Stephen Curry and DeMar DeRozan

Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson, 6'3'' 181, Age: 21

While Stephen Curry probably isn't the top prospect in this draft, he is surely the most talked about, well known and maybe even controversial selection in this years draft. Everything about him screams of un-prototypical but his game speaks for itself. Curry can flat out score anytime and I mean anytime the ball is in his hands. He has one of the best shots in the country and not just for rookies but for NBA players as well and it works just as well as a mid-range jumper as it does 3 feet behind the NBA 3-point line. Curry reminds me of Reggie Miller and his ability to score, create, and shoot off of the screen. What is amazing about Curry is that his shot doesn't have to be in rhythm and it doesn't have to come in certain circumstances. Many shooters are either great shooters when the catch and shoot, pick and pop, or when coming off of screens, but Curry can hit is jumper in any circumstance at anytime.

Curry's downside is that he has played shooting-guard most of his life and will now have to transition to the point guard position. He does lack overall strength, size, and athleticism, but it hasn't stopped Curry from being one of the top players in the country. His defense, rebounding ability and passing skills are above average for a player his size, but will still struggle at times against bigger, more physical NBA athletes. It may also be a tough transition for Curry who has always been the primary option, to be more of a pass-first player who is a secondary, or tertiary option as a scorer.

Look for Curry to go for sure within the top 10. He will more than likely go to the Knicks or Warriors, but if Jordan Hill slips to the Knicks then it is possible that Curry could fall. If he has any chance of getting to Milwaukee at number 10 remains to be seen, but it's surely not completely out of the question.

Curry in Milwaukee would certainly bring excitement and a player that fans would enjoy watching and love to see play. Putting him at the point with Redd, Jefferson, Mbah a Moute and Bogut creates a solid lineup with a lot of different scoring options. I don't believe that Curry would be there at number 10, but he is another player that if he does slip to them, there is a good chance they would take him.

Odds of Curry becoming a Buck: 8.9%.

DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC, 6'6'' 211, Age: 19

While Stephen Curry's game screams of unprototypical but makes up for it with productivity, DeMar DeRozan is basically the exact opposite. DeRozan is a super athletic shooting guard with great size and versatility. Scouts compare him to Richard Jefferson but if he wants to live up to that billing he will need to find a better jumper. DeRozan averaged about 14 points and 6 rebounds while at USC, but his game needs plenty of work. He doesn't have a great jumper and he isn't a huge hustle guy either, but his skills as a basketball player are undeniable.

While many of the other prospects we have gone over so far aren't really expected to be there when Milwaukee picks at number 10, DeRozan today and the rest of the prospects we will look at starts a new set of players that more than likely will be there at number 10. Whether the Bucks take DeRozan or not though remains to be seen. Like I said earlier DeRozan is compared to Richard Jefferson and the Bucks already have the Richard Jefferson. They also have Redd at the shooting guard, and Luc Richard, and Joe Alexander as solid backups at the SF position. While the Bucks should still take the best player available no matter of position, DeRozan has a lot of work to do before he would be considered a sure-fire everyday starter and the Bucks do have possibilities to draft players just as good if not better at positions of need. DeRozan probably wouldn't be the best fit immediately for the Bucks, but if they did draft him, he could be a good SG down the road.

Odds of DeRozan being a Milwaukee Buck: 5.0%

Manny Parra Update

I had speculated a couple days ago that Manny Parra may still be in line to be the 5th starter for the Brewers when they need one, and according to Doug Melvin, that's exactly the scenario the Brewers are looking at.

Manny Parra pitched on only 3 days rest yesterday in Nashville, which would give him one more start in Triple-A before setting him up perfectly to come back to the Brewers when they need a 5th starter again. How did Parra do?

Parra pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 hits, 4 walks, and 1 run for a 1.33 whip and a 1.50 ERA. He did not get the decision in the game. While only allowing 4 hits and 1 run is a big building block for Manny, the 4 walks in 6 innings shows he still has some work to do on his command. Hopefully he can improve on that in his next outing to gain some more confidence before being pulled back up to the majors.

While it is still Manny Parra's job to lose, he will know his next start is a big one. If he blows his next start in Triple-A, he will probably remain in Nashville. If he puts together a solid outing he will have his ticket back to Milwaukee. I know a lot of people may rather see Seth McClung or Tim Dillard get a chance to be the starter, but right now the best case scenario is that Manny Parra puts his full game together and starts pitching like the player he is capable of being.

