Brew Crew Ball: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Kickball - SB Nation presents KICK! at SXSW in Austin

Monday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while thawing out your sandals.

The Brewers open a three game series with the Cardinals in a few hours, and they're probably working to forget this weekend's series in Minnesota. Before they left, though, Ken Macha chatted with Anthony Witrado about last night's HBP call reversal, which led to a huge momentum shift late in the game.

In the end, though, the Brewers have no one to blame but themselves for their terrible play over the weekend. Rookie Anthony Swarzak, who held the Brewers scoreless for seven innings on Saturday, was one of nine debuting pitchers profiled at Beyond the Box Score. Swarzak's performance was impressive, but it was even more impressive to discover he did it while throwing 75% fastballs.

Casey McGehee was one of this weekend's lone bright spots. He's made five starts at second base since Rickie Weeks' injury, has reached base in all of them and is hitting .429/.500/.571 in his last 20 plate appearances. Anthony Witrado profiled him over the weekend, and the Brewer coaching staff had positive things to say.

Mike Cameron's home run yesterday was the 250th of his career, making him just the 20th player with 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. The Brewers celebrated the accomplishment after the game.

Meanwhile, the Brewers continue to be mentioned as a possible destination for Jake Peavy. Both Jon Heyman and MLB Trade Rumors mentioned it again over the weekend. With that said, it still seems like Peavy is owed far too much money to fit into the Brewer budget.

Could Matt Cain be a target instead? As Battlekow noted over the weekend, the Giants are reportedly shopping Cain, but the organization has denied the report.

R.J. Swindle appeared in two games over the weekend. Thor Nystrom of The Official Site says Swindle was excited for the opportunity. After Mitch Stetter hit Joe Mauer and gave up a grand slam to Justin Morneau, one could make a case for Swindle staying with the team and Stetter going back down.

Speaking of bullpen arms, Driveline Mechanics takes a look at the delivery of everyone's favorite anomaly, Mark DiFelice. They see several concerning things in his motion, but wonder if the decreased workload in the bullpen and his lack of velocity might save him from injury.

How much credit for the pitching staff's success should go to new pitching coach Billy Castro? The Wisconsin State Journal profiles Castro, who is spending his eighteenth season as part of the Brewer coaching staff.

Maybe he should play second base in a catcher's mask: Brett Lawrie broke his nose getting hit with a bad hop on a ground ball on Thursday. He was able to pinch hit yesterday, so one would assume he's close to being back in the lineup.

Around the league:

Angels: Placed Shane Loux on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Cubs: Placed Rich Harden on the DL with a mid-back strain. (h/t FanShot)
Dodgers: Signed Korean pitchers Ji-Mo Lee and Hyang-nam Choi to minor league deals and placed outfielder Xavier Paul on the DL with an infection in his knee.
Indians: Placed Anthony Reyes (elbow inflammation) and Aaron Laffey (oblique strain) on the DL.
Orioles: Released Adam Eaton.
Rays: Placed Scott Kazmir (quad strain) and Troy Percival (shoulder tendinitis) on the DL, and are also expected to place Akinori Iwamura on the DL with a knee injury. Percival may consider retirement.
Reds: Designated OF Darnell McDonald for assignment and placed Edinson Volquez on the DL with a back issue.
Rockies: Placed catcher Chris Iannetta on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Royals: Placed SS Mike Aviles (forearm strain) and pitcher Robinson Tejeda (rotator cuff tendinitis) on the DL.

With Scott Kazmir out, the Rays have called up David Price, who will start tonight. Price has been striking out over nine batters per nine innings in AAA while posting a 3.93 ERA.

Ever wonder what life is like for a career journeyman like Ron Villone? Nats320 sat down with the former Brewer to discuss his first day as a National.

The MLB Draft doesn't get the hype of its NFL and NBA counterparts, but if you need starting pitching it's very important. Minor League Ball crunched the numbers and discovered that 34% of last year's top pitchers were former first round picks.

Oh, and with the proper training and sound effects, you too can make it look like you're beating the crap out of your kids.

Drink up.

0 recs  |  Comment 14 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

More from Brew Crew Ball

Friday's Frosty Mug

Mar 2010 by Kyle Lobner - 70 comments

Thursday's Frosty Mug

Mar 2010 by Kyle Lobner - 52 comments

Brewers 6, Mariners 2

Mar 2010 by BrewHaHeather - 6 comments

Monday's Frosty Mug

Mar 2010 by Kyle Lobner - 71 comments

Comments

Display:

Swindle

“R.J. Swindle appeared in two games over the weekend, pitching a perfect inning in the first game before failing to retire a batter in the second, and facing just one hitter on Saturday.”

Hm? He got a flyout and strikeout in the 5th on Friday before giving up a home run and single (runner later scored) around another strikeout in the 6th. Then on Saturday he gave up another flyout, walk, and single. I don’t know where the perfect inning and one batter stuff comes from.

Either way, I don’t think Swindle’s weekend, even coupled with Stetter giving up a grand slam, is compelling enough to keep him and dump the guy who’s been on the roster all season.

