Brewers season grades are out from the Journal Sentinel.
Seth McClung, RHP - Once again, McClung was versatile enough to pitch in relief and as a starter. But, unlike 2008 when that experiment worked, McClung wasn't nearly as successful. In two starts, he was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA (10 runs in 7 1/3 innings) after going 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA as a starter last year. McClung had a nice relief stretch in May, pitching 15 1/3 innings and allowing three runs. But he couldn't duplicate those numbers afterward and fell out of favor. His season ended on a sour note with a sprained elbow ligament in July that sidelined him for more than a month, with sporadic work in the closing weeks. McClung finished 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA. GRADE: D-plus.
Why do we care about McClung's grade? Since Seth McClung is a Twitter guy, we get the benefit of his unedited reaction to this grade:
A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade
Awesome. Not only does it confirm that the players think Witrado is a clown, but you better believe that he didn't mis-spell that name...that's what he calls Witrado, most likely to his face.
Showing posts with label Journal Communications Employees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journal Communications Employees. Show all posts
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Trade Fielder? Trade Braun? Trade Witrado!
Lately, I'm sensing an interesting dynamic between the two Journal Sentinel Brewers beat writers, senior writer and King Panda Tom H. and junior writer Anthony Witrado.
Witrado, you see, has been doing two main things in his chats and other media appearances ever since the Brewers fell out of contention: Advocating a trade of either Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun this off-season in the hunt for starting pitching, and bitching about Ryan Braun's defensive effort. He's been pushing for a Prince trade for a while now, and has more recently been taking Ryan Braun to task for what he seems to think is his defensive loafing and stat-seeking ways on offense. He's also started saying that he thinks the Brewers are discussing a trade of Braun - he said so in a recent radio appearance on AM 1250.
Most recently an intrepid chatter named Brandon from Milwaukee called Witrado out in the latest Witrado chat (sidenote - a major failure on the part of our blog for failing to ask ridiculous questions of Witrado - our bad):
Q: brandon, milwaukee - when the hell are you going to shut up about trading prince fielder and ryan braun? Nobody is unhappy with anything, those guys are just dissapointed and they expected better (and rightfully so). When youre best player speaks out about the teams performance (expecially the pitching staff) that player(especially if hes doing HIS job) has the right to say "hey we are not playing well as a group". Thats leadership, take notes. and he can say our pitching is bad, just like you, me, and everyother fan will agree this teams pitching staff this year "SUCKED". again, braun DID NOT ask for a trade, so my advice to you is to put a damn sock in it, and stop it with these ridiculous rumors about trading fielder and braun because it WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!
A: Anthony Witrado - Bitter much? ... Also, I'm nowhere near the only person saying these things, including some in the Brewers organization. You might have separation anxiety if these guys leave, but there are docs who can help out with that kind of stuff, I hear.
Haudricourt, on the other hand, has pretty consistently argued against trading Prince at this point, saying that it rips a hole too gaping in the middle of the lineup, starting pitching be damned. I don't recall him even addressing a Braun trade, which makes little sense given the length of time on his fairly team-friendly deal.
Today, King Panda attended the Brewers' season-ending presser. And right off the bat, asked the Mustache about trading Prince or Braun in search of pitching.
The Brewers are willing to do most anything this winter to improve their pitching staff.
Except trade either Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun.
That was made quite clear Wednesday afternoon at the Brewers' annual end-of-the-season press conference at Miller Park. GM Doug Melvin said he might have to sacrifice some offense this winter to improve his woeful starting pitching.
So, I asked point blank if that meant either Braun or Fielder might be sacrificed and Melvin seemed taken aback by the idea.
"That would be a tough one," said Melvin. "I didn't mean it that way. I don't see that happening."
In separate discussions I had with Melvin and assistant Gord Ash after the news conference, they said they just didn't see getting value back in pitching by trading Braun or Fielder, who form the most productive offensive duo in the majors.
"That's the great debate," said Ash. "What helps you more, the No. 1 starter or the top slugger? I'll go with the hitter. There's so much uncertainty wtih pitching. You have to be open-minded with anything but some players are more painful to trade. There comes a time when financial implications come into play but we're not at that point with either one."
