After Hoffman, Brewers Should Sign Pettitte

If you listen to my podcast today, you'll find out how I feel about the Brewers' pursuit of future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. If you didn't, here's my take on that in a nutshell. I'm all for it.

That being said, there are still holes on this club. Second base has not been fixed. Neither has third base. Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall are still on the roster. The only addition has been Mike Lamb (not the answer). Russell (The Muscle) Branyan left as a free agent.

But, there are even bigger holes on this team. Namely, the rotation. If the season were to start today, the Brewers would be going with Yovani Gallardo, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Manny Parra, and Seth McClung. I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is not the kind of rotation a contender puts out there. It's the kind of rotation that mediocre teams put out there.

The Brewers lost CC Sabathia. Ben Sheets remains a possibility to return, but my guess is that if he hasn't re-signed by now he's not going to. Besides, the fact he is still out there leads me to believe that there are teams who are not convinced he is going to be healthy enough to help in 2009.

There were reports that the Brewers were interested in St. Louis free agent starter Braden Looper. As of now, nothing has come of that, and even if it did, how much of an upgrade is Looper? There were reports the Brewers were interested in Randy Johnson, but he went to the Giants, and besides, he might be washed up anyway.

In other words, the Brewers have done diddly squat to improve the rotation this off-season. Derek Lowe appears to be headed to either New York, Philadelphia, or Boston. Randy Wolf (the guy I've been campaigning for) doesn't seem to be on GM Doug Melvin's radar.

But, I am not going to give up trying to help the Brewers. In fact, I have a brand new name they should be considering. Andy Pettitte.

Yes, the same Andy Pettitte that just rejected a $10M deal from the Yankees. The same Andy Pettitte that was named multiple times in The Mitchell Report. Yes, the same Andy Pettitte that will be thirty-seven years old on June 15th. If I'm Melvin, I'm on the phone with Pettitte now, before Joe Torre has a chance to woo him to Los Angeles (Pettitte and Torre are particularly tight).

Why am I so high on Pettitte. There are a few reasons.

The man is a bona fide winner. At one point in time he was one of the top five pitchers in the game. He may not be that guy anymore. He may not be the guy that you could call a stopper anymore. But he is a guy that will make over thirty starts a year, keep you in every ballgame, and be a guy that the youngsters (Gallardo and Parra) can look up to and go get advice from.

Don't underestimate the four World Series rings that Pettitte owns as well. He has been where this organization wants to go. He's been there many times. He's the kind of guy who can teach a young club how to deal with October baseball (sorry, four games against Philadelphia doesn't make you a seasoned playoff veteran).

And speaking of playoff experience, Pettitte has plenty of it. The guy pitched in seven fall classics and has a post-season mark of 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA. That's a pretty impressive resume.

Here are a couple of other numbers for you. In 2005, Pettitte went 4-0 against the Brewers with an ERA of 2.70 (he was 2-0 at Miller Park). In 2006, he was 1-1 against The Crew with an ERA of 1.93. If you can't beat him, and the Brewers couldn't, sign him.

I understand he turned down that $10M offer from the Yankees. So, the Brewers would be wise not to lowball him. Is Pettitte worth the $16M he was making last year? Probably not. But he is probably worth $12-$14M. And, if the Brewers were willing to make an offer of over $20M to Sabathia, then you have to think the money is there to make a run at Pettitte.

This isn't the time to pinch pennies. Fans won't accept it, and the Brewers would be wrong to think that one playoff appearance is good enough. They cannot get complacent, otherwise they'll be left in the dust.

It's your move, Doug.

Tuesday's Podcast

The Tuesday Show is now online. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Bucks Should Buy, and Soon!

For the first time in a couple of years, the Bucks are relevant in January. It's not a joke anymore when you use the word Bucks and playoffs in the same sentence. The changes John Hammond has made have paid off. Scott Skiles has done here - up to this point - what he did in Phoenix and Chicago. Take what he was given and improve on it.

Two years ago at this time, we were all waiting for Senator Herb Kohl to end the Terry Stotts experiment. Last year at this time we were waiting for the Senator to fire Larry Krystkowiak because we could see he just was not a good NBA coach. We wanted someone with a track record. Someone who could get the most out of the players he had considering the cap situation. Skiles was the right guy, as was Hammond.

