I remember when the Milwaukee Brewers' signed Jim Edmonds. I talked to a variety of my buddies and we were all really excited for the signings. The reason was because he always hit the ball well at Miller Park plus he seemed like a class act.
He had a great Spring Training and earned himself a starting spot on Opening Day with the struggles of Corey Hart. Edmonds looked okay throughout the first couple of months but nothing special, just a bench player who hit the ball once in awhile. He went on the disabled list for awhile and guys like Eric started to be very negative about him. I think he said something like 'of course now that he is on the Brewers, he struggles.' I don't blame with the example of Jeff Suppan. But ever since the All Star Break, Edmonds has been on fire.
He is seeing the ball like he is 28, making those Gold Glove catches that we all remember, and as he announced his retirement on Saturday, he said he was going out with a bang. Forget the fact that Edmonds is banged up with an Achilles injury but he pulled a Russell Branyan tonight who just came in to hit a home run Monday night. Even with the bum Achilles, Edmonds continues to rake in any way he can. In addition, everyone has got behind him and is one of the fan favorites of the 2010 season.
As he rides into the sunset like Solomon Torres and others did after a successful final year with the Brewers, I would like to personally thank Edmonds for bringing it every day even when some of the team doesn't. I believe some day he will be an excellent baseball coach and could be valuable for an organization.
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Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLB. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Expected Rant
Are the Milwaukee Brewers the most unwatchable team in Major League Baseball?
People would probably say no because of teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, and the Pittsburgh Pirates but here me out on this one. The Brewers are like the hot girl at school who always wear sweatpants and a hoodie on most days never showing off their true assets that God gave them. Then there are those stretches where she actually looks hot and turns heads. That is exactly what the Milwaukee Brewers do to their fans. For the most part, we are an underachieving team but there are those instances where the Crew appears they can make the playoffs.
Right now, we look like the girl who added 15 pounds from her first year of college, just ugly, unattractive, nothing like we were two years ago. The Brewers' starters have given up 10 runs in their last three of four starts, which is something that has only happened one other time (1937!) and nobody can just flat out say "Look we suck right now." The worst part about this was reading about how Randy Wolf who leads the league in runs allowed, walks, and tied for home runs given up (29 million right there boys!) says he would rather be out there than murder the bullpen. Yeah that sounds about as good as herpes, let's keep a guy out there who is hanging curveballs and let's really get our asses kicked instead of trying to salvage a game. Good thoughts all around.
Everyone is just stroking everybody else's egos in that clubhouse with nobody wanting to be the asshole as my dad said last night. No one (Macha/Melvin/Attanasio) in the management has ripped this team like they need to. All we can resort to is hearing on the various sports talk radio shows about how angry the fans are right now on this team.
Why are we angry? Let's see forget about the stuff above but how about designating a guy like Lorenzo Cain who has the chance to outplay Carlos Gomez who is Willie 'Mays' Hayes from Major League II when he is up on the plate. I mean it's understandable but what about cutting our ties with somebody else? I mean I get Cain will get everyday playing time down there but he still could get some experience up here. I have a feeling we will see him again soon because Jim Edmonds' Achilles seems like it's more of a problem than it needs to be.
Another reason why there is anger from the fans is the fact Manny Parra gets more chances than a cheating boyfriend. Chris Capuano pitched his ass off on Monday night and has been the only bright spot this week, therefore it makes the most sense to send him back to the bullpen. What is going with this team, every move feels like the wrong one and I believe most of us are fed up with the Brewers' decision making right now. Parra still in the rotation after multiple bad starts in the month of July doesn't make any sense to me at least.
They better hope Yovani Gallardo can give them a great performance because if not, ruuuut rooh. Big time changes will be coming on Friday before the home stand. I have no idea what they will be but I have a feeling there will be a Black Friday just as there was a Black Wednesday last season. But knowing the Brewers, they will prolong this until it really gets out of hand.
-Charlie.
People would probably say no because of teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, and the Pittsburgh Pirates but here me out on this one. The Brewers are like the hot girl at school who always wear sweatpants and a hoodie on most days never showing off their true assets that God gave them. Then there are those stretches where she actually looks hot and turns heads. That is exactly what the Milwaukee Brewers do to their fans. For the most part, we are an underachieving team but there are those instances where the Crew appears they can make the playoffs.
Right now, we look like the girl who added 15 pounds from her first year of college, just ugly, unattractive, nothing like we were two years ago. The Brewers' starters have given up 10 runs in their last three of four starts, which is something that has only happened one other time (1937!) and nobody can just flat out say "Look we suck right now." The worst part about this was reading about how Randy Wolf who leads the league in runs allowed, walks, and tied for home runs given up (29 million right there boys!) says he would rather be out there than murder the bullpen. Yeah that sounds about as good as herpes, let's keep a guy out there who is hanging curveballs and let's really get our asses kicked instead of trying to salvage a game. Good thoughts all around.
Everyone is just stroking everybody else's egos in that clubhouse with nobody wanting to be the asshole as my dad said last night. No one (Macha/Melvin/Attanasio) in the management has ripped this team like they need to. All we can resort to is hearing on the various sports talk radio shows about how angry the fans are right now on this team.
Why are we angry? Let's see forget about the stuff above but how about designating a guy like Lorenzo Cain who has the chance to outplay Carlos Gomez who is Willie 'Mays' Hayes from Major League II when he is up on the plate. I mean it's understandable but what about cutting our ties with somebody else? I mean I get Cain will get everyday playing time down there but he still could get some experience up here. I have a feeling we will see him again soon because Jim Edmonds' Achilles seems like it's more of a problem than it needs to be.
Another reason why there is anger from the fans is the fact Manny Parra gets more chances than a cheating boyfriend. Chris Capuano pitched his ass off on Monday night and has been the only bright spot this week, therefore it makes the most sense to send him back to the bullpen. What is going with this team, every move feels like the wrong one and I believe most of us are fed up with the Brewers' decision making right now. Parra still in the rotation after multiple bad starts in the month of July doesn't make any sense to me at least.
They better hope Yovani Gallardo can give them a great performance because if not, ruuuut rooh. Big time changes will be coming on Friday before the home stand. I have no idea what they will be but I have a feeling there will be a Black Friday just as there was a Black Wednesday last season. But knowing the Brewers, they will prolong this until it really gets out of hand.
-Charlie.
Dear Roy Oswalt and the Major Leagues,
This is an open letter to both Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt who is the hottest thing since Amber from Teen Mom and the rest of the major leagues.
I do not understand why anyone would be batshit crazy enough to trade for you Roy. Yeah your numbers this season for the Astros are awesome if you are an advanced stats guy (let's be honest, this guy is Jonah Keri and other stat guys wet dream right now). You are as talented as any pitcher in the big leagues but if anyone thinks it's a good idea to pitch up for 16 million dollar option for 2012 must have had five Dan Gilbert strength Gin and Tonics to talk themselves into this idea.
Right now, Oswalt is 32 years old and he would be 34 years old when that said option gets picked up. Are you kidding me? There is no way that Oswalt who has some injury issues would be as dominate as he is today. To be honest, I would take a chance on Dan Haren before I would even touch Oswalt. He is not worth the money that he wants and the Astros are asking for three prospects on that of that. Is it really worth it to some teams?
For Philadelphia, it would be idiotic. They cannot get run support with their ace right now Roy Halladay so what's them think that they would do with Oswalt? I think the only reason they are involved is because the Phillies know they can rip off former clueless GM Ed Wade. Now, I am hearing that St. Louis is believed to be the favorite. I do understand that if they land Oswalt, no one I mean no one in the Major Leagues is touching their pitching staff but where would be the money for Pujols?
There was an article out last year that maybe Will Leitch wrote or he linked it, I forget how it went but it basically explained how the new management has a new style that Tony LaRussa isn't a fan of for the most part. People rumored that he might retire as Pujols' contract is up and that Albert would leave St. Louis for greener pastures with LaRussa out of the picture. If we follow that theory, I think the Oswalt trade would add another top line pitcher (Wainwright/Carpenter/Oswalt if healthy is destructive) and they still have Matt Holliday. It would be very interesting to see him head to the Arch.
-Charlie.
I do not understand why anyone would be batshit crazy enough to trade for you Roy. Yeah your numbers this season for the Astros are awesome if you are an advanced stats guy (let's be honest, this guy is Jonah Keri and other stat guys wet dream right now). You are as talented as any pitcher in the big leagues but if anyone thinks it's a good idea to pitch up for 16 million dollar option for 2012 must have had five Dan Gilbert strength Gin and Tonics to talk themselves into this idea.
Right now, Oswalt is 32 years old and he would be 34 years old when that said option gets picked up. Are you kidding me? There is no way that Oswalt who has some injury issues would be as dominate as he is today. To be honest, I would take a chance on Dan Haren before I would even touch Oswalt. He is not worth the money that he wants and the Astros are asking for three prospects on that of that. Is it really worth it to some teams?
For Philadelphia, it would be idiotic. They cannot get run support with their ace right now Roy Halladay so what's them think that they would do with Oswalt? I think the only reason they are involved is because the Phillies know they can rip off former clueless GM Ed Wade. Now, I am hearing that St. Louis is believed to be the favorite. I do understand that if they land Oswalt, no one I mean no one in the Major Leagues is touching their pitching staff but where would be the money for Pujols?
