8-1 Win at Cincinnati, 63-51 Bizzaro World
Brewers winning on the road, NOW DAVE BUSH winning on the road. I'm really starting to root for Bushie, I may even agree with Yost for sticking with him as long as he did. Yost scrapped the home/road platoon with Bush and McClung and Bushie went out there and made him look like a genius.
Hart got Bush a lead in the 1st with a 2R triple off ROY candidate Edinson Volquez, and Counsell (making a start at 3B for the 2nd straight game) made a great defensive play to keep only 1 run from scoring in a bases loaded situation. Then Bush went on to retire 17 Reds in a row.
This was the first game I got to listen to in a while, and it was nice to hear the Crew finally get some hits with ducks on the pond. Hardy snapped an 0-28 slump, Cameron and Kendall had some clutch hits and in the 7th, after Cincy reliever Nick Massett made Fielder look like an off balance hippo with an up and in fastball, Prince tagged the next pitch a country mile for his 26th HR.
I guess after the "donnybrook" the night before, it was good to see the team rally together. Prince apologized and Yost decided not to bench him (I'll admit I'm starting to wonder if the vegetarianism is starting to get to Prince and he was just trying to eat Parra) and Cameron got the Bob Marley going in the club house before the game to relaxe everyone. No woman, no cry!
6-3 Loss at Cincinnati, 62-51
Boiling Over
Almost a year after Estrada and Graffanino tusseled in the dugout, Parra and Prince got into it. Apparently, Prince was unhappy that Manny was heading into the clubhouse after being pulled for a PH in the 7th after pitching well early (no hits through 4), then stumbling in the 5th, which included a 2R double to Bronson Arroyo. Fielder said something like, "We had to watch you, now stay out and watch us." Prince, I got news for you, NO ONE wants to watch a lineup that's 10-104 with RISP over 13 games. All in all, my sympathy goes to the Brewer's pitchers this season. I'm sure it will shift, and the bat's will pick up the pitchers, but this lineup has a problem producing, and I think a lot can be traced to the underachievement in the clean up spot. I guess the one bright spot is Braunie hit his 30th dinger of the season in a 2-4 night and Villy (my closer of the future) was lights out for the final 2 innings.
5-0 Loss at Atlanta, 62-50
REALLY, Campillo AGAIN!
This guy is now 3-0 against the Crew in '08, but what really worries me is another ineffective outing by Sheets. When was the last time Sheets pitched into August? Since the Crew got Sabathia, he hasn't won a game. Today he lasted only 6 and gave up 3 walks, 6 hits and 2 earned. Still a quality start, but not a Sheet's start. He's still stalled at 10 wins when I early on had him making a run at 20. I guess Higuera's 20 win season in '86 will be safe for a while.
The Crew went 0-8 with RISP, now hitting .160 in that department since the break.
4-2 Win at Atlanta, 62-49
Sabathia 8⅓, that should be all you need to know. This guy is pricing himself right into the biggest contract of the off-season with his performance down the stretch. The Crew wins their 9th in a row on the road, which ties the franchise record. Fielder now has a tater in 4 consecutive and had 3 RBI.
9-0 Win at Atlanta, 61-49
Not the Atlanta of Old
I realize that Atlanta, with Texeira gone in a trade deadline deal, is playing out the season with no hope for a division for the first time in a LONG time, but it felt good to nail down an old fashioned drubbing in Turner Park agains the "once" mighty Bravo's.
I think the Brewer's needed a road trip after going 1-6 at Miller. Even Fielder mentioned the Cubs fans in Miller made it challenging. "When you hear people chanting (Alfonso) Soriano's name at home, I forgot where we were for a second." So the Crew extended it's road win streak to 8 and Jeff Suppan actually looked sharp for once. He worked himself out of a 2 on, 1 out jam in the 3rd and then walked the bases loaded in the 4 when he got PH Greg Norton to fly out to end the inning. He's now 6-7, and in my opinion, barely clinging to the "5 spot".
Lefty Chuck James, just called up from AAA, was tagged for 2 runs in the 1st off a Braun RBI double, the Crew's bat's kept it going from there. A Weeks RBI triple in the 2nd and Fielder and Cam homer in the 3rd and Suppan (who usually amazes me with his ability to fritter away a lead) made it stand up.
11-4 Loss to Chicago, 60-49, Now 5 GB
I will admit now, Chicago is good, which will make all the sweeter when they finally do choke. I am still holding out hope the Brewer's can take the division; the Wild Card is too much of a Wild Card in my opinion.
Rich Harden vs. Dave Bush isn't much of a match up I'll admit, but I hoped the Crew would pull something together to avoid their first 4 game sweep at home since 2003 (also the Cubs). Instead, Gagne got tossed for throwing at Jim Edmonds, Fielder hit the showers in the 9th when he argued a called strike, this team is scrambling.
The Brewers did manage to get 2 hits with RISP (their first of the series, and there was much rejoicing) but 2 taters by Jim Edmonds, including a Grand Slam were too much to overcome.
7-2 Loss to Chicago, 60-48, Now 4 Games Back
I'm glad there are still some games left at Wrigley
This is a hell of a time for the Crew's bats to go into a funk. You finally get the division leaders on your turf and you can't bring a runner in to score to save your life. Parra didn't help much with 5 runs and 4 walks in 5⅓, but at least had a double & triple (and was of course stranded). The Brewers are now 0-15 with RISP on this series and only scored on a 1st inning Dempster WP and a 9th inning dinger by Prince, his 21st. Ryan Dempster is now 12-4 and the Cubs fans have now become the vocal majority at Miller. Thanks pathetic Crew fans, go back to your damn Brett Favre watch.
