Fear the Beer - There's something brewing...

Leaving town for the "Big Leagues"

2010-10-18T16:22:00.001-05:00

It comes as no surprise that Fear-the-Beer just cannot keep up with productivity. It is not by choice, but a 2-11 schedule kinda throws a wrench in the spokes.

But I have good news, as I have decided to take my writing to The Bucky Channel as a contributor there. I hope any of my (few) followers can follow me there and continue to support my writing.

So please join me at The Bucky Channel and on Twitter at @wiscsportstalk

Thank you all.

Gomez to DL, Cain to CF

2010-08-06T19:58:00.001-05:00

I, personally, will never wish an injury, pain, death, anything against another person. No matter how much I dislike them, I don't want to see their lives ruined. But, if something were to happen, out of the blue, and it benefits, then I can't feel bad for being happy, right?

Example being Carlos Gomez, one of my dad's "what? you don't like him? Give him time" players. Batting a beautiful .228 this year, Gomez's productivity has been really what everyone should have expected out of him, a once promising prospect who is turning into another Lastings Millledge.

With Gomez hitting the DL, after getting hit in the head, the Brewers have called back up Lorenzo Cain from Triple-A Nashville. Cain is a stacked 4-5 in the bigs so far this season, including a single and a run in tonight's Brewers-Astros game (Mil: 1, Hou: 0, top 3rd).

Time will tell if the job is Cain's for the rest of the year, but it will be until August 16th. In my opinon, Cain will be the starting CF for the Brewers come April 2011. Then again, only time will tell.

Wolf finds excuse to shower early

2010-08-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

Brewers left-hander Randy Wolf was struck above his left hand by a line drive in Sunday's game against the Astros and forced to make an early exit.

Wolf was working on a gem, having allowed only five hits and no runs through his first six innings of work, when Astros outfielder Hunter Pence lined a pitch back up the middle leading off the seventh. Brewers head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger came out for a look and Wolf immediately exited.

When we know more, you'll know more.

The Brewers are silent... and not deadly

2010-08-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

Chris Capuano wore the wrong jersey, and that was the least of the Brewers' worries at Minute Maid Park on Saturday night.

Milwaukee's hitters were shut out for the second straight game, this time blanked by Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez in a 6-0 Houston win. Capuano accidentally wore a uniform with "Brewers" stitched across the front instead of the team's "Milwaukee" road alternate, a mix-up that might have been funny had the team not just shuffled to its fourth straight loss.

"I don't know what it is, but the last two days, we came out flat," Rickie Weeks said. "We just didn't do our thing at times. That's what happens at times. You get lackadaisical. "We were flat. Plain and simple."

Rodriguez deserves some credit, too, for his eight scoreless innings of mound work. The left-hander scattered five hits and struck out nine, and may have set the tone in the first inning after Weeks and Corey Hart reached on consecutive singles.

Prince Fielder flew out, Ryan Braun grounded out and Casey McGehee struck out as the Brewers' middle of the order continued to slump, and Rodriguez rode that escape act to his sixth win in his last seven starts. It was an unfortunately familiar start to Friday, when Weeks and Hart reached only to watch the heart of the order go down in order. "Groundhog Day," manager Ken Macha said.

The Brewers finished the night 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, are 0-for-17 in the first two games of the series and 0-for-19 since Jonathan Lucroy's fourth-inning single in a loss to the Reds at Miller Park on Wednesday.

And Ash said "Hey,... What's Going Onnnnnnn?"

2010-07-30T19:56:00.001-05:00

/Cue Music
And I say heyyyyy.... heyyyyy....
heyyyy.... heyyyyy....
I said hey, what's actually going on?
(No idea what the hell I'm talking about? Well, Here are the lyrics, the song was actually popular)

Anyway..

Assistant general manager Gord Ash, who is here with the club in Houston, just clarified the Brewers' position on trades as the deadline nears Saturday. Ash refuted one report that said the Brewers had taken Prince Fielder and Corey Hart off the table. He said the Brewers continue to listen to any offers any team wants to make.
Having said that, Ash said he highly doubted that either Fielder or Hart would be moved.

While some teams have inquired about reserve outfielder Jim Edmonds, Ash said, "He's still here, isn't he?". In other words, no team has offered anything in exchange that would make it worth moving Edmonds. Ash said he knows some fans want the Brewers to make a trade merely to shake things up.

As Melvin and Ash continue to release reports over the next few days that contradict each other, we will sit and wait, sipping (chugging) our Miller Lite watching our Brewers slip further and further out of the "race" that we were never really in to begin with.

Deadline questions loom for Brewers

2010-07-29T19:36:00.000-05:00

"There's nothing really going on (from the Brewers' end)," said Melvin. "I don't anticipate anything happening (before the Saturday deadline). Things can change but that's the way it looks now.

That's another brilliant quote from our beloved GM Doug Melvin. With the Brewers 9 games back in the Central Division, and really no viewable time period for a winning ball club, it sounds like Melvin is going to stick with Hart and Fielder for the rest of 2010.

Prince Fielder (left) and Corey Hart (right) share a "touching moment"

With Corey Hart having a break-out year, his value may never be higher, the option to stick with him may rack up the Brewers three or four more wins in 2010, but come 2011, Corey Hart will play no part in a "playoff contending" team.

Aside Hart, Fielder sits in a Brewers uniform decaying away. As Fielder will continue to hit and drive in runs, the runs he is driving in are just contributing to games that we are trying to get over with to get to 2011. It's quite apparent that Fielder will not be in a Brewers jersey come 2011, for the reasons a.) The Brewers won't have the funds, and b.) I think Prince is ready to move on.

So, if 2010 is basically over, and 2011 (barring getting three solid starting pitchers) being a year where the Brewers won't contend, I ask this question Doug Melvin, Why not now?

It's been said that the Giants won't part with Madison Baumgarner or Johnathon Sanchez in a straight up trade for Corey Hart, so lets sweeten the pot, preferably to get Baumgarner. Offering the Giants, Corey Hart, and Amaury Rivas who is having a great season at AA Huntsville. Rivas, projecting as a number three starter in the Majors is still a year or two away from the bigs, so why not trade some future talent for someone who can come right in and make a difference?

In Prince Fielders case the sky is the limit. With pitching the obvious need, and the minors to be dry of any Major League ready prospects, the Brewers will probably look to acquire some solid double A to single A pitching and hopefully a first base prospect. Makes sense right? Wrong, according to Doug Melvin:

"All of our players can be here next season, We don't have to move them until then, or this off-season if we choose. Right now, we don't have anything of a serious nature. I don't consider it serious unless you're exchanging names. I'm not interested in trading major-league players for mid-level prospects. I don't have to move players for financial reasons or any other reasons, so we're not going to do that."

He may say the demand isn't there, but I think Doug Melvin might want to check to make sure his phone isn't on silent, because you can't tell me the Tigers, White Sox, Rays, aren't willing to start "exchanging names". Even so, is the demand going to change in the off-season that much? The same players will be there, why not get the name now and make a run?

Nevertheless, if Doug Melvin isn't lying to his fans, and a solid interest isn't there, then the Brewers will probably move Hart and/or Fielder this offseason. Lorenzo Cain in four Major League at bats already showed he can rake in the bigs and the forgotten soul in Mat Gamel still lingers in Triple A Nashville awaiting for act two in his Brewers soap opera.

I guess we will wait and see on the trade front, besides the Hart and Fielder names like Hoffman, Coffey, Edmonds, and Villanueva have been names that have been thrown around, but for now, all looks silent.

When I woke up and it was 2-0...

2010-07-28T22:34:00.000-05:00

...and then all went flat.

Like it has many times this season, the sixth inning loomed large for the Brewers on Wednesday. Over 103 games, the Brewers have given up 69 earned runs in the frame, good for a 6.03 ERA, which is tied with the first inning for the worst this season for the Crew. After tossing five scoreless innings and entering the top of the sixth with a two-run lead, Narveson did not record an out, while loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. (By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com)

After some jazz jazz and more jazz, Villanueva saw his ticket being punched south to Nashville to clear a spot for Hawkins coming off of the DL. Villanueva gave up a pair of singles and walked pinch-hitter Mike Leake, before surrendering a grand slam to deep left field off the bat of Brandon Phillips. Two batters later, Joey Votto put another out to left, making it 10-2 and putting the game out of reach.

The Brewers offense never really got anything going at the plate, something we have seen quite often lately. After putting together a Miller Park-best seven-game home win streak and winning five in a row overall, the Brewers head to Houston having lost two in a row and dropping back to nine games out of first place in the National League Central.

Fear the Beer is looking for writers!

2010-07-27T20:26:00.001-05:00

As quite noticable, FTB has been hit with a huge lack of updating, based all around the schedules of a full time job. So here is your opprutunity. Fear the Beer is looking for a highly dedicated Milwaukee Brewers fan to write articles based around team news, rumors, and game recaps. This would be a perfect start for anyone just looking to getting their feet wet in blogging/journalism.

If interested, please send sample writings to JamesSmizek@gmail.com

-FTBteam

Davis to DL, so who gets the call?

2010-05-16T19:09:00.000-05:00

It's really no laughing matter that Doug Davis is in the hospital with what he thought was a heartattack, but it's also no laughing matter that Doug Davis' ERA is over seven.

Davis woke up in the early hours of Saturday morning with discomfort in his chest and after heartburn medication had no effect, went to the emergency room at Milwaukee's Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital. Davis was diagnosed with pericarditis, an acute inflammation of the lining around the heart, no worries Wisconsin, it's non life threatening.

But who should replace Davis in the short-term? Hell, who should replace Davis in the long-term? Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan, and the outsider, Kameron Loe all have a resume' that could land them the job, but knowing Melvin and Co. Suppan will probably get the call. With that call he will forever prove, that Doug Davis and Jeff Suppan, are the same person.

Brewers Leave Chicago with One

2010-04-15T23:53:00.000-05:00

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

Brewers manager Ken Macha looked up at the flags atop the center-field scoreboard as they whipped away from home plate on Thursday morning and had a feeling the Brewers and Cubs were in for a long day.

He got just what he expected, a game that spanned three hours and 29 minutes, featured 14 runs and 24 hits including five home runs. But the Brewers won, 8-6, thanks to some seventh-inning small ball, and avoided being swept at Wrigley Field for the first time in six seasons.

Cubs castoff Casey McGehee homered and drove in three runs, and Ryan Braun capped a six-RBI series with four hits and his third home run. Jim Edmonds scored three times, though he was denied his first Brewers RBI in the ninth inning on a close call at home plate.

Carlos Villanueva preserved the lead with two innings of scoreless relief, and the Brewers extended the lead to three runs for closer Trevor Hoffman, who allowed a run in a wild ninth inning when two sun-drenched, wind-blown baseballs eluded Brewers right fielder Corey Hart. Hoffman retired Aramis Ramirez on a dangerously deep fly ball to center field to end the game for save No. 3 this season and No. 594 in his career, a welcome bounce-back from blown saves in each of his previous two outings.

Weeks has hit safely in all nine of the Brewers' games this season, and his clutch single in the seventh made a winner of left-hander Chris Narveson (1-0), who served up a tying home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to Ramirez, the first batter he faced.

That blast cost Brewers starter Jeff Suppan a win in his season debut, though Suppan was not exactly sharp while allowing four runs in five innings, all with two outs and three on home runs. Derrek Lee pounded a full-count pitch in the first inning that tied the game at 1 and Marlon Byrd hit a 3-and-0 fastball in the fourth inning for a two-run homer that tied the game at 4. Byrd entered the afternoon 5-for-14 in previous at-bats against Suppan. Lee was 22-for-51 against Suppan with five home runs.

Brewers 8, Cubs 6

Brewers Bullpen lets Win Escape

2010-04-14T20:20:00.000-05:00

If Brewers manager Ken Macha spent the off-day Tuesday lining up his list of early season concerns, the eighth inning might have been dead last on the list. But that's exactly where Milwaukee suffered its latest painful loss.

Five consecutive Cubs hitters reached base with two-outs in the eighth against LaTroy Hawkins in a four-run rally capped by Kosuke Fukudome's two-run single. It sent the Brewers to a 7-6 loss at Wrigley Field on Wednesday and ensured another series loss to a division rival.

Rickie Weeks capped a nine-pitch battle with Cubs starter Randy Wells in the fifth inning by delivering a two-run double, Casey McGehee hit a go-ahead single in the sixth and Corey Hart, Carlos Gomez and Alcides Escobar added an RBI apiece. Even catcher Gregg Zaun got in on the fun.

Zaun was certainly among Macha's concerns because of a season-opening slump that extended to 0-for-21 by the eighth inning, a drought that left Zaun tied with 2009 outfielder Brad Nelson for the worst start in Brewers history for a player on the Opening Day roster. Zaun broke through in the eighth with a single that sparked a two-run rally and gave the Brewers a 6-3 lead.

Enter Hawkins, who had simply blown hitters away in his first four Brewers appearances. He had needed only 54 pitches to get through 3 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and six strikeouts, and Hawkins appeared headed for another scoreless outing when he retired the first two Cubs he faced.

Then second baseman Jeff Baker hit an 0-and-2 pitch for a single and the wheels came off. Hawkins walked Geovany Soto and Tyler Colvin to load the bases for Ryan Theriot, who hit another 0-and-2 pitch for a two-run single which cut the Brewers' lead to 6-5. After Theriot stole second base, Fukudome grounded a two-strike single just past Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks for two more runs and a 7-6 Cubs lead.

Cubs 7, Brewers 6.

Davis Struggles in Second Start

2010-04-13T19:35:00.000-05:00

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

Doug Davis was supposed to be "Mr. Reliable" in the middle of the Brewers' starting rotation. So far, he's been anything but reliable.

Five days after his shaky season debut, Davis lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was touched for six runs on seven Cubs hits, including a pair of third-inning home runs in the Brewers' 9-5 loss on Monday. Ryan Braun drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the fifth inning, but by that time, the Brewers were playing from well behind in the first game of the season at Wrigley Field.

This season is off to a much more frustrating start. Davis needed 40 pitches to get through the first inning of his return to Miller Park last week -- he also pitched for the Brewers from 2003-06 -- and made it into the fifth only after making an in-game adjustment. On Monday, Davis kept the Cubs at bay in the first two innings and was one out away from getting through a scoreless third, when Chicago newcomer Xavier Nady sent a hanging curveball for a three-run home run to the left-field bleachers. Alfonso Soriano followed with a single before Cubs second baseman Jeff Baker pounded a misplaced fastball for two-run shot that cleared the grandstand and reached Waveland Avenue.

Cubs 9, Brewers 5.

Brewers Bats Get Going

2010-04-12T13:29:00.002-05:00

After a tough loss on Friday and a blowout on Saturday, the Brewers were looking to avoid the sweep and get a moral victory. The Brewers bats responded in a big way, Rickie Weeks hit his 14th lead-off home run in his career to give the Brewer's an early lead. Braun and Hart added home runs of their own, and the Crew made use of some Cardinal errors to get up to 7 runs.

The Cardinal line up never goes down that easily. They entered the 9th inning down by 3, and Trevor Hoffman took the field looking for redemption, but that would not happen. Brewer's fans watched in shock as back to back home runs from Pujols and Holliday tied the score up and took away another save attempt.

But Casey McGehee was content playing hero, hitting the walk-off home run making the score 8-7, and giving the team a little momentum as they head to Wrigley this afternoon.

Stavinoha... Staviwho?

2010-04-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
Hitting a game-winning home run off the all-time saves leader is one thing. Hitting a game-winning home run off the all-time saves leader with two strikes and two outs in your first plate appearance of the season is another. Hitting that home run off his best pitch, from down on one knee, now that's really something.

That's just what Cardinals pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha did against Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman on Friday night, dropping to his right knee to send a low changeup to the left-field seats for a two-run homer and a 5-4 Cardinals win at Miller Park. Considering that this was the Brewers' first intra-division game of the season, it hurt even more

Milwaukee was a strike away from its third straight win after Bush delivered 5 2/3 innings that represented a fresh start after a 2009 season marred by injury. Rickie Weeks and Alcides Escobar provided most of the offense with clutch two-out hits, Escobar's a two-run double in the fourth inning off Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse that gave the Brewers a lead.

Prince Fielder extended the lead to 4-1 with a run-scoring groundout in the fifth, and then the Brewers turned it over to their re-tooled bullpen. After Bush surrendered a two-strike, two-out, two-run homer of his own to Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday, left-hander Chris Narveson finished the sixth inning with a strikeout. Todd Coffey was perfect in the seventh. LaTroy Hawkins worked around a double that struck a diving left fielder Ryan Braun in the glove while striking out the side in the eighth.

Then came Hoffman's "Hells Bells" in the ninth, as the 42-year-old sought his third save in as many games and No. 594 in his illustrious career. He walked Colby Rasmus leading off the inning but retired the next two hitters on long fly balls to the outfield. That brought up Stavinoha in the pitcher's spot, and he fouled off one 1-and-2 changeup before connecting with the next.

Brewers Lock Up Yo

2010-04-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

The Brewers on Thursday announced a new, five-year contract for right-hander Yovani Gallardo that will keep the club's home-grown, 24-year-old, Opening Day starter in-house through at least his first season of free agent eligibility.

According to the Associated Press, Gallardo is guaranteed $30.1 million in the deal and could earn $42.5 million including an option for a sixth season in 2015.

