"25 Brewers in 25 Days" - 2012 - The Offense

Oh no! Prince Fielder is gone! He left us! He left us! But that's not what I'm going to do. I suppose by those words that would make Prince Fielder Dr. Ian Malcolm and Ryan Braun would be Dr. Alan Grant. Which one would you rather have when facing off against a giant Tyrannosaurs Rex or a pack of viscous Velociraptors? I'm pretty sure that everyone here will agree with me when I say that I feel more comfortable following the "Dinosaur Man" into replicated jungles of the Jurassic era than the foremost expert on Chaos Theory. You're probably questioning my decision right now because I have made it pretty well known that I dislike Ryan Braun and I have often called Prince Fielder my "Brother from another Mother." Well guess what - Prince is gone. Deal with it. Like it or not Braun now becomes the face of the the Milwaukee Brewers offense and he will be counted on to produce in 2012 just like he did in 2011 which saw him win the National League MVP. Sure there will be some other guys around him to help out scoring runs, but is there another batter that you fear in the lineup? Some will say that Aramis Ramirez is old and past his prime and although Rickie Weeks looks like the Predator monster he can't stay healthy for a full season, so why should they intimidate you? They are going to have to do that if the Brewers hope to find some success on the offensive side in 2012. It's going to take a team effort with everyone pulling their weight in order for the casual fan to have faith in the offense this year.

Even though Braun, Hart, Ramirez and Weeks are each capable of hitting 20-30 homeruns, let's face it - this is no longer a homerun hitting team. They will have to rely more on their team speed and the ability to move runners over. They are going to be more of a doubles team, especially with hitters like Nyjer Morgan and Norichika Aoki in the lineup. They are still going to score a lot of runs if Braun, Hart and Weeks stay healthy, but if you come to the ballpark expecting Bernie to slide down 2-3 times a game you will be disappointed. You wouldn't think that losing just one player would have that kind of an impact but the entire lineup gets pitched differently without the big man in the middle. But there are so many wildcards that could make or break the offense such as Mat Gamel's ability to succeed in the Major Leagues and ditch the AAAA-player status, how Braun will respond following the failed drug test and subsequent overturning of the 50-game suspension and how Norichika Aoki will adapt to American baseball, whether or not Aramis Ramirez has anything left in the tank, if Corey Hart has his usual even year All-Star calibur performance and several more that I'm sure will come up in the player previews below. 

Mat Gamel

Preseason Prediction: .271 batting avg, 18 HRs, 63 RBIs, better range and defense at 1st base than Prince Fielder and putting his Nashville Apartment up for rent

Mat Gamel has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. In 7 seasons at varying levels he has compiled a stat sheet that looks pretty stellar - .304 batting avg, 105 HRs and 503 RBIs. But how will that translate to the Major Leagues? That's one of the biggest questions about the 2012 Brewers Offense. He only has 171 at bats in the majors and it's nothing to write home about - .222 avg, 5 HRs and 23 RBIs. That's mostly because he hasn't gotten regular playing time and when he did have a chance to make an Opening Day roster he was always injured in Spring Training. But with the departure of Fielder 1st base became his, and not even his to lose! That's because there just aren't any other options over there. Add to the fact that Gamel is out of minor league options (allowing any team to claim him on waivers should the Brewers try to send him to the minors) means that he will be the 1st baseman for the entire year unless he is God awful. But I don't think that he will be. He has too much talent to fail and he is better defensively than most people say he is. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he just has to stand there and catch the ball and the only person that he has to throw the ball to is the pitcher after recording the out but still, he's going to be just fine. No one can fill the shoes of Prince Fielder, but if anyone is going to give it a try it might as well be Mat Gamel. It's time for this heavily lauded prospect to shine. And if all goes right he will be in Milwaukee for many years to come and he can sever all of his Nashville ties. So if you are looking for an apartment give him a call.

Rickie Weeks

Preseason Prediction: .268 batting avg, 24 HRs, 58 RBIs, .355 OBP (On Base Percentage), 90 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and continue to be the quiet clubhouse leader

I'm not high on the gonj man. I'm actually being pretty realistic for once. That's because I'm normally pretty high on Rickie Weeks because he's my favorite player and has been since Bill Hall no longer wins games. I would like to put Rickie Weeks with a higher average, more homeruns and more RBIs but I just don't see him doing it because he'll probably bat leadoff once again. I'm basing my predictions on the fact that he won't get a whole lot of chances to drive in runs. That makes a huge difference because when you are batting leadoff you have two goals - get on base and score runs. Any homeruns you hit or runs you drive in is icing on the cake. I wish that he could bat fifth so that they could take advantage of his power but the reality is that he is the best leadoff hitter on the team. Certainly better than the next best available player Corey Hart, who also doesn't fit into that role. But someone has to go #1. You can't just go #2 all the time. Because that would be a lot of time wasted reading magazines. Behind Ryan Braun, Weeks is the most important player on the offense because he will set the tone for the inning in which he bats. Braun and Ramirez need to have guys on base if they are going to drive them in, and that is something that Weeks has excelled at. Whether it is taking a walk, running out a ground ball or getting hit by a pitch - Weeks will get on base. You can count on that. He won't have another All-Star year but I can guarantee you that he will be an important factor in the offense's success. And since he is probably the longest tenured player on the team (he's been a regular since 2005) he commands a lot of respect. He probably doesn't say much, but he's one of those lead by example type who plays hard everyday and puts forth max effort. He's my Brewers man-crush.

Alex Gonzalez

Preseason Prediction: .240 batting avg, 18HRs, 62 RBIs, .285 OBP and slick defense that will make you forget all about Yuni B

Offensively Alex Gonzalez isn't going to be any better than Yuniesky Betancourt. In fact, he will be almost exactly the same. Look for him to almost always swing at the first pitch and rarely ever take a walk. It will be extremely frustrating at times but at least he will hit a couple of homeruns and drive in some runs. But at least we got used to it last year with Yuni B so the transition should be pretty seamless. So why did they sign Gonzalez instead of just bringing back Yuni B for another year? It's because Gonzalez brings a much better arm and glove to the field and should improve the defense. In 2011 Gonzalez had 12 errors while Yuni B committed an unacceptable 21 errors. Right there you're saving a handful of runs if not a couple of games. Pitching and defense wins games so if you've improved defense and brought back the same pitching staff, you have to be a better team, right? Look I got nothing against Gonzalez. But I have nothing for him either. The problem is that there is no future shortstop in the minor leagues who can take over for the long haul so get used to these yearly replacements. I just hope he's as good defensively as everyone says that he is. I don't think I can handle another year of limited range and defensive liability. A mannequin could play better defense than Yuni B, and I hear they can even rob liquor stores. But we're not putting a faceless, current fashion-wearing drone out there this year, we've got Gonzalez. And heaven help us if he's as bad as a mannequin or even worse, Yuni B.