Jrue Holliday and Jonny Flynn

Jrue Holliday, PG, UCLA, 6'4'' 199, Age: 19

UCLA guard Jrue Holliday has been one of the hardest players to predict so far in this years draft. Holliday is a big guard who has the ability to be a PG or SG in the NBA but scouts compare his game to that of Gary Payton. Holliday is coming from a UCLA program which is sound on defense and Holliday is no different. One of his biggest upsides is his defensive game and it's augmented even more by the fact that he has great size for the point guard position at 6'4''.

One of the question marks on Holliday is whether or not he can be a true NBA point guard. While UCLA had Darren Collison (another potential first round pick this season) manning the PG spot most of the game, Holliday was limited to playing SG. Meanwhile Holliday projects much better as a PG in the NBA than a SG. His shooting game still needs work as well but his command of the game at the point guard position and the defense he can play on opposing NBA point guards will be too much to pass on for many NBA teams.

Another thing that Holliday has going for him is the success that recent UCLA players have had in the draft. Players like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Russell Westbrook, Aaron Afflalo, Jordan Farmar, and Trevor Ariza all have had NBA success. While none of the players may be superstars, all are contributing on their current rosters and are playing above average defense at their position. Westbrook last year showed the ability to be a future superstar in this league and Jrue Holliday will try and follow in his footsteps.

Holliday and the Bucks would seem to be a perfect fit. Scott Skiles is looking for hard nosed, athletic, defensive player, all of which fit Holliday perfectly. Add that to the probable loss of Ramon Sessions in free agency and Holliday seems to be a real good choice. Holliday being only 19 years of age would probably not be expected to start on day 1, but one would think that he would contribute significantly off the bench and would be asked to guard the opposing teams best guard. Having Holliday and Mbah a Moute on the floor at the same time in scenarios where the Bucks need a stop could give them a solid defense as well.

While the Bucks would almost surely take him if he was available at number 10, he is rumored to go as high as number 4 to Sacramento or as low as pick number 11 to New Jersey. No mock draft that I have seen at this point has Milwaukee taking Holliday, but I wouldn't leave it out of the realm of possibility.

Odds of Milwaukee taking Jrue Holliday: 20%

Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, 6'0'' 196, Age: 20

There probably isn't a player right now in the draft who has seen his stock go up as much in the past couple of weeks as Jonny Flynn. The PG from Syracuse has some superstar qualities that will make him a for sure lottery pick and maybe more than any other prospect in the lottery has the ability to make highlight real plays every time he touches the ball. Flynn is the most flashy pick of this years draft class but that doesn't automatically mean that he will be a success. Flynn is a bit undersized for the PG position and needs to add strength and a better 3 point shot, but he is a true point guard that has the ability to penetrate and get to the basket with ease.

With the success of players such as Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker, Devin Harris, Chris Paul, etc... Jonny Flynn may go even higher than some expect. Players who can penetrate into the paint at any given time regardless of the defense being played on them are invaluable for a team to have. Being able to get into the lane, draw 2-3 defenders and kick out to the open man opens up everything for an offense and Flynn has that same type of ability to do just that.

Flynn last season went from being a player that would be taken with a pick in the 20-25 range, to being a 12-18 pick, to being a lottery pick to finally now being somebody who is talked about as high as the 5th pick in the draft. There are a lot of teams that need PG's in the draft and Flynn would obviously fit the bill. While there is still work to be done, some team will fall in love with his spectacular plays and ability to get to the rim with ease. Look for him to be a top 10 pick for sure.

As another point guard who will be looked at considerably by the Bucks, Flynn would be a solid pick for the future of this Milwaukee franchise. While he doesn't fit the defensive mold that Scott Skiles may be looking for, he plays with a lot of passion and he could be a player that Milwaukee fans pay to see down the road. For this season alone Flynn doesn't seem to be the best pick for the Bucks, but unless they get Blake Griffin the Bucks probably aren't looking to compete for an NBA title anytime soon. Looking more long term, Flynn can be a dynamic point guard that could lead the Bucks offense for years to come. The Bucks will have a difficult time ranking the top point guards in this draft, (Rubio, Curry, Holliday, and Flynn), but the odds of at least one of them falling to the Bucks is fairly decent. Griffin, Harden, and Thabeet are almost sure bets to go before the Bucks, which leaves the 4 previously mentioned point guards, Jordan Hill, and Tyreke Evans as 9 players. Unless all of them go in the top 9, the Bucks will have a really good player to choose from. As for Steph Curry, check out tomorrows blog for more on him and the chances the Bucks get the Davidson superstar.

Odds the Bucks draft Jonny Flynn: 15%

Your Sconnie Sports Favorite Players Is...

A co-champion...

