Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 8, 2009 9:44 AM CDT
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSo, I took the day off yesterday to catch a game in Milwaukee, only my second of the season, but arrived to find a starting outfield of Frank Catalanotto, Corey Patterson and Jody Gerut, with Patterson, who has no business being on a major league roster, leading off. Rotoworld cited Patterson's presence in the leadoff spot as a suggestion that Ken Macha "either has no idea how runs are scored or he simply doesn't care any longer." Patterson went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a GIDP in the ninth. Miller Park Drunk has ten links that should tell you everything you need to know about him.
At one point in the early innings, I turned to TheJay and said, "If ever there was a lineup begging to be no hit, it's this one." I think yesterday's lineup is right up there with the one Justin Verlander no-hit in 2007. Thankfully Jody Gerut was able to drop a double into left field. Brewer Paradise Lost thinks the Brewers should save a few million by allowing him to replace Mike Cameron in center field next season.
Of course, Carpenter hasn't needed much help to dominate the Brewers this season. As a team, the Crew has hit .173 against him and scored three runs in 23 innings.
At least Dave Bush pitched pretty well. He also hit Yadier Molina with a pitch, regaining a tie for the NL HBP lead.
Ryan Braun got a day off yesterday, but their appears to be a difference of opinion on the need and/or reason for it. Either way, expect Braun to start tonight against John Smoltz.
Fans in attendance tonight should also expect to see Corey Hart, who will be activated from the DL sometime today. After being held hitless in his first couple of days with Nashville, Hart collected five hits in the last two days, including a home run.
They should not expect to see Mike Cameron, however. Cameron strained his hamstring during a pinch hit appearance on Saturday and is expected to be out until Friday at the earliest.
Of course, the Brewers' reaction to Prince Fielder's walkoff home run on Sunday continues to pour in. If you haven't seen it yet (really?), here's a link to the video. I've added a new poll to the sidebar asking for your opinion, but here are some others:
- D.J. Short of Circling the Bases says "don't be surprised to see Fielder catch one in the back or worse when he faces them next season."
- Rob Neyer thought it was clever.
- The Intricate Mess says "The Milwaukee Brewers might just be the coolest, hippest baseball team in the majors."
- David Weathers said the Brewers were just trying to have some fun.
- Giants bench coach Ron Wotus played the "disrespect" card.
- Angels outfielder Torii Hunter spoke out against it, though why any of it is his business is unknown.
- Giants beat reporter Andrew Baggarly has reactions from several people in the Giants' clubhouse.
- MLB Notebook had no problem with it.
All the hubbub over the celebration overshadowed the Brewers' first triple play since 1999, and a great effort from both Braden Looper (who allowed one run over seven innings) and the bullpen (five pitchers each threw one scoreless inning to take the game to the 12th). One would think Looper would have plenty to tweet about, but his Twitter page has been inactive since his first Tweet on August 6.
For the last couple of days, the Brewer pitchers have finally held up their end of the 2009 bargain. UmpBump has the Brewers' WAR Pie from 2009, and it's pretty light on pitching contributions. Adam McCalvy wonders how much the Brewers miss former pitching coach Mike Maddux.
Meanwhile, the Brewers have added another reliever to the bullpen, calling up John Axford from AAA (FanShot) and releasing Jesus Colome to make room for him on the 40 man roster (FanShot). Aside from getting hurt, I'm not sure what Colome did to merit his release. David Pinto says they're tempting eternal damnation.
For the next few days, the Brewers will only go as far as the bottom half of their rotation can carry them. Yovani Gallardo is going to skip a start in an effort to keep his innings down this season. Thursday's day off means the Brewers can use a four man rotation for two turns and bring Gallardo back on his regular day against the Cubs next week.
Alcides Escobar was one of many Brewers to have a rough day yesterday, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Has your opinion on his 2010 outlook changed at all? Brewers Daily doesn't think he's the right choice for this team.
