mikerollins

Get Gagne ready. We are scoring a run in the 9th off co-co. Book it. ***Edit: or not.

Doesn't this Reds meltdown arguing balls and strikes to the point of getting tosses, losing control of emotions, etc...completely reek of a team being coached by someone like Dusty Baker? Oh wait.......

The plan was to have a 3-1 lead in the 9th and have Gagne face Griffey and Dunn for the save. It was the absolute right move. It just didn't work If Suppan gives up the 2 run homer to Votto the thread is 10 pages longer criticizing Yost for letting Suppan face the lefty with a dominant lefty spcialist in the bullpen. Strategy was right. Just didn't work out. Let's get some runs!

But you have a better chance of scoring 2 runs to tie the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd and your #3 and #4 hitters coming up. It's just another chance for all the Yost bashers to take unnecessary shots at him. Bunting there was such an easy decision. Down 2 with runners on first and 2nd with your number 2 hitter up who is hitting .180 is a bunting situation in the world series, regular season, college, high school, babe ruth, little league, nintendo, playstation, sega, and even tee-ball.

Thank God you aren't the manager then because it'd still be 3-1 if we didn't get the runners to 2nd and 3rd before the sac fly and blooper.

It's great that Seth McClung was able to overcome the inept manager that brought him into an impossible situation with this zone. You know, when things go wrong, blame the manager. When things go well, say so and so did it in spite of the mangaer. Every move a manager makes is determined good or bad based on the performance of the PLAYERS.

Great game. Great win. I haven't had a chance to read the in-game thread, but I would assume everyone agrees that today you really gotta give Ned Yost a lot of credit for getting through a game where nobody could throw strikes, but he kept pushing all the right buttons. (Torres for 2 innings, Shouse against the Lefty portion of the lineup, Mota for the 8th). He couldn't have handled the bullpen any better today. Just thought I'd give him a little credit since he takes a lot of heat around these parts. Everyone all together now, "nice job Ned!"

Would it make more sense to keep Big Ben on his regular 4 days rest after pitching on Monday and let Parra make his "debut" tomorrow? I just feel everything else in the rotation should be worked around Sheets pitching every 5th day. Thoughts? I don't really have a problem with the lineup. Gross is only playing because Gwynn is still hurt. Rivera is giving Kendall a day off and has caught Parra several times before. Counsell has been swinging a good bat and JJ has been off to a slow start. Here's to taking our 2nd straight series to open the season!!! GO CREW

Now I'm not an ESPN critic like so many on this board are, but I found the first set of Power Rankings to be utterly useless. Not only do they have the Cubs 5 spots ahead of the Brewers after a dominating 3-game series....but they also have: the 0-4 Tigers at #3 the 1-3 Cubs at #6 the 1-3 Braves at #8 the 1-3 Phillies at #9 (who have shown absolutely no signs of improving their terrible pitching from a year ago) I'm not one to throw out the "no respect" card because I do feel that respect is earned, but I do think that spots on a power ranking like this should be earned too. I think pre-season power rankings are the time to say who you "think" will be good, but once the games start, you should have to win some games to ear a spot in the Top 3 (Tigers) or Top 10 (Braves and Phillies and Cubs). Just saw the Rankings were out and thought I'd click on it fully assuming the Brewers to be in the Top 3 or 5 and was very surprised.

This thread is kind of comical. It's like reading the Cubs board yesterday. The Cubs are big league hitters too and they are going to score their share of runs this year. We went down to Wrigley and took 2 out of 3 to start the season. The people calling for Yost to yank Bush because he'd given up 3 runs in 5 innings will be the same people whining about the bullpen being worn out in August. You can't have it both ways.

If you watch this.... http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=686&collection=localwxforecast&from=weather36hourcurrentconditions With about 1 minute left in it...he addresses the Cubs game and said they shouldn't have any problem getting their game in.

I thought after the homer, Gagne settled in and pitched pretty well. He was just a little wild when he came in, and then grooved a fastball down the middle trying to get ahead in the count. I'm not too worried.

Sheets obviously isn't an ace. He just doesn't win enough games.

