September 2008 - Posts

• The Biggest Baseball Weekend of my Life

  Posted Sep 26 2008, 08:51 AM by TheRealBrewersGM

  Sorry guys, no music today. Writing this at work doesn't allow me to go to Youtube and pick out a video to post with the blog. Besides that, no song I pick can match the emotions running through my body right now.

  UNFREAKINGBELIEVEABLE!!! What a game last night at Miller Park. Yovani Gallardo looked dominant in the short time he pitched. Yo had command of all his pitches and his performance gives me a shot in the arm for 2009. He's still a kid and we all know how fast youth can recover from injury and he looks to be back.

  The plate discipline continues for the Brewer bats and I couldn't be happier. Sure, they really didn't do much against Zach Duke but give credit to Duke for pitching a great game. The team was still able to put together good at bats, going deep in the count over and over again.

  It would have been really nice if the Cubs could have pulled off the game against the Mets too. It was amusing to watch knowing that if this had been a game in June; it would have been delayed and eventually called, giving the Cubs the victory after 7 innings. Of course Lou Pinella could have thrown out pitchers other than Bob Howry and Kevin Hart too. I have a feeling if Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood pitched instead, the Brewers would have a one game lead in the Wild Card race with only three games left. I guess the Cubs really didn't want all the extra support from Brewers fans and decided to stick it to us a day early.

  In the big scheme, I'm almost glad the Mets won last night. As I said, a lead would be nice going into tonight's game but if the Brewers are going to pull this off and make it to the postseason, I want them to earn it and be deserving of October baseball. There's no better way of showing you belong than beating down the Cubbies on the last weekend of the year.

  Tonight is the exact scenario that Jeff Suppan was brought in for a few years ago. He's a big game pitcher and tonight is the ultimate big game. Despite his recent struggles, I believe Suppan can come through for the Crew tonight and get us six solid innings. If not, Seth McClung will need to remain on the roll he's been on lately and mow down the Cubs bats like he did last week in Chicago. The Brewers have been beat down by Ryan Dempster this season so I'm hoping the bats can turn that tide and ride the momentum off of last night's walk-off to a quick lead.

  Ben Sheets is still up in the air for tomorrow's game. I believe when it comes down to it that Sheeter will make the start. How effective he can be is a completely different question. Dave Bush will be waiting in the wings should Sheets scuffle early or not be able to make the start. Regardless of who starts, it will be the biggest start of either one's career. Sheets should rely heavily on memories from his Gold Medal game in 2000. Bush needs to get through the first couple innings without getting roughed up and he will be okay. Maybe Sheets can get us three innings and Bush come in for three or four after in relief.

  CC Sabathia will need to continue is magic show on Sunday. The Cubs have knocked around CC pretty well this season. CC will not only need a dominant fastball but his cutter and change-up will need to be near perfect. CC can end one of the best half-seasons of baseball ever by finally silencing the Chicago bats.

  It appears now that two of our three big bats are now back and just in time for the final series. Fielder has been hitting everything thrown at him lately and Braun finally coming through with a big hit should propel him this weekend to get back on track to the Braun we saw mash in the month of June. Corey Hart is still deep in his slump and looks clueless at the plate. Time for Corey to come through in the clutch and save his season.

  I'm worried about Salomon Torres this weekend. He's been pitching a ton lately and eventually he's going to have a meltdown. I'd like to see Eric Gagne get a shot to close a game if needed this weekend and yes I know you are all shaking your head at that statement. Three blow out wins would be nice but I'm a realist and understand that's very unlikely to happen.

  This is it, Milwaukee: the three biggest games for the Brewers since the 1982 World Series. I'm 29 and can't remember anything from the '82 season so this will go down as the biggest games I've ever watched. I plan on losing my voice at tonight's game and then toughing it out the rest of the weekend. Despite the odds still be against us, I still believe the Baseball Gods will smile on us and the Brewers will make the playoffs. This may not happen again anytime soon, so let your emotions go, put it all on the line and give every ounce of yourself to the Brewers this weekend. The memories made this weekend will stay with you for the rest of your lives.

