brwrsfan

As far as Axford goes, yes, it's good to get the win and have your closer in....but we still play the Cardinals 9 times in the next month or so and I just don't like giving the Cardinals players more at bats against Axford than necessary. The theory being that the more you see a guy, the more comfortable you get and more likely you eventually are to have success. Probably doesn't make much difference, but in a 5 run game, we probably could have spared Axford. That's not really the point though, the fact is that IMO Dillard has no place on the roster. We have 5 very good starters and several good bullpen options, that we don't need 12 guys in the pen. You could always bring him back up if you needed to, but if a guy is seldom going to be used, I'd rather it be a guy on the bench, even if he can't really play the field. At least he would have a purpose and play more than once a month. It's also to the point now that when Dillard does finally get into a game, he's likely to struggle as he can't possibly be anything close to sharp at this point.

Anyone else wondering this? He's the 12th man on the staff, so I know he isn't going to pitch much but this is getting somewhat silly. He could have been used in the 9th today with a 5 run lead, but we brought in Axford. So we clearly don't trust him in close games or blowouts. He pitched in a game on June 29th, then another one on July 18th....and nothing since. That's 2 games pitched in over a month. He's clearly not needed on the roster at this point in time. I think he can be useful, but they're just not using him. If he's only going to pitch once a month, why not send him down? I have a very hard time believing his roster spot wouldn't be better served with another position player....pretty much anybody. They could have left Caroll or Ferris up for defense, maybe bring up Gamel/Green for their bats or maybe even carry a third catcher. I just don't get it. It's basically like playing with 24 guys for over a month.

Now that I'm home and can look at it closer, I stand by my statement. Josh Wilson has gotten exactly 6 at bats and 1 start since July 18th. He has not had an at bat since July 24th. During that time Counsell and his 0-45 slump has gotten 13 at bats, and 3 starts. Lopez meanwhile has started every game since he got here. Lopez has been playing and should be starting. If you haven't given a guy an at bat in over a week, I find it very, very strange that today would be the day you decide to start him, against the Cardinals in a relatively big game, and not this past weekend or the weekend upcoming against a crappy Houston team. Wilson is clearly the last position player on the roster, on a bench that is very below average in my opinion. Starting him does seem to resemble a "JV" lineup in my mind. I would also make the argument that Hairston at 2b and Morgan in CF would also be an option (even with Morgan's struggles against LHP). Morgan (and his defense in CF) vs Wilson at 2b....I'm not sure who wins that argument but that's for another day.

So putting any of our other options at 2B makes that big of difference? Who do you want? Counsell or Lopez? And seeing there are mostly regulars in there I am baffled at the JV comment. Guess you are one of the JSonline guys mentioned in the other post. I take serious offense to that. Anytime you're playing a guy that hasn't started in 2 weeks it's not exactly your best lineup. Throw in the fact that Morgan can't hit lefties, and CF is going to be a downgrade. Personally, I feel that Lopez is a better option than Wilson (though Lopez isn't as good right handed). If you wanted to give Wilson a start, it should have been Sunday instead of Craig Counsell. So yeah, you have 2 backups playing, and a regular in Casey McGehee who should be a backup, and I think the lineup sucks. The bottom of the lineup leaves much to be desired. Maybe JV wasn't the right comment, but it's definitely not a great lineup. That's just the way it is against lefties. Please do not assume that because of ONE comment that I'm some sort of illiterate baseball fan that posts stupid comments on the JSO blog and only casually watches baseball and can't figure out why Morgan isn't playing. I've watched virtually every inning of every Brewers game for the last 2 years, and I understand that sometimes these things need to happen and bench guys need to play, I just don't like the fact that our roster is constructed in a way that this is our only option, nor do I like that we're having to do it against the team currently in second place. And to ultimately answer your question, I would much rather Lopez start at 2b, batting right handed and all, than Josh Wilson. That's just my thoughts. I don't think very highly of either, but I think Lopez is a better option at this point.

It just seems like an odd time to put Wilson into the lineup. He doesn't play for 2 weeks, then you use him today, in a lineup that already doesn't have Morgan due to the lefty on the mound. This is like half a JV team.

Heading to the game tonight, hoping for win #8. I'm somewhat nervous about this one, if we can somehow take one of the next 2 games, that ensures a 3.5 game lead entering the weekend. And I would love to see that. I'm starting to hate the Cardinals more than the Cubs, so a win would be oh so sweet to see. And if we could, for once, have an offensive outburst of 10+ runs and just hammer them that would be nice. My heart can't take all these close games. The power stroke can return tonight!

http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l511/brwrsfan/image.jpg

Yeah, I couldn't go but it's the only one missing from my SGA collection. Still looking to buy one if anyone is looking to sell.

For a team that has won all of ONE division title in 30 years, I don't think it's too early. Is it wrong to be excited about it? If it was so early, why does CBSsports have the magic/elimination number on their standings? Because people want to know.....

