Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 20, 2011 9:30 AM CST
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSome things to read while unfollowing.
Almost immediately after I posted yesterday's Mug we got more news and clarification regarding Norichika Aoki. The Brewers have now officially been announced as the high bidder for his negotiating rights, giving them 30 days to work out a deal. Adam McCalvy has a reminder that their $2.5 million bid is fully refundable, so the risk is pretty low here but Todd Rosiak says they still waited until the last minute to decide to submit an offer. McCalvy says the Brewers plan to bring Aoki to Maryvale after the holidays for a workout with Brewer coaches and club officials.
Nick Prill of The Brewers Bar has a look at three different ways the situations with Ryan Braun and Aoki could play out. Christina Kahrl of ESPN has a look at how the new Japanese baseball impacted Aoki's game and reopens the "Corey Hart to first base" debate.
If you'd like to take a deeper look at Aoki's numbers, Baseball Reference has added Japanese stats to their site. It seems like they picked the best possible time for it.
Meanwhile, the perpetual conversation regarding Ryan Braun continues. Todd Rosiak of the JS threw some cold water on yesterday's "medication" report, saying people are "putting way too much veracity in these 'reports' that are coming out, IMO." Meanwhile, if you'd like to register your support for Braun you can join the Believe in Braun #8 Facebook or Twitter pages.
Here are today's Prince Fielder notes:
- Baseball Past and Present says the Marlins need Prince Fielder.
- Lookout Landing has a list of frequently asked questions about Fielder and the Mariners.
If you were planning on giving the gift of baseball this holiday season, your time is almost up. Today is the last day to buy a Brewers Holiday 4-Pack.
In the minors: Erick Almonte was the only Brewer in action in the Caribbean yesterday, but he scored a run in Gigantes' 4-2 win over Licey. You can read more about that in today's Winter League Notes.
If you haven't yet, please take a moment today to vote in this week's BCB Tracking Poll. Voting will remain open through the day today and results will be posted tomorrow.
Elsewhere in self-promotion: Here's a reminder that the BCB Book Club will be meeting tonight to discuss the final chapters and epilogue of The Extra 2%. Catch up on your reading and meet us back here at 7.
This morning's Mug is the 991st in BCB history. Even though the math no longer lines up perfectly, we're still holding The Night of (Approximately) 1000 Mugs two weeks from today, on January 3 at Rounding Third.
Around baseball:
Dodgers: Signed pitcher John Grabow to a minor league deal.
Nationals: Signed outfielder Mike Cameron to a minor league deal.
Padres: Signed outfieler Jeremy Hermida to a minor league deal.
Phillies: Shortstop Jimmy Rollins' new contract includes three options for 2015: a $11mm vesting option, $8mm club option and $5mm player option.
Last night's big news around baseball was the announcement that the Rangers won the bidding for the rights to negotiate with pitcher Yu Darvish of the Nippon Ham Fighters, offering $51.7 million to his former team if they can reach an agreement on a contract. $51.7 million is more than the Royals, Pays, Pirates, Padres and Indians spent on their entire rosters in 2011.
In former Brewers:
- Bill Hall reports he's lost ten pounds in the last two weeks.
- Jerry Augustine will join Doug Melvin at the Dug-Out Club's annual winter banquet in Madison in January.
Today in baseball economics:
- The Seattle Times has a look at how one Mariners minority owner was able to leverage his share of the team into several financial benefits, including a $50 million loan.
- The Mariners, by the way, are earning $45 million per season for their broadcast rights, and can renegotiate their deal following the 2015 season.
I could scour the internet day and night and I doubt I'd find anything cooler and more fascinating than this: Larry Granillo of Baseball Prospectus found a copy of a 1970s comic book featuring a baseball game between teams of superheroes and supervillians, complete with a full play-by-play. Come for the action, stay for the ridiculous bunting.
This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History notes the fourth anniversary of Geoff Jenkins' departure from Milwaukee for good. Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's also the 28th anniversary of the trade that sent Brewer all time wins leader Jim Slaton to the Angels and the 16th anniversary of B.J. Surhoff leaving the Brewers to sign with the Orioles, and it's also been 10000 days since Rollie Fingers' 1984 back surgery.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to keep it brief.
Drink up.
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Sounds like
he’s in the best shape of his life.