After two days of voting Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Braun remained tied for the favorite player award and so they have been awarded co-favorite-players of the year. Aaron Rodgers made it to the finals by beating Dave Bush, Trevor Hoffman, and Yovani Gallardo, while Ryan Braun made it by beating Mike Cameron, Greg Jennings, and Donald Driver.

2009 Sconnie Sports Player of the Year: Ryan Braun and Aaron Rodgers

We will have another tournament next year beginning June 1st as well. Thank you to all who voted, as always I appreciate you coming to the site and participating in the polls and discussions!

Two More Prospects

Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, 6'10'' 232, Age: 21

Think the NBA is not a trendy league? Jordan Hill can thank players like Anderson Verajo, Nene, Chris Anderson, Joakim Noah, Marcin Gortat, and Glen Davis for overachieving in the playoffs and setting up a scenario where Jordan Hill could go in the top 5-10 in the draft. Jordan Hill is a hustle/effort player who is a good but not great shot blocker and a great rebounder. His offensive game is limited and his best offensive attribute is also his rebounding ability. Hill has been compared to Ronny Turiaf, but I think he shows more flash on offense and ability to get up and down the floor than Turiaf does, I also think Turiaf is a better shot blocker. While Jordan Hill five to ten years ago would have been a late first to early second round pick, his breed of player has become more and more popular in the NBA. Teams are no longer looking to put 5 guys on the floor at a time who have the ability to score and instead are looking to have a scorer, a shooter, a big man, a rebounder/hustle guy and a floor general and Jordan Hill more than fits the profile of the hustle/rebound guy.

Rumor has it that Hill would be taken by the Knicks if he lasts until they pick but the same thing has also been said about Steph Curry before. It has been reported that if both Hill and Curry are available for New York to take, the selection would be Hill but who knows if that is legit or not. While I don't think its a great chance of happening, Jordan Hill slipping to the Bucks is the best possibility of any of the prospects we have touched on so far.

Hill falling to the Bucks would be a huge break at number 10. Hill would seem to complement Jefferson and Bogut perfectly and would fit Scott Skiles' system and player profile. A starting lineup of Ridnour, Redd, Jefferson, Hill and Bogut looks mighty interesting on paper and may very well be one of the best options for the Bucks besides Blake Griffin.

Jordan Hill may not be as flashy as Steph Curry, Ricky Rubio or Johnny Flynn but Hill will be a valuable part of an NBA team for a long time. While Hill's upside may not be the same as some of the other potential lottery players, the risk in taking Jordan Hill is very low. I can't remember a college player whose number 1 skill was rebounding all of a sudden get to the NBA and forget how to rebound. Put him on the floor and he will hustle and find the basketball and that will be his role in the NBA just like it was in college.

Odd of Hill becoming a Milwaukee Buck: 15.5%

Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis, 6'5'' 220, Age: 19

Tyreke Evans has all the intangibles that NBA scouts look for in an NBA shooting guard. He has the 6'5'' 220 body that scouts tend to fall in love with at the shooting guard position, he is athletic with a quick first step to the basket, can take the ball to the hoop, has the size to play both ends of the floor, and has no trouble whatsoever with the ball being in his hands.

Unfortunately for Evans, and the NBA, and maybe more importantly for the team that drafts him, Evans is a player that the NBA is seeing much more of coming out of college. A great overall talent who doesn't know how to consistently hit a mid range, or long range jumper. Teams like Memphis, North Carolina, Tennessee, etc.. run these up and down offenses that are based on speed and the ability to get lay-ups and dunks and not have to worry about shooting from outside. The theory is why settle for a jumper when the kid has the talent to take it to the basket? The problem is that less and less players have a consistent jump shot and it's hurting the NBA and the United States in basketball. We have seen it for over a decade now that players coming from Greece, Spain, or really anywhere overseas are shooting a much better percentage than players from the United States. College players have the athleticism but European players have a better all around game. Evans fits this profile perfectly. He is athletic, can get to the basket, is great with the ball in his hands, can draw contact, play defense, but he takes poor shots and even when he takes good ones, he shoots a low percentage.

All that being said, Evans is still a scorer and a natural two-guard and a sure-fire lottery pick. He has been rumored to go as high as number 4 or could even slip out of the top 10. While it would be an interesting dilemma if he did last until number 10 and the players that the Bucks were targeting were gone, I don't think that Evans has a high enough ceiling to warrant drafting him. As of right now he would have to settle for a backup roll to Michael Redd, who plays over 35 minutes a game anyway, and he would have to learn to play Scott Skiles' style of play which is not what he is used to or has been around while playing for Memphis.

