I have one word of advice for Doug Melvin!

Nine games out of first in the NL Central. 10 games out of the wild card slot. Seven teams to leapfrog to get that selfsame Wild Card. And the Milwaukee Brewers have decided that they're all in. Okay, maybe not all in.

But they're not looking to make a deal for a player they're not going to be able to keep or the guy having the career year. And it does not allow for them to get right. Because the fact of the matter? The Brewers are a fundamentally flawed team. It's a lot of power and hoping Yovani Gallardo and rain outs the other four days of the week.

Can you tell me that any other starter has been pitching well for the Brewers? Bush's ERA is about average, but the way his command has been going, that cannot possibly last. Randy Wolf's earned every ounce of terrible that he's been this year. Narveson's been slightly unlucky but not so much where his terrible is defensible. Parra's been okay and Capuano's got too small of a sample size to tell you the whys and wherefores of his year.

You know what? I can see the other side as well. The Brewers don't have to lose Hart and Fielder this year. There are interesting pitchers in free agency that could be affordable. But? Do you really want a Bedard-Pavano-Wellenmeyer free agent class as the answer to the rotation question?

I don't.

The Milwaukee Bucks select (Tiny Gallon PF-Oklahoma)

There are two scenarios about how this pick is going to go down. He's either going to have a chip on his shoulder about falling to pick 47 and he's gonna come into the league ready to kill some suckers. He's big and powerful with a deft touch in the paint. They say he can grow up to be a rich man's Big Baby.

Or? He's gonna go into camp at about 330. He's gonna get beaten defensively by Larry Sanders. And he's going to be released by 2012.

Like I said earlier. This is what the Bucks could afford to do this year. Take a flier on a high-upside guy. No problem with it.

The Milwaukee Bucks select (Jerome Jordan C-Tulsa)

I'll tell you what? If he plays as well defensively as he did as a sophomore? He'll become overpaid on his second contract. His offensive game is serviceable. He developed a decent range from 12-15 feet. That being said?

He's a 24 year old and he's kind of soft. Also, they passed on Paulo Prestes. You could have grabbed Alabi at 47 if you were so insistent on getting a center for right now.

As a pro? I think he'll be serviceable. I'm not sure that he'll be anything more than that. .

The Milwaukee Bucks select (Darrington Hobson-SF New Mexico)

Not thrilled, but not terribly upset. Hobson's not an athlete. But he's a versatile sort. He'll give you a little bit in a lot of areas. His energy will generate a decent amount of rebound, as well as a combined 2 or 3 steals and blocks. His stride allows him to beat defenders off the dribble. And if he works on his shot? He'll be deadly. Because he's a fine point forward.

He's a good off-the-bench addition. I feel like he would have been there at 44 or 47 though.

Like I said. I could be very wrong or very right about him..

So what do I want from the Bucks?

In a nutshell? Best player available. Expanding on that, the Bucks are not without needs and desires. But here's the tree things I want the Bucks to do.

1) Get a good power forward.

The dream scenario is that Patrick Patterson falls to 15. Will it happen? Maybe. But it's not likely. The possibilities that will likely be there preclude Patterson or Cole Aldrich. But the Bucks would be better served with a great four than an potentially good five. There are serviceable 2nd round fives this year.

If Larry Sanders is available? I would be thrilled. Dude gets stronger and he's going to be a disruptive force. I can;t talk myself into Orton or Whiteside. Upside guys who fall to this spot rarely pan out.

But with guys like Craig Brackins and Jarvis Vanardo in round two? I can get behind an other option. Just so long as it's not a small forward who has the perceived value of 10-20. They all suck if they're not named Daimon James.

So suffice it to say? Patterson is the dream scenario. A more realistic scenario would be Larry Sanders or Xavier Henry. No one would say James Anderson, but I could get behind that as a pick.

2) Get a foreign dude.

I was misinformed. The #2 that's going to Jersey for CDR doesn't come due until 2012. So basically, the Bucks may have a roster space issue. Assume that Salmons, Ivey, Stackhouse, Darrell Jackson and Brezec's gone? The Bucks are at 10.

