Friday's Frosty Mug

by KLSnow on Jul 25, 2008 8:35 AM CDT

So now it's eight in a row, the longest undefeated road trip since 1999, and three come from behind wins in four days. Still, drink with cautious optimism.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score

Jim Powell says the Brewers are coming home off of The Greatest Road Trip Ever.

Doug Melvin says he's not interested in acquiring George Sherrill. Did he say it before or after reading Jeff's post on the subject? We may never know.

On injuries:

Erik Bedard has an internal impingement in his shoulder. There's no structural damage but it could lead to some.
Kerry Wood finally hit the DL with his blister problems, but will be eligible to return Tuesday.

This is the problem with the lack of transparency Major League Baseball shows at times: Bud Selig fined the Cubs $500,000 for "violations involving the draft" but never specified exactly what the Cubs did wrong. Then, the Cubs removed Selig friend (and Brewer part-owner) John Canning from the list of candidates to purchase the team. Now Ivy Chat, among others, is suggesting the Cubs are being punished for eliminating Canning from the running. Is this likely the case? No. Will suspicions like this continue to come up until MLB does a better job of conducting business in the sunlight? Absolutely.

Bronson Arroyo would rather stay in Cincinnati than go play for a contender, and he's publicly calling out the Reds' management to keep him. I don't ever recall seeing a player publicly ask to stay on a losing team.

Of course, Johnny Estrada won't get that option: the Nats DFA'd him yesterday.

Jimmy Rollins was a late scratch from last night's Phillies game, because he was also late to the ballpark.

This one surprised me in a big way: DRaysBay is conducting a poll and 66% of the 171 participating voters think the Rays should sign Barry Bonds.

Oh, and I didn't think I'd like a story involving a Padres fan, a cute girl and hot sauce, but this is pretty funny.

Drink up. The Mug is off for the weekend but returns Monday.

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Forget another reliever

Let’s get the team to buy part of an official BCB metaphor.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
"We're only playing .575 ball. That isn't championship stuff." - Hal Trosky, 1940

by TheJay on Jul 25, 2008 8:56 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I can see it now

Brewers trade SS Carlos George to Black Hills Institute for Kelsey Triceratops and a dinosaur to be named later.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by jihad on Jul 25, 2008 9:21 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Estrada

That guy is a dick. Maybe Yost was right to fight with him.

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jul 25, 2008 9:11 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

im just bummed...

cause the nats come to LA today; can i still wear my t-shirt to the game??

go get em' seth!

by Jamie in LA on Jul 25, 2008 12:32 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

poor decisions dot jpg

by warwick5s on Jul 25, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

You have to go to the game and pretend that you’re a huge Estrada fan but that you don’t know he’s been DFA’d. Keep telling people that Estrada is going to get a pinch hit home run.

Alternatively, tell everyone you’re a CH*Ps fan.

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jul 25, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up reply reply 1 recs

ha! that's a great idea!!! hilarious!

go get em' seth!

by Jamie in LA on Jul 25, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

My second Brewer game ever

Listach had been hurt and hadn’t been in a game in well over a month. Jose Valentin was playing in his place. A kid behind me spent the whole game screaming for Listach, who was nowhere to be found. The kid insisted for the whole game that it was Listach playing short, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Listach finally came in as a pinch-runner late in the game (in what might have been his final Brewer appearance) and the kid went crazy. We were about ready to strangle him.

Lesson learned, and it’s valuable to this day: The nicest stadium, a beautiful day, and a great game can all be ruined by one moron with constipation of the brain and diarrhea of the mouth.

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 25, 2008 2:36 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

gret story...

in this case, i think my awesome shirt speaks for itself… ha.

go get em' seth!

by Jamie in LA on Jul 25, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I went out last night to watch the game,

so I wasn’t able to post this in a more timely manner. Sorry to rehash, but I just wanted to comment on Braun’s HR and the ire that followed.

Ok, I admil. #8 was showboatin’ a bit. It was a big hit, by a young kid who’s always been a bit of a hot dog, against a division rival that has beaten our Brewer brains in for as long as I can remember. If that action warrants the Cards “dealing” with Braun, or Hall for that matter, the next time we face them then so be it. Braun took his medicine after a similar stunt against the Astros at home last year, and he quietly took his base. It’s not like you have to tell these guys about “the code”.

