Predicting the 2014 Milwaukee Brewers

Every team in Major League Baseball has hope this time of year as Spring Training breaks and Opening Day is just around the corner. For Milwaukee's Brewers those hopes are tied to three main things. Those three things are simple. Firsts, it's the performance of Ryan Braun. Second, the overall health of the team, and finally the depth of their starting rotation. If things come out right in all three of those areas, the Brewers could be in the hunt for one of the two National League Wild Card spots and finish the season with 85 wins.

Let's first look at Ryan Braun. Back in January, I wrote that the Brewers needed Braun to be what the back of his baseball card says he is. Looking at the team that has come north from Maryvale Baseball Park, this couldn't be more true. If you read some of the projections in the fantasy baseball circles many are calling for Braun to be a shell of the player he was before last season when he missed 101 games between injury and suspension. I can't see that happening and his spring numbers show that. He hit a home run off the second pitch he saw this spring. he is motivated and primed to carry the team again. 

The key to him being able to do that is the second part of what will make the team successful: health. Last year from Braun, to Aramis Ramirez, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez the Brewers had key parts missing lots of time and it showed with what the team did on the field. This season, Hart is gone and Weeks is in a platoon, so they are not as big of a part of this team. The others, however, are back in town and need to have solid years if the Brewers want to be impact players in the National League Central. Ramirez has looked like his old self in spring and has gotten over his knee injury from a year ago. Just like last year, though, it could come out of nowhere. For Gomez, he plays with such wreckless abandon, an injury is not out of the question every time he make a catch at the wall or a diving play in center field. 

Onto the starting pitching, where on paper, it would appear the Brewers have assembled one of their best staffs in recent memory outside of the 2011 team that won the NL Central. Yovani Gallardo will start Opening Day with Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza to follow, then Wily Peralta and Marco Estrada will round out the starting five. Lohse and Garza have shown flashes that they could be aces over the course of the last season while the youngsters in Peralta and Estrada will need to find consistency this season to cement their spots on the Brewers rotation. 

Some publications have had the Brewers finishing fourth in the division again and I could see that if things hold pat from last season when the the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates all made the postseason. Milwaukee does have the potential to push through and mix things up a bit. The first six weeks of the season could be telling with a hearty helping of intra-division games on the slate that could set things up for who will be in it in June and July. Last season, the Brewers stumbled in May going 6-22. To end the season eight games under .500, the team cannot afford to have that big of a set back if playoffs are going to be a possibility. 

PREDICTION

With the pieces the Brewers have this season and the chip on Braun's shoulder, this team can compete for a Wild Card spot and be 85-77 this season. Braun will have 35 homers and be in the MVP discussion. 

Top five Brewers storylines entering spring training

As the calendar turns to February today, it's serious time to start thinking about Spring Training. The Brewers don't report until February 15, but things are already building as to five key storylines to follow when the Brew Crew gets into Marvale Baseball Park outside Phoenix.

Topping the list of what to watch for is Ryan Braun. Simply, how will he respond to his lowest year as a pro and probably person? On top of the suspension that forced him to miss the final 65 games of the 2013 season, Braun battled injuries and missed almost 40 more games. As I wrote last month, it will be interesting to see how Braun responds to being back this season. Any offense the team missed last season can be addressed with a healthy Braun in the middle of the lineup. Things are going to get dicey on the road this season when opposing fans let Braun hear it.

Are the Brewers asking Braun to deliver MVP caliber numbers? Simply, no. They are just looking for production in line with the back of his baseball card. That would be in the area of about a .312 batting average with 36 home runs and 112 RBI.

Braun won't need to do too much if the first base position, No. 2 on my list of Brewers storylines to watch, delivers more than it did in 2013. First, the Mark Reynolds signing, then the return of Lyle Overbay, have shown that the organization realizes it's a need, but doesn't mean it will be a shining star this season. 