"...just throw that pill over the plate and I'll make it happen." - Tony Plush
by thefreewheelin76 on Dec 20, 2011 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Brewers still need a backup SS
Perhaps he just needs to use his pink bat all season long.
by Infield Fly Rule on Dec 20, 2011 9:47 AM CST up reply actions
Was wondering this, too
Wonder what it would take to get him. He might not be the worst backup option out there, I guess, though I’d still prefer someone else.
Is the backup SS the only real roster decision left at this point? Seems like some years they go into spring training needing to figure a few positions out, but this year the roster may be very predictable before spring training even begins.
by kotsaythebuzzkill on Dec 20, 2011 9:57 AM CST up reply actions
That's what free agent signings do for you.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 10:09 AM CST up reply actions
He'd be a good defensive backup
but doesn’t really offer much as a bat off the bench. The Giants are likely still in the market for a SS, so there’s still a chance he could get a starting gig.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
tapeworm mode.
i'm fighting all the french people i can find. happy cinco de mayo!
by sowingwildoats on Dec 20, 2011 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, I think Aoki can replace Braun, based on the fact that-
OMGZ THEY HAVE THE SAME HAIR AND RUN THE SAME!!!!
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 9:48 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I was looking at 2009 WBC highlights on mlb, and Aoki did the beast mode after he hit a single that scored Ichiro!
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Aoki isn't sticking his tongue out though
:(
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Post edited
I gave Jaymes Langrehr credit for a post that was actually written by Nick Prill.Fixed now.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
I think we'll go with 991A.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 20, 2011 10:51 AM CST up reply actions
That makes me think of a hexadecimal number...
Of course, if that was the case, it would be the 39,194th Mug. (Not complaining about it, just giving insight into the crazy mind of a computer nerd.)
By the way, is it nice to have the Mug done before 10 am?
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
The only reason the Mug gets done this early sometimes is because I occasionally have nothing better to do and work on it the night before.
So the amount of work is roughly the same, it’s just done on a different schedule.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 20, 2011 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Kyle -
When I show up at the 1,000 Mugs celebration (and I hope I do) – I am actually painfully shy when I try and hang out with people. The only time I’m not like this is when I’m typing semi-coherent things here.
I’m not suggesting anyone adapt to me at all, but I’ll probably just listen a lot and be really shy. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to go there.
That’s all.
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
Take a walk, do some drugs
alternately, imbibe some legal alcohol.
Inhibitions: crushed.
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:02 PM CST up reply actions
I know you're joking there.
However, that’s really borderline. The last thing needed is someone reading that, actually doing that, and creating problems. I’m not trying to yell or anything, I just worry that someone would take a comment like that the wrong way.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Are you serious?
“Take a walk, do some drugs” has been a phrase used around here for years.
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:22 PM CST up reply actions
I mean
Must only be a problem when I post it?
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
Ok, it has been used before.
I don’t know, for whatever reason when I read that earlier today it didn’t seem right.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Also, I'm not trying to pick on you.
In terms of this, I’m just a straight and narrow guy. I don’t like to go against the establishment. Personally, I’m just against getting drunk or using drugs, so that probably came out with it.
I don’t know why we’ve been clashing a lot lately. I guess we’ve just been on opposite sides of a lot of discussions.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Whatever man.
I’m a married father of two who doesn’t do drugs. If you’d bother to read any of the shit I’ve posted, you’d know that 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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 8:32 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't mean to accuse you of any of that.
I’m sorry, this just got out of hand.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Interesting to find out that-
Aoki’s sudden dropoff in production is probably from the NBL switching to a new baseball and isn’t necessarily related to a physical decline, which is what I was worried about. So, good news?
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 10:14 AM CST reply actions
Well, good and bad.
We now know that his production dropped off nearly immediately after switching to a more comparable ball.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 20, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
What I mean is,
he seems like less of an unknown because his numbers look more consistent now.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 12:06 PM CST up reply actions
We also know he's had a year to adjust to an MLB ball
It sounds like most Japanese hitters end up with similar profiles to rookies. They don’t see many good breaking balls in the minors so there’s a period of adjustment. Having seen more break on the pitches for a year, maybe the transition won’t be as rocky for Aoki.
I'd like to see his stats towards the end of the year, then.