Most teams like to remain at a roster size of 13. And anyway? This draft has two tremendously interesting foreigners in the Russian Alexy Shved and the Brazillian Big Man Paulo Prestes. Though a German Big Man like Tibor Pleiss? Send him to Milwaukee and he'd feel right at home.

3) The Luc Richard.

If ever there was an opportunity to take a flier on a diamond in the rough or a straight up specialist? It's this year. If John Hammond likes Tyren Johnson as much as I do? This is the year to go after it. Now the VP of common sense may disagree with this premise. But? I would not get so upset if a flier gets taken.

Draft starts in 32 minutes: Join me on twitter to follow my live tweet.

I'm in the Sky Tonight.

There I Can Keep By Your Side
Watching the wide world Riot and hiding out.
I'll be coming home next year.

I said after the Bogut injury I would be thrilled if the Bucks got to a Game 6. The simple fact they got there with a chance to win? Gravy. Not that it doesn't hurt? But still. Seven games without Bogut is a moral victory.

That being said? There's things the Bucks can do to solidify their situation. And none of them would involve getting a spectacular free agent, either.

1) Do we need Luke Ridnour?

I'm not sure that we do. It's no offense to Luke. Luke's a tremendous 6th man. In fact? You probably could consider him one of the 30 best point guards on an NBA roster. And that's the problem. The Bucks are the sort of team that should not be paying 7 million a year for Luke.

A sign and trade would be sweet. But I don't think any team that would be interested in dealing a pick in the bottom third of the draft. It may just be worth the time and consideration to bring a guy like Bo McCalebb over from Greece instead. Dude's got a certain sort of quality to him. Fast hands, good anticipation, and no fear of attacking the basket.

And he's just 24. Bringing him over would be like an extra draft choice.

2) Do we need any veteran?

Or does any veteran want to return? I mean Jerry Stackhouse and Kurt Thomas are more than valuable rotational pieces. But if and only if they don't resign any veteran or Darnell Jackson, they'll be under the cap. And they should be in fine shape. Jennings-Salmons-Delfino-1st round draft choice-Bogut with Redd, Ilyasova, and Mbah a Moute are a fine rotation.

But Stackhouse will get more than ta prorated veterans minimum next year. And I agree he deserves it. If Thomas signs for less money? I'd be thrilled to have him and his love of How Stella Got His Groove Back. But a point of fact? These decisions are hard.

And if all three are back? John Hammond is doing it wrong.

3) I would most definitely buy a pick.

Even a pick in the early second round. Sure, they will most likely find something highly interesting in terms of a best player available scenario. But the second round has a lot of value this year. Jordan Crawford. Terrico White. Jarvis Vanardo. Craig Brackins. Sylvan Landesberg. Kenneth Faried. Heck, even Armon Johnson has interesting value as a Ramon Sessionsesque backup point guard.  And these guys will all be second round picks. Get Faried, Brackins, and Crawford? This bench will be scary.

I'll delve into basketball further later. First? A piece of Business.

B.J. Novak is now the less annoying Ryan Howard.

Now it's not the Subway pitchman's fault. If you were offered 125 million dollars over five years? Goes without saying you'd take it. I mean, you'd be taken to an asylum if you said, "No! I don't want to be paid 25 million dollars to play a sport when I'm 36! That's crazy for you to offer!"

But why Ryan Howard is so annoying is because my favorite local sports team has a first baseman of boldness and genius power. Sure, he enjoys candy a little too much, but he's strong and as long as he's a Brewer? He's going to be someone I enjoy a lot.

But with the Ryan Howard contract? There's no way he's returning. I'm not going to say that I was so naive as to believe that he was anything close to a 50/50 shot to come back. I know basic math and probabilities. But you know what?

I wanted to believe. Hope's a good thing. I mean it's hard to be an idealist upon the internet. And now? In this aspect of my life, I cannot feel good about it. Prince is as good as gone.

Ryan Howard put the final nail in the coffin.

The Five Undrafted Free Agents That Really Intrigue Me.

