Apparently Mark Attanasio has given the "go-ahead" to Doug Melvin to look for additional pitching. With Riske taking himself out of the game last night with a hyper-extended elbow, the Crew is short on relief pitching.

Manny Parra pitched great last night: only 1 earned run (2 more runs caused by poor fielding from Fielder & Braun). So, we've had pretty good outings from all 5 starters this week. Our rotation seems set for a while. Let's hope that holds up on the 9-game road trip starting tomorrow.

We will now be looking for another reliever to fill in for Riske. As previously stated, we may be looking to package a minor leaguer with draft picks or, thanks to Attanasio, put some cold hard cash down to pick up a pitcher.

By the way, the Cubs picked up Jim Edmonds for about 50 bucks to shore up their outfield defense and take time from Felix Pie and the fragile Alfonso Soriano.

Another sad note, Bill Hall and Mike Cameron combined for 8 strikeouts last night. Look for Cameron to switch batting order spots with J.J. Hardy soon.

With Gallardo out, and Turbow out, and Gagne riding the bench, the Brewers pitching looks to be the weak spot of the team.

If the Brewers continue the small hot streak they are on, they will be right back near the top of the Central. At that time, they might start shopping around for another pitcher. (Starter, refeif, or closer, there are many combinations that would work.)

As Gwynn showed in the Cardinals series, the Brewers have a lot of talent on the bench. Who will get traded for pitching sometime this season?

Well, it's official, Eric Gagne is a bust. Our 10 million dollar man is now just one of many Brewers relievers. One day after Jason Isringhausen was demoted from the Cardinals closing role, Ned Yost and Doug Melvin followed suit with Gagne. Brian Shouse was the 1st replacement and pulled out his first save (although he did allow a runner to score- already on base via Salomon Torres).

To tell you the truth, I don't care who closes, as long as that pitcher is reliable with well located pitches or is able to depend on our defense thru ground balls. A closer shouldn't go out there and nibble at corners, like Gagne, and then serve some right down the middle when he gets behind in the count. Gagne may have been a dominant closer in the past, but his fastball is nothing special at 88 to 91 mph and his change-up is easily recognized.

So let Gagne get a breather and work things out with Mike Maddux, an excellent pitching coach. Apparently, Ned, Doug and Mike have noticed something in Eric's delivery that is causing him (and the Brewers) problems.

 Well, go work on that and we've got plenty of reliable veteran relievers. In fact, our bullpen (minus Gagne) is the best thing the Brewers have going right now. We've got Saloman Torres, David Riske, Guillermo Mota, Brian Shouse, Mitch Stetter and Seth McClung. The first 3 have considerable closing experience.

 Doug Melvin knew Gagne was a risk, albeit a very expensive one, but assembled a good committee to close games for the Crew. Now get some hits Brewers so we can continue needing a closer to pull out wins!

How's that view from the Reds bench, Francisco Cordero?

We've gotta finish this series with the Marlins (who have won 3 outta 4 so far this season), then face the Cardinals (who are stretching out their lead in N.L. Central), then the LA Dodgers (who have won 8 or 9 of their last 10 games) and finally the Boston Red Sox, the reigning World Champs, at Fenway Park. Damn and we're at 16 wins and 16 losses right now. We gotta hang in there.

After all those tough games, we do get a day off on May 19th. Then we play the Pittsburgh Pirates for 3 and Washington Nationals for 4. That sounds good but those games are on the road.

With the exception of facing Arizona and Colorado in the first week, June looks to be a much easier month for the Crew!

One reassuring thing about the Crew is our unbelievable depth of starting pitchers. That is something every playoff team needs and we got it in spades.

If Bush, Villanueva or Parra continue to struggle, our AAA team is stocked with veteran starters. We've got Jeff Weaver, Chris Narveson, Zach Jackson, Mike DeFelice and whoever else we pick up in trade for Turnbow. (Believe it or not, Doug Melvin said he's received calls from teams interested in Turnbow. Bye Derrick, thanks for the good times).

So no worries, our offense is still not firing on all cylinders. Rickie is due to get hot, Cameron is just warming up, Braun is on fire, Prince starting to snack on jerky (still tofu jerky, but it's a good step forward), Corey Hart is Mr. Consistent, Billy Hall is starting to really see the ball (he's got 7 home runs and 20 RBIs), J.J. is still looking for good pitches to hit and Kendall is one of the best Brewer acquisitions of all time!

