Sports Science Shows How Much Shaq Sucks

This is funny to me, I love Sports Science.

Notre Dame may consider Big Ten after all

It appears that there is still hope for the Big Ten to get Notre Dame to join the league. Though Notre Dame still wants to stay independent, they claim they would have to at least consider a change if big changes are made in the Big Ten, Pac-10, and in effect, the Big East. Check out the article here!

Bowl Game at Yankee Stadium?

The Yankees announced Tuesday that Yankee Stadium will be host to the "Pinstripe Bowl" starting this year on Dec. 30. The 3rd place team from the Big East will play the 6th place Big 12 team.

As a baseball fan, this disgusts me. Yankee Stadium, whether you like the Yanks or not, is all about BASEBALL, and nothing else. It's the hallowed ground of the sport. Football doesn't belong there. The Yankees are just using this as yet another way to bring in revenue. What makes it even more pathetic is that it's going to be a sub-par match up. If we based it off of this past year's standings, it would be West Virginia vs. Kansas St. or Missouri. Not exactly the type of classic game I'd head to Yankee Stadium to watch.

More Bucks

ESPN just released an article explaining how the Celtics would not want to matchup with the Bucks first round. It is clear that people are noticing that this 10 of 11 streak is no fluke and that this gritty hard nose team is here to stay. The way things are looking the Bucks are playing their way into solidifying this 5 seed and whoever they face, Atlanta or Boston it looks like it will be a great series.

With Salmons, Bogut, Jennings, and Delfino this team looks as though they have a number of different scorers they can count on down the stretch. I am on the Bucks bandwagon and seem them pushing the first playoff series to 7 and maybe pulling of an upset.

What a turnaround this year would be.... from being one of the worst teams in the NBA to winning a playoff series...

Bucks Gain Respect

The Bucks have now won 10 of 11 games, including victories over Cleveland and Boston. Many people are saying that the victory over Cleveland isn't as big without James but isn't this a TEAM that is supposed to win the Finals? Clearly the supporting cast Danny Ferry brought in was raved about so why should a victory over them be diminished?

The only blemish on their last 11 games was an OT loss to the 4th place Atlanta Hawks because of a superhuman effort by Joe Johnson down the stretch. Despite this, the Bucks still had not gotten respect until their victory tonight. Boston had no injury excuses, and if anything, the Bucks could say they would have won by more if they had Jerry Stackhouse at their disposal.

The point is that the Bucks progress has finally been accepted, and they are the team no one wants to play in the first round. They play on ESPN on March 17th against the Clippers, a team they could man handle on national television. It appears the Bucks recent play could even allow them to climb to the fourth seed and claim home court advantage in a first round matchup, something that would be huge considering they are 21-9 at home and 13-20 on the road.

Manny Pacquiao Shows His Soft Side

Is this why Floyd Mayweather didn't want to fight him?

Buzz Williams Can Dance

Well it seems as though Buzz can do more than just coach. He has become a Youtube sensation, who else seen Buzz Williams say YEAAA!!! Boom goes the Golden Eagle!

Leuer Wins Big Ten Player of the Week

Jon Leuer was last week's Big Ten Player of the Week after his impressive performances against Iowa and Illinois. Over the two games Leuer amassed 38 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks.

This is Leuer's first Big Ten POTW of his career, and the second POTW the Badgers have earned this year (Trevon Hughes in December being the other).

The Badgers take the court on Friday in the Big Ten Tournament, playing the Illini for the second straight game.

More Fielder/Zito Talk

A little reaction from Mike and Mike in the Morning on Prince Fielder getting hit by a pitch... (If you can't see the video click here)

Braun and Fielder

ESPN recently released an article featuring Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. You can check it out here.

Giants "Retaliate" for Fielder's HR celebration

After an entire offseason to get over it, the Giants are still unhappy with Prince Fielder's "bowling pin/explosion" home run celebration. With his first pitch to Fielder today in the Brewers' first spring training contest, Giants Pitcher Barry Zito hit Fielder square in the back. Really? Is this still an issue? Fielder and the Brewers were just having fun. They weren't trying to show up the Giants, they were just excited to walk off with a win.

How did Fielder feel about it afterwards? Here's his thoughts via JSOnline:

I asked Prince if he thought the celebration was worth taking one in the back.

"Hell yeah," Fielder said. "That's something I did with me and my teammates. It has nothing to do with them.

"You're damn right it was worth it."

There is no reason the Giants need to retaliate, much less 6 MONTHS after the fact. I mean, they aren't ten years old, they need to suck it up and get over it. At least Fielder was good about, as he just picked up the ball and gave it back to Zito, without saying a word. He even got a good laugh about it with 1st base coach Ed Sedar. I was always a fan of Giants manager Bruce Bochy but today changed my opinion. Stay classy, San Francisco.

Fan Dunk Contest

Doesn't this sound like the best idea ever, fan slam dunk contest... Guess this video is the reason why it hasn't caught on and probably won't ever happen again...

New Overtime Rule Proposal in the NFL

The NFL has recently released a proposal for new rulings to determine the outcome of a tied game.

Oh, and Donovan McNabb, under these proposed rulings, a regular season game can still end in overtime!





The Current Rule


Currently, the NFL operates overtime with a sudden-death rule: the first team to score wins.

At the onset of overtime, a coin toss takes place, with the visiting team given the opportunity to call the toss.

From then on the game is played regularly until the 15 minute overtime period is complete (in regular season games).