Again, there's no excuse for cheering against the Brewers at this point, but there is an upside when they lose: Andy Seiler's updated draft projections have the Brewers picking 13th.
In the minors:
- John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a review of his top 20 preseason prospects in the Brewer organization.
- FanGraphs has a preview of the AFL Peoria Javelinas, including Brewers Zach Braddock and Jonathan Lucroy. Also worth noting: AFL players will be required to wear the S100 helmets.
- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers closed out their season with a loss in Beloit yesterday, but several players are headed to instructional league.
- The Appleton Post-Crescent has a look back at the Timber Rattlers' first season as a Brewer affiliate, which was successful pretty much everywhere except on the field.
- WhatifSports dropped the Brewers two spots to #18.
- Baseball Digest Daily's ASTRO Rankings also dropped them two spots to #19.
Cubs: Claimed pitcher Thomas Diamond off waivers from the Rangers.
Rockies: Released Russ Ortiz.
Yankees: Released catcher Kevin Cash.
Things could always be worse. Remember when the Brewers used to be consistently mentioned in the same breath as the Pirates? They clinched their 17th straight losing season yesterday.
I complained a lot about yesterday's lineup, and continue to do it today, but at one point BrewHaHeather turned to me and made an excellent point: "Would you really rather have Bill Hall in there?" Hall has looked a little better at times as a Mariner, but is still one of just five players in baseball this season with at least 200 at bats and more strikeouts than total bases.
Former Brewer farmhand Michael Brantley is having a pretty good September, and has hit safely in each of his first six games. The all time record for hitting streaks to start a career belongs to Juan Pierre, who hit in 16 straight in August of 2000. A hit in his next game would tie Trent Durrington and dozens of others for the 34th longest streak in major league history.
One more "could be worse" note: Aramark, the food services company that has found itself in hot water multiple times over labor issues, is also bad luck for several teams who use them. The Brewers do not.
On this day in 1999, three Brewer pitchers appeared in the game (Hideo Nomo, Mike Myers and David Weathers), and each allowed a home run to Steve Finley as the D-Backs beat the Brewers 9-1.
Happy birthday today to Mike Rivera, who turns 33. Hopefully he'll get the start tonight.
Drink up.
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Torii Hunter
The Brewers should send Hunter some Dom Perignon to smooth things over. That sort of celebration is right up his alley.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
No BS there. Rather shocking, he was angered.
by Braunstalker on Sep 8, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Colome
I think he was released to make room for younger players. At this point, the Brewers need to start looking ahead and seeing if minor leaguers are ready.
In addition, it’s not like Colome was unhittable in his outings.
No Cammy till Friday
that sure is swell news, Could be worse we could Nats or Pirate fans. At least the Cubs are not going to the playoff either that right there is enough to get me through the winter :)
Now with school back in full force it will be interesting to see how many people show up for the game tonight dressed as an empty seat.
Hope everyone has a swell day :)
Everything is just swell :)
What did Cam do to you?
Did he beat you kids with a buggy whip… vote for Jim Doyle? What the hell did he do to you to piss you off all season long?
by Saberilliterate on Sep 8, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh this started last year
and you are not allowed to say pissed that is totally unswell :)
And the fact they did not trade him away when they had the chance made this year even worse.
But than again I do not have to explain my hatred of Cammy to anyone anymore In less than 4 weeks he will be gone and my life will be better.
Everything is just swell :)
Trade?
Wasn’t the reason the trade fell through was because the Yankees wanted the Brewers to pick up a portion of Cameron’s contract (as if the Yankees were running out of cash)?
Yes we were far better off keeping Cammy
and spending that 10 million on him
Everything is just swell :)
by WSB Chris on Sep 8, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Reactions...
About “Giants beat reporter Andrew Baggarly has reactions from several people in the Giants’ clubhouse.”:
If you read his article(s) closely, the only quote is from Bochy; all other reactions are quotes of “I didn’t see it”, and facial reactions that the writer (I guess) interprets on his own. And he interprets it all as the Giants “taking the high road”.
