Jay Bruce is a ballplayer, but his team is lacking

Rounding the bases on home run #11

Jay Bruce is proving us right. The guy is an absolute monster of a ballplayer. It's a joy to see him hitting 3rd and in right field where he's belonged all along. He's on a roll similar, but not as torrid as; when he was first called up. Bruce hit a 2-run homer to dead center field off Jeff Suppan today, as well as doubled and drove in 3 runs in all. He also threw out Prince Fielder at home plate from deep right field. It was an absolute piss rope of a throw. He's a once in a lifetime ballplayer that can make us miss Josh Hamilton just a bit less, and there won't be many who ever come along for us to see that honestly could do that.

Now for the bad. Homer Bailey got beaten again, and although he didn't throw all that bad (we heard he hit 97 mph on the gun today), he still is winless on the season and just hasn't had the year we thought he should have.

Rick Weeks collected 4 hits. When Weeks gets 4 hits against your team, you know it's going to be a long day. The Brewers won their second in a row and take the series 2 out of 3 on Reds Community Fund Day at the ball park.

[Box Score]

No Jinx Tonight, unless for Brewers

We didn't jinx the Deal tonight, as he went opposite field off Manny Parra to take the game out of reach for the Brew Crew, in a 6-3 win for the Reds. Bunny Arroyo picks up his 10th win of the season. Bruce extends his streak to 8 games with the two run homer, his tenth of the season.

As part of a previously planned promotion, the Reds sold $5 tickets and $1 hot dogs to try to attract fans. They sold 24,706 tickets to see a fading team.

Prince Fielder lost some composure in the dugout, and it's the talk of all of baseball tonight. We saw it live on television, as Fielder bitchslapped Parra basically with a double-hand shove to the face, after a shove into the bench.

Honestly to us it looked like Parra was being a punk about being pulled from the game and throwing his pitching jacket and glove around when Fielder got upset. I think Fielder was upset that Parra was complaining and not supporting his teammates. That was our take.

[Box Score]

Milwaukee: How's your sweep?

We had to give a little mention tonight in the midst of all this trade deadline garble. There was an awfully big series going down the last few days in Milwaukee. They don't play many of those, and for good reason. When the series began, the Brewers were 1 game back and had the Cubs coming into their house for four long days of Bernie Brewer sliding into the beer mug and the Brewers preparing their victory parade for the NL Pennant.

Well the Cubs won again today in dominating fashion and swept the four game series. They're now 5 games up on the Brewers.

We were wrong about the Brewers. Man, were we wrong. The Cubs are the much better team, and it's their division. Brewer fan, you can go back to telling America you got the best brats and dogs in the country--whatever helps you sleep at night, because your ball club just came in and shit the bed for the biggest series you've had in over a decade and may have just given away their season. You gotta live with that, not us.

Lou's Crew vs. Brew Crew

Only 1 game seperates the best two teams from the NL and a 4 game series will decide a lot.

This is a big, big series. We've said all along that the Brewers would be there at the end, and we still feel they will. They've got the Cubs coming into their park, and it will be a packed house. This is one of the bigger series in Milwaukee that there's been in the last decade. The Brewers have all the makings of a team that can get to the World Series, if they can get by the Cubbies that is.

We're pulling for the Brewers to sweep the thing. In the end we think that the series will be split and nothing will be decided till the last week of september. If the Brewers get into the playoffs, we'll likely be pulling for them to go all the way. The Cubs on the other hand, eh.

The Brewers were thrilled for Corey Hart's All-Star Selection

Corey Hart is the only major leaguer who looks exactly like Chewbacca to ever be selected to an All-Star game.

Life is good for Corey Hart and Evan Longoria; All Stars

The final vote came in, and the final vote says that a man from Tampa and a man from Milwaukee have been voted into the All-Star game over players from New York (Jason Giambi and David Wright).

If you're a Rays fan, could you be any happier? Your team is in first place and your young star (who's locked up long term) just was selected to the All-Star Game during his rookie season. I could only wish the same thing for Jay Bruce and the Reds next season.

"He earned it," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He made a strong push in the last month. It's quite a testament to him."

As for Corey Hart and the Brewers, it's more of the same really. Brewers get C.C. Sabathia and have a new emerging core player in Hart headed to represent them in the game other than starter Ryan Braun. The Brewers are hot on the tails of the Cubbies and hold the top share in the Wildcard Race right now. They're one of the hottest organizations in baseball. It's good to be a Milwaukee fan.

