Brew Crew Hangover: Fix 'Em Edition

Now that Milwaukee has a 0.6% chance of making the playoffs (so you're saying there's a chance!) I think now would be an opportune time to start doing some shit for the future. I would say at this point, it is safe to say that the roster as currently constructed is not going to get us a world series title, and may not even get us to .500, which used to be the mark of success for the Crew. Here is what I think I would do.

1) Put Fielder on the market. He is the biggest, and maybe only realistic trade chip we have. We know we won't be able to afford him in two years, and he probably has the most value right now because anyone that trades for him gets him for a year and a half. But don't give him away. We don't need to be desperate because we've got time. If nobody wants to give us anything good, we can wait another year if need be. I think at this point, most non-idiotic fans understand that he isn't going to be around much longer. The problem is that right now, I don't see another first baseman anywhere in the Brewers system that can step in and give us any kind of production.

2) Cut Soup. He is wasting a roster spot. I think the message has been recieved that he will never start again. We've used I think 9 other starters other than him. He's been that bad. I would much rather give the roster spot to a young pitcher that deserves it.

3) Consider the Hoffman situation. This one is pretty tough. He's been awful. And I don't think he's going to turn it around. But how do you cut a hall of famer? I'm sort of hoping we can convince him to retire.

4) Start your best players. This sounds dumb, but this isn't something that is a guarantee for the Brewers. For instance, I have more confidence in both Kottaras and Lucroy than I do in Zaun. Lucroy is obviously the future. So when Zaun comes back, don't hand him the job because he's old and well paid. This is only the most glaring situation, but trading Fielder (and Hart?) would open up a few spots for some younger guys to try thier luck. And let Axford close unless you think Braddock is better, but don't give it to Hoffman.

5) Stop spraypainting Rick Peterson's uniform on him. I honestly preferred when he wore a coat in 85 degree weather. He is just offputting. Mrs. Juice says "He looks like a perv." Agreed.

One last thought: How did we get here? Five years ago, I would be thrilled not to be in last place, and now I'm bitching about not being the playoff hunt.

Border Battle: Baseball Style

So. I guess I am going to a "baseball game" this weekend. Possibly (but highly unlikely unless Twinkies wife pays for the tickets, and she won't be there on Saturday) two. There is also a series of said games taking place this weekend. One team is a team that is named after a birth defect. The other used to be a baseball team, but now is some kind of traveling band of misfits that cause blindness and make you want to kill yourself. Yes, it is the Twinkies v. Brewers. How will the Crew do? Well, lets look at the pitching matchups: Friday Bush v.. Fuck it, I'm not even going to bother. If we win one I would be SHOCKED. A few more bullet points of what is going to happen:

- I'm going to drive 5 hours to go to a state that I may hate more than any other state.

- I'm going to drink too much.

- Richard and my wife will drink too much too.

- Richards "friend" is going to hate me.

- I will either see the last Macha game, or one of the first Randolph/Svuem games.

- The Crew will run Jody Gerut out there to DH. He will go 1 for 12, hit into 2 double plays, and strike out 4 times.

- Hoffman will pitch a game, but in the 6th inning. And he will not give up a run.

- I will be stared at in horror by a bunch of Minnesotans that think they know how to drink, yet the fact that they live on the other side of a river has somehow precluded them from being able to even fathom drinking as much as Wisconsinites.

- There will be numerous Brewer fan/Twin fan fights around bar time

Oh Come On!

Here are what I feel are the relevant stats for Trevor Hoffman. Last season, he pitched 54 innings, and gave up 11 earned runs. This season, he has pitched 13 innings, and has given up 19 earned runs. He has not given up more than 19 ER in a season since 2001. He was 34 years old then. He is 43 now. So let's not bother arguing about whether he is done. Because he is D-U-N.

What I think is important to note is the club's reaction to what has happened. Which has been nothing. And THAT is why Kenny Macha needs to go. Because someone needs to step in and say "Hey, Trev, you've been great. But your ERA is over 13 and you can't get Betty White out. So do us a favor and either retire or take a Suppatical (fake trip to DL)." And Kenny isn't willing to do it. Macha needs to go not because his personality sucks. Or because a manager is somehow supposed to convince Major League players to not suck. He needs to go because a manager's job is to put the team in the best position to win. And he is unwilling to do it I guess. Is this a reaction to an 8 game losing streak? Probably. But that is MY job as a fan.

I look forward to Willie Randolph's first game as manager on Friday night.