Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by KLSnow on Sep 1, 2009 8:56 AM CDT
in News
85 comments
As of this writing I haven't heard any news on September callups today, but it's widely expected that J.J. Hardy will join the team tonight in St. Louis. Hardy said he feels like he was being punished by the club, and definitely sounds disappointed and upset with the way things have gone. Keep Turning Up the Heat! says the timing of Hardy's return "makes it clear to everyone that service time was the primary factor in Hardy’s demotion."
The Brewers open a three game series in St. Louis tonight, meaning one of two things is about to happen:
- They'll lose the series and more or less end any hope of playoff contention, or
- They'll win, and we'll all spend the next week hearing about how "disrespectful" they are.
At least the Brewers can look back at this season and remember dominating the Pirates at home. Andy Smith of Bugs & Cranks takes a look back to May 3, 2007, the last time the Pirates won at Miller Park.
Also at Bugs & Cranks today, Tyler Maas and Jack Moore have teamed up to take a look at some lesser known Brewer stats.
Over the weekend, I reported the Brewers and Giants' deadline to work out a deal on Trevor Hoffman had passed, and he wouldn't be moving. It turns out the deadline was actually yesterday. Weekend hours apparently don't count. If that's the case, why do they say "48 hours" and not "two business days?"
In the minors:
- Alcides Escobar is representing the Brewers on the PCL Postseason All Star Team. He was the only Brewer selected.
- Second baseman Eric Farris, outfielders Caleb Gindl and Logan Schafer and pitcher Amaury Rivas were selected to the Florida State League All Star Team, joining coach Mike Guerrero.
- No Brewer farmhands were named to the Southern League All Stars. I was really hoping a Star would win Best Hustler.
- With Efrain Nieves heading out to represent Puerto Rico in the International Baseball Federation tournament, long time BCB favorite Maverick Lasker started last night for Wisconsin, and pitched seven shutout innings in his A-ball debut.
- WhatifSports moved the Brewers up three spots to 16th.
- The Hardball Times has the Brewers at 19th.
- The Sporting News has the Crew at 17th.
- Jon Heyman listed the Brewers as this season's sixth biggest disappointment.
- Sweeping the Pirates moved the Brewers from 12th to 14th in Andy Seiler's projected 2010 draft order.
-
On Power Rankings and other miscellany:
Dodgers: Acquired Jim Thome from the White Sox for a minor league infielder, acquired Jon Garland from the D-Backs for a PTBNL (maybe infielder Tony Abreu), and placed Guillermo Mota on the DL with an ingrown toenail.
Giants: Signed Brad Penny.
Marlins: Designated Luis Ayala for assignment.
Phillies: Designated infielder Brad Harman for assignment.
Rangers: Released Ryan Freel.
Rockies: Acquired Jose Contreras from the White Sox for AAA starter Brandon Hynick.
In a sport where individual failure is a large part of the game, baseball is taking steps to recognize and appropriately handle the depression and anxiety many of its players deal with on a daily basis. Tim Brown of Yahoo talked to several players, including Prince Fielder, about day to day life in the big leagues and the mental strain it places upon them.
Speaking of things that will cause mental strain: The Indians are acknowledging they will lose about $12 million this season, and could have lost as much as $20 million if they hadn't traded Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez and Carl Pavano.
There have been a lot of negative things said about the New Yankee Stadium (and justifiably so), but here's something cool I wish more stadiums would pick up on: concession-area fruit stands. (h/t C. Trent Rosecrans)
I wasn't able to find any Brewer history today, and the choices are pretty thin when it comes to birthdays, so we'll have to settle for wishing a happy birthday to Kevin Orie, who spent part of 2005 as a Nashville Sound and turns 37 today.
Drink up.
0 recs |
85 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
The Best Hustler
Was the May 1984, “Lonely Housewives” issue.
"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 Sep 1, 2009 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to call out BS
Just to make sure your claim was correct, I googled image searched “May 1984 Hustler” – and was sorely disappointed to see that was in fact no “Lonely Housewives” issue as you purport.
