Friday's Frosty Mug

by KLSnow on May 9, 2008 9:59 AM CDT

Remember Saturday, when I Mugged from the road? I'm back on the road, and the Brewers are still losing. I'm sorry this Mug is late, but breakfast closed at 9, so it took full focus to finish 3 laps in time.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Recaps

Notable by their absence yesterday: Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and Jason Kendall. Apparently it was just a scheduled off day for almost half the starting position players, though.

The Yost Infection says it's time for a managerial change, even though most of this team's problems aren't Ned's fault. The time for a change was September of last year. The story now is that it hasn't happened yet.

Speaking of looming decisions, Derrick Turnbow will clear waivers soon. Looks like he's headed to Nashville.

On a positive note, Beyond the Box Score compares Matt LaPorta to Ryan Braun.

The Cub Reporter ranks Ben Sheets 4th among NL Central aces. He wants your vote to help rank them.

Or, if watching the Brewers is too much for you to handle sober, try out this drinking game. By the fifth or so, people will be stacking cups on your head.

On injuries:

Padres reliever Kevin Cameron is on the DL with an elbow strain.
Doug Davis is free of cancer. Sighs of relief all around.
Johnny Estrada is back on the DL with an inflamed nerve in his elbow.
Orlando Hernandez is no longer in a walking boot. He's one step closer to throwing the banana.
Dodgers P Esteban Loaiza is on the DL with spasms in his shoulder.
Nats C Paul Lo Duca has a broken hand and has been DL'ed.
Twins reliever Pat Neshek will have his elbow examined today after leaving last night's game.
Mets OF Angel Pagan is day-to-day with a bruised shoulder.
Braves P Brayan Pena is on the DL with a back strain.
Twins IF Nick Punto was scratched from last night's game with tightness in his hamstring.

Despite the hubbub about the Brewers only going as far as Prince Fielder will carry them, Recondite baseball notes that no Brewers make the list of top or bottom 20 in win-loss splits.

The Marlins are hot, but there's still plenty of great seats available at their games.

Reds Insider notes that new GM Walt Jocketty will get to rework his team in a hurry - the Reds will have 13 free agents after the season.

Here's video of Richie Sexson charging the mound last night. Two notes:

1) That pitch wasn't that close.
2) Richie, you're 6'6", did you really need to throw the helmet at the guy?

That's all for today. Drink up.

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Richie Sexson

That’s a Piniella-esque, stupid get-’em-riled-up move.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 9, 2008 10:13 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Throwing at him before?

I don’t get it, it wasn’t that close and well.. what the hell?

Were they throwing at him earlier or jawing? Perhaps they need to test Richie for roid rage.

by SgtClueLs on May 9, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Apparently King Felix hit two Rangers in the previous inning so Sexson was expecting retaliation.

He's the round mound of profound

by drezdn on May 9, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'm glad there was some explanation for it.

Because that pitch looked like it was over the plate to me. WAY over the plate, but not inside at all.

Doug, please fire Ned.

Love,
Everyone.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 9, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

still...

when you are 6’6”, don’t throw the helmet. C’mon Richie.

by Braunstalker on May 9, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Maybe Richie just wanted a hug?

Because that’s all he did when he got to the mound.

Doug, please fire Ned.

Love,
Everyone.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 9, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

muwahahaha

by Braunstalker on May 9, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

that wasn't even close to hitting him lol

"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck

by dux2bux on May 9, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

FAIL

The only person he appeared to rile up was Gerald Laird. (Whose performance in the “brawl” was even more humiliating, what with the being carried off by Milton Bradley and all.)

by morineko on May 9, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I actually meant to motivate his own team

Poor choice of words on my part.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 9, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I know

which is why Sexson is the acknowledged king of fail

by morineko on May 10, 2008 1:40 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

More on the Prince Fielder Hubbub

Prince didn’t even have the most dramatic split on the team last year. That honor went to Bill Hall who had an OPS of .917 in wins and .543 in losses, for a difference of .374 (35th among players with 300+ PA). Fielder was next with .301 (74). The rest of the 300+ PA Brewers:

Corey Hart – .268 – 101st
Johnny Estrada – .259 – 115th
J.J. Hardy – .210 – 159th
Kevin Mench – .203 – 167th
Rickie Weeks – .192 – 175th
Ryan Braun – .189 – 178th
Geoff Jenkins – .161 – 208th
Craig Counsell – .128 – 230th

There were 280 total players who qualified.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 9, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

The Yost Infection

The idea that if Yost should be gone he should have been gone last September sounds a lot like several of Doug’s reclamation projects, i.e. Turnbow, always a day late and a dollar short.

"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."

by MadJimiBrewha on May 9, 2008 10:40 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

The Braun/LaPorta article

So what do people think of the idea of Hart in center long-term (not this year) so that we would have an outfield of Braun-Hart-LaPorta? Defensively it would leave us kind of short but the offense would make up for it.

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on May 9, 2008 11:23 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Well

Defensively it would leave us kind of short but the offense would make up for it.

I don’t know if I would agree. That was the thinking last year and it didn’t get us very far. Even with improved defense this year the thought seemed to be that our offense would still carry the team, which at this point is obviously not the case.

With all the hitting talent we seem to have on the big league team and in the minors I’m kind of expecting a trade to happen at some point this season or in the offseason involving some hitters for a pitcher or two. If you look at our organization, pitching really does seem to be a weak spot that needs to be addressed. As much as I hate to see someone go and possibly excel somewhere else, I don’t think we can honestly win a championship unless we shore up our pitching.

