pitchleague

I kind of find it funny that, over the last week (since August 10th), Counsell has had Yelich bat 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the order. Maybe this week they'll try him at 5th, 6th, and 7th just to see what happens! Okay, maybe I'm the only one that finds it kinda funny!

While I generally agree with everything you said, I have just an itsy-bitsy issue with the bolded one. This year, the "expanded rosters" of September are only 28 guys, not the 40 or so guys that Counsell has used to this advantage in the past. While it IS an advantage, it is not remotely as big of an advantage as it used to be. I still remember Doug Melvin (and others) trying to change the rule a decade ago (or longer) when the Brewers would be playing (and losing to) those teams with 38-40 guys on their roster while the Brewers kept to "maybe" 28 or 29 players. The disparity caused an unfair advantage, he said. Funny how that was exactly how the Brewers managed to have outstanding September runs over the last few years to make the playoffs. Edit just to add this: Now, MAYBE the Brewers play "Roster Shuffle" and continually call up and send guys down in September to get fresh arms, etc. although I'm not sure how legal that is or how well it would work with requirements to be in the minors for 10-days (or whatever.) If so, well then Counsell would be working his magic once again.

If I had to put money on it, I would bet that the BBWAA vote Buehler as the winner, almost no matter what happens over the last two months. I also wouldn't put it past them to see DeGrom as the winner (or at least a finalist.) I would bet no Brewer finishes in the top three, because that's how the writers are. However, if they suddenly go on a tear--something like Woody winning 8 in-a-row, or Freddy throwing a no-hitter and a 17-strikeout game, or Burnes not walking another batter for the rest of the season--I could see a Brewer sneak in there. But win it? Pffft, I highly doubt the voters will let that happen.

I remember that so well, too! And I was only 10 years old! It was amazing how well the Brewers played and it didn't matter; the Orioles played out of their gourd and caught the Brewers quite easily. I agree. I'm not even close to leaning back comfortably in my chair. I doubt that will happen until they actually clinch.

Brewers/Dbacks for opening day just sucks for us. Now I can watch the Brewers pregame stuff (via Directv) before being forced to watch . . . . Dbacks television. Ugh. At least I can listen to the radio crew.

I have thought this exact same thing. And I also wondered how he will react if the Lambeau field fans start booing said forcing of throws.

I really like that the Pirates paid tribute to the Bucks championship tonight with all the green on their uniforms.

He seems like a more modern Neil Walker to me. He does the little things right and can hit the ball, but he’s definitely not the most dangerous bat in a lineup. Good for the Padres. And good for the Pirates if their prospects pan out.

Oh, I don't know about that. I think plenty of prison guards could be kind of insulted by this.

Source???? (Sorry, I just had to!)

I actually had planned on having the celebratory beer when they won (at least that's what I told myself shortly before game time) but then forgot all about it between the pageantry of the victory and the rather unexpected emotions. Oh, and I got on the scale after work about a half hour ago. I'm down to 194 already! Is that normal? I feel that this is unrealistic and something screwy is going on.

That’s really cool!

2020 Devin Williams was out of the playoff series. I know you’re talking rotation, but still, maybe if he was available…….

Tell you what, I REALLY wanted to crack open a beer tonight during and after the Bucks game. I held strong!

So, did we win?

This is ugly. I haven’t watched much of the series (I think I stopped even trying to really watch back in the conference semifinals) but I’ve had it on in the background. But I’m a Wisconsin boy so I decided to sit and watch some potential history. My adoptive home team is the Suns since I’ve lived in Arizona for 24 years now. All my friends are Suns fans. I’m indifferent, but If someone made me choose (the proverbial gun to the head) I take the Bucks every time. I agree with others that this shaping up to be another typical Wisconsin sports “curse” happening right before my eyes. I was all misty eyed for most of the first quarter, and then the second occurred and I feel like it’s already over, even though my logical mind knows that it’s not. Oh, well. Here’s to a better second half. There’s still plenty of time!

Well, I started this today. I’ve always been a littler guy so when I’ve ballooned up a bit over 200 this summer, it was time. (I also was getting tired of students joking that I was going to have a baby.) Day one wasn’t bad at all. About 17 hours of fasting. Plenty of water. An app to help me out. We’ll see how this goes. My goal is 185. Thanks for the inspiration, bf.netters! I wouldn’t have even given this a thought had I not read the thread a while back!

Simba, have there been that many games <2:30 Because those are seven inning doubleheader games?

If Counsell does that, he should be fired on the spot. Burnes pitched last Wednesday and will have 5 days before he maybe pitches one inning in the All Star Game. Then he wouldn’t be pitching again until next Tuesday against the Royals, and Woodruff wouldn’t be starting until Friday against the White Sox, 12 days after his start on Sunday. There’s a fine line between rest and rust, but I think this would be much closer to the latter. I’m going to be irked if Counsell doesn’t get at least Woodruff and Burnes (who the Reds haven’t seen yet this year) starts this weekend. The Brewers have enough trouble with the Reds starting pitchers as it is without giving them even more advantages by putting their second tier starters against them when it isn’t necessary. If the Brewers lose 6 games in a row and 9 out of 10 to the Reds, so be it. But don’t do it by only using your top 3 starters in 3 of the 10 games. Of course, this is all moot if the Brewers offense can’t figure out how to score more than a run or two per game. Maybe that's part of the Brewers' plan in case they play the Reds in the post-season. (I'm half-joking, half-serious.) I'm just going with the flow and trying to enjoy the fact that we have baseball this season and the Crew is, overall, playing pretty good. We all know that there are holes here and there, but that's also part of the ebb and flow of a season. Even if the Reds were to sweep us this coming weekend, we'd still be in first place. Obviously, I would rather they have not lost 3 of 4 this past weekend, and I don't want them to lose any this coming weekend, but sometimes that stuff just . . . happens.

My wife and I have discussed how they could make extra innings a bit more interesting. Our idea started with inning number 10 having no runners on base (as used to be the rule.) Inning number 11 (if needed) both teams get a runner on first base. Inning number 12 (if needed) both teams get a runner on first and second base. Inning number 13 (if needed) and beyond start with the bases loaded. In retrospect, we were just goofing off, coming up with ideas. But it was fun to imagine what could happen in each scenario. Personally, I'm glad they will go back to 9 inning doubleheaders and no runners on base for extras. Of course, I am of the "more baseball? GREAT!!!!" camp so doubleheaders and long extra inning games have never bothered me. Yes, I get tired just like most people, but, to me, it's fun and, potentially, rewarding.

This is my fault folks. I promise I won’t watch the games anymore. Every time I try to watch them in the playoffs, they lose. I am not an NBA fan by any means. But I am a fan of Wisconsin sports so I try to check scores and such, here and there. But this is another example of why I just shouldn’t watch.

Leave it to my wife to notice that, too! Pretty funny! I was waiting for the catcher to mention it right before a pitch to get Willy to look or distract him.

Well, you got the “one time through the order” part right. I’m hoping this isn’t a repeat of the last time we started a rookie in his big league debut on getaway day. If my memory serves right, we got blown out by the Dodgers at home and then went on a long losing streak during a road trip to Philadelphia and someplace else.

You should go to a Cecil Cooper autograph session and tell him that story.

We were at the game. He looked really good overall. I came away impressed!