9/18/08 Brewers (Bush) at Cubs (Harden): 1:20 PM CDT

[wibadgers23]

Dave Bush (9-10, 4.24 ERA, 42 BB/103 SO)

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0323/fantasy_w_bush_412.jpg

Previous Starts:

DATE	OPP	RESULT	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GB	FB	TBF	#Pit	Dec.	Rel.	ERA
9/14	@PHI	L 3-7	6.0	5	3	3	1	2	4	5	6	25	81	--	--	4.24
9/8	CIN	L 4-5	8.0	7	2	2	1	2	3	13	8	32	99	--	--	4.23
9/3	NYM	L 2-9	5.0	7	6	6	2	3	2	8	7	24	82	L(9-10)	--	4.33
8/29	@PIT	W 3-1	6.2	6	1	1	1	2	2	6	14	30	94	W(9-9)	--	4.12
8/22	PIT	W 10-4	7.0	7	3	3	1	1	2	13	5	27	98	W(8-9)	--	4.24
8/16	@LAD	W 4-3	7.0	5	2	2	1	1	3	11	6	25	71	--	--	4.26
8/11	WAS	W 7-1	6.1	5	1	1	0	2	6	10	4	27	98	W(7-9)	--	4.35
8/5	@CIN	W 8-1	7.0	3	1	1	0	2	7	13	5	28	92	W(6-9)	--	4.50
7/31	CHC	L 4-11	7.1	5	7	6	3	1	3	8	12	29	106	L(5-9)	--	4.69
7/26	HOU	W 6-4	5.0	9	4	4	2	0	5	7	4	22	94	--	--	4.51

Versus

 

Rich Harden (10-2, 2.04 ERA, 50 BB/170 SO)

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/gfx/baseball-rich-harden_392.jpg

Previous Starts:

DATE	OPP	RESULT	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GB	FB	TBF	#Pit	Dec.	Rel.	ERA
9/11	@STL	W 3-2	6.0	5	2	2	0	1	3	3	10	24	86	W(5-1)	--	1.65
8/29	PHI	W 3-2	5.0	3	2	1	0	4	5	5	5	23	100	--	--	1.50
8/24	WAS	W 6-1	7.0	2	1	1	1	0	11	3	8	23	109	W(4-1)	--	1.47
8/19	CIN	W 5-0	7.0	2	0	0	0	0	10	3	6	23	94	W(3-1)	--	1.50
8/13	@ATL	W 8-0	5.0	2	0	0	0	5	2	5	7	22	92	W(2-1)	--	1.80
8/5	HOU	W 11-7	5.2	8	5	4	2	1	8	7	7	26	93	--	--	2.10
7/31	@MIL	W 11-4	7.0	6	1	1	1	0	9	3	8	26	105	W(1-1)	--	1.11
7/26	FLA	L 2-3	5.0	2	1	1	1	3	10	2	2	21	87	--	--	1.04
7/21	@ARI	L 0-2	7.0	1	1	1	1	2	10	4	8	24	112	L(0-1)	--	0.73
7/12	SF	W 8-7	5.1	5	0	0	0	3	10	4	4	24	96	--	--	0.00

N.L. Central Standings:

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road	East	Cent.	West	L10	Strk
Chi. Cubs	91	59	.607	-	52-25	39-34	18-10	44-30	23-10	6-4	L 1
Milwaukee (4)	84	68	.553	8	44-31	40-37	16-19	41-28	20-13	2-8	W 1
Houston (1)	80	71	.530	11½	43-31	37-40	15-13	39-33	19-14	6-4	L 4
St. Louis (E)	78	73	.517	13½	40-34	38-39	22-14	31-39	18-12	3-7	L 7
Cincinnati (E)	70	81	.464	21½	40-36	30-45	18-17	28-40	15-18	7-3	W 4
Pittsburgh (E)	64	88	.421	28	38-39	26-49	15-17	31-44	12-18	4-6	W 1

Wild Card Race:

Team	W	L	PCT	GB
N.Y. Mets	84	67	.556	-
Milwaukee (11)	84	68	.553	½
Houston (8)	80	71	.530	4
Florida (7)	79	72	.523	5
St. Louis (6)	78	73	.517	6
Arizona (3)	75	76	.497	9

[BrewerTerp]

Honestly it would be nice to win this game, but I see it as playing with house money.

 

Win 2 of 3 @ Reds.

Sweep the Pirates at MP.

2 of 3 vs. a resting Cubs at MP.

 

That puts you at 91-71. The Mets would have to go 8-3 or better to win the W-C outright in that case.

[rluzinski]

What do you think? Is this the biggest start of Bush's career? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Personally, I don't think the Brewers NEED this game:

 

0-1: Cubs

4-2: Reds and Pirates

2-1: Cubs (Harden skips a start and most of the regulars in the lineup sit for the rubber match on Sunday)

 

Brewers finish, 90-72 and force a one game playoff with the Mets. Villy and Defelice combine for 6 IP, 4 ER and the Brewers win a wild one, 6-5 and go to the playoffs for the first time in 73 years!!!!

 

Wait... Sheets might be done for the year?

[dlk9s]

I'll always remain optimistic, but I'll set the O/U on Brewers strikeouts today at 12.

 

It's hard to believe there are only 10 games left.

[brwrsfan]

I guess I'm in the minority, but this is huge, huge game for us. It's time for Dave Bush to step up. Granted, this wouldn't be the dagger if we lose, but it really could be a huge spark for the remaining 9 games. And let's face it, we have 9 winnable games remaining (assuming the Cubs take it easy the last weekend). We're going to need to win at least 7 of the last 10 (IMO) to make the playoffs. Winning today against Harden could go a long way in sparking the offense and the rest of the club for the last week of the season.

 

 

I honestly believe that if we win this game today, we'll make the playoffs.

[BrewerTerp]

^^^^ I agree, this game would go a long way for this club.

[hawing]

Dear Dave Bush:

 

Keep the Brewers in the game. That's all I ask today. Thanks!

 

Hugs,

 

hawing

[olliegjw]

Is the game on TV today?

[Dmiles23]

I agree that this is a HUGE game for the Brewers today, but don't believe it's a must win. Just looking at the remaining schedule and the starters coming up, the Reds have been pitching Volquez every 5th day so he now misses the Brewers series. We were supposed to get Harang, who has piched A LOT better of late, in game 1 and Volquez in game 2 of the Reds series. We now get Ramirez, Cueto, and Arroyo. I like our chances much better against those guys... but we still need to hit the ball.

 

Come on Bush, let's finish the last road trip off strong!

[crewcrazy]

Win this game and still have a chance at winning the season series. The Cubs will likely have nothing to play for by the time they come back to Milwaukee, so it's definitely do-able.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

It's not a must win, but it's huge. With Santana going for the Mets today and Hamels for the Phils, the likelihood is we'll be 1.5 games back if we don't somehow pull this out.

[Oldcity]

I fully agree with the house money concept. The Brewers do not need this game. I had it pegged as a loss in my own little "scenario to make the playoffs," so if they can win it would be a huge lift.

[Patrick425]

Since the Cubs magic number is 4, I'm assuming that the Cubs will very carefull with Harden today and I would be surprised to see him go more than 5 innings. Hopefully, the Brewers can keep it close until then.

[wisconsinfan47]

Harden, Hamels, and Santana all going today...It'd be great to steal one.

[marquettefan13]

Is the game on TV today?

It's on FSN.

[joepepsi]

In his last 8 starts Bush is 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA. That includes the 5 inning 6 run drubbing he took from the Mets. If the Brewers will it will be a great day!

[GormanHarvey]

Anyone know if the wind is blowing out of that dump they call Wrigley today? Bush will need all the help he can get...

[bthurley19]

11 MPH from the ESE. I think that means the wind is blowing out. Not good with Bush on the mound.

[GormanHarvey]

11 MPH from the ESE. I think that means the wind is blowing out. Not good with Bush on the mound.

I can never figure it out which direction is in and which is out, but I hope if you are right that it changes or stops

[Ennder]

That really is an ugly pitching matchup on paper. Will just be sweeter when we win it.

[brwrsfan]

Harden, Hamels, and Santana all going today...It'd be great to steal one.

 

Maybe this is a day we can steal one, instead of the other way around. It could happen.....Hamels and Santana have been beatable this year. We've had games that on paper are W's for us...and then promptly lost. It's the Phillies and Mets turn!

[chrisisoutrunning]

Wouldn't "from the ESE" essentially be the wind blowing from the right field pole towards 3rd base? the stadium faces towards the northeast... so it would take a wind from the west to be blowing out...

[GormanHarvey]

I kinda hope we see Rivera behind the dish today

[GormanHarvey]

Wouldn't "from the ESE" essentially be the wind blowing from the right field pole towards 3rd base? the stadium faces towards the northeast... so it would take a wind from the west to be blowing out...

I don't know, like I said, I can never get it right. But your logic seems correct - I hope you are right!

[datrain711]

You just hope Bush keeps us in it and maybe we can squeak out a 3-2 win or something.