There was an article out last year that maybe Will Leitch wrote or he linked it, I forget how it went but it basically explained how the new management has a new style that Tony LaRussa isn't a fan of for the most part. People rumored that he might retire as Pujols' contract is up and that Albert would leave St. Louis for greener pastures with LaRussa out of the picture. If we follow that theory, I think the Oswalt trade would add another top line pitcher (Wainwright/Carpenter/Oswalt if healthy is destructive) and they still have Matt Holliday. It would be very interesting to see him head to the Arch.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
6. Brewers At The Break
Today when you watched the All Star Game and see that your Milwaukee Brewers have the two corner outfielders starting for the National League, you have to figure the team has to be at least be .500 or maybe even better. Nope. They are nine games under .500 and need a remarkable second half to get to the playoffs.
It has been a frustrating season but there are some bright spots like Corey Hart. A player whose jersey I had in 2007 and loved him as a player because he could pretty much do it all. In addition, I tried my best not to give up on him but I did take a lot of shit to the point, I couldn't wear my jersey out in public. I didn't feel like having to defend and I really couldn't say anything positive about him. I am glad I can now wear it with pride and glory.
Another player that has a great season is John Axford. A guy everyone seemed to fall in love with because of his tremendous mustache including myself because I understand a good stache. Then when the Crew was losing 10 straight games, Ken Macha decided to throw out Axford for shits and giggles in the 9th inning to close out a game against the Pirates. Now, he is our closer and has been a great one since that time. I hope the Ax man can keep it up for the rest of the season.
I mean sure it's great Prince Fielder has a bunch of homers, Rickie Weeks is doing well, before the DL Yovani Gallardo made a name for himself, and Casey McGehee isn't suffering the sophomore slump. Notice, most has been about the offense, the pitching has been the cause for concern and the reason why ball games have been lost at an alarming rate.
Pitching was a problem last season as well when the Brewers finished a disappointing .500. This led to Doug Melvin busting out the wallet to get Doug Davis and Randy Wolf, which worked out about as good as the Bay of Pigs. Wolf has been alright but he hasn't been a game changer for the Brewers, which I thought he would be. But it's the classic thing about getting excited about a signing your team makes when you probably should just take it for what it is. I was never excited about Davis, I felt we could have done better like the time you see your buddy dating a 4. Granted, he did pitch well in his last start and hopefully he will showcase his talents in the coming weeks for the trade deadline because I would rather see Manny Parra/Chris Narveson than Davis.
The back end of the bullpen is the reason why we are nine games under .500. If we had cut the cord with Trevor Hoffman earlier in the year, we might not be where we are today. The Crew have a stunning 11 blown saves already, which is extremely high for this time of the year. I expect about five or six games by now to go wrong in the 9th or later but eleven? They could be right in the thick of things if they stayed the course. I mean when people at the Clubhouse and Twitter joked about how Trevor Hoffman could have cost the National League the game tonight.
I have no idea what will happened in the months of July, August, and September yet I am guessing it will not be how we all want it. Either Hart or Fielder will be gone by July 31st plus the Brewers will keep hanging around third through fifth unless of an amazing second half run.
-Charlie.
It has been a frustrating season but there are some bright spots like Corey Hart. A player whose jersey I had in 2007 and loved him as a player because he could pretty much do it all. In addition, I tried my best not to give up on him but I did take a lot of shit to the point, I couldn't wear my jersey out in public. I didn't feel like having to defend and I really couldn't say anything positive about him. I am glad I can now wear it with pride and glory.
Another player that has a great season is John Axford. A guy everyone seemed to fall in love with because of his tremendous mustache including myself because I understand a good stache. Then when the Crew was losing 10 straight games, Ken Macha decided to throw out Axford for shits and giggles in the 9th inning to close out a game against the Pirates. Now, he is our closer and has been a great one since that time. I hope the Ax man can keep it up for the rest of the season.
I mean sure it's great Prince Fielder has a bunch of homers, Rickie Weeks is doing well, before the DL Yovani Gallardo made a name for himself, and Casey McGehee isn't suffering the sophomore slump. Notice, most has been about the offense, the pitching has been the cause for concern and the reason why ball games have been lost at an alarming rate.
Pitching was a problem last season as well when the Brewers finished a disappointing .500. This led to Doug Melvin busting out the wallet to get Doug Davis and Randy Wolf, which worked out about as good as the Bay of Pigs. Wolf has been alright but he hasn't been a game changer for the Brewers, which I thought he would be. But it's the classic thing about getting excited about a signing your team makes when you probably should just take it for what it is. I was never excited about Davis, I felt we could have done better like the time you see your buddy dating a 4. Granted, he did pitch well in his last start and hopefully he will showcase his talents in the coming weeks for the trade deadline because I would rather see Manny Parra/Chris Narveson than Davis.
The back end of the bullpen is the reason why we are nine games under .500. If we had cut the cord with Trevor Hoffman earlier in the year, we might not be where we are today. The Crew have a stunning 11 blown saves already, which is extremely high for this time of the year. I expect about five or six games by now to go wrong in the 9th or later but eleven? They could be right in the thick of things if they stayed the course. I mean when people at the Clubhouse and Twitter joked about how Trevor Hoffman could have cost the National League the game tonight.
I have no idea what will happened in the months of July, August, and September yet I am guessing it will not be how we all want it. Either Hart or Fielder will be gone by July 31st plus the Brewers will keep hanging around third through fifth unless of an amazing second half run.
-Charlie.
Monday, July 12, 2010
8. Texas Saves The Season
The first major blow in the Major League Baseball trading deadline happened over the weekend when the Seattle Mariners dealt Cliff Lee to their division rival the Texas Rangers for Justin Smoak and three other prospects. This is a good decision and a potentially really bad decision.
The Rangers are currently bankrupt without an owner and need money very bad right now. So they turn their prized prospect for one of the front-runners for the AL Cy Young. This will bring in ticket revenue and every start by Lee will probably be a sell out a lot like C.C. Sabathia for the Milwaukee Brewers. Then you add if they do make the playoffs, which they probably will means even more money for them. A franchise who hasn't seen October since the early 2000s had to make a move, but who would have thought it would be probably the biggest one?
I sure as hell didn't and I didn't think the Minnesota Twins would be able to land him either. Then as the LeBron saga is going on and I am getting ready for Mitch-a-Palooza, SportsCenter said the New York Yankees were getting close to landing Lee. I thought, "Shit, here we go again and Lee-Sabathia-Hughes will be unstoppable." But Texas came in hot and had to offer their best offensive prospect. But this doesn't compare to the Sabathia-Milwaukee deal for a big reason.
The Rangers gave up too much in hopes of making a decent playoff run unless Texas knows something we don't about Smoak or they believe it's possible to re-sign Lee at the end of the year. The Brewers made the big splash because management realized how important a playoff berth was to this city. I don't know if that's the same thing for Arlington right now, but it might have just been a way to halt the New York Yankees too.
The Yankees had they got Lee could have guaranteed themselves a World Series berth and probably back-to-back titles. I have to think Texas believes that with Lee they can play with the Yanks, Tampa Bay Rays/Boston Red Sox, and White Sox/Twins/Tigers when it comes to the playoffs. If they can add another mid-level pitcher with not giving up much (you want Doug Davis or Randy Wolf?), the Rangers are the second best team in the American League. They have arguably the best lineup in baseball with Josh Hamilton/Ian Kinsler/Vlad Guerrero, etc. and then add Lee, a clutch pitcher in postseason and another pretty solid pitcher they might be a force to be reckoned with.
-Charlie.
The Rangers are currently bankrupt without an owner and need money very bad right now. So they turn their prized prospect for one of the front-runners for the AL Cy Young. This will bring in ticket revenue and every start by Lee will probably be a sell out a lot like C.C. Sabathia for the Milwaukee Brewers. Then you add if they do make the playoffs, which they probably will means even more money for them. A franchise who hasn't seen October since the early 2000s had to make a move, but who would have thought it would be probably the biggest one?
I sure as hell didn't and I didn't think the Minnesota Twins would be able to land him either. Then as the LeBron saga is going on and I am getting ready for Mitch-a-Palooza, SportsCenter said the New York Yankees were getting close to landing Lee. I thought, "Shit, here we go again and Lee-Sabathia-Hughes will be unstoppable." But Texas came in hot and had to offer their best offensive prospect. But this doesn't compare to the Sabathia-Milwaukee deal for a big reason.
The Rangers gave up too much in hopes of making a decent playoff run unless Texas knows something we don't about Smoak or they believe it's possible to re-sign Lee at the end of the year. The Brewers made the big splash because management realized how important a playoff berth was to this city. I don't know if that's the same thing for Arlington right now, but it might have just been a way to halt the New York Yankees too.
The Yankees had they got Lee could have guaranteed themselves a World Series berth and probably back-to-back titles. I have to think Texas believes that with Lee they can play with the Yanks, Tampa Bay Rays/Boston Red Sox, and White Sox/Twins/Tigers when it comes to the playoffs. If they can add another mid-level pitcher with not giving up much (you want Doug Davis or Randy Wolf?), the Rangers are the second best team in the American League. They have arguably the best lineup in baseball with Josh Hamilton/Ian Kinsler/Vlad Guerrero, etc. and then add Lee, a clutch pitcher in postseason and another pretty solid pitcher they might be a force to be reckoned with.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
White Towel Has Been Waved.
I just want to let everyone know before they read these next two posts that I am very angry and probably will say some things that I regret yet I do not care. And if you think I sound like prick then you are probably right, just in a bad mood about the world of sports right now. First, we will start with the Milwaukee Brewers.
A team who has scored 3 runs in the last three games, has kicked the ball around like a Little League team, replaced their All-Star ace with Doug Davis, in the series against San Francisco they have went a masterful 0-16 with runners in scoring position, and they face Tim Linecum tomorrow night. Fuck me right?