In playoff games and the Super Bowl, 15 minute overtime periods are played until a team scores, ending the game.

Theses overtime rules have been scrutinized and criticized, as many overtime games end with only one team ever having possession of the ball.

The Proposed Rule

The format would be similar with a slight change.

Overtime would again be a 15 minute period (more if necessary in post-season games). A coin toss would take place to determine possession, followed by a kick-off to begin the period.

Here’s where the changes start.

If the first team to score points does so by scoring a touchdown, the game would be over. BUT if the first team to score does so by means of a field goal, the opposing team would be given a possession to match or surpass that score.

This new proposed rule would eliminate what often happens in overtime: a decent kickoff return followed by a short, 40 yard drive which leads to a game-winning field goal.

The possibility for only one team to have possession the entire overtime still exists, but that team must score a touchdown on their opening drive for that scenario to take place.

While this is the NFL’s proposed plan, other plans have arisen on the internet. Here are some that I found interesting.

The College Rule

In college football, each team is given the ball on its opponent’s 25 yard line on alternating possessions.

The teams will alternate possessions until one team can’t match the score of its opponent.
Under this system, while each team is given equal opportunities to score, I feel this takes out an important part of football: special teams.

Under the college system, there is no chance for a great kickoff team to pin the opponent deep or a great return game to set up the offense with excellent field position.

Special teams are often overlooked, and therefore can often be keys to victory.

Modified sudden death

This version states that if the first team to score does so with a touchdown, the opponent would get one possession to match that touchdown.

If both teams score touchdowns on the opening drive, the game would then become sudden death with the next team to score deemed the winner.

While this version brings the special teams back into play, it still has the sudden-death situation, the factor complained about in the current ruling.

The shootout

This version is similar to the college rule, with one small change…

1st and goal from the 10.

And you have to go for two when you score a touchdown.

This version, while quite possibly very exciting, would not only take away the special teams aspect, but would automatically put defenses’ backs against the wall from the onset of overtime.

In the pass-happy score-happy league the NFL is evolving into, this may be a legitimate possibility one day.


Tell us what you think!

Do you like the current NFL overtime ruling? Do you like the proposed change? Let your voice be heard…

NHL in Milwaukee?

This article is also posted here on the Bleacher Report.

Milwaukee showed an incredible interest in the USA vs. Canada gold medal game in the Vancouver Olympics. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Minneapolis were the only cities with higher ratings during the gold medal game.

You'll notice those top four cities currently have NHL teams.

In 1990 Milwaukee withdrew a bid for an NHL team. Can Milwaukee host an NHL team today? Several factors contribute to the decision.

The Bradley Center:
One of the main issues with the Bradley Center is its age.

Opened in 1988, it is currently the 4th oldest NBA stadium in use today, behind Madison Square Gardens (renovating this year), the Oracle Arena (recently renovated), and the Izod Center (soon to be replaced).

With this old age comes problems, including outdated video boards, sound/light systems, and heating/cooling/ventilation systems. The Bradley Center also lacks club seating and has poor parking availability.

When set for hockey the Bradley Center can hold almost 18,000 fans, which is similar to other NHL franchises. The lack of club seating, however, differs from the majority of stadiums in use today.

Last year Governor Doyle included a provision in the capitol budget that sought $5 million to renovate the Bradley Center. The BC's board of directors estimated a need of $23 million, and agreed to raise the remaining $18 million on their own.

The Bradley Center is currently home to The Milwaukee Bucks, The Marquette Golden Eagles, and the Milwaukee Admirals. Adding another team could cause many more scheduling issues, especially with the addition of a second hockey team.


The Milwaukee Admirals:
The Admirals (the AHL affiliate team of the Nashville Predators) currently calls Milwaukee home. Should an NHL team be added, the Admirals would likely need to move. As I said before, scheduling conflicts could become an issue.




Personally, I think an NHL team would easily be as successful in Milwaukee as in a city such as Tampa Bay, which currently is home to the Lightning.

Anyone else want a rubber match?

This was probably one of the most exciting hockey games I have ever seen, despite being upset with the finish. If you didn't know, Canada beat Team U.S.A 3-2 when Sidney Crosby scored 7 minutes and 40 seconds into O.T. The goal came from Jerome Iginla who was being pushed to the ice when he slid the puck past an out stretched Brian Rafalski. Sid then rifled it through the legs of the U.S. goaltender, Ryan Miller.

The game started off looking as if Canada would run away with the gold after going up 2-0 early in the second period. Canada started things off in the first period with a US turnover just to the left of Ryan Miller. There was a shot and then a rebound which landed right on the stick of the Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, who shot just over the pad of an out stretched Miller; virtually a wide open net. Canada's Corey Perry then scored yet another rebound goal 6 minutes and 46 seconds into the second period, one second after Eric Staal stepped out of the penalty box.

But with 7 minutes and 16 seconds left to go in the period Ryan Kessler deflected a Patrick Kane shot past Roberto Luongo. The intensity of the game ratcheted up exponentially after the Kessler goal, energizing Team U.S.A. Also shifting momentum to the U.S. was when Canada missed a great chance to put a so called, "Wayne Larrivee dagger" in the U.S. back when Dan Boyle’s brilliant pass sent Eric Staal in alone with 53 seconds left in the period, but Stahl’s shot went high and wide. The shots were nearly even, with Canada holding a 25-23 advantage after two.

