Mission Aborted

It's done. I couldn't keep doing it. I've failed in my initial quest to run at least 1 mile daily for 365 days. What was it? I'm not sure. I ran out of gas, I ran out of steam, I ran out of hope. I just ran out of energy. I was faltering before the last day, I struggled to get my runs in. I have excuses, but that's all they are. If it was something I had my heart in, I would have done it regardless of the cost. I would have found time, it's not like it took that long. I just wasn't motivated enough. I'll have to tally up the days/miles next time I sit down and take a look at it, and I do plan on trying again.

Milwaukee Brewers. Looking Ahead. 2012

Well, my baseball season is over.. sadly. It was devastating not just losing to the Cardinals but losing the way the Brewers did. Limited clutch at-bats, curious pitching moves, and horrible fielding. The warts reared their ugly head at the wrong time and in the wrong series. I'd hate losing to St. Louis regardless.. but having lived an hour north of the city and being surrounded by all those classy fans.. it's made me hate them even more.
I'm not going to go on and on about the whole Shaun Marcum thing.. the cat's been solid most of the year but he was clearly hurt/dead arm the last month of the season so it's a good thing our manager kept trotting him out there.. especially in game 6 when you have your homegrown ace available on 3 days rest. You play for the win and worry about the rest later.. it is an ELIMINATION game after all.
So, the season is done. The Cardinals play on and the Brewers? Well.. they get ready for 2012. At least this amateur, armchair GM with no experience with baseball salaries/trades does.

Earlier today I sent an email to a few friends about what the Brewers should look at doing. I've already thought more about it and tweaked it. Below I will have a "If Prince resigns" and "If Prince just wants $" situation. In general, however, below is what I'd look at doing.

1. Don't pick up Yuni's option.
2. Let Counsell walk
3. Offer Fielder 5 years, $110 million which he'll probably decline.
4. Get Gomez on a 2 year deal, buy out the 2 arby years, cheaply.
5. Offer Jerry Hairston 2 years, $4ish million for the Counsell role
6. Offer Hawkins 2 years, but at around $5-6 million
7. Buhbye Kotsay
8. Buhbye Loe
9. Georgie arby.
10. Offer Marcum 2-3 year deal, reminding him how much he sucked down the stretch. 3 years, $18-21 mil should do it. (or take arby)
11. Casey McGehee. 3 arby years left. See what it's at.. make decision. I'd say trade him.
12. Nyjer has arby years yet? Nice. Take 'em.
13. Sign Takashi (1 year) or take Hawkins money to sign him. He's more valuable, IMO.
14. Bye Josh Wilson

Prince resigns? I'm trading Corey Hart for whatever, maybe a young SS/BP arm and signing a right handed bat. Cuddyer to play some limited RF and PH.
You then sign a defensive minded SS with some + range. I'm not sure who will be non-tendered or available by trade. There isn't much affordable for the Brewers now, it'd be possible Yuni could be back in this scenario. I'm really trying to send Hart for a SS or offering Clint Barmes and having a similar Yuni offensive player but a much better defender.

C: Lucroy
1B: Fielder
2B: Weeks
3B: Green/McGehee
SS: Barmes/Trade
LF: Braun
CF: Gomez/Morgan
RF: Morgan/Cuddyer

BENCH: Casey McGehee (if he's dealt) Logan Schaefer
BENCH: George Kottaras C
BENCH: Jerry Hariston UTIL
BENCH: Mat Gamel?!
BENCH: Cuddyer COF/1B

1. Morgan (RF)
2. Lucroy (C)
3. Braun (LF)
4. Fielder (1B)
5. Weeks (2B)
6. Barmes (SS)
7.  Green (3B)
8. GoGo (CF)
9. Pitcher

SP: Yo
SP: Greinke
SP: Wolf
SP: Marcum
SP: Narv
RP: Kintzler
RP: Estrada
RP: Braddock
RP: Saito
RP: Hawkins
RP: McClendon
RP: Axford

I doubt Saito/Hawkins are both back next year. Try to find internal guys first.

