Friday's Frosty Mug
Some things to read while on the phone with tech support.
The newfound Brewer plate discipline paid off again last night, as the Brewers couldn't hit Max Scherzer, but they could force him to throw 107 pitches in six innings, exposing the weak underbelly that is the D-Backs bullpen. AZ Snakepit has a rant about last night's bullpen usage.
Mike Cameron was one of several heroes for the Brewers last night. After hitting two more doubles (nine in April), Cameron's OPS is up over 1.100. On top of that, his B-Ref page is available, if you have $110 burning a hole in your pocket. Certainly, Cameron's page is becoming a free agent at the best possible time.
You know who might have that $110 laying around? The Brewers. They just signed a new deal with FS Wisconsin. FSWI promises to carry 150 Brewer games for an undisclosed number of seasons in exchange for an undisclosed amount of money.
Even if you don't have $110, you can still chat with Yovani Gallardo at 3 pm today.
Carlos Coporan had a rough trip to Milwaukee yesterday but was excited to be on the end of the bench for last night's game. Corporan isn't expected to play much while he's in town, but Ken Macha's quote in regards to Jason Kendall playing every day showed a potential lack of confidence:
"It’s 15 days. He’s caught a lot of games before, so it’s not going to kill him," Macha said of Kendall, who is hitting just .169 after going 1-for-4 in Thursday’s 4-1 win. "I would prefer to give him a day off, so we’ll see how things go. He hasn’t had very good at-bats, either. … Maybe getting a streak with a bunch of games in a row is going to help his at-bats — I hope."
Earlier this week I mentioned that minor leaguer Pedro Lambertus had been placed on the suspended list but no other details were available. Today, news has come out that Lambertus was suspended after testing positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid used in the treatment of horses. (Also noted in FanShot) Doug Melvin expressed disappointment in Lambertus for making the mistake.
Yesterday I mentioned Bob Uecker's jokes about Twitter. Big League Stew picked up the ball and asked their Twitter followers for things Bob Uecker would say, with some pretty good results.
Ob the subject of broadcasters, yesterday was Trenni's birthday. Happy belated birthday to her. Hopefully she had a better day than the chorizo, who has been forced to take some swine flu-related precautions.
The only transaction notes I have today both involve former Brewers: the Rays signed Joe Bateman (Also noted in FanShot) and the White Sox are getting ready to call up Scott Podsednik.
If you're a major league general manager looking to make another transaction, Fire Jim Bowden has a list of nine free agent pitchers to consider, including two former Brewers.
Are the Cubs starting to experience the snowball effect? A day after losing in extra innings to the Marlins, Phil Rogers is piling on to the Cubs' offseason moves.
Here's a rule you may not have known: in the event of a sac fly, the runners can advance as soon as the ball touches a fielder, even if the fielder bobbles the ball before catching it. The rule came into play last night in Kansas City.
Oh, and if you like getting surprises in the mail, this may not be a bad idea.
Drink up.
0 recs |
35 comments
|
Comments
Free Agent Pitchers
Anyone have any information on Sheets? I know he more then likely will never pitch as a Brewer again, but I’m curious if he’s still set to make a June come back.
by SgtClueLs on May 1, 2009 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I know Doug has made efforts to end any relationship we have with Sheets
But it would be nice to know we have him coming back in the middle of the season. If he’s healthy before the draft, I think we’d have an advantage in the race to sign him because we could get him rehabbing before any other team.
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't rehab involve, you know, working out?
And not just showing up, picking up a baseball, and throwing?
Sheeter was never one to keep himself in peak (or even average) physical condition. I wonder if that’s going to effect his rehab (and the length of it).
by Rubie Q on May 1, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, considering he would injure himself if he tried to work out.....
I’d still love to give him a chance in the second half.
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it would have been an issue if Sheets had signed a contract before surgery
But now that he won’t get paid until he can work…
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on May 1, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A very fair point, KL.
But if I’m a GM, I’m wondering: Is he going to just get his arm in shape, or is this going to be a wake-up call that he needs to take care of his entire body, especially his legs?
I’m not a doctor, but, since this is the Internet, I’m allowed to speculate rampantly: it seems to me that, for somebody who throws as hard as Sheets does, your legs really need to be in shape, or you’re going to put an incredible amount of stress on your arm, and have tendon and muscle injuries and all that jazz.
