Fear The Chorizo

Harrison looks solid tonight - getting better as the game goes on. Lets get him some runs!

Not to mention Priester....Sproat or Harrison are fighting for the 5-6 rotation spots plus Gasser factors in there. Doubt they all ever are healthy at the same time, nice to have depth in the rotation!

When Turang was Pratt's age, many assumed Turang would never amount to a competent MLB hitter to warrant being extended. Pratt profiles as a better prospect than Turang ever did, and I was always high on Turang. The Brewers currently have an embarrassment of MIF riches in their organization, which could mean they can land a kings ransom in trading Turang when the youngsters are ready for MLB and Turang can earn his huge paychecks with a different team paying for his decline. It's just how they have to do business.

Regarding the Cubs, I think some of their early season slugging issues have to be due to Wrigley playing in the early spring, wind blowing in version most of that series. Ian Happ disintegrated a ball that would've normally wound up on Waveland but it blew back to routine flyout territory in left field. that being said, I think the more alarming early season issue for that club is they gave up 18 runs to the Nats over 3 games in pitcher-friendly conditions (16 of them in 2 games). I think the Cubs have a solid back end of the pen, but someone is going to need to get Hoby Milner off that roster before Coun$ell turns him into a Cub fan's worst nightmare coming into the mid innings of far too many winnable games.

I think it's good for the game longterm - what I'm seeing so far is both catchers and hitters being more right than wrong in their challenges....but it's getting to the point where pitches that are millimeters in or off the corner are getting challenged by catchers. So far, hitters seem to be challenging only when there's an obvious ball called a strike. At some point all the catcher challenges are going to reduce, either by umpires improving or by games where catchers cost their teams challenges for important moments later in games when a bad call winds up not being able to be challenged - it's early yet this season. When we get to a game where a team has lost its challenges and then gets screwed in the 9th on an unchallengeable pitch call, teams are going to recalibrate on when these marginal pitches early in games get repeatedly challenged. I would say, when a challenge is requested, MLB needs to speed up that process - I don't need to see an ump call for time, announce to the crowd what is happening, and then have a video board take 5 seconds to reveal the call. Just call time right after the challenge and have the video board show the pitch on the screen - make the delay last 5 seconds instead of 15-20.

I don't care what Sproat's actual results were today. He looked like he's got the stuff to be a top of the rotation type arm. A #2 or... even an ace. He gets good movement. If he can just get ahead in the count... I think he could be a really good arm this year. It's all about command - 98 with sink and a mix of offspeed is a dominant starter if he's got command. He carried a no-no into the 6th inning of his MLB debut last September. He's going to be inconsistent, no doubt...but you live with the growing pains to let the kid develop - doesn't need to be all in MLB, some AAA time may do him some good if the next few turns in the rotation don't improve. What I saw yesterday was a kid too amped up for his regular season debut at home. His power sinker didn't sink, offspeed was getting overthrown and pulled where it was either not close in the zone, or had no depth and it all looked like the same pitch. His changeup in particular was not good - and he really needs that to be a good pitch against lefty hitters. Not that he would've turned in a quality start otherwise, but the misplayed pop up in the 1st by Perkins and Frelick bouncing a ball that should've been caught over the fence in the 2nd not only took 2 outs away, they also cost Sproat giving up 3 of the runs that scored against him and at least 15 more pitches thrown early in the game, costing him at least another inning pitched. Looking forward to seeing him get starts with Bill and Sanchez behind the plate...and eventually Quero once Quero settles into MLB.

What they should do is charge $70 for it, but defer almost all of the cost until Ohtani's deferred salary kicks in sometime in 2034....$2 upfront then the remaining $68 can be paid out in slightly over $6 increments in years 2034-2043. As others have said, if you go to a good number of games that cup pays for itself many times over and it's not an awful deal considering how much concessions costs. I did read that for a family of 4 to go to Dodger stadium for 1 game with its cheapest tix, parking, 4 hot dogs, 2 pops and 2 beers would cost close to $425. Screw the Dodgers, btw

The difference between great and awful when you hit 98 on the gun isnt very much. Command and pitch selection plus subpar outfield defense all killing him today. Sproat's secondary stuff needs something that doesnt stay on plane and break in on lefties. Even his change looked like a lazy cutter today instead of dying down and away. And he needs to be able to hit the right parts of the zone with it.

That doesnt even include Frelick trying to rob a warning track flyball and having it bounce out of the park to get out of the 2nd with zero runs scored instead of two

Obviously a tough outing...but his OF defense did Sproat zero favors.

When he is on, yes. Just zero command and I dont think quero has any idea on how to sequence pitches with Sproat, who is better than what he's shown today. His sinker isnt sinking because he's overthrowing it

He has given up 5 runs...yet it should maybe be 2-3 if Perkins and Frelick make plays that should've been outs I think Quero being back there is a double whammy with this start, too. Sproat isnt close woth any secondary stuff and that is killing him this start

He didnt even need to jump

Jeez...Sal Canseco

I think he will need to today

What a double play!

Does quero know he can challenge? At this point youve got to try on these 50/50 pitches called balls by this ump

Challenge that pitch, too Get him out of the game. Quero starting this game is doing Sproat zero favors, too

He took 3 steps back on a blooper - just brutal

This appears to be a forfeit lineup in every way...Perkins with an awful break and then cant make the throw to at least get an out Jeez

Walk the damn tee out

Challenge that pitch

Please throw strikes, Sproat!

I think that is valid...but remember the Brewers also have about 4-5 other very viable options in the high minors to fill those rotation spots as the season progresses

Was there something with his 2023 mid season demotion for a month or two that bought another year of service time? Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I think that's why we are in Season 4 with Turang in the majors and 3 full ones ahead of it before hes actually a free agent. He wasnt hitting out kf a wet paper bag back then and the move was justified...but now it also looks very prudent getting an extra year of control, too.