Harold Hutchison

Agreed. Could it be that first start (against the Astros) was a fluke? -- Tough break for Keith - getting good wood on the bat, but sending it right at the thrid baseman. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/grin.gif

Wes is just dominating. If he keeps it up, the bullpen could be rested for the Houston series. Still, I might pull him if the crew doesn't tack on a couple of runs by the end of the 7th - the Crew needs a win. 60 pitches through five innings, 41 of them are strikes.

tyguy20204 What? Sheesh, I was just mentioning the box score. I don't buy this superstition. I just don't.

The ratio is 26-8 now... Wes is just SHARP today. Dominanting... dare I say what is crossing my mind? EDIT: Single to third, ending 3.2 innings of perfection.

Capuano seemed to have a good ratio, too. He got ripped off by the umps a few times, though. Grissom should have ben out on strikes on one of those homers. The Crew got a good performance form Capuano, and Wes Obermueller is doing REAL GOOD (look at the box score on Yahoo, folks).

Davis will occasionally get knocked around. As I said, I see him as a 3 starter behind Sheets and Capuano this year. Beyond that: he's a 4 or 5 starter on the teams in 2006 and beyond. Now, do the Brewers retain Davis, or let him go? Two things will decide that, I believe: First is how well de la Rosa performs in the rotation. He may have to head to the bullpen. Second, how many of the Jones/Parra/Matt Ford trio assert themselves as solid starters will also enter into this. A lot of unknowns, but as I see it, if Sheets, Capauno and Davis are solid, only TWO of the Hendrickson/de la Rosa/Jones/Parra/Matt Ford would need to emerge as average starters to fill out the rotation. That's before the Crew trades Spivey/Counsell/Helms/Grieve/etc. for pitching prospects. Can you imagine what those might add to the mix?

gregmag I'm with you, albeit I would probably lay the odds a little differently: Capuano, Davis, Obermueller, Kinney. Capuano's pitched lights-out since a rough spring outing. Davis only had one bad start in `03, and his first one was okay until Yost tried to go an inning too far (after six, I'd have brought in Bennett, then Vizcaino and Kolb). Capuano's got an arm injury question, but if he is back, he's gonna do a lot to make the Sexson trade worthwhile. Davis, over a full season as a starter, posted a 4.45 ERA and a 101 ERA+. His 2003 aggregate was a 4.03 ERA, given that he had to spend some time in the minors first. At 28, he's had some ups and downs. But his 2002 season was marred by an ankle injury - so he has a sound arm - give him a mulligan for that, and I think he's an average pitcher. I'd have to give him a full year in the `03 rotation and see what happens. I think a 3.50-to-4.00 ERA is what we could expect. Obermuller is intriguing. He's still learning to pitch to an extent, based on the fact he only started to do so as a college senior. Could he be good? Maybe. I think he's best suited as a 7th-or-8th inning reliever (think David Weathers). That's not bad. Kinney's raising the most questions. Right now, he's sure not throwing any strikes (4 out of 14). He's Jamey Wright II, and I think it's time we admit that. For 2005, the Crew will have Henrickson and de la Rosa ready (hopefully). Maybe Jones or Liriano will also make things interesting, but I think the 2005 rotation (barring trades or injury) will be: Sheets, Capuano, Davis, Hendrickson, de la Rosa. RoCoBrewfan I would venture that Doug Davis may have had problems in the AL. His 2002 season was 10 starts with an ankle injury in the mix. His 2000 season was bouncing between the bullpen and rotation. He had a great run in August and September. Do I think he's going to dominate like that? No. Do I think he could be a solid #3 starter in the NL with a 3.50 to 4.00 ERA as he adjusts to the hitters and learns their tendencies? I think it is very possible. I have to admit I feel better with Davis pitching than Matt Kinney.

