pretendastronaut

Mathematically the lead is not insurmountable, but it's mostly insurmountable. Now, if we get into a spot where it's actually down to the wire, I'll be frustrated and less excited about the playoffs, but I don't think this series proves any of that. Remember, in June we swept the Cardinals, moved us 0.5 games into the division lead and it meant a TON to the fan base (myself included) here, but it didn't do anything drastic to the division lead for weeks. This series has gone the way the Cardinals really needed it to go, and if I was a Cardinal fan, I'd be stoked, but I just don't see how it says anything bad about the Brewers in the larger scope of the season. What matters is how the Brewers respond to this. If we go into Houston and have a miserable weekend, go into St. Louis and get swept next week, then I'll be with you. Right now, I'm not worried about that though.

I don't think anyone expects anyone to be thrilled about how this series has gone, I think some people just expect people to not declare the team dead as a result. Edit: And I'm sure someone will flag that technically nobody said they were 'dead', but you get my point I'm sure.

The pressure wasn't on the Brewers in this series, it was on the Cardinals. Kudos to the Cardinals for coming in and doing what they needed to do, doesn't mean the Brewers folded, nor does it change my faith in the season.

Really? Seriously? If this game finishes the way it's trending, it's the first 3 game losing streak the Brewers have had in almost 2 months (July 3-5). They've lost a series, it's okay.

Did you just see that throw from your SS. Do you want to answer the question you posed in bold now? Now he's "my shortstop"? Haha. I don't love Yuni by any means, I just don't consider Furcal to be a giant missed opportunity. I wish we had found someone to replace Yuni as much as the next guy, I just don't care that it wasn't Furcal.

He's got like a .670 OPS since joining the Cards, which is better than Betancourt's. Plus, he's a vastly superior defender and baserunner. And we'd have more wins against the team we're battling in the division. We're more miserable because he isn't a Brewer. Yuni's August: .239 / .256 / .389 / .646 Furcal's August: .240 / .292 / .375 / .667 August was Yuni's second worst offensive output of the season, and it was Furcal's best. Maybe you can extrapolate that Furcal is turning his season around I guess, but to this point, Furcal's best output matches some of Yuni's worst. I'd consider the two of them to be a wash personally and not a game changer either way. What you gain in defense and base running with Furcal, you lose in offense. (Of course, as I write this, Yuni chalks up an error.)

Why do we care if we didn't get Furcal? He's only been any good against us, he's been miserable for the Cardinals otherwise. I'll take Furcal being good against us for 6 games, over having him be miserable for us for 50+ games.

Hey, good news, the ball is carrying well today!

Ya, I haven't looked it up, but it seems the only positives he's provided the Cardinals since the trade, have come against the Brewers.

September 01 - 3:10 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 72-64 81-56 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/dickson-01.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/gallardo-27.jpg Brandon Dickson 0-0, 0.00 Dickson will get his first career start against the Brewers. He has pitched twice in relief this season with the Cardinals, hurling four scoreless innings, while allowing two hits and two walks and striking out two. Brewers vs. Dickson Dickson Game Log Yovani Gallardo 15-8, 3.37 The Brewers' leader with 15 wins, Gallardo has been especially good at Miller Park, going 9-1 with a 2.45 ERA this season and 29-14 in his career. His only home loss this year was June 9, when he lasted four innings against the Mets. Cardinals vs. Gallardo Gallardo Game Log Starting Lineups Furcal SS Jay CF Pujols 1B Holliday LF Berkman RF Schumaker 2B Molina C Descalso 3B Dickson P Hart RF Morgan CF Braun LF Fielder 1B McGehee 3B Betancourt SS Hairston 2B Lucroy C Gallardo P Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay 2010 | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Cards Talk

Looks like the Crew had some fun at Braun's expense today;; http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/6eij28.jpg http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/6eignm.jpg

August 31 - 7:10 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 71-64 81-55 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/westbrook-03.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/wolf-25.jpg Jake Westbrook 10-7, 4.75 Westbrook allowed seven hits and four earned runs in six-plus innings in a no-decision against the Pirates on Friday. This will be Westbrook's 28th start of the season, and he has yet to have a complete game. Brewers vs. Westbrook Westbrook Game Log Randy Wolf 11-8, 3.37 Wolf improved to 4-0 in August by beating the Cubs in the opener of the Brewers' homestand. His second pitch went for a home run, but Wolf recovered to pitch into the seventh inning for the fourth straight start. Cardinals vs. Wolf Wolf Game Log Starting Lineups SS Furcal CF Craig 1B Pujols LF Holliday 3B Freese RF Berkman C Molina 2B Theriot RHP Westbrook RF Hart CF Morgan LF Braun 1B Fielder 3B McGehee SS Betancourt 2B Hairston, Jr. C Kottaras LHP Wolf Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay 2010 | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Cards Talk

David Ortiz's wife is from Wisconsin, Kaukauna I believe. And they live in Wisconsin in the off season.

Granted guys like this are in the minority, but still, I saw this on a Cards board: Don't let up Crew!

August 30 - 7:10 P.M.http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cardinals.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg70-6481-54Pitching Matchuphttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cardinals/jackson-02.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/marcum-27.jpgEdwin Jackson3-2, 3.99Jackson is coming off a win against Pittsburgh on Thursday in which he allowed just one earned run in six innings. Jackson, who will be starting his seventh game for the Cardinals, is 6-3 in his last 10 starts. Brewers vs. Jackson Jackson Game Log Shaun Marcum11-4, 3.38Marcum has already faced the Cardinals three times, allowing 12 earned runs in 20 innings. He's coming off a loss against the Pirates, Marcum's first loss in 10 starts since a June 29 outing at Yankee Stadium. Cardinals vs. Marcum Marcum Game Log Starting LineupsCF Jay RF Berkman 1B Pujols LF Holliday 3B Freese 2B Schumaker SS Furcal C Molina RHP Jackson RF HartCF MorganLF Braun1B Fielder3B McGeheeSS Betancourt2B HairstonC LucroyRHP MarcumMedia Coveragehttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn.jpgBrewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay 2010 | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan SitesCards Talk

That seems about like Pleasac nightly, IMO. Personally, as much as Pleasac can be a bit obnoxious on MLB Tonight, I like him being on the network. It's always clear he loves baseball and he loves what he's doing. The fact that he's a huge Brewers homer doesn't hurt either I suppose.

For the record, Chris Carpenter was placed on waivers today, claimed, and pulled off waivers. That better have been Melvin!

Going off that, it sure seems like Prince picked the songs, and gave the audio producer reason to think there was a specific reason behind the selections. Just found the tweet and followed the ensuing conversation with Haudricourt. No surprise, Haudricourt reacted to the issue the only way Haudricourt knows how, being completely condescending and publicly demeaning.

August 28 - 1:10 P.M.http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cubs.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg57-7680-54Pitching Matchuphttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cubs/coleman-02.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/greinke-20.jpgCasey Coleman2-6, 7.59Coleman had trouble with one inning vs. the Braves, sparked by an infield single, but otherwise looked sharp in his last outing. He gave up five runs on five hits, including a slam by Jason Heyward. It may have been a loss, but it was encouraging. Brewers vs. Coleman Coleman Game Log Zack Greinke12-5, 4.22The Brewers considered holding Greinke two more days to pitch against the second-place Cardinals, but Greinke preferred a more regular schedule. His loss in Pittsburgh snapped a five-start winning streak. Cubs vs. Greinke Greinke 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 Jr. C Jonathan Lucroy RHP Zack Greinke Media Coveragehttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-fsn-tbs.jpgBrewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay 2010 | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan SitesNorthside Baseball

No team put a claim on Berkman, so I'm not sure how Melvin is a fool for not stopping some hypothetical that never happened. Add to that, indications are Berkman wants to come back to St. Louis next year, and they probably don't trade him to anyone. The Yankees supposedly put in a claim on Carlos Pena, and the Cubs pulled him back because both sides may want him back in Chicago next year, it happens. Also, the Braves and Brewers had nearly identical records for most of the past week, so I don't even know how they would handle the priority there, maybe who did it first? In that case, there's no guarantee that claiming Berkman would have stopped a Braves claim. I don't know, seems like a weird issue to get upset about. Players go through waivers, plenty of claims have been awarded this month, and I can't recall one that has been completed. Edit: Thome was a waiver deal, pretty large oversight there. But still can't think of anyone outside of him.

Can Hart get 1 more at-bat tonight?

Was anyone else surprised they put the guys with "Nyjer, please!" shirts on the screen? Eesh.

August 27 - 6:10 P.M. http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/cubs.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/logos/brewers.jpg 57-75 79-54 Pitching Matchup http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/cubs/dempster-03.jpghttp://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/pitchers/brewers/gallardo-26.jpg Ryan Dempster 10-9, 4.60 Dempster notched his team-leading 16th quality start in his last outing against the Braves, but took the loss in a 3-0 decision. He has a quality start in each of his past six games and is 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA in that stretch. Brewers vs. Dempster Dempster Game Log Yovani Gallardo 14-8, 3.51 Gallardo has a 3.31 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs, but only four decisions. He's 3-1 against them, including a pair of no-decisions this season. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro is 6-for-15 against Gallardo. Cubs vs. Gallardo Gallardo Game Log Starting Lineups SS Starlin Castro 2B Darwin Barney 3B Aramis Ramirez 1B Carlos Pena RF Tyler Colvin CF Marlon Byrd LF Alfonso Soriano C Geovany Soto RHP Ryan Dempster RF Corey Hart CF Nyjer Morgan LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder 3B Casey McGehee SS Yuniesky Betancourt 2B Jerry Hairston Jr. C Jonathan Lucroy RHP Yovani Gallardo Media Coverage http://www.ishouldhavebeenanastronaut.com/brewfan/2011/media/media-wmlw.jpg Brewerfan Game Chat MLB GameDay 2010 | ESPN GameCast | 620 WTMJ Affiliates Fan Sites Northside Baseball

From my 2008 experience, single seat tickets are a tougher sell, but they sell and I certainly didn't get a $143 return on them.

It was ruled a double and an error, giving Braun 1 RBI.