Aramis Ramirez

Preseason Prediction: .289 batting avg, 29 HRs, 90 RBIs, .354 OBP, better defense than Casey McGehee and hated rival to celebrated hero just by changing the name on the front of his shirt

It's funny how you can have one opinion about a guy and the next year it's totally flipped. Former Chicago Cubs 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez is a great example of that. When he was with the North Siders in the Neighborhood Dump I couldn't stand the guy mostly because he was on the other team but also because he was one of those "Brewers Killers" that seemingly hit .600 against us every year. So I hated Aramis Ramirez because he was good. But that same reason is why I loved when Doug Melvin signed him to a 3-year contract. Over the last 8 seasons with the Cubs he has proved to be one of the most consistent hitters in the game as well as being a run producer. Knowing that Prince Fielder would sign with another team, Melvin wasted no time signing another cleanup hitter to pick up the slack in what would be the nail in the coffin on the "Maybe Fielder is going to resign with the Brewers" nonsensical talk that was going on in the offseason. In Ramirez we get a guy who is going to hit for average and power and will help anchor the middle of the lineup. Paired with Ryan Braun in the heart of the lineup, this duo should have no problems knocking in some runs providing people get on base in front of them. Some people might argue that at 33 years of age is best years are behind him and I'm not going to dispute that. I don't expect him to hit 38 homeruns and drive in 119 runs like he did in back in 2006. But I do expect him to hit right around his career averages if not a little better since he is playing half of his games at hitter friendly and roof covered Miller Park. The one knock on him was that he was a slow starter at the beginning of the season. A lot of that might have had to do with the cold and windy conditions at Wrigley Field and their antiquated clubhouses and training facilities. I wouldn't expect anyone to perform well there when it's 40 degrees and misty. But the real question is how he will do in 2012 and beyond and if he is reading and willing to step up and provide some protection behind Braun. As much as we need Rickie Weeks to get on base and Ryan Braun to perform like an MVP, we also really need Ramirez to drive in runs. I'm a believer that Aramis is the guy and I look forward to seeing what he will do in a Brewers uniform so that I will have no issues with cheering for the guy. I always liked him and respected him as a player, but it goes against everything I believe in to cheer for someone on the Cubs. Now's my chance. You better bring it Ramirez!

Ryan Braun

Preseason Prediction: .299 batting average, 28 HRs, 105 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, 145 games played and bothered by more distractions than a kid with Attention Deficit Disorder

It's been well documented that I don't care for Ryan Braun and I'm sick of talking about him. People know that I'm a Brewers fan so everyone from my Mom's Church friends to the cashier at the supermarket bring it up when they chat with me. I guess that it doesn't help that I wear team apparel every day. One could say I brought it on myself. During the months of November to February (also known as the offseason) the two biggest Brewers stories were Prince Fielder's free agency and Ryan Braun's positive test for a banned substance and subsequent successful appeal which led to the overturning of a possible 50-game suspension. Both stories had been talked about ad nauseam and everyone, even the non-fans had their own opinion on both. I'm near the point of vomiting just thinking about it so I'm going to get this over with my stating my opinion on both. Everyone (except the idiots) knew Prince was going to sign with another team because a small market team like the Brewers simply couldn't afford to pay him $214 million over 9 years. That's just the business of baseball folks. And Ryan Braun took something that caused him to fail a drug test. Whether it was something that he did on purpose or accident will never be known, nor will we know what it was that elevated his testosterone levels. His legal team was able to win the case by attacking the testing process and procedure including the chain of command with Braun's sample. They never argued or tried to prove that he did not fail the drug test. They just attacked the area in which they knew they could win and get their client off scot-free. And they won, Braun will not have to serve a 50-game suspension. While I will still believe that Braun failed the test and got off on a technicality, I will not argue that having him in the lineup for 162 games instead of 112 games is a good thing for the team. And since I'm all about the name on the front of the jersey instead of the back, I'm going to be ok with it.

I'm mad at myself for typing this much because I doubt any of you pookondotcommies out there will actually read all of this shit. Who has that much time in a day, let alone their week? Apparently I do. Lucky bastard. But Brauny angers me so much that I just can't stop. I can't stand everything about him. From his clothing company to his restaurant, from his bush baby eyes to his long hair last season and from his swagger on and off the field to his pompous attitude. I'm sure there's more but I'm done. Of course I'm going to cheer for what he does on the field because I need the team to win, but I can't project his stats anywhere near what they were last year which caused him to win the National League MVP award. He's going to fall off for a few reasons. He will get pitched differently resulting in him taking more walks. No one wanted to walk him in the last 5 seasons because then they'd have to deal with Prince with runners on base. Now if Aramis Ramirez starts hitting then Brauny might get better pitches, but Aramis is no Prince. So Braun's gonna have to make that adjustment. He also is going to be dealing with adversity for the first time in his career and he will hear the booos echoing loudly when he is on the road. Chants of "steroids" will probably rain down on him and I wouldn't be surprised if he got a fair dose of heckling from the home fans as well, and I'm not just talking from those two loonies in the leftfield bleachers. There have to be some other people out there who aren't happy with him. But his numbers will most likely suffer because of this and some other factors and he will end up having an off year. But when an off year for Brauny is a .300 batting average, 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, you know that he is a pretty good player. Now if only he would stop bitching about those god damn shadows then maybe we could be on speaking terms again. But even if we were I probably wouldn't say shit to him. Screw Ryan Braun.

