Game Thread (8/14/2022): Brewers (Ashby) at Cardinals (Mikolas) - 1:15 PM CDT

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

5 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

No, actually the reason why they did (today) is because he's been leading off, and it makes no sense to take him out of that spot simply because he's DHing as opposed to playing LF. One can argue he needs a day off; he hasn't been good at the plate for 5-6 days now. But if he's playing, moving him elsewhere in the order makes little to no sense.

Watch it. You're bringing logic to a rhetoric fight LOL ?

[yourout]

6 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

No, actually the reason why they did (today) is because he's been leading off, and it makes no sense to take him out of that spot simply because he's DHing as opposed to playing LF. One can argue he needs a day off; he hasn't been good at the plate for 5-6 days now. But if he's playing, moving him elsewhere in the order makes little to no sense.

I'm betting the groundskeepers in the league are glad to see him leave town with all the abuse to the grass on the right side of the infield he leaves behind.

[Jim French Stepstool]

14 minutes ago, yourout said:

I'm betting the groundskeepers in the league are glad to see him leave town with all the abuse to the grass on the right side of the infield he leaves behind.

One of the TV guys, don't remember if it was Anderson or Rottino, mentioned he isn't doing the toe-tap anymore. If that's true I'd love to hear a justification for it.

[treego14]

19 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

One of the TV guys, don't remember if it was Anderson or Rottino, mentioned he isn't doing the toe-tap anymore. If that's true I'd love to hear a justification for it.

Perhaps, his toe is getting sore?

[Nola Beery]

I am not auditioning for GM or manager.  (Heck, I had to google "LOOGY," and I don't know what half of the new 21st Century stat abbreviations mean!)  But my reductionist mind suggests that Counsell doesn't have a clear idea of how to use his stable of slightly-better-than-mediocre players.  The one easy decision he once had --Hader in the 9th-- is gone.  And whoever he puts in the batting order seems like the wrong choice.  He seems to stick with 'slumpers' (e.g., Adames, Yelich, Urias?), but he shows no long-term confidence in guys like Hiura, who show a spark but never get a chance to get into a groove.  Maybe CC can't stop second-guessing himself; maybe he is clueless or lacks confidence; maybe he is burned out; maybe he is thinking too much; I definitely don't know.  I just know that I see a team with no solid core other than 2 or 3 starting pitchers who must dish out near-perfection in each game or lose  2-1 (figuratively speaking, but sometimes literally).   The Cards at least have 2 guys (Goldschmidt, Arenado) about whom other teams say "Oh $#!+, here they come."  The Brewers have EXACTLY NOBODY who scares opposing pitchers.  If this team stumbles into the "post-season," it'll probably be a cameo appearance.  It just ain't got no fire.                

[Nola Beery]

And now they even have a blind 70-something singer playing catcher!  Oh wait. It's not "Jose" Feliciano?!   Never mind.  

[mtrebs]

2 hours ago, Pugger said:

It appeared Stearns bailed.  If you are trying to win in October you don't trade away Hader unless winning a WS isn't the ultimate goal.  I get the feeling management is satisfied with being the team competitive just enough to put butts in the seats.

They showed us this the last two off seasons by not signing any offensive help, even though it was severely lacking, while our best pitching was coming into their prime.

[bulldogboy0733]

The one thing that stood out in this series was how many times you were like uh oh this guy is coming up. This week with the Dodgers in town the whole series is going to be uh oh so and so is coming up. Danger. The Brewers do not have one guy who the other team is like uh oh. Not one. Maybe Rowdy will get there but basically the Brewers don't strike fear in any way in the other team. That's hard to believe because just about every good team has two or three of those guys. 

[Nola Beery]

Just now, bulldogboy0733 said:

The one thing that stood out in this series was how many times you were like uh oh this guy is coming up. This week with the Dodgers in town the whole series is going to be uh oh so and so is coming up. Danger. The Brewers do not have one guy who the other team is like uh oh. Not one. Maybe Rowdy will get there but basically the Brewers don't strike fear in any way in the other team. That's hard to believe because just about every good team has two or three of those guys. 

Amen to that!

[Sixtolezcano]

What I’m concerned about Stearn is how he dumped such a valuable trade piece like Hader for several questionable prospects to primarily maintain his perceived salary structure. With this off-season and one last chance to take advantage of his strong starting pitching staff he will again face the same salary issues. Will he learn from his mistake or will he stick with the same mistake. At this point I’ve lost faith in him.

[brewcrewdue80]

3 hours ago, willie key said:

I wonder what that 5% was that happened.    

Well just heard over the radio for the Red Sox/Yankees game that Aug 10 last season Padres were like 18games over .500 only to finish the season 12-34 and a 79-83 season.  Gotta assume that's a 5% qualifier.

Mikolas had given up enough runs his last 2 games to have near a 38ERA for the month and he pitches an 8IP 4hit 2ER game?  Would have to think the Dodgers are about to outscore the Brewers 32-7 in sweeping the series.  Counsell will overplay his bullpen and deplete them by series end.

 

2014 Brewers were 19games above .500 after game 83.  Up 6.5 in division.  Finished 2games above .500 and 8games back in 3rd.  Imagine that date was above 95pct to make playoffs.

[WICKDADDY]

Very disappointed CC didn’t get Keston ABs against RHP this series. It may not have dictated the outcome of the game today, but speaks to broader issue of how he’s misusing Keston. Yelich as the DH is a joke. Yelich has basically ZERO power at this point. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, WICKDADDY said:

 Yelich has basically ZERO power at this point. 

Which is why he's leading off. And except for the last 20-some ABs he's been more than good enough in that role. CC is going to stick with him, if we've learned anything it's that he's adamant in what he believes. That attitude has served him well many times, and at times it's backfired. Of course, after a loss people are only going to think of the times it backfired.

Having said that, anybody saying he should have had a day off today w/ McCutchen in LF & Hiura DHing makes a valid point. Like it or not though, a day off for him is much more likely to come vs a LHP.

[Robocaller]

another winnable game.

winning one is a lot better than getting swept.

 

[willie key]

11 hours ago, brewcrewdue80 said:

Well just heard over the radio for the Red Sox/Yankees game that Aug 10 last season Padres were like 18games over .500 only to finish the season 12-34 and a 79-83 season.  Gotta assume that's a 5% qualifier.

Mikolas had given up enough runs his last 2 games to have near a 38ERA for the month and he pitches an 8IP 4hit 2ER game?  Would have to think the Dodgers are about to outscore the Brewers 32-7 in sweeping the series.  Counsell will overplay his bullpen and deplete them by series end.

 

2014 Brewers were 19games above .500 after game 83.  Up 6.5 in division.  Finished 2games above .500 and 8games back in 3rd.  Imagine that date was above 95pct to make playoffs.

So it’s really not 5% then.    Those playoff % are garbage.    Especially early in the season

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

18 hours ago, folly412 said:

They're not getting rid of Counsell.

Though I'd be less shocked than most if he came to the conclusion that he wasn't up for it any longer.

I've gotten the vibe all year from him that he's not happy. I don't know if that's with the gig, the roster, whatever. But his managing this year has been lazy and at times completely illogical.