April 2009 - Posts

• YO, you're my hero!

  Posted Apr 29 2009, 07:04 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

  For anyone that still had doubt that Yovani Gallardo was capable of being an ace for a major league team, I submit to you Gallardo's performance on Wednesday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  Gallardo followed up his first career complete game in his last start against Houston by dominating the Pirates. Gallardo pitched eight shutout innings, struck out a career-high 11 batters, and only gave up two hits. Oh yeah, he also hit his second home run of the season, which turned out to be the Brewers only run in the 1-0 win.

  Carlos Villanueva came on in the ninth to get the save for Gallardo. It was Villanueva's second save of the season. 
  

  The Brewers swept the Pirates and finally have a winning record at 11-10. The Brewers now will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game series starting tomorrow night at Miller Park.

  With all the expectations that were placed upon Gallardo to start the season, it would have been very hard for him to live up to the hype. Thankfully for the Brewers and all their fans, Gallardo has exceeded every expectation that even the most optimistic fan might have had.

  Gallardo has a record of 3-1, with 34 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings so far this season. His ERA sits at a very good 2.86. He has four quality starts in five outings this year.
  

  Gallardo's last three starts have truly been special. He is 2-0 in those starts, pitching 23 innings while allowing only two runs in that time. He has struck out 25 batters in that time as well. Looking at those numbers I can only think one think, "CC who?"

  Okay, although Sabathia has gotten off to a rough start in New York, that may be pushing it a little bit, but it does speak to just how great Gallardo is pitching this year. He is becoming that ace that everyone hoped he could be. He lacks no confidence in his abilities and fears no man at the plate.

  The next challenge for Gallardo is to maintain this consistency for more than just one month. If June first rolls around and Gallardo has produced another month of stellar pitching performances, he will undoubtedly start to be talked about for an All-Star game appearance.

  There are now rumblings that Gallardo is already a better pitcher than former Brewers' ace Ben Sheets ever was. The jury may still be out on that question but one thing is true: if April is any indication for future success, Gallardo will be looking in the rear-view mirror at not only Sheets but every pitcher in Brewers' history.
  

  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Yovani Gallardo

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• Why does JJ Hardy get a free pass?

  Posted Apr 29 2009, 11:35 AM by TheRealBrewersGM

  Over the course of every baseball season just about every player will face criticism from the media and fans alike despite whether or not it is warranted.

  For some reason though, I never hear anybody saying anything negative about JJ Hardy. Is he some sort of baseball prodigy? Have his baby blue eyes hypnotized Milwaukee into overlooking bad play? Or can complaints about Hardy not be heard over the screams and shrieks of teenage girls at Miller Park?

  Hardy hasn't just been bad this year, he's been awful. Anytime a player can't even hit his weight, it's never a good sign. Just for the record, Hardy weighs 190 pounds and is only currently hitting .174.

  Corey Hart and Mike Cameron have adjusted to their new spots in the batting order, but Hardy still looks lost at the plate.

  It is well known that Hardy loved his slot as the two-hole hitter for the Brewers last season. He got to see a ton of fastballs batting in front of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, and to Hardy's credit, he came through with another 20-plus home run season and many big hits.

  Now I won't take anything away from what Hardy has done in the past. 50 home runs in during the past two seasons for a shortstop are very, very good. Hardy also has a rocket-launcher attached to his right shoulder and can get a ball to first base as quick as anyone.

  Hardy has one more year of arbitration this winter before becoming a free agent after the 2010 season. Many fans have been calling for Hardy to be locked-up to a long-term contract. To those people, I ask, why?

  We have Alcides Escobar sitting in Triple A this year being groomed to eventually take over Hardy's spot at short.

  Ned Yost is no longer the manager of the Brewers, and Ken Macha won't stay with Hardy like Yost did in other cases. If Hardy doesn't perform, no one should be surprised if Craig Counsell starts seeing more starts at shortstop.

  I do feel that eventually Hardy will turn things around at the plate. However, he should be subject to the same standards that the rest of the team is held to. As much as some people like to think, this isn't a popularity contest, and if JJ Hardy doesn't give the Brewers the best chance to win, he should be on the bench until he can figure out how to hit major league pitching.

  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, JJ Hardy, Alcides Escobar

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• The Brewers refuse to be bullied

  Posted Apr 28 2009, 08:08 AM by TheRealBrewersGM

  The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5 on Monday night, and in the process showed just how mature this team has become.

  Ryan Braun continued his hot streak and belted his fifth home run in the bottom of the first to cut the Pirates lead to 2-1.

  On his next at bat, Braun was plunked in the upper back by Pirates' pitcher, Jeff Karstens. It was quite obvious there was intent by Karstens and warnings were given to both teams.

  The Pirates are in a position that most of the current Brewers have already been. They are a young, talented team trying to make their mark in the National League Central. In fact, the Pirates have gotten off to a very good start this season and sit in second place in the division.

  Although the Pirates are playing well, respect isn't easily given out in baseball, as the Brewers have learned over the past few years.

  I understand why Karstens threw the pitch he did to Braun. He needs to send a message to himself, his teammates, and the Brewers that the Pirates won't just roll over after a rough couple of innings. Unfortunately, the best way for Karstens to do that is to not let all his pitches hang in the strike zone.

  The Brewers kept their cool and had the best response possible. When the game was tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, the offense erupted for five runs against the Pirates pitching.

  Even though the Brewers got the last laugh and won the game, don't expect what happened to Braun to go unanswered. Yes, in theory, it is quite immature to engage in a contest of which team can hit the other team's batters, but it is about much more than that. It is about respect. The Brewers have earned it around the game, and the Pirates are still in the process of earning it.

  Do not be surprised tonight if Nyjer Morgan takes a pitch in the middle of his back to start tonight's game. Dave Bush knows the importance of sticking up for his teammates and that will serve as a message to the Pirates that they be an improved team, but they still have a lot of work before they are an elite team.

  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, Dave Bush

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• YO! The kid pitches a gem

  Posted Apr 24 2009, 10:14 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

   Yovani Gallardo showed Friday night why everyone has such high expectations for him in 2009. Gallardo pitched the first complete game of his career in the 5-2 win over the Astros.

  Gallardo needed only 106 pitches on the night. He struck out seven and walked none. Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer of Gallardo in the fourth, but Gallardo shut the Astros down the rest of the way. Included in Gallardo's seven strikeouts were three punch-outs of Lance Berkman.

  Gallardo continues a hot streak for Brewers pitchers. In the last nine games, Brewers pitchers have pitched a quality start eight times, and the early season questions about the rotation have quieted down.

  After Gallardo gave up the home run to Lee in the fourth, the Brewers bounced right back and scored four runs in the top of the fifth. Consecutive singles by Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Mike Cameron showed that the Brewers offense is more than just the home run this year.

  Rickie Weeks did add a long ball in the seventh for an insurance run. 

  Weeks and Cameron each had two hits on the night, while JJ Hardy tallied three hits, but his average still sits at a horrendous .190. Hardy is producing in the six-hole and he is finally starting to look comfortable at the plate.

  As well as the Brewers bats performed tonight, the story was all about Gallardo. He looks in complete control on the mound and you would never know that he is only 23 years old the way he carries himself. Gallardo now stands at 2-1 on the season, and he appears to be on his way to win his 15 to 20 games for the Brewers this season.
  

  The Brewers have now won three in a row, and it looks like the rotation and the bats are both clicking. The bullpen is fresh and Seth McClung and Mark DeFelice should be ready should Jeff Suppan get in trouble tomorrow.

  A win either tomorrow or Sunday will give the Brewers a winning road trip, something very few people thought possible when the Brewers left Miller Park last week.
  

   

  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Yovani Gallardo, Rickie Weeks

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• It's not revenge but it sure is sweet

  Posted Apr 23 2009, 08:37 PM by TheRealBrewersGM

  Nothing the Brewers do to the Phillies this or any other year could quite make up for the four-game beat down last September or the ousting from the playoffs in four games, but seeing Braden Looper and Dave Bush pitch gems while Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder finally get a clue at the plate sure does leave a warm feeling in the heart. 

  The Brewers finally won a series and put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Dave Bush flirted with a no-hitter and continued to look rock solid in the Brewers rotation. He has come a long way from being the laughing stock of the rotation to a pitcher the players and fans can count on every five days to pitch a quality game and give the Brewers a legitimate shot at picking up a victory.
  

  It has been a rough start to the year for the Brewers and taking two of three from the World Series champs can only enhance the confidence building with this team. 

  The starters seem to be in a groove of pitching quality starts. The bullpen closed out the last two games and Trevor Hoffman should be back very soon to solidify the back end of the bullpen. Todd Coffey can slide into the eighth inning role and Carlos Villanueva and Mark DeFelice will then be able to pitch the middle innings. 

  Ryan Braun has magically found his swing and looks as good at the plate as he ever has. He called the rest of the team out after the 11-4 loss on Tuesday and has backed up the talk with great play since. 

  Although Prince Fielder is still batting under .200, he is getting on base and finally came through with the bases loaded against the Phillies. I expect Prince to catch fire against the Astros this weekend and put the early season slump behind him.

  The Brewers will have Yovani Gallardo, Jeff Suppan, and Manny Parra going this weekend. Hopefully Yo and Soup can continue the recent trend of good outings by the starters and Manny Parra can finally pitch like he belongs in the majors. I fully expect the Brewers to take two of three from the Astros and return to Miller Park with a winning road trip of 5-4.
  

  Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Dave Bush

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