They have fallen to 10 games under .500 and the team who looked so good in a three game sweep against the Minnesota Twins is ready for the bottom to fall out. They are the most frustrating team in baseball this year and maybe in history, one week we will have pitching and no hitting/defense, then the next week we tear the cover off the ball with no pitching and probably a leaky bullpen. I really believed after Seattle series that the Brewers had turned the corner and even after a split in St. Louis I saw some promise.
Then the unclutch skills of the team came out to play. My dad calls them a bunch of gaggers (not like Sasha Grey) because he feels none of them want to rise to occasion. He doesn't think they want to be 'that guy' and hope that 'other people step up'. I tried for a long time to dismiss this theory but it keeps happening where the Crew cannot advance a runner who begins on second base with a leadoff double. I cannot understand it.
I will admit my knee jerk reaction for the Brewers to fire Ken Macha in May was the wrong one because I haven't seen enough bad baseball to say he deserves to be fired. I don't know anymore, I believe a commenter or a buddy mine talked about how it was more Doug Melvin than anybody else. I have trouble with that one because he has done so many good things but could it be the Major League Baseball version of the Detroit Pistons where the little guy leaves (Jack Z./John Hammond) and the boss falls apart without him? I need more time for that one.
So yes I am done thinking this team will get to the playoffs and accept the fact that this isn't our season. I also accept that Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and others might get dealt. I hope not but I understand if it happens. Look at this way, you can all print this out if something great happens in the next three months and prove me wrong...
But I doubt it.
-Charlie.
A team who has scored 3 runs in the last three games, has kicked the ball around like a Little League team, replaced their All-Star ace with Doug Davis, in the series against San Francisco they have went a masterful 0-16 with runners in scoring position, and they face Tim Linecum tomorrow night. Fuck me right?
They have fallen to 10 games under .500 and the team who looked so good in a three game sweep against the Minnesota Twins is ready for the bottom to fall out. They are the most frustrating team in baseball this year and maybe in history, one week we will have pitching and no hitting/defense, then the next week we tear the cover off the ball with no pitching and probably a leaky bullpen. I really believed after Seattle series that the Brewers had turned the corner and even after a split in St. Louis I saw some promise.
Then the unclutch skills of the team came out to play. My dad calls them a bunch of gaggers (not like Sasha Grey) because he feels none of them want to rise to occasion. He doesn't think they want to be 'that guy' and hope that 'other people step up'. I tried for a long time to dismiss this theory but it keeps happening where the Crew cannot advance a runner who begins on second base with a leadoff double. I cannot understand it.
I will admit my knee jerk reaction for the Brewers to fire Ken Macha in May was the wrong one because I haven't seen enough bad baseball to say he deserves to be fired. I don't know anymore, I believe a commenter or a buddy mine talked about how it was more Doug Melvin than anybody else. I have trouble with that one because he has done so many good things but could it be the Major League Baseball version of the Detroit Pistons where the little guy leaves (Jack Z./John Hammond) and the boss falls apart without him? I need more time for that one.
So yes I am done thinking this team will get to the playoffs and accept the fact that this isn't our season. I also accept that Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and others might get dealt. I hope not but I understand if it happens. Look at this way, you can all print this out if something great happens in the next three months and prove me wrong...
But I doubt it.
-Charlie.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Problem With All-Star Snubs
Every sort of All Star Game whether it be high school, college, or pros. People usually moaned about how their guy deserves to be there and frankly, I could care less about snubs, which is the hot topic of conversation around the sports world. I mean yeah it sucks that you might not be able to say "Theodore Oates, an All Star this year." But really there are flaws in the system we have in Major League Baseball.
1. Fan Voting- It's worse in the NBA but the MLB letting their fans decide who start is ridiculous. Are you telling me that I will care more because over 50 percent of the guys I voted for are in the All-Star Game? I do not see it that way and I would assume that others feel the same way. Yeah it's cool the Milwaukee Brewers have three All-Stars and hope the two that can play will do well who knows maybe win MVP for the National League.
Here is an idea, why don't we play United States/Canada/Mexico versus the World? Wouldn't that be a fresh alternative that might draw interest? I can already hear the crotchy old sportswriters complaining that it ruins the integrity of the game and all the bullshit that comes along with it. Another thing that they could do instead of the fans is since the baseball world is obsessed with stats, why don't we go strictly off the stats that matter? All of the fun ones I have to explain to my dad and then we can truly determine who are All-Stars.
2. Every Team Needs a Player- To me this is a crime. It's like the same people who say "Dodgeball is too competitive" and "Everyone wins!" That is bullshit, I mean it was nice to see Ricky Bones or whoever get an All-Star bid when the Brewers sucked but they didn't deserve it. Just like Ty Wiggenton of the Baltimore Orioles, Michael Bourn of the Houston Astros, Evan Meek of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and finally Omar Infante. I hear he is a great clubhouse guy and that's fine, but look a guy who hits one homer a few rbis plus a bit above .300 is nuts. So what that he is a super utility player, Infante is nowhere near what the definition of an All-Star. To put the cherry top, Joey Votto, the San Diego Padre pitching staff, and others get left who are all having great years.
3. Stop Saying It Matters- One thing the behind the times MLB did a couple years ago is give homefield advantage to whoever won the game after there was a tie in 2002 and led to a 15th inning game in 2008. The other thing is I am willing to admit the AL's firepower is two times better than the NL and honestly, I am willing to bet next week will be a blowout for the AL. It's not fair if an NL team has a great record and a better record than the AL team who might be the Wild Card to not get the homefield advantage. MLB is like that guy who tries too hard to be funny and goes over-the-top with every thing he says. C'mon the All-Star is sort of lame just like the Pro Bowl, and the NBA All Star Game.
-Charlie.
1. Fan Voting- It's worse in the NBA but the MLB letting their fans decide who start is ridiculous. Are you telling me that I will care more because over 50 percent of the guys I voted for are in the All-Star Game? I do not see it that way and I would assume that others feel the same way. Yeah it's cool the Milwaukee Brewers have three All-Stars and hope the two that can play will do well who knows maybe win MVP for the National League.
Here is an idea, why don't we play United States/Canada/Mexico versus the World? Wouldn't that be a fresh alternative that might draw interest? I can already hear the crotchy old sportswriters complaining that it ruins the integrity of the game and all the bullshit that comes along with it. Another thing that they could do instead of the fans is since the baseball world is obsessed with stats, why don't we go strictly off the stats that matter? All of the fun ones I have to explain to my dad and then we can truly determine who are All-Stars.
2. Every Team Needs a Player- To me this is a crime. It's like the same people who say "Dodgeball is too competitive" and "Everyone wins!" That is bullshit, I mean it was nice to see Ricky Bones or whoever get an All-Star bid when the Brewers sucked but they didn't deserve it. Just like Ty Wiggenton of the Baltimore Orioles, Michael Bourn of the Houston Astros, Evan Meek of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and finally Omar Infante. I hear he is a great clubhouse guy and that's fine, but look a guy who hits one homer a few rbis plus a bit above .300 is nuts. So what that he is a super utility player, Infante is nowhere near what the definition of an All-Star. To put the cherry top, Joey Votto, the San Diego Padre pitching staff, and others get left who are all having great years.
3. Stop Saying It Matters- One thing the behind the times MLB did a couple years ago is give homefield advantage to whoever won the game after there was a tie in 2002 and led to a 15th inning game in 2008. The other thing is I am willing to admit the AL's firepower is two times better than the NL and honestly, I am willing to bet next week will be a blowout for the AL. It's not fair if an NL team has a great record and a better record than the AL team who might be the Wild Card to not get the homefield advantage. MLB is like that guy who tries too hard to be funny and goes over-the-top with every thing he says. C'mon the All-Star is sort of lame just like the Pro Bowl, and the NBA All Star Game.
-Charlie.
Monday, June 28, 2010
How to Solve a Pitching Log Jam
I wrote last week about how the Milwaukee Brewers recent home stand was the biggest part of the year so far and they have risen up to the occasion. Now with one pitcher hanging out in Nashville awaiting his fate, the Brewers can officially say they are in a logjam.
I think the Crew is happy with the team they have right now and really do not want to ruin the chemistry especially when they have won the last six of seven playing their best baseball. They are hitting with runners in scoring positions, the pitchers are making it past the fifth inning, and the bullpen is rock solid. I don't think any of us expect this at the beginning of June, and now I am beginning to read that the Brewers might even be buyers during the trading deadline. What kind of alternate world am I living in right now? A team that still is seven games under is going to be a buyer?
That tells me the Brewers believe the turn is being made and now the question remains what will they do about their starting staff with Doug Davis ready to come back? My dad's theory was the Crew is keeping Davis down there as long as possible because they are trying to work out a trade. I tend to agree that might want to deal Davis but no one is safe right now amongst the lefties. Dave Bush is probably safe because he is the lone righty other than Yovani Gallardo who we all know is safe. I will be level five pissed if Davis is immediately inserted into the rotation because Ken Macha says 'the players make the lineup' and if that's the case, Davis doesn't deserve to start. My plead to management is they learned from the Jeff Suppan mistake that they shouldn't reward pitchers with a start just because they have a larger contract than a guy like Chris Narveson or Manny Parra.
Both of those guys belong in the rotation due to their great performance. I personally love that Manny had 5 wild pitches, why? He is throwing his splitter with confidence, something that he has never done before. So far this month, we haven't seen Manny lose his shit as he has done in the past. Narveson just gave his best performance of his career and with a big start against St. Louis this weekend, he can really make a name for himself. Like Parra, Narverson's confidence is getting higher and higher by each start. No reason why they should ruin confidence of two young pitchers.
