The stache

LOL, LYLE OVERBAY is coming out to pitch. This is the ultimate embarrassment. The next time I see somebody discussion "when is it time for Ron Roenicke to get his due?", I'm going to vomit. I'm sorry, I'm trying so hard to remain positive, but this display of incompetence has my blood boiling. I could literally do a better job than Roenicke, and I have zero Major League management experience. None.

Could somebody please explain to me the situation with Wang? If he's not pitching at he Major League level, he can be claimed by another team? Did he use up his options with his prior team? In the mean time, because we are so worried about losing him, he's getting rocked, and costing us games.

I don't think it will be a 1 run game by the time Kimbrell gets the ball.

Oh no. Wang is out there....now???? "What options do Ron Roenicke have?" None, because he blew through three relievers in three innings. Good lord.

Ok, Brauny, there's one!!!! I heard boos, and there's the boom.

Ugh, new batter, same mistake. Hacking away. Who's the hitting coach for this team. Is he comatose?

Francisco hit another homer tonight. For the season: .292 AVG, 4 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, 19 RBI. 11 walks vs 36 Ks. Slash line of .373 OBP/.629 SLG/1.002 OPS His defense might have been awful, but you have to believe that bat would be welcome right now. We've scored 11 runs over the last 5 games. He's certainly better than Overbay and his .576 OPS would ever be.

Quoted for truth.

If you ask Kirk Gibson, it's the steroids in Ryan Braun (just the roids, mind you, not Braun at all).

I enjoyed playing for a shot to get to the World Series, don't get me wrong. But we didn't get there, and what we've been left with is a big hole where Lawrie would have had a chance to develop at second and third base. What we have had for the last three years plus since the trade for Shaun Marcum is Alex Gonzalez, Yuniesky Betancourt, Rickie Weeks and Taylor Green playing second, short and third when Aramis Ramirez has been unable to play, and before Segura and Gennett were called up to the Major League team. Now, I did not exclude the games played by these players at other positions, as that would take forever. The greater majority of games played by these four men have been at second, short and third. Their performance has been abysmal. http://imageshack.com/a/img836/5108/ppzu.png They combined for a .301 OBP (which I know must look spectacular right now when we're marching six players out with a sub .300 OBP on a semi-regular basis), and a .389 SLG. That's a .690 OPS. And that's not even considering the awful defense these guys bring to the table. As bad as that has been, here's a really startling realization. We have absolutely nobody in our system that could adequately take over at third base if Ramirez went down. We need Reynolds to play first, because we already have enough weak bats in the lineup with Scooter Gennett's lack of power, Herrera's inability to do..well, anything. If Reynolds plays third, then Overbay is at first long term, and that's frightening. I just don't know if a couple weeks of post season enjoyment is worth the last two plus years of hair pulling ineptitude we've been dealing with at several spots in the roster.

Is this the year former Brewer star prospect takes a giant step forward? He's showing signs. I've been peeking in on the Blue Jays a couple different times in the last week (gotta love MLB.tv when it's working, right?) Part of it was seeing how Juan Francisco has been doing north of the border. But part of it, too, was to check up on Brett Lawrie, who I've just recently added to my fantasy roster. He's been battling some injuries on and off all year (stop me if you've heard this before). A pulled right hamstring forced him to miss six games. But in the last 23 games he's played in, the numbers are encouraging (for Jays fans, and for his fantasy owners). http://imageshack.com/a/img838/4139/4atu.png It's interesting to note that Lawrie's .322 average and .328 BAbip are so close. His career BAbip is .294. For the entire 2014 season, though, it's only .250. He's 44 points below his career norm. Also, 21 RBIs in 23 games is showing encouraging patience. He's hitting .424 with RISP this season, compared to a .286 mark for his career, could be a sign that he's changing his approach in higher leverage situations. For the season, in 20 plate appearances in high leverage situations, he's hitting .421 with an 1.189 OPS. In medium leverage situations, he's hitting .318 with an .856 OPS in 45 plate appearances. Is Lawrie taking the step towards becoming the player we thought he could be? His averages per 162 games played thus far are not bad: 615 at bats, 164 hits, .266 AVG, 81 runs, 30 doubles, 20 home runs, 75 RBI, 15 stolen bases. His .325 OBP and .429 SLG should start to rise. He's been making very solid contact, driving the ball like I haven't seen him do in a while. We shall see.

YES! Perfect positioning!!! Scooter was money in the bottom of the ninth. How we won with no Gomez, Braun or Ramirez....wow.

He threw 11 pitches, and K Rod is Roenicke's 9th inning guy, which means we will see him regardless. I agree that Smith could have gone another inning.

Oofta.

Come on K Rod. 3 strikeouts. Falling behind 2-0 early is not what we want to see.

Yup. I'm sorry, I should have said that.

Jean now 7 for his last 18 at the plate. Average raised from .242 to .261. What a boost it would be to this offense if he gets hot. Especially ahead of Braun.

What happened to Votto? Another guy going on the DL on my team? Please God, no more. I just got Braun back, so now Votto is going to join Mesoraco, Jay Bruce, Michael Cuddyer. Great, lol.

Will Smith getting jiggy with it. That was just a nasty slider.

Off topic for sure, but three cards picked up this week. http://imageshack.com/a/img836/7240/h5ey.pnghttp://imageshack.com/a/img834/7019/auq8.pnghttp://imageshack.com/a/img845/7333/ueef.png I bet Robin could still get better than a .300 OBP, even at age 58.

You know it's been bad when I am pleasantly surprised by Reynold's near .750 OPS. I just hope our pitching holds up.

TBWS, So, what do you think is the chief reason for our offense being so ineffective? Braun's being out hurt, but outside of Gomez and Lucroy, has anybody else on our offense been really good this year? Rickie's been a pleasant surprise in a limited role. But Khris Davis and Jean Segura have been way below where I expected them (though Khris has had some bit hits leading up to, or in the extra innings, and I think Jean is showing signs of breaking out of it). Ramirez was good starting out, but he's been really bad as of late. Scooter's been so so. Is it out hitting coach not seeing and correcting problems. Is it our hitters just going up there hacking?

Ok, time for MLB.tv. Dear God, please let it work, and please let me not jinx the Brewers by watching the game. How are all you guys doing tonight?

That's just frightening. I look at our record, then I look at our stats. Then I look at our record, and then look again at our stats. Something doesn't add up. I guess being the third most talented team in baseball means we win even when the numbers are ugly.

The best of the Greinke trade: Escobar vs. Cain http://www.royalsreview.com/2013/6/17/4437948/the-best-of-the-greinke-trade-escobar-vs-cain Cain was not only not the "must have" in the trade, or anywhere near on par with Escobar, he was considered behind both Escobar and Odorizzi as far as desirability goes. This is from a Kansas City blog. Cain was the third piece in a four player trade. Once again, you are just wrong. But, as always, you will ignore everybody because you "like to be right."