Monday's Frosty Mug
by KLSnow on Jul 28, 2008 8:42 AM CDT
37 comments
Well, this weekend was a nice step back into tradition. First, on Friday, the Brewers came home with an 8 game winning streak. They'd just finished what Jim Powell was calling the greatest Brewer road trip of all time. So they put on the retro uniforms and lost.
Friday's Win Expectancy Graph
Friday's BR Box Score
The Brewers are 4-5 in retro uniform home games this season, and 28-14 in all other home games. The Brew Town Beat has joined me in calling for the end of Retro Fridays. We don't need to use 1982 to generate excitement anymore, the team on the field right now is pretty good.
Then, on Saturday, a come from behind victory and high fives all around:
Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph
Saturday's BR Box Score
Finally, on Sunday, we took a trip through more recent history, and had a good old fashioned Yosting.
Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's BR Box Score
This should come as a surprise to no one: Ned Yost says Suppan was one pitch away from getting out of the 5th, which is why Ned left him in to surrender 7 runs. Al says most of Suppan's problems can be traced to bad luck. That doesn't change the fact that he walked the leadoff man, gave up hits to 5 of the next 6 batters he faced, and came within about 20 feet of giving up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Carlos Lee, Geoff Blum and Hunter Pence. And he was allowed to do all of this in a pennant race game while an extra starter, Seth McClung, was sitting in the bullpen.
In-Between Hops wants Suppan pulled from the rotation. I still think he can be effective if managed properly. Yesterday was the textbook definition of improper management.
All of this plus the tight races in the AL and NL East have combined to create the closest pennant races in decades. Baseball Musings looks at just how close they are.
Phil Rogers ranked the Brewers 5th in his most recent power rankings. This week, there's only real teams in front of them.
Tom H. ranked the top remaining Brewer prospects by position. I'm curious to hear what people with a better grasp of the minors think of that list. I immediately noticed that Hernan Iribarren is nowhere to be found.
Skyking162 gives Prince Fielder a 3.5 and Ryan Braun a 3.0 in his rating system for hitters. I think Braun belongs on the same level as Fielder, but aside from that I can live with it.
On injuries:
Rick Ankiel was scratched yesterday with an abdominal strain.
White Sox 3B Joe Crede was DL'ed Friday with back stiffness.
Phillies 3B Pedro Feliz missed the weekend series with a stiff lower back but should play Tuesday.
Twins OF Carlos Gomez had to be taken off the field on a cart Friday night after colliding with the wall while making a catch.
Scott Linebrink has been placed on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Brian McCann left yesterday's game with a mild concussion after a collision at home plate.
Kevin Millwood has been placed on the DL with a right groin strain.
Tigers RP Joel Zumaya left yesterday's game with tightness in his tricep.
Obviously the Sheets-Sabathia 1-2 punch is pretty good, but could a Sheets-Oswalt combination be similar? Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart thinks the Astros should make a run at Ben Sheets this winter.
If that doesn't work out, Gary Glover will likely also be on the market, as the Rays may be getting ready to DFA him.
Major League Baseball has kicked the issue around long enough. Bats are breaking at an alarming rate, and they're calling in...The US Forest Service? What?
Oh, and if you have to postpone a game because of a stabbing a block from the ballpark, maybe you're playing baseball in the wrong neighborhood.
Drink up.
0 recs |
37 comments
Email
Print
Comments
The link to Al doesn't work, for me anyway
I’m not sure how you link individual posts there. However, he had this to say later, which is a prime example of why I don’t like his know-it-all style, to put it kindly:
The funny thing about that is it shows just how uneducated many fans are, as well as a guy like Tom H, who just automatically assumes any other pitcher would have got out of the inning better and easier (despite, as it turns out, plenty of evidence to the contrary, as McClung struggled as well). As I said then, when you give up a bunt single, a bloop hit, ground balls through the hole, you’re bound to give up a lot of runs.
I’m surprised anyone relies on his blog for Brewers news when they have to wade through Barack Obama coverage and they are constantly told how little intelligence they have about baseball.
Also, Haudricourt’s list was fanshotted by battlekow. Irabarren probably could’ve gone ahead of Eric Farris at second. And he doesn’t know how to spell “E-r-r-e-c-a-r-t”.
And neck size to baby eating ratio.
by Jordan M on Jul 28, 2008 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The “coverage” is just a regurgitation of the propaganda from talk radio. I love his investment recommendation: buy real estate.
by ol Pete on Jul 28, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So when do you take out pitcher then?
by Bernie's Mustache Wax on Jul 28, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
After all the damage is done.. isn’t that the Yosty ways?
by SgtClueLs on Jul 28, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RE: Al's comments on pulling Suppan yesterday
I’m not a “casual fan” first and foremost. I’m on pace to attend well over 40 home games this year, as I did last year, the year before that, etc. You can cite all of the bad luck in that inning if you want to as a reason to justify leaving Suppan in. T/hat’s fine. However, there are at least 2 main reason why Suppan should have been pulled earlier than he was.
