Cool Hand Lucroy

I like this idea. I sometimes wonder why they don't just automatically have someone in New York looking at close plays on the bases and fair/foul calls. It seems like it should be pretty quick, and if it's too close to tell on two quick angles, why bother with the challenge system? Assuming they have the resources and the technology to do it quickly, this would make sense to me. My own radical replay thought is to try and eliminate the "popped off the base" call. I know it goes against the rules, but it seems silly to me that a runner can make a reasonable slide, lose the bag for an instant in the process of a transfer while being tagged, be ruled safe initially, and then called out. Part of me would like to see 2nd and 3rd operate more like 1st. If you overslide the bag, you're out, but once you hit, that counts a full touch in the case there's a momentary loss of contact. Obviously that's a really tough distinction sometimes, but I want to think it's workable, mainly because replay doesn't seem made to reverse safe calls where the runner pops off or is brushed off the bag. Just a thought.

Serial optimism: 1) Winning season. 2) Brett Phillips is really fun. 3) Marlins offense at Coors makes me hopeful for some opportunities this week. 4) Battle scars in the form of losses that make you hate baseball before remembering you actually love it. 5) I think Levering's call on the Shaw homer is the first of many. He just gives me the vibe of the next great voice of the Brewers. Really, really like listening to him. Ueck is irreplaceable, but he and Lane are a more than competent team. Looking forward to their debut at #1 in baseball the next time Fangraphs does its totally subjective announcer rankings in like 2021 (hopefully in their first year after Ueck retires with a world series winning call on a ground ball to Arcia in an 8-0 game 4 (my heart couldn't handle something more dramatic)). 6) I'm legitimately excited for the offseason hot stove. Looking forward to seeing what Stearns does. I see a lot of potential in the current roster AND some clear possible improvement areas, which should make for a fun offseason. 7) At worst, the Brewers will play two more meaningful baseball games. At best, it could be even more special. I'm pumped to either clinch the playoffs at Busch or else eliminate the Cardinals and secure second in the Central!

How could I forget the 2007 Aramis Cubs game. That's a good one (good being an incredibly relative term in this case). The four game sweep in 2008 against the Phillies I remember as being just brutally depressing despite the absence of any heart-wrenching losses. Now that I'm reminded of the Sept. 18th Cubs game, yeah, that one stung especially hard. 2008 has been so papered over with the Braun homer to close out the season and then Wes Helms getting the biggest hit of his Brewer career while playing for Florida that I have maybe lost some of the retroactive depression from the worst losses. There's your optimism for you. Sometimes, the last day of the season is enough to erase all the crappy walk-off losses of a baseball season. May we be as fortunate this year!

While I do hear you on the Shaw single and think maybe Counsell waited a bit to pinch run for Walker, I'm just not sure anyone scores on that base hit. It was a rope, and the RF (Happ at that point, right?) fielded it with his momentum coming in. The throw was good, and I just don't see it without a superhuman jump. Maybe Byron Buxton or Billy Hamilton score on that play. Maybe. Even then, it's a risky send, one that would be sure to bring out the windmill Eddie talk. On Santana, I'm with you. Worst part is, most of those pitches weren't really close to strikes.

9 to go, and the Brewers are one back of the playoffs. The bullpen is better rested. The Crew has speedy Suter on the hill against mouthy Lackey. I feel a win tonight! 6-3 finish, and I think this team's in the playoffs in some form! Go Brewers!

One of the reasons I like to come here, even after losses, is to share the frustration this team brings with people who feel it too. So, after a night of less sleep than usual (it's clear baseball means too much to me, I know), I was thinking about the toughest losses to take as a Brewer fan. I don't bring this up to rain negativity on the team. More to acknowledge the pain out loud so that when the World Series title does arrive, and it will, it will have something concrete to stand in glorious contrast to. I started following the Brewers in 1998, when I was about 12 and they had just moved to the NL. I listened to the games on 580 WKTY, and Fernando Vina was my favorite player. I've divided this list into playoffs and regular season because we all know playoff baseball is a special kind of heartbreaking. Playoffs: 1) Game 5. 2011 NLCS. Jerry Hairston was a good pick up for that club. Yet, the image I'm stuck with is him booting a ground ball and sort of just knowing the series was over. We had Greinke on the mound after Wolf stole one in Game 4, and I believed, like really believed, the Brewers would have to win game at Miller to play in a World Series. No such luck. 2) Game 6. 2011 NLCS. This one had a more resigned feel, probably because of how early and how often the Cardinals lit up the scoreboard, but I remember playing out the string, feeling like I had to listen to Ueck, and then staring vacantly off into space in the only apartment I ever lived in completely by myself for about two hours. Maybe the TV was on, I don't remember. I refuse to say if there were tears. 3) Game 1. 2008 NLDS. I thought Hart was going to come through to tie it. He didn't. 4) Game 4. 2008 NLDS. Check swings, CC, and just not being good enough yet. This one wasn't as bad because I thought the best days were still to come, but the last out stung. Regular Season: There are many games on this list, last night included. But I wanted to just mention my own personal (least) favorite. 1) July 3rd, 2008. The Brewers had a 5-0 lead on the Diamondbacks going into the bottom of the ninth. Three pitchers (Mota, Shouse, and Torres) then combined to give up six straight run without record an out. I was listening on the radio on a long solo car trip. I'm pretty sure it finished in complete silence. Nominees from this year: The Padres game where Sogard gave us the lead in extras and then the Padres made his daughter cry, Torres and the Dodgers, the last two nights, the balk game against the Twins. I am now going to balance this out with a post in the optimism thread.

