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Around SBN: MLB Trade Deadline: Who is available around MLB?

Friday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while looking for trouble.

Dave Bush and Manny Parra wrote the next chapter in their rotation spot battle yesterday, with Bush allowing a run on three hits, a walk and a strikeout over five innings in yesterday afternoon's "B" game, and Parra allowing five earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in five innings in last night's "A" game. Yesterday will probably be the last time both competitors pitch on the same day: The Brewers are working to schedule a game for their off day next week which would allow them to split up.

After playing their only Cactus League night game last night, the Brewers return home this afternoon to face the Angels. Jeff Suppan is today's scheduled starter, and Trevor Hoffman is scheduled to pitch the sixth inning, making his first Cactus League appearance. Tom Krasovic of MLB FanHouse has a great profile of Hoffman and his adjustment to life in Milwaukee.

This spring continues to go back and forth between "bad news" and "no news at all" for Mat Gamel, who was diagnosed with a slight tear of the latissimus dorsi muscle behind his right shoulder and will be out at least six weeks (FanShot). Anthony Witrado offered his thoughts on the situation last night, and they're about what you'd expect from AW. I was trying to decide if I wanted to post a reaction when I discovered that In-Between Hops did it for me.

Several months ago, when our own Brewer All Decade Team project had recently finished, Adam McCalvy contacted me to participate in MLB.com's version. The results were posted yesterday, and I'm pretty happy with how the story turned out. Our own FtJ even makes a cameo appearance.

Keith Law chatted with fans yesterday, and told them that he thinks Rickie Weeks' chances of reaching his potential are higher than Manny Parra's.

In the minors: Baseball America has a story on Zach Braddock, but it's subscriber only so I haven't read it.

In previews/projections, etc:

  • Walkoff Walk predicts the Brewers will win 76 games and finish fifth in the Central, behind everyone but the Astros.
  • MLB Trade Rumors has a review of the Brewer offseason.

Around baseball:

Blue Jays: Released pitcher Casey Fien and returned Rule 5 pick Zech Zinicola to the Nationals.
Cardinals: Returned Rule 5 pick Ben Jukich to the Reds.
Red Sox: Acquired minor league pitcher Miguel Celestino as the PTBNL in the Casey Kotchman-Bill Hall trade.
Rockies: Infielder Omar Quintanilla will likely open the season on the DL after being diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his knee.

If you're scoring at home, you'll note the latest transaction in a crazy spring for Casey Fien, who started the spring with the Tigers, was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox, claimed again by the Blue Jays, finally cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA, and has now been released.

The Dodgers had a scary moment yesterday, as legendary broadcaster Vin Scully had to be admitted to the hospital for observation after falling in his home and hitting his head. Thankfully, Scully is expected to be fine and is still planning on making a trip to spring training this weekend.

We've talked a fair amount about Derrick Turnbow this week, as he faced another setback that could mean the end of his major league career. If this is the end, though, he'll always have this: Beyond the Box Score says Turnbow was the most effective pitcher ever to issue more than six walks per nine innings.

Hardball Talk has a note on the Padres today, and their new practice of teaching team employees to speak Spanish. I'm surprised this isn't happening a lot more: With the minor and major leagues largely populated by players from Latin America, you'd think teams would be very interested in making sure as many people as possible can speak their language.

Maybe his career isn't over after all: Jayson Stark notes that Dontrelle Willis pitched three shutout innings in Tigers camp yesterday, and is now in position to be the team's fifth starter on Opening Day. Willis has pitched just 15 games as a Tiger over the last two seasons, posting a 8.27 ERA.

Each spring about this time we need a quick refresher on the roster rules of the season. R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs has a quick look at "options," what they are and how they're used. He doesn't, however, cover one of the most important aspects of the conversation: What happens when a player runs out of options.

Happy birthday today to 1999 and 2001 Brewer Rocky Coppinger, who turns 36.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find the perfect parking space.

Drink up.

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that new poll is one helluva catch-22

"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck

by dux2bux on Mar 19, 2010 9:17 AM CDT reply actions  

Yo la tengo

The most important Spanish phrase to know on the field.