Now this is another bit of homerism. The fact that Blair White went to the Colts is interesting and the fact that LaGarrette Blount will probably falcon punch his way past Anthony Dixon are interesting and all. But for the Packers? There are five guys who could really be interesting. Or at least make the roster.

1) Tim Knicky (DE/OLB Stephen F. Austin) Why? Because he was a very productive defensive end in college who showed at the Texas vs. The Nation game that he can play at Outside Linebacker. If he starts fast in camp? He can force his way in.

2) Noah Shepard (QB-South Dakota) Why? Because he has great physical gifts, not to mention the fact that he fits Bill Parcells four rules for drafting a quarterback prospect. 23 wins, 3 year starter, and a senior graduate. There's a lot to like about him.

3) Chris Campbell (OT-Eastern Illinois) Why? Because he's a pretty good right tackle mauler type. There may not be so much space at the inn. But Campbell could find his way in as a right tackle.

4) Frank Zombo (OLB-Central Michigan) Why? Because he's a bit of a Connor Barwin type. Soft hands and pass rush skills mean he could grow up to be another Spencer Havner.

5) Alex Joesph (ILB-Temple) Why? Because he's a special teamer. And as a PFA? He's a cheap special teamer.

Note: I would add Sam Shields (CB-Miami) to the list. Rumor has it that he signed with the Packers. And he's a tremendous athlete. Raw as a corner, but with return skills and three college years at wideout? He could find his way into being somebody.

The Green Bay Packers Select... C.J. Wilson (DE-ECU)

It's a rule of thumb that you can never have too many pass rushers. And with C.J. Wilson, the Packers seem to have found themselves another bit of 5-technique pass rush skills. He's not going to beat someone off the corner. But his hand placement, leg drive, and general strength is plus skills. He's not going to miss a tackle that he gets to either.

Good value pick. I'm not guaranteeing greatness. But you may see him get more run this year than Mike Lane. He's the DE version of Matt Flynn, I guess.

The Green Bay Packers Select...James Starks (RB-Buffalo)

There's a distinct possiblity that we have found the heir apparent if Starks can stay healthy. What we have here is a tough inside runner who was good enough to get 34+ receptions in the three years he was healthy. 52 grabs in his junior year. He can be a third down back straight away who can stun you on a draw. He was hyperproductive when healthy and hat two years of 250+ carries.

He's not a make you miss sort of a runner in the open field. But he's a try hard blocker in pass pro. But like I said before. The Packers have found the heir apparent if Starks can stay healthy.

The Green Bay Packers Select...Marshall Newhouse (OG-TCU)

There's a theme that develops in all of Ted's drafts. Some are inexplicable. Some are straitlaced and common sense. This year? It's a draft that could run the table of awesome or be as bad as 2004. It's another pick of a guy with spectacular athletic gifts who needs work on his technique.

Again, while he's ignoring an obvious need, Marshall Newhouse's physical gifts are undeniable. He has good strength, and as a 326 pound man, he got clocked at 4.99 with his 40 yard dash. But, you remember last year when the Packers drafted Jamon Meredith? Newhouse is quite a bit more raw.

He's a guy who vibes practice squad for me. Just being honest. Won't hate it. If lightning strikes and all. But my gut says he's not going to be on the 53 Man roster come September.

The Green Bay Packers Select...Andrew Quarless (TE-Penn State)

Now watching the run on corners made me wary. And you know about my twitter feed. I have a name that I wanted. I didn't get it. Never mind the aging corners, here comes TRAMMON!

That being said? For a position that we have absolutely no need for? Quarless has a real chance to be somebody. He has the same sort of melange of skill as Jermichael Finley. Decent wheels, good frame, and solid hands. He's also strong in the receiving game.

Blocking wise? He's improving. But he's an immature kid. He'll take a play off, and he had issues at Penn State. But he'll work on special teams. And that'll help right away.

And it's not as if the Packers need Quarless right away, right? Right. Give him some seasoning? And ooh wee. This could be fun.

