What we learned: March 9, 2015

This Weekend's Results

Dodgers 10, Brewers 1

The Dodgers hit three home runs, held the Brewers hitless through six innings, and rolled to an easy 10-1 victory. The Dodgers scored five runs in the second thanks to two Brewers errors, one when Carlos Gomez dropped a fly ball and another when Martin Maldonado threw a ball into the stands. Matt Garza allowed five runs in five innings, but only one run was earned. He also allowed a home run and a walk, and had one strikeout. In the bullpen, Rob Wooten pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing only a walk, and Tyler Thornburg and Wei-Chung Wang also posted scoreless innings.

Rangers 5, Brewers 4

Hector Gomez added to his case for a bench job with a nice game on Saturday. He had an RBI single in the fifth inning, and then hit a two-run home run in the seventh (the Brewers first home run of the spring). Wily Peralta was solid in his spring debut, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work. However, everything unraveled for the Brewers in the eighth inning as Taylor Williams allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

Dodgers 4, Brewers 3

Mike Fiers made his first official start on Sunday, and had a nice day, allowing only one unearned run over 2 2/3 innings for the Brewers. Carlos Gomez had an RBI single in the first inning, and the Dodgers tied it in the third off of Gerardo Parra's error. Matt Clark tied the game for the Brewers in the ninth inning with a solo home run, but Corey Seager won it for the Dodgers with a walk-off double.

Brewers News and Analysis

From BCB

• Taylor Jungmann took the #10 spot in the BCB Commuinity Prospect Rankings. The vote is now open for #11, and will remain open until tomorrow afternoon.
• In the BCB Community Over/Unders series, 85% of voters think that Carlos Gomez will perform over his projected ZiPS line in 2015.
• Can you name everyone on the Brewers spring training roster? That's what Kyle challenges you to do with a Sporcle quiz from this morning.
• Mat Gamel is getting another chance in baseball. He signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees, hoping to get his baseball career back on track.

News from Brewers Camp

• Jonathan Lucroy is right on schedule with his rehab, and should be back within a week or two. He is expected to see live pitching next week and then begin appearances in spring training games soon after that.
• Jimmy Nelson hasn't made a spring start yet, but has been working on a new pitch in his bullpen sessions. He has been working on a curveball to add to his pitching aresnal.
• Jean Segura has been working on a new batting approach this spring, and so far, Ron Roenicke likes the results he has been seeing from Segura.
• Adam Lind and Dontrelle Willis have both had their spring debuts set back with injuries. Lind has been dealing with a sore back, and Willis with a stiff neck. Neither is expected to keep the players out more than a few days.

Other Notes

• Edward Creech of MLB Trade Rumors looks at some stories around the Brewers, including the contract status of Dug Melvin, news in the bullpen, and more.
• Kyle Lesniewski of Reviewing the Brew looks at the potential platoon between Khris Davis and Gerardo Parra and believes it would be a mistake. However, Pete Schwichtenberg has a solution to this problem: Trade Gerardo Parra to the Giants.
• Nicholas Zettel of Disciples of Uecker has a first look at Brewers roster rankings after the first week of spring training.
• Over on his blog, Tim Dillard has a story from a baseball game where he had an embarrassing moment in left field.
• The Brewer Nation continued their Brewers by the (Jersey) Number series with #30 Tyler Thornburg and #29 Jim Henderson.
• Pete Schwichtenberg of Reviewing the Brew has an interview with Brewers prospect Troy Stokes.
• Marcus Young of Miller Park Prospects takes a look at the organizational prospect depth at first base and second base.

NL Central Update

This Weekend’s Scores

Friday

• Cardinals 5, Astros 2
• Reds 5, Cubs 2
• Pirates 3, Yankees 1

Saturday

• Nationals 6, Cardinals 5
• Rays 1, Pirates 1
• Royals 3, Reds 2
• Rockies 7, Cubs 5

Sunday

• Cardinals 5, Marlins 2
• Pirates 1, Blue Jays 0
• Reds 10, Mariners 1
• Rangers 6, Cubs 4

Today’s Games

• Red Sox @ Cardinals - 12:05 pm
• Twins @ Pirates - 12:05 pm
• Angels @ Reds - 3:05 pm
• Padres @ Cubs - 3:05 pm

Around Baseball

• Sunday's game between the Angels and Royals was delayed ten minutes after a swarm of bees came onto the field. After the bees settled on a microphone, play began as the bees did not cause any other issues. They were eventually sprayed by a beekeeper and swept off of the field.
• The Braves pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Astros on Sunday. However, the game ended in a 2-2 tie. If it had happened during the regular season, it would have been only the sixth time since 1900 where a team lost a game where it had a no-hitter.
• What would a team made completely of catchers look like? Bryan Grosnick of Beyond the Box Score answers this question, putting together a lineup that consists of only catchers.

Today’s Action

Still looking for their first spring training win, the Brewers will face the Royals this afternoon at Maryvale. First pitch is at 3:05 pm, and today's game will only have a radio stream on MLB.com.