Thursday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 8:55 AM CST
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PrintIf you missed it, scroll down to see yesterday's post on the battles in camp this year, or perhaps the lack thereof. Over at The Official Site, Adam McCalvy has three more questions facing the Brewers. I think the answers are: Braden Looper, Bill Hall, and yes for Weeks but no for Gwynn, respectively.
Tom H. says to expect the Braden Looper deal to be announced today, but we should probably expect it later in the day as the Brewers plan to announce the limited return of Retro Fridays and hold a press conference with Amtrak this morning.
It's been a while since I've complained about Retro Fridays. The Brewers did win their last three Friday home games in 2008 to bring their record up to 8-5 on Retro Fridays. I still think it's time to look forward, not back, so I welcome the switch to one Retro Friday each month. Sully Baseball, on the other hand, wants the ball and glove logo back for good.
Perhaps the decrease in Retro Fridays will create a need for the projections to be done again: Baseball Prospectus has edited their 2009 projections for a third time, giving the Brewers an extra win to get to 86-76. The Braves and Phillies both lost a win, so the Brewers are now just one game back of the wild card in the projected standings. On the flip side, the Cubs gained two wins and now project for 97.
Thanks to reader Jim Lane, who emailed me to direct my attention to the Brewers' #8 ranking in positional prospects at Project Prospect. There's only one line about the Brewers, but they use it for a glowing endorsement of Lorenzo Cain. Also, while I'm on the subject of prospects, Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta agreed to terms yesterday.
We've already seen countless projections and predictions this spring, but for gamers, one matters more than any other: The MLB 2k9 player rankings were released yesterday. Ryan Braun is rated as the top left fielder (93 out of 100), with Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart all also making the top ten at their positions.
Spring training is almost upon us: we'll open the last door on the Brewer Advent Calendar later today. In the meantime, you have until noon today to sign up to win one of ten WhatIfSports gift certificates and until noon tomorrow to sign up to win a baseball autographed by the 2008 Nashville Sounds.
On the hot stove:
Angels: Signed Bobby Abreu to a one year deal worth $5 million.
Blue Jays: Signed Kevin Millar to a minor league deal.
Mariners: May have already reached agreement on a one year deal with Ken Griffey.
Mets: Are believed to be one of four teams that have made an offer to Will Ohman.
Nationals: Signed Adam Dunn to a two-year deal worth $20 million to play first base. As a result, Nick Johnson has asked to be traded.
Royals: Are reportedly still watching the free agent market and could make another move.
Even with Dunn, Abreu, Millar and maybe Griffey off the market, there are still a lot of free agents out there. However, the MLBPA has decided not to hold a spring training camp for free agents. Apparently they're still reminded of an underwhelming turnout in 1995.
The challenges of spring training are occasionally discussed, but I have never considered "changing your sleep cycle" as one of them. David Lennon of Newsday blogged about the challenge of being at spring training by 8 when you're used to covering games at night.
Will Ken Macha try batting Jason Kendall ninth again this season? Probably not, but David Pinto of Baseball Musings used yesterday's note from Tangotiger to make the case that he, and all other managers, should.
Are you excited for the World Baseball Classic? I bet you're not as excited as the Royals. Months ago, the organization signed 17-year-old South African Dylan Lindsay to a contract, but only one member of the organization has ever seen him pitch. The rest of the franchise will be seeing him for the first time in the WBC.
Oh, and the Rays may have overpaid for Pat Burrell, but the worst end of the deal goes to Akinori Iwamura, who now has a locker next to Elvis, Burrell's English Bulldog.
Drink up.
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How does signing a Rule 5 pick work?
So if he doesn’t make the team, Tampa has to decide to take him back at the salary he signed?
"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!"
i'd imagine they're all signed for the minimum
If we don’t want to keep him, we
1. send him through waivers — if somebody else wants to keep him and keep him on the MLB roster for the full year, they can do so.
if he clears waivers, we
2. offer him back to Tampa for $25k (half of what we paid for him). If Tampa wants him for that, they pay the money and get their player. If they don’t want him, we keep him or release him.
Often there is a step before or after #1 — offer Tampa a low-level prospect in trade for the rights to keep the player without keeping him on the big-league roster. This happens with some frequency.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 9:09 AM CST up reply actions
50K, 25K
Does that money go to the team or the player?
