Da Bucks
Finally got rid of Magloire for 3 players from the Blazers: PG Steve Blake, PF Brian Skinner and C Ha Seung-Jin. Blake is a nice outside shooter and Ty over at Bucks Diary puts it best in saying he's a "Steve Kerr"-type player who will fill in some minutes off the bench and hit a couple 3's and not embarrass himself too much on the defensive end. Skinner had his best season while with the Bucks back in '04 so it's obvious the Bucks are hoping he can recreate that season, although it's a bit croweded at that 4 spot. Jin, well, let's just say I'd be shocked if he even gets a jersey made with his name on it. No chance he'll be around. A so-so deal for Magloire, but I can live with it as he was fairly useless anyway.
Da Brewers
Similar feeling on the Lee trade. We get Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and Francisco Cordero. We had to also give up Nelson Cruz, but we do seem to have a lot of options for the OF now. Cordero can make the bullpen better if he can regain his form from 2 years ago. Besides, Turnblow needs a break to get his head together. Some are upset at the deal, but Lee was not coming back, he wouldn't even really negotiate so it was get something or nothing for him. Not a deal that blew me away, but it wasn't awful either. It's all going to boil down to how Cordero does, IMO. If he can become a reliable closer, then Turnblow can come in as a set-up man. This suddenly makes the bullpen look extremely good. Would remind me of the Hawkins/Guardardo tandem in MN a couple of years back.
Da Packers
Training camp is here! Which means that Favre does his yearly schtick on how good the team is, does he believe it? To some extent, but it's mostly to build up the young team he's on and make the media think he's completely happy he came back. People get all riled up over individual practices and such. One day, Woodson gets burned a bunch, everyone panics and rips on him. Next day he gets 3 picks and he's suddenly a shut-down corner. It's training camp people. Guys are learning their responsibilities and getting comfortable with their teammates and systems. Coaches will gush over some players and how great they are doing and that they have a real good shot at making an impact. The usual stuff. I look at camp in several lights:
- Are there any major holdouts? No. Score one for the good guys.
- Are there any major injuries? Not yet. Score another one.
- Are there any projected starters that are missing multiple practices? Again, not yet. Score another one.
These are the items that matter to me. I don't worry myself too much about 1 bad practice, when the guy has about 3 or 4 in a row, then one can worry, but the coaches pull him and someone else gets a shot. So there you have it. I'm just enjoying that there's football again and that the Packers season is only a few short weeks away.
Some may say that I'm burying my head in the sand about the shortcomings on this team. What about the OL? How is Green going to do? Who's our #2 WR? These will work themselves out. I'm not saying there are issues with this team, there are. But to put a microscope on practices at the beginning of August and label them as the truth? That is simply silly.
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