Nyjer Morgan

Preseason Prediction: .290 batting avg, .342 OBP, 3 HRs, 34 RBIs and at least 5 new Alter Egos to go with his myriad of personalities

Was there another Brewers player as entertaining as Nyjer Morgan? Even though it was all just an act to sell himself as a personality we sure as hell went along for a pretty wild ride with Nyjer Morgan in 2011. Or should I call him Tony Plush, Tony Hush, Tony Clutch, Tony Gumble, Antonio Picante or Tony Tombstone? I'm just going to stick to his birth name if that is ok with you. Morgan has been a distraction in the past on losing teams but fit right in with the Brewers who had their best season in a long time. Fans ate up everything he was dishing up and I'll admit I got caught up in the T-Plush mania that swept the city. But the real question here is can he repeat it for another year? And what happens with his antics should the Brewers start off slow or go through some tough losing streaks? Manager Ron Roenicke has reeled him in in the past (which is where Tony Hush came from) and also figured out how to best take advantage of his talents by using him in a centerfield platoon with Carlos Gomez. Because he is a better hitter than Gomez and is just a step below him in speed and defense, look for Morgan to also start some games in rightfield and get a fair amount of playing time. And if everything goes according to my plan the Brewers will have another successful season and Morgan will continue to be the free spirit that he is and will continue to entertain the fans both on and off the field. AHHHH! THAT'S IT! GOTTA GO!!! AHHHHHHH!

Corey Hart

Preseason Prediction: .287 batting average, 27 HRs, 95 RBIs, .347 OBP, 10 stolen bases and a one year pass from my heckling

I've made it known on this blog on countless occasions that I also don't care for Corey Hart although my disdain for him is a little different than what I have for Ryan Braun because there are some aspects of Hart's on the field actions that I don't care for. I think he strikes out too much and his defense at times looks clumsy, like an awkward gangly kid trying to slow dance with a girl for the first time. But none of that matters because it is an even year. Corey Hart was an All-Star in 2008 and 2010 and put up some pretty good numbers to back up the selection. But 2009 and 2011 weren't banner years for him and I'm looking for the streak of even years to continue because we need production from him in order for the offense to be successful. Like Rickie Weeks, it's tough to predict what Corey Hart will do in 2012 because I don't know where he will bat in the lineup for the majority of the season. Corey has missed all of Spring Training while recovering from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. So I don't even have any information to draw an opinion from. Weeks has bounced around from leadoff to fifth in to try to get comfortable in any spot but I'm guessing he will settle in at leadoff and Corey Hart will bat 5th. Because of that I'm going to say that his homerun and RBI numbers will increase and he will continue the streak of great even years. Now if only someone could teach him how to run back on a ball hit over his head in the outfield or how to time his jump to get said ball then we'd be just fine in rightfield. Then he also needs to learn how to play well in odd years but thankfully we don't have to worry about that until 2013.

Jonathon Lucroy
Preseason Prediction: .275 batting average, 20 HRs, 75 RBIs, 130 games and a new fan favorite

In 2012 Jonathon Lucroy will break out as the offensive player of the year for the Brewers and become a new fan favorite. If people didn't already latch on to this kid last year than they certainly will now and the loud booming cheers of "Luuuuuuuuuuuuc" will engulf the stadium. And he's not going anywhere for the next couple of years folks so if you're looking for a new jersey or t-shirt to buy I suggest going with #20. All of his numbers are going to increase over last year but he still won't reach numbers like Hart or Gamel because he will be batting in the #8 spot in the lineup ahead of the pitcher. I wish that he would be moved to the #6 spot to give him the opportunity to drive in more runs but in the National League clearing the pitcher's spot in the inning and just having the mentality to hit ahead of the pitcher is a rare quality. I'd rather have him hit there and produce something versus having someone like Gonzalez make it a total waste of an at-bat if he were there instead. I just hope that the number 6 and 7 batters (most likely Gamel and Gonzalez) get on base enough so that he can drive in some runs especially because I'm putting him down for 75 RBIs by the time the year is done. I don't know how much you follow baseball outside of the Brewers but that's a pretty high number because the catching position is mostly compromised of players who focus more on their defense, game calling and throwing skills which leaves the offense as a distant 4th. Usually you'll take whatever you can get out of the catcher as long as he does the other things well. That's how a guy like Henry Blanco (a 14-year veteran with a career batting avg of .228) is still in the league. Last year Lucroy didn't breakout offensively because he was still learning at the Major League level as well as learning how to handle 2 new starting pitchers during the season despite not being able to catch them in a Spring Training game because he was out with a broken pinky finger. Since the entire pitching staff (including most of the bullpen) is returning from 2011 he doesn't have to play catch up with any of them and instead can focus more on swinging the bat. That's not to say he will put less emphasis on his game calling skills or defense, because from what I've read he is one of the best at studying and preparing for games. 2012 he will evolve into one incredibly well-rounded catcher and you might as well give him the award for Brewers Team MVP right now because there is no one else on this roster who deserves it more.

Carlos Gomez

Preseason Prediction: .238 batting avg, 7 HRs, 23 RBIs, .288 OBP and the finest defense that you will see down in the valley

I've had it with Carlos Gomez as an everyday player. It's obvious now that the kid has zero plate discipline and still thinks that he is a homerun hitter. Put the ball on the ground and just leg it out pal! If you juts get on base you will probably steal second and score on the next guy's at bat when he singles you home because you are one of the fastest baserunners in the world. There's a reason they call you Go-Go-Gomez. I don't know why I'm addressing him personally (as if he would read this someday soon) but I figure I might as well try getting through to him where many before have failed. But even if he does stumble upon this blog I doubt he will listen because I'm sure all sorts of coaches throughout his entire life have told him the same thing to no avail. Luckily Manager Ron Roenicke is using him in the way he is most likely to succeed - as the right-handed hitting half of a platoon in centerfield with Nyjer Morgan, as a pinch runner and most importantly as a late-inning defensive replacement. That's because he's most known for his speed and his glove, two very big tools when it comes to stealing bases and running down deep fly balls in the outfield. I have no issues with him when it comes to that because he is the best player on the team when it comes to those activities. But his bat usually plays him out of the lineup so he doesn't get a lot of opportunities to steal bases and make highlight reel catches. I expected him to change and fulfill all of his potential. I expected him to contribute in more ways than 2. I expected a lot out of him and I was let down. I'm done being burned by these players and am almost ready to stop putting my faith in individuals because you will always get your heart broken. Players come and go so fast that's it's hard to maintain a connection with them. Remember Gabe Kapler? I loved the guy but he only played one season in Milwaukee. And then we get bums like Gomez and Manny Parra who stick around for 3-4 years because of potential. Oh well. It could be worse. At least Gomez is good at something. But just go out and do that really well and don't complain about playing time. I'm done hearing shit like that from you. Go do your job. That's what I'm paying you for.

