Sweep!

by Jeff Sackmann on May 2, 2007 2:45 PM CDT in News Comment 24 comments

This is just too much. 18-9 in the first 27 games? Ridiculous.

So much good stuff happened today:

Carlos Villanueva pitched multiple innings...well...again. Ned let him pitch for a while, even though he wasn't dominating (again) ...thus saving the bullpen. It was the kind of day where Ned could've defended bringing in just about everybody on the basis of "getting them work," but instead, he got six innings from two guys. I love it. Maybe Ned is trying out a new bullpen management strategy that--wait for it--does not involve Elmer Dessens.
On a similar note, Wise went two innings. That's great to see, as well. So many relievers get pigeonholed into becoming "one-inning guys," and Wise has certainly been in danger of that. But he proved he can get six outs just as well as Villanueva.
We won a game handily without slugging our way to victory (or relying on Kevin Mench's speed). It wasn't pretty, but we won the sort of game that the Cardinals used to win against us.
The best part of all: the camera frequently focused on Tony LaRussa, and we all get to look down on him. Because, you know, he's a loser.

Just like after last night's game, there's only so much to say. This team isn't even cranking on all cylinders, we have two of the best prospects in the minor leagues ready to step in at any time, one of whom would fill a glaring hole, and we've still got the best record in baseball. And after this series, you can't even look at the run differential and scoff.

Instead, it's us who can scoff at all those silly folks who insist on rooting for other teams. When will they learn that the most fun in baseball is in Milwaukee? I mean, dude, Prince Fielder? Derrick Turnbow? Awesome.

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I'm thinking

10-0 homestand.

Cardinals are out of the way. And now the pirates and nationals? Couldn't ask for a better shot.

by Wayfaerer on May 2, 2007 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great Game today...

hope Cappy gets a nice ice pack...

by engbjm06 on May 2, 2007 2:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Anybody else notice

that whoever we play seems to drop to the bottom of the NL Central? Cubs, Astros, and Cards have done it in last 3 series

by Stoa on May 2, 2007 2:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the other thing is

Those teams are not good.

That's not Bernie Brewer. It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on May 2, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

its because

It because we are kicking their ass!!

by Bigdogg2002 on May 2, 2007 2:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Magic Number...

is now 132

This is an incredibly fun team to watch. It's been a long time, but it turns out winning is fun! 24 K at a wednesday afternoon game is a very very good number. Maybe the rest of Milwaukee is starting to notice that we have a team thats damn good here.

That's not Bernie Brewer. It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on May 2, 2007 3:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

On pace for 108! Magic # at 132!

OK, seriously, after this home stand (hopefully 3+ of 4 from Pit and a sweep of the Nats) I'm really excited to see how the Brewers respond to that wicked schedule the rest of the month. @ Mets, Phils, LAD, and San Diego.. And home for the Twins and Atlanta.

I should be happy going .500 in those games, but this team has me feeling greedy. Here's to hoping for Sheets dominating, Billy smacking it around, Bush getting consistent, Spurling getting sent down for Capellan, and Menchkins and Hardy continuing their torrid start to the year!

Oh yeah, and expanding the streak of series wins or splits to 16 by the end of the month! OK, now thats just insanity. But one can dream.

by throughhyperspace on May 2, 2007 3:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's not get greedy

Appreciate the moment but that is a BRUTAL schedule coming up after the home stand. I agree that .500 against that group of 6 teams would be great. We need to keep Sheets and Cappy healthy since we will need them 4-5 months from now.

by molitorfan on May 2, 2007 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First shutout

For some reason, I thought we had one before. Hopefully lots more to come.

by DC Brewer on May 2, 2007 3:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LaRussa a loser?

Did I miss something Jeff? Or are you just saying he is a loser because he lost 3 straight games? I think Tony LaRussa is far from a loser in the definition of a "punk" or "degenerate" or "unpopular".

Anyways, lets hope that Cappy comes out ok, too bad he couldn't get win #5 today, but I'll take a healthy Cappy over 5 wins in the first week of May.

by Burt Doyle on May 2, 2007 4:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm just being a jerk

yes, he is a loser in the since that he's lost a lot of games. I also don't like him.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 2, 2007 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

seconded

And I second that with a wealth of knowledge gleaned from 3 Nights in August which was actually supposed to be a complimentary picture of him.

