06/02/2004 - Brewers (Hendrickson) at Dodgers (Jackson)

[batman]

Nice double by Overbay. Hang with 'em for Spivey and Ginter.

 

Finally, we get to see Kiesch and Gagne. Cool.

 

~Bill

[pogokat]

note:

 

Ned yost pinch hit for gary bennet in this game

 

that means something

[batman]

Sweet... nice base hit, toolshed.

 

I can't believe Nedley pinch hit for Bennett. Unbelievable. In a good way.

 

~Bill

[batman]

What happened to Hall? My cable company decided it needed to issue a required monthly test just as he was announced. LAAAAME.

 

G'night, folks.

 

~Bill

[scoop53714]

anybody else miss the end of the game thanks to a TEST of the emergency broadcast system??? Nice. I thought for sure they would come back in time to see Hall circling the bases. No such luck.

 

Crappy game all around. Shake up that lineup ned. This blows.

[DHonks]

Hall grounded deep into the hole, but Kieschnick was out by a bunch of steps at 2nd.

 

Gotta say, it was good to see us use two strong hitters off the bench rather than letting the weaker hitters ground out.

[bucksbeat]

Glad I have DirecTV! Got rid of cable a couple of months ago.

 

What a sorry game even though it looked like we would be able to put a big number on the Dodgers early.

[AJAY]

One of the most boring and lifeless Brewers games I have seen. After the first inning, it was a complete waste of time. They looked totally dead out there tonight.

[MikeRizzo]

Just got back from that one

 

ben looked a little tight but that is to be expected Im sure he will do better next time.

 

Mike

[rluzinski]

I'm sure Yost consoled Bennett after the game. Something about him battling I'm sure...

[Never Outhustled]

I had always heard Hendrickson's fastball was 90-92? Tonight he was 86-89. His future isn't all that bright if thats all the harder he throws. While theres a couple of exceptions, righthanders rarely survive throwing puss

[shelmark]

Observations:

 

1) Ben Grieve is not Red Hot, even if Sutton wants to tell us that every time he bats.

2) Ben Grieve is perhaps the worst outfielder I have ever seen in a Brewer uniform, with all due respect to Dick Davis.

3) Bill Schroeder can't say Hendrickson...he tried it 3 times then gave up.

4) Hendrickson was a victim of his catcher. Bennett called a poor game and should have gotten Hendrickson to establish his curve earlier in the game. He used fastball too much early and should have used the curve to set up what is a less than stunning fastball.

5) I hope Hendrickson's fastball sinks and cuts a lot more than it appears...if not then oh oh.

6) I had been hoping for Chris Nelson in the draft, until last night. We need arms. Strong arms....Edwin Jackson Arms

7) Izturis gave away the suicide..he looked down at least 3 times before the pitch...why did I see it and the Brewers didn't?

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/glasses.gif In the short term the trade with Arizona looks great but a trade with the Dodgers for Jackson and Gutierrez would have looked awfully nice in 3-4 years.

9) Bennett can't hit....either

10) We are over .500 and it is June...that is nice.

[FVBrewerFan]

Ben Hendrickson...yawn....if this is the Brewers top SP prospect we're in trouble. The guy does have a real nice curve ball, and I can see how he will have some success in the ML because of it. But that fastball is slow and straight. When you throw a 90 mph fastball that doesn't move, you better have two other outstanding pitches. I just don't see anything more than an end of the rotation guy.

[shelmark]

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Ben as well but I think he might have more movement on his fastball than it appeared. If he can sink it and cut it to go along with a nice curve he could be a number 3 type starter..whatever that means. He did get a lot of ground balls last night and they hit some hard balls..but mostly foul. Like I noted earlier I think Bennett did a lousy job getting him started. Needed to establish curve earlier BEFORE he got in trouble. Ben is going to need to pitch backwards. That being said, a RH with an 88 mph fastball better have impeccable control and nasty breaking stuff...Ben might...too early to tell.

[JohnBriggs12]

I only stayed with this one for four innings. Hendrickson's curve is impressive. His 88 MPH sinker moves when it is down but when it is up, close your eyes cause it's going to get smoked.

 

Of the two, Seanz and Hendrickson, Seanz certainly has a lot more on his fastball.

 

I saw only one of Grieve's gaffs but it was enough. He doesn't hit enough to overcome that dandy glovework. The 13 runs he's batted in have been offset by nearly that many runs allowed misplaying balls. Clark has scuffled with the bat, but with a young pitcher like Ben out there, Ned should have had the best defensive club on the field.

 

Now offensively they keep reaching new lows. As much stuff as Jackson has, he has compiled an ERA over 5 at AAA this year. I like Ginter but after Spivey walked leading off the second and Jackson went 3 and 0 on Ginter, Jackson threw him a straight as an arrow fastball right in Ginter's wheelhouse and he took it. It may be he had the take sign but either way, this team needs to be more aggressive with cripple pitches. Ginter eventually walked but has Bennett and Hendrickson behind him.

