Game Thread #37: Cardinals (23-15) at Brewers (17-19)
Playing the Cardinals is starting to feel like a baseball version of the South Park "Imaginationland" episodes. You think it's ridiculous that a world exists with only middle relievers, yet it somehow seems to function and even, occasionally, triumph.
Today's matchup is Braden Looper against Jeff Suppan. Here's the BR Game Preview. Looper dominated us last month, but back in September, it was a different story.
Game time: 1:05 CT.
Go Brewers!
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The Brewers suck
Lordz Of Vengeance....Just Win, Baby.
by Dikembe Meiztombo on May 11, 2008 11:21 AM CDT reply actions
Bill Hall will go 5 for 5 with 5 home runs

Whenever prince is at first, he should charge the mound and yell "MEAT!"
Is there going to be a Sunday lineup?
It might be kind of a welcome change today. The team is pretty tense, and maybe a Tony Gwynn sighting would be nice.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 11:24 AM CDT reply actions
Good call!
2B Rickie Weeks
CF Tony Gwynn Jr
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
RF Corey Hart
3B Bill Hall
SS JJ Hardy
P Jeff Suppan
C Jason Kendall
Whenever prince is at first, he should charge the mound and yell "MEAT!"
3 children of major leaguers in the lineup
That’s gotta be some kind of good luck.
Ya know….they could have 4 sons of major leaguers if they were to sign Bonds. ducks
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
i dunno
If we were allowed roids and HGH, then Turnbow, Cameron and Mota would all be top closers.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
don't forget Gagne
with HGH he was lights out
Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay
I meant Gagne
Don’t know why I typed Cameron there.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
He's excused
Please excuse TheJay from today’s blog. He has a good excuse. He graduates from college this afternoon.
TheJay’s Dad
Congrats, TheJay!
It must be a UWM graduation. It always seems to rain on UWM graduation day.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't know...
we really need him here!
seriously, congrats. it’s way more gratifying to spend your free time crunching obscure baseball numbers with a college degree. I should know!
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 11, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
congrats
this officially makes TheJay eligible for this year’s draft. how’s his fastball?
"You guys know me. I take a long time to analyze things."
- Ned Yost
by SunglassesAtNight on May 11, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you everyone (I didn't hear about this post until today)
I could probably be outpitched by a T-ball stand, so don’t go drafting me yet.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
Hmmmm
Yost also said the staff has a handle on why Gagne has struggled and blown three of his last six save chances. He didn’t reveal what the mechanical flaw was in case s“It’s very simple,” Yost said. “I’m not going to tell you and I’m not going into it because it’s nobody’s real business. Plus I don’t want to let anybody know in case the opposing team sees it, but it’s a simple adjustment that we think can get him back on track.”
The closer role will now be filled by the entire bullpen, and Yost said it might be as many as three pitchers in the ninth inning if the opposing team’s lineup dictates such moves.
I hope he’s not lying about the adjustment, though he probably is. I’m glad he didn’t proclaim that Mota is the closer or whatever.
Whenever prince is at first, he should charge the mound and yell "MEAT!"
I love it
Gagne says it’s a mental issue. Yost says it’s a mechanical issue. Kinda similar to what La Russa came out with. It cracks me up because everything can be said to be a mechanical issue. Whether it’s in his head, or if he simply can’t get the ball to go where he wants, in the end pitching is all about throwing a ball in the correct place, with the correct spin. So, really, it’s just a nice way to say nothing, while reassuring the press that they’re doing something.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
yikes
I guess the div blockquote tag doesn’t work any more
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
the comments are weird.
You can use the quote mark icon between the subject line and comment box.
Or use the right arrow (”>”) in front of a line or two of text, and it automatically gives you the box.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 11, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Good stuff
Ned made another good decision, whether the Moustache strongly encouraged it or not. It appears as if Nedly knows his job may be on the line. Hopefully Gagne can get some work pitching middle relief and get his confidence back.
any mlb.tv premium people out there?
The 800k stream always works fine for me, but I’ve never managed to get the 1.2 megabit stream. Anyone else see that?
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions
Hey Marty,
Are you using Vista? Apparently there have been a lot of trouble with that and Vista.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
This is on Mac OS X
I can’t remember if I tried it on an XP computer or not….definitely no Vista to worry about.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
i use mac os x and have mlbtv
i have had no problems with the 1.2 mb…except for like two times when it wasn’t there at all. i have no idea why that’d happened for you…that sucks, cause 1.2 really does look better.
and go mac! :)
"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue
hrmph
I may need to look into this. Both of my macs do it, and one is leopard, one is tiger.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
is it possible that you didn't pay for the premium version?
"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue
i should have clarified
do you even see the 1.2 mb option? and is so and you click on it, what happens?
