Aug. 20, 5-2 win vs. Houston 73-55
Yost wanted this one
Yost said in his press conference that it was important for this team to win this game and take 2 out of 3 from a hot Houston team, and they grinded it out. They had won 16 of their last 21, but the Crew managed 2-3 from a tough division rival who is still in this thing. Parra didn't have his best stuff, and the bats were facing Wandy Rodriguez, who has pitched well against the Crew. Rickie had 3 walks in the game and scored each time, which is good to see, even if I would like to see him hit better. Fielder sac flied twice and Kapler got the Brewers on the board as well, but it was J.J. Hardy's 2R tater that was the big hit. MAN, WHY DID YOST WAIT TO PUT HIM IN THE 2 SPOT? The bullpen came up big in this one. Villy pitched 2 scoreless, Gagne used two pitches to work out of a bases loaded- no out situation that he worked himself into with help from a Fielder E and a missed call (Lance Berkman claimed he was HBP when it appeard to just nick his jersey, but he was willing to pull down his pants to show the bruise) with a DP and a bounce out to Fielder. Torres closed it out for his 24th save.
Aug. 19, 5-2 loss vs. Houston 72-55
Sheet's in trouble
I hate to say this about my favorite player, but Sheet's is struggling. Early in the season I thought if he stayed healthy, he'd get 19 or maybe even 20 wins. Now 17 or 18 may be pushing it. Since the break, he has a 4.00 ERA. With a 2-0 lead in the 3rd, he hung a curve to Michael Bourne for a 2R 3B and Geoff Blum touched him for a 3R tater in the 6th. Sheets is now 11-7 on the season, but the bats should have picked him up. Twice they left the bases loaded after scoring 2 early against Brian Moehler, who didn't make it out of the 5th. Good news for the bullpen was that Shouse Mota and Riske kept them at bay and issued only 2 free passes over 3 innings.
Aug. 18, 9-3 win vs. Houston, 72-54
That's a funny Looking Sweep
I love Coop... EVERYONE in Wisconsin loves Coop, but where does he get off predicting the Astros are going to sweep the Crew at Miller. With Sabathia going in the first game? CC became the 3rd pitcher in 90 years to win his first 8 decisions after a "in season" trade (Virgil Trucks and Doyle Alexander were the others). Sabathia loaded the bases in the 9th and was really high on the pitch count, but Yost left him in there and he has yet another CG. 130 hard earned pitches and 2-3 with 2RBI got him there. The Brewer's chased Randy Wolf after 4 with a 5 spot in the 4th. Ray Durham at 3RBI and Corey Hart hit a tater.
8.22.2008
Aug. 17th, 7-5 loss at Los Angeles, 71-54
ALMOST, (this is why Villy isn't ready to close yet)
Clayton Kershaw, who I think was just called up for this start, outdueled seasoned vet Jeff Suppan for 6 innings. Soup gave up a dinger to Matt Kempt on the first pitch then gave up another dinger to Ramierez to put the Crew in a 3-0 hole in the 1st. He settled down after that, but Kershaw was dealing. In the 9th, the Brewer's started a comeback that had me showing too much emotion for my liking at work, but down by four in the 9th, Kendall led off with a single and Counsell reached on an error. On the same play, James Loney through the ball away and with 2 men in scoring position, Durham brought them in with a single. Then, Braun doing his best Kirk Gibson impression took two pathetic swings and planted the next pitch from Chan Ho Park into LF to tie the game. However, in the bottom of the inning, Villy gave up Andre Either's 2nd HR of the game, and it was all over for the Crew.
Aug. 16th, 4-3 win at Los Angeles, 71-53
J.J. Hardy's Redemption
Dave Bush got nailed for a 2R Andre Either dinger in the 1st, and I was afraid the old Dave Bush was showing up. But he settled down after that. Then in the 8th, Braun, nutting up for a pinch hit appearance blooped a 2B and was brought in by JJ's tater. That gave the Crew a 1 run lead which J.J. blew when he screwed up a DP ball off the bat of Kent. Manny Ramirez tied things up with a sac fly and there would be no save for Torres tonight. In the top of the 10th, Hardy brought Ray Durham in with the go ahead run and Dave Riske finished off the Dodger's to get his 2nd save.
Also of note, professional hitter Craig Counsell got his 1,000 hit (wow, tell me 3,000 isn't tough) and Corey Hart and Gabe Kapler did their damnedest with the glove to keep the crew in the game. Hart layed out and crashed into the base of the wall while reaching over his head and Gabe Kapler toppled over into the LF stands to rob Russell Martin of a dinger.