In three years, Gallardo is a career 22-18, with a ERA of 3.58

Davis Struggles, Brewers Recover

2010-04-07T16:39:00.002-05:00

The Brewers entered the rubber match against the Rockies on Wednesday hoping to pick up some momentum as they prepare for two early season divisional match ups against the Cardinals and Cubs. Doug Davis played his first game in a Brewers uniform since 2006, and the jitters would get to him early. The first inning brought 3 walks, 2 hits, and 3 runs, as Davis just seemed unable to get the ball under control.

After Manny Parra began to warm up, Davis seemed to settle down and was able to pitch into the 5th inning, allowing only a solo home run in the 3rd.

The Brewers bullpen would answer the call using 6 pitchers, including Todd Coffey who got his first win on the season and Trevor Hoffman who earned his second save of the season, and 593rd of his career. The Rockies were unable to score any runs after the third, allowing the Brewers hitting to take over.

Back-up catcher George Kottaras made big waves in his Brewers debut, scoring one run and knocking in two more including a sac fly in the 6th inning scoring Jim Edmonds after a clutch hit and run by Casey McGehee. In the same inning a Jody Gerut double would score the go ahead run, giving the Crew the 5-4 lead which would hold up and be the final.

Everything seemed to fall into place after a slow start and the Brewers have a day off before St. Louis comes to town for a weekend series. Dave Bush is scheduled to start in Fridays game.

Brewers Take Game Two

2010-04-07T02:00:00.000-05:00

Story by Adam McCalvy

Casey McGehee followed the slightest of two-strike foul tips with a booming opposite-field three-run homer in the first inning on Tuesday, sending the Brewers on their way to a 7-5 win over the Rockies at Miller Park. The second-chance blast also sent Randy Wolf on the way to a win in his Milwaukee debut and closer Trevor Hoffman to his 592nd career save.

The Brewers fought all night before praising the Rockies as a postseason contender. McGehee finished 2-for-3 with a walk and is 4-for-7 in the budding season. First baseman Prince Fielder reached safely in all four of his plate appearances (two hits, two walks) and scored three runs. Second baseman Rickie Weeks went 1-for-2, including a solo home run, and also walked twice and scored twice.

All of that offense bolstered a group of pitchers led by Wolf (1-0), who struck out eight without issuing a walk. Wolf was charged with four runs in 6 2/3 innings and surrendered nine hits, six of them to left-handed batters and three of those to veteran first baseman Todd Helton. Last season with the Dodgers, Wolf held left-handers to a .205 batting average and only four extra-base hits. Helton and third baseman Ian Stewart combined for three extra-base hits on Tuesday.

LaTroy Hawkins struck out two batters in a perfect eighth inning for a dominant Brewers debut, and, after RBI singles by Fielder and Alcides Escobar extended the Brewers' lead to 7-4, Hoffman surrendered a run in the ninth but nonetheless notched his first save this season and the 592nd of his career. The Brewers have a sign marking Hoffman's march toward 600 hanging over the bullpen in left-center field.

Brewers Drop Season Opener, 5-3 to the Rockies

2010-04-05T17:05:00.000-05:00

Opprutunity.

One word, one game, more then one chance. Thats what the Brewers had all day on Monday, but never made the big play offensively or defensively.

Yovani Gallardo went 7 innings, allowing 7 hits, 4 runs, and two walks. The Brewers committed two errors behind Gallardo, one of which lead to a run. Offensively, the bright point for Milwaukee was newcomer Carlos Gomez, Gomez went 4-for-5 with a solo HR and 2 runs scored.

Worth Noting

-Jim Edmonds, who got the start in RF over slumping Corey Hart, went 1-for-4, and stranded 5 men on base.

-Chris Narveson, who is did not allow a run all spring, gave up 3 hits and 1 earned run in 2 innings pitched.

Macha gives Gallardo Opening Day

2010-03-30T11:47:00.001-05:00

It was a move that all of Milwaukee and nationwide Brewer's fans knew was going to happen, and now it's official. Yovani Gallardo will be the Opening Day starter for the Brewers when they face the Rockies on April 5th. Macha says "I think he's ready for it"

Gallardo went on to win the team's pitcher of the year honors. He was 13-12 with a 3.73 ERA in 30 starts and became the fifth pitcher in Brewers history to top 200 strikeouts. Gallardo struck-out 204 batters before the team shut him down early to protect his young arm.

Opening Day Countdown: 6 Days 25 Minutes.

Davis gets bitten by D-Backs

2010-03-28T20:55:00.001-05:00

By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

Arizona 9, Milwaukee 1.

Doug Davis, who is likely to be the Brewers' No. 3 starter, got to face off against his former team. Davis pitched for the D-backs from 2007-09 before departing via free agency. It was not a game that Davis will likely want to remember. The left-hander struggled with his command, and when he did come in the strike zone, he was hit hard. Davis walked four and gave up nine hits in allowing six runs.

Cory Hart, one of the few Milwaukee regulars to make the trip to Tucson, singled and was caught stealing in his first at-bat. The Brewers had a golden scoring opportunity in the first with runners on the corners and one out, but Casey McGehee grounded into an inning-ending double play. Joe Inglett drove home a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Brewers return to Maryvale Baseball Park on Monday to take on the Giants. Dave Bush, who was named the team's No. 4 starter this past week, will get the start against Jonathan Sanchez. It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides this spring. The Brewers have won two of the three contests.

A Wolf in Wolf's clothing

2010-03-27T17:58:00.000-05:00

Randy Wolf huffed and puffed and blew down the Texas Rangers today, going 6 innings, allowing only 1 hit, with 7 K's. The Brewers were lead offensively by Prince Fielder, knocking in 2 on a sixth inning home run. Before that homerun then Brewers, like the Rangers, were in an offensive struggle. Rangers starter C.J Wilson went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits.

LaTroy Hawkins was back in action today, after sitting out for the last two weeks with a stiff right shoulder. He allowed an earned run in one inning of work.

The Brewers play the D-backs on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CT in the Tucson Electric Park. Left-hander Doug Davis is slated to pitch against his old Arizona mates. Davis came back to the Brewers this past offseason as a free agent after three seasons with the D-backs. He'll face right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, who is vying for a spot in the Arizona starting rotation.

Bush locks up 4 spot, Edmonds locks up roster spot

2010-03-27T14:24:00.000-05:00

The Brewers announced Saturday that Dave Bush will be the teams fourth starter behind Gallardo, Wolf, and Davis. Bush, a five-year veteran right-hander, is 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in three appearances this spring. The number five spot is still up for grabs and likely will come down to this last week of spring training, though the Brewers don't need the fifth starter until April 15th.

The Brewers also purchased the contract of Jim Edmonds, all but guaranteeing him a spot on the opening day roster. Edmonds this spring is batting .316 with 12 RBI and 2 HR. He will presumably act as the Brewers fifth outfielder behind Jody Gerut. But Edmonds could also get a few looks at first base. Though I think Prince Fielder may have other opinions on having any games off.

"Sub-Par" Suppan, Parra, struggle against Dodgers

2010-03-25T17:51:00.001-05:00

Jeff Suppan and Manny Parra both have arguments on why they should be a starter this season. But if Thursday's game had anything to do with starter decisions, neither made a statement.

Suppan had arguably the best game of this spring, unfortunately for him, he has had a horrible spring. He went 4.1 Innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 BB, and 2 ER. Not a horrible start for Suppan, but compared to the strong springs of Dave Bush and Chris Narveson, this start is sub-par.

Speaking of "sub-par" Manny Parra's efforts on Thursday were probably the worst of this spring. Parra allowed 4 runs in a shaky 6th inning, the Dodgers added another run in the bottom of the 8th. Parra's final line was 3.2 IP, 8 hits, 2 BB, and 5 earned. The Brewers fell to the Dodgers, 7-3.

The Brewers are back in action Friday against the Padres, gametime scheduled for 3:05 at Maryvale Ballpark.

Four Starters, A Contract, and the Future.

2010-03-25T02:34:00.002-05:00

It's no surprise that Jeff Suppan's 12.5 million dollar salary stands in the way of the Brewers of now and the ideal Brewers of the future. But nevertheless, with only two spots in the rotation to be filled, Suppan's contract speaks louder then his performance, though three others would like to disagree.

The first person to disagree on that list, is the only other righty fighting for a spot, Dave Bush. Bush is 38-40 with a 4.86 ERA in parts of six Major League seasons. By no means big numbers, but we have now seen him take no hitters into two separate games. The ability to have a big game will be looked at, as Suppan almost has zero possibility on achieving a 8+ inning start.

Another Brewer who is familiar with the organization is LHP Manny Parra. Parra is 21-20 with a 5.17 ERA in 58 Major League starts and 10 relief appearances. The Brewers know Parra has the ability to be a front of the rotation pitcher, but has yet to live up the the expectations. To make the decision even more difficult, Parra is out of minor league options, leaving him up for grabs if the Brewers option him.

The dark horse in this derby is LHP Chris Narveson. Narveson is 2-0 with a 3.99 ERA in 26 Major League games including five starts. Like Parra, Narveson is out of minor league options, and would have to clear waivers to remain a Brewer, which is rather unlikely. Narveson burst onto the Brewers' scene last September, when he went 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA in four starts and five relief appearances down the stretch to win Brewers pitcher of the month honors for September-October. Narveson has carried that success into Spring Training, holding opponents scoreless on just six hits in three Cactus League starts. He has worked nine innings.

The logical solution here is to go by the numbers and go by the future. Suppan obviously will not be a Brewer next year, but I see Parra and Narveson being included in the future of the organization. So what is more important Mr. Melvin? 12.5 million for a guarenteed 20 losses, or the ability to give a young gun the shot?

Fear the Beer Revival

2010-03-25T01:26:00.001-05:00

It's been a long time coming, but Fearthebeer is in for some BIG changes.

Coming soon for opening day 2010:

New Layout,
New Posts,
New Brewers Season.

Stay Tuned.

Email War with SportingNews' Tim Montemayor

2009-08-07T13:04:00.001-05:00

First a little background, Tim Montemayor on his show tonight was quoted saying "Fielder is a fat worthless disgrace to baseball" this comment infuriated me a bit and it lead to a email war.

My Original Message:

"How can you call prince fielder an embarasment? Your personal attack on the guy is an embarasment, seriously, the way you conduct yourself on the radio is an embarassment. As a Brewers fan and an amatuer sports writer, I find your comments not only offending to me and Prince Fielder, but the state of Wisconsin. You said the way Fielder conducted himself was an embarassment to baseball, yet throwing at him is clean? Manny did NOT get throwen at, Stetter has been wild all year. Attacking people for being overweight and their tempers is completly unprofessional, I am not saying what he did was right, but to say the things you said are ridiculous. Attacking a player who goes out and practices, plays hard, and wears his heart on his sleeve is just that, emotions. Saying he's not a good baseball player is a disgrace, and thats not spoken as a Brewer fan, thats spoken as a avid MLB fan. The fact that you think you can say the things you do are sick, and the fact you even have a job is horrible. Suck up to LA and Chicago fans a little more just because theyre a bigger market, I hope to hear from you, even though your close minded thought process wont be able to reply. You're the unprofessional joke here."

His Response:

"

Oh settle down...

It's not about being over weight, it's about being unprofessional. He is a well paid professional athlete who does not keep himself in shape, and as far as Los Angeles goes you could not be more wrong! I am not sucking up to LA, I am not even on in LA, facts do not discriminate, Manny got hit, so Prince got hit, thats baseball!

I did not say he was not a good baseball player, I said he was average, the guy is not on par with Lee, Pujols, or Berkman!

The way he went to the locker room not only was a poor reflection of his character, but also a poor reflection on a organization that has always had pride...he is unprofessional, and brought shame on his team last night!

You can say I am a joke, if you would like to pass my thoughts on to every single media outlet in the great state of Wisconsin, I applaud you for that effort, I will take all the PR I can get.

If you were offended by what I said, I am sorry for that! My show is about entertaining listeners, not offending them.

I appreciate you took time to write, and that you listen."

My Response:

"It's the simple fact that Manny gets this "special" treatment, when he tested positive for a banned substance (regardless what it was) The Brewers are a classy organization and I don't think Fielders apperence is negative. I can point out several baseball players who wear baggy pants, if it was an issue, Major League Baseball would say something. Stetter wasn't throwing at Manny, Mota was throwing at Fielder.. I know he just got his in the leg, but what would your comments be if it was in the head, how about in the face? I know retaliation is "part of the game" what happens when someone seriously gets injured? Prince Fielder may be overweight, but he IS professional, he goes to practice, he plays the game, he has excelled in his game, he hustles, and he gives 100% on the field. Yeah he has a temper, but this team has no fuel. What Prince did last night was unprofessional, that situation was, but Prince Fielder as a whole is not unprofessional. I guarentee you, and if you say anything different I call shenanigans, but if Derrick Lee did this, OR if Prince Fielder was a Cub, you would defend his actions, and say he is "just trying to motivate his team"

I understand your show is mean't to be entertaining,

I understand that radio is a very opinonated profession,

but there is a point where insults also need to be kept at a professional level."

His Response:

"Go to the mound! Don't go F'Bombing to the Dodger locker room, go to the mound!

If DLee constantly had his jersey un-tucked and went to the locker room to fight, I would call him unprofessional...listen to the show, in fact I got on Soriano tonight for being a bust! I only ask that people are real about their "Fandom", and I lead the way on that!"

My Response:

"So,
if Fielder goes to the mound,
your rants on the guy wouldn't of happened?

Regardless of what he does, I still feel we are in the same boat.
you did dog Soriano tonight, but you also stated he was still a power house,
I don't mind your opinons, but since you're "professional" and all, I would expect you to not be so hpycritical of your comments. I would like you to address how you would react if Fielder was in a Cubs jersey, I'd like you to address how this situation would be if Fielder got hit somewhere else, I'd like you to address how you can justify Russel Martin coming out and straight out saying "we threw at him" when Stetter DID NOT throw at Manny, I'd like you to stop avoiding my questions and stop just throwing your opinons at me."

His Response:

"No, if he charged the mound, I would have stood up for Mota and Prince, but Prince has always been close to getting my best effort, and that whole deal last night pushed me over the line."

Basically he avoided all my questions, didn't answer anything with any ammount of logic, and continued all his close minded comments.

RELOCATION

2009-07-08T08:23:00.002-05:00

ALL BREWERS POST GAME WRAPS,
INCLUDING PACKER, BUCKS, AND BADGER NEWS,
CAN NOW BE FOUND: HERE

Brewers Stocks

2009-05-29T02:51:00.002-05:00

STOCK UP

Casey McGehee - Brewers second basemen Casey McGehee has seen reasonable amounts of playing time over at second base in the absence of Rickie Weeks. Posting hits in 4 of the 6 games he has started puts his stock up as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. We all saw how Duffy, Nelson, and McGehee played in Spring Training, its good to know one of them was not a fluke.

Mike Rivera - Only getting few chances to catch, Mike Rivera has made the most of his time behind the plate. Batting .309 in his limited at bats, Rivera has seen a good eye at the plate and has shown a professionalism in his hitting style. If Kendall continues his slump, its makes you wonder if we will see more of Rivera behind the plate.

STOCK DOWN

Corey Hart - Corey Hart's last home run was a game winner, never the less it was a long time ago when he was in St. Louis. With the recent signing of Frank Catalanatto, Corey Harts struggles may find him a nice cozy seat on the bench. Catalanatto brings a veteran lefty bat to the ball club, something the Brewers also have in Craig Counsell.

Manny Parra - Manny Parra's last few starts may have been decent, but still they have been loses. Posting an ERA over 5, Parra may start to be dangled as trade bait. With rumors swirling again about a Jake Peavy trade, you wonder if Manny Parra could maybe be used to unload a trade at the Padres.

Twins-Cards Scoring Recap & Standings

2009-05-29T02:49:00.002-05:00

Fri, May 22
@ MIN L 3-11

Sat, May 23
@ MIN L 2-6

Sun, May 24
@ MIN L 3-6

Mon, May 25
vs. STL W 1-0

Tue, May 26
vs. STL L 1-8

Wed, May 27
vs. STL L 2-3

STL	28	19	.596	-
MIL	27	20	.574	1.0
CIN	26	20	.565	1.5
CHC	23	23	.500	4.5
PIT	21	26	.447	7.0
HOU	18	27	.400	9.0

Brewers Lose Game One of Border Battle

2009-05-23T02:20:00.001-05:00

Manny Parra's May resurgence hit a major snag Friday at the Metrodome. The left-hander surrendered nine runs -- eight earned -- on eight hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings as the Brewers were plastered, 11-3, by the Twins.

"We held them to 11," Brewers manager Ken Macha joked. "The White Sox didn't do much [better] -- they only held them to 20."

A bit of levity was needed after the Brewers spent two hours and 43 minutes playing futile catch-up. The Twins, of course, were one day removed from crushing the White Sox, 20-1. Parra didn't fare much better than Thursday's opponent, Bartolo Colon.

"Manny pretty much ran into a buzz saw there," Macha said.

Parra said he didn't think anything of Minnesota's offensive output from the day before.

"Teams sometimes score a bunch of runs in a day and then the next day they don't score anything, so there's really no formula to it," Parra said.

Michael Cuddyer was Milwaukee's biggest assailant, hitting for the cycle while going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored.

"Cuddyer, in the years I was with the A's, he always swung the bat well against us," Macha said. "So he's probably happy to see me in the dugout."

