Does Macha Deserve to Stay?

A column by Michael Hunt will run in tomorrow's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding the future of Brewers' manager Ken Macha. It got me thinking and when I start thinking, I have to share my thoughts. So my blog is back...like it or not.

Let's set the table...Ken Macha signed a two-year-deal before this season and the results in his first season have been less than desirable. The Brewers are 69-75 and 15 games out of first place and sport the worst pitching staff in baseball.

Hunt says Brewers GM Doug Melvin won't allow Macha to manage as a "lame duck" next season. To me that is the interesting part. Why not?

This disastrous season certainly isn't fully his fault, so that is why I bring him back as manager for next season. If you are Doug Melvin, you are going to have a very hard time justifying extending his contract, even if it is just adding on an additional year. Macha certainly hasn't deserved to have his contract extended.

I also believe he doesn't deserve to be fired yet either. This team has issues, plain and simple. Most of them not Macha's fault. Do I think he's done a good job? No, I don't. But he deserves another year.

My problems with Ken mainly fall with his constant shuffling of the lineup that started when Rickie Weeks went down. His lineup changes daily and has platooned a guy like Casey McGehee when he has performed with Rookie of the Year numbers in a limited role.

Macha shows no fire, ever. He rarely argues a call and shows almost no emotion. I'm ok with the lack of arguing, but his lack of emotion has really shown in this team. The team is dead and has been for ahwile. Hunt reveals that there is a disconnect between some of the players and that Macha wishes the players would have used his open-door policy more. Here's a suggesting Kenny, maybe you should have been more aggressive in dealing with the disconnects. Macha looks like an old, tired and run down manager. Certainly not one that is deserving to have his contract extended.

If I'm Melvin, I let Macha come back for his last year with an improved team. If the results are similar, he is done. If there is progress and succes, then you can extend his deal. Just no extensions now please.

McGehee's Night To Remember

With the Milwaukee Brewers struggling to get anyone out these days and quickly falling out of the race, it has been easy for Brewer fans to turn their backs on a team that just one year ago was taking them on the magical ride to the playoffs.

Fans have been booing loudly, a group of good guys that just have too many holes to be more than a .500 baseball team. But for one night all of that seemed to be put behind them, one magical night in late July that one magical Brewer will not forget.

Casey McGehee has been a career minor leaguer. Drafted in the 10th round out of Fresno State in 2003 by the Chicago Cubs, McGehee spent the first six years of his professional career in the minors, the last three in AAA. It was beginning to look like Casey was one of those dreaded AAAA players, too good for AAA but can't cut it in the bigs. His path to the majors was blocked by Aramis Ramirez. McGehee appeared in just six games with the Cubs in 2008, going 4-24.

After the season the Cubs placed McGehee on waivers, despite his 92 RBI season in AAA. The Brewers and Doug Melvin, always known for finding a diamond in the rough, put in a claim for McGehee and it was the best thing that happened to both parties.

Casey McGehee went into spring training as a long shot at best to make the Brewers, but that didn't stop him. He did everything he could to force his way onto the club and now has setteled in nicely at third base for the Crew and is certainly one of the favorites for NL Rookie of the Year.

That alone is a good story, but that isn't the best story. Meet Mack McGehee, Casey's two and a half year old son. Mack has the brain disease known as cerebal palsy. CP prevents development and there is no cure, it is something Mack will live with the rest of his life.

With Mack as their inspiration, the Brewer's Wives raised money by auctioning off uniforms and called upon Mack to throw out the first pitch on the night they presented the gift of $50,000 .

So Mack went to the mound, gold walker and all, with the help of his favorite Brewer...no not his dad, but Prince Fielder. His dad did serve as the catcher.

"Mack loves Prince," McGehee told OnMilwaukee.com's Drew Olson, "For some reason, kids love that guy. I don't know what they see in him. He really likes Prince. There are a lot of guys he really likes. I thought it would be cool to have somebody he would be comfortable with."

Mack has found a center in New Berlin that has helped with his treatment tremendously.

"It's funny how stuff works,"McGehee said to Olson. "We feel like the care we've gotten and some of the breakthroughs we've made since we've been here in Milwaukee have been outstanding. We all think why things happen some times.... Maybe they happen for a reason."