The Brewers have had to make these decisions before and usually they have been the wrong choice. Please do not let it happen again because that turn you think is happening will hit a stone wall.
-Charlie.
I think the Crew is happy with the team they have right now and really do not want to ruin the chemistry especially when they have won the last six of seven playing their best baseball. They are hitting with runners in scoring positions, the pitchers are making it past the fifth inning, and the bullpen is rock solid. I don't think any of us expect this at the beginning of June, and now I am beginning to read that the Brewers might even be buyers during the trading deadline. What kind of alternate world am I living in right now? A team that still is seven games under is going to be a buyer?
That tells me the Brewers believe the turn is being made and now the question remains what will they do about their starting staff with Doug Davis ready to come back? My dad's theory was the Crew is keeping Davis down there as long as possible because they are trying to work out a trade. I tend to agree that might want to deal Davis but no one is safe right now amongst the lefties. Dave Bush is probably safe because he is the lone righty other than Yovani Gallardo who we all know is safe. I will be level five pissed if Davis is immediately inserted into the rotation because Ken Macha says 'the players make the lineup' and if that's the case, Davis doesn't deserve to start. My plead to management is they learned from the Jeff Suppan mistake that they shouldn't reward pitchers with a start just because they have a larger contract than a guy like Chris Narveson or Manny Parra.
Both of those guys belong in the rotation due to their great performance. I personally love that Manny had 5 wild pitches, why? He is throwing his splitter with confidence, something that he has never done before. So far this month, we haven't seen Manny lose his shit as he has done in the past. Narveson just gave his best performance of his career and with a big start against St. Louis this weekend, he can really make a name for himself. Like Parra, Narverson's confidence is getting higher and higher by each start. No reason why they should ruin confidence of two young pitchers.
The Brewers have had to make these decisions before and usually they have been the wrong choice. Please do not let it happen again because that turn you think is happening will hit a stone wall.
-Charlie.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Time Is Now.
The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a 3-3 road trip on the West Coast, which usually would mean I am optimistic for the next couple of weeks because we tend to be turrible out west and the road is always an adventure. Sadly, I have the same feeling I did Friday morning when Mali dicked the US worse than offshore banking.. 'I really like being .500 but damn they are better than that.' The Crew could have won 5 out of 6 with the way they played this week. But the first bullpen blow up in awhile, and no timely hitting led to a couple defeats in Denver.
Starting Tuesday night, the Brewers begin 16 games at home out of the next 20 and if they want to put themselves back in the playoff race, this is when it needs to happen. Let's remember that the Brewers have been much improved at home compared to the beginning of the year. The other thing that is encouraging is the Brewers face a couple teams that are very beatable. The beginning series against Minnesota is the biggest one. They get two out of three against a good team, the ball will get rolling and maybe start making a push.
People probably reading this believe that I am drinking the ultra-optimistic 'Tim Allen Kool-aid' but if the Crew cannot garner a series win against the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, or the Pittsburgh Pirates then we are just a bad team that I will accept. But cue up the #1 overplayed 80s bar song, Don't Stop Believin' in this team for the reason that haunted our nightmares like Rosie O'Donnell in a thong, pitching.
The Brewers have either started smoking more of Ric Peterson's weed or just completely ignore him, no in between from that but they are locked in. Chris Narveson is struggling a bit but I feel if someone can get figure out his early inning problems he will be good. Manny Parra's 1-5 record is agerious with the way he has pitched in the month of June and Yovani Gallardo has developed into the ace pitcher we all wanted. This team couldn't be pitching better and if our hitting comes around a bit more the Brewers become so dangerous.
Our buddy Jon over at Brewers Daily hinted at bringing up Mat Gamel who is T.J. Lavin-style killing it and giving the slumping Casey McGehee some time off. I think this is an excellent idea but in the mean time, I wouldn't mind seeing Jonathan Lucroy in the two spot and moving Corey Hart down to the 5th spot, maybe even send Prince Fielder to that 5th spot. Then McGehee bats six, I think the pressure of getting the big hit might be off of him somewhat. In addition, I am willing to bet Alcedes Escobar has a huge finish leading to the All Star Break, I can tell he is seeing the ball as good as he ever has and could become a real threat.
Tuesday will begin the biggest 20 game stretch for the Brewers and I didn't even mention the big weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. The Crew could do some real damage and hope they do so I can invite everyone back on the Brewer bandwagon.
-Charlie.
Starting Tuesday night, the Brewers begin 16 games at home out of the next 20 and if they want to put themselves back in the playoff race, this is when it needs to happen. Let's remember that the Brewers have been much improved at home compared to the beginning of the year. The other thing that is encouraging is the Brewers face a couple teams that are very beatable. The beginning series against Minnesota is the biggest one. They get two out of three against a good team, the ball will get rolling and maybe start making a push.
People probably reading this believe that I am drinking the ultra-optimistic 'Tim Allen Kool-aid' but if the Crew cannot garner a series win against the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, or the Pittsburgh Pirates then we are just a bad team that I will accept. But cue up the #1 overplayed 80s bar song, Don't Stop Believin' in this team for the reason that haunted our nightmares like Rosie O'Donnell in a thong, pitching.
The Brewers have either started smoking more of Ric Peterson's weed or just completely ignore him, no in between from that but they are locked in. Chris Narveson is struggling a bit but I feel if someone can get figure out his early inning problems he will be good. Manny Parra's 1-5 record is agerious with the way he has pitched in the month of June and Yovani Gallardo has developed into the ace pitcher we all wanted. This team couldn't be pitching better and if our hitting comes around a bit more the Brewers become so dangerous.
Our buddy Jon over at Brewers Daily hinted at bringing up Mat Gamel who is T.J. Lavin-style killing it and giving the slumping Casey McGehee some time off. I think this is an excellent idea but in the mean time, I wouldn't mind seeing Jonathan Lucroy in the two spot and moving Corey Hart down to the 5th spot, maybe even send Prince Fielder to that 5th spot. Then McGehee bats six, I think the pressure of getting the big hit might be off of him somewhat. In addition, I am willing to bet Alcedes Escobar has a huge finish leading to the All Star Break, I can tell he is seeing the ball as good as he ever has and could become a real threat.
Tuesday will begin the biggest 20 game stretch for the Brewers and I didn't even mention the big weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. The Crew could do some real damage and hope they do so I can invite everyone back on the Brewer bandwagon.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Why Do This To Me?
I am not kidding you if I had time or diligence today, I would have told you that I was ready to start re-building the Milwaukee Brewers and after listening on the radio about the same thing, I bought in even more. Then I discussed it with my dad and told him I am not ready to let go of this pipe dream because I invested so much in this team and after the Casey McGehee walk-off base hit against Carlos Marmol, there is a sense of belief in me.
The last three games I have seen the Brewers lose in 11, which they fought back after being down 4-1 quicker than Hank Moody can get a girl into bed, then the bullpen bails out the team winning 4-3 in extras with a big sac fly from Corey Hart, and tonight, the walk-off winner. Tell me, you aren't started to buy into the fact that this might be the run we've been waiting for.
I hate to play 'what if' but let's say the Brewers cut Jeff Suppan before the New York Mets series, do the Brewers lose the final game of that series? Who knows, I mean Zach Braddock still blew up in the 9th inning and then the Brewers' bullpen once again blew up in the first two Florida games. Since they went 5-1, they had two games where I could admit they flat out lost the game (Josh Johnson and Adam Wainwright) but other than that, they have been close yet one part isn't working.
The other reason why I feel this sense of optimism is because the Brewers are winning ugly. They aren't hitting the ball that well right now, okay that's fine we win two straight games with good pitching and timely hits. I know it's insane to be this excited about a two-game winning streak and Carlos Zambrano could end up pitching a gem that would send us in another tailspin, but can't a guy dream?
I want to believe the last two nights were the beginning of a special summer for all of us as Brewer fans where we are glued to every moment. Sadly, this isn't Entourage where everything works out at the end and the Brewers end up prevailing. But we aren't even half way in this marathon of a season and something tells me... the Brewers aren't dead.
-Charlie.
The last three games I have seen the Brewers lose in 11, which they fought back after being down 4-1 quicker than Hank Moody can get a girl into bed, then the bullpen bails out the team winning 4-3 in extras with a big sac fly from Corey Hart, and tonight, the walk-off winner. Tell me, you aren't started to buy into the fact that this might be the run we've been waiting for.
I hate to play 'what if' but let's say the Brewers cut Jeff Suppan before the New York Mets series, do the Brewers lose the final game of that series? Who knows, I mean Zach Braddock still blew up in the 9th inning and then the Brewers' bullpen once again blew up in the first two Florida games. Since they went 5-1, they had two games where I could admit they flat out lost the game (Josh Johnson and Adam Wainwright) but other than that, they have been close yet one part isn't working.
The other reason why I feel this sense of optimism is because the Brewers are winning ugly. They aren't hitting the ball that well right now, okay that's fine we win two straight games with good pitching and timely hits. I know it's insane to be this excited about a two-game winning streak and Carlos Zambrano could end up pitching a gem that would send us in another tailspin, but can't a guy dream?
I want to believe the last two nights were the beginning of a special summer for all of us as Brewer fans where we are glued to every moment. Sadly, this isn't Entourage where everything works out at the end and the Brewers end up prevailing. But we aren't even half way in this marathon of a season and something tells me... the Brewers aren't dead.
