Fresh Brew: Brewers Believe In Contender Status For 2015

Todays Top headline 

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/115311240/mike-bauman-brewers-believe-in-contender-status-for-2015-season

Countdown To Opening Day: Day 7

Milwaukee played in County stadium from 1953- 2000. The stadium also hosted numerous none baseball events. People often claim that seven is an unlucky number. The logic prompted me to choose the  Final out at County stadium for day seven of my 10 day countdown to opening day.

Reunited: Packers Bring Back Two Familiar Faces

The Green Bay Packers recently announced that they will bring back two former players.

Letroy Guion is talented defensive line player who has struggled with off field issues. According to http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12589049/green-bay-packers-re-sign-bj-raji  The Packers resigned the troubled player to a $2.75 million dollar deal.  ESPN also reported that incentives could increase the deals final price to $3.25 million.    

I think the low risk high reward move will pay off.


The Packers just resigned B.J. Raji to a one-year $3.5 million dollar deal. The amount could potentially increase to $4 million. I think that  Raji is capable of becoming a star. The Nose tackle will have a career year if he can stay healthy. Unfortunately that's a big if. It will be interesting to see what happens.  

The New Face Of The Badgers Offense ?

The Wisconsin Badgers FanSided blog Badger Of Honor. recently revealed the Badgers probable QB starter. http://badgerofhonor.com/2015/03/30/wisconsin-football-joel-stave-holding-strong-as-starting-quarterback/

Joel Stave is a redshirt senior with some playing experience. I think the Wisconsin native  will be successful next season if he can stay healthy. The Badgers need consistent Quarterback play if they want to be successful next season.

Countdown To Opening Day: Day 8

 Juan Nieves was forced to navigate multiple obstacles during his no hit bid. I think being able to  witness miraculous plays is the best part about sports. Robin Yount's catch was defiantly miraculous. What were you doing at 22 ? Juan Nieves threw a no hitter.  

My Four Reactions To Wisconsin Reaching The Final Four

4 Was I watching Golden State or Wisconsin last night ?

3   Frank Kaminsky needs to play smarter. The big man got into foul trouble yesterday.

2  Sam Decker is going to be special.

1. Notre Dame prevented Kentucky from entering Video game mode. Can Wisconsin do the same ?

Where The Streets Have A Name.

Potts Avenue became the latest street in Green Bay to be named after a member of the Packers organization

.  

Countdown To Opening Day: Day 9

On 9/9/92 Robin Yount became the 17th player in MLB history to join the 3,000 hit club. The shortstop/ center fielder was also able to add a first ballot Hall Of Fame induction to his resume. I enjoy watching pre steroid era Baseball clips because it reminds me of my early childhood. Stay tuned for day eight.    

The Pregame: Badgers Battle Arizona Tonight.

The Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball program will take on the Arizona Wildcats tonight in the Elite Eight at 6:09 p.m. on TBS.

Countdown To Opening Day: Day 10

Arguably the most exciting national holiday is approaching us. I will give you a hint it begins with b. I'm excited for another season of you guessed it Brewers Baseball.  . I'm celebrating the last 10 days of spring training in multimedia fashion. I will upload a new exciting highlight every day. Grab your popcorn and take a seat. Let the countdown begin.  

10. The former Brewer and now arguably the most hated player in Wisconsin. Prince Fielder crushes it.

Altered Memories: New Packers Throwback Jersey Coming Soon.

I'm celebrating the Packers decision to introduce new throwback uniforms by ranking the top 3 ugliest uniforms in NFL History. Green Bay will be ok if they avoid making the same mistake as the following three teams.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Creamsicle Jersey

2. Philadelphia Eagles kelly green Jersey

1. Pittsburgh Steelers Bumblebee Jersey  

Badgers Vs Tar heels A Brief Illustrated Game Recap

Examining Milwaukee's Murder of the Mariners Via tweets

Home Grown: Packers give Wisconsin born Defensive Back a shot.

Green Bay signed the former Giant after evaluating him at the inaugural NFL Veterans Combine.  The move ends the none outside the organization free agency drought. The drought began on March 10.  I think it will be interesting to see if Sebetic is able to make the team.

Fresh Brew: Gomez, Braun drive big day for Brewers bats

Todays top headline. 

The Pregame: Badgers Battle North Carolina Tomorrow Night.

The Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball program will take on North Carolina tomorrow night in the Sweet Sixteen at 7:47 on TBS.