The Green Bay Packers select...(Morgan Burnett SS-Georgia Tech)

In terms of need? It's a decent play. Burnett has a certain Darren Sharperish vibe to him. His ballhawk skills are strong and he can killshot a receiver going over the middle. But he does have the Darren Sharper tackling problem. And that means he does have a tendency to look real bad.

They lose a 4th round pick for this. And as such, they have to wait a long while for a cornerback. They need to hit a homer for this draft to work perfectly. Burnett gets a C because of price and the fact that he's like Mike Neal. A ton of upside, but a real reason to think he won't succeed.

The Green Bay Packers select...Mike Neal DT-Purdue

In two words? Cautiously optimisitic. Mike Neal may have been a bit of a reach, but at least he's a reach with a lot of upside. His physical gifts are undeniable, and he does have a nice bit of pass rush skill to him as well. But the problem? He's undersized for a 3-4 DE. And he might not have the arm length to disengage blockers.

I don't exactly hate it. It's an inspired attempt at developing more pass rush. But I am worried that he will go the way of a Patrick Lee in that he won't be on the 2011 Packers.

The Green Bay Packers Select...Brian Bulaga (OT-Iowa)

He's not Kyle Wilson. He's not Sergio Kindle. But in terms of filling a need? It's. He's a left tackle with great skills. He had a thyroid issue he was working through and it limited him early. But he's got solid mirror skills and a good run skill to his play. He's not going to have to start straight away if necessary. The tendency to get dinged up isn't great?

But you have to love the upside. And with T.J. Lang looming as well? The O-line doesn't seem like near as much as a problem. It's a surprising pick. But it's a happy surprise. I had him 9th, remember.

The Green Bay Packers have an interesting dilemma.

Sergio Kindle, Bryan Bulaga, or Kyle Wilson? Two are a lock to be available. Who do you think the Pack should take?

UPDATE: All three of these guys are available. I fear I may be irrational toward anyone else.

The Green Bay Packers: The Final Thought Exercise.

I'll be honest. I'm fine with whatever way the Packers go. In many aspects. I wouldn't want Taylor Mays or Jerry Hughes and Jahvid Best would be vaguely disappointed. So I'm going to do this as a final thought exercise. And I will actually have a page full of current posts.

1-23: The Green Bay Packers Select...Anthony Davis (OT-Rutgers)

If Anthony Davis falls to 23? I would be thrilled. If Charles Brown does? I'd rather they went best player available. Rodger Saffold wouldn't be ready right away. Bruce Campbell? Please. Mike Iupati? Sure, if you trust T.J. Lang that much.

If Kyle Wilson is avaliable? The Packers should take him. Maybe he will? But I mocked him at seven. So maybe not. Kareem Jackson would be fine. Devin McCourty would not.

Pass-rush? If Sergio Kindle or Brandon Graham fall to the Packers, I'd bless it. Jerry Hughes can't work through the trash. Jason Pierre-Paul? Nah.

Out of the box? Jahvid Best has a nerve problem. It wouldn't be right. But it would be okay.

I still vote they look to deal here.

My Top 4 Options?
1. Anthony Davis (OT-Rutgers)
2. Kyle Wilson (CB-Boise State)
3. Sergio Kindle (OLB-Texas)
4. Brandon Graham (OLB-Michigan)

2-56: The Green Bay Packers Select...Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (CB-Indiana (Pa.))

This is a spot where the Packers seem to sit pretty. In the second round? You have the sleeper tackle Jared Veldheer. I love Jared Veldheer. But he wouldn't work in this thought exercise.

There's solid second round value for the Packers if they wanted to go after a cornerback here. Brandon Ghee and Jerome Murphy may not fit. But? Dominique Franks and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah would be great fits.

Also if they just had to go after a pass rusher here? There's intrigue. A whole lot of great pass rushers with instinct issues. A.K.A. The Ricky Sapp.

Running back is cool as well. Jonathan Dwyer or a Montario Hardesty. I would enjoy that if the Packers grabbed either one. However? Ben Tate makes me scream the big no.

The rawness of Chad Jones makes me wary if he goes round 2. If he goes round 3? Perhaps.

