pretendastronaut

September 11 - 1:10 CDT http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/phillies.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 94-48 85-62 Pitching Matchup http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/525x330/alt/474699.jpghttp://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/players/525x330/451596.jpg Vance Worley 11-1, 2.85 Worley continued to make his case for NL Rookie of the Year honors, allowing two earned runs over six innings against the Braves on Tuesday. The Phils have won the past 14 games he has started, one shy of the club mark set in 1972 by Steve Carlton. Brewers vs. Worley Worley Game Log Yovani Gallardo 12-9, 3.47 Yovani has lost his last two starts, both against the Cardinals, allowing 11 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings. His only regular season start against the Phillies occurred on Aug. 3, 2007, when he pitched 6 2/3 innings and was credited with the win in a 2-1 game. Phillies vs. Gallardo Gallardo Game Log Starting Lineups CF Shane Victorino 3B Placido Polanco RF Hunter Pence 1B Ryan Howard LF Raul Ibañez 2B Pete Orr C Brian Schneider SS Michael Martinez RHP Vance Worley RF Corey Hart CF Nyjer Morgan LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 2B Rickie Weeks 3B Taylor Green SS Yunieski Betancourt C Jonathan Lucroy RHP Yovani Gallardo Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn-tbs.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites PhilaPhans | PhilliesPhans

September 10 - 6:10 CDT http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/phillies.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 93-48 85-61 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/phillies/lee-02.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/wolf-27.jpg Cliff Lee 16-7, 2.47 Lee is making a serious run at the NL Cy Young Award. He is coming off his sixth shutout, a game in which he recorded his 200th season strikeout for the first time in his career. He last allowed a run in the second inning of his Aug. 17 start. Brewers vs. Lee Lee Game Log Randy Wolf 12-9, 3.47 Wolf won his rematch with Jake Westbrook and the Cardinals by allowing only one run and four hits in eight innings. He has won six of his last seven decisions after losing the four before. Phillies vs. Wolf Wolf Game Log Starting Lineups CF Shane Victorino 3B Placido Polanco RF Hunter Pence 1B John Mayberry Jr. LF Ben Francisco C Carlos Ruiz SS Wilson Valdez 2B Michael Martinez LHP Cliff Lee RF Corey Hart 2B Jerry Hairston Jr. LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Casey McGehee SS Yuniesky Betancourt CF Carlos Gomez C George Kottaras LHP Randy Wolf Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-wmlw.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites PhilaPhans | PhilliesPhans

September 09 - 7:10 CDT http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/phillies.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 92-48 85-60 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/phillies/halladay-02.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/marcum-29.jpg Roy Halladay 16-5, 2.49 Halladay was not his usual dominant self in his last start, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits over six innings. The ace right-hander took a no-decision against the Marlins. Brewers vs. Halladay Halladay Game Log Shaun Marcum 12-5, 3.11 Marcum took a no-hitter into the sixth and finished with seven shutout innings Sunday for only his second win since July 28. The Brewers are a modest 15-14 when Marcum starts despite his fine ERA. Phillies vs. Marcum Marcum Game Log Starting Lineups CF Shane Victorino 3B Placido Polanco RF Hunter Pence 1B Ryan Howard LF Raul Ibanez 2B Pete Orr C Carlos Ruiz SS Wilson Valdez RHP Roy Halladay RF Corey Hart CF Nyjer Morgan LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Casey McGehee 2B Taylor Green SS Yuniesky Betancourt C Jonathan Lucroy RHP Shaun Marcum Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn-mlbn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites PhilaPhans | PhilliesPhans

September 08 - 7:10 CDT http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/phillies.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 91-48 85-59 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/phillies/hamels-01.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/narveson-24.jpg Cole Hamels 13-7, 2.63 Hamels turned in another strong performance against the Marlins, but came away empty-handed. The lefty made two mistakes, giving up a pair of homers over seven solid innings but the bullpen blew the lead in the eighth and he took a no-decision. Brewers vs. Hamels Hamels Game Log Chris Narveson 10-6, 4.26 Narveson admitted feeling rusty in his last start on Saturday, after going 13 days between starts. But he got through five innings for win No. 10, giving the Brewers five double-digit winners for the first time since 1982. Phillies vs. Narveson Narveson Game Log Starting Lineups Victorino CF Valdez SS Polanco 3B Pence RF Mayberry 1B Ruiz C Francisco LF Martinez 2B Hamels P Hart RF Hairston 2B Braun LF Fielder 1B McGehee 3B Betancourt SS Lucroy C Gomez CF Narveson P Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn-mlbn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites PhilaPhans | PhilliesPhans

I think Pujols is really the key to the whole thing. Regardless of if Carp said something first (for which I'd like some proof because it doesn't look like he had time to say something first) Carpenter was walking away from Morgan, Morgan appeared to be done jawing, and it probably all ends there if Pujols doesn't sprint across the diamond yelling at Morgan. "Oddly" on the Cardinals broadcast they almost completely ignored the fact that Pujols went chasing after Morgan. The whole thing reminded me of Pujols going after Villy a few years back for getting excited on the mound. That caused a lot of bad blood that was really instigated by Pujols too.

September 07 - 7:15 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpg 85-58 75-67 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/greinke-22.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/carpenter-03.jpg Zack Greinke 14-5, 4.00 Greinke might have looked erratic in his last start on Friday, but he credited a young Astros lineup for making him work. The Brewers are 17-6 when he takes the mound. Cardinals vs. Greinke Greinke Game Log Chris Carpenter 8-9, 3.92 Carpenter has had trouble this year avoiding the big inning, and that's a dangerous trait against a Milwaukee club that can score in bunches. The Cardinals have lost Carpenter's past four starts. Brewers vs. Carpenter Carpenter Game Log Starting Lineups Corey Hart RF Nyjer Morgan CF Ryan Braun LF Prince Fielder 1B Casey McGehee 3B Taylor Green 2B Yuniesky Betancourt SS Jonathan Lucroy C Zack Greinke RHP Rafael Furcal SS Jon Jay CF Albert Pujols 1B Matt Holliday LF Lance Berkman RF Skip Schumaker 2B Yadier Molina C Daniel Descalso 3B Chris Carpenter RHP Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Cards Talk

You fully admit you can't really say everything stays the same except for Marcum, but you're saying it anyway and making a declaration about the result in a false scenario. In your false scenario, where you're just substituting numbers and there's no ramifications, yes, you're perfectly right. In any scenario that considers the ramifications (because you would have to), you might be right, but you're likely not as comfortably right. I think Marcum's biggest value was the first month and a half of the season, when Greinke was hurt and Gallardo was getting knocked around, Marcum felt like our stopper. Without him we likely had an even worse start and then who knows what happens after that. Yes, Lawrie looks like a player as exciting as Braun was/is. But we're seeing the effect good pitching has now. I'll take the trade off of at least 2 years of good pitching, versus having Lawrie come up and give us another bat, but no pitching.

September 06 - 7:15 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpg 85-57 74-67 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/gallardo-28.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/lohse-03.jpg Yovani Gallardo 15-9, 3.68 Gallardo had never allowed more than two home runs in a start before the Cardinals hit four Thursday, including two by Albert Pujols. In two straight losses to St. Louis, Gallardo has allowed 12 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Cardinals vs. Gallardo Gallardo Game Log Kyle Lohse 12-8, 3.72 It's been a rough second half for Lohse, whose ERA has been on a steady upward trajectory. He'll be pitching on eight days' rest, trying to start a season-ending kick to finish the year with a good feeling. Brewers vs. Lohse Lohse Game Log Starting Lineups Hart RF Morgan CF Braun LF Fielder 1B McGehee 3B Betancourt SS Counsell 2B Lucroy C Gallardo RHP Furcal SS Jay CF Pujols 1B Holliday LF Berkman RF Freese 3B Schumaker 2B Molina C Lohse RHP Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Cards Talk

September 05 - 3:15 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpg 84-57 74-66 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/wolf-26.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/westbrook-03.jpg Randy Wolf 11-9, 3.58 A rough fourth inning cost Wolf and the Brewers on Wednesday as Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook hit his first career homer, a grand slam, to put St. Louis on top. Wolf allowed six runs on seven hits over five innings in his first loss since July 23. Cardinals vs. Wolf Wolf Game Log Jake Westbrook 11-7, 4.72 Westbrook showed more at the plate than on the mound his last time out, but still survived five challenging innings to get a win. The Cardinals have won Westbrook's past three starts, and 16 of his past 26. Brewers vs. Westbrook Westbrook Game Log Starting Lineups RF Corey Hart CF Nyjer Morgan LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Taylor Green 2B Jerry Hairston Jr. C George Kottaras SS Yuniesky Betancourt LHP Randy Wolf SS Rafael Furcal 2B Ryan Theriot 1B Albert Pujols LF Matt Holliday 3B David Freese C Yadier Molina RF Allen Craig CF Shane Robinson RHP Jake Westbrook Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Cards Talk

Did the Power Vote thing today as I had a bottle cap with it. A bit annoying that they make you register with Pepsi to use it, when I had been using my Facebook login before, but oh well. Got an extra 10 votes with my power vote. I'll keep an eye out for those for the month.

Just happened this past week. Welcome to the glory.

This was the first time we've ever beat Wandy in Houston. Wow.

Who is this Taylor Green guy? You'd think we'd have heard of him before.

I didn't want an uncirculated one, I just wanted to enjoy that one issue. But every single outlet in my area was sold out. Is there anywhere else I can buy just that one issue without the insane markup? I noticed some at my local Walgreen's last night.

Heck of a game for Marcum today. Let's make sure he gets a W today finally boys.

September 04 - 1:05 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/astros.jpg 83-57 47-92 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/marcum-28.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/astros/rodriguez-03.jpg Shaun Marcum 11-5, 3.24 A pair of errors that the Cardinals turned into two runs were the difference in Marcum's last start. He went seven innings, giving up four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Marcum is 1-2 with a 1.87 ERA over his last five outings. Astros vs. Marcum Marcum Game Log Wandy Rodriguez 10-9, 3.43 Rodriguez is coming off a dominating performance vs. the Pirates on Monday in which he struck out a career-high 13. He's 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his past five starts. At 10-9, he's the only Astros starter with winning record. Brewers vs. Rodriguez Rodriguez Game Log Starting Lineups Hart RF Hairston 2B Braun LF Fielder 1B McGehee 3B Betancourt SS Lucroy C Gomez CF Marcum RHP Schafer CF Paredes 3B Martinez LF Bogusevic RF Downs 2B Wallace 1B Barmes SS Corporan C Rodriguez LHP Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Astros Fan Forum | Astros Baseball Talk

Per McCalvy; Brewers shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt said he was OK late Friday after being struck in the underside of his right elbow and exiting a win over the Astros in the eighth inning. The Brewers said Betancourt was day-to-day, and he did not require x-rays. Also per McCalvy; Why all the lefty hitters for #Brewers? Norris, with his nasty slider, holding RHH's to .203 avg./.282 obp/.338 slg. Lefties .288/.358/.468.

Ya, that was me saying that. Certainly having a good night against the Reds completely invalidates the fact that before last night, 8 of Furcal's 9 RBIs as a Card came against the Crew, and all 4 of his homeruns. As I pointed out the day before that, Furcal's time as a Cardinal, offensively, was his best output of the season, but it matched Yuni's second worst month of production. It's easy at the end of August, to sit here and say, "well we would have had the same offensive production, but also better defense" and you would be entirely right, but you're saying that with hindsight. Coming off the months of production Yuni had beforehand, it would have seemed like a drastic drop-off, from already poor production. Let me put it this way; if you take the awful month at the plate Yuni had in August, and mix in better defense, do you have a shortstop you feel is a "major league shortstop"? No, I don't think so, but you do have Rafael Furcal. Harping on Melvin for not getting Furcal is pointless, we'd be in no better spot than we are now.

September 03 - 6:05 P.M.http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/astros.jpg82-5747-91Pitching Matchuphttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/narveson-23.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/astros/norris-02.jpgChris Narveson9-6, 4.28Narveson will have gone 11 days between starts, giving his left hand time to heal. He was on the DL with a cut on his thumb, then left a start against the Pirates when the nail on his middle finger began to pull up. Astros vs. Narveson Narveson Game Log Bud Norris6-8, 3.68In his last four starts, Norris is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing 17 hits in 24 innings and striking out 29 batters over that span (10.9 per nine innings). He held the Giants to three hits and two runs on Sunday in San Francisco. Brewers vs. Norris Norris Game Log Starting LineupsMorgan CFHairston 2BBraun LFFielder 1BKotsay RFGreen 3BKottaras CCounsell SSNarveson PBourgeois CFAltuve 2BMartinez LFLee 1BParedes 3BMichaels RFBarmes SSCorporan CNorris PMedia Coveragehttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-wmlw.jpgBrewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan SitesAstros Fan Forum | Astros Baseball Talk

Answering the inevitable question/topic, even though the answer will not be liked; McCalvy on Twitter

September 02 - 7:05 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/astros.jpg 81-57 47-90 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/greinke-21.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/astros/harrell-01.jpg Zack Greinke 13-5, 4.05 Greinke improved to 10-0 at Miller Park by beating the Cubs on Sunday, but he's 3-5 with a 5.56 ERA in 10 road starts this season, including a loss at Pittsburgh in which he allowed seven runs in 6 1/3 innings. Astros vs. Greinke Greinke Game Log Lucas Harrell 0-0, -.-- Acquired on waivers from the White Sox in July, Harrell will be called up from Triple-A to start in place of Brett Myers, whose wife is due to give birth. Harrell was 5-2 with a 1.72 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Brewers vs. Harrell Harrell Game Log Starting Lineups RF Corey Hart CF Nyjer Morgan LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Casey McGehee SS Yuniesky Betancourt 2B Jerry Hairston C Jonathan Lucroy RHP Zack Greinke CF Jordan Schafer 2B Jose Altuve LF J.D. Martinez 1B Carlos Lee RF Brian Bogusevic 3B Jimmy Paredes SS Clint Barmes C Humberto Quintero RHP Lucas Harrell Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Astros Fan Forum | Astros Baseball Talk

C'mon, let's be realistic here. Everyone knows Yuni will just miss the sign. *rimshot*

Ueck is killing me here. Every time there's contact he get excited like it's about to do some damage, and then it's like a foul ball.

Agreed. When I put in the lineups today I was thinking that. Thankfully we've had better pitching this year and some luck.

THIS! Yes there might be an overwhelming amount of negative feeligns for a potential sweep at the hands of the Cards, but the memories of the almost crash and burn September 2008 and collapse in 2007 don't exactly inspire confidence. Let's not forget the Brewers almost lost the division in 1982 as well in Baltimore. I think we all have a little right to overreact in this situation. We all put our heart and soul into rooting for this team and we so rarely have been rewarded with playoff teams, that now that we are so close to winning a division for the first time in 30 years, we tend to overreact when things go bad. I don't have one issue with scared fans or doom and gloomers. We're Brewer fans. It should be expected. Let's go Crew!! A comeback win crushes their spirits!! I can't jump on board with thinking we're the Brewers, we should expect bad results. If anything, your mentions of the 2007 and 2008 teams just serves to remind me that the core of this team has taken their lumps when the pressure is on, and the team has felt more mature in the second half the season, IMO. I'm with you, I'd much rather we were after a sweep today as well, and I'm frustrated with the result of this series, but I'm just not able to get worked up about it, and think it's important to keep perspective. And now the Crew is knocking on the door and is already into the Cardinal bullpen, which has been their biggest weakness all season. Still a long way to go.