While I do think that Tyreke Evans can help some NBA teams right away and he may end up being a really good NBA player, I don't think it's a good marriage with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Odds of Tyreke Evans becoming a Milwaukee Buck: 5.0%

Brewers Pitching Options

While the Brewers go with a 4 man rotation for the next couple of weeks they will be contemplating all of their options to see who can come in and be their 5th starter. While the Brewers make their decision, here are some of the options that they may be thinking about to be their 5th starter.

Manny Parra

I know what you are thinking right now... the Brewers just sent Manny Parra down to the minors because he wasn't capable of being the number 5 starter, why would they reconsider, pull him back up from the minors and start him again? Manny Parra does have MLB starting potential and Jason Kendall has said numerous times that of all the pitchers on the Brewers roster that he has caught, Parra has the best overall stuff. Right now Parra is having troubles with his command which is leading to a high pitch count and more importantly a lack of confidence. If Manny goes out and pitches two really strong outings in Triple-A it may just be enough to convince the Brewers to put him back in the number 5 spot. If this would happen it may be simply because the Brewers don't have a lot of options to replace him, but it could happen none the less. Parra also has an added advantage of being a lefty, and seeing as the Brewers don't have any other starting pitchers as a lefty, this detail would seem to fall in his favor as well.

Seth McClung

While the Brewers have stated that they do not want to make Seth a starter because he is too valuable in the bullpen, I think this is the best option and ultimately the option that the Brewers will go with. Newly added pitcher Chris Narveson should take over the long relief roll, and that would allow Chris Smith to take over Seth McClung's roll in the bullpen. Bottom line is that McClung produced for the Brewers as a starter last year and there's no reason to think he couldn't do it again this year. This may sound crazy, but there is a chance that if McClung gets the call as the starter, he could immediately be the number 2 starter for the Brewers behind only Y. Gallardo. With Bush struggling lately as well as Suppan and Looper with their ERA's right around 5.00, McClung and his 2.45 ERA could be a much welcome addition to the rotation. This would be the option that I personally would go with and the option that I think the Brewers will go with as well.

Chris Narveson

I don't see this happening because if the Brewers had wanted to make him the number 5 starter they would have done so right away and not put him on their bench. Narveson was having a solid but not spectacular year in the minors and maybe if he came to the majors and threw something like 8-10 scoreless innings in relief he would have been considered but his first action last night saw him work 1.2 innings and give up 3 earned runs (granted 2 of them could have been saved had DiFelice not given up a home run). While Narveson remains an option, I wouldn't put money on him being the choice.

Tim Dillard

Tim Dillard would have been higher on my list had the Brewers not stated that they want him to stay in Triple-A to work on some of his mechanics. Much like Narveson, Dillard has been solid but unspectacular in Nashville. He has a 3.98 ERA with a 7-3 record. In 72.1 innings pitched he has given up 6 home runs and has 27 walks while striking out 25. Dillard performed pretty well with the Brewers in the past coming out of the bullpen but hasn't started a game in the majors. Once he does get everything down with his pitching mechanics like the Brewers would like it would seem likely that Dillard would get a chance to pitch for the Crew sometime this season whether in the bullpen or as a starter. Dillard has the ability to be a solid starter, but if he is the choice don't expect too much, the ceiling is not very high on him and him being a number 4 or 5 pitcher in the majors is probably his best case scenario.

Mike Burns

The Brewers have to be pleasantly surprised with the way that Burns has pitched so far this season. In Triple-A he is 7-2 with a 2.69 ERA. In 70.1 innings he has only 11 walks and 44 strikeouts and a WHIP of only 1.02. Those numbers are fantastic no matter which way they are spun. He did have a short stop in Milwaukee this season as well, coming off the bench and pitching 4 scoreless innings for the Brewers before being sent back down to Nashville. The Brewers may choose to go with his hot hand and ride it until its warn out. If he continues to pitch even remotely close to what he has done so far this season he would more than likely remain the starter for the rest of the season.

Chase Wright

The former Yankee was picked up in case the Brewers were in need of some starting pitching but his production in Triple-A at this point does not seem to warrant a call to the bigs. Chase is 4-5 with a 4.34 ERA, 1.49 whip, while walking 25 and striking out 29. If the numbers are mediocre in Nashville, it normally doesn't spell success in Milwaukee. He's worth keeping an eye on because he is a talented lefty, but the timing is probably not right at this point in time.