Top 4 choices.
1. Jared Veldheer
2. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
3. Jonathan Dwyer
4. Vladimir Ducasse

3-88: The Green Bay Packers select...Myron Lewis (FS-Vanderbilt)

After Round 2? There's less of a need to drop a top 4. If you remember my last one, I went blitzing 3-4 OLB. But Myron Lewis is agile enough to play corner back. But the thing of it is? He can also be the ultility secondary man if necessary. You can play the corner. You can play strong safety? Sure. Free safety? Right.

I'd love it if he went here.

4-122 The Green Bay Packers select...Roddrick Muckelroy (OLB-Texas)

They'll look to deal here as well. That is if Muckelroy isn't gone. He's a strong, instictive player, who plays fast in pads. He's the sort of guy who can cover most running backs and is a sure tackler and a pretty good blitzer. Brad Jones is pretty good. But I think Muckelroy can be better.

5-154: The Green Bay Packers select...James Starks (RB-Buffalo)

If the Packers are going to draft a running back. And it's likely they will? Starks is just different enough that he can be a fine back-up. Good power, soft hands, and decent athleticism. He may not be completely dissimilar from Ryan Grant. Then again? He may be as good.

5-169: The Green Bay Packers select...Blair White (WR Michigan State)

He's the sort of receiver who hates to drop the ball. I know. He'd be the 5th receiver as a Packer. But that would be fine. He's done it before. He willed himself to a #1 receiver. He's done it before. He can do it again.

6-193: The Green Bay Packers select...Nolan Carroll (CB-Maryland)

Raw? Yes. Injuries and a position switch leave him here. But here's a guy who's 6'1" and ran a 40 under 4.4. But he's a former receiver with great agility with only room to grow in terms of his skills. And? And. A willing special teamer. I say yes. He plays the Trevard Lindley role in this thought exercise.

7-230: The Green Bay Packers select...Andrew Tyshovnytsky (OT-Fordham)

I know some of you may think me trying to pull a fast one. That's a fake name! And I say, the protector of John Skelton is not! He is the sort of man who murdered his pro day. A 315 pounder rocking 33 reps on the bench and a 40 time under 5? Nice. He's also the sort of guy with experience. 28 starts in 4 years. I can't pronounce it. But I have to bless it.

Be back in about 90 minutes.

If I was Drafting for the Packers?

I'm want to do this sort of thing as a thought exercise. If I had control of the Packers, what would I do? And it's only for my home team. So yeah. Here's how it would go.

1-23: The Green Bay Packers Select...Kareem Jackson (CB-Alabama)

I would bet my non-existent farm that unless a Kyle Wilson or a Anthony Davis are available at 23? Ted's likely dealing down. Last year was supposed to be a poor year for picks, thus the rare trade-up. As for me? I don't trust Charles Davis. Ryan Matthews isn't that sort of dynastic change of pace from Ryan Grant either.

So that leaves the secondary. Plenty of mocks have the Packers going with Devin McCourty out of Rutgers. But it's not something I'd agree with. McCourty is a corner built for a zone system. The Packers love to play man to man in the secondary. And with Kareem Jackson, you had a guy who was consistently challenged in the biggest conference in the NCAA and was shown to be a success.

2-56: The Green Bay Packers Select...Jared Veldheer (LT-Hillsdale)

Here's where things get interesting. At the end of the second round you have to start considering names like Dexter McCluster, Montario Hardesty, Ben Tate, and Jonathan Dwyer as well as the other seemingly glaring need in terms of a Vladimir Ducasse and a you can never have to many pass rushers scenario in Ricky Sapp. And did you mention that Atari Bigby is sort of injury prone? Plenty of directions to go here.

McCluster would be the sort of electric weapon that the Packers don't have in the backfield with Ryan Grant. Give him ten touches a game and that could well be enough to change the complexion of a game. But can he get to 185 pounds without losing a step? Because your average waterbug is about 10-15 pounds heavier than McCluster, and even then it nearly takes an executive order to get them 15 touches in a year.

I'm going on the assumption that Hardesty is gone, because he's been rising up since this process began. And if he was there at 56? He would be the sort of guy who would be spectacular as a fit in Green Bay. He's a slasher extraordinaire. And that's cool.

