Crew Falls 7-6 to Reds Late

Alright, so that was a crusher yesterday, but over 162 we'll win our share of those type of games, too. A couple thoughts:

- Axford needs to mix in more than 3 offspeed pitches. Too many straight fastballs isn't good.
- Casey needs to take the easiest out in the ninth. There are only 27 outs and each one is crucial, especially with a three run lead. Outs are premium.
- We signed Kotsay & kept him why? I'd rather have Joe Inglett back. Kotsay's bat just looked slow and, pardon the pun, lumbering.

On a good note, Mr. Braun was impressive at the dish. I don't know, maybe it's gas, but I have this feeling that as good as he's been, he's about to blast off. Age 27, cocky, workout fiend, cocky (did I say that already?). I've said it before WI, you'll never know how good he is until he's not here anymore. Simply special...

Opening Day '11!

This is the day that Abner Doubleday hath made!

...just remember, it's only .6% of the season.

Enjoy!

Brew Crew 2011

Alright, here it is... I'm sure you're all on the edge of your toilet seats waiting for it... Slicky's 2011 Brew Crew State of the Union:

First off, this team has little depth. We have stars (Braun, Fielder, Gallardo, Greinke, et al) and little else. We go as far as they go.

Second, the braintrust is essentially starting two players who have no business starting: Betancourt & Gomez. Trading for Morgan SHOULD push Gomez onto the bench, but I'm guessing it won't before May. As for Yuniesky, part of me thinks we could've gotten Hardy back cheap (at least the Eternal Optimist in me). Cruz elected to go to Texas, which doesn't kill me as he was no-hit, all-glove.. those dudes are a dime a dozen right now.

Third, all I've been hearing is the defense is pathetically under-average. This is a short-sighted view, as the '10 Crew was essentially average. The only newby is Betancourt, and while he is reviled as the worst SS in history, he actually outperformed Escobar last year. Albeit, that doesn't take into account balls Escy got to that Yuny will not. As a moderately talented ballplayer, I love defense... at this point, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I see different.

Fourth, we need health by the starters. Average starters needed is about 9 for a season and after our projected 5 we have Estrada, Rogers, maybe McClendon. Mitre? Parra? Can I have some depth!!!!

Lastly, I'm cautiously optimistic (as opposed to Mau's assessment that I'm the Eternal Optimist). We can hammer this Central Division. And it's about time the cards fall in our favor.

You know what, to hell with it, hope springs eternal... Brew Crew all the way in '11!

Matt Cooke Suspended; Pens Agree

Strong sentiment from the Pittsburgh ownership & front office.

I'll preface this with I am a Penguins fan, but it is nice to see the strong words from an owner are backed up by said owner & team brass when the rules affect their own players negatively. Then again, the owner is one Super Mario, so the effort to rid the game of needless injuries doesn't surprise me. He lost many a year from injuries, not just his back problems.

UW on to Round 2

So the Badgers stave off the majority upset pick (from what I was hearing/reading), pulling away from Belmont late in the first half.

UW is a tough team to beat when their shots fall, as evidenced by the loss to Penn State, where they couldn't find their behinds with both hands.

If they shoot well, they win. It's a pretty simple game sometimes.

Marcum Exits Early

Now Marcum is feeling shoulder tightness... If I was Roger Caplinger I'd be worried about being next myself. The man must be exhausted at this point.

Greinke MRI reveals hairline fracture in rib, out 2-4 weeks.

Looks like Amaury Rivas or McClendon may get an extended look the first couple weeks of the season, considering Rogers' shoulder issues. I would guess that all but assures Yo getting opening day.

I'm all for a game of hoops on the side, but players have to be smarter than this, or at the very least, report it so it gets it's due diligence immediately.

EDIT: Turns out Zach was forthcoming to the team at the time, so chalk one up to posting in frustration.

PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship

For those that think pro bowlers benefit from the engineering of modern bowling equipment, this is the event to watch, Sunday Noon CST on the 4-letter.

