4/15/08 Brewers (Bush) at Cardinals (Looper): 7:15 PM CDT

[Thurston Fluff]

Playing time should be based on a player's entire career, not 30 plate appearances.

 

Playing time overall yes. On a particular night not so cut and dry. Every manager goes with the hot hand once in a while. There's nothing wrong with it. Especially with streaky hitters/ part time players who have drastically differant defensive abilties. Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

[Trowekamp]

I have to say it is nice when the biggest issue is which backup OF will temporarily start in Center.. what are we going to argue about when Cameron gets back? My vote:

 

- Whether Counsell or Kapler should be the first PH off the bench?

- Who should be the 8th inning guy, Riske, Mota, or Torres?

- Whether Hart or Hall should bat 5th?

 

My vote is whether they should move Braun up to second and everybody else up 1 and bat Cameron 7th..

[GormanHarvey]

Playing time should be based on a player's entire career, not 30 plate appearances.

 

Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

Nicely put

[GormanHarvey]

I have to say it is nice when the biggest issue is which backup OF will temporarily start in Center.. what are we going to argue about when Cameron gets back? My vote:

 

- Whether Counsell or Kapler should be the first PH off the bench?

- Who should be the 8th inning guy, Riske, Mota, or Torres?

- Whether Hart or Hall should bat 5th?

 

My vote is whether they should move Braun up to second and everybody else up 1 and bat Cameron 7th..

 

All good questions. I just can't wait to watch Cam track down balls in center. Once Braun gets comfortable, we should be terrific defensively in the OF. I'm torn on the 8th inning man because I really like Torres, but he is so valuable in his abiltiy to go 2+ innings

[Oldcity]

Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

 

You won't hear any disagreement from me there. I'd have Hart in center and Gross in right.

[Trowekamp]

I'm torn on the 8th inning man because I really like Torres, but he is so valuable in his abiltiy to go 2+ innings

The nice thing is if Gagne holds up and I think he will.. is that Ned can bring either Torres, Mota, or Riske in early if he needs a critical out without exposing himself in the 8th..

 

Of course being relief pitchers they all will blow up occasionally but if you look at the choices last year to this year I have much more confidence in our pen this year especially when Bush replaces McClung next week.

[Trowekamp]

Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

 

You won't hear any disagreement from me there. I'd have Hart in center and Gross in right.

I agree.. at the very least to give him more experience when he has to play there full-time next year when LaPorta is up.

[GormanHarvey]

Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

 

You won't hear any disagreement from me there. I'd have Hart in center and Gross in right.

I actually am a fan of Gross. I think he is a great bench player. I have said before and you made the point above - when Gross plays, he belongs in right, not center. Especially when we have Cameron, Kapler, Hart, and Gwynn on the team

[Thurston Fluff]

Why not ride the superior defensive player's hot offensive steak and try to get the duel benefit?

 

You won't hear any disagreement from me there. I'd have Hart in center and Gross in right.

 

Better idea for sure but I think you still have a much better defense with Kapler on the field anywhere instead of Gross. I tend to like what I've seen of Kapler in center more than I liked Hart in cneter last year.

[GormanHarvey]

I'm torn on the 8th inning man because I really like Torres, but he is so valuable in his abiltiy to go 2+ innings

The nice thing is if Gagne holds up and I think he will.. is that Ned can bring either Torres, Mota, or Riske in early if he needs a critical out without exposing himself in the 8th..

 

Of course being relief pitchers they all will blow up occasionally but if you look at the choices last year to this year I have much more confidence in our pen this year especially when Bush replaces McClung next week.

I agree and I too think Gagne will be just fine. I was at the sat game against the Giants and I was sitting 10 rows behind home plate and his change-up/splitter or whatever it is looked just filthy and I think his velocity is only going to get better and he is already at 94-95.

[Oldcity]

I'd actually say I've been pleased with Gagne so far. His only bad outing came in that miserable weather in Chicago.

[BrewCrewForever]

The Gabe Gross vs. Anybody debate will never end. That is the way I see it. Honestly I don't care all that much because come April 29th Mike Cameron will play in CF any way you slice it.

[sheetswannabe]

Cameron Sucks too.

[chuckiehacks]

Kapler in CF, Dillon in LF.

2B Rickie Weeks
CF Gabe Kapler
LF Joe Dillon
1B Prince Fielder
3B Bill Hall
RF Corey Hart
SS J.J. Hardy
RHP Dave Bush
C Jason Kendall

[Chio151]

Interesting that Yost sat Braun but not Fielder.

 

Well, go Dillon!

[Oldcity]

That's... interesting. Dillon third.

[And That]

Fielder is hitting the ball just fine - it just happens to be right at people. Braun is not hitting anything.

 

Then again, by sitting him you guarantee he won't be productive today.

[Oldcity]

I get giving Braun the day off, but I don't see why you'd hit Dillon third. Not that it's going to make a big difference for one day, but it's just a bit confusing.

[And That]

There might be something to be said for batting order continuity. I dunno... like you said, don't think it really matters.

[Bring Back the Stein]

La Russa is going to make Yost go insane by putting Looper in the six spot, then starting the rest of the lineup alphabetically, since he's good at the alphabet.

[hawing]

I get giving Braun the day off, but I don't see why you'd hit Dillon third. Not that it's going to make a big difference for one day, but it's just a bit confusing.

You never know, Stevo; Crazy Joe could feed off the implicit trust Ned is demonstrating in him by assigning him the 3-hole, and have a monster career night. Imagine the "Can Crazy Joe Dillon Pitch?" thread that would no doubt ensue.

 

 

 

[Oldcity]

La Russa is going to make Yost go insane by putting Looper in the six spot, then starting the rest of the lineup alphabetically, since he's good at the alphabet.

Well done!

 

[Weirdos19]

Why wouldn't Ned start Gross instead of Dillon?

 

I know nobody is hitting a lick, but if you are going to sit Braun, at least put another lefty in the lineup.

[jflick1215]

Well, it only took 62 posts for our first "haha, see it's in blue so I'm being sarcastic" ________sucks. I just don't see what these types of posts bring to the IGT. Maybe it's just me...

[chuckiehacks]

Gotta love the comments in TH's blog - people are concerned that Braun is sitting because a trade is in the works.