Wednesday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Jul 21, 2010 10:03 AM CDT
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSome things to read while reevaluating your performance.
We'll lead off today with the best news: Bob Uecker, who has been away from the team since April 30, will return to work on Friday (FanShot). Uecker will hold a press conference before the game Friday to discuss the details of his return, likely including an announcement on his plans for road games. Even if it's just for games at Miller Park, it'll be great to have him back on the air.
If you took the night off last night (as I did), you missed a wild game. Dave Bush allowed nine runs in the first inning (including four unearned runs and Pedro Alvarez's first career grand slam), and while the Brewers managed to creep all the way back to 10-9, the hole was too deep to dig out of.
Somehow, despite allowing nine runs in the first inning (and ten in the game), Bush actually outlasted Pirates starter Brad Lincoln, who was pulled after allowing seven runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings.
Other notes from the field:
- Dave Bush is now the third Brewer to allow ten runs in a game this season, joining Manny Parra and Chris Narveson.
- Jim Edmonds went 4-for-5 last night with two doubles and a home run. It was the 23rd four-hit game of his career, and his third this season.
- Alcides Escobar moved up to #7 in the lineup last night and went 2-for-4 with a triple and a walk. He was also caught stealing for the third time in his last five attempts.
- Prince Fielder was hit by a pitch in the second inning, his third HBP in the last five days. Plunk Everyone has more.
- Rickie Weeks went 2-for-4 with a walk and now has hits in seven straight games.
- Pedro Alvarez's grand slam was the Pirates' first home run scoring more than two runs since May 14.
- Neil Walker was the first Pirates rookie with five hits in a game since John Wehner in 1991.
- Alvarez, Walker and Jim Edmonds are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
- CoolStandings has the Brewer playoff chances at a season-low 0.3%.
- Here are the MLB.com video highlights.
Elsewhere in ineffective pitching: Manny Parra will remain in the rotation, with Chris Capuano returning to the bullpen. That's one of several topics covered in this week's BCB Tracking Poll. Cast your vote before noon today, if you haven't already.
And elsewhere in frustrations: Carlos Gomez struck out in the ninth inning in his only plate appearance last night, and after the game this is what he told Adam McCalvy:
"Right now, my numbers are not bad. A couple more 3-for-4 games, like I had the other day, and I'm hitting .260. For me, .260 is good for everybody because of my speed and my defense. I don't need to hit .300, .330."
In other words, Carlos Gomez doesn't get it.
On trade notes:
- The Daily Something has a look at the market and ranked Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart as the second and fourth most valuable players available, respectively. Prince Fielder was left off the list.
- Ken Rosenthal reports the White Sox aren't interested in acquiring Fielder, citing money and a lack of available pitching.
By the way, Rickie Weeks is the major league leader in both home runs (18) and RBI (58) from a leadoff hitter.
Ryan Braun's power production is down once again this season, and David Golebiewski of FanGraphs has a look at why: He notes that Braun is making more contact than he used to, and hitting considerably more ground balls. He thinks Braun could add some value to his game by swinging for the fences a little more often and trading some strikeouts for some power.
Is Yovani Gallardo coming back too soon? @notkenmacha notes that Gallardo will pitch on Thursday just 2.5 weeks after straining his oblique, which normally carries a recovery time of 6-8 weeks.
In the minors:
- On the field, the affiliates went 2-3 last night. Wily Peralta led the way for the pitchers, throwing seven scoreless innings in Brevard County's 5-1 win over Palm Beach. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
- LaTroy Hawkins pitched 1.1 hitless innings last night for Nashville in his first AAA appearance, and still appears to be on pace to return to the Brewers next week.
- Josh Butler has been promoted to Nashville, meaning he's finally back where we expected him to be to start the season. After opening the year on the DL, Butler has made 13 starts between Brevard County and Huntsville and posted a combined 5.25 ERA.
- Brett Lawrie was named the Brewers' Minor League Player of the Month for June. Lawrie hit .360/.407/.579 in 114 June ABs, and remains one of the Southern League's youngest players.
- Jake Odorizzi and the Timber Rattlers have a pretty cool video up demonstrating his pitching mechanics.
If you'd like to take a moment today to consider what might have been, here's some food for thought: Nullacct has a look at where the Brewers would be if they'd won a handful of games where they were one pitch away.
On power rankings:
- SB Nation has the Brewers at 22, down one spot.
- WhatifSports has the Brewers at 22, up three spots.
