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KTE: The Milwaukee Beermakers in the big Citi

TransMonk Apr 17 2009 07:02 AM

2008 saw the Milwaukee Brewers’ return to the playoffs for the first time in over 25 years as they beat out the Mets for the NL Wild Card on the final day of the season. The good team became great last year with the mid-season acquisition of CC Sabathia who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts for the Brew Crew. Even though Sabathia left for the Yankees during the off-season, Milwaukee has a slew of young home-grown talent that could put them in the same place at this season’s trade deadline where ace pitchers may be available. The Mets went 4-2 against Milwaukee last season. The Brewers took 2 of 3 from the Mets in an early season meeting at Shea that included a showdown between Johan Santana and Ben Sheets that the Brewers won 5-3. The two pitchers would dual again on Labor Day as the Mets won the first game of a series they would sweep at Miller Park. After that sweep, the Mets went 10-12 the rest of the way leading to another year of missing out on the postseason. Pitching Match-ups: Friday 04/17/09: Dave Bush, RHP (0-0, 6.14) vs. Livan Hernandez, RHP (1-0, 2.70) Bush allowed 3 runs in 6.1 innings against the Cubs in his only other start this season. He pitched in relief on opening day surrendering 2 runs in 1 inning against the Giants. Bush typically struggles away from Miller Park (3-6, 5.14 ERA in 77 IP on the road vs. 6-4, 3.50 ERA in 108 IP at home in 2008). Bush is 2-1 lifetime against the Mets despite a 6.75 ERA in 12 innings against New York in his career. Saturday 04/18/09: Yovani Gallardo, RHP (1-1, 6.94) vs. Johan Santana, LHP (1-1, 0.71) With Sabathia and Sheets gone, the Brewers are expecting great things from Gallardo who missed a large chunk of last season due to injury. He features an above average fastball, a great curveball and a good slider. He has been touched up for 9 earned runs in 11.2 innings over 2 starts so far this season. This kid started Game 1 of the NLDS last year after not having pitched since May 1st. He lost that game on 3 unearned runs. Gallardo had a 0-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in 4 starts before last season’s injury. Sunday 04/19/09: Jeff Suppan, RHP (0-2, 12.91) vs. TBA Mike Pelfrey will most likely skip his scheduled start on Sunday opening the door for a possible Niese or Figueroa start…update to come in this thread. Jeff Suppan is the veteran of the Milwaukee staff and, gauging by his first two starts, the Soup is done. Suppan walked four in the fourth inning of his most recent start against the Cubs, including three with the bases loaded. Suppan is 3-2 lifetime against the Mets with a 3.63 ERA in 52 regular season innings. Of course, the asshole pitched 15 innings in the 2006 NLCS allowing only 1 run…but that was also likely the best 15 innings of his career. Milwaukee’s Lineup: 2B Rickie Weeks: 9/35, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .257/.333/.486 RF Corey Hart: 8/32, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .250/.385/.625 LF Ryan Braun: 7/33, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .212/.366/.303 1B Prince Fielder: 6/30, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .200/.350/.400 SS JJ Hardy: 5/32, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .156/.176/.375 CF Mike Cameron: 10/27, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .370/.500/.815 3B Bill Hall: 7/25, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .280/.357/.440 C Jason Kendall: 3/25, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .120/.233/.160 The Brewers have an offense that is fairly one-dimensional: hit the ball out of the ballpark. They rank 28th in the majors in batting average and have the most strikeouts of any NL team. Hart and Braun were All-Stars last season and Fielder is always a threat even though he’s a fattie. Cameron is off to the hottest start and Rickie Weeks is still trying to prove that he is an everyday leadoff hitter after several years of trying. The Brewer bench has 1 single in 11 at-bats with no RBIs. We could see backup catcher Mike Rivera at some point this weekend as well as the ageless wonder Craig Counsell in the infield Milwaukee’s bullpen has a 4.78 ERA and 1 save in 32 IP and is decent at best (17 ER). They are waiting for their closer Trevor Hoffman to make his 2009 debut, but he is currently on the disabled list. Carlos Villanueva is the makeshift closer until Hoffman returns. Ex-Met Brewers: Mike Cameron Jorge Julio Braden Looper Willie Randolph (coach and winner) Ex-Brewer Mets: Gary Sheffield Mets all time vs. Brewers: 49-27, .640 % Milwaukee should be considering this a rebuilding year after a disappointing off-season where they lost more than they gained. Too many things need to go right for them to expect to contend at the end of the season. However, they are a young team with a lot of talented players. If Gallardo can pitch like an ace and their offense can hit enough home runs for the other 4 starters, they could find themselves within a few games at the deadline where they could land a frontline starter like they did last year.

themetfairy Apr 17 2009 07:33 AM

Nice knowledge TM!

