Easy

Yes my friends, this is the first loss we can attribute to pitching staff use. I will be the first to say that Dave Bush is an overpaid, overrated, bad baseball player. He pitched a decent game today.

But today's game at the friendly confines was decided by the bullpen. Is there a reason to not let Mitch Stetter, who is the best lefty in the pen, to pitch at fuk-u-dome, who is a lefty? (racist?)(or I want a hooker who uses whips and chains)

Pitching management has been the bane of this teams existence for a few years. Remember the Sup' pitched great comment? I heard on the radio that Macha wanted LaTroy to finish what he started...At the expense of a win.

So Sup' can pitch great tomorrow??? I am glad that it is a marathon. And I am glad that everything averages out over 162 games.

Oh yeah, Greg Zaun will have knees like hamburger by the end of the season. Yes, he was signed for his "pop." How has that worked out for him? I will call him hamburger-knees the rest of the season. Does that offend one of the greatest meats ever?

Point is, this is the result of a very small number of games. While listening to the radio on my afternoon drive, there were people who were already not counting this team. Fuck all of you.

Over this many contests, everything seems to even out, and everything should be OK. And such a small sample size is useless, like macaroni and cheese without hotdogs.

I decided to not look for links. So I'm lazy. What of it?

What is Really Said

One game does not a season make. I will still think Carlos Gomez is an asshole who can't play baseball until he drives in the winning run at the World Series.

That said, lets play the caption game...


















I'll Start...

"Don't look him in the eye, runners left on base make him want to cut a bitch."

Pitching and Crying

Not as a result of this post, Schoenweis went and got himself not so released today.

The only regret I have is that I wasted a month of my time, Schoeneweis said. I didn't have a chance to make the team

Cry buddy...this guy has given up more than one run an inning to date, albeit spring ball. You can see this list for the details.

It's just ironic that I can't get a job because my wife died. It doesn't make much sense to me

I am truly sorry for your loss sir, but the numbers don't add up, as far as the career path you have chosen.

Schoeneweis had a 7.71 ERA, but that number can be particularly deceptive in Spring Training for left-handed specialists because they are not used in lefty-on-lefty situations like they would be in the regular season

Really? When you are a "big league pitcher..." for 12 years, you clearly know your roll. Your roll is to be average, if not less than. If not to be a pile of suck.

I know 100 percent that I am a big league pitcher, bottom line

Good luck pal. I get that your wife died. That really isn't something that anyone should have to deal with. But that is not the reason for your shitty performance. That is not the reason for your "release." Am I an asshole for looking at the numbers?

Where Is the Albatross?

Here is a post from Brewers guy...

Let me be clear. I don't like him, and think he is the equivalent of Darth Vader. But he is the person at spring training so he is the only person I have to comment on. What with Tony Witrado adjusting his hat and all.

He alludes to the fact that Chris Narveson will make a showing so as to stay on track. This indicates a starting position.

My question is...Where is the 12 million dollar necklace around the owner's neck? And where is the highly touted lefty who can't find his head? Not that I want soupcan in the rotation, and not that I want to get rid of Parra. But where do these players fit in as the former makes too much money, and the latter has no options.

Yes...I reference myself, but I think myself is an intelligent referencer.

Comments

So Brewers guy had this to say after today's spring game. No offense, but I already alluded to the abundance of lefty's in camp.

There is a strong possibility that I am an idiot.

But the fact remains that there are already going to be two, possibly three, left handers in the rotation. No question. If I am wrong, I owe each and every one(all 3) of you readers a dollar. Or beer.

But this comment, after 30 seconds of reading the post, stood out.

"I cant believe I am saying this... but if the end of last season and ST are any indication, Narveson needs to be in the starting rotation."

Really? You want this to happen? Sometimes, it is very difficult to think about what you are saying...and I get that. But a career minor league pitcher in a rotation already full of lefty's who seem to be suspect at best?

Maybe I will remember to do this more often. Comment people at the daily always come up with fodder for ridicule.

Also, do I sound negative? When my focal point is the rotation/pitching, I choose to look at the situation with a realist point of view. As noted in the link above, I don't believe that the staff that has been put together is ready to win a division. The starters are, aside from Gallardo, a collection of players who had a couple of decent years in a mixed bag of injuries and crappy records.

But, and this is a big but, the bullpen should be sound.

Know It, Love It

So it looks like Gallardo wants (2 links) the ball opening day, officially marking him the best pitcher on the staff. Brewers Guy then goes on to say that Randy Wolf and Doug Davis will follow. Call me nuts, but 2 lefties in a row is kind of crazy. Kind of unorthodox. Kind of dumb. Yes...I may make some people mad with this idea...But the two lefties thrown out there are kind of redundant don't you think? Except for the fact that Wolf has a history of injury, WHIP and ERA+ are basically equal. Both are average. Yes I am cherry picking.