Work continues on the nominations for the SBN Wisconsin Hall of Fame. Today, Bucky's 5th Quarter nominates Ron Dayne and Anonymous Eagle nominates Travis Diener. Also, Brew Hoop would like your help selecting the Bucks' nominees. We'll have our sixth nominee later today.
Elsewhere in self promotion: I'll be on Sports Buzz with Butch Stearns on The Pulse Network around 10:30 Central time today to discuss Prince Fielder and all things baseball.
Around baseball:
Braves: Reliever Jonny Venters appealed his four game suspension. His appeal was heard yesterday.
Cubs: Manager Lou Piniella plans to retire following the season.
Dodgers: Placed Manny Ramirez on the DL with a calf strain.
Mets: Signed reliever Chad Cordero to a minor league deal.
Phillies: Are expected to place Jamie Moyer on the DL with an elbow strain.
Rangers: Placed pitcher Dustin Nippert on the DL after he took a line drive off his head.
Red Sox: Designated first baseman Ryan Shealy for assignment.
Royals: Released pitcher Chris "Disco" Hayes.
The likely Moyer DL stint mentioned above will be his first in 24 years as a major leaguer. That's pretty incredible.
In today's former Brewer note: Steve Sparks and his son recently spent some time at the Hall of Fame, and discussed his time as a Brewer knuckleballer while he was there.
Happy birthday today to:
- Huntsville Star Rob Wooten, who turns 25.
- 1998-2007 Brewer Geoff Jenkins, who turns 36.
- 2001 Brewer Lance Painter, who turns 43.
- Seattle Pilot and 1970-71 and 74-77 Brewer Mike Hegan, who turns 68.
- 1962-65 Milwaukee Brave Denis Menke, who turns 70.
- 1961 Milwaukee Brave Moe Drabowsky, who would have turned 75.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have three sixes.
Drink up.
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"Allowing 10 runs"
Technically, Parra is the only one who has done that… I consider 10 earned runs as “allowing”. Any unearned runs are most likely the result of poor defense by teammates.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Gomez is only one 3-4 day away from boosting his OBP over .300
He is 8 away from a .300 average.
Have they sped up the player appeals process? I thought it used to be that a player was suspended, he appealed, and it took until his team was in New York for it to be settled. Venters’ seems quick but I guess Washington is close enough. Also,
"I was kind of shocked a little bit," Venters said about the length of his suspension. "… I think every person that I’ve hit this year has been left-handed and it’s been with the same [off-speed] pitch.
All his HBP were LHB on 93-95 mph sinkers. If that’s off-speed, does he throw 100? I wonder what word the writer replaced.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
I hate the doctored quote
I’d prefer if writers left them in, and then did some explaining later if they felt the need.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think it was replaced, I think it was inserted
A little homer bias making it off-speed. I would think Venters just said “the same pitch.”
To be honest, can't he be suspended anyway?
A player that routinely endangers other players with his playing style or wild pitching is a threat. The NFL suspends players for hits that they weren’t even flagged for during a game. Endangering other players by your incompetence should be enough to suspend you, anyway.
Why couldn’t MLB institute a policy similar to the NBA and even soccer that enough infractions, dirty or not, result in suspensions? Make up your own numbers, but 4 HBP over 100 consecutive innings, rolling innings and you’re automatically suspended one appearance (though not tossed mid-game). It could at least cut down on the intentional HBP and would protect the batters to some extent.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was thinking something along the same lines
If he argues that he wasn’t throwing at Prince (or anyone else) intentionally, is he just really that bad? Or at least really that bad with that pitch?
by junyer_mint on Jul 21, 2010 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
"the same [plunkin'] pitch"
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Jul 21, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
"Bizarre Ninth-Inning Twist" a.k.a. "Bruce Bochy is a Dick"
From an SBNation link:
He loaded the bases with one out to bring acting manager Don Mattingly to the mound for a visit. Following the visit, Mattingly took one step off the hill before turning back. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was all over Mattingly like a hawk and rushed out of the dugout. The umpires gathered and ruled Mattingly made two trips to the mound.
Wtf? I know it’s the letter of the law, but that’s certainly not in the spirit of the rule. Heck, it’s even jeopardizing the health of the cold reliever coming in to pitch. Bruce Bochy probably just lost a lot of respect in the managerial fraternity with that move, if he had any at all. He may have painted a target on his back for every itty-bitty rules violation possible. I know I’d have my interns searching the rulebook for any esoteric violation possible for the next day’s game.