"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."

by MadJimiBrewha on May 9, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Agreed

Trade Laporta

by brewfan2 on May 9, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

If we

trade LaPorta to win this year, I will be very angry. We (I believe) have to focus on next year, at least until Sheets puts together a string of starts where he looks 100%.

by Braunstalker on May 9, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

agreed on trading LaPorta

if we trade him we have to get some young quality pitching in return…which is where it becomes difficult cuz I’m not sure who would be willing to give up young arms

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on May 9, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

The Giants

But first we have to give Laporta a really expensive contract and make him look like he’s 35.

He's the round mound of profound

by drezdn on May 9, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

well done

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on May 9, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Why don't we just send Kendall?

There’s no sense in paying for milk if the Sabean gives it away. If we send Gagne as part of a package deal the Brewers can probably get Lincecum, Cain and a that guy with the weird King Tut beard.

by Getting Yosted on May 9, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

get rid of Kendall?

how dare you, sir? without the grit we are nothing ;^)

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on May 9, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

That's why we keep Counsell

And since facial hair seems to have some relation to grit, that’s why we ask for the weird King Tut beard in return.

by Getting Yosted on May 9, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

trading grit for talent

boy would that disappoint Nedley

Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay

by verno329 on May 9, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Let's be reasonable

I’m sure they’d ask for both Kendall and Counsell.

He's the round mound of profound

by drezdn on May 9, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Kendall, Counsell and Gagne

For Cain, Lincecum, WKTB guy and Aurillia. Send it to MLB offices for approval.

by Getting Yosted on May 9, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Well put.

I don’t want to see LaPorta traded, but an OF of Braun, Hart, LaPorta would be a nightmare defensively. You’d see a lot of plays where they position themselves 20ft from the warning track and the ball lands in front of them, which seems to be happening to Braun quite a bit.

Doug, please fire Ned.

Love,
Everyone.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 9, 2008 12:41 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don't know that it's really pitching

At this point, I am very concerned about the infield’s ability to hit. Weeks and Hardy have each had one half season in which they’ve looked good. Hall had one very good season.

I’m not saying to give up on any of the three right now. I think they all deserve to be regulars for the rest of this year. Besides, I don’t want to see Abrham Nunez get a MLB at-bat. I’ve never been a big Hardy fan. Like everyone else, I’ve had a man crush on Bill E. Hall since May of 2006, but he’s looked lost at the plate for over a year now. I’ve also been careful not to get down on Rick E. Weeks, as a lot of others have. Part of it is that I never lived in Wisconsin during his prospect years, so I never had the HOF assumptions that many had about him. I like that he can take a walk and step in front of a pitch. But unless he stops striking out and popping up over half the time, he’s not going to hit enough to justify a regular spot in the line-up.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d like to see each one of them put it together and help carry the Brewers to a pennant. If none or only one of them can do that, we’ve got some spots to fill on the infield. We might need Gamel to fill one of them and/or the trade bait to fill a couple of slots.

Don't try to do too much with it. Just take the ball the other way.

by shooty babitt on May 9, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Estrada

Is it true Johnny got his elbow injury “running” to first? ;-p

The Wallbangers won because they played the game like kids! Let's do that again!!!

by 80badger on May 9, 2008 11:58 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I think it depends on Prince...

You can’t trade LaPorta until Fielder has a contract.

by warwick5s on May 9, 2008 12:21 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

But where do you put LaPorta in the interim?

You can’t hide him in the minors for much longer (certainly notuntil 2012) and the only other positions he can play are the corner OF spots. They can drag their feet through the end of this year if they want, but after that they’ll either have to make room for LaPorta and eat the defensive shortcomings (ala Braun) or deal him (or deal Braun or Fielder, neither of which seems terribly likely).

Doug, please fire Ned.

Love,
Everyone.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 9, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

i think hart in center would be fine...he has good speed and he played there last year sometimes

"Cubs fans boo again – 99% of these people can’t see the plate." -Ueck

by dux2bux on May 9, 2008 12:29 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Turnbow

Cleared waivers according to JSonline.

He's the round mound of profound

by drezdn on May 9, 2008 1:19 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Sexon

Second-to-last dude I’d want charging me on the hill. The first? Gary Shefield. That guy is loony toons.

by Sooze on May 9, 2008 1:24 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I recall Gary having a nice right hook form somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind.. Yikes! 32, and already the cobwebs!

by Braunstalker on May 9, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

If not for...

Gagne’s 5 blown saves, the Crew would have the 2nd best record in baseball.

Lordz Of Vengeance....And now I am here. Drunk, and predicting a loss.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on May 9, 2008 2:52 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Considering they won 3 of those games anyway

They’d actually be in third place in the NL Central.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 9, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Is that accurate?

Haven’t we won some of his blown saves?

by KLSnow on May 9, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

details

Lordz Of Vengeance....And now I am here. Drunk, and predicting a loss.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on May 9, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yes

They won three of his five blown saves. So if they won the other two instead of him blowing them, they’d be 18-16 rather than 16-18. Since his blown saves in which the team lost came against Houston and Cincinnati, they don’t jump up past the Cubs or Cardinals.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 9, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

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NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	23	16	.589	0	Lost 1
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	22	15	.594	0	Won 3
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	21	17	.552	1.5	Won 3
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	18	19	.486	4	Won 1
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	17	19	.472	4.5	Won 5
Cincinnati Red Reporter	15	23	.394	7.5	Lost 1