I don’t have time to see if I can find it now, will have to look those up tonight.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Interesting post by Will Carroll today on another possibility for Braun
He says a “very credible source” told him a new option might be in play:
The new possibility is that Braun and MLB could agree to set aside the adverse analytical finding due to question about the testing procedure in return for Braun being placed in the accelerated testing program. That program allows for significantly more random tests, both in and out of competition. In at least one case, MLB has done something similar, though the previous case was challenged on chain of custody, not accuracy of testing. Assuming Braun remains negative for a period of time (likely a full year), the adverse result would be set aside. Think of it as drug testing probation.
I’ll file this under “too good to be true,” but it’s nice to see this thrown around by someone nonetheless.
by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 20, 2011 11:21 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I would not link my own fanshot on another message board if it weren't as important as this is!
This has more to do with the violation of WADA’s privacy policy, but I’ve collected lot’s of links, and one of them does match up with Carroll’s piece.
(Although I only found evidence from outside the United States . . . we’ll see!)
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
I'd say that's bad news, I guess.
If that’s his best bet.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 12:07 PM CST up reply actions
Not necessarily -
John Fahey, the President of WADA, has had a terrible relationship with MLB. He has been pushing them since 2008 to adhere to a more rigorous standard of testing. Most recently, the HGH. He was being a whiny *itch because the mlbpa and Selig ignored the requests.
It’s still a surprise that they agreed, since they’d initially wanted to wait until a valid urine test came along. Those people are like salesmen, to the point of using verbal assault tactics.
It’s all about making money – - – that’s it!
- Because these guys are so eager and impatient for MLB to agree to help them make more money with all of the testing and crap, they know that any form of mistrust on the part of MLB and its athletes will lead to a possible loss of a future business partner.
This is why the Privacy Protection is so important. From reading the WADA privacy policy, it’s clear the leak could have come from the facility itself – apparently, there is a 3rd party involved in the ‘data-protection,’ sort of like an IT specialist. They are also allowed to give information to other WADA approved labs.
The wise thing for the Pro-StupidDope-Association to do in these early phases of mlb compliance would be to lighten the punishment, so that they can have more to spend on finding dope.
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 1:19 PM CST up reply actions
I find it hard to believe
That anyone outside of the MLB would have the knowledge of which tests belong to which players. I have no knowledge of how the testing is labeled, etc., but odds are that each sample is assigned a number and those number are then paired to the player at the MLB level. I just can’t believe there would be any identifiable information regarding the sample owner outside of the MLB in an effort to avoid tampering.
BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.
by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 20, 2011 7:19 PM CST up reply actions
If he legitimately didn't do anything wrong
even getting put on probation is a loss. Would you accept a plea bargain for house arrest if you didn’t do the crime in the first place? I would still be bitter about being railroaded regardless of whether I could still be allowed to play.
If the crime didn't require proof that intended to commit it?
Yeah. I’d take house arrest.
We pull our pants up and do our jobs here.
Sigh.
I know this is a play off the comparison to the criminal justice system, and a joke (i hope) since the “justice system” actually does require proof of intent in most cases (OWI’s being the most glaring and common exception), but…
The PED testing/enforcement process isnt’ designed to be fair. It’s designed to discourage the use of PEDs. There’s no presumption of innocence after a positive test, and arguably, there shouldn’t be, and as Rubie points out, intent is irrelevant under the rules. If you disagree and you’re looking for someone to blame (besides the leaker, without whom we wouldn’t know about any of this stuff), blame the MLBPA too. They signed off on this system as part of the CBA; they accepted a system in which intent doesn’t matter and a positive test will result in a suspension roughly 99.999999% of the time.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 2:02 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
OT
I’m just curious. Isn’t an OWI by definition an intentional act? No one accidentally decides to drink or accidentally drives.
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
Can't you get an
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
?
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
...an OWI from sitting in your car while over the limit?
It doesn’t have to be shown that you had intent to drive.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 4:55 PM CST up reply actions
Yes....
… if the person behind the wheel took some action to start or manipulate the controls of the car, but that’s “operation”, the “O” in “OWI”.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:00 PM CST up reply actions
Yes and no.
The driving always is. The drinking or use of the intoxicant to the point of being under the influence almost never is (just ask the accused.) That’s why the law doesn’t include the element of intent, so the cases don’t all become about what the accused meant to do. Realistically speaking, juries take into account whether or not a person “accidentally” drives or “operates”. A person on Ambien and who is effectively sleepwalking while driving down a road is legally guilty of OWI, but they often are acquitted. A drunk guy who turns on his car in a bar parking lot to warm up in January is legally guilty of OWI, but a jury might acquit if they believe he really only wanted to warm up and had no intention to actually drive home (it helps if there’s a cab on the way, for instance). So legally, intent doesn’t matter under Wisconsin’s OWI law (or in most other locations), but in practice, it occasionally does matter.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:19 PM CST up reply actions
Cool, thanks
"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa
You forgot the sarcasm tag....