Baseball is funny. Jett Bandy probably had the best AB of the year with the 3-run double against Greinke. In September (and well before), he looks lost.

Rockies, Cardinals, and Brewers all right in the WC. I am trying to remind myself that this is fun. I'll say this, being this annoyed over baseball is the most enjoyment I've gotten from a season since 2014. This one's been less frustrating, if you can believe it. Does Meddling Maddon keep Davis on for the 10th? Bottom of the order....time for two bloops and a blast.

This is frustrating, but a lot of it is bad luck/Cubs making plays. First, the close call at first. Could have gone either way. Second, Baez's good approach with two strikes, sending a dribbler just far enough from Arcia to score the run. Third, Shaw's single was drilled so Walker had no chance to score. Then, the Cubs hit the mistakes the Brewers miss. Tomorrow the bullpen is back in good shape, and the Crew faces Lackey. This one sucks and is immensely frustrating (and isn't over yet), but if the Padres can protect a 2 run lead, we're just as in the WC race as we were this morning. And that's always been the more winnable race to me.

No. To pinch hit against the lefty (Wilson, I think? Or was it Duensing?).

On bright side watch, Davis has had to throw pitches... Also, the Rockies are losing by a run.... The Brewers are nerve-wracking and frustrating. Hope we can get three outs at a time.

Meh. Walk-offs are more fun anyway! Who gets the big hit? Braun? Shaw? Santana? I'll take Neil Walker.

CC likes the lefties against righty. Sogard sees about an extra half-pitch per PA than Arcia too, which doesn't mean much, but with Arietta on a pitch limit (most likely) it isn't the worst thing in the world to have a guy who may be able to help on that front. I know that's really digging down into the details, but that feels appropriate at this point.

I hope you're right, monty. I hate the Cardinals more than any other pro sports team, but I'd trade places with them in a heartbeat. Emulating that model makes sense. I just hope it works in a market like Milwaukee, one without a long history of success. The attendance for the Brewers is excellent, so I see no reason why it can't work. The issue might be media/fan pressure about not "going for it" getting to Stearns. Crossing my fingers that doesn't happen. Depth has been a big part of the approach so far. Nelson's injury looms large. Losing a starting pitcher looks like the thing that will really test this organization and the DS approach. I expect this offseason to be filled with bullpen acquisitions and some decisions about players like Broxton, Phillips, Brinson, Santana (I know others may think this is crazy, but he seems like a potential "trade high" candidate--NOT saying I want him traded, but DS should be listening to offers), Perez, Aguilar, and Thames. Does the Crew go with a platoon approach or try to deal from for top-third BP arms/#2 or #3 rotation types? Since this is the Cardinal pessimism thread, I'll add that the Cards are going to lose tonight. And the Brewers will clinch the playoffs at Busch Stadium, engage in a ceremonial untucking around the pitcher's mound, have Nyjer Morgan make a guest appearance to drop an expletive in the postgame interview, and rip Thames' shirt off again while Chris Carpenter's son looks on in stunned horror.

I don't have a problem with keeping Knebel on in the 9th. It seems reasonable to me that tired Knebel is better than fresh Torres or something. Once you've thrown him in the eighth, and he throws only eight (?) pitches, you're not saving all that much wear and tear by removing him. And, look, Diaz was able to hold up on a decent high fastball on 3-2. Not for that, he gets out of it. Of course, I can definitely see the point that bringing him on in the eighth is questionable too I'm more with you on Swarzak. He looked pretty lucky to get the two outs he got, and even without that I still think you want at least him fresh for the Cubs. You can deal with Knebel and Hader down. Knebel, Hader, and Swarzak is much tougher. I probably give Hader the 8th and just see, but you're right. Maybe you trust Torres/Drake/Guerra/Garza at some point because even over ten games it feels like those guys are eventually going to have to get high leverage outs anyway. So, a mixed review on CC, I guess. Of course, as people have said, might not matter a lick today. Hope it's all much ado because the Brewers are up 12-0 and Davies has an 80 pitch no-no heading into the ninth.

