The stache

It kills me, Robert, because I'd planned to go to tonight's game, but I broke my leg in three places near the end of June, so I'm having to watch it on tv with my leg propped up. Still, I am really enjoying tonight's game. To think I could have seen Scooter's first multi-homer game as a Scooter Gennett collector irks me.

Great, Gonzalez loads the bases with one out. Jesus H, we just can't get a break. Little seeing eye hits dinked all over the infield. He didn't get either out, but Gennett got to both those balls and got off impressive throws. His defense is better than I've read about.

LOL, Segura is so fast, he completely avoided the tag when they caught him in the run down. Pierzynski should have run him back a little more to third.

Two home runs for Scooter Gennett and a homer from Khris Davis tonight. The kids are making the most of their playing time.

Wow Segura is fast, beating out that roller to Elvis Andrus. And stolen base #34! Woot!

You mean...(gasp!) the youngsters are playing well when given time on the field? Shocking! Scooter Gennett.....home run hitter. Three home runs in his last eight at bats now. Nice to see Khris Davis making the most of his time. Four bombs for him now.

This has been a train wreck of a season no matter how you slice it. When you factor in that we were going with a virtually untested rotation to start the season (at least before Lohse was signed), we knew our offense would have to be lights out to keep us in the race. Not out of the question, as we had the top offense in the National League in 2012. But when the injury bug started rearing it's ugly head, things went south fast. But let's also be a little realistic here. Has any team lost it's top three home run hitters for essentially the entire next season...in baseball history? Ryan Braun led the National league with 41 bombs last year, as MVP runner up. This year, he hit 9, and because of injury (and then the suspension), he was limited to 61 games. Corey Hart hit 30 home runs last season, playing 149 games. He will miss the entire 2013 season. And Aramis Ramirez, who hit 27 homers in 2012, has 5 in 2013, playing in an injury-filled 54 games. That trio hit 98 home runs, playing in 452 games. In 2013, they have combined for 14 home runs in 115 games. There's a good chance Ramirez is out the remainder of the year so he has his best shot at being healthy next year. Not many teams can make up 84 home runs in production, especially small market teams like our Brewers. But in their absences, some young players have stepped up, and are giving me a little glimpse into what could be the future. Jean Segura is one of the most exciting young players in the game. After a short stint with the Brewers to end the 2012 season, one where he hit .264 but showed little power potential, Segura won the winter league batting title, and hit the ground running in 2013. Segura leads the National League in hits. He is hitting .310 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI, and has stolen 33 bases in 40 tries. Segura also flashes incredible defensive potential, highlighted by a rocket arm. He has all the tools, and the Brewers should do everything possible to sign him long term. He is a star in the making, and could be the face of the franchise. Carlos Gomez, after seeing his contract extended, went to the All Star game for the first time, and has the highest Wins Above Replacement number (6.4) in the National League. Though his average has dropped (in part due to some nagging injuries), he is still playing Gold Glove caliber center field. It's likely he will be the first Brewer to win the award since 1982. He hit a career high 19 home runs last season, and already has 18 in 2013 with 44 games to go. Gomez has 30 stolen bases in 36 tries, and should top his career high of 37 set last year. Only 27, Gomez will be a key part of our future. And Jonathan Lucroy, who would have been an All Star last year had it not been for a freak accident, is having another outstanding season in 2013. His average is down from his .320 mark last season (currently at .281), but he's hit a career high 16 home runs, and with 45 games to go, he has 61 RBI. Luc is also, in my opinion, underrated defensively. Lastly, though he will be 32 in January, Norichika Aoki has been a great addition since coming over from Japan. He is a consistent .280-.290 hitter, and he does not strike out (only 28 times in 491 plate appearances thus far in 2013). He has good speed, though his base stealing success rate is down significantly from 2012. He's also solid defensively in right field. At $1.5 million for 2014, he provides great value for what he will be paid. We've had a chance to watch some of our young hitters, although intermittently. Khris Davis has shown some outstanding power potential. Caleb Gindl, Logan Schafer and Scooter Gennett, too, have shown they could be quality Major Leaguers. This last near-third of the season will see this foursome gaining substantially more playing time with Ryan Braun's suspension, and Rickie Weeks' season-ending hamstring injury. Additionally, expect to see Sean Halton and possibly Hunter Morris in Milwaukee with some playing time at first. The bullpen is greatly improved from the unit that essentially cost us a chance at the playoffs in 2012. 