Friday, September 30, 2011

VFBC Staff 2011 NL Award Ballots

Jason

NL MVP:
1. Ryan Braun
2. Matt Kemp
3. Justin Upton
4. Prince Fielder
5. Joey Votto
6. Troy Tulowitzki
7. Clayton Kershaw
8. Albert Pujols
9. Roy Halladay
10. Jose Reyes

NL Cy Coung:
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Roy Halladay
3. Cliff Lee
4. Cole Hamels
5. John Axford

NL ROY:
1. Craig Kimbrel
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Wilson Ramos

Alex

NL MVP:
1. Ryan Braun
2. Matt Kemp
3. Prince Fielder
4. Clayon Kershaw
5. Albert Pujols
6. Roy Halladay
7. Joey Votto
8. Cliff Lee
9. Justin Upton
10. Craig Kimbrel

NL Cy Young:
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Roy Halladay
3. Cliff Lee
4. Ian Kennedy
5. Cole Hamels

NL ROY:
1. Craig Kimbrel
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Brandon Beachy

Brad

NL MVP:
1. Ryan Braun
2. Matt Kemp
3. Prince Fielder
4. Lance Berkman
5. Troy Tulowitzki
6. Albert Pujols
7. Justin Upton
8. Joey Votto
9. Shane Victorino
10. Clayton Kershaw

NL Cy Young:
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Roy Halladay
3. Cliff Lee
4. Ian Kennedy
5. John Axford

NL ROY:
1. Craig Kimbrel
2. Freddie Freeman
3. Vance Worley

Thursday, September 29, 2011

VFBC Podcast Episode 30 "Matt Mieske Edition"

This was recorded Thursday night. Should have been up for all to enjoy on Friday morning. Unfortunately we had some technical difficulties with the file, but it is all fixed and ready to play here or download on iTunes. Thanks again for the support. Go Brewers!




Breakdown of The Show:

Division Champs! :00-20:54
Break
ALDS Preview/Predictions 22:05-45:20
Break
NLDS Preview/Predictions 46:40-1:09:49
Break
Preview/Chalet Award Winner 1:10:44-1:18:56

Sunday, September 25, 2011

25 Man NLDS Roster Prediction

Because I just love predicting rosters so much, here it is. To me the only two hard decisions are the last bench spot which I think comes down to Josh Wilson or Taylor Green and could go either way but I think you go with another lefty bat, specifically one with some power. Second hard decision is the final bullpen spot, which probably comes down to Estrada, Dillard or De La Cruz. I think Marco gets the nod there because of the experience factor. Of course they could end up only keeping 6 pitchers in the pen and going with an extra bench player which would probably mean both Wilson and Green make the roster. Interesting decisions for the brain trust.



Starting Lineup:

1. Corey Hart - RF
2. Nyjer Morgan - CF
3. Ryan Braun - LF
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Rickie Weeks - 2B
6. Casey McGehee - 3B
7. Yuniesky Betancourt - SS
8. Jonathan Lucroy - C

Bench:

George Kottaras - C
Jerry Hairston - IF/OF
Craig Counsell - IF
Taylor Green - IF
Mark Kotsay - OF
Carlos Gomez - OF

Starting Rotation:

Yovani Gallardo
Zack Greinke
Shaun Marcum
Randy Wolf

Bullpen:

John Axford
Francisco Rodriguez
Takashi Saito
Kameron Loe
LaTroy Hawkins
Chris Narveson
Marco Estrada


-Jason

Episode 30 Coming Thursday Night

We will not be recording episode 30 on our normal Monday or Tuesday night schedule. Going to wait till Thursday night when we know all the playoff details, should be up late that night or early Friday morning. Will have a full playoff preview on the agenda and of course our reaction to the thrilling division clinching win on Friday night which yours truly attended. As you can imagine, it was one of the most amazing nights of my 29 year lifetime. In the meantime I will have my 25 man NLDS roster prediction up on Monday sometime, so look for that if you so choose. Thanks again from Alex, Brad and myself for listening/reading. We appreciate it. Go Brewers!