First, Jeff mentioned in the game thread that Blum has a 1.259 OPS against Suppan. You can cry small sample size if you want, but blum had already added a HR earlier in the game. Pretty obvious to me he shouldn’t have faced him again, regardless of the “bad luck” runners on 1st & 2nd. No Al, I can’t guarantee you that McClung doesn’t give up a 3 run moon shot to Blum as well, all you can do is look at the data in front of you and make the best decision at the time. I don’t think that happened here.
Second, and this was what made me the most angry at the game yesterday, McClung was ready to go. I am not kidding, he had warmed for an entire inning, and at one point he was standing on the rubber in the pen with his hands on his hips just watching the game. His body language said, “Umm, Ned….I’m ready, WTF?”. Why get him warmed if you are not even going to pull Suppan after giving up 7 runs?
Again, I don’t mind Al making the case for Yost there, but to blatantly dismiss a different course of action is acting just as obtuse as Yost does in a press conference. If I’m a casual fan then he’s a casual blogger.
It is dangerous for an athlete to believe his own publicity, good or bad - Bob Uecker, 1982.
by Adam P on Jul 28, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
amen
The Chubber Lang Report is back!!!
by Hyatt on Jul 28, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I checked the link
And it’s correct. But you didn’t miss a ton if you missed it.
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 28, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't every game a pennant race game
I guess I don’t get the problems with bats breaking. If there are worries about fans getting hurt, why not extend the backstop screens all the way down past each dugout? Then hard-hit foul balls also can’t hurt people. If it’s just that bats are breaking, so what?
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Jul 28, 2008 9:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought breaking bats were more of a concern for players/coaches/umpires not fans
by brewfan2 on Jul 28, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, if it's a concern for players
Let the MLBPA take the lead in clamping down on maple bats used by their members.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Jul 28, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here is an idea
don’t sit there if you aren’t ready to protect yourself.
by Braunstalker on Jul 28, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not entirely sure
How you’re supposed to protect yourself from a 2 lb projectile with a sharp edge that flies unpredictably and takes at most a full second to go from the hitter’s hands to your face.
New rule: front row is for ninjas only.
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 28, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ninja fans...
I like it.. that way when a foul ball is first row and an opposing player is trying to get it. The ninja can use some secret ninja move that knocks the ball out of their glove… and causes them to poop their pants.
by SgtClueLs on Jul 28, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
They will show their deadly skills known as
Five Finger Untuck Attack!
by Getting Yosted on Jul 28, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The human body can do a hell of a lot in less than a second. Know the risks, sit somewhere else if they are not to your liking.
by Braunstalker on Jul 28, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And if you are say.. walking up the isle with your back to the play?
Vendors walk with their back to the play a lot.. But I’m sure they won’t mind the idea of only walking in between pitches.
by SgtClueLs on Jul 28, 2008 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"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 28, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ned and Al both need a spanking
Suppan has been leaving his pitches up in the strike zone for over a month. That’s it. No stats, no apologies, no more fucking excuses. Supe, get your pitches down, or go the way of Gagne.
by heybatterbatter on Jul 28, 2008 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
omg u guys we r screwd tonite
CC has a 34.71 ERA against the Cubs in his career! If the Cubs start some of their bench guys they could have three players who started that game in the lineup tonight. There’s no point in even playing :(
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Jul 28, 2008 12:34 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
nicely played.
Bring Back The Old Logo!
by jacob on Jul 28, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've been away from the computer all day
got home late and have already seen the highlights of the Cubs hitting him twice
by ol Pete on Jul 28, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They never should have traded Matt Murton in anticipation of this matchup.
by wisco24 on Jul 28, 2008 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
stabbing
until I got to the end of the article, I assumed that the stabbing occurred at the the Modesto stadium. I think Stockton and Modesto have some of the highest crime rates per capita.
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 28, 2008 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yost and Suppan yesterday
What was so disappointing about Yost’s decision yesterday was it goes against what I believe his level of managing has been this year, which has been quite good.
1. He went with the younger more talented pitchers out of the spring rather than the “safe” option of someone like Vargas.
2. Then, when Villy struggled, he put him in the pen, which has worked well.
3. He put McClung in the rotation and stuck with Bush, both of which paid off.
4. He has done a nice job of getting starter innings without overextending them and putting undo stress on them. In particular, I think Parra has been handled very well (he has been pulled fairly early despite a strong line, quite a few times).
5. His major failing last year, bullpen management, has been much better. He has been flexible with Torres, a guy who can handle that role. His overall feel has been better too.
That is why watching him stick with Suppan yesterday was so frustrating. These were rockets that Soup was giving up, not little flairs into the OF. I think he had some leeway in terms of judgement until he got to Blum. Leaving him out there to face Blum was indefensible IMO.
Yost gets a hard time from way too many fans, often undeserved IMO. Yesterday, he deserved it.
by badgermaniac on Jul 28, 2008 1:29 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
He left Parra in too long on Friday
Parra was struggling to finish the sixth, and was wild and ineffective to all three of the hitters he faced in the seventh. Ned has had the same two faults with the pitching staff since he started with the Brewers:
1. Trusting the veteran to get out of a jam, even when clearly sucking
2. Hoping to get a pitcher thru an inning because the pitchers spot is due up in the Brewers half
If we are truly in Win Now Mode™, then neither of these are acceptable ways to manage a pitching staff. Every half inning of baseball from here on can cost this team the penant. There are six teams battling for three playoff spots and I expect at least four of them will have 90 wins by the end of the season. If you have to pull an ineffective pitcher and then use Mike Rivera as a pinch hitter and run the incredibly tiny risk that Kendall will be injured during the same game so be it. And if we are so concerned about a shortage of bats on the bench why are we wasting a roster spot on a pitching platoon?
Win Now Mode™ means playing every game like the penant is on the line, and not even a retarded one-armed monkey would have left Suppan in to finish the fifth with the penant on the line. But that’s our Ned, not as savvy as a retarded one-armed monkey.
by Getting Yosted on Jul 28, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on now
I want to see the evidence that shows having one arm leads to poor decision making :)
"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."
by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 28, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not a cause, but an affect. At least one decision has resulted in the loss of a limb.
by Getting Yosted on Jul 28, 2008 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
But that decision might have been “reaching out to grab Brewer tickets before the train ran them over.”
In that case, the missing limb would be a sign of sincere dedication, with mild/moderate insanity mixed in.
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 28, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
I don’t have any problem with leaving Parra in. He has always been a guy that loses control for a couple batters here and there. Yanking him at the first sign of trouble is going to not only wear out your bullpen, but you are also going to miss some quality innings.
“Win now” does not mean you yank guys whenever they run into trouble. Bottom line is that I would much rather see Parra try to “get it back” than see Mota (who has been the 6th inning guys).
by badgermaniac on Jul 28, 2008 2:09 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Whoops...
....this message was in reply to “getting yosted”.
by badgermaniac on Jul 28, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Parra was lucky to get out of the 6th with no runs scored, so it shouldn’t have taken three batters to figure out that Parra was reaching the end. If you want to give him a chance to get thru the inning, fine. But at some point before bases loaded, no one out it should be clear a replacement is needed. Parra walked the first batter he saw on 6 pitches, with the batter helping by fouling off a pitch that was a ball. After the 6th inning that walk should have been it for Manny in a one run game.
But the seventh was trying to coax one more inning out of a pitcher so you don’t have to ‘waste’ a reliever by only pitching him one inning or ‘waste’ a position player by double-switching. Instead the game was wasted by giving up three runs that inning and apparently the position player was saved so Branyan, Rivera and Durham would all be available to watch Kendall end the game.
by Getting Yosted on Jul 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my point is...
...I don’t think it is “coaxing” when it comes to Manny. He has these little “flutters” in games that he typically pitches through. I don’t think it was a given that he was finished.
I just think that is a case of viewing things in hindsight. The guy has a shutout through 6 innings and has thrown only 90 or so pitches.
He walks one guy and gives up an infield single. The next guy reaches on a fielder’s choice and he is pulled.
I can’t see any possible way that you can blame the manager for that., as I believe every manager in the league would not have pulled Parra as he is winning a 1-run game and is not in any pitch count trouble.
by badgermaniac on Jul 28, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You did notice my mention of the 6th inning, yes?
Manny was struggling in that inning and was lucky to get out of it with no runs scored, needing an outfield assist from Hart at home. He was by no means pitching strongly at that point. The sixth combined with the lead-off walk should have been all it took for a reliever to be brought in.
by Getting Yosted on Jul 28, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you haven't already go check out John Walsh's article on inside change ups
It has some really nice info on Ted Lilly and is a must read. Go now, stop reading this and go already. You heard me!
by dixieflatline on Jul 28, 2008 5:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis
|
91 | 71 | .561 | 0 | Lost 6 |
|
Chicago
|
83 | 78 | .515 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
80 | 82 | .493 | 11 | Won 3 |
|
Cincinnati
|
78 | 84 | .481 | 13 | Won 2 |
|
Houston
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 17 | Lost 3 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
62 | 99 | .385 | 28.5 | Lost 2 |
(updated 11.23.2009 at 10:32 PM CST)
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
SBNation.com Recent Stories
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- After locking up of AL MVP, it's time for Twins to lock up Mauer
- November means R&R for Raiders fan CC Sabathia and others
- D12: Honeymoon over for big Bobby Jenks and Ozzie Guillen?
- Timmy is so wicked: Lincecum's hair grows with his legend
- D12: Strasburg feels 'pop' in knee, scares Nationals to death
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