However, the June 1984 Hustler was the “Special Prison Edition”, which contains a prison survival guide, and a pictorial directed by Burt Ward – resulting in The Best Hustler Ever.
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since you'll google whatever we type here
The best hustler was the one featuring tubgirl
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Safesearch now activated,
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i get pissed off
whenever I’m at a new computer or I otherwise have all my cookies cleared and that damned safesearch is on.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why did Ryan Braun do an interview with Derrick Gould?
There’s no way that could turn out well. Braun could have told a story about saving babies, and Gould would have found a way to spin it the other way.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm sorry, Goold
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Free Ryan Braun interview with purchase of Remetee.
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably wanted to teach the babies how to do snow angels after saving them
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 1, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe Braun thought it was Steven J Gould
and really wanted to talk about the Burgess Shale and its implications on modern evolution.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or Jay Gould.
Trying to corner the slanted interview market.
by Zorakathura on Sep 1, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or Elliot Gould
And he wanted to know the trick to getting to host SNL
by drezdn on Sep 1, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
was he saving babies
for Prince to eat?
by lawman3842 on Sep 1, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love how when Braun
stares down a big home run he’s Lucifer but when big old Albert does it it’s more then accepted case in point his walkoff against the nationals this weekend and in the playoffs a few years back off of Lidge
by WI 2 VA on Sep 1, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Careful. That's dangerously close to saying a bad thing about The Great One, which, as you know, is punishable by death.
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd think a fate worse than death is in order
Cardinals season tickets?
by ecocd on Sep 1, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, they are the "best fans in baseball".
Lowly Brewers fans could never begin to grasp the subtleties involved in determining which player is a d-bag and which one is a saint.
by Zorakathura on Sep 1, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brewers are still disgraceful with Hardy
Every time I try to think about it from any other angle, the Brewers are still complete and total ******* for what they did to Hardy. The argument that they stuck with him 4 years ago is ridiculous. I sure wish I could go back and “correct” mistakes that I made four years ago.
You know what? I thought the Brewers were above this. Wisconsinites have certain values they stick to and blast Chicagoans all the time for bad behavior. This decision goes against what a lot of Wisconsin prides itself on.
And what message does it send to every single player that plays for Mark A and Doug Melvin now? “You’re property and nothing more – don’t ever forget it.” Maybe it’ll create a nice, cold and impersonal clubhouse like the Yankees and Red Sox have.
I hope Melvin leaves and never comes back.
by ecocd on Sep 1, 2009 10:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Get over it
Dougie increased his trade value, and did whats better for the team. At the very least, he’s under exclusive team control for 2 years and won’t be going anywhere. If you find this system unethical, I say fine, look at the NFL with it’s non guaranteed contracts and come back to me. Otherwise, relax.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Sep 1, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Hardy is so eager to be a free agent, what does it say about HIS loyalty?
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 1, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He, like all humans, just wants to get paid. He doesn't care by who. Free Agency is the key to getting paid. That's why he's eager to get there. I would be too.
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So if his goal is to get maximum return on his investment
Why is it so bad for the team to act the same way?
That’s the problem I have with the idea the team is doing something wrong.
Shrug. Whatever, over and done.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 1, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a pretty big generalization
There are those of us who care more about family, love, world peace, etc, than about money. Maybe I’m not human though.
CounsellWSMVP10!
by kirbir on Sep 1, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you guys get paid?
i just get laid
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HEEEEEEYYYYOOOO!!!
flaged.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Sep 1, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any chance
this was done in an attempt to play hardy at 3rd and escobar at SS next year with gamel starting in AAA. using McGhee and CC as super subs if a trade partner can’t be found?
by WI 2 VA on Sep 1, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
very unlikely
Hardy has shown a resistance to move to any position other than SS, as it would diminish his value. Now, I think it would be much harder to talk him into a position change.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Diminished value
Brewers: Hey JJ want to give 3rd a try?
JJ: Nope it will diminish my value
Brewers: You want dimished value we’ll give you diminished valu. NO FA for YOU!