-Jason

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

VFBC Podcast Episode 29 "Chris Bosio Edition"



Breakdown of The Show:

Braun joins 30/30 Club, Batting Title/MVP Ahead? :00-16:17
Break
Lining Up Playoff Rotation 17:32-31:46
Break
Minor League Wrap 32:33-49:40
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 50:39-1:03:33

Thursday, September 15, 2011

VFBC Podcast Episode 28 "Prince Fielder Edition"



Breakdown of The Show:

K-Rod and Fielder Stir Pot With Comments:00-16:14
Break
Rickie Weeks Returns To Lineup/Impact 17:25-30:02
Break
Casey McGehee, Human Rally Killer, Time To Bench? 31:34-45:08
Break
Preview/Chalet Award Winner 46:44-56:24

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Pregame Speech The Brewers Need

Last night Brewers.com writer Adam McCalvy tweeted something about this coming weeks season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", the greatest comedy on TV. I tweeted him back that perhaps the Brewers brass should bring Yari in from "Curb" to give a pregame speech much like the one below from last weeks episode. Maybe this motivation could get the Brewers to string some wins together and clinch this damn division. Got to keep this nice in lose when the team goes through a rough patch like they are right now. Larry David definitely knows how to keep it loose. Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Milwaukee's Survivorman

Les Stroud could learn a thing or two from Milwaukee's talented young backstop Jonathan Lucroy. Not only has he found success this year in the big leagues, but he has survived hitting in the virtual wasteland that has been the bottom of the Brewers order at times. Production has been scarce being surrounded by the likes of Mark Kotsay, Carlos Gomez, Yuni B, and a strewn field of other pinch hitters, pitchers, and wayward bats. But, through it all Lucroy has managed a very productive season, making the times the other hitters find water in the desert that more effective.

Starting with McGehee the bottom of the order has been trying to find it's way this year. Some bats like Casey (.237) and Yuni (.252) have had success in small doses, each contributing 121 RBIs to the Brewers game. Each have been efficient at times, but each have still gone on long slumps where it seems that each at bat is another out, or more. Mark Kotsay (.260) has been the marginal hitter we all knew he would be, and Carlos Gomez's .215 average isn't helping anybody out. The only bat that has had success around Lucroy is Nyjer Morgan, but now he has cemented a spot in the two hole, and Lucroy is once again left to tow the line.

Through all the roster tweaks, and player shuffles Lucroy has still managed a .278 average, and 56 RBIs, over 381 at bats in 2011. Much of his production is due to a very healthy line drive rate (24.4%) and a very luck driven swing with his BABIP sitting at an unholy .335. This is nothing new though. Lucroy has posted BABIPs and averages higher than he has this season in the minors while striking out less. The sharp rise in K% from 14.8% in his first big league season in 2010 to 21.5% this year may have everything to do with it being his first full season of work at starting catcher. He is handling a top level pitching staff, and is playing one of the most physically demanding positions in baseball. But, Lucroy may just be pressing at times because of the hitters around him, and the opportunities he has.

This should be the beginning of a long illustrious career for the Brewers catcher. With 11 home runs this season so far he could be a possible 15-20 guy next year. What he will have to work on is his eye and taking more walks, but that will come with maturity. Because Lucroy has always maintained a good batting average when given regular time he won't hurt the Crew there as long as his contact rates don't continue a downward trend. With steady rises in OBP, and maintaining an edge of power, Lucroy should continue to find success in Milwaukee. So, the next time you think we are stuck in the desert remember that Luke will lead us to water, even if we are far from home.

-Alex

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

VFBC Podcast Episode 27 "Brady Clark Edition"



Breakdown of The Show:

Road Woes Gone :00-12:49
Break
11' Brewers Similar to 04' Red Sox 14:01-29:53
Break
Starting 5 all 10+ Wins 31:10-42:58
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 44:15-56:22