Ocho O No: Do You Remember When Ochocinco Disrespected Packer Home Fans ?

Badgers fend off pesky Ducks: My Thoughts

I think the game became an important acclimation test. Oregon's ability to hang in for the final minutes was frightening. The best teams are able to win close games. The Badgers proved that they belong in the Sweet Sixteen. Can they continue their momentum ?  

Spring Forecast: Analyzing the next 3 Brewers Spring Training games

March 23/ 2015 Milwaukee Brewers VS the Colorado Rockies.

It's always sunny in Colorado. I think the Rockies will bring the sunshine and the laid back Colorado attitude into this game. The Brewers will win if their able to take advantage of this mindset. 

March 24/ 2015 Milwaukee Brewers VS the Arizona Diamondbacks.

                                                             

The red hot Brewers offense will shower the outfield with balls. 

March 25/ 2015 Milwaukee Brewers VS the Oakland Athletics.

The Athletics are unable to build a new stadium in the bay so they built a new spring training facility instead. This news will cause thunderstorms.    

Badgers and Brewers highlight exciting Wisconsin sports weekend.

3/21/15 The Brewers battle the Rangers  3:05 PM.

3/22/15  The Brewers battle the Chicago White Sox 1.05 PM.

3/22/15 The Mens Badgers Basketball program resumes it's March Madness run against Oregon. 6:45 TRU TV.

The Pregame: Badgers Battle Coastal Carolina Tomorrow Night.

The Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball program will take on Coastal Carolina Tomorrow night in the round of 64 at 8:20 on TBS.

Squeaky Cheese Curds: Brewers Barley Beat San Diego

The Carlos Gomez led offense produced six Brewers runs in todays win.  


I think that Milwaukee is finally beginning to realize  their full potential. The Brewers will return to the playoffs if their able to continue last nights new found momentum.

The Great Land Siege: Packers Purchase More Land Near Lambeau Field

The Green Bay Packers purchased 1070 Blue Ridge Drive, the middle house in the photo, in February. They already owned the property on each side of the house.(Photo: Richard Ryman/Press-Gazette Media)

You can read more about the purchase here. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/money/2015/03/16/packers-make-another-land-purchase-near-lambeau-field/24862581/

Dancing To A New Beat: Wisconsin Wins Tourney and the one seed.

The title says it all. Wisconsin clinched the big 10 tournament championship and a one seed in the big dance.

Grab your pen, your bracket, and your dancing shoes. It's tournament time baby !!!!!.

Wisconsin will face Coastal Carolina in the second round of the tournament.

The Brewers Resigned K-Rod:My Thoughts.

Yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers announced that Francisco Rodriguez will remain on the team.

The star closer signed a two year 13 million dollar contract. I think the reliever will have a monster season do you agree ?  You can find more contract details here.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/112711396/brewers-officially-announce-two-year-contract-with-veteran-right-hander-francisco-rodriguez     

The Big 10 Tournament Championship Game is Sunday: What You Need To Know

The exciting Michigan State Wisconsin Badgers rivalry will return tomorrow at 2:30 on CBS. 

A victory Sunday will give Wisconsin the shot at a number one seed in the big dance. 

The upset minded Spartans are also trying to defend their Big 10 Tournament championship title.    

Sliding Down: The Brewers Just Lost Their Second Spring Training Game In A Row.

Milwaukee's initial five game losing streak is no longer a fluke.  The Brewers were slaughtered by the Chicago Cubs today extending their losing streak to two games. Spring training doesn't always foreshadow regular season success but it can be a good indicator. I can guarantee you that it will be a long summer if Milwaukee doesn't discover consistency.    

This Seasons Top 3 Badger Football Games

3 The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will take place at the end of the season.

2  The Badgers will battle the Cornhuskers for only the tenth time in school history. 

1. Wisconsin kicks off the season in a "neutral field matchup against SEC powerhouse Alabama. The game will be played at Cowboys Stadium.

Brewers Announce Opening Day Starting Rotation.

Kyle Lohse

Matt Garza

Wily Peralta

Badgers Advance in Big 10 Tournament: My Reaction

I had high expectations for the 6th best team in the country. I heard the announcers and Bo Ryan blame the slow start on the unfamiliar venue/ court. I think the Badgers were rusty. Here are my thoughts on the victory.


                               Wisconsin displayed moments of three point consistency.

                       I think Wisconsin needs to increase their

                      shooting percentage if they want to make a deep tourney run.