"It seemed like he was locked in, definitely," Parra said. "He breaks a bat [in the sixth inning] and hits a triple down the line. It's just one of those nights."

"I don't think even in Little League that I've ever hit for the cycle before," Cuddyer said. "It's fun. You can't really describe it. Obviously, it doesn't happen every day. It's a day that I'll always remember."

Parra struggled immediately, surrendering a three-run homer to Cuddyer in the first inning. Cuddyer saw consecutive changeups, the second of which was right in his wheelhouse.

"It was right down the middle," Parra said. "Normally, I want that down and away."

The left-hander allowed one run in each of the second and third innings before getting into major trouble in the fourth -- no thanks to a defensive gaffe.

With one out, Parra walked Nick Punto and surrendered a single to Denard Span. Joe Mauer grounded to second baseman Casey McGehee, who flipped to shortstop Craig Counsell. Counsell -- who had slid over from second base at the beginning of the inning after J.J. Hardy exited the game with back spasms -- dropped the throw while preparing to execute what would have been an inning-ending double play. Instead, a run scored and runners were left on first and second.

"It's just one of those freak plays," McGehee said. "It was unfortunate, and it gave them a second lease."

Justin Morneau then crushed a triple to bring both runners home and end Parra's night.

By the end of the fourth inning, the score was 9-0 and most patrons were thinking of an early-exit strategy. Those thoughts weren't helped by the Brewers, who weren't able to put up much of a fight against Twins starter Kevin Slowey.

McGehee generated two runs, hitting a fifth-inning sacrifice fly to center field and a seventh-inning RBI double. Ryan Braun had an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Parra appeared to have turned the corner after a difficult April in which he was 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA in four starts. Entering Friday, Parra was 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four May outings. In five starts since April 26, he was 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA.

"This one is an ugly one," Parra said. "This is the ugliest one of them all. If there was ever a time to have amnesia, it's right now. That's something that I'm learning to do."

Was it an especially frustrating appearance because of the five promising starts that had preceded it?

"You always want to keep taking a step forward, but these things happen," Parra said. "So I'll just go back to doing what I've been doing."

Thor Nystrom is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Current NL Central Standings

2009-05-22T03:04:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee	26	15	.634	-	12-7	14-8	206	168	+38	Won 1	8-2
St. Louis	24	17	.585	2	15-8	9-9	194	177	+17	Won 3	5-5
Chicago Cubs	21	18	.538	4	12-7	9-11	184	175	+9	Lost 4	5-5
Cincinnati	21	19	.525	4.5	8-11	13-8	180	178	+2	Lost 1	4-6
Pittsburgh	19	22	.463	7	11-9	8-13	188	176	+12	Lost 1	7-3
Houston	18	21	.462	7	9-12	9-9	165	185	-20	Lost 1	6-4

Brewers Start Friday with Roster Moves

2009-05-22T02:57:00.004-05:00

To clear room for the newly acquired Jody Gerut, the Brewers have designated OF Chris Duffy for assignment, meaning he must clear waivers and then accept his Triple A assignment to stay a Brewer. In another roster move the Brewers sent IF Hernan Irribearen back to Triple A Nashville and recalled P RJ Swindle.

Brewers Rally to Beat Astros

2009-05-22T02:57:00.001-05:00

Game Wrap

Brewers Acquire Gerut, Say Goodbye to Gwynn Jr

2009-05-22T02:56:00.001-05:00

The Brewers traded Tony Gwynn Jr. to his hometown Padres on Thursday for Jody Gerut in a swap of left-handed-hitting outfielders.

Gerut, 31, was hitting .221 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in San Diego this season. He'll join the Brewers on Friday in Minneapolis before the start of a three-game Interleague series. The Brewers will have to clear a spot on the 25-man roster when Gerut arrives.

"Over the long haul, you want to protect yourself in case you have an injury," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "If there are chances to improve the club little by little, you do it."

Melvin tried to trade for Gerut last season. It was a breakthrough 2008 for Gerut, who returned from two years of knee problems to bat .296 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. Gerut is off those numbers this season, but the Brewers hope he can provide some added protection against tough right-handed pitchers, possibly as a spot starter for center fielder Mike Cameron or right fielder Corey Hart. Gerut started 21 games in center field for the Padres and three in right field.

Melvin conceded he was "a little concerned" that the Brewers were too right-handed. Their left-handed backups have provided little help. Chris Duffy was hitting .125 entering play Thursday, and Brad Nelson went 0-for-21 before the Brewers released him.

Gerut also gives the Brewers one more candidate to hit leadoff. Melvin contacted the Padres to rekindle talks about Gerut on Monday, the same day he learned that leadoff man Rickie Weeks would need season-ending wrist surgery.

"You have to look at what he can do and what he has done," Brewers manager Ken Macha said of Gerut. "He can play all three outfield positions, and he has led off. With that being said, we have three pretty darn good outfielders. But it's a long season, and you want to try to get as many good players as you can."

Said Melvin: "They're different kinds of players, Tony and Gerut. [Gerut] will drive the ball, hit some homers and doubles."

From the Padres' perspective, they dumped salary -- Gerut is earning $1.775 million this season and will earn a bit more than $1.3 million from the Brewers -- while gaining a player with deep San Diego roots. Gwynn's father played all 20 of his Hall of Fame seasons with the Padres and still works the team's television broadcasts.

The Brewers drafted Gwynn Jr. two picks before the Padres' turn in the second round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

"I'm sure it will be special for him [to play in San Diego]," said Melvin, who spoke with Gwynn via telephone on Thursday. "I do hope people don't put too much pressure on him, think that he's going to get 3,000 hits like his father. That's the thing he's up against a little bit, but I said he should enjoy it, and I think he will enjoy it."

The Padres could have had Gwynn six weeks ago for nothing. He missed much of Spring Training with a sore right throwing shoulder, and when the Brewers went instead with Duffy and Nelson, Gwynn was placed on waivers to get him off the 40-man roster. Brewers officials were surprised when he cleared.

Gwynn admitted his disappointment but responded by hitting .309 with a .387 on-base percentage, 39 runs and 15 stolen bases in 16 tries at Triple-A Nashville.

"You never saw signs of disappointment," said Mat Gamel, who was Gwynn's Triple-A teammate until Gamel's promotion to Milwaukee last week. "He was a positive guy -- seemed to always find the best in any situation. I had a lot of long talks with Tony about everything, life in general and the game of baseball. [On the field], he was really the pacesetter for us."

"I'm happy for him," said Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, Gwynn's closest Brewers teammate. "I bet he's happy. I thought he played well at [Nashville] and really stayed focused. It's a credit to him -- a show of how professional he is."

Gwynn Jr. can play all three outfield spots but he never gained a foothold in parts of three seasons with the Brewers. He has a career .248 average in 242 at-bats in the Major Leagues with a .300 on-base percentage.

Gwynn Jr.'s highlight came in September 2007, when he derailed the Padres' postseason plans with an RBI triple against then-closer Trevor Hoffman that tied a game San Diego would go on to lose in extra innings. The Padres missed the postseason by one victory, losing to Colorado in a one-game tiebreaker for the Wild Card.

"I think if there's any place he can go and be successful, he found it [in San Diego]," Hoffman said. "He'll be admired, and it's almost like he's one of their own, because he grew up in their clubhouse."

Hoffman last spoke to Gwynn in April during a rehabilitation assignment with Nashville.

"To Anthony's credit, the four days I was with him in Memphis he was very determined to do things right and prove Milwaukee wrong, prove to other teams that he belonged in the big leagues," Hoffman said. "I admired the way he was going about it."

Hoffman's scouting report on Gerut: "Very good guy. A student of the game, a Stanford guy. He's overcome some injuries to get back to where he is. ... He's a guy that's got some tools and works hard. I think he'll fit nicely in this clubhouse."

Melvin wouldn't hint which player would be demoted to make room for Gerut. If the Brewers try to demote Duffy, who is out of Minor League options, they would have to pass him through waivers first.

Story by Adam McCalvy of MLB.com

Group Effort Produces Brewers Route.

2009-05-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

On a night that every Brewers starter recorded a hit, a route happened. The Brewers put up 15 runs, including 9 in the first two innings, including a 3 run home run from Hardy, and a grand slam from Braun. Counsell went 4-6 and Fielder contributed a 2 run shot. Manny Parra picked up his first win of the year, allowing 2 over six innings of work. Final score, Brewers 15 Reds 3.

Getting Hot and Staying Hot

2009-05-06T14:45:00.003-05:00

Last night the Brewers calmed the fears of some fans who may have thought the bats were cooling down. The fears were justified after only beating the Pirates 1-0 to finish off last week's series with the only run coming on a solo homerun from your pitcher, then a series with the Diamondbacks in which the Brewers averaged under 3 runs a game.

The bats were slow on Monday night as well until late in the game when Ryan Braun pinch hit and tied up the game, and a Rickie Weeks 3 run shot that increased the winning streak over the Pirates to 16.

The Brewers are loaded with good hitters and players are getting hot and cold. JJ Hardy had a break out game Tuesday night with 3 hits, 4 RBIs, and 2 walks.

The pitching has been hot as well, who didn't play "Hells Bells" on their iPod on Monday night when Trevor Hoffman took the field? And as much as most Brewer fans are dismayed with Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan, the entire starting pitching staff has been doing pretty well, the losses having a lot to do with poor hitting not poor pitching.

But the Crew has now won 12 of their last 16 and will look to stay hot tonight in Cincinnati where they pit 0-4 Manny Parra up against 4-1 Bronson Arroyo who comes in with a 4.91 ERA.

The Soups Hot

2009-05-01T03:34:00.000-05:00

Jeff Suppan gave up a lead off homerun to Felipe Lopez Thursday night, but from there on out, he was spotless. Suppan pitched six solid innings allowing only one run. His counterpart Max Scherzer pitched a solid seven innings, allowing no runs. But like many teams, the bullpen for the Dbacks couldnt hold it. A three run seventh, including a Cameron 2 rbi double to left gave the Crew a 4-1 lead and they never looked back. DiFelice got the win moving him to 2-0, Hoffman picked up his second save.

Live From Miller Park - Wrap

2009-04-29T15:14:00.000-05:00

It was a 1-0 win.. but never te less.. it was a win. Yovani Gallardo pitched 8 innings of 2 hit ball, allowing no runs, and striking out 11. Not only did Gallardo do it on he mound, he supplied the only offense for he Brewers hitting a solo shot in the seventh. In a surprising moving, the Brewers brought on Villanueva to close it out instead of Hoffman, I speculate that it was just Macha keeping his arm fresh. Villanueva pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, as the Brewers win, 1-0.

side note: My last two Brewer games have both been 1-0 Brewer victorys.

Live From Miller Park - Where the F*ck is Hoffman!?

2009-04-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

I had a large post made, but my phone decided to freeze.. so i have to re sum all of this.

Gallardo had two k's and gave up one hit. But kept it scoreless and set himself up for the win. In the bottom of the 8th, Braun grounded out, but Fielder ripped a scorched double in the gap. Hart struckout looking, so the Crew looked to Hardy to bring in some insurance, unfortunaty he couldnt. Groundout to third.

side note: why is Villanueva in the bullpen, and not Hoffman?

Villanueva is in to close it out... a little concerned about where Hoffman is...

Live at Miller Park - Top 8

2009-04-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

A contraversial play to start the top of the seventh on a close play at first, where it appeared Prince Fielder layed a tag on Sanchez on a play at first, though he was called safe, ruled an e-6. Brandon Moss followed with a fly out to Duffy, LaRoche flew out to Braun, Hinske walked putting runners on first and second, but Gallardo got Andy LaRoche to popout to Fielder in foul territory to end the threat.

BRB, stretchtime.

Kendall lead off the botton of the frame for the Crew and flew out on a deep fly ball to left field. Gallardo, pitching a one hit gem, got to bat for himself, and bat for himself he did, after a quick two strikes, Gallardo ripped a shot up and over the wall to left for his second homer of the year. 1-0 Brewers. As I am trying to blog while being engulfed in quick wave making its way acrossed Miller Park. Weeks just walked, Duffy flew out the left, and Braun is up, looking to chage around his 0-3 with three K's, but he wouldn't get the chance as Weeks ws gunned out trying to steal second. Moving to the 8th, 1-0 Brewers.

Live From Miller Park - Top 7

2009-04-29T13:51:00.000-05:00

Gallardo struck out two in the top of the sixth, moving his strikeout total in the game to nine. Prince lead off the sixth with a base hit to right field, Hart followed with a fly ball to right, Hardy struck out on three pitches, and Hall grounded out on a squib in front of homeplate. Top 7, 0-0

on a side note, the Bratwurst won the sausage race today, winning me four dollars.

Live From Miller Park - Top Six

2009-04-29T13:38:00.000-05:00

Well, the Gallardo no hit bid was broken up in the top of the fifth by Pirates third basement Andy LaRoche, thats Andy if you're playing in the who's that LaRoche sweepstakes.

The Brewers started the bottom of the fifth with a Gallardo groundout, Weeks popout, and then a double down the line by Chris Duffy, who is getting his second start in center this season. Ryan Braun then struckout for the third time in the game. Top Six, 0-0.

Live From Miller Park - Top 5

2009-04-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

Coming to you live from Miller Park as the Brewers are battling the Pirates in game three of a three game set. Brewers took game one in the series 10-5 and game two 6-5. The Brewers looked to Gallardo for the sweep today. Currently in the top of the fifth it is 0-0, Gallardo has pitched four innings of perfect baseball. Brewers at the plate have been quiet, as a foul ball just flew by my head.

Pirates/Brewers Pitching Preview

2009-04-26T15:28:00.002-05:00

Miller Park, Milwaukee Wisconsin

Monday April 27, 2009
Jeff Karstens (1-0, 3.60) vs. Braden Looper (2-0, 2.12)

Tuesday April 28, 2009
Paul Maholm (3-0, 2.03) vs. Dave Bush (1-0, 3.86)

Wednesday April 29, 2009
Ian Snell (1-2, 4.50) vs. Yovani Gallardo (2-1, 3.71)
[a game in which I will be attending]

Crank Up the Hells Bells

2009-04-26T15:20:00.003-05:00

In a roster move today the Brewers activated P Trevor Hoffman and Designated P RJ Swindle back to Triple A Nashville. In a report with Brewers Manager Ken Macha, it has been stated that Hoffman is the Brewers Closer. Look for DiFelice in the 7th, Coffey in the 8th, and Hoffman in the 9th.

"I'm anxious to get out there and compete again. Standing around watching the guys play gets a little old. It's definitely not the way you want to join a new ballcub -- two weeks late. Based on the circumstances, I appreciate their patience."

Brewers Win Thriller, Make it Four Straight

2009-04-26T15:16:00.002-05:00

My Blood Pressure may have raised about 45-50 points, but in the end it was worth it as the Brewers prevailed in 11 innings last night against Houston 9-8.

For the complete wrap story head here

Settle Down, Brewers Fans

2009-04-22T15:18:00.003-05:00

I've heard a lot of people freaking out over the last week or so about this years team. A lot of people saying things like "I'm doubting my love for the Brewers," or "The Brewers are just bad this year," etc.

It's time to settle down. Yes, the hitting has been less than great, the pitching has had it's share of forehead slapping moments, and Jeff Suppan is still in the starting rotation. All good reasons for concern.

Not to mention the fact that the Brewers are only getting one win per series. It's been a bumpy road thus far. I don't think it's time to panic or to make mass leaps of the bandwagon. This team is still loaded up with hitters, most of whom are cold. The pitching needs work, but they aren't as bad to give up 11 runs every night and it has had some pretty good moments. (See Gallardo and Coffey)

Things are going to click... it's a when not an if.

Phillies Continue Dominance Against Crew

2009-04-22T15:10:00.002-05:00

Story by MLB Writer Adam McCalvy

It used to be Pittsburgh that gave the Brewers fits. Now it seems their house of horrors has relocated to the other side of the Appalachians.

Manny Parra struggled and so did the relievers who followed him in Milwaukee's 11-4 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday night at rainy Citizens Bank Park, a place that's been tough for the Brewers for more reasons than the weather. They have lost seven straight games in Philadelphia and 11 of their last 12, including two losses in last year's National League Division Series.

The Brewers' lone bright spot Tuesday was Ryan Braun, who set a career high for hits as part of a 5-for-5, four-RBI night. He hit two home runs and legged out three infield hits, but even Braun was somber after another frustrating night in the City of Brotherly Love.

"I don't think it has as much to do with this place as it does with their team," Braun said of the reigning World Series champs. "They're very well-rounded, they have great starting pitching, a great bullpen. They swing the bats well, they play good defense.

"Right now, we're not doing any of those things well."

The outcome wasn't good. Braun's first-inning solo home run off ageless Phillies starter Jamie Moyer (he's 46, and now he's 2-1 this season) gave the visitors a quick 1-0 lead, but it was short-lived. The Phillies struck back with four runs in the first inning against Parra (0-3), and then pulled away in the fifth by putting up a five-spot against relievers Jorge Julio and R.J. Swindle.

The game was delayed for an hour and 18 minutes in the top of the seventh inning by rain. But Mother Nature couldn't wash away another walk-marred loss -- Parra & Co. combined for nine free passes -- as the Brewers dropped into last place in the National League Central at 4-9.

Braun hit a two-run blast to left in the fifth and an RBI infield hit following the rain delay in the seventh. Those four runs represented all Milwaukee could muster against Moyer, who scattered seven Brewers hits including Braun's homers in six innings for his 248th career win.