Failure is just success rounded down.

by TheJay on Mar 19, 2010 9:21 AM CDT reply actions  

Also one of the most important bands to know when discussing music with your hipster friends

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Mar 19, 2010 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions  

I see your "Yo La Tengo"

And raise you one “Fugazi”…

"I hope your name is Rick"

by MrLeam on Mar 19, 2010 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions  

Pujols talks hitting

Pretty neat little audio snippet over at USA Today. Pujols talking about what he does while at bat.

by SgtClueLs on Mar 19, 2010 9:32 AM CDT reply actions  

Man -- I know we are obliged to dislike this guy...

but I could watch him hit all day long.

He can be toolish, but he really is a fine hitter.

Taking shallowness to new depths -- FtJ's blog

by Fatter than Joey on Mar 19, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

I think he’s the best hitter in MLB.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

That he is..

He also seems to be a “good guy” off the field too. Kind of like Suppan, but can play baseball.

Hopefully Braun can develop into a player like Pujols.

by SgtClueLs on Mar 19, 2010 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

Maybe it's his smug look on his face in the batters box..

that makes me want to slap him, but there’s no doubt he can hit.

It’s kinda like Kobe. Arrogant POS, but dude can ball!!!

by diggerd on Mar 19, 2010 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions  

Wow, do we need a Play The Editor contest?

If I didn’t have so much to do today (going on short vacation tomorrow), I’d post an edited version of Witrado’s article. Anyone want to take a serious crack at it and turn it into an article that, while whiny, would at least be appropriate for publication?

by ecocd on Mar 19, 2010 9:48 AM CDT reply actions  

It depends on what how you want to define an "article"

According to Webster’s:

“a nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent part of a publication”

And just because it’s not printed on paper, doesn’t mean that it’s not “published”. Appearing on the internet for public viewing is all that’s needed to be considered published.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

So the comments here at BCB can be considered published articles? Man, I need to update my “articles published” section of my resume!

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions  

Granted

You could make the argument that it’s not so much an “article” as it is “nonsensical ramblings”.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

Which is exactly what blogs used to be for...

Curse these newfangled fancy blogs like BCB that have standards, making the other blogs look bad by comparison!

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

I agree...to a certain extent...

While I do agree that blogs shouldn’t be held to the highest standards of editing, this particular blog is tied to the Journal Sentinal, a major newspaper. Once actual printing of newspapers dies out, all you’ll have left from these news sources is what is posted online.

Witrado writes a blog that—once everything in the newspaper goes strictly online—will be indistinguishable from of factual, professional columns. Do you really want to wake up in 5 years, go online to see the scores from last night and read: “Gallardo Lit Up by Chi-City Cubs, J/K LOL :)”?

I don’t have a problem with most of the blogs on JS Online, but Witrado’s illiteracy rivals that of Charlie Kelly. Letting a guy like that write for a publication that is trying to be recognized as a legitimate news source is a dangerous slope to be on.

by Ozzie1284 on Mar 19, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Not literally

The older generation STILL does not know what a “blog” is (my dad thinks a blog is any article that’s written online) and might find. But I think you’re missing the point: allowing unprofessional writers (whether bloggers or not) to be even loosly associated with a professional publication damages the integrity of the publication.

I hate to generalize, but I think Witrado represents how professional the younger generation thinks they need to be when posting something online. I do not want to see this type of “writing” become common practice for my major news sources.

by Ozzie1284 on Mar 19, 2010 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Unprofessional

Do you mean writers that write unprofessionally or writers who aren’t paid? Because AW is being paid for his work as a beat writer for the Brewers.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

The articles that he's PAID for writing

are far less unprofessional than the blog entries.

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

So he can’t maintain a level of professionalism throughout?

by Ozzie1284 on Mar 19, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

He could, but probably doesn't feel the need to.

Plus, he’s got an editor paid to edit the articles. Blogs are unfiltered thoughts.

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions  

So the mentality is:

“It’s not my job.” Come on, the guy really can’t take a minute to proofread for grammatical and punctuation errors before he submits it? If it’s simply that it’s not his job to write a coherent article in English, what IS this guy’s job? To give his thoughts to his editor, who will write the article for him when it’s professional; and to write stream of consciousness when he’s not being paid?

by Ozzie1284 on Mar 19, 2010 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

And if it's not his job to proofread before publishing on the web

Then I’m wasting way too much of my time proofreading.

If I published the first draft of all of my stuff, it’d look terrible too. But I take pride in my work, so I try to make it appear literate.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 19, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions   2 recs

“But I take pride in my work, so I try to make it appear literate.”

and that’s where you and AW differ.

