By Dave Roloff Published Jul 19, 2003 at 5:18 AM

(My previous columns have led people enterprising enough to know or find out my e-mail address to send me questions. Some of the better ones are listed and answered below. Questions can be sent to roloff@onmilwaukee.com. Questions are subject to edits for grammar and implicit material.)

Who would be a good candidate to replace George Karl as head coach of the Bucks after this year? Brian-Milwaukee

This is an interesting question because it is looking more and more like George will not be back—which doesn't bode well for his effort level this year. A young energetic assistant probably will be the way to go. A guy like Terry Porter, who is an assistant under Rick Adelman in Sacramento, seems to be a logical choice. That is if he still doesn't hold a grudge from the Bucks selecting Jerry "Ice" Reynolds over him.

With the so-called mid-point of the season behind us, do you foresee the Brewers changing their approach with the likes of Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson?  As all-stars, they are the only position players that other teams may value and return major league ready prospects.  I understand that fan interest is at play with these two players, but they aren't getting any younger and we could end up with nothing if they leave after next year or get injured. Paul-Milwaukee

This is what will make or break Doug Melvin as the Brewers GM. There are good arguments for both sides.

When all of the youngsters from Huntsville and Beloit make the team, they will still need veteran clubhouse leadership. While they aren't getting any younger, Sexson (28) and Jenkins (28) are not in anyway old and are really just getting to the prime of their careers. Also it is tough to trade the two guys that want to be here and turn the ship around.

On the other side of the coin, Prince Fielder seems to be the future at first base and Sexson's value may not get any higher because he is relatively cheap at $5.25 million a year. Plus power is always coveted. The Brewers could probably get two top-notch prospects for Sexson to add to what seems to be a solid base of talent. One aspect that needs to be ignored is that the Brewers don't want to trade these guys because they fear the fans will revolt and not come the park. The fans don't go to the park now to see Jenkins and Sexson and there isn't a fan in this city that would still complain if the team were winning without them in a few years.

In other words, if there is a fence I am sitting on it.

What do you think about the decision by MLB to give the All-Star winning league home field advantage for the World Series?  Mrs. J.-Milwaukee

There was definitely a change in the intensity of which the game was played on Tuesday. When was the last time a manager argued a call in an all-star game? It was a great idea that sent a message to the players and the coaches that this game needs some spark and the private jets can wait until after the game. As for the home field aspect, anything is better that alternating years.

Dave, who is the greatest WWF champ of all-time? Is it Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker or HHH? Morris-Milwaukee

Without question: "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.

Of the four majors on the PGA tour (U.S. Open, Masters, British & PGA), which do you feel is the most important to win and why? PH-Milwaukee

I would say it is very close between The Masters and The U.S. Open. The Masters seems to have the edge due to the lore of Augusta National and the Green Jacket.

Why do you consider baseball players athletes? They are big terds (sic) for the most part. Mike Culbert-Milwaukee

Interesting opinion since you misspelled turd. If they weren't good athletes, then everyone would be able to play. To put it in perspective, if a hitter fails seven out of 10 times throughout his career, he is a hall of famer. That is how difficult the game is. The best athletes in the world can't hit a curveball or throw a ball 90 mph over 100 times in a game. Playing 162 games in a season is not that easy either.

What are your views on the Pete Rose ban from the HOF and MLB?

Boos-Somerset, NJ

What does Pete Rose being banned from baseball have to do with the Hall of Fame? The Hall has continued to state that they are a separate entity in order for them to have the power to force certain players to enter the Hall wearing a specific team's cap.

Rose has paid the price of his errors and it's time to let the "Hit King" in. Maybe a few more people would watch the game today if more players played like Rose.

Dave, we have heard that you are a man of rather generous proportions. When you sit down to watch your favorite sporting event, what do you munch on? Thanks! Mike-Franklin

At home, it is Old Dutch butter braid pretzels and a Captain Morgan and Coke. On the road, a bucket of hot wings is the only way to go.

Do you think during the seven-night stand in New Jersey, that Springsteen will play Rosalita each night? I'm going to night six and seven, and am worried he won't play it those nights. Worried-Milwaukee

My concert experience tells me that Rosalita is a lock for both nights. Actually if you played five Bruce songs in a row, I may not be able to tell which one is Rosalita. At least Miller Park will be sold out at least once this year.

