Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 15, 2009 9:50 AM CDT
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintRyan Braun was out of the lineup yesterday for the second time in seven games, but this time Braun and Ken Macha had their story straight, and referred to it as just an off day. Braun was hit by a pitch in a pinch hit appearance, raising his season total to 12. Plunk Everyone notes that Braun had only been hit 13 times in his first two seasons, and could double his career total in 2009.
Prince Fielder had a rough day yesterday at the plate, but continues to be the focus of speculation regarding offseason trade possibilities. Buster Olney thinks Fielder could be a fit for the Red Sox next season. Tom H. thinks the Brewers would need to get multiple pitchers in return for Prince, and MLB Daily Dish isn't sure where the Red Sox would find the financial flexibility or playing time for him. Meanwhile, Bob Brenly, ever the pompous douchebag, compared his jersey to an infield tarp.
Meanwhile, there's a new J.J. Hardy rumor out there. Prospect Insider is citing "a source close enough to the situation" as saying the Brewers fully expect to trade J.J. Hardy this offseason. That's not really surprising in the least, but it is something like a confirmation of what we expected.
The Brewers may have a roster move to announce before tonight's game: The Contra Costa Times is reporting that Josh Butler, possibly the fastest rising pitcher in the Brewer organization this season, has joined the team in Chicago and is expected to be in uniform today. (h/t Brewerfan.net) Butler could be a candidate to start on Friday if Manny Parra still can't go. Before that can happen, though, the Brewers will have to clear a 40 man roster spot to make room for him. If anyone who's not Corey Patterson is DFA'd, I may break something.
Yovani Gallardo will return to action tonight for the first time since skipping a start last week, and for the first time at Wrigley Field since that thing I'd prefer we didn't talk about. He's looking forward to getting back out there, and Quevedo at the Buffet is looking forward to watching him take on Carlos Zambrano tonight.
Here's something I never, ever would have expected to say: The Brewers can only hope Gallardo's performance tonight will compare to Jeff Suppan's performance last night. Suppan pitched very well despite continued soreness in his oblique which is preventing him from swinging the bat. Suppan bunted with the bases empty in both at bats last night, which is a really puzzling decision...even if he just stood there and took three strikes, he at least would have forced Ryan Dempster to throw six pitches.
Miller Park Drunk has video and a thought-by-thought breakdown of Alcides Escobar making one of this season's greatest defensive plays over the weekend. After Escobar made that play, Ken Macha responded by sitting him on the bench yesterday so Craig Counsell could start at short.
Two weeks ago, I was indifferent on Macha. Now, I'd applaud the move if he were fired today. Macha checks in at #5 on Jon Heyman's list of managers on the hot seat. Heyman also notes that the Brewers have a replacement in waiting in Willie Randolph. If you didn't shudder when reading that, you should have. Dale Sveum is also still on the staff, and at the moment he'd be my first choice.
As great as Felipe Lopez has been as a Brewer over the last couple of months, it feels like there's a new story about his lack of hustle every couple of weeks. Last night he didn't run out a dropped liner that might have changed the complexion of the game in the late innings. Everything Lopez has done this season would suggest he'd be a solid long-term investment, but these little lapses (along with his performance after his last big contract) make him a major candidate to disappoint someone next season.
Mark DiFelice got some good news yesterday, as an MRI showed no structural damage in his sore shoulder. With that said, there's no reason he should pitch again in 2009: The Brewers have more than enough arms in the bullpen, and getting some rest can't possibly hurt at this point.
You'd never guess it by looking at this winter's prospective free agents, but FanGraphs says we're witnessing the golden age of center fielders. And yes, the Brewers started Corey Patterson in center for back to back games during said "Golden Age."
In the minors:
- Matthew Pouliot of Circling the Bases has the OPS leaderboard from the PCL, and Adam Heether checked in at #9 this season, significantly ahead of both Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar.
- Brett Lawrie went 1-for-5 with a walk as Team Canada fell to Australia in 10 innings in Baseball World Cup play yesterday. The Canadians are now 0-2 in second round play. (h/t Rattler Radio)
- WhatifSports has the Brewers holding steady at #18.
- The Sporting News dropped the Brewers one spot to 19th.
- Andy Seiler's draft projections have the Brewers picking 12th next June.
Around baseball:
Indians: Placed reliever Joe Smith on the DL with a left knee injury.
