The Halfway Point

No, we salute you Russell. Branyan has single-handedly brought the Brewers back into contention. At the halfway mark, the Brewers are 4.5 games behind the cubs and in the middle of the NL wildcard chase. It's been an interesting first half, chock full of memorable pitching meltdowns, offensive woes, and Branyan carrying the team on his back.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the first half has been the progress of several of the Brewers prospects. Mat Gamel and Matt LaPorta have taken huge steps forward to become two of the best hitting prospects in baseball. Angel Salome and Jonathan LuCroy have turned into legitimate catching prospects. Jeremy Jeffress is showing good progress and even Alcides Escobar has shown some hope.

And, just so everyone knows, the Rays have the best record in baseball at the halfway point.

Buzz, you scared us

Only you, Buzz, could sign a 7-foot canadian named Liam McMorrow and have that person be a black dude. I salute you, sir, and I'm sorry I doubted you.

No picture available, but his brother (no, his actual brother) is #23 in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4zQqQOh0XI

Encouraging Condy

Sorry guys, I couldn't resist...

There are at least 16 3rd basemen in the NL. All-Star voting would indicate that Billy is of the top 25% of players at the position...that or Mr. Hall sat down and voted for himself 427,550 times, you know, replacing fundamentals like batting practice and conditioning with tedious, self-aggrandizing ballot-punching each day. Given his atrocius play, I wouldn't put it past him.

Oh yeah, the Brewers play the Braves this week.

Mon, Jun 23 7:10 pm EDT B. Sheets vs. J. Reyes
Tue, Jun 24 7:10 pm EDT D. Bush vs. C. Morton
Wed, Jun 25 1:05 pm EDT J. Suppan vs. J. Campillo

BCS Posting, Creativity Hit All-time Lows

I believe we discussed this absurd hypothetical at some point

Two Things We Love

Russell & Rays.

Rally the troops!

Big series this week.

Buzz, you really do get it

The 2009 class is filling out. The latest commit, guard Dwight Buycks (above) at least looks like a good basketball player. It sure looks like MU won't have another white player until 2010 at the earliest.

Time to step it up, the blog.

The Twins delivered a painful sack tap to the Brewers to start interleague play, but the Brewers look to get the best of the AL juggernauts that are the Orioles and Blue Jays the rest of the week.

Who is Disney kidding?

Seriously, Wall-E was a good idea for a children's movie the first time I saw it...back in 1986 when it was called Short Circuit.



The resemblence is uncanny.

Weeks to DL, Hurricane Called Up.

Suppan and prospect for Upton anyone? Oops, sorry. I thought I was on Brewerfan for a second there.

It's Draft Week!

How many high school pitchers will the Brewers pick?

It’s that time of year again. When you see things like this: “Build similar to ex-ML, Von Hayes. Generates bat speed thru zone. Gets jumps fly balls. Plus speed down line, better on base paths. Playable, accurate arm.” Who even remembers Von Hayes?

Or, what about this one: “Live, athletic body and actions. Potential Jason Isringhausen body. Loose, quick arm. Throws downhill. Advanced pitchabilitiy and know-how for age. Gifted arm and he knows it. Confident in all he does on field.” Okay. First you tell me he’s athletic, then you say he’s tubby old man Jason Isringhausen. And what does it mean to have a “potential” Jason Isringhausen body? He’ll have to eat more biscuits, I guess, or stop walking up hills to throw all the time.

“Tall, athletic body. Similar to ex-Major Leaguer Johnny Grubb. Drives pitches to right side. Makes accurate throws. Solid makeup.” Obviously, I can’t make this stuff up. Check out the 2003 draft. I think my favorite part is that all these losers have all these stupid comments and then the scouts have absolutely no comment on Carlos Quentin, who played at Stanford and was a top prospect from the moment he stepped on the field. These scouts also called Daric Barton an “aggressive hitter.”

As you all know, this is my favorite time of the baseball season. I love the draft and with good reason (see above). This year, because the Brewers have 7 picks in the top-100, there is extra reason for excitement. Unfortunately, this doesn’t figure to be a very strong draft class.

What should the Brewers’ strategy be? Who will the Rays take #1? Let’s discuss the draft, Russell Branyan, and this week’s big series in Boston in the comments.