affiliate is terrible?

Baseball Happenings has posted the results from this week's Blogpoll for NL MVP. Chase Utley won overwhelmingly, as he probably should.

Baseball Musings asks if the Reds wasted money on Francisco Cordero. He's 4-for-4 in save opportunities, but the Reds have only managed to get him 4 opportunities in 25 games. Speaking of wasted money, the Giants are sending Barry Zito to the bullpen.

Carlos Quentin of the White Sox has been hit by a pitch with the bases loaded 3 times in April. That ties the MLB single season record.

Some days the stars align and everyone's talking about the same thing: Scott Adams, of Dilbert fame, attended a game over the weekend and didn't enjoy the experience. Stephen Dubner, the author of Freakonomics, blogged yesterday about ways to make the game more interesting. Sabernomics picked up on that and added a few suggestions of their own, including one that should've been adopted years ago: eliminate arguing. Confrontational umpires are one of my biggest pet peeves in baseball, so I'd welcome some kind of movement to remind them that no one paid to see them yell back at a manager/player. Baseball is the only sport I'm aware of that tolerates it.

I don't typically read Cardboard Gods, but I'm glad I followed a link there yesterday to catch this post, which is as profound as anything I've read in a long time.

That's all for today. Drink up.

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thanks for the love snow

i’d like to thank my computer, for without it, i would have been unable to make that post.

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Apr 29, 2008 9:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Minor league team

“As noted below in the minor league report, Nashville lost again last night to drop to 5-18. How long do we give them before we start worrying about the fact that our top minor league affiliate is terrible?”

I’d be more worried if the major league team was terrible and AAA contained our top prospects.

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

by TheJay on Apr 29, 2008 9:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Has AAA ever contained our top prospects?

Prince, Rickie and JJ all went from AA to the majors. YoGa, Braun and Parra only had brief stints at AAA, if I am remembering correctly. LaPorta would probably bypass AAA, except he doesn’t have a spot to play everyday in the majors.

by Getting Yosted on Apr 29, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sure

Prince, Rickie, and Corey Hart (if he’s a top prospect) were all on the 2005 Nashville team. JJ Hardy was on the 2004 team but his season was curtailed by injury.

Either way, I was speaking hypothetically. If our best minor league guys were at AAA (or AA, if you prefer) and that team was losing a lot, then I’d be more worried.

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

by TheJay on Apr 29, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cardboard Gods

I’m sitting in a Management Class bored out of my mind, thanks for the Cardboard Gods link, great read!

Personally, I think we got hosed on that one! - Harry Doyle

by reverse24 on Apr 29, 2008 10:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Matt Laporta

I think the brewers should trade Laporta for a pitcher now. We’re pretty set in the power category, at least I think, and we definitely don’t need his defense. The guy is going to be a great hitter, but I think we can get a great pitcher for him…...

Matt Cain!!!!! San Francisco needs all kinds of help, and their pitching is solid. Laporta for Matt Cain sounds good to me. Cain walks a lot, but when he’s on, he’s lights out.

by brewfan2 on Apr 29, 2008 10:55 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Interesting thought

Unless they plan to move Hart to center at some point ( I would like to keep him in right) he seems pretty much blocked unless they move Prince and put LaPorta at first. Neither of those alternatives seems too intriguing to me so I’d be open to moving him (assuming we got a great arm in return)

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on Apr 29, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you're San Francisco

Why would you trade a starting pitcher you have for cheap over the next three years for a guy who’s never played above AA? Sure, he’s a good offensive player, but if SF is really going to rebuild, they’d need a lot more than just a corner outfielder/first baseman in exchange for a guy like Cain.

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

by TheJay on Apr 29, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You really think Laporta plus a Lot More would be the only way to get Matt Cain?

You could be right, that just seems like a lot for a guy who isn’t even their ace. Of course, Barry Zito is their ace ;)

by brewfan2 on Apr 29, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well

Yovani Gallardo isn’t our team’s ace…

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

by TheJay on Apr 29, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I get your point

I think Lincecum is their ace and Yovani would be more comparable to him. I would never expect Laporta for Lincecum.