Maybe the night of July 29th happened for a reason too. McGehee wasn't in Ken Macha's starting lineup when the Brewers took on the Nationals that night, but Macha called on McGehee to pinch hit with the Brewers down a run in the sixth and their offense scuffling. Casey lined a rocket home run into the Brewers bullpen that sent the place into a frenzy. Mack started the game, Casey won the game.

Watch Casey's game winning home run here.

Mack was still in attendance when the ball left the yard and left soon after the Brewers held on for a 7-5 victory. On his way home he called his dad to tell him "Good hit daddy."

"That was about as good a 'congratulations' as I could get," Casey said. "You can't help but smile when you see him. He makes the bad days a little easier and the good days that much better. You just can't help smiling when you see how he reacts. As young as he is, he gets it a little bit."

"As a father, that's going to me a moment I remember for a long time, He's something special. For him to go through what he's going through and be able to just keep plugging; you really don't even notice he's got anything wrong with him most of the time."

"He's been a big inspiration to me and the way some of the guys have taken to him, stuff like that, it's really special. If you'd have asked me a few years ago if I'd first of all even been on a big-league field, let alone be able to share it with my son in any way, shape, form or fashion, I'd have thought I was pretty lucky to have that happen. That was pretty special."

It's nights like those that you realize that baseball is just a game, but a special game for bonding father and son.

Watch Mack's First Pitch

USC Athletics...Continuing Their Fine Tradition of NCAA Infractions

So it has been awhile, that is what finals week and packing and moving back to Wisconsin for the summer will do to me, but now I'm back with plenty of time to spend here. As I sat in Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport, I came across the headline on Yahoo! Sports that yet again they have busted USC for rules infractions and paying athletes, why does this not surprise me?

Charles Robinson and Jason Cole tagged teamed to write this story, very similar to the story Yahoo! broke on Reggie Bush, just a short while ago. According to the story, Trojans head basketball coach Tim Floyd made a direct cash payment to a man who helped bring OJ Mayo to Los Angeles. The story credits Louis Johnson as their source and says he is in Mayo's "inner circle".

Yes, this is the same Louis Johnson that was a subject of an Outside the Lines report as one of Mayo's middle men. Johnson used to be a sports writer in California and was new to the world of "runners." A runner is a guy hired to literally run around with guys like Mayo and buy them whatever they want and there is none better than Rodney Guillory who was also involved with Mayo. Guillory is known as the "Mayor of Prep Basketball" in Southern California and is OJ Mayo's mentor...supplying Mayo with multiple thousands of dollars to secure him with BDA Sports Agency when he turned pro.

Back to Tim Floyd and the Yahoo! story now. Johnson, who no longer is considered close with Mayo, has told the FBI, IRS and US Attorney's office that Floyd gave at least $1,000 in cash to Guillory. Attornies for Johnson broke the story to Yahoo! and Johnson has stated this case as the truth multiple times in front of federal attornies.

My first thought was Johnson wants to gain something out of it, but I don't think he does now. He was a 16 year sports writer that stumbled accross Guillory while covering prep basketball and got in over his head. This story has come out before and each time Guillory and mayo have denied it. Normally the accusations were thrown at Bill Duffy Sports Agency, now its at Tim Floyd and USC. That came out to the federal authorities.

What does this mean for USC? Well, if it can be proved to be true, a lot. This is a major infraction and you know the NCAA is ready to let USC have it. Tim Floyd has always been dirty and slimy and might get caught finally. The NCAA has a long list of interviews and case building evidence against USC, starting with Reggie Bush and moving on to OJ Mayo. It may be only a matter of time before major infractions come down to Tim Floyd, Pete Carroll and all of USC.

PT 42: A True American Hero

It is hard to imagine that Tuesday will mark the 5th anniversary of the tragic death of former Sun Devil Pat Tillman in Iraq.

April 22nd, 2004. Friendly fire killed Army Ranger Pat Tillman while he was on patrol in Afghanistan. I remember exactly what I was doing the moment I heard the news. Between classes of my freshman year of high school a teacher stopped me in the hallway and asked me if I was a Sun Devil fan. I looked at him awkwardly and said yes, wondering why. He then went on to tell me of the death of Tillman and instantly my heart broke.