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Yovani Gallardo, Ben Sheets, CC Sabathia, Jeff Suppan

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• What a Beautiful Thing

  Posted Sep 24 2008, 09:25 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

   I have professed my undying love for 90's music but let's be honest, not all the music from the decade was stellar. Take for instance the song that was voted the 39th on VH1's list of Most Awesomely Bad Songs...EVER: "Informer", by Snow. You all remember Snow. He was the Canadian native that sang reggae. The song spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Have a good laugh watching the video.

   

  The Brewers have energized me the last few days so much. I love how they are closing out the season. I know they have choked away the Wild Card lead and had a horrible September, but they really seem to be playing better ball the last week. They are bunting more and being super aggressive on the bases. Ah, I just love small ball!

  I didn't agree with all the moves that new manager Dale Sveum made with the lineup but they seem to be working. I would really love to see Rickie Weeks play every day next year, just lower in the batting order. I think taking the pressure off of him as a leadoff man could relax him enough to just let him be free at the plate and we'd all see Rickie live up to his "potential".

  Yovani Gallardo is going to make his first start on Thursday since May 1st. Wow, absolutely amazing! What a freak of nature Gallardo is. Surgery on both knees in one calendar year and he's still coming back to make a huge start for the team. It may not be the smartest move but it sure shows a ton of guts and um..."marbles". YoGa will definitely have the adrenaline pumping tomorrow and will have to control his emotions early to keep himself in the game. I know many people don't like the move and are afraid of how it might affect him come 2009. I understand the concern but no one in the Brewers clubhouse is thinking about 2009 right now and we shouldn't either. He gives us a better chance to win a game right now than Jeff Suppan so I simply say let's get behind Gallardo and will him to a great outing tomorrow night.

  It sounds like Ben Sheets is also going to pitch for the team as well. Sheeter is slated to make the start on Saturday against the Cubbies. I guess his last start with the Brewers will finally answer all the questions about Ben's heart and desire to go out and pitch despite being hurt. Bennie is as motivated as anyone on this team to try and get to the playoffs and I expect he'll stay on that mound Saturday until Dale Sveum has to drag him off.

  I'd never forgive myself if I didn't mention Prince Fielder as well. He is simply trying to will the team into the playoffs. Fielder is doing what MVPs do in the last couple weeks of September; whatever it takes to play in October. For everyone, yours truly included, that berated him earlier in the season, Prince has certainly silenced all of us and I couldn't be happier. He's swinging a great bat right now and is seemingly coming through with a hit in every big at bat that he has.

  Ryan Braun and Corey Hart are still struggling. Braun finally admitted on Monday that he is still bothered by his rib problem that has been plaguing him for a month now. If you remember back, he injured that rib area the day after he shot a commercial with supermodel Marissa Miller. Coincidence? I think not. Braun really is a go-getta! I don't know what to say anymore about Corey. I thought when Sveum took over that Corey might get moved back to the top of the order but he got bumped down to the six-hole instead. He still has four games to change his fortunes and anything positive he does against the Cubs can erase a month-long nightmare.

  I honestly believe that we are going to be celebrating a playoff birth for the Brewers this weekend. It has to happen, it must...it WILL! I know all of you feel what I feel about this team too. The tide has turned back in favor of the Crew. Playoff baseball is coming. I'll be at Miller Park all weekend in the second level standing room only area with the bar stools and tables. Hope to see you all out there this weekend. Go Brewers!!!
  

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  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Dale Sveum, Corey Hart, Yovani Gallardo, Ben Sheets

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• The Mecca of Sports

  Posted Sep 21 2008, 07:29 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

   In honor of all the memories that will be swirling around at Yankee Stadium all day and night, the song I'll take a look back at today is Blur's "Song 2". The song is Blur's biggest hit in the United States. The song was on the band's fifth album and the second release off of it. The 1997 release took off when it was featured on the video game, FIFA '98. The song has since been used in several commercials and by teams around the world for celebrations. Enjoy the video.

   If you've turned on ESPN at all today, you know that tonight is the final game at Yankee Stadium. I would normally turn the channel due to the East Coast bias for the Yankees and Red Sox shown on ESPN, but today is different. Today is a celebration and good-bye to the greatest cathedral in the history of sports. Whether or not you're a Yankees fan doesn't matter right now.

