The Milwaukee Brewers fell hard to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday evening.  The 9-5 loss negates almost any possible momentum gained in the series victories against the Giants and Mets. 

Why?

The pitching staff looked bad.  Really bad. 

Seth McClung is proving what many of us have been thinking -- he belongs nowhere near the starting rotation.  His aggressive style and flexibility as a reliever makes him extremely valuable in that role.  It also allows him to focus on locating his fastball without worrying about setting up hitters for the second or third time through the batting order.  Seth becomes strictly a two-pitch pitcher, which is undeniably a good thing.  Look what happens when Seth tries to mix his pitches.

Seth actually tossed a couple good sliders, but did not work the corners of the plate well at all. 

The McClung Experiment in the starting rotation should be over.  Promote Chris Smith to the rotation.  Call up Chase Wright.  Give Carlos Villanueva a shot in the rotation.  Obviously, I am being quite overdramatic about promoting just anyone, but the point is that almost any option the Brewers have should be an upgrade over McClung.

This is not to say that McClung is not effective over multiple innings.  It is merely saying that McClung is not effective more than once through a batting order.  The starting rotation is not his comfort zone and not where he most benefits the Brewers. 

Look at the statisitics.  The first time through a batting order, McClung holds opposing hitters to a .249 average.  The second time through, their batting average jumps to .271 with a .376 on-base percentage.  As a starter, the big right-hander owns a 5.71 ERA.  As a reliever, that ERA drops to 4.65.  Both of those ERAs are a bit high, as they include his struggles with the Tampa Bay Rays, but the overall trend is clear.  Seth McClung is a relief pitcher, not a starting pitcher.

What does that leave for Milwaukee?

It leaves four starting pitchers and a gaping hole for the fifth spot.  Keep in mind that Mike Burns is no sure thing for the #4 slot either.  Doug Melvin will be working the phones intensely over the next couple of weeks, but it seems that the Brewers GM wishes to wait a couple more weeks before making a deal.  I just hope someone more exciting than Doug Davis comes along.