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Monday's Frosty Mug

Season sweep of the Giants, and the Brewers' first road sweep in California since 2002, eh? I'll take it.

Friday's Win Expectancy Graph
Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph

Friday's BR Box Score
Saturday's BR Box Score
Sunday's BR Box Score

Of course, the weekend's biggest news is the acquisition of Ray Durham for two minor leaguers. The immediate question: Where and how much will he play? Ned Yost defended Rickie Weeks yesterday and says he'll play Durham "a couple days a week, maybe."

In the meantime, the Brewers may have kept another team from making a move, as well: Sam Mellinger says the low price the Giants received for Durham, plus with the fact that they're paying a large chunk of his salary, may keep the Royals from reaching a deal to trade Mark Grudzielanek and his $4 million salary.

The grand rotation experiment begins today, as Seth McClung starts on the road in St. Louis, his first start as part of the road/home platoon at the end of the rotation. If all goes as planned and the team sticks with the platoon, Dave Bush would then get three of the next four starts, including Saturday against Houston and the following Thursday against the Cubs.

Speaking of Dave Bush, Baseball By Paul thinks he'll come back to Earth and now is a good time to sell high. Paul also predicts a hot second half for Prince Fielder.

The Brewers have moved up to 8th in Phil Rogers' power rankings, or seventh if you want to be a purist and argue that team power rankings should only include actual teams.

On injuries:

Red Sox RP David Aardsma is on the DL with a sore groin.
A's 1B Daric Barton hit his head on the bottom of a swimming pool during the All-Star Break and has been DL'ed.
Reds RP Jared Burton has been placed on the DL with a strained right latissimus muscle.
White Sox SP Jose Contreras has been placed on the DL with elbow tendinitis.
Jermaine Dye left yesterday's game after being hit in the knee with a pitch.
Ryan Freel is out for the rest of 2008 after having surgery to repair a torn tendon behind his right knee.
Rays RP Gary Glover has been placed on the DL with a calf strain.
Orioles LHP Adam Loewen has a stress fracture in his elbow and has decided to give up pitching.
Pedro Martinez threw a bullpen session yesterday, but won't pitch Tuesday as scheduled.
Angels OF Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his knee but will play through it.
Mets OF Trot Nixon underwent season-ending hernia surgery.
Roy Oswalt has been placed on the DL with continued soreness from a left hip abductor strain.
Mets OF Angel Pagan may need season-ending shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Mariners SP Carlos Silva left yesterday's start with back spasms but may make his next start.
Billy Wagner will have an MRI today after suffering cramping in his shoulder yesterday.
Marlins OF Josh Willingham missed yesterday's game to rest a sore wrist after being hit by a pitch Saturday.
Dmitri Young, who is diabetic, is on the DL after missing two straight games with high blood sugar and lightheadedness.

Apparently Scott Linebrink is using acupuncture and other methods to relieve the pain of migraines and some back issues he's been having. I've been known to get migraines related to Linebrink as well, especially when Joe Thatcher and Will Inman pitch well.

I'm sure this debate has been hashed out before, but it doesn't usually give me the urge to sing "One of these things is not like the others." Dugout Central asked four writers to name the greatest living pitcher. Your nominees: Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens...and Dwight Gooden.

Murray Chass would like to know
why it's been 2 1/2 years since Don Baylor worked in baseball.

Week 15's blogpoll results for AL Awards (conducted over the break) are up at this link. Ian Kinsler was the surprise winner for MVP, with Cliff Lee taking the Cy Young and Evan Longoria lapping the field to win the Rookie of the Year. If you read the comments, I actually only wrote about half of what's quoted to me...the part about catchers belongs to someone else. Here's my ballot:

MVP:
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Grady Sizemore
3. Alex Rodriguez

Cy Young:
1. Roy Halladay
2. Justin Duchsherer
3. Cliff Lee

ROTY:
1. Evan Longoria
2. Greg Smith
3. Nick Blackburn

Oh, and if you ever find yourself stuck in a conundrum, where a team either has the option of paying you $20 million for next season or letting you become a free agent and likely make significantly less, the way to show that team you want to stay is almost certainly not tanking in a pinch hit at-bat against the Yankees. Just saying.

Drink up.

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actually

THIRD

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 9:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

time says first

But you showed up later, maybe your computer is slow!