When I tell people that Pat Tillman is my hero, they will jump on me that I chose him because he gave up an NFL career and was tragically killed in war. Pat Tillman was one of my role models before he even decided to serve our nation. The way Tillman went about his life, the way he lived, there was no better role model.

He was the last member of the late Bruce Snyder's 1994 recruiting class, but the undersized linebacker made an incredible impact on and off of the field at ASU. Not only did he take home Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 or play a key role in the magical undefeated season the year before, Tillman was a model student, graduating with a 3.8 GPA.

The ultimate underdog, he was taken with the 226th overall pick in the draft by the Cardinals. Some even thought at the time that it was just the home town team doing the local college a favor. But Pat Tillman was right at home in Sun Devil Stadium, in college and the NFL. Tillman started 10 games as a rookie after moving to safety and made 74 tackles in his rookie season. His 224 tackles in 2000 are still a Cardinals record.

Pat Tillman had a higher purpose in life than being a pro football player. He turned down 9 million dollars from the Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams to stay a Cardinal. He then turned down $3.67 million from the Cardinals to join the forces.

“Pat knew his purpose in life,” said Dave McGinnis, Tillman’s former coach with the Cardinals. “He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling.”

The attacks of 9/11 really hit Tillman hard and his quote shortly after the attacks summed up the man that was.

“My great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, and a lot of my family has ... gone and fought in wars, and I really haven’t done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that.”

Then he did. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to his country. People have always wanted to honor Tillman properly, but he would have had none of that. He was a smart man that had many beliefs and studied works of many different philosophers. Tillman would not have wanted to be the hero, he was just doing what he felt he had to do. Pat was a modest man, all of his shirts were wrinkled, his watch was fake, his hair long and the only thing bigger than his character was his heart.

On the 5 year anniversary let us remember the man that was Pat Tillman. The man the Pac 10's defensive player of the year award bears the name of, the man that every Sun Devil is reminded of before each game while walking through the Tillman Tunnell. Regardless of how he was killed and regardless of the investigation that is still ongoing, Tillman gave Sun Devils, Cardinals and American's a hero and a reason to take a step back and look at our lives and wonder what more we could do? On April 22nd, remember PT42 and his sacrifice...for our nation.

Please watch these videos, as these are a great tribute to Pat.

A true Sun Devil....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIb7zW_okto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSWh6fvsPYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBM2hiXRZA0&feature=related

Robinson Changed the World

Tonight I was tempted by many request to rant about the Brewers and their pathetic start to the 2009 season, but that must be put on hold...at least for a day, because Wednesday is Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball.

One of the better things that Bud Selig has done in his tenure was to recognize the impact that Jackie Robinson had not only on baseball, not only on professional sports but on a country.

"We ask for nothing special. We ask only to be permitted to live as you live, and as our nation's Constitution provides."

That is what Robinson told a New Orleans newspaper when he was asked as to how he would like to be remembered. While he may not have lived long enough to see his dream come to complete fruition, Jackie Robinson is remembered for much more than that quote.

Another Robinson quote reads "A life is not important, except for the impact it has on other lives."

If that quote holds true, Robinson's life was quite important and that is why #42 will be worn by every player tomorrow, he has impacted them all. Ken Griffey Jr. approached Selig on the idea of letting him wear #42 on Robinson day and this season Selig is having each and every player don #42.

Sure, if Robinson wouldn't have broke into the big leagues as its first African America, somebody else would have done it. But the fact of the matter is that he did it and did it at a time that was troubling for our nation. The game of baseball has a powerful impact on this country and when Robinson broke into the game in 1947, the US was recovering from World War II. Robinson fought off the hate crimes, the people talking behind his back, the death threats...he just wanted to play the game he loved and wanted all others to get the chance to do what they love, no matter what color their skin was. This country was still seven years away from the desegregation of schools when Jackie Robinson took the field for Brooklyn 62 years ago.

Robinson didn't just impact baseball. He paved the way for Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Nat Clifton to become the first African American's in the NBA. His impact stretches far past sports, his name is synonymous with social change in America.