And really, this vote shows the effect of the internet age. The trend right now is these two players/teams/cities. They excite the fans of the game, thus influencing those individuals to log on and vote in abundance because they want to see them play on the grandest stage. That's alright with us. Except we're a little jealous for our guys.

Of course we heard of that message board conspiracy theory between Rays fans and Milwaukee fans that went something like: 'you vote for our guy, we will vote for yours'. We don't buy it.

Indians Trade Sabathia to Brewers

The Cleveland Indians have risen the white flag, trading their ace C.C. Sabthia to the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal that involves top first base prospect Matt Laporta.

In the end, Sabathia's non-agreeance to a fair extension by the Indians was probably seen as a sign that he'd be flying the coop in the offseason when the Indians would lose him for nothing.

Look for Sabathia to make his big league debut tomorrow night in Milwaukee at Miller Park, and to push the Brewers into the playoffs. They're going to be a force now with Ben Sheets and Sabathia at the top of that rotation.

Despite a rumor started by a blogger; Ned Yost is hannnnging around

So we admit, we're a day late on this one but we wanted to see how it turned out before we devoted any bandwith space to it. Plus we were kind of worn out yesterday.

So this Badger Blogger says on late sunday night after the Brewers are swept in Beantown that Ned Yost will be relieved of his duties come monday (which was yesterday). We thought it could be true--getting leapfrogged by the Cincinnati Reds will bring these types of things to the forefront--but thought that Brewers GM Mark Attansio would exercise some patience.

Monday came and went, and the Yoster is still standing strong at the managerial post of the Milwaukee Brewers. The same Milwaukee Brewers that we picked to win the NL Central and go to the NLCS. They're 7.5 games out of first right now and their team leader Ryan Braun, fresh off signing an 8-year contract, let it be known that he is not happy.

You gotta hope that the Brewers weather the storm. Eh. Not really. Prince Fielder's season has been a bust and he was a lot of our rooting interest in the team. What a terrible first round pick in fantasy baseball.

Furthermore, I think that it's important to realize why some people resent bloggers and use this little anecdote as an example. Badger Blogger gets it's credibility shot to hell. If you aren't sure about a story, don't break it simply to get the hits. Not only are you screwing yourself and welcoming a flamewar; you're spoiling it for other bloggers. This provides ammunition for those who frown on the blogging community anyways to say that we blogger-types lack credibility. Shame on you, Badger Blogger.

Might as well call this a fuckin' cleaning day!

I get home from work to find that Yovani Gallardo is out for the season courtesy of a torn ACL. This coupled with the fact that Jorge Posada is on the DL and Troy Tulowitzski is out until the All-Star break has completely buried a well-built fantasy squad, one of the best I thought I'd ever assembled. I decided to make a couple drastic moves. I cut Troy T. and Yovani Gallardo.

I'd just like to thank these two men that I paid so very dearly for in my fantasy draft for their contributions they made to my team in the short time they were around. Everyone was loving these two especially when I picked them. I knew that it just didn't feel like a 'me' type of pick, you know. So Troy T, you little prick; thanks for the 1 HR and .150-something average. Thanks for being a bust, shitbag. I'll have the same amount of enjoyment every night watching Khalil Greene suck ass as I did you, except I didn't have to pay dearly for Khalil Greene. Anyone can have Khalil Greene.

Yovani, same goes to you; you son of a bitch. Three measley starts. You had to go and run your dumb ass into that Cubs player didn't you? Stupid fuck. Let your infielders make the plays for you next time.

Coming home to read this about Gallardo is like coming home and finding your wife fucking your annoying and anal retentive boss. It's that bad.

Baby Boy for the Win

[Box Score]

[Game Blog]

Prince Fielder was my pick to win NL MVP this season, and he's heating up. For the second time this week, a home run by Fielder won a game for the Brewers at Miller Park. Today's was to dead center off lefty Marlins reliever Renyel Pinto and in the bottom of the 8th inning. Fielder has come out of the worst power slump in his life to hit 4 HR in a week's time.

A crowd of 44,169 even got to see Eric Gagne work a 9th inning in which he struck out three hitters and didn't allow a run to earn his 7th save.

Both clubs now sit at 14-10 for the season. This is an important time for Milwaukee Brewers baseball. The Brewers need Ben Sheets to be healthy.