What's the deal with the Brewers at home? At least when the Brewers are on the road they are close to a .500 team. Other than the fact Miller Park is 25 percent full for all the games, I don't see why there should be so much of a difference. Mark-Franklin

I can't explain why the Brewers don't play well at home. I think that these guys truly do care about turning this franchise around and they want to bring fans back to the ballpark. It looks at times like they are all pressing when they have larger crowds—their record is 1-5 in games with an attendance more than 30,000.

With escalating ticket prices and a lower quality team on paper, how do the Bucks market this year's team so fans will come and watch? Dan-Cudahy

As we all know, winning is the way to bring fans to the game in this city. This Bucks team will at the very least be interesting. I think they will be about a .500 basketball team but a hard playing, scrappy, exciting to watch .500 instead of the lazy, lackluster, disappointing .500 of the previous two years. Plenty of good seats will be available down at the BC this year.

What are your feelings on the newly signed seven-footer for MU? Can one big guy really make the difference? Shawn-Milwaukee

I don't really know that much about him, his name is Mike Kinsella. He went to High School at Marshall High School in Rochester, MN. He is a transfer from Rice University. He seemed to be recruited by the who's who of college basketball, which is always a good sign. What I do know is that he is a very athletic. Greg Claussen he is not. Tom Crean's reputation precedes his decisions, so my guess is that this guy will be a solid contributor.

Why didn't the White Sox fire Jerry Manual? Greg-Cudahy

I think there are multiple reasons for this. First, the White Sox didn't want to have any negative publicity going into the all-star weekend. Secondly, Jerry Reinsdorf does not like to shell out cash for players or managers that no longer work for the organization. My guess is that if they don't get hot real quick, they will have to fire him. Losing five out of six to the Devil Rays and the Tigers doesn't get you manager of the year votes.

Despite the win-loss record, I personally feel the Milwaukee Brewers have made some progress in the year 2003. I think it comes straight from management, but it seems that the fundamentals, the attitude and style have all improved. What are your thoughts? Dave Misky-Milwaukee

I think they have made more than some progress. The hardest thing to do is change the losing attitude that an organization can have. I believe this franchise has finally started to believe that they are in the process of building a winner. Ned Yost should get some manager of the year votes despite have the 2nd worst record in the NL. He took a team with a defeatist attitude and transformed them into a scrappy bunch. They certainly don't have the horses to win, but they do play hard everyday. This team is very enjoyable to watch, you could not say that last year. The talent is on the way, but regardless of talent level or payroll the attitude needs to be a wining one.

How will the Brewers starting lineup look in 2005? Meat-Milwaukee

That is tough to call be here she goes. The lineup: 2-Palmisano 3-Fielder 4-Weeks 5-Hart or Helms 6-Hardy 7-Belcher 8-Krynsel 9-Gwynn. The rotation: 1-Sheets 2-Parra 3-Jones 4-Martinez 5-Franklin. The closer may be Ben Diggins or Nick Neugebauer.

I would like to hear your take on Skinner/Strickland. Angie-Milwaukee

Snooze and bore. Skinner will be serviceable, but with the salary cap and the luxury tax being raised, it offered the Bucks the chance at going after someone. Olawakandi signed with the T-Wolves for $4.5 million. He would have looked pretty nice in the middle for the Bucks. Three years for Erick Strickland? If he plays more than 10 minutes it will be a waste of T.J. Ford's development. What about a guy like Antonio Daniels?

Who are your top five fantasy RBs and QBs? I think there are no clear-cut elite players this year. Brian-Milwaukee

I agree, I don't think there are any clear-cut fantasy studs. Let me preface this list by saying that I finished last in my league last year.

QB: Warner, Vick, Favre, Culpepper, Gannon Sleeper: Patrick Ramsay

RB: Faulk, Williams, James, Holmes, McCallister, Tomlinson Sleeper: Jamal Lewis

What are the Bucks doing? I was a big fan of the "Big Three" and I trusted your opinion when you said trading Ray Allen was a good thing. But I'm starting to lose confidence in the Bucks. How do you feel about their recent trades and what do you see as their game plan? Melissa-Milwaukee

I am not sure what they are trying to do. I was a huge fan of the Allen-Payton trade because I thought we were stealing Desmond Mason from the Sonics. Then we lost Payton. All of the trades added up go like this: Robinson, Allen, Cassell and a 1st round pick for Kukoc, D. Mason and Joe Smith—not what I would call good.