"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue
Oh, I paid for premium
And I have no trouble with the 800. It’s just that when I click on 1.2, I get a blank screen, like the silverlight plugin never gets the stream.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
No IE on the mac
But I did just try in safari, and that works. Guess I’ll use that when watching games.
Thanks for the help, guys.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey Jeff
If I’m watching a Mets game on mlb.tv, and it shows as being broadcast on CW11, does that mean the insufferable dumbass doing color commentary is Keith Hernandez?
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:21 PM CDT reply actions
The play-by-play guy is awesome, too
Just pointed out that the Reds got Cueto from Texas in the trade for JOEY Hamilton.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
It's all good
The mets are jumping all over Cueto early.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
beats me
I don’t have a TV. I don’t think I’ve watched a mets game on TV for more than a year.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 11, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
that's good
Don’t ask anyone to turn up the volume at the bar, either. These guys are terrible. They may even give the Cardinals guys a run for their money.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I've been gone for a bit but in case this hasn't been reported elsewhere
Gagne is out as closer and Ned says they are going to go to closer by committee.
uh oh
I think the Brewers need someone to start working on message control. Trenny just said that the scheduled meeting to evaluate the team is something that the team does every year, about 4 – 5 weeks into the season. In an article in the JS this morning, Yost said it was previously scheduled because they decided after last year that they’d start having monthly meeting to evaluate the team.
My standard disclaimer applies. They are under no obligation to tell us anything, but why bother to lie about it? Either don’t say anything, or at least have the decency to coordinate the lies they tell the media.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 12:59 PM CDT reply actions
Because lying is fun
And maybe they both were telling the truth to the reporters it is just that Doug lied to Ned and then Ned told that lie to the JS.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
ha
That would suck to be Ned. “What? They’ve been meeting to evaluate the team every year at this time, and they only now invited me?”
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know if anyone else noticed the awful HD quality on Fox yesterday
Funny that FSN’s HD quality is so much better than Fox.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:07 PM CDT reply actions
Ha, stupid cardinals
Even I know better than to accessorize pink with red
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:08 PM CDT reply actions
according to mlb.gameday
suppan has hit pujols 4 times this at bat. Are his pitches really that far inside?
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
MLB gameday uses the PITCHf/x data
Which really isn’t to be trusted until corrections are made. That said, it usually is pretty accurate near home plate so that is a bit of a surprise.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions
It was last year
I haven’t run the numbers yet this year. If that has changed that will be a beast to correct.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
i've gotten in the habit of watching it along with the strike/BB calls
and almost all the time when observing the video doesn’t look like the umpires call, the gameday will agree with the umpire.
Sweet
I love when my internet connection takes a dump on my chest
Lordz Of Vengeance....Just Win, Baby.
by Dikembe Meiztombo on May 11, 2008 1:16 PM CDT reply actions
wow
They had Pujols picked off and then Rickie almost blew the rundown. Hardy bailed him out
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:17 PM CDT reply actions
Interesting because we got the out
If Hardy was there I don’t think interesting would be the word I would use.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
maybe
FSN coverage being what it is, we haven’t seen much of it :)
Pujols was about halfway, so he must have been going
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
didn't fsn...
show/announce yesterday that they have brought on a new producer? They didn’t say much about it, but I imagine the guy/girl who couldn’t pick the right camera 50% of the time got canned. Hopefully the brought someone better on….and we’ll actually get to see >70% of the game
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
that one hit rickie
How’d gameday show that?
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:20 PM CDT reply actions
just below
his buttocks
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
i really like the lineup a lot more
with gwynn batting second
"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue
Ok middle of the order here
It sure would be nice to have a lead. It was two series ago since we have had the lead kind of.
come on braun
lets jump ahead for once…i’m sick of playing behind
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
One more thing about MLB gameday
It sure looked like at least one of those pitches to Gwynn was a strike. Maybe the ump has a tight zone though.
wow
how close was that to a homerun…its half over the wall according to gameday
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
now batting...
bill hall….bill hall…
now batting…
.201….201
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
nice to score first for a change
feels like forever since we’ve done that
"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck
Rather we score early and take the night off
then take the night off altogether
oh yeah
Melvin doesn’t have any problem with the way the brewers are playing, but he does have a problem with how they’re performing. That’s crystal clear.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:33 PM CDT reply actions
After yesterday's Brewers game
I went to a really nice Mexican restaurant in the Mitchell street area.
Comments are for commenting
If you want to plug your own restaurant, please use our FoodPost feature.
He's extremely quick and good.
umm
Suppan is not in a good place today
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:44 PM CDT reply actions
nice
I little vargas-ian inning for suppan there.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
You said it
Four walks today already. If that continues he won’t be able to work out of it all the time.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't watch...
gameday…come on suppan
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
Suppan has a...
no hitter through 2
"My plan is my plan," Yost said.