Hank Aaron hit it right on the head when he said that Jackie Robinson was bigger than the hate. He was bigger than his teammates that tried to petition him off the team, bigger than the pitchers that threw at him, bigger than the runners that dug their spikes into his legs.

Robinson let players like Hammerin' Hank dream of playing professional baseball. He let young African American's have dreams for the first time ever. Now the spirit of Robinson lets everyone dream...regardless the feat, you can achieve what you believe in, because somehow Jackie did.

Tomorrow we celebrate the day that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier of a nation and changed its history forever. While #42 went hitless in his debut 62 years ago, he did score the winning run for the Dodgers and for a nation.

Yet Another Dissapointing End for the Bucks

When the lights go out at Conseco Fieldhouse on Wednesday night, the sun will set on the 5th straight losing season for the Milwaukee Bucks. The team of nobodies stayed in the race for a bit, but a late losing streak sent them to the lotto again. The 52 wins and trip to the Eastern Conference Finals is a distant nine years ago and the immediate future isn't looking bright for the purple and green, or red and green, or whatever their colors are now.






Scott Skiles should consider himself lucky because he made it through the season. Not like he should have been fired for the terrible talent he had to work with after Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut both went down with season ending injuries, but that hasn't stopped Herb Kohl in the past...see Terry Porter.

Just to put it in perspective...the Bucks have had 9 coaches in the 20 years I have been alive, with only Mike Dunleavy and George Karl making it longer than three years. Since Karl was fired in 2003, Milwaukee is on their 4th coach and 3rd general manager. Each year the roster is completely turned over and continuity is a word not known at the BC. That is why the Bucks are the definition of below average, year in, year out.

John Hammond came from Detroit where he helped Joe Dumars build the Pistons and has big plans to do the same in Milwaukee, but we have to be paitient. Larry Harris and his team put this team in such a financial pit with the horrible contracts given to Dan Gadzuric, Bobby Simmons and Michael Redd that Hammond won't even be able to keep Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions this offseason. Two of the promising young building blocks that are on this team will walk this offseason and there is nothing the Bucks can do about it.

Losing Sessions isn't the end of the world, he is replaceable, especially through the draft. But Villanueva hurts...not just on the court. There is no better ambassador to the city or to the game than Charlie V. The tweetin' forward does countless community service and is a class act...just follow him on twitter at CV31 to see for yourself.

Its a sad reality and the Bucks are only going to get worse before they get better. That's right...even worse than the last few years. Winning their last few games has pushed the Bucks down the lottery chain and they are slated 10th. Don't be surprised if they move up, other than some guy named Kareem, they tend to win the lottery when there is not a superstar coming out. Kent Benson, Glenn Robinson, Andrew Bogut.

Point Guard

In order to keep Sessions, the Bucks will have to deal the $6.5 millon expiring contract of Luke Ridnour. Don't be surprised if Joe Alexander is wiggled as bait to try and get someone to bite on Luke. Personally, I like Ridnour and think he would make an excellent backup point guard on a good team. This is a position that the Bucks could look at in the draft. Eric Maynor, Ty Lawson and Johnny Flynn all likely will be available if the Bucks hold at 10. There are plenty of steals at PG in the second round..such as AJ Price, Toney Douglas, Darren Collison and Curtis Jerrells, that I'd be shocked if the Bucks don't take one. The key to successful teams is the center and point, with Bogut locked up..Milwaukee needs to find its floor general. They did just sign former Arizona Wildcat and Atlanta Hawk Salim Stoudamire to a contract for next season. If he can recover to old form after an injury, he can be a solid role player.

Two Guard

The Bucks hopes at the playoffs took a severe blow when Michael Redd freakishly tore his ACL in late January. While Bucks fans don't think the team can win with Redd as its star...he isn't going anywhere. Nobody is going to take the 17 million he is owed coming off major surgery. If there is anyone to fight and claw back from a devestating injury, it is Redd. He is still the face of the franchise and he will be back to old form by opening night. After Redd, there is only one known. Charlie Bell will be back for his 5th season in Milwaukee. Bell has turned into a very solid bench player, that has been forced into too much in his time as a Buck. If Bell can slide into the backup guard role, he will go back to the 13.5 PPG scorer he was a few years back. This is a position where the Bucks need to find a cheap bench option, because Bell and Stoudamire will serve as top backup options.