If Prince leaves, as expected. Uh oh. I'm not excited about that possibility offensively, I think they'd take a turn defensively though. You have to put effort into getting production from Corey Hart.. Do you want to try him at 1B given his lapses and molasses 2nd half speed in RF? Do you try Gamel and a RHB at 1B? The RF/1B bats are kind of the same. Assuming Hart stays, especially if Prince signs elsewhere (I'd still hope to trade him, unless they want him at 1B and not give Gamel a try.) Oh, hi Michael Cuddyer, it's you again! Actually.. I like Cody Ross as a RHB and David DeJesus (a lot)

C: Lucroy
1B: Hart
2B: Weeks
3B: Green
SS: Barmes
LF: Braun
CF: Gomez/Morgan
RF: Morgan/DeJesus

BENCH: Casey McGehee (if he's traded) Logan Schafer OF
BENCH: George Kottaras C
BENCH: Jerry Hariston UTIL
BENCH: Mat Gamel. 1B/OF
BENCH: DeJesus. 1B-OF

The bad thing? NO right handed bats off the bench. And by no, I mean no legit power bat. The staff would be pretty much the same, if we had a bit of cash left over I'd make a chase at: Kuroda (pipedream), Vazquez as a #4/#5 starter, and/or Mike Gonzalez and Octavio Dotel in the bullpen.

I know, it's early and I'm ranting.. but it makes me feel a bit better. There are a ton of trade possibilities, will be guys non-tendered, waived and whatever else happens. I can't wait until the offseason... and GO RANGERS.

#2 Josh vs. #9 Chad.
Brothers in battle. It's like the Civil War all over again, but not with death or over States Rights (or incorrectly, slavery). That doesn't matter though, these two allegedly are against each other as much as those crazy dudes were over 1 century ago. There will be no rebel yell, there will be no charging hills, and no gunshots to the leg. What were there be? A knockdown drag out brawl. In case you haven't figured this out yet.. I'm really into the WWF lately. Probably because of the Macho Man netflix streaming thing I've been watching. This game will remind many of this match. The best part? I'm the Undertaker. "SOMEBODY STOP THE DAMN GAME"

#7 Billy vs. #10 Perrins
Billy's reign at the top is coming to an end once again. Perrins reign at the top? Never started. Somehow this clown managed to get his team up to #9 despite being 0-season start. Now, he's ripping off wins like it's his job. He got a 15 spot from Matt Barkley on Thursday night. Will that be enough? Not likely, it's no secret that Billy doesn't like Perrins even though they used to work together. This wont be a knockdown drag out fight like the other game. They are both too soft for that. It'll be filled with a bunch of high-flying acrobatic crap.. like a UNC/Duke basketball game. The execution? It'll be as solid as this Diesel interview. Who cares who wins? I don't.

#4 Crass vs. #5 Brian
This game might be the best of the week as both teams are JUST on the outside of the $ hunt. If you finish 3rd, you get a bit back.. if you finish #4th? So sorry. Brian has been working for years to get to this spot.. Crass is used to it. Crass has been riding USC WR Woods all season long.. he only got 3 from him last night despite the fact they scored 30. That's not good for this team. And to be honest.. I'm not sure where he's going to make up for it. Look out top of the league.. Brian might be the top up and comer. Is he a... legend killer?

#7 Cherns vs. #6 Joe-Dub
Another closely ranked contest. Cherns used to be fireworks in this league.. but lately he's the Big Nonexistant. Joe has worked his way over top Cherns in the league standings and participation. Cherns is stubborn and cranky. Joe is unknown, still. Refuses to meet anybody except Brian. Weird. Joe only got 4 points from Isi last night, that's not good out of a RB. That's bottom of the league type numbers. Did Cherns turn a line-up in this week? Nobody knows. If nobody cares about the game.. do they have to play it? Do I even have to write about it or find a sweet youtube video? Thankfully, the Brewers are getting shelled so I'll do it anyway. This game is like this interview. Pointless.

#12 Zach vs. #1 T-Raz
Whoa. Like whoa. Noob is terrible. He's got plenty of excuses. The draft, league set-up, free agency, blah blah blah. He's just not used to losing and can't accept it. T-Raz? Nobody knows how he is in 1st. Oh, he got lucky and signed Russellmania who happens to know play for Wisconsin.. who happens to have an elite offense in college football. Sure he is good.. but the dude plays for Paul Chryst. Maybe the greatest offensive mind alive. Zach has an option QB starting.. if that tells you anything about the type of team he has. This is 1st vs. last. While I like upsets, we're not going to have one here. This is a beatdown.

