Klements Bratwurst

Doug Melvin was in attendence for this series, sitting right behind the dugout watching Ned Yost closely do the following in today's 7-4 loss to the Pirates: Not pinch run Damien Miller in the top of the 7th right before Joe Dillon's double to left, with Mel Stocker stretching in the dugout Hit Bill Hall with 1 out and a runner at first and third in the 8th with two doubles plays already on his scorecard. Hit Jenkins against the lefthander Grabow with the bases loaded and two out in the same 8th inning when Estrada could have hit from the right side. Put Turnbow in the game again in the 8th inning (never any other inning) in another high leverage situation, on zero days rest. Allow Turnbow to pitch to another batter after walking one guy knowing he has had a lot of work lately. Allow Turnbow to pitch to another batter after walking his second guy in a row. Thanks Doug for buying a ticket to this game and observing your manager and team closely!!! You've got the players, buy you have to decide on the manager.

I hate the fact that Ned Yost insists on Turnbow being his 8th inning guy. Why? Linebrink was pretty effective in that role in San Diego. Why every game? Why does Ned wait until the floodgates open for Turnbow before he makes a move. Two walks would have been too late in my opinion, especially in September in a close game.

All the more better to rise from the dead after the third day. Resurrection would be the sweetest thing! Go Crew!

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Juan Rivera anyone? I saw this mentioned on another thread. Could he be obtained for something cheaper due to the broken leg injury in March? He had a decent OBP 2 of his 3 years, not to mention the 25 plus bombs last year. However, Abreu or Rowand would be real nice guys to have in the 2 hole in front of Braun and Prince.

Regarding Capuano, he has had 2.5 years of good numbers before this terrible year. With that said, Jason Marquis fetched 21 million over 3 years after posting his WORST season ever in 2006 with a 6+ ERA. Because of the shallow depths of adequate MLB starting pitching, Capuano still has decent trade potential, if not he warrants a chance at a spot as the #5 Starter next year. Plus if he comes back next year (ala Marquis) that can only be a plus. So to recap, Capuano is decent trade bait or another option for the backend of the rotation in 2008. The team will not be rebuilding. Just needs some tinkering around the edges, but adding some relief help and a solid, veteran, righthanded, thumping corner outfielder might just do the trick. What we need to do now is for Melvin to make a Carlos Lee like trade (if possible) and bring in a "arby" stud bat that is one or two years from becoming a free agent, to give us time to fill the corner spot until some more help comes from the minors in Laporta or Cain, et. al.

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Series Finale- Nice. I was hoping that the sports media/talk shows would be struggling with who to cover in September. Sadly, it won't be J.J. Hardy and his .592 OPS (or whatever it is since May) but rather the rotating going on in the Packer backfield.

John Briggs, I was wondering that too. I really think Ned has lost this team. Sometimes, after a few years of a player-coach relationship, this happens. ----- Continued here: viewtopic.php?f=63&t=30472

So I am officially the laughing stock of my family and friends who I tried to convince that this Brewers team, with all of our prospects, is different than Brewers teams of the past. 1) I told them that they have studs at every position in the infield when Ryan Braun came up. 2) I told them that our pitching staff has the makings of a top 5 staff in the NL. 3) I told them that this team is different in that they CAN win on the road, and you won't see a complete July-August fade. 4) I told them that the backend of the bullpen is much deeper than last year and can switch things up if one guy or two struggles. 5) I told them we don't have Grissom in center, Vanderwal in Right, and a injured Jenkins replacement in left, anymore. 6) I told them that we are above league average offensively at almost all offensive positions especially when Ryan Braun arrives. 7) I told them that all the young players have matured another year and that they are ready to run for the post season 8) I told them the 24-10 start was great, and this team was capable of at least playing .500 ball the rest of the way and could easily finish 88-74. 9) I told them that Ben Sheets isn't injury prone, but his back injury was one injury that spanned late one year and into the next and no injury would occur. 10). I told them that even with the struggles in May and recently, these players will get back to their career norms as to what is on the back of their baseball cards and a good run to the finish will happen. Well who looks foolish now? This team is pitiful. I traveled to Cincinnati with my wife and two kids (2 and 8 months) for 4 games last month to watch this (expletive) play. Javier Valentin beating us two days in the series.... Bases loaded nobody out, no runs scored.....AAAA lineups trotted out there by Ned......Cordero blowing wins......Balfour doing what Balfour does..... At least I can say, I was there to see Ned Yost and company jump on for the start of the rocket ship to mediocrity!! One other thing I can say is I never said to any of my family and friends that Ned Yost is a great manager that will take this team to the playoffs. That could be my out!!! Trying to stay positive. Brewerfan forever, but man this pennant race is not real rosey.

To make this road trip woes even worse, we got beat last night who pitched with a broken leg, per Uecker. Hirsh broke a bone on J.J's smash in the early going yesterday. I thought losing to an 0-10 pitcher in St. Louis was bad???

