Friday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 17, 2012 9:37 AM CST
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSome things to read while displaying withdrawal symptoms.
We're just one day away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale, so it's time for another batch of spring training previews: Brian Anderson has a list of important dates and a Ron Roenicke story from last season. Nick Prill of The Brewers Bar has a look at five questions the Brewers will face this spring.
One of those questions, of course, is about Ryan Braun. It's been nearly a month since Braun's appeal was heard (and roughly four months since his alleged positive test), but Jeff Passan of Yahoo says Braun may report to camp before this is resolved, and that there's hope for a resolution next week, but it "could bleed into the week after."
Tom Haudricourt says it's "somewhat understandable" that we're still waiting for a decision, but I respectfully disagree. The official reporting date for Brewer position players is a week from today, but most of the players will be there before that. Many of them are there now. The fact that the team still has this hanging over their head is not acceptable. All parties involved have had plenty of time here. It's long past time to resolve this and move on.
While we wait to see what will happen, View From Bernie's Chalet has an early 25 man roster projection with Cesar Izturis, Brooks Conrad and Brandon Kintzler claiming the final three spots. UmpBump has Conrad as the Brewer representative on their list on the NL's best non-roster invitees.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com released his list of baseball's top ten defenses lately, and the Brewers appeared as an honorable mention. If they can simply be an average team defensively it'll be a big improvement over what we've seen in recent years.
The team will get an opportunity to show off that defense to a national audience early: Their Monday, April 9 game against the Cubs has been moved to 6 pm to accommodate an ESPN broadcast.
We're 49 days away from Opening Day, and Brewer Nation's "Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers" series continues with a profile of the Brewers' #49, Yovani Gallardo.
In the minors: John Sickels of Minor League Ball listed pitcher Sean Albury (drafted in the 31st round) as one of the potential sleepers selected after the 20th round in 2011.
The Brewers experimented a bit with demand-based pricing last season, and they're expanding the project for 2012: The team announced yesterday that they'll use the flexible price system for loge outfield and bleacher seats for nine games this season.
Sometimes we all need a reminder that we're living in one of the best times ever to be a Brewer fan. Plunk Everyone notes that the Brewers had a .545 winning percentage in Paul Molitor's games, the best mark in franchise history, but four current or recent Brewers (Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart) are in the top ten.
If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, @Mass_Haas has links to Adam McCalvy and Brian Anderson's appearances on WSSP last night.
Around baseball:
Pirates: Won their arbitration case with 1B/OF Garrett Jones, who will make $2.25 million in 2012, and signed third baseman Casey McGehee to a one year, $2.5375 million deal to avoid arbitration.
Rays: Signed catcher Chris Gimenez to a minor league deal.
Now that McGehee has settled, the 2012 arbitration season is over. There were 142 arbitration-eligible players but only seven hearings, with the team beating the player in five of them.
Of course, all of today's news is overshadowed by the fact that Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who was just 57 years old, has passed away after a long battle with cancer (FanShot). There's a lot out there about Carter this morning, but I'd recommend you check out what Joe Posnanski had to say.
Today in former Brewers:
- Reviewing the Brew has a farewell post for Casey McGehee.
- Jim Edmonds will be in camp with the Cardinals this spring as a special instructor.
In baseball economics: There's a report floating around that private investors in Seattle are working to develop a new arena to host potential NBA and NHL teams in the city. U.S.S. Mariner has a look at the financial impact that could have on the Mariners.
If it wasn't for the Braun non-news, this might have been today's top story: The Rays are unveiling a new alternate mascot, "DJ Kitty."
This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks the 12th anniversary of John Jaha signing with Oakland as a free agent, ending a 14 year run in the Brewer organization. Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's also been 3000 days since the Brewers sent Richie Sexson to the Diamondbacks in a nine-player deal.
Now, if you'll excuse me, my luggage is gone.
Drink up.
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the dragging out of this whole process/appeal is fucking ridiculous.
I am too drunk to taste this chicken.
by ThroughBeingCool on Feb 17, 2012 9:56 AM CST reply actions
agreed
Maybe its because we are starved for news and the season excitement is building but this is beginning to really irritate me and I know it shouldn’t at all.