I'm working on starting a new trend, feel free to help me out. Every time someone stops by the comments section to complain about strikeouts, I plan on posting the following quote from this Circling the Bases post:
Among all hitters with at least 400 plate appearances this season, the 10 guys who strike out most often have an average OPS of .938 and the 10 guys who strike out least often have an average OPS of .753.Read it over and over again if you have to.
Yesterday I mentioned that Brewer cleanup hitters (see Fielder, Prince) have the highest OPS in all of baseball. On the other end of that list are the Kansas City Royals, whose cleanup spot is the third worst held by a position player in all of baseball. I'll agree with the theory that most lineup tinkering doesn't create a huge difference, but the Royals are proof that, if you try hard enough, you can really screw it up.
As this season draws to a close, so does the career of Hall of Fame beat writer Hal McCoy. Today's story is about his relationship with Aaron Boone, and how it extended his career. It's worth a few minutes of your time.
On this day in 2007, Prince Fielder hit his 46th home run, setting a new franchise record. The Brewers beat the Reds, 5-3.
And, of course, today is the one year anniversary of the firing of Ned Yost. Celebrate accordingly. This year's parade plans fell through. Instead, I'm planning on leaving something in the toaster until it starts on fire, then attempting to put it out with gasoline. When the police come to investigate the fire I'll tell them, "Toasty really battled today."
I don't have a Brewer birthday today, but isn't the Yost anniversary enough? If you need a birthday, Gaylord Perry is 71.
Drink up.
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Collateral Damage.
If the Brewers replace Macha with Svuem or Randolph, what’s the impact on the players? As far as I can tell/have been told, both Svuem and Randolph are doing pretty damn good at their current jobs. Do we risk losing something if one of them is promoted to manager? Are there good candidates to fill their current roles next year?
I wouldn’t be opposed to filling the manager job from outside the organization, just to keep those guys in their current jobs. Obviously that won’t happen, because they’d both be pretty pissed about that, and rightfully so, but man, can’t they just use a computer to make up the lineup everyday, it’s not like the manager does much else anyway. So they judgmentally select when someone gets a day off… whooooo, difficult.
I'm working on a post on it for later today.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 15, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Ive always been a fan of
Terry Pendleton, hitting coach Atlanta Braves
or
Ron Roenicke, Bench coach, LA Angels.
Both have been groomed to be MLB managers by a couple of the best guys in the game right now. I would love to see the Angels style of play here.
Well
Whats the success rate?
I think Yost did a good job with this organization. He helped groom young players for the big time and if anything just mismanaged his bullpen. Any good manager is going to delegate authority and listen to his assistants? Is there any evidence that Maddux was giving him good advice when it came to making pitching changes (last year primarily)?
Freddi Gonzalez has done a very good job with the Marlins.
Wasnt Manny Acta a former Braves guy? He did a nice job with an awful group of players (a lot like what Yost did when he first arrived here).
Who else is out there that is a former Bobby Cox guy?
I think Macha deserves another season...
considering the pitching staff he was given to succeed this season, I don’t think it’s his fault the team didn’t make it to the playoffs.
I know many people disagree with how he’s filling out the lineup card (including myself from time-to-time), but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
i understand the pitching staff argument
and i agree there was not enough depth to expect much from pitching. but macha has made some ridiculous moves with the batting lineup that i feel are either proof of a lack of understanding of your players, or a willful don’t-give-a-damn attitude.
"I'll be glad to have Ryan help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy."
-Sheriff Melvin
by sowingwildoats on Sep 15, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Batting Patterson lead-off qualifies as ridiculous.
The others — refusing to give Gamel any time, starting Counsell at shortstop, etc — are questionable.
Just saw this in Verducci's article about his All-Decade Team:
Teams keep giving playing opportunities to Patterson as if he might hit someday. Keep this in mind: among outfielders with at least 1,000 big leagues games all time, Patterson is worse at getting on base than all of them except John Shelby and Tony Armas.
Armas
Had a couple of monster RBI/HR years. 6 years with OPS+ over 100, but only 13.4 WAR total for his career. He has some pretty decent comps too, like Bob Allison, Roger Maris, Jesse Barfield, Pat Burrell.
John Shelby not so much.
I'll give you Patterson...
… The other move I understand. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I know where Macha’s coming from with respect to the Gamel thing.
Agreed
The only knock I would put on him is his love of vets over the young up and comers. Gamel and Escobar should be out there starting almost every day until the end of the year. Lots of managers are like that though.
I like Macha’s philosophies. Dont think he deserves to be fired. Could have done a better job in hiring a pitching coach, I wouldnt keep Bosio around after the year ends if I were him.