Chris Cody

While Cody would be a dark horse candidate to win the last starting spot, his inclusion in this list is definitely justified. He started the season in Double-A where he was 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 0.89 whip. In 58.2 innings of work he gave up only 3 home runs, and walked only 10 batters while striking out 48. So after dominating Double-A he rightfully earned his promotion to Triple-A. So far in Triple-A he is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He has pitched 13.1 innings given up 2 walks, 1 home run, and struck out 4 batters. Cody is a 6'1'' 195, left handed pitcher who seems to be coming into his own. On Brewerfan.net he is ranked as the 21st best prospect as of May 18th, but that was after jumping up 15 spots on their list because of his production. He is probably even higher than that now and like Mike Burns, the Brewers may just decide to go with the hot hand. While he may be the underdog of this list, he may very well be the most intriguing prospect as well.

Trades and Free Agents

This is here to break the news that the Brewers are probably not going to make any big splashes via free agency or trade at least at this point. There is not a lot of options on the free agent market with Ben Sheets still being hurt and Pedro Martinez asking for way too much money not to mention that the Brewers have basically severed ties with Sheets already and have said that they have no interest in Martinez. Knock free agency off the list for potential ways to replace Manny Parra in the starting lineup. As for trades... I just don't see something happening yet, at least not in June and maybe not until after the All-Star break. Now that Peavy is injured for 2 months it makes every other available starting pitcher that much more expensive to acquire. As for who the Brewers may be interested in... I will throw out a potential name to keep an eye on although his name has been mentioned in some rumors already. Eric Bedard of the Seattle Mariners would seem to make sense for a lot of different reasons. First of all he is truly capable of being an ace and is dominating the AL right now. Take away a DH and add a pitcher when moving to the NL and he could be even that much better. It also helps that he is a left handed pitcher and that the Brewers would be trading with former Brewers scout Jack Zduriencik. Zduriencik would seemingly have eyes on a lot of the Brewers talent because he was the one who was in charge of drafting them. Without a major shortstop or catcher in their roster, a trade of Escobar, Salome, and Parra, along with a couple of minor add-ins may just get the job done. Obviously that deal would be extremely tough on Milwaukee, but it would immediately solve the pitching situation they are in and make them a much better bet to make, and succeed in the playoffs. While losing Escobar would be tough, the Brewers were facing a tough decision between him and Hardy anyway, and Escobar will have much more trade value at this point than Hardy for obvious reasons. Same thing with Salome between him and Jonathan Lucroy. Salome and Lucroy are rated number 5 and 6 respectively on Brewerfan.net's list of top 50 players and only one of them can be the catcher of the future. It's a tough deal to take on, but a deal the Brewers just might have to make to solve their problem.

More Draft Prospects

Hasheem Thabeet C, U-Conn, 7'3'' 267lbs, Age: 22

Thabeet is one of the more interesting players in this years draft. 7'3'' centers who are shot blocking monsters on the defensive side of the floor and can run the floor with ease are few and far between. Most of Thabeet's comparisons are to Dikembe Mutumbo but there are some serious differences. While Thabeet has the ability to get up and down the floor better than Mutumbo did, Thabeet doesn't seem to have the tenacity or desire to be as physical on defense or on the glass. Mutumbo for his size and ability was a beast inside on defense and if there was a rebound to be had, it was his. Thabeet on the other hand has a reputation for being somewhat soft even though he is a 7'3'' 267 lb. center who blocks a lot of shots.

Thabeet's offense is limited as well, which is another reason he obviously gets compared to Dikembe Mutumbo. A huge sign of his pains on offense are that U-Conn and Jim Calhoun did not regularly go to Thabeet in the post in clutch situations or even on a regular basis during the course of a game. It is rare that a college team has the players to defend a 7'3'' opposing center and if a team does have a 7'3'' center they usually feed him the ball and let him go to work. This was not usually the case with Thabeet however, as he did not see an excessive amount of touches on the offensive end. It will be even tougher for him when he is up against players who are his size or bigger and know how to play NBA style defense.

While there will for sure be growing pains with Thabeet, his defensive upside will be too good for teams to pass on in the top 5 of the draft. It's nearly impossible these days to get to an NBA Finals game without a big time big man and because of that Thabeet will go early to somebody who's willing to be patient and try and develop him as an NBA player. Look for him to be gone in the top 5 for sure, with a potential to go as high as number 2.

Much like yesterday's two prospects Thabeet will surely not last to Milwaukee at number 10 and with Andrew Bogut manning the front lines for the next half-decade it would be extremely odd for the Buck's to move up to get Thabeet in a trade. If somehow he did last until number 10 it would put the Bucks in a dilemma of whether or not to take another 7 foot, franchise center when they already have one on the roster, but my bet is that they would take him anyway. With Bogut's injury history and the lack of quality big men in the NBA it would be foolish not too. It's not the best case scenario for the Bucks, and there's a slim chance of it actually happening, but there could be far worse options than taking Hasheem Thabeet come draft day.

Odds of Thabeet becoming a Milwaukee Buck: 0.5%.