Parra was not as sharp.

"I [stunk]," Parra said. "I never gave our team a chance to win."

He surrendered five runs and 10 baserunners -- seven hits and three walks -- in four innings. Philadelphia batted around in the first inning and scored four runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Pedro Feliz capped the rally with an RBI single, and he added a solo home run off Parra in the fourth.

Braun's blasts kept the Brewers as close as 5-3 entering the bottom of the fifth, when the game slipped away from Julio and Swindle. Julio walked three of the first five hitters he faced including Moyer, who struck out in his other two plate appearances. Swindle inherited a bases-loaded jam and walked the first hitter he faced -- Chase Utley -- to force in a run. It was the seventh bases-loaded walk by a Milwaukee pitcher this season.

"It's frustrating," Braun said. "If you don't make them swing the bat, then you don't keep your defense in the game and you don't give your team a chance to get anybody out. We're falling behind everybody. Every hitter.

"The pitching has obviously been pretty bad, but the offense has been pretty bad. The defense has been pretty bad. I don't think we've really done anything well the first 13 games of the season. We just have to find a way to turn it around. Saying, 'It's early,' or, 'No need to panic,' none of that really matters. We just need to come out and play better."

Ryan Howard followed Utley and stood by as the Phillies tacked on two more insurance runs. The first scored when Swindle's wild pitch bounced away from catcher Jason Kendall, and a second runner raced home when Kendall's flip to Swindle covering the plate got by the Brewers pitcher.

But it was the walks that bothered Brewers manager Ken Macha, and one stood out. Julio had two outs and an 0-and-2 count against Moyer before issuing a free pass. Jimmy Rollins followed with a single to load the bases for Shane Victorino, who delivered an RBI hit.

"We battled back, we got in the game," Macha said. "To me, [the Moyer walk] was the turning point in the game. ... This walking people, it just can't continue. That's all there is to it."

Parra's poor outing snapped a streak of success for Brewers starters. His last outing against the Reds began a streak of five consecutive quality starts -- six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs.

Macha would like to see Parra throw more changeups, 30 or so per 100 pitches. By the manager's count, only 11 of Parra's 77 pitches on Tuesday were changeups, and 10 of those were strikes.

Asked what was causing his trouble, Parra answered quickly.

"Command," he said. "It's everything. It's up in the zone right now. ... It's mechanical, I'm sure. I'm working my butt off between starts on getting the ball down. I've been doing it for a year and a half now, as far as making that my main focus. You see progress, but it's just inconsistent right now."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Riske Headed to DL

2009-04-17T12:55:00.000-05:00

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

The Brewers placed reliever David Riske on the 15-day disabled list Thursday and recalled lefty R.J. Swindle, who will join the team in time for the start of a three-game series in New York.

Riske has a tight right elbow, according to a Brewers spokesperson. He traveled with the team to New York on Thursday afternoon, but will fly cross-country on Monday for a second opinion in Los Angeles from noted orthopedist Lewis Yocum.

Since Riske hasn't pitched since last Thursday in San Francisco, when he surrendered two runs on four hits against the Giants, his DL assignment was retroactive to last Friday.

The 32-year-old has been a workhorse through the years, appearing in at least 41 games in every season since 2001, and at least 51 games in five of those seven seasons. He is in the second season of a three-year contract with Milwaukee and essentially has been hurt for his entire Brewers tenure, beginning with elbow discomfort caused by a bone spur at the start of Spring Training 2008. Riske pitched through the pain and ran up a 5.31 ERA in 45 games.

Riske had the spur surgically removed last October and reported to camp this year saying he felt physically fine. The right-hander did, however, surrender at least one run in nine of his 11 Cactus League appearances, before allowing two more runs against the Giants.

Swindle, 25, gave up one run on three hits in four Spring Training appearances before he was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers signed him away from the Phillies on Nov. 25. He'll give manager Ken Macha a second left-handed option on the team's road trip to New York, Philadelphia and Houston, along with Mitch Stetter.

Reds Recap

2009-04-17T12:49:00.002-05:00

Apoligies for no posts, my grandma passed away earlier this week, and I have been quite busy with that.

Game 1- 6-7 Loss
Game 2- 1-6 Loss
Game 3- 9-3 Win

Overall Record: 3-6

4 GB of St. Louis

For Game recaps head to Here or Here

Suppan and Walks Doom Crew in Finale

2009-04-13T15:05:00.002-05:00

Jeff Suppan always says his goal is to keep his team in the game, but this time he pitched the Brewers right out of one.

Suppan and reliever Jorge Julio tied a modern Major League record when they combined for four bases-loaded walks in the fourth inning, and the Cubs pulled away for an 8-5 win in front of 40,168 at Miller Park, plus a national television audience that tuned in for Milwaukee's first Sunday night game in 12 years.

Prince Fielder nearly slugged the Brewers back into the game in the fifth, only to see his game-tying grand slam pulled back by Cubs right fielder Reed Johnson with a spectacular defensive effort. Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks hit solo home runs where Cubs outfielders couldn't reach them, and J.J. Hardy drove in a pair of runs without the benefit of a hit, but the Brewers dropped the series against their National League Central rivals, two games to one.

The pitching was the culprit, manager Ken Macha said.

"Ten walks, a couple hit batsmen. Five of the guys we walked scored and one hit batsmen scored," Macha said. "That wasn't a very well-pitched game."

Much of the blame for that fell to Suppan (0-2), who walked six batters in 3 2/3 innings and was charged with five earned runs. His first pitch was belted for a home run by Cubs leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano, but that was one of only two Cubs hits off Suppan. Walks, not hits, did him in.

The score was tied at 1 entering the decisive fourth inning, when the Cubs loaded the bases with one out. Suppan walked No. 8 hitter Koyie Hill on four pitches -- a no-no with Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (1-0) standing on deck -- to force home the go-ahead run. Dempster followed with a fielder's choice grounder, and the Brewers retired the lead runner at the plate to leave Suppan one out away from an escape.

Instead, he walked Soriano on a 3-2 pitch to force in another run. Kosuke Fukudome also looked at a full-count Ball 4 to make it 4-1 before Macha called for Julio, who walked Derrek Lee on four pitches to make it 5-1.

Since divisional play began in 1969, teams have issued four bases-loaded walks in an inning nine times, including twice in the past five days. The Braves did it Wednesday in a loss to the Phillies.

"Just a poor job," Suppan said. "I'll think about it tonight and then get ready for my next start."

Did he feel tentative?

"There were a couple of pitches that 'cut off,' or I tried to throw it a little too hard," Suppan said. "But for the most part, I feel like I wasn't [tentative]. I was going after that out."

Suppan is winless in his last eight Brewers starts, including Game 4 of last year's National League Division Series against the Phillies, with a 10.13 ERA -- 36 earned runs in 32 innings -- in those games. He's allowed 12 home runs in a span that's all the more baffling, considering that Suppan was 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA last August.

"The way I get myself going is go back to my foundations," Suppan said. "Go back to location, changing of speeds and working fast. That's how I pitch, and I try to get ground balls."

For the record, Suppan said last year's elbow problem is a "non-issue" today.

Macha was at a loss to explain Sunday's outing, calling it, "a tough one to figure out," because Suppan was missing where pitchers like to miss: down. But the veteran has worked only 7 2/3 innings in his two starts, and Macha worries that the short outings could cause trouble in the bullpen.

"You've got to give us six innings," Macha said. "That's two starts now in a row where I'm in the bullpen for a lot of innings. He's got to trust his stuff and go after the hitters. ... He fell behind and he was trying to stay away from throwing straight fastballs, so he's trying to sink it and cut it and keep it down. It wasn't happening."

Suppan was not the only Brewers pitcher having trouble finding the strike zone. After escaping the fourth inning, Julio walked Mike Fontenot, who scored on Ryan Theriot's double. In the eighth, Seth McClung walked Joey Gathright, who eventually scored on Lee's sacrifice fly. In the ninth, Mitch Stetter walked Theriot, and he scored on Hill's double.

Still, the Brewers nearly staged a comeback. Fielder almost tied the game when he hit a bases-loaded fly ball to right field in the fourth that was on the way to being his first career grand slam. But Johnson, a replacement for the injured Milton Bradley, leaped and pulled the baseball back into play. Fielder settled for a sacrifice fly, and he waited to make eye contact with Johnson before tipping his batting helmet.

"Not too many people can make that play," Fielder said. "I was a little bit [shocked]. I don't have a grand slam yet, so it would be pretty cool."

Hardy followed Fielder with a run-scoring groundout that cut the deficit to 6-4. In the ninth, trailing 8-4, Weeks hit a long homer to left field off Cubs closer Kevin Gregg, and the Brewers put two more men on base with two outs for Fielder, who represented the tying run.

Gregg struck him out on a high fastball to end the game. The Brewers fell to 2-4, and they will host the Reds for three games beginning Monday.

"I think we'll turn it around," Fielder said.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bullpen can't Hold.... Again

2009-04-13T15:03:00.000-05:00

The Brewers and Cubs are certainly giving the fans their early-season money's worth.

One night after Ryan Braun delivered an RBI grounder in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the Brewers' home opener, it was the Cubs' turn to rally in the final frames. J.J. Hardy's two-run single in the seventh had given Milwaukee the lead, but Aramis Ramirez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning and Alfonso Soriano crushed a two-run shot in the ninth that sent the Brewers to a 6-5 loss in front of another sellout crowd at Miller Park.

A questionable call that went Chicago's way loomed large considering the Cubs' one-run margin, but there was no doubt about the homers. That was particularly true for Soriano, who ambushed a first-pitch changeup from fill-in closer Carlos Villanueva (0-1) and sent it deep into the left-field bleachers.

"I knew I wasn't going to be perfect every time out," said Villanueva, who fell to 1-for-2 in save chances while Trevor Hoffman mends a rib-cage injury. When reporters were let into the Brewers' clubhouse after the game, Villanueva was waiting for them at his locker. That's a move Hoffman is known for.

"I have to leave it here when I walk out the door," Villanueva said. "Tomorrow is another day. You can't have any carryover from today to tomorrow, because tomorrow they might need me again. I'll be out there."

Hoffman is making progress, but he is weeks away from a return. So how might the 24-year-old Villanueva rebound from his first blown save as a bona fide closer?

"We're going to find that out," manager Ken Macha said. "That's the way it is with all closers. That's the test, to see how they do after they are unsuccessful on one."

Said Saturday starter Dave Bush, a former collegiate closer: "He'll be OK. There aren't too many guys who go a whole season without a blown save. [The Phillies' Brad] Lidge last year is one of the few I remember, ever. The good ones come back the next day ready to go."

Cubs reliever Aaron Heilman (1-0) picked up the win despite allowing Hardy's go-ahead hit. Carlos Marmol, not Cubs closer Kevin Gregg, worked the bottom of the ninth inning for the save, striking out Braun and Prince Fielder to close it out.

The Cubs and Brewers will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday night in a nationally televised contest on ESPN. It's tempting to wonder whether the neck-and-neck start to the season series portends the race in the National League Central.

"I'll leave that comparison stuff to you guys," Fielder told reporters. "We just try to play our game, and when we play our game, good things happen. If we keep playing like this, we're going to be all right."

The final score magnified a very close call that went the Cubs' way in the seventh inning, when Soriano hit a potential double-play grounder to Hardy at shortstop with the bases loaded and one out. Second baseman Rickie Weeks was a bit slow with a relay throw that one-hopped to first baseman Fielder, and though television replays showed that Soriano was out by a half-step, the call from first-base umpire Angel Hernandez was safe. Instead of the Brewers escaping with a 3-2 lead, the Cubs had tied the game at 3.

"He looked out to me," said reliever Mark DiFelice, who had entered the game to face Soriano. "Macha came to me on the mound and said, 'Give me a ground ball here,' and I got a ground ball to J.J. Unfortunately, the umpire missed it. It's unfortunate."

Macha was on the top step of the dugout after the play, but he did not run out to log a protest, nor did he watch a replay later.

"I don't watch replays," he said. "Prince didn't really yell and scream that much. He came in and thought it was 'bang-bang.'"

Fielder's view was simple. The umpire called the runner safe, so he was safe.

"It's not my job to protest," Fielder said. "I just try to make the plays. Obviously, it was bang-bang. He beat it out, I guess."

The run was charged to Bush, who was charged with three earned runs on six hits in 6 1/3 effective innings. He walked two and struck out five in his first start of the season.

At the plate, Fielder hit a two-run homer, his first of the season, and Weeks chipped in an RBI single in front of 43,768 fans as the Brewers built leads of 2-0 and 3-2 against the Cubs and starter Carlos Zambrano, who allowed three runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out seven in six innings.

The score was 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, when Corey Hart and Braun worked walks from right-handed reliever Angel Guzman and Fielder did the same against lefty Neal Cotts to load the bases with one out. Cubs manager Lou Piniella sent out his pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, to replace Cotts with Heilman before Hardy stepped to the plate.

Heilman threw three straight sinkers, and Hardy poked a go-ahead single to center field that scored Hart and Braun for a 5-3 Brewers lead. The clutch hit snapped Hardy's 0-for-7 start to the season with runners in scoring position. He was 1-for-19 overall going into the at-bat.

"I know [the numbers] aren't good," Hardy said. "All my numbers aren't good, so I can't imagine that they're any better with runners in scoring position. Just to get a hit [felt good]. Any time you're 1-for-20, a hit feels pretty good."

But back came the Cubs. Ramirez hit his home run in the eighth inning off DiFelice to make it 5-4 entering the ninth. Villanueva retired the first hitter he faced on a weak flyout to left field, but pinch-hitter Reed Johnson followed with a single before Soriano went deep.

"I wanted to throw him a changeup that had more 'depth' on it," Villanueva said. "It was a little straight."

"They clawed their way back into it, and we couldn't get it closed out in that ninth inning," Macha said.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Brewers Claim Game One from Cubs in a Wild Finish

2009-04-10T19:13:00.004-05:00

Story by MLB Writer Adam McCalvy

Rickie Weeks hit a game-tying double with one out in the ninth inning and then slid home safely on a Ryan Braun grounder to give the Brewers a thrilling 4-3 win over the Cubs in Milwaukee's home opener on Friday.

The Brewers had trailed, 3-2, after reliever Seth McClung surrendered a two-out, two-run home run to Cubs No. 8 hitter Koyie Hill in the sixth. But facing Cubs closer Kevin Gregg (0-1), Chris Duffy worked a one-out walk and then scored the tying run on Weeks' double off left fielder Alfonso Soriano's head. It was one of only four Brewers hits.

Weeks moved to third on a wild pitch, and Corey Hart walked before Braun hit a grounder to shortstop Ryan Theriot. Weeks slid head-first into home plate ahead of the throw, and the Brewers walked-off winners.

Braun, who was awarded an RBI on a fielder's choice groundout, had missed a similar RBI opportunity in the seventh inning, when he popped out to right field with the bases loaded. This time he delivered, and Carlos Villanueva (1-0) notched the win.

The crowd of 45,455 was the Brewers' second largest in eight-plus seasons at Miller Park, second only to the 46,218 who attended a Cubs-Brewers game on Sept. 6, 2003, and for five innings, they were happy. Ryan Braun drove in his first run of the year with a first-inning RBI single, and Corey Hart made it 2-0 in the third with an opposite-field solo home run. Meanwhile, Braden Looper made his Brewers debut and limited the Cubs to one run -- on Milton Bradley's leadoff homer in the fourth -- on five hits in five solid innings. He did issue four walks, but minimized the damage with four strikeouts and one double-play grounder.

Cubs starter Rich Harden (1-0) was a notch better, holding the Brewers to two runs, only one of which was earned because of shortstop Ryan Theriot's first-inning error, on three hits with 10 strikeouts in his eighth career double-digit strikeout performance.

He moved in line for the win in the top of the sixth, when McClung replaced Looper and retired the first two hitters he faced. Theriot extended the inning with a single to bring up Hill, who started behind the plate for an injured Geovany Soto. McClung, working almost exclusively with fastballs, grooved a 1-2 pitch, and Hill hit it over the left-field wall for a 3-2 Cubs lead.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

The Brewers look to take game two from the Cubs on Saturday night as Carlos Zambrano takes on Dave Bush.

Real Life Proves more Important then Baseball in Brewers Loss

2009-04-10T19:04:00.003-05:00

Story by By Rick Eymer / Special to MLB.com

Mike Cameron wasn't much interested in running the bases after his line drive caromed off the right side of Joe Martinez's head and into foul territory in front of Milwaukee's dugout.

The Brewers' center fielder immediately thought about the rookie pitcher who was on the ground in front of the mound, blood pouring from the side of his head.

"I hope the young man is all right. I hope he gets back on the field again," Cameron said after the Brewers dropped a 7-1 decision to the Giants on Thursday in the series finale. "I just had this helpless feeling. I thought about just coming in and sitting down, but that's the unfortunate thing about this game."

Cameron meandered to second base on the play as trainers rushed to Martinez's aid. Cameron wore a horrified expression, and once he got to second, he slumped down and looked toward center field.

"I've been in a similar situation, and I know all kinds of things go through your mind," Cameron said. "I'm praying for him."

Cameron wasn't even aware that his first-base coach, Ed Seder, or the Giants' players had come by to reassure him.

"I just went out there to make sure [Cameron] was all right," Seder said. "It was kind of weird. I don't think anybody knew what happened or even where the ball went. Everything just kind of stopped."

Martinez, who walked off the field under his own power and was coherent after the incident, was to be taken to the hospital for an evaluation and CT scan.

It was a maddening way to end what manager Ken Macha called "a two-month road trip."

Cameron hits the ball hard on his final swing of a terrific series for him, and he'll remember the sound of the impact of the ball on skull rather than the feel of the perfect swing and contact.

Cameron was on base in 10 of his 13 plate appearances during the three-game series, and he will bring home a .571 batting average, a 1.143 slugging percentage and a .769 on-base percentage. Those are numbers worthy of recognition.

No one asked him about them, though.

Manny Parra, on the other hand, was asked about his pitching performance, one that lasted 4 1/3 innings and 85 pitches.

"They swing the bats very well, and [Giants starter Matt] Cain was on his game," Parra said. "It was who was going to take the momentum first. I didn't make a couple of pitches when I wanted."

Parra got into a bit of trouble in the fourth, but he limited the damage to a pair of runs after allowing back-to-back doubles to Fred Lewis and Bengie Molina to lead off the inning. He did not survive the fifth, and it began with a walk to Cain.

"You can't walk the pitcher, especially leading off the inning," he said. "I've never done that in the regular season before. It's a recipe for what happened."

Parra, who beat the Giants twice last year, said that his timing was off and that he was a little behind on his pitches.

"I expect to be better the next time," he said.

Parra also had empathy for Martinez.

"It's unbelievably scary," he said. "It can happen to any pitcher. Balls go by your head every game. It's extremely unfortunate. That's something you don't want to watch."

The Brewers had their leadoff hitter on four times during the game and scored once. J.J. Hardy singled to open the seventh and eventually scored on Jason Kendall's sacrifice fly.

"Cain had a lot to do with that," Macha said. "I've seen Cain pitch before, and he's got a good fastball. I was more impressed with his ability to throw the breaking ball for strikes."

Yovani GallYARDo

2009-04-09T00:09:00.004-05:00

It wasn't a one man show, but it was a strong one man effort. Yovani Gallardo pitched 6 and 2/3 innings on Wednesday night leading the Brewers to a 4-2 win. But besides the effort on the mound, Gallardo also added to it with his bat. Stepping up in the third inning with two on, Gallardo hit his third career homerun and first of the season off of future hall of famer Randy Johnson to give the Crew a 4-1 lead. In the effort Mike Cameron also added a solo homerun in the second. A strong bullpen showing by Todd Coffey preserved a 4-2 lead and Carlos Villanueva pitched a 1-2-3 ninth as the Brewers get their first win of the season. The Brewers only managed five hits against the Giants pitching tonight, with two of them being long balls. The Brewers will throw out Manny Parra on Thursday against young Giants pitcher Matt Cain. First pitch from AT&T Park is scheduled for 6pm central time.

Final Score:
Milwaukee: 4
San Francisco 2

Time of Game: 2hr 48min

Side Notes:

-Casey McGehee got his first action of the season, grounding out sharply to short on the first pitch he seen.

-Mike Cameron walked again on Wednesday, moving his season total to 5 walks.

-Mitch Stetter looked shaky in his first action of 2009, walking the only batter he faced.

Brewers Drop First Season Opener in Five Years

2009-04-07T18:57:00.003-05:00

The strong and weak points of this Brewers ball club definitely were revealed in a 10-6 loss to San Fransisco on Tuesday as the Brewers opened their 2009 campaign. Jeff Suppan who got his first call as the opening days starter since 2003, gave up six runs in four innings of work. Suppan's counterpart, Tim Lincecum, was removed from the game after the third, allowing only three runs, but throwing 70 pitches in a short three innings of work. At the plate the Brewers did not depend on the long ball for runs, but instead a series of walks and singles. After Suppan gave up three runs on a bases clearing triple in the first to Giants first basemen Travis Ishikawa, Suppan helped his own cause with a RBI double, Rickie Weeks followed with a RBI single. After the Brewers grabbed a 5-4 lead, Aaron Rowand hit a two run home run to give the Giants a 6-5 lead, and from there they never looked back. Seth McClung had a rocky sixth, allowing a basesloaded walk, Dave Bush surrender two runs in the seventh, and Jorge Julio surrendered one on a solo home run by Randy Winn in the eighth. For the Brewers bright spots at the plate, Mike Cameron drew four walks and Fielder and Braun both had two hit games. The Brewers look to get their first win of the season on Wednesday night when Gallardo takes the hill against Giants lefty Randy Johnson.

FTB's Keys to Sucsess

2009-04-07T04:09:00.001-05:00

Pitching Pitching Pitching!

Jeff Suppan will take the hill in 11 hours to ring in the 2009 season, a questionable pick to start the season, but if he pitches like the September Suppan, there may be hope for a solid game.

The Spring Carry Over

Out of the 8 position players who will be starting on tuesday, 4 of them were batting over .300 in spring training. Hart and Hardy who were red hot all of the spring, must not let their bats cool down when the games matter.

New Faces, New Jobs, New Bench

New manager, new bench coach, new third base coach, new pitching coach, and a revamped bench with McGehee, Nelson, and Duffy. The Brewers almost cleared house with coaching, keeping only Ed Sedar, Dale Sveum, and promoting Bill Castro to pitching coach. Ken Macha provides a aggresive coaching style and strong experience. With Willie Randolph as the bench coach it adds even more coaching depth.

The Young Guns

With the loss of Sabathia and Sheets the Brewers will put a heavy task upon the arms of Galardo and Parra. How will they react, crumble under the pressure? Or overcome and pitch themselves into sucsess? Only time will tell.

First pitch: 3:05pm central time
Location: San Fransico California
TV: FSN Wisconsin
Radio: 580am WKTY, 620am WTMJ

Gwynn Designated, Suppan starting

2009-04-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

Some moves made today,

Tony Gwynn Jr's run on the Brewers may very well be over as he was designated for assignment today. The Brewers can now either trade him in the next ten days, or place him on waivers. If not claimed, he would move to Triple A Nashville.

The Brewers also named their starting five today, featuring Jeff Suppan will open the season, followed by Gallardo, Parra, Looper, and Bush.

Jason Tyner, former Twin outfielder, also was inked by the Brewers today and sent to Triple A Nashville.

Silence of the Lambs

2009-04-01T10:48:00.001-05:00

As we are just five, yes FIVE days away from openin day, the Brewers roster is finally falling into place. The Brewers cut veteran third basemen Mike Lamb late tuesday night, meaning the red hot Casey McGehee will be making the opening day roster. Heres how the 25 man roster is looking to shape up.

1B: Prince Fielder
2B: Rickie Weeks
SS: JJ Hardy
3B: Bill Hall
Util: Casey McGehee
Util: Craig Counsell
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Mike Cameron
OF: Corey Hart
Util: Tony Gwynn Jr, Brad Nelson, or Chris Duffy (two of the three will make team)
C: Jason Kendall
C: Mike Rivera

SP: Jeff Suppan
SP: Yovani Galardo
SP: Dave Bush
SP: Manny Parra
SP: Braden Looper
RP: David Riske
RP: Seth McClung
RP: Todd Coffey
RP: Mitch Stetter (L)
RP: Jorge Julio
RP: Mark Defilice (until Trevor Hoffman comes off of the DL)
CL: Carlos Villanueva

Oh the Sights

2009-03-14T10:42:00.001-05:00

Taking a 3 hour drive to Milwaukee for a a Bucks game may not be a total deal. But driving past Miller Park and seeing the roof open with 40 degree weather in the air brings me ever so closer to the sound of baseball. With an empty parking lot, I continued my way to exit 309B while silently sobbing to myself, just thinking that Miller Park Brewers baseball is just 28 days away. The Bucks lost, if you were wondering, I'm sure you weren't because honestly who cares anymore. It March Madness, the ENDING of important basketball and the begining of the 09 campaign.

28 days.
28 fucking days.

Spring Training Update

2009-03-12T04:24:00.000-05:00

Not much major Brewer news as of late, but to fill you in with some of the filler.

-Braden Looper goes down with injury, expects to be ready by first regualr season start.

-Brewers release Eric Gagne due to shoulder injury, team speculates they would be interested in signing him when healthy.

-Ricky Weeks continues his spring training slump, batting just .083.

-Ryan Braun went 3-4 in USA's loss to Venezula wed.

-Casey McGehee continues to make his push to make the opening day roster by going 3-3 in wednesdays loss to the White Sox's. McGehee currently leads the team in home run's this spring training with 3. He also carrys a +.300 average.

-Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush have both had scoreless 4 inning apperances in their last two starts.

-Brewers rule 5 draft pick Eddie Morlan continues his struggles, including giving up a three run walk off homerun to the Giants on monday.

Stock Up: Brad Nelson, Casey McGehee, Craig Counsell.
Stock Down: Ricky Weeks, Trot Nixon, Jorge Julio.

-Tony Gwynn Jr's nagging shoulder could hold him off the opening day roster, if Nixon or Duffy cannot find a spot on the roster, the Brewers could look to free agency. Luis Gonzales, Jim Edmonds, and Dave Roberts are names to look at.

Dave Roberts agent has been in contact with the Brewers front office.

FTB Posting Going Mobile

2009-02-23T03:20:00.000-06:00

The solution is clear kids,
to solve the problem of no laptop,
we are now updating on strictly mobile platforms.

Stay tuned to fear the beer, for all your spring training news.

2009 Complete Brewer Projections

2009-02-22T18:46:00.005-06:00

Dear Readers,

I'll make a long story short, laptop broke, no internet... kinda means no blog.

but regardless, here I am at my parents house running you through all the offseason action and projections.

Major Signings

(P) Trevor Hoffman - 1 yr, 6M + 1.5M in incentives.

(P) Braden Looper - 1yr, 4.75 M + 2010 mutial option

(1B) Prince Fielder - 2yr, 18M

Other Signings

(IF) Craig Counsell - 1 yr, 1M

(IF) Mike Lamb - 1yr [figures not provided]

(IF) Casey McGehee - 1yr, minor league deal

(OF) Trot Nixon - minor league deal
(OF) Chris Duffy - minor league deal

(P) Jorge Julio - 1yr, 950K + 950K in incentives

(P) Eric Gagne - minor league deal worth 1.5M+ up to 2M in incentives

(P) Todd Coffey - 1yr, 800K + 200K in incentives

(P) Chris Capuano - minor league deal

(P) RJ Swindle - 1yr [figures not provided]

(P) Nick Green - Claimed off waivers from LAA

Trades

Brewers Aquire Pitcher Chase Wright from Yankees for outfielder Eric Fryer

Arbitration

Brewers avoided arbitration with (P) Seth McClung, paying him 1.66 M

Brewers avoided arbitration with (IF) Rickie Weeks, paying him 2.45M

Brewers avoided arbitration with (OF) Corey Hart, paying him 3.25M

Brewers avoided arbitration with (P) Dave Bush, paying him 4M

Brewers avoided arbitration with (IF) JJ Hardy, paying him 4.65M

Key Losses

(P) CC Sabathia to New York Yankees

(P) Ben Sheets to FA

Spring Training

Firstbase - Prince Fielder, Brad Nelson

Secondbase - Rickie Weeks, Hernan Iribarren, Craig Counsell

Shortstop - JJ Hardy, Alcides Escobar

Thirdbase - Bill Hall, Mat Gamel, Mike Lamb, Casey McGehee

Outfield - Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron, Corey Hart, Trot Nixon, Chris Duffy, Hernan Iribarren, Tony Gwynn Jr

Catchers - Jason Kendall, Mike Rivera, Angel Salome

Pitchers - Yovani Gallardo, Dave Bush, Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan, Braden Looper, Mark DiFelice, Seth McClung, Carlos Villanueve, Edward Morlan, Todd Coffey, Jorge Julio, Eric Gagne, Trevor Hoffman, Omar Aguilar, Nick Green, Tim Dillard, Chase Wright, RJ Swindle, Alex Periard, Mark Rogers, David Riske, Cody Scarpetta

Major League Projections

(1B) Prince Fielder

(2B) Rickie Weeks

(SS) JJ Hardy

(3B) Bill Hall, Platooning with (3B) Mike Lamb

(LF) Ryan Braun

(CF) Mike Cameron

(RF) Corey Hart

(Utl IF) Craig Counsell

(Utl OF) Tony Gwynn Jr

(Utl OF) Trot Nixon

(Backup C) Mike Rivera

(P) Yovani Gallardo

(P) Braden Looper

(P) Dave Bush

(P) Jeff Suppan

(P) Manny Parra

(P) Carlos Villanueva

(P) Seth McClung

(P) Mitch Stetter

(P) David Riske

(P) Todd Coffey

(P) Jorge Julio

(CL) Trevor Hoffman

Minor League

Brewers Designating (P)Eric Gagne for Assignment, not accepting assignment to Triple A

Brewers Releasing (OF)Chris Duffy

Brewers Sending Pitchers Nick Green, Chase Wright, Chris Capuano, Mark Rogers, Mark Difelice, Tim Dillard, and RJ Swindle to Triple A Nashville

Brewers Sending Infielders Casey McGehee, Alcides Escobar, Mat Gamel, Brad Nelson, and Hernan Iribarren to Triple A Nashville

Brewers Sending Catcher Angel Salome to Triple A Nashville

Brewers Sending Pitchers Omar Aguilar and Cody Scarpetta to Double A Huntsville

Brewers Sending Pitcher Alex Periard to Single A Brevard County

Injury Projections

Injury to Fielder - Call up of Brad Nelson from Triple A Nashville

Injury to Weeks - Call up of Alcides Escobar from Triple A Nashville, Craig Counsell will Start

Injury to Hardy - Call up of Alcides Escobar/Hernan Iribarren from Triple A Nashville

Injury to Hall/Lamb - Call up of Mat Gamel or Casey McGehee from Triple A Nashvillle

Injury to Kendall/Rivera - Call up of Angel Salome

Outfield Injuries - Starting of Trot Nixon or Tony Gwynn Jr.

Opening Day Projection

1. Rickie Weeks (2B)

2. JJ Hardy (SS)

3. Ryan Braun (LF)

4. Prince Fielder (1B)

5. Corey Hart (RF)

6. Mike Cameron (CF)

7. Bill Hall (3B)

8. Jason Kendall (C)

9. Yovani Gallardo (P)

With Opening Day 2009 just a little over a 6 weeks away, this Brewers squad is looking to continue to impress after a 92-70 08 campaign and a trip to the playoffs as the Wild Card Winner. With the loss of the number 1 and 2 starters in Sabathia and Sheets, the Brewers look to a young pitching staff to get them back to the top. With key acqusations of Looper and Hoffman, the Brewers hope that these are enough to fill two large holes. For me, the keys to this season are pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Braden Looper staying healthy, also Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan must post sub 4.50 ERA's.

Projected Stats

Yovani Gallardo - 14-9, 3.40 ERA in 29 starts, 200 IP, 150 K, 55 BB

Braden Looper - 12-12, 4.14 ERA in 33 starts, 210 IP, 110 K, 40 BB

Dave Bush - 12-10, 3.80 ERA, in 30 starts, 185 IP, 120 K, 40 BB

Jeff Suppan - 10-12, 4.48 ERA in 33 starts, 175 IP, 85 K, 65 BB

Manny Parra - 14-11, 3.79 ERA in 25 starts, 169 IP, 95 K, 55 BB

Prince Fielder - .289 AVG, 35 HR, 115 RBI

Rickie Weeks - .249 AVG, 18 HR, 65 RBI

JJ Hardy - .291 AVG, 22 HR, 78 RBI

Bill Hall - .258 AVG, 28 HR, 83 RBI

Mike Lamb- .240 AVG, 9 HR, 39 RBI

Ryan Braun- .302 AVG, 48 HR, 131 RBI

Mike Cameron - .262 AVG, 21 HR, 84 RBI

Corey Hart - .279 AVG, 29 HR, 81 RBI

Jason Kendall - .257 AVG, 3 HR, 31 RBI

2009 Record- 88-74, 2nd in NL Central.

NL Wild Card Contenders.

With a team that mixes the young guns of Braun, Gallardo, and Fielder with the savy verterans of Suppan, Cameron, Kendall, and Hoffman, the chemistry on the field should be a winning mixture. Also young stars like Escobar and Gamel waiting at Nashville in case of any injuries to the infield starters it provides a solid depth. 2009 looks to be promising, but all resting on the shoulders of a pitching staff that features 4 "third or fourth" starters. But with a coaching staff featuring three coaches with managerial experience (Macha, Randolph, Sveum) the teaching, tenacity, and decipline of this team should be one like we have never seen before, for FTB this is James, signing out.

Brewers December Timeline + The Winter Meetings = Profit??

2008-12-08T22:41:00.003-06:00

First and foremost, sorry for the lack of updates, I guess its hard to keep up to date when nothings going on and Packer, Badger, and Buck season is all in full swing.

In this post I will take you through all the facts of the Winter Meeting so far and give you some general opinions. This post WILL make up for the lack of substance over the past month.

From the time the last post was made early in November, nothing has really happened, but I'll give you a time line of recent Events.

December 1st: Brewers ink Scott Thorman to a minor league deal. Thorman, who turns 27 in January, was given an opportunity in 2007 to be Atlanta's everyday first baseman but batted .216 that year and then spent all of 2008 at Triple-A Richmond. He hit .251 there with 29 home runs and 56 RBIs while striking out 83 times in 387 at-bats. Thorman could provide the Brewers a 'safety blanket' just incase the Brewers deal Fielder somewhere.

December 4th: The Brewers sign former Orioles closer Jorge Julio to a 1 year deal. Julio, a power right-hander who will turn 30 in March, has a 4.30 ERA in parts of eight Major League seasons and split 2008 between Cleveland and Atlanta. He saved 83 games as Baltimore's closer from 2002-04, but he has mostly appeared as a setup man since then.

December 7th: Baseballs Winter Meetings begin. Alot of names are being thrown around, as trades, signings, and all the drama goes down. Here are some key players to pay attention to in the next few days.

JJ Hardy: Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy had a message for general manager Doug Melvin & Co. as Milwaukee's contingent prepared to stroll the lobby of the Bellagio this week:
Please don't trade me.
"I want to be a Brewer," Hardy said from his Tempe, Ariz., home. "If something happens, then I'll deal with that, but I've always wanted to be a Brewer."
Hardy would be happy to read published comments from Melvin on Sunday indicating he wants his shortstop to stay put. But Hardy nonetheless figures to see his name in print beginning Monday, when the baseball world converges in Las Vegas for the wheeling and dealing, and the rumor mongering -- that dominates the annual Winter Meetings. Hardy has been churned around the rumor mill already this winter, because he's still two seasons shy of free agency, because the Brewers have a prospect, the slick-fielding Alcides Escobar, who plays Hardy's position, and most of all because All-Star shortstops are in high demand.

CC Sabathia: After a short face-to-face meeting with CC Sabathia's representatives, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin didn't hesitate when asked whether Milwaukee was still in the running for the free agent left-hander.
"Yes," Melvin said after a 30-minute sit-down that Sabathia did not attend. "Until we're told we're no longer involved, then I take it as we still have a chance. Other teams can drop out, too." It is also rumored that the Brewers have added a extra year to the deal, making the deal in total 6 years, 120 million.

Ben Sheets: There really isnt that much news with Sheets going around. The Brewers were ready to offer Sheets a deal for 1 year, 14 million dollars. Sheets agents declined the deal as Sheets wants a multi-year contract.

Brian Shouse: Same type deal here with Shouse as Sheets. Shouse is seeking at least a two year deal, but with the signing of Swindle, and the production of Stetter, I dont know if Shouse is in the Brewers future plans.

The Winter Meetings continue through the 10th, any news will be brought to you.

December 8th: The Brewers were closing in on a deal to re-sign free agent third baseman Mike Lamb on a busy Day 1 at the Winter Meetings.
Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said that he planned to touch base later in the day with Lamb's agent, Sam Levinson, to continue discussions. Lamb, 33, finished the 2008 regular season with Milwaukee after he was released by the Twins five months into a two-year contract. Lamb hit .273 (3-for-11) in his brief stint as a Brewer and was not eligible for the postseason roster because Milwaukee didn't acquire him until Sept. 5. If he returned for a full season, Lamb likely would split time at third base with right-handed hitter Bill Hall and would allow the Brewers to be more patient with top hitting prospect Mat Gamel, who, like Lamb, bats lefty.

Also,

The Brewers agreed to terms with reliever Todd Coffey on a one-year contract Monday, avoiding the arbitration process and kick-starting the team's week at the annual Winter Meetings.
Coffey, 28 and a right-hander, was excellent after the Brewers claimed him off waivers on Sept. 10 to bolster the bullpen for the final three weeks of the regular season. He worked nine scoreless appearances -- spanning 7 1/3 innings -- and then traveled with the Brewers throughout the National League Division Series even though he wasn't eligible for the postseason roster.

In some recent rumors, The Atlanta Braves said Corey Hart would provide 'speed and power' to a depleted outfield. I don't see this holding much water.

Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy's names continued to be tossed around, but really with team names attached to them. Like stated before, if something were to happen, it would be in the next three days.

Cameron to the Yankees is still a standing deal, but I am pretty sure the Brewers are going to see what happens with Sabathia First.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a list of rumors for Sabathia for the day. [est if read from bottom to top]

10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer. They're not expected to beat the Yankees' offer though.
Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers' angle.

9:26pm: Rosenthals source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia. The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.

9:19pm: The Giants say it's "debatable" as to whether they'll meet with Sabathia. Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don't plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.

9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers' roster. Doug Melvin does not believe they'd need to be too creative with a contract.

7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher's room at the Wynn. Sabathia's left Vegas, and didn't give the Yanks a timetable.

7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they're "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez. They are, however, interested in Sabathia.
Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.

6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.

5:41pm: Sabathia's meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city. He told the Yankees he's not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.

4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger? Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.

4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers). But after meeting with Sabathia's agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it. They'll meet again later in the week.
Also, there's an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.

12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia. Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).

11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update. He says they're open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money). He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years. Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.

10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.

9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it's worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."

8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays' deal for A.J. Burnett). At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars." Perhaps that indicates the Giants can't really go beyond the Brewers' five-year, $100MM offer.

Stay tuned to FTB for any further Winter Meeting Updates.

Cameron to Yankees? Hardy to Twins?

2008-11-12T04:17:00.002-06:00

The rumor mill is indeed turning in Milwaukee.

Lets get you caught up.

The Yankees are interested in Mike Cameron after the Brewers picked up his 10m option. The Yankees in return are offering switch hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera and possibly a pitcher to sweeten the deal, rumors being Ian Kennedy. The only set back in this deal is CC Sabathia. Sabathia stated that he had alot of friends in Milwaukee, one of them being Cameron. Would trading Cameron make Sabathia want to go to the Yankees?

The Twins are targeting shortstops and though I don't see it, a name thats been coming up has been JJ Hardy. Hardy is only two years away from free agency and the only thing preventing phenom Alcidis Escobar from the big leagues. If Minnesota can offer up the pitching, possibly even Joe Nathan, I could see a deal being done.

The Giants and Brewers are NOT in talks about trading Prince Fielder for Matt Cain. This was just a suggested piece submitted to a tabloid which then got out of control. The Giants have simply stated that they are interested in a first basemen and the Brewers stated they are interested in a pitcher. From this point on, who knows what could happen.

and FYI, the Brewers are NOT in the Peavy sweepstakes.

Torres Retires

2008-11-12T04:15:00.001-06:00

All good things must come to an end and Saloman Torres' 16 year career came to a end on tuesday.

The 37-year-old right-hander went 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA and a career-high 28 saves in 2009 and was 27-for-32 in save opportunities after taking over for Gagne on May 24. Torres has made more appearances over the past five seasons -- 383 -- than any pitcher in Major League Baseball, a workload that may have contributed to a 12.46 ERA over his final 10 appearances. That stretch raised his ERA from 2.40 to 3.49.

Torres says he is going to enjoy family and religion outside of baseball.

Brewers get Randolph after all

2008-11-12T04:14:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week we came to find out that Willie Randolph would get a job with the Brewers after all as he took the job as Milwaukee's bench coach earlier this week.

Meaning now the Brewers have three coaches with Managerial experience in Macha, Randolph, and well Sveum.

Early November Updates

2008-11-05T18:50:00.003-06:00

Alright, lets review the few events that have recently happened.

-Ken Macha named new manager
-Brewers Sign 3B McGehee from the Cubs
-Brewers pick up Mike Cameron's 10M dollar option
-Sabathia officailly files for free agency and the Brewers make him a formal offer
-Mota, Counsell, Durham, and Shouse officially file for free agency
-Brewers name Brad Fischer 3rd base coach
-Brewers name Dale Sveum hitting coach
-Mike Maddux leaves Milwaukee to take a job with Texas

Thats a rundown of current news, stay tuned.

Poll Results 10-15-08

2008-10-31T03:33:00.002-05:00

"Was this Season a Sucsess?"

Obvious answer here guys. I myself would of been ashamed for Brewer fans to call this a unsuccessful season. After a 92-70 regular season record, the Brewers made the playoffs ending a 25 year drought. CC Sabathia won Pepsi's "Clutch Performer of the Year" award, Ryan Braun, Ben Sheets, and Corey Hart all made the All Star Game, Ryan Braun's name has been even thrown around in some MVP talks. Its a long wait to 2009, but with rumors, trades, signings, and the MLB Network all ahead of us, we all remember that Baseball season is just never truly over. So will this offseason be a sucsess? We will wait and see.

You Can Call me... Skipper

2008-10-31T03:29:00.002-05:00

and that mans name is Ken Macha,
former manager of the A's where he took Oakland to two straight division titles, not only with a small variety of talent, but the leagues second smallest payroll.
Macha brings a hard nosed, hard assed, hard discipline attitude to Milwaukee, something that the Brewers really need. No more mister nice guy Milwaukee, shits about to go down.

And the 2008 World Series Champions are...

2008-10-29T22:37:00.003-05:00

The Philadelphia Phillies.

So with the completion of the World Series, expect a managerial announcment in the next few days, stay tuned to FTB for all manageral news.

World Series Ratings tell me you're not a TRUE Fan

2008-10-25T13:00:00.002-05:00

Game 2 of the World Series marked the second lowest TV rating ever in World Series history and it just makes me a bit sad to call myself a baseball fan. Baseball is a sport that we play or watch for "THE LOVE OF THE GAME" just because your team isn't it, are you serious that you really have NO interest in it? Its the friggen World Series, I don't care if the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs..ect are not in it, if youre a true baseball fan, you'd watch it for the sole fact that these two teams have played their hearts out this whole year to reach the ultimate goal of a World Series ring. I guess I love baseball for baseball and even though my team isn't in it, I'm still watching every game of the World Series if I can. This post goes out to you New York, Boston, Chicago and any other big market team, congratulations. Your team didn't make the World Series, so lets just stop watching. This doesn't go out to ALL fans, but I know how it is, you have teams built around the theme of winning, and when your team fails, you get so bitter you stop caring about baseball. Speaking from the fanhood of a low market team I have gotten used to playoffs without my team, I've gotten used to watching playoffs every year just for the sole fact that its baseball, and I love the sport of baseball. A true fan will watch just for that sole purpose. So I'd like to propose two toasts right now, toast one goes out to all the big market teams who couldn't buy their championships this year, I guess 200 million just wasn't quite enough, better luck next year. Toast two goes out to the fans who just stopped watching when there team was knocked out of the playoffs, I'll be collecting your fanhood cards now, they will be returned April first.

Macha, Randolph, or Brenly?

2008-10-24T22:58:00.002-05:00

Brewers managerial hunt is down to three names:

Ken Macha, former skipper of the A's
Willie Randolph, former skipper of the Mets
Bob Brenly, former D-Backs skipper and current TV voice of the Cubs.

Announcement is said to be made shortly after completion of the World Series.

Brewers Ready to make an Offer to Sabathia

2008-10-18T16:02:00.003-05:00

Signed the GM
Booted the Manager
Keep the Superstar?
Story Here

Melvin Signed through 2012, Svuem will not Return as Manager

2008-10-17T23:22:00.001-05:00

The Brewers made two announcements Friday, one spelling good news for the general manager and the other signaling the end of a brief but memorable managerial effort.
The ballclub revealed that it has given a three-year contract extension to Doug Melvin, who will remain with the organization as executive vice president and general manager through the 2012 season.
The Brewers also made it known that Dale Sveum, who became interim manager of the team on Sept. 15 and led the Brewers to the National League Wild Card berth, will not be in the mix for the manager's job.
Under Sveum, the Brewers went 7-5 over the final 12 games of the regular season before falling to Philadelphia, 3-1, in the NL Division Series. Sveum previously served on the Brewers coaching staff as third-base coach (2006, '08) and bench coach (2007).
Sveum said he was surprised when told Friday afternoon that he would not be among the contenders for the club's managerial position.
"When you're thrown in the job and you get to the playoffs -- you do what you were asked to do ... Obviously, they want to find a more experienced manager," Sveum said.
"I was behind the 8-ball. The 16 days [I managed] don't measure up with guys with more experience, but I'll stake my 16 days up against anyone thrown into that situation. I was very confident in my ability to do this. It's something I've dreamed of, something I've prepared myself for. It was fun. I enjoyed the opportunity. I thank the Brewers for the opportunity they gave me."
Hiring a new manager will be one of the first tasks facing Melvin, who praised Sveum's contributions to the organization.
"Dale is a solid baseball man," Melvin said in a statement. "He is a loyal and hard-working individual who will get a high recommendation from me to our new manager to remain on the coaching staff. This decision allows us to widen our search to experienced managerial candidates."
Melvin recently completed his sixth season with the Brewers as the club reached the postseason for the first time since 1982.
"This season, we reached a significant milestone by advancing to the postseason, and this could not have been accomplished without the efforts of Doug Melvin and his staff," Brewers chairman and principal owner Mark Attanasio said in a statement. "Since I first began working with Doug four years ago, one constant has been his unfailing leadership as we have worked toward building a consistently competitive team. He is one of the most respected individuals in the game, and we are proud to have him as a key member of the Milwaukee Brewers."
Melvin was named executive vice president and general manager of the Brewers on Sept. 26, 2002. He became the eighth general manager in franchise history. Under his leadership, the Brewers have produced consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1991 and 1992.
"I appreciate that Mark Attanasio and the ownership group have shown confidence in me in extending my contract," Melvin said in a statement. "It was the goal for me and my staff to change the culture and performance of the Brewers organization. Now I am energized to sustain the success for the city and the great fans that supported us through the rebuilding years. To show how I feel about the community, my family and I are donating $25,000 a year to charitable causes in the city of Milwaukee."
The Brewers also announced that hitting coach Jim Skaalen will not be offered a contract for 2009.
"We appreciate all the hard work and dedication that Jim brought to the organization," Melvin said. "Jim asked to remain with the Brewers, and we will explore every opportunity to grant this request."

-Brewers.com

Brewers Weekly Rant 10-16-08

2008-10-16T04:40:00.003-05:00

Well, not as if it was any surprise, the rumor mill is already turning. With MLB post-season still going on, the off season for other clubs has already started.

Doug Melvin met with Dale Sveum in Phoenix last week for a meeting involving the managerial position, no information has really left this meeting.

Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy's names are being continuously being tossed around in trade rumors, apparently they are trade bait?

Early talks about Matt Cain from San Francisco and Derek Lowe from LA have been noted as 'players of interest' from the Brewers organization.

Corey Hart, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, among a few others are all arbitration eligible for next season, I see Fielder being the only one winning his arbitration case, hopefully the Crew will be able to work out a contract with them before it comes to filing for arbitration.

If the Brewers were to not make any pitching moves, next years starting rotation would be as followed: Gallardo, Parra, Bush, Suppan, McClung. Do I hear worst NL Pitching staff?

If the Brewers keep the bullpen the same, it would be as followed: Torres (?), Riske, Villanueva, Coffey, Dillard, Stetter... No comment really needed.

Its obvious pitching will be the key for 09' so we will just have to wait til then..

I almost forgot that the playoffs are still going on.

NLCS - Phillies win series 4-1
ALCS - Rays lead series 3-1

The Wrap Up

2008-10-06T01:12:00.004-05:00

Well folks, what a season.
Alot of ups, alot of downs, ins, outs, backwords, forwards... well, you get the point.
The rollercoaster ride came to a end yesterday as the Brewers fell at home 6-2 and lost the series to the Phillies 3-1. The Phillies will now meet the Dodgers in the second round.

But on the otherside of Major League Baseball is all the teams who are sitting right now watching the sport they love to play and now the Brewers join that list of teams. The offseason opens up alot of questions for the Brewers. Here's a FTB Checklist of Brewers question marks for 09'.

> CC Sabathia - Resign him? obvious answer is yes, but 120 million dollars doesn't grow on a tree.

> Manager - Will Dale Sveum keep the job? or do you go out and find someone with experience? .. Willie Randolph anyone?

> Mike Cameron - Strong showing in center, but do you pick up his option? Or move onto the future? Possibly Tony Gwynn?

> Craig Counsell/Ray Durham - Reliable veterans, but can you afford them?

> Prince Fielder - He is arbitration eligable, meaning if the Brewers and Fielder don't work out a contract, Fielder may be in for a large payday and a possible organizational fued.

> Starting Rotation - Is Gallardo really going to be your #1 with Suppan your #2? Please no.

> Bullpen - I don't need to say much, this is always in question. But the Brewers are losing Mota, Gagne, Shouse, and Torres [club option for 09']

Also, there is a hefty list of Free Agents this offseason, here is a list of names I see the Brewers maybe contacting:

> Eric Hinske - Strong left handed bat with the ability to play first base and the outfield. He would be someone who would fit nicely with the Brewers as a replacement for Gabe Kapler if he is not resigned.

> Mark Loretta - The Brewers have a strong history of bringing back former veterans, I think Loretta would be a good replacement to Counsell/Durham if the team doesnt resign them.

> Adam Dunn - Yes folks, Adam Dunn. If you didn't know, the Brewers were agressive with attempting to get him at the trade deadline, but the Reds shot down a deal that would of sent Tony Gwynn and Tim Dillard to the Reds for Dunn. Maybe the Brewers get a second shot at getting this big stick.

> AJ Burnett - Look for Burnett to opt out of his contract with the Blue Jays, I think Burnett would be a great arm to add to the rotation as he is very comparable to Ben Sheets.

The Brewers locked up Ryan Braun to a long contract back in May, I'd like to see the Brewers lock up some other young talent for the future. I look to see the Brewers possibly try to get contracts done with JJ Hardy and Corey Hart. I also see the Brewers maybe dangling Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks as trade bait.

Stay Tuned to FTB for ALL off season updates and news. Any news surrounding the Brewers rumors, trades, signings, or all news will be found here. Thanks for all the support this year and I am already looking forward to next year.

-FTB

Phillies Power Past Brewers, Season Ends

2008-10-05T15:06:00.002-05:00

No Time for a post today, no enthusiam for a post today, so we will let MLB writter Adam McCalvy take our season out...

Just like that, Miller Park is dark and the best Brewers season in a generation is over.
Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth swatted early home runs off Brewers starter Jeff Suppan, and Burrell added another one late to quiet the sellout crowd on Sunday and send the Phillies to a 6-2 win in Game 4 of the National League Division Series that eliminated Milwaukee from its first postseason in 26 years.
The Brewers lost the best-of-five series, three games to one, a day after the NL Central-rival Cubs were swept by the Dodgers in the other NLDS. The Phillies will host the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Thursday in Philadelphia.
Phillies starter Joe Blanton (1-0) blanked the Brewers on three hits through the first six innings before Prince Fielder snapped an 0-for-12 start to his postseason career with a home run leading off the seventh, the first homer by a Brewer in the series. Ryan Braun singled home the team's other run in the eighth inning.
The Brewers' exit was not for a lack of support from the stands. This time, the 43,934 fans at Miller Park were armed with Thunder Stix, the noisy, balloon-like implements that filled the dome with a cacophony of sound as Suppan (0-1) took the mound.
With one swat, Rollins created a few sweet moments of silence. His second career leadoff home run gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead and set the tone for a difficult three innings for Suppan, who fooled few Phillies hitters while he surrendered five runs on six hits.
Suppan avoided further damage in the first inning, worked out of a first-and-third jam in the second but then surrendered back-to-back two-out home runs to Burrell and Werth in the third. After an intentional walk to Ryan Howard left the Phillies with runners at first and second base, Burrell made Suppan pay, hitting an up-and-in 87-mph fastball for a three-run home run to left field.
Werth came next, and belted a 1-and-1 breaking ball from Suppan for a 5-0 Phillies lead. Burrell hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning, a solo shot that made it 6-1. The Brewers tried to battle, but just had no fight left in them as the Brewers season ends, losing 6-2

Stay tuned to FTB for a Season wrap up, coming soon.

MLB Post-Season Catch Up.

2008-10-05T05:58:00.007-05:00

AL
White Sox Vs. Rays - Rays lead series 2-0
Red Sox Vs. Angels - Red Sox lead series 2-0

NL
Dodgers Vs. Cubs - Dodgers WIN series 3-0
Brewers Vs. Philles - Phillies lead series 2-1

Good Season Cubs... Once again, you failed.

..at least we won one at minimum.

Game Four Preview

2008-10-05T05:51:00.003-05:00

Once again the Brewers put their season in the hands of a arm that has struggled most of the year. But with fog, comes sunlight. Jeff Suppan has been proven to be one of the best post season pitchers over the past years. Suppan (10-10 4.96 ERA) will face Phillies right hander Joe Blanton (9-12 4.69 ERA) on Sunday in another must win game. Blanton, hasn't pitched to his expectations at all this year and is vulnerable to the walk and long ball, so hopefully the Brewers bats will get something going big.

If you're a Wisconsin sports fan, you're faced with the Noon dilemma of Packers or Brewers, myself will have two TVs, enjoying each game in its entirety.

Game Four
First pitch- 12PM Central.
Channel- TBS
MatchUp- Blanton Vs. Suppan

If the Brewers win, look for a Hamels Vs. Sabathia matchup on tuesday.

Brewers Live to See Another Day

2008-10-04T21:22:00.001-05:00

The Brewers lived to play another day.

Their bats came alive in a 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, avoiding elimination and forcing a Game 4 on Sunday at noon CT. Milwaukee still trails Philadelphia in the best-of-five series, two games to one.
At least they made progress. Of the 16 teams to fall into an 0-2 NLDS hole prior to this season, only three forced a Game 4. None of those three teams forced a Game 5.

The Brewers are trying to buck that history, and they had 43,992 towel-waving fans behind them for Milwaukee's first postseason home game since Game 5 of the 1982 World Series. They cheered wildly as Brewers starter Dave Bush (1-0) worked a perfect 10-pitch first inning, and the Brewers kept those fans in the game in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice against Jamie Moyer (0-1) after the veteran left-hander walked Mike Cameron and Bill Hall leading off the frame.
Prince Fielder put the Brewers on the board with a sacrifice fly, and J.J. Hardy followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. Ryan Braun hit another sacrifice fly in the fifth inning against reliever Clay Condrey, and Jason Kendall tacked on an RBI single in the seventh against Scott Eyre. Cameron reached safely four times and scored two of Milwaukee's runs.
Bush blanked the Phillies into the sixth inning, when Jayson Werth tripled to right field, where Corey Hart appeared to make the catch before crashing into the wall but then lost the baseball when he hit the ground. After Bush retired Chase Utley on a popout, Ryan Howard hit an RBI groundout against lefty reliever Mitch Stetter to cut the Brewers' lead to 3-1.
Bush was charged with that one run on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 effective innings.

Brewers put their Season in the Hand of...

2008-10-04T13:43:00.003-05:00

Dave....Bush....

But, It may not be all that bad.

Remember back in July when he took a no-hitter into the eighth?

Or the time he pitched a complete game and struck out 13?

THESE THINGS HAPPENED... once.

The Phillies will counter tonight by throwing out veteran left hander Jamie Moyer. The Brewers must win, or their first playoff apperence in 26 years will go by just like Cory Hart at the plate 1...2...3.

First Pitch from Miller Park - 5:37PM

Sabathia Stumbles, Phillies Take Game 2

2008-10-02T21:18:00.001-05:00

CC Sabathia finally looked like a guy pitching on short rest.
Sabathia surrendered five Phillies runs in a second inning that included Shane Victorino's two-out grand slam, and did not make it through the end of the fourth on Thursday as the Brewers suffered a 5-2 loss that left them with a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Fifty-four times, a team has fallen into a 2-0 hole in a five-game postseason series, and 51 times -- including in 1981, when the Brewers lost to the Yankees in five games -- that team has been unable to dig out. But one of the lucky three teams to advance was the 1982 Brewers, who overcame a two-game deficit to beat the Angels in the American League Championship Series.

In the history of the NLDS, teams are 0-16 in series when falling behind two games to none.
Sabathia (0-1) allowed five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his fourth consecutive start on three days' rest, falling to 2-3 in five career postseason starts with a 7.92 ERA. He threw a whopping 98 pitches and walked four batters, one of them intentionally, and now will not pitch again in the series unless the Brewers can win Games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee to force a Game 5 back in Philadelphia.
Brett Myers (1-0) beat the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park for the second time in less than three weeks, allowing two runs on two hits in seven strong innings. He also worked a two-hit shutout against Milwaukee here on Sept. 14, when the Phillies won both ends of a doubleheader and finished a four-game series sweep.
Coming off an emotional 122-pitch complete-game win over the Cubs on Sunday that clinched the NL Wild Card and propelled Milwaukee to its first postseason series in 26 years, Sabathia was burned as much Thursday by Myers as by Victorino.
Myers worked a pair of long at-bats against Sabathia that totaled 19 pitches, including a nine-pitch battle with two outs that ended in a walk in the decisive second inning. The game was tied at 1 when Myers elicited a standing ovation with his walk, and Sabathia then walked Jimmy Rollins on four pitches to load the bases for Victorino, who turned on a 1-2 breaking ball for the first grand slam in Phillies postseason history and a 5-1 lead.
Myers also flied out in a 10-pitch at-bat against Sabathia in the fourth inning, after which the Brewers were forced to tap the bullpen. After a Rollins double -- one of six in the game for the Phillies, tying the club's playoff record -- Sabathia intentionally walked Victorino and then unintentionally walked Chase Utley. Mitch Stetter struck out Ryan Howard in relief to avoid further damage to Sabathia's final line.
The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but missed an opportunity to do major damage against a wild Myers. With the bases loaded, J.J. Hardy drew one of three Myers walks in the inning -- one of them was intentional, to Prince Fielder -- but Corey Hart followed by swinging at the first pitch and tapping a ball back to the mound. Myers initiated an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.
The Phillies answered back in the second when Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz hit back-to-back doubles off Sabathia to tie the game at 1. Four batters after Feliz tied the game, Victorino hit his go-ahead slam.

-Adam McCalvy

Brewers Rally in Ninth, Fall Short, Lose Game 1

2008-10-01T16:37:00.004-05:00

It was a game where you didn't really know who to blame. Rickie Weeks had a key error in the third, Mike Cameron dropped a fly ball that would of ended the inning in the third, Gallardo allowed a bases loaded walk, and the Brewers offense came out empty for the first eight innings. It was a group effort full of fail on wednesday as the Crew lost to the Phillies in game one 3-1.

Mike Cameron struck out looking to start the ninth. Durham followed with a base hit to left, and Ryan Braun then added a double to bring the game to 3-1. With Braun at second base Prince Fielder struck out after running the count full. So with two outs and Braun on second the Brewers brought up JJ Hardy, after strike one, Lidge missed on four straight pitches, giving the Brewers runners on first and second with two outs. Corey Hart stepped up to the plate with a less than stellar track record versus Brad Lidge going 0-5 with 3 strikeouts. A wild pitch from Lidge let the runners advance to second and third, putting the tying run on second. But Corey Hart struck out on a 2-2 fastball giving the Phillies the W.

Cole Hamels dominated on the mound pitching 8 innings and strikingout 9 allowing only 3 hits.

The Brewers look to Sabathia in game 2 to pull this series back to even.

Fear the Beer's "Regular Season Analysis"

2008-09-29T16:42:00.005-05:00

What a year it has been so far.

The Ups, the downs, the good times, and the bad.

It all started Monday, March 31st in Chicago against the Cubs, after a length rain delay, Brewers fans got what they were waiting all winter for. After blowing a three run lead, the Brewers battled back to win opening day 4-3 in ten innings.

Things kept going well and the Brewers started off the season with a 15-11 record in the month of April.

But like always, with sucsess came concern. Eric Gagne looked less than stellar on the mound, blowing 4 saves early off in the year. Other concern surronded the bullpen as David Riske and Guillermo Mota looked shaky at best in their first months as a Brewer.

The month of may did not start on a good note at all for the Brewers, they got the win in the game, but they lost a key member of the rotation. On a routine groundball, pitcher Yovanni Gallardo, tore his ACL when colliding with Prince Fielder at first base. A injury that was supposed to put Gallardo out for the year, proved to be overcomeable by the young phenom.

May also marked the return of Mike Cameron. Cameron was suspended the first month of the year for illegal substances.

Midway threw the month of May showed to be one of the toughest tests for the Brewers as they travelled to Fenway Park to take on the Red Sox. After getting swept, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun called out his teamates saying "none of them expected to win"

At the end of May the Brewers were a dismal 27-28, and were 7 games back of the Division leading Cubs.

Enterting June the Brewers were playing flat, Ben Sheets was having a All Star season on the hill, but besides that, the pitching just wasn't there. Manny Parra was looking solid, but Jeff Suppan was not living up to his contract. Dave Bush continued to struggle, earning him a demotion to AAA, but he was quickly recalled. Seth McClung emerged as a small savior for the Brewers has he routinly began to get starts while Carlos Villaneuva was placed into the bullpen. Eric Gagne lost his job to Salomon Torres as the closer and David Riske was still carrying a ERA above 4. Guillermo Mota couldn't seem to locate his slider, and when he did locate it, he left it up in the zone. Never the less, the Brewers offense knew they had to bail out their team, and they did. JJ Hardy, Ryan Braun, and Corey Hart all put up numbers to remember, as the Brewers at the end up June held a 44-37 record, placing them 4.5 games behind the Cubs.

July 7th 2008... The day that the Brewers added that final piece to the puzzle in the arm of Carston Charles [CC] Sabathia. The Brewers aquired Sabathia from the Indians for top prospect Matt LaPorta and LHP Zach Jackson.

In July Sabathia had four starts, going 4-0 with 3 complete games.

July also was home to another trade the Brewers made, aquiring switch hitting second baseman Ray Durham from the Giants for a few minor leaguers. With Rickie Weeks struggles, Ray Durham proved to be a big player in the Brewers season run.

By the end of July the Brewers sat at 60-48.

The Brewers came out red hot in august, starting the month out 10-2. Sabathia continued to deal on the mound, while Sheets and Parra continued to pitch solid. Ryan Braun was putting up MVP like numbers as the Brewers inched closer and closer to the Cubs at top of the division. But a few loses to the Cubs late in August threw the Brewers 5.5 games back in the NL Central. But going into the last month of the year, the Brewers held a 5.5 game wild card lead.

September baseball is what the Season is all about, the last month to make the playoff push, and the last month to show how much you want it. Watching the start of September... it didn't seem like this team wanted anything to do with a post-season.

The Brewers started September of a pathetic 2-11, including a four game sweep in Philidephia which brought the Phillies in a tie with the Brewers atop of the Wild Card standings. Along with the Brewers drop in the standings, the Brewers also dropped something else...their manager.

After 6 years with the Brewers, the organization felt it was necessary to move on, and move on they did. The Brewers handed the interm manager job to third base coach Dale Sveum.

But, the big question, could Sveum turn the team around? Or was it too late?

The Brewers still looked flat, going 2-4 in Sveums first six games as manager, and going into the last six games of the year, the Brewers were still 1 game back in the Wild Card race to the New York Mets.

The Brewers opened up the final homestand of the year, welcoming the Pirates and Cubs to close out the Brewers regular season. As the Brewers fought hard against the Pirates, all Brewer fans became instant Cub fans as the Cubs faced the NL Wild Card Leading Mets. This series also provided the return of Brewers pitcher Yovanni Gallardo who overcame a injury that was supposed to bench him for the year. The Brewers had some late inning heroics over the three game series against the Pirates, including a tenth inning walk off home run by Prince Fielder and a walk off Grand Slam by Ryan Braun two days later. So heading into the final series against the Cubs, the Brewers and Mets were tied atop the NL Wild Card.

Jeff Suppan took the hill for game one of the final series against the Cubs and pitced very well indeed. He went five strong allowing only one run. The Brewers offense couldnt muster anything against the Cubs until the eigth when Rickie Weeks belted a three run homerun to put the Crew ahead for good. A Brewers win, combined with a Mets loss, gave the Brewers a 1 Game lead with two games to go. The Brewers controlled thier own destiny.

But apparently their destiney was to not win the following day, the Brewers came out empty, letting the Cubs run all over them. The Brewers had a late inning opprutunity but couldn't capatilize. A Brewers loss, combined with a Mets win, knotted things back up.

The Final game, the Brewers put out hurler CC Sabathia, the Cubs countered with Angel Guzman. Sabathia gave up a early second inning run, but from there it was a gem. A 1-1 game carried into the eigth when Ryan Braun stepped up to the plate and belted a 2 run homerun over the left field bleachers. A electric crowd and a fired up Brewers team errupted at Miller Park as the Brewers took a 3-1 lead. Sabathia finished what he started, pitching all 9 innings, allowing no earned runs (one unearned) and struck out 7.

The whole state of Wisconsin sat and waited, watching the Marlins take on the Mets. The Marling carried a 4-2 lead into the ninth, while Brewer fans sweated out three final outs. After a two out walk, Ryan Church flew out to deep right, clinching the Brewers their first playoff birth since 1982.

The Brewers will be facing the Philidelphia Phillies in the first round, starting October 1.

Player by Player Review

1B - Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder played in all but three games for the Brewers this year. After a slow start, Fielder ended the season batting .276 with 34 HR and 102 RBI. He didn't put up the power number like last year, but the offensive production was definetly there. Fielder batted .466 in the last two weeks of the season, hopefully he will ride that hot bat into the playoffs.

2B - Rickie Weeks
To put it nicely, this year, was a "struggle" Weeks lost his second basemen duties to Ray Durham once Dale Sveum took over as manager. Weeks did have a clutch three run homerun to lock up a game against the Cubs. But in the end he only batted .234 with 14 HR and 46 RBI.

2B - Ray Durham
After aquiring Durham on July 20, Durham provided to be a savior for the team as Rickie Weeks continued to struggle. Durham put up a solid .289 Batting average. He only had 6 HR in off-power year but he still got 49 runs home.

SS - JJ Hardy
Hardy proved to be one of the streakiest hitters for the Brewers this year. But when he was hot, god damn was he hot. But when he was cold, you knew it. Hardy had a very solid year never the less, batting .283 with 24 HR and 74 RBI.

3B - Craig Counsell, Bill Hall, Russel Branyan
It was a mess at third this year. Bill Hall's total offensive struggles quickly found him in a platoon with Russel Branyan. Bill Hall was not too pleased with this move and quickly demanded a trade. This trade would never happen. After a injury to Branyan, Craig Counsell took over as the left in the platoon. Bill Hall ended the year batting a disappointing .225 with only 15 HR and 55 RBI. Counsell finished batting .226 with only 1 HR and 14 RBI. The numbers aren't that strong, but Counsells plate disapline and veteran leadership proved to be more important then his numbers.

LF - Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun is quickly being labeled as one of the Brewer greats. After capturing last years Rookie of the Year award, he put up MVP like numbers this year. Braun batted .285 with 37 HR and 106 RBI. And maybe a more impressive stat, the Brewers left fielder never commited an error all season.