Was King Panda finally trying to shut Witrado up about his theories? Show him that his "sources" in the Brewers organization were f'ing with him to make him look silly (sillier?) with his Braun trade rumors? Or was he just asking the question that everyone is interested in going in to this offseason?
Probably a little of both.
I also think that Witrado is going to be somewhere else next season. I think Ryan Braun has that much power - he is going to demand that the Journal Communications trade Witrado's ass off to the Appleton Inquirer to cover the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers or something next season.
So look for a new beat writer next Spring to replace Witrado. Just a hunch.
Witrado, you see, has been doing two main things in his chats and other media appearances ever since the Brewers fell out of contention: Advocating a trade of either Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun this off-season in the hunt for starting pitching, and bitching about Ryan Braun's defensive effort. He's been pushing for a Prince trade for a while now, and has more recently been taking Ryan Braun to task for what he seems to think is his defensive loafing and stat-seeking ways on offense. He's also started saying that he thinks the Brewers are discussing a trade of Braun - he said so in a recent radio appearance on AM 1250.
Most recently an intrepid chatter named Brandon from Milwaukee called Witrado out in the latest Witrado chat (sidenote - a major failure on the part of our blog for failing to ask ridiculous questions of Witrado - our bad):
Q: brandon, milwaukee - when the hell are you going to shut up about trading prince fielder and ryan braun? Nobody is unhappy with anything, those guys are just dissapointed and they expected better (and rightfully so). When youre best player speaks out about the teams performance (expecially the pitching staff) that player(especially if hes doing HIS job) has the right to say "hey we are not playing well as a group". Thats leadership, take notes. and he can say our pitching is bad, just like you, me, and everyother fan will agree this teams pitching staff this year "SUCKED". again, braun DID NOT ask for a trade, so my advice to you is to put a damn sock in it, and stop it with these ridiculous rumors about trading fielder and braun because it WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!
A: Anthony Witrado - Bitter much? ... Also, I'm nowhere near the only person saying these things, including some in the Brewers organization. You might have separation anxiety if these guys leave, but there are docs who can help out with that kind of stuff, I hear.
Haudricourt, on the other hand, has pretty consistently argued against trading Prince at this point, saying that it rips a hole too gaping in the middle of the lineup, starting pitching be damned. I don't recall him even addressing a Braun trade, which makes little sense given the length of time on his fairly team-friendly deal.
Today, King Panda attended the Brewers' season-ending presser. And right off the bat, asked the Mustache about trading Prince or Braun in search of pitching.
The Brewers are willing to do most anything this winter to improve their pitching staff.
Except trade either Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun.
That was made quite clear Wednesday afternoon at the Brewers' annual end-of-the-season press conference at Miller Park. GM Doug Melvin said he might have to sacrifice some offense this winter to improve his woeful starting pitching.
So, I asked point blank if that meant either Braun or Fielder might be sacrificed and Melvin seemed taken aback by the idea.
"That would be a tough one," said Melvin. "I didn't mean it that way. I don't see that happening."
In separate discussions I had with Melvin and assistant Gord Ash after the news conference, they said they just didn't see getting value back in pitching by trading Braun or Fielder, who form the most productive offensive duo in the majors.
"That's the great debate," said Ash. "What helps you more, the No. 1 starter or the top slugger? I'll go with the hitter. There's so much uncertainty wtih pitching. You have to be open-minded with anything but some players are more painful to trade. There comes a time when financial implications come into play but we're not at that point with either one."
Was King Panda finally trying to shut Witrado up about his theories? Show him that his "sources" in the Brewers organization were f'ing with him to make him look silly (sillier?) with his Braun trade rumors? Or was he just asking the question that everyone is interested in going in to this offseason?
Probably a little of both.
I also think that Witrado is going to be somewhere else next season. I think Ryan Braun has that much power - he is going to demand that the Journal Communications trade Witrado's ass off to the Appleton Inquirer to cover the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers or something next season.
So look for a new beat writer next Spring to replace Witrado. Just a hunch.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Anthony Witrado Chat! Anthony Witrado Chat!
Building off of the wildly successful "Chat With Mike Hunt" series, we decided to ask some ridiculous questions of everyone's favorite Brewers beat writer, Anthony Witrado.