The fact that we signed the rule 5 pick: Does that change things and allow us to DFA him without worry, or is that just procedural?
money goes to the team.
just procedural. for pre-arb players, the team basically says “we’re giving you X dollars” and X is almost always the minimum or within shouting distance thereof. Players can’t set foot on the field unless they are signed.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
Hmmmm
What if we signed him for more than the minimum, in an attempt to discourage Tampa from taking him back? I wonder if that’s even possible.
"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!"
I'm guessing most of these guys are signed to split contracts, right?
So they get paid the minimum in the bigs, and whatever they would’ve made anyway in the minors.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions
The big question of the day:
Who or what is going to be #1 on the advent calendar? I’ll guess Miller Park. Can’t believe spring training is finally upon us!
What's behind door #1, Rod?
A new car!
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 9:09 AM CST up reply actions
Bob Uecker?
Mark A? Miller Park? US the fans?The Phrase "Pitchers and Catchers report? I felt a little ripped off the otehr day. I am giddy with excitment for noon!
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
Nope, none of those
"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!"
Ahh MLB 2K9
That’ll be a game I play much of this year in the college down time.
As for the Retros, I love them to death, as do many of the fans, but the players never seemed to particularly like them a whole lot. I always wished, in some capacity with out looking absurd, an integration of the new colors with the old logos and uni-set.
Either way, I can care less about what they look like, I just really can’t wait to get to a game soon. Spring Training is on deck, and that means everyone can walk with an added spring in their step. Man I can’t wait for some baseball.
Is the game any good?
Now that I’m out of college, I don’t play nearly as many video games as I use to, so either way it would probably be a waste of money for me, but how was 2k8? Has this game gotten any better the past couple of years? I remember buying 2k7 (or was it 2k6?) and thinking it was absolutely awful. The graphics were good, but hitting was impossible and you couldn’t even control the defense.
"You guys know me. I take a long time to analyze things."
- Ned Yost
by SunglassesAtNight on Feb 12, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions
Agree 100%
I could have wrote just about the exact same post..
Check that, I actually play more video games now that I’m done with college. It’s sad that I have more free time now that I’m working full time.
haha second that
i get around wife anger by playing after she’s in bed :)
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 12, 2009 11:26 PM CST up reply actions
Retros
Yes, I do love the ball and glove logo, but I think it is time to shelve them except for maybe once or twice a year. What I would like to see is some alternative jerseys. I always thought black jerseys look really sharp. I can imagine a black Brewers alt. jersey looking good. Also, my gf got me a dark/slate gray Hardy jersey ( I wanted a Gallardo but Hardy was the only one in this style/color) for christmas that looks really sharp. I could definitely see them using this color for an alt. jersey as well.
by MadJimiBrewha on Feb 12, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions
The 2K Games always have some annoyance about them, here or there, but what more can you ask in a baseball game? I always find them to be lots of fun, and for the better part of last season I was in Franchise mode making beyond ridiculous trades like Kendall for Longoria. I have high hopes for this year’s though because in Front Office Manager they have a lot of work done toward the Brewers looking like the Brewers, no more of that generic face/stance/delivery junk for us.
As for a black alternate jersey, I stand by what the Detriot Lions just did in terminating their black alts. Just, no black, our navy alts are fine as is. What I wondered, because I bought the shirt from Fan Zone last year, was a baby blue jersey with the dark typography of the home whites. Who’s for some old school baby blue roads?
Apart from looking like we’d be in our PJ’s, could be cool or look like this.
And to answer MadJimiBrewha, Gamel, Salome, and Escobar were in Front Office Manager and should easily be in 2K9, because they’re on the 40 man roster. As for the rest of the Minor Leagues, we’d have to rename everyone from the generic and funny names they get, like Wes Tailgate or something.
I've been playing MLB Power Pros.
The lack of legs (with disembodied feet) obviously hinders the players’ ability to look like real people, but in a cartoony way the faces and batting stances are mildly realistic. And the ballparks actually look pretty good, with nice attention to detail. As for the game itself, it’s every bit as realistic and credible as any other game/simulator I’ve played.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
It's something like that.