They need to change that rule in the offseason to either clarify what a “visit to the mound” means (between the baselines on a direct route to the dugout?) or offer some level of interpretation of the rule for the umpires, because that’s just asinine.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm fine with what Bochy did
I’d be pissed if a manager didn’t take advantage of a rule to help his team win a game. It was a close game between two contending teams during a pennant race.
Get a ife broseph
Especially when his team got hosed on a Phil Cuzzi Special on Sunday.
Gotta take every break you can get.
SRS BSNS
I agree the rule could be changed to be more reasonable
but I would be pissed if that happened in a Brewer game and Macha didn’t do what Bochy did. He used everything in his power and within the rules to give his team the best chance to win. What’s wrong with that?
Where is all the uproar about the unwritten rules of baseball?
It’s disrespectful is what’s wrong with it. He took a minor procedural error that had no impact on the outcome of the game and turned it into a big deal and affected the outcome of the game. It’s not illegal, but he’s clearly a dick for doing it.
Would you likewise have a problem for the Yankees coming out to argue every single nitpick of the rules possible during today’s game regardless of an advantage it may cause. Maybe you could have the pitcher and 1st baseman play catch for 15 full minutes. It’s not against the rules, but it’ll driver a baserunner nuts and the batter will get so ice cold he won’t see the fastball coming.
You can’t make a rule for everything, because there needs to be common sense applied.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nope, you can't make a rule for everything...
but the rule for this DOES already exist.
If you watch the replay, both of his feet were off the dirt, and it wasn’t close. He was called back to the mound by Loney (I think). There was no actual need for him to actually hit the dirt again.
"The Milwaukee Brewers' line score is starting to resemble an international phone number" - Pittsburgh Pirates Radio during 20-0 shutout - 4-22-10
That's really the point
I’m not arguing whether it was legal – it was. Bochy was well withing his rights to call him on it. I’m arguing about the sportsmanship.
If there was no actual need for him to hit the dirt again, that just proves the point that it didn’t matter that he made the second trip to the mound. It had no tangible impact on the game and Bochy turned nothing into something.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
One might make the argument that letting someone get away with breaking a rule is unsportmanlike...
However, I’m not that person.
What I think hasn’t been mentioned that I think ruins your argument for “nothing into something” is that it is something. It’s a rules violation. The tangible impact is that he got to spend more time talking with his players. It gave Broxton an extra few seconds to recover, it gave him more time to set his defense, etc. If there wasn’t a possible advantage to re-taking the mound, then why did he? I don’t know of many people, athletes or managers or factory workers that will do extra work just for the sake of doing extra work unless it gives them a tangible advantage.
"The Milwaukee Brewers' line score is starting to resemble an international phone number" - Pittsburgh Pirates Radio during 20-0 shutout - 4-22-10
Probably should get rid of the checked swing and balk rules
Dropped third strikes, players not in the game confined to the bench/dugout, and the passing a runner ahead of you rules, too.
Minor procedural errors with as little impact outside of penalties for violating the rule, no?
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Those aren't procedural errors
I actually do disagree with dropped 3rd strikes. I don’t see how a catcher gains an advantage by intentionally failing to catch a third strike.
The other two situations impact a play is in process which doesn’t make them procedural errors at all. Having players in the dugout prevents them from potentially interfering with a fly ball in foul territory so there’s an advantage gained by breaking the rule of being outside the dugout during play. Passing a runner ahead of you impacts play as well and the confusion it costs, alone, creates an advantage.
Managerial timeouts means nothing can actually happen in the game. A runner can’t steal a base, the pitcher can’t throw a pitch, etc.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Mattingly should learn the rules
It’s not complicated.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Mattingly owned up to it and took the blame.
I don’t think he’s got a problem with what Bochy did.
SRS BSNS
I mean
You go to the mound, you walk away (AP says it was a few steps), and you go back to the mound. You went to the mound twice. It’s not rocket science.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
It's not rocket science, but it's clearly not violating the spirit of the rule
Did Bochy make a critical decision in the 2 seconds that Mattingly was leaving the mound that now could be now be undone? Of course not. It was certainly within the letter of the law, but that doesn’t make it any less unethical to call him on it.
Why is it unethical? How does it violate the spirit of the rule?
What does that even mean?
The rule is clear: you get one trip to the mound. Once you leave the pitcher’s mound, that trip is done. Going back to the mound is a second trip, which means the pitcher has to be removed. Read it here.