-Charlie.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Stephen Strasburg Taking Over D.C.
I realize he just started his Major League Debut but comin' in hot late is my thing. The Washington Nationals superstar Stephan Strasburg has got more hype today than anyone in Major League Baseball in recent memory.After having one of the worst professional sports seasons of recent memory, Washington seems to be on the rebound with John Wall probably coming to the Wizards and the dawning of a new era with Strasburg. The young stars of D.C. will be marketed like crazy and there will be a ton of kids in the DMV area that will rep their hero whether it be Strasburg, Wall, or Ovie. I am personally excited to watch him perform and I really do think he will be the best thing in Washington D.C.'
I wouldn't be surprised if Strasburg struggles in his first star with more than 200 media personal in attendance (usually those type of numbers are for League Championship Series) but I think as the season continues, he will blossom into a pretty reliable pitcher. I am not ready to say he will be a Cy Young favorite in his first couple of years, but he will be a guy you can count on in the middle of the starting rotation. Another question that needs to be answered especially after the Nationals added power hitter stud Bryce Harper last night, will the Nationals be in the playoffs in the next three to five years?
My answer would be yes. I joked years ago that in 2010 we would see a Tampa Bay-Milwaukee World Series (whoops on the Brewers end) but seriously, the Nationals will be a playoff contender in the coming years with the money coming in with near sellouts every time Strasburg takes the mound this summer/fall and the merchandise revenue that will come with it will lead to them being able to re-sign their prized possessions and bring in big name free agents. Although,Philadelphia still has a chance to be lethal for years to come but their pitching continues to get older, Florida could contend if they don't decide to blow everything up, Atlanta with Heyward, and who knows with New York. The NL East will be the most competitive division for years to come and the Nationals will be right in the mix, no more days of cellar-dwelling.
I will predict Strasburg finishes with about 8 wins and 3 losses somewhere with a 3.85-4 ERA. I know if Washington plays in Milwaukee and he is scheduled to pitch, I am making it a point to go to the game to see him pitch because I am buying into the hype that he is the next pitcher and I want to be able tell people I saw Strasburg pitch.
-Charlie.
I wouldn't be surprised if Strasburg struggles in his first star with more than 200 media personal in attendance (usually those type of numbers are for League Championship Series) but I think as the season continues, he will blossom into a pretty reliable pitcher. I am not ready to say he will be a Cy Young favorite in his first couple of years, but he will be a guy you can count on in the middle of the starting rotation. Another question that needs to be answered especially after the Nationals added power hitter stud Bryce Harper last night, will the Nationals be in the playoffs in the next three to five years?
My answer would be yes. I joked years ago that in 2010 we would see a Tampa Bay-Milwaukee World Series (whoops on the Brewers end) but seriously, the Nationals will be a playoff contender in the coming years with the money coming in with near sellouts every time Strasburg takes the mound this summer/fall and the merchandise revenue that will come with it will lead to them being able to re-sign their prized possessions and bring in big name free agents. Although,Philadelphia still has a chance to be lethal for years to come but their pitching continues to get older, Florida could contend if they don't decide to blow everything up, Atlanta with Heyward, and who knows with New York. The NL East will be the most competitive division for years to come and the Nationals will be right in the mix, no more days of cellar-dwelling.
I will predict Strasburg finishes with about 8 wins and 3 losses somewhere with a 3.85-4 ERA. I know if Washington plays in Milwaukee and he is scheduled to pitch, I am making it a point to go to the game to see him pitch because I am buying into the hype that he is the next pitcher and I want to be able tell people I saw Strasburg pitch.
-Charlie.
The Soup is Off The Stove
A movie has came out recently titled the Human Centipede where an evil doctor does some pretty gruesome grizzly stuff to people where I think I couldn't handle watching it the whole way through. There are some horror movies that are like that where there is just too much gore to handle for one person and they must shut it off. Brewer fans feel like they are in that kind of horror movie when they watched Jeff Suppan pitch in the last couple of years and today he was released by the club.
Suppan signed a big Christmas day deal and I remember being fairly excited for the deal. Suppan had just came off an excellent performance in the 2006 MLB Playoffs and he seemed to have the leadership we needed at the time. I wish Santa would have slapped me in the face to remind me that it indeed was Jeff Suppan not Nolan Ryan. To take a look at what Suppan did for the Crew in his years, his stats say it all...
Not once did Suppan have an ERA below 4.50, I can understand being in the fours with how people hit the ball but 4.5? That is not even giving your team a chance to win. Not to mention, Suppan gave up over 200 hits and 100 runs in his three full seasons with the team. Therefore you get the high ERA but still, just unacceptable numbers for a guy who got over 40 million dollars. The one thing I am happy about is Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio admitted his mistake and moved on from it because it took awhile to finally own up that we made a mistake bringing this guy in.
Granted it took awhile, Suppan started over 30 games for the team in three years and not once did he get regulated to the bullpen even though he had above a 4.5 ERA going for him. Soup needed to be benched last season but the Crew were too hasty to admit fault for their actions especially after they swallowed Bill Hall's enormous contract like Jenna Jameson. Soup never deserved to be out there after his 10 run disaster against Washington. Yes, he did go on the DL with a phantom injury but we all know they needed that opportunity to do that so he wasn't a part of their rotation. At least, this year they realized Soup wasn't heading anywhere and only gave him two chances to start.
The beginning of all of it, they gave Suppan the role of the garbage reliever and actually he didn't do a terrible job at it. Then, Ken Macha felt more comfortable with putting Suppan into different relief roles and that's when the wheels came off. I cannot blame Macha for this because he thought Soup had got it together and maybe became a reliable arm out of the bullpen.
Finally, I do want to thank Soup for being a class act. I know we rip on you a lot Jeff but trust me, it's not you, it's the contract.
-Charlie.
Suppan signed a big Christmas day deal and I remember being fairly excited for the deal. Suppan had just came off an excellent performance in the 2006 MLB Playoffs and he seemed to have the leadership we needed at the time. I wish Santa would have slapped me in the face to remind me that it indeed was Jeff Suppan not Nolan Ryan. To take a look at what Suppan did for the Crew in his years, his stats say it all...
Not once did Suppan have an ERA below 4.50, I can understand being in the fours with how people hit the ball but 4.5? That is not even giving your team a chance to win. Not to mention, Suppan gave up over 200 hits and 100 runs in his three full seasons with the team. Therefore you get the high ERA but still, just unacceptable numbers for a guy who got over 40 million dollars. The one thing I am happy about is Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio admitted his mistake and moved on from it because it took awhile to finally own up that we made a mistake bringing this guy in.
Granted it took awhile, Suppan started over 30 games for the team in three years and not once did he get regulated to the bullpen even though he had above a 4.5 ERA going for him. Soup needed to be benched last season but the Crew were too hasty to admit fault for their actions especially after they swallowed Bill Hall's enormous contract like Jenna Jameson. Soup never deserved to be out there after his 10 run disaster against Washington. Yes, he did go on the DL with a phantom injury but we all know they needed that opportunity to do that so he wasn't a part of their rotation. At least, this year they realized Soup wasn't heading anywhere and only gave him two chances to start.
The beginning of all of it, they gave Suppan the role of the garbage reliever and actually he didn't do a terrible job at it. Then, Ken Macha felt more comfortable with putting Suppan into different relief roles and that's when the wheels came off. I cannot blame Macha for this because he thought Soup had got it together and maybe became a reliable arm out of the bullpen.
Finally, I do want to thank Soup for being a class act. I know we rip on you a lot Jeff but trust me, it's not you, it's the contract.
-Charlie.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Jim Joyce: Hated More Than Honda
My roommates and I started using people's last names to describe a tendency that said person does a lot. For instance, one of them tends to expand the truth a wee bit so his last name gets inserted into anything we believe to be a lie. Anyways, there is a new last name that we can put in that category, Joycin it also known as missing something big. For example, "Hey did you catch the new Entourage?!" "Nope, I really Joyced that one guys. Or "Dude she flashed the whole party, where were you?!" "I was in the bathroom, man I really Joyced it tonight."
If you didn't hear already from ESPN, Brian Anderson, talk radio, or your grandmother... Jim Joyce called Jacob McDonald safe on a close play in the 9th inning of a perfect game being spun by Armando Galarraga. People were pissed to say the least after the game let out, and manager Jim Leyland who likely was drunk just became irate at Joyce and for good reason. He missed a call that would have gave the Tigers a perfect game performance and our third perfect game this year plus two in one week. All of those stats would be phenomenal and something to talk about for the coming days. Instead, we have to listen to people talk about Galarraga should be awarded a no-hitter or a perfect game and how this is the clear-cut example to add instant replay in baseball
Of course, a ninny like Keith Olbermann believes Galarraga should get a perfect game but to be honest, I do not think he wants that sort of treatment. He had the best reaction after McDonald was called safe, almost like my buddy Eric's look of "Yeah that would happen to me." After the game, both sides were complete class acts about the whole ordeal. Joyce apologized profusely in his post-game interview and Galarraga talked to him ending it with a bromance hug. That is the reason why it should just be a one-hitter, mistakes happen all the time in various fields of work and both parties seemed to understand that tonight. Nothing made me happier than Joyce owning up to his mistake and Galarraga acting like he pitched a helluva game with no chance of a perfect game.
As for instant replay, if replay is expanded I want to hear people shut up about the length of the game. Because if you add replay, you add vital minutes in a game. I really could care less either way, I mean all professional sports have it except for baseball but what will piss me off are the people who campaigned for replay but also want shorter games. Face it, you cannot make it work in my opinion. Who knows what the outcome will be but to me, it would be shocking if nothing changed after tonight's ordeal.