I would eliminate Ben Tate because he reminds me of Chris Brown and already has over six hundred carries in his system.  And as for Jonathan Dwyer? I don't know why he's falling. But...

As for the obvious tackle scenario? At 56 small school sleeper time. Out of UMass? Vladimir Ducasse. Fun name, but he's a guard. The Packers aren't in need of that so much. But the thing about Jared Veldheer is that he's got a lot of sleeper in him. Physically stunning. He dominated division two. And he's not a waist bender either. He's just tall.

3-88: The Green Bay Packers select...Dekoda Watson (OLB-Florida State)

You can never have too much pass rush, and especially when you're on a team that lost a weapon like Aaron Kampman. And whiole Dekoda is somewhat raw as to the disengagement of a run defense, he can become a major contributor for what the Packers need right away.

4-122 The Green Bay Packers select...Kyle Calloway (OT-Iowa)

This is the sort of guy who's a tailor made right tackle. You can have him help inside or he can move Tauscher inside. He's an angry and mean man who gained a great amount of knowledge in the Packers Zone Blocking System. He's kind of like T.J. Lang, he won't start right away, but he'll see the field by the end of the year.

5-154: The Green Bay Packers select...Trevard Lindley (CB-Kentucky)

He's the sort of guy who was hovering on the end of the 1st round as the season started. An ankle injury and an atrocious Senior Bowl turn his stock into...this. But he's still a ballhawk. And he's still the guy who can diagnose most wide receiver routes. And he'll have a big opportunity here.

5-169: The Green Bay Packers select...Joique Bell (RB-Wayne State)

Yeah, his 40-time was crap. And yeah, he may be a D-2 stud like Xavier Omon. But here's the thing. He's got great hands, a willingness to passblock, and short yardage Dark Vengance! He'll be a nice third down back to start with and there's a shot at something more. He's got the lateral quickness of a mastermind. One cut and go!

6-193: The Green Bay Packers select...Darian Stewart (SS-South Carolina)

Atari Bigby is breaking down. South Carolina prospects always seem to be drafted two to three rounds before their upside. And Darian Stewart is the sort of safety who's at his best...in the box. Yeah. What up?

7-230: The Green Bay Packers select...Freddie Barnes (WR-Bowling Green)

Because he reminds me of James Jones. Yeah. What up?

My advice to Simon (on Sports)

In Regards to Manny Parra? I have to tell you that he has moved back into the general direction of the lefty pitcher with upside. If you look at his BAbip from last year, there is reason to believe that he will be better this year. And he has been better at limiting his baserunners in the small sample size. His WHIP is 1.25 for the spring. He's currently locked in a matcuhp with Dave Bush for the 4th starter.

Right now? Bush has shown the better stats. And I think if the Brewers aren't going to do anything with Suppan? The place where he can do the least damage is as the 5th starter. So the loser goes into the Seth McClung long relief role. In short. Hold. But be ready to drop him at the first sign of a sexy waiver pickup if he doesn't start hot.

Can I do 200 words on a spare parts trade?

Because someone has to discuss this Ray Olmedo and Matt Treanor trade. And that someone will be me.

Ironically, this does have some sort of value for the Brewers. Treanor was going to have to walk away. They had no room for him in Triple-A and George "the Animal" Kottaras looked like he was going to be the stop gap as the back-up catcher. There was no room at the inn for him.

But that being said? The Brewers signed a player to a minor league deal in Luis Cruz who mangled his leg during winter ball. He was the good defense triple A middle infielder glove who we would break the glass to grab in case of emergency. But yeah. That didn't work. So, enter Rainer Olmedo.

To expect anything of any offensive value from Olmedo is naive. His age 27 and age 28 years had Triple A OPS hovering around Jason Kendall territory. His defense is pretty good as a middle infield glove. But you know what? It's okay. It's a warm body that if it all breaks right? He's in Nashville.

An inconsequential trade. But they got something for someone who was going to force an issue for the Brewers and walk away on Thursday. And that's cool. I guess.

Dollar tree middle infielder for the win.