James Harden, SG, Arizona State, 6'5'' 222, Age: 19

Arizona State sophomore James Harden is ranked by many scouts as a top 5 talent and is expected to go in the top 10 picks of the NBA draft. Harden is probably the least flashy player of the entire top 20 potential picks in the draft but the kid can flat out ball. He is an old school player who has a good jumper, can hit the three, get to the paint and finish and just do everything in his power to get the ball in the basket. He is a true shooting guard and should be able to help an NBA team right away. He has drawn comparisons to both Brandon Roy and Manu Ginobli. Not bad company to be in to say the least. Scouts praise him for his knowledge of the game and intense work ethic.

His biggest downside is that he's not flashy, or a super-athlete by any stretch. He doesn't have an explosive game that will blow anybody away and won't beat people with his first step or with his speed. He struggled mightily in the NCAA tournament and that could be a sign that he may not come through in pressure situations.

Scouts have been on this guy for over a year and have had him rated consistently in the top 5 of the draft the entire time. While it's conceivable to think that Blake Griffin, Thabeet, Rubio all go before him and maybe 1-2 players such as Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holliday or Steph Curry slip by him as well, it seems unrealistic to think that he could last until number 10. He's too solid and to sure of a player to not be taken before that and it's a pretty sure bet that he will be.

James Harden would be a great addition to the Bucks immediately and would be a huge contributer off the bench backing up both Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. It would give the Bucks a potential lineup of Ridnour at PG, Redd and Jefferson at SG/SF with Harden backing up, Alexander/Mbah a Moute at PF and Bogut/Gadzuric at center. While not a sure-fire bet to make the playoffs by any means, it would be a team with some scoring power but a team that will still need to work on its defense. If Harden lasts until pick 10 it would seem like a pretty safe bet to say the Bucks would have to take him based on the idea of taking the best player available.

Odds of Harden being a Milwaukee Buck: 2.0%

Just What the Doctor Ordered?

The Milwaukee Brewers completed a huge comeback victory in Cleveland today in what will go down for sure as one of the most exciting games of the year.

The Brewers started off in the 1st inning with a Ryan Braun home run to take the lead 2-0. The Indians countered right back with a 2-run shot of their own to make it 2-2 after 1 inning of play. Fielder than grounded out in the 3rd but scored C. Counsell before the Indians scored 6 runs in the next 2 innings to make it 8-3 Indians. Ryan Braun than tripled to score Counsell and McGehee in the 5th before Fielder hit a sac fly to score Braun. In the 6th Counsell also hit a sac fly to make the score 8-7 still in favor of the Indians. Cleveland came storming right back with two home runs to make it 12-7 Cleveland and really made things difficult for Milwaukee. Hart hit a sac fly in the 7th to make it 12-8 but the Crew still had a long ways to go. Finally in the 8th inning Braun hit an RBI infield single and then P. Fielder hit a grand slam to take a 13-12 lead. Still in the eighth M. Gamel singled to score C. Hart to tack on the final run of the game and seal a 14-12 Brewers come from behind victory!

This may be exactly what the Brewers needed (besides a long outing by their starter to give their bullpen some much needed rest) to get them going back in the right direction. The win puts them a full game up in first place in the division and more importantly could give them some much needed momentum. What looked at one point like another long and frustrating night ended up as one of the most emotional wins of the season. Whether or not this is a turning point in the Brewers season will be found out with time, but it had to have gotten a little bit of a monkey off the Brewers back and hopefully they will come out playing more loose tomorrow.

Fielder led the way in the win going 2/3 with a home run, run and 6 rbi's! Braun meanwhile was 3/5 with 4 runs, 5 rbi's and a home run of his own. C. McGehee continues to swing a hot bat going 3/5 raising his season average to .357 and C. Hart stayed hot as well going 2-4 with a run and an rbi. Todd Coffey picked up the win for the Brewers and Trevor Hoffman bounced back with his 16th save of the season. Brewers play at Cleveland again tomorrow.

Overtime

Ryan Braun and Aaron Rodgers were all tied up in the championship match today so we are going into overtime to settle who is Sconnie Sports' favorite player. You have until Tuesday June 16th 11:00 PM central time to vote. Tell your friends and family to come and vote and check out the site in the process!

Brett Favre on Joe Buck's New Show

As most of you have I'm sure heard by now Brett Favre was on Joe Buck's new show tonight talking about his potential comeback and his surgically repaired arm. It was basically a who interview of telling us stuff that we already knew...

