Game Thread #86: I'll Take Three, Please

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 6, 2007 4:11 PM CDT in Game Threads

Tonight's matchup at RFK is Dave Bush against Mike Bacsik. Bacsik has been surprisingly mediocre (as opposed to hopelessly bad); depressingly, he's been better than Bush so far this year, at least measured by ERA.

A few statistical notes on the state of the race:

BP's postseason odds: still hanging in there at 79%. The Cubs are gaining some Wild Card percentage points, but oddly enough, over the last two series, the Brewers third-order winning percentage has gone up while the Cubs has gone down.
Similarly, the Brewers are at #7 in the BP Hit List, with the Cubs at #11 and no more Central teams until #23. Wow.
Finally, here are some series probabilities, including a better than one-quarter shot at a sweep.

Go Brewers!

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The difference in the Cubs and Brewers

The difference in the Cubs and Brewers is if the Brewers lose their Center Fielder from some freak accident they can fill in with a player that is not too bad at all.

Another difference is if the Brewers (knock an a LARGE piece of wood) lose three Starting pitchers, they have back-ups that can fill in without to much of a problem.

by Grinder12000 on Jul 6, 2007 5:01 PM CDT reply actions

not exactly

The Cubs have a surplus of mediocre outfielders taking turns playing center-field. Losing one would just give the others more chances to minimally contribute. Now, if they lost their left-fielder, they'd have issues.

by Ikcelaks on Jul 6, 2007 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Man, why are you trying to start a fight?

Let's just leave this cubs-brewers thing alone. I rather focus on the fact that we are playing like crap right now, and need to pick it up.

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

by hyattff2003 on Jul 6, 2007 5:07 PM CDT reply actions

yup

(formerly engbjm06)

by Jamie in LA on Jul 6, 2007 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

The first "statement" series we had

was against the Mets. And even though we only lost two of three on the road to a decent team, we seemed to swoon badly after that.

Our second "statement" series against the Cubs was similar (two blowouts and a close loss). I hope we don't have a similar hangover.

by grant76 on Jul 6, 2007 5:18 PM CDT reply actions

I love the Razor

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:11 PM CDT reply actions

The Giant Head!

Is anyone else here?

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:16 PM CDT reply actions

Nice start...

Now lets see if we can actually score after the first inning. We are definately needing this series.

Anyone else see the Twins won today 20-14. Now that is a lot of runs.

by trl1020 on Jul 6, 2007 6:17 PM CDT reply actions

Vikings vs. Bears

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

How can you score 20 runs with 2 HR?

by grant76 on Jul 6, 2007 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

At least

Weeks didn't strike out. What else can be said about Braun.

Brewers, Brewers keep turning up the heat.. Milwaukee Brewers..

by Aschen on Jul 6, 2007 6:28 PM CDT reply actions

Hart...

22 baby.

Brewers, Brewers keep turning up the heat.. Milwaukee Brewers..

by Aschen on Jul 6, 2007 6:30 PM CDT reply actions

Corey is

in some kind of zone right now.

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

Let's go Braun!!

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

Damn

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 6:33 PM CDT reply actions

hello RYAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(formerly engbjm06)

by Jamie in LA on Jul 6, 2007 7:17 PM CDT reply actions

Lloyd

is getting it done!

Brewers, Brewers keep turning up the heat.. Milwaukee Brewers..

by Aschen on Jul 6, 2007 7:18 PM CDT reply actions

Have I mentioned that

I love Ryan Braun

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 7:20 PM CDT reply actions

Nuff said...

"This is pretty much like AAA pitching..." -Ryan Braun

by BraunBack Mt on Jul 6, 2007 7:21 PM CDT reply actions

The Giant Head

"pretty big target sitting on top of those shoulders"
and
"one of the biggest hat sizes in baseball"

Don Sutton > Darren Sutton

by Kocchatollah on Jul 6, 2007 8:03 PM CDT reply actions

Nice to see...

... that the Pirates are doing to the Cubbies what they did to us.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 6, 2007 8:08 PM CDT reply actions

DAMN YOU RONNIE BELLIARD!

