6.13.2008

Wow, That's a Great Juice Box
9-6 Win at Houston
Now 35-31, 7½ Games Back
This team is just hanging onto my optimism by a thread. After looking horrible in Denver, the Crew finds a way to get up off the mat and finish the roadtrip at a respectable 3-3. Sheets got the support of 3 home runs in the 2nd (4 total in the game) and a lineup that now features Hart in the leadoff spot and Cameron in the 5 spot seems to have found some life. Hart's 3R dinger was his 3rd in two games. So much for not getting RBI opportunities in the leadoff spot. Of course, when Brian Mohler can't even get Sheets out and walks him, your leadoff guy is going to get opportunities to clean the bases.

Added to the 5 HRs they hit in Wednesday's 10-6 win and the Crew is doing its best to channel the Walbangers and take some stress off the pitching staff. Villanueva cooled my "closer of the future" talk a little by giving up a run in 1⅔, but I didn't really hear the situation. It sounds like he came in for Parra in a dicy situation and worked out of it by letting 1 inherited to score and 1 of his own. That'll happen I guess.

However, worry isn't completely out of the picture, with Weeks already on the DL and Hardy getting checked out for a sore shoulder, the infield is looking pretty thin. The Brian Roberts rumor has been floated around, but Melvin denies it. One other thing to note is that Jeff Weaver has officially been released. What does it say about a player that he can't perform acceptable enough at AAA to earn a spot in a thinner than expected rotation?

6.11.2008

(Mike Cameron to self) "DOH!"
Loss 6-1 to Houston, Brewers now 33-31, 7½ games back Chicago
After grabbing only one game from the Rockies, I still had hopes the Brewers could break even on this 6 game roadie. And even thought Oswalt was going against McClung, I thought they could find a way to beat him. I was wrong, but not about McClung, he pitched pretty well, but Oswalt was dealing. The Crew was still in the game however until a couple of defensive miscues gave the 'Strohs 3 late inning runs. A Julian Taverez E led to an extended inning and a triple off the bat of Lance Berkman that Cam misjudged cleared a bases loaded situation. It was pretty much over after that. Braunie's HR was the lone O. Got to get off the mat today then take advantage of the Sheets start tomorrow.

With Weeks now on the DL, Hart started in the leadoff spot and Hernan Iribarren was called up.

6.08.2008

One Little Victory
Milwaukee 3 Colorado 2 33-30, 6 GB Chicago
When the Crew jumped out to a 2 run lead before Suppan took the mound, I was hoping for a constant barrage of 1 or 2 runs per inning that would take the pressure off the team. Instead the bats shut it down after Kapler's RBI in the 2nd and Suppan had to grit it out again. Villanueava comes in during the 6th and gets an inning ending double play, then overcomes an error in the 7th to keep the Rockies off the board. Had the Brewers found a way to score a runner from scoring position (like they had in EVERY INNING after the 3rd) then Kapler's error in the 8th wouldn't have made things so scary. But Torres goes 1⅔ for the save and the Brewers avoid a sweep in Colorado. First win there since 2006 AT LEAST.

Weeks is heading back to Milwaukee to get his knee checked out. A Jeff Baker slide in Friday's game apparently "tweaked" it. I really had high hopes for Rickie early in his career, but he is quickly on his way to a being a disappointment. I think Yost batting him leadoff is part of the problem, nagging injuries another, but plain and simply, he has underachieved. I'm still rooting for him, the way he's made himself into a legitimate defensive 2nd baseman is admirable, but considering the tools he has, the draft position, the contract, I'll admit to being frustrated with him.