RoCoBrewfan Well, if you want to go by ERA+ over a career, let's look at the rest of the rotation: Sheets: 96 Davis: 98 Kinney: 89 Capuano: 101 Obermueller: 77 Matt Kinney is arguably the second-worst starter on the Crew, and considering Obermueller had an 86 ERA+ in `03, there really isn't much difference between the two of them, and Obermueller's arguably still developing since he only started pitching as a college senior.

igor67 The good news is that the team makes its opportunies. The bad news is they don't always cash in. RoCoBrewfan I disagree with the notion Davis is a bad pitcher. The sample size this year has been small. Arguably, Davis was pushed an inning too far by Yost against the Cards in his first start. If Matt Kinney can be handed the #3 spot in the rotation, I reall y don't see where Brewers fans have room to complain about Doug Davis going out every five days, particularly after what Davis showed in 2003.

1/16 of an inch, and that grand slam is a double-play ball. The earlier start was just trying to push Davis one inning too far. This one's bad luck, given what we've seen him produce to date.

Davis can go longer. It may be that in April, he has to be watched more closely. I'd suggest seeing if he could add a split-finger/sinker to his repetoire.

But a couple were intentional. So, two in 4.1, I could live with. But one notion needs to end: Brady Clark over Keith Ginter in RF when Grieve sits.

Which was a good call to make, IMHO. They needed the boost. I'm willing to give Davis a mulligan for this one.

Agreed. Later on, we can stretch Sheets out. But today was a good rebound from Opening Day.

So, time to take the third game, and come out of this 5-2.

Spivey's had a few loud outs. I've still got hope for him. Counsell... well, he's walking every 8 ABs. Last year, he had a .328 OBP. The Crew was up against Wade Miller, and he kills us.

rluzinski Wes usually was able to rack up quality starts last year. 8-for-11, IIRC. The problem is, he's opposite Wade Miller, and the Astros seem to be laying off on the third go-round through the lineup.

No kidding. Overbay had a deep fly out, too. Unfortunately, we could have used those additional runs - the Astros are gtting to Wes in the 6th.

Well, the 4th proved Wade Miller can be touched... let's see if Grieve and Bennett do better the second time around... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif EDIT: Grieve fies out to right on a 2-2 count... at least five pitches there. Edit 2: And Gary Bennet gives Miller a break by swinging on 1-0, grounder to second. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif EDIT 3: Well, Miller had to pitch a bit... the Crew's got him to 82 pitches. He might go the 6th, but not much past that. The best shot for an upset may be the 7th inning.

Two-out single, brings Scotty home. Now, if Lyle can only bring Geoff home... EDIT: Overbay with a double the other way - tied at 2!!! C'mon, Wes, a single the other way give the Crew the lead... EDIT 2: I'll take a 2-2 tie... Wade Miller at 67 pitches after four innings. Not as high as I'd like, but if the Crew can just do enough in the fifth, the Astros will have to go to their middle relievers...

Astros up 2-0, Podsednik led off with a bunt sing in the 4th... We need luck - Wade Miller's pitchin' EDIT: Scotty stole second... Sac bunt, get Scotty to third, and let's get it back to a one-run game. EDIT 2: A deep fly ball to center will do... EDIT 3: I'm ready to trade Spivey for the first good offer... Strikes out looking with a runner on third? Is the ump's zone big?

Good news: The Crew is still working the count. Bad news: They need to do better than two foul outs and a strikeout looking. EDIT: Down 1-0. Okay, folks, we let them think they have a chance, now, CRUSH WADE MILLER. EDIT 2: This is getting frustrating. Work the count, get the opposing pitcher to 30 pitches by the end of the second inning... AND HE'S STILL PERFECT!!!!

Here's to knocking the Astros OUT of Miller Park.

Taking three out of four from the Cards, and going up against a team that the Crew took two of four in the last series of the season... Obermueller is going up against Wade Miller. If he pitches as well as Capuano did, the Crew could easily win two of three.

The Crew is 3-1. We did real good. If it weren't for one rough outing by Adrian Hernandez, the Crew would be headed into Miller Park this year UNDEFEATED. As it is, we're tops in the NL Central. We're going up against an Astros club in a slow start. It looks like the Crew has at least one win (Sheets vs. Redding) - possibly two (if Obermueller can outduel Wade Miller). A sweep would be icing on the cake.