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 6, 2007 8:11 PM CDT reply actions

But hey

Nothing like a game at RFK to get Bush heading in the right direction.

by DaleCoop14 on Jul 6, 2007 8:14 PM CDT reply actions

I think Bush has been going in the right direction

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cgi?share=1&n1=bushda01&year=2007&t=p#86:92:sum

In his last 7 games (6 starts):

38.2 IP
39 Hits
15 Runs
10 Walks
27 K
1 HR
3.49 ERA

Factor in tonight's game and his ERA is a sparkling 3.02 for his last 8 games.

by grant76 on Jul 6, 2007 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions

why leave Shouse in?

if gallardo is going to be withering away in the pen, might as well use him.

I have seen the coming of the Lord. Savior, thy name is Gallardo.

by ESK on Jul 6, 2007 8:35 PM CDT reply actions

Hey ESK

I think it's pretty obvious that the savior is the Razor

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

by hyattff2003 on Jul 6, 2007 8:42 PM CDT reply actions

you should check your Scripture

I believe it's a holy Trinity?

I await the final sign, the return of Kieschnick.

I have seen the coming of the Lord. Savior, thy name is Gallardo.

by ESK on Jul 6, 2007 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought it was

the death of either Sal Bando or Jeffery Hammonds

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

by hyattff2003 on Jul 6, 2007 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I like the vitriol

coming from the Nats announcers towards Langerhans:

"He gives that at bat away and they are down to two outs"

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

by hyattff2003 on Jul 6, 2007 8:47 PM CDT reply actions

And thats a W

If the pirates hold up, that gives us a 5.5 game lead, we are back to 12 over, and have a Magic # of 72.

So let's break down the stars

3-star: Stench. A 3 run jack will give you a star, but that play in the field was abysmal. Still, 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs will get you on here

2-star: The Razor. 2 Jacks tonight, and that makes 10 in 38 games. He's pretty good, so I think I picked the right pony to have as my new man crush.

1-Star: Dave Bush, 1 run allowed in 7 innings and 7 ks. That will get you the 1 star. Who cares that you allowed 9 runners. I'll take 7 good innings from my starter everyday and give you the 1 star.

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

by hyattff2003 on Jul 6, 2007 9:03 PM CDT reply actions

I like the star ratings

You should keep track, and announce the winner of the most stars at the end of the year.

Who knows, maybe Jeff will send the winner an autographed mousepad or something.

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

by roguejim on Jul 6, 2007 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions

A mousepad?

More like a Brooks Kieschnick card and a note reading "Be more like Him."

Joe Borchard 2007 watch: 188 PA, 56 K, 54 TB

by TheJay on Jul 7, 2007 2:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Naah

He gives those to family and friends.

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

by roguejim on Jul 7, 2007 7:03 AM CDT up reply actions

All right!

We win, Cubs lose! Back to 5.5 up!

by KegelExercise on Jul 6, 2007 9:07 PM CDT reply actions

Ssssh

Don't rub it in. Cubs fans are pretty sensitive.

"I will agree that the attitude over there is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 7, 2007 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Random thought

This was inspired by the BP Hit List: the Brewers should set up a charity where they donate a dollar every time someone in the media makes a joke involving Corey Hart and sunglasses and/or music.

Joe Borchard 2007 watch: 188 PA, 56 K, 54 TB

by TheJay on Jul 7, 2007 2:02 AM CDT reply actions

Ahhhh

That's more like it: postseason odds are back over 80% (at 83%+), and we still have the best record in the NL.

Though it's hard to sweep any team even at full strength, a sweep of the Gnats would be therapeutic. After all that's gone wrong over the past 2 weeks (the Cubs' and Rats' series, the Bill Hall injury), it'd be nice to coast into the ASB on a high note. Also, a 4-3 road trip is nothing to sneeze at regardless of the competition.

Did you know the Reds have a .09% chance of winning the division? I'm going to have to start rooting for them when they're not playing the Brewers. Go Reds!

"I will agree that the attitude over there is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 7, 2007 7:51 AM 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