2013-04-30 Pirates (McDonald) at Brewers (Estrada), 7:10 PM CDT [Roof Open Tonight! Brewers win wacky slugfest, 12-8]

[pretendastronaut]

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2013/logos/pirates.png[/logo][game-info][h1]April 30 | 7:10 P.M.[/h1][h2]Pirates (15-11) | Brewers (13-11)[/h2][h3]FSWI | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2013/logos/brewers.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2013/pitchers/pirates/mcdonald-01.jpghttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2013/pitchers/brewers/estrada-05.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][h2]2-2, 4.38 ERA, 1.46 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]McDonald has been extra stingy over his last two outings, allowing just seven hits and four runs in 11 innings. The right-hander has struggled in his career vs. the Brewers, though, posting a 6.98 ERA.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][h2]2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Pirates | Game Log[/h3][h3]Estrada has authored four consecutive quality starts, including a loss to the Padres in which he allowed only one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. "It was probably the best I've felt all year," Estrada said.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away]

1. LF Starling Marte
   
2. C Russell Martin
   
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
   
4. RF Garrett Jones
   
5. 1B Gaby Sanchez
   
6. 3B Pedro Alvarez
   
7. 2B Brandon Inge
   
8. SS Clint Barmes
   
9. RHP James McDonald

[/divclass][divclass=home]

1. RF Norichika Aoki
   
2. SS Jean Segura
   
3. LF Ryan Braun
   
4. C Jonathan Lucroy
   
5. 2B Rickie Weeks
   
6. CF Carlos Gomez
   
7. 3B Yuniesky Betancourt
   
8. 1B Martin Maldonado
   
9. RHP Marco Estrada

[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

[hawing]

This is the first home series since at least 2011 which wasn't covered in either of our 20-game packs. Between the happy result last night and tonight's weather, I'm kind of missing it. It'll surely be 40-something and wet by the time we go back on Thursday.

 

[brwrsfan]

Glad to see weeks still in the 5 hole. I believe he's the only regular to not have a single day off. Makes sense...got to keep his hot bat in the lineup. Oh wait...

 

Seriously though, how long does he have to slump before getting a day or two to clear his head? Could putting josh prince in the lineup really be that bad? Why is he even on the roster at this point?

[adamb100]

I want to go to this game so badly but the city buses dont drop you off @ Miller Park and I dont want to walk from the VA Hospital (where the bus drops you off) to Miller Park in this heat.

[owbc]

It's too hot now in Wisconsin?

 

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Boy-That-Escalated-Quickly-Anchorman.gif

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

I'm going home, putting on my Rickie Weeks jersey and turning the Augie up to 11.

 

My own personal form of rebellion for the haters out there!

[adamb100]

It's too hot now in Wisconsin?

 

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Boy-That-Escalated-Quickly-Anchorman.gif

 

84 degrees out. I would be drenched in sweat by the time I walked in Miller Park.

[owbc]

You win, the high was 83 in Miami today. It's currently 78 with a dew point of 70, which actually feels somewhat cool. Haha. The temperature here might not drop below 70 again until October.

 

At least Milwaukee should avoid the snow on Friday.

[TURBO]

It's really too bad our manager doesn't think about taking a different approach with Weeks like Matheny is doing with Freese. Has anyone even suggested Weeks gets some time off since RRR can't seem to come to that conclusion by himself. Found this to share:

 

 

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said David Freese could receive multiple days off as the club tries to find a way to get him through his slump.

 

Freese had another hitless performance Monday, dropping his batting line to .163/.255/.204. "We've tried to let him play through it but he's not heading in a good direction," Matheny said. "So, at that point you say take a different perspective and give him a little bit of time to see how he responds. Last year we gave him two or three in a row, and he was able to get some work done and was a different guy."

 

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[TooLiveBrew]

The most recent I'm aware of from Roenicke on Weeks is from McCalvy's 4/21 blog post.

 

Rickie Weeks was called into the manager’s office Sunday to talk about taking a day off. After an 8-for-18 start to the season, he had four hits and 22 strikeouts in his last 45 at-bats. Manager Ron Roenicke thought it might be time for a break.

 

But Weeks made a case to play. When the lineup was posted in the clubhouse, he was back at second base and batting cleanup.

 

“Rick, he doesn’t want it off,” Roenicke said. “Sometimes, it comes to [simply telling a player he’s sitting out]. But it’s not something he wants on his part.

 

“His thinking is, for him, probably right. Say we give him today off, how do we know today isn’t the day that he bounces out of this thing? If he’s not in there, he has [no] chance to get out of it. That’s his thinking, and it’s good thinking. It depends on the personality, whether that works or not.

 

“He’s going to get out of this. It’s a matter of what day it is, and the more I keep him in there, the more I feel like he’s going to get out of it.”

That this is still the plan after Weeks has gone 3-27 with a .398 OPS since these comments suggests that Roenicke is not an asset, strategically.

[ELCABALLO45]

I didn't wanna dig up the old thread, but I watched the Pirates broadcast of the game last night afterwards (Because, well I am a nerd) and the Pirates color guy after Braun hit his double in the first said...

 

"A couple of years ago, certain NL teams accused the Brewers of stealing signs. After seeing a hit like that, it's almost like he knew that pitch was coming. And it makes you wonder".

[brwrsfan]

Missed ten pitches and its 1-0 with two men on. Ugh

[adamb100]

Estrada is not looking so hot.

[AZBrewCrew]

You win, the high was 83 in Miami today. It's currently 78 with a dew point of 70, which actually feels somewhat cool. Haha. The temperature here might not drop below 70 again until October.

 

At least Milwaukee should avoid the snow on Friday.

 

102 here as of an hour ago.

[AZBrewCrew]

"Dat was a nice job of pitching by Marco right dere". Ugh. Augie drives me nuts.

[dlk9s]

I didn't wanna dig up the old thread, but I watched the Pirates broadcast of the game last night afterwards (Because, well I am a nerd) and the Pirates color guy after Braun hit his double in the first said...

 

"A couple of years ago, certain NL teams accused the Brewers of stealing signs. After seeing a hit like that, it's almost like he knew that pitch was coming. And it makes you wonder".

Braun has apparently been stealing signs his entire career.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Rickie Weeks needs to walk to be somewhat productive, and a lead off walk I'll take. Double steal anybody?

[fondybrewfan]

Bottom of the lineup has been producing a ton

[PrinceFielderx1]

Maldonado the best back-up catcher in baseball?

[adamb100]

It's like the Pirates are cursed when they play in Miller Park.

[owbc]

It's a surprisingly small crowd tonight considering the nice weather and discounted tickets. The Brewers are down 4,400 per game over last year.

[dlk9s]

McDonald threw a couple really tough pitches to Braunie there. That low-outside breaker was great and the final strike was pretty nasty - 93 mph on the low-inside corner.

[fondybrewfan]

Well those should be unearned runs. If Rickie hadn't thrown that DP ball at Segura's feet that was an easy turn

[danzig6767]

Bad throw by Weeks on the DP attempt leads to a 2 run homer

[brwrsfan]

Not watching on tv...but did weeks strike again? Should that inning have ended?