Jim French Stepstool
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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool
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He did want it down. Both, really. I just like him going up, not in the zone but above it, on 0-2---especially the first time when there was no one on. I didn't see the article; it would explain the location, or attempted location.
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It is. But when you're 0-2 & you throw the FB, for crying out loud go up top. The first one was too hittable, the second WAAAYY to hittable.
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Yeah. But really, with a 2-run lead & no one on you can't walk a guy in ANY spot in the order. It turns out to be a nitpick cuz you won the game, but going 3-1 then 3-0 to the first two hitters is something you gotta clean up.
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I'd love to see him in a "RH Ashby" type role. But I suspect the recent off days have something to do with this. Someone would have to step forward, get healthy, whatever. One can always hope.
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That was an odd 8th for Megill. I say that because the ball seemed to be coming out of his hand really well, but he was hurt by getting too much of the plate on a couple of 0-2 pitches. Usually his issues have to do with other stuff. Now the spiked wild pitch, THAT looked like an element of a struggling inning for him. But like I said, threw the ball well. David Hamiltons' main asset came to the forefront in that 5-run inning. He bunted, but it wasn't a good bunt--way too hard. Waldron absolutely did the right thing on a bunt like that---looked at 2nd/3rd to see if he had a play there. Maybe a bit of hesitation, but not enough to keep from getting the runner at 1B. Except he didn't get him. The way that guy gets from 0-60 is just incredible. Is it fair to say that Mitchell has had maybe 3-4 plays this year that weren't made, that were tough plays but ones that most CFs make? he DID put up a great piece of hitting in the 4th to sandwich in among the obligatory Ks. Very similar outing for Sproat to his last time out, but a little more length. Baby steps. Well done.
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Possibly. We'll see. BTW, check out Perkins' numbers vs LHP this season. I think you'll be surprised. If he plays a lot vs RHP no, that wouldn't be a good idea.
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He sure can. And Mitchell & Frelick can play it better. And there are people on the roster who are better CFs than Chourio. What that all means is that you'll probably see Bauers in the OF some, but it weakens you defensively, most likely at two spots. And anyone who's followed this team knows they're reluctant to do that, and that reluctance usually pays off. @wiguy94said it best. On paper this isn't the best day to do it.
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Yes. Plus, the team has played five games since Vaughn came back. He's started four. And in the one game he didn't start, he PH. I don't see us lacking any attempt to 'find out' anything about Vaughn. As long as he's healthy he'll be out there plenty.
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If they maintain health in the OF, It might be tough for Baddoo cuz then he's in line with Perkins & Lockridge for pretty much one spot. Of course there may be health issues & you never know if Mitchell falls off the face of the earth, too. Bottom line, you need the organizational depth & I'm glad he's around.
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I had to look it up. In 1959 Pirates' reliever Elroy Face won 18 games while also finding the time to save ten. Apparently his arm didn't fall off as he lasted until 1969 with the expansion Montreal Expos.
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I'd say somewhat tempting. I've never been hot on Chourio playing CF. Not that he can't. I just feel more comfortable defensively with him in LF and a Mitchell, Lockridge, or Perkins in CF. Of course, one of those three is out, one is (oddly) having more success vs LHP & the third is also much better vs lefties. I'd bet we'll see it, maybe more than a time or two. Another ? is do we ever see Yelich in left, something I wouldn't advocate. Here's hoping Black continues to put up good ABs in Nashville. He may be needed later. Hell, last years' team needed Steward Berroa for a time.
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Looking forward to seeing the Brandon Sproat story continue to unfold. Pretty raw, but easy 99-100 can get you excited. Love the shape of the BP going into this series. You may want to give Ashby one more day but otherwise good to go. Yelich's return was sounding imminent. Anything new?
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I don't know if he has to pick it up NOW, or in the next two weeks or next month. I do know the swing & miss has to either lessen somewhat or at least be combined with more walks, which was happening earlier but not as often in recent weeks. Except for 2024 he's never gotten on the field more than sparingly, and maybe for the first time pitchers are getting somewhat of a book on him. Now it's time for him to 'adjust to the adjustments' so to speak. It starts with making opponents get the ball down, not chase upstairs. I think the leash is somewhat long, and given the time lost to injury it probably should be. At some point maybe Lockridge knocks harder & harder & breaks the door down, or Lara extends his #'s to the point where he can't be denied. But right now Mitchell is enough of a talent tease to continue to get ABs.