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 9:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

I was in before your 2 posts here, probably just refresh rate, but you can have it if you want.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

rec'd first!

:)

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

by TheJay on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 AM CDT to parent up   1 recs

Rotten Tomatos?

Could be a rotten tomatos peer review of the post. Might be certified un-fresh!

by SgtClueLs on Jul 21, 2008 10:21 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep

4 recs to highlight a comment; 4 recs to promote a diary. I can tinker with those numbers, but they seem to be working out ok so far.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 21, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bob Feller

I didn’t realize how great he was… I love getting history lessons every once in awhile. I forget about how great a sacrifice so many athletes gave up for our country (along with millions of other young Americans)!

Can you imagine Alex Rodriguez serving in our military right now? Neither could I. Which is why I love Pat Tillman and his dedication to this country.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 9:44 AM CDT   0 recs

/Bob-Feller—Photofile-Photograph-C12961401.jpeg”/>

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 9:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 9:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll post the results here as well

Durham’s GRIT numbers:

Adjusted Raw Grit Number: 48
KUG: 14.12, fourth on the team just behind Kapler and ahead of Weeks

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 21, 2008 10:00 AM CDT   0 recs

Feller's the odd one out, right?

Because he’s really old? Ageism! :)

That’s interesting about Loewen. I wonder how long he’ll keep showing up on the scoreboard in the between-innings clips at Camden Yards.

The Murray Chass line is linkless and that actually seems kind of fitting.

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

by TheJay on Jul 21, 2008 10:09 AM CDT   0 recs

Fixed

And agreed, that is somewhat ironic.

Derek Jeter is day to day after being hit by a pitch and being gorilla press slammed by a Bizarro Ray.

by KLSnow on Jul 21, 2008 10:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So, Brewers in first by the end of the month?

Split with the Cards, win 2/3 against Houston and 3/4 from the Cubs. The Cubs have the Marlins at Wrigley and go to Arizona and the Cards go to New York and Atlanta.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 21, 2008 10:28 AM CDT   0 recs

Cubs

Have insanely high winning record at Wrigley. You’ve got to assume a sweep of the Marlins there. Also, you are being a bit optimistic (which is okay) to assume anything better than a split against the Cubs. You are talking about a 3rd place team winning a series against a first place team. It isn’t impossible (especially seeing the Cubs’ road record) but I don’t think you can make that leap quite yet.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 10:32 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes, you have to assume a sweep

I forgot, we’re within a 200-mile radius of Chicago, so anything less than insane fanboyism is inappropriate.

Gosh, I can’t think of the last time this particular third-place team won a series against this particular first-place team.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 21, 2008 10:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

3 Games..

It’s not like the Brewers are that far back. 3 Games…

And I think the Marlins are 3rd in NL West technically. And they are .5 back.

Can we get an action “Troll” put on this site?

by SgtClueLs on Jul 21, 2008 10:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Click "action"

then “flag”

and then there are some choices as to why you’re flagging.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 21, 2008 10:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks..

Never clicked the flag button. I should RTFM.

by SgtClueLs on Jul 21, 2008 10:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jeeze

You guys whine about not being able to give a decent opinion on bleed cubbie blue and then look how you act when somebody comes over to your site. If my opinions (which are not at all rude or inappropriate) bother you so much, I’ll go somewhere else where people can handle an intellegent discussion with fans of other teams.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 10:42 AM CDT to parent up   1 recs

Brewers are 4-2 at wrigley this year

So why would it be so strange that they took 3 of 4 at home against the Cubs?

by brewfan2 on Jul 21, 2008 10:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It wouldn't be strange

Im just not so sure you can make the leap to being in first place by the end of the month, although if you do make it there, it would definitely be well deserved considering you will have to end the month playing the Cubs.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 10:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The math is on our side

Pick up 2 games with a series win against a Cubs team that plays terribly on the road, pick up at least one more game splitting against the Cards and winning the series against the Astros while the Cubs will likely lose their series in Arizona and then split the series with the Fish. Being tied for first is still being in first.