The team was banking on Corey Hart sticking around, and his absence will create a mix and match solution for the short term 

The third story to watch is the Rickie Weeks riddle. What will the Brewers do with him in spring training. These things have a way of working themselves out, but the Brewers have basically hinted they plan to trade Weeks and start with the season with Scooter Gennett at second base. An $11 million guy in a platoon seems a bit much for the Brewers to handle and they would probably like to pawn off some of that salary, but would need to open up the spot fo Gennett, if he delivers in Spring Training, too. 

Pitching seems to always be a need no matter the team and the signing of Matt Garza makes it less of one for the Brewers. The bullpen, however, does have plenty of unanswered questions. Most of those revolve around roles for those who will spend their time in front of Friday's Front Row Sports Grill at Miller Park. Jim Henderson is slated to start the season as closer, but the signing of Garza has bumped Tyler Thornburg to the bullpen as a possible set up man, along with the newly acquired Will Smith from the Royals in the Nori Aoki trade. Brandon Kintzler's name has been mentioned as a setup man, as he came through in that role at the end of last season. Rob Wooten saw time and shined last year, as well, so he should be back. Beyond those names, things are open for discussion. Do the Brewers take a look at Francisco Rodriguez once again (He is available)? Does a non-roster invitee like Zach Duke make the team?

How that plays out will likely decide the No. 5 storyline of the spring. What does the future hold for manager Ron Roenicke in Milwaukee? As I wrote this week, whispers are circling that if things don't end well this season for the Crew, Running Ron, the Brewers could part ways with him. Now I don't see that happening, barring a complete collapse, but that won't stop people from talking. Roenicke has shown at times he thinks way outside the box with his stealing of bases and bunt calls from guys who should not give up an at-bat, but those are marginal things. As a whole, he has not lost the clubhouse at all in his time here. The last two seasons, the team could have cashed out on the season and they came back to finish strong. That's a sign of something that should mean he sticks around for at least another year.

A couple others worth mentioning that just missed the list...

How do Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez follow up their breakout 2013 seasons?

Can Aramis Ramirez avoid a major injury this season and be a factor at the plate?

Will Jim Henderson, who had not closed Major League games before, be able to back up his 2013?

Can Kris Davis make it as an every day left fielder?

How will Ryan Braun fare in right field?

Who will hit leadoff?

Does Roenicke enter season on Brewers hot seat?

A lot of talk has been made this offseason that Brewers manager Ron Roenicke could be on the hot seat if things go tough for the fourth-year skipper this sesason. Some people were calling for it last year, but General Manager Doug Melvin made it clear he was on Roenicke's side after dealing with a myriad of injuries (and a certain star player's suspension) that Running Ron was not going anywhere.

I get the feeling the same can be said of this season for a few reasons. First, the NL Central was the first division in Major League Baseball history to have three teams qualify for the playoffs last season. That means it is going to be tough to break through just them to reach the playoffs.Yes, the Brewers should contend for one of the NL Wild Card spots, but there are a lot of gambles being taken on young guys in the starting rotation and in the bullpen that are not completely Roenicke's responsibility.

Second, Roenicke is one of only five managers in Brewers history to have a winning percentage over .500 of the 18 men that have taken the helm of the team. He also is the manager with the winningest record in franchise history, back in 2011 with 96 wins. He is fourth on the Brewers all-time winning percantage list with a 253-233 record (.521) and is already fifth in terms of total wins in franchise history and will move into fourth on the list past Del Crandall within the first two months of this season.

I know there is a lot of 'What have you done for me lately?' in pro sports, but you can't make changes just to make one. Roenicke has shown the ability to work with players. In 2012, the team seemed down and out in July and was able to work with the young players and make a run at the NL Wild Card before falling just short in September. Last season, the team got off to a 6-22 May, only to push back and finish just eight games under .500 with a team missing half of the team that started on Opening Day missing considerable time. He made the most with what he had.