BCB: Pointless Exercises in Devils Advocacy
Unfortunately, the longer it goes
The more likely it will be a massive, distracting freaking headache for the team in spring training.
by Cheeseandcorn on Feb 17, 2012 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
this is what I tell myself too
Ugh, Shortstop
by theBrouhaha on Feb 17, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Yes! I agree
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
I started telling myself that after it lasted more than 4 days.
Then after about 20 days I feel like he is more likely to be suspended.
I hate Yuni.
by BrewCrewBrian on Feb 17, 2012 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
Was that language really necessary?
by Righteous Brother on Feb 17, 2012 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
TBC is not righteous enough
"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
TBC is actually George Carlin
so: yes.
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
I'm starting to generate some false hope
Maybe the reason that we haven’t heard anything is because they already decided and are not suspending Braun, and no one has told us about it because MLB never made an announcement.
I know, probably near 0% chance that’s true.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
"Look, you want false hope or not?"
“Only if you don’t have any real hope”
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
Is there any recourse for the butchering of this drug-testing process?
First the leak, then the MLB’s violation of its own deadlines, this has clearly negatively impacted the team. Is there anything the Brewers organization can do about it?
"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
Not really
Though the next round of CBA negotiations in 3-5 years may include some re-wording and restrictions regarding how the cases are handled. That’s about the only recourse I can see.
You have think, though
That if Braun is found innocent there would definitely be legal options. It had to have been an MLB employee who leaked that confidential information, no?
"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
Its not the leauges fault that someone leaked the results
so its not really the test that is causing this issue.
Also, the delay, is due to the fact that this is taking place during the offseason. The 25 day rule is for during the regular season.
I'd like to hear from the lawyers her about this
Wouldn’t the league be responsible for the actions of its employees? Or would Braun have to prove that the employee deliberately made false statements, rather than simply violating confidentiality?
"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
I'm not a lawyer
but I can guarantee there were some HIPAA violations in this whole ordeal…someone’s ass is getting sued (whether it be the MLB, the person who conducted the test, or the lab that processed the results).
We went over this ad nauseum a while back.
Pretty sure there is nothing that can legally be done.
by Noah Jarosh on Feb 17, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions
I think we discussed libel; suing for releasing private medical records (even if accurate) would be something different.
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
No, I know HIPAA came up and was dismissed pretty quickly.
by Noah Jarosh on Feb 17, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
We dismissed HIPAA
when people were talking about suing ESPN, since ESPN isn’t bound by HIPAA w/r/t this story.
I'm on a raptor.
by Rubie Q on Feb 17, 2012 12:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Right
But MLB is actually Braun’s employer. So how would this be different than any random corporation releasing employees’ medical information.
"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
I'm not sure it is different.
I was just responding to Noah’s comment, re: “we talked about HIPAA and dismissed it rather quickly.” That was just in the context of our “WE’RE GOING TO SUE ESPN AND TAKE ‘EM FOR EVERYTHING THEY’RE WORTH, FROM BERMAN’S LEATHER PANTS TO CLAYTON’S SCRUNCHEE” fervor.
I'm on a raptor.
I'm no lawyer, but I agree
If my job requires me to take a drug test, the results are abnormal, and then suddenly I see my face on the 6 o’clock news, I’m holding my employer responsible for that. I’m sure it isn’t black and white, but I should think that the employee would win a suit like that.
Also, would that be tried in Wisconsin? I always thought Wisconsin was very pro worker rights, at least in the unemployment cases I’ve had to go to hearings for (although that’s DOA, and a lawsuit would probably be DOJ, I think).
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
Yup, that's what happened.
As far as I know, a HIPAA claim against MLB or the testing service or whoever leaked it would still be on the table – though I don’t know much about HIPAA law per se.
by Cheeseandcorn on Feb 17, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
Employees yes, but whoever does the drug testing is probably an independent contractor. I’m not a lawyer and don’t know the circumstances of the leak though.
