Brewers in first

The brewers are tied for first place:). First time since early april. This season feels totally different from last. last year we had the great start then struggled. Everybody was kinda waiting for us to choke and we did. This year feels alot different. We entered this year with an "anything less than a playoff berth is a disappointment" attitude. We got off to a bad start and there was alot of rumors about Yost job and such. We got hot, have made a couple of deals and we are the talk of baseball right now. I feel we are destined for the playoffs and am dreaming of a world championship:eek:. Big series starting monday against the Cubs. I am obvioudly biased. &these are great times for many Brewers fans, but I was wondering what other people think of our chances this year? Alot of people, even after the CC trade said the cubs were still better. Do people still think that?.

:cool:

The Cubs are still better. I think that the Cubs will win the division and Milwaukee the Wild Card. I also think that the Brewers have a better shot at going deep into the playoffs once they make it than the Cubs do.

I still cant figure out why everyone thinks the Cubs are so great. ESPN wont shut up about it. Outside of a couple bats and pitchers, they are not that good. My opine is that the Brewers are actually better as long as the young players keep it up.

Their the "lovable losers".
:)

Yay! Milwaukee is way better than Chicago! Go Brew Crew!

Starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching.

Cubs win the division.

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Originally Posted by grasshopper

I still cant figure out why everyone thinks the Cubs are so great.

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Because they are very, very good.

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Outside of a couple bats and pitchers, they are not that good.

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They are second in the majors with 540 runs scored. They are tenth in the majors in fewest runs allowed with 433. They are first in the majors in run differential, having outscored their opponents by 107 runs.

They have a team OPS+ of 110 and an ERA+ of 117.

A "couple" bats? I count their entire starting lineup as being above average hitters. A "couple" pitchers? I see 3 great (this year) pitchers - Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden. I see two league-average pitchers - Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. I see a very good closer - Kerry Wood - and a very good setup man - Carlos Marmol.

Yeah, um, this is one of the best teams in the league.

The Brewers are up there too, but they have more holes than the Cubs. They've been getting poor production from catcher, second base, and third base. Their bullpen is shakier. The top 3 of their rotation matches up rather evenly to the Cubs, maybe slightly better, but Suppan/Bush/McClung are worse than Lilly/Marquis.

Wow, I'm seeing Semarnja (unsure of spelling) for the first time. If there was any question about this kid, you can put it to rest.

This guy throws in the mid 90's, his fastball has natural movement left to right (great against lefties) of a good 3 inches, and he just threw two of the nastiest splitters I've seen since the heyday of Gagne when he was so dominant. Made Hanley Ramirez look like me.

No, I'm not suggesting this is the next Gagne, but this kid has got the STUFF. Man, that's as impressed as I've been with young pitcher lately. Great, great stuff, and good control. The only drawback I've seen in the two times I've seen him pitch is that nasty splitter isn't consistent yet, he's left a couple of them up and straight.

Wow, but man this kid looks good. Wasn't he a good college football player too?? Notre Dame or someone else??

EDIT: And, oh BTW, it looks like the Cubs are back in first place alone, though the Brewers game isn't over yet.

Receiver for Notre Dame. Underwhelming minor league stats though.

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Originally Posted by HoustonGM

Receiver for Notre Dame. Underwhelming minor league stats though.

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Yeah, that's it. That first good year that new coach had with them right?

No idea. Don't follow football, college or otherwise. lol

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Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

Yeah, that's it. That first good year that new coach had with them right?

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only good year they've had under Weiss, and they got hammered in their bowl game

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Originally Posted by HoustonGM

Receiver for Notre Dame. Underwhelming minor league stats though.

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Veeery Over Rated

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Veeery Over Rated

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As a pitcher or college receiver? He was a very good college receiver but wouldn't make much of a pro receiver, he would have been a better TE if he added some weight. In college he could use his height to a big advantage, but his lack of speed would kill him in the NFL.

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Underwhelming minor league stats though.

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Minor league stats don't mean everything when it comes to development of players. There's been ton of players who put up great minor league numbers who never make it in the pros and there are guys who played terrible in the minors but blossomed in the pros

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Originally Posted by Reade

As a pitcher or college receiver?

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Well, can't speak for RedSoxRockies, but considering the "Rockies" part, I'd bet this was a comment (perhaps wishfull thinking) about the pitching part. But, again can't speak for RedSoxRockies.

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Originally Posted by Reade

Minor league stats don't mean everything when it comes to development of players. There's been ton of players who put up great minor league numbers who never make it in the pros and there are guys who played terrible in the minors but blossomed in the pros

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Yep, lots of cases. And I've been wrong way more than I've been right, but man this kid is impressive. This is another area where stats don't tell it all. For example, big league debut, he has a blown save.

Looking at the "stats", just another overblown hype. But I watched that game, and this one. Here is a kid who made his major league debut, MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT NOW (for those who don't believe in "clutch" please read no further), which is stressful enuogh, but he makes his in late July, in the middle of the pennant race, in a 2-1 game, in Wrigley Field. Yep, he gave up the tying run, but it was on a 2-strike pitch with his third best pitch. It was a breaking ball (curve/slider???) to a left-hand hitter with 2-strikes. It wasn't that bad of a pitch, it broke down and in (right where a lefy likes it), and it was smashed over the fence. Something I'm bettting he got away with in the minors. This is one of those "learning" experiences vets talk about. (Note to self: this is the big leagues, re-think going for strike three with your third best pitch).

Then, in his SECOND MLB appearance, he throws a two inning save, when the Cubs are right in the middle of the pennant race and have seen there lead slip away. And, oh, BTW, I don't think he faced a 3 ball situation in those two innings (could be wrong, I was running between kitchen and dining room cooking Sunday meal).

Nope, I've seen lots of kids with great arms and great stuff. They're a dime a dozen in the minor leagues. This kid has the stuff (and I'm telling you, its for real) AND he's got the guts. If I had to bet on a rookie (and all rookies are really long shots), I'd bet on this one. I just really believe he's got it.

The only question I have after watching him in two appearances (one in which he did sort of fail), is how is going to react to failure. Baseball is a game of failure and adjustments, so how is going to react when he gets shelled in two or three straight outings. Thats the test.

Most young pitchers suddenly develop "shell shock" where they don't throw strikes, which leads to more shell shock. They no longer trust their "stuff" and try for the perfect pitch. This kid, I dunno, I really think he's got the mental stuff to match the physical. It is too early to tell, but man I like this kid.

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If I had to bet on a rookie (and all rookies are really long shots), I'd bet on this one. I just really believe he's got it.

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I totally agree with you. That 96-97 mph fastball sure did move alot and with that 84-85 mph splitter sure makes him look good in that bullpen, if they keep him up after Wood comes back. With Wood, Marmol, Howry, Samardzija makes the 7 inning and after look pretty dismal for the opposition.

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Originally Posted by Reade

I totally agree with you. That 96-97 mph fastball sure did move alot...

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Yep, and not only moved, but moved left to right "naturally." AKA Greg Maddux and the way his fastball moved "back over the plate" when he started it inside against the lefties. That natural movement, with that nasty splitter (once he makes it consistent, to me THAT'S ONE LAST BIG HURDLE), that's all you need for a closer. Just ask Gagne. For those who don't remember Gagne a few years ago, to me there for a year and a half that guy was as nasty as I've seen. And, I've seen Koufax, Ryan, Seaver, Carlton....... There for awhile, Gagne was THE MAN. In no way am I saying this kid is the next MAN, but I am saying he does have that potential. Man, I wish the Nationals had this kind of arm/kid in the waiting.

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Originally Posted by Reade

Minor league stats don't mean everything when it comes to development of players. There's been ton of players who put up great minor league numbers who never make it in the pros and there are guys who played terrible in the minors but blossomed in the pros

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I know, but they do need to be considered. Of course, there's some players with underwhelming minor league numbers that suddenly put it together and then get called to the majors (see Miguel Cabrera, .781 OPS in 1428 minor league at bats, than broke out for a 1038 OPS in his first year of AA, got called up, and the rest, as they say, is history), but if I had to guess, I'd say that happens more with position players than it does pitchers. Sure, it can happen with pitchers too, I'm not saying that, but his minor league performance record can't be discounted while discussing his future in the big leagues.

Note also that his college stats weren't anything special, either - 6.7 K/9, 3.15 BB/9, 3.82 ERA. In the minors, he struck out 5.24 batters per 9 and walked 3.60 per 9, and had a 4.26 ERA. Now, he got off to a great start once he got called up to AAA. That's only 37.1 innings though - 9.64 K/9 and 3.86 BB/9. He was doing pretty poorly at AA before the call up though, walking 42 batters to 44 strikeouts. Pitchers with such underwhelming minor league stats aren't good bets to succeed in the majors.

I'm NOT saying that he won't become a very good pitcher. Scouts do give good reports on him, and as I said with his stats, that can't be discounted. Both the scouting reports and his track record need to be considered. I think he'll become at least a solid middle reliever, but he'll need to rack up more strikeouts and limit the walks if he's going to become a major league starter or closer.

Stupid Cubs :angry:

Retarted Red Sox