Finally, the idea that a manager fits a team just as a team is built around a manager's philosophy is true. Roenicke is a perfect fit for the personality of this team, namely Ryan Braun. Unlike managers of past years (see Ken Macha) Braun and Roenicke seem to be on the same page. That might not seem like much to the regular person, but I always look at what Phil Jackson was able to do with Michael Jordan and then later Shaq and Kobe to get his 10 NBA rings. Clearly, the Brewers aren't quite on that level, but it is important. 

Consistency can go a long way for a team. No pro sports franchise wants to be compared to the Cleveland Browns, changing coaches every year and then scrambling when your first choice turns you down. With the pieces Roenicke has in the field and on the mound over the next couple of years he should be able to challenge Phil Garner for the all-time wins in franchise history. Baseball people in this city will back him, everyone else needs to follow suit.

Brewers' farewell to Prince become more and more evident

Just two days into the Major League Baseball General Managers meetings down at the Pfister Hotel in the heart of downtown Milwaukee and the writing seems to be on the wall on Prince Fielder's future as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. With that, it has all the makings of being a rough offseason no matter who the team brings in to replace his production in the lineup.


Both owner Mark Attanasio and GM Doug Melvin are saying the right things, but with no offer on the table, it seems more like window dressing and the scenario we all knew would play out this offseason has begun. It has the makings of watching an ex talk to new people about moving on. Even though, you don't want them, you start comparing how great they'd be there or with you. And as Attanasio said "Milwaukee is Prince's home."

Just one month (to the day) after I sat in the 223 and watched the Cardinals celebrate their berth in the World Series (which they eventually won), it sure didn't take long for the feeling of desperation to get a little worse. As good as the season was to watch hearing all the rumors and reports out of the Pfister, we are being reminded that this is Milwaukee, home of the smallest media market in MLB and we must be out of our minds to think Prince will stay here.

Then again, that same media market is also the place that has the man many think will win the 2011 National League MVP award, Ryan Braun, under contract for $150 million through 2020 which has to say something about how great things are around here. This is the same franchise that also has Yovani Gallardo, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart sealed up through 2015. We're not as "small market" as it seems.

It's just a tad heartbreaking with the greatness of Prince playing here for the last six years and watching him develop. As I had talked with a fellow writer who was close to the Brewers when they drafted Prince, it was a bit of a surprise move. So much of a surprise that just days prior to the draft, Brewers brass was pretty set on not taking him. Something must have changed their belief in his size and the rest, as they say, is history as he scorched many Brewers team records in his (somewhat) short stay in town. Most everyone in Wisconsin is proud of what we have here (case in point the Packers for most that reside here) and to see him leave when given the chance is what makes some upset with the system. And understandably so.


Yes, Prince deserves his big pay day. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to go out and make the money he has earned when other players in the league are milking the market for all it's worth. As someone who has taken on the idea of changing careers and seeking jobs this year, Prince deserves every cent he can earn for what he will bring to a new team. He is a rare talent of power and average that makes him a force in any lineup.

The trick for Prince is going to be leaving his legacy in tact in Milwaukee. I'd say there is only one way he could really tarnish what he has done and the love the fans of the Brewers have for him and that would be to sign with the Cubs. There are 28 other teams he could sign with and save face and get standing ovations upon his return to Miller Park. I'm not sure that matters to him at this point, but it is an interesting thing to watch unfold.

As for the rest of the team, Prince's pay wouldn't do the team any favors. Looking at the business side of things, it would make more sense to split up the $25 million he wants per year among maybe three players and see what you can get out of them. That might even make the team a little more balanced as opposed to what it was like the last couple years at times when the bottom third of the lineup was a black hole at the plate.

Welcome to Milwaukee Ron Roenicke!