The Badger defense was strong despite giving up six turnovers. Defense wins championships in every sport including College Basketball.


Michigan put up a fight. I think the Wolverines are capable of becoming a top 10 team next season. Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts ? Let me know in the comment section below.

Wisconsin plays Purdue tomorrow at 12:pm

Packer Draft 2015 Prospects ~ Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Fla.)

              Denzel Perryman, who has been at least a part-time starter in all three of his seasons on the Miami defense, took over a full-time role as the Hurricanes middle linebacker in 2013. Perryman relished that opportunity and ended up being the team’s defensive MVP and a first-team all-ACC selection. In his standout junior season, Perryman racked up 108 tackles and five tackles for loss. Across 34 career games with 24 total starts, Perryman has tallied 241 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception.

Why You Should Watch Perryman ?

Perryman has excellent instincts on run defense and functions perfectly within the Miami defense. He plays smart, disciplined, assignment football and is always in position to make plays against the run. What makes Perryman such an intriguing prospect is how well he combines his football intelligence with his aggressive and physical style of play. Perryman can read and react to plays quickly and is a consistent finisher. He flows well to the football, sees windows and closes them in a hurry.

Perryman has a “true nose” for the football and takes smart routes to the ball while he makes his share of impact plays against the run. He is an excellent, secure wrap-up tackler who rarely misses the opportunity to bring down a ball carrier.


With a head of steam, Perryman can be extremely powerful when it comes to hitting an offensive lineman and especially against running backs staying in for blocks.  He is strong enough where he can potentially knock a blocker in to the quarterback or simply treat them as a speed bump.  Better hand use would enable him to shed more quickly and be a bigger threat and allow him to finish more plays with better success.

One area where Perryman does a great job is trying to knock down passes.  He not only is consistent when it comes to putting his arms up to try to deflect passes but he reads the quarterback’s eyes and at least obstruct his view if not get in the way to knock down the pass.

System Fit

• 4-3 Middle Linebacker
  

There is no question that Perryman does his best work when he has a defensive line in front of him that can keep the offensive line occupied and allow him to fly around and make plays.  Athletically, he has the tools to do the job and could potentially help a team on every down.  This seems like the best situation for him, but he needs to improve to convince an NFL team they can play him there.

• 4-3 Weak Side Linebacker
  

This is the position that Perryman started his career playing in college.  He would be an asset in terms of making plays in space against the run, but so far, questions with his ability to make plays on the football could make this problematic for him on an every down basis.

• 3-4 Weak Inside Linebacker
  

The fact that Perryman can be hit or miss when it comes to taking on and shedding blocks makes this the most precarious situation for him.  If he can get better or he goes to a team that can keep him clean, he would be in a great situation as far as the amount of ground he would need to cover and his potential impact on the blitz. Still if he has a good partner  at strong side ILB it may not be as risky.


Overall

Perryman is still the most complete ILB on tape I have seen. He will start a ton of games and get the job done. My choice at ILB in Green Bay if he is on the board and available.

Johnny 3rd String: Could The Packers Trade For Johnny Football ?

Multiple sources have reported that the Packers were recently interested in Darrell Revis during this years free agency period.  I came up with an even crazier plan B that Ted Thompson can use if he still wants to make a splash. Johnny 3rd string.

Ted Thompson loves developing quarterbacks. I think Jonny Manziel's unique skill set would make him the perfect candidate. The Packers veteran locker room would eliminate the behavioral problems. I think it's a low risk high reward plan.

My Thoughts On Todays Brewers Win 3/11/15 Brewers 5- Rockies- 3

I think that pitching is the backbone of every playoff contender. Brewers starter Willy Peralta dominated opposing hitters during todays spring training game. The right hander pitched three shutout innings and only gave up one hit.       

Colorado's pair of home runs prove that 2014's third best offense is still potent. 

  I'm impressed by Milwaukee's ability to snap the red hot Rockies six game winning streak.    

Wolverines and Badgers Tip Off Tomorrow At 11 AM

Don't miss this exciting Big 10 conference tournament game.

The game will be broadcasted on ESPN and ESPN3.

Five Packers Offseason Moves You Missed

5.  Young Packers running back DuJuan Harris was let go.

4. Pivotal special teams player Chris Banjo's exclusive-rights were retained.    


3. Back up QB Scott Tolzien was resigned.

2. The Packers extended tender to offensive tackle Don Barcla

1. The Packers extended tender to safety Sean Richardson.

My Thoughts On Todays Brewers Win 3/11/15 6-3

 Louis Jimeneze made a huge statement. I think the potential utility man has a shot at locking up a roster spot.

