Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

My friends, if you don't have the MLB Extra Innings Package, and if you can afford it, get it.

Really.

Last year I had both the cable and mlb.tv package. This year I only have the cable because I don't travel like I used to.

Still, it is awesome.

It is amazing to be able to watch virtually every game of every team. In truth you don't get every gam eo r team, but it sure comes close.

The Beautiful Butterfly is a hig Red Sox fan and we have been watching the Boston games almost every nioht. And believe me, they are playing great baseball and it's been fun to watch.

Butterfly also love the San Francisco Giants. Um, not as much fun to watch, but I love being able to see so many of the teams in the National League.

That, and you get to hear all of the different broadcasters.

For my money, Rock and BA really do a great job. They are funny, they have great energy, they know the game and the Brewers players, and most importantly, they seem to like each other and are happy to be there.

The Big Mac thing in the booth the other night really cracked us up.

Get With It!

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Steak-Gate!

This from the JSOnline Brewers Blog:

Prince Fielder's Numbers To Date:

Note the two most telling differences:

Batting Average: Down .013

Slugging Percentage: Down 0.157

Wow.

But On Base Percentage is up!

Um, not so fast.

OBP is up because managers are gladly allowing Fielder to walk; first because Braun did not do a good job at clean-up, and now because there is no real strength batting 5th.

Do the math.

2008 is not just another slow start for Prince Fielder.

Looks bad.

Is bad.

Just sayin'.

We've tried to do it the other way, where you put him in a game where you're down two or three runs or up three or four runs, but we haven't had many games like that. We're not getting anywhere. So you sit down and realize that this is an All-Star closer. Get with it. Get him in the ballgame. Get him straightened out so he can help you down there."

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Wow.

What a game!

Gabe (Good 'Ol #14) and Gabe (Butterfly's Pick) came through in the clutch.

Rickie Weeks went 2-5 with 3 RBI!

Prince Fielder went 3-3!

Bill Hall got the collar, 0-6.

Ouch.

But the real story is Eric Gange who blew his 4th save out of 10 appearances.

Wave Buh-Bye

Is it time to start worrying Brewers Fans?

Does your pal Yogi even need to ask such a question?

Sheesh.

Give Ned Yost credit for sticking up for his players, but at some point you have to start living in reality.

A Happy Place! Ned's World!

The Brew Crew blew a 5 run lead.

Oh boy.

And in case no is paying attention, the the Cubs have won 5 straight.

Still, it was a great win after two very disappointing late-inning collapses.

It's gonna' be a long season.

Just sayin'.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Steak-Gate!

Well, maybe someone in the organization is reading Yogi Brewer!

The Brewers have kept an eye on him since. Players weigh in weekly and work closely with the team's athletic training staff to maintain strength and conditioning, but Fielder has not gotten any special attention regarding his diet, according to assistant general manager Gord Ash. The Brewers brought in a nutritionist on Monday for a presentation to players.  

"We give them the information and what they do from there is pretty much up to them," Ash said. "We can control what we serve in the clubhouse and make good choices available, but we're not there to watch what they eat the rest of the day. All we can do is educate and facilitate players meeting with experts. That's what happened [Monday]."

Well, it's a start.

And on this, I have to disagree with the Skipper:

"Whatever he does is right for him," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Everybody wants to make a big deal out of a young man trying to eat healthy. That doesn't have anything to do with it. You can 'grease up' all you want, it's not going to help you hit home runs."

So if Prince Fielder wants to eat only apples and drink Tab it's OK because he wants to do it?

How about if Prince wants to smoke cigarettes, eat pie, drink coffee and bourbon all day, is that OK too?

No, of course not.

If you read the article, it suggests that Fielder stopped eating meat because of the practices of the meat industry, it doesn't explicitly say that he did it for his health (he may have.) In any case, with all due respect for Ned Yost, I don't think he is in a position to say if it is indeed healthy for a young athlete to stop eating meat and if it's helpful or beneficial for either his health or performance.

Having said that, it's a good first step. Someone has to be sensible here and figure out what is happening to Fielder's strength, conditioning, and performance on his new diet.

If it was my team, as either owner, manager, or teammate, I would do my utmost to make sure every player and coach was in the best physical health possible; on and off the field.

Just sayin'.

After reading many of Sunday's blog comments, many fans appear displeased with Eric Gagne (and Ned Yost). However, Gagne (who has blown three saves) certainly isn't the only closer having long ball issues early in the season.

Gennaro Filice of SI.com points out that both the American League and National League save leaders in 2007 have fallen on hard times in April.

Is Emmett Prosser serious?

What's his point?

Let your pal Yogi help.

3 Blown Saves out of 9 appearances.

Do the math.

It doesn't matter what anybody else in the league does.

If the Brewers want to have any chance of making the post-season, somebody on this team needs to be able to reliably save games.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

I know you have already seen this, but come on.

What is the deal with Frank Thomas?

No Love for the Big Hurt.

He is perenially unhappy about everything.

The Blue Jays did the guy the biggest favor imaginable.

Well $20 Million favors actually.

Sheesh.

...

Sorry Frank.

I guess you'll just have to deal.

Or not.

Whatever.

Conditions worked against Gagne

By Tom Haudricourt

Wednesday, Apr 2 2008, 12:53 PM

We did get to talk to Gagne this morning before the Brewers' second game against Chicago and he talked about the things that worked against him. He said his goggles were fogging up in the rainy weather and the mound was a bit slippery. He also thought a couple of close pitches to Derrek Lee that were called balls actually were strikes.

Despite those built-in excuses, Gagne finall said, "I just wasn't throwing strikes. There were a lot of outside things but it's not that big of a deal.

"My stuff was good. ... Things weren't going my way. It was hard for me to find the strike zone."

Gagne said he tried to take some positives from the outing, such as getting three outs in the ninth after Fukudome hit his homer.

"I blew the game, yeah, but I kept it at 3-3 with no outs," he said. "So, that was a positive for me.

Every Game Counts.
Every Pitch Counts.
Every Swing Counts.
Every Throw Counts.

Brewers manager Ned Yost had a hard time saying that this early series win was not important for his young, but contending, club.

"I mean, I'm not going to say no," Yost said. "We lost our division by two games last year, so every game is important. Is it nice that we're playing the Cubs? Yeah."

...

Something disturbing happened in today's game:

Enjoy!

Manager Ned Yost didn't mince words when asked Monday why he chose David Riske in the 10th inning over Derrick Turnbow with a one-run lead.

"I liked the way he threw strikes all spring," said Yost.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

You have probably already seen this, but it seems worth mentioning.

Alex Rodriguez makes more this year than his hometown Florida Marlins.

Boosted by his new deal with the New York Yankees, A-Rod tops the major league baseball salary list at $28 million, according to a study of contract terms by The Associated Press. The 33 players on the Marlins' opening-day roster and disabled list total $21.8 million.

What Me Worry?

Now, I'm not sure what to say about this other than it is astonishing that one player makes more than an entire team, not the least of which is the fact that said team has won two World Series Championships in the last 11 years, more than the $300 Million Cubs.

Just sayin'.

Still, as the article points out, the average annual salary for a MLB palyer is over $3 Million.

Think about that for a moment.

Wow.

"Ordinary men doing extraordinary things."

Bill "Rock" Schroeder told me that.

So true, Brother, so true.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

You have probably already seen this, but it seems worth mentioning.

Alex Rodriguez makes more this year than his hometown Florida Marlins.

Boosted by his new deal with the New York Yankees, A-Rod tops the major league baseball salary list at $28 million, according to a study of contract terms by The Associated Press. The 33 players on the Marlins' opening-day roster and disabled list total $21.8 million.

Now, I'm not sure what to say about this other than it is astonishing that one player makes more than an entire team, not the least of which is the fact that said team has won two World Series Championships in the last 11 years, more than the $300 Million Cubs.

Just sayin'.

Still, as the article points out, the average annual salary for a MLB palyer is over $3 Million.

Think about that for a moment.

Wow.

"Ordinary men doing extraordinary things."

Bill "Rock" Schroeder told me that.

So true, Brother, so true.

Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!

Many of you have written and asked me what has become of The Program, now that I am on the Disabled List.

Good question.

To be honest, it has been very difficult for me not being able to lift, run, swim, throw, bat, and do all of the "hard-core" and intensive training that I had grown so accustomed.

At this time I am still only able to use my lightweight bands and 3-10 pound weights to rehabilitate my arm and shoulder.

!@#$%

But I have been helping the Beautiful Butterfly train and the results of her working The Program have been fantastic!

This past week I ordered and received this The JC Exercise Band and DVD!

It Makes Me Want to Get Some!

This weekend Butterfly will try it out.