JJ: Oops
by Junked on Sep 1, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if that were the case
he would have been playing 3B at AAA.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Melvin waited until the Brewers were essentially out of the playoff hunt before sending JJ down and taking a gamble on Escobar. Quite honestly I am pissed for Melvin not pulling the trigger sooner on sending JJ down. He probably should have gone down around the AS break. But there was still a glimmer of hope that JJ and the Brewers could have turned it around.
It had nothing to do with arbitration clocks – and here is why…
If it were, they essentially made it impossible to do the same trick to Escobar. If it were about the arbitration clock, wouldn’t they have brought up (and kept) Irribaren to be the IF sub and let Craig play short for the rest of the season?
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In what way is it impossible to do the same trick to Escobar?
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because it isn’t as ‘simple’ as 20 days of Escobar being in AAA in the third or fourth year of his career. With Escobar’s one month of service time last year and the two months this year add the 20 days that he would need to disqualify from a full season and he would have spend more than half a season in AAA to get ‘screwed’ out of a year of FA.
Now – I may not be good at math – but 3+ months of Escobar in AAA is significantly more painful than 20 days of JJ in AAA when JJ is sucking harder than GM on the government teet… That is what makes it near impossible.
JJ was batting .229 when he was sent down. That means that we are talking about the difference of 9 hits between this being an issue or not. He had 85 hits in 371 ABs to give him the Uecker like BA of .229. If he only had 74 hits – he would have been batting .199. Would anyone have dared suggest that service time was an issue without those 9 hits?
Bill Hall by comparison – had 91 hits in 404 ABs to give him a BA of .225 last year – anyone missing Billy? Maybe the bat boys because now someone is on the team that they have to fetch their bat now instead of Billy bringing it back to the dugout with him.
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
edit
Now – I may not be good at math – but 3+ months of Escobar’s 4th year in AAA is going to be significantly more painful than 20 days of JJ in AAA this year
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not if he's hitting 220 in the big leagues, then who cares?
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so why is it a big deal then for JJ to not be on the team?
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But Escobar will be too…
So you are using emotion to form your opinion instead of logic and fact. Kendall calls a great game too….
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You didn't get my point.
You seem to be making a big deal out of the fact that if we needed to “screw” Escobar out of a year of Free Agency, we’d need to send him down for longer than we sent Hardy down for.
My point was that, if he’s performing well below expectations, it won’t be a bad move to send Escobar down for >20 days.
If he’s performing well below expectations, then 3+ months of Escobar in AAA won’t be “significantly more painful than 20 days of JJ in AAA,” will it? That’s all I was trying to say.
by Mykenk on Sep 1, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that makes no sense
What’re you driving at?
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
by Lefti on Sep 1, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So very disappointed
that the first link didn’t lead to a mini helmet bikini.
by The Left Button on Sep 1, 2009 10:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
that would've been awesome
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Sep 1, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Brendanukkah wrote the Mug
You can be assured it would have.
by Cheeseandcorn on Sep 1, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WATB
I hope Hardy is never called up, and doesn’t set foot in Milwaukee again, except as an opposing batter.
by Marty McSuperFly on Sep 1, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
MLB Network 1969 Phills. v. Cubs
I am watching a replay of a telecast of Phils v. Cubs 1969 — featuring former Brewers Hisle, Money, and Briggs on the Phillies…
Jenkins v. Wise pitching.
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
by former I mean future
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
now you've even confused Doc Brown
better whip out the flux capacitor
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hardy
was playing very poorly in AAA also. my feeling is that his demotion was justified and that the more I hear personally about him, the less I like the guy. I hope we can get something decent for hm in the offseason. I like Escobar at SS WAY better.
by Mr. McGehee on Sep 1, 2009 1:18 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Have you heard some of the personality accusations against Escobar?
He’s actually been playing really well over the last week in AAA.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm going to go ahead and discount some of the accusations against Escobar.
None of them ever really materialized into actual charges. In hindsight, it just sounds like a bitter, jilted ex-wife. Everyone I’ve talked to about Escobar regarding the incident has told me he’s a good guy who made a terrible decision to get married.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on Sep 1, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marriage is overrated
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
More screwage
DM also diabolically screwed JJ in another way, now when the Brewers make their playoff run, and win their first World Series, JJ will be ineligible to play.