 Garza went 8-8 last season. Todays performance could be a step in the right direction.


 Milwaukee won their second game in a row after losing their first five how far can their new momentum take them  ?

Badgers Will Battle Mysterious Conference Opponent on Friday

The good news is that the Badgers Mens Basketball program was recently awarded the top seed in the Big 10 tournament. 

The bad news is the Badgers were awarded the top seed in the Big 10 tournament and won't play their mystery opponent until Friday. How will you kill time until the big game ?    

Brewers Snap 5 Game Skid.

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds today ending their horrendous 5 game postseason skid.

Milwaukee won 13 spring training games last season.      

Bulaga's Back: Packers Resign Pivotal Offensive Tackle.

Bulaga is one of the main reasons why Aaron Rodgers has so much time to throw in this highlight video. Resigning the former Hawkeye enables the Packers to bring back last seasons consistent O line. I think the 2015-2016 season is dependent on the success of the offensive line.

ESPN broke down the status of the new deal.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12455395/bryan-bulaga-plans-re-sign-green-bay-packers

The USC Effect: Does Wisconsin Need The Bucks ?

The success of USC and more recently UCLA football is arguably the main reason why LA has remained with out an NFL team for so long. Why pay for a new stadium and support a new local pro football team if your local college team/ teams are dominating the competition annually ?

The Badgers mens basketball program's success continues to overshadowed the struggling Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise placing Wisconsin in a potential similar scenario. 

                                                 

I think Wisconsin wins even if the Bucks relocate due to the Badgers success on the hardwood. Do you agree ? 

Packers Reward Cobb With 4 Year Deal: My Thoughts

The Green Bay Packers traditionally avoid making a splash in free agency. Green Bay just announced that they rewarded star wide receiver Randall Cobb with a 4 year 40 million dollar a deal contract.   I like the move why.  

The Packers initially drafted Cobb in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft and signed him to a 4 year entry level contract. At the time that was a huge bargain. SportsTrac.com broke down the contract. http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/randall-cobb/ 

Cobb is a versatile system player built for the Green Bay Packers offensive system.

The Packers already have Rodgers and Nelson signed to long term contracts, why not resign Cobb and attempt another Super Bowl run ? 

3 Wisconsin Sports Headlines You Missed

The Milwaukee Bucks will retire Bobby Dandridge's number tonight.

According to SI One of the sausage race competitors wiped out.
http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/03/06/milwaukee-brewers-sausage-race-hot-dog

The Badgers win the Big 10 Mens Basketball championship.

Packer Draft 2015 Prospects ~ Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

                                                             

                          Today we take a look at UCLA inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. He was a very productive player in college as he had over 100 tackles in all three of his years as a starter. He closed out his college career with a bang with 136 tackles and three interceptions including one he ran back for a touchdown.

For his efforts, he won the Lott Impact Trophy for college football’s outstanding defensive player. He also won the Dick Butkus Award for college football’s most outstanding linebacker. Let's see what the scout's and draft Guru's have to say about him.

Strengths: Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBSSports said of Kendricks’ strengths, “Like his brother Mychal, (Eagles) Eric is instinctive, aggressive and a considerably more explosive hitter than his frame would suggest. He closes quickly and with force, leading to some emphatic take-downs. Kenricks’ athleticism and awareness makes him effective in coverage.”

 Lance Zlerlein of NFL.com said of his strengths, “Confident with a downhill, attacking mindset. Good feet to slide, follow and burst to developing run plays. Can turn and chase sideline to sideline. Diagnoses quickly and attacks the run fits while avoiding blockers. Outstanding changing hips and changing direction. Exhibits good play speed and is able to cover man-to-man in space.”

Weaknesses: Rang and Brugler said of his weaknesses, “Scouts want to see him improve in coverage as he tends to be too hands-on and he needs more control of his momentum on tackle attempts to better bread down.”

Zlerlein said of his weaknesses, “Despite the high tackling numbers, doesn’t meet the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage as much as he could. Can use more weight on his frame. Will drop his head at times when meeting the ball carrier in the hole. Wasn’t much of a factor as a blitzer.

Can Kendricks fit in GB you ask ? It's clear the Packers need an ILB in this scheme, I'm not sure if a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker  is the perfect fit but he flies around making plays and can cover which is something we don't have now. Kendricks is a great prospect for GB in the late first or as a trade back target early second round. 

Badgers Mens Basketball Program Wins The Big 10 Title: My Thoughts.

The Badgers recently beat a Minnesota Gophers squad that has struggled in conference play throughout the season. The victory gave Wisconsin full control of the Big 10 title. Here are few of my thoughts on the accomplishment.

According to http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/teams/rpi/WISC/wisconsin-badgers the Badgers lost to the two top ten opponents they faced this year. Wisconsin still needs to prove themselves.




Wisconsin's victory enables them to regain the momentum it loss after being upset by Maryland earlier this season.

I think focusing on the accomplishment too much will hinder the Badgers chances at another deep March Madness run.

Packer Draft 2015 Prospects ~ Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips

We kick off our draft preview by looking at defensive players, today DT Jordan Phillips whom is projected to be there by a couple of draft gurus.

Positives:

Phillips has rare size for his position, but wears his weight well and looks and plays much lighter than his weight would suggest.  He moves well, with a good first step, and has surprising quickness and agility.  In the running game, Phillips has great strength and  maintains his position, even when he is double teamed.  On pass plays he gets excellent penetration, collapsing the pocket from the inside, and forcing Quarterbacks to either get rid of the ball or scramble out of the pocket.  Phillips is not just a space eater; he is athletic and has a couple of nice pass rush moves, including a great swim move, which I highlighted in the play below.

Jordan Phillips vs Tennessee (2014)



Negatives:

As a red shirt sophomore, Phillips is young and inexperienced, especially considering he missed most of last year due to a back injury.  One thing I noticed on film was that even though he does a great job getting pressure, he does not finish the play.  This is due to a couple of different reasons.  One is that he doesn’t keep his head up and his eyes on the ball.  Another  is he struggles to disengage from blockers.  His height for the position is also sometimes a detriment.  Smaller Centers are able to win the battle of leverage and he tends to bend at the waist as games go on.  In the play below, you see Phillips get decent penetration on the run play, but then he cannot disengage from the Center, which allows the running back to run by him.

Jordan Phillips vs Texas Christian (2014)



Overall:

Phillips is an intriguing player.  Right now, he is raw but has only just scratched the surface of his potential.  I envision him as a player who could make in impact from the DT position as both a run stuffer and a pass disruptor.  He probably won’t put up big numbers that jump off the stat sheet, but his ability to collapse the pocket could be a valuable asset.  He needs to work on his play awareness and technique but the physical tools are there. I believe he can be put in a rotation in GB on DL and is an upgrade over Raji or Guion.

The Brewers School UW Wisconsin Millwakuee in Exhibition Game

The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee got schooled by the local pros today. The Brewers produced eight runs including multiple 2 run innings. The Brewers faced a college team for the first time since 1998. I like the concept and think more MLB teams should adopt it.

You can read a recap of the exhibition game on the official Fox Sports Wisconsin blog http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/milwaukee-brewers-blank-wisconsin-milwaukee-panthers-8-0-030415   .

The Milwaukee Brewers  tweeted a video of Kris Davis's two run single. 

pic.twitter.com/zROW0iZiDA

   

Ready For War: Badgers Set To Battle Sparty On Opposing Ice.

The Wisconsin Badgers and The Michigan State Spartans are preparing for war.

March 6th and 7th present a  tough challenges for the struggling mens Badgers Hockey program. Last place Wisconsin must survive both games in East Lansing if they want a shot at the Big 10 championship. The Badgers swept Sparty last season can they do it again ?

Milwaukee Needs To Learn From Seattle If It Wants To Prevent History From Repeating It's Self.

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentential recently published an article regarding the proposed downtown Milwaukee arena plan. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/arena03-b99454436z1-294697751.html . The article failed to point out how similar the progress of the current situation is to what happened in Seattle. If your unfamiliar with what happened in Seattle I recommend watching the documentary Sonicsgate. Here are a couple of key similarities.


Seattle also acquired a potential superstar via the draft with the second overall pick amidst potential arena problems.

                                    

  New owners promised to keep the Sonics in Seattle. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2522944  New owners are promising to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee.  http://www.jrn.com/wtmj/wi-sports/Report-Bucks-owner-to-sell-to-New-York-based-billionaires-255507031.html .

The fact that both historic franchises won their only ring in the 70's is arguably the biggest warning sign.