30 year old Jim Henderson has been lights out in his time as our closer, converting 16 of 18 save opportunities, with a sparkling 1.88 ERA and 1.070 WHIP. Brandon Kintzler and Tom Gorzelanny should also be back in 2014. What I am taking away from the recent games, however, has been some of the starting pitching I have seen. We sacrificed our first round draft pick to sign free agent Kyle Lohse at the beginning of the season, a move I initially did not like. But after a rough start, Lohse has been outstanding. In his last 13 starts, Lohse has gone 7-1 (and the Brewers 10-3 overall) with a 2.34 ERA. He's struck out 57 in 80 2/3 innings while only giving up 65 hits and walking 15 over that span, good for a 1.004 WHIP. Lohse is under contract the next two seasons. Though 34, if he can stay healthy next season, he gives us a reliable veteran in the rotation. I'm most pleased by the progress I've seen from Wily Peralta. The Brewers have groomed him to be an innings eater, and the potential we have heard about for the last few years is starting to finally show. Early in the year, he looked lost. But something clicked, and over the last two months, Peralta has been outstanding. Keep in mind that at the end of May, his season ERA stood at 6.35. Since mid June, he's been one of the best starters in baseball. Over his last 12 starts (going back to June 11th), Peralta is only 4-5. But, in those 12 starts, Peralta has thrown 75 2/3 innings, allowing only 22 earned runs. That's a 2.62 ERA. He's struck out 52 against 25 walks, while allowing 58 hits. That's a 1.100 WHIP. If you just look at his last ten starts, he's been absolutely dominant. Ten starts, 64 1/3 innings pitched. 15 earned runs allowed, 46 hits and 22 walks surrendered (versus 49 strikeouts, or 6.9 per 9 IP, which I expect will go up) for a WHIP of 1.058. His ERA for his last ten starts is 2.10. But he's only 4-4. Why? Because over those 64 1/3 innings Wily has been on the mound for the Brewers, his own team has scored a total of 11 runs in support of him. 11 runs in 64 1/3 innings. Brewer opponents have held Milwaukee hitters to a 1.54 ERA while Wily has been on the mound. In six of those ten games, the Brewers did not score a single run while he was on the mound. As it stands, Wily Peralta is only 8-12, and the baseball writers will overlook him. But we have something to hang our hats on, guys. Wily is still learning the game, and will hit bumps in the road. But he has a great chance to be the best starter we've had since Ben Sheets. We don't know what's wrong with Yovani Gallardo, but it's apparent he will be here in 2014. If he can recapture any of the success he's had the last four years, when he's averaged 15 wins with 204 strikeouts and a 3.64 ERA, we have a very solid top of the rotation. Then we start looking at Tyler Thornburg, who in 31 1/3 innings this year has a 1.72 ERA and a respectable 1.213 WHIP. We also look at Jimmy Nelson, who is 8-8 with a 3.12 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched between Nashville and Huntsville. I guess what I am trying to say (and being very long-winded in doing so) is that we have some things to feel optimistic about for next year. As ugly as some of the remaining games might be this season, I'm going to keep watching, and keep looking for things to get excited about. And I invite you guys to watch with me. We have nowhere to go but up from here. And I think we have some good things in our future, things that make me genuinely looking forward to 2014 and beyond.

Ya, that lineup is brutal. Ah, what might have been. Hopefully we can stay somewhat healthy next year.

Tough luck loss for Peralta today. He's 8-12 but could easily be 11-11, or at the worst 10-11. No run support today (expected against King Felix, I guess). 8 innings of shutout ball against the Marlins on 7/21, we score in the 9th to win 1-0, no decision. 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball on July 2nd, a game we win 4-0. Again, no run support for Wily, as we score 4 in the 8th. In his last ten starts, Wily has allowed 15 earned runs in 64 1/3 IP. He has a 2.10 ERA over those starts, but is only 4-4 because our offense is for the most part inept.

Scooter Gennett OPS .779, 24 games played. 1 RBI every 7.5 AB Rickie Weeks OPS OPS .663, 104 games played. 1 RBI every 14.5 AB Scooter won't keep this pace up, but those saying Scooter Gennett cannot play as a regular might just be surprised what he can do. In his last 4 games, Scooter is 6 for 13, with a double, triple, home run and 3 RBI.