Aug. 15th, 5-3 loss at Los Angeles, 70-53
Got To Perform Against the Big Boys
After taking 6 of 7 from two last place teams, I had to control myself knowing that the Crew was going into a series with one of the best teams in the West that now has Manny Ramirez in the lineup. Gabe Kapler got the Brewers on the board with a 2R tater in the 1st, but Jeff Kent came back in the bottom half with a 2R knock of his own. In the second, Mike Cameron reached third thanks to ManRam not knowing how to play the carom in the left field corner and scored on a Kendall single with the infield in. I was happy to see some resiliance in the bats. However, in the 3rd, Casey Blake hit a 2 run dinger to make it 4-3 and that's all the Dodger's needed. Parra didn't have a great day out there, but considering the bats he was facing, I give him some credit; he did K Manny with Kent on 1st to end that inning. Parra was pulled in the 6th with bases loaded and 2 outs. Riske came in and kept it from getting worse. Villanueva finished the game and gave up 1 earned in 2 innings, a Russell Martin tater.
Aug. 14th, 3-2 loss at San Diego, 70-52
Sheeter Outdueled
With Sheets matching up against Jake Peavy, you knew it wasn't going to be easy. I went out for a bike ride around Green Bay and didn't listen to much of this game, but when I got back to Trojan Drive and flipped it on, the Brewers had just taken a 1-0 lead when Bill Hall just eluded a tag at the plate on a Mike Cameron single (he was coming from 2B). Then things fell apart for Sheets in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single, followed by a double led to a 2-1 defecit after a Tadahito Iguchi single and a Luke Carlin sac fly. That could have been a Carlin single had Laynce Nix (called up for Branyan who went on the DL with an abdominal strain) not made a diving catch. Then a WP by Sheets an another single led to another run and Sheeter was pulled for Shouse. Shouse then through another wild pitch and Jody Gerut raced in from 3B. Shouse dropped the throw from Kendall, but Kendall never saw the home plate call Gerut safe, so he hollarred at Shouse to chase down Gerut and the out was made. Sounded like a bad call, but that's baseball. Today it went for the Brewers, tomorrow it may go against. In the 9th, Cameron made things interesting with a tater off Hoffman, but that was it. Shouse and Gagne finished the game without any more damage and no more walks.
Aug. 13th, 7-1 at San Diego, 70-51
What No Shutout?, Sabathia Sucks
Sabathia continues to amaze the National League. Tonight it was another example of what Prince can do for this team. He launches his 28th tater in the 2nd, and the offense just seems to roll after that. Kendall and Sabathia also added RBIs in that inning. Then in the 5th, Hart hit a bases loaded 3 bagger after starter Josh Banks intentionally walked Prince. Sabathia is now 7-0 in 8 starts since coming over from the Tribe. Tonight he only managed to go 7 innings, but he pitched masterfully again, working out of another bases loaded-no out jam in the 5th with 3-4-5 due up. Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley couldn't do diddly squat. I know there is a lot of speculation that LaPorta is the second coming, but I'll take pitching NOW over a hitter later any day. With Braun and Fielder in the lineup and Sheets and Sabathia in the rotation, this is the time. Riske and Mota looked good in relief.
5-2 win at San Diego, 69-51
Petco is a pitcher's park, unless you are pitching to the Prince. He hit a 3R jack that made even him say "WOW". Suppan was able to protect that lead despite giving up 2 dingers, for once, and some fine D and a HR by Cameron made it 7 wins in a row for the Crew. Still no Braun for this game, he apparently has some tightness in his rib cage that is making it difficult to swing. It happened during that AB in the Sheet's game.
7-1 win over Washington, 68-51
Bushie AGAIN!
Brewer's starters kept Nationals O to just 2 runs over 4 games. Yes they are a last place team, but you have to beat the bad teams to even be mentioned as a contender, and the Crew has done that. The Crew is now 17 games ovr .500, the best mark sine the '92 season. Amazing. Once again, the Nationals were foiled on a bases loaded, no out situation in the 5th when Bush got a ground out force at home, a K of Zimmerman and a ground out. I was glad to see better use of scoring opportunities today. Even professional hitter Craig Counsell got in on it with a 2R 2B.
However, still no sign of Braun in the lineup.
