Monday's Frosty Mug
by Kyle Lobner on Apr 25, 2011 9:34 AM CDT
in Milwaukee Brewers News
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PrintSome things to read while hearing the call of the wild.
Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle may have called it an "Easter Sunday slogfest," but the Brewers were happy to call yesterday's game their seventh win in ten home games in 2011. They're back above .500 on the season at 11-10, and half a game back of the Cardinals in the Central.
Randy Wolf pitched another gem for the Brewers yesterday but was overshadowed in a pretty unlikely way: A large bird of prey (either a peregrine falcon or a young Northern Goshawk, depending on who you ask) flew into Miller Park yesterday, killed a pigeon and spent some time hanging out on the field enjoying its meal. The bird, as you might expect, already has its own Twitter feed.
Wolf, by the way, pitched 19.2 scoreless innings between the first inning on April 14 and the solo home run he allowed to Astros catcher J.R. Towles in the eighth yesterday. As best I can tell that's the fourth longest streak of his career:
| Start Date | End Date | IP |
| 8/11/2002 | 9/5/2002 | 27 |
| 9/26/2001 | 10/7/2001 | 24 |
| 4/18/2004 | 5/6/2004 | 21 |
| 4/14/2011 | Yesterday | 19.2 |
Brandon Boggs made his first start as a Brewer yesterday and rewarded the team with a solo home run. Adam McCalvy says Boggs is glad he decided to stick with the organization when presented with the possibility of free agency this spring.
Other notes from the field:
- Randy Wolf, Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
- Wolf had no problem retiring Bill Hall, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the game and how has 26 in 71 official at bats this season.
- Meanwhile, Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriguez went 2-for-2 in the game, picking up two of the Astros' first three hits. Brian McTaggart noted that Astros pitchers are hitting .357 on the season.
- The Brewers drew 31,907, 37,065 and 32,323 fans to Friday, Saturday and Sunday's games, respectively. They're averaging 33,347 through ten home dates, which puts them on pace to draw 2.7 million fans in 2011.
- Before the game the Brewers were visited by a very creepy Easter Bunny.
- The Chorizo won the sausage race for the second straight day.
- Going back to Saturday, Jaymes Langrehr of The Brewers Bar set the eighth inning to music.
- Looking back another day, Rickie Weeks was hit by a pitch for the 89th time in his career on Friday. As you might expect, Plunk Everyone has more. Weeks missed Saturday's game with a sprained pinkie finger but was back in action Sunday.
The Astros have left town but the homestand continues tonight as the Brewers open a series against the Reds, who have beaten them in 18 of their last 21 meetings. Scott Segrin of In-Between Hops has a reminder that the Brewers have to find a way to beat the Reds if they're going to be a contending team. Nick Kosmider of MLB.com has a series preview.
The Reds will have to change up their rotation a bit for this week's series: Edinson Volquez was scheduled to start on Wednesday but pitched last night instead after his scheduled Friday start was wiped out by rain.
The Brewers also won't see Scott Rolen this week: The Reds placed him on the DL with a shoulder strain over the weekend and are hoping he'll be ready to return by early May.
As one might expect, there are still a fair number of people talking about Ryan Braun's new contract:
- We have details now for the deferred portion of the contract: The Brewers will be making interest-free payments to Braun through 2031 (FanShot).
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs took a hatchet to the deal, and asks if it's worse than Ryan Howard's.
- Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker has a reminder that the two deals have nearly nothing in common.
- Lance Gurewitz of The Biz of Baseball says Braun's new deal (negotiated by agent Nez Balelo) is "a clinic in player representation."
- Adam McCalvy talked to Prince Fielder about the deal, and he's excited for his teammate.
- Joshua Powling of SB Nation Houston asks if Braun is the player Astro fans wish Hunter Pence would be.
- Braun's home run on Friday was Larry Granillo of Baseball Prospectus' Tater Trot of the Day. Carlos Gomez also had the day's fastest trot at 16.93 seconds.
- Braun won our voting for Brewer of the Last Two Weeks.
Braun, by the way, got a hit in every game this weekend to extend his streak to 21 straight games reaching base safely. The streak is still the fifth longest to start a season in Brewer history, behind Jeff Cirillo, Turner Ward, Jeromy Burnitz and Robin Yount. Braun could catch Yount for fourth place on Tuesday. He also has a nine game hitting streak.
