Game Thread #59: Shut Them Up

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 5:57 PM CDT in Game Threads

Apparently I'm pretty good about keeping my priorities straight: it wasn't until this morning when I was adjusting my fantasy roster that I remembered that I have Alfonso Soriano on my team. Almost makes up for the negative that was Dontrelle Willis's outing against the Crew last weekend.

Tonight it's Ted Lilly vs. Claudio Vargas. Let us hope that the inevitable righty-stacked lineup (Mench!) stays hot, and that Vargas remembers that it's within the rules of baseball to record an out (even three!) before putting at least one runner on base.

Go Brewers!

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length of game prediction

With Vargas on the mound I'm just hoping this baby will be over by game time tomorrow. Is there anything more frustrating than trying to watch a game when the pitcher averages one pitch every 7.5 minutes?

by sheeter on Jun 5, 2007 6:33 PM CDT reply actions

Jeezum crow

This Vargas vs. Lee AB is taking FOREVER. It's been at least 10 minutes.

At least it ended well.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions

allow me...

to steal a few words from eddie vedder:

it makes much more sense
to live in the present tense

GO BREWERS!

by Griswald on Jun 5, 2007 6:56 PM CDT reply actions

now I feel

like listening to Pearl Jam instead of the dolts on FSN Wisconsin

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions

don't fight it

i do it all the time.

by Griswald on Jun 5, 2007 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Jeff got the preview correct

of course there was a lead off double before Don "The Magic Man" Makowski gets out of it

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 7:24 PM CDT reply actions

pretty weak prediction

the odds Claudio was going to give up a leadoff hit in some inning were pretty high ... I think Vegas would give me about 71 to 70 odds on that.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't remember ever seeing a pitcher

who looks so good sometimes, and so bad at other times, than Claudio Vargas.

There are guys with more jeckyll & hyde results (like Obermueller), but when Vargas is on, he LOOKS like a dominant pitcher, whereas those other guys are just getting lucky.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:42 PM CDT reply actions

attn. out of towners

the game is on WGN. What a nice surprise. I cancelled my mlbtv because I was bringing bad luck.

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

it is a good thing too-

gameday is impossible to follow along when vargas is taking his sweet time

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions

might as well just have an rss feed :)

add a notifier, and every five minutes or so, it'll ping you with the results of the latest AB.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Graffy?

2nd deck?

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:49 PM CDT reply actions

must be hanging out

with Giambi or Palmeiro

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Graffy!

Finally broke his tie with Capuano :).

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:49 PM CDT reply actions

lock your doors and make amends for your sins

this could be it

by keephopealive on Jun 5, 2007 7:50 PM CDT reply actions

Hart!!!!!!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

Blast by Corey!

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

Corey!

My favorite Brewer!*

(*Tied with several others.)

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:53 PM CDT reply actions

Corey

had to stay ahead of Graffy in HRs

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Cappy

really scared all of these guys into hitting HRs

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 7:53 PM CDT reply actions

Almost makes you wonder

how we're going to blow it this time. I assume Turnbow will be involved.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 7:54 PM CDT reply actions

that's why we're scoring 1.5 per inning

by Turnbow time, Turnbow will be resting.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

dont even

not with Graffy getting an rbi

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

wow

52 pitches for Lilly!

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 7:56 PM CDT reply actions

so if ned

has Graffy and Sheeter etc.
JJ could be Hardier and Corey could be Harty

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 8:00 PM CDT reply actions

Vargas

owned Soriano

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 8:02 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks Billy

Way to run out the ball hit deep in the hole.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 8:47 PM CDT reply actions

NO KIDDING!

That was a poor effort right there. He probably wouldn't have beat it out anyways, but come on, you have to try! How does Corey Hart beat out all these infield singles?? RUN.

by zsattler on Jun 5, 2007 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I was about to complain

he's batting in the 5-hole tonight... but then I saw the rest of the order.

by The Cutt on Jun 5, 2007 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Ugh...

11-pitch rbi double

by The Cutt on Jun 5, 2007 9:02 PM CDT reply actions

you can't beat CV squared

by keephopealive on Jun 5, 2007 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

Our 1-4 batters

are batting .298, .295, .295 and .295. How's that for consistency?

by keephopealive on Jun 5, 2007 9:13 PM CDT reply actions

incidentally

Villy is on pace for over 100 innings this year. Not bad.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 9:26 PM CDT reply actions

corey-

leadoff walk- stolen base- takin 3rd dangerously-nice

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 9:32 PM CDT reply actions

I remember a quote

coming from JJ about his amazing start how much he enjoyed hitting in front of prince. That stuck in my mind because not only does it mean they were pitching to him to get him ouy but he had the confidence to swing for hits with fielder to bring him home- he doesnt really ever swing for the fences. Now its a nice place for Braun for the same reasons- but may not payoff the same.
Or should I take that back.

