Normally, I would just put these types of links in the FanShot format or place them in the dark alleyway of APC, but this is just too golden to not elevate this to FanPost status.

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I often don't write many FanPosts, but I think this is a good time to start up again.  I've been a pretty avid listener of talk radio and pay attention to blogs.  One common theme that is struck is that the Brewers aren't beating the good teams and feasting mainly on the lower end.  I don't know why Milwaukee fans do this.  It is as if they don't want to give the team credit or are leveraging their expectations for failure.  I certainly hope not because we have a very special team this year.

Anyway, I took it upon myself to confirm or disprove my theory that the Brewers are actually playing well enough against the best in the NL.  I know we got a poor shake in Interleague, but thankfully we will get to see those teams in the World Series should that happen.  I looked at any team--in the current standings--that may have a shot at making it to the playoffs.  Teams with .500 records and are not more than 9 games out of their divisional race since the current wild card leader is ahead of both the other divisional leaders.

It may surprise you, it may not.  But if you take my hand, I can show you this wonderful world of very basic baseball analysis--if you want to call it that--after the jump!  (Click the link to get in the mood!)

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I know this is primarily a Badger site, but it could be good to show some love to the Whitewater program.  They are in the championship game again making it the 6th straight appearance.  They will be playing Mount Union--also making their 6th straight appearance and 14 in the last 17 years--in the Division III National Championship game.

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I recently did a profile on Brandon Jackson with some reasonable readership and commentary.  I would like to do another, but I would like to see what Packer or unit I should take on.  In doing a profile, I prefer to look at certain statistics and applications.  I also provide a small biography and context of where they are in their career.

Statistically I think it is a good start to look at Year-over-year (Y/Y) stats, what have you done for me lately stats, and what did they do against who stats.  I also like to look at some of the more recent "memes" revolving around the player to see if there is a valid reason for them to start in the first place.

Now applying the stats can get a little tricky and there are many ways to analyze them.  I love to compare players, but that is not always a great method.  There are so many external factors that can affect performance: teammates, teams played, and game-planning among other things.  You can put an emphasis on the context of the game.  Say the Packers get up early in a game.  This would skew statistics against a passing game (in theory) while would bolster the run game.  Kind of along the lines of context, there is situation analysis.  How well does this player do at time x.

I am going to provide a list a players and a poll.  I will give pros and cons of doing a profile on each and delve into some anecdotal reasons to do each.  Let the fun begin!

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After Ryan Grant's big injury, it left a lot of us wondering how we are going to fill his shoes. Grant added a dimension to the Packer offense that kept opposing defenses honest with his big play ability. He pounded the rock for 1253 yards in 2009, 1203 yards in 2008, and 988 in 2007 (he started in 7 games and carried the ball for the most carries in 10 games). So naturally Packer Nation had a reason to worry and wonder who would take over the rushing game...

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The regular season starts tomorrow (forget that Red Sox win!), and it sounds like a good time to offer up our predictions on the year.  For bragging rights at the end of the year, let's see who is the best with the Crystal Ball.  Just simply copy-pasta this into the comments section to submit! 

If the moderators come up with a more fool-proof method with one of those nifty poll-data collector things, I would certainly welcome that.  Much easier to keep score with those!  May modify this to include mid-season scoring. :D

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With the OT win by the Bears, the Vikings now have no chance for the 1st spot and have lost their firm grasp on the 2nd spot.  Right now the Eagles would have the 2nd spot making the Vikings have to play in the Wild Card week.  The only thing we know about the playoffs for certain are:

1) Saints are the #1 and have HFA.

2) There are 6 teams for sure in that can almost occupy any seed (except the Packers).

3) Week 17 is going to be exciting since a lot of the playoff teams are playing one another...

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I put together a small, but simple chart showing the series wins vs. losses.  It adds how many times they met that opponent throughout the year.  This is probably somewhere else on the web, but I couldn't find it.  I like series totals because it does add a little insight on team fluctuations throughout the season.

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First FanPost.  So it may be messy!

Bill Hall.  You stole our hearts in 2006.  35 Jacks, 85 RBI, 270 Avg!!!  We fell in love!   Your sorcery, though, blinded us into signing you to a back breaker deal.  Bill Hall Love Potion worked, but it was dispelled later by your 2007-2009 run.

Brewer fans even immortalized you in Chuck Norris fashion

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