Some things to read while coming up with a better excuse.
The Brewers managed to squeak out a ten inning walkoff victory yesterday (and a series win) despite some managerial decisions that were questionable at best. With the bases loaded and one out in the tenth inning, Ken Macha decided to use Randy Wolf (who struck out) as a pinch hitter instead of Jonathan Lucroy or Yovani Gallardo. Disciples of Uecker skewered him for it, and rightfully so. Brewers Bar also has a good point: If the Brewers were that short on available position players, why was Craig Counsell used to sacrifice bunt in the ninth?
As one might imagine, the folks at Walkoff Walk were pretty excited about Rickie Weeks' walkoff walk. Weeks might be heating up again: He was on base via walk or hit five times yesterday.
Jody Gerut was still unavailable off the bench yesterday, and after the game the Brewers placed him on the DL with a sore heel (FanShot). Adam Stern once again gets the call to take his roster spot. Battlekow noted that Stern has already been returned to Nashville twice this season, and appeared in a combined three games between the two stints. If you weren't around last night, you might have missed TheJay's note on Stern's travels.
Stern's stay in the majors might be brief again: Jim Edmonds is doing better and should be able to come off the DL when he's eligible on Monday.
Corey Hart was 1-for-5 at the plate yesterday but is still slugging .735 over his last 12 games. Jordan Schelling of MLB.com notes that Hart has been getting more consistent playing time lately and producing more consistent results.
Other notes from the field:
- Brewer pitchers got through the entire Astros series without allowing a home run, extending the streak to eight straight games for the team, and eleven for the starters.
- Speaking of streaks, the Brewers ended one of their own: Yesterday's win was their first in 25 tries when trailing after eight innings.
- As You Can't Predict Baseball noted, the Astros went 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the game.
- John Axford pitched a scoreless tenth inning en route to his first major league win.
- Alcides Escobar, Rickie Weeks and Casey McGehee are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
- CoolStandings has the Brewer playoff chances at 3.4%.
- Disciples of Uecker has a look at the three pitches Ryan Braun swung and missed at in the ninth inning.
- The Peterson Watch continues. It was 74 and sunny at noon yesterday, but Rick Peterson was still wearing his jacket in the dugout.
Meanwhile, the news for Doug Melvin, Ken Macha and Rick Peterson still wasn't very good in this week's Brew Crew Ball Tracking Poll. All three saw slight rebounds, but their approval ratings are still at just 44%, 12% and 10%.
As mentioned above, Jonathan Lucroy was the only available position player who did not appear for the Brewers yesterday. He will see at least some action going forward, though: Ken Macha said he plans to pair Lucroy with Randy Wolf and perhaps one other starter while Lucroy is in the majors.
Looking ahead, the Brewers open a three game series with the Mets tonight at Miller Park. Baseball Brew has the list of former Brewers working for the Mets, including Ricky Bones.
In the minors:
- The Brewers have signed pitcher Eduardo Morlan, recently released by the Rays, to a minor league deal (FanShot). Morlan was a Brewer Rule 5 selection in 2009 but was returned to the Rays without appearing in a major league game. This season he had a 5.24 ERA in 22.1 innings pitching for Montgomery (AA). He debuted last night for Huntsville and allowed a run on two hits in one inning.
- Brewerfan.net has an interview with Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein, who scouted Wisconsin earlier this week and has thoughts on Scooter Gennett, Khris Davis, Chris Dennis and others.
- Matt Cline, Erik Komatsu and Sergio Miranda have been selected to represent Brevard County in the Florida State League All Star Game. Cline is hitting .336/.435/.399 at third base, Komatsu is hitting .322/.382/.426 while splitting time between left and right field, and Miranda is hitting .314/.328/.373 at second base.
- On the field, Brevard County also won 4-3 on a walkoff walk last night, and Kyle Heckathorn had another great start for Wisconsin. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
Regarding the draft:
- I got an email yesterday saying Brewer scouts were "all over" Florida Gulf Coast University pitcher Chris Sale (not to be confused with Washington HS OF Josh Sale), and directing my attention to this scouting report. Here's a more in-depth report from Project Prospect.
- If you don't like the concept of drafting pitchers that need mechanical overhaul, you probably won't like Chris Sale. Project Prospect has video of his motion, which includes roughly half a dozen injury risks.
- I've also seen a mock draft projecting the Brewers to draft Ohio prep pitcher Stetson Allie. Keith Law says Allie may have the stuff to be a major league starter, but may never develop the command.
In rankings: Sam Miller of The OC Register ranked Brewers as the 11th least threatening MLB mascot. (h/t Wezen-ball)
John Axford's mustache, however, is much more threatening. Our new "The Ax" t-shirt made the Best of SB Nation yesterday. Have you picked up yours yet?
Around baseball:
Dodgers: Designated pitcher Ramon Ortiz for assignment.
Marlins: Placed pitcher Renyel Pinto on the DL with a left hip strain, and designated pitcher Dan Meyer for assignment.
Away from Miller Park, there was an interesting moment in yesterday's Cubs-Dodgers afternoon contest, as Ted Lilly was caught on camera pitching without his foot touching the rubber. The umpires didn't see it, but former big leaguer C.J. Nitkowski did. (h/t Baseball Musings)
Speaking of umpires, we have an update on some of this week's umpire confrontations: Major League Baseball is reportedly planning to discipline "Cowboy" Joe West for his actions earlier this week. West is scheduled to work in Boston this weekend: we wouldn't normally know that, but his publicist wants to make sure people know he's available for interviews. Joe West is an absolute joke.
Looking for another timekiller this morning? Sporcle would like you to name the win leader from the 00's for every major league team. I got 20.
Here's a cautionary tale on the dangers of having children: Two Nationals season ticket holders might miss Stephen Strasburg's debut because of their daughter's birth.
Oh, and be careful where you're waving that pork chop.
Drink up.