June 11- COL 5 MIL 4
Rec. 33-27
Rockies Running Hot and Draftee Close to Signing
They have now won 8 in a row and the Crew has lost 4 in a row for the first time since early April. I was given a glimmer of hope while listening to the game when Ryan Braun's 3 run HR got them within a run of closer Huston Street, yet the game ended shortly after that and the Rockies had there first sweep in Milwaukee EVER. Gallardo didn't pitch poorly, 2 earned and 3 hits in 5, but he fell victim, (like Bush yesterday), to a high pitch count, needing 50 pitches through 2 innings and gave up 4 walks.
The Brewers sound like they are close to signing their top draft pick however. Eric Arnett, a RHP from Indiana announced he was hoping to have a contract finished by Friday. Arnett was picked 26th overall and was 12-2 with a 2.50 ERA and a school record 109 Ks. With the recent failures of Parra and a lack of any studs in AAA, or even AA, I certainly hope Arnett and the other pitchers taken by the Crew pan out better than Mark Rogers, J.M. Gold or even Jeff D'Amico. Michael Hunt had a great column on the irony that on a day in which the Crew drafted a Big 10 pitcher, the Brewer's were holding UW Day at Miller, honoring the only Big 10 school without a baseball program.
June 10- COL 4 MIL 2
Rec. 33-26
Offense Struggles Against De La Rosa
Former Brewer Jorge de la Rosa was able to hold the Brewer offense to no hits and 2 walks after allowing a 2 run 3rd and won his second straight start after going 0-6. The guy spends 3 years in Milwaukee as part of the great Diamondback ripoff trade and was probably the most underachieving of any of those acquisitions, yet against a lineup where it seems EVERYONE is slumping, he looked great. Dave Bush, in his first start since getting nailed in the arm, fell victim to 3 straight doubles in the 5th and worked his pitch count over 100 before getting out of the jam and surrenduring his 2-1 lead. Troy Tulowitzki and Brandon Hawpe led the Rockies with a solo dinger each and Huston Street struck out the side in the 9th for his 11th save.
It was not a way to treat the 1 millionth fan at Miller this season, probably the earliest the the crew has ever passed that attendance mark.
6.13.2009
6.10.2009
June 9- COL 3 MIL 2
33-25 2.5 Games in Front of CHI
Bullpen Struggles Again
Coffey took his first loss of the season as he couldn't save starter Braden Looper's fine start in the 7th. After giving up a run, Looper exited for Mark DeFelice, who was able to get the first out of the inning. Then Coffey came in and gave up a walk, a double and a sac fly to surrender a 2 run lead that was built on a Counsel leadoff triple, J.J. Hardy groundout and a Mat Gamel solo shot, his second of the season. The Rockies pitchers did their part from the 5th inning on. Starter Jason Hammel, Matt Daly, Manny Corpas, and Huston Streen retired the final 16 Brewers of the game to seal the win.
My hatred of the Rockies grows. Last season's pathetic performance softened me a little bit, but I hate hot teams that are doing it with smoke and mirrors and a bunch of left handed hitters. And Rockies fans, who have already given up on their team I'm sure, don't desrve any sort of surge by this squad. From what I saw in 2007, they wouldn't appreciate a hot streak if tickets were half price and the third base coach was a topless Hooters girl. Come back to earth Rockies, otherwise your team will give Jim Tracy the job full time and you'll be stuck with him like you were with Clint Hurdle... who I kind of liked.
33-25 2.5 Games in Front of CHI
Bullpen Struggles Again
Coffey took his first loss of the season as he couldn't save starter Braden Looper's fine start in the 7th. After giving up a run, Looper exited for Mark DeFelice, who was able to get the first out of the inning. Then Coffey came in and gave up a walk, a double and a sac fly to surrender a 2 run lead that was built on a Counsel leadoff triple, J.J. Hardy groundout and a Mat Gamel solo shot, his second of the season. The Rockies pitchers did their part from the 5th inning on. Starter Jason Hammel, Matt Daly, Manny Corpas, and Huston Streen retired the final 16 Brewers of the game to seal the win.
My hatred of the Rockies grows. Last season's pathetic performance softened me a little bit, but I hate hot teams that are doing it with smoke and mirrors and a bunch of left handed hitters. And Rockies fans, who have already given up on their team I'm sure, don't desrve any sort of surge by this squad. From what I saw in 2007, they wouldn't appreciate a hot streak if tickets were half price and the third base coach was a topless Hooters girl. Come back to earth Rockies, otherwise your team will give Jim Tracy the job full time and you'll be stuck with him like you were with Clint Hurdle... who I kind of liked.
June 7- ATL 8 MIL 7
33-24 2 games up on STL
Villanueva Human
The loss get's tagged on Carlos Villanueva but after 14.2 scoreless innings, he was bound to be touched up eventually. I just hope this doesn't destroy his confidence. He gave up the tying and go ahead runs in the 8th with two out, and a allowed the Braves to erase a 2 run defecit that the Brewer's built on the strength of 2 Ryan Braun home runs and a Mike Cameron tater. The majority of the Braves early offense came off the bat of Chipper Jones, who was 4-4 with 5 RBI, 2 runs and a home run. Starter Manny Parra got a no-decision, but his 5 earned in 5.2 isn't helping his chances of staying in the starting rotation. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh, but between him and Suppan, the bullpen isn't going to get much rest. Villy was pitching on his 3rd straight day but Macha claims that low pitch counts in his previous 2 appearances didn't concern him when he trotted him out to the mound. Instead, Macha, was going with a hot hand, which I can't argue with.
