Some things to read while not getting anything else done the rest of the day.
It's been a nice little weekend for the Brewers against the Astros as they won Friday night via a Prince Fielder walk-off single, completing a four run ninth inning. Dave Bush threw a season high 119 pitches--also his third highest career pitch count. The Crew then won Saturday night 5-2, a game that featured a lead-off Rickie Weeks inside the park homerun. In addition to that, Trevor Hoffman reached save number 597 after he came in for the ninth with a three run lead and Ken Macha got his 500th managerial win.
After coming one save closer to 600, Trevor Hoffman made sure that it was known John Axford is the Brewers closer.
The Brewers than completed the weekend Sweep of Houston earlier today with nice games by Yovani Gallardo (who, as of yesterday, led the majors in K/9) and Lorenzo Cain.
Speaking of Cain, who was recalled after Carlos Gomez was placed on the DL following his concussion, it appears that he will be given the opportunity to have consistent playing time while in the Majors, which I think most people on this site would be in favor of. So far he has started two of three games since returning to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Brewers Daily makes the case that the Brewers should name Lorenzo Cain the starter in center field the rest of the season and beyond, even after Gomez comes off the DL.
A bunch of bullet-pointed stuff because I like how it looks this way:
- Adam McCalvy has a couple notes: Before today, over his last twenty games Alcides Escobar has been hitting .308/.341/.410 and the Brewers are 1-19 in games that David Riske pitches in. I didn't even know Riske has played in twenty games.
- Tuesday night, the Brewers and FSN will be presenting the game on television commercial-free in an effort to raise money for a fund that helps the Milwaukee area.
- The official site has a short article on Joe Inglett's success at one of baseballs toughest jobs, pinch-hitting.
- The Brewers are working on who they deem as "keepers" for the next few years (Tom H deems Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks to be part of this group) and who will be expendable or unsignable (Prince Fielder).
- Mark Attanasio, like most of the teams fans, is frustrated with the way the team has played this year. Noted in that article is this paragraph, which probably isn't good:
The challenges the Brewers are facing also will show up on the financial spreadsheets. Attanasio, the team's principal owner, disclosed that the franchise will lose money this season.
- However, Jack Moore at Disciples of Uecker has an article at ESPN giving four reasons why the Brewers can still be contenders next year.
- And congratulations are in order for Jonathan Lucroy and his wife, as they became parents on Friday.
In the Minors:
- Brendan Katin moved up to second on the Sounds all-time career Home Run list this weekend after hitting his 58th for Nashville.
- The Brewers signed 2010 7th round pick Joel Pierce, prompting Supertramp to keep track of who is still unsigned leading up to the August 16 signing deadline.
- Meanwhile, first round pick Dylan Covey and his father expect an over-slot offer of about two million and for Covey to sign within the next few days and the Brewers are confident that they will be able to sign the prep school pitcher. Frankly, I would be shocked if Covey didn't sign before the deadline.
- Rattlers Radio has video of both the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers top plays at home of July and an interview with Manager Jeff Isom on what it's like to be a minor league manager.
Around the Majors:
Angels: Torii Hunter was suspended four games for bumping an umpire
Astros: Released Brad Thompson
Cubs: Carlos Silva will undergo heart catheterization
Diamondbacks: Acquired Tyler Skaggs from the Angels to complete the Dan Haren trade
Dodgers: DFA'd Garret Anderson
Indians: Called up Michael Brantley
Marlins: Chris Coghlan will likely miss the rest of the season due to knee surgery
Mets: Released Alex Cora
Pirates: Traded Brian Bixler to the Nationals for cash
Rays: Placed Carlos Pena on the 15 day DL
Red Sox: Signed Carlos Delgado to a minor league deal
In the ongoing crusade against performance enhancing drugs, MLB suspended six players 50 games each on Friday--one from the Mets, one from the Athletics, three from the Astros and one free agent pitcher.
Next time we play the Pirates, we won't be seeing Dave Kerwin at all as the Pirates fired Joe Kerrigan today. (h/t Brewerfan)
John Axford's mustache has become the stuff of legend around Milwaukee, but Nationals reliever Collin Balester had sported quite the 'stache himself. It once looked like a mighty caterpillar slowly ambling along his upper lip, but alas, it is now gone. So it goes.
That's all for me this weekend, unless you want to know what not to do if you catch a free hotdog.