This year, Bucks fans aren't waiting for the other shoe to drop. There is actually a little bit of buzz surrounding this basketball team. Buzz that there hasn't been in a long time, maybe since George Karl was here. The crowds may not show it yet, but if the Bucks keep winning, tickets will be harder to come by than they are right now.

The Bucks started off the season with a hard schedule in November and survived. There really isn't a reason to think they can't survive a January schedule that is jam packed with eighteen games and three sets of back to backs. The teams on the schedule (outside of Atlanta) aren't as fierce as the ones the Bucks played earlier in the season.

The point here is the Bucks have a chance to solidify their playoff position in the Eastern Conference and maybe even move up in the standings (after all, it is the East). The one thing they have shown this year is that they beat the teams they are better than, and this month features teams they are better than in Washington, Minnesota, Sacramento, the Clippers and Indiana (three of the teams who have already changed their coaches this season).

If they are going to solidify their playoff position they should to everything they can to get that done. The NBA trading deadline is February 19th, and there have been rumblings that the Bucks are looking to make a deal or two. Word around the league is that there are very few if any untouchables, including Michael Redd. Names like Charlie Villanueva are said to be on the table. The Bucks are said to have interest in any number of players, including Milwaukee's own Carl Landry, now with the Houston Rockets.

The question is should they buy or sell. Buy pieces to help with a playoff run or sell pieces like Redd to give them more flexibility as far as the cap is concerned. The feeling here is that the Bucks should be buyers.

It doesn't seem as if the Bucks need all that much. They are solid in the backcourt with Luke Ridnour and Ramon Sessions at the point. Redd is one of the league's better shooting guards. Richard Jefferson has been everything he's been advertised to be at the three spot. Andrew Bogut's point production may be down from last year, but his defense and rebounding have been what they always were, and you had to figure with Jefferson coming in someone's numbers were going to drop.

The problem spot has been the power forward position. Villanueva is an offensive player who either doesn't have interest in playing on the defensive end of the floor, or simply lacks the ability to do so. There are nights when he plays thirty-five minutes a game and nights when you barely see him. He is obviously not Skiles' favorite.

On the other hand there is rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The second round pick has been more than just your average rookie. He's averaging more than eight points and six rebounds a game. He plays the kind of style that Skiles likes and rewards with playing time.

But, can Mbah a Moute do it alone at the power forward spot? At some point you figure he is going to hit the rookie wall. NBA rookies almost always do, and the Bucks need to be prepared for that. Mbah a Moute played a lot of games for a UCLA team that routinely found itself in The Final Four, but 82 games compared to forty is a completely different animal.

The Bucks should get him some help. it doesn't have to be someone who has a flashy offensive game because the Bucks have enough offensive players. They need another Mbah a Moute, and if they have to deal Villanueva to get that player than so be it.

The perfect guy might just be Landry. He's 6-7, 245 pounds (Mbah a Moute is 6-8, 230). He averages just over twenty minutes per game. He puts up the same kind of numbers that Mbah a Moute does. Would you rather have forty-eight minutes of that kind of players as opposed to the twenty-six minutes you're getting per game from Mbah a Moute? Of course you would.

Landry is also from Milwaukee, and he has the kind of attitude Milwaukee fans like to see in a player. Landry is a hard nosed, blue collar kind of player. Combine that with the fact he's from here, and maybe fans start to fill the Bradley Center more than they've been doing.

And, the sooner you make the deal, the sooner you start reaping the benefits. The Suns made the Shaq trade in February of last year and weren't able to fit him in to what they were trying to do. As opposed to the Lakers trade for Pau Gasol, which came earlier in the season, and is generally regarded as being the reason the Lakers made the NBA Finals last June.

This is not to say that Landry is the missing piece for a title run. But he may be the difference between a playoff spot and another lottery season. And, after years of lottery seasons, it would be nice to play meaningful basketball in April.

Buy or sell? Buy, and buy soon.

Monday's Podcast

The Monday Podcast is up and running!

Cliff

The Weekend Wrap

I hope everyone had a Happy New Year! Here's looking towards a great 2009, starting with Wildcard Weekend in the NFL.

Cards dealt a divisional game: Give Arizona credit. They are one dimensional. They pretty much pass and that's it. But, they beat an Atalanta team that knew what was coming and still couldn't stop them. I don't think the Cards can win this coming weekend. The availability of injured WR Anquan Boldin will have a lot to do with what happens. But, either way, win or lose, it's been nice to see Kurt Warner do what he's done years after people wrote him off as being washed up.