The love affair with the guy Doug Melvin and Co. have named Ron Roenicke as the new manager of the Brewers has been in full effect the last couple of days. I'll say it just shows how much of a great pickup this is for the team and the city of Milwaukee. I'm not sure how much I can put into our TV play-by-play announcer, Brian Anderson, speaking his praises (Like he did here), but when Mike Scioscia, Angels Manager (Audio is here), uses the word "Incredible" about six times at least to talk about his now former bench coach, it runs a little louder.
Of course, there's the manager himself. Just as BA said, Roenicke is a great interview. It was actually rather refreshing listening to his presser where he was introduced and then he was on Homer on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee. (Take a listen). To follow it up Doug Melvin was on the D-List with Drew Olsen and Dan Needles this afternoon to talk about the hire (Audio is here). (Tom H.'s J-S story is here.)
Now that you have all of that, here's my take, I LOVE THIS DECISION! I know I wrote on this page on how I like the Bobby Valentine possibility, but sometimes changing your mind is a good thing. The more I found out about Roenicke (We'll be calling him Ro-Ro in the 223 next season!), the more I started to fall in line with the idea. Just think about the guys that have come from under Scioscia's wing to manage their own teams and what they have done. Bud Black and Joe Maddon have done nothing but win at their jobs and Roenicke was next in line to get his own gig. It has been compared to the Bill Walsh NFL coaching tree in the fact that is the best coach with the best assistants that have learned what to do. They all went on to be successful with coaching gigs in the past and this one is looking to be the same way. The key, of course, is if the pitching can turn around from as bad as it's been the last two seasons here, which has nothing to do with the guy that had the post before "Ro-Ro."
The biggest thing I liked in listening to him talk is that he doesn't spit out the cliches over and over. He knows the game and shows it when he talks. I love it.


The Bears are back in action this week after a bye week and travel to Toronto take on the Wisconsin alum Lee Evans (above) and the Bills. All of the pundits are thinking this could be the game where the Bills get their first win of the season. That makes me a little nervous. The ringing words that have come out of Halas Hall over the last two week is Mike Martz saying he is going to use Matt Forte and Chester Taylor more. I like hearing that and think it might be what the offense needs. Whether that's done in running the ball or with short screens, is something that will be shown this week. Martz also said he plans to have them both on the field at the same time. that might be something that could put teams in a pickle when it comes to which one to key off of and could help Jay Cutler out in finding a rhythm and getting the other guys open because they will be paying attention to the back. The defense used the bye to get healthy and I'm thinking them getting Lance Briggs back this week should help shore things up in what resulted in losses the previous two games. I'm saying it will. He's the type of player that makes everyone around him better when he's on the field, including Brian Urlacher. The two seem to pick each other up and that should help the unit get back to their old form.
Prediction: Bears 24, Bills 17

Time for my NFL Picks. Last week was not a good week for me, to say the least, going just 6-5 to push my record for the year to 64-53. Here we go. Winners, as always, are in bold.
Bucs at Falcons
Bears at Bills
Patriots at Browns
Jets at Lions
Cardinals at Vikings
Saints at Panthers
Dolphins at Ravens
Chargers at Texans
Giants at Seahawks
Chiefs at Raiders
Colts at Eagles
Cowboys at Packers
Steelers (21) at Bengals (17)

Alright, time to get into the Nussie Hunter segment of the broadcast. I came across a former Miss Universe on Guyism and I couldn't find someone to unseat her from a spot and mention in today's post. I'm saying pink is a good color on her, no? There's 46 more photos, here!