5-4 win over Washington, 67-51
SHTOINK
The concern going into this game was the lack of a Ryan Braun, who was pulled for Gabe Kapler after 1 AB the night before. The offense really could have used him. The game was all Manny Parra and Mike Rivera. Parra didn't issue ANY free passes and kept the Nationals to 1 run when he was pulled for a PH in the 7th with the team clinging to a tie game. Gagne could not resist making things interesting however and gave up back to back HRs to Austin Kearns and Lastings Milledge to make it a 4-1 game. When Zimmerman worked Gagne for 12 pitches before hitting a double in the AB preceeding Kearns, I knew the clock was running out on Gagne's effectiveness. Thank god Mike Rivera, who already had 2 of the NUMEROUS walks given up by Nat pitching (but couldn't be cashed in more often than not) hit a bases loaded double to tie things up. The game dragged into the 13th, after the Brewer's wasted more chances, but Kapler made the game end succinctly with a foul pole HR that was the most rewarding sound I've heard in a while. 3 games attended, 3 games one by the Crew, I can't recall the last time that happened.
6-0 win over Washington, 66-51
Thanks Ben
As I've said in this blog before, I have some doubts as to whether I'll get to see Sheets pitch in a Brewer uniform after this season, so I really hoped his start on Saturday would be a memorable one. Sheets threw a shutout of his own, giving the Brewer's first back to back shutouts since Cal Eldred and Bosio in '92. This time sitting in the rafters, I was again amazed at what I was seeing. The fans in the upper deck didn't seem as "in touch" with the game as they should have, but I think Ben made a strong case that he still deserves some dap on this team. In the 8th, it looked like the shutout might come crashing down with 2nd and 3rd and no outs, but he worked out of it and I could really only shake my head, too amazed to remember to get up and cheer. I knew his pitch count was up, and Jeff and I had much discussion as to whether he'd come out for the 9th. I figured Yost would leave him in even though he was due up in the bottom of the 8th, but Jeff was skeptical. We bet a beer. I won, not only that, but when Sheets blooped an RBI single in his AB in the 8th, I knew there was no way Yost could deny him the CG even if he got into trouble. It was only his 2nd or 3rd SHO I think and thanks to generous run support, mainly from back to back HRs by Hardy and Durham, the Nationals, there really was very little worry in this game.
5-0 win over Washington, 65-51
"C-C...C-C"
After much anticipation, I made me first trip back to Miller Park since 2006 and boy was it worth it. Also helped erase the bad images from that 30 runs in 2 games I had to stomach in Coors last year. In a sold out Miller, where Jeff, Steve and I were forced to migrate from the LF corner to some decent standng room behind Corey Hart in right, I saw something as incredible as I've ever seen in Milwaukee, a raucous crowd that was hanging on every pitch the former Indian and chanting "C-C" every chance they got. Fielder's RBI in the 1st and Cam's tater also got the crowd going, but you could tell this crowd knew they were seeing something special in CC. I don't think the Nats got anyone to 2B until the 8th or 9th, and even though a Sabathia and Hardy throwing error in the 9th seem to endangering the shutout, Yost left him in there to finish it off. The Capuano/Maddux matchup I saw a few years ago still may be a better game in terms of pitching (just because BOTH were so good) but for energy and crowd involvement, this had to be the best game I've ever seen.
6-3 win at Cincinnati, 64-51, 5.0GB
Suppan wins back to back starts for the first time this season and the Crew is doing even better than .500 on the road. I feel pretty good about the baseball I'm going to see in a few days. The Crew is now 11-2 on the road since the break and it's hard not to feel even MORE pissed now about those 4 games dropped to Chicago. Ryan Braun hit the go ahead double in the 5th to help Homer Bailey drop to 0-6 with a 7.93ERA. Ouch!
ALMOST, (this is why Villy isn't ready to close yet)
Clayton Kershaw, who I think was just called up for this start, outdueled seasoned vet Jeff Suppan for 6 innings. Soup gave up a dinger to Matt Kempt on the first pitch then gave up another dinger to Ramierez to put the Crew in a 3-0 hole in the 1st. He settled down after that, but Kershaw was dealing. In the 9th, the Brewer's started a comeback that had me showing too much emotion for my liking at work, but down by four in the 9th, Kendall led off with a single and Counsell reached on an error. On the same play, James Loney through the ball away and with 2 men in scoring position, Durham brought them in with a single. Then, Braun doing his best Kirk Gibson impression took two pathetic swings and planted the next pitch from Chan Ho Park into LF to tie the game. However, in the bottom of the inning, Villy gave up Andre Either's 2nd HR of the game, and it was all over for the Crew.