I think you have to hope for a long start from Davies, with Garza/Guerra as middle innings options should he not have it. 18 outs from Zach, 3 from Garza/Guerra/Drake, 3 from Hughes, 3 from Torres/Jeffress? Too much to hope Zach can go 7? Only having to get six outs puts the BP in okay shape. Honestly, I'd rather not throw Swarzak or Knebel out there after watching them grind last night. This isn't an injury/rest issue so much as an effectiveness one. We saw what happened to Chapman in the WS last year, and the workloads for Corey and Anthony have been beyond that without the off days. Hader if you have to in the ninth.

I kind of figured a loss tonight, but the tough part is having to use all our good relievers. Swarzak and Knebel looked pretty shaky to me, just trying to grind through. Both of them need a day, and it'll have to be tomorrow. The good news is, at one back of the WC, this team is going to be right in it. Even a split with the Cubs keeps them alive, and I feel good about next week. This is a resilient bunch, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them jump on Arietta tomorrow.

It seems like the 2018 rotation will be a lot about options. Is Nelson healthy? Does the team want to give up the value Hader would provide out of the BP in hopes he turns into a more valuable starting piece? How soon do the younger guys get a shot? I think I'd honestly keep Hader in the bullpen. I just see him being more effective in 70-80 innings of high-leverage outs than twice that many in a starting role. Of course, I'm glad I don't have to make that choice. Where to put him seems like the toughest decision Stearns has faced so far, and it's not like he'll have a chance to improve his secondary pitches if he's not using them. If they decide to let him play in the rotation, there'll be a rationale for it. That leaves Davies, Anderson, and Woodruff as guys who should feel safe coming into Spring. Then there's the health of Nelson and whole bunch of Suter/Burnes/Garza types, guys who are either young and borderline ready or somewhat proven but with fringy stuff. Just from a watching perspective, I'd rather give Suter a shot at the #5 spot in April and May and see what happens. He's just more fun to watch than Garza, and if he struggles, fine. We can skip the #5 spot if necessary, especially given the extra off days in the schedule next year, and see if any of the young pieces warrant a call-up/Jimmy is healthier after additional rehab time. Basically, I'm anxiously awaiting a timetable on Nelson. With him, I feel like the rotation is in pretty darn good shape heading into next year. Without him, a trade may need to happen, or bets may need to be placed on prospects who may not be quite ready. Hope we get good news today or at least this week.

Don't look now, but I believe the Brewers have matched their "high-water" mark for the year. After winning the two against Philly after the All-Star break, they were 52-41. Now, 81-70. 11 to go. The magic number is 12 (11) to tie. Why not just win 'em all? I'll take tomorrow to start. Go Giants!

Rockies lose! Big comeback by the Padres at Coors. Need more help from them against Colorado, but 2.5 back from a playoff spot is much better than 3.5! Win tomorrow, and its 2 with the Rox idle. Let's go Crew!

Right there with y'all. 79 wins is great right now. Let's add a bunch more and hope things work out. If not, well, other teams just earned it. We just dusted off a 4-2 week. Put up 5-2, with 3 coming against the Cubs, and we'd be what? 2 back with 6 to go? Cannot ask for much more on 9/17 given the expectations coming in. Take care of business in Pittsburgh, Brewers! Keep the bats going!

I think it's kind of funny that Sogard GIDP during all the talk of contact hitting. That's the downside, I guess. The general point stands, of course. I do think the best lineups have more hitters capable of making consistent contact. I remember a Fangraphs review of the Crew's offense in 2016 that basically said, if the concept of strikeouts and walks didn't exist, the Brewers would be an elite offense because of contact quality. Of course, they do exist, so out of luck there.

I'm moving more into the "keep Hader as a reliever" camp. You got Knebel, offer a one-year for Swarzak, and start with those three guys next year. I think there's a place for Hughes and Barnes too, but my big request is a deeper bullpen. A contact hitter or two for the sake of balance would be next.

I get the frustration. In a lot of ways, this team makes no sense. Look at first half versus second half offensive splits. Record against winning teams vs. losing teams. The last week. Etc. In other ways, though, that's kind of what you expect from a team with almost zero known quantities entering the season. I am as annoyed at being unable to put together a sustained winning streak and really make a go of the playoffs as anyone, but the reality is this team is 2.5 out with 18 to go? With four left against the division leaders and 3 against the other team they're chasing? That's the definition of right in it, 6-0 be damned. All this team really needs to do is cut a game over the next week, going into the Cubs series. They do that, the chips will fall where they may. They don't, then we start celebrating what a massive success this season was. I'm not going to be annoyed about this loss if they take the series. Just getting beat right now.

Yup. It happens. They weren't going to win all 19. The focus needs to be on winning series. Take 2 of 3 the rest of the way, and you've given yourself a shot. Also, I'd rather lose meaningful games than win meaningless ones.