Brewers Pundit

Bring on Gagne

Chris Burkhardt — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:10:04 GMT

The Brewers winning 7 in a row was an unfamiliar sight Wednesday night, but there was another unfamiliar sight in Bush stadium, Gagne warming up for a potential save.

With CC going for his third complete game and Torres having pitched the last 4 games (and two innings the previous game), Gagne started warming up in the bottom of the 9th and the Brewers were leading 3-0. For CC to get pulled, he would have to give up at least 1 runner, and that would have put the game into a save situation. I believe Riske was warming up as well, but from the two pitchers body language, it looked like Gagne would have gotten the call.

If Gagne could get his form back and be the 8th inning guy, that would be huge for the Brewers. Gagne had a very shaky start to the season, but if he could get some of his old form back and handle the 8th, the Brewers could have some of that 1-2 they had back when Turnbow and Cordero where 8-9.

I hope and think Yost will give him a chance. He is pitching better since coming back from the DL, on Monday against the Cardinals he pitched very well, completing the inning and striking out two. Sometime between now and September I think Yost will make him the setup guy for a stretch of games, hopefully giving him 4 chances in a row. Of course Yost will never say what he is doing, but if you see Gange pitch 4-5 games in a row, that is what is going on.

If he can regain some of his form and be the setup guy going into September/October, that will really bolster the bullpen. If he can't that will just solidify that signing as one of the worst in the offseason.

Brewers Second July

Chris Burkhardt — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:09:55 GMT

The second half of July looks very interesting for the Brewers.

They start out on a 7 game road strech, but the good part is they get to start out rested after the break, and against a bad San Fransisco team who is 40-55. Then they go to St. Louis for four, a division rival and 1.5 games between the Brewers and the NL wild card spot.

After the road trip we get an almost mirror image 7 at home. The first 3 are against the struggling Astros, 44-51, then 4 against the Cubs. I don't really have to tell you the Cubs are leading the Brewers by 5 games right now.

If the Brewers start the second half of the season off hot, things will get very interesting.

Note: A while ago I said I gave up on playoffs and was hoping the Brewers would play .500 ball. Well, adding CC changed all that. I'm not sure we can catch the Cubs, but I think the wildcard is in plaly for sure.

C.C. See you soon.

Ryan Kastner — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:22:19 GMT

Welcome to a new age Brewers fans. For the first time in 25 years the Brew crew are buyers instead of sellers late in the season. They definately had to give up a lot to get a lot, but I do believ this one will prove to be well worth it. It's sad to see an awesome prospect like Matt LaPorta leave the Brewers system, but he is after all just that, a prospect. What the Brewers gained in this deal was the prospect of reaching the post season for the first time in a quarter century. We gained the prospect of getting to see C.C. Sabathia, reigning A.L. Cy Young award winner, pitching at the top of his game while inserted into a rotation including Iron Man Sheets and Boy Wonder Parra. The Cubs meanwhile have gained the prospect of another year of futility tagged on to the hundred or so they've piled up already.

With this move the Brewers have become the team to beat in the N.L. I know the Chubs and Cardinals still have better records, but they are floundering. The Crew has the second best record in all of baseball over the last month and a half, and it seems like half the team hasn't even hit it's stride yet. When Fielder finally gets hot, Cameron stops striking out and Hall gets Lasik, this team while surpass scary and become downright terrifying for the opponents. On the other side of the ball all the teams will have to deal with will be the potential flurry of fast balls from one of our three Aces.

I can not wait to tailgate in October.

Brewers beat Diamondbacks

Chris Burkhardt — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:09:38 GMT

The Brewers beat the Diamondbacks last night 8-6.

The Brewers were up 7-1 in top of the fourth, so it really should not have been that close, but at least they added an insurance run in the eigth.

The thing that really struck me was the Brewers team that beat the Diamondbacks. Rivera at first, Dillon at second, Kapler at center, and Torres closing. That is 4 out of 10 positions that are being filled in because of performance. Haurdicourt makes it seem like Rivera was in for Fielder because Fielder is slumping. Kapler is in for Cameron because Cameron can't hit. Dillon is in for Weeks for the same reason, and Torres is in for Gange because Gange is "hurt", and by "hurt" I mean can't throw strikes.