On the other hand: Sheeter might just be a frail ninny, and no amount of working out is going to prevent him from getting hurt again.
by Rubie Q on May 1, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couple of things…
1) If you are a real big Sheets fan and want a Brewer’s t-shirt with Sheets name & number on the back, you can still get them at Kohls. At least the one in Oak Creek had a bunch of them last night
2) Last I heard he was rehabbing with Mike Maddux in Texas. If anyone does sign him, it will be Texas – the day after the draft.
by Saberilliterate on May 1, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who'll get a hit first
Carlos Coporan or Brad Nelson? I’ll say Coporan.
by John Brew on May 1, 2009 9:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Curious about this:
What’s the threshold (of viewership/market/etc) you have to pass to justify creating your own network, like the Mets and Yanks did? That’s where the real money is, not in these FSN deals. (And yes, I know the Brewers are nowhere close to being able to do it.)
I pitch for the Hebrewers.
by MooseHaas on May 1, 2009 9:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
A google search
Tells me the Twins tried it, but it failed and closed shop after only 6 months
Here is a nice wikipedia article breakign down a lot of the teams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_on_regional_sports_networks
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
by Kyguy922 on May 1, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it would be very successful
until the Brewers start losing games.
If we can have 2 more years of success, I think a lot of the newer, more-fairweather fans will be converted to lifelong brewers fans. The fanbase has increased exponentially in the last 2 years. However, if we have a bad season, we’ll lose a lot of those fans. I think the quesiton that we should be asking is, “What is the threshold for number of winning seasons it takes to maintain the fan base?”
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know who might have that $110 laying around? The Brewers.
You’re on today, KL!
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Comparing to last year
Which obviously was an up and down and up year, through 22 games last year the Brewers were 13-9, so the 12-10 performance is not that far off. But the month of May was very troublesome for the Brewers after the sweep in Boston in 2008. Hopefully the Brewers remain hot and don’t dip below .500 again in this competitive division.
Also, I didn’t notice, but in looking at the standings at this date last year, the Brewers were 16-12 so had an extra week of games under their belts, didn’t realize the year started a week later than last year, did it have something to do with the WBC pushing the start of the regular season back?
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
by Kyguy922 on May 1, 2009 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm too lazy to look at last year's schedule
Didn’t we have a bunch or road games in May? Our May schedule is fairly light, so I don’t thinkwe’ll slump through it like we did last year.
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup again.
17 roadies in May ’08, only 12 home games.
by Rubie Q on May 1, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the killer was back-to-back sweeps @ HOU and @ FLA
Right after we (supposedly) lost Yo for the year on May 1.
by Rubie Q on May 1, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the WBC was the culprit
unfortunately, the regular season goes into October. I personally think that the season is too long as it is. There is no reason to be playing baseball in October. Baseball is a summer game, why should the most important games be played in completely different weather conditions?
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Don’t think the season every should have been expanded from 156 games… it made records less important as well… having 6 mores games over the course of a 20 year career would leave a lot more opportunities to receive all time records- but that is a minor concern, baseball is a summer sport.
League expansion and steriods have made the records almost useless, so the main concern now is how long the season is, never will the MLB shorten the season and thus profitability. Ideally if I were starting a new league from stratch, I but would create a 130-140 game season. Start the season two weeks later and end it one or two weeks week earlier.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
by Kyguy922 on May 1, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wikipedia article
Discusses the elimination of double headers also lengthening the season, if day night double headers were re-implemented- could also cut down on the number of weeks played- of course, unlikely to occur from a revenue standpoint… maybe every team plays 6-7 a year and reduce the season by another week.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
by Kyguy922 on May 1, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marlins up 4-1 on the Cubs & Harden
Harden just walked in a run. Two straight four-pitch walks.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 1, 2009 2:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And he follows that up by beaning Cantu
Piniella is taking him out.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 1, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Time to start pulling for the Astros
I want to wake up next week and see the Cubs in last place.
"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 May 1, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That would be sweet. The Cubs and their $134,809,000 payroll in last place!
by Saberilliterate on May 1, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want to wake up at the end of the season and see the Cubs in last place!
Actually, wouldn’t it be more satisfying to barely win the division over the Cubs?
by tcyoung on May 1, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope
much more satisfying if the Cubs went 58-104.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 1, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nothing is much more entertaining than
watching the Cubs collapse, especially with Harden on the mound.
Except perhaps watching Z collapse.
by Awesomo on May 1, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Z blowing up on the same day that Harden and Bradley go on the DL would be more entertaining…
by Saberilliterate on May 1, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's my new personal hero.
Taking the Cubs to the cellar, one free run at a time!
by ecocd on May 1, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where was Reed Johnson on that one?
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 1, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i really wish jj would go back to his awesome stance...
im just sayin’…
by Jamie in LA on May 1, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs



