I would be more shocked by a series split with the Cubs more than I would the Brewers sweeping the Cubs. Your closer on the DL, Marmol not the same pitcher he was to start the year and the Brewers having the starting pitching edge in 3/4 games add up to a very good series for the Brewers.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 21, 2008 11:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well,

We swept the Diamondbacks the last time they played us, although it was at home, and I highly doubt we will split the series with the Marlins, probably more like a sweep. Anyway, we will see what happens when the Cubs play @ Brewers at the end of the month.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 12:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the "math"

you are speaking of is only real on the back of whatever napkin you drew it on. You are just making several assumptions and hoping for the best in almost every series. You have to A- Split with the Cards, B Have the Cubs lose to Arizona C- Take 3 of 4 from a team that has to this point scored alot more runs than yours and has an equally strong rotation. Then the Cubs have to split with the Marlins (at home).

All of these things have to happen and other than your being a Brewer fan you havent offered any real reason to believe it will. Our closer is going to be on the DL at the latest through the middle of the Marlins series. And losing a closer doesnt mean very much in the long run (See Gagne, Eric) other people can record 3 outs in the 9th inning. And this starting pitching edge you speak of isnt really showing up anywhere. Zambrano, Harden and Dempster are at the least just as strong as Sheets, Sabathia and Parra? Suppan?

The Brewers could be in first at the end of July but it wont be because “math” did you any favors

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 1:20 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

"Math is on our side"

is a reference to a Ned Yost quote from last year when we were 2 games back. So it’s kinda a joke.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 21, 2008 1:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ah

im not up on my Ned Yost quotes

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 1:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

maybe you should’ve “layed low” to build up your “credability.”

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 21, 2008 1:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

i figure if i dont like something i might as well attack it the same way i would at a cubs blog

worse case scenario is im blocked from a little slice of the interweb

but that guy from today seems like a foolish fool of the highest order

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 1:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

credability is a joke on anthony witrado. be skeptical of comments that on the surface seem credible, but turn out to be only credable.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 21, 2008 1:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lucky you

It’s like having Dusty Baker as your manager, without the toothpick or pitcher abuse but more a$$holery.

The math is a best case scenario on what our opponents do, but the wins by the Brewers are within reason. The Brewers are 4-2 against the Cubs right now, without playing a home game or having CC pitch and while Marmol was still dominant.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 21, 2008 1:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sample

Size is KING.

4-2 is over the course of 6 games which isnt much. As i recall one of those wins came due to Soriano fucking up in LF and Wood going on to blow the save. A caught fly ball and we are 3-3 and really its not much of a difference is it?

re: Sabathia- The Cubs didnt have Harden then either

re: Marmol- As good as he was/is he isnt going to make or break the season

Finally, the Cubs and Brews are close in terms of talent imo. Stats would say the Cubs are the better group but I think a split is very likely. The Brews may very well win 3 of 4 but thats far from a lock or even the most likely outcome

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 1:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is home/road record queen?

Does the Brewers having a very good home record while the Cubs are 8 games under on the road mean anything? If this series was in Wrigley, then I would say the best we should hope for is a split with the most likely situation being the Brewers lose 3 of 4.

Even with their ridiculously good home record so far, the Brewers have won two series against the Cubs. I believe they are the only team to win two series at Wrigley, so while that sample size may be small that they are the only team to do so may hint that they were the better team and have added to their talent while the Cubs have lost their most effective reliever.

So it’s not a huge limb that I’m climbing out on.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 21, 2008 2:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

first

i dont think you can assume we “lost” marmol- they guy went through a rough period and may or may not be out of it.

2nd- If Marmol never pitches again this year it wont be a deal breaker. Gaudin is a drop off sure, but is it such a drop off that the Brews win the divison or the Cubs even lose a full win share?

The Cubs get all sorts of love for the home record and alot of pooh for the away record. I really think both stories are overhyped. They werent good at Wrigley last year or the year before and werent awful on the road. These things vary from year to year.

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 2:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I believe one team since 2001 has won more than 84 games with a road record under .493(40-41), so I attach importance to the record. The Brewers win the division by 6 games last year with 40 wins on the road.

I guess I wouldn’t have a similar attitude if Torres or Villy went down or went Turnbow on us. Marmol had 49 appearances at the break for a reason, and I don’t think it’s because Sweet Lou hates him.

by Getting Yosted on Jul 21, 2008 2:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hire Jim Essian

had a really funny piece about Lou making Marmol move his office furniture with his right arm only before games

by ACB on Jul 21, 2008 3:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

is FIRST a decent opinion?

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 11:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

or intelligent discussion?