His new contract will likely only encourage events like this: A female fan at Miller Park on Friday had a sign with "Marry me Ryan" and her phone number, and received over 200 calls and 600 texts after the sign was shown on FS Wisconsin. Braun also tried to call the number, but the voice mailbox was full.
I didn't see any marriage proposals, but Prince Fielder is drawing his fair share of attention too:
- Ken Rosenthal has a video blog discussing Fielder's athleticism while wearing a ridiculous bow tie.
- It's About The Money makes the case that Fielder's free agent deal could be better for his new team than the contract Albert Pujols ends up signing.
Jonathan Lucroy has provided a nice spark for the Brewers since his return off the DL, hitting .355/.412/.484 in his first eight games. He's also getting his number retired by his high school in Florida (Umatilla High).
Yovani Gallardo didn't pitch all that well on Friday night, but he did hit his first home run of the season. Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs credited Gallardo with .5 offensive wins in 2010 and listed him among the Pitcher Hitting Winners.
The Brewers took 2 of 3 in Philadelphia and 2 of 3 against the Astros at home for a 4-2 week. As it turns out, they also played in one of the week's five best games, according to Max Marchi of The Hardball Times. Monday's extra inning win over the Phillies received one star.
Zack Greinke pitched for Nashville yesterday in his second rehab start and didn't fare quite as well: He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over 2.2 innings, striking out two. @SessileFielder has video of his postgame reaction. Greinke is expected to make one more start for the Sounds before joining the Brewers.
Manny Parra is also staying in Nashville for a while. Gord Ash said the Brewers are planning to leave him in AAA for "three or four more" outings to make sure he's fully healthy before he rejoins the team.
The news is a little better for Corey Hart: It looks like he'll rejoin the team this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow.
In the minors:
- The York Dispatch is reporting the Brewers have signed shortstop Andy Gonzalez to a minor league deal. Gonzalez last played in the minors in 2009, hitting .259/.351/.358 in 404 plate appearances for AAA New Orleans. He was slated to play for the independent York Revolution this season.
- The affiliates went 1-1 in an abbreviated Easter Sunday schedule yesterday, with Martin Maldonado going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run in Huntsville's 11-6 win over Birmingham. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
- Maldonado was demoted from Nashville to Huntsville over the weekend to make room for George Kottaras.
- Wisconsin Sports Tap has a look at the Brewer prospects spending the 2011 season in Nashville.
- The Appleton Post Crescent has a profile of Wisconsin third baseman Mike Walker.
- Keith Law confirmed the existence of Mat Gamel.
- Meanwhile, no one has been able to confirm the existence of shortstop Michael Marseco, who never reported to camp this spring. The Brewer organization is assuming he plans to retire.
In power rankings:
- USA Today has the Brewers 13th, down one spot.
Around baseball:
Angels: Placed reliever Scott Downs on the DL with a gastrointestinal virus.
Blue Jays: Placed second baseman Aaron Hill on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Mariners: Reliever Justin Miller has opted out of his minor league contract.
Marlins: Signed outfielder Gabe Gross to a minor league deal and placed outfielder Logan Morrison on the DL with a strained ligament in his foot.
Mets: Placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the DL with an oblique strain.
Nationals: Designated pitcher Lee Hyde for assignment.
Phillies: Placed reliever Jose Contreras on the DL with a flexor pronator strain in his right shoulder.
Pirates: Claimed infielder Brandon Wood off waivers from the Angels and designated infielder Josh Rodriguez for assignment.
Rangers: Placed reliever Neftali Feliz on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Rockies: Acquired infielder Brad Emaus from the Blue Jays for a minor league pitcher.
Yankees: Designated pitcher Jose Ortegano for assignment.
Pagan is the latest major leaguer to suffer an oblique injury this spring, and one doctor has a theory regarding the sudden epidemic. Dr. Lewis Maharam, a sports physician, says the growth of oblique injuries may be due to increased use of creatine, a legal supplement.
"My theory is that drug testing in Major League Baseball is working and people are getting away from using illegal steroids," Maharam says. "They are moving to legal products such as creatine, but they don’t know how to use it in conjunction with their workouts."
Ben Badler of Baseball America is skeptical.
Around the NL Central:
- The Cardinals beat the Reds 3-0 last night to take the NL Central lead.
- The Dodgers beat the Cubs 7-3.
- The Nationals beat the Pirates 6-3.
