2014-08-16 Brewers (Gallardo) at Dodgers (Kershaw), 8:10 PM CDT [Brewers win, 3-2; Yo with 8 strong innings]

[TGOTJ]

I don't disagree with the statement that many managers would do it the exact same way. I just think there's another, better way. I think the "closer" is the most expensive, least efficient spot on a major league roster. To be fair, DM has not overpaid recently for that (Eric Gagne excepted), Your mileage may vary.

[wildcat83]

Cards back under way in the 8th now

[razzzorsharp]

Win tomorrow and reclaim the best record in the NL.

[FVBrewerFan]

Would I have kept Yo in? Yes. But bringing in your closer to close isnt crazy. You dont want the starters arms to be dead in Oct.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Would I have kept Yo in? Yes. But bringing in your closer to close isnt crazy. You dont want the starters arms to be dead in Oct.

 

 

This is the best way to look at it. Either call was 'not wrong'.

[coolcool]

It doesn't even matter if it's right (ie win)... It is so wrong.

 

 

In fact, a save here just reemphasizes the wrong logic.

 

 

Ron turned this into a lose-lose situation

 

So a save chance by your closer opposite of the eventual NL Cy Young winner is a lose-lose situation? Wouldn't that be a win-lose situation? Or was that a win-lose-lose-lose situation?

[razzzorsharp]

Game time, 2 hours and 28 minutes. That's nice.

[azcheesehead]

Win tomorrow and reclaim the best record in the NL.

 

We need a Washington loss for this to be true. Don't really want that.

[TooLiveBrew]

So a save chance by your closer opposite of the eventual NL Cy Young winner is a lose-lose situation? Wouldn't that be a win-lose situation? Or was that a win-lose-lose-lose situation?

.

[razzzorsharp]

Win tomorrow and reclaim the best record in the NL.

 

We need a Washington loss for this to be true. Don't really want that.

 

Whoops, I didn't see that they have played a three games less than the Brewers.

[TooLiveBrew]

"Ryan Braun is a dangerous hitter, & a big part of this Brewers lineup."

 

That's top quality stuff, Augie. Keep up the good work.

[owbc]

ESPN playoff odds are at a season high. 87.7% right now--even higher if the Cards lose.

[hawing]

"Ryan Braun is a dangerous hitter, & a big part of this Brewers lineup."

 

That's top quality stuff, Augie. Keep up the good work.

But can Ryan hit a breakkaball?

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

Lose to Kyle Hendricks and Tsuyoshi Wada. Beat Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. That makes sense.

love got to love the brewers. they can't figure out how to hit bums, but they bring their A game against the best. well it bodes well for the brewers if they survive the death race to the playoffs.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

ESPN playoff odds are at a season high. 87.7% right now--even higher if the Cards lose.

at my local casino the brewers are 3/1 to win the NL pennant and 8/1 to win the World Series. they have the 2nd shortest odds to win the NL pennant after the Dodgers who are 7/5 at my casino. after winning the season series, it would be logical to call the brewers the best in NL.

[TooLiveBrew]

Video & recap have been added to the lead post

[Invader3K]

What a nice win last night...it was weird, because I fell asleep on the couch around the 6th inning...woke up seemingly soon after, then was confused why K-Rod was pitching. Then I realized it was already the bottom of the 9th inning.

 

Clayton Kershaw made a comment after the game that Gallardo "out pitched" him. Gallardo has seemed to be stepping things up lately, and that's great to see with us soon heading into September.

[LouisEly]

With a two run lead in the 9th you go after the hitter and don't walk him; take the 70% chance that if he hits the ball he will make an out. Kemp hit a pitch that was up at or above the letters; it was at the edge of the strike zone if not slightly above it, not a bad pitch at all. I have no problems giving up a solo HR in the 9th when up by 2+ runs.

 

Gallardo had the meat of the order coming up in the 8th approaching 100 pitches. If any of the first two batters get on base Gallardo is facing Gonzalez with a runner on up by only two - Gonzalez this year has a .882 OPS vs. RHP and a .515 OPS vs. LHP - you HAVE to have a lefty up and ready in case a runner gets on. RRR made the right decision to have a lefty up.

 

What if one of the first two batters got on base and then Gonzalez hit a 2-run HR off of Gallardo? Would that have been a smart decision?

[TGOTJ]

LouisEly, that's a good post. If that was the logic, then he might have well as brought Smith in to face Gonzalez with two outs. It doesn't explain Jeffress being up or why Jeffress didn't pitch the ninth. I'm not trying to be overly critical with RRR; as I said before almost every manager would do it exactly the same. Which is probably why I'm not a manager.

[sdcheezhd]

Jeffress is up in case they get a couple insurance runs and don't need K-Rod. Yo got some breaks in the 8th so pros and cons both ways on who pitches the 9th and either choice would have been defensible. I'm not a Roenicke fan but thought he did fine last night.