Some things to read while watering the dog lawn.
Bill Hall was the story of the day yesterday, plating the winning run on a tenth inning single, then running off the field with the rest of his teammates to celebrate in the clubhouse. Hall was only hitting in that spot because of a botched double switch, but he made the most of the opportunity. Hall has been taking extra BP and working to eliminate negativity, and apparently it paid off.
So, how unlikely was yesterday's sequence of events? The Elias Sports Bureau (via TheJay) noted all of the following:
- Bill Hall was only the second player in the last five seasons to end a streak of 0-for-20 or more with a walkoff hit, joining D'Angelo Jimenez (2007).
- Chris Carpenter and Yovani Gallardo were the first opposing pitchers to both carry no hitters through five innings since William VanLandingham and Kevin Brown did it in 1997.
- Chris Carpenter was the first Cardinals pitcher since 1917 to throw eight shutout innings, strike out ten or more batters and not get the win.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are having a historically bad month of May at the plate. After being shut out (and allowed just six baserunners) yesterday, the Cards are hitting just .218/.282/.369 in May, and scoring 3.3 runs per game. Bernie Miklasz compares this month to some of the worst offensive months in franchise history.
Yesterday's game also marked the Brewer debut of Frank Catalanotto, who went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter and spent a few innings patrolling right field.
J.J. Hardy is expected back in the lineup tonight, meaning Craig Counsell might finally get a day off. Counsell, who is 38 years old and playing on a bad knee, has gone 3 for his last 17 while being asked to start five straight games. Even after slowing down a bit, Counsell has at least one hit in eight of his last nine starts, but his line has fallen from .342/.424/.466 to .311/.382/.411 over the last four days.
Looking back to the weekend for a moment:
- Apparently hitting his 250th home run was the proof Mike Cameron has needed to be certain he doesn't suck.
- Ken Macha responded to criticism that he didn't argue the call hard enough when Joe Mauer's foul ball became an HBP. He basically said he didn't get ejected because umpires will let you say whatever you want when you're right.
As Tristarscoop noted in this FanPost and expanded on over at Cute Sports, the Brewers continue to be mentioned in rumors as a potential suitor for Jake Peavy. Ken Rosenthal seems to think the Brewers are pretty unlikely to make the move. It really seems like all the smoke is coming from a small handful of sources here, and I don't think there's much, if any, fire behind it.
Meanwhile, MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the offseason ahead for the Brewers. The only option decision the Brewers will have to make is on Braden Looper, who has a mutual option, but Mike Cameron, Trevor Hoffman and Jason Kendall will all be free agents, and J.J. Hardy, Dave Bush, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Jody Gerut, Seth McClung, Todd Coffey, and Carlos Villanueva will all be arbitration eligible.
On Power Rankings:
- Whatifsports dropped the Brewers from fifth to seventh.
- Inside the Majors ranked the Brewers third in their inaugural rankings.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star dropped the Brewers from third to ninth.
- Foul Balls has the Brewers third in the NL and sixth overall.
- GoatRiders of the Apocalypse has the Brewers second in the Central, behind the Cardinals.
Around the league:
Mariners: Placed Kenji Johjima on the DL with a broken toe.
Marlins: Placed Renyel Pinto on the DL with elbow inflammation.
Nationals: Mike MacDougal has a clause in his contract that could allow him to become a free agent as soon as today if the Nats don't call him up.
Pirates: Matt Capps had to leave yesterday's game after being hit on the elbow by a line drive. He was taken in for X-rays and we should know more today. (h/t FanShot)
Rays: Akinori Iwamura is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Brian Shouse has been placed on the DL with an elbow strain.
Rockies: Designated Matt Belisle for assignment.
Yankees: Placed reliever Brian Bruney on the DL with an elbow strain.
Brian Shouse's injury opened the door for the major league return of Randy Choate, but his first outing yesterday extended a bizarre streak. Choate failed to retire a batter yesterday, so while he's pitched in the big leagues in both 2007 and 2009, he hasn't recorded an out since 2006.
We should all be thankful every day that the Brewer organization has never allowed Dusty Baker to manage its pitchers. Aaron Harang, one of the better pitchers in the NL before making an extended bullpen appearance on short rest and derailing himself last season, was allowed to return after a two hour rain delay yesterday. Harang faced just two more batters to finish the fifth and be eligible for a win, but at what cost?
This is a lawsuit waiting to happen: Cardinals SS Khalil Greene is battling a well-publicized anxiety issue involving self-punishment. The Cardinals have not placed him on the DL, and are instead reportedly trying to trade him. I'm sure that's great for his mental health.
Memorial Day led to some great unintentional comedy moments, including a Royals uniform resembling a Bomb Pop and first pitches thrown by Mr. T and Darth Vader.
Oh, and happy birthday to Joe Koshansky, who turns 27 today.
Drink up.