-Charlie.
If you didn't hear already from ESPN, Brian Anderson, talk radio, or your grandmother... Jim Joyce called Jacob McDonald safe on a close play in the 9th inning of a perfect game being spun by Armando Galarraga. People were pissed to say the least after the game let out, and manager Jim Leyland who likely was drunk just became irate at Joyce and for good reason. He missed a call that would have gave the Tigers a perfect game performance and our third perfect game this year plus two in one week. All of those stats would be phenomenal and something to talk about for the coming days. Instead, we have to listen to people talk about Galarraga should be awarded a no-hitter or a perfect game and how this is the clear-cut example to add instant replay in baseball
Of course, a ninny like Keith Olbermann believes Galarraga should get a perfect game but to be honest, I do not think he wants that sort of treatment. He had the best reaction after McDonald was called safe, almost like my buddy Eric's look of "Yeah that would happen to me." After the game, both sides were complete class acts about the whole ordeal. Joyce apologized profusely in his post-game interview and Galarraga talked to him ending it with a bromance hug. That is the reason why it should just be a one-hitter, mistakes happen all the time in various fields of work and both parties seemed to understand that tonight. Nothing made me happier than Joyce owning up to his mistake and Galarraga acting like he pitched a helluva game with no chance of a perfect game.
As for instant replay, if replay is expanded I want to hear people shut up about the length of the game. Because if you add replay, you add vital minutes in a game. I really could care less either way, I mean all professional sports have it except for baseball but what will piss me off are the people who campaigned for replay but also want shorter games. Face it, you cannot make it work in my opinion. Who knows what the outcome will be but to me, it would be shocking if nothing changed after tonight's ordeal.
-Charlie.
Thanks Junior
On a crazy Wednesday night of sports, one of the best players in baseball retired from the Major Leagues and rides off into the sunset. That man is Ken Griffey Jr. He is probably one of the best cases in baseball of asking ourselves "what if?" because his career obviously was hindered by all of the injuries throughout the years.
I am glad that he finished his career with the Seattle Mariners and not the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Dodgers. He did it the way that everyone envisions their personal hero to end their career, I mean in the perfect world for me, Brett Favre would have retired on March 4th. The Ken Griffey Jr. everyone has etched in their minds is the guy who made spectacular catches at the Kingdome plus his monster home runs to all fields with his perfect swing. Other than the Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball game for SNES I played religiously, my childhood memories bring me back to his backwards hat.
It might sound funny to you, but as a kid, I always remember him in the backwards hat and found it to be the coolest thing (same goes for Deion Sanders and his bandannas). I thought that Griffey obviously was cooler than the other guys who wore their hats the right way and why couldn't he wear like that the whole the game. If you were a kid growing up in the mid to late 90s you wanted to be Griffey Jr.
Granted, a few impact players of the 90s are still playing but most of the guys I grew up and whose baseball cards I have are long gone from the game. Griffey Jr. was one of the remaining hold outs from that group and I believe he will remembered highly as the years go on because when people look back at the steroid era, they will look for the best player who did the right way... Ken Griffey Jr.
-Charlie.
I am glad that he finished his career with the Seattle Mariners and not the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Dodgers. He did it the way that everyone envisions their personal hero to end their career, I mean in the perfect world for me, Brett Favre would have retired on March 4th. The Ken Griffey Jr. everyone has etched in their minds is the guy who made spectacular catches at the Kingdome plus his monster home runs to all fields with his perfect swing. Other than the Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball game for SNES I played religiously, my childhood memories bring me back to his backwards hat.
It might sound funny to you, but as a kid, I always remember him in the backwards hat and found it to be the coolest thing (same goes for Deion Sanders and his bandannas). I thought that Griffey obviously was cooler than the other guys who wore their hats the right way and why couldn't he wear like that the whole the game. If you were a kid growing up in the mid to late 90s you wanted to be Griffey Jr.
Granted, a few impact players of the 90s are still playing but most of the guys I grew up and whose baseball cards I have are long gone from the game. Griffey Jr. was one of the remaining hold outs from that group and I believe he will remembered highly as the years go on because when people look back at the steroid era, they will look for the best player who did the right way... Ken Griffey Jr.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ubaldo is Unreal
The reason why people love great sports figures is because they are so dominate in their profession that no one can even come close to sniffing their level. Right now, there is one person like that in sports. That man is Ubaldo Jimenez. Let's break down some of his stats and put it into perspective for the month of June 1st.
ERA: 0.78- He has only given up seven runs in 11 starts. That is incredible, he has yet to give up three runs this season and Jimenez only twice against San Diego and Washington has he let in two runs. Other than that, nobody has been able to touch him, six of his starts have resulted in scoreless outings.
Hits Allowed: 46- If you take away his no-hitter performance against the Atlanta Braves, Jimenez is averaging 4.6 hits allowed in his stars. Not to mention, if you spread that out over his innings pitched, basically a team is lucky to get a runner on in an inning.
Walks: 26- Once again dividing that stat by 11, he is only walking a little over 2 batters. So to continue with the prior stat, Jimenez is roughly only allowing six batters to get on base. Somebody please explain to me how anyone will get a win against this guy?
Strikeouts: 70- I think one of the reasons Jimenez is so successful is because he is pitching to contact instead of mowing down batters. He has only one game against San Diego where he struck out 13 but he isn't getting up into the high numbers therefore shortening his pitch count allowing him to pitch deep into games.
Innings Pitched: 80.1- For you math majors out there, he is pitching over 7 innings a start, something that me as a Brewer fan would love to see every five days from one of our starter. Mix all of these basic stats together and you have a guy who is putting together arguably one of the best seasons in the last 25 years from a pitcher.
NOTE: I realize his advanced stats are off the charts as well but personally, I do not know enough about all of them to sound educated talking about them.
In my opinion, he is the MVP of the National League so far. Who else can you make an argument for? No one from the St. Louis Cardinals or the Philadelphia Phillies where most MVPs have come from in the last five years. Jimenez is the Cy Young and the MVP for the first part of the season but he needs to adjust as teams will start to figure him out. I think the sky is the limit for Jimenez and winning 25 plus games is not out of the question by any means.
-Charlie.
ERA: 0.78- He has only given up seven runs in 11 starts. That is incredible, he has yet to give up three runs this season and Jimenez only twice against San Diego and Washington has he let in two runs. Other than that, nobody has been able to touch him, six of his starts have resulted in scoreless outings.
Hits Allowed: 46- If you take away his no-hitter performance against the Atlanta Braves, Jimenez is averaging 4.6 hits allowed in his stars. Not to mention, if you spread that out over his innings pitched, basically a team is lucky to get a runner on in an inning.
Walks: 26- Once again dividing that stat by 11, he is only walking a little over 2 batters. So to continue with the prior stat, Jimenez is roughly only allowing six batters to get on base. Somebody please explain to me how anyone will get a win against this guy?
Strikeouts: 70- I think one of the reasons Jimenez is so successful is because he is pitching to contact instead of mowing down batters. He has only one game against San Diego where he struck out 13 but he isn't getting up into the high numbers therefore shortening his pitch count allowing him to pitch deep into games.
Innings Pitched: 80.1- For you math majors out there, he is pitching over 7 innings a start, something that me as a Brewer fan would love to see every five days from one of our starter. Mix all of these basic stats together and you have a guy who is putting together arguably one of the best seasons in the last 25 years from a pitcher.
NOTE: I realize his advanced stats are off the charts as well but personally, I do not know enough about all of them to sound educated talking about them.
In my opinion, he is the MVP of the National League so far. Who else can you make an argument for? No one from the St. Louis Cardinals or the Philadelphia Phillies where most MVPs have come from in the last five years. Jimenez is the Cy Young and the MVP for the first part of the season but he needs to adjust as teams will start to figure him out. I think the sky is the limit for Jimenez and winning 25 plus games is not out of the question by any means.
-Charlie.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's About That Time.
Dan Patrick does something on 1250 AM WSSP where he gives his two cents on some thing and today, he was talking about successful small market teams so far this season and compared the Major League Baseball season as a three act play and June 1st is the start of Act II. Maybe, that will be a good thing for the Brewers this season but my expectations are low.
I am starting to talk myself into the fact that the Brewers just aren't a good team and that I shouldn't expect this team to go off on a 10 game winning streak or win something crazy like 14 out of 16. I want that to happen and there were times these first two months I believed that would actually happen. Any optimistic Brewer fan believed that they could make a run and putting themselves back into the NL Central race.
Currently, they have the NL league leader in RBI (Casey McGehee) even though thats becoming an irrelevant stat, still shows how much production the Brewers are putting on the base pads. Also they have the NL league leader in triples (Alcides Escobar) and home runs (Corey Hart). I think if you looked at the offensive stats, people would believe the Brewers are in the NL Central mix. But sadly, they have no pitching and things will probably not get better.
I tried to think of a team they remind me of and all I could think of is the 2008 Green Bay Packers who could score a ton of points but their defense couldn't stop anyone partly due to the monumental amount of injuries. Thankfully, they fixed the next year and got to the playoffs making a four win turnaround with heighten expectations for this upcoming year. The Brewers aren't dead just yet but can they really win ball games with three starters that have above 4.50 ERAs and the real disturbing thing is the Crew only has four guys who are under four. I know that if you don't have pitching, you won't win many ball games, simple as that. I have no idea how I would fix it and who knows maybe Chris Capuano lights a fire, baseball is a crazy game sometimes.