The third period started with Canada hitting back to back pipes, keeping Team USA in the game. The rest of the period would be a stand off between Miller and Luongo shutting down shot after shot. With two minutes to go Sidney Crosby grabbed a US turnover and shot the other way on a clear breakaway, only to have an amazing effort of a backchecking Patrick Kane to catch up to him and lodge the puck from Crosby's stick. Just 30 seconds later Team U.S.A pulled Miller and sent on an extra attacker. With 24 seconds left in regulation Kane picked up the puck just to left of Luongo and fired a turnaround shot on goal when New Jersey Devil's forward Zach Parise put in the rebound to tie the game!

Canada would go into the locker room with their heads down while Team U.S.A was on cloud 9. Kane would say after the game, I thought it was over, I thought we were going to win for sure, we had all the momentum. This game would be decided with a 20 minute overtime period and then a shootout if the game remained tied.

Sidney Crosby would then go on to score 7 minutes and 40 seconds into O.T. The goal came from Jerome Iginla who was being pushed to the ice when he slid the puck past Brian Rafalski. Sid then rifled it through the legs of the U.S. goaltender, Ryan Miller. Canada out shot the U.S 7-4 in Overtime and it proved costly. Both goaltenders played amazing and it was a shame that one of them had to lose.

Side note: Interesting to me was that throughout OT I hoped that it would turn out like the World Junior Gold Medal game when Team U.S.A beat Canada 6-5 in overtime on Canadian soil, right after Canada tied it up with just over a minute to play. Guess we'll just have to wait 4 years for some more Olympic hockey action...

Olympic Roundup

With the Olympics now over, here is the final medal count.

USA - 37 total
9 Gold, 15 Silver, 13 Bronze

The 37 total medals is a new Winter Olympic record.

Germany - 30 total
10 Gold, 13 Silver, 7 Bronze

Canada - 26 total
14 Gold, 7 Silver, 5 Bronze

Canada led all countries with 14 gold medals.

Worst Inbound Pass Ever?

Tebow a Packer?

ESPN reported today that the Green Bay Packers could take a chance on Tebow. McCarthy said that he would love to coach Tebow. I think its a possibility if he is still available in later rounds to take a chance of Tebow. I think he is a winner and will find a way to help his team in the NFL.

It's weird seeing Tebow in Green and Gold though.

Fielder Extension Talk

There has been discussion lately on whether the Brewers will be able to sign Prince Fielder to a long-term extension past 2011. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has publicly stated that the Brewers are prepared to offer Prince a very large contract in the near future, probably somewhat similar to CC Sabathia's 9-figure offer last offseason. A large issue with Fielder is that he's represented by Scott Boras who always tries to get every last penny out of his clients, which makes people believe Prince will either be wearing pinstripes or red sox in a couple years. ESPN's Buster Olney claims that Prince's best option may be taking the Brewers offer though, as the Yanks have Mark Teixeira and the Red Sox are going strong after Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres. I can't read the entire article since I don't have ESPN Insider, but I feel that Olney has left out the fact that both teams play in the American League and could very easily stick Prince at DH. I would love to see the Brewers sign him, as it would show a real commitment to winning for the organization. And just imagine Braun and Fielder hitting 3-4 for the next 5 years. That could turn out to be one of the most lethal combos in history (Plus I want to see more of their awesome boxer/trainer home run celebration).

Bucks Continue Growth

The Milwaukee Bucks OT loss to the Hawks will sting for a while. The opportunity to extend the road, and overall, winning streak to 7 games would have been a great thing for the Bucks in itself. However, beating the Atlanta Hawks, streak or not, would have been a great example of how far the Bucks have come. However, this victory was elusive, and the Hawks were able to pull it out. Despite this, the game proved how much the Bucks have grown, and that they are not afraid of the better teams in their conference.

The Hawks, 36-21 entering the game today, are the 4th seed in the east, and bring a talented and athletic team that plays hard every night. The playing hard-aspect could certainly be said about the Bucks, but so-called "experts" have certainly questioned their talent level. They were considered to be the worst team in the Eastern Conference at the start of the season, but their level of play has propelled them into the playoff race. It speaks volumes of Scott Skiles' coaching ability, but the talent John Hammond has brought in can not be questioned.

In the off-season, the Bucks let young talents Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villaneuva walk for nothing, and traded Richard Jefferson away for expiring contracts. Hammond wanted to clear up space for the future, but also had the present in mind. He brought in Carlos Delfino, Kurt Thomas, and was able to convince Ersan Illyasova to return to Milwaukee. During the course of the season, he signed Jerry Stackhouse and recently acquired John Salmons. This group of talent has the team-first approach that has no egos, and everyone is buying in.

Brandon Jennings has had his ups and downs, but he accepts Skiles' decision making. Late in the game, it was Luke Ridnour, not Jennings, who was making crunch-time decisions. Earlier in the game, Skiles pulled Bogut for his lazy play as the Hawks jumped to an early lead. The message is clear, play hard and play defense, or someone else will take your place. Thanks to all the stockpiled talent, the Bucks have enough depth to maintain this philosophy in an effective manner.

They are in the top 5 in back-to-back nights of games, with a 10-7 record. At the beginning of the season, the Bucks started 6-19 on the road. They have battled back and have improved to 12-20 while defending their homecourt pretty well. Now, while other teams have become much fatigued due to the stars playing heavy minutes and lacking an overall lack of depth, the Bucks can throw fresh bodies around. This bodes well for the playoffs, as a possible matchup with the Hawks looms.