Norichika Aoki

Preseason Prediction: .285 batting avg, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs and hopefully as crazy as Tanaka in Major League II so that Bob Uecker can come up with some more insanely funny lines like "So, Hiroshi "Kamikaze" Tanaka, recently of the Tokyo Giants, knocks himself cold for the second time this week. Maybe in Japan, that's actually better than catching the ball. Personally, I think he's just trying to get out of the lineup."

When the Brewers signed Japanese outfielder Nori Aoki to a 3 year contract I was very surprised, because I had read that the Brewers don't scout heavily in Japan and therefor didn't have a lot of firsthand knowledge about him. But after reading about him and reviewing his stats while playing for the Yakult Swallows I think he is the perfect player to counteract the homerun heavy lineup that we have. Solo shots don't win games. You need to have someone on base to turn those into 2 or 3-run homeruns. I would compare Aoki to Nyjer Morgan in the fact that he's not going to hit homeruns, he's got great speed and gold-glove type defense. And in Japan he not only won 6 Gold Gloves but he was also a 7 time All-Star, 2 time batting champion, Rookie of the Year and member of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic Champion Japanese Team and a member of the 2008 Japanese Olympic Baseball Team at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. That's quite an amazing resume and there is no way he could live up to those accomplishments over here in the States. There are exceptions to every rule (Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and what is projected from Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers) but a lot of Japanese players have struggled adapting to the style of baseball played in America. I don't why it's difficult but I know for every resounding success there are a list of players who never panned out. So it will be interesting to see how Aoki performs especially because he will not be a starter and therefor will not see consistent at-bats or playing time. But the good thing is that he can play all 3 outfield spots well and will be the first one off the bench to get a start here and there. I really hope that he gets an opportunity to shine but not at the expense of Braun, Morgan, Gomez or Hart. That really doesn't make any sense but I am intrigued by his style of play and I would like to know more. We'll see what happens over the course of the season but don't be shocked when this little import surprises you.

George Kottaras

Preseason Prediction: .225 batting avg, 6 HRs, 22 RBIs, .300 OBP, 32 games played and the best damn accountant in the entire world

A good backup catcher is hard to find. You can have guys like Chad Moeller, Henry Blanco, Wil Nieves and Gregg Zaun be that guy but none of them are that good. In fact I'd even go so far to say that they all suck. Yes, I understand that Moeller hit for the cycle in 2004 but that's just about the only thing he did in his career. George Kottaras hit for the cycle as well in September 2011 and actually has some similarities with Moeller. Both of them weren't really known for their bat with their batting averages sitting down in the low .200 range. Both of them were used exclusivley to catch one pitcher in the rotation with Moeller being paired up with Ben Sheets and Kottaras with Randy Wolf. But here is the difference and the reason why I'd be comfortable with Kottaras being the everyday catcher whereas Moeller would never get that chance - George has 15 HRs in 421 at bats (1 in every 28 at bats) while Chad had 29 in 1392 at bats (1 in every 48 at bats). Also Kottaras has a career on base percentage of .306 versus Moeller's .288, meaning that he's more likely to take a walk. And there's the fact that George Kottaras and Associates does my taxes every year while managing the money flow and cooking the books of the Pookon Empire as my accountant. That gives him a leg up on anyone else as far as I am concerned. I take care of the people who work with me and for me. But even though I'd be ok with him playing almost every day, I'm still glad that he doesn't because we have a better option in Jonathon Lucroy. But he's the best damn accountant I know. That has to stand for something.

Cesar Izturis

Preseason Prediction: .242 batting avg, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, decent defense at 2nd, 3rd and shortstop and less interesting than a mongoose

I mostly know about Izturis from his time with the Chicago Cubs from 2006-2007 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. They aren't especially happy memories. And not because he beat our skulls in like Aramis Ramirez did but because for the most part he wasn't that good. But that's why he's a backup and a minor-league invite to camp who if he makes the team will command a salary of around the major league minimum. So I don't really have problem with him unless he starts playing on a regular basis because that means Alex Gonzalez is hurt or just abysmal in the field and at the plate. Izturis might get one start a week but will mostly be a pinch hitter off the bench. The only reason that he is even on this team, like Gonzalez, is that we don't have any other options in the minor leagues for the shortstop position. Since he will also backup 3rd and 2nd base he has been spending some time there in Spring Training shaking the dust off. He hasn't so well offensively or defensively so far but we're not counting on him to affect the outcome of the 2012 season. If he does actually give you something, like Mark Kotsay did last year, then you consider that a bonus. But I'll be as happy as a mongoose in a marsh on a hot African summer day if he does something good for the team. But don't count on it because there's as good of a chance for that happening as there is me becoming an African marsh mongoose in my next life.

Brooks Conrad

Preseason Prediction: .224 batting avg, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs, savior of the little starving inner-city orphans one child at a time

I don't know much about switch-hitting utility man Brooks Litchfield Conrad and I don't really care to know more. That's no offense to his wife Jessie or his two wonderful kids Jaxon and Reese. I'm sure they're all proud that he is a graduate of Monte Vista High School in California and attended Arizona State University where he was a First Team All-Pac 10 selection in 2000 and 2001. He had some pretty memorable clutch moments in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the Atlanta Braves including one on May 20, 2010 when he hit a walk-off grand slam against Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero with the Braves trailing the Reds by a score of 9-6. He was a winner that day but if you were to ask his wife she would say that he is a winner everyday. And trust me, she's a nurse so she's a good judge of character as well as being a strong person in the face of adversity. And to Jaxon and Reese he's not only their Dad, he's also a hero. Besides being a Major League baseball player he still finds time to ride bikes with Jaxon and go to Reese's ballet recitals. During the offseason he volunteers at a local Boys and Girls club teaching baseball fundamentals to underprivileged youths and frequently gives back to the community in other ways like donating his time and money. Hell of a guy that Conrad is, and although he is a non-roster invitee he'll probably make the team due to his ability to play all over the diamond (including catcher) as well as the corner outfield positions if needed. Look for him to stay on the roster until something better comes along. At least baseball-wise. Because person-wise, they don't get too much better than Brooks Conrad. The guy is practically a Saint.

