pitchleague

well, we got back to Neenah after a great day at the game (minus the final outcome, of course). Hawing, you're welcome! It was good to meet you and your S.O. As for the Villanueva stuff, he warmed in the 7th, 8th, and 10th (I saw him throwing). In the 11th, he threw for about 30 seconds and then sat down and Spurling got up. So I'm guessing he was gassed from so many throws in the pen and that's why he didn't come into the game in the 11th. Yovanni looked awesome. Great composure for a rookie in getting out of some big jams. Some random observations made by my wife and I today: 1) We thought it was awesome doing spontaneous cheering/clapping because the fans knew to do it without a scoreboard telling them to. It has been a LONNNNNGGG time for me at the ballpark getting to take part in that (darn you, Dbacks and your fans that don't know when to cheer unless the jumbotron tells you to!) 2) Along the same lines, spontaneous rising to your feet at key moments. We didn't sit for most of the 9th-11th innings (when we were batting, of course) 3) It was great to give high-fives and what-have-you to total strangers in your section and they know and understand why. And they are more than willing to deal them out, too. So many fans in Phoenix just sit and clap like it's a golf tourney. And those that do get in the game don't want to have anything to do with other fans, it seems. 4) I couldn't believe they sold 44,000+ for this game. And it truly was SRO. They were 2-3 rows deep behind most sections in the lower bowl. Yes, everybody, my wife and I will get a 2nd and final opportunity to see a Brewer win on Tuesday night before we head back to Arizona. Section 421 row 6 seats 1-2 I think. Tootle-ooo!

Hooray! It's finally here! My mom, dad, sister, brother, brother-in-law, 2 nieces, my wife and I will finally be at a game at Miller Park. I haven't been there for 3-4 years and the rest of the clan have never been. We're sitting out by the LF fair pole. It's section 131, row 26 or something like that (had to get seats back there to minimize stairs for my dad). I'll be wearing my BF.net slogan wear from my signature. Go Brewers! ps I've been up since quarter to six, been so excited!

roco is on the same page as my vent. Matt Wise in the 9th. Yes, I realize that it's been 6 days since he pitched and he probably needed the work. But I'd rather have Spurling or Capellan get an inning of work in a non-pressure situation. And, yes, why on earth was Cordero throwing in the 9th, too? Man, oh man. I will be quite ticked in September/October if it's Rollie Fingers Part II in the playoffs.

personally, I think the whole ring thing is over-rated. I proposed with a ring made out of masking tape. My wife loved that so much that she kept it after we bought a real ring together. Rings are nice but they're only symbols and reminders of your love. I could do without it as could she. But society pretty much dictates what is appropriate or not, so we got rings. We both highly doubt that we will "re-up" our committment with bigger and better rings in the future. She's not all that much into jewelry as it is, and I don't feel like overspending on something that will just make others feel jealous/want to steal it. I'm sure I'm in the minority on this issue. Maybe it's the "Scrooge" factor inside of me.

I'm kind of disappointed. I have only seen 32 of the 100 films. However, there are about 4-5 of the top 20 on my tivo at home waiting for me to watch them.

If we are all so desperate for a playoff appearance, then why the hesitation to trade a prospect in Parra for a proven reliever who is downright dominating at times (Otsuka or Gagne)? If this is the reliever that pushes us over the top and gives us a much better chance for playoffs and winning a playoff series, I'm all for it. Of course, I would not be trading a "top" prospect, like Jeffress or Inman, but "high-upside" prospects that Texas would be interested in, like Parra, Sarfate, and maybe Rottino would probably do it (a package of a couple prospects and Mench would be a shoo-in for Texas to accept, I'd think.) What about any of Baltimore's relievers? They would likely be salary dumping (I'd think) at the trading deadline.

how is this IGT only on page 5? Great, quick game. Another hit for Sheets and some nice pitches. One darn long ball shy of the shutout. I really like that the hitters gave Sheets some run support and confidence early in the game. Hope it continues tomorrow.

Ugh, I can't believe there are 19, now 17. games to the break. Where has this season gone?

well, we made it to Wisconsin, staying ahead of the weather the entire way. We even made it from St. Louis to Neenah on one tank of gas! And we left St. Louis at 9:30 and got here shortly after 5 pm. Nice! The drive thru Illinois wasn't all that bad. For us, coming from an area of the country bereft of green and full of brown, the drive today was great because it was different. We couldn't see mountains that are 45 miles away like normal; instead we could only see a few hundred yards due to actual trees rising up to the sides of the road. This is stuff that we all take for granted. Thanks for all the help/advice on our trip.

the thing I have to watch out is speeding in Wisconsin to get up to Neenah in time for first pitch on TV (my wife just gave me the big "no" about skipping going to the in-laws and going to Yo's debut instead).