Here are today's updated standings:
| Team | W | L | GB |
| Cardinals | 12 | 10 | -- |
| Brewers | 11 | 10 | .5 |
| Reds | 11 | 11 | 1 |
| Cubs | 10 | 11 | 1.5 |
| Pirates | 9 | 12 | 2.5 |
| Astros | 8 | 14 | 4 |
Today in former Brewers: PastKast has a great interview with Jim Paschke, the TV voice of the 1987 Brewers.
Through 21 contests the Brewers are averaging 4.67 runs per game, which puts them slightly above league average: Jim Caple of ESPN noted that teams are averaging 4.31 runs per game in March and April, the lowest that number has been since 1992.
Speaking of April stats, The Biz of Baseball is reporting that MLB teams have been rained out 15 times already in 2011, putting them on pace for the second most weather-impacted April of the last decade. 26 games were postponed in April 2007.
Weather was a factor in a couple of games this weekend, and in both cases the visiting team was unhappy with how the situation was handled: Dusty Baker accused the Cardinals of withholding information regarding the expected arrival of a storm on Friday, and Livan Hernandez of the Nationals accused the Pirates of failing to share information regarding a game's expected start time.
Everyone loves a freak pitch, right? If so, then everyone should read this story about the 55 mph floating strike that Jason Marquis threw while falling down over the weekend.
I've ranted before about MLB's blackout policies, but this one might be the most asinine: Hawaii is claimed as a "home market" by six teams, and Big League Stew notes that most residents cannot see the World Champion Giants.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to write a joke about this hat.
Drink up.
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Dear Hawk:
June 10th, the Cardinals come to town. We can make that happen.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
by Mykenk on Apr 25, 2011 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs
Also, I think the fact that the Brewers
are readily admitting they don’t know what to do with Manny Parra is pretty funny.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Flagged
Like saying I’ll take Jeff Suppan.
by BrewCrewBrian on Apr 25, 2011 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Nah, people seem to usually want former Brewers back on the team
Suppan excluded of course
Get a ife broseph
No, it's nothing like saying that.
Oh, wait, are you Erick Almonte? Then, yeah, I guess you’d be upset with that comment.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Bill Hall
I liked Bill Hall. He played for both the Brewers and Red Sox and I saw him hit a game winning walkoff homer against the Padres in June 2006. Needs to work on his defense a bit but he’s got some good offensive pop in his bat and would be good to have again on the Brewers if it happened.
steelspurredsoxbrewerleafs. A conglomeration of some of my favorite sports teams Update I added brewers as a second favorite major league team
by steelspuredsoxleafs on Apr 25, 2011 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
In alternate universes
EVERY reality is a possibility, I suppose
Too close for missiles, I’m switching to Ueck.
by theBrouhaha on Apr 25, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
I think it depends on what position he was talking about
He didn’t play CF very well.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Give me JJ Hardy
"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."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
Sarcastic or not, he still can't stay healthy
Oblique this year. He’s only started taking swings yesterday for the O’s. That said, in only 375 PA for the Twins last year, he managed an impressive 2.4 fWAR. Hard to say who we could move off the 40-man to make room for someone that’s going to be on the DL for half the season. I might be willing to take the risk anyway. We can find a replacement level SS somewhere to replace him when he goes on the DL again this season.
we already have a replacement level SS
"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."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
No we don't
Yuni will be negative WAR by the end of the season. Brewers don’t have a replacement level SS in their minor league system.
Why would you want him? He's injury prone too.
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
by Yar Nivek on Apr 25, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Bill Hall is bunk...
…but I’d take him over Yuni at short. That’s not saying much, though. I’d take a steaming bowl of poop over Yuni at short.
What’s funny is that Hall came into Milwaukee this past weekend and actually looked like a decent player. Then I looked at his stats and realized he may be even worse than he was when he was last here. He just had a good series, for whatever reason. He’s got 26 strikeouts in 71 at bats? Three walks all season, and two came this past weekend?
Yeesh. Maybe it’s a draw. Though he’d still be a better defensive option at short. Still, his stupid posing on doubles and fly balls makes me want to punch him.
by JScottLoomer on Apr 25, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Hall at SS
He’s only played 6 games there since 2006, I know Yuni isn’t very good but I’m not sure Hall is an option there.
Seems like half the teams in baseball need a SS and Hall was a FA who signed as a 2B this past off-season.