… whereas I’m just a jackass for assuming you meant it literally. I’d rather be you.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:51 PM CST up reply actions
mlb doesn't give a rat's arse about the use of PED's.
It’s all a matter of perception. Maybe I should enroll in one of Bud’s lectures at uw-Madison next year, and ask a lot of questions about that.
If he won’t talk, his eyebrows will!
(one time I ran into him while I was walking past the Pfister, and complained about the All-Star game; Tim Wakefield did not pitch. Bud’s eyebrows went berserk, and he ran into the hotel restaurant before I could comment further).
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 5:52 PM CST up reply actions
It's all about $, you mean.
And to the extent that PEDs can cost MLB its anti-trust exemption, and therefore a great deal of money, you bet your ass they care about PEDs.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 6:04 PM CST up reply actions
That's how the American criminal justice system works!
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Not really.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:01 PM CST up reply actions
Not in my experience.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
Something like 90-95% of all criminal cases end in plea-bargains
Prosecutors have enormous power to pressure defendants into taking them.
As I recall you do this for a living so I’m not pretending to know more than you about wherever you work, but those are the national statistics.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
I think 95% is probably low, in fact.
And I don’t dispute that prosecutors can leverage people into taking deals, though their leverage is less than most people suspect. The part I was disputing was the (perhaps unintended) inference that the criminal justice system railroads innocent people into taking plea deals. The leverage the prosecutor holds is entirely dependent on the evidence of guilt that’s available. If there’s little more evidence than what’s necessary to charge the crime, there’s little or no leverage to get a plea deal. The stronger the evidence, the greater the indication of guilt, and the less likely it is that the person didn’t do the crime they’re accused of.
Maybe I’m just engaging in semantics; mostly I just wanted to at least offer an opposing view to the notion that innocent people get railroaded into pleading guilty to crimes they didn’t commit. In my experience, innocent people who get charged are very, very rare, and they almost never take a plea deal. Not to say it doesn’t happen. I’m sure it does, though I’ve never seen it personally. But it’s so rare in my opinion that suggesting it’s commonplace is a bit like saying that Craig Counsell was a homerun hitter because you read an article about one of the few games in which he hit a 390ft homerun over the rightfield fence. Actually, it’s a lot worse than that, but that’s the example that comes to mind.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Incidentally...
…. that’s why good prosecutors, when making a charging decision, ask themselves two questions in this order:
1. Do I believe they’re guilty?
2. If yes, can I prove my case beyond a reasonable doubt?
Under the ethical rules governing prosecutors in Wisconsin, the only question they’re required to ask themselves before charging is: “Do I have probable cause?” But that’s a ridiculous place to stop the analysis.
Sorry for the OT stuff.
Time to play Mario-Kart with my kid.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, and... a no to either of the two questions above should result in a "No Prosecution" outcome.
At least in my opinion.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 5:34 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed.
I’m not a lawyer like TSSC, but in my experience, it seems plea bargains are often cases where the defendant was likely guilty (often caught in the act), the prosecutor has plenty of evidence, but the plea bargain saves both sides a lot of headaches: The prosecutor doesn’t have to spend loads of time and money on a trial, and the defendant can get a better deal than if they were to go to trial and (more than likely) be found guilty.
by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 20, 2011 5:36 PM CST up reply actions
Plea-bargains are offered in virtually every case. The entire system has been shaped to pressure defendants into taking them; maybe you can refuse if you have private counsel, but not if you have a public defender who has about 5 minutes available to spend on your case.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
That's a tremendous disservice to public defenders, who by and large do a fantastic job where I practice.
I don’t dispute that the system is designed to encourage plea deals. That’s the taxpayers choice when they choose to fund the system at current levels and vote for reps who continually make new laws creating new crimes without increasing the funding to the system.