Ryan Braun in Dick's Commerical

Hummel Out For the Year

In shocking news for Big Ten basketball, Purdue's Robbie Hummel is out for the season with a torn ACL. This changes the complexion of the rest of the Big Ten season. With a big game against Michigan State, with a Purdue loss the Big Ten looks like it may be a 3 way tie. This probably ends Purdue's chances at a #1 seed for the Big Ten. Because Purdue will probably lose some games down the stretches and the committee always takes into account injuries. If you remember a few years ago, Cincinnati lost a #1 seed because they lost their star Kenyon Martin in the Conference USA championship game. With another season for Hummel ending in injury, scouts will start to call him a liability with his numerous injuries. This injury gives Wisconsin a much better chance at winning the Big Ten Tournament.

The Suter Legacy at the Olympics...

Here is what USA Today has to say about the Suter's and their strong history at the Olympics. Below is a video interview with Ryan Suter and his thoughts from USA Hockey Magazine.

Ryan Suter - Going for the Gold

LIVE BLOG: Wisconsin Badgers Basketball at Indiana

Join Two Cents in our live blog of the Badgers - Hoosiers matchup.

Here is what ESPN has to say about tonight's game:

Wisconsin had one of its most dominating defensive games of the season in a win against Indiana earlier this month. It was the kind of effort Hoosiers coach Tom Crean is looking for from his team.

The 17th-ranked Badgers go for their sixth straight win over struggling Indiana on Thursday as they try to improve to .500 on the road in Big Ten play.

Wisconsin (20-7, 10-5) has the top scoring defense in the conference, allowing 57.1 points per game. It was especially impressive in an 83-55 win at home against Indiana on Feb. 13.

The Badgers forced a season-high 21 turnovers, which turned into 29 points, and had 15 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points.

Wisconsin's effectiveness on the glass came despite missing leading rebounder Jon Leuer, who has played the last two games after missing the previous nine with a broken wrist.

Leuer has come off the bench since returning, and in a 70-63 win over Northwestern on Sunday, he finished with 11 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 22 minutes.

"That was experience that we got back on the floor in those situations, and that's why he was out there," coach Bo Ryan said. "Plus, even with that tape on his hand, his hands in the post are the best of our bigs."

With Leuer struggling to make shots due to his injury, Jason Bohannon continues to play well. Bohannon finished with 17 points Sunday and scored a career-high 30 against Indiana earlier this month. He's averaging 19.5 points and shooting 52.2 percent from 3-point range in February.

The Badgers have struggled on the road, going 3-5 overall, but they have won their last two visits to Bloomington and will be facing a Hoosiers team that has dropped eight in a row.

Indiana (9-17, 3-11) never led in an 81-58 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, shooting a season-worst 32.2 percent and trailing 44-25 at the half.

Devan Dumes had a season-high 20 points off the bench, while leading scorer Verdell Jones III shot 2 of 8 to finish with 10 points. Christian Watford, averaging 12.3 points, scored three while connecting on 1 of 12 field goals.

In the last eight losses, the Hoosiers have been outscored by close to 15 points per game. They are allowing an average of 76.8 points in the last six.

"I told them after the game ... I don't hope the program is coming back, I believe that it will and I believe in those guys," Crean said. "I also told them that if we don't get better defensively and they can't do a better job of guarding their man ... they are not going to be a part of this moving forward. I don't have any patience for lack of getting up into people defensively."

Indiana has lost 14 in a row to Top 25 teams since beating then-No. 14 Purdue 77-68 on Feb. 19, 2008.

Let us know what you think of the live blog. We would love to have your feedback!

Join us tomorrow...

Tomorrow night (Thursday) Two Cents will be conducting our first ever live blog during the Wisconsin vs. Indiana Basketball game. Join us at 8 p.m. (central time) as we provide insight and commentary during the game.

Epic Fail Reporting....

Former NFL MVP Looking for New Home

He currently ranks eigth on the all-time rushing list with 12,490 yards, 2nd in career rushing touchdowns with 138, and third in total touchdowns with 153.

In 2006 he earned NFL MVP honors after setting single season records of 31 touchdowns and 186 points.

In 2006 and 2007 he won the NFL rushing title.

And today he was let go by the Chargers.

Once considered one of the most dominant backs in the league, LaDainian Tomlinson is currently without a team.

After battling through injuries for the past few seasons, Tomlinson was let go as the Chargers decided to move on without him.

"I told him that in the 26 years that I've been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I've had to do," team president Dean Spanos told The Associated Press. "I'm not close to a lot of the players, but there's a handful that I've been close with, and he's probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later."
"It was a long time coming, but I knew it was coming," Tomlinson said, according to SI.com. "Now that it's official I can kind of look to the next step in my career and playing football for someone else."

The 30 year old definitely still has some game left, it not at the highest level of play. Running backs are always in high demand in the NFL, and I expect Tomlinson to be picked up quickly.

Several teams stand out who may want to pick up Tomlinson.

New England Patriots
The Patriots would easily be able to afford Tomlinson, and with their pass-happy offense would be able to use Tomlinson's receiving abilities. Rumors are floating that Lawrence Maroney is to be traded away from the Patriots, and that opening could be filled by Tomlinson.

New Orleans Saints
LT also has the perfect attributes to fit into the Saints' offense. With Reggie Bush supposedly on his way out and Pierre Thomas an unrestricted free agent, New Orleans looks like a solid opportunity for Tomlinson to not only contribute, but possibly even start.

