This was definitely a frustrating game. I was glad to see us crawl within one after we looked dead in the water at 7-1, but it is still a disappointing start to the road trip.
I'm with you on the Cubs fans, And That. And I was shocked to see JJ's BA was back under .300. It didn't seem like he had been doing that poorly, but you may be right. As for people calling bad things to happen, when bad things happen enough, people expect them. If Ned leaving a pitcher in one or two batters too long costs us 10 games over his tenure, people expect it after that. If we have runners on second and third and fail to score them enough times, people will stop being excited about it and expect us to fail. It is just the same as how people expect Brett Favre to make that miracle 4th quarter comeback because he has done it so many times, or they expect Bill Hall to get the game winning hit because he's done that more than a few times in his career. I realize people's expectations many times are 'statistically implausible', but that doesn't change them, lol.
In many ways, I hope you aren't right, but I can definitely see your point. We can't assume the Central will be as weak as it is this year next year, and to squander the start we had would be very disappointing. It is apparent we've gotten away from many of the things we'd been doing so well early in the season such as situational hitting, and that has come back to bite us recently, along with the fact we're a 4 man bullpen because Spurling nor Capellan can currently be trusted to take high stress innings, and because Shouse has been struggling to get outs recently against LHB, although his season stats are still fairly decent against them.
I am amused by how tall Tennessee's starting pitcher is compared to everyone else on her team--that and the fact she's left handed. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif Maybe she would make a better LOOGY than Brian Shouse. I don't mind that the same person starts almost every game. If they are that good, let them.
They made me a believer in Ryan Braun, because I figured he couldn't do any worse than they were. lol That is why I almost fell out of my chair when they said "big bat" and "Mench" in the same sentence.
I'd say out, because the pitcher is entitled to getting the ball just as much as the runner is entitled to the line, so if they collide the runner is out.
That's a way to get back near .200, Tony! I wish you hadn't made the third out, but I'll take what I can get at this point http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I hope we lay an 8 or a 9 spot on Wes, but I can't be the only one concerned about how by just looking at the pitching matchup this appears to be an easy W for us.
Good job Dave. Lets go, Gabe. And they pitched to Orr instead of the pitcher's spot because most of the guys on Atlanta's bench are better hitters than Orr.
I like that lineup, it is a lot less scary than I'd feared it would be a day game after a night game. I'm glad Hart is getting more playing time once again.