It will be really interesting to see how long Ned waits to use him
and then what kind of situation. Maybe he won’t pitch again until a mop up role.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions
The way the season has gone
He’s gonna be waiting awhile for one of those.
He's extremely quick and good.
I would prefer it be a meaningful situation
Abandoning Turnbow is one thing, but Gagne’s actually been near the strike zone this year.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Let me phrase this another way
Gagne is at least as good a pitcher as McClung, Stetter, Mota and Torres. I would like to see him used in any situation where those other guys might appear.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
Here is something interesting last year Gagne fastball/change/curve splits were 54/15/31 and now this year his splits are 49/44/7. So he is throwing that change a ton this year and basically not using his curve. Interesting.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
any difference
between his splits in TEX and BOS?
(and in case that isn’t hard enough, i’m giving you 3 minutes, tops. :) )
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 11, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah I could do that in 3 minutes
But I am not home right now I am at my wife’s office. So I don’t have direct access to the data.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Dude
If there ever was a day to be in your mother’s basement, it’s today.
He's extremely quick and good.
and get me a venti americano when you get a chance, k?
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah actually I made that for every pitcher last night
But it is on my home computer. I’ll try to post that later today.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I think the Cardinals outfielders must have really short legs
They all look like they’re running really fast.
He's extremely quick and good.
I know that wasn't exactly a hot shot
But it seems like Rickie might be turning things around. Then again, I guess no where to go but up.
bullpen better get ready to work
"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck
Well Pujols was an auto out
Not sure if they get the guy at home or not. I think it is probably at least a close decision.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
here's an odd coincidence
if you figure the “defensive positions” are C/2B/SS/CF and the offensive positions are 1B/3B/LF/RF, the traditional scoring numbers split them up into evens (2468) and odds (3579).
Doesn’t work when you include pitcher (1) and DH (10) though.
Also, cheese.
Looks like Braun is starting to get on track
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
I feel like he has a different bat everytime up
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
by MadJimiBrewha on May 11, 2008 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions
One more thing about Gagne's change
Here is the 2007 data:
And here is the 2008 data:
Now the 2008 data isn’t corrected but look at how the 2007 change is pretty close to the the fastball. That means the spin on the two pitches were similar. That doesn’t look like what is going on in the 2008 data. The pitch is moving more horizontally and doesn’t nearly have the same vertical movement. I wonder if he is tipping that pitch? Something to check out next week.
aha!
"It’s very simple," Yost said. "I’m not going to tell you and I’m not going into it because it’s nobody’s real business. Plus I don’t want to let anybody know in case the opposing team sees it, but it’s a simple adjustment that we think can get him back on track."
Sucker. Guess nedder doesn’t know we have dixie working for us.
Sometimes I wonder if what I see is what they see
I actually hope very much that they are at least looking at this data. It really is a gold mine and the analysis is only going to get better.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
numbers only?
there is a human element to closing out baseball games that charts and numbers cannot quantify. adrenaline, emotion and confidence have as much to do with it as the numbers do.
booyakasha!
oh, I see
the throw pulled him off.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree only one Brewer
but could it be Prince, simply on reputation?
Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay
I've been wondering
What do you think the % of the Crew’s hits come with 2 outs?
Lordz Of Vengeance....Just Win, Baby.
by Dikembe Meiztombo on May 11, 2008 2:28 PM CDT reply actions
rot in hell, trenny
this adds nothing to the broadcast
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 2:35 PM CDT reply actions
probably wouldn't blame her
was probably the producer/director’s idea, and bill’s mom is nice, but not that great of an interview.
she's just the symptom of a larger problem
broadcasts are doing whatever they can to avoid actual coverage of the game. They don’t even try to call the action during those segments now.
by Marty McSuperFly on May 11, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
So, uh, Weaver has walked the first three batters so far in the second inning
He's extremely quick and good.
Setting up
the Quadruple-Play, obviously.
"My thing is that you guys eat meat all day and you can't hit a ball. That's my thing." - P. Fielder
After 48 pitches in the first two innings
Suppan has really settled down. Getting some easy grounders and now at 84 though 5. Looks like he will get a chance to go out for the 6th at least.
His last two starts were 114 pitches
And those were his only two starts above 100 pitches. So maybe that it affecting him as well.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Check out the second inning for Weaver
- Andy LaRoche walks.
- With Kevin Howard batting, passed ball by Eric Munson, Andy LaRoche to 2nd.
- With Kevin Howard batting, wild pitch by Jeff Weaver, Andy LaRoche to 3rd.
- Kevin Howard walks.
- Jason Repko walks. Kevin Howard to 2nd.
- Coaching visit to mound.