And once again, a Journal Communications employee took the bait:
In perhaps the most epic grouping of questions ever in a JS chat, Witrado answered questions from myself, Emmet and...wait for it....wait for it....Freeway (aka Michael McCarter)! within a string of 4 questions. Just fantastic reading.
Begin:
Q: Michael McCarter, Milwaukee - I've been a Brewers fan all my life because I want this team to win every game to be more selfish for Winning the MVP's, Batting Title, Cy Young Award, Coach of the Year and to return to the glory days at Miller Park. I want to ask you this important question. Who's going to be kept/or who's going to be traded during the off-season? Who do you think they would get in return? Who would you build this team around? Can this team take that final step to re-sign players to Multi-Year Contract-Extension so they can win it all and build a dynasty at Miller Park? Can this team compete for the National League Central Division Title, Home-field advantage through-out the playoffs, National League Divisional Series, National League Championship Series, Winning the Pennants and bring the World Series Championship back to Wisconsin in the very near future and beyond? Can they win it all in 2010 and hopefully they can repeat as champs so they call win it all and follow the Yankees modal down the road? I want to see if the Brewers are contenders or pretenders? Can they re-sign Prince Fielder after the 2011 season so he and Ryan Braun can take this team back to the top and build a championship team and put a championship banner back on the map where it belongs? Where's the respect? Where's the Media Coverage? Where's the territory going to start coming back to our city? I want to know now.
A: Anthony Witrado - I must have missed the first run of glory days at Miller Park. As for your question(s), wow. Umm ... I don't think this team can build a dynasty in this market. Sorry to break that to fans ... again. I've answered most of those question in the past and in this chat, but as for Where's the respect? I think it's there enough for a team below .500. Media coverage? Isn't that what this is?
Q: Ted Stryker - Anthony, great job on the Brewers coverage as always. Since you played professional baseball and therefore must have at least a basic understanding of the baseball swing, I was wondering if you have seen any mechanical changes in Jody Gerut's swing resulting in his improved performance at the plate in the 2nd half of the season. Or is that just Jody being Jody? Do you think there is a chance that he will be the starting CF for Milwaukee in 2010?
A: Anthony Witrado - There's a chance his late surge can make the Brewers think they don't need to re-sign Cameron. His swing has always been fine since his arrival, but he has become much more patient and isn't swinging at garbage. It's amazing how a guy's average and on-base rise when he swings at strikes instead of balls.
[Some KM person asked a question that is irrelevant]...
Q: Emmett Fitz-Hume - If Hoffman doesn't come back, who do you think would make a better closer: Me, or my friend Austin Millbarge? Thanks
A: Anthony Witrado - A real closer wouldn't question his abilities, so I'd have to say Austin.
If that wasn't good enough, Roger chimed in and had his dream of becoming an MLB GM crushed once and for all by the backup beat writer:
Q: Roger Murdock, Glendale, CA - I really think the Brewers need to get their best players on the field next year. How about moving Braun to CF, Gamel to LF, Hardy to RF and having McGehee start at 3rd and Escobar at SS. Hart's skills would net a front line pitcher in a trade. I can't believe Melvin doesn't see this easy fix. If he doesn't do that he should be gone. Your take?
A: Anthony Witrado - This is why you're not a GM, Roger. Not to be a jerk, but that team would give up runs in bunches, especially in the OF. Hart isn't good enough to get a front-line starter straight up, not even close. That's why Melvin doesn't see any of this, because it's not a good idea.
OK, I don't even know where to start on Freeway's question, so I'll just let that one speak for itself. In a word, it's marvelous.
Anthony didn't blink when I asked him to break down Jody Gerut's swing. As if he knows. And if Gerut is the starting CF next year I'm going to do something drastic, probably something involving an inflatable pilot.
As for Emmett's question, we mock what we don't understand.
And finally....the question from Murdock. It's actually a sad situation when Witrado thought this was a serious question. It tells you that he's had enough mouth breathers ask retarded questions on these chats to think that it would ever be a good idea to field an outfield with Gamel and JJ Hardy playing the corners. I was hoping Witrado would agree with Murdock that this was a good idea, but still a solid answer nonetheless.
