2018-07-29: Brewers (Guerra) at Giants (Suarez) 3:05 PM CDT [Brewers lose, 8-5]

[Eye Black]

[pre]Brewers Lineup Giants Lineup

1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 1. Andrew McCutchen ® RF

2. Christian Yelich (L) RF 2. Buster Posey ® C

3. Jesús Aguilar ® 1B 3. Brandon Crawford (L) SS

4. Ryan Braun ® LF 4. Evan Longoria ® 3B

5. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B 5. Pablo Sandoval (S) 1B

6. Hernán Pérez ® 2B 6. Steven Duggar (L) CF

7. Manny Piña ® C 7. Alen Hanson (S) 2B

8. Orlando Arcia ® SS 8. Gorkys Hernandez ® LF

9. Junior Guerra ® P 9. Andrew Suarez (L) P[/pre]

[Eye Black]

Some game notes via the Brewers’ Senior Director of Media Relations, Mike Vassallo:

 

 

The #Brewers have clinched their first series victory against the Giants since taking 2 of 3 games from 8/5-8/7, 2014 at Miller Park. It marks their first series victory in San Francisco since taking 2 of 3 games from 9/17-9/19, 2010.

The #Brewers look to sweep the Giants for the first time since 4/16-4/18, 2013 at Miller Park (3g). The team has not swept the Giants in San Francisco since 7/18-7/20, 2008 (3g). The Brewers’ only 4-game sweep of the Giants took place from 9/21-9/24, 2006 at Miller Park.

Catcher @ErikKratz31 is batting .355 (11-for-31, 4rbi) over his last 10 games. He has also thrown out 5 of his last 8 runners attempting to steal. #Brewers

And from Craig Mish:

 

.318 BA /.384 OBP / 3.5 WAR / 15 HR / 57 RBI / 13 SB / GG defense & his team is 61-46 a half game back of 1st.

 

Christian Yelich is all of a sudden in the discussion for NL MVP.

[pacopete4]

Man have averages as a whole taken a dip? Feels like if you weren’t over .330-.340 you had no chance not too long ago.

[adambr2]

It will be interesting to see how they approach the lineup vs. LHP with Moose here. Braun should play, Aguilar could probably use a day off but I wouldn't do it against a LHP.

 

This is a time we could use a healthy and productive Santana to start in RF, with Braun at 1st and Jesus at 3rd.

 

My guess today:

 

CF Cain

RF Yelich

1B Aguilar

3B Moustakas

LF Braun

2B Saladino

C Pina

SS Arcia

P Guerra

 

I'm guessing they generally start 1 out of Moose and Shaw against LHP and keep the other on the bench. Maybe they go Perez at 3rd or 2nd instead but my guess is they're not really planning on platooning Moose much.

[xisxisxis]

Man have averages as a whole taken a dip? Feels like if you weren’t over .330-.340 you had no chance not too long ago.

League-wide OPS is down this year and is comparable to 2010-2012, but BA is 0.007 to 0.009 below the 2010-2012 numbers. It appears an emphasis on launch angle/swing plane has lead to reduced BA and increased power. The pre-2010 years were still part of the steroids era and OPS in 2017 approached those numbers. HR totals for 2017 were the highest of all time and HR totals even in 2018 (a down OPS year) are in line with the HR numbers from the Steroids era... Overall OPS is reduced because doubles are down significantly compared to pre-2010 numbers... And yes, SO are going to be the highest of all time as there has been a huge increase since 2010 (up 20%!!!).

[jerichoholicninja]

Man have averages as a whole taken a dip? Feels like if you weren’t over .330-.340 you had no chance not too long ago.

 

Overall, yes, but the winning average has been all over the place the last ten years. Highest at .365 and lowest of .318. There have been a few in the .310-.320 range but for the most part they are .330 or .340.

[Devinep]

It will be interesting to see how they approach the lineup vs. LHP with Moose here. Braun should play, Aguilar could probably use a day off but I wouldn't do it against a LHP.

 

This is a time we could use a healthy and productive Santana to start in RF, with Braun at 1st and Jesus at 3rd.

 

My guess today:

 

CF Cain

RF Yelich

1B Aguilar

3B Moustakas

LF Braun

2B Saladino

C Pina

SS Arcia

P Guerra

 

I'm guessing they generally start 1 out of Moose and Shaw against LHP and keep the other on the bench. Maybe they go Perez at 3rd or 2nd instead but my guess is they're not really planning on platooning Moose much.

