Q&A - Actual Questions From Actual Followers

It's been a while since I've posted here. It's actually been so long that blogger our proprietary blogging engine has changed to the point I'm not sure how to work it anymore. I think it's supposed to make things easier, but I, like the rest of America, freak out whenever there is a change (I'm looking at you Facebook, stop making your site easier to use....I have to take 30 seconds of my day to figure it out).  Anyways, so I'm taking the cop out post, by having you, the faithful readers give me topics to write about. 

I've tried this in the past, and I've learned that using the word "faithful" for our readers is a bit generous, as I always end up answering my own questions. This time though, we had some friends answer the call.  I'd like to make this more of a regular item, so please feel free to tweet us your questions at @WI_SportsTap

JimMacho - Why was Yuni B chosen as the whipping boy by the fans before the season started?

Diddy - Well, let me just take a look at Yuni's WAR....I'm just kidding. I take the Vietnam Era approach to WAR, which is that it is good for absolutely nothing.  I could take a look at his numbers throughout the year, and say the preseason concerns are valid, but the question is about "before the season started", and you're 100% right. People were on him before he ever put on the Brewers uniform.  So to answer your question, I have a couple of thoughts.  The first is that it has more to do with not being able to pronounce his name. I mean, we just figure out how to pronounce "Alcides", then WHAM, Yuniesky Betancourt...unfair.

The second thought is, Brewer fans need something to complain about at all times. Doug Melvin had just traded a top prospect in Lorenzo Cain and a rookie SS with a high ceiling in Escobar, both largely unproven, for two years worth of a Cy Young pitcher.  Let me repeat....prospects for a proven pitcher. It was a slam dunk, and most people agreed.  The problem, we got Yuni, who once was a top prospect that just hasn't matured as a hitter or a defender. Since Yuni and his subpar performances replaced a player who many had high hopes for (who in turn had replaced a fan favorite in Hardy), he didn't stand a chance to, well, be given a chance.

Lange - I like to blame the fact that he is a pretty terrible baseball player.  Coming into 2011, he hadn't hit higher than .259 since 2008, he had never walked more than 23 times in a season and was coming off a career power year in which he hit a whopping 16 home runs (which was nearly double his previous high).  This year alone he has walked less times than Mark Kotsay and Craig Counsell, both bench players.  In nearly 300 less at-bats, Carlos Gomez sits one walk behind him.  CARLOS GOMEZ! Imagine that, even Gomez is more impatient than Betancourt.

Betancourt was the whipping boy because he is a bad player who was a thrown-in on a trade that saw Milwaukee give up four top prospects for two players.  But really it was for just one player, a four for one, that's how terrible he is.

TheRealDohr - If the season ended today, whom would be the MVP of the Brewers? Braun or Fielder?

Diddy - I think the actual question here is whether or not you used the word "whom" correctly.  My answer, is: I don't really know. Another question is, I don't know for sure if you really are the "Real Dohr", you're account isn't verified, so, I'm on to you.

But, kidding aside, had I answered this last week when you initially asked it, I would've told you Prince Fielder would finish higher in the NL MVP race, but that Braun would win the Brewers MVP award.  Since then, Fielder's production has diminished, and since the race between the two is so tight, I now say Braun leads Fielder in NL MVP, and still wins the Brewers MVP.

Lange - Let's think outside the box for a moment and choose the player who was most consistent, most effective and more reliable than anyone else all season long - John Axford.  The player who, aside from two games in April, has dominated.  Axford is a stabilizing force at the back end of the bullpen, a dominant closer (81 strikeouts in 68.2 innings) and a very strong case can be made for him as this team's MVP.

But no, it's Ryan Braun.

pugbomb1 - Why does everyone assume Prince won't be back with the Brewers?

Diddy  - Because assuming makes an ass out of you.......or, there are about 200 million+ reasons why. Paying Fielder the free agency money he'll get, would severely handcuff the Brewers for future growth.

Lange - What Fielder has done this season is establish himself as the best option for a team looking to throw big money at a slugging first baseman.  Whatever contract Albert Pujols gets this offseason is going to be an albatross for the team he signs with.  Pujols is 31 and wants a 10 year deal, he's going to be costing a team a lot of money in his declining years - ask the Cubs how that's worked with Alfonso Soriano.

Meanwhile Prince is only 27 years old, if you sign him now you will most likely getting his best years.

JimMacho -  What's more tolerable, a Brewers/Bears fan or Packers/Cubs fan?

Diddy - Wow, that's a good question. I think to be a Brewers/Bears fan is a much more rare thing than Packers/Cubs. It's easy to be a Packers/Cubs, they are two national fan bases who got lots of media coverage in the Pre-ESPN world.  Because of the larger fan bases, you get fans who are fans just because it's what is expected of them. This creates a lot of insufferable opinions and thoughts from people who think they know everything, when they clearly do not. Yes, I as a Packer fan, am saying there are a lot of insufferable Packer fans out there (I'm looking at every single "Packer fan" who supported Favre on the Vikings). When you are one of "America's Teams", that's bound to happen.

So, that makes Brewers/Bears fans more tolerable. It has been my experience that Bears fans are fairly knowledgeable about football, and it is of course my thought that Brewers fans, while fickle, are well rehearsed on the game of baseball.

Every team has their good fans and bad fans....as long as I can have a logical conversation with someone, any fan is tolerable. That's the beauty of sports, we like different teams.

Lange  - They're all crimes against nature. Lousy FIBs.

pugbomb1 and how about you answer the only two questions you've received.

Diddy - I wasn't sure if this was a question or not, as it had no question mark. So, I'll just share your statement with the world.

JimMacho - If the Brewers get by Atl and Philly (or Arizona) and made the World Series, do you think they'd have a chance against the AL?

 Diddy  - It might be a little cliche, but it is my firm belief that anyone in the playoffs has a chance against anyone. It's usually about who's hot. On paper, I think the AL stands a better chance. But, if the game was played on paper, there wouldn't have been a Rangers vs Giants World Series in 2010.  I will say this....I am traveling to Las Vegas, NV in about a week and a half. There, I can legally gamble, and I will be placing a bet for a Brewers World Series win.

Lange -

pugbomb1 Do you think UWW can three peat this year or even make it back to the Championship game for a seventh straight time.

Diddy - I hope we don't have to pay Phil Jackson royalties for you using the term "Threepeat".  As a fellow UW-Whitewater alum who doesn't feel like looking into rosters and stats this season, but do know that they are ranked #1, my answer is a resounding, ABSOLUTELY! Warhawks will win it all for the thrice time in a row!

Lange - In a word: Yes.  The program that UWW has built halfway between Madison and Milwaukee is incredible.  It's a testament to the athletic program, the coaching staff and of course longtime Warhawk coach Bob Berezowitz.  He started this run in the middle 2000s with future NFL draft pick Derek Stanley and running back Justin Beaver.  It's fun to watch your Alma Mater play for the title every year, more fun to watch them win.

That was fun, and I even got to properly use the word "thrice". Please send us some more of your questions. Perhaps we can get a few more people to participate!