Spurling is back, Gross sent down

by roguejim on Jul 22, 2007 1:34 AM CDT in News Comment 13 comments

Well, we now know how the Brewers were going to address Spurling's return to the major league club:

The Brewers' pitching staff grew to 13 strong on Saturday, when reliever Chris Spurling was reinstated from the bereavement list and little-used outfielder Gabe Gross was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.

The team opted for an extra arm because Ben Sheets is on the disabled list with a finger injury and the team is in the middle of a stretch of 18 games in 17 days, including a doubleheader in St. Louis next weekend.

It is interesting, though, to consider the choices they could have made, the most obvious one being to send Parra back down. (Parra has pitched all of 1 1/3 innings, though he did so perfectly.) Also, it's interesting that Gwynn did not get sent down this time, as when give a choice between Gwynn and Gross in June, it was Gwynn who was sent packing. (Of course, if Hall is coming off the DL this week as expected, I bet Gwynn will also be on his way.) Ball-four is out of options, and it's unlikely he'd make it through waivers.

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I wonder

If right now part of the reason they're keeping Balfour around is to rest some of the bullpen arms for the months to come and that soon he'll be DFA.

by drezdn on Jul 22, 2007 8:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I will miss

Gross's .200 average coming off the bench. It will be interesting to see how Ned uses the bullpen over the next two weeks. Cinci's ballpark has traditionally been thought of as a hitter's park so Ned may have to revive his quick trigger finger in tight spots. Cappy was on the receiving end two Fridays ago versus the Rockies, and I was a big fan. The only sure thing is that every decision he makes will be well critiqued here!

by molitorfan on Jul 22, 2007 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If history is any indication...

... Yost will use the bullpen poorly. This is probably nothing more than a showcase to see who the Brewers can trust more coming out of the bullpen in September.

Hate to see Gross go, but maybe with the playing time he can find his stroke and, possibly, be a bargaining chip since there is so little room in the Brewers outfield.

by nmc on Jul 22, 2007 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win or lose today

We need to do well in Cincinnati. If we don't win that series, I'll be pretty dour about our chances.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 22, 2007 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

The margin for error is rapidly evaporating, and this 6-4 (hopefully) homestand has been a missed opportunity to once again maintain their separation from the Cubbies. If you're going to go 6-4 on a homestand like this, then you've got to clean house against weak competition on the road.

The Cubs will come back to earth eventually (they've shown some signs of cooling off this week, in fact) but I don't see any reason to believe that barring a rash of injuries they won't play close to .600 ball the rest of the way, which means the Crew needs to do the same thing or better. I know they're young, but this shouldn't be about finding themselves as players anymore. The opportunity is there now and who knows when it will come again.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 22, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ballfour

It'll take a lot more for me to give up on our Australian menace. Though maybe I'd choose Parra before him if it's a tight spot, at least until we find out if he can pitch.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 22, 2007 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Parra

He wasn't sent down because they've got a doubleheader next Saturday and need all the long arms they can get. Barring injury, sending him down yesterday would have made him ineligible to be called back up. If they had done it, I suspect Balfour might have sneaked through waivers and agreed to go to Nashville with a tacit "See you in September" handshake agreement. Too bad the only guy in the bullpen with options is Villaneuva -- where's Jose Capellan when you actually need him, right?

I think Yost's done alright since the all-star break. He must've gotten a talking-to from someone. My dad's theory is that he had a chat with Bobby Cox who told him he needs to manage to win, not to protect players' feelings. I don't know if that's it or what, but he's had a different style, made better moves, and had the luck run against him lately.

Joe Borchard 2007 watch: 194 PA, 57 K, 55 TB, .199/.294/.322 -- "There are freaking geeks out there who get ... off on this kind of stuff," Melvin said.

by TheJay on Jul 22, 2007 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought so too...

... until he opted to leave Villanueva in after he walked 3 guys in a row. The decision to let him face the next batter when he had so clearly lost it that day, and THEN to pull him after he gave up three runs and essentially ended the game (meaning that you didn't even get the benefit of preserving the remainder of your bullpen) was just bad managing. I understand that CV's been unbelievable this year. I understand wanting to give him a chance to work out of it. I don't understand leaving any reliever in to face another batter when he's walked three guys in a row.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 22, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

But how long does it take anyone to get loose? If I remember correctly, Villanueva lost it in a hurry. Even with a coaching visit, it still would take a while to get someone ready. That and the fact Villaneuva's been the most reliable reliever out there this year makes me give Yost a little benefit of the doubt. I think part of the third walk was the idea that a light-hitting rookie was coming up and Villanueva thought he could get him. If Rodriguez made an out, it's all academic.

Joe Borchard 2007 watch: 194 PA, 57 K, 55 TB, .199/.294/.322 -- "There are freaking geeks out there who get ... off on this kind of stuff," Melvin said.

by TheJay on Jul 22, 2007 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you can always slow a game down

Throw over to first, have third basemen visit the mound, throw to first again, have 1st basemen visit the mound. Its undestood what they're doing, and its part of baseball.

Ned for Prez!! Seriously, he needs a new job.

by Zel123 on Jul 22, 2007 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Robbed

Braun got robbed on that called strike three to end the second. I thought it was outside, and Gameday shows it was outside, too.

On a somewhat related note, why don't the guys on FSN use the overhead cam more often to investigate called strikes, especially ones that looked like they were not over the plate? I know they have the camera, so why don't they use it? It drives me batty.

by craigholl on Jul 22, 2007 1:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

Wrong Thread

by craigholl on Jul 22, 2007 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but a valid point nonetheless. :)

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 22, 2007 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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