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
If the independent contractor is adminstering medical tests,
they would be bound by HIPAA laws. HIPAA protects against unauthorized disclosure of any personally-identifiable health information that pertains to a consumer of health care services.
I'm guessing MLB cannot disclose any protected health information either...
unless there’s something in the CBA allowing for it but that doesn’t seem like it would be legal.
Also
I would think the employer would ultimately be responsible for the third party it is contracting.
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:26 PM CST up reply actions
Depends on principles of agency...
A lot of times independent contractors are used for this very reason to reduce risk of respondeat superior type liability.
To clarify..
Independent contractors are used instead of employees because using employees may result in liability for the corporation whereas using independent contractors won’t. Liability for corporation will still flow back to corporation is the independent contractor is an “agent” of the company and there are a number of requirements (like “control,” “authority to bind,” etc.) that have to be met for an independent contractor to be considered an “agent.”
Based on this, MLB or the Player’s Association would likely be off the hook based on the leak by a testing employee.
At least this is what I remember from law school. People who practice in this area may have more info.
But the reason they are using the WADA lab
is to verify their own results, not to slough liability. I know it isn’t necessarily mutually exclusive, but the whole reason to use the WADA lab is to add credibility to the process, right? How much credibility does it retain if MLB says “It wasn’t us, it was them, so you can’t do anything!”
I’d assume there’s some provision in the CBA about this, in any case.
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions
The reason for use of WADA doesn't change the law in this area...
And this discussion is premature unitl we know who leaked the info since all liability flows from the leak.
So an agent is not responsible for ensuring confidentiality?
"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 Feb 17, 2012 3:03 PM CST up reply actions
Responsible to who?
The purported “agent” (i.e., WADA) is certainly liable (under HIPAA, contract law, tort, etc.) to Braun/MLBPA/MLB for leaking the information assuming WADA leaked the info.
But I would doubt WADA is an legal “agent” of MLB/MLBAM is this situation as it is fairly difficult for separate, independent entities to meet the legal requirements of constituting a principal-agent relationship. So, my only point is that if WADA was the leak, I don’t think liability would flow to MLB/MLBPA for the legal reasons I’ve stated.
I may be wrong as I don’t practice in this area.
I take no position as to whether that’s the “right/fair” result.
Well if WADA leaked it
I think it would be fair to hold them responsible. But I think it’s possible they administered the test, and an MLB employee leaked the information.
"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
OK so if I'm understanding correctly
this is all dependent upon the agreement between MLB and WADA? I mean, if MLB can prove that a person from WADA leaked the info, can Braun then go after WADA?
I’m with you on the ‘right/fair’ aspect here, I’m just enjoying the conversation on this, as I have no idea about any of it. That being said, if it was someone from WADA (who have had their methods called into question in the past), does it completely destroy any credibility the MLB testing program has?
"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 Feb 17, 2012 4:30 PM CST up reply actions
They can try, but WADA has a long track record of not giving a damn about that sort of thing.
Part of their enforcement strategy has historically been to leak information and rip the guy they think it dirty in the press. If Lance Armstrong couldn’t make them pay for it, Ryan Braun won’t be able to either.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 17, 2012 7:21 PM CST up reply actions
Well, not overtly...
… I should have been clearer. They leak information and test results (if they have them) to press they think will run with the story. Results from tests conducted by WADA on samples taken from Armstrong, sometimes years after the fact on B samples with no available sample for retest and in violation of WADA’s own regulations, were leaked on multiple occasions, generally to media sources who had a beef with Armstrong.
I’m not saying WADA doesn’t have it’s uses, but that organization is obsessive. The pattern I’ve seen is that when they think an athlete is doping they’ll try to catch him by testing, which is their job. If that doesn’t work, then information about irregularities in samples that weren’t bad enough to result in a failed test, or experimental tests run on old “b samples” taken from the targeted athlete years before, somehow make it into the press, usually when WADA employees are the only ones known to be in possession of the information.
What I’m saying is that while it’s possible the leak came from a league source, WADA has a history of this sort of thing too, and to my knowledge no one’s ever been able to hold them accountable for it.