Small Forward

If anyone is packing their bags this offseason it is Richard Jefferson. But I don't think it is happening. Jefferson had a great year for the Bucks, stepping up and becoming the number one option after the injuries. Jefferson has yet to turn 30 and barring a blockbuster deal to clear salary, RJ will be the man at the three in 2009-10. The backups? That is a different story. Joe Alexander hasn't proven capable to play at this level and will likely be dealt in the offseason. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute can play the three, but is too valuable to be wasted there. With Villanueva likely gone, this is another important addition area. With limited money...a second round pick like Dante Cunningham, Danny Green or Jerel McNeal could see playing time right away.

Power Forward

To me, this is where I spend my first round pick. CV is a goner and Prince Luc is better off coming off the bench at numerous positions. Joe Alexander is too soft and heavens forbid that Malik Allen is left as the starter. If the Bucks strike gold in the lottery, Blake Griffin would look awfully good here, as would Andrew Bogut after Hasheem Thabeet moves him to the four. I'd even settle for Jordan Hill, but that would require hitting it big in the lottery. More realistic options are Craig Brackins from Iowa St. and Georgetown's Greg Monroe. Al Farouq Aminu and maybe even DeJaun Blair could be considered as well. No position is more important in the offseason than this one and with no cash, the draft pick has to be spent here.

Center

Andrew Bogut's back problems may worry you, but I rest assured that a fracture is healable. He will be ready for the start of next season and there is no doubt that the Aussie has an incredible impact on the game, with his passing, shot blocking and defense. That is why he got the contract he did, because he is the heart and soul of the team. Francisco Elson will have to do as the primary backup and he played alright this season. Dan Gadzuric will be back yet again...for year five of that horrid six year deal. Once again he will get paid 6.7 million to grab two rebounds a game. With Bogut, Elson and Danny G, don't look for many additions here, just because they need to spend the limited amount they have elsewhere.

Bench
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is so vaulable to this team. He can play every position and needs to come off the bench. Charlie Bell and Salim Stoudamire will serve as backup guards, as well as a likely veteran or rookie. Keith Bogans is a free agent, but could probably be resigned cheap. Add Elson, Gadzuric and Allen and this unit probably is set. It is terrible, but its set.

The Bucks will be the same team they always are next season if Redd and Bogut are healthy. They will threaten for that 8th spot in the East, no more. Unless John Hammond decides to completly tear it up and start again, the Bucks will be the same old Bucks. If he can find takers for Redd and Jefferson and somehow keep Sessions and Charlie V...it will be a successful offseason. It will make them worse, but they need to start over to get going. Bucks fans gave their team a standing ovation after their final home game on Monday...unless things turn around fast, those fans won't be there.

BREAKING NEWS: Harden to Declare for Draft

We all knew it was coming...now it is official. James Harden is heading to the NBA.

Arizona Republic basketball beat writer Doug Haller is reporting that Harden will enter the NBA Draft, with an official announcement coming tomorrow. He also reports that the 19-year-old is working on hiring representation, ending his chance to come back to ASU.

You can't blame Harden for going to the draft, hard to pass up being a Top 5 selection, in a weak draft class. NBADraft.net currently has Harden going #4 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Russell Westbrook was the #4 selection in last year's draft and his first year contract was $3.5 million. Harden will receive a similar deal to Westbrook, which has the first two years guaranteed at $7.3 million and then up to $23 million dollars in team options.

It is sad that James will always be remembered at ASU for his poor showing in the tournament, when the Devils never would have been near the dance without him. I don't know if there has been a player recently that has had the kind of impact that James Harden had in Tempe. He took a team that won 2 games in the Pac 10 the year before he came and led them to back to back 20 win seasons and was a few calls away from being Pac 10 Champions. James Harden is the best player to ever play basketball in Tempe and should forever be remembered as the kid that brought basketball back to Arizona St.

Personally, I will forever remember the time I got to watch and cover to James Harden here at ASU. It is not everyday you get to know a player of his caliber, that is a great person a well. His impact on ASU will not be felt until down the road, once the practice facility is up and Sendek begins to pull in top recruits.

And by the way...he went 5-0 against Arizona. Good luck James.