April 2008 - Posts

• Where Does Miller Park Rank In All Of MLB?

  Posted Apr 30 2008, 12:20 PM by Jim Powell

  SI respondents say #2: 
  

     I think this is an interesting survey because it asks fans to rate their own park, not to give poor feedback to rivals' stadiums to hold their ranking down.  Within the context of their own personal experiences at their home stadium, fans are likely to be pretty honest I think.  What I find really interesting is that the #1 ranked stadium, Progressive Field in Cleveland, had to be abandoned during the 2007 season as the Indians sought refuge from the elements by playing at Miller Park.  I often make this point:  When rating the top stadiums, you should start the discussion with those which possess retractable roofs.  No matter how nice a stadium is, the fan experience stinks when it is really cold, hot, or wet.  Not only does the Miller Park roof save games and provide a comfortable environment for ALL contests, it also saves the traveling fans untold sums of money they collectively lose when out-of-towners make Milwaukee a baseball destination only to have a weather front move through.  Now, if we could only get somebody to pony up for a retractable roof over the tailgating fans in the parking lot!
  

    In my own personal rankings of stadiums, Miller Park is number one.  I find it to be the best of the retractable domed venues.  As this survey states emphatically, the fans agree with me.  I also found it funny that Cardinals' fans overrate their new stadium and underrate their team.

    The fans in SE Wisconsin stepped up and built Miller Park and now they deserve a team worthy of their foresight and commitment.  I hope this 2008 Brewers' team will give them one.
  
   

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Sports Illustrated, best stadiums, fan survey, Major League Baseball, Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians, Miller Park

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• Brewers 360

  Posted Apr 30 2008, 09:01 AM by Jim Powell

  I joined John and Gene on Wisconsin's Morning News this morning to talk about the return of Mike Cameron and Ben Sheets. You can listen to the podcast right here. 

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  Filed under: Ben Sheets, Mike Cameron

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• Brewers Catch Marlins While They're Hot

  Posted Apr 26 2008, 09:07 PM by Jim Powell

     It isn't good timing to have both series this season between Florida and Milwaukee on the schedule in the opening five weeks.  The Marlins failed to read the press reports of their 2008 rebuilding year and have opened the season playing great baseball.  Over 162 games their youth and inexperience might well cause them to falter, but the Brewers won't be able to take advantage if that does happen.  Thanks to another late Prince Fielder home run off a lefty, the Brewers salvaged game two tonight 4-3 and will have a chance to post a winning homestand if they can win on Sunday.  Last year Milwaukee only had one losing homestand all season among those which lasted more than one series.  They are 3-3 going into the finale of this one...Manny Parra vs. Ricky Nolasco.  Parra is due to have a dominant game but this is a tough lineup the Marlins are currently fielding.

    I know there remains skepticism among Brewer fans about Eric Gagne but I think he will prove to be a good closer for the Brewers this season if he can stay healthy.  He mixes three good pitches and still hits the mid-90's on the radar gun at times.  For the most part he has been very good except when he has had to endure a heavy workload.  I think Ned Yost will end up managing him with some caution to keep him fresh and healthy and productive.  He looked very good tonight.
   

     Ben Sheets and the Brewers were encouraged by his side session Saturday and there is cautious optimism that he will be able to start the first game in Chicago on Tuesday.  Sheets was throwing the ball as well as ever when the soreness crept into the triceps area.  I really hope it is just a minor problem which is gone for good soon.  From the way the Cubs have opened the season you have to think that the Brewers will need 30 Sheets' starts to pull off the division title.

    Only one more game to get through before Mike Cameron joins the club.  You would have to assume that a pitcher will be jettisoned to make room, which would put the Brewers at 13 pitchers and 12 position players.

    I had a very nice visit with Trey Schwab before the game.  Schwab was an assistant basketball coach at Marquette when he needed a double lung transplant in February of 2004.  He made it back to Marquette for a season afterward but then became the Outreach Coordinator for the UW Hospital Organ Donation Program.  He was at Miller Park for Donate Life Night this evening and helped get information and Donor Dots to the huge crowd.  If you want more information about the important issue of organ donation, you can visit donatelifewisconsin.org.  Schwab looked great and was very upbeat.  It is a shame that so many of us wait for a brush with death before appreciating life the way we should each day.  In that respect Schwab's health issues were a positive for him.  I would imagine after a double lung transplant you pretty much live every day with great pleasure and zeal.
   