It's time to get serious, this is the World Series

It's finally time for the Fall Classic boys and girls and while it's not necessarily one that we pictured at the start of the playoffs, it is clear these are the two teams that deserved to be in his position the most through the playoffs and thus, to us baseball purists, make for the best World Series.
The stories of both franchises having two of the longest droughts in MLB makes for one storyline, but none of these guys were part of those teams. So let's just look at them. The reason this is set to be the best in my eyes is the pitching. The Giants have shown they've had the best pitching all year. And as good as the Rangers were to get out front of the AL West, they knew they had to go get an arm and did so in the biggest way when they got Cliff Lee (who as I write this is killing Giants hitters).
So, who will win this Series? The way I look at it, the pitching on both sides makes it too close to call, so that is a wash. So I took a look at the lineups and offenses for both teams and that is where I think the Rangers have a slight edge. Not a huge edge, but enough pop with their offense to do the most damage, especially when the series moves to Texas for Game 3. They have power and can hit it out, but should be able to get at least one game in SF and steal the home field advantage from the Giants. The key to it all to me has to be Vlad Guerero who had another ridiculous year when everyone wrote him off. I see him making a splash and helping the likes of Josh Hamilton get his.
I'm thnking Bruce Bochy could give the Giants the edge in managing, but I'm also thinking the Rangers won't let their coke head of a manager get in the way of things and make his decisions pretty easy.
My Prediction: I know Game 1 has started, so check the time stamp on my Twitter post where I predicted at nearly 6:50 this evening the Rangers would win the Series in six games.


Now for some Brewers talk. The rumor mill was set on fire today when Bill Scott of the Wisconsin Radio Network reported the Crew was set to name Bobby Valentine, formerly with the NY Mets in the states and has since been in Japan and is currently with ESPN, as their new manager.
The Brewers beat reporters, Tom Haudricourt and Adam McCalvy, were sent running to get word from Doug Melvin and Valentine who flat out denied anything was going on. Before I get into that, I want to talk about what I think about Bobby V. coming to town because I actually like this move. Yesterday I talked in this very space that it would be a good move for the Brewers to go with Joey Cora. Well, that was just me picking him over Bob Melvin. And, of the three, Valentine, is the pick of the three. There is talk the fourth of the eight candidates is Ron Roenicke, who is with the Angels, is the fourth guy and Valentine would be my pick of those four still.
He is a proven winner. He brings the entertainment factor and is a big enough name where Milwaukee would be on the national baseball map at the start of the season and throughout the year. I also think he, like Cora, would gel well with the young nucleus of the team. His history and his personality would be one the players would get right away and, as a fan, I actually like the idea of him leading this group.
He has made it public he likes the Brewers people and what they are doing (or say they will do) heading into next season. I also see him as the "Big Name" of the group and it would be a huge "Get" for the smallest market in Major League Baseball to woo him into town with a three-year $10 million deal.
Of course, baseball's unwritten rule will have this thing denied for at least a week with the World Series starting tonight and it's kind of an unwritten rule to not steal the limelight from the two teams that are playing to announce things like this during the series. If something must be done, it should be done so on off days, the first of which comes Friday. We shall see. Stay close to your Twitters and Brewers blogs.

Now it's time for the Nussie Hunter. I saw our featured guest of the day a while back on some MTV special and had to do a double take. Well, apparently she's showing us all she is no longer a child star. That someone is JoJo, who has become one damn beautiful woman. She's been documenting it on her Twitter page, posting photos of herself in tight, revealing tops. Umm, just see for yourself below with a couple more, here.

Maybe Doug Melvin does have a clue!

