Postgame Miscellany

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 27, 2007 8:32 PM CDT in Milwaukee Brewers News

Great game, huh? Dave Bush pitched well in relief (albeit nailbitingly so), D-Bow and Coco looked even better in their respective innings, and Damian Miller finally contributed something to the highlight reel. I've never been a huge Damian fan, but I think I've been rooting harder for him than just about anybody this year. Nice to see him put one on the board.

Also, some interesting tidbits from Adam's notes column. Once again, don't read too much into Bush's appearance in relief:

After Capuano passed his test, Brewers manager Ned Yost lined up his starting rotation through the All-Star break. Yovani Gallardo will start Friday's series opener against the Cubs, then will report for bullpen duty until further notice. Ben Sheets will start Saturday in Chicago and Yost named Dave Bush to start Sunday over Claudio Vargas.

In Pittsburgh, beginning July 2, it will be Jeff Suppan followed by Capuano, Vargas and Sheets. Bush, Suppan and Capuano will then pitch in Washington as the Brewers finish the first half.

Everything is always subject to change in this department, but for the time being, Yo is getting the demotion. I'm a bit bummed that neither Sheets nor Gallardo will be starting in the Nats series; I'm hoping to go to those games.

Also, Adam passed along this unconfirmed trade rumor:

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin would not comment on a report Tuesday by MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan that the Brewers are among six teams showing interest in right-handed Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka.

Citing Major League officials, the report said the Brewers, Braves, Indians, Mets, Phillies and Tigers are looking into Otsuka, 35, who suffered a blown save Tuesday night but got the win when the Rangers rallied to beat the Tigers. Otsuka entered Wednesday with a 2.64 ERA and a .205 opponents' batting average in 32 appearances.

Otsuka, like Scott Linebrink, is one of those guys who seems to come up in trade talks every year, because they aren't really high profile (so there's a perception they won't be crazily expensive), but they are very good. Just imagine a 7-8-9 including Otsuka, Turnbow, and Cordero. Wow. I wonder what the price of that would be...if anyone is so inclined to delve through some transaction lists, I'd be interested to know the recent deadline trade value of excellent-but-not-all-star 8th/9th inning guys. Obviously Jon Daniels and Doug Melvin are on good terms.

Finally, check out these lists of pitches per plate appearance. One Brewer atop the wrong list is predictable; another is less so.

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Comments

Sheets just so happens...

to be lined up for the ASG, too. I approve. :)

Mench on the P/PA list doesn't surprise me all that much; the guy never walks anymore. But damn, I haven't looked at his splits in a while...sub-.750 OPS against lefties? Geez.

And Doug sure likes himself some Rangers, we know that much. Jose Macias for Otsuka?

by Zeyes on Jun 27, 2007 5:22 PM CDT reply actions

Predictable

How is either Mench or Estrada not predictable? Estrada is famous for swinging at the first pitch, and Mench has one walk all year--and it was intentional!

by battlekow on Jun 27, 2007 5:31 PM CDT reply actions

well.

I knew Mench sucked, but I guess I haven't seen enough of his ABs to realize which of his proclivities lead to sucking.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 27, 2007 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Why blame only one?

He's like a perfect storm of suck.

by battlekow on Jun 27, 2007 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

he's all wrong

i think it was tuesday night and it was 0-2 or 1-2 the pitch came breaking ball about two feet outside and in the dirt and mench throws the bat at it.

of the brewers no one looks even remotely as lost as mench, he's on another planet of "where-am-i-how-did-i-get-here-y-ness"

i can't stand watching him hit, run or field... he throws nice though.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 28, 2007 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Read 'em and weep

Mench is already seventh on the list of most plate appearances in a season with only one base on balls.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

wow!

great find.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 28, 2007 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

he smashed

the only one IBB record of 96 PA.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 28, 2007 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

nvmnd

mench has 1 bb, AND 1 ibb.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 28, 2007 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions

IBB is included in BB totals

So his one walk on the year was intentional.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree!

Did anyone notice the next two guys ahead of him on the list were pitchers? Not exactly great company. For that matter, Suppan already has twice as many walks as Mench this season. Also of note, Garrett Anderson is on the list at 19 for this season as well.

by Infield Fly Rule on Jun 28, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Even sadder

If he walks his very next time up at bat, it would only move him to twenty-first on the list of season PA's with two walks on the year. Walks his next two times up would place him twenty-fifth on the three walks list.

Granted he could improve his walk rate (or should I say have one?) and make this all academic pretty quickly, but it's pretty crazy right now.