However, I would just like to point out something I’ve been thinking. The whole code pretty much says, “Don’t look at that HR too long son, or else I’ll put a fastball in your ear.” Well, if I remember the last STL series of ‘07 correctly, the Brewers were fending off oodles of beanballs from a team that was out of it when we had not broken any “code” that I was aware of. It was just LaRussa being bored in the dugout, and I remember Prince and Hart were thrown at pretty blatantly. My (long winded) point is this: The Cardinals, and admittedly the Brewers, share some resonsibility for being shown up like that. I don’t remember hearing Cards fans outraged by their team’s actions last September. If there is going to be a volley of beanballs every time LaRussa feels frisky for no reason, then I would watch my freaking HR like that too. What’s the retribution, another beanball? Seems like that’s going to happen anyway.

It is dangerous for an athlete to believe his own publicity, good or bad - Bob Uecker, 1982.

by Adam P on Jul 25, 2008 9:28 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I could be wrong

but I think the beanball wars last year were due to someone pitching too close to Pujols head – at least in the view of LaRussa.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

That is some statement about Arroyo

In one sense I think he is right a rotation of him, Cueto, Volquez, and Harang sounds pretty darn good to me. But wouldn’t the $25 mil he is set to earn be better used someplace else like maybe signing Dunn long term? I realize that isn’t going to happen but you get the picture.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Jul 25, 2008 9:29 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

So I just got an email from a friend of mine with this link

Huge brawl in A ball. I will not mention the perceived lack of class of hitting a fan with a baseball after intending on it landing in the opposing dugout or the interim manager of one of the teams starting the whole mess. I will also not mention the name of the organization that employs these two but I will say it rhymes with scrubs.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Jul 25, 2008 9:36 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

that was crazy

Saw a game in Dayton earlier this year and I love the park.

Two players apparently taken to the hospital before that even happened… player hit in the head and an aggressive slide by a guy sliding into second.

I know many may disagree with me, but I don’t think that guy who threw the ball should be prosecuted by the law… he had the same intent as beaning a player… just because he has no control he is going to get charged? If Maddux threw it, he would have hit his target, and no fans would be taken to the hospital… the league should suspend him for lots of games, but keep the law out of it.

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 9:49 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

And what if the guy who was hit in the head died from it?

Just say it’s baseball code and give a free pass?

by SgtClueLs on Jul 25, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Same thing applies to beaning a player

Or if Pedro had killed the old man Yankees assistant, who’s name I can’t remember, or McSorley taking out a player with his stick had died ( I think he did get charged in the court of law)... they are on the playing field, where violence occurs… the league should punish them, but clearly the intent is not to kill a fan with that action he took… it was very irresponsible and should be suspended most of the season, if not the rest… but how injured the person gets is really a matter of luck…

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

i remember now

Don Zimmer

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

And McSorley was charged with assault with a weapon

And suspended for a long time

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don't think it is the same

when an innocent bystander in the stands is put in harms way because of a hot headed pitcher. Players that get beaned have helmets and know the ball is coming in their direction. Don zimmer partially instigated his incident. I’m not saying the guy should go to jail, but I don’t think you can compare a bean ball with this incident.

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

by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 25, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Drunk drives don’t intend to kill anyone and there are people who called for Lance Nyx’s evisceration without even knowing if he is guilty.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Intent to kill. No. Intent to harm? Yes. If it mistakenly killed him with out intent, it’s still murder.

Anyways, the point I was trying to get across in my snide remark was, the fans and the club have a responsibility to make a reasonable attempt to keep themselves safe. That means netting where fast fouls are normally fouled off too, the fan needs to pay attention to the ball while a batter is at bat.

The fan was injured during a brawl, during a point where you assume a fan doesn’t have to watch for flying objects form normal play. His intent was to harm someone, and he missed and harmed a fan. The fan should have a right to charge the player, just as the fans in “The Malice in the Palace” fans had a right to charge the fighters. Using a ball to inflict damage is pretty much the same as running up and decking him.

Remember, this wasn’t during the normal course of action.

by SgtClueLs on Jul 25, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

i agree

I conceed every point

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply reply 1 recs

Rec'd for civility

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

by battlekow on Jul 25, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think the prosecutor and the trial lawyers involved will find humor in your contention and ask what basis do you have for it. Questions that follow might include what protective gear or training fans should be expected to use.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I see what you are driving at, but it’s reasonable to expect objects to be put into “fan areas” due to normal routine play. A Brawl isn’t normal routine play.

Anyways, I have a ticket stub in my wallet. So here’s the disclaimer on the back (MLB Disclaimer at least)

In using this ticket, the ticket holder assumes all risks incidentals to the event to which the ticket admits such a holder and waives any and all rights against the Club it’s employees, lessors, agents or assigns, the venue, the issuer, or any management which the ticket holder may have arising out of any accident, personal injury or loss or damage of property.

I guess the question is, was it incidental to the event? I’d say no, it was not caused during the course of normal play. A hot headed pitcher thought he could even the score, missed and hit a bystander.

by SgtClueLs on Jul 25, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

MLB teams get sued every year and that ticket disclaimer doesn’t allow them to always escape culpability. I’d also add that it wasn’t an accident or personal injury (as is meant in that disclaimer).

If you were acting as counsel and used that argument, the response would probably say something about “reasonable expectation” not including team members throwing weapons (which is what the ball had become) in the direction of innocent bystanders with a reckless disregard for their safety. Additionally, the personal history of the accused could show negligence on the part of the ballclub if he had a history of being a hothead or irresponsible.

All in all, the Cubs (that was his team right?) will pay all the injured persons medical bills, settle a lawsuit out of court with little publicity. The guy will probably be allowed to plead to a lesser charge and might spend a little time in something like work release. Cubs are a big corporation. If you and I were involved in a pickup game at the park and had an argument and I ended up winging a bat at you and missed, and ended up striking a small child watching the game and seriously injured them, I’d spend a few years in prison.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah I’ll assume they’ll plead down to something and get probation. Face a suspension by the league.

I’m curious about the other law suites MLB Teams face. I’m sure a vast majority of law suites are bs, but I’m sure there are some in there due to negligence of the ball club. Say chunks of stadium falling on fans at Wrigley. :)

by SgtClueLs on Jul 25, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Talk radio beats that message about lawsuits, but its just politics and protecting their constituents from responsibility.

Imagine some drunk falls forward into your aisle and lands on your head, snapping your neck and leaving you crippled for life. He was served a large volume of alcohol and was observed by stadium employees including security. That actually happens now and then. I believe it happened recently in both the Mets and Yankees stadiums.

Would you sue? Do you think the ticket disclaimer should shield the Yankees and Mets?

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

law enforcement -> enforcing laws

there are a lot of people in prisons who have done less

Reckless disregard is a legal term that will probably be involved.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

good points

I am not that famiiar with the law, but I guess intentions aren’t everything… it is the situation you are putting others in… I reverse my opinion… just because they are in a sports arena doesn’t mean they are exempt from the law!

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

We should apply this to every sport

Like hunting.

Come on, your honor, I thought it was a deer. Leave the courts out of this!

Steve
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com

by stigmo on Jul 25, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Classic South Park episode

“It’s coming right for us! Shoot!”

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 25, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Wow. "Classic" is right.

And by “classic”, I mean “old”, as in: Even I remember that line, and I haven’t watched South Park in close to 10 years.

It's called "playing the percentages."

by hilbelink on Jul 25, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

yeah

All episodes are now free online, and I’ve been watching the series in order, one episode every day when I have lunch. I’m almost done with season 1. Expect season 2 references next week :).

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 25, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

beginning of the show was not funny IMO

But now, the show is one of the funniest on TV… this last season was genius… and I look at it as very similar to the evolution of the SImpsons, which started by focusing on Bart and Eat My shorts in the first few seasons, and then evolved to a smarter comedy focusing on homer.

South Park was about Cartman being fat and crude and Kenny dying at first, both not as funny as today’s genius characters and plots.

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yet another reason

to think you’re amazing

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

by kirbir on Jul 25, 2008 11:16 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

wow

I’ve seen about 2-3 episodes of that show ever, and this is one of them.

Steve
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com

by stigmo on Jul 25, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

The 2B wasn't taken out by a slide

It was the same guy who threw the ball that broke his leg. Seriously. Infield single and the pitcher rolled into his 2B trying to field the ball. He had a busy night.

sig lines are for suckas

by jch24 on Jul 25, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

"Every good thing in life starts with a brat." - Mike Ditka

Maybe we grilled up some brats before this road trip.

If he's the Prince, then I'm the King.

by ryan braun on Jul 25, 2008 9:48 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Greatest Brewers' series ever?

I think there is a good argument that the Cardinals series was the best ever for the Brewers. Start with a 4 game sweep on the road. Add in the fact that three were dramatic come from behind victories, while the fourth was a complete game shutout from our new acquisition. Top that off with the fact that we came in one game behind the Cards for the playoffs and left three games ahead, and it is very impressive.

