Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on May 26, 2009 9:39 AM CDT
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PrintSome things to read while watering the dog lawn.
Bill Hall was the story of the day yesterday, plating the winning run on a tenth inning single, then running off the field with the rest of his teammates to celebrate in the clubhouse. Hall was only hitting in that spot because of a botched double switch, but he made the most of the opportunity. Hall has been taking extra BP and working to eliminate negativity, and apparently it paid off.
So, how unlikely was yesterday's sequence of events? The Elias Sports Bureau (via TheJay) noted all of the following:
- Bill Hall was only the second player in the last five seasons to end a streak of 0-for-20 or more with a walkoff hit, joining D'Angelo Jimenez (2007).
- Chris Carpenter and Yovani Gallardo were the first opposing pitchers to both carry no hitters through five innings since William VanLandingham and Kevin Brown did it in 1997.
- Chris Carpenter was the first Cardinals pitcher since 1917 to throw eight shutout innings, strike out ten or more batters and not get the win.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are having a historically bad month of May at the plate. After being shut out (and allowed just six baserunners) yesterday, the Cards are hitting just .218/.282/.369 in May, and scoring 3.3 runs per game. Bernie Miklasz compares this month to some of the worst offensive months in franchise history.
Yesterday's game also marked the Brewer debut of Frank Catalanotto, who went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter and spent a few innings patrolling right field.
J.J. Hardy is expected back in the lineup tonight, meaning Craig Counsell might finally get a day off. Counsell, who is 38 years old and playing on a bad knee, has gone 3 for his last 17 while being asked to start five straight games. Even after slowing down a bit, Counsell has at least one hit in eight of his last nine starts, but his line has fallen from .342/.424/.466 to .311/.382/.411 over the last four days.
Looking back to the weekend for a moment:
- Apparently hitting his 250th home run was the proof Mike Cameron has needed to be certain he doesn't suck.
- Ken Macha responded to criticism that he didn't argue the call hard enough when Joe Mauer's foul ball became an HBP. He basically said he didn't get ejected because umpires will let you say whatever you want when you're right.
As Tristarscoop noted in this FanPost and expanded on over at Cute Sports, the Brewers continue to be mentioned in rumors as a potential suitor for Jake Peavy. Ken Rosenthal seems to think the Brewers are pretty unlikely to make the move. It really seems like all the smoke is coming from a small handful of sources here, and I don't think there's much, if any, fire behind it.
Meanwhile, MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the offseason ahead for the Brewers. The only option decision the Brewers will have to make is on Braden Looper, who has a mutual option, but Mike Cameron, Trevor Hoffman and Jason Kendall will all be free agents, and J.J. Hardy, Dave Bush, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Jody Gerut, Seth McClung, Todd Coffey, and Carlos Villanueva will all be arbitration eligible.
On Power Rankings:
- Whatifsports dropped the Brewers from fifth to seventh.
- Inside the Majors ranked the Brewers third in their inaugural rankings.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star dropped the Brewers from third to ninth.
- Foul Balls has the Brewers third in the NL and sixth overall.
- GoatRiders of the Apocalypse has the Brewers second in the Central, behind the Cardinals.
Around the league:
Mariners: Placed Kenji Johjima on the DL with a broken toe.
Marlins: Placed Renyel Pinto on the DL with elbow inflammation.
Nationals: Mike MacDougal has a clause in his contract that could allow him to become a free agent as soon as today if the Nats don't call him up.
Pirates: Matt Capps had to leave yesterday's game after being hit on the elbow by a line drive. He was taken in for X-rays and we should know more today. (h/t FanShot)
Rays: Akinori Iwamura is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Brian Shouse has been placed on the DL with an elbow strain.
Rockies: Designated Matt Belisle for assignment.
Yankees: Placed reliever Brian Bruney on the DL with an elbow strain.
Brian Shouse's injury opened the door for the major league return of Randy Choate, but his first outing yesterday extended a bizarre streak. Choate failed to retire a batter yesterday, so while he's pitched in the big leagues in both 2007 and 2009, he hasn't recorded an out since 2006.