Travis Ishikawa

Preseason Prediction: N/A (I'm not going to even bother because even if he makes the Opening Day Roster he probably won't stay there long enough to make an impact on the team)

I laugh at Travis Ishikawa and not because of his baseball abilities. What kind of parents with the last name Ishikawa name their son Travis? What were they trying to have, a hybrid baby? It's like these two middle-eastern kids who went to grade school with Jenny and Timmy. I can't remember their last names but it certainly fit the bill of being from a foreign country. And their first names? One kid was named Dig Vinder and the other one was Steve. Steve!?! Are you kidding me? All that I know about Ishikawa is that he used to play for the San Francisco Giants and that he has a remote chance to make the Opening Day Roster. The Brewers will be going with 13 position players and Ishikawa is the 14th player on this list you just read. I wouldn't have even included him on this list but even if his chance is 1 in a million, I'm still telling you that there's a chance. The only way that he makes the roster is if Corey Hart misses more than a week of the regular season, which isn't looking very likely because his rehab is going better than expected. But why does Corey Hart's injury matter to Travis Ishikawa? That's because Ishikawa has only played first base in the majors and a little bit of outfield in the minors. As you have already seen the Brewers are well stocked in the outfield and Corey Hart is expected to be Mat Gamel's backup at first base. So that really leaves nowhere for him to play. Sorry pal. It's been real. Have fun with your American first name and Japanese last name.

I know that was a lot of shit that I just threw at you and I wouldn't be surprised if it took you a couple of days off and on to read all of that if you even read it at all. I think I managed to make some sense in between all of the dribble but I'll never know because I rarely go back and read my own work after I've spent hours writing all of it. That's why some sentences don't make sense and some words like your and you're are spelled or used incorrectly because spellchecker doesn't pick up on things like that. But basically the summation of this article is that the Brewers offense, despite the loss of the Big man, will be just fine. Of course things could go wrong (knock on wood) but you never go into a season expecting that kind of thing to happen. That's just ludicrous. Be prepared by having quality backup players in both the majors and the minors but hope and pray for the best. These 13 guys will still you one hell of a show at Miller Park this summer but be ready for more station to station baseball and less homeruns and more singles and doubles. You may not like it, Bernie definitely won't like it, but that is what this team needs to do to have great success and repeat as National League Central Champions and more importantly return to the Playoffs. The 2012 Milwaukee Brewers season begins in 12 days. Are you ready? I sure hope so. But make sure you save some of that energy and anticipation for next week as I do my 2012 preview of the Pitching staff, which is the real strength of this team. Feels pretty good to say that, right?

- pookon -

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"25 Brewers in 25 Days" - 2012 - Overall

The 2012 Milwaukee Brewers offense is the aspect of the team that people are the most concerned about for many reasons. And two of those reasons don't really even have to do with the offense. For the first time in as long as I can remember (if not ever) the same 5 Starting Pitchers from 2011 are returning, erasing a lot of doubts that people had about our pitching this year. That's because the 2011 starting pitching was so good that we won a franchise record 96 games last year. That and with a pretty good bullpen (with K-Rod for an entire year) eases the usual "Who follows Gallardo" question that seemingly came up every year before recently. If the starting 5 has the same year as they did last year we should easily win 81+ games even if the offense struggles. But I'm counting on Grienke to improve and Marcum to not fade down the stretch, which should be good for at least 10 wins alone. And even though they lost Saito and Hawkins who were huge in the 6th and 7th innings, they will have Francisco Rodriguez for an entire year as well as a couple guys coming back from injury, like Manny Parra and Zach Braddock, that should give them a solid bullpen and the lefties that they missed last year. Say what you want, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over this pitching staff. As a whole I'd put them in the Top 5 of the National League. So no worries there.

So if there aren't any questions about the pitching, that means the offense must be littered with those quizzical punctuation marks. And all of this is because of the loss of the big slugger Prince Fielder to free agency. I really didn't want to talk about Prince but it is inevitable. So look for his name to pop up periodically throughout these posts because he was undoubtedly their biggest offensive weapon over the last 6 years. So where does that leave the rest of the team? Don't listen to everyone else. They're going to be just fine. They have made some moves to fill in the holes and Manager Ron Roenicke seems to understand what kind of team he has. This is a team that will rely more on speed, manufacturing runs and playing small ball. They lost some homerun power but hopefully Aramis Ramirez and Mat Gamel will combine to replace what was lost when Fielder left the building. I also expect catcher Jonathon Lucroy to improve so generally speaking the team should be pretty balanced from the top to the bottom of the lineup.

One of my favorite things about this "25 Brewers in 25 Days" segment is making all of my preseason predictions so that I can go back at the end of the year and see how well I know my team. I claim to be a fairly confident expert when it comes to the Brewers because I watch them day in and day out, read articles nightly and listen to a ton of sports talk radio to gauge the opinions of the media as well as other fans. From all of that information I'm able to form my own opinions that are more times than not pretty accurate which stems from plenty of observation. So now on to some 2012 overall predictions:

• The Brewers will finish with a 90-72 record, once again winning the NL Central and returning to the Playoffs for the 2nd year in a row
• Cincinnati Reds will finish 2nd, St. Louis Cardinals 3rd, Chicago Cubs 4th, Pittsburgh Pirates 5th and in their last year in the NL Central the Houston Astros will once again finish dead last
• The Brewers will once again easily draw over 3 million fans and flirt with the all-time attendance record
• The Brewers will send 3 players to the All-Star game in Kansas City - Ryan Braun, Zack Greinke and either Corey Hart or John Axford
• Brewers fans will have completely forgotten about Prince Fielder because they will finally come to the realization that pitching and defense win games (not Bill Hall). They will also become more educated on the small ball aspects of the game such as bunting runners over and using the hit and run due to the lack of spectacle of the long ball

I think it's a stretch that they will win 90 games but I'm being overly optimistic because I think that our defense will improve leading to winning more close games. I don't really believe in Cincinnati even though most people are picking them to win the division. Sure they have a good pitching staff but Dusty Baker usually only has one good year with a team (the Reds won the NL Central in 2010) and then they fade. I don't believe in St. Louis even though they won the World Series last year. Losing Albert Pujols will hurt them but not as much as losing Tony LaRussa who most definitely got his team to play above their heads. He's one of the best managers to ever coach the game. And even though they get Adam Wainright back, it now looks like Chris Carpenter will start the season on the DL with no timetable on when he can start pitching again. So they're hurting on offense and pitching. Not a good combo. Chicago is in semi-rebuilding mode under new GM Theo Epstein and new Manager Dale Sveum so they shouldn't really be a threat. Plus they're the Cubs. Pittsburgh always shows some promise but always fades during the 2nd half of the year which kind of sucks. I don't want them to win the division (obviously) but I'd like to see the Pirates have a winning season and end the current 19-year consecutive losing season streak, the longest all time in American professional sports history. At some point you just kind of feel bad for the guys. Houston bottomed out last year with a 56-106 record and I don't see them doing much better in their final year in the NL Central before they move to the AL West in 2013. So that's how I see that shaking out.