  Not only is "The House That Ruth Built" a shrine for baseball, it has been home to some of the greatest moments in sports history. Joe Louis beat German boxer, Max Schmeling in 1938, on the eve of Adolf Hitler trying to take over the world. The fight made many in America have to choose between cheering for a black man or for the "Nazi" fighter. The fight was one of eight that Louis would have in his career at Yankee Stadium. Other notable fighters that have performed in the Stadium are Max Baer, Rocky Graziano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali.

  College football is also no stranger to being held at the Stadium. The most famous of all games held there was the Army-Notre Dame game in 1928. This was the game in which Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne gave his famous "win one for the Gipper" speech at halftime. Although the game was tied at halftime, Notre Dame went on to win the game 12-6. The moment was later made famous in the movie, Knute Rockne, All-American. The movie starred future President, Ronald Reagan.

  Professional football has also had significance inside the Stadium. "The Greatest Game Ever Played" was held on the field in 1958. The NFL Championship game was played between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants in a game broadcast to the entire country. The Colts won the game in overtime on a touchdown dive by Alan Ameche and the game catapulted football into the mainstream of American culture. The Giants played their home games at Yankee Stadium from 1956 to 1973. 

  The worldwide game known as football, soccer, has also seen greatness at the Stadium. In 1976, the New York Cosmos played their games there and featured the greatest soccer player of all-time, Pele as their star attraction. 

  The Stadium has also been home to three Papal visits, including this past spring to Pope Benedict XVI. The Isley Brothers held the first concert ever in the Stadium in 1969. Billy Joel, U2 and Pink Floyd have all rocked on the same field that Babe Ruth christened with a home run on April 18, 1923, to open the Stadium. 

  The Yankees have literally had thousands of memories in the 85 years. There are two that stick out above all others however. Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day took place on July 4, 1939. Gehrig, whose body was ravaged by ALS, gave his famous "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech. It is a moment that is still widely known by even non-baseball fans.

  The second came in 2001, when after this nation was devastated by terror attacks, our country united at Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the World Series. President George Bush threw out the first pitch of the game. The Yankees won the game but the real heroics came the following night. Tino Martinez tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run home run. Derek Jeter came up in the bottom of the tenth with the score still tied. The scoreboard had gone past midnight and baseball was played professionally for the first time in the month of November. Jeter promptly hit a game-winning home run and was dubbed, "Mr. November" for his heroics. 

  With all due respect to Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and even Lambeau Field, there is no greater place in the world for a sporting event than Yankee Stadium. A new Yankee Stadium is being built and will be ready for Opening Day 2009. New memories will be made and unforgettable moments will happen but nothing will ever be able to replace the memories of The Babe, The Yankee Clipper and The Mick.
  

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  Filed under: U2, Pele, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Yankee Stadium, Billy Joel, Lou Gehrig

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• It was a good day

  Posted Sep 15 2008, 09:29 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

  The title of this blog is appropriate not only for the song I chose to talk about but also the events that occurred earlier today. First, a look back on a great song and then my thoughts on Ned Yost, Doug Melvin and the coach firing heard around the world.

  I was at a wedding this past weekend and got to catch up with my old friend, Nick Zettel. You all know Nick. He's the crazy cat that writes outrageous and thought-provoking baseball statistical pieces on The Junkball Blues. He told me that he was bumping around on Youtube and watched Ice Cube's video "It Was A Good Day". The song was on Cube's third solo album, The Predator, released in March, 1993. The song was voted number 77 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.
  
  
  
  

  So it appears that Milwaukee is the center of the baseball world again. Ned Yost was fired today after the Brewers have given back their entire lead in the Wild Card chase. The Brewers held a 5.5 game lead on Philadelphia on September 1st and as of last night, it was all gone. This is the latest in a long line of second half collapses for the Brewers under Yost.

  This is an extremely bold move for the Brewers management to take with only 12 games left, but it is a move that I absolutely love. Yost has always done a good job keeping his emotions in check and never getting to high or low with the wins and losses. However, baseball is a game of emotion and momentum is a very real thing during the course of a game, despite what Yost has said several times.
  