just got back to the hotel after a long, but fun, 12 hour day in St. Louis. First off, we ended up biting $9 to take the metrolink around town. I was beat from driving and needed a break. It worked out magnificently. So thanks to those that suggested it. We went to the St. Louis Zoo first. Of course, we were stubborn and walked across Forest Park rather than take the shuttle bus to the zoo. Oh well, good exercise on a decent morning weather wise. The zoo was great--for a zoo. I'm not the animal nut--that's my wife. So to me, any zoo is the same thing, pretty much. Still, nice pictures and video were taken and it's nice to see your wife be a smarty pants, too (since I know most, but not all, of the baseball knowledge in our house). Then we went downtown and stopped at Busch Stadium and I persuaded my wife to take the stadium tour with me. Well worth the $10/person. Plus, the tour guide and us got in some good jabs and one-liners about the Cards and Brewers. He commented that he hopes the Brewers can keep it up because, as he said, "you deserve it." Then, it was off to the Gateway Arch. That was pretty cool. But I never imagined how cramped the actual observatory is. I felt like a sardine. I don't mean this because it was packed with people either. It was just not quite what I expected from that POV. Otherwise, the views were great with good visibility and such. Finally, we went to Laclede's Landing (the bar/restaurant area of the arch park) and found a decent place (Hannigan's) to eat. Al Hrbosky's (sp?) restaurant was closed and we didn't feel like TGI Fridays (both were downtown by the ballpark). It was pretty fun using my phone to look at the scoring recap of the Brewer game. Looks like it was a great rollercoaster game to watch. Tomorrow we begin the final leg to Wisconsin. HOORAY!

well, we drove to St. Louis today. Okay, that's not entirely accurate. I did all 12 hours of the driving due to my wife feeling very nauseous after probably sun stroke yesterday in the Petrified Forest. (just a bit of sunburn--you'd think because we live in AZ we'd know how to protect better from the sun.) But I digress . . . (she's feeling much better now) We are going to use the metrolink from our Airport hotel and go to the St. Louis Zoo and the Gateway Arch downtown. We likely will be looking for a good place to watch the Brewers, have lunch and a beer (or three). Nice to see the Crew win another one. Sounded great on the radio (except it was the Twins guys broadcasting [morons]). The crowd sounded very loud and alive throughout the game, including lots of cheers for both teams. For those that were at the game (this probably belongs in the IGT but who cares), was it pretty civil or was it like a Cubs-Brewers game? Take care everybody! I'll be in Wisconsin on Monday!

Hey everybody! The wife and I left town this am and spent about 4 1/2 hours at Petrified Forest National Park (about 2 1/2 hours longer than I thought we would be there!) and arrived safe and sound in Tucumcari, NM after day one of driving. Tomorrow is the drive to Missouri. edit: BTW, sure was nice to listen to the Crew pull out a big 11-3 win on the XM radio while we finished the drive. Got to hear Shouse complete the save as we're in the drive thru for dinner before we got to the hotel. Hope the winning continues.

I'll be listening on my xm radio while I'm driving thru eastern New Mexico tomorrow evening. GO BREWERS!!!

yeah, I agree. Midwest is the only airline that I trust. Every other airline has had a history (with me) of bumping or delaying flights (more than a half-hour, that is). Every other airline has been cramped, had rude passengers and flight attendants, and the pilots flew pretty bad (IMO). For instance, every other airline in their landing pattern into Vegas flies thru this jet stream over the mountains that causes a very turbulent and "scary" landing. I've not once experienced that with Midwest--smooth as a baby's bottom when it comes to landing in Vegas. Don't know if they avoid the air pocket or what (it's the same runway as the other guys) but there are no worries. Also, what will become of the puddle jumpers to Apple-ville (you know what town I mean), Green Bay, Wausau, etc.)? Those flights were great, too.

and Jeff Weaver gets out of the inning for the Mariners. YES!

first time all year I've been able to listen to a weekday afternoon game. Nice. Sheets "sounds" good today, especially in some dicey situations. Good job by Shouse to get out of the inning. C'mon Crew! I want to be happy in my driving to Wisconsin this weekend!

jiminies! A Thousand dollars?!?!? I think I was lucky to pull in a couple hundred! I don't think I got $1000 in gifts from my wedding! Wow! Congrats, though. Don't blow it all. You'll be wishing you had some of that about the third week of college otherwise. (or first week if you like to party)

well, I'll be ticked if that means no more (relatively) cheap flights from Vegas to Milwaukee--my main means of flying home. Oh, and no cookies either, I'd guess. That would stink.

wasn't this series the one that Jamie was trying to get us all to go on a BF.net road trip? I seem to remember that from back in the winter. Boy, we'd have seen a no-hitter and a great comeback. Mass suicides and massive heart attacks in back to back games if we had been there. New Tiger Stadium (I refuse to call it that corporate stuff) would have been site of a CSI: Detroit episode.

YAY!!!! A VICTORY!!!!! Nice, Sheeter tomorrow.

darn you, Uecker! looked good at first but another Detroit tv angle showed it wasn't close. Of course, I was only half watching.

ajay, I would seriously consider it, but at the same time, you really need to give Cordero another chance to show that he's "still got it".

and Turnbow with a nice ballet move to get the final out. I like how he "shot put it" very gracefully over to first.

nice pitches in that at bat. even Monroe looked a bit frustrated and had some "wow" factor