Sick of "Cub" Talk
by South Side Rob
How many more games do the Brewers need to be ahead of the cellar-dwelling Cubs before the National media will take their focus off Chicago?
The Brewers are clearly better in every area of the game, yet, people fail to notice because every baseball writer is fixed in on what the Cubs are doing. I'll tell you what they are doing, almost nothing. If not for a gift-victory on Thursday afternoon, this Cubs team would be 0-4. Soto, their prize-rookie is hitting a meager .167, has a throwing error and stolen bases on him already. Derrek Lee is hitting just .222, Aramis Ramirez, .154, and Alfonso Soriano .059. While their Japaneese 12 million dollar import is hitting .500, most of those hits came during a home-opening loss to the first place Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers meanwhile should be front-page news. No, Braun and Fielder are not hitting bombs yet but at least their hitting. Coupled with major contributions from Tony Gwynn, Billy Hall, and Jason Kendall, the Brewers are averaging 7 runs per game in this young season. It's how they have done it is what makes this team exciting. With just 3 home runs, most of these runs are being produced with timely hitting and fantastic base running. The Brewers are 6 for 6 in steal attempts so far. Other than Braun (.211), and J.J. Hardy, who has started slow hitting just .059 (hitting in front of the pitcher), the Brewers are hitting in all other areas. Prince has no dingers but he's 6 for 14 (.429 avg). Right now, the Brewers have 4 hitters (Kendall, Fielder, Weeks, and Gwynn) who have a .450 on base pct or better. Kendall, right now, has an on base of .600. Anybody missing Johnny Estrada? Sorry about that.
The pitching has been good enough. With a team ERA under 4, the Brewers so far have been in every game. The defense has been almost perfect. Thanks to the hometown scoring official in Chicago, Braun's misplay did not result in an error but should have been. Because of this, the Brewers have went 4 clean with 4 games and no errors and that's without their gold-glove free-agent Mike Cameron.
What would any baseball fan rather read about? A 1-3 team with 10,000 headaches, or, a young winning team that can hit, run, pitch, and defend? You know I'll take the Brewers everyday.
Last night, I watched Toronto whip up on Boston. I loved it. I watched the Rays (No longer the Devil Rays) destroy the Yankees in Yankee stadium. I loved it. I watched the Royals battle but come up just short. I watched the Phillies handle the Reds (Jenkins had at least 2 strikeouts). Again, I loved it.
Major league baseball has turned the page. The smaller markets have done better jobs building their teams than in the past. Buying winners is no longer the standard. Building them is.
How many more games do the Brewers need to be ahead of the cellar-dwelling Cubs before the National media will take their focus off Chicago?
The Brewers are clearly better in every area of the game, yet, people fail to notice because every baseball writer is fixed in on what the Cubs are doing. I'll tell you what they are doing, almost nothing. If not for a gift-victory on Thursday afternoon, this Cubs team would be 0-4. Soto, their prize-rookie is hitting a meager .167, has a throwing error and stolen bases on him already. Derrek Lee is hitting just .222, Aramis Ramirez, .154, and Alfonso Soriano .059. While their Japaneese 12 million dollar import is hitting .500, most of those hits came during a home-opening loss to the first place Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers meanwhile should be front-page news. No, Braun and Fielder are not hitting bombs yet but at least their hitting. Coupled with major contributions from Tony Gwynn, Billy Hall, and Jason Kendall, the Brewers are averaging 7 runs per game in this young season. It's how they have done it is what makes this team exciting. With just 3 home runs, most of these runs are being produced with timely hitting and fantastic base running. The Brewers are 6 for 6 in steal attempts so far. Other than Braun (.211), and J.J. Hardy, who has started slow hitting just .059 (hitting in front of the pitcher), the Brewers are hitting in all other areas. Prince has no dingers but he's 6 for 14 (.429 avg). Right now, the Brewers have 4 hitters (Kendall, Fielder, Weeks, and Gwynn) who have a .450 on base pct or better. Kendall, right now, has an on base of .600. Anybody missing Johnny Estrada? Sorry about that.
The pitching has been good enough. With a team ERA under 4, the Brewers so far have been in every game. The defense has been almost perfect. Thanks to the hometown scoring official in Chicago, Braun's misplay did not result in an error but should have been. Because of this, the Brewers have went 4 clean with 4 games and no errors and that's without their gold-glove free-agent Mike Cameron.
What would any baseball fan rather read about? A 1-3 team with 10,000 headaches, or, a young winning team that can hit, run, pitch, and defend? You know I'll take the Brewers everyday.
Last night, I watched Toronto whip up on Boston. I loved it. I watched the Rays (No longer the Devil Rays) destroy the Yankees in Yankee stadium. I loved it. I watched the Royals battle but come up just short. I watched the Phillies handle the Reds (Jenkins had at least 2 strikeouts). Again, I loved it.
Major league baseball has turned the page. The smaller markets have done better jobs building their teams than in the past. Buying winners is no longer the standard. Building them is.
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