In January, I buried the Marquette Golden Eagles and they made an unreal run where they figured everything out putting together one of the more incredible seasons I have seen. Looking at their schedule, it's pretty daunting but they just need to keep winning series. The focus shouldn't be the top, just getting to third first by playing better than the Chicago Cubs. If we as fans think of smaller goals and be more supportive (minus Jeff Suppan), it makes things easier.
This team isn't dead but the expectations have been lower. Now it's the Brewers turn to raise the bar again by having a great June. Only time will tell if things will improved but you bet I will watch every game with hopes of a win.
-Charlie.
I am starting to talk myself into the fact that the Brewers just aren't a good team and that I shouldn't expect this team to go off on a 10 game winning streak or win something crazy like 14 out of 16. I want that to happen and there were times these first two months I believed that would actually happen. Any optimistic Brewer fan believed that they could make a run and putting themselves back into the NL Central race.
Currently, they have the NL league leader in RBI (Casey McGehee) even though thats becoming an irrelevant stat, still shows how much production the Brewers are putting on the base pads. Also they have the NL league leader in triples (Alcides Escobar) and home runs (Corey Hart). I think if you looked at the offensive stats, people would believe the Brewers are in the NL Central mix. But sadly, they have no pitching and things will probably not get better.
I tried to think of a team they remind me of and all I could think of is the 2008 Green Bay Packers who could score a ton of points but their defense couldn't stop anyone partly due to the monumental amount of injuries. Thankfully, they fixed the next year and got to the playoffs making a four win turnaround with heighten expectations for this upcoming year. The Brewers aren't dead just yet but can they really win ball games with three starters that have above 4.50 ERAs and the real disturbing thing is the Crew only has four guys who are under four. I know that if you don't have pitching, you won't win many ball games, simple as that. I have no idea how I would fix it and who knows maybe Chris Capuano lights a fire, baseball is a crazy game sometimes.
In January, I buried the Marquette Golden Eagles and they made an unreal run where they figured everything out putting together one of the more incredible seasons I have seen. Looking at their schedule, it's pretty daunting but they just need to keep winning series. The focus shouldn't be the top, just getting to third first by playing better than the Chicago Cubs. If we as fans think of smaller goals and be more supportive (minus Jeff Suppan), it makes things easier.
This team isn't dead but the expectations have been lower. Now it's the Brewers turn to raise the bar again by having a great June. Only time will tell if things will improved but you bet I will watch every game with hopes of a win.
-Charlie.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wearing My Sunglasses At Night Again
Nothing bothers me more than at a professional sporting event where people wear jerseys of guys who aren't on the team or they suck that bad, almost like it's embarrassing to wear the jersey. After the month of April, I thought that was going to happen to my retro Corey Hart jersey. Like the LeBron thing, I finally bought in that maybe Hart wasn't the same player as the guy who got to the All Star Game. Now, the last three weeks have been awesome for all the Hart fans as he has went off like never before.
He is currently leading the National League in home runs with 13 and he is doing it in ways to assist his team such as the walk-off he had Friday night and the first inning Grand Slam on Saturday night. As my buddy Doz texts me "Your jersey keeps looker better and better by each day." I couldn't agree more and the next chance I get I am wearing my Hart jersey out to show support for him. The guy deserves it from his believers.
Let me take you back to April where everyone wanted him to be shipped out of Milwaukee after a horrendous Spring Training and people were already pissed at him for winning 5 million in arbitration. The fans jumped on him faster than three fat girls fighting for the last couple Twinkies. Now, Hart got a standing ovation from the fans on Saturday night before hitting his grand slam. It's fair to say that everyone is on his bandwagon again and hoping for big results from him the rest of the year.
I still think that the jersey might get retired either in July or December. I mean right now Hart could be a valuable assist to trade if the Brewers are still struggling and it appears they will not make the playoffs. Then I believe he is a free agent, and if the Crew inks Prince Fielder then there will likely be no money left for Hart. This worries me as a fan but I understand that baseball is a business, sometimes your favorite player will not be back to the team. But I hope that Hart stays as long as he can so I can keep wearing that #1 proudly.
-Charlie.
He is currently leading the National League in home runs with 13 and he is doing it in ways to assist his team such as the walk-off he had Friday night and the first inning Grand Slam on Saturday night. As my buddy Doz texts me "Your jersey keeps looker better and better by each day." I couldn't agree more and the next chance I get I am wearing my Hart jersey out to show support for him. The guy deserves it from his believers.
Let me take you back to April where everyone wanted him to be shipped out of Milwaukee after a horrendous Spring Training and people were already pissed at him for winning 5 million in arbitration. The fans jumped on him faster than three fat girls fighting for the last couple Twinkies. Now, Hart got a standing ovation from the fans on Saturday night before hitting his grand slam. It's fair to say that everyone is on his bandwagon again and hoping for big results from him the rest of the year.
I still think that the jersey might get retired either in July or December. I mean right now Hart could be a valuable assist to trade if the Brewers are still struggling and it appears they will not make the playoffs. Then I believe he is a free agent, and if the Crew inks Prince Fielder then there will likely be no money left for Hart. This worries me as a fan but I understand that baseball is a business, sometimes your favorite player will not be back to the team. But I hope that Hart stays as long as he can so I can keep wearing that #1 proudly.
-Charlie.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Who Will Stop the Rays?
Honestly before the month of June, I do not watch much baseball other than the Milwaukee Brewers and the reason why I haven't wrote about any of the other things in the league. But that doesn't mean I haven't kept my ear to the baseball world and today, we are going to talk about the Tampa Bay Rays who are at a stunning 29-11.
Everybody taught the Rays were a 'flash in the pan' after they struggled last season after making it to the 2009 somewhat disappointing season and now Tampa is playing great baseball with an unreal record in the first two months. Unbelievable start to the season and they destroyed the New York Yankees last night 10-6 (it was 9-2 at one point too). There are a couple crazy things to point out about the team first in offense.
Two of their bigger players on their team have gotten off to an awful start so far, Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton. Both guys are not hitting the ball so far .185 and .224 respectively and still they are 18 games above .500, unreal. I cannot even fathom what the Rays could be when Pena and Upton start hitting regularly again. Not to mention, has anyone suggested Upton to be traded to make room for Desmond Jennings? If you don't know, Jennings is a superstar prospect ready and waiting in Triple A. I realize that Upton is younger and maybe more potential but Crawford has been as consistent as anyone else in baseball. Another thing that is crazy to point out is Ben Zobrist who was awesome last year for the Rays hasn't hit a homer yet this season so this obviously points to one thing.
Pitching. I would wish I could look at the Brewers' pitching and see the pitching staff highest-rated E.R.A is at 3.35 ERA with uber-prospect Wade Davis who people feel can dominate in the coming years. David Price right now is playing like a Cy Young at his young age with dominating E.R.A at 1.81 and six wins already this season. Matt Garza and Jeff Niemann are both throwing smoke all over the place making the Rays look awfully tough for the rest of the year. Another thing the Rays have compared to last year is a closer. They couldn't shut down a game last year and bringing in Rafael Soriano this year he has really helped shut the door in late game situations. This team will win ugly with scores like 2-0, 2-1, 4-3 and you will not be entertained if you like a lot of scoring.
Right now with the way they are pitching, nothing is impossible for the Rays. I learned a long time ago that if you can pitch, you can win games even if your offense is sub-par. But if your offense starts to hit, then it becomes big time trouble for the rest of the league.
-Charlie.
Everybody taught the Rays were a 'flash in the pan' after they struggled last season after making it to the 2009 somewhat disappointing season and now Tampa is playing great baseball with an unreal record in the first two months. Unbelievable start to the season and they destroyed the New York Yankees last night 10-6 (it was 9-2 at one point too). There are a couple crazy things to point out about the team first in offense.
Two of their bigger players on their team have gotten off to an awful start so far, Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton. Both guys are not hitting the ball so far .185 and .224 respectively and still they are 18 games above .500, unreal. I cannot even fathom what the Rays could be when Pena and Upton start hitting regularly again. Not to mention, has anyone suggested Upton to be traded to make room for Desmond Jennings? If you don't know, Jennings is a superstar prospect ready and waiting in Triple A. I realize that Upton is younger and maybe more potential but Crawford has been as consistent as anyone else in baseball. Another thing that is crazy to point out is Ben Zobrist who was awesome last year for the Rays hasn't hit a homer yet this season so this obviously points to one thing.
Pitching. I would wish I could look at the Brewers' pitching and see the pitching staff highest-rated E.R.A is at 3.35 ERA with uber-prospect Wade Davis who people feel can dominate in the coming years. David Price right now is playing like a Cy Young at his young age with dominating E.R.A at 1.81 and six wins already this season. Matt Garza and Jeff Niemann are both throwing smoke all over the place making the Rays look awfully tough for the rest of the year. Another thing the Rays have compared to last year is a closer. They couldn't shut down a game last year and bringing in Rafael Soriano this year he has really helped shut the door in late game situations. This team will win ugly with scores like 2-0, 2-1, 4-3 and you will not be entertained if you like a lot of scoring. Right now with the way they are pitching, nothing is impossible for the Rays. I learned a long time ago that if you can pitch, you can win games even if your offense is sub-par. But if your offense starts to hit, then it becomes big time trouble for the rest of the league.
-Charlie.
Monday, May 17, 2010
It's About That Time Ken.
No matter what happen today in the Brewer game, I was planning on writing something because going 1-5 or 0-6 is godawful at home and really should never happen. But now the Milwaukee Brewers go from winning five of six and now lose six straight at home nonetheless. The Crew are currently 4-14 at home, which is something you cannot have in a year you want the fans to come in droves so more money is available for Prince Fielder in the coming off-season. A message needs to be sent and that message is firing Ken Macha.