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Ben Sheets, Ned Yost, Mike Cameron, Trey Schwab, Eric Gagne, Florida Marlins, Manny Parra

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• Another Split

  Posted Apr 24 2008, 03:05 PM by Jim Powell

    The Brewers have been really good in the clutch so far this season, leading the NL with a .303 batting average with runners in scoring position entering play Thursday afternoon, but that was not the case against the Phillies in the finale.  Although Ryan Braun did knock in a run with a two-out-hit in the third, the Brewers had an otherwise terrible time turning baserunners into runs.  The fourth inning was particularly frustrating with Milwaukee opening the frame against Jamie Moyer with a double, a single and a walk and yet failing to score.  The Brewers also had first-and-third with nobody out in the seventh and came up empty.  In the end the Phillies were able to put together a two run rally in the eighth and earn a split of the series with a 3-1 win.  It was a waste of another fine pitching performance by Jeff Suppan, whose seven strong innings lowered his ERA to 3.48.

    CF Mike Cameron will start a five-game AAA stint for Nashville tonight in preparation for a return to the Major Leagues next week in Chicago.  Cameron should be in the starting lineup for the Tuesday night opener at Wrigley.

    It was nice to have former Brewers' hitting coach Gary Matthews in the booth with us a good bit the last two days.  He is one of our favorite people to visit with in baseball.  Matthews is doing some broadcasting for the Phillies but spent his off innings with us in our enormous home radio booth.  I enjoyed watching him play during his own Major League career.  He was one of my favorite Atlanta Braves from 1977 to 1980 and one of the few bright spots on some really bad teams.

    The Marlins are coming in for a weekend series and I know there are good tickets available for Friday night.  See you at the yard!
  
   

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Braun, Gary Matthews, Mike Cameron, Jamie Moyer, Jeff Suppan

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• Fielder Feasts On Young Star Hamels

  Posted Apr 23 2008, 10:02 PM by Jim Powell

    Cole Hamels is one of the best young pitchers in all of baseball and has a chance to be a major winner for a long time if he stays healthy.  His change-up is sick, and he mixes the breaking ball and a good fastball in with the ability to throw any of the three in any count.  He has deception in his delivery and a lot of poise too.  The Brewers had a shot at a huge first inning but had to settle for three runs when the number-eight-batting Dave Bush fanned with two aboard to end the inning.  As it turned out Milwaukee would not score again until the eighth inning when Charlie Manuel probably left him in too long and Prince Fielder lined a two-run home run to give the Brewers the lead. 

    Speaking of Fielder, can we stop the talk about the vegetables yet?  Ryan Howard is eating steak and is batting under .200 with a sub-.400 SLG and a strike out every couple of at-bats.  The season is barely underway and there is no reason to worry about anybody's numbers at this point.  Prince's two home runs tonight should calm everybody down.

    It was great to see Derrick Turnbow work a scoreless ninth for the save.  T-Bow is one of the game's most quality people.  Getting him confident and fully in form, as he appeared to be tonight, could be one of the real keys to the Brewers' season.  I know everybody in the clubhouse was really happy for him just as we were in the booth.

  
     I was sorry to see Gabe Gross go.  He is a really good human being, a fine athlete, and good clubhouse guy.  I think he deserves a shot at regular duty somewhere and perhaps that chance will come in Tampa Bay.  With good power and an excellent eye, Gross could put up a surprising OPS if he got a chance to play regularly.  The only black mark against Gross is that he went to Auburn.  Oh well.

    Geoff Jenkins was treated as warmly by the Brewers' fans tonight as I can remember any player being treated upon their return.  It reminded me of when Jeff Cirillo came back to town.  Jenkins played hard all the time and the fans clearly appreciated that.

   
    It was an awfully nice win with the late comeback against Hamels and now the team has a chance to sweep the brief two-game set.  Talk to you in the morning...it is a noon start tomorrow.
   

   

  
  
   

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, Derrick Turnbow, Philadelphia Phillies, Gabe Gross

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