Get a ife broseph
No, I get that...
It just goes back to the fact that I think Yuni has such little value as a defensive shortstop, that even Bill Hall would be an improvement there. I have no idea how he’s maintained the label of a “shortstop.” Why has no team tried to move him to a different position? That slow roller up the middle in the ninth yesterday was another example. How does he not even get CLOSE to that ball? The reputation was always “negative range.” Man, that may even be an understatement.
by JScottLoomer on Apr 25, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
That roller
nearly killed me when Sanchez got to 2nd on the drop by Nieves. Especially when I heard someone say “Goddamn Axford.”
by mpbMKE on Apr 25, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear the Rangers have a minor league SS they might be willing to trade
He’s apparently got great defensive skills, but is terrible with the bat.
Rumor has it, he thinks Ron Washington is racist against Latinos, so he's looking to get out.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
my girlfriend watched a few grienke interview videos with me
and is convinced he is autistic.
i'm fighting all the french people i can find. happy cinco de mayo!
social anxiety
autistic…what’s the difference?
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 25, 2011 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Many people with autistm have social anxiety
But not everyone with social anxiety has autism.
I suppose something like Asperger’s (on the autism spectrum, but generally “all there” in the cognitive/speech area) could be possible, but people on the autistic spectrum aren’t generally all that physically coordinated.
That’s not meant to be offensive, they just don’t typically know what their body is capable of. My girlfriend has an autistic brother who’s 18, is about 6’2 and over 200 pounds, but his brain functions like an 8 year old. He doesn’t quite understand how big and strong he is.
Zack is definitely awkward in social settings, but as far as we know, that’s the only “symptom” we know of. I feel like when the Royals were trying to figure out what was going on with him during that stretch he was out of baseball, they would have gone through every possible diagnosis. But that’s just my amateur analysis…the girlfriend is the psychologist in the family. ;-)
Not enough caffeine this morning, apparently.
by jlang on Apr 25, 2011 11:28 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
If I sarcasm fail enough will you buy me an expresso machine?
by BrewCrewBrian on Apr 25, 2011 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
This is my 2nd case of not knowing what the hell anyone is talking about in a few days.
First happened on Twitter and Rubie noticed.
I tend to walk around in a perpetual state of confusion.
I don't think Greinke is that socially awkward
Certainly, to the best of my knowledge, he doesn’t hang around baseball nerd sites like I do…
Less than proud owner of Marmol Says Knock McLouth (BCB League III)
"Now attribute that shit!" mpbMKE
by MrLeam on Apr 25, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
au contraire
he has been quoted as looking to improve his FIP in the past.
"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."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
Andy Gonzalez is much more a utility man than a SS
He came up through A ball as a SS, but once he reached AAA he was more of a middle infield utility man. The White Sox tried him at 2B in 2007 – maybe an injury replacement? In 2009, he got most of his AAA starts at Shortstop, but that could be for organizational depth rather than the view that he suddenly got his SS chops back.
His high OBP seems to stem from his choice to never swing at anything ever. In his Age 25 season in 2007, he had 200 PA with the White Sox posting only a .280 OBP. That, however, was with a .183 BA. It looks like he pretty much always had a .100 difference in BA and OBP, but that was because his K% was an eye-popping 32.3% due to his tiny 38.3% swing percentage. The guy never takes the bat off his shoulder.
I guess at age 28 in 2010, no one was willing to take the chance that he might actually swing at anything. The Brewers have no depth at the position so he might be a better bet than most if given a second chance.
Without a doubt.
It is an immature Northern Goshawk. Sorry to the Brewer’s bird experts but that is not a falcon.
The Brewers don't have bird experts.
If they do, we’re screwed.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
by Mykenk on Apr 25, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Click on the peregrine link.
That is what I was referencing.
Excited to have Hart back tomorrow
Roenicke says they’ll be consulting Hart on whether his timing is back. Shouldn’t they check with the Nashville coaches? Even if Hart strikes out 4 times on 12 pitches, he’s going to say he’s ready. It should provide a feel good lift for the team in general to have all the guys back together again. Even if it’s a tough loss tonight, there will be smiles in the clubhouse tomorrow.
It has to be Almonte that gets DFA’d right? I suppose both Boggs and Almonte will be back in Nashville when Morgan gets off the DL, anyway.
I would hope that Hart comes back for a bullpen arm
Possibly a Sean Green DFA? Or perhaps Mitre goes on the DL?