And once again, a Journal Communications employee took the bait:
In perhaps the most epic grouping of questions ever in a JS chat, Witrado answered questions from myself, Emmet and...wait for it....wait for it....Freeway (aka Michael McCarter)! within a string of 4 questions. Just fantastic reading.
Begin:
Q: Michael McCarter, Milwaukee - I've been a Brewers fan all my life because I want this team to win every game to be more selfish for Winning the MVP's, Batting Title, Cy Young Award, Coach of the Year and to return to the glory days at Miller Park. I want to ask you this important question. Who's going to be kept/or who's going to be traded during the off-season? Who do you think they would get in return? Who would you build this team around? Can this team take that final step to re-sign players to Multi-Year Contract-Extension so they can win it all and build a dynasty at Miller Park? Can this team compete for the National League Central Division Title, Home-field advantage through-out the playoffs, National League Divisional Series, National League Championship Series, Winning the Pennants and bring the World Series Championship back to Wisconsin in the very near future and beyond? Can they win it all in 2010 and hopefully they can repeat as champs so they call win it all and follow the Yankees modal down the road? I want to see if the Brewers are contenders or pretenders? Can they re-sign Prince Fielder after the 2011 season so he and Ryan Braun can take this team back to the top and build a championship team and put a championship banner back on the map where it belongs? Where's the respect? Where's the Media Coverage? Where's the territory going to start coming back to our city? I want to know now.
A: Anthony Witrado - I must have missed the first run of glory days at Miller Park. As for your question(s), wow. Umm ... I don't think this team can build a dynasty in this market. Sorry to break that to fans ... again. I've answered most of those question in the past and in this chat, but as for Where's the respect? I think it's there enough for a team below .500. Media coverage? Isn't that what this is?
Q: Ted Stryker - Anthony, great job on the Brewers coverage as always. Since you played professional baseball and therefore must have at least a basic understanding of the baseball swing, I was wondering if you have seen any mechanical changes in Jody Gerut's swing resulting in his improved performance at the plate in the 2nd half of the season. Or is that just Jody being Jody? Do you think there is a chance that he will be the starting CF for Milwaukee in 2010?
A: Anthony Witrado - There's a chance his late surge can make the Brewers think they don't need to re-sign Cameron. His swing has always been fine since his arrival, but he has become much more patient and isn't swinging at garbage. It's amazing how a guy's average and on-base rise when he swings at strikes instead of balls.
[Some KM person asked a question that is irrelevant]...
Q: Emmett Fitz-Hume - If Hoffman doesn't come back, who do you think would make a better closer: Me, or my friend Austin Millbarge? Thanks
A: Anthony Witrado - A real closer wouldn't question his abilities, so I'd have to say Austin.
If that wasn't good enough, Roger chimed in and had his dream of becoming an MLB GM crushed once and for all by the backup beat writer:
Q: Roger Murdock, Glendale, CA - I really think the Brewers need to get their best players on the field next year. How about moving Braun to CF, Gamel to LF, Hardy to RF and having McGehee start at 3rd and Escobar at SS. Hart's skills would net a front line pitcher in a trade. I can't believe Melvin doesn't see this easy fix. If he doesn't do that he should be gone. Your take?
A: Anthony Witrado - This is why you're not a GM, Roger. Not to be a jerk, but that team would give up runs in bunches, especially in the OF. Hart isn't good enough to get a front-line starter straight up, not even close. That's why Melvin doesn't see any of this, because it's not a good idea.
OK, I don't even know where to start on Freeway's question, so I'll just let that one speak for itself. In a word, it's marvelous.
Anthony didn't blink when I asked him to break down Jody Gerut's swing. As if he knows. And if Gerut is the starting CF next year I'm going to do something drastic, probably something involving an inflatable pilot.
As for Emmett's question, we mock what we don't understand.
And finally....the question from Murdock. It's actually a sad situation when Witrado thought this was a serious question. It tells you that he's had enough mouth breathers ask retarded questions on these chats to think that it would ever be a good idea to field an outfield with Gamel and JJ Hardy playing the corners. I was hoping Witrado would agree with Murdock that this was a good idea, but still a solid answer nonetheless.
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