1. He wants to play

2. His shoulder is sore

3. If his shoulder heals, he's going to play.

4. The Vikings are interested in him playing for them.

All of these things we knew to be about 99.9% true already, this just made it 100%. The most telling part of the entire interview was when he referenced himself and the Minnesota Vikings as "we." If that doesn't tell the whole story right there I'm not sure what else will. In reality he has about a month's time frame to heal up and start getting ready for Vikings training camp. If he is not ready by the start of training camp it is almost impossible to think that the Vikings would still consider his services for this season. The drama is ongoing but we will know everything for sure soon enough.

Want to go Streaking?

Still looking for more people to sign up for ESPN's Streak for the Cash. Sign up at espn.com and join the group sconnie sports. See if you can get to number one in the group. We have three people in so far, so join, show off your sports knowledge, and then rub it in our faces on the message board!

NBA Draft

To start getting ready for the NBA Draft which is less than two weeks away, I am going to start posting 2 prospects that the Bucks could consider drafting each day until the draft begins. I will go over the strengths and weaknesses of each player, the odds that they end up in Milwaukee, and how they would fit with the Bucks if they were drafted by John Hammond and company. The Bucks have the 10th pick in the draft and with the possibility of losing both Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva they may very well be looking for point guard or power forward when the 10 spot comes up. One would think though that the Bucks will not draft necessarily for need as much as they will start drafting players to fit the Scott Skiles system and attitude.

Today's prospects are Blake Griffin and Ricky Rubio.

Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma University, 6'10'' 248 lbs, Age: 20

Blake Griffin is the consensus number 1 overall pick in the draft and it would be a major shocker if he made it to number two, much less number 10. Griffin has been compared to Amare Stoudamire, Paul Milsap, Michael Beasley, and Carlos Boozer. The truth is that he is probably a combination of all 4. He has Milsap's height and build, Boozer's rebounding and effort, Stoudamire's undeniable athleticism, and Beasley's quickness. Griffin is an extremely gifted athlete who has the potential to be an NBA superstar. He has a rare size/quickness mix, great leaping ability, and most importantly a rare ability to get to the basket. While his athleticism is incredible his pure basketball skills are still very raw. He has work to do on his post moves and jump shot and will need to become a better defender. He already has a great inside game and can matchup very well on defense simply because of his athleticism but his technique needs a lot of work.

Like I said earlier if Griffin drops to number 2 overall it would be a huge shock and I don't see the Clippers trading out of the pick. Even further than that if the Clippers did decide that they wanted to trade out of the number 1 spot, I don't foresee the Bucks being the ones to trade up and get him. Lets just say for fun though that the Bucks and Clippers did make a deal, here is a deal that would maybe work for both teams.

Clippers trade: Baron Davis (and his God-awful contract) and #1 overall Pick to Milwaukee

Bucks trade: #10 overall pick, Joe Alexander, Luke Ridnour (and his expiring contract), Salim Stoudamire (and his expiring contract) and Charlie Bell.

This deal theoretically would work and would instantly make the Bucks a contender and give them a huge "win-now" mentality. A starting lineup of B. Davis, M. Redd, R. Jefferson, B. Griffin and A. Bogut would have large potential, along with a bench that would include D. Gadzuric, L. Richard Mbah a Moute, and a 2nd round pick. For the Clippers they would rid themselves of the terrible B. Davis contract and would get back J. Alexander and the 10th overall pick in the process. Ridnour and Stoudamire bring about 7.5 million in cap savings after the season and C. Bell's contract is not too tough to swallow. They could then draft the best point guard available at number 10 and pair him with E. Gordon and Al Thornton while having Randolph, Kaman and Camby up front.

The reason it wouldn't work is because the Clippers are not going to give up the number 1 overall pick and the potential of Blake Griffin for J. Alexander and the number 10 pick in the draft, and the Bucks would be close to the salary cap with just 7 players on the roster and 0 money left to sign anybody else. But if a deal did go down between the 2 teams, it could theoretically look something like that.

If in an even crazier scenario Griffin did just last to the Bucks at number 10 the Bucks would have a formidable front-court for the foreseeable future. Bogut and Griffin could complement each other very nicely, especially on the offensive end, and defenses would have to focus their energy on both of them inside. A lineup now of Ridnour, Redd, Jefferson, Griffin, and Bogut would for sure be considered a playoff contender.

Total odds of Blake Griffin becoming a Milwaukee Buck: 0.1%

Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 6'4'' 180 lbs, Age: 18

At one point Rubio was considered to be the number 1 prospect in this class but now it is considered that he is in the top 5 of this class. There are some concerns about Rubio that I will address that could potentially push him out of the top 5 but even that is doubtful. The odds of him lasting to the Bucks at 10 aren't very good and he is also a player that I do not see the Bucks trading up to get. Rubio has great size for the point guard position which is one of the reasons why he is such a high prospect.