In the county where I worked as a prosecutor, jury trials took a day, on average. There were generally a thousand felonies and fifteen hundred misdemeanors charged per year, plus another thousand criminal traffic cases (OWI, Hit and Run, etc). That’s 3500 trial days on those cases alone. There were 7 court branches. Multiply 7 branches by 5 workdays per week, by 52 work-weeks per year and there were 1570 trial days available per year, meaning, that if there were no holidays, no vacations, no divorces, no ordinance violations, no civil cases, no juvenile cases, no adoptions, no marriages, no small claims cases, no termination of parental rights cases, no child custody cases, no child protective services cases, ETC., you’d STILL have to settle 60% of your cases per year just to have enough days, courtrooms and judges to try the cases you have left.
When you throw in all the other kinds of cases that exist, you begin to understand why 95+% settle in plea deals: there just aren’t enough courts to do it any other way, and only huge increases in funding would change that.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
That dude with a 1/4 ounce of marijuana better be doing some hard time
since that stuff is illegal.
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:04 PM CST up reply actions
Just my opinion...
… but I think the vast majority of cops and prosecutors would respond to the legalization of weed with a collective shrug. Particularly if the legalization is limited to personal use amounts (or should I say, reasonable personal use amounts, since they routinely hear “That’s stuff is for me! I wasn’t dealing!” when they get caught with so much weed they couldn’t possibly smoke it all before it went bad.)
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 6:07 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah I agree there
I’ve got four cousins and an uncle who are police officers. I bet they’d tell you if asked point blank that it should be illegal, but if it were legalized, they couldn’t care less.
You’re not going to go out, smoke a couple of joints, then get behind the wheel and kill a family of four, either.
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions
I think you interpreted my comment wrong
I wasn’t speaking ill of public defenders; the system is such that they physically can’t spend much time on any given case (at least in many areas) and thus are predisposed to accept pleas for the exact reasons that you just cited.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Maybe I did...
… but I think you’re erroneously generalizing when you say public defenders don’t have time to do right by their cases and their clients.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
In many places, they don't.
That’s not their fault though.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Fair enough, I think that’s placing tons of faith in prosecutors though. I tend to disagree that the system is that efficient, especially in most high-volume, urban areas (e.g. Cook County).
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Well, I never practiced in Cook County.
But the fact remains that there’s a huge burden of proof to overcome anywhere. I continue to be convinced that 99.9999999999999 (ad nauseum) of the people who are convicted in this country are completely guilty of the crime they were convicted of, and I think the number is even higher when you eliminate the trial cases.
I certainly know that there are reasonable people who disagree with that though, and I’ve worked on innocence cases myself, so I know there are exceptions.
Anyway, I’m not sure how else the system could function. If you’ve got ideas, I’d be interested to hear them.
And now I really am going to go play MarioKart before my kid disowns me. :)
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 6:03 PM CST up reply actions
I do believe that if Braun is truly innocent
and he takes the probation as essentially an ultimatum – take the 50 games and proclaim your innocence or take probation and admit your guilt – he’s being railroaded.
I wouldn’t say the same about the full American justice system (now mandatory sentencing, that’s another matter entirely…).
Can Braun be truly innocent?
He tested positive for an increased level of testosterone. I don’t think anyone is arguing the validity of the test, but rather the question is whether that was due to a PED or a medication for a health problem.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Why is it bad news for him?
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Because...
… now they probably won’t get him. Which leaves him..? The Blue Jays and the Cubs? Lame.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
That's not necessarily true
After all, Jon Heyman says that they could go after Fielder as well to keep up with the Angels.
[/sarcasm]
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
And the Mariners. And maybe the Orioles.
Actually, of all the teams in pursuit I think the Mariners are the only ones that have publicly acknowledged it. They might be the only serious offer at this point.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Dec 20, 2011 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
Hard to say since we don't know what kinds of negotiations are going on
One thing is for sure, when he does finally sign with someone, it’ll be interesting to see how the Brewers’ offer compares.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Probably does
Except, of course, that it was only “willingness to offer,” not an actual offer.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
If it was an actual offer then Prince could accept right now and we'd be pretty screwed.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
"Offer" rarely means "contract in hand"
regardless of “willingness to offer” a legitimate oral offer or back-of-the-napkin offer is not binding in any way. They can call up the Brewers tomorrow morning to accept the offer, but the Brewers are well within their rights to simply say “no thanks” and I doubt anyone could blame them.
Then they didn't offer Prince a contract. I still don't get why this is such a big issue.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Two reasons...
Based on the assumption that he wants the money and a ring…
Texas, if it actually signs Darvish (for another $50 million on top of the posting fee) is likely tapped out.