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You hear the refrain sometimes from announcers "The first two strikes are for you, the third one is for the team" (which I kinda hate). It seems as if he sometimes has that mindset, and yet at other times doesn't. Just a tough cat to figure out. Another thing that hurts is that he was drawing walks, and now it seems like that's dried up somewhat.
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That has to be the consensus from anyone who watches Mitchell with any regularity, really. Glad to see him staying healthy so far, but I swear the guy's like trying to predict the weather. In April. On the east side of Milwaukee.
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And two of the games started by rookies, who shook off rocky early innings to show mucho poise. Looks like the BP has been righted. Hopefully it can stay that way.
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Yep. I also defended him on here 2-3 years ago. Although I can't say I expected the HR pop.
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For the second game in a row, some really impressive poise from a young starter after an iffy beginning. Henderson locked in & finished strong. Had we had a cushion he could've even come out to start the 6th. If more of these starts can get through 5.2, 6 innings it's going to make a huge difference for a pen that's been superb lately even without starter length. Garrett Mitchell has another couple of ugly Ks, one on a FB down the middle looking. He also is up in a bunting situation, squares on the first pitch & takes it, again right down the middle. He also falls behind 0-2 in a key bases-loaded AB, then stays on the ball for a huge sac fly. Throw in a split about .100 pts higher in his BA-----higher vs LEFTIES. Garrett Mitchell is kinda fun to watch, but boy there's a lot of weirdness to his game. I get Sanchez having to give a break to Contreras, and Contreras DHing on those days. But on a day when Sanchez just isn't seeing the ball it really hamstrings you AFA hitting for him. Can't feel much better for anyone than I felt for Blake Perkins driving in a couple & affirming what the numbers say---that he's fine vs LHP. Also saved a run in the top of the 1st. Given the walkoff, Ashby is probably pissed that he didn't pitch the 9th.
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I'd LOVE to see Patrick stay in the pen. It'll take some combo of health (Woodruff; magic dust sprinkled on Priester) and/or a Crow or Gasser emerging. For now yeah, I think it was just an opportunity created by off days before & after this series.
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What really stands out to me are the obvious BP hiccups in the middle 'season'. I've brought it up before, but that's the stretch that included back-to-back games where we scored a total of thirteen runs---and lost both due to BP & defensive failures. Let's hope the BP ship has been righted for good. Drohan & Fitzpatrick's work is going to be key after the left side of the 'pen behind Ashby has taken the injury hit.
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Moving to his left as a RH thrower gave us a little edge there, might've made him rush a bit. But I agree, he's more than capable of shifting & getting more on the throw than he did.
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Gutsyyyyy......... I don't know what the reaction was on here when Perkins ran for Vaughn in the 7th, but I thought it was a gray-area type move. You're not a moron for doing it, and not a moron for letting Vaughn run either. Of course as luck would have it, it resulted in Perkins coming up vs a RHP.....ughhh. Welcome back to the pen, Chad Patrick. Hopefully he'll be able to stay there, but it might've just been a byproduct of the days off on Thursday & Monday. I'm sure Hill was thinking "I can't get two, so I'll get the lead runner". But wow. A bad decision & bad throw all in the same play is pretty rare at this level. Nice to survive a horrible 0-2 pitch by Ashby. Harrison is just a poised kid. Very impressed.
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Lockridge to IL…..Perkins recalled
Jim French Stepstool replied to markedman5's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
LOL pretty close in '26. And just over .600 in his career. Like I said, he should mostly (or totally) be playing vs LHP while here save for a defensive sub for a scarier LF'er like Black or Bauers. -
Lockridge to IL…..Perkins recalled
Jim French Stepstool replied to markedman5's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Yeah, you don't bring up a 21-yr-old OF & sit him. He DOES fit the Lockridge role in that he's hitting LHP extremely well, but that's far from an everyday role which is what you want him in right now. The way things have been sounding, Yelich may make it back before Lockridge & if he does it'll be an interesting decision btwn Perkins & Black. They don't seem to mind sliding Chourio to CF when needed, which could buy Black some extra time. -
Lockridge to IL…..Perkins recalled
Jim French Stepstool replied to markedman5's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Given the 40-man roster & options-remaining implications, this made sense. Also, from the 'I refuse to believe this' files, Perkins is hitting .263 this season vs LHP, with a .364 OBP & an OPS of .785. He's a career .255 hitter vs lefties, and that's who he'll be facing while Lockridge is out. I suspect he'll be in the lineup Tomorrow vs Rodan.
