Unverified Voracity Needs Mulch Answers Comment Count

Brian

mulch-Charlottesville-VA

MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULCH

I HAVE QUESTIONS. When did Beilein think up "Mulch Madness" and how excited was he to send that tweet? Why does John Beilein need 15 cubic yards of mulch? I need 15 cubic yards of mulch because my entire yard is mulched. Does John Beilein also have a no-grass yard? Did he clear this with compliance? (A: Yes, obviously.) Did that mean the players couldn't have snacks?

Where did he get his mulch? How much did it cost? Is it cheaper than the mulch I buy? What's with the pitchforks, doesn't the mulch fall through? Is it stupid to use a snow-shovel instead of these pitchfork things? That's what I do. Will I force Ace to ask all these questions at a press conference? (A: Yes, obviously.)

No. Uh, Sir. It's 2010 all over again:

He said Saturday he feels the game hasn’t been emphasized enough by Michigan.

“To be quite honest I really feel like over the years, in recent years, there hasn’t been the emphasis that I’m used to being put on that game,” Woodson said.

“Every game has been out on the same level of that game and that’s not the way we were brought up, that’s not the way we were raised around here. And we had no shame in saying it.”

Michigan lost by a literal inch in 2016 and last year had a brilliant gameplan undone by a third string quarterback playing like an eighth string one. Also they went and grabbed a defensive coordinator who runs a 4-2-5 as a base and has a 3-3-5 changeup in an attempt to tackle OSU's spread offense. There have been cracks in the Harbaugh façade—cough cough Drevno—but "doesn't prepare enough for Ohio State" is not one of them.

Purdue could be real interesting real soon. Former five star and now former Clemson Tiger Hunter Johnson is transferring after one year. He's from Indianapolis—a couple years back he played Brandon Peters in a game Ace broke down—and has a couple of Big Ten locations high on his list:

Sources told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that Northwestern and Purdue are two possible destinations for Johnson. His brother Cole played in few games as a reserve for Northwestern a few years ago.

This is against the natural way of things where failed Purdue quarterbacks inexplicably go start for major programs in the south, but I suspect Boiler fans will accept this violation of tradition if in fact they do land Johnson. If the Boilers can hold onto Jeff Brohm, who was a candidate during Tennessee's crazy search, they could be in for some Tiller-era seasons. Large ifs, but with Nebraska finally hiring someone who is a good idea the West could be substantially less sad in the near future.

Or Johnson could be so definitively behind Trevor Lawrence he transfers after one spring session because he's not actually that good. Peters's team blew his out, after all.

Camp Sanderson now has data behind it. Moe Wagner came back to Michigan in part because he wasn't an NBA-ready athlete. The bits of this that can be fixed seem to have been fixed, emphatically:

Wagner still doesn't have pterodactyl arms, but hopefully his increased physical prowess and the big leap in his rebounding that made possible allow him to slip into the tail end of the first round.

Hoops croot quotes. The Detroit News runs down Michigan's incoming basketball class, with quotes from both Rivals and 24/7 scouts. Some of them are silly, like this assertion from Brian Snow…

What (Brazdeikis) does is he just scores the ball. He's more of a mid-range shooter right now, which I don't love because it's the most inefficient shot in basketball, but he does it at a high level.

…that is flatly incorrect per UMHoops:

image

But other assertions are more interesting and less directly contradicted by data. Both guys think Colin Castleton has a chance to be elite:

Bossi’s take: “Castleton is a guy that we gave a pretty big bump to after his senior year because he has always been able to move really well for a kid his size … but what really stood out to me is how quickly his skills emerged. He's become reliable as a 10- to 12-foot jump shooter. He's got a little jump hook, and the production on offense that wasn't really there last spring and summer has started to come on during the high school year. I think he's got confidence now.”

Snow’s take: “Colin is a kid who can really run the court, has good hands and good shooting touch. He's physically not strong yet but he does compete. I think he has a chance to really improve as the years go along. He's going to have to get stronger and spend a lot of time in the weight room, but he's a good athlete, he can block shots, he can score inside, from the mid-range and even step out to 3. He might not be ready for big minutes right away, but I think this is a kid who down the line has a chance to be a special player.”

Brandon Johns is also proposed as a potential 4/5 combo, which would be another way for Michigan to get some stretch 5 minutes even after Wagner's departure.

But at least he made logical hires! So this guy still had a job?

The guy who hired Charlie Weis after Notre Dame survived longer than Weis.

Etc.: NHL GMs are just in charge of things. ChadTough Cancer Center is now a thing. Ethan Sears on Trey Burke's NBA revival. DJ Carton moves to five-star status at 24/7. Jalen Wilson is just outside at #29. Stephen Spanellis is a thinker. Jim Harbaugh doesn't understand roasts and that's probably for the best.

Comments

mgobaran

May 21st, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^

Especially when using a team system. One guy stays by the mulch pile to load up the guys running the mulch. When he isn't loading, he's prepping the pile for easier loading. The pitchfork tool breaks up the densely packed mulch for easier scooping. 

MottledMaizeandBlue

May 21st, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^

Fortunately I was introduced to mulching and pitchforking on the same day or I never would have believed how much better it works (the fork slips into the pile without catching on the bigger pieces). Now that you’ve been told though, admit the error of your ways and get a 4-tine fork. Don’t cling to your old misconception and get a mulch fork (~7 tines). Any mulch that has been in a big pile recently will be compacted enough to work great with a standard pitchfork. Happy mulching!

Indy Pete - Go Blue

May 21st, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^

The game plan has been very solid for OSU.  The lazy argment that we are getting-out smarted by Urban and company needs to be aggressively refuted.