We were hoping this day would come (some of us were just hoping it would be about three months ago). Mark it on the calendar as it may be a turning point in the Brewers season, June 7 is the day Doug Melvin finally came to his senses and cut ties with Jeff Suppan. To be real, you knew they had to keep him on the roster through spring training. His $12+million salary dictated they at least give him a chance to fail. And boy did he ever once he was given the chance.
The numbers are pretty staggering this year for Soupy Doup who this season was taken out of the starting rotation after two starts, which he went 0-2 in. In all, he had 15 appearances this season with a 7.84 ERA over 31 innings. He allowed 50, 12 walks and 27 earned runs, with 18 strikeouts.
During his career with the Brewers he went made 110 appearances (87 starts) and went 29-36 with a 5.08 ERA.
The Brewers owe him $8 million over the rest of this year, plus a $2 million buyout for next year. So he'll make $44 million in his four years he's on the Brewers payroll. That, my friend works out to $1.517 million per victory with the Brewers. That's pretty gruesome to just think about. 
I waited to post something today because I wanted to see what specifically Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio had to say about the move. Here's Tom's full story from today's J-S.
The quote that sticks out for me is that Doug and Mark feel comfortable about the bullpen and pitching depth enough now to be able to part with Jeff. I'll say I agree with them. I'm encouraged by what I've seen out of the guys that have been called up in recent weeks.
But back on Suppan, there are two points many forget when talking about what he meant to the Brewers in his time here. First, the month of August 2008. Remember that month? Suppan went 5-0 that month and while some guy named CC Sabathia was dealing Suppan was also on his game and helped the team surge for the Wild Card berth.
It was his best month on the team and at the end of that season was the last guy to start a game and watched at the Phillies burried the team for the final time that season at Miller Park.
Maybe Suppan's lasting mark on the Brewers was the fact that he was the first free agent Mark A. brought in here and helped show guys like Mike Cameron, Trevor Hoffman, Mike Cameron and Randy Wolf that Milwaukee isn't a place you go to end your career. He was Mark's first big free-agent signing and helped keep things building toward that playoff berth. It was something I hadn't really thought about until I read something on a new fave blog of mine, The Brewers Bar, and he made it pretty clear. Have to say we do owe Suppan that.
Suppan, who Tom H. reminded us didn't take many interviews talking about his decline, did leave with class and thanked everyone in the organization and wished the fans and the team well the rest of the season. I'll say this, that was one thing that made it harder to watch. You can't help but root for good guys. But at the end of the day, you need production and that was what led to the decision to let Suppan go and call up Chris Smith from Nashville.
Here's to hoping things begin to pick up for the team from here and the dead weight is left behind.


On a side note, the Brewers did win Sunday night with a Corey Hart sac fly in the top of the 10th. In that game Albert Pujols hit another home run and nailed a fan in the outfield. Check this, it's pretty dope!

I need to take a sigh after that rant and get on to some fun stuff for the day and touch on some of the other sports going on. Found some things on SI.com's Hot Clicks today that were pretty good that I felt the need to share here. First, the Lakers and Celtics are locked in what could be a great NBA Finals. Here's a great Kobe Nike commercial with Magic Johnson. Gotta love Magic. Oh, and did I mention Scottie Pippen! Yee!


The World Cup is also on the horizon (Starts Friday) so this caught my eye, too, on Hot Clicks. It's got Snoop Dogg, David Bechham, Daft Punk and most importantly Star Wars. Damn Sweet!


Actually got a second Snoop Dogg video for you today. He was on the MTV Movie Awards last night with one of my fave girls, Katy Perry. We'll get to her in a minute. But check out this vid of them performing what might be the big summer jam of the summer. Oh, and yeah, she's got the guns a blazin! CHECK IT HERE!

Now for more of Katy, she's the subject of today's Nussie Hunter. She is like the league leader behind Megan Fox for this honor and well, there's good reason for that. Do you know many women that can dye their hair blue and still look absolutely incredible? Yeah, didn't think so. Heard she never got to watch the smurfs as a kid, either. Wouldn't know that by how well she pulls off the smurf hair on the red carpet. Check it below!

Can we now put a fork in the Brewers?