Note About Prince Fielder

Just want to point out that through 15 games last season, Prince Fielder had 1 home run and 7 RBI. I like to think that I know this game and the men who play it very well. I live it, I study it, I love it.

If you're reading this I'm telling you that there are many players in slumps right now, while some might not come out of it; Prince Fielder is as sure of a bet to come out of his suddenly and regain form in a huge way. He has excellent power still and hits in a great lineup. The guy's power didn't disappear because he's eating more tofu and less chicken. It doesn't work that way. When he strikes a ball well, it will go. He's just pressing at the plate and this thing has taken on a life of it's own. It happens to every ballplayer at every level when you get to high school and above.

He needs to just relax, keep riding it out and keep showing up, and just see the ball hit the ball.

This blogger thinks that Prince Fielder will be busting out of his slump in a big way very soon, and I'm talking a 2 HR game and 6 HR week. Then the talk will be gone, except for Prince big pimpin' again that is.

Adam Dunn <3 Derek Turnbow

The home run drought is no more. Adam Dunn is on the board in 2008, hitting his first homer (as I predicted earlier today to a friend) off Derek Turnbow. The homerun, a blast to left center field; was Dunn's 3rd of his career off the gas can righthander.

One down, 49 more to go, Big Donkey.

Update I: I didn't see the Dunn homer live, but switched channels shortly after to see that he had a giant Hog in his mouth. This is very encouraging, as I had thought that he had quit dip. I was worried.

Update II: Derek Turnbow has been given a nickname. "Gas Can" Turnbow. Throws 2000 miles an hour, gets his tits lit annually. I love Brewers relief pitchers.

Matinees are the theme today

There's three games being played this afternoon that I have interest in. Two of them make the cut for television and the Cincinnati Reds are on the radio. I'm just trying to hunt down WGN on my cable package. It's nowhere to be found.

Speaking of matinees, you can select the song that will play at Shea Stadium every 8th inning this year. My money is on Sweet Caroline.

I'll probably liveblog one of the games today and do some commentary on all things baseball.

Brewers survive the Gagne

[Game Blog]

[Box Score]

Milwaukee Brewers 4, Chicago Cubs 3 (10 innings)

Kosoke Fukudome had a nice little debut as he went 3 for 3 with a homerun and drove in all 3 Cubs runs. Derek Lee and Felix Pie were the only other Cubs hitters with base-hits, as this game was a product of the elements it was played in.

Give credit to Ben Sheets. Sheets threw 6 and 1/3 innings of 2-hit shutout baseball, striking out 7 and walking none. Carlos Zambrano nearly matched him, throwing his own 6 and 2/3 of shutout baseball, allowing 3 hits and striking out 5 while walking one.

Kerry Wood came in and gave up 3 runs; and then the new Brewers closer Eric Gagne came in and blew the lead allowing the Cubs to send it to a 10th inning tied at 3. The Brewers scored in the top of the 10th and David Riske came in and shut the door for the win.

The 1982 AL Champion Milwaukee Brewers

Yet further proof that YOUtube is the greatest invention on the internet. The last time the Milwaukee Brewers were in the World Series (or Playoffs at all for that matter), these were the culprits. As part of the 2008 season preview, we look back to the year 1982; the year we were born.

And the Retro World Series intro against the St. Louis Cardinals. Baseball had a certain innocence back then that it can never get back. That is what makes teams like the 1982 Brewers so magical.

Random Player Review: Gorman Thomas

In honor of today's Milwaukee Brewers season preview, we examine a player in Random Player Review named Gorman Thomas. One of the most popular players in Brewers history, and affectionately known as "Stormin' Gorman". Thomas was the first player ever picked by the Seattle Pilots in the 1969 player draft. A center fielder, Thomas was known for big time power and strike-outs that led to a typically low batting average (he hit just .225 for a career in nearly 5000 career at-bats).

Thomas' best year came in 1979, when he hit a career high 45 home runs and drove in 123. He came in 7th in the MVP balloting that year and wasn't named to the All-Star team, with his lone All-Star appearance being in 1981.

Thomas played for the Cleveland Indians (in 1983 he was involved in a controversial trade that sent him to the Indians in exchange for Rick Manning) and Seattle Mariners for a spell later in his career, returning to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1986 as a free agent to finish his career. Thomas hit .179 in 44 games with the Brewers that year, with just 6 home runs. Mired in a period of mediocrity, the Brewers released Thomas ending his career. He retired with 268 home runs and 782 RBI.