A 3-4 road trip isn't bad, but the Rockies are playing good ball right now and just completed a sweep in St. Louis. My concern isn't great, but remembering the beatdown in Coors I witnessed in 2007, I really want to see a bit of reality pounded into the Rockies.
33-24 2 games up on STL
Villanueva Human
The loss get's tagged on Carlos Villanueva but after 14.2 scoreless innings, he was bound to be touched up eventually. I just hope this doesn't destroy his confidence. He gave up the tying and go ahead runs in the 8th with two out, and a allowed the Braves to erase a 2 run defecit that the Brewer's built on the strength of 2 Ryan Braun home runs and a Mike Cameron tater. The majority of the Braves early offense came off the bat of Chipper Jones, who was 4-4 with 5 RBI, 2 runs and a home run. Starter Manny Parra got a no-decision, but his 5 earned in 5.2 isn't helping his chances of staying in the starting rotation. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh, but between him and Suppan, the bullpen isn't going to get much rest. Villy was pitching on his 3rd straight day but Macha claims that low pitch counts in his previous 2 appearances didn't concern him when he trotted him out to the mound. Instead, Macha, was going with a hot hand, which I can't argue with.
A 3-4 road trip isn't bad, but the Rockies are playing good ball right now and just completed a sweep in St. Louis. My concern isn't great, but remembering the beatdown in Coors I witnessed in 2007, I really want to see a bit of reality pounded into the Rockies.
June 6- MIL 3 ATL 0
33-23 2 games up on STL
ATL Shutout Again
Especially considering it was Suppan starting, I think most Brewer fans are shocked as hell to see the team bounce back from the series in Miami with consecutive shutouts of the Bravos. Suppan put in 5.1 innings until he needed Coffey and Stetter to bail him out in the 6th. That combined performance of the gritty vet and the bullpen combined nicely with a 2 homer game for Fielder (his 3rd of the season) and some fine defensive plays by Hart and Fielder. Hard deked Yunel Escobar into thinking he was catching a bloop single on the fly. When Escobar froze between 1st and 2nd, Hart was able to throw him out for the force. Then in the 6th, Fielder went home on a hard grounder off the bat of Garret Anderson to get Brian McCann at the plate and erase a leadoff triple.
Mike Cameron got ejected in this game also for bumping the home plate ump on a strike call and even though it sounds like a very minor bump (hat brim to hat brim) a suspension will likely follow.
33-23 2 games up on STL
ATL Shutout Again
Especially considering it was Suppan starting, I think most Brewer fans are shocked as hell to see the team bounce back from the series in Miami with consecutive shutouts of the Bravos. Suppan put in 5.1 innings until he needed Coffey and Stetter to bail him out in the 6th. That combined performance of the gritty vet and the bullpen combined nicely with a 2 homer game for Fielder (his 3rd of the season) and some fine defensive plays by Hart and Fielder. Hard deked Yunel Escobar into thinking he was catching a bloop single on the fly. When Escobar froze between 1st and 2nd, Hart was able to throw him out for the force. Then in the 6th, Fielder went home on a hard grounder off the bat of Garret Anderson to get Brian McCann at the plate and erase a leadoff triple.
Mike Cameron got ejected in this game also for bumping the home plate ump on a strike call and even though it sounds like a very minor bump (hat brim to hat brim) a suspension will likely follow.
6.08.2009
June 5- MIL 4 ATL 0
Gamel and Gallardo
8 innings of shutout ball was desperately needed and that's what Yo did for the Crew. After giving up a hit in the 3rd, the Braves couldn't manage another hit until the 7th, and considering his mound opponent, it was a good think. Jair Jurrjens, who entered the game with a 2.59 ERA took the loss as Mat Gamel, getting a shot to be the everyday third basemen was 2-4 with 3 RBI. Wanting to save Gallardo's arm, Macha brought Villy in for the ninth, who pitched a perfect 9th. A bullpen with Villy and June NL Pitcher of the month Hoffman are a huge reason why this team in still in first place.
Gamel and Gallardo
8 innings of shutout ball was desperately needed and that's what Yo did for the Crew. After giving up a hit in the 3rd, the Braves couldn't manage another hit until the 7th, and considering his mound opponent, it was a good think. Jair Jurrjens, who entered the game with a 2.59 ERA took the loss as Mat Gamel, getting a shot to be the everyday third basemen was 2-4 with 3 RBI. Wanting to save Gallardo's arm, Macha brought Villy in for the ninth, who pitched a perfect 9th. A bullpen with Villy and June NL Pitcher of the month Hoffman are a huge reason why this team in still in first place.
June 4- FLA 4 MIL 3
31-23, Tied w/ STL
Bush Man's Up
Yes, he still took the loss thanks to serving up a 3 run tater to starter Josh Johnson but he took a Hanley Ramirez liner off his forearm in the 1st and still managed to give the Crew 6 innings, something that hadn't happened in a while. Fielder took care of the Brewer's offense with an RBI triple and a late, 2 run home run, but Johnson pitched 7.2 innings of 5 hit ball and the Crew was to settle for 1 out of 3 in Miami.
Early response on Bush's arm makes it sound like he might miss a start, with the Crew using an off day on Monday to skip his turn.
31-23, Tied w/ STL
Bush Man's Up
Yes, he still took the loss thanks to serving up a 3 run tater to starter Josh Johnson but he took a Hanley Ramirez liner off his forearm in the 1st and still managed to give the Crew 6 innings, something that hadn't happened in a while. Fielder took care of the Brewer's offense with an RBI triple and a late, 2 run home run, but Johnson pitched 7.2 innings of 5 hit ball and the Crew was to settle for 1 out of 3 in Miami.
Early response on Bush's arm makes it sound like he might miss a start, with the Crew using an off day on Monday to skip his turn.
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