Fear The Chorizo

Weeks is kinda fast

Dave Bush is no Cy Young, he's going to give up runs from time to time - he did well to avoid the inning getting worse than it already was...the game's tied and Dempster's pitching for the Cubs - I still like the Brewers' chances

Things I would do: 1. Raise the pitcher's mound - maybe not to the height it was during Bob Gibson's dominant season that warranted lowering it, but raising it to a height somewhere in between. Hitters have greatly benifited from advances in bat technology, a shrinking strike zone, and smaller field dimensions...raising the mound would help to level the playing field a bit more. 2. Set a maximum and minimum salary cap - the numbers would have to be worked out, and would obviously adjust to accomodate inflation and revenue from year to year, but I think this is what baseball needs to do to improve the quality of their product, coupled with more revenue sharing. 3. Eliminate the DH - I'm in agreement with many others on this here. If they want the DH to remain in the AL, I'd want to do #4, listed below... 4. Eliminate interleague play and the inter-division heavy schedule and go back to a rotisserie schedule - I think this is the only way to allow for a true wild card winner with how the playoff system is currently set up. Otherwise, teams competing for the wild card don't play similar schedules at all. 5. Mandate that northern teams with retractable-roof stadiums get opening day series and homestands, and that northern cities without them don't...Baseball can't control mother nature, but they should have some common sense when scheduling games in March and April. 6. Develop a hardline slotting system for the first 3 rounds (+supplemental rounds for free agent losses) of the amateur player draft that teams have to follow, so that prospects know going into the draft what their earnings potential/signing bonus is and small market teams aren't forced to pass on superior talent due to signability issues. Baseball is the most lucrative sport for a professional athlete to work in - it's very annoying for me to watch 18 year old kids with power agents demanding 7 figure signing bonuses from teams just to sign a contract and report to low level rookie ball. The way the draft is set up right now, with some teams following and others not following the slotting system, small market teams can be crippled with injuries to prospects who are their bonus babies.

I overheard the same commentary on The Score yesterday about the Brewer bullpen...They acted the same way last season when Milwaukee was up 8.5 games and ended up being right, so they won't change their tune until the Brewers win the division. As for the Brewer bullpen having no legitimate big league closer on their roster, you could argue that the Cubs have the same situation since moving Dempster into the rotation(who I questioned as a closer anyway with his walk rate). To dismiss the Brewers' bullpen out of hand is one thing, but to say the Cubs' pen is so much better because they have an arm injury waiting to happen as their closer, who happens to have quite a bit less experience closing games than Gagne, Turnbow, Riske, Mota, AND Torres is pretty ignorant.

The Cubs will score some runs with the big boppers in their lineup. However, the key to their team is the production of Pie, Soto, Therio, and Fukudome...if more than one of these everyday players struggle this season, that lineup is going to have holes that will enable their big hitters to get pitched around in game-changing situations. All the rage has been about Fukudome so far this season...even though he didn't have a hit and K'd a couple of times yesterday. I remember another Japanese player that homered in his first two MLB at bats - his name was Kaz Matsui. Contrary to what everyone currently thinks, I think Fukudome still has alot of questions to answer, especially once opponents can get a decent scouting report on him. Defensively, there's been nothing to be discouraged about so far, aside from Gagne not getting over to first in game on on Pie's infield "hit".

it's the second game, with an off day in between, and there's already a thread about Yost misusing his bullpen? With all the new arms out there, it's going to take some time for any sort of roles to be defined on the pitching staff - which I think is a good thing. I think there's going to be question marks all season long as to how the bullpen's managed, because for the first time in a long time, there are more than 1 or 2 options for Yost to use in many different situations out of the pen. Aside from Shouse facing a lefty in situations and Gagne currently listed as the team's closer, the rest of the arms in the pen can be asked to come in whenever...it's not like there's a 7th, 8th, and 9th inning guy like in year's past, when if one of those guys had a rough outing the rest of the bullpen couldn't pick him up. so Riske and Torres are unavailable tomorrow...what are we ever going to do with only having five completely rested arms in the pen, two of which who are easily capable of working multiple innings if need be?

it is only two games, but methinks that the wrigleyville natives are already very restless...let's sweep 'em tomorrow!

If the Brewers are up 4 runs after 7 innings every day that Braun gets replaced after ending the previous inning I'll probably be ok with it.

Have a freaking game, Kendall!

Tony Gwynn Sucks!

I think you go with Turnbow in the 9th, just to get his 1st appearance out of the way

sit down Fukudome!

I'm fine with a guy getting hit for standing on top of the plate every once in awhile...I think it's also in the Brewers' best interest to remind the other team that they will throw off the plate inside from time to time, too.

That's 4 HBP in 2 games, intentional or not

alright, let's tack on one more now

come on guys, score these runs!

Gotta love Kendall...heckuva game Let's go Ricky!

Let's not waste that now!!!

Big 1/2 inning here - it'd be nice to keep the score right where it is.

Love that aggressive baserunning!

Ramirez doing his best to break DLee's wrist again...hasn't made a good throw all day

Yeah, but Soto hit really well against September callups last season - he's all world! LOL yet another stolen base by Corey...that was all on the pitcher though

Hart has a nasty slider...so nasty he can't get it near the plate

Big inning right there...Soup's definitely on today - if he can get through the 6th, the Cub order sets up for him working into the 7th today.

I'm not saying they're intentionally throwing at Prince and Weeks, but the Brewers have the right to consistently work more than inside against opponents' best hitters too...especially if a warning hasn't been issued.