Dojji

The problem with moving Penny to the bullpen is that you have to demote either Bard or Masterson.

Right, there needs to be something else alongside Bowden. Something that fills another Milwaukee need. That's not taking a thing away from Bowden, since I believe that when all is said and done that Bowden may well be the best of he, Buchholz and Masterson, but power-hitting SS are just that rare. Michael Bowden and Manny Delcarmen for JJ Hardy and a Brewers top prospect perhaps? That might leave us too dependent on Saito staying healthy all year though. A power hitting SS is the only kind of player I pay a proven RH power reliever like MDC for however.

They pulled him out after the 6th with a perfecto going? I know we're watching the kid's innings but...

Like we can talk on that one. There's only pitcher left on the board from Boston's bullpen and everyone in our lineup under the age of 32 is off the board, as are Lester, Beckett, Matsuzaka and Buchholz from the rotation..

I'm gonna shock everyone by agreeing. Nerdy answer: Our SS situation is deplorable and if we look internally for a fix we're way too dependent on Jed Lowrie to hit at a level he has never sustained for a full season (not saying could or couldn't, just that he's never actually DONE it). I don't think you can count on Lowrie to the exclusion of other solutions. Especially with Lowell and Varitek already candidates for large late-season dropoffs and no production coming from the DH spot with no idea when that's likely to change. Too many things aren't falling our way offensively for us not to make some kind of move, and Hardy's a better short-term and long-term move than most. Besides filling multiple immediate needs at once as a power hitting shortstop, Hardy is a solid long term acquisition to fill a hole we need filled over multiple seasons. And he hits well enough that if we still want to break the bank for Hanley when he starts to get too rich for Florida's blood in a year or so we can do that and let the two of them sort out who moves to third base at Lowell's expense. Also the price tag isn't going to be low, but Milwaukee has enough needs that we should be able to tempt them with enough B-list prospects (Daeges, Bell, Wagner, Richardson) that are ready or close to ready to keep the A-list losses down. Pretty sure you could get it done with at Mike Bowden and a supporting piece (Bowden and Wagner would be a very fair price IMHO for Hardy's services and both would help fill Milwaukee's organizational needs) Short answer: We badly need a power bat and SS is a spot we can improve by subtraction as well as by addition and a fair deal for Hardy doesn't kill us long-term. Get 'er done.

Well Montero's just a bit WTF cuz he's still a ways away (would be like a Sox fan drafting Expo) but Burnett is solid for this late in the draft.

Some bad news for Castigs -- Fausto Carmona sent to the minors. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090605&content_id=5160860&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

See ya Roidney! Appreciate what you did for the dynasty teams but it's time to move on.

I think there's a statue behind that one. Could be wrong. EDIT: Top picture didn't load when I posted that. Wow. That is hideous.

Sweep.

http://www.jackbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/boxing_giant.jpg

WOW

Fail.

I agree. As it stands right now Tazawa is behind Buchholz, Smoltz and Bowden, and for a spot in the rotation may be behind Masterson as well. There's really no need to be aggressive with his promotions.

uhh... what???

The problem is that you don't just go "getting" a bat like that. it's not that easy. You have to surrender value for it, and that value usually takes the form of young ballplayers. If you find the right deal and can spare the guys you're losing? Sure. I don't think MDC for Nick Johnson qualifies. MDC is easy to underrate but he's a huge part of the bullpen right now.

Honestly? I don't.

http://www.lifountain.com/help-images/large-fountain-layout.jpg

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Tied with the Yankees.

That was closer than any 10 run game should ever be.

*covers face*

I duno, it probably beats Manny Alexander-Shea Hillenbrand.

Yeah, Saito, not a good time for an implosion. This was a pretty good game through 7 1/2