I think you cannot tell me why this man deserves his job right now. This team is underachieving big time and I really do not think it is all the players fault. Macha's horrible job at the lineup, which was still producing but not having Alcides Escobar in a position to steal bases is ridiculous. Further having Gregg Zaun hitting six is like asking for an out. When Arizona intentionally walked Casey McGehee to get to our six hitter than should be a clear sign to Ken. Not to mention, does Zaun suffer some of the blame here? What's there to prove that he calls a great game and maybe it's not a coincidence that Randy Wolf hasn't had a bad start with Kottaras back there. The offense is just the tip of the iceberg of problems, the majority of their Titantic-size iceberg is pitching.
Macha decision making with the pitching has been more than puzzling. The starters have been decent for the most part but Doug Davis has been less than stellar plus Jeff Suppan should have never started. He showed time and time again last year that he just doesn't have it to start a game and I swear to Uecker if he takes Davis' spot in the rotation, I will be really pissed. (Checked, it's Manny Parra... I am in between on that one). I think the starters can stop nibbling and just throw pitches plus get good defense they can start stringing together longer starts.
He seems to trot out a laughable bunch of pitchers back-to-back and they led to more runs coming in. For example, a couple weeks ago he went with Claudio Vargas (8.04 ERA), Jeff Suppan (6.20 ERA), and LaTroy Hawkins (9.26 ERA). Hawkins was the only one who let in any runs but still that is asking for trouble. Right now, Todd Coffey and Carlos Villanueva are the best relievers right now plus they are durable guys who can pitch multiple games. If I were Macha, I would try my best to throw one of those guys out every day, that needs to happen without any question. By no means, am I throwing Suppan/John Axford/Mitch Stetter/Vargas all together. I like Stetter for the left-handed role to get the job done, but he isn't guy I am recommending for an entire inning. In addition, I cannot make out whether Trevor Hoffman can close anymore, probably not but there is no one on our team right now could close.
Since the Brewers didn't fire Macha today, I think he has been given a vote of confidence for the road series to see what happens. I think there is a good chance that Macha could be gone if the Crew get swept in Cincinnati especially if the Brewers put up an awful effort in a park they have good success. If Macha goes around 4-3 or better he will be there for the home series against Houston Astros/New York Mets. The only reason I called for his ousting is because all you have to look at is the Colorado Rockies of last year around the same record, fire their manager and hired an experienced intern manager (Jim Tracy), then resulted in the NLCS. The Brewers probably won't get there but who knows, the NL Central is wide open right now and the Crew need to find a way to capitalize.
-Charlie.
I think you cannot tell me why this man deserves his job right now. This team is underachieving big time and I really do not think it is all the players fault. Macha's horrible job at the lineup, which was still producing but not having Alcides Escobar in a position to steal bases is ridiculous. Further having Gregg Zaun hitting six is like asking for an out. When Arizona intentionally walked Casey McGehee to get to our six hitter than should be a clear sign to Ken. Not to mention, does Zaun suffer some of the blame here? What's there to prove that he calls a great game and maybe it's not a coincidence that Randy Wolf hasn't had a bad start with Kottaras back there. The offense is just the tip of the iceberg of problems, the majority of their Titantic-size iceberg is pitching.
Macha decision making with the pitching has been more than puzzling. The starters have been decent for the most part but Doug Davis has been less than stellar plus Jeff Suppan should have never started. He showed time and time again last year that he just doesn't have it to start a game and I swear to Uecker if he takes Davis' spot in the rotation, I will be really pissed. (Checked, it's Manny Parra... I am in between on that one). I think the starters can stop nibbling and just throw pitches plus get good defense they can start stringing together longer starts.
He seems to trot out a laughable bunch of pitchers back-to-back and they led to more runs coming in. For example, a couple weeks ago he went with Claudio Vargas (8.04 ERA), Jeff Suppan (6.20 ERA), and LaTroy Hawkins (9.26 ERA). Hawkins was the only one who let in any runs but still that is asking for trouble. Right now, Todd Coffey and Carlos Villanueva are the best relievers right now plus they are durable guys who can pitch multiple games. If I were Macha, I would try my best to throw one of those guys out every day, that needs to happen without any question. By no means, am I throwing Suppan/John Axford/Mitch Stetter/Vargas all together. I like Stetter for the left-handed role to get the job done, but he isn't guy I am recommending for an entire inning. In addition, I cannot make out whether Trevor Hoffman can close anymore, probably not but there is no one on our team right now could close.
Since the Brewers didn't fire Macha today, I think he has been given a vote of confidence for the road series to see what happens. I think there is a good chance that Macha could be gone if the Crew get swept in Cincinnati especially if the Brewers put up an awful effort in a park they have good success. If Macha goes around 4-3 or better he will be there for the home series against Houston Astros/New York Mets. The only reason I called for his ousting is because all you have to look at is the Colorado Rockies of last year around the same record, fire their manager and hired an experienced intern manager (Jim Tracy), then resulted in the NLCS. The Brewers probably won't get there but who knows, the NL Central is wide open right now and the Crew need to find a way to capitalize.
-Charlie.
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Milwaukee Brewers: The Cheating Husband of Baseball
Just when you think you can write something positive about the Milwaukee Brewers, they come back and get swept by the Atlanta Braves. Not to mention, Ryan Braun got hurt in game one but that still doesn’t excuse the fact the pitching staff decided to lay a stink bomb in the form of Manny Parra and Carlos Villanueva. I cannot understand how the pitching staff could give up five or more runs in three straight games to a team who is 14th in batting and an awful road team. As I did with Marquette in the middle of the season, I cannot put too much stock in the Brewers because they always seem to let me down.
Can someone give me another reason to go Miller Park other than enjoying a tailgate and a couple beers? I mean the Crew right now are the worst team at home so far this season. They have played good teams at home but still that doesn't excuse putting a bad performance at home. If you are still reading, my title can be explain perfectly from my recent watching stint of the Sopranos... When the Crew is with their mistress (on the road) they play pretty well and seem to loose out there. But when they are back with their wife (the fans) the team looks tired, disinterested, and have no desire to be there. In addition, this is the same thing that happened with Tony Soprano when he is with his Russian mistress he doesn't have a care in the world and then at home he just seems pissed all the time ready to whack somebody on sight.
Also I am starting to lose faith in Ken Macha. I am not saying I am ready to call for his head but some decisions he has made in the past couple of days makes it appear that Macha might pulling a Griffey Jr. and sleeping in the clubhouse between innings. I already discussed the decision to bring in Parra on Monday, and then on Wednesday, the Brewers had a big inning started in the six inning, already run in (2-1 ATL) and runners on first and second. Prince Fielder flies out again which has become natural occurrence for the big fella, then Casey McGehee comes out who is the hottest Brewer right now comes to plate....
In what way would it be a good idea to steal Jody Gerut to third? I could understand maybe if Gregg Zaun/Corey Hart/Alcides Escobar, but McGehee?! This guy has hit everything in sight in the past week and is really hitting the ball. After sending Gerut who is called out, the Brewers had two outs and wouldn't you know McGehee drives in the lone run on the base with a deep double. I understand Macha trying to create offense but it makes no sense when the middle of the order is up to the plate.
My confidence level for the Brewers against the Phillies this weekend: 3. The Phils always have our number and seem to dominate us every time they play the Crew. I expect 1-2 or even a sweep leaving them with a pathetic home stand. I wish I had listened to the anonymous commenter who told me the Brewers finish no better than fourth, I had too much faith and now I have none.
-Charlie.
Can someone give me another reason to go Miller Park other than enjoying a tailgate and a couple beers? I mean the Crew right now are the worst team at home so far this season. They have played good teams at home but still that doesn't excuse putting a bad performance at home. If you are still reading, my title can be explain perfectly from my recent watching stint of the Sopranos... When the Crew is with their mistress (on the road) they play pretty well and seem to loose out there. But when they are back with their wife (the fans) the team looks tired, disinterested, and have no desire to be there. In addition, this is the same thing that happened with Tony Soprano when he is with his Russian mistress he doesn't have a care in the world and then at home he just seems pissed all the time ready to whack somebody on sight.
Also I am starting to lose faith in Ken Macha. I am not saying I am ready to call for his head but some decisions he has made in the past couple of days makes it appear that Macha might pulling a Griffey Jr. and sleeping in the clubhouse between innings. I already discussed the decision to bring in Parra on Monday, and then on Wednesday, the Brewers had a big inning started in the six inning, already run in (2-1 ATL) and runners on first and second. Prince Fielder flies out again which has become natural occurrence for the big fella, then Casey McGehee comes out who is the hottest Brewer right now comes to plate....
In what way would it be a good idea to steal Jody Gerut to third? I could understand maybe if Gregg Zaun/Corey Hart/Alcides Escobar, but McGehee?! This guy has hit everything in sight in the past week and is really hitting the ball. After sending Gerut who is called out, the Brewers had two outs and wouldn't you know McGehee drives in the lone run on the base with a deep double. I understand Macha trying to create offense but it makes no sense when the middle of the order is up to the plate.
My confidence level for the Brewers against the Phillies this weekend: 3. The Phils always have our number and seem to dominate us every time they play the Crew. I expect 1-2 or even a sweep leaving them with a pathetic home stand. I wish I had listened to the anonymous commenter who told me the Brewers finish no better than fourth, I had too much faith and now I have none.
-Charlie.
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