Mattingly’s ignorance and Bochy’s willingness to call him on it is no reason to change the rule.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
The rule is there so there isn't an advantage gained by going back out to the mound for a second consultation
At the very least, it’s to keep the game moving. Bochy, in my opinion, took a minor procedural error that had no impact on the outcome of the game and turned it into a big deal and affected the outcome of the game.
A second article said “a few steps” which is different the SBNation article that says “one foot” which would change matters a little, but if it were really “one foot” then the point still stands that the Dodgers didn’t gain any advantage or unduly slow the pace of the game with Mattingly’s actions.
He intended to reposition a fielder
That could be an advantage.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
If it’s “one step off the mound” that still doesn’t mean he gained an advantage with that one step off the mound that he wouldn’t have gained by turning his head while on the mound.
Then he should have turned his head on the mound.
Again, ignorance of the rule is no excuse.
Just curious, would you be beating this drum if the umpire had made the correct decision without Bochy being involved?
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
I'd be calling for the rule to be changed
I don’t know if I’d be calling the umpire a jerk, though. The part that really annoys me is that it was a fellow manager making the call from the dugout. I suppose that’s a double standard in a way, but life isn’t fair and I can have my opinion no matter how hypocritical it may be.
It sounds like there may have been more to the situation than the excerpt from the article implies there was. If it really were a simple, “oh I forgot to tell you one more thing” situation, then it’s a manager rule-lawyering a game, sets a precedent and creates a culture that has never helped any sport ever.
Fair enough
Though I imagine the rule was added to the books after a similar situation happened in the past so this isn’t breaking new ground.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
I want to know I see your point
I respect your opinion and the discussion. I’ve had my mind changed a few times on this board by responses. That’s why I like it here.
why isn't the rule that you can't cross the foul line twice (errrr...4 times, depending on the perspective)
or foul line (twice) after setting foot on the mound? Seems kinda strange that an “oh, I forgot to tell you” would be penalized.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
What makes the foul lines a better boundary than the pitcher's mound?
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
I would suggest making it "when the ball is live" for consistency
The opposing manager can make any adjustments he wants after there can be no other return to the mound giving the mound-visitor no advantage from being able to turn around and return to the mound.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Its not, really
If this was A.J. Hinch, would people be so upset?
Because its Don Mattingly, I think its even less excusable that he DIDN’T know the rule.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
because it gives a bit of time for "oh, shit I forgot"
without being ridiculous.
plus, umpires can break up mound visits if they feel things are taking too long. Maybe put an overall-time-out-there maximum.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
also, foul line rule
would be better than allowing him to go back to the dugout, where he could be reminded by other players and coaches additional details that should be known.
I suppose the bench can still shout, but they can when he’s on the mound anyway. And if he’s not yet at the foul line, he’s further away than the first/third base coaches who can intercept shouts.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with the foul line.
Between the lines would be a good start as opposed to the pitcher’s mound.
by Bush League All Star on Jul 21, 2010 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
did mattingly leave the 18 foot circle from the rubber?
and is that diameter or radius anyway?
If he was only a step or two off the mound, I’m guessing the removal of the pitcher was the inappropriate call by the umps.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
what's the damned size of a mound these days?
I assumed about 10ft diameter.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions
rubber is a bit more toward the back, right?
and it’s more gradually sloped coming toward the plate than behind the rubber, right?
my damned softball diamonds don’t have a mound.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Jeopardizing the health of a cold pitcher.
The call doesn’t jeopardize the health of a cold pitcher at all, because they’ll get as many warmup tosses as they need.
http://www.mlbsoup.com
It sounded like the ump only allowed the new guy eight
The number of tosses allowed is up to the umpire in that situation, it would be interesting to know why the guy didn’t give Sherrill more time.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Was he allowed to give lee-way?
I thought that was spelled out in the rulebook. 8 pitches and that’s it? I think his hands were tied. I think it’s the same situation that comes when a pitcher is ejected in the middle of an at-bat.
The end of the "Rule 8.06 Comment" says
“The substitute pitcher will be allowed eight preparatory pitches or more if in the umpire’s judgment circumstances justify.” (link)
I’m not sure if that applies to the whole rule or just the preceding paragraph which lays out a situation where the manager is ejected and the pitcher can finish the at bat so a substitute pitcher can warm up. To be honest, I’m not sure why that manager ejection situation did not apply to this situation.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Hmmmm
I guess it was just too peculiar to get all the details correct or maybe the at-bat hadn’t technically started so there was no at-bat to finish. I wonder if the umpire knew he had judgment in allowing a new relief pitcher a few more throws. It’s so rare, it would be believable that the umps may not have all had complete understanding on the field of what was supposed to happen when.
That could be
Rob Neyer’s recap is pretty good, too: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/4414/mattingly-tripped-up-by-hazy-rules
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Thanks for the link
I wouldn’t have seen it. It sounds like there may be a long discussion in the rules committee and possibly within the umpires, as well, to sort all this out.
The fact that Bochy has done this before is, I believe, a point in my “Bochy is a dick” argument.
I was thinking it's like when a pitcher gets hurt.
The ump gives the new pitcher all the time he needs to warm up. I figured he would always use that discretion with a cold pitcher.
http://www.mlbsoup.com
A couple things
Escobar had the bag stolen last night, but over-slid the bag (again). It doesn’t change the fact that he was out, but the way that it was noted above, sounds like he got thrown out on his way to the bag, rather than a good play by the fielder.
Also, and this is totally just a personal pet peave of mine, but you can’t dig yourself out of a hole. Digging, while in a hole, gets you deeper in the hole.
"The Milwaukee Brewers' line score is starting to resemble an international phone number" - Pittsburgh Pirates Radio during 20-0 shutout - 4-22-10
Couldn't you dig steps up and out of the hole?
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
by TheJay on Jul 21, 2010 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I read a children's book like that once
only the digger dug up the steps or ramp that it created and then was converted into a furnace.
Maybe Tom H. should make a furnace out of Dave Bush.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Sounds like Nazi literature
http://www.mlbsoup.com
by tcyoung on Jul 21, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yes, you could
you’d then be climbing your way out of the hole, rather than digging yourself out of a hole.
The act of digging does not get you out…The act of climbing does.
"The Milwaukee Brewers' line score is starting to resemble an international phone number" - Pittsburgh Pirates Radio during 20-0 shutout - 4-22-10
I don't call it climbing
when I don’t use my arms as part of locomotion
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 22, 2010 6:33 AM CDT up reply actions
and what do you call the action of moving up floors of a building via the stairs?
"The Milwaukee Brewers' line score is starting to resemble an international phone number" - Pittsburgh Pirates Radio during 20-0 shutout - 4-22-10
Bedard not likely to pitch this year
It seems like most of the “buy low,” injury prone pitchers that were available on the market this past off-season haven’t done much in 2010.
Get a ife broseph
"The likely Moyer DL stint mentioned above will be his first in 24 years as a major leaguer. That's pretty incredible."
Philly Inquirer says:
“Incredibly, Moyer has only spent time on the disabled list on three occasions during his 24-year career.”
LINK
by MillerParkSouth on Jul 21, 2010 11:33 AM CDT reply actions
Ok, here's why teams should be interested in Fielder
Because the next year and a half are the cheapest they will ever pay for the level of production they will receive. Taking the top 50 active players in OPS and breaking out their stats by age, here is how they perform as a group for each year in their life:
He's fat
That means he will necessarily go downhill sooner and will be absolutely terrible by the time he’s 27. He’s a terrible player. Your chart doesn’t reflect weight and age. You’re a terrible, terrible person, nullact.
He's a terrible person
I don’t need to worry about typos in his name.
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Fine.
Here’s the same group of 50, indexed by age and body mass.
by nullacct on Jul 21, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
What do the colors mean? What's with the skewed rectangle?
I really, really want to understand this picture, because I think it will give some interesting insight, but I can’t figure it out.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions
My guess
Green is the top 33% of OPS (or whatever stat it is), Red the bottom 33%, Yellow the rest.
Each dot’s a person/age combo. Rectangle tries to capture the majority of the Green’s.
http://www.twitter.com/mykenk
That would make sense
Its interesting that the majority of the green is in the 28 and 29 year old categories, and not the commonly referenced age 26 season. I know, I know: age 26 is the ‘breakout’ or ‘beginning of the peak’, so it makes sense. I just think its interesting because a lot of folks refer to it as if it were a magic year, and even communism couldn’t stop the miracle that will happen.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
or perhaps nullacct
just photoshopped together a random image:P
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions
He's the anonymous BP photographer!
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, pretty close
Each dot represents an average of the OPS for everyone at that age with the 5 closest mass indexes (weight/height in inches). The scale goes top to bottom from skinny guys (2.6) to fat guys (3.7).
You're now a cool person
That’s actually very informative. There’s evidence that weight interacts with age as far as performance over time is considered. There are obviously always going to be exceptions, but in general, the Fielders of the world will be hitting less than the Craig Counsels of the world at age 33.
Maybe that’s taking it a bit too far, but there certainly seems to be a danger of signing Fielder to his second FA contract, though not really his first.
Speaking of mound visits
The 1972 Brewers had a two trips to the mound blunder: Read all about it
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdYBEJzy-F0
Although here I’m noticing it seems like the catcher caught it outside the zone and just brought it back in…
"You have no honor!" - McClung to Fukudome
Dave Cameron's got a post up about Timmah
Apparently he topped out at 91.8 MPH last night. Not a good sign.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Average fastball velocity was 87-89 range, per the article
In any case, you can look at the raw data from the years, and its a bit alarming now. His average fastball velocity is down 2.2 MPH since 2007 (94.6 to 91.4). If he’s averaging around 88 MPH as he was last night, there’s one very likely explanation, and it will probably change the Giants’ trade deadline priorities.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions
New Ken Rosenthal tweet
Reversal from yesterday: #WhiteSox trying to accelerate talks for Prince. Problem: #Brewers want SP, and view Hudson as only a 3 or 4. #MLB.
It would be great if Macha gave Fielder a day off between now and July 31
That would fuel some great speculation.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
That would be great
I’m also getting ready for the first “Prospect X was held out of the lineup today, trade may be happening tonight” announcement.
I can’t decide if Twitter is good or bad for trade rumors, I know I’ve wasted a lot of my work day because of it (which is both good and bad in itself).
Get a ife broseph
You seem to say it with such disdain
Its not the least bit exciting to you?
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I guess
I almost like the week before the trade deadline and the off season best.
I wouldn’t say I “freak out”. I know where it comes from, and Kevin Goldstein’s scorn is about par for the course. Its just lends itself to an unpleasant air of “you friggin’ idiots, you get all worked up about a bunch of BS every time MLBTR posts something. If you were smarter (like me), you wouldn’t get worked up at all.” Why is it exciting to me? Because I’m interested in seeing how/if my team improves/ruins itself. Because I’m a fan.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions
It just happens all the time
So I find it hard to get too worked up, though I’m obviously interested in what happens with the team.
Its my fault for spending too much time online (sorry if I came off as negative), but I could pretty much write each poster’s arguments/points the moment a trade rumor is floated on Twitter.
Get a ife broseph
Oh, no I get it
My post is actually more of a vent about Goldstein. I like him, I follow him on Twitter, I respect his analysis, etc. But the utter scorn/disdain he shows for people around the trade deadline is really off-putting.
I think its silly to take too seriously ANY of Ken Rosenthal’s tweets (thus poopy pants Tom H today), and if someone sits here and scans through all trade ‘rumors’ all day long and gets super worked up about each one, I can see the derision being warranted.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Did you by chance listen to the Goldstein/Law podcast during the draft?
Apparently anyone who discusses the MLB draft is a complete idiot because they don’t have the kind of information people like Law and Goldstein do.
I actually like both of them, but they take it too far sometimes.
Get a ife broseph
Didn't listen to the podcast
But I most certainly get that air from them. They’ve got good info, but they’ve also got the ‘my shit don’t stink’ mentality, too.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Intriguing
Kenny Williams does some crazy shit; I could see him wildly overpaying…problem is I could also see him making a really shrewd deal. I feel like he and Ozzie are both equally crazy, just in completely different ways, and that’s why they hate each other.
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
If Prince gets traded soon it’s going to be a whole lot of JEd at first for the rest of the year, isn’t it?
They could sign a FA or trade
They have a few old vets they could trade for an old vet 1B, depending upon how much they like JEd at first.
Who cares?
If they trade Prince, they’re playing for 2011 and beyond anyway. Play a sack of potatoes at first. Or Dave Bush. Playing first can’t be any harder than pinch-running, can it?
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
True
But they don’t have to make a decision that matters for 2011+. They still seem to be sold on Gamel as a third baseman, though where they think he’ll fit in with McGehee around is anyone’s guess. I wouldn’t play him at first until we’ve absolutely given up on him at third—and even then, I might try training him to play RF before 1B; it’s obviously not as valuable as a third baseman, but an average RF is still half a win better than an average 1B, all things being equal.
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
Bringing Gamel up
and having him play first base this season would be monumentally moronic.
Shruggity.
Well
I want him playing first, but he shouldn’t be thrown into the fire by having him play it at MLB this year. Play in the minors. He can’t come up and take over right away, that has the potential to destroy the kid.
Shruggity.
I think RF is at least a possibility
I’m not scouty enough to know how well Gamel would adapt to it, and whether or not it makes sense, but it’ll probably end up open soon enough
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
They could bring up Koshansky
Might be worth it to see if anybody can strike out at a 50% clip in the MLB.
C'mon Joe
You can beat Brian Bixler every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Depends how many PA you set as a minimum
It’s the most PA by a position player with over 50% Ks, narrowly edging 1972 Brewer Paul Ratliff (45 PA, 23 K).
13 position players had 50% Ks in 20 or more PA. Jim Fuller of the 1973 Orioles was the worst with 17 K in 27 trips to the plate. (list)
Maybe he should play first base instead. That is, he should lie out there and we can step on him when we get a hit.
Apparently
Gordon Beckham would have to accompany Hudson for that deal to go through. I certainly wouldn’t mind having Beckham, but 2B and 3B are pretty much blocked already. Even in the minors. What happened to Viciedo? It makes more sense to include him.
My goodness.
by BrewHaHeather on Jul 21, 2010 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Fair enough
Obviously it makes more sense from our point of view, but including Beckham just doesn’t make much sense to me at all. Include another prospect if necessary to get Viciedo.
My goodness.
by BrewHaHeather on Jul 21, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Beckham alone
Is also much more valuable than Fielder is. Even if you take this years big sophmore slump into account and project him out at, lets say, only 75% of what he was initially, he winds up with about a $24 million surplus value.
Kenny Williams would have to be completely nuts to deal Hudson and Beckham for Fielder. And Melvin would be equally insane if he turned down Hudson and Viciedo. I wouldnt mind seeing Viciedo as a Brewer, he has big power potential and may not hit like Fielder could (.270-.280 range) he could do some damange behind Braun in the lineup or the #5 spot.
Id say 25 to 30 HR potential
If he gets his act together. Big raw power potential in him. Probably wont ever be very good at 3B, but if you put him at 1B his bat should be good enough.
So he's more valuable than Prince Fielder...
But will hit worse than Corey Hart? Clearly I’m not understanding this.
6 yrs of control
vs. 1.5 for Prince; it’s all about the surplus value
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
Take a look at Beyond the Boxscore's Trade Value Calculator
Fielder is due probably $15 million next year, and if you project him at say 4 WAR thats worth $16 million. Add in another $3.5 due this year and 2 more WAR for $8mm and $5mm for the compensatory draft picks equals approx $15 million.
Beckham has 4 years of total control at a lower cost, and even at a diminished WAR number comes out ahead in terms of value.
Why do everyone else's prospects cost so much
But we can’t trade ours for good players so we can win, now? Aren’t some $-WAR decisions worth more as your team gets closer to a value where you can make the postseason?
Because we emptied out the system for a few years running?
Brett Lawrie, Mat Gamel, and Alcides Escobar were the only prospects in the Brewers system to appear in BA’s pre-season top 100. Escobar’s not going anywhere, and if you trade Lawrie and Gamel, you’re left with one of the worst farm systems in all of baseball.
Are you really willing to experience 5 years of 70 wins or less?
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Absolutely
In order to get to the World Series, yes. If you don’t get to the postseason there’s really no difference between 60 wins and 89.
IF you look at that list of BA's top 100
Even WITH moving Alcides Escobar, I doubt you’re going to get, out of the three Brewers listed, a guy who will get this team to the World Series.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Two reasons.
Doug. Melvin.
What begins in fear usually ends in folly.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 21, 2010 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions
We have Mat Gamel
not Matt Gamel. Maybe Beckham would change his name to Matt Gamel.
Is your name not Bruce?
No. It’s Michael.
That’s bound to cause a lot of confusion. Mind if we call you Bruce?
Luckily, most MLB GMs *are* completely nuts
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
by SRB on Jul 21, 2010 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Commenter on that MLBTR thread
Suggested McGehee moving to first and Beckham taking over at 3rd. Can’t say I’m crazy about the idea, but it’s at least plausible.
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
Seems to be Beckham
but relatively small sample sizes for both (considering that the typical rule of thumb is you want three years of data for UZR)
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
Tom H is pissed.
The national pundits need to make up their mind.