We've got 5 full months left and over 130 games to go. Don't forget, in September, we can expand our roster to 40 players (from 25). We've got a backload of talent and it'll take us straight into October.

Get well Yovani!

That was the Brewers theme yesterday, and it is starting to feel like the theme for the year.

Yesterday we heard of a positive step in the morning, Joe Dillon was returning to the team and Turnbow was going away. A nice positive step, adding a player who can contribute while getting rid of someone who can't help at all anymore. Then, after that bit of news we heard Yovani Gallardo was probably out for the year with a torn ACL in his right knee.

The only thing that took a little of the sting out of the Gallardo loss was the fact that the Brewers just took the series against the Cubs, the Cubs and Cardinals were going to beat up on each other for a bit, and we were finally heading to a team with a loosing record, the Astros. The opening game looked good, the Brewers were up 4-0 after 4 1/2, but then Villanueva gave up 4 home runs in two innings on the way to a 7-4 Brewers loss.

That feels like the Brewers season so far. They are struggling to stay in place. At some time it would be nice to see them come together and take a positive step forward without taking a step back.

According to mlb.com, Joe Dillon's bags are packed and he is expected to join the Brewers for their series against Houston.

No word on who will be removed from the team to make room for Dillon, but I would vote for the guy who gave up 6 runs in one inning.

Wait, let me clarify by saying 6 runs in 2/3 innings.

OK fine, I hope later I will be writing, "Derrick Turnbow" released.

As Ryan mentioned, the Brewers Pundit crew headed down to Chicago to see the middle game of a 3 game Brewers vs Cubs series.

The Brewers did not win that game (they lost 19-5). In fact, the Brewers were down 0-3 by the time we had a hotdog and a beer. But, the important thing is the Brewers beat the Cubs 2 out of 3, in Wrigley. That extends the Brewers lead on the season to 4-2. The Cubs are still up a game overall on the Brewers, but taking 4 of 6 from them at home is a great start on the season. (And it is a needed start, this year we play 9 at Chicago while they only come up here for 7 games.)

April was a little rough for the Brewers, but they came out of it ok. The Brewers are finding their footing, and they are in the hunt for first in the Central. I think most people feel the Brewers can play better baseball, and if they do, the Central is take able for them.

The Cubs travel to first place St. Louis for three while the Brewers go to the Astros. If we can take 2 from the Astros while the Cubs lose two, it's all evened up.

   This evening the gentleman from Brewerspundit.com will be heading to the land of John Wayne Gacy and hot dogs with everything. Tonight we will descend upon the friendly confines resplendent in full Brewer regalia. We shall have pockets full of change to offer to the locals so they can safely and efficiently pay the tolls on their ways home after suffering the evenings humiliation, which is no doubt in store. Led by the addition of Mike "The Stimulant" Cameron, the Brewers shall rain down a fury of extra base hits and stolen bases upon the lovable losers from the south. A deafening crack off the bat of Prince Fielder will announce to all in attendance that the Cubs reign of futility will endure. Gagne loading the bases on walks then striking out the side will be the defiant taunt that will pull down the pants of Cubs fans and spank them. Get ready Chi town because Brewerspundit.com is coming, and fully expects to leave with a series victory packed in it's bags.

Do you smell that Pinella? Smells like fear.

The Brewers travel south to Chicago today to face the division rival Chicago Cubs.

This is an important series because the two teams are rivals and because the Milwaukee doesn't want to fall any further behind division leading Chicago. Chicago is currently 2 games ahead of the Brewers, and 1 game ahead of the Cardinals.

Furthermore, the Brewers are coming off a pretty disapointing home stand, going 4-5 at home, going 1-2 against the Marlins, and losing a lot of close games. The Brewers need to win a few to regain their momentum.

I think they can. I think they can win 2 of 3 against the Chicago Cubs in this series. The pitching matches up well for them. Sheets is back from injury, and he is not facing Chicagos ace Zambrano, but Marquis instead. Marquis is good (1-0) but he is no Zambrano. Then the Brewers bring out Suppan against Dempster. Dempster is 3-0, but Suppan has been pitching great so far this season. Finally the Brewers bring out Gallardo against Zambrano.

I see the Brewers winning the first two games against the Cubs. Our offense has been struggling, but I think Cameron should be in the lineup for the Chicago series, and our hitters are bound to shake off this funk. The Brewers pitching is solid, they just need some run support.