AND
Prince may be left with the Mariners, O’s and other perennial also rans.
by infield fly on Dec 20, 2011 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
Like The Brewers?
Just kidding, but if only there wasn’t a market for him and we could get him back, this team would be unstopable.
by kotsaythebuzzkill on Dec 20, 2011 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah
On an unstoppable path towards bankruptcy
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
"First Aoki, now Yu! Brewers win bidding for Darvish in another surprising move"
Then Doug Melvin realizes that his five-year-old nephew has been messing around with his work computer.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
But it would be
teh shiznit if he came here to Baltimore.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
As a side note
How can anyone afford $51 million posting fee? Why would anyone post $51 million for a guy that’s never thrown a pitch to MLB hitters? I don’t care about his “stuff.” $51 million is ludicrous unless they sign him to an itty-bitty contract.
Not if they think he's really, really good.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
He's thrown a pitch to MLB hitters
It was just in the ’09 WBC.
I think he’ll be a pretty good pitcher with the usual adjustment issues that a Japanese pitcher coming to America has – he’ll run into serious fatigue issues late in the season due to the adjustment from a 6 man to 5 man rotation. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an All-Star next year though if he signs.
by kingcharlesxii on Dec 20, 2011 3:01 PM CST up reply actions
Still, $51 million on a gamble?
That’s something only a wealthy franchise could do which is yet another point in the column of “stupid payroll system.”
I have a hard time believing a team in MLB would offer another team in MLB $51 million for a fantastic AAA prospect. I don’t see this as being much different.
I bet if you had an auction Strasburg would have gotten more than that.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
I didn't agree with you until I read this.
This is probably true.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 20, 2011 7:44 PM CST up reply actions
But then you have to sign him to a big deal on top of that
I guess I could see a $50 million posting fee for Strasburg with 6 years under team control, but slap on a huge contract on top of that? Only the wealthiest of the wealthy would try that on for size.
Especially if Strasburg was only accessible through the posting system.
And Darvish is not a fantastic AAA prospect. He’s way beyond that.
And yes, the posting system is dumb. Don’t be too surprised if Texas fails to put together a deal that Darvish will agree to.
I like how that's more than the Pirates' current payroll.
A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.
by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 20, 2011 4:56 PM CST up reply actions
Checking out the new android SBN app
Its nice to have an interface that fits my evo. Using the browser was so clunky, I am having a problem commenting with it. Anyone else?
"...just throw that pill over the plate and I'll make it happen." - Tony Plush
by thefreewheelin76 on Dec 20, 2011 12:36 PM CST reply actions
I was going to say that I was surprised that there wasn't a story on the front page plugging it.
Then I looked at the front page and saw that one had been posted.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
I can log into my account with the SB Nation Android app
However, do I have to add all of the blogs I follow separately into it?
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
This is just a test post from the app.
I’m just checking out how it works.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
by -JP- on Dec 20, 2011 1:09 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
Test reply
It works
"...just throw that pill over the plate and I'll make it happen." - Tony Plush
by thefreewheelin76 on Dec 20, 2011 1:46 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
I don't like that the posts of the blogs I actually watch are going to be mixed in with the SB Nation stories that I don't want to hear about.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
You can fix that
by setting up the Lineup area. You add the blogs you want to follow there, then you can just select each one to read the posts.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Yeah, but that's two extra touches...
I don't want to do all that extra work.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Yay!
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
Look at all of the veins popping out of Braun's neck! (Sorry...that might have been sarcasm)
Cute picture… but I think Nullacct could top that based on the Thanksgiving card he made.
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 1:22 PM CST up reply actions
I missed this yesterday, but can anyone explain to me how Jason firetrucking Kubel got $15 million?
Makes the Corey Hart extension look fantastic I guess.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
We did it!!!! We made it!!!
@DKnobler Royals announce they’ve signed Yuniesky Betancourt as utility infielder
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
by SRB on Dec 20, 2011 2:41 PM CST reply actions 7 recs
The Kansas City Royals
The only team dumb enough bring in Yuniesky Betancourt twice.
by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 20, 2011 2:43 PM CST up reply actions
So if the Royals actually like Yuni
does that mean that Doug requested him as part of the Greinke package and it wasn’t just a “if you want Greinke you have to take Yuni too” deal?
Can't that question wait until tomorrow?
