June 2008 - Posts

• Vote Braun, Brewers Rewind and Arizona Heat

  Posted Jun 30 2008, 12:34 PM by Jim Powell

  A couple random thoughts while we bake in the Arizona heat......
  
  A quick reminder: Ryan Braun has pulled within only 32,925 votes of Kosuke Fukudome for the final starting National League outfield spot. Vote for him at either Brewers.com or MLB.com. You can vote up to 25 times a day.
  
  If you missed it yesterday, I took a look back at the week that was, in Brewers Rewind.
  
  The Arizona Republic takes a look at the Aggressive Brewers.
  
  It's never to early to get your questions in for tomorrow night's chat, send them here.
  
  

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• In The Frying Pan At The Metrodome

  Posted Jun 28 2008, 06:45 PM by Jim Powell

    The Brewers are facing the smoking-hot Twins this weekend, trying to end what has become a 10-game winning streak after Minny captured game one Friday night 7-6.  The Twins are playing well in all phases of the game right now and are on the verge of taking over first place in the AL Central.  The Brewers have also been playing well and still think they can come back and win the series.  I have been very impressed by the number of Brewers' fans who have attended the first couple of games at the Metrodome.  It is incredible how many "Braun", "Hardy", and "Fielder" jerseys there are wandering around downtown Minneapolis during the day.

    I had an interesting conversation with former Brewer Jeff Cirillo today.  'Rillo is doing some broadcasting for FSN-Wisconsin, but clearly he would love to get back in uniform again.  You can hear it HERE.

    Yesterday I discussed trade possibilities, Eric Gagne, and possible future Olympians Matt LaPorta and Mat Gamel with Milwaukee Assistant GM Gord Ash.  If you missed it, jump on this LINK.

    Speaking of Gagne, his bullpen today was just okay.  He had some command issues.  Gagne will not be activated before the team gets to Arizona for sure.  Also, Randy Choate continues his minor league rehab assignment at Nashville and is throwing extremely well.  He could become a candidate for the big league roster in another week or so.  Derrick Turnbow continues to struggle at AAA.  The Brewers are now bringing him out of the bullpen again instead of letting him start the game for Nashville, and he failed to get through the inning in his first appearance in that role.  Turnbow's struggles are truly baffling and there is seemingly no end in sight.

    They had a softball-hitting contest on the field at the Metrodome prior to game two Saturday and Bernie Brewer did not impress.  Bernie's homerun total was beaten soundly by Twins television broadcaster Dick Bremer.

    Everytime I come to Minneapolis now all I can think about is that the new ballpark under construction will not have a roof of any kind.  Miller Park is truly a Wisconsin treasure.
   

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  Filed under: Jeff Cirillo, Derrick Turnbow, Eric Gagne, Matt LaPorta, Randy Choate: Dick Bremer, Mat Gamel, Bernie Brewer

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• Brewers Go For Sweep Of Braves

  Posted Jun 25 2008, 10:27 AM by Jim Powell

  The road trip could not be off to a better start.  Dominant pitching performances by Ben Sheets and Dave Bush have the Brewers on the verge of a sweep in Atlanta, something they have never accomplished before in team history.  It is a good time to catch the Braves on the schedule as both their lineup and their pitching staff are beat up.  I know people like to discuss the sound of boos at Miller Park, but the truth is that home teams get boo'd EVERYWHERE, and the Braves heard about it from their fans last night.  Don't let anyone tell you that players will want to leave Milwaukee because the fans sometimes boo their own.  There is nowhere to go in baseball where fans will sit quietly when their home team is playing poorly. 

  Milwaukee has the best record in MLB since May 20th and now can get to ten games over .500 if the club can win today.  They haven't been ten-over since July 28 of last season.  The Brewers are also trying today to win their fifth consecutive road game for the first time in four years.  When you pitch well, it doesn't matter if you are at home or on the road. 

  We've been talking a lot during our broadcasts about maple bats and their tendency to shatter, sending dangerous shards of wood in random directions.  It has just been a matter of time until the list of those injured by those bat fragments grew longer.  Add umpire Brian O'Nora to the list.  Read about his incident from last night HERE. 

  The Players Association and MLB are definitely working on the issue.  Coincidentally they discussed it yesterday...see the details HERE.  It is just a matter of time until a fan gets hurt by one of those broken maple bats and, when it happens, I don't like baseball's chances in the civil court case.  If you own stock in a maple bat company I think it might be a good time to sell.

  I am not sure how coherent I was for the early-morning conversation I had with John Jagler and Gene Mueller on WTMJ today on Brewers360 but here it is.  That show is very difficult for people who work night games to wake up in time for, especially when one of those people has a hotel room by the elevators and directly below a construction zone. 

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  Filed under: Ben Sheets, maple bats, Brian O'Nora, Dave Bush

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• Ben Sheets, Pete Van Wieren and 5th inning chat

  Posted Jun 24 2008, 05:38 AM by Jim Powell

  Ben Sheets pitched another masterful game for the Brewers last night, pitching a 4 hit complete game. Check out some of the audio from last night.
  
  My pregame interviews with Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren. Listen Here.
  Yesterday's Ned Yost Show with Bob Uecker - Listen Here.
  Listen to the postgame report with highlights from the game.
  
  Plus, it's Tuesday and time for my 5th Inning chat. Don't wait around until the 5th inning though, get your questions in now. You can submit them right here.
  
  

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• McClung Impresses Again

  Posted Jun 22 2008, 01:19 AM by Jim Powell

    Seth McClung ran his list of consecutive excellent (not quality) starts to four by dominating the Orioles tonight.  McClung has now carved out a beach head on Legit Island.  The last man on the pitching staff when camp broke in Arizona, Seth has seized a strong hold on a rotation spot with his side-step from thrower to pitcher.  Nobody would have predicted that McClung would suddenly start doing what he is now executing.  You have to love the game of baseball.  

    I really enjoyed reading Drew Olson's piece on OnMilwaukee.com about MLB equipment.  Even the casual fan will be interested to read this one...I've never seen a piece anywhere so specific about the player-equipment issues in the game.  Check it OUT. 

    Love chewing the baseball fat with friends like Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Vic Feuerherd of the Wisconsin State-Journal.  I asked them what trade targets might involve the Brewers between now and the trading deadline, among other things.  Check it out HERE.
   

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  Filed under: Tom Haudricourt, Drew Olson, OnMilwaukee.com, Seth McClung, Vic Feuerherd

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