CF - Mike Cameron
Cameron took over the leadoff spot for Sveum once he took over as manager, and did a very good job. Cameron had to sit out the first month of the season after being suspended for illegal substances. But once he came into the loop as a Brewer, he did a great job. He batted .243 with 25 HR and 70 RBI. The Brewers have a team option for Cameron in 09, and I expect them to use it.

RF - Corey Hart
Corey Hart started this season off with a bang, but that bang was quickly erased. After batting over .300 for the first half of the year, Harts production dropped, ending the season batting .268 with 20 HR and 91 RBI. Hart won the final vote award for the NL, going 0-4 in the All Star Game

C - Jason Kendall
Kendall proved to be a much better catcher than any other they have had any time before. Catcher has always been a struggle position for the Brewers, but this season, they may have someone to provide for the future. Kendall started the season off going 17-28, and batting over .600. Of course this production dropped off, but his defense definetly made up for his offense. Offensivly Kendall finished with a .246 average with 2 HR and 46 RBI.

P - CC Sabathia
Sabathia proved to be the savior for the Brewers this season, going 11-2 with the Brewers and putting up a ERA of 1.65 and pitching SEVEN complete games.

P - Ben Sheets
Sheets had another typical Sheets year. Amazing first half, injury plauged second half. Sheets finshed 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA. Great numbers, but he missed over six starts with seperate injuries.

P - Manny Parra
Mid-Season Manny Parra looked like a NL All-Star, at the end up the season, Manny Parra found himself out of the rotation and into the bullpen. Parra finsihed 10-8 with a 4.38 ERA.

P - Dave Bush
Dave Bush was well, Dave Bush this year. He provided a 9-10 record with a ERA over 4. He found his way down to AAA, but was called up after Gallardo went down.

P - Jeff Suppan
Suppan did not live up to his contract at the begining of the year, but he came on strong when they needed him most. Suppan went 2-0 in September putting up a ERA of around 2. He finished 10-10 with a 4.89 ERA.

Bullpen

P - Carlos Villanueva
Villanueva started the year off in the rotation, but found himself in a bullpen, and found himself being one of the most important keys in the Brewers bullpen. He quickly became the teams long reliver, and later in the year became the seventh inning set up man next to Eric Gagne. He put up a 4.07 ERA in over 108 innings of work

P - Guillermo Mota
Mota has been a journeyman, with the Mets and Marlins he started strong, but then had recent struggles. Mota looked to find a new home in Milwaukee. Mota was one of the least used pitcher on the staff, pitching only 55 innings of work. Mota was benched for a week after allowing 2+ runs in three straight games. Mota finished with a 4.01 ERA

P - David Riske
Riske was one of the best bullpen pitchers in the AL last year with the Royals, and looked to be a great signing for the Brewers. Well...maybe not. Riske boosted a ERA over 5 in 41 innings of work. Riske found his way onto the DL twice over the year. Another typical Brewers signing, good last year, poor this year.

P - Brian Shouse
The left handed Brewers specialist was probally the most reliable pitcher the Brewers had this year next to Sabathia. Shouse pitched 51 innings, putting up a 5-1 record with a 2.80 ERA. He will prove to be a key reliever in the postseason.

P - Seth McClung
McClung saw some action as a starter this year, doing very well in his starts. He put up a 6-6 record with a ERA of 4.02. McClung emerged as a strong long reliver and a spot started for the Brewers.

P - Eric Gagne
What is there really to say? He was once one of the best relivers in all of baseball, but his reign as king, collapsed. After shaky seasons in Texas and Boston, the Brewers signed Gagne to a one year, ten million dollar deal. He started this season as the Brewers closer, but quickly lost his job to Saloman Torres. Gagne put up a horrible 5.34 ERA in 46 innings of work.

P - Salomon Torres
Torres started the year as the Brewers set-up man, but he quickly emerged as the Brewers closer. Torres took over after Gagne blew 3 early saves. Torres then did a very solid job in the closer role. He put up a 7-5 record with a 3.49 ERA. Torres locked down 28 saves for the club.

Awards

Fear the Beer's Players of the Year: Ryan Braun and CC Sabathia

This year, for me, has been a special one for me. All my life I've waited for the Brewers to make the playoffs, and finally they are there. Threw the think and thin, we are all Brewers fans and we will always be Brewers fans. I wish the team good luck in their upcoming playoff series against the Phillies, win or lose, this is a memorable season.

NLDS Playoff Schedule

2008-09-29T16:31:00.003-05:00

Game 1 - Brewers at Phillies - Wednesday October 1 - 2PM cent. - TBS

Game 2 - Brewers at Phillies - Thursday October 2 - 5PM cent. - TBS

Game 3 - Phillies at Brewers - Saturday October 4 - 5:30PM cent. - TBS

Game 4 [if nec.] Phillies at Brewers - Sunday October 5 - TBA - TBS

Game 5 [if nec.] Brewers at Phillies - Tuesday October 7 - TBA - TBS

How Long Has It Been?

2008-09-29T02:02:00.002-05:00

How Long as it been since the Brewers have been in the playoffs?

Playoffs.. You're Talking About...

2008-09-28T15:58:00.001-05:00

PLAYOFFS!

See you in Philadephia folks.

Folks, They Want This.

2008-09-28T15:36:00.003-05:00

HE DID IT...AGAIN.

Brewers 3.. Cubs 1

My hands are shaking from the thought that the Mets are losing 4-2 in the ninth and we are 3 outs away from making the playoffs.

Sabathia pitched ALL NINE allowing 4 hits and 0 ER (1 unearned)

A 1-1 game carried all the way into the eigth, when Ryan Braun belted a 2 run Home Run to put them ahead.

40000 Strong still sit in Miller Park waiting for the Mets result.. and millions in wisconsin are sweating out these last few moments.

Watch Highlights Folks.. Ryan Brauns around the bases reaction literally gave me chills.

These kids today proved to me, they want this

It All Comes Down to This.

2008-09-28T13:44:00.002-05:00

Sorry about no updates guys, had to work a 24 hour shift.

Last game of the year, I'll set up the scenarios.

Brewers Win & Mets Win = One Game Playoff
Brewers Lose & Mets Lose = One Game Playoff
Brewers Win & Mets Lose = Brewers Pop Corks
Brewers Lose & Mets Win = We Expect the Expected

MUST WIN BREWERS..MUST WIN.

Gallardo to Start Thursday

2008-09-25T04:52:00.002-05:00

Do you remember that play?

You know, the one where Gallardo's leg decided to stretch and bend in four different directions?

You know, the one where Gallardo was annoucnced to be 'out for the season'?

You know, the one that took away this young stars season?

... well not too fast there.

After being activated on monday and Sheets season in limbo, the Brewers are playing thier desperate card and starting Gallardo on thursday in the series finally against the Pirates.

The Brewers are currently tied with the Mets for the Wild Card lead.

CC K's 11, Crew Cruise.

2008-09-25T04:50:00.002-05:00

CC Sabathia does not believe he is doing anything extraordinary for the Brewers and their long-suffering fans.
It only appears that way.
The Brewers' sensational second-half pickup made his second straight start on short rest and dealt Milwaukee back to the top of the National League Wild Card pile. Sabathia held the Pirates to one run and struck out 11 over seven inspired innings for a 4-2 Brewers win on Wednesday that left Milwaukee tied with the Mets for a spot in the playoffs.
An extra-innings Mets loss to the Cubs, coupled with the Brewers' win at Miller Park, left New York and Milwaukee at the top of the NL Wild Card standings with equal 87-71 records. Both teams have four games to play.
The Mets have four games to avoid a repeat of last year's collapse. The Brewers, who were 2 1/2 games behind the Mets on Sunday morning, have four games to end a postseason drought that spans a quarter century.
If a tiebreaker exists after the final day of the season vs. either the Mets, Phillies or Astros, the Brewers would have to play a one-game playoff on the road in each scenario.
"We're still breathing," Sabathia said.
They are also suddenly winning; three in a row after a 4-15 start to September and 11 straight wins over the Pirates this season. They won Wednesday thanks partly to Sabathia (10-2), who snapped a personal two-game losing streak, and partly thanks to Pirates starter Paul Maholm (9-9), who surrendered Milwaukee's only two hits in the game and issued four walks in the decisive fourth inning.
Prince Fielder stayed hot with an RBI single that tied the game at 1 and would be Milwaukee's last hit in the game. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Maholm walked Rickie Weeks and Jason Kendall in consecutive plate appearances for a 3-1 Brewers lead.
"A lot of times when you watch playoff games on TV, they're usually lone-run, two-run games," said Weeks, who was 0-for-1 but drew three walks. "You can't always look for the home run all the time.
The Brewers manufactured another run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Fielder reached second on a two-base error charged to first baseman Adam LaRoche. J.J. Hardy bunted Fielder to third and Corey Hart lined a sacrifice fly to deep center field for a 4-1 lead.
"We're not really accustomed to winning like that," said acting manager Dale Sveum, who has imposed his brand of small ball on the homer-happy Brewers.
But they are certainly accustomed to winning behind Sabathia. The Brewers traded for the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner in July and he won each of his first nine decisions with six complete games.
He may depart via free agency after the season, but is working every fourth day to extend his stay in Milwaukee.
"You hope to God that you get to the playoffs and make that thing really, really look like the best trade of all time," Sveum said. "It's catapulted us to this position, and there is a chance that it will come down to Sunday. If it's tied, you'll probably see the best pitcher in baseball go out."
If he is used again on Sunday, Sabathia would be making his third straight start on short rest.
"We're worried about his future as well, because that guy has done everything he can for this organization, whether we sign him back or not," Sveum said. "He's just one of those special human beings that comes around every once in a while."
Sabathia got off to a shaky start in a 28-pitch first inning. After retiring leadoff man Nyjer Morgan, Freddy Sanchez doubled and moved to third on a Ryan Doumit single before Sabathia walked Jason Michaels. That loaded the bases with one out, but Sabathia got a called third strike on LaRoche and then whiffed Steve Pearce swinging to escape.
After watching Sabathia's pitch count spike in the first inning, Svuem began planning as if his starter would be out after the fifth. Instead, Sabathia surrendered two singles and one more walk the rest of the way, and when Sveum warmed up Eric Gagne for the start of the seventh inning, his starter gave him a look that said he intended to keep pitching.
"I think he was going to take me out, probably, after the sixth," Sabathia said. "I don't know if I looked a little [ticked] off or whatever, but there was no way I was giving him the ball after that sixth inning. I just felt good and I felt I could get one more in."
Said Sveum: "He's 6-foot-8. He could pinch my neck off."
After Sabathia's 19th career double-digit strikeout performance, Gagne pitched a scoreless eighth inning after a bit of a delay while a member of the grounds crew filled in a hole dug by Sabathia's plant foot. Salomon Torres surrendered a solo home run to LaRoche in the ninth but hung it there for his 28th save.
The Brewers play one more game against the Pirates on Thursday and then host the NL Central champion Cubs for a weekend series. The Mets, meanwhile, finish their series with the Cubs on Thursday and then host the Marlins for three games.
If the Brewers face a meaningful game in Sunday's regular-season finale, Sabathia said there is no doubt he will make it three straight starts on three days' rest.
"If it matters, I want to pitch," he said. "It doesn't matter how many days of rest or whatever, I feel like I want to be out there."
How many pitches could he throw in that game?
"A hundred and seventy-five," Sabathia said, and he might just have been serious. "Just whatever it takes. Like I said, whatever it takes right now to get us in the playoffs is what I'll do."

-Adam McCalvy

Brewers Announce Affiliation with Timber Rattlers

2008-09-23T14:43:00.002-05:00

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are pleased to announce they have agreed to a Player Development Contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The four-year contract will keep the Rattlers and Brewers together through the 2012 season.
"The Timber Rattlers are very excited to sign this agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers," said Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav. "We look forward to building a long-term partnership and providing the great baseball fans of Wisconsin a first class venue to watch the Brewers stars of tomorrow."
This marks a return to the Midwest League for the Brewers. Milwaukee previously had affiliates in Danville (1971-74), Burlington (1975-81), and Beloit (1982-04). Current Brewers that played in the Midwest League include Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn, Jr., and Manny Parra.
"We are eager and looking for this to be a long term relationship with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and are excited to have a minor league affiliate closer to home," said Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin. "The premier facilities and Brewers fan base in Appleton combined with the proximity to Milwaukee provides a great opportunity for us and it gives our players an excellent and competitive environment to further their development."
Milwaukee's Low A affiliate had been located in Charleston, West Virginia for the last four seasons. The Power reached the South Atlantic League Championship Series each of the past two seasons.
This is the first National League affiliate in the Fox Cities since professional baseball returned to Appleton in 1958. Since then, the Appleton franchise has been affiliated with the Washington Senators (1958-59), Baltimore Orioles (1960-65), Chicago White Sox (1966-86), and the Kansas City Royals (1987-92) before signing with the Seattle Mariners prior to the 1993 season.
The Timber Rattlers partnership with the Mariners had been tied with Cedar Rapids - Angels agreement as the longest running affiliation in the Midwest League. The Timber Rattlers reached the Midwest League Championship Series in 1999 and 2005 and saw players such as Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and J.J. Putz come through Appleton during their time with Seattle.
"We would like to thank the Mariners for the 16 year relationship we have had and wish them well in all future endeavors," said Zerjav. "Our decision to change affiliations in no way says we were unhappy with the Mariners, it has more to do with the potential synergy we believe exists with the in-state Brewers and the fact our fan base is one in the same."
Wisconsin's first game as a Brewers affiliate is scheduled for April 9th, 2009 against the Quad Cities River Bandits at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Source: Here

Go.. CUBS?!

2008-09-23T00:08:00.001-05:00

Cubs Win, Cubs Win, CUBS WIN.

...wait... what?

Yes, we are ALL Cubs fans as of now.

Cubs 9, Mets 5.

Meaninggg, the Crew are now only 1 game back and have a [easy] series against the Pirates in Milwaukee. We will see how bad they really want this.

WHOAAAAAAA, I Almost Forgot what a "W" Looked Like!

2008-09-21T20:43:00.002-05:00

I could complain.
I really could.
Buttttt, i'm not going to.

Brewers 8, Reds 1.

Strong offensive performance, lead by Prince Fielder who scored the first three runs of the game.

With a Mets loss the Crew are now only 1.5 games back in the wild card chase. The Mets have a three game series against the Cubs, while the Brewers get the Pirates.

Theres Still Hope.

I Jumped Off That Cliff About Three Days Ago

2008-09-19T15:01:00.003-05:00

Swept by the Phillies,
Out Played by the Cubs,
and Another Waste of Six Months?

My Internet still hasnt been working so I apoligize for not posting.

Ill summarie the past week very quickly.

THE BREWERS FUCKING SUCK.

They get swept by the Phillies, in which non of the games were really close.
They Fire Yost to try to light a fire.
THEY WIN A GAME.
Then they hold a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth and let the Cubs score four to tie, and then win it in the Twelvth.

The Brewers are 1.5 games out in the Wild Card to the Mets.
And I'm losing interest.

Brewers start a 3 game series in Cinci tonight, Good Luck Boys.

Ned Yost Fired

2008-09-15T15:23:00.002-05:00

It was announced today that Ned Yost has been fired as manager of the Brewers. Everything I've heard from Brewers Nation is happiness. They are all ready to see Ned Yost out the door to get them back into realistic contention for the playoffs.

I disagree. I don't know that Sveum is the guy to coach the Brewers into the playoffs. I was ready to see Yost fired at the end of this season, but I don't know that they'll get any kind of a boost from removing the team's leader.

I'm hoping I'm proven wrong though.

PPD

2008-09-12T20:15:00.000-05:00

Postponed Kiddos.

Doubleheader tomorrow?

Poll Result 9/4/08

2008-09-11T23:04:00.002-05:00

"Which September call up will have the Biggest Impact?"

33% Tony Gwynn Jr: This doesn't surprise me much. He is definetly the player with the most experience on the team, he will definetly provide a solid bat, solid glove, and some good foot speed for the run for the playoffs.

33% Brad Nelson: This surpirsed me a bit, Brad Nelson is one of those players that was always supposed to be something, but just never panned out. He's like the offensive version of Ben Hendrickson. But he does bring a powerful left handed bet, so lets hope for the best.

16% Rottino & Stetter: Rottino comes to the Brewers with a slice of MLB experience under his belt. He can consistantly play almost all positions and carried a strong average in the minor leagues. Mitch Stetter is probally going to be the most versitle pitcher of the call-ups, as he is a lefty with some experience, he will be a good fit to help out Shouse.

This Weeks Question: "Are the Brewers Going to Blow it?"

Simple.

Avoid the Panic... We're Still up 3...

2008-09-11T23:00:00.003-05:00

... Three..Two..One.. Oh fuck it, we're gonna choke. Harsh words, yes. But come on, you can't play this kind of baseball in important games. The Brewers lost, ONCE AGAIN thursday, to the hands of the Phillies. Ben Sheets had a less then stellar performance, going six, allowing 5. The Brewers offense also left a significant runners on base, with their only offensive production off of the long ball. Possibly the only positive out of this game was Fielder finally got off of the home run slump, by hitting his first in 91 at bats.

Final Score, Milwaukee 3, Philly 6.

For a More in depth, less pissy, more professional summary, head here