Oh, and as a side note, check out Whitey Alperman's 1909 season. He had 442 plate appearances with two walks; second place on the two walks list was Rob Piccolo with 281. That just boggles my mind. Alperman also has to be one of the few players with a significant amount of time in the majors to have more career HBP than BB.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

rotation

i'm ok with that rotation for the time being, unless vargas becomes something of a liability out there.

unlike jeff i got very lucky with the rotation, as gallardo and sheets are pitching the two games i'm attending at wrigley :)

YoGanna win with Gallardo on the mound.

by Griswald on Jun 27, 2007 5:38 PM CDT reply actions

Why am I

that half those guys on the "most seen" list are either current or ex- Athletics? Billy sure knows how to pick 'em. :)

by The Prospector on Jun 27, 2007 5:43 PM CDT reply actions

Why am I not surprised

is what i meant to say

by The Prospector on Jun 27, 2007 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Otsuka

might be the prohibitive favorite in the 2008 Closer race.

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

by roguejim on Jun 27, 2007 5:56 PM CDT reply actions

Also

I'm a little surprised that Francoeur's not on that list. He always swings at the first pitch too.

by The Prospector on Jun 27, 2007 6:09 PM CDT reply actions

Nomar's pretty famous for it, too

by battlekow on Jun 27, 2007 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Just missed the cut

Francoeur is at 3.36 P/PA, but he sings a mean Britney Spears cover.

Garciaparra is at 3.40 which is as high as it's ever been, except for his 93 PA 1996 season.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Vargas Sucks

and so does Yost, I hope Friday Gallardo throws a 2-hit shutout and shoves it up his ass

by kjbsam on Jun 27, 2007 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

That's one way

to ask for more playing time.

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

by roguejim on Jun 27, 2007 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm no fan of Ned's

but I actually think moving Gallardo to the pen could work out in our favor... maybe keep him fresh. In the playoffs (!), we need a couple of lights out starters, not a bunch of good starters. Right now, Sheets is the only real guy we have, but Gallardo has potential to be another, even as a rookie. If he moves into the rotation in September, maybe after an injury or someone stumbles, he could be fresh for the playoffs. If he pitches the entire year, he'd have nothing left come October.

Of course, Ned probably wouldn't actually do this unless injury forced his hand. I have nightmares that the Brewers make the World Series, and Ned decides to start Counsell, Mench, and Graffanino in place of Braun, Hart, and Fielder, just to have veteran presence...

by keephopealive on Jun 27, 2007 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah

Keep Counsell on the bench so he can hit a dramatic 11th-inning 2-out triple to win the darn thing.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 2:26 AM CDT up reply actions

I am still concerned

about injury or losing the freshness of the arm. Even giving him 10 minutes between innings to get ready is a lot different than the whatever he needs to get ready as a starter. Add the fact we are playing for the playoffs and not just a .500 record

by kjbsam on Jun 28, 2007 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

ya. i want yago to keep starting.

and not just cause i picked him up in all my fantasy leagues...

(formerly engbjm06)

by Jamie in LA on Jun 28, 2007 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Ooooh

if anyone is so inclined to delve through some transaction lists, I'd be interested to know the recent deadline trade value of excellent-but-not-all-star 8th/9th inning guys.

And I thought I'd have nothing to do tonight.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 12:18 AM CDT reply actions

So this is what I found

Excellent-but-not-all-star is kind of vague, so I decided to throw some guys in that maybe shouldn't be in there. Oh well. A couple guys actually were all-stars the previous season, but they weren't consistently all-stars in their careers.

7/28/01 Minnesota acquired RHP Todd Jones from Detroit for LHP Mark Redman
7/30/01 Chicago Cubs acquired reliever David Weathers and minor league RHP Roberto Miniel from Milwaukee for minor league RHP Ruben Quevedo and OF Peter Zoccolillo.
7/31/01 Boston acquired RHP Ugueth Urbina from Montreal in exchange for RHP Tomo Ohka and minor league LHP Rich Rundles.
7/28/02 Los Angeles acquired RHP Paul Shuey from the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitchers Ricardo Rodriguez and Alberto Cruceta.
7/31/02 Boston acquired RHP Bobby Howry from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor leaguers RHP Franklin Francisco and LHP Byeong An.
7/31/03 Boston acquired RHP Scott Williamson from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league LHP Phil Dumatrait, a minor league player to be named and cash considerations.
7/30/04 Philadelphia acquired RHP Felix Rodriguez from the Giants for OF Ricky Ledee and minor league RHP Alfredo Simon.
7/30/04 Philadelphia acquired RHP Todd Jones and minor league RHP Brad Correll from the Reds for minor league RHP Josh Hancock and minor league SS Anderson Machado.
7/27/05 (for kicks) Milwaukee purchased the contract of RHP Rick Helling from Triple-A Nashville and designated RHP Ricky Bottalico for assignment.
7/31/05 Atlanta acquired RHP Kyle Farnsworth from the Detroit Tigers, in exchange for RHP Zach Miner and RHP Roman Colon.
7/28/06 Milwaukee traded OF Carlos Lee and OF Nelson Cruz to Texas in exchange for RHP Francisco Cordero, OF Kevin Mench, OF Laynce Nix and Minor League LHP Julian Cordero
7/29/06 Atlanta acquired RHP Danys Baez and INF Willy Aybar from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for INF Wilson Betemit.

I would have linked all the names to their b-r.com pages, but...no.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

interesting list...

Hmm, I'd give up Vargas or Zach Jackson for Otsuka, I think. Maybe throw in a guy like Hernan Iribarren...anybody know what the Rangers' main weaknesses are in their organization?

by Zeyes on Jun 28, 2007 6:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Hmmm

Maybe the Rangers would be intersted in Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix for Otsuka. :)

by Infield Fly Rule on Jun 28, 2007 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I like this

I think the Brewers could part with Vargas and/or Jackson for Otsuka. Based on theJay's post, that seems to be about the going rate. I'm not sure about the Rangers organization, but as always the starting pitching stinks on the major league club.

Their rotation seems to be stacked with number 5 starters though, so I'm not sure that picking up two more really helps them.

Don't try to do too much with it. Just take the ball the other way.

by shooty babitt on Jun 28, 2007 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Rangers Needs

Here's a post from two weeks ago on BTB, and despite their winning ways of late, it still holds true.

Least Valuable Pitcher

...The rest of this list is entirely comprised of Ranger pitchers.

Robinson Tejeda; 68 IP, 6.49 ERA, 6.62 K/9, .285/.371/.496

Brandon McCarthy; 50 IP, 5.90 ERA, 5.54 K/9, .271/.357/.437

Vicente Padilla; 76 IP, 6.57 ERA, 4.93 K/9, .316/.383/.469

Kam Loe; 70 IP, 6.56 ERA, 5.4 K/9, .310/.361/.477

Kevin Millwood; 54 IP, 7.62 ERA, 7.29 K/9, .332/.401/.555

So yes, starting pitching would be what the Rangers need

All Hail The Razor!!! Braun is The Savior!!!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 28, 2007 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

How about

Everything but shortstop.

by kjbsam on Jun 28, 2007 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually...

We (the Rangers) Don't need relief help. We don't need a SS, 2B, or 1B. Young, Kinsler, and Teixeira have those spots pretty locked up. Blalock is a platoon hitter at 3rd, and the OF and DH is just a mess, I mean the best player out there is Marlon Byrd (think about that for a sec).

All Hail The Razor!!! Braun is The Savior!!!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 28, 2007 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Ouch

So do all of you stadium workers (I think you said that's why you have to watch them?) have a post-game support group to work through what you've just seen together?

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep...

We're in a 12-step program, where the first 9 involve heavy doses of alcahol.

All Hail The Razor!!! Braun is The Savior!!!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 28, 2007 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions

I am suprised

That the Wickman, Jason Bere (hilarous) and Steve Woodard (maybe funnier yet), for Sexton, Kane Davis, and Paul Rigdon was not on the list

by kjbsam on Jun 28, 2007 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't quite go back that far

MLB.com's transaction archives only go back through 2001. It's kind of funny how they change the style they report player movement just about every year though. One year the name is in all caps, the next there's no positions, etc.

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Good list

I was not hating it, it was very interesting

by kjbsam on Jun 28, 2007 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Alright, It's a bit late but our Magic # is...

We have a 7.5 game lead on the Scrubs, and are now 14 games above .500.

Today's MVB and LVB

I'm going to change this up to something like hockey. Do it in the 3 star, 2 star, and #1 star way.

3 star is Billy Hall. A 3 for 5 day is pretty good for Billy, who had a torrid june with his .305/.394/.532 line. Keeps that up he may actually prove worth his weight in contract.

2 star is the Bullpen. Wise, Turnbow, Cordero, and Bush combined for 5 innings of 1 hit ball with 6 Ks and 3 BBs. Not a bad day. Turnbow and Cordero were just rediculous with there 2 innings. 5 Ks between them. Good job Boys

and the 1 Star goes to...

Damien "I'm so close to being Jake Taylor it's scary" Miller. 3 for 5 with a walk-off (thats right, it's a walk-off! CAN IT ZANE!!!) He's playing the role a back-up catcher should. Which is good for us.

All Hail The Razor!!! Braun is The Savior!!!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 28, 2007 10:01 AM CDT reply actions

by TheJay on Jun 28, 2007 2:31 PM CDT reply actions

I am with Jeff

will probably be at 3 games in DC and that is an awful lineup of pitchers to watch. Should blend in well with the terrible stadium and cold hot dogs!

by molitorfan on Jun 28, 2007 6:36 PM CDT reply actions

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