Pitching coach
I’m not sure if Macha hired Castro himself or Castro was recommended by DM.
Even if he did pick Castro, I don’t blame him for going with someone who was already familiar with the personnel.
The home opener is on a Monday?
NO!
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Fo'Sho
Yeah, guess I might be taking Tuesday off as well. Now I have to find out when the TRats opener is.
Did the same thing
In 2008. 3/31 vs. Mil OFF April 2nd then April 3rd.
Apparently Old Style must take awhile to clean up.
Yup
Built in rainout/cold days.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
They cancel games because of cold?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
We're not talking about games at Miller Park
We’re talking about games at Wrigley.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
Sorry... I got confused along the way.
When was the last time a game was postponed because of it being too cold?
Checking WGN, the coldest home opener at Wrigley was in 2003… 32F was the high and wind chills were near 20F.
They've been canceled because of snow
But I don’t know about just cold temperatures, at least not in recent years.
You know me Al.
I've never understood that.
Wouldn’t it be better to schedule the three game series, then the off day, so that any game in the series can be made up, not just the first one?
Slightly better but still not optimal is Game Game Off Game. Game Off Game Game still gives you two games that could be rained/colded out, that would be unable to be made up in that current trip.
Rainchecks
If the first game is rained out, fans get rainchecks to the new game 3. If they bought tickets for “opening day” they wouldn’t be able to go to the first game, thus devaluing the tickets.
Opening day is the expensive day. If either of the other two games gets rained out – no biggie – they’ll just play it later in the year.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 15, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Regular rest for the rotation?
3 games, 1 day off, 4 games, 1 day off, 5 games, 1 day off, 13 games, 1 day off.
It’s an unusual start if you’re a fan of regular rest for your starters. One possibility is: ace, 2nd, 3rd, off, 4th, ace, 2nd, 3rd, off, 4th, ace, 2nd 3rd, 5th, off, 4th, ace, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 4th.
That is, unless Suppan is pitching the opener. I suppose the manager is just going to be more likely to have the starters go on an extra day of rest to start the season.
I'm in favor of the extra day of rest
No need to Dusty Baker the rotation. We’ll end up with an overused bullpen by June.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
thanks for the warning
they’re playing in Minnesota on a weekend (good) but it’s May 21-23 (bad)
Also, no Oakland in interleague? Phoo.
(at least the Twins are playing their home opener against the Red Sox, meaning I won’t get forcibly dragged to Sox games in ’10)
hahaha
I have my issues with the Dome, but it’s not an outdoor stadium with a fabulous view of parking ramps and I-394, right next to the county garbage incinerator. I don’t know what they’re thinking. At least the tax increase also supports the Hennepin County Library.
I thought it was interesting the Twins' mid-April 9-game opening homestand
Is scheduled while Miller Park is vacant.
You know me Al.
Ever the Pompous Douchebag
Tell us how you really feel, KL
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Most people I wouldn't bury that deep
But for Bob Brenly? That’s hardly deep enough.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 15, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Couldn't agree more
He has some very intense, irrational hatred towards the Brewers.
But I have to say, I was just waiting for WSB to make a ‘not a swell choice of words’ comment.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Must be.
He was the guy I wanted to see as the manager, too (before I realized Ken Macha has a black belt and a Civil Engineering degree). Thank God he isn’t the Brewers’ skipper. He would have benched Braun and Fielder, or tried to have them suspended…
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
IIRC, it was reported that he "didn't interview well."
After hearing the way he talks publicly about the team, I understand why.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
I'm guessing it went something like this:
DM: Thanks for coming up here, Bob! The traffic sure is nicer up here than it is in Chicago, eh?
BB: Bunch of cocky fat people…….
DM: And.. we’re done.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
At least he won't require surgery in the offseason...
but sucks that his season is over. I wonder if he’ll stay with the team the rest of the way… if not, who’ll do the haircuts?
Point of clarification re: complaining about strikeouts:
If Corey Patterson is allowed to participate in a Brewers baseball game again this season (and, if there’s a God, he won’t), am I allowed to bitch when Corey inevitably strikes out with runners in scoring position and one out?
there's a difference between a Dunn or Reynolds K
and a Patterson K. You wouldn’t complain as much about Patterson if he’d get on base at all.
Strikeouts aren't the reason Patterson is a fail
Sure, he swings and misses a lot, but he makes weak contact when he connects, too.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
I have an irrational man crush on Aaron Boone
And the article further strengthens that. Good to hear he’s a nice guy.
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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 |
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St. Louis
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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