They only have 12 position players right now so that’d be my guess.
Get a ife broseph
Probably Green.
Maybe someone else though, if they want to keep Green around. Mitre isn’t hurt, is he? Saw him warming up either Sat or Sunday in the Pen…
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Almonte is worthless
Why not carry the extra relief pitcher instead of someone that’s going to hit .100 or .150? We could send Narveson, Gallardo or Wolf up to the plate and they would provide the same amount of production off the bench.
by ecocd on Apr 25, 2011 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
They could also, you know
find a pinch hitter.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
by Mykenk on Apr 25, 2011 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
isn't that what Kotsay's here for?
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Apr 25, 2011 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep.
And he’s done a good job. Almonte, Counsell, Nieves are the other options off the bench. None of which I want, ever.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
It really needs to be Kotsay and Gallardo as the primary PH options.
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Apr 25, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd be willing to give Boggs a few more chances to prove himself before turning to Gallardo
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
i don't want Gallardo to get hurt batting when it's not his day to pitch
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 25, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Same here
Didn’t a reliever for the Giants get hurt while pinch hitting last season?
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Chien Ming Wang did a few years ago in Houston
And he was actually good back then
by BrewCrewBrian on Apr 25, 2011 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
let me amend this statement
it’s okay in the world series!
It would also be okay when our magic number is down to 1 (reg season, playoff games, etc)
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 25, 2011 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Heh.
Just trying to retire a screen name I’ve had around for 15 years…
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Apr 25, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions
agreed
i see keeping a guy on the bench that can only play 1B or RF if he’s a good hitter, but he’s isn’t and Kotsay plays the same positions. Being RH is the only thing saving him right now i think…
OK, so he 'could' play 3B, but counsell would probably play before him
once again, the only positions i realistically see him playing are 1B and RF and to be that limited and be a non-plus batter doesn’t seem useful to me.
by maxximus02 on Apr 25, 2011 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, I don't disgree with you
I don’t think the Brewers need him either.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
This is sort of the crux of the argument
Everyone thinks Almonte should be gone. Except Doug and Gord. Apparently.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe he's going to turn it around soon
Many people were wondering the same thing about Kotsay until he finally started hitting.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
I'm in denial of that
i refuse to believe Kotsay is hitting now
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 25, 2011 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions
lies!!!!
I don’t even know who Caros is, but the guy with the same last name on the Brewers sux
by PagsBrewCrew on Apr 25, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions
My money is on Kintzler.
Then either Braddock or Stetter down when Parra is back.
by jlang on Apr 25, 2011 11:31 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I could see that.
Kintzler can be sent down/called up all season since they used one of his options already.
Green has been ineffective lately, but they might be willing to give him a little more time. Eventually, however, they’re going to need to make a tough choice once Parra and Saito come back.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Shouldn't be that tough
Sent down Kintzler for Hart, Stetter for Parra and Green for Saito.
RHP Mitre
RHP Loe
RHP Hawkins
RHP Saito
RHP Axford
LHP Parra
LHP Braddock
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
But they're both
relatively useless.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
by Mykenk on Apr 25, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Right
but OOGY’s should be the first depth to go, when better options come available.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Wait, Mitch Stetter is a LOOGY?
Does Ron know?
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Since the opening Reds series, I think RR has used Stetter primarily as a LOOGY
At least from what I remember. I know he’s faced some RHB, but its usually been in low leverage situations or when there were few other options like the extra inning Philly game.
Get a ife broseph
Yeah I know
I just want to keep it going.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Gotcha
I think the 3 run HR to Ryan freaking Hanigan taught Roenicke a pretty good lesson about using Stetter against RHB in close games, at least I hope.
Get a ife broseph
When RR did that
I wonder if he was trying to see if Stetter was effective against righties in any capacity. He knew eventually he was going to need to make room for guys coming off the DL… maybe he was just figuring out the pecking order.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Yeah it probably will be Kintzler because he has options
Then Morgan ends the Almonte era when he’s ready? I hope?
Didn’t catch Mitre in the bullpen, only mentioned it because I could see them saying he’s not 100%, back-dating his DL time to last Tuesday and buying themselves a little more time before having to make a decision.
Get a ife broseph
Just watch, Morgan will end up being optioned to Nashville when he comes off the DL
by Noah Jarosh on Apr 25, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Why would you assume that?