Make no mistake...And call me a pessimist(I call it being a realist) all you want...Offense wins in the regular season, but pitching wins in the second season.

They will contend for the division, and I hope they win it. But rebuilding a starting staff around one injury prone question mark and another average pitcher, both lefties, does not a playoff team make.

I hope I am wrong.

Rotation

With three lefty's already gracing the starting pitcher pool, Brewers Guy has set his sights on a career minor league player. He says that there will be a tough decision to bring Narveson north. He says that The Manager would like an experienced lefty in the pen(in not so many words). Tell you what, and this is my answer to the whole pitching issue. Not old. Why not throw them against the wall and see what sticks?

So you want 2 lefty's in the bullpen? Well you already have one in this guy, who will be a good lefty reliever for a few years..So why is he in camp? If Narveson is so good, why keep the retread around?

I get the whole depth argument. But if you are worried about starting pitchers, why not keep an honest to goodness swing man in the pen, rather than a 35 year old career reliever. For god's sake, you have a three lefty rotation as it is, instead of solid young pitching. I didn't say that...

I also get that throwing a bunch of guys who are getting to be past their prime against the wall to see what sticks is a good idea. But...and that is a big but...don't you want to get younger and cheaper? Don't you want to find pitchers who can get better over time, turning into good players? Scott Shoenweis will not get better with age. Narveson has the potential to get better with age, and at the same time providing solid lefty protection in case of injury. Which will undoubtedly happen with a rotation made up of 1 possible ace(righty), 1 possible good lefty, and three pitchers who can't complain about their contract(righty, lefty, lefty).

At Least Someone is Realistic

Here is part of Ryan Braun's take. I couldn't agree more. As if you don't know, look for Milwaukee to trade the Prince at the deadline or before, if they are not in contention.

Note

I dont like small posts, but I am reading a good book

2 free runs is why soupcan is almost useless. 2 starts and he brings it real good. Not to mention the 2 by Julio.

The Bums Have Lost Mr. Jenkins

In baseball related news, Jenks was set free by the Phillies. He should now be able to find work as a professional golpher, which really was his true passion all along, what with all of those low inside breaking balls he was prone to swing at.

Uke

So in my new found internets capability, I ran into this one. Sure hes old, sure he doesnt update the score, outs, or other needed parts of the radio broadcast. But he is one of the best. I would put him up there with Scully and Harwell, though I have never really heard those guys. And, he has 2 robot hips. Bad Ass.

The "commedian" is a D-Bag.

I Will Never Say Something Like this Again

"Derrick Turnbow should be traded for a bag of baseballs."

For fear that Mr Turnbow's delicate sensibilities will be damaged to the extent that he returns to his life of drug and alcohol abuse, later overdosing on numerous different drugs. Wait...maybe in his(Turnbow's) case, I can make an exception.

"People are like, 'I'd kill myself' and stuff," Odom said at the time, dismissing any such notion..."

Refreshing

Instead of watching chocolate rain over and over this evening, which is the Sunday routine here in the bat cave, I decided to read about baseball. Most notably, this column by the MLB Brewers beat writer. This quote stood out right way.

You might as well put your top guy out there in that inning because the game's on the line then

I will be the first to admit that the save is an overrated stat in todays baseball. But when you have the best relief pitcher in history, you have to use him that way.
The thing that a lot of people like to say is that the bullpen was the downfall of the team last year. I say those people are dumb asses. They had something like the 4th or 5th best bullpen in the NL. That is a fact. But back to the quote...

That is new manager Ken Macha. And it is hardly a Yostian idea. See, Neddy bear had set roles, and set times when he would bring in set releivers. He did not like math, though he claimed to have it on his side. Numbers tell us that bringing in the best relief pitcher you have at the highest leverage time results more often in a win. And since hells bells(I hate AC/DC) wont be played until the ninth, there are a couple options for the new skipper.

The article goes on to focus on one David Riske. Readers of this website may remember my talk of this guy being the future closer(overrated). Well...I have abandoned those words as of last year. But this doesnt mean that the guy is not good. He was hurt, during spring camp, last year. But the numbers do say that he is a good relief pitcher. So behind the Hoffmeister, there are 3 options for good, healthy, long releif.

Not to mention the plethora of short releif options in camp, the pen looks to be better than last year, and we can all rest easy that Greg Aquino will not be serving up grand slams to the best non juiced player to ever play the game(some asshole used AC/DC for this) God I hate those guys.

Anyway, we here at NWIM like the way that the pen is shaping up. Yes I used an acronym because I cant read good. And since baseball generally comes down to pitching, that is a good thing. Not my reading habits, but the bullpen in general.