San Diego Charged Up: I was sad to see the Colts lose the way they did. I have long believed that the overtime rules in the NFL are just not fair. They should do it the way college does it, if only to be fair to both teams. I don't want to see Tony Dungy's coaching career end this way if he does indeed choose to retire. But, the Chargers have been to hell and back this season, and despite my dislike of Norv Turner (better co-ordinator than head coach), I couldn't be happier that a guy like Phillip Rivers advances. He's one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and one of these days, he's going to get the recognition that he deserves.

Baltimore Bumps Miami: As a Jets fan, I was not sad to see the Dolphins lose. Before the Jets-Patriots rivalry got going, the Jets' biggest rival was Miami. That being said, the difference in this game was defense. The Ravens have a pretty good one. They also seem to - after a number of years - have this whole offense thing figured out. We saw a number of teams hire first year head coaches and make the playoffs. But, John Harbaugh, who had never even been a co-ordinator before getting the Ravens job (special teams isn't the same as defense in my book), is the one that made the divisional round of the playoffs. And he did it with a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco who has developed quicker than most thought he would. Harbaugh and Flacco don't get the same kind of pub as Matt Ryan and Mike Smith of Atlanta, but they aren't making tee times for today now are they?

Eagles Flying High: One of the hottest teams in the NFL over the last five weeks has been the Eagles. It doesn't come as a surprise that they go into Minnesota and knock off the Vikings. Andy Reid and Jim Johnson know Brad Childress like the back of their hand - he was, after all, on Philly's staff for a number of years. But Donovan McNabb, since his November benching, has played with a chip on his shoulder. He has to be considered one of the league's best once again, and the rubber match against the Giants next weekend is going to be a game you don't want to miss.

Please Give Us A Plus One: The bowl season finally gave us a couple of meaningful games over the New Year's Holiday. Maybe none more meaningful than The Rose Bowl Game (presented by.. ah, whatever).

The USC-Penn State matchup was supposed to be one of the more closely contested games of the season. it turned out to be a blowout. Don't get me wrong, Penn State didn't give up. They could've flown the white flag early in the third quarter, but they hung in there. Despite that fact, they still lost by two touchdowns.

USC wasn't only dominant, they were superior. Superior to the point that you have to agree with Trojans head coach Pete Carroll when he says they are right up there with the Oklahomas and Floridas of the world.

Until the Gators or Sooners beat the Trojans, it's hard to argue with his logic. They lost to Oregon State this year. That was it. They handled Ohio State, another BCS team. They lost a conference game, just like Oklahoma did, and just like Florida did.

I know we're probably never going to get a playoff in college football. But how about a plus one? Wouldn't you like to see USC take on the winner of Florida-Oklahoma. And while we're at it, what about Texas? They'll probably beat Ohio State and will deserve to be mentioned with the Gators, Trojans, and Sooners as well.

The BCS, as we all know, is an imperfect system. The game that was added on a couple of years ago was only added on so the non BCS conferences wouldn't sue the BCS. The fifth game gives the 'little guy' a chance. That's how Boise State got into the BCS, and that's why Utah is there this year.

But it doesn't solve the inherent problem that the BCS has. The system doesn't crown a true national champion. Florida deserves to be in the game because they beat then #1 Alabama. And Oklahoma had the good fortune of winning late in the season, when others faltered. that's why the Texas fans have been complaining loudly for the last month.

The Florida-Oklahoma winner will win the BCS title (the AP vote could theoretically go in a different direction), but wouldn't you like to see USC play the winner in what would be the closest thing to a playoff that the BCS could give us?

Again, the fact that ESPN signed a four year deal with the BCS means that it isn't going anywhere. But reconfiguring, and making that fifth BCS game a plus one would be way better than what we have now.

Favre's Future: It looks like the future Hall of Famer hasn't won the hearts and minds of his teammates. Thomas Jones told a New York radio station that Favre should have been benched (and he probably was right) during the Jets loss to Miami in the final week of the regular season. Safety Kerry Rhodes went on record as saying he'd welcome Favre back if he 'did it right.' (that means going through the off-season program with the rest of the team, something Favre never did in Green Bay). And, some teammates who did not want to be identified told a NY newspaper that Favre was distant, wasn't really part of the team, and never connected with his new teammates (not dressing in the team locker room, etc.).