 As for me? I'll be joining 3 million other Brewers fans but I'll be in my usual spot in the leftfield bleachers wearing a sombrero until they kick me out. I don't know how many games I will make it to this year as a fan but I will certainly try to get to my fair share in an effort to enjoy this season. I will once again be up on the club level working as an In-Seat Waitstaff for my 10th season. Hard to believe that it has been a decade now. Where does all the time go? It sure has been a fun 10 years with the ups (the 2008 season and seeing Postseason baseball for the first time as I was only 1 year old in 1982) and the downs (losing 106 games in 2002). But nothing compared to winning the NLDS in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 5 last October. That was the best moment I ever witnessed in person and even though we lost in to the St. Louis Cardinals in 6 games of the NLCS, it still was an overwhelmingly successful season. I look forward to another one with hopefully better results. I would love to be at a World Series sometime in my life and can't even imagine how sweet it would be to see my team win one. Here's hoping that 2012 will turn out better than 2011 in more ways than just on the baseball field.

So that's the overall picture for the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers as I see it. Of course things can change due to injury and mid-season trades but this is how I call it 2 weeks before Opening Day, which is Friday April 6th. This season better be fun because I could use a little distraction from my life even if things are becoming easier to deal with as the days go by. But one thing for sure is that you can always catch me hanging out in the leftfield bleachers or in the parking lot wearing a sombrero. I can't promise much else than that because everything else is out of my control. But I do hope that everything does go according to plan because last year was such a fun ride, especially in the months of August-October. To be able to experience that every year would be a dream come true. That's certainly something that we're not used to here in Milwaukee but I'd be ok with that changing. Some change is good and I would welcome that one with open arms and a  hot steaming casserole. You know, just a little "friendly welcome to the neighborhood, hope you like it here and stay a while" gesture. One can dream, right? But I won't have to dream to realize that kind of thing happening to the Milwaukee Brewers because it is now a reality. So wake up people! Fully embrace every game of this season because it's going to be a whole lot of fun. Best buy in now before the price of admission increases. You can't afford that shit to take advantage of the preseason deal they got going on. All that the Brewers ask is your loyalty and commitment. Sign on the dotted line right next to my name and we can all be friends. And sombrero hermanos. You know that you want to.

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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"7 in 7" - Episode 4 - Money Isn't Real George - American Diabetes Association

When I was deciding which charities to choose from a couple of them were no-brainers because they were ones that have personally affected my life in some way. Today's charity is the American Diabetes Association. I don't have diabetes but I might have it someday. But I have a couple of family members that do. My Dad has had it for something like 15 years, being diagnosed when he was in his 40's. And if I remember correctly both of my Grandparents have it so there is some family history. This sort of thing should concern me because diabetes has been shown to be hereditary for it arises in the body because of a genetic defect. I'm no scientist but from what I understand about diabetes is that Wilford Brimley has it. Or at least that's what I learned from watching commercials during The Price is Right. And what do you do if you need home testing equipment? Why contact Liberty Medical of course. They bill Medicare and your insurance; you pay nothing up front. Then they'll deliver it right to your door with no charge for shipping. I learned a lot from the old bastard from Cocoon and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor but apparently I didn't learn more than how to get testing supplies. So what is diabetes? And why should I care?

I'm not going to get all technical because that would involve a lot of research. But here are the basics. It is a group of metabolic diseases that prevents the body from either producing enough insulin or prevents the cells in the body from absorbing it. Insulin is a hormone that regulates carbohydrates and fat in the body and allows the body to use glucose as energy. When someone has diabetes their body cannot break down the glucose properly and it remains in the bloodstream and can lead to complications. You may hear the term "high blood sugar" which is very bad because it can lead to a number of problems such as heart disease, vision deterioration, high blood pressure which can lead to strokes or kidney disease, skin and leg issues which can lead to amputation and a multitude of other things that can arise. Sounds pretty horrible, right? It is pretty horrible but diabetes can easily be controlled if people take the right steps to keeping their blood sugar at normal levels or regulating the amount of insulin in the body.

There are three types of diabetes -  Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. I'm going to focus on Type 2 because that is the kind that my Dad has. For more information on the others feel free to do research on your own. Type 2 diabetes can be regulated with a combination of a healthy diet, exercise and medication. As long as you keep yourself in relatively good shape and eat right, you should have no problem controlling and living with this disease with few complications. The problem is that 25.8 million Americans - 8.3% of the population - are diagnosed with diabetes and it's only getting worse because of the climbing obesity rate and the poor health habits of this country. The ADA estimates that there could be up to 80 million Americans with what they call Prediabetes, which is higher than normal glucose levels but not enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Like it sounds, this is the precursor to diabetes and can be offset by healthy eating and regular exercise. But once you already have Type 2 diabetes there is no cure for it, just a way to manage it for the rest of your life. And that is why the American Diabetes Association raises money for diabetes research so they can one day find a cure. But that is only a portion of what they do. They supply people with the knowledge and medication to fight their disease. They also act on the behalf of all affected parties by representing them in our Country and insure that they are being considered. While this is a bunch a political mumbo jumbo to me, I take it that they do things like making sure children have access to healthy food in the school systems and that the people who don't have a voice in Congress can have someone on their side. Seeing as how diabetes is very troubling (cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America and can be the result of high blood sugar) it needs to be talked about and  always in the discussion when it comes to the general well-being of the population.

