Reviewing the Brew » Major League Baseball

Braun, Biogenesis, Show Need for MLB Transparency

Colin Bennett — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:46:29 +0000

Add Bob Nightengale to the ever-growing list of people blowing the innumerable lids off of the Biogenesis leak.

His article in USA Today brought to light the possibility – by way of his sources – of an over-zealous investigatory process regarding the leaks in Anthony Bosch’s ‘paperwork’, especially in the case of Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.

According to Nightengale and others, Ryan Braun is “Public Enemy Number One.” Of course this claim was roundly refuted by Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President Rob Manfred.

It should be obvious to everyone that we might never know exactly what’s going on in terms of how baseball executives plan to fix this, but it does beg the question:

Don’t we deserve to?

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In Memoriam: Former MLBPA Chief Marvin Miller

Colin Bennett — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:22:06 +0000

Everybody has a personal Baseball hero, someone idolized and canonized as the man who shaped the game for a team, a town, or even a single fan.

Few people can actually stake a claim to that title. One them is Marvin Miller – The chief of the Major League Players Association through the sixties and seventies, who passed away early this morning after battling liver cancer.

Marvin Miller not only fundamentally changed Major League Baseball, but in a way shaped the future and shifted the balance of power for all professional sports by helping to abolish the long-time (and oft hated) Reserve Clause and ushering in the are of free agency and arbitration.

Today, the baseball world – and those past, present, and future who benefited from his tireless work – look back and celebrate his life.

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Brewers Nab a Competitive Balance Lottery Spot

Colin Bennett — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:11:28 +0000

Just after 11:30 AM in New York City yesterday, Major League Baseball held it’s first-ever Competitive Balance Lottery.

The Milwaukee Brewers, being one of the smallest market teams in the sport, came away with an additional second-round pick for 2013.

This is new territory for everyone, obviously. Adding additional picks for the auspices of Competitive Balance is an intriguing step towards closing the talent gap between the big money teams and the perenially down franchises, but it remains to be seen how much effect this new system will have – we may not see the true results of the new picks for five years. What is all this about, and how does it effect Milwaukee going forward?

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Dan in Real Life: Part One

Benjamin Orr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:55:56 +0000

I actually liked that movie. While it wasn’t one of the more laugh out loud movies I have seen, I think Steve Carell’s performance was decent enough to make me chuckle quite a bit. Anyway, I’m getting off track here. The title is quite obviously not about the movie, but about Brewers’ pitching prospect Dan Merklinger. Now, why is the title labeled ‘part one’? Well, we here at Reviewing the Brew are taking a sort of outside the box approach in that we are all following one player from the minors. So, this is part one about Dan, with more parts to soon follow. Will these guys make the cut for the Brew Crew this year? Hopefully they can because, from what I’ve read about Dan, he sounds like he has some promising stuff.

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An Open Letter To Baseball

Colin Bennett — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:23:37 +0000

As many of you may have noticed, I have been less than regular in my duties as staff writer for Reviewing the Brew. While I have diligently watched and followed our beloved Brewers with the same vit and vigor of months past, for some reason I have shied away from reporting the things that are most important – my emotions and opinions – to you, the reader.

For the most part, it’s easy to explain away. I’ve been busy with those “real-life” responsibilities that I loathe so much; I’ve been toying with other side-projects; I get sleepy after watching night games. The truth is, I may be afraid.

It’s no question that the Brewers are playing some of the best baseball they’ve ever played. There’s little argument that Milwaukee will make the playoffs. This thought terrifies me.

I’m not sure if I can handle the Brewers actually winning. I’ve thought about it without end, and honestly, I’m certain that I cannot be held responsible for my actions should Milwaukee succeed well into the post-season. There is no way that my emotions could or would be restrained to anything that would allow me to function in normal society. Judging by the Brew Crew’s loyal fan base, it’s safe to assume I’m not alone.

With that thought in mind, I took the liberty to pen an open letter to the baseball community on behalf of the team and their fans trying to crystallize the emotions of being a Milwaukee Brewers fan this and every season. What follows is about as borderline as pertinent baseball information gets, so indulge me as a wax poetic for a while.

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