Minnesota Vikings
Chester Taylor, the backup to Adrian Peterson, has proved he he can produce starting RB numbers, and wants to paid like a starter, something the Vikings aren't likely to do. If he goes elsewhere, Tomlinson would be an excellent compliment to Peterson.

Detroit Lions
If LT decides to go for money and playing time, Detroit is a realistic place for him. He probably wouldn't be Super Bowl bound, but he would almost certainly start and be paid well. Tomlinson could also be the spark Detroit needs to get fans back into the stands.

Wherever Tomlinson goes, he will bring his veteran leadership and hardworking style of play along with him. Tomlinson, when on his game, has proven to be an unstopable running back. He also fits the pass-heavy trend the NFL has aquired.

I would expect movement to happen soon, as this one-time superstar is still game-ready.

Medal Count Update

Germany has significantly closed the large gap the U.S. had in the medal count. Currently the U.S. sits in first with 25 medals, with Germany at second with 21. Norway, in third, has 14. The U.S. is tied with Germany for the most gold medals (7), second in silver medals (8 to Germany's 9), and first in bronze medals (10).

Some recent gold medal winners include Bode Miller in the men's Super G, Evan Lysachek in men's figure skating, and Shani Davis in the men's 1500 meter speed skating.

On tap:
Today medals will be given in several events, including men's Giant Slalom, women's Ski Cross, and the Men's 10,000 meter speed skating

Former Badgers Continuing to Rock Olympic Hockey

If you've been living under a rock for the past 48 hours, then you haven't heard that Team USA upset Team Canada last night in the group stage of the Olympic Hockey Tournament. Despite the fact that this game occurred early in the competition, this was a huge victory for the United States. Yes, Canada is still in the tournament, but Team USA gained an exponential amount of confidence going forward from this point. Although the Americans were clearly the younger and more inexperienced squad, they played the game of their lives last evening and socked the Canadians in the mouth. Oh, and did I mention that this game took place in Canada? Vancouver must have been a very quiet city yesterday evening.

Regardless of how both the American and Canadian hockey teams finish the Olympic tournament, one thing is for certain - UW alumni have continued to shine. 41 seconds into the game, Brian Rafalski (former Badger and all-star defenseman) netted the first goal of the conflict, giving Team USA the lead and an abundance of confidence. Ryan Suter, another former Badger hockey standout (pictured above & currently employed by the Nashville Predators) assisted Rafalski on the goal. Rafalski went on to score 9 minutes later to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead and momentum going into the 1st intermission.

Three minutes into the 2nd, another former UW hockey player (this time a Canadian), Dany Heatley tied the game 2-2. Later, 7 minutes into the third, Jamie Langenbrunner drove in the dagger and put the United States up 4-2. He was assisted by both Rafalski and Suter. Of the 8 goals scored by both sides in this game, a former University of Wisconsin Hockey player was involved in 4 of them. This is a huge testament to how strong of a hockey program we have here. Word up to all current and former Badger hockey players for making us proud.

Brewers ST Preview 2010: Prospects

I'll be completely honest, I've only seen a handful of the Brewers prospects play in person, so it isn't my place to be putting a ranking on them myself. That being said, I'm going to reference one of my favorite Brewers sites, Brewerfan.net, and their Power 50 when going through the Brewers top 20 prospects.

1. Alcides Escobar: The Brewers starting shortstop this year is a defensive whiz and will be with the Brewers for many years to come.

2. Mat Gamel: The 3rd baseman struggled in his call up last season, but he's rejuvinated and ready to prove his worth to make the team. He's already in Maryvale and working on his defense every day.

3. Brett Lawrie: I saw Lawrie play in Appleton with the Timber Rattlers and the first pitch he saw, he cranked over the left field wall. That left quite an impression on me. He'll be moving towards Milwaukee sooner than many think and he's only 20 year old.

4. Jonathan Lucroy: Many think he's the catcher of the future, as he's very polished defensively. He has a chance to win the backup catcher job this season.

5. Eric Arnett: The Brewers #1 draft pick (26th overall) last summer, Arnett logged a lot of innings at Indiana last summer. The Brewers limited him to throwing mostly fastballs after signing, but he also has a good curveball and slider.

6. Zach Braddock: This lefty has dominated hitters when healthy. Last season he was sent to the bullpen to ease him back from injury and he's a darkhorse to make the Brewers bullpen this year. It's still yet to be seen if he will be a starter or reliever in the future.

7. Angel Salome: Has been considered the top catching prospect for years, but may have been passed by Lucroy this past year. He needs to stay healthy and improve on his defense to catch back up with Lucroy. Though he is a bit unorthodox, his offense is very good.

8. Kentrail Davis: Davis is an outfielder drafted in the supplemental 1st round (39th overall) in 2009. He is only 21 years old and was drafted as a sophomore out of Tennessee. He brings a powerful lefty bat that will most likely start with the Timber Rattlers and hopefully move up quickly.

9. Taylor Green: Green was almost the player to be named later in the CC Sabathia deal (that honor went to Michael Brantley) and he struggled through injuries last season. The third baseman looks to rebound this season at either AA-Hunstville or AAA-Nashville.

10. Lorenzo Cain: After a strong Spring Training last year, many thought Cain would be ready to be the Brewers starting center fielder this season. He got hurt and never was the same and now finds himself stuck behind Carlos Gomez. With a good spring he will start the season at AAA and with a good season, could be called upon if Gomez struggles.