#11 Fat Joe vs. #3 Scuba

Shut up, Joe. You're fat. You're as efficient as the Brewers are. In other words.. you can't field, you can't hit with runners in scoring position and you choke 2 games away. Outstanding. Scuba. Nobody cares about you right now. You're just there by default. Crass hasn't gotten on a roll yet. Brian is too inexperienced and the rest of us? We're just not very good. I hope you're not proud of your current ranking, but you sould enjoy it.. nobody expects it to last very long. Eigher way.. you got this one in the bag. But Scuba.. don't try to cheat.. Norris is watching.

Week 6. Things Get Worse

What a funky league this year. Our resident expert with the spreadsheet and supreme time-management skill isn't available to work his magic because of a... JOB?! Huh? He better be getting paid more for this, that's all I can say. The back-up plan ran into a road bump with his job also.. must stink to be in financial advising in this administration (yes, I said that and not this economy). We've fallen, we've gotten up, we've fallen.. and we've gotten up. Here's a fact though: we aren't going anywhere. We aren't leaving. We're here to stay. We're like the Madison capitol protestors.

#1 T-Raz vs. #7 Billy
-Role reversal. Billy used to being at thte top, T-Raz near the bottom. No idea how this has happened, but CBS helped T-Raz catch a loss that became a win and next thing you know Russell Wilson is on top of the Heisman ballot. Keenan Allen in T-Raz described "beast mode" tonight and there you have it. Billy? He's toast, looking to trade and re-load. He's got Andrew Luck and not much else. I don't think he can hang with T-Raz.. even without Wilson playing this week. By the way, I think Billy has D'Anthony Thomas on the bench this week. Oops.
If this game were a Chuck Norris clip it would be: Pretty exciting but completly unrealistic, just like Bill's chance of winning.

#2 Josh vs. #5 Brian. This should be a barnburner, Brian finally has his team rolling. Josh is getting play from top to bottom. Will Landry Jones put up good numbers against a tough Texas defense? Josh isn't the Graham Harrell led squad anymore, he's getting production from top to bottom. Brian, however, finally ditched the ND QBs and has started winning. Shocking? Not if you know anything about football. I've got a feeling here...
If this were a Chuck Norris clip it would be: Hilarious. Just like Josh's face after he gets upset.

#3 Crass vs. #4 Scuba. Wow, #3 vs. #4? What a good game, probably the only game better is the #10 and #11 matchup we'll discuss shortly. Crass typically is near the top, Scuba got a big win stripped out of his hands earlier today and fell to 3-2 instead of 4-1. Does that matter? Not in this match-up, Scuba happens to be Crass' brother in law. You can't make this up. Rumor has it Scuba is a bit angry and he's going to take it out on Crass.. in fantasy football or real life. I'm not sure which one. This is going to be a knockdown, drag out brawl.
IF this were a Chuck Norris clip it would be: The Bear is Steven. You'll see who wins.

#6 Cherns vs. #12 Perrins
HAHAHAHAH. Do I really even need to pretend to write ANYTHING up about this game? Perrins hasn't seen a win since last season. Hasn't smelled a victory. He lives through the Badgers and T-Raz's #1 ranking. Pathetic.
If this game were a Chuck Norris clip.. Perrins would be Kayne West interrupting.

#8 Joe-Dub vs. #9 Fat Joe. Facts: both guys are named Joe, this game really doesn't matter except pride. Joe-Dub wanted to go by Joe W or Windler. No dice, he doesn't run the league. I do. I said it's Joe-Dub, sounds cooler. Fat Joe. Where'd that come from? Had to separate them somehow.. during the draft I thought of that Fat rapper named, Fat Joe. It stuck. It coulda been Jersey Joe.. but that's Jersey Joe Martinek. Plus, it makes him sound like a jersey chaser.. who knows, maybe he is.
If this game were a Chuck Norris clip (it wouldn't be, Chuck doesn't like to be around stink)

#10 Cloughs vs. #11 Zach
LOL. This is even worse, seriously. 2 wins total. 8 losses. Like 2 near wins. Just a bad, bad football game. Cloughs is looking to trade and rebuild (again). Zach is new. It's just going to be an ugly game. Oregon D isn't really helping Cloughs case either. Neither team wins, they're both losers.
If this were a Chuck Norris clip, these two would be the guys in green.