Considering the under performance of Fielder, Weeks, Hall, Cameron, and Gange, the Brewers are playing really well. On the other hand, consider what the central would look like if only two of those players played up to the hype.

Are the Brewers trying to lose?

Chris Burkhardt — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:16:56 GMT

It sure looked that way last night.

Two throwing errors... by pitchers. The pitchers couldn't get the ball to first base. Cameron can't hit... now he can't field. This is getting ugly.

The frustrating thing about this team is they COULD do well, they just don't. This isn't a team playing inspired baseball to get to .500. I would be OK with that. This is a playoff team shooting themselves in the foot to hover around .500.

My expectations for the season just changed. I thought and expected the Brewers to win the division, or at least get to the playoffs. I don't think they will anymore, I just hope for above .500. This team could have made a run here, facing the Rockies and then the Astros, but they dropped the ball.

Can I see your Hall pass please.

Ryan Kastner — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:52:37 GMT

Bill Hall, you big talker. "Play me every day or trade me!". he essentially said through his agent. You need to play every day Billy? How about you get your Lasik surgery first so you can hit above .170 against right-handed pitchers. I used to be a huge Bill Hall fan, but one great year and one good year surrounded by a couple BAD years do not a great player make. If you want out of town, I hope the Brewer brass can help you out. Just when the team gets going you want out. By the way did you notice, about the time you got replaced by Russell the Muscle, the team got red hot. So now you want to go? $5 million a year must not buy enough Preperation H to cure the hemorrhoids you got while riding the pines? There's no crying in basball Bill. Suck it up, shut up, and play when the team needs you. Otherwise, good riddance.

Cubs suck goats.

Brewers Grit it out

Chris Burkhardt — Thu, 29 May 2008 02:52:33 GMT

Another close win for the Brewers tonight 1-0 over the Braves.

This is the second close win at home in as many days.

It is nice to see the Brewers dig deep and grit it out. It is going to be a tough home stand, it would be nice if these two first games set the pace.

Brewers sign hot-headed pitcher Julian Tavarez

Adam Poblocki — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:02:03 GMT

Washed-up ex Red Sox and Cubs pitcher Julian Tavarez signed with the Brewers on Sunday. After passing his physical he will likely replace Seth McClung or Dave Bush in our starting rotation.

Talk about pulling guys from the scrap heap- Tavarez has an ERA over 6.something, similar to most of our starters. He's been around more than Heidi Fleiss and has a major attitude problem. He's known for throwing at batters after giving up home runs or consecutive hits. He can get a little razzed on the mound (ala Zambrano-style) and takes it out on hitters. Who knows maybe all we need is a bench-clearing brawl to getting our lackluster team rolling.

Ryan Braun is the real deal!

Adam Poblocki — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:01:06 GMT

Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of Ryan Braun's Major League debut. In the 161 games he's played since, he ranks second among Major League players with 47 home runs, including 13 this season

Crew Looking to Add More Strikeouts to Their Line-Up

Adam Poblocki — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:12:50 GMT

Russell "the Muscle" Branyan is back with the Brewers. He will platoon with Billy Hall at 3rd base. Hall can't hit right-handed pitchers and Branyan is tearing it up at AAA Nashville. Also, Hall's defense has been shaky lately- he had 2 errors in the 9th inning the other day.
I still think he's a pretty good defensive 3rd baseman but we need more production and consistency from him behind the plate. The majority of major league pitchers are right-handed and that doesn't bode well for Billy Hall & the Brewers.

Tony Gwynn Jr was sent down to the minors to make room for the "muscle". Ned said he wants to keep Jr sharp and doesn't want him riding the bench every day. He said there are plans for Tony in the Brewers future. I don't think TG Jr was ever going to see much action in the field or more than 5 at-bats a week for the rest of the season. So keep his skills honed in the minors. Next season, Mike Cameron will be gone, Corey Hart will shift to center field and Tony Jr will start in right field. If this is not the Brewers plan for '09 then we should trade Tony as soon as possible to help out our current situation.

This Just In

Adam Poblocki — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:21:17 GMT

Dave Bush - Not a good starting pitcher. I say give Jeff Weaver a try. Anyone know Weaver's minor league stats for Nashville?