by brewfan2 on Apr 29, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anyway, as much as I love Corey Hart

it looks like LaPorta’s got a chance to be a better bat in the long run. An outfield of Braun, Hart and LaPorta makes me pretty nervous defensively, but the runs they would produce might make up for it. It is interesting to consider. So far they haven’t had much luck getting any of the young guys to sign long term deals. We know they’ve made offers to Braun and Fielder, and I think it’s safe to assume that they’ve made or will soon make an offer to Gallardo. I’m not sure they’ve made one to Hart, who not so long ago spoke publicly about wanting to stay in Milwaukee. At some point if they conclude that signing Braun or Fielder is an impossiblity, I would think Hart will become a priority, but if they’re able to buy out the first FA year or two of Braun and maybe one other player (which won’t be Fielder), then I wouldn’t count on Hart blocking LaPorta for long. I don’t think he’s going anywhere, partly because, as Jay points out, you probably aren’t going to get all that much for him anyway.

"He just needs to eat some bananas." - Lou Piniella

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 29, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

FWIW

draft picks can’t be traded until a year after they are selected. that doesn’t get in the way of your plan … we’re only about a month away.

But if we’re going to trade him for pitching, I’d rather swap him for somebody at the same level of development - find a team that is excited about LaPorta’s power, and get their top pitching prospect - something along the lines of Gallardo a year ago (though I realize we probably wouldn’t be able to get somebody that good).

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 29, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fine with me

I just want to see the brew trade him for good pitching.

by brewfan2 on Apr 29, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really think that's a pipe-dream,

It doesn’t seem likely to me that LaPorta would draw a pitcher that would have much in the way of an impact unless it’s a situation where you’re renting a quality starter for 3 months or so at the end of the year. I’d rather keep him. We’re going to have to draft the kind of pitching you have in mind…

"He just needs to eat some bananas." - Lou Piniella

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 29, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know...

Matt Garza was on the market last offseason … if a similar situation came up this offseason, I’d probably trade LaPorta for someone like that.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 29, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes,

Agreement from Jeff is all I can ask for. I mean that in the nicest way possible without any sarcasm.

by brewfan2 on Apr 29, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ha

don’t agree with me too much…i’m not right that often.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 29, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

and if you ever need

a reminder of that, let me know, and i’ll post the list. (you know, the one that starts with Nelson Cruz)

;)

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Apr 29, 2008 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you have a list?

i did come around on that one pretty quickly, though.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 29, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

While I think that would be a good idea

You just don’t see teams make prospects for prospects trades. I wonder why that is? Maybe because it is easier to look bad as it can be pretty clear who ended up on the wrong end of the trade.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Apr 29, 2008 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nashville

They need to shake things up, get some AAA grittiness going. Let’s move Ned to Nashville, and Kapler can take over the team. Who’s with me?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Apr 29, 2008 11:48 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

suddely

the Bush demotion is making some sense

by SunglassesAtNight on Apr 29, 2008 12:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Article on Cameron at ESPN

You can find it here. Also, the line for the game is brewers -108 but ESPN’s accuscore has the cubs as 52% favorites. I can’t wait to see wait to see if Project-a-tron is back from it’s weekend maintenance to break the tie.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Apr 29, 2008 12:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Did anyone know Alcides Escobar was Kelvim Escobar’s cousin?

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Apr 29, 2008 1:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

good read

I wonder if he still has his first glove and why doesn’t the Huntsville paper use a picture?

by ol Pete on Apr 29, 2008 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

anyone in wisconsin

willing to Tivo tonight’s (and wed., and thurs.) game? last year at wrigley (prince’s 2 home run game), my friend and I were on several times according to my friends, but have still never seen it personally.

by SunglassesAtNight on Apr 29, 2008 1:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Rooftop Wednesday

I’m going to be at Wrigley done right rooftop on Wednesday, unfortunately it’s with a bunch of Cubs fans, should still be fun though, as long as Ramirez doesn’t hit a walk-off in the ninth again like he did last year when I was at wrigley….....5 run first for the Crew, then nothing the rest of the game…....

Personally, I think we got hosed on that one! - Harry Doyle

by reverse24 on Apr 29, 2008 2:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that was the turning point of the season in my opintion

I remember that game well. I had a ticket to it, but sold it to a friend for face (well below market value) because I hed to get to a wedding. I watch the first few innings from my parents house in milwaukee then got on the road feeling awesome about the game. I was listening to music and didn’t turn the game back on until literally the pitch right before walk off. I was so angry, i’m not kidding, i almost swerved into on-coming traffic

by SunglassesAtNight on Apr 29, 2008 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

no more brewer games in the car for you

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Apr 29, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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NL Central Standings

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