The Monday Mug
by Jordan M on Jun 15, 2009 10:38 AM CDT
in News
35 comments
Leading off for the Frosty Mug this morning is a Brewers analysis from Mike Hunt. Have you ever noticed that awful columnists try to "dress up" their piece by writing something and then comparing it to something totally different, in order to create a hip pop-culture reference? I have noticed this. Overall, this is the type of piece you'd expect to see in a newspaper when a team loses a few 1-run games in a row. Bad stretches happen over the course of the season. Soon, you'll see Hardy start to get hits falling in again, and some of the tight games will go the other way. Just be glad the Brewers have built enough of a cushion to deal with a poor stretch and maintain first place.
Melvin also discussed the options to start on June 27th, the next time the Brewers will need a number 5 starter. They have ruled out Parra. The main two discussed in the article are Dillard and McClung. I don't think we should just be ignoring the fact that McClung has walked 5.15 per 9 this year, while the "intellectually challenged" Parra has walked 5.71-- and Parra has a better strikeout rate. I also want no part of Dillard in the starting rotation, where he has utterly failed to do anything but depend on his defense-- 25 strikeouts and 27 walks in 75 innings is just awful. If he's healthy, my vote would go to Nick Green first and then McClung. I could also understand calling up Burns again.
At Goat Riders of the Apocalypse, Cubs fans examine the fact that only one of their regular position players is performing up to preseason expectations. Most of those expectations were set a bit too high, but they still have underperformed. You could make the case that 4 Brewers (Hardy, Kendall, Hart, and the third basemen) are performing well below expectations-- but you should probably assume that half will beat their projection and half will not. It appears that Cubs fans are slumping as well, and... Milton Bradley, ladies and gentlemen.
Murray Chass blogged about Trevor Hoffman and about how Andrew Friedman is mad at him. He's still insisting that his blog is a website.
In the news: walks matter a lot re: scoring runs, and strikeouts don't matter very much re: scoring runs.
Ryan Braun tops the list of the best Jewish baseball players, ahead of Kevin Youkilis and Ian Kinsler.
Bryce Harper was a Sports Illlustrated cover boy last week, and it was announced this weekend that the 16-year old will earn his GED this summer and enroll in Junior College for the next baseball season. Depending on how some rules are interpreted, he could and probably will be eligible for next June's draft. Nationals fans are already on the watch.
Cliff Lee crushed the Cardinals last night with a 3 hit, 93 pitch shutout. It's notable in three ways: the Brewers play the Indians tonight, the Cardinals lost, and Cliff Lee could be a Brewer trade target if the Indians fall out of contention. The Brewers are weighing their roster options for the interleague road trip.
Wily Peralta is finally starting to get some recognition. He struck out 8 and walked 1 in 5 innings for the T-Rats yesterday. He's the prospect of the week at Between the Green Pillars.
Eric Arnett's signing press conference was Sunday. He will report to Helena as soon as they begin playing. They haven't ruled out a Wisconsin promotion this year, but because the Brewers want to monitor his workload, I'd see it as unlikely.
Read the caption of the photo accompanying this article.
Tomorrow I will be missing in action, as the state baseball tournament's opening round gets underway (want to see a Brewer draft pick in action? Show up at Fox Cities Stadium at 8:00 tomorrow morning!). If I can't secure a fill-in, we'll just post a community mug.
Tonight's game is at 6:05 central in Cleveland, Dave Bush vs. Carl Pavano. The game thread will post at 5.
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Brewers, Cards, and Reds
all 3-7 in their last 10 games. Ouch.
by oconnobe on Jun 15, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Look out! Pirates and Astros are creeping up
Whole six-team division is separated by just 4 games. Anybody could win this thing.
by DukeMarkell on Jun 15, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
...except the Pirates or Astros
It was a great selection of awesome.
by battlekow on Jun 15, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boom, Roasted
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Jun 15, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Parra's intellectually challenged?
Is this fair?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Jun 15, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It was a joke
Rambling Al seems to think so. I think he has poor control this year, Rambling Al thinks he’s stupid.
I last May, still no more than Nick Neugebauer not.
by Jordan M on Jun 15, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I put it in quotes now
I last May, still no more than Nick Neugebauer not.
by Jordan M on Jun 15, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jesus
We’re still in 1st place?!? my god. This does not speak well for our chasers.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Jun 15, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of our savior...
I wonder who compiled that list of best Jewish baseball players, and what sort of standards are applied to it.
Braun is on record as saying he is proud of his Jewish heritage/background while his catholic mom claims he does not practice any of the rituals ro festivals and is not Jewish at all.
I made the argument a few years ago with some guys at work that if he were in fact proud of his Jewish heritage, he would have observed the Yom Kippur holiday (like Koufax, Greenburg, Marquis, Youkilis, countless other Jewish players have), by not working the day of the celebration. Braun has not observed the holiday since being called up to the major leagues.
I tend to think that he is only Jewish when its convenient.
by backtocali on Jun 15, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
sounds like a lot of Jewish people I grew up with
when it came to getting off school, they were happy to be Jewish, but i never saw them in Temple that day. Interesting to say the least
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Jun 15, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I’m semi-proud of my Mormon heritage, but I think the religion is crazy and therefore I do not celebrate any of those special days. I’m also proud of my Cherokee heritage but as of right now I’m not involved in any Cherokee organizations or anything like that.