  I'm not going to focus on Yost's record as a whole or anything the past few years. Mark Attanasio knows that this may be the best chance that he ever has as an owner to make a serious run in the playoffs and he's going for it. If the Brewers still don't make the playoffs, at least Attanasio can look back and know that he at least made a move instead of just sitting back and wishing he had made a move.

  I know there are some people that think Yost is just a horrible manager and he never did anything right. I disagree with that to a point. Although I do think he had problems managing a bullpen (this is by far the hardest job for a manager and no one in the history of the game manages it 100% correctly), his biggest problem turned out to be his loyalty to players like Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall. Hall has regressed since his 35 home run season a few years ago and despite a couple hot Septembers the past two years; Rickie Weeks is still a defensive liability and can't hit the ball from April-August. 

  Ryan Braun came out today and said that Yost never lost the team at any point this year and that Yost getting fired is the result of the players not performing. Braun is right and now he, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart need to snap out of their collective month-long slump and come through in the clutch. This could be the perfect rallying point for a team playing without any emotion since CC Sabathia's one-hitter in Pittsburgh on August 31st.

  Dale Sveum and Robin Yount definitely have their work cut out for themselves over the next 12 games. The schedule is not in their favor and I think fans need to worry more about the Mets than the Phillies now. The Phillies have a cupcake schedule the rest of the way while the Mets have already lost tonight and will play the Cubs next week. I think the Brewers need to win 10 of their 12 games to make the playoffs. That means 4 of 6 against the Cubbies and sweeps over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Hold on Milwaukee, the rollercoaster just took a big dip, but the best is yet to come.
  

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• Someone PLEASE wake me from this Nightmare

  Posted Sep 12 2008, 09:39 AM by TheRealBrewersGM

  I know this can't be reality. There's no way the Brewers are playing this bad, are they? I know that this is all just a bad, bad dream and when I wake up the Brewers are going to be comfortably ahead in the Wild Card race and right on the heels of the Cubs...right? Someone, anyone PLEASE tell me that this isn't a September collapse.

  I still can't believe what is going on with the Brewers. There is far too much talent on this team for them to be playing the way they are. This team is as talented as any in baseball and I will stand behind that statement no matter what happens by the end of the month. Now word is coming out of Corey Hart talking about how the team is looser on the road due to the fans booing at home. WHAT!?!?! Come on, Corey! It was these same fans that voted you into the All-Star game only two months ago. I guess Ned is right; players do have a short memory. The fans have EVERY right to boo you, Gagne, Mota, Weeks and every other player on that team at the moment. You start the month at home with a 10-game homestand with a legitimate shot at closing in on the Cubs and widening your lead in the Wild Card. But what do you guys do? You lose 7 of the 10 games and look like zombies instead of a Major League baseball club. JJ Hardy is the only every day player doing a damn thing right now and the growing thought is that Hardy will be on the trading block this winter for a front of the rotation pitcher. This cannot happen. It is simply unacceptable to trade away the only player who is playing with any heart at the moment. If the Brewers do choke away a playoff appearance this season, more people than just Ned Yost needs to be held responsible for the collapse. GM Doug Melvin should also have his head on the chopping block. Rickie Weeks should be sent packing at the soonest possible time. And yes, if you haven't heard, the newest joke going around is that you can't spell Weeks without 2 E's and a K. 'Nuff said on that. Mike Cameron and Bill Hall should also be looking for new jobs. I know Hall is under contract so it will be hard to move him. Cameron has played stellar defense all year but his free swinging at the plate is simply unbearable. I still believe that the Brewers can make the playoffs but part of me hopes they don't simply so the team can be re-tooled. I want October baseball in Milwaukee. The fans deserve it. They have supported this team like never before and have held up their end of the deal with helping this team succeed. Everyone take a deep breath and just try and remain calm about what is happening. When I wake up Monday morning, I fully expect the Brewers to still have a decent lead over the Phillies and Astros. If the lead is gone, don't bother waking me and just let my winter slumber start early.  
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