What we learned: May 19, 2014

This Weekend's Results

Brewers 4, Cubs 3

The Brewers struck fast on Friday with four runs in the first two innings to build an early 4-0 lead. The Cubs rallied in the next two innings to get the score to 4-3, but both pitching staffs locked down the offenses after that.  Kyle Lohse pitched seven strong innings allowing the three runs but keeping the Cubs from making the comeback, and Will Smith and Francisco Rodriguez closed out the game with scoreless innings.

Cubs 3, Brewers 0

The Cubs struck in the first inning for three runs off of Matt Garza.  After that, it was all about the pitching.  Edwin Jackson struck out eleven Brewers in seven scoreless innings, and Matt Garza settled down after the first inning to pitch seven solid innings of baseball.  Unfortunately, the Brewers offense couldn't mount a comeback as they lost to the Cubs.

Cubs 4, Brewers 2

Home runs were the story of the game.  Marco Estrada allowed two in his five innings of work, and Travis Wood allowed one massive shot from Rickie Weeks.  For the Brewers, their offense continued to struggle, managing a total of six baserunners in the game.

Injury updates are the big news from the weekend.

Not much came out for news over the weekend, and the little bit we did get came in the form of injury updates.  Let's run through the list of players and how they are progressing (h/t on all links to Joe Popely of Brewers.com):

Ryan Braun: Ron Roenicke was committed to easing Ryan Braun back into the lineup after his oblique injury, and continued that with a day off on Friday. However, so far there have been no setbacks with the injury and should be playing every day now.

Carlos Gomez: His three game suspension lasted through Friday's game, but was eligible to play again starting Saturday. He was in the starting lineup, but ended up getting scratched prior to Saturday's game when the back injury still lingered. He also missed yesterday's game, but not due to the back injury: He was out due to a stomach virus. The good news is that his back is good enough for him to play, it's just a matter of getting over the stomach virus for now.

Aramis Ramirez: He has taken a week off from baseball activities to let his hamstring recover. With this injury, the Brewers are not rushing Ramirez back, though he plans to resume baseball activities in the next day or two. It sounds like it won't be a minimum DL stint, but also may not be much worse than that either.

Jim Henderson: He threw a 25-pitch bullpen session over the weekend, and all signs were good after that. The plan is for him to throw another bullpen session tomorrow or Wednesday, then go on a rehab assignment before returning to the team. Depending on how that goes, he's probably still a week or two away from returning.

Tom Gorzelanny: He continued his rehab assignment with High-A Brevard County over the weekend. In a game on Sunday against the Jupiter Hammerheads (the Miami Marlins affiliate), he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. He did not have a strikeout or allow a walk in the appearance.

Cram Session

• Have you tried to forget the 2002 Brewers season? If you have not, then you can try this Sporcle quiz of the 2002 Brewers team created by Kyle. If you have, then please continue reading.
• The Kyle Lohse signing triggered a lot of frustration from Brewers fans (especially over the lost draft pick), but it has turned into one of the better decisions by Doug Melvin (or potentially Mark Attanasio). Phil Rogers of MLB.com writes that Lohse has delivered since arriving in Milwaukee.
• On the other side, the Matt Garza signing hasn't looked as good so far for the Brewers. Benjamin Orr of Reviewing the Brew asks about what is going on with Garza.
• Jean Segura has struggled to start the season, and Joe Popely of Brewers.com notes that Segura has had to make adjustments based on how pitchers are pitching to him.
• The MLB draft is a few weeks away, and the Brewers have three picks in the first 51. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel looks at the pitching-stacked draft that is coming up this year.
• Carlos Gomez's appearance on the Sports Illustrated cover has generated a lot of positive attention, but it also provided a little gem about Gomez and how "he's been Googling rich-people conversations". Miller Park Drunk decided to help Gomez out with some topics he can use at his next dinner party with rich people. (The SI article also led to this tweet from Jaymes Langehr, which may be one of the best of the year.)
• Who needs Moneyball? According to Sam Clancy of Call to the Pen, not the Brewers (or Orioles or Rockies), who are finding success despite low walk rates and free-swinging plate appearances.
• Tommy John surgery can affect the contracts of players who are approaching arbitration and their first free agency contract. Wendy Thurm of FanGraphs looks at some recent contracts for young players recovering from the surgery, and which players are at risk to lose money because of it.

Minor League Update

News & Notes

• With the month of May half over, Brad Krause of Miller Park Prospects provides some updates on the recent play of different minor-league players in the Brewers system.

Check out morineko's daily minor league update for a more in-depth look at yesterday's minor league results.

Division Update

• Braves @ Cardinals
  Friday: Cardinals 5, Braves 2
  Saturday: Cardinals 4, Braves 1
  Sunday: Braves 6, Cardinals 5
• Reds @ Phillies
  Friday: Reds 3, Phillies 0
  Saturday: Phillies 12, Reds 1
  Sunday: Phillies 8, Reds 3
• Pirates @ Yankees
  Saturday: Yankees 7, Pirates 1
  Sunday: Yankees 4, Pirates 3
  Sunday: Pirates 5, Yankees 3

Today's Division Games

• Reds (Mike Leake) @ Nationals (Stephen Strasburg) - 6:05 pm
• Cardinals, Pirates, and Cubs have the day off.

Today's Action

The Brewers begin a series against the Atlanta Braves tonight.  Wily Peralta makes the start for the Brewers, and Mike Minor starts for the Braves.  First pitch is at 6:10 pm.