With another demoralizing loss Tuesday night at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball's only Quadruple-A Franchise, the Brewers showed they don't belong or deserve a run at the playoffs.
Yep, 10 games back of division leading St. Louis and fading fast from San Fran and Colorado in the Wild Card race, is enough for me to call the time of death on this team. Tom Haudricourt did pretty much that in his game story and I'm going to follow suit.
The pitching has shown little sign of turning around and seems to be giving up more and more long balls each night. Sorry Chris Bosio can't solve that conundrum as this one falls in Doug Melvin's lap. He's got to get more guns on the front end of the starting rotation. It was my fear at the beginning of the season when everyone was predicting this team to get 90 wins this season.
For awhile that looked possible, as the fastest in team history to 30 wins. But just like that 24-10 start a few years back, that is a distant memory.
The offense had it's funk, but like the coaches I talk to time and time again at the high school level say "Offense comes and goes, so you have to build around defense and pitching."
And me putting a fork in my favorite team doesn't make me less of a fan, it shows I'm a realist to see that 10 games back in a race with 39 games to play is next to impossible to come back from. I'm going to cheer them on be in their corner, but it's time to realize that it's not going to happen this year. I have tickets to four games in the final month I will be enjoying and hoping for a "W." Just be real (like Cypress Hill) and know it's not going to happen this year. Get the ducks in a row and line up the pieces for 2010.
I'll surely have a blog in the future about what the offseason should look like for the team. Be sure to watch for that.
The dumping of Bill Hall today, is a good start!
What do you think? Am I being a bad fan and not holding out hope until the math says it is impossible? Comment here and let me know.


Got a couple of items for you. I'm a fan of the Stern Show and Artie Lange threw out the first pitch at a Minor League Baseball game last night. He did a lot better than Gary Dell'Abate did earlier this year at a Mets game. Take a look!



OK, this one was talked about on today's Hot Clicks on SI.com. Not a Jimmy Traina show today, but good stuff. Britney Spears read the Top 10 on Letterman last night. Watch this and tell me if you think Britney is trying to cover up her midsection in each shot of her in this.



OK, now to the Nussie Hunter for the day. It's out now that Terrell Owens will not be playing in the preseason game this weekend against the Packers. Wonder if he's going to follow the lead of Chris Cooley and get together with one of the Bills' cheerleaders, who call themselves the Buffalo Jills. If they all look like Katy, it's worth a shot. Damn.

The dust finally settled on Black Wednesday at Miller Park

Wow, for about 90 minutes today, I didn't do much of anything at the office today. It was a day of combing the web looking up high school football information when a little message popped up on Facebook, then another and then I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Yep, today turned into Black Wednesday at Miller Park as coaches and players were put on notice (Hopefully your favorite beer man is still around!) .
General Manager Doug Melvin's ousting of pitching coach Bill Castro and demotion of J.J. Hardy came first. The Castro move, I saw coming. I mean, this staff is bad and someone has to go.
The Hardy move was a bit surprising, but a welcome one. The related roster move brings touted prospect Alcedes Escobar to the majors and gives him a chance to shine.
I'm all about this, as it's becoming clear nothing is going to get this team into the playoffs at this point with the Cardinals rolling atop the NL Central and the Giants cruising in the NL Wild Card race.
Not 15 minutes after I read that note by Tom Haudricourt, I refresh the J-S Brewers page and see a new post "Now Hall is Out" Whoa! Melvin really rolling today.
Bill really only spent three days in the minors the first time he was down after Corey Hart's appendix burst and he needed emergency surgery.
All of these moves are ones at this point in the season are meant to shake up the team. When Tom talked to Melvin around 1 today, he made it clear this was not the white flag of surrender. And heck, now the owner is chiming in. Trying to deliver a bit of damage control, it seems.
J.J. says he's burnt out and won't join the Sounds while they are in Salt Lake City. He'll wait for them to return to Nashville.
Castro is said to be one of the nicest guys in the game and I was waiting to see what he had to say about things. Tom H. got a hold of him and he's going to see if there's anything he can do within the organization.
Well, everyone on the team is saying the team is still in it and they believe, but I need a little life in this team again before I start thinking that way. The way the losses keep piling up and the Cardinals keep winning, it's not getting any better.

OK, that was enough negative and news for today. Time for some funny/lighter content.
Got a bit of a debate going on with this next item. Is it real or is it fake. It was a heated topic on Covino and Rich the other day. See for yourself. Pretty cool either way!



And because it was such a rough day, the Nussie Hunter decided to let me pick who we should feature today. Told him I needed a pick me up and he knew right who I was talking about. So Mila Kunis graces the pages today. Hope you enjoy. Now to get to this new-look Brewers game.