Do you just decide the organization will do what it can to stab itself in the foot? Maybe/Hopefully Counsell will retire by that point, so we can keep everyone!
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Flagged...
For suggesting Counsell retire.
Also, most people shoot themselves in the foot. Stabbing would be rather difficult.
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
i remember him adjusting his swing
a couple years back, in an admitted effort to keep his timing and be able to catch up to the pitches. it seems as though it has run its course as to how long it could prolong his career…
It matters
but his defense, while better than Yuni’s, doesn’t make up for his god-awful offense. It’s not that good.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
gotta be replacement level with the bat in order for it to matter.
"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."
BCB Fantasy Football League 1 Champ
Please don't tell me you honestly thinkg
a .280 OBP is better, especially at this point in the year when one at bat will cover much more than the difference.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Please don't tell me you're honestly using 26 PAs for Counsell as a legit measuring stick.
Now that's great tasting chicken!
by Kyle Lobner on Apr 25, 2011 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
None of it is all that relevant
Player A: 77 PAs .182/.299/.242 .244 wOBA, 44 wRC+, -0.4 FLD
Player B: 81 PAs .243/.272/.311 .252 wOBA 52 wRC+, -0.9 FLD
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Hopefully the Brewers pick up Player A when the Marlins cut him, then.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
True
but I’d still take Hanley over any shortstop not named Troy.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
No, just that Counsell hasn't been great and still gets on base at a higher rate than Yuni
I think you’re overreacting to his BA/SLG based on an extremely small sample in which he’s had a .211 BABIP.
Get a ife broseph
hasn't been great,
he’s been useless at the plate… has he been past first base this year? No power, no speed…
You can’t think this team wouldn’t have been better had Counsell retired and Luis Cruz stuck on the big league squad… can you?
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Maybe?
I expect Counsell to give the Brewers a .320-.340 OBP while being able to fill in at 3b/SS/2B.
If Cruz can do that, great, but he’s never been able to get on base in his career so I’d have my doubts.
Get a ife broseph
Seems optimistic.
But, whatever. Hopefully he pulls his head out of his ass soon. Actually, hopefully they never need him more than a day or two a week.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
You're just trolling at this point, right?
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
by SRB on Apr 25, 2011 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
i'd agree, but i dont think they're willing to bench Yuni
for a 40yo SS. he hasn’t played daily in how long, probably because of his age.
He had a career year in 2009, I'm going to need to see more than 26 PA to declare him "done" offensively.
Even setting aside his stellar defense so far this year.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
That Brewers Easter bunny looks like the creepy one in Donnie Darko.
Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".
by Yar Nivek on Apr 25, 2011 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Creatine/injuries
I also don’t buy it. They used to same argument in the mid-90s—I remember Paschke and Rock talking about how John Jaha strained a shoulder “because he’d been working out with creatine.” The Yankees supposedly had tubs of creatine powder in the locker room. And this was supposedly the height of the juicing era. Armed with a complete lack of insider information, I doubt it’s any more prevalent now than it was back then. Players (even the clean ones) are looking for any edge they can get, and creatine’s been legal and allowable for a long time.
i think the idea was that who wouldve used creatine back then
if they could just use roids instead? now that less use roids, more use creatine (improperly) and that’s part of the injuries. not sure if it’s accurate because i’m not a trainer or chemist or health professional, but it’s plausable i guess
Guys who were juicing
were probably using creatine, too. Like I said, any edge. Where I could see the argument holding up is in that you have to be more aware of your hydration while taking it, and dehydration can lead to muscle pulls and strains. But then it’s a dehydration issue, and not a supplemet issue.
well that's splitting hairs,
since you wont get dehydrated quicker unless you’re using the supplement, so it’s a dehydration issue caused incorrect/uninformed use of creatine .
I'll give you that
but players have no excuse for not knowing the side effects. Like I said, this stuff has been in clubhouses for nearly 20 years, maybe longer.
How is there not a video of the Marquis pitch?