- John-Ford Griffin out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Brendan Katin. Andy LaRoche scores. Kevin Howard to 3rd. Jason Repko to 2nd.
- Kelly Gulledge strikes out swinging.
- Jason Johnson strikes out.
He's extremely quick and good.
This just in
That Pujol guy is pretty good. I wonder if he would be even better if his elbow wasn’t so messed up.
Sweet double play
That was a much better Mother’s Day present than his meaningless HR last year.
He's extremely quick and good.
That was great
Especially after the shot of Pujols laughing at something two pitches earlier, after Duncan’s hit.
So time to play manager
4-1 bottom of the 6th. Pitcher’s spot due up 3rd in the inning. Suppan is at 94 pitches. Do you pull him here or let him start the 7th. Bottom part of the Cardinal order but there will certainly be a pinch hitter for their pitcher if not a double switch before that.
anybody gets on,
pinch hit. otherwise, swing away
by somethingvague on May 11, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
if the first two guys get out let him swing and come back out with a short leash
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
by MadJimiBrewha on May 11, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
althought I get the feeling even if hardy gets on here
Yost will still have him hitting
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
by MadJimiBrewha on May 11, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
yep
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
by MadJimiBrewha on May 11, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions
we have the worst manager in baseball
by somethingvague on May 11, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I haven't been following the Reds
but I looked at the standing in the sidebar and was kind of taken aback.
what they will say as Billy comes up to hit
“How many times do you see a guy make a great play in the field then follow it up with a big hit??”
You think JJ can keep drilling them to right? I am gonna hope. If he can, he is an honest 20 home run threat (because he will actually get a pitch inside).
I think it's something he must be very consciously working on
because he was so pull-heavy in the past.
He's extremely quick and good.
I'm not arguing for or against it
Just saying that for him to being taking the ball the other way so much, he must be making a conscious effort.
He's extremely quick and good.
yeah you are right
That might be something else to look at now that they are adding the result of the ball in play with their PITCHf/x stuff.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
that if he is trying not to pull the ball, it is not good. If he is just reacting to outside pitches better, that is.
by Braunstalker on May 11, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Doing
some juggling tricks with that ball.
by Braunstalker on May 11, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Prince is like, make all the high, off-center, lollipop throws you want
Just don’t throw them in the dirt.
He's extremely quick and good.
110 pitches for Suppan
Lowered his ERA to 4.66 with this game. Crazy though six hits and five walks and only one run.
Who would have thought he'd go 7 IP, 1 ER after the first couple innings?
He's extremely quick and good.
I don't want either of those guys facing Pujols
Even with the bases empty. So I don’t think I was use either of them there.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
I wonder if that is tracked by anyone
What is the conventional wisdom? Getting warmed up is the rough equivalent of an appearance? Something like that.
I don't think anyone is publishing that data
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah it does
You have to wonder how much extra that does take out of our stadd.
by dixieflatline on May 11, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Out of the game
Final line: 4.7 IP, 4 H, 5 ER. 4 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Dave Bush can do that.
He's extremely quick and good.
sweep the leg...
Doug, please fire Ned.
Love,
Everyone.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 11, 2008 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm switching over to WGN
Anyone else who feels like hanging around is welcome to cheer on Arizona with me.
He's extremely quick and good.
How much more hateable does Soto's facial hair make him?
I say at least 100%.
He's extremely quick and good.
more #22
that drag bunt wouldve been a hit against most pitchers, and he has a great eye at the plate.
booyakasha!
Looper was wild
Gwynn’s eye isn’t bad, but I don’t think I’d call it great.
He's extremely quick and good.
neither does Jhonny Estrada
Whenever prince is at first, he should charge the mound and yell "MEAT!"
I have Jonathan Sanchez on my fantasy team
He just walked Adam Eaton with the bases loaded. Thanks, Jonny.
He's extremely quick and good.
I'd actually like to start doing some interviews again
I’ll look into it.
He's extremely quick and good.
Tony Romo is a Cubs fan?
That sucks. Burlington is in Wisconsin, dude.
He's extremely quick and good.
Eddie Gaedel was under strict orders not to attempt to move the bat off his shoulder. When Gaedel had hinted to Veeck that he might be tempted to swing at a pitch, the owner promised to bring a rifle to the game and shoot him if he tried. Tigers catcher Bob Swift offered his pitcher a piece of strategy: “Keep it low.”
Ryan Howard just hit a triple
Frank Thomas hit one earlier this year too. I guess neither is as weird as Prince’s inside-the-parker last year though.
He's extremely quick and good.
Seems pretty strange to be seeing a pitcher for the third time already
It’d be nice to keep the hitting going against Wainwright tomorrow
Daryle Ward with a two-run double
On the bright side, Cole Gillespie just hit a three-run homer.
He's extremely quick and good.

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