Note on a Scandal

I received an email from a buddy of mine who recently fled the midwest for the valley of the sun. Only to find out that he missed sub -20 temps and snow cows.

Hey [name redacted] edgrimly ive been reading your blog and you havent mentioned A-rod yet! WTF dude... i just got done watchn his press conference and im prettyn sickend! he was the first of the golden-players.... the guys that would break the records of the juicers!... anyways he is sooo full of BS..... he told this nice little story about him and his cousin juicing up for "only 30" days. how touching.... it was a family event man! dude i have more respect for recreational drug use because..."man, i just wanted to get high" ... versus...."i wanted a advantage on others that...just maybe...were betterthan me! BS! ....he was the best there was at the time who was close to him in 01,02,03? no one.... sorry you have to read this but im stewing! (too much coffe i bet)...

To which I responded...

Think about it like this. You can bet that most players with exploding numbers in the early 2000's were taking something, whether it was banned or not. Based on this, I cant really blame the guy. He was a product of his environment, and enforces the fact that most people in those 3-4 years were "enhancing their perfomance." For example, in college, I sucked at FPS games. Until I got lit like a Christmas tree. Than I would rip people's faces off, in the game I mean. Sure it sucks that the dude was on a non-banned substance at the time, and sure it sucks that he was to be the best that ever was. I was a big fan, even bigger when he went to the Bronx. But even Bonds still has supporters, and you can bet that he will go into that hall, not necessarily on the first ballot. So will A Rod. Thats why edgrimly's favorite ball player ever is Craig Biggio. You know that dude was only powered by bitches and liquor.

Next time buddy, I expect more profanity.

Leftys Make Good what?

It is rather odd that he, kind of creepy, has not gotten an offer from your Brewers, what with his shear dominance the last couple of years, pay attention to the splits. Yeah, putting him in with ROSP sucks, but I think he may have been misused...

The Thrill is Gone

Yes my friends in Brewtown, the thrill is gone. With the recent news that Carsten Charles will be in pinstripes next year, everyone who breathes baseball and Brewers baseball at that, is doing one of 2 things. One, they are pissed. Or two, they can breathe a sigh of relief. It looks like, according to the article, the Steinbrenners threw in an extra year and more dollar bills. 7 years and 160 mil. There are varied reactions all over the Internets about it, and they range between the above two attitudes. Find them yourself jerk.

Fuck him...he was chasing the money and lied to Brewers nation about not wanting to play in NYC.

Fuck him...he is a greedy bastard.

Eh, I knew it was going to happen, so Im not all that pissed.

Eh, I knew it was going to happen, so whats next.

Number 4 ladies. Number 4. With the exorbant 20 mil per we offered him, 25% of the teams salary I may add, number 4 is the right attitude. Look, I am as angry as everyone. But you have to give credit where credit is due. He took my team to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Mostly by himself, what with 11 wins in a Brewer uniform. For that I say thank you and good luck. No hard feelings big guy. I will remember him as one of the better Brewers ever.

On to better things. With that 20, 15 from Sheeter, and 10 from Gagne, looks like Mustache has 45 mil to add. Realistically, that 20 for Sabathia is more like 10-15 as big Mark wont commit that much to anyone else. So we'll call it 30.

Some people would call for locking up the core of talent to deals. But why? Most of them wont be up for Arbitration for at least a couple of years, and there is some minor league talent wating to bust out that would be reasonable replacements. Of the starting 8 I mean. Pitching later, though it is the most pressing need right now.

Hardy, for one, seems like a good candidate for a contract. He is up for arby almost now, and he is one of the better SS in the National League. He is young, and keeps getting better. He still hasnt struck out 100 times in 2 full seasons of ABs. And his SLG keeps going up, not to mention the OBP. The people who want to move him to 3rd for Escobar arent thinking clearly. Hardys HRs dont match the production for average 3bs. Move him to second? His lack of range is hidden, and as a 2b he would be above average for that position.

If Corey Hart were to get his head straight, he wold be another one. If they dont pick up Camerons option, 10 mil for 09, Why not move Corey over? Probably better than Deron Erstad and Juan Pierre. He certainly wont be horrible in the field, but not neerly as good as Cameron. Like I said, if he can get the head right, he could be pretty good at the plate. Pop, speed, good arm, decent eye. Looks like good at baseball to me. But potential still bothers me.

Rickie Weeks has a lot of that. But in a what have you done for me lately business, what have you done for me lately? Score a lot of runs, play a bit better than bad deffense, and suck balls in the 1 spot. The way Im thinking, expendable, assuming JJ goes to 2b. Isnt there a way to package Weeks and Fielder(10 mil for 1 year or more) arby tag for something?