Yesterday, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said the Chicago White Sox were not in on Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. Today, Rosenthal tweets that the White Sox “are trying to accelerate” talks with the Brewers for Fielder.
How do you go from one day not being in on Fielder to the next day accelerating talks? Does that make sense to you? Is the market really that volatile, that it can flip 180 degrees in one day?
Shruggity.
by Mykenk on Jul 21, 2010 2:35 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
how do you go from one day without rain
and the next day WITH rain?!
Does that make sense to you?!
by warwick5s on Jul 21, 2010 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
He acts like he's never been through a trade deadline before
Get off my lawn, kids!
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
The BALLS on these guys!
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Haudricourt seems like the type of guy
who’d replace his lawn with gravel to really make sure the kids stayed off of it.
SRS BSNS
by Rubie Q on Jul 21, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ha I could see it.
But then the kids would try to play sandlot baseball.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
And, and also:
he’d throw his empty beer bottles out there in the “yard” just in case the kids tried to play sandlot baseball.
SRS BSNS
by Rubie Q on Jul 21, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The neighbors might complain
Go with some kind of stone “garden” and when they come to complain claim they’ll currently standing in a place that focuses negative energies and if he wants to discuss this with you he’ll have to move 7 feet to his left where the energies are neutral. He may just leave entirely after that.
I think his point is that national stage guys should know better
Leave it to teh internets for rampant day-to-day speculation. The national guys should have more restraint and/or more reliable sources.
That's backwards
the LOCAL guys should have more reliable sources. Hell, the LOCAL guys should be the NATIONAL guys sources.
Also: random CAPITALIZATION gets points across POORLY.
Shruggity.
You put the emPHAsis on the wrong syLLAble
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions
RT: @Haudricourt: Rewers’ Jim Edmonds didn’t go for triple and cycle in final at bat last nite because right Achilles ’is killing me.
Shruggity.
"I'm too hurt to be traded, but I'd like more consistent starting time"
Tell us something we didn’t already know…
Perhaps the Brewers should play someone else who will be on the team next year AND isn't hurt?
(random CAPS and entire point in subject line a Mykenk tribute).
Get a ife broseph
by Supertramp on Jul 21, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The guy WENT 4/5 with a HR and 2 doubles
It’s tough to argue with that.
They should have taken him out late in the game for defense, though.
http://www.mlbsoup.com
Yep
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm glad he didn't try for the triple.
The Brewers were down by two at the time, and going for the extra base would have seemed very selfish to me.
I think Edmonds has a cockney accent
‘is right achilles is killing me. ’im over there. That’s the guy. Get ’im!
by ecocd on Jul 21, 2010 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I love charts
Especially with pretty colors. That one tells me the Rangers will beat the Cards in the World Series.
I wonder where the break is
It’s pretty plain to see from numbers that a team needs to spend 85-90 million on payroll to have a good chance to get into the postseason any given season (exceptions, of course, but the bulk of the teams are going to be at least 85-90 million). I wonder how NBA you can go in the MLB just focusing on a few really, really good guys and average everywhere else.
Could you spend 80% of your payroll on 3 aces and then surround them with chumps and make the postseason? Even a great AAA team would score a few runs against major league pitching every so often. Was that the Dodgers model for a while?
holy missing images batman
unless it’s shaded by the cloak of invisibility and i need a better filter on my monitor.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Now I can't see any of them.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions
why the hell did they have gomez pinch hit in the 9th above cain?
figure the rookie got lucky with 2 of his first 3 ABs and was worthless in the minors? And gomez will suddenly put things together?
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Gomez could steal second
This is a very vital with a 2-run lead. Cain is incapable of hitting doubles so Gomez was the clear choice on the 1 in 5 chance he’d get to first base and the 80% chance he could stretch that into a double.
You’re obviously not big league managing material.
My face melted a little reading that
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm guessing that was about the exact thought process
To be fair, Cain being 2-3 so far in his MLB career tells us basically dick about his talent. But yeah, he’s almost certainly the better hitter, and Gomez was first off the bench pretty much just ‘cause he’s higher on the pecking order.
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
I'm fairly certain Cain's MLE this year is better than Gomez's career line, not to mention his 2010 numbers
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions
yep...sorry...i was trying to get at Cain's minor league numbers
then forgot to make my point.
Thanks for making my point for me Charlie.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2010 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Jul 21, 2010 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
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| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Milwaukee
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Pittsburgh
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