Brewers 7, Scrubs 5
By: Big Rygg
My sincere apologies in the length between posts by yours truly. If you know me personally (and I think maybe 7 people that read this blog do), then you know what's been going on in my life that would preclude me from posting as often as normal. Anyway, an I94 series is enough to make me force some time.
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It was GREAT to see the Brewers hold on to win this game against the Chicago Scrubbies.
This game had everything. We manufactured some runs, we had three home runs (even if they were all solo shots), we had defense, we had pitching in key spots, we had intelligent aggressive baserunning (which is different than, for example, Craig Counsell ever attempting a steal)...we even had a timely pitching change courtesy of Ned Yost.
The key manufactured run came in the 7th inning when Corey Hart got on base, stole second, basically moved himself over to third base after J.J. Hardy hit a ground out in front of Hart, and then scored when Ryan Braun drove him in. "Get 'em on. Get 'em over. Get 'em in." It's a tried and true system to winning baseball games at any level.
As mentioned, we had three solo home runs tonight. Corey Hart continues to blister the baseball since taking over the leadoff role. His solo home run was his third of the year and 2nd in three games. Ryan Braun added an insurance run with a solo shot. Even Tony Graffanino hit one over the fence, two batters before Hart did the same, in the 2nd inning.
Tony Gwynn had a great read and jump on a line drive hit right at him in center field after he came into the ball game as part of a double switch in the 6th inning. Damian Miller blocked all the balls that he needed to and, as usual, called a great game for all four pitchers that tossed for the Crew in this one.
The intelligent baserunning of note was not only Corey Hart's stolen base in the 7th inning to get into scoring position, but also the way that he used his speed to make it to third base on Hardy's ground out to the left side of the infield. It was an extremely dangerous play, but ultimately an intelligent one as he beat the throw. Great baseball smarts by Cesar Izturis to even be in position to receive the throw back from Derrek Lee on that play.
And finally, Ned's human error correction when he went and got Turnbow in favor of Cordero in the 8th inning... there is your timely pitching change. I call in an error correction because the bottom line is that either Ned should have let Villanueva continue to pitch in the 8th after giving up the lead off walk to Ramirez (arguably the Cubs' 2nd best hitter and easily the hottest power hitter on their team) or Yost should have pinched hit for Villanueva in the bottom of the 7th inning. Yes, he only had one right-handed bat on the bench (which was really unusable since it was Johnny Estrada), but anybody is better than Villanueva at that point.
Personally, I was expecting Ryan Braun to attempt a steal of 2nd base and if he got thrown out, so what? Then you've got the pitcher's spot to lead off the bottom of the 8th and you pinch hit for it then.
But, after allowing Villanueva to look foolish at the plate, weakly waving the bat toward the pitcher three times, he deserved the opportunity to try to get out of the 8th inning. We all know that Turnbow doesn't fare well when he enters the game with runners on base. Turnbow was not the right choice after allowing Villanueva to start the inning. However, Yost did correct the error when he brought Cordero in for what turned out to be a four-out save.
By the way, if you watched the game, I hope you saw how silly Coco made Soriano look while Coco was striking his way out of the jam that Turnbow created for the team in the 8th. ESPN has a segment on Baseball Tonight called "That's Nasty". If Coco doesn't make that segment tonight, then the guys at ESPN aren't watching all the games.
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Final Thoughts:
Winning tonight against a pitcher that had previously given us fits at Miller Park this season was big. Forcing a rubber game and giving us a chance to win back-to-back series was big. Holding ground (or gaining ground) on the other teams in the division was big.
Beating the Scrubs? That's always huge.
Hopefully Ben Sheets can absolutely shut down the Northsiders tomorrow afternoon. I also hope that whomever the Scrubs have catching Zambrano tomorrow has a passed ball in the first inning.
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Don't forget, if you're in the area tomorrow, stop by Fiesta Garibaldi on 51st and Bluemound starting at 9am for WSSP's "Take Back Miller Park" event.
For more information, visit WSSP's website at: http://www.sportsradio1250.com
Take care of yourselves all. See you tomorrow morning if you come out.
GO BREWERS!!!
BIG RYGG...Oh how I wish it was Sheets pitching today against Zamboni because the game would a been shown live at the Vatican, but it is Mr. Suppan against the Tasmanian Carlos. It's cartoonish with good boy Christian versus mister menace.
How right you are...it was quite the visuals to see Cordero waving the bate to Soriano....and Cory Hart hallucinating on the basepaths.
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I HOPE I'M WRONG!!!!
But, I think I may have found the first cink in Doug Melvin's armor. Bill Hall.
Apologies to all those Billy fans, but the guy stinks something awful this year. Ryan Braun has 13 games in the majors and already has HALF of Hall's power numbers. For the record Hall has played in 56.
In the past off season, Hall was going to go to salary arbitration. He was offered 3 million. He requested 4 million. Instead of splitting the difference, or even giving in to the 4, the Brewers gave him 4 years, at 6 million a year. This was based on 1 full season of production, (albeit, a great season). This reminds me of Brady Clark being offered a two year $6 million after his great 2005. He had a career year and (this pains me to finally admit) hasn't played close to that since. Bill Hall had a career 2006. He's on pace for less 20 dingers and less than 60 RBIs. He has nearly as many Ks as he has hits, and is 1 for 5 in stolen bases. I'm no accountant, but this isn't very good bang for the buck.
Clark had a great 2005 and was put on a very short leash after a slow start to 2006. When do we do the same thing with Hall? His defense during his transition to center was justified by saying it kept his bat in the lineup. So far this season, his shaky start defensively has been his bright spot. It wasn't until the past 10 games or so that he was removed from the cleanup spot.
Tony Gwynn is a superior defender. (I don't think anyone can argue that.) Bill Hall has a more pwerful bat. (Again, I believe this isn't debatable). If Hall's bat is what was keeping him on the field, and hit bat isn't working, you might as well have the better glove out there. You're not losing much offense with Gwynn, because Hall flatout isn't producing. On a team that lately has relied solely on home runs for its offense and its "big bopper" isn't hitting home runs, I think it's time to try putting in a guy that might work out better in manufacturing runs, (moving runners over, stealing bases, etc.)
Sorry for the "off topic" rant. Just something in this series really shot out at me.
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TODD: You remind me of Vin Scully's prophetic words back around opening day time when he mentioned in his ongoing speak that the Brewers had signed Hall for whatever amount and belieeeeeved that he was worth signing for such a long time. I remember resenting his tone at the time, but wonder, just wonder because who knows about slumps and all...when they come, why they come mechanics or mentle or something else we know nothing about...maybe, he's coming back real soon.
Player draft is a joke in baseball because there is so much minor leaue future and probably the same who knows in basketball and football. I love the 38the round pick that becomes greg maddux. Brewers shook the expert drafting world with their pick. Analysers were scrambling for a reason. I liked Pete Incaviglia while he was playing.
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