These dudes are Sick!

Quick Crew Thoughts 3/5

Trick photography or a skinny Prince... not that skinny Prince.

In other news, Takashi Saito may well be THE stabilizing force in the bullpen for the Crew this year.

I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for Manny as he seems to be the classic "million dollar arm, five cent head"-type. Let the opponent see him for one time through the order, then get him out of there. Also, with so much riding on the starters, he's a decent option for a spot start or two.

Was the Crew trying to lock up McGahee as a couple-year stopgap when Prince leaves?

If no one is reading Witrado's drivel, is there still drivel to be read?

Wausau West 5 - Middleton 0

Congratulations to the Warriors on a spectacular tournament & to Coach Susens on his first state title. Class team, class man. Highlight was young Mr. Poirier busting out the championship belt on Friday night.

And a special congrats to my buddy Grossy, one of the fine assistant coaches. Much props, dude.

WI State hockey

The old alma mater Wausau West is in the state finals today vs. Middleton at 2:15. I hear it will be played on WAOW if anyone is looking for something to watch.

Good luck to the young men & my friend Chris, one of the great coaches on Coach Susens' staff.

Is it just me or is Charlie Sheen more spastic than Michael J. Fox? Kids, the drugs can harm you.

On the other hand, why does everyone care so much? Other than Chuck making sure he's in the news 24/7, why should we care if he wants to party, be the meat in a half-pornstar, half-nanny sandwich, and talk out of his ass?

This may well be the start of the greatest reality TV ever... what's the over/under on a televised OD? I always said I'd start watching Survivor when it became about actually surviving: put these ying-yangs on an island & last one alive wins. Ricky Vaughn may be playing his own game of Survivor.

Brewer Spring Training Officially Begins Tuesday

I don't usually get worked up for ST. All it means is real baseball is coming soon. You'll inevitably hear stories about how so&so is in the best shape of his career, another guy is a pillar of his off-season community, and a manager will deem his team will be aggressive, yet patient, at the plate.

If it was any fluffier, you'd need to douse your computer in Snuggle.

Here's all you need to know: baseball's on it's way, the rest is just details.

WORLD CHAMPION, GREEN BAY PACKERS!!

So after a busy week, I finally have a chance to comment on Sunday's game. And what a game. Putting the onus on Rodger's to win it through the air (though, I think they could've run the ball more out of those spread looks. Starks had a very effective 11 carries).

I was a tad off on my Rodger's prediction, being short on the rushing total. I would've been way off had anyone held onto the ball in the middle of the game. He very well could've gone 450/5td's. Just an outstanding performance by what seems like a very grounded, respectable young man. I think he threw that late 3rd down pass to Jennings over the middle just to prove to people he could... that was a cocky throw, every bit as good as the kudo's they spew all over Peyton Manning. He was so good that Polamalu was a complete non-factor.

And did anyone else see the microcosm of the season with various key players going down & others stepping up? Jarrett Bush, of all people, doing a nice impersonation of C-Wood from the slot; Pat Lee going outside for Shields; Jordy, despite some drops, channeling his inner Don Beebe for a huge game. Credit McCarthy for changing his style late in the season & almost walking, talking, & coaching with an air of cockiness that his team fed off of.

Quite the season, quite the TEAM of men assembled by WI's favorite whipping boy (though I am on record as supporting TT from the start). From the guys we're getting back next year, I'm confident that with health, this could be special again. In the words of Kevin Greene... "It is time".

Super Bowl XLV eve

Welcome to the machine...

It's the eve of an unexpected GB Super Bowl appearance & I'm here to offer my pseudo-analyst, wanna-be-journalistic opinion for tomorrow. So sit back & come on in, the water's fine.