After being non existent, the Brewer offense has awakened. 20 runs in the last two games.

Aw, damn RIP Johnny.

My fantasy team just can't do any worse. My opponent, who is in first place, has Lohse going tonight, so he'll get the win, and a quality start. And none of the damage is coming from Segura or Lucroy. I just can't win. My team has been decimated by injuries and having Braun suspended. I've lost: Ryan Braun Yadier Molina (I picked up Lucroy, but of course, as soon as I do, he turns ice cold) David Wright Matt Moore Jason Marquis Domonic Brown (just got him back) Troy Tulowitzki missed a month (I will never draft him again. He's great when he's in the lineup, but he misses too much time). Wil Myers has been a godsend. Without him, my outfield would be just awful right now. Carlos Gomez is ice cold, so I had to bench him.

What team is going to offer anything for a guy that has turned into a .210 hitter with a little power and terrible defense...coming off of season-ending surgery?

I have a fundamental problem saying that a walk is as good as a hit. Hogwash. If a man is on second base, and Weeks is up, and walks, you have men at first and second. If Weeks gets a hit, you have men at first and third bare minimum, or the man at second scores depending on their lead, running on contact, speed, and where the ball was hit. A hit can do far more than a walk by advancing runners, and increase the likelihood your team scores. To say Rickie Weeks has been as productive as Ichiro because they have similar OBP is just ridiculous. Next thing you'll be telling me that Rickie Weeks (career OBP of .346) is in the same ballpark as Roberto Clemente (career .359 OBP). Hell, why have somebody like Gwynn, Clemente or Ichiro out there when a walk is as good as a hit. Put a midget with a 3 inch strike zone, and let him walk 95% of the time.

Another game with an awful lot of zeros from the Brewer offense. Sigh. Who's our hitting coach? He's not doing much to help our hitters out of this awful slump. And Hand giving up 7 hits and 3 walks in three innings. A nice 3.333 WHIP today. Joy. Giants 4 runs on 7 hits. Brewers 1 hit.

Thank you, though I won't hold my breath. Still, a guy can dream, right?

Looked like a hammy to me. It could be. I was going off of what Brian saw on replay, said it looked like his knee buckled. Hard to tell without being able to see the leg itself.

LOL, I'm starting to feel that way. Let's see if this works: I'm guessing that Rickie Weeks is done for the year. Also.. I'm hoping that Kate Upton doesn't knock on my door in a bikini, with a hot tub-equipped limousine waiting out front.

Perfect, and Scooter Gennett was optioned to AAA, and left town today. "Hi, Scooter. Welcome back. By the way, you're flying back to Milwaukee tonight". Ugh.

Agreed. I was saying the exact same thing (I'm starting Bumgarner on my fantasy team tonight).

Oh good lord, Rickie Weeks just hurt himself running to first base...tripping over his bat. He's having to be helped off the field. Looks like his knee. Hope he's ok.

This is close to the worst I've ever seen our offense perform. To call it inept is putting it mildly. Out last seven games: July 31 @ Cubs, lost 6-1 August 2 vs Washington, lost 4-1 August 3 vs Washington, lost 3-0 August 4 vs Washington, won 8-5 August 5 vs San Francisco, lost 4-2 August 6 vs San Francisco, won 3-1 August 7 vs San Francisco, losing 1-0 through 7 We've scored 15 runs in these 7 games. 2.14 runs per game. Take away the 8 we scored on the 4th, we've scored 7 runs in the last 6 games. 1.17 runs per game. Ugh, now Yuni is trying to bunt Khris Davis over? With the bottom of the lineup coming up? Doh, now he cranks one to the left field wall. Wow. Can we score??

"Hey, struck him out swinging!" Nothing quite like that moment when Bob Uecker realizes the Brewers have won the game. Listening to him while watching the game makes me feel like I'm back home in Milwaukee. Hello, win column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good job to Luc for driving in that all important second run. Great job by Hendo. Big Wily is definitely my player of the game. When he's right, he's absolutely brilliant. The consistency will come with time. I am a happy boy tonight!

Mow them down, Hendo!