Three game losing streak in which Josh Fogg, Aaron Harang and Nelson Figueroa all looked like Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. The bats are silent, other than Kendall still gutting it out in the 9 spot like a champ while the 2 spot is stinking up the park, there has been little to look at as positives. Turnbow came in yesterday for mop up and promptly walked the leadoff man before retiring the side. Prince just missed a homer today, but considering he was 0 for Cincy, I'll take the long, loud double. Other than Bush on Wednesday (who was the victim of some poor breaks) the starters got jobbed. Villy did fall apart in the 7th yesterday, and Para got into some trouble in the 4th today, but they deserved better support. I spent Thursday on the JSO's Brewers Blog, and it was fun to be conversing with that many Brewer fans during a game, even if most of them were overly negative.

He teed off on that like he knew I was bringing the heat

I've figured out Doug Melvin's elaborate ruse. In order to take the pressure of Derrick Turnbow, he spent $10 million on Eric Gagne, knowing he would come to Milwaukee and serve up gopher ball after gopher ball, thereby giving the fans someone to hate and boo other than Turnbow. Do you think it's mere chance that Yost has yet to bring Turnbow into a game this season? Of course not, he needed Gagne to blow two of three save opportunities in just over a week so that when Turnbow does come into the game, the crowd will be elated and give him a hero's welcome. Seriously, could you really argue with giving Turnbow a shot at closing after what Gagne did tonight? I didn't expect Gagne to be Mr. bajillion consecutive saves again, but I figured he could at least keep the ball in the park!

Apparently Gagne shook off the change from Kendall on that dong pitch, saying he was caught up in the moment and wanted to throw the heat. Does anyone remember Nuke wanting to "announce his presence with authority" in Bull Durham? Yeah, I doubt it happened, but if Kendall did tip off Phillips, I couldn't blame him. Damn French (Canadian I know) always letting their emotion get in the way.

I'm not sure what bothered me more though, Gagne making 1 bad pitch that took a W away from a great pitching effort by Soup or Mota being absolutely unable to throw strikes. Let's hear it for Shousie and Weeks saving the day.

BROOM TIME
Had the Crew only taken 2 of 3 from the Giants, I still would have been disappointed. You have to get it done against the "lower depths", and the 2008 Giants very well qualify as the lower depths.

Sheets was Sheets today. A shutout, has yet to be scored on and reminding the pessimist Brewer fans that there is reason to re-sign this guy regardless of his freaky injury past. OK, I'll get off my "Re-sign Sheeter" soap box. Combined with Parra's performance yesterday, the only stinker after one lap through the rotation has been Bush. Bush, you have to learn to win on the road if you want to stay in the rotation when Gallardo comes back.

So what happened to Barry Zito? The guy is the most sought after free agent 2 years ago, linked to Alyssa Milano and known for having a nasty curve that makes grown men shudder. Now he's giving up 5 runs in 5 innings to the Brewers and even Tina Yothers won't return his calls.

I was happy to see Gagne look decent in earning his first save yesterday, but I'll be happier if Turnbow looks good whenever he makes his first appearance. I will say this, Gagne's "goggled, frat boy" look is a nice compliment to Turnbow's "80s high school dropout working in an auto shop" look. Throw in Riske's "pale, gringo gunslinger" look and the Brewers bullpen is enough to scare even the bravest barber.