In the absence of actual quotes, I think it is just as likely as the players’ thinking “I have no problem with it”, but not wanting to say that out loud.
people with hurt feelings doesn't bother me
but people who say that prince deserves one between the ribs or across the back next time they play does. that tired old “that’s baseball” argument is so ridiculous. if beanball is baseball, then so is barring black players.
"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 8, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed. It's the whole 2 wrongs don't make a right argument
It’s the people that don’t think celebrating belongs in the game that think you should pitch at a payer’s head. How does that make sense?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Spiking people is the manliest of manly baseball moves
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 8, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Fromt he mike Maddux article
“Hawk and I call it ‘Breaking the code,’” Maddux said. “If you look hard enough, there has got to be some weakness in a hitter that we can go to if it’s our strength. But if it’s not our strength, you’re better off pitching to your strengths and taking your chances.”
Um, doesn’t every team do that? And if they don’t, why the heck don’t they? I assume that means Maddux just tends to be better than other coaches? The article said, “…they were spending four to six hours at the computer” and I guess I could see some of the more traditionalist coaches not plotting things on a computer. Are there really pitching coaches that aren’t using technology to its fullest extent? Seems kind of dopey to me.
There are more than a few bloggers capable of that and even a slight drop in team ERA over a season has got to be worth throwing $100,000 at a good one.
i cannot believe the fielder shockwave is still rippling through the internets.
we need more cat pictures to act as dampeners.
"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
Negative Reaction
Whenever the Brewers are shown having fun after a win, 2 cards are played. 1 is the “Disrespect for the game” card, as KL noted. The other is the comparison to a player or team who either “Plays the game the right way” or is “Old School”.
However, those two characteristics have never been defined. Baggerly mentions Aaron Rowand as a guy who has been known as a ‘plays the game the right way’ guy. But he never mentions why, or gives a single example of a time where he plays the game the right way.
So, how do we define playing the game the right way? Let’s start with a player who is playing for the love of the game; not for the money. He’ll do anything he can to help his team win. He’ll never gloat while winning, because he knows how much he hates losing. And he’ll never do anything to tarnish the reputation of himself, his team, or the league.
Sounds like a pretty solid assessment, to me.
Now, how is that player hypocritical? He plays for the love of the game, and he wants to win. However, he hates to see the other team lose so much that he can no longer enjoy winning. He’d rather lose than win.
He’ll never touch steroids because baseball has a reputation to uphold. However, taking steroids would certainly help his team’s performance.
Obviously these are ridiculous arguments. But they go in line with how ridiculous the whole outrage over a celebration is. The players are entertaining fans who pay their salaries. The more entertained those fans are, the more likely they are to come back again. And as for the, “The Brewers are out of the playoffs” arguemnt, they were celebrating a win. It’s not like they were celebrating a home run while they were down by 18. Since when is winning the world series the only acceptable time to celebrate?
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Aaron Rowand once punched a wall with his face
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
I, too, didn't get the "The Brewers are out of the playoffs" argument.
So, if the Brewers were in the hunt for the post-season, the sourpusses who frowned upon the Shockwave would have found the same display totally acceptable? Of course not.
Second: I’ve always thought that “plays the game the right way” was code for “not very good, but looks like he’s tryin’ real hard,” because I’ve heard the phrase “plays the game the right way” used most often in reference to David Eckstein.
Hunter
I don’t think Torii Hunter was as upset as they made him out to be. I think the point he was making was that it’s simply not smart to do. In baseball, if you offend someone on the other team, you may get thrown at. And that hurts. A lot. He’s just saying he wouldn’t take that risk, and I can’t blame him. In other sports, you don’t put yourself in the same sort of danger as you do when you step into the batter’s box, and that’s what he’s saying.
There will always be purists who don’t like what the Brewers do. And as much as I enjoyed the celebration, I’m not exactly proud of what they did either. But, if it’s after a win, you should be able to celebrate, even if a little choreography is involved. It’s not like they broke into a dance routine or pointed and laughed at the Giants’ dugout. It was one quick moment and it was over. And if Prince wants to put himself in front of a 95 MPH heater, then that’s his problem.
Prince
Very cool shock wave but would have enjoyed it more if it would have happened against the Cards! Then we could have seen Pujols go all indignant on us!
On a Mission from God!
Pujols
Pujols is going on MVP #3 to go along with a World Series ring. Maybe something is to be said for the way he does things.
Absolutely
Clearly the thing holding Prince Fielder back from the MVP this year is celebrating after hitting home runs. Clearly it’s not the Brewers’ pitching that is keeping them out of the playoffs this year, it’s that damn untucking of the jerseys. Clearly Pujols isn’t winning MVPs because he’s by far the best player in the game, but because he plays the game classy, and knows when it’s okay to stare down a home run. If only Ryan Braun could take after his example, and stop completely negating all the value he generates by hitting homers and just generally being good at hitting a baseball by showboating, then the Brewers might have something.
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
by Lefti on Sep 8, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Clearly, you're not paying attention to the MVP criteria:
OBP, OPS, RBI, HR, AVG — all that stuff takes a back seat to being (self) appointed as Extreme High Arbiter of All That Is Good, Just and Respectful in the Game of Baseball. Pujols can’t be touched in that category.
by Rubie Q on Sep 8, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
That's all true, but damn are the frequent jabs at Pujols getting old already.
I guess I’m the only one to feel that way, though.
Oh, don't get me wrong
I love me some Albert Pujols, and I don’t really blame him for all the hype; sure, he plays into it a little, but anyone would, and he so otherworldly talented that I’ll cut him plenty of slack. I couldn’t resist, however, just completely going off on the notion that the whole “respecting the game” things wins him MVPs.
In short:
Albert Pujols being amazing at baseball=teh awesomes
Pompous windbaggery about playing the game “the right way”=teh suck
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
Maybe of Prince stuck his tongue out like a dog in heat a bit more he would have an MVP too…
by Saberilliterate on Sep 8, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The way he does things?
You mean like stare down a HR, but yet criticizes other player when they do it.
While I clearly hate it
I am always amused when Pujols makes it to first base. I mean, what would he and Prince talk about? Clearly not respect.
CounsellWSMVP10!
Sandoval walk-off
A piece of video of a May 12th Sandoval walk-off, complete with admiring, pointing, bat flip, helmet flip, and full team jump up and down at home plate. (first 1:30 or so of the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF1z9vf8ryY&feature=related
Oh, those classy Giants…
Oh, and the SF writer...
…at that link he tells us that “He somehow managed to earn a journalism degree from Northwestern University despite spending more time in the Wrigley Field bleachers than the classroom.”
Hall
Bill E. might get a start tonight for the Mariners against Scott Kazmir, since he actually had a decent game against him last week. I can’t imagine the M’s will start him against Weaver or Lackey either of the next two days, though.
If you’ve got Extra Innings, and you’re up late, it’s Kazmir vs. Felix Hernandez, so it should be a good game, regardless of whether Bill E. plays. It’s not too late to jump aboard the Halo bandwagon!
and if you do jump, be careful
The Halo bandwagon has a giant hole in the middle.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 8, 2009 2:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
Maybe, but who else you gonna cheer for?
The Cardinals? The Dodgers? The BoSox? Friends don’t let friends cheer for the Yankees. Go with the non-evil, non-Detroit option. Besides, the Brewers owe the Angels for 1982, Derrick Turnbow, and Nick Green.
Okay, maybe not Turnbow.
i'd rather cheer for the rockies
because their pitching staff is less fearsome on paper than ours, but is a destructive force.
"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 8, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Lineup
Patterson 8
Counsell 4
Braun 7
Fielder 3
McGehee 5
Gerut 9
Hardy 6
Rivera 2
Parra 1
Patterson… again?!?
ugh...
I have free tickets, but now I feel like I wasted gas driving to milwaukee.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on Sep 8, 2009 2:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Do a little arts and crafts; make a poster board sign, KL:
“PLEASE STOP BATTING PATTERSON LEAD OFF.”
Were you deliberately misspelling his name?
‘Cuz people might think you’re talking about Kyle Peterson if you weren’t.
oops
yeah. saw the SP and was actually thinking scott Peterson. That could get ugly.
yes, KL, make sure to spell the dude’s name right. You get the point though.
With that line up he won’t have to worry about base clogging because no one will be getting on base
by Saberilliterate on Sep 8, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions
base clogging sounds anti-environment
good for macha, standing up for what matters.
"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 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Has no idea how runs are scored or doesn't really care anymore
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
can it be an and/or
because really, with some of these punch and judy lineup decisions, i think you need inclusive operators in that statement.
"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 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Come on
I’ll be there in Left Field. Holliday’s one of my favorite players, so I won’t be heckling him. maybe I’ll just yell extra loud and heckle Patterson…….. Ugh.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
Wow...
No love for Patterson. I guess no one here thinks he should get a shot at playing in MLB. He went 0-4 last night in his first game in a Brewers uniform. Give the guy a break.
Yes, he does have pretty mediocre career stats in the past, but at least give him a fair shot before beating on him.
I mean really… look at home many seasons we had to put up with Weeks before he finally turned things around this season.
But Patterson's 30.
And he’s been in the big leagues for six full years, and parts of four others. You’d hope he’d have shown something — anything — by this point.
He's had a couple of decent seasons...
same as Gerut (who is older)… but yet, some people here would be willing to give Gerut a shot over Patterson.
I think the difference is this:
Gerut’s best year was last year, when he OPS’ed .845. Patterson’s best year was in 2003, when he played half the season. Last year, Patterson put up a .238 OBP and .582 OPS in 135 games.
Which is all a long way of saying: Nothing in recent vintage suggests that Corey Patterson is going to amount to anything. The same can’t be said of Jody Gerut.
Which do you find to be more predictive of his skill:
100 abs in AAA, or 3000 abs in the majors?
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
A fair shot?
Patterson has 3,500 ABs which say that he isn’t good at baseball. He’s had his shot and then some.
That's a pretty, well, dumb way to evaluate players
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
i might not be a faithful spouse
but that’s just because i haven’t found the right uniform to wear.
"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 8, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I mean, I just don't get how that makes any sense
You might as well sign Adam Eaton to start some games. After all, he hasn’t sucked for the Brewers yet.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
I'm sure he would have a good game eventually
Then he would be ready to bring up, it being his most recent performance and all.
You know me Al.
So, how many PAs do you need Patterson to suck in for the Brewers this September...
before admitting that there just might be more to those 3,000+ major league PAs than to one month at Nashville?
Considering he was hitting well in Nashville...
I’d say that he at least deserves a chance to show if he’s turned himself around.
He hit well for a month
He was not good for three months in Syracuse before that.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
HE IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE WORST PLAYERS TO GET THAT MANY CHANCES IN MLB HISTORY
I have never had any at-bats on the Brewers. I do not deserve a chance to prove myself.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
by Jordan M on Sep 8, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jordan has never had that chance
but if he did, he’d be just as good for milwaukee in the bigs as Patterson is (at least offensively).
I'd rather have the Giants troll from last night batting leadoff.
The Brewers have won 8 games just like that this year. I call them luck wins.
He certainly ignited things
Taking Shallowness to New Depths...
by Fatter than Joey on Sep 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Boom, Roasted.
Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, ""That’s all they need is another home run hitter".
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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 2.10.2012 at 1:01 PM CST)
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