I think people just want to take a few minutes and enjoy this moment.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
...but to answer your question.
I would have to see how much they’re paying him.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Not really
They probably like Yuni for close to the league minimum… not the $4M that he was paid last season.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Even worse
They plan on using him as a utility infielder to play 2B, SS and 3B.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
hahahahahha yes
I am too drunk to taste this chicken.
by ThroughBeingCool on Dec 20, 2011 2:43 PM CST up reply actions
That's hilarious.
Yuni is as much of a “utility infielder” as I am.
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Dec 20, 2011 2:48 PM CST up reply actions
Sad day
in the pan of lasagna household.
We pull our pants up and do our jobs here.
by Rubie Q on Dec 20, 2011 2:50 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
the sandwich heavy portfolio wins again!
i'm fighting all the french people i can find. happy cinco de mayo!
by sowingwildoats on Dec 20, 2011 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
"Yuniesky Betancourt" is trending on twitter?!
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Actually, he's double-trending.
Both “Yuniesky Betancourt” and “Yuni” are trending.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
In Russia
Mr. Golden Hands trends YOU.
We pull our pants up and do our jobs here.
by Rubie Q on Dec 20, 2011 3:46 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Excellent
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
This may have been done through the posting system.
Brewers posted Yuniesky Betancourt. Royals bid a Chick-fil-A #2 combo w/Polynesian sauce. #done
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Meanwhile, in regards to the "utility infielder" tag.
Utility infielder Yuniesky Betancourt last played a position other than shortstop on August 29th, 2005. The day Katrina hit New Orleans
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
by -JP- on Dec 20, 2011 2:57 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
There is also a very fair and balanced reaction out there on the move.
You can find the article here.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Just watch
They’re going to move him to 2B/3B and it’s going to turn out that he’s a +15 UZR defender there.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
I'd love to see him try to field a bunt while playing 3B
Or better yet… trying to cover 1B on a bunt.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Unfortunately for Yuni
Both positions still require the fielder to actually move his feet. Not worried about him becoming a plus defender.
This is sort of disturbing, but understandable;
RoyalsReview reaction
I don’t think he needed to shoot himself in the head . . . (I really hope that’s from a movie).
It’s not even funny, so I’m not exactly sure if it is even appropriate.
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 3:13 PM CST up reply actions
Ughhhh... I regret that.
I never felt that desperate to use something like that as an escape.
FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.
by Jess'HittheBall on Dec 20, 2011 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
BR tells me that Aoki's from Miyazaki, Japan
I look forward to the sight of many pitches being spirited away by his bat.
C. Magruder scored, R. Weeks to second on balk
by alkaseitzer on Dec 20, 2011 2:59 PM CST reply actions 4 recs
i just hope he doesn't bring the toxic forest/giant ohmu with him.
i'm fighting all the french people i can find. happy cinco de mayo!
by sowingwildoats on Dec 20, 2011 3:07 PM CST up reply actions
Cuddyer to the Rockies
3-year contract
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
2012 NL Central
In case anyone else is interested, here’s how the NL Central is shaping up for next season:
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
The Brewers with the Highest Payroll*
Just doesn’t feel right.
*Granted, Chicago will probably sign someone expensive.
REWIND YOURSELF!
I'm also not sure they sign Aoki without trading someone
But who knows what’s going on with the payroll this season.
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
...The cards are paying 11 mil for Kyle Lohse?
(Verb) you cardinals.
by Taterwithbacon on Dec 20, 2011 3:45 PM CST up reply actions
Might want to change the league minimum guys to $480k
it went up this season with the new CBA.
"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
"Something always good seems to happen when he's in there. Numbers matched up good."
~RRR
by Charlie Marlow on Dec 20, 2011 6:01 PM CST up reply actions
Glad I'm not a Blue Jays fan
Bid $50M and missed by <$2M
If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!
Selfishly, I want Prince on the Jays
so I like that they didn’t get Darvish. Bats / Fielder would be incredible to stack up against the rest of the AL east.
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Dec 21, 2011 12:29 AM CST up reply actions
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
25 | 20 | .555 | 0 | Lost 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 21 | .543 | 0.5 | Lost 2 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 23 | .488 | 3 | Won 4 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
21 | 24 | .466 | 4 | Won 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 26 | .422 | 6 | Won 2 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 30 | .333 | 10 | Lost 10 |
(updated 5.26.2012 at 6:00 PM CDT)
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