The Bucks did get younger more athletic and cheaper. The jury is still out on T.J. Ford and on Tim Thomas for that matter. They will be interesting to watch, but don't plan on any parades down Wisconsin Avenue anytime soon.

With John Navarre at the helm, do the Michigan Wolverines have what it takes to win the Big Ten this season? Dan-Cudahy

I would have to say that Ohio St. is still the favorite in the Big Ten, but Michigan will be fun to watch. My opinion on John Navarre has changed quite a bit over the last year. He made drastic improvements with his footwork and timing last year. He had a great Citrus Bowl against Florida and should be the top QB in the Big Ten this year. Navarre is just another in the long line of solid Michigan QBs.

When will the Brewers give up on using Mike DeJean as their only closer? For one, he is just decreasing his already slim trade value by blowing every other save. Two, wouldn't a closer by committee with some of the younger arms be worth a shot. Vizcaino probably would have been the odds on choice for the closer this year except he has done a complete 180 from last year. What's the solution? Mark-Elkhorn

DeJean will be traded in the next two weeks making it bullpen by committee. They don't have a viable solution and Vizcaino is a mystery. The Brewers pen is chock full of serviceable guys. None of them have the stuff to be a closer. My guess is that they won't blow more than seven saves in the second half though.

What are Kenseth's chances at winning the Winston Cup this year? Andy-Milwaukee

Who cares? Turn Left!

How long will Brett Favre play for? I think he plays two more years, passes 200 consecutive games played (right now I think he is at 171 or so), and goes into Canton as a first ballot with his legacy secured as the IRON MAN of football. Just one opinion, would love to hear yours'. Pete-New Jersey

There are so many questions that come into play when talking about when Favre is going to hang them up. Winning a championship would definitely would be a great way to go out. God forbid that it is because of injury. Brett talks a lot about just wanting to ride on his lawn mower, but I don't see him being able to give the game that easily. We all know how competitive he is and I don't think he will be able to walk away from the competition as easy as he tries to make it sound. Sometimes I think he tries to convince himself that eventually he won't be able to play at a MVP caliber.

I love the way the Brewers are handling the farm system right now by leaving "the future" together down in Huntsville. I am a little concerned, however, that they might rush these boys to the show before they are ready, i.e. Ben Sheets, Nick Neugebauer. What is the timetable for these boys to get to the show on a full-time basis? When the Brewers do decide they are ready, will they keep any proven veterans other than pitchers-such as Richie Sexson, Geoff Jenkins or Scott Podsednik? Will we see any of these future stars on the roster in September to give them a glimpse of the bigs? Chris-Madison

This will be the finale ... I want to thank everyone for weighing in, I hope you enjoy this format and I hope that we will be able to do this again.

The timetable for these guys to start playing in the bigs is the second half of next year at the earliest. I believe they will try to put a stud team together in Indianapolis next year and let all of those guys have another year of winning and losing together. That also appeases the folks down in Indy who are hinting that the will pull out of their affiliation with the Brewers if they don't get a better team. The Brewers don't want that because Indy is by far the best Triple A facility in the land.

The big decisions for Doug Melvin are how to mold the couple good players we have with the youngsters. There still isn't much outfield talent coming up, except for Dave Krynsel, so I don't see a guy like Podsednik going anywhere or Jenkins for that matter. Sexson on the other hand is sitting on top of a logjam and has the highest trade value. It would sad to see a guy like that go, but it may be a necessary evil in order to put the rebuilding process over the top. We have talked about the Twins and the Knoblauch trade. Division titles and pennants are the goal.

Dave was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh where he graduated in Business while playing four years of football. He is a sports junkie who, instead of therapy, just watches the Bucks and the Brewers. Dave is a season ticket holder for the Brewers, Bucks and Packers, as well as a football coach at Greendale High School. Dave still likes to think he still can play baseball but has moved on to the more pedestrian sports of bowling and golf. Dave is a Pisces and it depends on whom he is walking with to determine whether he likes long walks on the beach. Dave writes with an encyclopedic knowledge and a sarcastic flare. Mainly to insure his sanity.