Ron Robinsons Beard

Who's advocating punting today?

It would also be reasonable to go Perez at 2b and Shaw at 3b. Finding a way to get Santana in the lineup is more wishful thinking on my end...I would be surprised if it actually happens. Hernan looked pretty solid at the plate against Kershaw on Friday. I would bet he gets the start at 2B as well. I agree that they seem to dig Moose's defense at 3B, so he probably starts again. It seems like it's been awhile since Shaw has played 3B. I would bet he's the first man in on a double switch this afternoon, though.

Domingo is certainly helping his case for a big role on next year's team. Or perhaps as a trade candidate if the team decides to go that route. But right now the role he's in is very valuable, and he's performing in it. That is really awesome to see.

Especially in LA. That outfield is huge. Need him to be able to run them down out there.

According to multiple Twitter reports, Zach Davies, Chase Anderson, Jordan Lyles and ... get this .... Matt Albers (!!!) are with the team in Los Angeles, so it will likely be one of the four. While I fully expect them to activate either Davies or Anderson, Lyles was actually really good out of the pen after he was acquired. I see no scenario where Albers is activated, unless they somehow think he's found something and are keeping it extremely under wraps. I don't know who I'm pulling for. I think Andeson has a little better stuff, but the HR troubles scare me against such a powerful lineup. He would be pitching with a pretty huge chip on his shoulder, though. Davies has a good history against the Dodgers.

I think they probably know that there's about a 99% chance that Machado won't be there next year (as Seeger will be back from injury), and they all want to win. If he does something stupid enough to get suspended or tossed from a game, they'll be mad. Otherwise I doubt they are even thinking about it.

There you go ... just keep walking towards the light.

uhhh... what? Basically he isn't optimistic regardless. haha Because Kershaw was bad on Friday, he's going to be lights out today. But if Kershaw had been lights out on Friday, he's going to be lights out today. It's the MLB version of the Da Vinci Code LOL

And that's all its gonna take! 1-0, (W) Miley 6 IP, 4 H, 4 Ks; (H) Woodruff 2 IP, 1 H, 3 Ks; (S) Jeffress 1 IP, 0 H, 2 Ks

As a Brewer fan, that game was tough to handle. But as a baseball fan? Wow! Neither team's pitching staff cracked. It was one of those games where it was just unfortunate one team had to lose.

Cool. We're all here for the Brewers. I'm sure this has some background in when I first came here and was rude. This forum is very different from most of other forums and it took me a few weeks to understand what's appropriate here. But I think you tend to assume that every stated opinion is an absolute, which is not always the case just because someone didn't qualify it with a disclaimer. Can't assume tone on a message board. I've lived in NYC for 11 years and I've definitely become more direct, but it's still about debating opinions and not debating posters for me. You are 100% correct, and it's very obvious that you are a passionate fan and have a lot of knowledge about the Brewers and baseball in general. We all need to remember at times that there are very few absolutes in baseball. I am very guilty of that.

Counsell named Miley the starter today a few days ago. I guess they could make a change, but I'm sure he's been going through his routine like he's starting today. I don't know if it would be smart to mess with that.

Woodruff is also ready to roll, and I expect him to take the middle innings. It is also likely a multi-inning pitcher will be activated to take Gonzalez's spot. While the pen availability isn't ideal, I think they are fine.

I hear ya. So much of it is heat of the moment stuff. I can certainly do better. I think it's just the absolutes that tend to get me engaged. And every time I have "hot taked" something that was wrong, I have owned it and admitted it. I guess it would just be nice to see a little more of that on this board. But pride is a tough thing to overcome. At the end of the day, it's a fan message board. No matter how much you come off as saying something is the wrong decision or won't happen, you are a fan, and therefore what you are saying is likely an implied opinion. Sometimes its just tough to have to read between the lines to understand that perspective.

Wow man ... I know you are down after game 4, but geez. Can you please lighten up on the pessimism? The series is tied 2-2. I don't see a lot of reason for optimism at that moment. It is tied 2-2 and really should be a 4-0 sweep or at worst 3-1. We threw every arm in a 13 inning loss and wasted a brilliant performance from Guerra who now cannot be used today if needed, along with Peralta, Hader and you'd have to think Knebel. Our offense was flat-out embarrassing and now has to face three studs with one loss to give. I'd rather drop an 8-2 fart than do what we did last night. This series has been immensely frustrating to watch. If we lose it, I'm not going to have that "Aw shucks, heck of a season, boys!" attitude. I'll spend all winter thinking about how we really should have won it. That is the difference. Last night was anemic but I am really getting sick of watching Aguilar hack with 2 strikes. Feels like I am watching a gif loop. Well Guerra and Peralta have been in mothballs for the most part since the start of the NLDS, so that really isn't a huge negative. They were both phenomenal last night, though. That was great to see. I agree that Hader is likely down, but Knebel has one of those late inning reliever rubber arms, and 18 pitches isn't a huge workload for him. If they need him today, I'm sure he'll be there. I will say that the pessimistic part of me agrees with a lot of what you are saying, though. It just sucks to see that you've lost so much hope that you are willing to write a post declaring the season over. All of us have pessimistic thoughts. It's part of being a fan. I hope I don't get to the point you're at. They gotta figure out something on offense. All year this offense has run through Cain and Yelich, so I guess it shouldn't be surprising that runs are hard to come by considering how bad they've been.

How long has it been since Braun played 1B though? I don't see that as an option. If you start Santana, it means you bench Cain, Yelich or Braun. In quite possibly what is going to be the biggest game this team has played to date (Game 163 withstanding). I just can't see that happening. While Cain is probably the one who could use a breather the most, you are making a pretty big downgrade defensively playing Yelich in CF. In that cavernous ballpark, I want Cain there.

Do you give him a start, or just make him another multi-inning pen option?

I really like your perspective on this. We are tied 2-2. Against the LA Dodgers. In the NLCS. The pitching has been otherworldly good. I was beside myself after the game last night, and didn't wake up feeling much better about it this morning. But you know what ... today is a new day, and now it's a 3-game series this team has to take 2 of. The odds are surely not insurmountable by any means.

Yeah, you're probably right. This offense sure could use a shot in the arm, though I just don't know who that would be.

So, do you think they go the safe route and call up someone like Davies, Anderson or Lyles? Or do they call up a bat t try to inject some life into the offense? From what I've read, it appears that they could pretty much call up anyone in their minor league system to take that spot. i'm guessing it will be Davies, but a bat the Dodgers haven't seen would be fun.

You can’t blame anyone for being negative. Our regular season stars fell hard. Well Schoop was Schoop so there’s that. I totally get being negative. That game was the ultimate gut punch. But to declare the series over? Or that the Brewers don't stand a chance? I think that's over the top.

7 a.m. central, and it already is!

Win 2 of the next 3, and manage to keep him off the bases a few times, and that is the perfect retaliation.

Wow man ... I know you are down after game 4, but geez. Can you please lighten up on the pessimism? The series is tied 2-2.

So we have already lost this one and game five? Whew. Guess I’ll go to bed then. Likely, yes. Not as if I'm thrilled to say that. Uh, then don't say it