Anyway...Mustache has his work cut out for him. Milwaulee seems to be on a path to the "win for a while" mentality. Replacing the best free agent pitcher in baseball is a tough businesss. Like I said, I will get to pitching soon. Maybe this brief insight will tide you over. If not, piss off as I am tired and need to work early.

But now this "movie" on AMC has my attention. Not really. It is most likely the worst western I have ever seen.

I Would Stil Send Him Packing

Though a strong believer in all things Bill James, I have to disagree with his #1 ranking of the Prince as the number one player 29 or younger. Based on right now, as you existentialists like to say, this is true. But baseball is judged in the long term. Guys have unbelievable single seasons, and then go into the tank. Look at Bill Hall. Also, fat guys who mash dont age all that well. And he is only getting fatter, often having difficulty bending over to dig a ball out of the dirt.

This bodes well for the AL team that at some point in his career will inevitably pick him up, hopefully sooner than later, and hopefully for young pitching. But this is Milwaukee people. We play in the non-wuss league, where players like Craig Counsel and Jack Wilson have exuded gameyness since before God, and probably get paid as much. Look at Juan Pierre for the love of pete. I am under the opinion that in order to be a good ball player in the NL, you have to be a good baseball player, using as many of the 5 tools as possible all of the time. There is more to the game than hitting, though it is a pretty big part of it. Look at the chart before the one in question. That looks pretty bad. Even known fattys like El Caballo dont show up in the top, or bottom, ten players. Granted I will take 30-45 homers per year any day, but at the sacrifice of said bending over, or climbing the ladder to grab a high throw, or ranging to the right to get a hot grounder(as you know it is tough for Weeks to get there), or going to third on a single to right.

Fat guys who mash dont age all that well. In a couple more years of NL ball, the knees give out, random muscle injuries happen, and sooner or later walking is a lot tougher than eating. It is tough business playing 1st base every day. Ask Jeff Bagwell. But I digress.

Speaking of the big guy, did you see this one from baseball dude?

With the Cardinals finishing fourth, I voted Pujols seventh on my ballot. I don't consider MVP to be "the most outstanding player" award and therefore don't just go by who had the best stats. I like to credit players for lifting their teams to the post-season or at least keeping them in the race until the very end.

So one team finishes 86-75 because of the offensive prowess of one player, who plays a pretty good 1B by the way. The other wins the division with a 92-70 record because of a whole lineup that can hammer the ball. In fact, I would go on to say that Chase Utley is a better all around baseball player that Howard, despite Howards league leading 48 bombs. He - Utley - plays a decent 2b, and hits for more extra bases.

Now compare Howards line, with that of Pujols. Questions?

But the real problem is, voting Prince over the Hebrew Hammer, Senor baseball guy. If you are going to base MVP voting on hrs alone, like it looks like you did, who wins? Not to mention that fact that Braun was hurt for a big part of the season, and played better over 162 games. To quote an unpopular punk rock band of the late 90s, "I dont know what you've been smoking but pack another bowl for me."

UPDATE: I just noticed that baseball guy posted another one about why he voted the way he did. In his normal way, he was a bit angry at all of the dissension in the ranks.

I choose to not be a slave merely to statistics. If you want to pick the MVP solely on statistics every year, we can hire a statistical outlet to name the winner and just do away with balloting. We can call it "Most Outstanding Statstical Player." And, certainly, Pujols had great statistics, as he always does.

So the measure of how good a baseball player you are, numbers or how you perform, arent the most important thing? Thats like saying that because Anakin Skywalkers midiclorian count was higher than the Emperors, he isnt the chosen one. Or I Iike oranges better than apples because they make me feel better.

To the Big One

So tonight is the last game at the house that Ruth built. Please say thank you to the baseball Gods for 85 years of church. That is all..

Notes on a New Regime

Nothing much out of here. 18/22 for 178 and a TD. Not bad, considering the MN defense is bad ass, what with the 500 million dollars to the end, Allen, that Kornheiser kept harping on. Wait, didnt he also give the big city sneak for a TD? Not bad...but a game does not a season make. You have to believe that a 1-0 start makes this kid feel OK about all of the assholes out there. Yeah he had a fumble, but that was Spitz's fault since he has not played that position all that much. In the end, a W is a W. THe defense may have not looked all that great, but Kampman is an animal. Good game young padawan learner. Good game.

Also, Bushy went almost 7 and the Brewers are up 4-2. Nice getting out of that bases loaded jam. I still think you are shitty.

The Wonders of the Internets

Have you seen this one? I say sign her up...but alas, it was all staged, and I am forced to feel like the kid you offered a candy bar to, and then said that he wishes he had one too. Minor league baseball is bad ass.