11. Logan Schafer: The Brewers Organizational Player of the Year in 2009, he is very close to be catching up to Cain as the best center field prospect in the system. He hit .316 with 6 home runs, 58 RBIs and 16 stolen bases at Single-A Brevard County. The 22 year old should start the season at Huntsville.

12. Amaury Rivas: The Brewers Organizational Pitcher of the year in 2009 will be part of a great rotation at AA. Rivas dominated at Brevard County last season, posting a 13-6 record, 2.98 ERA abd 123 strikeouts in 133 innings. With a good year, he could become one of the Brewers next elite prospects.

13. Jake Odorizzi: Odorizzi was a 1st round, supplemental draft pick (32nd overall) in 2008 out of high school. Only 19 years of age, he could project as a top of the rotation pitcher if he continues to progress. Coming out of high school, he was also considered a top hitter. This year, he should start in what should be a talented rotation for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

14. Wily Peralta: The 20 year old righty has a great arm, as evidenced by his 118 strikouts last year, but also needs to work on his control, walking about one batter every two innings. If he doesn't make it as a starter, he projects as a late-inning reliever.

15. Caleb Gindl: Deemed by many as too small at only 5' 9", Gindl continues to put up great numbers. At Brevard County, he hit .277 with 17 home runs and 71 RBIs. It should be interesting to see how he progresses as he moves up the organizational chain.

16. Kyle Heckathorn: Another 1st round supplemental pick from 2009, Heckathorn is a very hard thrower with the stature to hold up in the long run. He is 6'6", 235 pounds. Like Arnett, he was held back after a long college season, but should be ready to show his stuff right away out of spring training. Many project him to be a closer in the future. Expect him as a starter first at Wisconsin.

17. Mark Rogers: Rogers was the Brewers 1st round (5th overall) pick all the way back in 2004. After not even pitching in 2007 or 2008 because of injuries, he was finally able to stay healthy last season, Trying to progress him along slowly, the Brewers limited him to only 65 innings. The results were fantastic, as he posted a 1.67 ERA. Look for the Brewers to let him loose this year in AA. It should be interesting to see how he reacts to higher competition. He could really jump up the prospect charts if he puts together a good season.

18. Cody Scarpetta: Scarpetta is actually on the Brewers 40 man roster because of a contract technicality, so the Brewers should look to challenge him to move up the depth charts fast. But he is still a ways away. Last year at Wisconsin, he posted a 3.43 ERA. Look for him to push up to AA sometime this summer, but he'll most likely start out at Brevard.

19. Josh Butler: Butler was the player the Brewers got in return for Gabe Gross in 2008. He was horrible after being traded but really emerged last year in the Brewers system. He got a brief cup of coffee with the Crew after posting a 2.97 ERA across 4 minor league levels. He should start off the year at AAA Nashville but could be in the mix for the big team should anyone get hurt.

20. John Axford: Axford is a hard throwing reliever who also got a brief cup of coffee last September in Milwaukee. With a strong spring, he has a legitimate shot at making the bullpen.

Sleepers: Maverick Lasker is one guy I'm watching this summer, as he was very impressive in rookie ball as a 19 yr old. Also, if Jeremy Jeffress ever get off of marijuana, he could be a great pitcher, while Nick Bucci has already surprised many scouts. 2009 picks Del Howell, Scooter Gennett, and Brooks Hall are all worth taking a look at too.

Bob Ueker's Stalker

Brewers ST Preview 2010: Bench/Non Roster Invitees

Bench: The Brewers have an experienced bench with Craig Counsell, Jody Gerut, and quite possibly Jim Edmonds. Counsell will turn 40 this summer, but had a great year last year and was courted by many teams this offseason. But he stayed loyal to his hometown team and reupped with the Brewers for yet another season. Gerut was not so good in the first half last year after getting traded for Tony Gwynn Jr., but was pretty consistent in the 2nd half. Edmonds is a non-roster invitee hoping to revive his career as a 4th or 5th outfielder. Beyond them, there are a few spots open for competition. George Kottaras, Angel Salome, and Jonathan Lucroy will compete for the backup catching position and Mat Gamel, Hernan Iribarren, Adam Heether, and Joe Inglett will compete for a backup infield spot. If Edmonds wins a spot, only one of these infielders will make the team, but two may make it if Edmonds proves to be a distant memory. Prospect Lorenzo Cain is also on the 40 man roster and has an outside shot at a bench spot, but most agree he needs much more time in the minors.

Non-Roster Invitees: The most prominent pitchers on this list are Zach Braddock (pictured), a 22-yr old lefty prospect, Chris Smith and Tim Dillard, who both pitched with the Brewers last year, and Chris Capuano, who is coming back from numerous surgeries. Also invited to camp are two of last year's top draft picks, Eric Arnett and Kyle Heckathorn, but they don't really have any chance to make the team. Scot Schoeneweis, Kameron Loe, John Halama, and A.J. Murray are all trying to resurrect their careers with the Brewers. As for catchers, the Brewers always invite a large amount to camp, since there are always so many pitchers in camp. Of the three, Lucroy very could make the major league team and Matt Treanor is trying to make a comeback, but Martin Maldonado will just be in camp until a few rounds of cuts are complete. There are no infield NRI, so we finally, move to the outfield. Here we have Edmonds, Trent Oeltjen, Logan Schafer, and Adam Stern. Oeltjen, claimed off of waivers from the Diamondbacks, is considered a long-shot to make the team and Stern has fared well in the minors, but is already 30 years old. Schafer is one of the Brewers best CF prospects and while he most likely won't make the team, it should be interesting to see how he performs up against better competition.