I guess there have probably been more dominant series, and more important series (the end of season series against the Orioles in ‘82, and the same against Detroit in ‘81), but I don’t know if there is anything else that can match this on other dimensions. (Let’s hope we surpass it next week…)

Anybody else have a better memory than me?

by keephopealive on Jul 25, 2008 10:01 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Your question can only be answered at the end of the season

If the Brewers don’t make the playoffs then nobody will care about this series.

However, if they make the playoffs, everyone will probably point to this series, and say that was the turning point. If only the cubs would have lost yesterday, it would have made our series that more special.

by brewfan2 on Jul 25, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don't think a Cubs loss makes it any more special

The Brewers will have plenty of chances to take on the Cubs and to use the cliche “in charge of their own destiny”. If they take care of the Cubs, and keep pace the rest of the games… scoreboard watching does no good… players admitted to it last year, I hope they don’t start doing it this year…

We on the other hand are expected to watch the scoreboard… we are baseball fans!

True though… if they make the playoffs, they will point to #1 CC Aquistion and #2 Probably some of the games down the home stretch #3 this series

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I meant a Cubs loss meaning that we were tied for first in the division

If we end up winning the division, and we were tied now, it would have put even more weight on this series.

by brewfan2 on Jul 25, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I wonder if the Cards fans wrung their hands about this

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jul 25, 2008 10:16 AM CDT reply reply 2 recs

they would’ve wrung their hands had it not luckily been for the exception, which is, “you can’t admire your homeruns until you can.”

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 25, 2008 1:48 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

But that directly postponed the Astros making the World Series!

By a whole day!

Also, Pujols is vocally self-righteous, whereas Braun is merely evidently cocky, so it’s okay. QED.

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

by battlekow on Jul 25, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

trade talk for a reliever?

From an article at sportsline:

Brewers GM Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he doesn’t expect to trade for a reliever, but the teams with available relievers still seem to believe that the Brewers are interested. The Pirates have scouted the Brewers farm system extensively, and the Orioles are watching Milwaukee’s Double-A Huntsville team this week. In fact, one scout said that as many as 10 teams are watching Huntsville’s current series at Carolina.

Also some big love for Michael Brantley in that article.

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Sometimes you can't really trust srticles like this.

Here though I can vouch for at least this part:

The Pirates have scouted the Brewers farm system extensively

That is absolutely true.

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Jul 25, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

partial explanation for the DRaysBay Bonds poll results...

The Rays have been in a multi-week offensive slump and the offense is bar far the weakest link on the team (fielding, starters, and relievers all quite good). Fans over there have been over-reacting to adding any hitter, not just Bonds.

my blog

by skyking162 on Jul 25, 2008 10:47 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

first hand observer to the brawl

over at redreporter

by ol Pete on Jul 25, 2008 10:50 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Interesting theory

Maybe I should bring this up on a day where CC is pitching… but if Gallardo doesn’t go down with an injury… are the Brewers as good of a team right now, not in terms of record, but going forward as a more difficult team to beat in September and October?

Yovani certainly would have helped the team from May to July… but we would have had a surplus of pitchers and probably not gone for CC (maybe we would have, but less likely). Now with CC on the team, we are a better team going down the stretch…

I thought the season was over when Yovani went down, but maybe that play saved it?

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 10:51 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

interesting point

but they’d be a better team overall when you consider 2008 combined with the next few years—still a decent shot in 2008 (healthy Gallardo instead of Sabathia), but better going forward (no injury from Gallardo and Laporta still around.)

my blog

by skyking162 on Jul 25, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

also

may have freed up some resources for aquiring another bat or a pen reliever.

plus, with Gallardo in, we wouldn’t have had McClung starting, which would have resulted in higher expectations placed on Bush. If that had flamed out, maybe we’d still be looking at CC.

by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 27, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Arroyo

I personally feel bad for him. Remember when the Red Sox said they were keeping him, he bought a house in Boston, then they traded him the next week? For Wily Mo Pena? And now he’s begging to stay on the REDS? It sounds like he really just wants a place to stay, to call home. Maybe mommy issues.

Also, if you’re not a huge Bronson fan yet, you are now:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0I-2YW0IzUU

by somethingvague on Jul 25, 2008 11:27 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

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

by Kyguy922 on Jul 25, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

That is Just Insane

Anyone hear anything about the condition of the fan that got hit?

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

by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 25, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

From the Dayton Daily News

Spectator Chris McCarthy, 44 of Middletown, was hit by a ball thrown by Peoria starter Julio Castillo. He was treated and released from Miami Valley Hospital.

sig lines are for suckas

by jch24 on Jul 25, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs