2011-04-04 Braves (Beachy) at Brewers (Narveson) - [Brewers lose, 2-1, remain winless]

[Dragonbait]

Prince might set the record for HBP this year...

 

We should take bets on how many times til he charges the mound.

[dlk9s]

I bet Braun wishes he had that pitch back. Right down the pipe and he just undercut it.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Fernando Vina would be proud of that HBP.

 

Prince definitely leaned into that pitch.

[Invader3K]

Narveson looking good so far. Just struck out Heyward.

[Dragonbait]

Hey... we've gone the first 2 innings without giving up a run!!!!

[dlk9s]

I'm really surprised McClouth couldn't get to Yuni's double. I mean, he's a Gold Glove winner, after all.

[ELCABALLO45]

Betancourt double!!

[jjkoestler]

Narvy is dealing. Very nice to see.

[trwi7]

Why are we sacrificing with Nieves and the pitcher coming up?

[logan82]

I don't like small ball early in the game and I am not sure Morgan should have been bunting there but I hate it less in the bottom of the lineup.

[dlk9s]

Why are we sacrificing with Nieves and the pitcher coming up?

Probably because a) Nieves now doesn't need to get a base hit to drive in Yuni, and b) Morgan always has a legit shot to beat out a bunt.

[Fear The Chorizo]

great AB there, Nieves

[Glennron]

If Bill is second guessing the bunt there, you know it's not the best idea.

[owbc]

I agree with Bill. It was not a bunt for a base hit, just a plain old sacrifice in front of the #8 and #9 hitters. Pointless.

[fondybrewfan]

Why SF there when the guy at the plate is probably the best option to drive the guy in? Its not like Braun & Fielder were up next. Just dumb

[jjkoestler]

I missed the first of 200 YunE hits this season. Bummer...

[davemakovec]

I was extremely disappointed to see that sacrifice bunt, and not surprised that it turned into nothing with the catcher and pitcher coming up. Unless you need one run, or you have the pitcher at the plate, you really shouldn't sac bunt. Morgan is a much better hitter than Nieves or Narveson, and you don't want better hitters giving up outs to give worse hitters a shot at driving in the runner.

[Gobias Industries]

The people that are drawn to opening day would give a standing o to a sac bunt.

[Fear The Chorizo]

It's sad when you look at the bottom of the lineup and wish a couple of the Brewer pitchers could DH for them.

[Glennron]

I was thinking the same thing Gobias, especially when BA said "Look at the appreciation from the crowd!"

[dlk9s]

Have the Brewers' announcers said what the discussions were about that were taking place with the managers and the ump? The Braves announcers don't know. I'm curious.

[TooLiveBrew]

Yes. I think this board is going to hate Roenicke in time. He certainly doesn't strike me as a numbers guy, which is bad news around here. Everything has been about feel and communication so far, which is great, but it needs to be combined with sound decision making as well.

I think you're right, I already don't like the small ball he's been employing. .360 OBP guy at the plate with a runner on second? Give up that out -- you've got that ace-in-the-hole .274 guy right behind him.

[Eddiehitsthefoulpole]

What was Ron's plan there? Did he think that Will Nieves was automatic when it came to driving the ball. That was one of the dumbest strategical decisions I have ever seen in all of my life of watching baseball. You don't bunt with the 7th hitter, period. I think that the guys who study statistics will tell you that your chances of scoring are greater with 3 attempts to score a guy from second than two attempts to score a guy from third. Finally, the guy who bunted is a far better hitter than the guys that followed him. What a terrible inning!

[Invader3K]

It's possible Morgan executed the bunt himself without Roenicke's directive.

[Glennron]

Narveson looking really good at least.