It looks like it took the Jets (though owner Woody Johnson hasn't figured it out yet) less than a year to realize exactly what a diva Favre is. The difference between what has gone on with the Jets and what went on in Green Bay is that the jets don't feel they owe it to Favre to let him get away with this.

The Packers always did. They looked at Favre as the reason they won the Super Bowl in 1996 (he was only a part of the reason and not the game's MVP by the way). Therefore, starting with Ray Rhodes after Mike Holmgren left, they let Favre get away with murder. Skip the offseason training program? No problem Brett. You don't feel like coming in for minicamps or OTA's? No problem Brett. You want to take six months to decide if you're going to play again? No problem Brett. The trend continued with Mike Sherman and Mike McCarthy until Favre pulled the I retire/I'm back game last summer.

Woody Johnson may want Brett back, but it sounds like the players, the guys he has to go to war with, don't. Reports say Bill Cowher didn't want the Jets job because he didn't want to coach Favre.

It seems to me like Johnson is the only one who wants Favre Year Two in New York. If Brett were smart, he'd look at his eroding skills, lack of relationships in his new locker room, and decide to retire. This time for good.

Wednesday's Podcast

Check out the Wednesday Podcast. It will be the last one of the year as I spend time with the fam in New York.

Talk to you on Monday! Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Ten Predictions For 2009 Guaranteed Not To Come True

It's out with the old and in with the new. So, here are Ten Predictions For 2009 Guaranteed Not To Come True. These are in no particular order.

#10: The NFL Says No To Mike Vick: Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Mike Vick has been out of the NFL for two seasons now due to his illegal dogfighting activities. He should be released sometime during the course of this year. In an unprecedented move, none of the thirty-two teams in the NFL sign him, saying he's just too risky of a person to invest money in.

Here's why that won't happen. The NFL is a league of mercenaries. If you have talent, you are going to get a job. If you can help a team win, someone is going to take a chance on you. Vick, despite his relative lack of success as a quarterback in the NFL, will find work somewhere. He has crazy talent. And, in a league of copycats, you are going to see teams go with a version of Miami's Wildcat offense. Vick is a perfect fit. He may not be a full time quarterback, but most people would be scared to see him in the Wildcat. And don't forget about Al Davis, who loves taking risks. It would not be a shock to see him in silver and black this coming September.

#9 - Terrell Owens Takes A Vow Of Silence: After his latest meltdown, Terrell Owens will find himself looking for a new team when the Cowboys cut him loose. Since he still has the ability to be a gamebreaker, some other team will sign him. At the news conference announcing the signing, Owens states that he will no longer talk to the media. No more news conferences. No more interviews with ESPN. Nothing. Owens will smile and say "This time I'll just let my play do the talking."

Here's why that won't happen. Owens can't help himself. He's just that kind of person. There are people who run away from the spotlight, and people who run towards it. Owens loves it when people talk about him. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative, because he thinks any publicity is good publicity. Yes the Cowboys will let him go. Yes he will find another new team. But he, at some point, will say something that will have people shaking their heads in disgust.

#8 - The Yankees Announce They Will Stop Signing Free Agents: After spending over $420M on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees will come up short (once again) in their quest to to win the World Series. They will still have holes in the rotation. They will still need a corner outfielder. But, with a payroll of over $200M, GM Brian Cashman says the Yankees are sitting out free agency because they just don't have the money. The recession has hit them as well, and they need to watch their pennies like everyone else.

Here's why that won't happen. Two words. Hank Steinbrenner. They say the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree, and Hank is just like his father George. He has already shown a propensity for making bold statements to the media. He also has his father's thirst for buying players. He can't help himself. The Yankees will fall short in 2009, but don't think for a second that Hank will sit and watch as other teams sign free agent studs like Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey.

#7 - Tiger Woods Returns; Goes Winless: Tiger Woods will make his return to golf at The Master's in April. The last time we saw him, he won the U.S. Open on one leg in a fantastic playoff against plucky Rocco Mediate. Tiger will say on the Tuesday before the Master's that his knee is a hundred percent, that he is ready to reclaim his rightly spot as the #1 golfer in the world. But while his knee will be a hundred percent, his swing will be something less than that. He will struggle to find his groove, and fail to win a single tournament in 2009.

Here's why that won't happen. Tiger's too good. There has never been a golfer like him before, and there may never be another one like him again. He is not human. He is Superman. Not only will he win, but he will probably win The Master's. Heck, he might even win a second major. This is one prediction that I'll be happy to see fall by the wayside.

#6 - The Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Lebron James To A Contract Extension. In late July, the Cavaliers will shock the world. They will call a news conference, where Lebron James will sign an extension with the Cavs. The new deal will take Lebron off the market in the Summer of 2010. General Managers in Detroit, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Europe will come to the realization that their fantasies of Lebron wearing their uniform will just not happen. And at least one of them will wind up losing their jobs.

Here's why that won't happen. Why would Lebron leave money on the table? He might not be able to make more money playing basketball anywhere but Cleveland, but it's not about that. It's about growing his brand. Endorsement opportunities. He is viewed by Madison Avenue as the next Michael Jordan. If he signs in New York, L.A., or Chicago, he will likely make double off the court than he will on the court. It's business, and Lebron has said on many occasions he is a businessman as well as a basketball player. Besides, the Knicks will promise him that they'll change their uniforms to look just like the ones his favorite team - the Yankees - wear.

#5 - Plaxico Burress Stays Out Of Trouble. 2008 was a busy year for Plax. He won a Super Bowl, got suspended for failing to show up to practice (claiming he took his kids to school), shot himself in the leg (it takes real talent to do that), and had cops show up to his crib looking for more guns. Not quite a normal year in the life, if you know what I mean. As a result, Mr. Burress will likely be looking for a new job, if he can manage to stay out of jail.

Here's why that won't happen. Plax hasn't changed since his days at Michigan State. He had the reputation of being a slacker then. It didn't change when he was in Pittsburgh. It sure as hell didn't change when he was with the Giants. Why would it change now?

#4 - BCS Goes Bye-Bye. After four BCS Conference teams end the season undefeated, the people that run college football (the college presidents and network executives) finally see the error in their ways. ESPN announces it is backing out of its agreement to broadcast BCS games. The college presidents will get together and demand a playoff. Fans all over the world rejoice.

Here's why that won't happen. It's called money. There's too much of it to be made with the BCS. Fans all over the world cry in their beer.

#3 - Al Davis Hires a Real Head Coach. Saying he's tired of being an embarrassment, Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis decides to hire a real head coach. One with experience as a head coach in the NFL. One who isn't a former Raider from the 1970's. Davis also promises to stay out of his new coach's way, saying the game has changed dramatically since he was a head coach in the sixties. Raider Nation throws a party like they haven't seen in Oakland since the seventies.

Here's why that won't happen. Al just can't help himself. He still views himself as the genius he was over forty years ago. he looks at himself as a man who couldn't possibly be wrong about anything. And the yes men he has surrounded himself with won't even try to stop him.

#2 - The NHL Becomes a Major Sport Once Again. Back in the 70's and 80's the NHL was one of the four major sports in the country. Thanks to Tiger Woods, the growth of NASCAR, a strike, a lockout, and the neutral zone trap the league is barely a step above Roller Derby in terms of awareness around the country. But, 2009 will be the year that Sid the Kid (Crosby for those of you that don't know) and Alexander Ovechkin put the league back on the map. Arenas across the country will be sold out. Ratings will skyrocket. Gary Bettman will smile (does he ever really do that).

Here's why that won't happen. The NHL has never done anything to re-introduce itself to sports fans at large. They pretty much say "Here's the product. You should like it." Crosby isn't as visible as he should be. Neither is Ovechkin. Tickets still cost too much to see an NHL game. The economy is in the tank. The NHL will remain a second tier sport.

#1 - Brett Favre Makes A Quick Decision On His Future. Saying he won't repeat the soap opera he created during this past off-season, Brett Favre announces in early January that he will return to the Jets for a second season. Since there won't be any drama, ESPN will struggle to fill their sixty minute Sportscenters. Radio Talk Show Hosts will need to come up with new material.

Here's why that won't happen. Do I really have to go into that??

There you go. ten New Year's predictions guaranteed not to come true. Have a Happy New Year!

I'm taking the rest of the week off for a quick New Year's Visit to New York. I'll be back with a brand new blog on Monday, January 5th!