Check back tomorrow for my final post, prospects!

If you missed any, don't worry, check out the past posts:

Outfield

2nd Base and Shortstop

1st and 3rd Base

Pitchers and Catchers

Coaches

Jamison Not the Answer

Everyone has been raving about the Cavaliers' acquisition of Antawn Jamison. My question is why? They gave up Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and he has stuck around with the Cavaliers franchise through the good and bad. He is a quality big man who can shoot, and he spelled Shaquille O'Neal while ensuring the Cavs lost little production when the second unit came in. His outside shooting ability was extremely underrated, and his 7'3 frame caused matchup nightmares for every team trying to contend with the Cavaliers. However, he was deemed expendable because it was believed the Cavaliers need a "stretch four" to open up the lane for King James and for Shaq.


At one point in the season, Big Z was not elected to play in a game in which he could have claimed the Cavalier's all-time games played record, and he was obviously upset. He brings a lot to the table, and I do not understand how Mike Brown was foolish and arrogant enough not to let the big man in the game to gain this record(he gained it the next game after Ilgauskas and close friend James proclaimed their frustration with Brown after not playing him). Like I stated earlier, this makes no sense to me. Ilgauskas can shoot just as well as Jamison, and he presents much more size than Jamison's 6'9 brings to the table.


It is looking as if Ilgauskas will sign with either the Atlanta Hawks or the Dallas Mavericks, which in my mind gives either team the missing piece they need. How you can give a quality big up and let him go to a contender in your own conference is beyond me. It is no coincidence that the Cavaliers are in their first 3-game losing streak of the season. Mark my words now; The Cavaliers will not win the NBA Finals without reacquiring Ilgauskas, which is seeming less and less likely everyday with many title-contending teams in pursuit of the soon-to-be free agent big man.

Wisconsin Holds Off Northwestern To Earn 20th Win

This article is published here on the Bleacher Report. Go check it out!!

Contraversial Picture Sends Snowboarder Home

TMZ released a photo of bronze medalist, Scotty Lago having girls do "suggestive poses" to him with his medal. Because of these photo becoming public, Lago and the USA decided he should go home to avoid any further controversy.

Here are the photos....

Brewers ST Preview 2010: Outfield

Left Field: Ryan Braun. Enough said.

Center Field: Carlos Gomez was acquired from the Twins for J.J. Hardy this offseason. He has struggled offensively with Minnesota but the Brewers hope a change of scenery, a chance to play every day, and maturity will help him develop into a solid ball player. He replaces Mike Cameron, who was deemed too expensive to resign, yet like Cameron, he plays spectacular defense. Jim Edmonds was signed as a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training to compete for a backup job. I hope Edmonds will make the team, as he would be a solid backup, not to mention a great mentor to Gomez. Lorenzo Cain or Logan Schafer could emerge here in a couple years.

Right Field: Corey Hart is coming off of a very disappointing season. He only hit .260 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs and was out with an appendectomy for a month. He never seemed to hit his stride and many fans would like to see him replaced in right field. I’m torn on Hart. He is a very streaky player and when he’s on, he’s really good. Yet when he’s off, he’s downright horrible and has no plate discipline. This is a crucial year for him. If he doesn’t have a good year, the Brewers can’t justify paying him almost $5 million a year and will have to cut him. If he struggles, Jody Gerut will play more of role in right field.

Check back tomorrow for the Bench/Non-Roster Invitees

Check out my previous posts:

2nd Base and Shortstop

1st and 3rd Base

Pitchers and Catchers

Coaches

Jonas Brothers vs. John Kerry

Who is more unathletic former presidential candidate John Kerry or the Joe Jonas?

Take your pick...

Tiger Woods' Apology

Tiger Woods: "I Am So Sorry"

Here is the full transcript of Tiger Woods' apology, given this morning.

Brewers ST Preview 2010: 2nd Base and Shortstop

Second Base: The Brewers are counting on Rickie Weeks to bounce back from yet another injury this year. They took the chance of letting Felipe Lopez walk via free agency (he still doesn’t have a job), who was brilliant after coming over from Arizona in July. Weeks was on his way to a breakout season last year before getting hurt hitting .272 with 9 home runs and 24 RBIs in 37 games. Even though he may fit more as a 5^th or 6^th hole hitter, he will most likely be back in the leadoff spot this spring. He will undoubtedly get many chances to prove himself once again since the Brewers don’t have any legitimate replacement, but the Brewers brought back Craig Counsell to help out at all infield positions. In a year or two, top prospect Brett Lawrie could force himself into the mix at second base.

Shortstop: Perhaps the player I’m most excited is top prospect Alcides Escobar, the Brewers new 22 yr-old shortstop. Gone is J.J. Hardy (traded to the Twins), so Escobar is the default starter. Escobar brings gold glove caliber defense (yes, even better than Hardy’s D) and great baserunning ability and speed. He doesn’t have a lot of power at this point, yet he is still growing into his body and 10-15 homeruns in a few years is very realistic. The Brewers will probably have him hit 2^nd or in the bottom of the lineup (Macha is contemplating batting the pitcher eighth and Escobar ninth), but he projects as a leadoff hitter, perhaps even by next year. He is definitely the shortstop of the future and will be around for awhile. Get to know his name, everyone.

Tomorrow's topic: the outfield!