"fortunate, but also lucky"
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Feb 18, 2012 1:18 AM CST up reply actions
I hope that's the case and if so, maybe they won't suspend Braun just to avoid a lawsuit.
We’re not above back room deals here.
I think this is a good point
It’s not like this is a criminal case and there is a system of justice. I know it’s an independent arbitrator, but forgive my lack of faith in the integrity of the system after what has happened.
"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
I'm not sure they're worried so much about a lawsuit
as they’re worried that they’re going to have an issue with the Union when it’s time to re-do the JDPA.
I'm on a raptor.
The 25 day rule is for during the regular season.
Um. What? That’s not what the JDPA says.
I'm on a raptor.
The big thing with that
is the 25 days is in a situation which is not public knowledge. They have to try and resolve the situation in a timely matter in the event of a leaked test, which was a failure of MLB employees.
by Mr. McGehee on Feb 17, 2012 11:35 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
BacktoCali posts
#notintendedtobefactualstatements
"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
by mnbrewer on Feb 17, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions 4 recs
Yes, it is absolutely the League's fault.
It’s certainly not the player’s, and the League is responsible for the activity carried out by contracted entities on their behalf.
Mark Attanasio is the best.
What Gives?
They’ve already heard the arguments and seen all the evidence. What exactly are they holding up the process for? Lke cwolf20, I can’t help but think they’re hoping everyone’s attention will be elsewhere once spring training begins and won’t notice a non-suspension. Seems a stupid assumption to me (you know ESPN will go apesh%# on whatever goes down), but that’s why I’m not making the big bucks I guess.
If they wanted to hide it, it would've been released last week
Anything and everything disappeared with Linsanity. There would be no better time in 2012 to release sports news that you wanted buried than last week.
“Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence”
-Napoleon Bonaparte
They can't hide it, they just need to drag it out so it looks like they tried really hard to find him guilty
Right before the suspension is overturned!
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
Or before that when everyone's focus was on football.
Now everyone’s shifting their focus to baseball, which means that the news will have more legs.
Also, here come the conspiracy theorists
I can’t wait until I hear more (yes, I’ve already had TWO say this to me) Cubs fans saying that this is just a conspiracy and Selig is doing everything he can to try and make sure his Golden Boy™ for his Home Team™ is cleared. This is an asinine, no-win argument: 1) Braun is cleared? Well obviously Selig did it. 2) Braun is suspended? He was such a juicer even Selig couldn’t clear him.
Suck it, Cubs fans.
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
I want to go to a Tampa Bay Rays now just to meet DJ Kitty.
I am too drunk to taste this chicken.
by ThroughBeingCool on Feb 17, 2012 11:00 AM CST reply actions
The ambiguity is torturous
There has to be a good reason for dragging this out for so long, but it’s just extra-infuriating that we know about as much as we did when the story first broke. It’s seriously dampering my pre-season excitement.
Castrovince does not like the Brewers (Part 1 - Defense)
After going to the link on the top 10 defenses, I checked on his other lists (rotation, bullpen, lineup) and came to the (shocking) conclusion that Anthony is another national media member not high on the Brewers. I have lots of thoughts, so I’ll break this up into 4 posts – first up, Defense.
I think it’s reasonable to put the Brewers in the honorable mention category for defense (ie, 11-15th in the league), but they obviously have the potential to surprise. I’ll take a very quick and dirty look at it here. According to Fangraphs, they were 9th in the league in 2011 in UZR and 11th in DRS as a team. If you add up the UZR and DRS for all of the players who are gone – Yuni, Prince, Kotsay, McGehee (who was inexplicably rated at +6.5 UZR), and all of the riff-raff (Almonte, Lopez, etc) – you get -4.6 UZR and -6 DRS. Let’s assume Braun is suspended for 50 games (1/3 of the season) – we’re now at -5.9 UZR and -7 DRS.