Take that JJ!!
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 1, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Um, no
JJ is eligible for the playoff roster. They would just need someone to be on the DL from their 40 man roster(McClung or Colome would do) at the start of the playoffs. On the 25 man on August 31st is automatically eligible for the post-season, in the organization on August 31st is eligible as an injury replacement.
by Getting Yosted on Sep 1, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah no 2009 world series ring for JJ
by Saberilliterate on Sep 1, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How come no one is talking about...
… the fact that Hardy hitting unexpectedly bad isn’t much worse than how Escobar was expected to hit (and IS hitting right now). Hardy’s projected performance going forward is STILL higher than what we should reasonably expect from Escobar at this point. Hardy’s ROS ZiPS line is .258/.320/.441. Even when you consider defense, it’s not a given that Escobar gives the Brewers the best chance to win.
As for delaying Hardy’s free agency, it was within the Brewers’ rights but it’s also completely understandable that it would upset Hardy. I can’t picture anyone in his position not being upset. We ALL knew it would. But he’s a professional athlete, so it’s expected of fans to ridicule him for being human? It’s all just so silly to me.
by rluzinski on Sep 1, 2009 3:50 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I don't think anyone's making fun of him for being upset.
What I see are some fans offended on his behalf and ripping the Brewers for making a move that cost Hardy a year of free agency and some fans (myself included) who think that Hardy’s performance merited demotion and defending with the club’s decision.
Clearly Hardy has a right to be upset about what happened. I don’t blame him for his reaction at all, which thus far at least, seems to be fairly measured and reasonable under the circumstances. From the quotes I’ve read he even appears to be acknowledging that if he would have performed better he wouldn’t be in the circumstances he’s in now.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Sep 1, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps
Prince could use a Yankee Stadium fruit stand in the clubhouse. Man, to maintain that kind of weight over the course of a season is a major feat. Maybe he has a bet going that requires him to down a case of twinkies and a two-liter bottle of pepsi for each RBI. He’d be up to a lot of twinkies by now.
by lawman3842 on Sep 1, 2009 4:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hey! It's a prince-is-fat joke from a fan of another NL central team!!!!!
how novel
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 1, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, those same fans that ridicule Braun for "admiring" a HR when Pujols does the same thing.
by sjlee on Sep 1, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So which NL Central players do Brewers fans dislike the most?
Here’s my list:
1: Soriano – Lazy, selfish jerk
2. Pujols – Jerk that suffers from God complex
3. Tejada – Lying, cheating jerk
4. Karstens – Headhunting jerk
5. Berkman – Jerk who made up his own nickname
OK, Berkman’s actually really cool, but I cannot be a fan of anyone who doesn’t like the nickname, Fat Elvis.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I cannot endorse any list that doesn't have Carlos Zambrano on it.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on Sep 1, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, good one
Angry Jerk.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
So Cards fans are as much idiotic a-holes when they’re leading the division as they were when they were behind.
Run along, Beavis. See you when you’re ritually sacrificed in the playoffs.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Sep 1, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are medical conditions where you are heavier and there's not always a lot that can be done to resolve that
But I wouldn’t expect a troll to know that one
CounsellWSMVP10!
by kirbir on Sep 1, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I don't know if I'd call genetics a medical condition
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Sep 1, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a lot more than just genetics
But whatever
CounsellWSMVP10!
by kirbir on Sep 1, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know the Hardy thing has been beaten to death...
… but Tom H. has some fairly low-key, reasonable quotes from Hardy on the blog this afternoon. Have to say that so far, at least, I like the way that Hardy’s handling the situation. He’s not hiding from it and he’s answering questions when asked, but he’s at least acknowledging the other side’s point.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Sep 1, 2009 5:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis
|
91 | 71 | .561 | 0 | Lost 6 |
|
Chicago
|
83 | 78 | .515 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
80 | 82 | .493 | 11 | Won 3 |
|
Cincinnati
|
78 | 84 | .481 | 13 | Won 2 |
|
Houston
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 17 | Lost 3 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
62 | 99 | .385 | 28.5 | Lost 2 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 10:30 PM CST)
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