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Jul 21, 2008 11:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But don't you

cut a new poster some slack? That was my very first post and it obviously bothered the regular posters here, so I apologized. Like I said, it was my first post here ever.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 11:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

as a new poster

shouldn’t you lay low until you figure out what the customs are?

Why expect everybody else to cut YOU slack when you could hang out for a day or two, figure out what’s appropriate, and then act accordingly?

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 21, 2008 11:13 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

Jeff, I have been to many discussion boards before, and never has anyone been angered by the first poster posting “first”. I mean maybe that is a huge deal here, but I can’t see it ruining anyone’s day. And it isn’t like I have made any attempt here to upset anyone. You are making quite a deal out of nothing, even after I apologized for making the “first” comment. I mean the things that you are upset about here are things that you couldn’t possibly expect a new poster to know about even if he had “layed low” for several weeks could you?

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 11:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it’s rude of you to expect to be cut some slack, to expect the red carpet treatment.

and, laid low or no laid low, you lost all credability here: You’ve got to assume a sweep of the Marlins there

(psst: all baseball fans know you never assume 100% success rate).

so what do you think we’ll get out of your contributions from here on out?

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't ask for the red carpet

I prefer it to be mostly blue actually. And if my credability is lost that’s okay too. And if the Cubs do sweep the Marlins at Wrigley, Im sure I will still have no credibility because you never assume that a sweep can happen. So maybe my choice of the the word assume was bad, because in any sport you can’t really assume much of anything. However if the Brewers had a home record similar to the Cubs, I would have to say the odds are very good of a sweep of any team at home. That is really the point.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 11:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Did you post first because you were the first poster on here

or because the Cubs are in first? That might clear up some of the confusion you might be having. Whether rubbing our noses in the fact that your team is first, or posting that you were the first to respond – with no real comment – it was still pretty immature. This is not HEX.

Think how you would feel if the tables were turned and I’m sure you would be able to understand all the hullabaloo over your comments.

As for laying low, it works pretty well. I’ve been reading things on here since late last year and I never really posted anything until March. I knew all the customs and everything and I didn’t embarrass myself that much.

"Brett Favre looks like a man in a parking lot playing with boys." - John Madden
"Pujols just unloaded." - Bob Uecker

by kirbir on Jul 21, 2008 12:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Actually I meant "first poster"

Which I think most of the others understood as well. Immature only on this site I suppose. Go over to Bleed Cubbie Blue and post “first” as the first poster, and no one will be upset with you, it happens almost every time a new thread is started. I guess being a fan of a team that has the previous years of record baseball stats leads us to be a little light hearted and humorous from time to time. Generally a little more understanding, and certainly not hostile. If we were hostile, we couldn’t be Cubs fans.

by adam316 on Jul 21, 2008 12:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think most of us around here are light hearted and humorous from time to time

But the FIRST1!!!! thing is just kinda annoying, doesn’t add anything to the conversation. And they do it on Haudricourt’s blog. If they do something on Haudricourt’s blog, the opposite is probably done here.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 21, 2008 12:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How Russian-sounding of you

"Brett Favre looks like a man in a parking lot playing with boys." - John Madden
"Pujols just unloaded." - Bob Uecker

by kirbir on Jul 21, 2008 12:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well...perhaps

spending the last 12 years of my life on liberal college campuses has turned me into a communist

by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2008 12:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think you mean:

Into a Communist perhaps has spending on liberal college campuses the last of my life 12 years turned.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 21, 2008 2:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

so

yoda russian was?

by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 21, 2008 4:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

/.

Isn’t the Origin of “first post” from Slashdot.org?

by SgtClueLs on Jul 21, 2008 12:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think it has anything to do with the Cubs' stats

If you looked at more of the threads on here, you’d see that we’re light hearted, silly, and even downright fun.

The “first” thing still seems stupid and immature to me. Why bother posting if you don’t have anything real to say?

To each his own I guess.

"Brett Favre looks like a man in a parking lot playing with boys." - John Madden
"Pujols just unloaded." - Bob Uecker

by kirbir on Jul 21, 2008 12:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Fun?

Speak for yourself. I’m all business, lady.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 21, 2008 2:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mmmm

Ryan Gosling :)

"Brett Favre looks like a man in a parking lot playing with boys." - John Madden
"Pujols just unloaded." - Bob Uecker

by kirbir on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I had a kid with him

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 21, 2008 8:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ryttle Kowsling?

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

by TheJay on Jul 21, 2008 9:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs