DHonks

don't I remember reading that Dana or Manny has a brother who is also a LHP?

I don't think there's any reason to expect Nedley to deviate from the 60/40 split that he's been using all season. And 75-25 at times. But come on, has Moeller been good enough to deserve that extra day of playing time a week? Also, in 2002 I think we had 4 or 5 catchers (Casanova, Machado, Bako, ???), and in 2003 and 2004 we've had no injuries with catchers....coincidence?

Ford probably will be given a shot to contend for a bullpen spot next year. Perhaps that is his best chance. I would expect that Diggins, Liriano, Neugy, and Saenz could lose their 40 man roster spots. Others such as Burba, Phelps, Wise, G. Bennett, Counsell, Durrington, Spivey, Grieve, and Magruder also could be gone, some through free agency, some through being traded, and some released. so that could potentially have us at as few as 26 players on the 40 man roster entering the offseason, although I'd be tempted to add Coste and Erickson (Erickson if Counsell is let go)

I was there, and it sure was a weird one. The conditions had my buddy and I scratching our heads. Sosa's shot was legit. But two early game homers--ones by Jenkins and Lee--were not hit all that hard. Late in the game both Branyan (on his sac fly) and I think Jenkins or Grieve absolutely crushed balls that managed to get held up and come down harmlessly. Both were hit far harder than the aforementioned 2 homers. In the 9th, Counsell and Clark hit very solid lined shots to right, unfortunately right at Sosa. Cappy couldn't find the zone. He got squeezed on some pitches, but all in all, he went up against a solid lineup and tried to nibble. Bennett came in and threw strikes, and the Cubs didn't do much off him. I hope Cappy was watching. The walks killed us. We get one walk and one HBP, they get 6 walks. That's the difference in the game. By the way, I didn't think it was possible to walk Tom Goodwin twice in a game. 2 phenomenal double plays turned to end I think the 7th and 8th innings by the Brewers middle infield. Hall almost cost us a run with some terrible baserunning. He stopped just past second on Overbay's double (just inside the 1st base line), turned back, took two steps back towards first, then started running to 3rd. As he neared third, he slowed down expecting to be held up, however, he was being waved. Even after stopping at second, he still had plenty of time to score until he slowed down entering third. Hall should have scored from first on the play, and luckily Branyan hit the sac fly, although Russell's sac fly was absolutely crushed, as I think everyone in the park thought it was long gone. Like I said, early in the game balls just jumped, and later in the game they just died.

great job Scotty...now we need you at 2nd...go for it

so Pods is up....that's 3 hitters until Branyan!

geez Jenkins sure is sucking. Two absolutely terrible plays in left (why dive when you're gonna miss it by 15 feet?), another terrible night at the plate. It's to the point where an injury wouldn't be so bad for the team (not that I'm asking for an injury)

well, 50% right ain't bad

come on Small Ball! now for a lyle double and a Branyan homer!

heck yeah! Suck it Cubbies!!!

wow, wide strikezone for Remlinger. K's Jenkins on a pitch that's arguably both low and outside. 2nd strike on Counsell is a changeup that appeared 6" off the plate

these diving stops are getting old already. That's 2 outs they've robbed us on....in a row!

I like our lineup tonight I'd have considered swapping Hall with Clark or Counsell (probably the righty), but it doesn't matter much. I don't mind Hall hitting 2nd

interesting that we're letting the guys have 5 days of rest. Could be good for Santos and Sheets.

I agree Lend. Unless he's made major changes since the Fall League, he needs work. Still, he draws some walks, has great speed, has gap power, etc, so perhaps the 3rd spot might be okay. Might as well put him in the middle of the lineup for a while to see if a) he can help the team more there, and b) by focusing more on hitting than running, he can improve his offense

Lend, it might also be an attempt to better utilize his skills. I still think of the prospects, Weeks is best suited to be a leadoff man, with Hardy the second option.

Mass, I support removing him from the 40 man roster, but I don't support giving up on him. Especially as long as we've got guys like Ballouli and the guys in AAA taking up roster space.

At some point one has to wonder if the time, money and effort spent on guys like Diggins and Neugy are even worth the potential they offer. wait wait wait RoCo! How can you compare Neugy and Diggins? Neugy has had at least two SHOULDER surgeries, and it seems guys simply don't come back from them. D'Amico and Hershiser were rarities. Neugy has missed parts of what, 4 seasons? Diggins had Tommy John surgery about 12 months ago (seems to me it was mid-August last year) after trying to rehab for a few weeks. Still, you're making it sound like Diggins has been out forever, and it's simply been 12 months.

Great win for the Crew. Great to see strong contributions from Counsell, Overbay, Helms, Branyan, and Magruder, along with the pitching staff. A win tomorrow would be huge. A winning series would help this team relax a great deal. And would inch us closer to .500

Has Wise entered the witness protection program? endaround, Wise threw over 50 pitches on Tuesday night and he is starting on Saturday

and on the brewers' webpage it mentions : "Medical report: Russell Branyan was dealing with some adversity on Thursday, when he was scratched from Yost's original lineup with a mysterious wrist injury." and "Branyan went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in Wednesday's loss and was a double shy of the cycle. He was originally slated to play third base and bat cleanup on Thursday, but he woke up that morning to find his right wrist swollen and hurting."

endaround, I guess I'm now tempted to ride out the hothand in Clark. So I'd have him or Hall hit 2nd. Hall usually seems to have better at bats in non-power spots in the order. Actually, I think Hall could do a heck of a job hitting 3rd if given the chance

So who should be batting leadoff if Pods drops to 8th...Counsell, Hall, Branyan, Overbay, Clark, Grieve, ???? I look forward to September when we have Krynzel and Hart who we can throw in CF and RF for a start or two. The problem is that we still will have no leadoff hitter. Heck, maybe we should bat Scotty 9th with the LaRussa plan for a second leadoff man. Also, I'd love for Coste to come up to give us a catcher with a bat. At this point I'd almost like to see Durrington get a start or two back there since he's the emergency catcher.

Danzig, I looked at the schedule this month and felt optimistic about our chances of being .500 entering September. We have Sheets, Davis, Santos, and Cappy going in 22 of 26 games and we're facing some teams that we seem to hold our own against. We usually do alright vs the Mets, we beat up on the Marlins our first two years in the NL, we do okay agains the Braves, and at least .500 vs the Cubs. The teams we play that we seem to struggle with are the Pirates and Phillies, but both are beatable.

Going to the game tonight, and I had a thought (or stroke of brilliance) this morning. What if we were to hit Capuano 8th and Moeller/Bennett ninth. The left-handed Bagwell (what I refer to Cappy as) sure can hit and puts it in play.