BruisedCrew

Obviously not a “must win” game as far as getting in the playoffs, but there is no denying that this is a very pivotal game. A loss makes winning the division next to impossible and loses ground in the wild card race. But a win brings the division and first wild card spot closer with a big opportunity to pick up ground on somebody this week as the Cards play the Nats and Cubs.

I would not be expecting a big help from Woodruff right away. He’s going to need a couple of short outings to work back into game pitching shape, and it won’t be too surprising if he is rusty. I wonder if Counsell intends to use him as a one or two inning “opener” for his first outing. It might be better to find a low leverage spot or two for him first.

Are you sure that’s the rule? The applicable MLB rule says that a strike is a pitch that is “struck at by the batter and missed”. Just holding the bat out isn’t “striking at” the ball. Of course, the batter froze with a fastball heading right for his face. closecallsports.com has a write-up on it since there was an ejection on the play. Very good website to follow for all ejections and unusual plays. This writeup does cite the rules I was looking at. Maybe there is some kind or additional interpretation beyond the rules, but based just on these rules I would interpret that play as an HBP. I don’t think Culberson was trying to meet the ball with the bat, and he didn’t strike at the ball. He was trying to duck out of the way. Using the reasoning from the Lorenzen play involving the Brewers last year (linked in the closecalls item) this should have been a HBP. “No intent = No bunt”. If the umpire thought Culberson was trying to bunt at the ball, I strongly disagree. I wonder if the league will say anything about that, because that interpretation was pretty harsh. ETA- the first base umpire, the one who called it a strike after the Nat’s manager asked, said that it was a strike because Culberson “offered at the pitch”. That sounds to me like a different way of saying he “struck at” the ball. So, again, I think it was a terrible call.

No doubt that it was a strike. He never pulled the bat back, and ball only missed it by two inches. Not sure what he was doing. Almost like he froze, and didn't know what to do. Are you sure that’s the rule? The applicable MLB rule says that a strike is a pitch that is “struck at by the batter and missed”. Just holding the bat out isn’t “striking at” the ball. Of course, the batter froze with a fastball heading right for his face.

One of the worst calls you’ll ever see in the Nats-Braves game. Culberson squaring to bunt with runners on first and second and nobody out takes a fastball just under his right eye. As he’s being carted off the field, the umpire at first informs the Braves he called it a srrike, ruling that Culberson bunted at the ball, which he clearly didn’t. Talk about adding insult to injury.

I hate that the Cubs play the Cardinals in the final series of the season. I don't think the Cardinals are going to have anything to play for in that series. That highlights why the Brewers really need at least one this weekend or they are going to be in a real tough spot.

The Cubs going 8-2 on their current home stand is a real possibility. Then they go on the road...for 3 against the Pirates before they go to St.Louis.

I have sat behind the current netting and do not notice it at all. I don’t see how it could possibly be less distracting. Maybe sitting in the first few rows is a little different, but I haven’t sat there

I’m all in favor of extended netting. That’s all.

Are these games for the Cubs on the road? They have issues winning away from Wrigley. They have 3 in Pittsburgh and 3 in St. Louis to end the season, but their next 9 games, including 4 against the Cardinals are at home. The Cubs may have had trouble winning on the road, but I wouldn’t count on them losing too many against a Pirates team that is basically in the tank, even on the road. The Brewers remaining schedule isn’t as much easier than the Cubs’ schedule as folks are making it out to be. If the Brewers drop behind by as much as 3 games again, it’s going to be very tough to catch back up. 6 games on the road against the Reds and Rockies are going to be a lot tougher for the Brewers than the games against the Marlins. For starters (pun intended) the Reds have several starting pitchers who are capable of shutting the Brewers out for 6 innings or longer; they have done it before.

All things considered I think it's been a fairly cool headed GT. Some disappointment but no one is saying it is over. Re-read. People have understandably given up on this game, but I haven’t seen anyone say that there is no hope for making the playoffs. What I’m most POd about tonight is that my fantasy team, which was in decent shape to finish in first place is going down the drain because of the injuries to Yelich and Trout, and having Goldschmidt on this week’s opponent looks like the final nail.

Saving guys who might get a hit for later?

Expecting help from the Pirates is not a good idea. The Brewers just have to match the Cubs with a sweep over the Bucs next weekend. The Cubs have 3 more against the Pirates in Pittsburgh the last week of the season, so if the Brewers are looking for help it’s probably going to have to come from the Cardinals. Can’t count on the Cubs losing many against the Pirates or Reds.

Walk to Lester and a Rizzo slam and it’s 10-4 in the 3rd. And I won’t be watching anymore.

Or 12-4.