 

I like your lineup but there’s no way CC can resist his need to play Perez. He’ll be in there somewhere

[DuWayne Steurer]

Man have averages as a whole taken a dip? Feels like if you weren’t over .330-.340 you had no chance not too long ago.

 

I was curious if this was true or not. The lowest average for a batting title list in the entirety of the two thousands was Justin Morneau in 2014 with a 319 batting average. There hasn't been any other batting Titleist in the last 20 years with an average below 326

[DuWayne Steurer]

In the last 30 years, only three players have won a batting title with an average below .320. The lowest was Tony Gwynn with a 313 average in 1988.

[82brewcrew82]

Ugh, that lineup. This team still needs another hitter.

[YelichPosse]

Why does CC love Pérez so darn much

[brewerfan82]

If they can grab a catcher that's decent vs LHP (ie. Ramos is .345/.482/.826 career vs LHP and .356/.593/.949 2018 vs. LHP) and Villar can return to the lineup (.325/.434/.759 career vs. LHP and .352/.540/.892 2018 vs. LHP) the lineup against lefties will look significantly better.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Sure seems like .270 is the new .300

[wildcat83]

Would rather have Saladino start over Pérez, but oh well. Get the brooms out!

 

Was eating lunch, flipped on the Dodgers Braves on TBS, and who do I hear? BA!

 

I get letting him leave for the NBA playoffs, but having him leave to go do other baseball games seems dumb. Find a new full time guy.

[long ball]

Why does CC love Pérez so darn much

 

Shaw shouldn't really be starting against lefties.

 

Villar is still on the DL.

 

Perez and Saladino have ben about a wash recently.

 

/shrug

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I never have understood the dislike of Perez. Every team has a utility player like that. He plays average ball at many positions. By all accounts seems to be a good teammate. Every guy on the roster isn't going to OPS .800+.

 

It just seems like he takes too much heat and gets lumped in with the catcher and shortstop hitting .200

[bigredrobbo]

I never have understood the dislike of Perez. Every team has a utility player like that. He plays average ball at many positions. By all accounts seems to be a good teammate. Every guy on the roster isn't going to OPS .800+.

 

It just seems like he takes too much heat and gets lumped in with the catcher and shortstop hitting .200

 

 

There has to be a scapegoat, and Sogard's gone, so...

[Eye Black]

These are Andrew Suarez platoon splits versus RH batters and LH batters. Appears to be particularly tough on lefties who are hitting for just a .488 OPS against him this season.

 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

What lineup are people expecting? There's nothing problematic about it until you get to Pina. Arcia has been playing well for weeks now and needs to be in there.

[82brewcrew82]

I never have understood the dislike of Perez. Every team has a utility player like that. He plays average ball at many positions. By all accounts seems to be a good teammate. Every guy on the roster isn't going to OPS .800+.

 

It just seems like he takes too much heat and gets lumped in with the catcher and shortstop hitting .200

Me too. He doesn't get on base, but he does have some pop, he can run a bit and he is a solid defender all over the field. I'm not saying the guys is fantastic but there are far worse players to have and most teams, as noted, have one. The bigger issue is that the seems to get far more starts than I would like but that isn't his fault.

[wildcat83]

I never have understood the dislike of Perez. Every team has a utility player like that. He plays average ball at many positions. By all accounts seems to be a good teammate. Every guy on the roster isn't going to OPS .800+.

 

It just seems like he takes too much heat and gets lumped in with the catcher and shortstop hitting .200

 

The key phrase in your comment is “utility player”. I don’t dislike Pérez, but I get annoyed when he starts 5 times a week like he did before the break. The addition of Moustakas and a few guys getting healthy should now move Pérez back to his appropriate role.

 

I actually defended him coming in as the defensive replacement for Thames in last nights game.

[PinaMadness]

Sean Newcomb has a no hitter going through 7 innings.

[folly412]

Lineup looks fine to me. Maybe not as appealing without Thames and Shaw due to the LHP, but sub in Villar for Perez and catcher is really the only spot that looks deficient.

[PinaMadness]

Sean Newcomb has a no hitter going through 7 innings.

Eight innings.

[wildcat83]

Sean Newcomb has a no hitter going through 7 innings.

Eight innings.

 

At 117 pitches through 8. The strike out to end the 8 is as excited as I’ve heard BA all year.