All of that was "book" knowledge about diabetes. Funny how I have to put book in quotations these days because I read it all on the internet. Books are becoming obsolete. Sorry about that little departure. Just an observation. All of that medical lingo is over my head and doesn't make it feel real because it is just a statistic. Well my Dad isn't a statistic. He's a person and his name is Michael. For me this thing is personal because I have seen my Dad become weak, get dizzy or become absent minded because of low blood sugar, which is another issue. People with Type 2 Diabetes have to eat on a regular schedule and drink plenty of water, which can be a problem for those who need to stay active to control their illness. I have watched him take handfulls of medicine which help to regulate his disease. I have ridden alongside him in fundraising activities like the Tour for a Cure bicycle ride. I have seen how it affects his life. I have seen what kind of problems it brings and how he has to constantly test his blood sugar and keep it under control. His disease prevents him from eating foods that we love such as ones high in carbs or high in fat. He has to watch his consumption of sweets and tasty things like potatoes and bread. I love toast and french fries more than anything in the world, and knowing that I would have to limit myself would probably make me cry. I can go without the sweets, but you also have to limit the amounts of meats, poultry and butter. This is starting to depress me. Living with diabetes doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun, which is why the search for a cure becomes something that I heavily believe in. For more information and to make a donation of your own please head over to the website - http://www.diabetes.org/

I don't provide my receipts here to show you how much money I am giving away. Believe me, it's not a whole lot. I wish that I could give more. It's my way of being held accountable and putting my money where my mouth is in a way. You read how passionate that I am about these charities so I'm guessing that you would believe me anyway and I wouldn't have to prove it. But it is just something that I have done over the last few days so there is no reason to stop now. While doing research tonight I started getting scared because this is a very real disease that could personally affect me more than it already has. That's because I am at high risk of diabetes due to my obesity and family history. I don't know what I can do because I have already tried getting into a regular workout routine (see my "7 in 7" entry I Want to Look like Jonah Hill by clicking through the Ill Archives on the right) with zero results. I might have been losing weight or at least getting healthier had I kept on going to the gym but I really don't see the point. Even though I've come on here and talked about positively changing my life by changing my attitude and behaviors, I still have so many self-esteem and self-doubt issues that prevent me from seeing the point of all of this. I keep writing about it and in a way I keep doing it, but I don't believe. So I don't try as hard as I could I guess. I don't like to do this but I need help. If you have read any of this "7 in 7" stuff that I have been writing over the last month and a half and if it in any way has made an impression on you let me know. I need some kind of positive reinforcement that I'm doing the right thing. I guess that's just the way that I am. Most people are like that I suppose. I guess I'm just looking for some kind of purpose in this world and some reason why I should continue working at improving. But if I don't hear from you I understand. After all, this reason has to come from within and until I learn how to self-motivate and burst out with confidence I'll be stuck...stuck...stuck. Just like Nikki Baker.

 - pookon - 

www.pookon.com

email: pookondotcom@gmail.com

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"7 in 7" - Episode 4 - Money Isn't Real George - Brewers Community Foundation

Anyone that knows me sees today's charity - The Brewers Community Foundation - as no surprise. That's because they have come to know that the Milwaukee Brewers and Scott "Iceman" Reck have become synonymous with each other. I've been working at Miller Park for SportService for the last 10 years and I love my job. I'm a big Brewers fan and am very appreciative of what they are doing to give back to the community. After all, it is the community that supports the team and has helped to build the ballpark that they play in. The community pays the player's salaries and wears the merchandise. The community is the only reason why the team is still here. Without fan support, the team would have left town years ago. Thankfully they are still here. I wouldn't know what I would do without being able to support my local sports team. As well as being a source of income that I depend on to buy alcohol and take vacations, it is my livelihood for the months of March - October. I was only 13 in 1994 when Major League Baseball went on strike and had better things to do than be sad that there was no professional baseball being played. I was probably at the local park playing baseball myself. But the Brewers Community Foundation goes behind Major League Baseball. They make more of a difference than a bunch of millionaires playing a child's game ever will.

Before you lambaste me for criticizing the players for making all of that money I'll have you know that I was just making a point that helping out others and giving back to the community is more important than baseball. Which is why a lot if not all of the players on the team assist the Brewers Community Foundation in various ways including donating their time, money, personal artifacts and all sorts of other things to help connect the team with the fans. There are plenty of charities in the community who benefit from the BCF because they receive money from them. The BCF has the benefit of having a high profile image and revenue generator in the Milwaukee Brewers. Things like the 50/50 raffle at every Brewers Home game and events like the 5K Sausage Run/Walk are huge generators for money which will go to various charities around Wisconsin like the Hunger Task Force, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club, American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for a Cure (Breast Cancer Research), The Ronald McDonald House and Children's Hospital to name a few. There are countless others so a donation to the Brewers Community Fund is like donating to 100 charities at once. And the beauty of it is that they are all local charities or local branches of National charities. That means they are helping your neighbors. Or the children in the poorest sections of town that need help the most. They are helping people that you go to school or work with. They are helping the future leaders of your city. And they may one day even help you if you fall into a position of need. That is how community works. We all support each other. And thanks to the Brewers players, front office, fans and everyone associated in any way with the team, we are supporting our community.

The community isn't just a place. It defines you. It is a system of interconnected people all helping each other to achieve a common goal. One one struggles someone helps them out. And when someone needs help there has to be a support system in place or else that person will never get out of their situation. And the best part about the Brewers Community Foundation? It's easy to contribute to. The easiest way is through the 50/50 Raffle which is available at every home game. For just $2 a ticket you have the chance of winning half of all the money collected, which can reach into the 10s of thousands thanks to the nearly sold out crowds at every Brewers game. And there will be a winner at every game. I don't know how you spend your money, but $2 seems like a pretty good investment to win a couple thousand. And if you don't win then your money is going to a good cause like building youth softball fields, educating children and keeping them off the streets, supplying scholarships to underprivileged youths and giving them game tickets so they can see a Brewers game. How cool is that? It probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but to someone who has nothing just being able to do something cool like that is an uplifting experience. We all have troubles and hardships, but I promise that if you are reading this then you don't have it as bad as the people who depend on the BCF for survival. Because you have internet and most likely a nice comfortable place to sit down and use it. So rejoice in what you have. And give to people who don't have it. Especially if you have the means to do it.

Milwaukee Brewers baseball has given me a lot. Something to do on a summer's evening, something to look forward to every March, my wardrobe, my lifestyle and all sorts of other things that are too weird to mention. I love the Brewers and it's time that I gave back to them. It's not much but every little bit helps. The best part about it is that my money stays here where my fellow people need it most. Not that I don't care about the rest of the people in the world who are in need of food, shelter, education, etc. but it makes it more real that the person I am helping might someday be a friend, or a neighbor, or someone who is the first on the scene after I get into a car accident. That's the beauty of helping out the local community. I believe they call it karma. If I help those people around me who need it the most they might end up helping me someday. I hope that I am never in need of charitable assistance because that means I would have fallen pretty hard. I'd rather be on the giving side than the receiving side of this kind of gift. I actually hope that I can be better off than I am right now so that I can afford to give more than a couple of bucks. But for right now this is what I can do. I just hope that in some small way it made a difference.