Brault has pitched well in 4 starts against the Brewers this year. He is after all a lefty. He hasn’t gone more than 5 innings in any of those starts and only gives up a run or two per start. But, his record against the Brewers is 0-0, and the Brewers have won all 4 of the games he’s started. A classic example of why W-L record against LH and RH starters may not be a good measure of the Brewers troubles against lefties.

Another 2 run HR. Updated projected final: Cubs 120 (5 runs per out), Pirates 36 (4 runs per inning).

Pirates not likely to lead after 1. 2 HRs and a double and it’s 4-3 with just one out. Projected final: Cubs 72, Pirates 36.

Cubs off to a humorous start. With Reynolds on first in the top of the first, Reynolds takes off on a 3-2 pitch. The pitch is ball 4 but Contreras throws the ball into center field and Reynolds continues on to third. Then the CF throw back in gets away and Reynolds comes around to score. So, a quick run for the Pirates on a windy day where it might take 10 to win.

My guess is you will not see Hiura in the lineup until after the road trip. Maybe, possibly a PH appearance in this series, but no, not in the lineup. Things could change but Counsell said explicitly on Wednesday that Hiura would not be playing in the field until at least next week's home stand. He called removing him from the IL more of a clerical move because there is no roster reason to leave him there. So, conceivably, he could pinch hit in an emergency, but then you have to make sure he doesn't hurt himself straining to beat out an infield grounder.

Comparing Yelich’s full season stats to last year’s kind of misses how or why he won last year. At the All Star break last year, Yelich was having an excellent season but probably wouldn’t have been in the top 10, or at least not top 5, in MVP consideration. And I really don’t think it was until even late August or early September that he started getting noticed as a top contender. Before then, Baez was the sexy choice because people could bundle up his numbers in just the right way to say that not even Willie Mays has his combination of stolen bases and triples. Plus, the national media gushed over him every time he tagged out a runner trying to steal a base or made a play in the field of the type we often see Arcia make. But once Yelich started to get attention, he just kept pouring it on with clutch home runs, two cycles, etc. while leading the Brewers to an improbable division title. In one month he went from fringe contender to runaway (should have been unanimous) winner. Without the September spotlight, and without numbers head and shoulders better than anyone else, I don’t see him winning. (Disclaimer, this is my opinion, not a statement of fact). I won’t be surprised if he gets a lot of second place votes, and he might even finish second. But, I really don’t care. He is undeniably the Brewers MVP, and combined with his overall demeanor on and off the field, there is nobody in the NL I would even consider trading for him, including Bellinger or Acuna (who I think will be second) or Rendon, who could also finish ahead of Yelich. BTW, for what it’s worth, I am in a Yahoo Fantasy league and they rate players on their fantasy value, using some unknown formula. As of today, Yelich is number 1 and Trout is number 2. I am fortunate to have both of them on my team as a result of picking them up early in their careers and having them as keepers. Having them both out with injuries now is probably going to cost me my league title.

I’ve never understood why some people get so bent out of shape about how others express their opinions or frustration about what’s going on with the Brewers or any team. As long as someone isn’t harping on the same thing multiple times a day, those comments are easy enough to ignore. It also should be obvious that a lot of things posted out of frustration should not be taken so literally or so seriously. I know that when I say, “the Brewers aren’t making the playoffs this year” it’s a shorter way of saying “the way the Brewers are playing they aren’t making the playoffs unless they turn something around dramatically and a lot of other things go their way.” I’m not apologizing for expressing my opinion more than once that the Brewers weren’t playing like a playoff team and weren’t likely to make the playoffs. That was based on my expectation that it would take 90 wins to get even the second wild card spot, and that the Brewers seemed unlikely to get there. I couldn’t care less if some people get pleasure out of telling other people “ha ha, you were wrong” especially because most, if not all, of those people have been wrong about plenty of things themselves, whether it be about how the Brewers or other teams would perform, or about the manager, the general manager or specific players.

If they want any shot at the division, a sweep is ideal, but 2 of 3 is a must. Taking at least one game is essential to maintain WC striking distance. Agree, except for the last part. They could get swept and still be in good shape for WC. Heck, the way the Cubs are playing they could still be in the lead. Not that I want to find out, so let's not get swept ; ) The Cubs play home series against the Pirates and Reds before their 4 game home series with the Cardinals next weekend. They way the Cubs have played at home it wouldn’t be out of character for them to win 7 or 8 of those 10 games. A sweep by the Cards over the Brewers could be the start of falling 3 or 4 games behind again without much time to make it up.

The Cubs will have to go to their bullpen though But they’ll still be pitching to the Padres.

Rockies seventh: walk, DP, triple, K, no runs.