I can't hear the Brewer game over all this C.C. talk.
Haudricourt really thinks the move for Sabathia is a strong possibility. A rumor got floated that the Crew offered Matt LaPorta and Alcides Escobar, but he doesn't think the Brewers would risk that much talent. He believes one of them is possible part of a trade, with either Gamel or Taylor Green. The move is hard for me to get excited over when you look at Sabathia's numbers this season and the rental aspect of a deal, but Haudricourt's right, a rotation of Sheets, Sabathia and Parra would be strong, especially since I don't know what's up with Suppan. And any pitching help means less possibility of seeing Mota during a game.
7.04.2008
Mota Blows It
6-5 loss at Arizona, now 46-39, 4½ GB
I can't say it any more plainly than that. Yes only 3 runs were charged to him with a 5 run lead, but when he came in for the 9th and loaded the bases without retiring a hitter, it gave him a total of 10 earned over the last 8⅓. Shouse and Torres came into stop the bleeding, but they couldn't get anyone out either, and just like that, the 5-0 lead they had going into the 9th evaporated. Lefthander Chad Tracy had a 3 run double off Shouse, Orlando Hudson RBI double off Torres and Connor Jackson a 2 run single were the critical hits in a ninth that saw the Brewers bullpen give up 6 hits, 1 walk while recording NO OUTS. Gagne was able to pitch a 1-2-3 8th for crying out loud.
In a game the Crew should have lost (Brandon Webb pitching) I walked into the control room around the 6th or 7th really feeling good that my hope for a 6-4 road trip would be a reality. Parra had pitched himself out of two 2 on, no out jams and kept the Diamondbacks scoreless on 4 hits through 6 innings and Hardy was 4-5 with a run and a RBI (a triple short of the cycle). Cameron got a 2 run dinger off the foul pole that Haudricourt says should have been foul and everyone did their part... except the bullpen.
Braunie sat for Kapler on a second straight day. Apparently his hand is bothering him a little and he's hitting .186 over the last 10.
On Wednesday, the Crew came back late (that's right, scoring in the latter half of the game for once) and put a run on the board in each inning from the 6th on and win 4-3. Weeks, whose battle with food poisoning seems to have the same effect of Braun's ear infection a month ago, comes off the bench for a PH home run in the 8th. Through the early part of the game, the Crew was making Yusmeiro Petit look like most no-name pitchers they've faced this season-- unhittable. But in the 6th, after Kendall's hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, the Crew plays small ball and gets him in to score on a Hardy single. At that point, they are still trailing 2-1. The Diamondbacks chase McClung in the 6th, when Villy has to come in and finish the inning, which he does well, but then in the 7th, Shouse has to come in and clean up a 2nd &3rd, 1 out jam that Villy got into, which he does. It goes back and forth in this tight one with the Crew nipping a win 4-3 in the end. Riske, who gave up a Justin Upton HR, gets the win.
6-5 loss at Arizona, now 46-39, 4½ GB
I can't say it any more plainly than that. Yes only 3 runs were charged to him with a 5 run lead, but when he came in for the 9th and loaded the bases without retiring a hitter, it gave him a total of 10 earned over the last 8⅓. Shouse and Torres came into stop the bleeding, but they couldn't get anyone out either, and just like that, the 5-0 lead they had going into the 9th evaporated. Lefthander Chad Tracy had a 3 run double off Shouse, Orlando Hudson RBI double off Torres and Connor Jackson a 2 run single were the critical hits in a ninth that saw the Brewers bullpen give up 6 hits, 1 walk while recording NO OUTS. Gagne was able to pitch a 1-2-3 8th for crying out loud.
In a game the Crew should have lost (Brandon Webb pitching) I walked into the control room around the 6th or 7th really feeling good that my hope for a 6-4 road trip would be a reality. Parra had pitched himself out of two 2 on, no out jams and kept the Diamondbacks scoreless on 4 hits through 6 innings and Hardy was 4-5 with a run and a RBI (a triple short of the cycle). Cameron got a 2 run dinger off the foul pole that Haudricourt says should have been foul and everyone did their part... except the bullpen.
Braunie sat for Kapler on a second straight day. Apparently his hand is bothering him a little and he's hitting .186 over the last 10.
On Wednesday, the Crew came back late (that's right, scoring in the latter half of the game for once) and put a run on the board in each inning from the 6th on and win 4-3. Weeks, whose battle with food poisoning seems to have the same effect of Braun's ear infection a month ago, comes off the bench for a PH home run in the 8th. Through the early part of the game, the Crew was making Yusmeiro Petit look like most no-name pitchers they've faced this season-- unhittable. But in the 6th, after Kendall's hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, the Crew plays small ball and gets him in to score on a Hardy single. At that point, they are still trailing 2-1. The Diamondbacks chase McClung in the 6th, when Villy has to come in and finish the inning, which he does well, but then in the 7th, Shouse has to come in and clean up a 2nd &3rd, 1 out jam that Villy got into, which he does. It goes back and forth in this tight one with the Crew nipping a win 4-3 in the end. Riske, who gave up a Justin Upton HR, gets the win.
7.01.2008
Hardy goes to Town on the Big Unit
Brewers win in Arizona, 8-6, Now 45-38, 4½ games back
JJ Hardy is really making the most of hitting in the #2 spot. He has a 13 game hitting streak now and nailed 2 taters off Randy Johnson tonight. Joe Dillon chipped on in as well with a start for Rickie Weeks who has a stomach virus. Rickie just can't catch a break. The offense jumped out early, and with a 7-1 lead, I figured a vet like Suppan could relaxe and give the bullpen some rest. Not so. He loads the bases in the 4th and gives up 2, then gives up another 2 on a Connor Jackson HR in the 5th. Haudricourt didn't sugar coat it when he called Suppan's performance disgraceful. In his last 3 starts he has an 8 ERA and it seems the youngsters like McClung and Parra know better what to do with a 6 run lead than Suppan. Guillermo Mota did his part to question his reliability down the stretch as well, giving up a run in his inning appearance and benefitting from some strong D.
The Brewer's bats once again shut down in the later innings, but they did score 8 overall, what more can a pitcher expect? The run they scored in the 7th was the first off a relief pitcher since June 22nd.
Had a discussion with Sam tonight about the possibility of "renting" Sabathia. I have a hard time getting excited about a guy who's ERA is 3.78 with a record of 6-8. Yes, maybe he's struggling on a struggling team, but it's hard to pull the trigger and lose Gamel or LaPorta when you know the guy will be gone at season's end. All the same, making the postseason would be worth it I have to admit.
After losing the opener to the Diamondbacks Monday night 6-3 when the offense decided it didn't have to do anything else after scoring 2 early (guys, you can't expect Dave Bush to pitch out of his mind EVERY start), the trip is now 4-4. I really want them to take these last two games and go 6-4, that would feel so great, especially if the Giants can keep the Cubs at least stalled for a another game.
Brewers win in Arizona, 8-6, Now 45-38, 4½ games back
JJ Hardy is really making the most of hitting in the #2 spot. He has a 13 game hitting streak now and nailed 2 taters off Randy Johnson tonight. Joe Dillon chipped on in as well with a start for Rickie Weeks who has a stomach virus. Rickie just can't catch a break. The offense jumped out early, and with a 7-1 lead, I figured a vet like Suppan could relaxe and give the bullpen some rest. Not so. He loads the bases in the 4th and gives up 2, then gives up another 2 on a Connor Jackson HR in the 5th. Haudricourt didn't sugar coat it when he called Suppan's performance disgraceful. In his last 3 starts he has an 8 ERA and it seems the youngsters like McClung and Parra know better what to do with a 6 run lead than Suppan. Guillermo Mota did his part to question his reliability down the stretch as well, giving up a run in his inning appearance and benefitting from some strong D.
The Brewer's bats once again shut down in the later innings, but they did score 8 overall, what more can a pitcher expect? The run they scored in the 7th was the first off a relief pitcher since June 22nd.
Had a discussion with Sam tonight about the possibility of "renting" Sabathia. I have a hard time getting excited about a guy who's ERA is 3.78 with a record of 6-8. Yes, maybe he's struggling on a struggling team, but it's hard to pull the trigger and lose Gamel or LaPorta when you know the guy will be gone at season's end. All the same, making the postseason would be worth it I have to admit.
After losing the opener to the Diamondbacks Monday night 6-3 when the offense decided it didn't have to do anything else after scoring 2 early (guys, you can't expect Dave Bush to pitch out of his mind EVERY start), the trip is now 4-4. I really want them to take these last two games and go 6-4, that would feel so great, especially if the Giants can keep the Cubs at least stalled for a another game.
6.29.2008
5-1 over Minnesota, 44-36, 4½ back
Winning the first two games of a 10 game road trip in Atlanta made me feel good, but dropping the next two (a Jorge Campillo 7 inning 2 run gem in the finale at Atlanta and a Joe Mauer tie breaking HR in the 8th at the series opener in Minnesota to overcome 4 Crew (2 by Braun) taters) made me feel worse in degree. It is a long road trip, and I strongly feel they should go 6-4 on this trip in order to make a statement to the fans, to the Cubs and more importantly, themselves. The Cubs have just dropped 3 in a row and, as of this blog, are at the point where they might want to start looking over their shoulder at the Cards and Crew.
That's why yesterday's win to give Parra his 7th straight winning decision to make the crew 3 and 2 on this trip was so huge in my opinion. Now you have Sheets pitching on Sunday for the Twinkie finale and the possibility of only needing to split in Arizona to reach the 6-4 trip mark.
Parra gave the Crew 7 inning of shutout ball, gave up only two hits and is now 8-2. I'm trying to think of the last time the Crew had two pitchers with more than 16 wins a piece? It could happen this year!
The offense did kind of shut down in the late innings, but I think the brightest spot was Hall ripping a 2R double in the 3rd. Would love to see B-Hall get hot.
On the long term prospects of this team, it came out this week that Sheets is not really interested in negotiating a contract during the season. I can't blame him for that, it was Melvin that didn't want to talk contract before the season. I just think this is where Attanasio steps up and says, "This is a different Brewer team. We are going to make the stretch to keep a top quality pitcher here." However, there is growing speculation about the Crew (among every other contender) making a move for Sabathia for a late season rental. I don't know about that. He hasn't been exactly sharp. I'm more curious about the possibility of K-Rod bringing that single season save record to Milwaukee in 2009. I don't know why I'm the only Brewer fan thinking about that.
Winning the first two games of a 10 game road trip in Atlanta made me feel good, but dropping the next two (a Jorge Campillo 7 inning 2 run gem in the finale at Atlanta and a Joe Mauer tie breaking HR in the 8th at the series opener in Minnesota to overcome 4 Crew (2 by Braun) taters) made me feel worse in degree. It is a long road trip, and I strongly feel they should go 6-4 on this trip in order to make a statement to the fans, to the Cubs and more importantly, themselves. The Cubs have just dropped 3 in a row and, as of this blog, are at the point where they might want to start looking over their shoulder at the Cards and Crew.
That's why yesterday's win to give Parra his 7th straight winning decision to make the crew 3 and 2 on this trip was so huge in my opinion. Now you have Sheets pitching on Sunday for the Twinkie finale and the possibility of only needing to split in Arizona to reach the 6-4 trip mark.
Parra gave the Crew 7 inning of shutout ball, gave up only two hits and is now 8-2. I'm trying to think of the last time the Crew had two pitchers with more than 16 wins a piece? It could happen this year!
The offense did kind of shut down in the late innings, but I think the brightest spot was Hall ripping a 2R double in the 3rd. Would love to see B-Hall get hot.
On the long term prospects of this team, it came out this week that Sheets is not really interested in negotiating a contract during the season. I can't blame him for that, it was Melvin that didn't want to talk contract before the season. I just think this is where Attanasio steps up and says, "This is a different Brewer team. We are going to make the stretch to keep a top quality pitcher here." However, there is growing speculation about the Crew (among every other contender) making a move for Sabathia for a late season rental. I don't know about that. He hasn't been exactly sharp. I'm more curious about the possibility of K-Rod bringing that single season save record to Milwaukee in 2009. I don't know why I'm the only Brewer fan thinking about that.
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