But I may be looking for different things than most people in a baseball game, because I also love Mario Baseball.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions
I believe you are referring to Super Mario Sluggers
and my 6 year old destroys me at that game.
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 12, 2009 11:28 PM CST up reply actions
"The lack of legs (with disembodied feet) obviously hinders the players' ability to look like real people"
Does google hit on comment threads? Because if so, it sort of creeps me out that someone could find this site by googling “disembodied feet”.
I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 12, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
Nice to know
No disembodied feet have been found where I used to live. See? Waukesha has plenty of good hiding places.
"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!"
MLB 2K9
Curious about how their minor league system works. Do they use actual minor leaguers, i.e. will Gamel, Escobar and Salome be at AAA, or are there a bunch of random named individuals in their place?
by MadJimiBrewha on Feb 12, 2009 10:14 AM CST up reply actions
I'd guess the latter
because that’s what they typically do. That or if they’ve got a guy who’s seen MLB time, they have his name and etc. For example, Corey Hart on 2K7. He had the goofiest looking hick-y slackjaw face. It was so perfect.
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 12, 2009 11:29 PM CST up reply actions
About hitting Kendall 9th...
I thought the purpose of batting your worst hitter 8th was so that he doesn’t affect the RBI production of your “best” hitters in the 1, 2, 3 spots. Following that, wouldn’t you want a higher OBP guy in the ninth spot than Kendall?
Debateable
Kendall’s career hitting stats indicate that he might suffer in the 8th spot, but be productive elsewhere.
But, I could really care less either way.
by Charlie Marlow on Feb 12, 2009 11:30 PM CST up reply actions
Love the road jerseys...
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
They are probably the best uniforms of all time. The Pirates 70’s unis with the round hats are incredible too.
The MB glove will always be my favorite logo, and that’s not even a home team bias. It’s just brilliant.
there’s a facebook group called something like this, "the greatest day of my life was when i discovered that the brewers logo was a ball and a glove and an m and a b’
The last Friday game in 2008 did NOT involve retro uniforms. I don’t know why, in particular, but they were wearing the home whites with the white top. (Suppan started, and that’s usually the one he picks.)
I believe they wore the retro stuff in warmups/BP and the players decided to ditch them before the game and go back to the regular uniforms.
Then I have further proof.
The players recognize the superiority of the new uniforms too.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
Something totally unrelated
But curious if the moderators know how many members have accounts for BrewCrewBall…
I am a big fan of Marquette, and go to this site MUScoop.com, and I love seeing how many members and guests there are online at that time, the total number of members, the most recent people who registered, and the amount of time you have spent on the site. Is there anyway to show that, or how many page hits there are here?
Maybe most of these questions should be submitted to Sportsblogs Inc… but I think it would be interesting to know how many fans are on here!
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
members
registered accounts just passed the 1,000 mark not too long ago.
for hits and page views, scroll down to the very bottom of the page, click on the multi-colored psychedelic little box.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
“I’m just ready to play. It would be great to stay, but it’s not my decision. I just want to get my swing ready.” – Nick Johnson
Amazing how the internets can turn that into, “Nick Johnson has asked to be traded.”
prediction: nick johnson has a better year than prince fielder, by maybe a lot.
question: how could it work that we end up with nick johnson and pitching in place of fielder? Would likely have to be a three-way trade, lots of interesting scenarios float through my head.
statement: the nats would be stupid not to figure out how to get dunn and johnson into the same lineup. isn’t johnson a ++ first basemen?
Bring Back The Old Logo!
yep
johnson is generally considered a good fielder.
How about … Fielder for Nick Johnson and Jordan Zimmerman? We get salary relief for ‘10, a very high upside SP (local boy to boot), Nats get much higher guaranteed production from 1B. I don’t think the Nats would do that, nor do I think it’d be the best move for the ‘09 Brewers unless a whole bunch of doctors looked at Nick Johnson and said, "wow, I can’t even tell this guy has even been injured before!"
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
That'd be fine for about a month.
Then Nick Johnson would spend the rest of the season on the DL.
He’s not the worst pitcher ever, just the worst good pitcher.
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 12, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
right.
hence the required endorsement of the majority of the AMA.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on Feb 12, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
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