Mo - nice athleticism!  I am so happy for him and the decision that he made. Let's hope that his NBA dreams are everything he hopes they will be.

bronxblue

May 21st, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^

I would have even been fine if the argument had been "they need to win some of these games" or "they should have had a better passing game plan" or something. It's wrong, but it's closer than "these guys don't focus on this huge game" despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

maize-blue

May 21st, 2018 at 2:25 PM ^

Over the past decade or so OSU has had deeper talent. It's not so much that their 22 starters are have been world's better than UM's, it's that their 23-85 usually are stronger.

I think UM is closing that depth gap but OSU has a head start of years of high level recruiting. That's why I place more emphasis on beating MSU at the current moment. It is still somewhat understandable if we lost to OSU (it still sucks though).

We can't defeat the big conference bully if little brother is constantly jumping on our backs. That and I dislike Dantonio way more than Urban.

Shop Smart Sho…

May 21st, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^

It's a lot easier to stick a pitchfork into a wet pile of mulch than a snow shovel.



And yes, it's enormously less expensive to buy mulch in bulk versus by the bag.



Go forth and mulch!

Shop Smart Sho…

May 21st, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^

Those are good for spreading the mulch around the plants. 

When I helped my parents mulch, I'd use a big fork to get it out of the big trailer behind the truck and into the small one behind the tractor.  Then use the little fork to spread it in the flower beds.



I spent years doing that with them, and when I moved out of the area they replaced almost all of the mulch with decorative stone.  To this day, I question their timing.

TrueBlue2003

May 21st, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^

they don't penetrate the pile of mulch.  Only if the mulch is sitting on a smooth surface (a smooth driveway) can you even use a shovel and you still have to work from the bottom and the friction makes it tough.  Pitchfork goes right in and grabs a big chunk.

The proper way to mulch:

1) Use pitchfork to load up a wheelbarrow from the pile.

2) Wheel over to where you want the mulch and dump

3) spread using pitchfork.

Mabel Pines

May 22nd, 2018 at 7:54 AM ^

I used to do this nightmare every three years. We need 8 yards just to go around the house, 8 yards for the back (it's landscaped so I don't have to look at the Spartan neighbors) 

Last year I ponied up an extra $50 to have A PALLET OF MULCH BAGS delivered. Then you just drop the bags around and open them up.  Took less than half the time. You're welcome.

NightTrain5

May 21st, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^

Add “mulch help” to the list of reasons I’d like to be M’s basketball coach. (Top reason against me coaching: I like M basketball to have success.)

This is the last year I mulch. I’m going to explore permanent options, whatever those might be. Large rocks, growing grass, setting fires, etc. And I use a shovel, which is apparently like a 2-point shot with a foot on the 3-point line. I learn something every day, but then I just forget it.

In things that matter, I recently saw an interview with Moe that used that graphic about how he finished compared to peers. Really happy to see how well he did in some of the agility tests. Hope he lands in the first round on another offense that also suits him well.

Opinion25

May 21st, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^

Tool depends on mulch type. Snow shovel great for small rocks, but terrible for most high quality wood & coiuse bark mulch (use pitch or garden fork).

You're welcome. 

oriental andrew

May 21st, 2018 at 4:09 PM ^

It might seem like a lot (ok, it IS a lot), but it's not nearly as much as you make it out to be. The first year we mulched after moving into this house, we ordered 14 yards, used it all, and wished we had a couple more. 

Granted, it all depends on the size of your yard, mulch beds, etc. but 15 yards isn't some crazy number. 

ijohnb

May 21st, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^

do it early.  Mulch should be completely down by April 1 and be the "crutch" for the yard while everything else is still trying to come together.  It is one of my ways to force Spring to get here even if the weather does not agree with me.

ijohnb

May 21st, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^

most years, any snow that falls after March 1 doesn't stick.  If it does, not for long.  So, you get out during those periods of time in March when it warms up and get it down then.  So, then when the snow melts, you don't see muted nasty colors that remind you of winter, you see new vibrant colors that remind you of spring.

I love landscaping, yard "work" is not work to me.  It is fun and I look forward to it.  I am working up my yard from late February all through the summer.  Mulching is done quickly and early.

EGD

May 21st, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^

Was sitting at a hearing of a Virginia Senate committee earlier this year and saw a parade of fire chiefs testify about the dangers of mulch. Apparently the stuff has a way of self-igniting when piled too high under the right atmospheric conditions. (Despite this I used a rake to spread nine bags of the stuff around my own yard this past weekend).

Brimley

May 21st, 2018 at 6:07 PM ^

I just use bags because I mulch just one flower bed and around the trees.  I had some leftover one year, put it in the garage, and pulled it out a couple months later to freshen things up a bit.  I was horrified to see that the bottom layer was now ash.  Forturnately, I didn't burn the whole house down.  NEVER keep it piled more than a a couple of inches unless you enjoy burning yourself out.

SpaghettiPolicy

May 21st, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^

Definitely use a pitchfork. Sooooo much easier. You can always shovel the reamaining stuff when you have a small amount left but a bulk of it should be done with a pitchfork.

True Blue Grit

May 21st, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^

for someone's yard.  Fine for a commercial building  I guess.  Beilein must have a big property.  I agree though with the large snow shovel as the best way to move it - at least shredded mulch and not the big chips.  I prefer cedar - the smell is the best of all of them.  Some mulch plain stinks like shit.  

AZBlue

May 21st, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^

the QB who was at the same HS as Peters and transferred away to get playing time? Sounds like a great future teammate for somebody.

Chitown Kev

May 21st, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^

where Michigan owned OSU so he could argue, for example, that maybe those Cooper-coached OSU teams were just as talented...maybe even moreso... as Urban's teams but Michigan found a way to win those games...but a lot of that was a mindset thing...