 

Living out of market, I got Scully's telecast. As great as Scully was, its time for him to give it up. He seemed little interested in any of the 3 games of this series and more interested in repeating the home towns of Brewer players. He must have mentioned Jenkins playing at USC 15 times during the three games. I wonder too if Scully realizes how stupid a blonde wig looks on a guy who is probably in his late seventies.

[Member]

But that fastball is slow and straight.

 

Straight? Honestly?

 

I must have been watching a different game.

 

It's only one game. A little early to be judging a player, isn't it?

[FVBrewerFan]

Quote:

---

Straight? Honestly?

---

 

To clarify, I'm talking about his 4 seem fastball- the fastball he usesmost often. And yes, his 4 seemer is slow and straight at the ML level.

 

I'm not judging his performance, just his stuff (since this is the first time I've seen him.) I honestly don't care how many hits he gave up or if he won or lost the game. What I see is a guy who is going to need complete control of that curveball and paint corners with the fastball every start to be successful.

[Gormans Gofer]

Johnny Briggs - I laughed at your comments about Vin Scully. I too watched the game on Fox Net out of L.A.

Another thing that irritates me is how he calls Scotty Podsednik "PO-sednik". Someone tell him there's a D in the man's name.

At least I don't have to listen to him butcher Mark "GRAD-zelanic" anymore.

Did you see the game on Memorial Day? Nice that they dedicated the game to our troops and those that have served in the past, but it was still over the top and got annoying after about 3 innings.

[Member]

To clarify, I'm talking about his 4 seem fastball- the fastball he usesmost often. And yes, his 4 seemer is slow and straight at the ML level.

 

I'm not judging his performance, just his stuff (since this is the first time I've seen him.)

 

After one start, it's hard for me to judge his stuff too much. We have no idea if this is his true stuff or his "nervous" stuff.

 

His margin for error will be small, as it is for most pitchers. I think the key for Ben is going to be his ability to get strikes with his other fastballs (cutter and two seam fastball). If he can throw three different fastballs for strikes, plus his curve, I think he'll do alright. Add in two changes (which we didn't see much of last night), and he gives a hitter a lot to think about, even if he's only working 86-90.

 

If I had to guess, and this is just a guess, Ben threw more four seam fastballs than he normally would, as it was his "get me over pitch". I would expect more out pitches and fewer "get me over" pitches with experience and fewer nerves.

 

I definately would like to see another start. If Luis Martinez got three, Ben should get a couple too.

[gobadgers]

Another thing that irritates me is how he calls Scotty Podsednik "PO-sednik". Someone tell him there's a D in the man's name.

 

The D is silent.

[Harold Hutchison]

Perhaps Hendrickson needs to develop a good change-up.

 

Sheets seems to have his change-up, and that made him a better pitcher than when he just had a fastball-curveball mix.

 

Saenz seems to have nastier stuff, but Ben's problems may have been as much due to defense (Grieve in particular). Grieve is a DH, and the Crew needs to find an AL team in need of one ASAP. Maybe they have an OF blocked in the system, or it allows Ginter to play left full-time so Jenkins can play right, but Ben Grieve's defense is pretty bad, folks, and I don't think it helped Hendrickson's confidence on the mound.

[igor67]

Well Capuano went on the DL, so I'd think at minimum they'd have to get Ben one more start. And lest we get hasty, we have Davis and Sheets as good examples of patience with pitchers.

[Harold Hutchison]

igor67

 

I agree. I think they key with Hendrickson will be developing a change-up, much as it was with Ben Sheets.

 

Capuano's minor nicks and dings are a concern, but if he's healthy, he'll be okay. And how about Victor Santos as a nice surprise in the rotation?

 

At this point, the concern is the offense. I think another shuffling is due. It may be time to move Grieve and Counsell for usable parts as well. Grieve's bat is back, but he is a DH. Counsell's blocking Bill Hall, and the Crew needs Hall's bat, which is much better than Counsell's.

[Gormans Gofer]

The "D" in Podsednik is silent? Well shut my mouth, my apologies to Mr. Scully. Not sure how I could have missed that.

Regarding Ben's performance last night, my feeling is that he deserved better. The two 1st inning walks not withstanding, LoDuca's single was a seeing eye dribbler that Counsell should have gotten to.

Counsell also missed a looping liner from Roberts, I believe. He might have the worst range to his right of any SS in the game.

Grieve looked like he was approaching a live grenade on Roberts' "triple", and Bennett should have blocked the WP that allowed Roberts to score.

That was really a tough game to watch.

[Member]

I agree. I think they key with Hendrickson will be developing a change-up, much as it was with Ben Sheets.

 

Clancy, he has TWO change-ups. He didn't throw many of them lastnight, but he's already got a decent change.

 

As with all pitchers, the key is getting ahead. Big Ben really took off when he was able to pound the zone early with fastballs. He's had a ton of sucess this year without throwing many changeups.

 

Hendrickson doesn't have Big Ben's velocity, so he's going to have to throw his other pitches for strikes consistently- especially his cutter and two seamer.

 

If he can get those pitches over early and often, his curve and change will be that much more effective.