Pardon the absence of a column last week. I was busy doing stomach-stretching exercises for Thanksgiving and standing in line for my new Wii Fit.
So two weeks ago, on the heels of Green Bay’s dominating win against Chicago, the headline on this column asked, “Is the Pack back?”
Since then, the Packers have followed up a Monday-night bender in New Orleans with Sunday’s come-from-ahead loss to Carolina. And the upshot is this: They’re down for the count, two games behind Minnesota with four to play, and a game behind Chicago to boot.
Theoretically, the Packers could win their final four games. None of their remaining opponents have a winning record. One of them (hello Detroit) is historically bad. The others – Houston, Jacksonville and Chicago – aren’t particularly dangerous or awe-inspiring.
But can’t you say the exact same thing about Green Bay now? What exactly is there to fear about the Packers these days? The passing game? Pressure the offensive line with a soft breeze and it scatters like snowflakes. Pass defense? Once a cornerstone of the team, it was woefully exposed against New Orleans and at the end of the Carolina game when Green Bay needed it most.
And let’s not even talk about the rushing offense and defense, particularly of the goal-line variety. My Thanksgiving meal is still digesting.
This has become a lost season, not because Brett Favre left, but because the guys who stayed haven’t done the job. Green Bay needs a miracle to make the playoffs, but God probably has more important things on his mind.
Belated Thanksgivings
Let’s face facts: It’s not the easiest of holiday seasons. The economy, officially, looks worse than the Lions. “Deal or No Deal” is still showing up on American TVs. And both political parties have their heavy crosses to bear – Republicans who are still wondering how it all went so wrong and Democrats who still have to root for Al Franken.
But narrow your focus to the Milwaukee sports scene, and the mood brightens. There’s been a cornucopia of good this year, and as a Milwaukee sports fan, you should be thankful that:
1) Brett Favre was honest enough to finally admit he was only out for revenge against the Green Bay Packers earlier this year, and that he’s apparently moved past it. Maybe some Packers fans can follow his lead.
2) Aaron Rodgers is playing as well as Favre, and by some measures, even better.
3) You need endure only two more months of Favre/Rodgers comparisons. At least until next season.
4) You indeed lived long enough to see the Milwaukee Brewers return to the playoffs.
5) You’ll probably live long enough to see it again, considering that Ryan Braun is signed through 2015.
6) There’s still time for Prince Fielder to change his agent from Scott Boras to someone more reasonable. Like Darth Vader.
7) The Milwaukee Wave, most successful professional sports franchise in this city’s history, hasn’t been washed away. Season starts Dec. 13.
8) College basketball at Marquette and UWM is in great hands. Mark my words, Buzz Williams will be a coaching star – the kind who’s always getting mentioned as a candidate for high-profile jobs. Marquette women’s maestro Terri Mitchell will pass Al McGuire as the school’s winningest hoops coach. Sandy Botham just reached 200 wins with the UWM women. And Rob Jeter is exactly the kind of grinder, and father figure, that the UWM men need.
9) The Bucks have at least a 45 percent chance to make the NBA playoffs. So says stats guru John Hollinger.
10) The Admirals’ playoff chances would seem somewhat higher.
11) And no matter what happens, remember that half a season of Sabathia is better than none.
A Modest Proposal
It’s been relatively quiet over in Brewers land. Seems nobody wants to disturb CC Sabathia’s meditative mulling of $100 million-plus offers, and you can’t blame ’em. But after Sabathia signs with the California Angels, the hot stove should heat up again. Here’s my two cents worth of butane.
The Milwaukee Brewers need starting pitching. The Milwaukee Brewers have too many right-handed hitters.
The Tampa Bay Rays have starting pitching. The Tampa Bay Rays need right-handed power.
You don’t need eHarmony to make this match. Especially for teams that have cut deals twice in the past two seasons (former Brewers Gabe Gross and Grant Balfour both helped with Tampa’s World Series run).
Tampa is dangling pitchers Andy Sonnanstine and/or Edwin Jackson, reportedly trying to hook teams like the Mets and the White Sox. There’s no word of any conversations with the Brewers, but perhaps there should be.
Would Tampa have interest in players like Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks or Bill Hall? It seems likely. Tampa’s right field situation is unsettled, so why wouldn’t they want to fill it with a young All-Star like Hart? And current second baseman Akinori Iwamura is just an average player whose contract expires after the 2009 season, so the perennially potential-laden Weeks would fit, as would Hall.
The Brewers can afford to move those players because there are youngsters to take their place. Minor-league infielder Alcides Escobar is ready for the bigs, which is why J.J. Hardy is talked about as trade bait. But free up second base and you can keep them both. And minor-league slugger Mat Gamel’s poor defense at third will likely force his move to a corner outfield spot, a-la Ryan Braun. He’d go a long way toward easing the blow of trading Hart.
And to stay competitive, the Brewers will have to trade somebody to rebuild their pitching staff. This is a perfect opportunity to acquire young pitching that’s good and, equally important, cheap. Jackson has shown plenty of potential, but I’m more familiar with Sonnanstine, having covered him as a minor-leaguer. He’s one of the smartest, control-savvy pitchers I’ve ever seen. He has to be as a 13th-round draft pick with average stuff. But all he’s done is win, as Tampa manager Joe Maddon will tell you. And I’m not the only one who thinks he’s similar to a young Greg Maddux.
Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin, besides being a good interview, has built his career on under-the-radar moves that pay off later. Here’s a perfect chance to add another to the resumé. (And Doug, while you’re at it, see if the Rays’ will throw in center fielder Fernando Perez, who’s faster than this guy. He’s the leadoff hitter you’ve been waiting for.)
And finally…
While you’re saying those prayers for the Pack, save one for Paul Zimmerman, aka Dr. Z from Sports Illustrated. The eminent NFL scribe suffered two strokes a week ago, and his colleague Peter King brings us up to speed.
Tune in every Tuesday morning during the 6 o’clock hour when I join Doug Russell and Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM for Tuesdays with Howie. You can also find the segments in their Audio Vault. And don’t forget to check out our new fitness column, Training with Tim.