Rubio's game has been compared by many to that of Steve Nash. He has excellent floor vision and has all the playmaking skills that make everybody around him better. He is a point guard in its truest form and is extremely gifted in breaking down defenses and finding the weak spot. Some downsides are that he is only 180 lbs and will need to bulk up and add some size to his figure. Another thing that is going against him is that European players taken high in the draft have been extremely hit or miss. Players can look great overseas and get to the NBA and never have the same type of production. Others are able to adapt flawlessly and immediately make an impact on an NBA team. What really helped Rubio however was that he got to play in the Olympics against Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and company and was able to show that he is able to compete with NBA talent. Ricky has also been playing pro-basketball in Europe since he was 16 and has looked every bit the part of a pro player even at that age.

Much like Griffin the odds of Rubio falling to the Bucks are slim to none. He is an immensely talented player that has the ceiling to be an NBA star for years to come. If he did somehow last to the Bucks or if the Bucks would trade for him he would more than likely split time with Luc Ridnour to begin his career. Assuming by the end of the season Rubio had adapted fully to the NBA and was a full-time starter, a lineup of Rubio, Redd, Jefferson, Mbah a Moute, and Bogut could be intriguing and a playoff push wouldn't be out of the question. If Rubio lives up to his hype he should make Redd, Jefferson and Bogut better and maximize their potential. With Luc Richard as the glue guy making all the small hustle plays it could be just the thing the Bucks need.

Odds of Ricky Rubio becoming a Milwaukee Buck: 1.0%

Check back all this week and next week for the breakdown on the prospects and how they would fit as a Milwaukee Buck. Here is the schedule:

Monday: Griffin and Rubio

Tuesday: Thabeet and Harden

Wednesday: J. Hill and T. Evans

Thursday: J. Holliday and Jonny Flynn

Friday: D. Rozan and S. Curry

Saturday: B. Jennings and E. Clark

Sunday: A. Daye and J. Teague

Monday: E. Maynor and J. Johnson

Tuesday: G. Henderson and B.J. Mullens

Wednesday: T. Hansbrough and T. Williams

Thursday: D. Blair and T. Lawson

Ryan Braun vs. Aaron Rodgers

Ryan Braun advanced to the championship to face off with Aaron Rodgers. Vote now and see who will become the first ever Sconnie Sports favorite player award winner!

Brewers Week in Review

Week of June 8th-June 14th

Monday June 8th: Off day
Tuesday June 9th: vs. Rockies, lost 2-3
Wednesday June 10th: vs. Rockies, lost 2-4
Thursday June 11th: vs. Rockies, lost 4-5
Friday June 12th: vs. White Sox, won 7-2
Saturday June 13th: vs. White Sox, lost 1-7
Sunday June 14th: vs. White Sox, lost 4-5

Record: 1-5 Runs Scored: 20, Runs Against: 26, Overall Record: 34-29 (1st place NL Central)

Player of the Week

Corey Hart: 7-19, .368 average, 5 runs, 6 rbi's, 2 home runs, stolen base

Pitcher of the Week

Jeff Suppan: 6.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1.45 whip, 2.90 ERA, 5 k's, Win

Goat of the Week

J.J. Hardy: 0-19, run, rbi

While Manny Parra easily could have won this for a second consecutive week, Parra really only lost the Brewers one game, Hardy going 0-19 effected the 5 games he played in.

Players who played well:

Ryan Braun: 8/24, .333, 2 home runs, 3 runs, 4 rbi's, stolen base

Casey McGehee: 9/16, .563, home run, 4 runs, 4 rbi's

Jason Kendall: 5/14, .357, run

Mitch Stetter: 2.1 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 0.00 ERA, K'd all 7 batters he faced

Seth McClung: 6.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1.50 ERA, 2 K's

Chris Smith: 6.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 1.15 ERA, 6 K's

Players who struggled:

Craig Counsell: 1/15, .067, run, stolen base

Mike Cameron: 1/19, .053, run

Mat Gamel: 2/13, .154, home run, rbi, run

Bill Hall: 2/11, .182, run, rbi

Todd Coffey: 3.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 5.63 ERA

Carlos Villanueva: 2.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 9.00 ERA

Manny Parra: 1.2 innings pitched, 6 earned runs, 45.00 ERA

Transactions:

Activated Mark DiFelice from the Bereavement List

Optioned Mike Burns to Triple-A Nashville

Moved Rickie Weeks from the 15 day DL to the 60 day DL

Optioned Manny Parra to Triple-A Nashville

Called up Chris Narveson from Triple-A Nashville