Now add up the defense for all of the replacements. ARam was a brutal -9.7 UZR, -12 DRS, while Alex Gonzalez had a -0.3 UZR but +15 DRS. Given that discrepancy with UZR/DRS, I don’t think it’s terribly unreasonable to average his last 3 years and get +4.0 UZR, +9 DRS. Obviously, it’s not really possible to project Gamel and Aoki’s defensive contributions with a great deal of accuracy, but Aoki has a reputation as a plus defender and Gamel should be much better at 1B than 3B, since his arm was one of the big defensive negatives in his game. For the purposes of my little study, I’m going to assume that they wash each other out to 0 UZR/DRS, but I think that’s pessimistic. ( I would not be surprised to see Gamel be around 0 UZR/DRS at first, and Aoki should be around a 5.0 UZR/DRS or so, depending on playing time.) Anyways, adding up those numbers, the defensive stats for the replacements is a pessimistic -5.7 UZR, -3 DRS. Again, there is a huge discrepancy for Gonzalez that may be skewing things a bit.
However – on the whole, the addition/subtraction comes out to (with Braun’s suspension) +0.2 UZR but +3 DRS. Thus, I would say it’s likely that the Brewers defense will be at least as good as last year’s, but has the potential to be significantly better. So, while I’m not real upset with Castrovince’s HM for the Crew’s D, I think it’s a pessimistic projection.
by JLHanke on Feb 17, 2012 11:22 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Ed Sedar is in charge of camp for the second consecutive season
What does that even mean? Well, aside from high fives all around, of course. Does he plan all of the activities/drills?
When is craft time? I want to see the macaroni pictures the rookies make.
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
Lots of trust falls.
I'm on a raptor.
by Rubie Q on Feb 17, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Team-buildy
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
He makes sure there's no pickup basketball going on
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
Any man plays pickup basketball spends a night in the box.
Or gets a paddlin’. It could go either way.
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
It means he's got a shot at finally catching all those pesky Smurfs
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
Castrovince does not like the Brewers (Part 2 - Rotation)
So my computer just ate my comment here after lots of work, so I’ll just summarize. Castrovince had the Brewers rotation as an HM (11-15th in MLB), and rated the Nats, Yankees, Rangers, and Dbacks all ahead of them.
This is patently ridiculous, in my mind. There is good reason to believe we’ll get a better year from Greinke (at least, a less weird one) and more innings, and we finally have some depth in case of injuries in Estrada, Peralta, Fiers, etc. I see no reason why the Brewers rotation should not be better than it was last year, and last year they posted the 7th lowest xFIP and 2nd lowest FIP in baseball.
All 4 of the above-mentioned rotations will NOT be better than the Brewers in 2012, in my mind. Yes, the Nats are vastly improved, but Strasburg will be on an innings limit, Gonzalez was much less impressive away from Oakland, Jackson is a potential time-bomb (of course, so is Wolf), and they have no great option at 5th starter. The Yankees are also much improved, but do we really expect a 22 year old to be better than Gallardo/Greinke, a 37 year old to be better in the Yankee stadium Home Run jetstream, and Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes/Colon/Garcia to be better than the back of the Crew’s rotation?
The Rangers have the most overhyped rotation in baseball for 2012. Darvish is obviously gonna be one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball in his first year, right? Um, maybe not. After Yu, Lewis, Holland, Harrison, and Felix are not better than the Brewers last 4. We really think Feliz is gonna be a stud in his first year back as a starter after walking more than 4/9IP last year with a 4.27 xFIP as a closer? Hmmm… I think not.
And then there’s the DBacks. I could make a long argument about how Ian Kennedy may have just had his career year, Daniel Hudson may not be quite as good (though he will be good), Cahill was actually not that good last year, Collmenter will NOT repeat his performance, and they still likely will throw Joe Saunders at least 15 starts. However, didn’t the NLDS sort of prove the point that the DBacks starters are just not as good as the Brewers?
So, I would think the Brewers rotation should be somewhere in the 6-10 range, easily.
by JLHanke on Feb 17, 2012 12:12 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Your computer ate your comment?
BCB is the home of the hungriest fans in baseball. Your house/office is the home of the hungriest computer in the blogosphere.
Castrovince does not like the Brewers (Part 3 - Bullpen)
Castrovince again gave the Crew an honorable mention for the pen, but again, this seems low. The Brewers ranked 6th in WAR from relievers in 2011, 6th in ERA, and 3rd in FIP. For 2012, they get a full year of KRod, hopefully a full and healthy year from Braddock, no Kameron Loe as THE setup guy, but lose Hawkins and Saito. They should be able to replicate the performance from last year, which was very good, and have some depth in the minors (Fiers, Peralta, Thornburg, etc).
Castrovince ranked the Rangers, Marlins, Indians, and Tigers ahead of the Brewers. I won’t go into all the details, but I am really doubtful any of those units will prove better than the Brewers. The only thing I need to cite is Castrovince’s argument on the Indians, “They had the 5th-best relief ERA in the AL (3.71) in 2011….” Um, right. So the Indians’ relief statistics of 3.71/3.90/4.17 (ERA/FIP/xFIP) make them better than the Brewers’ at 3.32/3.24/3.43? I’m not sure how that math adds up…
by JLHanke on Feb 17, 2012 12:23 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Not to interrupt your chosen narrative
But I think (insert national writer here) hates (your team) is the most ridiculously overused accusation in all of sports. It’s probably occasionally true, but it’s used so frequently that it’s almost never credible anymore.
We have an opinion on this team. He has an opinion on this team. His is different. That’s allowed.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 17, 2012 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
I agree
I’m sorry if it came off that I am over-bashing on him. I just wanted to comment on his rankings a bit since they were posted, and vent some of my frustration that the Brewers are getting no love this offseason. I haven’t really posted anything about my feelings on the Crew this offseason, so I wanted to get it out.
I hope I didn’t come across that he can’t have his opinion about the team (note that the titles say “doesn’t like” not “hates”). I just disagree with his opinions in some cases – I thought that the comments section on a Brewers blog would be a decent outlet for that opinion. That’s why I’m not posting these comments on his MLB.com articles – I don’t feel any need to bash him and say he’s stupid. He does what he does for a living and I thought his articles were well-written and thought out.
Sorry if I pushed a hot button – I’ll stop before getting to the Part 4 (lineup) where I basically agree with Castrovince – the Brewers will probably be much closer to league average on offense this year.
Sorry if I came down hard on you.
Accusations of writer bias are a hot button for me.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Feb 17, 2012 12:57 PM CST up reply actions
It's all good
You never know when you’re gonna accidently hit that hot button for someone. In retrospect, I should have made the titles of the posts something like “Comments on Castrovince’s Rankings” or something. No worries (and I’ll make sure to steer clear of the writer bias waters in the future)!
(Insert national writer here) is dumb
Fixed.
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
NL Central just got more interesting...
Burnett to the pirates.
What's taters, precious?
Baseball, you can't get here soon enough.
by Tepo6688 on Feb 17, 2012 10:46 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Burnett to the Pirates
Is about as interesting to the NL Central as Fukudome to the White Sox is to the AL Central.
by Cheeseandcorn on Feb 17, 2012 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
but you dont live in pittsburgh like I do....
buccos are winning the NL Central now
There is potential for a no-hitter with 9+walks every 5 days now
"I agree but dont agree"
by juggernaut400 on Feb 17, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions
And there's the potential of a no hitter
every day for the Buccos opponents…
BCB Fantasy Football 2011 winner (Swansons League)
Also-ran (loser!) in every other BCB Fantasy competition
"LOLOL I LOVE YUNI!!!!": ThroughBeingCool
Hahaha
this made my day, thanks!
"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 Feb 17, 2012 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
Burnett is underrated in that he's mediocre not horrible
Not sure whether that justifies taking on $15M or makes the Pirates any more relevant than they were before.
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
Yanks are paying $2MM.
Bucs are taking on $13MM, according to MLB. Still, that’s a lot for a guy who’s not all that good. He’ll be better than he was in the ALE, but not that good.
So, living in California
I try to make as many of the games in my state as possible. This year, they’re basically all in May (April 30th-May 2nd @SD, May 4th-6th @SF, May 28th-31st @LAD)
If Braun is suspended 50 games, his first game back will be the last game @ the Dodgers May 31st. (Dodgers stadium is walking distance from my house.)
If he’s suspended 25 games, his first game back will be the first game @ the SF Giants May 4th.
Either way he’ll miss the Padres series, which sucks. Just hope I can be there for whichever game is his first. Or, actually I hope I miss his first game back, opening day.
Also, not sure how rain-postponed games screw with this.
I assume that if a game is postponed it doesn’t count towards a “suspended game” until it’s actually played right?
by Archibaldcrane on Feb 17, 2012 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
I'm thinking about heading down to the May 2 game in San Diego
But I’ve already accepted that there probably won’t be any Braun. I’ll be happy to go see a Brewers win, regardless.
Remember: Schadenfreude is still Freude.
The opening day lottery is a complicated process.
The goal is to have it sorted out by the start of spring training, but I’ve heard the guy who picks names asked for an extension that could drag into the second week of the season.
by placidity on Feb 18, 2012 7:15 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Does Jason Stark know something we don't or is he just assuming guilt? That last part sounds like he's assuming guilt...
“The MVP awaits word on whether he’s about to get suspended for 50 games. And suddenly, this tale doesn’t feel so happy and uplifting anymore. Even the serenity of spring training figures to last about 30 seconds — until the Braun verdict bombshell drops on this team. "
http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7581486/mlb-spring-preview-offseason-review
Streak Breakers.com
The first ever 6 tool player!!!
that guy sure is a tool.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
me too
I just can’t pass up a punch line.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
Prince/Braun
Who’s going to be Braun’s baseball friend this season? Rickie hasn’t really had one since JJ Hardy. Corey Hart’s a little too goofy, but he and Axford would be a good pair.T-Plush might be too much of a space cadet.
Rickie is a friend to all God's creatures, man and beast alike.
(Also, it’s clearly Plush)
Solve for X: 5.5 (Fielder) + 0.3 (McGehee) + 0.5 (Betancourt) < X (Gamel) + 3.6 (Ramirez) + 1.1 (Gonzalez)... X >= 1.7 fWAR!
I'll be happy to volunteer as his friend when he's out here staying at his nice house in Malibu!
Remember: Schadenfreude is still Freude.
"They wouldn't say it if they didn't see it on the moon because they have to be credible."
That about sums it up, Ryan.
Holy crap, I've never seen that
How could I never have seen that before, that is amazingly… something
Mark Attanasio is the best.
Ummm, yeah.
So much potential but yeah.
Give him an offspeed pitch down and in. He will swing and miss.
Question on the ticket lottery
Does everyone win an opportunity to buy Marquee Games if they enter it? This is like the 3rd or 4th straight year that I entered the lottery for the opportunity to buy Opening Day tickets, didn’t get it, but still was given the opportunity to buy Marquee game tickets in advance.
Anyway, looks like another year that I won’t be going to Opening Day. Winning a chance to buy tickets in the Opening Day ticket lottery is the only chance I have since there’s no way I can afford to do StubHub for Opening Day. Standing room tickets are $64, and I’ve learned that I can’t do standing room tickets. Last time I did it, all I did was wander around for a few hours, not able to find a spot to watch the game. It was the first time I left a game early and wasn’t forced to because of other commitments.
At least I’m taking the day off of work this time. There’s no way I’m going to get any work done on that day anyway.
Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector
Last year I took opening day off, grilled brats, drank beer, and watched the game at home by myself.
And I’ll do the same this year.
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Feb 18, 2012 5:50 PM CST up reply actions
$50 for those seats is below retail price for marquee games.
Opening Day is considered a marquee game.
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
27 | 20 | .574 | 0 | Won 2 |
|
St. Louis
|
26 | 22 | .541 | 1.5 | Won 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
23 | 24 | .489 | 4 | Won 3 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 25 | .468 | 5 | Lost 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 28 | .404 | 8 | Lost 2 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 32 | .319 | 12 | Lost 12 |
(updated 5.27.2012 at 6:23 PM CDT)
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