I want to see him fall down but still throw a strike.
was thinking the same thing.
probably a video out there, the article author just didnt have time or was too lazy to find it
BCB: Pointless Exercises in Devils Advocacy
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I tried to find it for about 3 min, but couldn't
by BrewCrewBrian on Apr 25, 2011 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe they stopped showing Nats games on TV
Or possibly its just a live feed with no recording taking place. Prevent people from putting up embarrassing replays of things like natinals
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If you have MLB.tv
Its at 1:42 of the Nats game yesterday. Is kinda cool, but Marquis just slips slightly more than falls down…
Less than proud owner of Marmol Says Knock McLouth (BCB League III)
"Now attribute that shit!" mpbMKE
Scott Boras
And some amusing comments about Prince
Less than proud owner of Marmol Says Knock McLouth (BCB League III)
"Now attribute that shit!" mpbMKE
Good points, though.
He is a much better athlete than he’s given credit for being. Prince lists at 5-11 and 275. I’m 6-3, and if I get anywhere close to 220 I’m a slug. I don’t know how sustainable his body type is long-term, but for now (and as long as he’s been a Brewer), he’s been better than one could reasonably expect, athletically-speaking.
I like how Prince 'says the right things'
but reading between the lines of ‘we all want max contracts’ and ‘I hope they have a little left for me’, I see: ’I’m going to want at least $20 per, for 7 or 8 years. Can you pony that up? No? See ya.’
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
It's everyone's 75th favorite minute of the day.
Today’s lineup:
Weeks 4
Gomez 8
Braun 7
Fielder 3
McGehee 5
Kotsay 9
Betancourt 6
Lucroy 2
Narveson 1
Same old same old.
I actually miss ArmFace. Though Kotsay’s done a lot better than I expected.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Of course, it Hart does come back tomorrow...
…this should be the last day that you can use “same old same old” for this lineup.
could you elaborate on that one?
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I don't like Hart in the 2 hole.
But I’ll take it over this lineup, don’t get me wrong. I think this lineup is better balanced than the typical hart one would be.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
Yeah I would be ok with him 6th for now
with Gomez sort of hitting and him coming off of the DL with no spring
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That's what his wife said.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
by sjlee on Apr 25, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Also
Kotsay’s veteran leadership could have proven vital in ArmFace never becoming ArmFace. Too bad he wasn’t under contract with the Brewers 4 years ago.
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think it would've made a difference
The deity was on the team back then, and he wasn’t able to stop the ArmFace from happening.
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
Corey Hart
has a life-sized tattoo of a dwarf woman’s face on his arm.
Twitterize me: @mykenk
by Mykenk on Apr 25, 2011 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
I'm sorry, if it's meant to insult someone...
…I probably don’t know it. I don’t refer to people by those derogatory names.
Its suppost to insult people who have a strange tattoo of a woman on their arm
Corey Hart
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Also known as our normal starting RF.
ArmFace
Caveman
Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.
by sjlee on Apr 25, 2011 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
props to you
and your superior google skills, just spent 7 min trying to find a picture of it and failed
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For the first time
I’m not upset seeing Gomez 2nd. He’s hitting well right now, and we might as well ride that as long as it lasts.
by mpbMKE on Apr 25, 2011 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
via battlekow, the Brewers have signed another minor league shortstop
25-year-old Hainley Statia from Curacao (I believe that’s part of the Netherlands). Hit .275/.341/.363/.704 in the Angels organization and is a superb defender according to minor league TotalZone.
Sounds like a pretty solid depth signing to me.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
Perfect Game USA (2004):
Statia made a convincing case for moving into the top 100 list with his performance in Ft Myers. He’s a legit 4-tool middle infielder who only lacks the big power to be at big league average to above average across the board. Statia is a 6.7 runner who turns in consistent big league average running times to first base. He’s a switch hitter with a very fundamentally sound and short stoke to the ball and a slashing, contact oriented approach. If anything, Statia is a little longer from the left side. It’s his defense that really makes him stand out, though. Statia’s big league arm strength is obvious, he threw 90 across the infield and we’ve seen him throw 92 from the mound. He showed us very quick, sure hands at both shortstop and second base during the games and made several outstanding plays. He has outstanding body control and instincts. Hainley is a good student. He could be a good draft pick next June or an even higher one out of college.