Aug. 16th, 4-3 win at Los Angeles, 71-53
J.J. Hardy's Redemption
Dave Bush got nailed for a 2R Andre Either dinger in the 1st, and I was afraid the old Dave Bush was showing up. But he settled down after that. Then in the 8th, Braun, nutting up for a pinch hit appearance blooped a 2B and was brought in by JJ's tater. That gave the Crew a 1 run lead which J.J. blew when he screwed up a DP ball off the bat of Kent. Manny Ramirez tied things up with a sac fly and there would be no save for Torres tonight. In the top of the 10th, Hardy brought Ray Durham in with the go ahead run and Dave Riske finished off the Dodger's to get his 2nd save.
Also of note, professional hitter Craig Counsell got his 1,000 hit (wow, tell me 3,000 isn't tough) and Corey Hart and Gabe Kapler did their damnedest with the glove to keep the crew in the game. Hart layed out and crashed into the base of the wall while reaching over his head and Gabe Kapler toppled over into the LF stands to rob Russell Martin of a dinger.
Aug. 15th, 5-3 loss at Los Angeles, 70-53
Got To Perform Against the Big Boys
After taking 6 of 7 from two last place teams, I had to control myself knowing that the Crew was going into a series with one of the best teams in the West that now has Manny Ramirez in the lineup. Gabe Kapler got the Brewers on the board with a 2R tater in the 1st, but Jeff Kent came back in the bottom half with a 2R knock of his own. In the second, Mike Cameron reached third thanks to ManRam not knowing how to play the carom in the left field corner and scored on a Kendall single with the infield in. I was happy to see some resiliance in the bats. However, in the 3rd, Casey Blake hit a 2 run dinger to make it 4-3 and that's all the Dodger's needed. Parra didn't have a great day out there, but considering the bats he was facing, I give him some credit; he did K Manny with Kent on 1st to end that inning. Parra was pulled in the 6th with bases loaded and 2 outs. Riske came in and kept it from getting worse. Villanueva finished the game and gave up 1 earned in 2 innings, a Russell Martin tater.
Aug. 14th, 3-2 loss at San Diego, 70-52
Sheeter Outdueled
With Sheets matching up against Jake Peavy, you knew it wasn't going to be easy. I went out for a bike ride around Green Bay and didn't listen to much of this game, but when I got back to Trojan Drive and flipped it on, the Brewers had just taken a 1-0 lead when Bill Hall just eluded a tag at the plate on a Mike Cameron single (he was coming from 2B). Then things fell apart for Sheets in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single, followed by a double led to a 2-1 defecit after a Tadahito Iguchi single and a Luke Carlin sac fly. That could have been a Carlin single had Laynce Nix (called up for Branyan who went on the DL with an abdominal strain) not made a diving catch. Then a WP by Sheets an another single led to another run and Sheeter was pulled for Shouse. Shouse then through another wild pitch and Jody Gerut raced in from 3B. Shouse dropped the throw from Kendall, but Kendall never saw the home plate call Gerut safe, so he hollarred at Shouse to chase down Gerut and the out was made. Sounded like a bad call, but that's baseball. Today it went for the Brewers, tomorrow it may go against. In the 9th, Cameron made things interesting with a tater off Hoffman, but that was it. Shouse and Gagne finished the game without any more damage and no more walks.
Aug. 13th, 7-1 at San Diego, 70-51
What No Shutout?, Sabathia Sucks
Sabathia continues to amaze the National League. Tonight it was another example of what Prince can do for this team. He launches his 28th tater in the 2nd, and the offense just seems to roll after that. Kendall and Sabathia also added RBIs in that inning. Then in the 5th, Hart hit a bases loaded 3 bagger after starter Josh Banks intentionally walked Prince. Sabathia is now 7-0 in 8 starts since coming over from the Tribe. Tonight he only managed to go 7 innings, but he pitched masterfully again, working out of another bases loaded-no out jam in the 5th with 3-4-5 due up. Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley couldn't do diddly squat. I know there is a lot of speculation that LaPorta is the second coming, but I'll take pitching NOW over a hitter later any day. With Braun and Fielder in the lineup and Sheets and Sabathia in the rotation, this is the time. Riske and Mota looked good in relief.
5-2 win at San Diego, 69-51
Petco is a pitcher's park, unless you are pitching to the Prince. He hit a 3R jack that made even him say "WOW". Suppan was able to protect that lead despite giving up 2 dingers, for once, and some fine D and a HR by Cameron made it 7 wins in a row for the Crew. Still no Braun for this game, he apparently has some tightness in his rib cage that is making it difficult to swing. It happened during that AB in the Sheet's game.