We should all be thankful every day that the Brewer organization has never allowed Dusty Baker to manage its pitchers. Aaron Harang, one of the better pitchers in the NL before making an extended bullpen appearance on short rest and derailing himself last season, was allowed to return after a two hour rain delay yesterday. Harang faced just two more batters to finish the fifth and be eligible for a win, but at what cost?
This is a lawsuit waiting to happen: Cardinals SS Khalil Greene is battling a well-publicized anxiety issue involving self-punishment. The Cardinals have not placed him on the DL, and are instead reportedly trying to trade him. I'm sure that's great for his mental health.
Memorial Day led to some great unintentional comedy moments, including a Royals uniform resembling a Bomb Pop and first pitches thrown by Mr. T and Darth Vader.
Oh, and happy birthday to Joe Koshansky, who turns 27 today.
Drink up.
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Macha never intended to pitch Hoffman in more than one inning, but with a bench thinned by injuries, the skipper wanted to save his pinch-hitters for a moment of need.
I’m confused. I’m assuming that when the 6 hole, presumably with the pitcher in the slot came around, macha would have used a pinch hitter. How was that any different from what happened (pinch hitting in the 9th slot, then pinch hitting in the 6th slot).?
It postpones using another bench player until later
Hall would have have been the de facto pinch hitter for the pitcher the first time around. Instead, both Hall and Gerut were used.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
Cameron (not) sucking
now he’s approximately half as good (or a quarter as good, depending on your calculation) as Barry Bonds.
Sigh. Why does Bonds have to be the only 500/500 club member?
Macha dispelling imagry
One of Ken Macha’s favorite sayings is: “The players make out the lineup.”
No, the Milwaukee Brewers’ manager doesn’t actually allow players to come into his office and write their names on the lineup card.
well, except Craig Counsell and now maybe Bill Hall. They can do that if they want.
Counsell's earned that right.
Hall has just tried. And been caught.
Hall
he said:
"This is all about the 25 [people] in this locker room. We feel like we’re a huge unit and all care about each other. We just wanted to celebrate and have fun with ourselves."
So….it was a bachelorette party then? Caring about each other? Having fun with themselves? One huge unit?
Given a chance to spill the details of the private celebration, Cameron smiled broadly and played it coy.
"We just decided to celebrate inside," said Cameron. "We’ve been working on it for awhile now."
Asked if it was a one-game thing, Cameron said, "Yep, can’t do it no more."
So, you were ceremoniously deflowered? TMI Mike, TMI.
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
One Huge Unit
And that’s without Escobar
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
That splash you just heard
was the Cubs sinking below .500.
"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!"
I thought that it was the realization that Rich Harden wasn’t going to pitch 200 innings for them or that Milton Bradly is being ‘picked on by the umps’
by Saberilliterate on May 26, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Brad Penny
Buster Olney just mentioned that the Brewers were interested in a trade with Boston for Brad Penny and that Boston needed to move Penny because there rotation is too deep.
Thoughts…
I like Penny and wouldn’t mind seeing him in our rotation. But unless Theo is going to take Suppan in trade, I don’t know who we would remove from the lineup… (see post on Peavy for the same question).
Also, I am not willing to give up either of our SS for him.
I don’t know what the asking price is for him, but Theo Epstein is no dummy and won’t take a weak trade just to make room in the rotation.
by Saberilliterate on May 26, 2009 10:51 AM CDT reply actions
why give up talent for him when you could have signed him in the offseason?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Agreed...
…although nobody knew if he was worth much this off-season. He has more value now that he’s shown he can actually still get the ball to the plate. I haven’t looked at all of his stats for the season, but right now his ERA isn’t painting a very good picture.
If the Sox are looking for anything other than major league ready talent, I think I’d be okay with some sort of deal to bring Penny here and maybe give Parra some time back in AAA to get back into some sort of groove.
by TheBurningRom on May 26, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Boston needed to move Penny because [their] rotation is too deep.
pardon me: how can a rotation be “too deep”?
