Brewers Continue To Win Despite Injuries

 During a MLB season injuries is something that every team must deal with to be successful. Over the last few years, the Milwaukee Brewers have done a great job dealing with this issue. How does Milwaukee do it where so many other teams seem to struggle with it. Let's take a look at why this is possible and why other teams have not adopted this approach.

Over the last decade the Milwaukee Brewers have really made a great effort in two areas. That is their farm system and drafting the right players year after year. Where most teams are looking to sign high dollar free agents the Brewers are frugal spenders and try to build teams in another way. Through the draft and promoting guys through the farm system.

Milwaukee has a Top 10 farm system that continues to get better every year. This means when they need players through injuries they bring them up to fill a vital role. These players know that they will be called up eventually and work hard in the farm system so they can be productive player's when the reach the Big Leagues.

Drafting players have changed over the years. There was a time where drafting was watching tape and visiting players in person. That still happens, but today’s scouting takes many different things into account before drafting a player. Milwaukee has had great success traveling all over the world looking for top talent.

Milwaukee has also done well drafted guys off the radar and making the most out of them. Milwaukee success has been mixing veterans with young players and they don’t plan to tinker with success.

Could The Nebraska Cornhuskers Be One of The Biggest Surprises In College Football?

 The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and fanbase has seen many lean years lately, but that could change in 2024. Matt Rhule was brought in to turn the program around and bring back the glory days. The first year under Rhule was a learning process for fans and  players alike. Rhule got the Cornhuskers to a 5-7 record, but they were in many of their seven losses in 2023-2024 season. What does the 2-24-2025 season look like for the Cornhuskers and their fans.

Matt Rhule has always been good at recuriting and the off-season seen him make some great strides. Maybe his No.1 move was being able to get one of the best quarterbacks to decommit from Georgia to come to Nebraska. Dylan Raiola was a highly prized player that many top colleges wanted. Rhule and the lure of Nebraska was too much and Raiola transferred to Nebraska.

Maybe one of the things that will help Nebraska turn it around this season is the defense. Last season they were one of the better units in all of college football. If they can repeat the same success in 2024 Nebraska could make huge strides. The Nebraska defense sets the table for the Cornhuskers and is a vital cog in this turnaround.

Nebraska still needs great quarterback play as last season that position turned the ball over to many times. Raiola is a huge upgrade at that position and will be very important to there success. If Raiola can play well and not turn the ball over look for the Cornhuskers to be one of the bright stories in 2024.

Does Kenny Lofton And Bernie Williams Deserve To Be Hall Of Famers

 When it comes to the Baseball Hall Of Fame two players always come to my mind. Bernie Williams and Kenny Lofton both were very good players, but may never get in the Hall. Many people why this happens as both players had good stats, but when it comes to the Hall Of Fame they fell short. Does this mean they are not worthy? No far from it. Let's take a look at why they fell short today.

Both were multiple times All-Stars and won numerous Gold gloves in the process. Defensively, both players saved numerous runs for their respected teams. Talent level was there for both players without na doubt. So what is preventing them from getting in the hall of fame. 

Stats play a big part and neither player reach the numbers they needed to get in, but there is more to the story then just numbers. Many times it comes down to being in the right place at the right time. For Williams and Lofton they were on the ballot when there were many good players of there skill level or better. This limited the vote that they got, but it's part of the process.

Even though Williams or Lofton may never seen the Hall Of Fame it doesn't diminish from what they gave to baseball and their many fans. Watching Lofton and Williams was a joy. It's too bad that there hard work wasn't rewarded with a Hall Of Fame spot. It happens and they are added to the list of players who almost made it.

NIL Has It Been Good Or Bad For College Football?

 When the NIL was first mention I had my reservations about if it was going to be good for college football. After seeing it implemented there are good points and bad points about NIL in college football. Today. let's take a look at NIL and how it has impacted college football.

Many people thought that NIL deals would not impact college football, boy were they so wrong. It has made an impact many people never really thought about. One of the biggest ways is players are requesting money sometimes before they even visit a campus. This means you got to pay them to just come visit. A good quarterback can run into the millions of dollars if you want him real bad. This pay me to play model works for some, but for others it has not. 

College Football teams like it if they have deep pockets. They can virtually buy any player if they have enough cash and they are willing to move to a different school. Players are looking out for there best interest, so you really cannot blame them for that as well. Many times it works out for both parties, but sometimes it's a failed marriage as well. 

Building a college football team through NIL deals is also something schools are experimenting with as well. Some schools have seen building this way as a quicker way to building a contender when you only need a few pieces to complete a team. Love it or hate it NIL is here to stay for the long run.

 

Casey Atwood Talent Does Not Always Equal Success At The Highest Levels

 Casey Lee Atwood at one time was called the next Jeff Gordon, but was never able to live up to the hype. Does this mean his career was a failure? Of course it does not make him a disappointment. There are many different things that goes into a drivers success many of those things are beyond his control Let's take a closer look at Casey Atwood's career and why he is another race car driver who just did not land where he needed to be.

In 75 races in Nascar's Top Division he ran 75 races with four Top 10 finishes. Those kind of numbers will not get you a long-term contract anywhere in Nascar these days. When he drove in the top circuit he needed more stability and help which really wasn't available to him. I think he would have been great if teamed with a Mark Martin who could have showed him the ropes and what he needed to improve on. Many times when it comes to racing the right fit is so important.

The Nascar Xnfinity Series Casey Atwood seen great success. He garnered 2 wins and 30 Top 10 finishes in 158 starts. Atwood excelled in this series which helped send him to the top circuit. He never could duplicate what he did in this series and that is a shame. Maybe he needed to stay a little longer in this series, but when the Cup comes calling it's tough to refuse.

Many people feel Casey Atwood's career was a failure, but that's not my take. He did the best he could with what rides he had. No race car driver goes out to fail. Many times it comes to being in the right place at the right time. That never happen for Casey and that is a shame. We never got to see what he could have done in the right situation. 

Most people overlook Casey Atwood, but no matter what anyone says about him he did always try his best. You really can't ask anymore for a young man who was trying his best against some of the best drivers in the world.

Brewers Have No Answers Against Yankees In Back to Back Routs

 The Milwaukee this weekend has a series with the New York Yankees and it did not end well. The Brewers suffered back to back losses to the Yankees giving up 30 runs. Is this the end of the Brewers hot start? Or is it just rough patch the Brewers must overcome. 

Everyone talked about this series as a measuring stick for the Brewers, but I looked at it in a different way, It gave the young Brewers a chance to see a veteran team with some young stars who were very good. The New York Yankees are a very good hitting team and in the off-season they improved their pitching as well.

Against a Brewers staff that has struggled at times the Yankees took batting practice in the last two games. This is a learning experience that will make the Brewers better down the road. You  will have games like this and you lose and move on from it. Pitching is a work in progress for the Brewers so there will be growing pains. 

Many fans are upset at the poor pitching performances, but it's a long season and there will be games like this as a team. The key is just improve over the season and the Brewers will be fine. There will be ups and downs, so this series does not worry me one bit.

NHL Schedule March 26, 2024

 NHL Schedule March 26, 2024

Boston at Florida   7:00pm

Philadelphia at New York Rangers   7:00pm

Carolina at Pittsburgh 7:00pm

Detroit at Washington 7:00pm

New Jersey at Toronto  7:30pm

Vegas at Nashville  8:00pm

Edmonton at Winnipeg  8:00pm

Calgary at Chicago  8:30pm

Montreal at Colorado 9:00pm

Anaheim at Seattle  10:00pm

Columbus at Arizona  10:00pm

Dallas at San Jose  10:30 pm