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Rec'd to both for stating the obvious

but yet somehow I don’t know if Kyle gets enough credit.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

And thank you for doing so. It doesn’t go unnoticed!

by Ozzie1284 on Mar 19, 2010 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

If something wants to be a legitimate source of news, it shouldn’t have blogs associated with it at all, in my opinion.

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

Fine, it wasn't an article, but it was published.

Just because it didn’t appear in the paper form, doesn’t mean that it’s not a JS story, though. It should have some integrity even if it is “only” a blog entry. It makes JS look bad to have that drivel out there.

by ecocd on Mar 19, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

Heh

I don’t think AW’s blogs are the only thing that makes JS look bad.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions  

There's a LOT worse stuff on the JS Online sight, if you read the blogs.

AW’s not the only one in serious need of an editor. The whole “journalist blog” thing is a bad idea

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

Fair enough

Of course, just because everyone else is poor doesn’t make it okay for Tony Rad to be poor, as well.

by ecocd on Mar 19, 2010 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

But some are better than others...

… suggesting that some of the writers have standards for themselves, thus legitimizing the criticism of those that don’t.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Mar 20, 2010 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions  

Good point.

What it looks like is that journalists are using blogs as a means to write something that doesn’t get reviewed by an editor.

In AW’s case, his writing is bad… whether it is in a blog or in an actual article.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

Also, I don't expect a high level of professionalism out of something advertised with:

“The Journal Sentinel sports staff brings fans the latest news and inside dope on the Brewers”

Shruggity

by Mykenk on Mar 19, 2010 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

The JS has three beat writers...

TH, AW and AM.

I’m wondering if they use each one to appeal to a different demographic. Maybe they see AW as someone who appeals to a specific group of people.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

And I'm so appreciative of this

I know we’ve spent a lot of time around here getting on AW and TH about their work following the Brewers, but I don’t think we give McCalvy enough props for the quality of work he puts out. It may just be that we only have TH and AW to compare him too, but often times find myself thoroughly enjoying the topics and depth of research and writing that McCalvy puts forth on nearly a daily basis. I’m just glad we have such an alternative to the local newspaper beat guys.

BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.

by MadJimiBrewha on Mar 19, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions  

Absolutely.

The consistent quality of McCalvy’s work is phenomenal, and it’s not usually accompanied by the timeliness gap you’d expect from higher quality work.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 19, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

Completely agree.

McCalvy is by far the best writer that covers the Brewers.

by BrewHaHeather on Mar 19, 2010 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think Haudricourt's probably about as good

As a writer and reporter as McCalvy. He just has an awful attitude that vacillates between bitterness and arrogance, and that really works against him in many BCB readers’ minds.

by Cheeseandcorn on Mar 20, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions  

My bad

I thought he was with JS. Didn’t realize he was with MLB.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Didn't see this covered anywhere else

But Deadspin had a little article on the Brewers and their celebrations that I enjoyed.

BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.

by MadJimiBrewha on Mar 19, 2010 12:14 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

I'm hoping my Angels can help out my Brewers today

By shelling Suppan mercilessly, to the point that Mustache will have no choice but to dump him.

by Brew Angel on Mar 19, 2010 12:55 PM CDT reply actions  

I'm sure there are people out there who are hoping for that

But I personally would rather have Suppan just decide to retire.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

He could be

They were saying on the radio the other day that he seems completely unaware of how much he sucks. He carries himself like its all good in the ’hood.

Yeah, well, sometimes I drink.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Mar 19, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

Too Bad Parra doesnt have that makeup

In the end, its the organization’s duty to drop him if he isnt worthy. They signed him to that ridiculous contract.

Players that dont get all worked up after giving up HR or being shelled are what scouts look for. Means they have good composure and are focused. Not blowing up or losing cool.

Talent is another issue.

by backtocali on Mar 19, 2010 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

Not stupid

Many professional athletes choose to retire even though they have a contract or could easily get a contract with another team.

I think it comes with the realization that either they don’t have what it takes to be competitive (where Suppan is), they want to spend more time with their family or just don’t want to play anymore.

by sjlee on Mar 19, 2010 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Turnbow

Can you imagine the stress to their manager and fans if he set up Matt Mantei, or vice versa?

Failure is just success rounded down.

by TheJay on Mar 19, 2010 9:43 PM CDT reply actions  

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