2 balls smashed by Brewer batters, but somehow, again, we have 2-outs? I think we deserve these scores in the Houston series in the Brewers favor: 15-3 10-2 14-4 3-3 roadtrip. Oops, should I also say the Brewers deserve to win today? Ok Brewers 2, Rockies, 1. 4-2 roadtrip. I wouldn't put money down in Vegas on that!

Nice picture indeed, but except for what is on her shirt! Oh well can't be perfect!! Lets go Crew. Stop this madness!!!

I would second this, because we could still have Yo in the bullpen resting his arm and not running out of innings to throw in 2007. I am afraid we will be Yo-less in September when Sheets returns and that is a big loss.

A .269 OBP for Hardy since the AS Break is really making him the poster boy for the offensive troubles. If Hart doesn't get on, JJ's is an almost automatic out and then Braun hits another solo homer. 1-0. I have seen that too much lately. I really was hoping that after that Saturday night game against Cole Hamels (2 RBI Double), JJ would start to bust out a bit. I would say the law of averages must turn around for him. Coco too, but what scares me with him, is that he saved sooo many games early on where he got lucky that the law of averages are turning on him too. I still feel he won't go Turnbow on us. That was the most awesome display of "losing it" that I have ever seen. I don't care to see that again.

It is truly amazing (as it has been discussed in other threads) how much J.J. has dropped off since May. He has barely hit a lick. Small samples surely apply, interesting to say the least. I am hoping that J.J. gets hot down the stretch to kind of even out some of the sub-par performances we are getting from him. Coco I am afraid is tired. I think he will blow his share of leads going forward, but hopefully nothing like Turnbow of last year. It would be nice to use Linebrink every once in awhile in a save situation. Fielder, hits homers in bunches, and it appears he is starting to ramp up a bit. Go get him-big boy!! Sheets, hopefully will be well rested. It is a shame, I really thought he could have won 18 games or more this year. A strong Sheets for September can only be a plus.

The funniest thing I read on the "Inside the Ivy" boards about this injury went something like this, "Hopefully Pie can come up for the third time now, and figure it out and be our Ryan Braun now." I had to laugh at that one. With that said, it is a tough break to lose Soriano, but I know many Cubs fans who celebrated being in first place when Ben Sheets went on the DL. I say win often and bury them now!!! It is really a critical juncture in the season now. We have to start winning on the road beginning with this road trip. Then it gets tougher during that 9 gamer at the end of the month that goes through the "Friendly Dump" on the north side of Chicago.

This is a great thread. It is nice to have it recapped. The Brewers have lost 4 games with at least of 5-0 lead this year. Amazingly tough to swallow!! Those should be wins 99% of the time. At least they should have won 3 of those 4 and we would be out to a 4-5 game lead on the Cubs. CoCo has been there for 5 of the "top 10" blowups too, and he was also there for all four of the games in which I referenced the Crew having at least a 5-0 lead. The silver lining is that as pointed out, the Cubs have had there share of problems. Now to pick on the other division winners, what do they look like? Mets? Diamondbacks? Good stuff..

From what I just read on mlbtraderumors.com, Gagne cannot veto a trade to the Brewers. Also for what it is worth, I was listen to Drew Olson's show on 1510AM and at about 11:45AM all the hosts (Needles, Olson, Johnson) all received a blank email from the Brewers in a Press release format. Maybe the IT department or the PR department getting ready for a major news release???? Grabbing for a straw right now.....

I don't think Weeks is going anywhere. Trading him low would be criminally insane, which Melvin isn't.

So if we are speculating that the plan of action is: Brewers trade Gywnn & a nugget to Texas for Gagne. Then: Brewers trade Turnbow to Whitesox for Dye. I am for that in a heartbeat.

While I respect your opinion, I still wouldn't trade Dave Bush. He has some upside and he has been at least our second best consistent starter over the past couple months. If we did this we would weaken our rotation too much and make the bullpen stronger, which in my eyes is not a gain. Bushy had a 3.51 ERA in June and mid 4 ERA in July all better than his 5-6 ERA performances from April and May. Dave Bush Game Log

I would love a swap of Okijima for Turnbow. Wouldn't Okijima be under Brewer control for a couple of years? I don't think this would happen but he could be our future closer if he would be under Brewer control. Not to mention, our bullpen would be nasty this year down the stretch, assuming Cordero has better luck and pitches better on the road.

Attending my fourth game of the series today and after last nights lineup I felt like sending ned my travel expenses as I didn't travel 400+ miles to see three of our best players sitting so ned could play his gritty veterans. With that said, todays lineup is better, but I really think we needed the "A" lineup. In the right field corner today with the family. I hope to not see Griffey rob 3-4 runs with his glove-again!!! We need this one!!!!!!

My prediction form section 402 of GABP: Weeks goes 3 for 4 with his first homer since April 30th. Belisle goes 4 innings, Brewers walk away with an easy 8-2 win. Balfour gets demoted to AAA with Gwynn after game.