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

by TheJay on May 25, 2009 8:54 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

My inability to read

Is the primary culprit.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by Kyle Lobner on May 25, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know it was after the grand slam

But this picture is kind of amusing.

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

by TheJay on May 25, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Mauer came back and stuck his wrist out to show Johnson a mark the ball supposedly left. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire stormed out of the dugout and after a minute or two of yelling GOT THE CALL CHANGED! Mauer went to first to load the bases.

3rd grader’s account of the game? No. Your local metro paper’s Brewers beat writer? Yes.

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

“After Mitch Stetter hit Joe Mauer and gave up a grand slam to Justin Morneau, one could make a case for Swindle staying with the team and Stetter going back down.”

Stetter has appeared in 21 games this year, and given up earned runs in six of them; Swindle has appeared in three games, and given up earned runs in all three. Stetter has an ERA of 4.15 and a WHIP of 1.23; Swindle 13.50 and 2.63.

One might argue the case, but they wouldn’t “make the case”.

by robertearle on May 25, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Unless

Swindle is and was a better LOOGY all along, which was my opinion. I’d like to keep both of them around and dump Julio, but it doesn’t look like that will happen.

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

In the case that we DO sign another starter...

who do we send down? Suppan’s been not-completely-awful lately, but Parra still scares me every time he’s up there.

by Wayfaerer on May 25, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That, to me, is the dilemma.

I guess Parra would be the first logical choice to be dumped from the rotation, but I’m not sure that would be a good decision long term. The other four starters are all relatively safe.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by Kyle Lobner on May 25, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can see why you'd want to do this

but both context-neutral pitching stats rank the starters in this order:
1. Gallardo
2. Parra
3. Bush
4. Looper
5. Suppan

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the more instructive list is the one of non-Gallardo starters with an option remaining
  1. Parra

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 25, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed...

Melvin & Co. seem to favor using options on players that have them left if at all possible. And since Parra is laboring…he would probably be bumped back to AAA for a while to get in some regular work.

by TheBurningRom on May 25, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Schumaker 2B
Rasmus CF
Pujols 1B
Duncan LF
Stavinoha RF
Molina C
Thurston 3B
Carpenter P
Ryan SS

Counsell SS
McGehee 2B
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
Cameron CF
Gamel 3B
Hart RF
Kendall C
Gallardo P

by statsllc on May 25, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Lawrie

DH’d for the TRats today in Beloit

by tristarscoop on May 25, 2009 9:53 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Brew Crew Ball is dedicated to providing a friendly atmosphere for intelligent Brewer conversation. Click here to view our Posting Guide and Community Guidelines.
Start posting about the Brewers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

Cbs_fantasy_baseball_promo

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Bullpen Banter's Brewers Preview and our Top 50 Prospects
U8xcikxxuei8lvi_small
More Brewers Sporcle
Small
Question on ticket availability
U8xcikxxuei8lvi_small
Oh yes, it's Player A vs. Player B
Newavatar_small
Game Thread #-33B
Newavatar_small
Game Thread #-33A
Mde_mjyx_small_small
My Spring Training
Small
Felipe Lopez back in Cardinals’ camp - Lopez signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Cardinals
X1pxoywqu4sjf73f7drxq2lmqys7mzsyx7pa9necepiffk_ewcuwmuazb-o17ukmbriclcdkn4lk-4xposaawiq4j8hzdsccpjwatqpz2o2p-i0nnqjlyt7pmytaycsaknszvaktpshtcu9sjle1qchlw_1__small
Official BCB Fantasy Thread
Fielder_untucked_derby_small
BCB Fantasy Baseball

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Featured Poll

Poll
Untucking after wins.

  117 votes | Results

NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK

(updated 3.13.2010 at 4:25 AM CST)

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Should CarGo REALLY hit more ground balls?
Iribarren and Lofgren on the way out
Suppan excited about Peterson suggestion
No Celebrations for the Brewers
Perhaps THE SIMPLEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE in the history of the sport
What a tangled web we weave...
Kendall's Messy Situation
The Top Promotions in MLB for 2010
Brewer fans in Chicago
Inside MLB's Guidelines for Movement of Retractable Roofs

+ New FanShot All FanShots >


Moderators

U8xcikxxuei8lvi_small roguejim

Newavatar_small Kyle Lobner

Fstags_small TheJay

Communist_party_small Jordan M

Contributors

Peace-love-heart-yellow_small kirbir

X1pxoywqu4sjf73f7drxq2lmqys7mzsyx7pa9necepiffk_ewcuwmuazb-o17ukmbriclcdkn4lk-4xposaawiq4j8hzdsccpjwatqpz2o2p-i0nnqjlyt7pmytaycsaknszvaktpshtcu9sjle1qchlw_1__small NoahJ

Hikaru_50_small morineko

Picture_069_small tristarscoop

Dsc01174_small BrewHaHeather

Rubie_edited-1_small Rubie Q

Hulk_buddy-icon_small Fatter than Joey