09/10/2007 Milwaukee (Villanueva) at Pittsburgh (Armas) 6:05 pm CDT

[rluzinski]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/rluzinski/standings910.jpg

 

MLB.com Game Preview

ESPN.com Game Preview

Carlos Villanueva is coming off a great start against the Astros. Can we expect more of the same tonight? He had been struggling mightly for a couple of months as a reliever (July: 6.75 ERA, Aug. 10.32 ERA), so I'm sure I'm not the only one who's still a little worried about him.

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/rluzinski/seriesprob091007.jpg

 

 

Rluz's Odds for the NL Central Race:

Brewers				49.3%
Cubs				45.8%
Cards				5.5%

The Cardinals and Cubs play each other at 2:20 PM today, so those odds will have changed by the time the Brewers and Pirates kick off tonight. Here's to a Cardinals' victory!

[kgbaseball]

You have to like the Brewers' chances tonight and tomorrow. I knew the Crew was bad in Pittsburgh, but not 19-41 bad. The Brewers are one of the hottest teams around, winning 7 of 9. Let's make it 10 of 12!

[JoeH33]

Milwaukee Brewers

 

Carlos Villanueva - (7-3, 4.47 ERA)

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f88/JoeH33/lg7PC9Tl.jpg

Villanueva's Splits vs. Pittsburgh

 

Villanueva's return to the starting rotation was a resounding success, as the right-hander held Houston to a run on five hits in six strong innings on Tuesday. He set a career high with six strikeouts in his first scheduled start this season (though he did make one other in emergency duty for an injured Chris Capuano). The team originally planned to return Villanueva to the bullpen after a stint in Triple-A, but injuries to Claudio Vargas and Manny Parra altered those plans, and if he continues to pitch like he did Tuesday, Villanueva could stick even after the other arms are healthy. (MLB.com)

@

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

 

Tony Armas - (3-5, 6.49 ERA)

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f88/JoeH33/53lfKfBr.jpg

 

Tony Armas Splits vs. Milwaukee

 

The results continue to fluctuate for Armas, who has been hot or very cold in the starting rotation this season. However, after a string of rough outings, Armas posted one of his two best starts of the year his last time out, tossing six innings and allowing just a two-run homer to the Cardinals. The key for Armas is keeping his balance in his delivery and speeding up his release. When he does so, Armas gets more swings and misses, and in turn, has more success. (MLB.com)

 

 

 

General Information

TV - FSN North

Radio - AM 620 WTMJ

Online - MLB.com GameDay, ESPN.com GameCast

 

Game Information

MLB.com Preview

PittsburghSports.net

OnlyBucs.net

Pittsburgh Pirates Official Site

[hawing]

Good work on the graphics/links, Joe, but Russ' was in just a bit before.

 

I wonder when the Pirates wore kelly green caps.

[Brian the Automator]

I merged Joe's post in. Best of both worlds!

[hawing]

D'oh, that's right, we can merge now. This is why Brian pulls in the big President bucks. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[JoeH33]

Yeah, thanks for merging that. It took about 20 minutes to set up that post with this stupid dial up connection, and it would have been somewhat frustrating to waste all that time for nothing.

[kgbaseball]

They probably wore them March 17th for St. Patrick's Day during ST.

[TooLiveBrew]

C'mon Villy! C'mon bats! C'mon Crew!

[Jimbo]

Today's odds:

 

6:05 pm

Pitchers

RunLine

Total

MoneyLn

901	Milwaukee Brewers	C Villanueva -R	-1½	+110	9½		-140
902	Pittsburgh Pirates	T Armas -R		-130			+120

2:20 pm (WGN)

Pitchers

RunLine

Total

MoneyLn

921	St Louis Cardinals	J Pineiro -R		-170		+100	+123
922	Chicago Cubs	T Lilly -L	-1½	+150	8½	-120	-143

[Team Canada]

Nice to see that 60+% chance of taking at least 2 games.

[rluzinski]

By my estimates, a Brewers win and a Cubs lose would raise the playoff odds for the Brewers by about 10% (50% chance to 60% chance). Every game is (finally) very important.

[Team Canada]

.. it's a must win!!

[sweepscc]

I pray that's an old picture of Villanueva. It looks like he's pushing 3 bills in that pic. Latin Rocky Coppinger.

[sgtcluels]

Dear Villy,

 

Please make me proud to own your Jersey T again today.

 

Hugs and kisses,

Aaron

[brewcrewnation]

The Brewes had sucess in ciny this weekend due to all those great Brewer fans there, why don't we all go to pittsburgh. My guess there won't be to many people at this game.

[sweepscc]

Heck yeah, if you get the yellow bus and pay for the gas I'm down. You got to have me home by 5 AM though. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/glasses.gif

[SlideBernieSlide]

It looks like he's pushing 3 bills in that pic. Latin Rocky Coppinger.

Thats funny, my friend. Ol Rocky Copp!

[Team Canada]

The Brewes had sucess in ciny this weekend due to all those great Brewer fans there

 

Or because they hit lots of homers.

[ELCABALLO45]

Come one CREW!

[sweepscc]

Come one, come all.

[crewcrazy]

Since the Brewers have been winning when I post depressing pics of the opposing pitcher, here's Mr. Armas:

 

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070906/capt.be20f13a3ba84db4bfc67b0066e2b98c.pirates_cardinals_baseball_motg112.jpg

[wisconsinfan47]

Any word on lineups?

[crewcrazy]

1. R Weeks, 2B .235 9 25 16

2. G Gross, RF .252 7 19 3

3. R Braun, 3B .328 30 79 14

4. P Fielder, 1B .288 43 104 0

5. C Hart, CF .292 20 68 22

6. G Jenkins, LF .266 20 60 2

7. J Estrada, C .282 9 47 0

8. J Hardy, SS .277 24 75 0

9. C Villanueva, P .125 0 0 0

 

1. N Morgan, CF .267 0 3 0

2. N McLouth, LF .244 11 29 17

3. F Sanchez, 2B .314 11 77 0

4. A LaRoche, 1B .269 21 82 1

5. J Bautista, 3B .259 14 58 6

6. S Pearce, RF .286 0 2 1

7. R Paulino, C .258 10 47 1

8. J Wilson, SS .289 9 51 2

9. T Armas, P .130 0 2 0

[tomwopat]

http://absolutefanatic.info/charlie/images/mainpic.gifhttp://www.cs.umass.edu/~mccallum/house/house-may2003.jpg

 

vs

 

http://www.varoregistry.com/hartwell/ToetoToe.jpghttp://www.skisocal.org/knee/knee.gifhttp://www.vascularweb.org/graphics/northpoint_graphics_jpg/ArmArtDisease_01_Base_300.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Gluteus_maximus.png/200px-Gluteus_maximus.png