Feel free to move this wherever you see it as appropriate. It does involve major league players and could be a good discussion. I was wondering who everyone's TOP 5 players that could "blow up" this year that nobody knows about. What players around the major leagues could step up this year and do what Ryan Braun did last year? Or Yovanni Gallardo? I'm getting ready for my Fantasy Baseball Draft and would love to pick up a few young sleepers in the late rounds, and who better for advice than the brewerfan.net nation. Thanks in advance!!!!

I can try for a bit. 2nd inning-Suppan Pitching Missed batter's name-Broken bat Ground out to Weeks 1 out Gonzalez hit in back...HBP Robless (? sp) Sharp single to right....First and third Chris Young-Rips a single up the middle base hit.....RBI...Runners on first and third 1-1 DaVanon-FC Weeks to hardy....4-6. Bad feed by Weeks to Hardy...Runner on First...2-1 Padres Gerut --F-6..3 outs...2-1 Padres Bottom of 2nd--Young still pitching Counsell Bunt 5-3....1 out. 2-1 Padres Suppan (batting 8th)....6-3...2 out..2-1 Padres Kendall...lines a single to left....2 out..gives Weeks a shot with a guy on base. Weeks....full count........Ripped to LF...caught...F-7....3 outs. 2-1 Padres Top of 3....Turnbow pitching. Kouzmanoff....1-2 count...6-3 ground out. 1 OUT Gonzalez......4-3 ground out....Anderson said Tbow looks sharp. 2 OUT Bard......Slicing groundball diving stop by Counsell. 5-3. 3 Out. 2-1 Padres Bottom of 3....New pitcher (Zarate?) Cameron....Missed out he got out..1 OUT Hardy...Pops up in foul territory to first-F-3 2 OUTS Fielder....sorry got caught on the phone.... I gotta head out..maybe someone can take over for me!! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

This is the thread I was looking for. I just didn't go back far enough. As far as "Ned's Last Stand"...I would say if they stay healthy and don't 1.win 90+ games and fall short of the Cubs OR 2. win the division (if it only takes 85 or 86 to do so) Then it might be time to go in a different direction, but I have no reason to believe that the above won't be accomplished. I think Yost has done a great job since taking over the 106 loss mess, but doing a "great job" only takes you so far without the wins and post seasons to show for it. This is the year!

I couldn't find a "Ned Yost" thread going back a few pages..(shocking..i Know!) so feel free to move this or merge it appropriately. I just saw this article in the JS this morning and this comment made me laugh outloud.... If a meteor hits the planet, icebergs melt or gasoline reaches Euro prices, Interpol will have its first lead. Oh, yes, Yost will be blamed. It just reminded me of 79 IGT's last year and made me giggle. Thought I'd share. March 31st can't come soon enough!!!

As long as he doesn't start a game all year, I don't have a problem with giving him a Spring Training invite. If he shows he still has his power stroke this spring, then keep him as a valuable bench player. He would be a great option in the 8th or 9th inning, down a run or 2 and needing a long ball to get back in it. When you get Russell Branyan, you know you are getting somone who will strikeout more than anyone in the league, but he also has massive power. If he is utilized right, he can be a valuable cog in the late inning pinch hitting (especially for the pitcher with guys on base) rotation. If he comes into spring training and doesn't make contact all spring, then we just kick him to the curb and nothing hurt. I'm all for this.

I don't know how you can leave Bush out of the rotation. He was arguably the most consistent pitcher the Brewers had last year from April-October. Other guys were hotter at times (Suppan in July/August), injured (Sheets, Capuano), Ineffective (Capuano, Villanueava for a stretch), or in the minors (Yo Go). But from April until October, there wasn't a more consistent pitcher for the Brewers than Dave Bush. I would guess he will be given every chance to keep his spot in the rotation (probably ahead of Capuano).

I guess I will just agree to disagree...... If you are working at a corporation and johnny from office #2 gets let go for "undisclosed reasons" but every one knows it's because he came late, smoked weed, and tried to hook up with the boss's wife......do you think that the general public needs to know it? Or do you think it's OK to just leave it as.."he was let go". Why should the Brewers be any different? You are just a fan of the team. There is a lot that goes on that you never hear about. Why a coach was let go SHOULD BE one of them if the company (or in this case franchise) is run with any integrity and credibility.

Fans who act like they have a right to know this kind of information drive me nuts. Why in the world does Doug Melvin need to tell the fans why they let a coach go? It's none of our business. They are going different ways for whatever reason. They don't need to explain themselves to us. It is the same with injuries. What happens with the team stays with the team. To expect to find out these types of things as a fan is unreasonable.

You state that as though it's a fact, when it's completely an opinion. Unless you've been in the clubhouse, on the field, or in the dugout, you have no idea what went on this year. There are so many different scenerios that may have happened that you don't know anything about. I have no idea why Leyva was let go, but if he wasn't on the same page as his boss. Then that's his bad. One thing about sports...there is a Head Coach (or in baseball a manager). They control everything. What they do and say is all that matters. Either you are with him or you are setting yourself up to be let go. You don't have to agree with it, but you can't talk about not agreeing. If you do, you have every right to be let go. Ned yost took over one of the worst franchises in sports history, coming off a 56-106 season. He led a team to a record of 68-94 (a 12 game improvement) with an opening day starting lineup of: Alex Sanchez Eric Young Richie Sexson John Vander Wal Jeffery Hammonds Wes Helms Eddie Perez Royce Clayton In his 2nd season with comprable talent he again lost 94 games (67-94 due to a rainout) In his 3rd season with more young talent at the major league level he gave the franchise their non-losing season since 1992 when they were 81-81 In his 4th season, he was on his way to a winning season when he lost 2/5 of his starting rotation to injury with the injuries to Ben Sheets, Tomo Ohka, and replaced them with Dana Eveland, Zach Jackson, Jorge De La Rosa, Rick Helling, and Ben Hendrickson. In addition to that he lost his young middle infield (JJ Hardy-ankle and Rickie Weeks-wrist) for the season. He slipped from 81 wins to 75 wins, but without a doubt was plagued by injuries. That brings us to his 5th season. He finally had healthy talent to work with it, despite it being young talent. He led the team to a September pennant race and finished the season with a winning record for the first time in 15 years. Sure they fell short of the playoffs, but it wasn't becasue of Ned Yost. It was because of Sheets getting hurt, Capuano struggling much of the year, and a rotation unable to work into the 7th inning often enough forcing him to overuse the only 3 reliable options in a average bullpen. By having to use Wise/Villy (until he went into the rotation), Turnbow, and Cordero so often throughout the year, they wore down. This is not Ned Yost's fault. He needs to get pitchers that are able to work deeper into games. That should happen this year. Suppan has always been durable. YO and Villy should be able to work longer into games now that they are older. Sheets will come back healthy. I completely disagree that he "mismanaged" the bullpen. There are no right or wrong decisions when it comes to the bullpen. The pitchers haev to make the pitches and more often than not...it didn't matter who he went to. They didn't make pitches. The biggest area to work on this off-season is the bullpen. Getting better arms will defintely make Ned Yost look smarter as he continues to improve on the mindset of the franchise that was coming off a 56-win season when he took over and has seen that number increase by 27 games in just 5 years. Ned Yost is the man to lead this franchise to the post season. If Nick Levya didn't see it Neds way. Good riddence.

This is great news. The whole reason I quit posting on this site (for good) back in July is because of the constant unjust criticism of Ned Yost. It's embarassing to associate and have commentary with people who don't "get it".

Any of you who didn't cave in and watch the game missed one of the greatest games played ever at Miller Park. It was just an amazing night of baseball. Mets fans at the game were in awe of the atmosphere and said it felt like Yankee Stadium in October. You literally couldn't even hear yourself think during Hall's 9th inning AB, the place was shaking. What a great great game.

This would be a great acquisition for the Brewers. I know we'd have to give up some prospects to get him, but I'd pull the trigger anyways. A strong bullpen will be what it takes to stave off the Cubs because the Crew scores enough runs and the pitchers typically hold the opposition down fo 5-6 innings, but it's absolutely imperative that we have enough bullpen arms to cover those other 3-4 innings every night. It can't always be Villanueva, Turnbow, and Cordero or their arms will fall off. I really think the 18 games in 17 days took a toll on the bullpen, hence the struggles last week.