Sorry about the lack of a game thread yesterday--looks like there might've been a miscommunication here at Brew Crew Ball HQ. I'm spending the week in Dallas and I'm without a wireless connection, so I'm a bit out of touch, but I wanted to mention a few things.
- Congratulations to Zach Jackson on his first Major League win! From my chat with him a couple of weeks ago, I suspected Zach was a very mature pitcher for his age, and this comment on his four HRs allowed only solidifies my suspicion:
"That's the kind of pitcher I am," said Jackson, who challenged the NL's more homer-reliant lineup. "I'd rather make them earn it. If that's what happens, I give up a couple of runs, so be it." - One thing that confuses me a bit about Jackson: I watched his last outing, and he looked to fool the Padres out of the windup, with his funky Dontrelle-esque motion, but he appeared to be much less deceptive out of the stretch. Maybe it's just not that simple--it certainly appears that way after he gave up three bases-empty dingers last night.
- ESPN's recap of last night's game points out that Carlos Lee is on pace to shatter Barry Bonds's all-time record of 36 road HRs. Last night's shot was Carlos's 15th away from Miller Park, which puts him on pace to exceed 40 on the season.
- Speaking of Carlos, I've been thinking more about trading options. I hope the Angels find their way back into the middle of the AL West race, because I'm convinced they're the perfect trading partner. They have one too many starting pitchers--they might send Jered Weaver down to the minors after tonight's start--and boatloads of prospects. I'd be very tempted in a couple weeks to do something like Caballo for Jeff Weaver, Jeff Mathis, and another B prospect, preferably also named Jeff.
- Last night I went to see some AA Texas League baseball in Frisco, just north of Dallas. Frisco, the Rangers's affiliate, was starting Thomas Diamond, a solid prospect, but I was much more excited about seeing Frisco's starting shortstop: Enrique Cruz! Enrique can really hit that double-A pitching: he walked with the bases loaded in the second and tripled in the fourth. I think he saw my Brewers hat and was inspired.
Tonight it's Doug Davis vs. Bronson Arroyo, and I think Arroyo is due for a horrible outing, and Double-D is due for double-digit strikeouts.
Go Brewers!