7-1 win over Washington, 68-51
Bushie AGAIN!
Brewer's starters kept Nationals O to just 2 runs over 4 games. Yes they are a last place team, but you have to beat the bad teams to even be mentioned as a contender, and the Crew has done that. The Crew is now 17 games ovr .500, the best mark sine the '92 season. Amazing. Once again, the Nationals were foiled on a bases loaded, no out situation in the 5th when Bush got a ground out force at home, a K of Zimmerman and a ground out. I was glad to see better use of scoring opportunities today. Even professional hitter Craig Counsell got in on it with a 2R 2B.
However, still no sign of Braun in the lineup.
5-4 win over Washington, 67-51
SHTOINK
The concern going into this game was the lack of a Ryan Braun, who was pulled for Gabe Kapler after 1 AB the night before. The offense really could have used him. The game was all Manny Parra and Mike Rivera. Parra didn't issue ANY free passes and kept the Nationals to 1 run when he was pulled for a PH in the 7th with the team clinging to a tie game. Gagne could not resist making things interesting however and gave up back to back HRs to Austin Kearns and Lastings Milledge to make it a 4-1 game. When Zimmerman worked Gagne for 12 pitches before hitting a double in the AB preceeding Kearns, I knew the clock was running out on Gagne's effectiveness. Thank god Mike Rivera, who already had 2 of the NUMEROUS walks given up by Nat pitching (but couldn't be cashed in more often than not) hit a bases loaded double to tie things up. The game dragged into the 13th, after the Brewer's wasted more chances, but Kapler made the game end succinctly with a foul pole HR that was the most rewarding sound I've heard in a while. 3 games attended, 3 games one by the Crew, I can't recall the last time that happened.
6-0 win over Washington, 66-51
Thanks Ben
As I've said in this blog before, I have some doubts as to whether I'll get to see Sheets pitch in a Brewer uniform after this season, so I really hoped his start on Saturday would be a memorable one. Sheets threw a shutout of his own, giving the Brewer's first back to back shutouts since Cal Eldred and Bosio in '92. This time sitting in the rafters, I was again amazed at what I was seeing. The fans in the upper deck didn't seem as "in touch" with the game as they should have, but I think Ben made a strong case that he still deserves some dap on this team. In the 8th, it looked like the shutout might come crashing down with 2nd and 3rd and no outs, but he worked out of it and I could really only shake my head, too amazed to remember to get up and cheer. I knew his pitch count was up, and Jeff and I had much discussion as to whether he'd come out for the 9th. I figured Yost would leave him in even though he was due up in the bottom of the 8th, but Jeff was skeptical. We bet a beer. I won, not only that, but when Sheets blooped an RBI single in his AB in the 8th, I knew there was no way Yost could deny him the CG even if he got into trouble. It was only his 2nd or 3rd SHO I think and thanks to generous run support, mainly from back to back HRs by Hardy and Durham, the Nationals, there really was very little worry in this game.
5-0 win over Washington, 65-51
"C-C...C-C"
After much anticipation, I made me first trip back to Miller Park since 2006 and boy was it worth it. Also helped erase the bad images from that 30 runs in 2 games I had to stomach in Coors last year. In a sold out Miller, where Jeff, Steve and I were forced to migrate from the LF corner to some decent standng room behind Corey Hart in right, I saw something as incredible as I've ever seen in Milwaukee, a raucous crowd that was hanging on every pitch the former Indian and chanting "C-C" every chance they got. Fielder's RBI in the 1st and Cam's tater also got the crowd going, but you could tell this crowd knew they were seeing something special in CC. I don't think the Nats got anyone to 2B until the 8th or 9th, and even though a Sabathia and Hardy throwing error in the 9th seem to endangering the shutout, Yost left him in there to finish it off. The Capuano/Maddux matchup I saw a few years ago still may be a better game in terms of pitching (just because BOTH were so good) but for energy and crowd involvement, this had to be the best game I've ever seen.
6-3 win at Cincinnati, 64-51, 5.0GB
Suppan wins back to back starts for the first time this season and the Crew is doing even better than .500 on the road. I feel pretty good about the baseball I'm going to see in a few days. The Crew is now 11-2 on the road since the break and it's hard not to feel even MORE pissed now about those 4 games dropped to Chicago. Ryan Braun hit the go ahead double in the 5th to help Homer Bailey drop to 0-6 with a 7.93ERA. Ouch!
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