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

t-bow

looks pissed

by Brooks Kieschnick on Jun 5, 2007 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

how does he look now?

by keephopealive on Jun 5, 2007 9:47 PM CDT reply actions

ugly

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

just in case

are wise and cappellan available tonight?

by RahRahBullCrap on Jun 5, 2007 9:57 PM CDT reply actions

wise no, capellan yes

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions

i am sad.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 10:00 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

Ned just found out that you are in fact allowed to use your closer in the 8th

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 10:00 PM CDT reply actions

Yost learned his lesson

Tight spot in the eighth, you don't put in Shouse, you go with Cordero.

by Achilles17 on Jun 5, 2007 10:00 PM CDT reply actions

At the end of the 7th

I was thinking this is great, their 1-3 hitters just went down, so we'll have the bottom of the order for the 8th and 9th. Perfect.

I guess it wasn't so perfect.

Good thing the offense didn't let up after 4 or 5.

by craigholl on Jun 5, 2007 10:02 PM CDT reply actions

Kidding! I was freakin' kidding!

Almost makes you wonder
how we're going to blow it this time. I assume Turnbow will be involved.

Oh, phew. Hey, that CoCo guy is pretty good.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 10:04 PM CDT reply actions

more on-pace-for

If Cordero gets the save, he'll be on pace for 60, which would break the single-season record by three.

I kind of hope that pace falls off though, and more of the Crew's wins are not of the 1- or 2-run variety.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 10:05 PM CDT reply actions

also

Coco saved 49 in 2004, which is good for 11th on the all-time list.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Seems like

it's been a while since we won a blowout.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions

if we don't get 1 and 2 run wins

we will get big fat L's.

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions

"Watching" via Gameday

Ok. Good time for this thought.
I've read where the Brewers may go with Turnbow as the closer in '08. The thinking amongst the experts is that they won't pony up for Cordero.
I'm saying they MUST go hard after Cordero.
Turnbow is what he is---a thrower, hot&cold. Totally unreliable as "the guy".
The Brewers window of opportunity is open now and for the next couple of years. Losing Cordero means losing any opportunity for a potential crown.
Thoughts?

Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Jun 5, 2007 10:09 PM CDT reply actions

absolutely

by keephopealive on Jun 5, 2007 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not enthused about Turnbow

but I'm not sure ponying up for Cordero is smart, either. He could get 50 saves this year, easy, which might mean he'll get BJ Ryan money, maybe even Mariano money. We could be talking $30M/3 or something crazy like that.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions

and the alternative is?

Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Jun 5, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions

some other free agent

or maybe an internal option emerges ... Gallardo comes up, Bush goes to the pen, he gets 2-3 extra mph on his fastball pitching in short bursts and turns into an effective short reliever. Or something.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 5, 2007 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

paying big dollars for a closer isn't smart. Use the money elsewhere and see if one of the current relievers can close. Turnbow is NOT the asnwer though. Unless the question is who makes me pull my hair out upon sight.

by molitorfan on Jun 5, 2007 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

Turnbow will probably never be reliable enough as a closer, though he might have found his niche as an 8th inning guy. But I wouldn't be surprised if CoCo becomes the most expensive closer in all of baseball, and there's no way we should do that.

I'm guessing (assuming we're in the running for the postseason) that we keep CoCo all year, let him walk after the season (do we still get the draft pick?), and audition for a new closer next year. Turnbow and Capellan are welcome to audition, as is a Mystery Free Agent.

Though, you know, Villanueva might be auditioning for the spot right now. I think he has the "mental toughness" part.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 5, 2007 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Big, big gamble

fellas,
Closers come and go--meaning you can't tell from 1 yr to the next how effective a closer might be (witness our very own Turnbow).
Heck, in my fantasy drafts, I don't worry about grabbing one until the end cuz there will always be a Weathers-type guy there.
But we're talking about a franchise (OUR FRANCHISE) making a move into elite-dom over the next several seasons.
Do you really want a rerun of the '06 stretch when the Brewers couldn't put teams away?

Cordero is a 1st tier guy. He's money.
The franchise cannot gamble on this aspect of the overall equation.
IMO.

Anyway, it'd be interesting to see this question (and answers) in a poll.

Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Jun 6, 2007 6:40 AM CDT up reply actions

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