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Some things to read while enjoying your unlikely success.
It's weird how our brain processes numbers sometimes. When the Brewers fell to 5-20 in May, I was disappointed but not shocked. A .200 winning percentage over 25 games is a thing that happens to slumping teams. I was able to comprehend that. 5-22, though, has blown my mind. It's only two games worse, but the last couple of games in this month have shifted the needle for me from "pretty bad" to "absurd."
The Brewers clinched a tie for the worst month in franchise history with an 8-6 loss to the Twins last night and Nathan has the recap, if you missed it. The Brewers are now losers of six straight for the first time this season.
Giving up eight runs to a relatively punchless Twins offense last night probably didn't help Rick Kranitz's case any. This week's BCB Tracking Poll shows that roughly 60% of voters think he should be fired. That's also one of five changes Dave Radcliffe of Yahoo says they need to make.
The Brew Crew Project's recap of the Twins series says this team is unwatchable, and it's hard to argue with that.
Other notes from the field:
- Carlos Gomez went 1-for-5 with an RBI from the leadoff spot last night while Norichika Aoki got the night off. Gomez has now batted in each of the first eight spots in the lineup in at least one game this season.
- Every Brewer position player had a hit in the game. Rickie Weeks now has one in seven straight games.
- Logan Schafer set a career high with three hits last night, including a double and a three-run triple.
- The only Brewer pitcher to escape unscathed was John Axford, who loaded the bases with two hits and a walk but did not allow a run and has now thrown nine straight scoreless outings.
- Donovan Hand hit Brian Dozier with a pitch last night for his first career hit batsman. Plunk Everyone has more on the accomplishment.
- Caitlin Moyer has a look at the 1948 American Association Milwaukee Brewer uniforms that the Brewers wore last night. Patrick Donnelly of MLB.com has more on the event.
- Mike Berardino of the San Jose Mercury News talked to Ron Roenicke about managing against his nephew, Twins reliever Josh Roenicke.
There's no rest for the weary as the Brewers headed to Philadelphia following the game and open a three game set against the Phillies tonight. Yovani Gallardo will take on Cole Hamels at 6:05, and Kevin Massoth has the MLB.com preview.
Jonathan Lucroy had a hit and scored a run last night, and he's now hitting .321/.367/.357 in his last eight games. This Grant Brisbee post on developing catchers led me to something I hadn't considered before: You can make a case for Lucroy as the best home-grown catcher in franchise history, and he's almost certainly the best since Darrell Porter.
Meanwhile, having Corey Hart in the dugout this week must have been great for folks who have forgotten what he looks like after two months on the DL. If you're still confused, Mississippi Matt Smith of NotGraphs has a guide to telling him apart from others with similar names.
In the minors:
- Chris Narveson pitched two scoreless innings in his first rehab appearance for AAA Nashville last night, allowing a hit and recording one strikeout. He threw 22 pitches in the game and is expected to pitch again on Tuesday.
- Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Sounds pitcher Johnnie Lowe.
Back in Milwaukee: if you've ever attended a game and wondered why more controversial calls aren't replayed on the big screen at Miller Park, Nathan has your answer at Cream City Cables. The Brewers had previously pledged to use the new screen to "push the envelope" on what could or couldn't be shown, but they seem to have backed off on that.
If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, my appearance on "From the Phans" on CBS Radio in Philadelphia yesterday has been archived. I'll also be making my weekly appearance on The Home Stretch with Justin Hull on 95.3 FM WSCO in Appleton at 2 today.
Around baseball:
Braves: Designated third baseman Juan Francisco for assignment.
Dodgers: Placed outfielder Matt Kemp on the DL with a hamstring injury.
Mets: Placed shortstop Ruben Tejada on the DL with a quad strain.
Royals: Reassigned hitting coaches Jack Maloof and Andre David and named George Brett interim hitting coach.
Twins: Placed infielder Trevor Plouffe on the DL with a calf strain.
Let's go around the NL Central:
- The two teams had to wait out five and a half hours of rain delays but the Royals beat the Cardinals 4-2 with three runs in the top of the ninth inning. St. Louis is still 21-7 since April 30.
- The Pirates are now owners of baseball's second best record following another 1-0, eleven inning win over the Tigers. Jeff Locke and five relievers kept Detroit off the board and Russell Martin's walkoff single decided the contest.
- The Reds missed a chance to gain ground, losing 7-1 to the Indians. All seven Cleveland runs scored against Homer Bailey in the fourth inning.
- The Cubs completed a sweep of the White Sox with an 8-3 win at Wrigley. Luis Valbuena went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three runs scored, and pitcher Travis Wood hit a grand slam.
- The Brewers were bad again.
Here are today's standings and probables:
Team | W | L | GB | Today | Time | Matchup |
Cardinals | 35 | 17 | -- | v SFG | 7:15p | Shelby Miller v Matt Cain |
Pirates | 34 | 20 | 2 | v CIN | 6:05p | Wandy Rodriguez v Johnny Cueto |
Reds | 33 | 21 | 3 | @ PIT | 6:05p | |
Cubs | 22 | 30 | 13 | v ARI | 1:20p | Matt Garza v Wade Miley |
Brewers | 19 | 33 | 16 | @ PHI | 6:05p | Yovani Gallardo v Cole Hamels |
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm putting the gloves back on.
Drink up.