Let him honor his family/heritage as he sees fit. We don’t need to judge him based on that, but on how well he plays baseball.
"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender!"
RIP Nick Adenhart - Stop Drunk Driving
by kirbir on Jun 15, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Theres no half way
He is judged by his baseball talent, and that his how the majority of Brewer and baseball fans view him and judge him. He passes with flying colors here.
But why drag religion into it? You cant get half pregnant, or be Jewish, or Christian, or Mormon when you feel like it. It kind of goes against the core of those beliefs. Its either black or white. And if youre going to claim to be Jewish, it means you dont work and you go to Temple on the Holiest day of the Hebrew calendar.
And ethnicity is comepletely different. The Jewish state is largely run by secular Jews. If you have Cherokee heritage, then you will be a Cherokee no matter what, whether you celebrate it or are a part of community organizations.
So if Braun is going to claim to be Jewish then is it as a religious Jew or cultural Jew? Personally I try to take part in any group that I claim to be a part of whether it is celebrating its festivals or holidays, or holding to their beliefs, not just saying it when it suits me.
by backtocali on Jun 15, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
It’s not up to you to decide whether or not he can call himself a Jew. Nor is it up to you to decide how he should participate in his religion. And for the record, Yom Kippur was October 9th last year, 4 days after the Brewers were eliminated from the playoffs.
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Jun 15, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is a standard applied to being Jewish, and its the Torah. Granted, perfection is impossible under the Law of Moses, but that is what Yom Kippur is specifically designed for.
And if an individual cannot live up to the standards set forth in the Torah, and no one can, than they should at least be able to set aside one day to be completely washed clean. And if they cannot set aside that one day, they are a pretty bad Jew.
Would someone who is proud of their Jewish background allow themself to miss that celebration/observance? Probably not. Much better players than Braun missed a day of baseball to celebrate that day (Koufax missed a World Series start for it).
I am not the one who set or wrote the standard. But if youre not living up to a certain standard you either arent part of that group that follows the standard, or you are a lax member of it. In either case, why take ownership of that group if you dont actively participate in its rituals/observances/holidays/rules?
by backtocali on Jun 15, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can we not argue this, guy?
How petty are we going to get?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Jun 15, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Only one solution
Bring in a rabbi and have him plunk Braun.
by Bernie's Mustache Wax on Jun 15, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Am I reading this right?
You are criticizing him for not taking off a day from work, when we don’t know for sure if he did or not, and he didn’t even have work that day to go to. Is that the straw-man argument you are presenting?
Sorry Kow, this is getting ridiculous
"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."
by Hyatt on Jun 15, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is my memory faulty?
Weren’t you a religion major?
The Jewish thing is more about technicalities. To fundamentalist Jewish people, Braun is not Jewish because his mother is not Jewish. If his mother were and his father weren’t then he would be.
by ol Pete on Jun 15, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually I remember last year when Braun and Kapler both hit home runs in the same inning
There was a lot of talk about had tow Jewish players every done that before.
Braun at the time pretty much said he does not practice the faith. Not that he had anything against it but I do not think he is very religious for what it is worth.
Not judging in any way as an atheist I would be the last to judge his religiousdom just making an observation
I guess the real question is what makes you Jewish being born to Jewish parents or actually practicing the faith.
Let me spell it for you Cub fans O N E H U N D R E D A N D O N E Y E A R S
by WSB Chris on Jun 15, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many years other than 1965 did Koufax miss a game for the holiday?
Ditto Greenberg and 1934. If Braun is to miss one somewhere down the line (a la Shawn Green), is he acceptably Jewish?
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Jun 15, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Chappelle?
Huh?
I believe Rick Reilly has mastered the art of the awkward, dated pop-culture reference better than you ever will, Mike Hunt. Quit trying, please—for all of our sakes.
by Cheeseandcorn on Jun 15, 2009 12:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hunt
His thesis statement, which comes in the sixth paragraph, is reasonable — that “the cracks are appearing more noticeable”.
The rest of the column is a mess. Steal more bases?
He did have one thought-provoking comment for me though — is there a better way to spell “Ay yi yi”?
by cmow on Jun 15, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I always thought that it was ay ay ay
the word ends in a y, making the next word sound like it begins with a y
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Jun 15, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the best way to spell it...
…is not at all. Probably best not to say even say it out loud.
Up next for Mike Hunt: how to work “heavens to mergatroid” into a column.
by Br@wndo on Jun 15, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Indians Preview on MLB
More of an article on “Major League” and Bob Uecker
Ueck is throwing out the first pitch, and I’m sure he’ll talk about it on the broadcast.
by grant76 on Jun 15, 2009 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope so.
I really wish he would have been doing the game the other day where the bird got hit to end the game.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
by tcyoung on Jun 15, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
5th Starter
So is Villanueva out of the starting equation from now on?
"You have no honor!" - McClung to Fukudome
by zsxander567 on Jun 15, 2009 5:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You're getting the hang of this mug thing..
leading off with Mike Hunt… he he…
by Braun Holio on Jun 15, 2009 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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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 11.7.2009 at 10:17 AM CST)
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.
