Series Preview: Brewers at Cardinals

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 13, 2007 11:24 AM CDT in Milwaukee Brewers News

Now it's time to take on the big boys. The Cubs are still pretenders, and the Marlins aren't expected to contend, but...the Cardinals? These are the guys we need to take down.

Here are your pitching matchups for the weekend:

Friday, 7:10 CT: Ben Sheets vs. Anthony Reyes
Saturday, 12:10 CT: Chris Capuano vs. Kip Wells
Sunday, 1:15 CT: Jeff Suppan vs. Braden Looper

I'm always reluctant to predict a sweep, but there certainly aren't any matchups this series that shout "Cardinals win!" I'm not drinking the Braden Looper kool-aid--I think Sunday is the game that makes him wish he were still a setup man.

That said, just about anything could happen with these three pitchers. Reyes is inexperienced, but this guy thinks he's a Cy Young sleeper. Wells is a mediocre pitcher who has shut the opposition down so far this year. And Looper...well, his career numbers against lefties are 304/370/463. Given how heavily the Brewers can stack the lineup with lefties, it could be a long day (though a short outing) for Braden.

As for the offense, it's a little weird right now. Guys like Chris Duncan and and Scott Spiezio are hitting well (as is Gary Bennett, who is 5 for 10, which I can guarantee you he NEVER did for the Brewers, and if you check and find out he did, Retrosheet is lying to you), while Albert Pujols is hitting .176. I don't doubt for a second that Prince Albert will wake up soon, and probably put up another MVP season. But let's just hope he's nervous about filing his taxes, and the problem won't go away until after the weekend.

Most importantly, I'm seeing a Cardinals fan friend of mine on Saturday night. It would be very useful to me if the Brewers won the first two games of the series.

Here's some news from the Cardosphere:

Viva El Birdos: What's up with Pujols?
Fungoes offers up some suggestive numbers about Suppan and Looper. I hope he admits how silly that was after Looper starts getting crushed.
Gas House Graphs: Nothing particularly newsworthy, but this guy takes the FanGraphs WPA graphs and writes nightly blog entries based on them.
Get Up Baby: Randy Keisler? Replacing Chris Carpenter?

No April series is all that important, but especially after losing two of three at home to the Cubs, it sure would be nice to make a statement at Busch. And not just so I'll have bragging rights on Saturday night!

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sweep!

We should all know by know that no matter who is pitching you never know what will happen. I'm hoping all of those hits keep coming, but this time they come in the clutch.

Anyway, a sweep would send a MAJOR message to the rest of the NL Central, not only that we must be dealt with, but also that the Cards have serious flaws.

Still, I'll gladly take 2 out 3. And to be honest, based on what happened last year and with the Marlins series already under our belt, I don't think anyone can complain if we go 3-3 over the rest of this road trip.

by Bill @ Brew Crew Ball on Apr 13, 2007 11:36 AM CDT reply actions

Someone corrected me, so now it's my turn

If we go 3-3, I'll complain because we've exited into an alternate universe.

We only play two games against Cinci before returning home, so it's a 9-day, 8-game road trip. Very confusing.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 13, 2007 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

ha!

As I was writing, I considered verifying that the Cincy series was indeed a 3-gamer. I suppose this means I'd have to be satisfied with 2-3, for a .500 road trip? If we could repeat 48 wins at home from last year and play .500 on the road, one would think 88 or 89 wins is enough to win the division.

by Bill @ Brew Crew Ball on Apr 13, 2007 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Three righties

pitching for the cards. That should mean three more starts for jenkins but what will be more interesting is how many starts hart gets and how many head gets. Maybe gross gets another start in center one of those games as well.

by dixieflatline on Apr 13, 2007 12:27 PM CDT reply actions

I got my money on the Cards Game #1

OK OK - before I get flamed, I'm a huge Brewer fan but from the numbers I have this first game looks pretty even.

Everything points to the Brewers winning with ease.

I do think Reyes is better then a lot of people think.

GO Brewers . . . . sort of!

by Grinder12000 on Apr 13, 2007 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

Sheets is better than YOU think :)

Benny may lose his share of games, but never, ever, ever bet against him. He's as likely as any pitcher in baseball (except maybe Santana) to go out and throw a shutout in any start.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 13, 2007 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh - do not get me wrong

I'm not betting against Sheets. I'm betting on the Home team in this one.

I predict the score to be

Brewers 3.92
Cards 3.98

then add in the home field advantage and I have to go with the Cards but root for the Brewers

The line
The Crew -105
Cards +102

Gotta go with the dog

by Grinder12000 on Apr 13, 2007 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Cy sleeper

If there is a Cy Young sleeper in the Card's rotation, I would say Wainwright is more likely than Reyes.

by Dutch on Apr 13, 2007 12:59 PM CDT reply actions

More rain

Looks like both tonights and tomorrows game might get rained out. 100% chance for rain later in the evening. Maybe they can get 5 innings tonight in though. Could be a quicker game with Ben pitching if it happens.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/hourbyhour/USMO0787?from=36hr_topnav_flu

by dixieflatline on Apr 13, 2007 1:37 PM CDT reply actions

If you are looking for good radars

Go to my weather station site

http://www.weathergrinder.com/

Look for SUPER RADAR right under the first graph and click on it.

YOU will find St. Louis.

The GREEN link for HINTS on how to use is awesome!

by Grinder12000 on Apr 13, 2007 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

That's pretty cool, thanks for the link.

by TheJay on Apr 13, 2007 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Really dig

...the series previews.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Apr 13, 2007 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

On Suppan's and Looper's FIPs

After tonight's game -- Suppan had a 1.87 FIP -- you guys should be thanking me for reverse-jinxing him!

For the record, I don't think Looper will out-FIP Suppan -- but it will be closer than you think.

by pip on Apr 14, 2007 10:03 PM CDT reply actions

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NL Central Standings

	PCT	STRK
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	.000	Lost 0
Cincinnati Red Reporter	.000	Lost 0
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	.000	Lost 0
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	.000	Lost 0
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	.000	Lost 0
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	.000	Lost 0