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Clay Bucholtz took a perfect game into the 9th on Monday…
by Saberilliterate on May 26, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
so?
great person to keep in your org then no?
if you’ve got dead weight in your rotation, then cast it off, but if you’ve got a good player simmering in AAA, it’s good to have him “in stock” in case an injury happens. I thought we learned last year (and the year before and the year before) that you can never have too much pitching talent.
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, but..
… at some point the kid’s gotta get frustrated. He’s their #7 starter, you don’t think he’d rather be on an MLB roster after beating the hell out of AAA all year?
Right
But if Buchholz is better than Penny, and you’re “going for it,” then keeping a superior player in AAA is a bad decision.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
I seem to remember...
That being the reason that we dumped Vargas last season. I also seem to remember that not working out so well for us depthwise.
by TheBurningRom on May 26, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
So you would have choosen Vargas as your #5 over Yovanni simply because Yovanni had options left?
The only reason that it didn’t work out well is because of some fluke injury… not because it was a bad decision
by Saberilliterate on May 26, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Where did I say...
..that I would have chosen Vargas over Yovani?
The whole point of my comment was that there’s no such thing as being too deep in pitching.
by TheBurningRom on May 26, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Right, but because of the...
… structures of the contracts, you can’t keep them both.
i.e., we couldn’t have kept Vargas on the big league roster, so we did what we had to do.
The Red Sox (for the time being), are choosing Penny, who is out of options, over Buchholz, who is not. The Vargas – Gallardo comparison seems like a good one to me.
could the Brewers put Vargas in the pen
Until an injury occured? And sent someone else down? Dont remember the opening day roster last year… but a possibility?
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
They could have...
… if they thought that Vargas was better than their other bullpen options… which they didn’t… because he wasn’t…
I do agree though
It was a tough situation with Vargas, and if no one was willing to trade for him, even a PTBNL, then I guess letting him go was the last option…
And I was only half serious about the Turnbow comment…Turnbow had shown plenty of signs of promise to warrant another shot last year, until he blew up against the Cubs I believe in a cold April or May game in Wrigley where the Cubs score 18 runs or something like that… and Turnbow didn’t record an out. But coming out of spring training, it made sense to keep him on the roster I thought
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
They also have Smoltz coming back before June 15th
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Peavy
The Cubs are obviously really struggling right now and they were the “front runners” for Peavy in the off-season. I could see them trading for him at this point to try and give that team a jump start (I say this without having any idea as to who they would have to give up, meaning prospects or major leaguers)
battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm
Starting pitching really isn't their problem
but I wouldn’t be surprised if they panic and do it anyways
I think the Cubs are in good shape
With everything that has gone wrong, they are still only a few games out of the playoffs, and have plenty of time to turn it around.
The Brewers it seems everything has gone right, and haven’t created that much room in the standings.
I think the Cubs have Vitters as a 3B prospect that is highly touted, but if they throw in a major leaguer and another prospect or two, maybe they will pull the trigger if they start panicking, but I would still bet on them winning the division, even though I wish it wouldn’t happen, the talent there not to come back would be an epic failure.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
This
but I would still bet on them winning the division, even though I wish it wouldn’t happen, the talent there not to come back would be an epic failure.
Always, always expect epic failure when the Cubs are involved.
What talent?
The Cubs are awful without Ramirez. Especially since their pitching staff has proven how overrated it was coming into the season.
Ryan Braun: He loves it.
If only this was true...
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Ash just twittered bad news
“rhp david riske reports ongoing elbow pain during his most recent “rehab” outing"
I don’t think we are going to see Riske this year, it’s too bad, but another reason not to sign relievers to multi year higher than average contracts. The brewers can survive by getting bullpen arms on a yearly basis it seems… signing bullpen players to big contracts, with exception for the top closers like Rivera, rarely seem to work out.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
That's too bad
I was expecting big things from Riske this year.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Really?
I know he had some good years in KC, but with the crew, he’s been middling at best.
Or did I just miss obvious sarcasm?