 - pookon - 


www.pookon.com
pookondotcom@gmail.com
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"7 in 7" - Episode 4 - Money Isn't Real George - Wisconsin Humane Society

The Wisconsin Humane Society is an organization that is incredibly dear to my heart because a little over 6 years ago I adopted my BFF (best friend forever) and cat Coach Gordon Bombay. Him and I have been through a whole lot and I love him with all of my heart. I was never much into animals growing up even though at two separate times during my childhood we had a dog named Lassie. And then we also had a cat named Gizmo, but I wasn't necessarily close to either of them. But something made me go out and adopt Gordon and in February of 2006 Jenny Reck came along with me and I took him home and our adventure began. We've been through a lot of shit together and he's moved around to no fewer than 6 apartments/homes over the years because I couldn't stay in one place for too long. And during this time, aside from the stomach-induced "I'm hungry" meow, he hasn't really complained about the change of scenery and lack of continuity. Truth be told I have constantly provided him with food, water and toilet as well as a comfy place to nap for 18 hours a day. And he's been the one who has been by my side (or on my chest as I lie sleeping) through it all. I love Coach Gordon Bombay more than anyone in the entire world. No offense Mom.

At the Humane Society they told me that Coach Bombay was from the streets and that someone had brought him in as a stray. They named him Greg, which is a rather unusual name for a cat. There's nothing unusual about naming him after a fictional Pee-Wee Hockey Coach from District 5 and Team USA though, right? I can't imagine him surviving in the cold dark alleys of Milwaukee on his own but apparently he did because he has the battlescars to prove it. He's missing one of his fang teeth and his tail is a little crinkled, but aside from that he is not in too bad of shape. Of course he's a little undersized and refuses to gain weight despite eating and napping all day long and the vet told me that he has a heart murmur, but aside from that he doesn't seem to be in any physical or emotional trouble. All that I know is that he is better off in my care than he is on the streets or locked up in a cage somewhere. That is why it is so important for people to assist the Wisconsin Humane Society through donations and participating in their adoption program because there are countless animals out there in need of a good home. And if we don't help the little guys, then who will?

I'm just one guy who did one small thing, but that doesn't compare to what the Wisconsin Humane Society has been doing for over 130 years. As a private non-profit organization funded entirely through the generosity of the individuals in the community and through the government, they rely on you to help them in their mission. They aim to provide a comprehensive adoption program that matches homeless animals with families, to provide medical care for animals as well as spay and neutering animals to prevent overpopulation, to provide educational programs for people on the care, respect, treatment and over-all well being of their pets and they also teach obedience classes for the animals themselves which allow them to live in a domestic environment. A pet can be a fantastic companion but without the organization to support and provide people with the opportunity to own one they would never know what it feels like to have one. I can't really do any better at describing how important the Wisconsin Humane Society is to our community than they do at their website http://www.wihumane.org/default.aspx, so I encourage you to go there for more information. And if you are thinking about getting a pet I strongly encourage you to do so from the Humane Society because there are plenty of animals of all shapes, sizes and ages that just want a nice home to live in and someone to love them.

I love Coach Gordon Bombay and he is the sweetest pet in the entire world. Every single day he does something cute like this and when he isn't curled up in a ball sleeping somewhere he's sitting on the kitchen table eating some plastic, headbutting my leg or meowing up into the corner trying to ward off some ghostly spirits before he tears around the house in a panic. And at night he cries at my feet while I am on here typing, begging for me to go to bed so that he can lay on top of me. Whenever I sit on the couch he has to sit on my lap or my leg and almost always has to be around me. It's funny the connection that we have and although I do joke about it that he is my best friend forever it is kind of true. I spend more time hanging out with him than I do with any other creature on this planet. What makes it funny is that aside from the occasional meow or the rumbling purr, it's pretty much a one-sided conversation as I am telling him about my day or pouring out my emotions. For the most part he's a pretty good listener, even if he pretends to be asleep during the majority of our conversation. Sometimes he walks away but I figure that is his way of ending the discussion. If only the Humane Society taught him how to use his words then I wouldn't have to play Jay to his Silent Bob and constantly be a foul-mouthed little chucklehead that has to a constant victim to his follies while I try to understand what he is trying to get at. It's always an adventure with Coach Gordon Bombay and he has taught me so much.

I don't know where I would be without Coach Gordon Bombay and I can't imagine living without him. I remember once when I was looking for apartments with a prospective roommate a few years ago and we were forced to limit ourselves because not all rental units accepted cats. This person (who I will not name) suggested the possibility that I get rid of him so that it would have been easier to find a place to live. It's one of those things that I couldn't believe was said and he was obviously not a pet owner. You can't just give away a pet after you have made the commitment and the emotional bond to it. A pet isn't some toy that you play with a few times and then cast aside for the next thing that piques your interest. A pet is a part of your family and not something that you can easily be without. That's one of the reasons why I kiss Gordon goodbye every single morning when I leave for work and give him a big ol' hug before I go out of town every day. I love him so much and I can't stand to be apart from him for too long. The week at Afterglow is so hard because I miss him so much and I wish that I could bring him along. But like I said before, not all places are accepting of cats so I all I can do is make sure that he is well taken care of in my absence. Which is why I leave him under the care of only my most trusted friends. Coach Bombay is too important to me to leave him in the care of someone I don't trust.

And speaking of trust, from my experiences and knowledge gained from research and personal interaction, there's no organization that I trust more than the Wisconsin Humane Society when it comes to taking care of animals. What they do in our community is nothing short of amazing and I encourage you to contribute to their efforts if you love animals or if you have benefited from their work. After all, it is up to us as the dominant species on this planet to help those that are less fortunate than us. Some animals prefer to be left alone in their natural habitats, but domesticated animals like cats and dogs just want to be loved and cared for. Now if you excuse me, I know a certain little Coach that it is dire need of a hug and a snuggle.

http://www.wihumane.org/default.aspx

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com
email: pookondotcom@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman