Wednesday's Frosty Mug

by Kyle Lobner on Sep 10, 2008 8:53 AM CDT

Morning comes so early when the Brewers don't lose until 11:30.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score

So here we are again, talking about a disappointing Brewer loss at home to an inferior team that's already been eliminated from the playoffs. It all kind of feels like another ball of yarn.

Tom H. swerved off onto Hyperbole Drive and asks if there is any hope for the 2008 Brewers. Admittedly, I'm as down on this team as anyone right now, but while they're still leading the race for a playoff spot, I'm not quite ready to abandon all hope.

Chuckie Hacks, on the other hand, has swerved in the other direction onto All is Well Boulevard. I don't really think that's any better.

Of course, if neither of those approaches are your style, you could just ceaselessly complain about umpiring.

This is still unlikely, but would've seemed impossible two weeks ago: Baseball Musings has the scenario required for five teams to tie for the NL Wild Card.

Rowland's Office, a Braves blog, has been hearing the suggestion that Ned Yost may eventually replace Bobby Cox in Atlanta, but he makes the case against it. I love the prospect of Ned managing anywhere else.

On injuries:

Adrian Beltre will miss a few days to recover from pain in his damaged thumb, which he's been playing with all season.
Paul Konerko has a sprained MCL in his knee. He'll undergo an MRI today but should only miss a few days.
Brandon Phillips broke his finger on a failed bunt attempt before singling home the winning run last night. He's done for 2008.
Marlins SP Chris Volstad left last night's game in the 3rd inning after being hit in the leg by two different batted balls.

This should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone considering offering a huge contract to a pitcher this offseason: Mike Hampton is still on the Rockies' payroll through the end of the month.

On the other hand, maybe this one isn't a sunk cost after all: Buried in this post on Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly's blog, he notes that Barry Zito has nine wins and three starts remaining this season, and the Giants have avoided losing 100 games.

Mets P Ambiorix Burgos probably won't pitch in the big leagues for a while, and may do some time after being arrested last night for a domestic assault.

Oh, and Joe Posnanski deconstructed the Spiderman song.

Drink up.

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Couple things from Baseball Musings

First, Pinto on the Brewers rotation alignment:

I’m a bit surprised the Brewers are pitching Sabathia today instead of holding him back a game for the Phillies series. If he pitches tomorrow, he still gets to face the Cubs twice, the second time on the last day of the season. CC takes his perfect Brewers record against Bronson Arroyo. The Reds righty figured out how to keep the ball in the park, and only allowed two home runs in his last 47 2/3 innings after giving up 23 through the end of July.

Second, a Lou Piniella quote:

“We’re playing like we’re waiting to get beat,” (Cubs manager Lou) Piniella said as he stood behind his office desk, his voice rising. “You don’t have enough big of a lead in September to play ball like that. Teams that play baseball like that invariably get caught no matter how big their lead. You’ve got to stay aggressive. You’ve got to do the things that you’ve done all year.
”We’re not executing. We’re making mistakes, and we’re getting beat. And I’m getting tired of watching it, to be quite honest with you. That’s not the way we played all year to get to where we are now. And I know we’re trying. But truthfully, trying isn’t good enough."