Frayed Knot Apr 17 2009 07:37 AM

I heard speculation (MLBN, I think) that the Brews are considering skipping Soup-bone on Sunday due to his horrid outings to date. Seems a little quick for a team short on hurlers as it is and I'm not sure who'd go in his place if they do.

Edgy DC Apr 17 2009 08:01 AM

I'm coming out in favor of Bobby Parnell as TBA.

metirish Apr 17 2009 08:15 AM

Nice work...we really need to make short work of this team. Not hitting all that much but apparently hotting up.

A Boy Named Seo Apr 17 2009 08:50 AM

You guys see Prince Fielder get robbed of a homer the other night, then tip his cap to the guy who robbed him? I had no opinion of Prince before, but now I think he's aces. Bill Hall looks like he's doing everything to stave off the arrival of stud prospect Mat Gamel. Any buzz on that kid, or still a ways off? Great work, TM.

bmfc1 Apr 17 2009 08:59 AM

Welll done TM. Kendall is having trouble throwing out runners. Jerry needs to turn 'em loose this weekend.

TransMonk Apr 17 2009 09:16 AM

Gamel may get get called up this season, but I think they'll give Hall every chance to fail because his contract is pretty huge in Milwaukee dollars. Gamel is being touted as the next Robin Ventura. The Brewers top prospect seems to be shortstop Alcides Escobar. More likely he gets called up and Hardy moves to third or second depending on the bigger need. Either way, they have more young infield talent on the way. I think they have more than enough to trade somebody for a pitcher to stabalize their rotation later this season. More of a question of when rather than if, because IMO this team "as is" will not finish over .500.

themetfairy Apr 17 2009 09:18 AM

="A Boy Named Seo":2o7s99cc]You guys see Prince Fielder get robbed of a homer the other night, then tip his cap to the guy who robbed him? I had no opinion of Prince before, but now I think he's aces. Bill Hall looks like he's doing everything to stave off the arrival of stud prospect Mat Gamel. Any buzz on that kid, or still a ways off? Great work, TM.[/quote:2o7s99cc] Yes - we saw that on Extra Innings. It was a classy gesture. John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 17 2009 09:58 AM I know nobody agrees with me on this, but I still maintain the Brewers were about the worst thing to happen to the Mets last September. I'm referring specifically to their laying down over a 4-game series in Philly in September when going 2-2 would have mortally wounded the Phillies and even 1-3 would have kept the heat off considerably. The Mets prior to that series opener had opened the largest lead of the season 3.5 games over Philly with -- say it with me -- 17 games left to play. Schoeneweis & Ayala each blew a game as we lost 2 of 3 to ATL that weekend but it wouldn't have mattered much if Milwaukee wasn't coughing up 7 runs a nite at Philly. But no -- we're back to a 1-game advantage. It was the worst possible outcome and completely changed the whole dynamics of the race. That series, I believe, led to the sudden firing of their manager. That gave them a little bounce, and so they roll to the finish, and Philly on the momentum of that 4-game sweep finish strong, and well you know what happens to us. So Fuck you, Milwaukee Brewers. TransMonk Apr 17 2009 10:12 AM Agreed. Lost in the KTE where I stated that the Mets went 10-12 after sweeping the Brewers in September is the fact that Milwaukee went 10-13...including dropping the 4 game set to the Phils. The Cubs also laid down for the Brewers during that final weekend (as is their right as they clinched early). But, the Mets were better than the Brewers last season. The games in April are just as important as the games in September. I look back at [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280413121]April 13, 2008[/url] as looming as large as September 28, 2008. [TheMets] pounded out 14 hits and walked eight times. The Mets scored in each of the first three innings, but hit into double plays in each of the next five innings to squander scoring opportunities.