Previous Entries:

1st Base and 3rd Base

Pitchers and Catchers

Coaches

Missed Bucks Draft Picks

I know this is hindsight and it is obvious now who you should have picked. But I am seriously just considering people who were taken within 3 and maybe even at the time were more obvious picks. Here I go

C- Joakim Noah- 2007 Went 9th overall, we picked Yi Jianlian at 6, also another mystery who people weren't sure... Noah wasn't a stretch to think about
PF- Brook Lopez- 2008 Draft- went 10th Alexander went 8th, was considered too early to pick at the time
SF-Luc Mbah A Moute- 2008 liked the pick, great defender, shocking starter however the way it worked he was the only 3 on the squad from the last few drafts.
SG-Monta Ellis- Picked 4 after Ersan Illyasova, who has turned into a good pick but Ellis is a lot better.
PG- Chris Paul- 2005 Draft, we picked Bogut number 1, not saying Paul was the obvious pick but maybe a safer pick. Bogut is a nice center and don't mind but Chris Paul is a superstar. At the time though Marvin Williams was other option and glad the Bucks didn't pick him. Another thing though, we probably wouldn't have Paul long term, we do have Bogut long-term.

Bench- Brandon Jennings- 2009 Draft we got the steal of the draft, Jennings still has a lot to prove but is off to a great start
Bench- Ramon Sessions- 2007, good late pick for the Bucks
Bench- Leon Powe- 2006 picked David Noel a little bit earlier, Powe was a good pick maybe a stretch the Bucks would have picked him


This is very silly to do I agree... To just pick the best players from the draft we didn't pick but seriously these were all picks within a few of ours. I am not saying we would NBA All Star team if Larry Harris was better. But we are not picking Joe Alexander and Yi away from being closer to the top of the East. With a game like basketball every player you add to your team can have such a difference.

I just thought this would be fun to see. However, it also shows we have had some good picks. We drafted 3 players that were best available. Also it seems Hammonds has a good eye for players so maybe in 5 years we will see how good all our picks will be.

JACKPOT

I found my new favorite website on the internet. Gregg Zaun the new Brewers catcher has the most incredible website I have ever seen. Including a Zorro opener and constant music playing no catcher batting .260 has even spent this much time promoting themselves. I think I am going to be pumped about our new catcher and I think he may be a fan favorite. I am on the "Zaun Train" jump on our be run over by the ZAUNBIE!!!

WOAH GREG WOAH!

Barry Melrose's Secret

Duke Lacrosse Rape Accuser Arrested

It seems as though the accuser the most overhyped college scandal in recent years is in some trouble. She not only tried to stab her boyfriend but also set his clothes on fire. It seems as though this scandal who cost many people their jobs and ruined 4 Duke players reputations was all started by a mental unstable woman. I think it one of the saddest stories of college sports the last decade.

Tiger Woods' Statement Leaked (HOAX)

For all of you that is interested in the Tiger drama! This is a statement that was leaked (actually it was a hoax) but we thought we would post it anyway...

"Directly to the point there is no one to blame but me for the mess I have put my wife and family through. I accept total and complete responsibility. My wife and I have been trying to work things out but sadly things have not worked out. Again all the blame is upon me.We have decided to live apart with me having mutually agreed upon times when I can be with our children. I know that the world wants all the details of what transpired in our marriage but that is between my wife and I and will remain that way. I have to get on my life and that means playing golf again. I have contacted The Masters and have informed them that my plan is to resume The Masters and they have said that they would welcome me with open arms. For that I am most grateful for I deserve nothing. Finally I want to thank all my fans around the world for standing by me when I let you down horribly. I failed all of you about as badly as a person can. I apologize to everyone of you. I promise all of you that you will see a new Tiger Woods, a better Tiger Woods and I will not let you down. Now I'd like, by the grace of God and with His help, to get back to what I do best and that is playing golf. See you all at The Masters. God Bless you all. Tiger Woods."


WHAT I THINK HE WILL SAY...

Olympic Sized Failures

Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote an article about all of the failures that Vancouver has experienced during these games. The interesting part about this article is that it isn't because the lack of facilities but the organization of Vancouver and the Olympic committee for these games. This story may lead to a greater interest in other factors of hosting the games.

Although it is not their fault the fact that the Vancouver's climate is warm during February was one error that should have been avoided.

Despite all of these errors I have enjoyed the American success during these games.

WWMD?

What would Macha Do?

Well Macha recently said if the season started today this would be this:

1. Rickie Weeks, 2B

2. Casey McGehee, 3B

3. Ryan Braun, LF

4. Prince Fielder, 1B

5. Corey Hart, RF

6. Gregg Zaun, C

7. Carlos Gomez, CF

8. Pitcher

9. Alcides Escobar, SS

He wants to try the 2nd leadoff with either Escobar or Gomez...

Brewers Unveil Alternate Road Uniforms

Today, the Brewers unveiled new alternate uniforms to be worn at select road games this season. They will be navy blue and feature, in white script, "Milwaukee" instead of the customary "Brewers" that had been on all uniforms. The Brewers have not had the city name on their unis since 1999, when they switched from the interlocking MB logo to the current white script logo. The Brewers had been one of the only teams not to feature their city name on their away uniforms and fans have been hoping for this change for many years. Personally I really like the change. I am a big fan of having a variety of uniforms to choose from. Even more, I would love to see the Brewers feature the retro powder blue uniforms on the road to counter their home retro Friday uniforms. But I doubt that will ever happen.