Tony LaRussa is a loser.

by Marty McSuperFly on May 2, 2007 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh man

I didn't like him before reading that book...but after reading that book...wow, that was awful. I don't think I got to the end because I hated it so much.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 2, 2007 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

question

for those who haven't read the book...could you expand upon some more enlighting moments as to why you feel this way? Just curious

Brewers in 07!

by Michael M on May 2, 2007 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of have to experience it

My overwhelming impression upon reading it was that I felt sorry for just about everyone in his life, beginning with his wife and kids and working down to his teams. The book should be a cautionary tale for doing one thing in your life to the exclusion of everything else (whether or not you feel he is a successful manager, it is to the exclusion of everything else in his life).

It may or may not be a fair comparison, but the only other book about a baseball figure to engender similar feelings in me was Love Me, Hate Me about Barry Bonds.

by Marty McSuperFly on May 2, 2007 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bad managing, too

I don't want to give the impression that he's just a loser as a human being, though. I'll let Ken Tremendous give an example:

If you haven't already, I invite you to read Buzz Bissinger's book 3 Nights in August, about La Russa. The purported aim of the book is to show how brilliant La Russa is as a strategist. The actual accomplishment is to make one feel like one wouldn't trust La Russa to take care of one's cats, much less one's baseball team. It starts with an anecdote about how Albert Pujols has a severe arm injury -- one that allows him to swing a bat but not throw. La Russa wants to play him anyway, to like intimidate the other team (which doesn't know about the injury), so he puts him in left field and tells him to casually underhand the ball to the SS if it gets hit to him. A doctor has told La Russa that Pujols, the most important player on the team by a factor of fifty, is risking severe like career-threatening shit if he throws a baseball. This is a not-super-important game. I mean, what the hell?

by Marty McSuperFly on May 2, 2007 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

he gets wasted, drives, stops, and sleeps. Genius!

by iluvlamp on May 2, 2007 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This seems like a good time for an update

Jeff has read 28 books so far this year.

Way to go, Jeff! Keep up the good work!

And remember, kids, reading is fundamental.

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

by roguejim on May 2, 2007 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take that then

I'm far from affluent with the happenings of Tony LaRussa, so I'll take your word for it that he, In the words of the Trump is a loser like Rosie O'Donnell (or is that a stretch?). I'll have to try that book after graduation and I get into the real world.

by Burt Doyle on May 2, 2007 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One mo?

Didn't Sheets pitch a 2-hit shutout opening day?

by kgaul on May 2, 2007 7:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

negative

jeff kent home run would be one of those :-\

by Tick on May 2, 2007 8:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Correct...the book was bad

But there were some interesting parts; such as, the stories about Darryl Kile, Rick Ankiel, and J.D. Drew. It was fun reading about what these players are/were like in real life.

So I guess if you read it, skip the parts about La Russa and his managing tactics and just read about his players.

by conan for president on May 2, 2007 8:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In national coverage

On ESPN.. Baseball tonight - Kruk said the Brewers will be around for long while in the central because their starting pitching plus Turnbow & Cordero. Didn't someone mention yesterday that Kruk said they wouldn't be leading the division by the end of May? Hmmm..

SportsCenter - Within the first 10 minutes they had a little side session where Fernando Vina rambled ineloquently about the Crew for a bit. He was happy for them, having experienced the losing, but not overly insightful. Oh well, at least they tried..

by throughhyperspace on May 2, 2007 10:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm a little worried about Thursday

I'm thinking the Crew is a little over confident and with Bush not pitching his best and going against a good pitcher.

The GOOD thing is Gorzelanny is ALSO coming off a tough outing, the bad thing is 2 of the last 3 outings for Bush have been poor. In fact the opposing teams have score 10+ runs in those two losing games

If I was a betting man I would ALMOST have to go with the Pirates with the LESS cold pitcher.

However - the Brewers are 6-2 vs. Lefties and 5.5 runs per game. Pirates are 8-9 vs. Righties and 3.6 runs per game.

by Grinder12000 on May 3, 2007 6:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	91	71	.561	0	Lost 6
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	83	78	.515	7.5	Lost 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	80	82	.493	11	Won 3
Cincinnati Red Reporter	78	84	.481	13	Won 2
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	74	88	.456	17	Lost 3
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	62	99	.385	28.5	Lost 2