Thomas was the 1985 Comeback Player of the Year, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 87 that year, despite hitting just .215.

We like Thomas because he looks exactly how you'd expect a Brewers player to look. The guy is folklore and nostalgia combined; and his legacy continues today with the addition of Gorman's Grill restaraunt in right field at Miller Park, where Thomas often works at the counter and makes appearances.

Milwaukee Brewers 2008 Season Preview

Leading up to the start of the 2008 Regular Season, Diamond Hoggers will preview each of MLB's 32 teams. Teams will be rated on a 10-point scale in the following 5 areas: Lineup, Pitching, Manager, Intangibles/Chemistry, and Overall. Today's team is the Milwaukee Brewers.

Lineup
The Milwaukee Brewers' projected starting lineup for the 2008 season is: 2B Rickie Weeks, SS J.J. Hardy, 1B Prince Fielder, OF Ryan Braun, OF Corey Hart, OF Mike Cameron, 3B Bill Hall and C Jason Kendall. In my opinion this is the most explosive lineup in the National League. While they don't play in a ballpark that is a launching pad like say, Cincinnati or Colorado; Miller Park isn't exactly Forbes Field either when it comes to holding fly balls.

The Brewers have two legitimate MVP candidates in Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. Fielder is coming off a 50 home run season and Braun was the Rookie of the Year. They'll both continue to grow and explode in this league, catalyzing one another in the middle of the lineup. Weeks, Hardy, Cameron, and Billy Hall are all guys capable of 30 home runs. They should be near locks for 20 each. If Weeks can rebound from a poor year, the entire line up will benefit immensely.

Tony Gwynn Jr. and Craig Counsell are their most impressive players off the bench, which at this point in time isn't an immense strength for them. Don't forget about the ageless muscle-man Gabe Kapler's comeback or the addition of Eric Munson.

Every few years in baseball, there's a lineup good enough alone to get a team into the postseason; I believe this is one of those types of groups. There might not be a better lineup in all of baseball.

Rating: 9.5

Pitching
The Brewers have an inexperienced rotation that is somewhat a question mark. They're in better shape than many teams, but they might not stack up to the elite rotations they'll need to come across to win the pennant in the NL. I have my beliefs that if they're looking great, they are a team who might look to GM Doug Melvin to pick up the best starting pitcher available at the July 31st deadline to give them a shot in the arm.

They have Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, and Yovani Gallardo. A lot of pressure is on Ben Sheets to have a Cy Young type of year. If Sheets can emerge as the true #1 that everyone has waited on his entire career, the sky could be the limit for this team. Capuano is an inning-eater and has a great out pitch in his power slider. Suppan's experience is a plus, although his best days are behind him. Gallardo was solid last season as a youngster. Dave Bush just signed a long-term contract and has shown flashes of consistency if not brilliance. This starting rotation is going to beat some people and get the Brewers to the playoffs, but in a best of 5 or best of 7 game series, where will the wins come from? It is the bigger picture one must focus on with these Brewers. Just winning the division with this talent is not enough in my opinion.

The Brewers added troubled closer Eric Gagne after losing Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati. Truth be told, I think that the Brewers probably would have liked to hang onto Cordero. Gagne is not the Gagne of old, but he still collects saves and does a job in this role. He'll have enough left to save 40 games. I don't see him doing poorly enough to lose the job. If he falters, they have fire-balling Derek Turnbow; as good of a #2 option as a team could ask for. Turnbow has closing experience and an electric arm, but he's shown he doesn't have closer mentality. Brian Shouse and Randy Choate are very high end lefty specialists. Riske, Torres, Mota among others are keys in what looks like a solid bullpen.

Rating: 8.1

Manager
Ned Yost is on the hot-seat, but at least he's got a great team that can go to battle for him. I think this team believes in their manager. All-time he is 374-435 (.462) but he inherited a poor team when his tenure began. Last season he won 83 games but the team folded in the final months, as it was a team that should have probably won between 90 and 95 games. In my opinion Yost is all-in, he must get this team to the postseason or see the door. If he can take the next step, a step in which this team hasn't taken since 1982; the rewards will be in abundance. Again, a critical and important year for Yost.

Rating: 6.8


Intangibles/Chemistry
This team has some great character and some young, exciting talent. Potential only goes so far and often gets people in this business fired. I still like the group very much. I think they'll play well together. This is a team who can come back from 8-run deficits not just because of firepower in the lineup but because I think they're resilient. Many of these players came up through the Brewers system and have played together for a number of years. The chemistry will not be over-stated with this team and I see it as a catalyst rather than something that could hurt them. They have very defined roles within their stars and role players. This team has nearly as fine of a chemistry level as any team in the division, if not the National League.

Rating: 8.8

Overall
This is a team Diamond Hoggers is very high on heading into the season. Because of how Braun played last season, and the expectations of other young players, the Brewers will probably be a sweetheart pick of many publications to win the NL-Central. They have question marks like most teams, but in a wide-open National League that was won by the Colorado Rockies last season, I think the sky is the limit. The door is wide open and the Brewers are going to kick it down in 2008. It won't remain open forever, as these guys will get established and command more and more money. They must win now, and they will. Expect a lofty 96 wins for Milwaukee.

Rating: 8.3

The True Natural stands tall

I'll admit, we've been slacking lately in our coverage of America's greatest game here at Diamond Hoggers. It's almost football season. Editor George has left us for dead. The Reds are all but out of it while the Indians are sailing into first place in the AL Central. There is nothing like a career game from our favorite ballplayer to bring us right back into editing here at the blog.

Elsewhere in baseball and in blogdome, Rick Ankiel has grabbed the headlines lately being dubbed as 'Roy Hobbs' and also for being linked to HGH in reports about 24 hours ago. This calling Ankiel 'Roy Hobbs' had us shaking our collective heads, as the true Natural in baseball since the season's beginning has been Josh Hamilton. Hamilton's OPS is .940, over a full season he'd have just less than 40 homeruns and 100 RBI. He plays phenomal defense and is a great guy. He's baseball's best story and tonight he just wrote another chapter for us all, while the imposter Hobbs (Ankiel) went 1 for 4 in the wake of his alleged HGH usage.

Tonight in a Reds 11-4 victory, Hamilton was the whole damn show. The Reds beat the Brewers as Hamilton laced the ball all over the ballpark. A double to the deep part of the park in center, a single to right in the same inning, a single to center, a homer to left (he loves hitting them out the other way in impressive fashion) to finish it off. He did it all tonight.

On a Reds ballclub that has underachieved all year long, Hamilton has been the bright spot. When healthy he has simply done things that make you do a double take or your eyes bulge on a baseball field. He is the reason I can't wait for 2008 to get under way. To see the things this guy could still do for the next decade, knowing where he's came from and what he's gone through to get here--the best of all could still be yet to come. Something tells us it is.

[Box Score]

Dunn tape measure job helps knock out Brewers from 1st place

When Adam Dunn hits them, he hits them in bunches. That has always been his trend, his M.O. Dunn has now homered in 3 straight ballgames as he helped the Cincinnati Reds knock off the Brewers in Milwaukee last night 8-3.

Bronson Arroyo pitched well, and Dunn hit a tape measure blast that traveled an 'estimated' 450 feet. The blast landed in the upper deck at Miller Park, where people usually don't hit balls, and where fans don't expect to catch them.

The loss knocked the Brewers 1/2 game back of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and now the Reds are 8 1/2 back. The Reds have now won 3 out of 4 on the road against the upper tiers of competition in the division.

Box Score

The Adam Dunn Home Run Log (Baseball Reference)

Brewers 5, Reds 3

Last night's ballgame was another good ballgame for the Reds. They didn't win but the fact is they fought hard and lost to a better ballclub. It came down to the final out for the Reds and nearly resulted in a spirited comeback.

Yovani Gallardo (newly acquired hired gun on the Legendary Hillbillies) threw 6 and 2/3 innings effectively, allowing only one run. Prince Fielder added 2 RBI and 2 hits including a triple. Ryan Braun--that son of a bitch just keeps on hitting as well. Is there an uglier player in baseball (not named Jason Werth) than Corey Hart? Corey Hart didn't play but he really does look like Chewbacca from Star Wars.

Adam Dunn slammed a 2 run homerun, and of course every time he hits one it's going to get some run on this blog for about another week or so, because it could be the last one he hits as a Red. Dunn's shot off Derek Turnbow brought the Reds back to a 1-run deficit (4-3) and was the 225th of his career. He's also got a 10-game hitting streak.

Box Score