I've kept some distance from the hoopla this week to keep my mind pure in the hopes that I can process my thoughts, regardless of what my heart feels. I have 5 distinct points to make before my prediction, so here goes:

1. Kurt Warner did the dirty work. What I mean is, once AZ spread the Steeler's out in their SB, the rock started flying. Why I think this plays into GB's hands is Warner liked to hold the ball (probably an after-effect from his STL days). Rodger's can get the ball out extremely quickly to a multitude of receivers.
2. PIT D vs. GB D: Tough call. I actually give the PIT LB's the edge here, by a considerable margin. Polomalu & Woodson cancel each other out, making the GB tandem of Williams & Shields superior to PIT. Who gets the big TO, the big stop, the momentum swinger? There's the rub.
3. Mendenhall vs. Starks: Obviously, the untrained observer says Mendenhall, because the Pack has no running game. Pshaw, I say. The Pack is more balanced than given credit for, sticking with the run, regardless of success, yet having some. Still, I give PIT the edge here, but only because of the next point...
4. PIT will need to run more, because this isn't 2009 anymore & I'm just not sold on the "escapability" of Big Ben. GB will get to him & get him hard. And I think it will happen early, setting the tone for this...
5. I predict that Aaron Rodgers will turn in a top 5 SB performance, just a couple rungs down from Joe Montana's 4 TD & Steve Young's 6 TD games. This young man is on the precipice of greatness that I simply cannot fathom. Final line: 28/39 - 3 passing TD - 46 yds rushing - 1 rushing TD... all the way to the MVP.

Like I said, I've been tempering my enthusiasm to think this through and on the eve of SBXLV, it's clear to me (unless it's just gas) that the silver phallic trophy will be coming back to WI. Aaron will do for Donald Driver what Brett Favre did for Reggie White.

Final score: GB-38 PIT-30

Championship Eve

So here we are, same position as '07, yet somehow this feels different.

'07 was the last year of Favre, '10 is Rodger's chance to shine. So here is my take for 2pm CST 1/23/11:

1. Poor field or not, GB's 5 wideouts will certainly find open space against CHI's secondary.
2. While the field may slow both D's down, GB's schemes will get to Cutler more than CHI's 4-man will to Rodgers.
3. If GB stops Forte early, the game is over.
4. Who makes the first mistake? This may well determine the victor.
5. Aaron Rodgers is simply playing a different game than anyone else right now.

So there you have it. Sure, I could be wrong (just don't tell my wife), but I try to watch football with the same level head I watch baseball & I don't see any way the Packers are not moving on to SBXLV (or whatever the Romans say it is).

Anyhoo, GO PACK GO!

Amazing Bowling Shot

Some nights it just seems so easy...

It's OK, Aaron

Well, I guess if you have to sit at home after a Pro Bowl snub, this is better than a swift kick in the groin with a steel-toed boot.

Enjoy.

MLBTR Top 15 of 2010

The Crew's acquisition of the Zack Attack comes in #3.

As a man who watches Packer football partly because the Brewers don't play in December, I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm toward the starting rotation... but, damn, if this Kool-Aid doesn't taste exquisite.

Thoughts on the Crew

So I've lived with the trade that, had Greinke gone to NY, would've shook baseball. As such, I'll be happy having 3 Opening Day starters in the rotation & still being a slight underdog.

Anyway, here's my thoughts in no particular order:

1. Trades of prospects, for obvious reasons, cannot be rated immediately. Case in point, the CC trade is still in the Crew's favor as LaPorta & Brantley have made minimal impacts on the Indians. In the Greinke case, the Brewers received the best player, hands down. Former Cy Young, 27 years old, 2 more years under contract. Best player.

2. Prospects are just that, prospects. Do they all have room to become above-average? Definitely. Would they help push the Crew to the 85-90 win range? Probably not.

3. Which brings us to this: What was Milwaukee's biggest weakness in '09-'10? Starting pitching. Consider that nuisance addressed.

4. I think this gives the Brewers 3 years to restock the system. Health-given, they should challenge in the Central the next two years, then a one year grace period.

5. If you consider LuCroy, the top 6 batters in the 4th ranked NL offense remained untouched.

All in all, my excitement level for Brewer baseball was ratched up from it's usual frenetic level. I say sit back & enjoy the ride