Baseball America, pre-2008 (#11 prospect for the Angels):
The Angels have some of the best amateur scouts in the business, and before he was promoted to East Cost supervisor, Mike Silvestri signed Statia for $90,000 out of high school. Statia was born and raised in Curacao, and he earned best defensive player honors during the World Cup in Taiwan last fall, playing with the Netherlands. He took home the organization’s same honor in 2007 as well. A live-body, high-energy player lauded for his makeup and attention to detail, Statia’s modest offense and a general lack of strength keep him from being a premium prospect. He makes consistent contact and puts the ball in play. He’s a better hitter from the left side of the plate, though his lefthanded swing can get long, and it’s choppy from the right. His power is below-average, but he knows his game and can drive balls from gap to gap adequately. Statia’s a below-average runner but goes first to third well, and his instincts help him have average range at shortstop. His actions are easy and loose, his hands are exceptional and he makes online throws with average arm strength. He profiles to hit well at the bottom of an order, and his athleticism and defense could make him a valuable utilityman. He’ll spend 2008 in Double-A.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
FutureAngels.com 2006 (#6 Angels prospect):
A native of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles, Hainley Statia impresses for no other reason than he’s fluent in four languages — English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu (his native tongue). He was playing for the Curacao national team when someone from a Christian academy in Florida arranged for him to attend school there. So far Statia has played mostly shortstop although he saw action at second base with Rancho Cucamonga in 2005. His defensive skills are superb enough to project him as a future big leaguer, at least as a utility infielder. The question is whether he’ll develop any power. His 31 doubles with Cedar Rapids suggest he’ll manifest some power as he matures physically. The Angels value contact hitters as part of their offense philosophy; Statia fits in nicely as his career K:BB ratio is 114:88 in 970 TPA. He stole 24 bases in 2006 (23 at Cedar Rapids) but he probably won’t evolve into a top-notch base stealer. A career similar to Orlando Cabrera might be a good analogy, although Cabrera bats right-handed while Statia is a switch-hitter. Hainley should be the regular shortstop in 2007 for High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
All good things
so why was he available?
BCB: Pointless Exercises in Devils Advocacy
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Hasn't hit much since those reports, 2005-2006
Bit of OBP but hasn’t slugged much at all. Still, when looking at our alternatives, he looks pretty good.
E: George 4 (5, throw, throw, throw, throw).
Not sure
According to mister-baseball.com:
The 25-year-old infielder Hainley Statia is not returning to the Los Angeles Angels for the 2011 season, ending his minor league career for now. According to Honkbalsite.com he didn’t receive an offer and decided to join the Lancaster Barnstormers in the independent Atlantic League. Born in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles he was selected by the Angels in the 9th round of the 2004 Amateur Draft. He made his professional debut one year later and moved up in the farm system since then, playing as high as Triple-A. Through six seasons he batted .275/.341/.363 with nine homeruns, 304 runs and 248 RBI in 563 games.
Not sure why the Angels didn’t tender him a contract though. Also, it looks like he actually signed a couple days ago.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
See also: Guam
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Down with it.
I’m guessing he’ll get assigned to the Sounds right away?
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Apr 25, 2011 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions
More Statia-mania!!!
2010 ZiPS projection: .259/.306/.345 (roughly a .294 wOBA)
There’s no 2011 projection, but I have to imagine that it would be higher for this season given that he’s a year older and put up a .371 OBP in 125 PA last year. Worth noting that ZiPS only projects Betancourt to have a .301 wOBA and that Statia is apparently a superb defender.
Also worth noting that Statia is basically a better version of Luis Cruz on all counts.
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
Welp, at least we have someone to replace Almonte with eventually!
fka "warwick5s"
by DEUCE SLUICE on Apr 25, 2011 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Free Hainley!!!
Ryan Braun: He loves it. -- Four pitchers in history with 8.5+ WAR and <250 IP seasons: Greg Maddux (age 29), Pedro Martinez (age 28), Roger Clemens (age 27), Zack Greinke (age 25).
One letter too many
sigh
"If we want to sign a Type A free agent, we would lose a second-round pick, but we don't have a way to get picks back. Our whole Draft process needs to be redone."
~Doug Melvin
by Charlie Marlow on Apr 25, 2011 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe I'm being a little over critical
But BBTN should probably pull out the old Netter’s Anatomy Textbook and review the muscles of the shoulder and forearm. Either that or Jose Contreras would make a pretty interesting case study on anatomical oddities because the shoulder has nothing to do with the flexor pronator muscle group.
BCB, the preferred above replacement level sarcasm supplier.
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
26 | 20 | .565 | 0 | Won 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 22 | .531 | 1.5 | Lost 3 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Lost 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Won 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 27 | .413 | 7 | Lost 1 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 31 | .326 | 11 | Lost 11 |
(updated 5.27.2012 at 12:11 PM CDT)
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