Before coming to the Brewers
He had 8/10 seasons with an ERA under 4. He had been a consitently solid pitcher throughout his career. I thought he was healthy coming into this year, so I was expecting to see a solid reliever in him once again.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
HOOLIOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
"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 26, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yep
Would still rather have Riske than Hoolio. Bad news, indeed. Still, I think Brewers fans can count themselves lucky that of the pitchers on the roster it’s Riske that’s out long-term. Losing Weeks was enough.
I wonder if this will prompt the Brewers to make a different roster move for Hoolio
Seems like they’ve just been waiting for Riske to get back to jettison him.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
Play the Merry-Go-Round with Dillard?
I don’t know that they’d be willing to bring a starter up, though. Chase Wright would be another option if they don’t mind a starting pitcher hanging out as a mop out reliever. It looks like Chris Smith and Chris Narveson are throwing a lot of bullpen innings down in Nashville.
Chris Smith has been excellent, and he'd be my choice
I don’t think Dillard would be a problem, because the team has admitted they don’t see him as a starter long-term—which begs the question of why he’s starting to begin with.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
What if he changes his name to Dillardo?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
A better spelling perhaps
Dilllardo is they’re pronounced as an L or Diyardo if pronounced as a y. It certainly would’ve helped Yovani Guyardo.
Ditto...
Smith has been having an excellent year thus far.
I’m wondering if they see Dillard as more of a long reliever, and that’s why they’re continuing to have him start down there.
by TheBurningRom on May 26, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
He'd be an improvement over Julio in that role, as well
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
signing bullpen players to big contracts, with exception for the top closers like Rivera, rarely seem to work out.
so that’s why he doesn’t catch very often? busy being a reliever elsewhere?:P
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
um...
that’s not where i replied…really
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Ash is twittering again
“Chris Duffy’s contract has been outrighted to AAA Nashville. we will await his decision to accept the assignment”
No surprise there I guess… I hope he accepts
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
He must have just cleared waivers now
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
Probably
I was under the assumption that they didn’t put him on waivers until Friday, when he was designated for assignment. The waiver period is three days, so he wouldn’t have cleared until yesterday.
Overheard in Minneapolis
My girlfriend showed me this from the site, “Overheard in Minneapolis”. A few Twins fans compared Brewers Fans to Al Queda. (You might have to scroll up a little) I give them a B for creativity. I hope the Brewers fans weren’t as obnoxious as Cubs fans are in Miller Park; it sounds like Twins fans were upset at how many Brewers fans were in their stadium.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Well, we don't shave much.
And have dedicated our lives to the destruction of freedom. So they’ve got a point.
I'm surprised they didn't have metal detectors or bomb sniffing dogs at the metrodome
I was told by the guy who took my ticket that my seat was outside though. I got a kick out of that.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
bomb sniffing dogs at the metrodome?
what’s the point? hell…they’d welcome collecting on the insurance on that one. Saves them wrecking-ball costs too! all they need is a bulldozer then.
Okay…i see the point of the dogs – to point out where the bombs are so that the security staff can check to make sure all timers go off at 3AM rather in the middle of the game, but still…
by PagsBrewCrew on May 26, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not up to the Metrodome faculty, if the department of homeland security steps in
to stop the Brewer-fan-terrorists
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
I though that we dedicated our lives to beer & cheese…
by Saberilliterate on May 26, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
First all-star balloting results released
Braun and Hardy are tops in their positions
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/46111792.html
Brewer fans are quite good at voting it seems… in fact, I think Kendall and Hardy were the only two Brewers I didn’t vote for, because I didn’t feel like either truly warrented a selection…
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
McCalvy
Thanks to McCalvy for the BCB citation regarding Ash’s Twitter and the Riske story.
Also, he’s got the lineups for tonight. Hardy is still out. Hall is getting rewarded for last night, as he is in against the righty Wainright.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
He cited us here?
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
Looks like he edited the article.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Lawrie’s back in the field tonight after breaking his nose five days ago. He DH’d yesterday.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
LaPorta is being sent back to AAA by the Indians
Link
It does not seem he was get a fair shot the Majors with sporadic playing time
They should try fielding 8 of them.
"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!"
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Cincinnati
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Houston
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Milwaukee
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
St. Louis
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 1:03 AM CST)
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