When you can't consistently score more than 3 runs a game and your entire starting rotation has an ERA almost a run or more better than their career averages, you're setup for a downfall at some point. They made the moves to get Lee and Ludwick but that was more window dressing in my opinion. Neither is really all that great of an upgrade. It shows the fans that they're "going for it" but I just don't see it this year. In a couple years, when the young talent develops, then watch out. But this year I think they should just try to not finish below .500. I really can't see them passing both the Cardinals and Brewers at this point.

The water was pretty deep, deep enough that I never touched the bottom of it after hitting the water. I didn't see anyone dive into it, though I did see some people doing flips and cannonballs and stuff. I have a bit of a hard time with heights, so I just jumped in - nothing special. As far as the shirts go, those certainly aren't required. We just got them made to feel more like a team I guess. I would say at least 75% of the groups of 6-10 or larger had some sort of shirt or outfit that they were wearing together. I washed/bleached that shirt like 8 times and the best I can do is get it to be light tan colored, kinda funny.

I don't think it's ever too early. I find it fun to think about actually. Even if the number is 50....there's still a valid number there to shoot for. I like tracking it, that's just me though I guess.

Braves lost again tonight, pulls us within 2 of them at this point. The WC is still possibly an option if we don't get the division.

Uh....so we put in JHJ as a defensive replacement...the pitchers spot is due up in the bottom of the 8th, wouldn't that have been a pretty much PERFECT spot for a double switch? Even if Hawkins gets out of this inning, that still was poor management in my opinion. K-Rod was up and ready, might as well put him in. Scoring 1 run shouldn't make a difference in a game like this.

Not sure on Hawkins in here. Great start to the inning too. Let's go Hawk...get tough!!

Counsell first man off the bench. Really RR? REALLY?? He's only in an 0-45 slump and should literally be the last man used. Nope, let's put him in first.

I hate having Lopez batting 5th. There is just no power in that spot in the lineup, and that is a prime RBI spot. Switch Hart and Lopez, even if Hart doesn't like it. He is the third biggest power threat in the lineup and should not be batting leadoff.

Since we're sort of on the Carpenter/son comment...how exactly did he explain Matt Holliday's super dirty slide into second base on Saturday? Just blatantly went way out of the base line (he had to be 4-5 to the outfield side of 2b), spikes first and tried to drill Castro, who was lucky to avoid injury on the play. Making it worse, the umpire didn't even make the right call and rule interference.

Yes, I would agree we don't want to face Philly in the first round, but we're getting a tad ahead of ourselves at this point I think. Gotta get there first. I also don't think it's 100% that Atlanta gets the WC. They're the favorite at this point, but they're only 3 up on the Brewers (should we not win the division) and only 3.5-4 up on Arizona. Atlanta has really struggled to score runs this year (though Bourn should help) but any team that can't score could possibly be setup for a losing skid. One long one at this time of year could really let a lot of teams back in it. If the WC were to go to Arizona or Milwaukee/St Louis, we might be able to avoid the Phillies in the first round. So to me, it's too far out to worry about this until we actually have a playoff spot secured, there are just too many games and too many variables to consider when you still have 1/3 of the season to go.

What are the chances we call up Peralta to start that double header game?

I agree on K-Rod. He's given up runs twice. Once Prince totally botched a ball right at him that somehow went for a hit, then he gave up 2 runs while 2 were out. Yesterday the Astros had one weak groundball for a hit and scored on a wild pitch. I wouldn't say he pitched poorly either time and I'm stoked to have him as our 8th inning guy.

All we really have to do is avoid getting swept (winning 2 is great) but as long as we win just 1 game, we'll stay 1.5 games out in front. Not give them any huge momentum or anything like that either.

If Counsell is going to remain in the roster, he should almost never get any at bats at this point unless he comes up in a route, or in an extra inning game and we're out of players. If they want him for his defense, that's fine, then only put him in as a defensive replacement (though I'm not sure I even buy this), but he shouldn't be starting any more or getting any meaningful at bats at this point. Of the guys on our bench, he should be last in line. As mentioned above, I'd actually rather have Yo or Greinke PH before Counsell at this point.

I'm not saying it's plausible, but they do have a super easy schedule going forward and could make a run.

I know they are currently 6.5 back, but is everyone completely ruling out the Reds at this point? I thought we could bury them over the weekend, but they swept the Giants and have a pretty favorable schedule the rest of the way. 6.5 is a lot of ground, but not impossible. Here is what they have left: August: 3 @ Houston 3 @ Cubs 4 vs Rockies 3 vs Padres 3 @ Nationals 3 @ Pirates 3 @ Florida 3 vs Nationals 3 vs Phillies Lots of road games there, but only 6 games against teams currently over .500 (Pirates and Phillies). Granted, the Reds are 2 games under .500 right now themselves. September isn't much more difficult: 1 vs Phillies 3 @ Cardinals 3 @ Cubs 3 @ Rockies 4 vs Cubs 3 vs Brewers 3 vs Astros 3 @ Pirates 3 @ Mets More winning teams there, but also 10 games against Cubs/Astros. They only have 3 left each against Milwaukee and St Louis, that probably works to their advantage considering that the Brewers/Cards have 12 left, so one of them is going to lose and give the Reds a chance to gain. Thoughts?