Monday, May 30, 2011
One of the Loveliest Things About Baseball Is...
You just can't ever figure it out.
So, I've been holding off blogging for a while I was really busy the weekend they swept the Rockies and then they just... kept... winning. So I didn't want to break the streak. Six in a row and then it was another busy weekend. So anyway, yeah, things have been good:
Good Things Over the Past 10 Days
One of the Loveliest Things About Baseball Is... you never, ever, ever can figure this game out.
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You just can't ever figure it out.
So, I've been holding off blogging for a while I was really busy the weekend they swept the Rockies and then they just... kept... winning. So I didn't want to break the streak. Six in a row and then it was another busy weekend. So anyway, yeah, things have been good:
Good Things Over the Past 10 Days
- Corey Hart getting hot and getting into the number 2 spot of the lineup
- Yo! with 5 quality starts in a row
- Marcum for the most part automatic
- Granky rounding into form
- A Real Wolf going back to Dr. Jekyll for 3 starts
- Ricky the fuego
- Braun and Fielder hot at the same time
- Tony Plush is back
- The bullpen in general (only runs given up in last week, 2 by something called "Tim Dillard" who I think won a contest to make the team)
- Jon Lucroy the greatest hitting catcher of all time
- Mark Kotsay, Carlos Gomez, Yuni B. are still awful
- Chris Narveson is pitching like a 5th starter
- The bunting. The endless bunting. I know they won a game with a squeeze bunt. I mean the sacrifices.
- Stink bugs. These things drive me crazy.
- Uecker does not identify home runs well. There have been about a dozen "Get up!" calls that got me excited, followed by silence and confusion and possibly people cheering a catch.
- The defense. We will have to live with some bad defense this year. Maybe we can win.
One of the Loveliest Things About Baseball Is... you never, ever, ever can figure this game out.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Hoffman is Awesome
Joshing around with Trevor Hoffman about his insane workout regimen and how the other bullpen guys would try to keep up.
Hoffman: I was trying to break 'em. That was the only way to keep my job, is to break them down. I need job security. I can't throw 100 miles per hour.
Uecker: All these guys are coming up with pulled hamstrings, pulled legs, everything. Alright, Trevor, you're the man. The other guy can't work he's got a pulled hamstring, he's got a pulled oblique, he's got a torn shoulder blade fell off.
Hoffman: Alright guys, try this workout. We're gonna do this today.
Uecker: "Well, what are we gonna do?" "We're gonna lift cars."
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Joshing around with Trevor Hoffman about his insane workout regimen and how the other bullpen guys would try to keep up.
Hoffman: I was trying to break 'em. That was the only way to keep my job, is to break them down. I need job security. I can't throw 100 miles per hour.
Uecker: All these guys are coming up with pulled hamstrings, pulled legs, everything. Alright, Trevor, you're the man. The other guy can't work he's got a pulled hamstring, he's got a pulled oblique, he's got a torn shoulder blade fell off.
Hoffman: Alright guys, try this workout. We're gonna do this today.
Uecker: "Well, what are we gonna do?" "We're gonna lift cars."
Roenicke is Terrible
Who sends a runner at third on contact with no outs in the inning and your 4-5-6 hitters up?
Also, what does the official Padres announcer have against Jason Bartlett??
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Who sends a runner at third on contact with no outs in the inning and your 4-5-6 hitters up?
Also, what does the official Padres announcer have against Jason Bartlett??
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
19 to 1. That's right.
In a 19-1 loss to the Indians, Royals pitcher Vin Mazzaro gave up 14 runs. Uecker wondered how Ned Yost could leave someone in for 14 runs.
"If I were the catcher, I'd just hand my glove to the umpire and say, 'You take it. I'll be back in a while.' If the manager asked me how he's doing, I'd say, 'I don't know I haven't caught one yet.'"
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In a 19-1 loss to the Indians, Royals pitcher Vin Mazzaro gave up 14 runs. Uecker wondered how Ned Yost could leave someone in for 14 runs.
"If I were the catcher, I'd just hand my glove to the umpire and say, 'You take it. I'll be back in a while.' If the manager asked me how he's doing, I'd say, 'I don't know I haven't caught one yet.'"
Ethier and Kemp and Have Some Hemp? Kemp and Ethier and No One Meatier?
Wow, this Dodgers lineup. I thought the Brewers had a lot of zeroes. I never expected to see a starting Major League lineup with Jamey Carroll, Aaron Miles, AND Juan Uribe in it. Ugh. They've got Juan Castro on the roster too. Wow. Plus, James Loney is really sucking, along with Tony Gwynn Jr., Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons. Rod Barajas has 7 homers and that's about all his production. A team .315 on base percentage is awful.
Why are Ethier or Kemp seeing any strikes whatsoever?
Why does Roenicke love bunting with no outs so much?? Constantly hitting with two outs per inning instead of three is NOT going to help the offense break out.
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Wow, this Dodgers lineup. I thought the Brewers had a lot of zeroes. I never expected to see a starting Major League lineup with Jamey Carroll, Aaron Miles, AND Juan Uribe in it. Ugh. They've got Juan Castro on the roster too. Wow. Plus, James Loney is really sucking, along with Tony Gwynn Jr., Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons. Rod Barajas has 7 homers and that's about all his production. A team .315 on base percentage is awful.
Why are Ethier or Kemp seeing any strikes whatsoever?
Why does Roenicke love bunting with no outs so much?? Constantly hitting with two outs per inning instead of three is NOT going to help the offense break out.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Home Runs Are Boring
"Chicks" may "dig the long ball" but generally, they are the least exciting "highlight" videos. Yup, there it is... fastball up, guy runs back, over the wall, guy trots around track. When I'm listening to a game on MLB.com, the replays I would most like to see are borderline calls that could have been an out or not, or a rundown, or really anything where the outcome is more in question. "Web gems" are ok too, but they don't inform the story of the game that much.
They have some kind of automated video segment for every scoring play. Then I guess they must manually flag some "web gems." I'm just not sure how useful this is.
Addendum...
NUMBER TWO HUNDRED FOR BIG PRINCE!!! OK, a game-tying smash is pretty exciting.
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"Chicks" may "dig the long ball" but generally, they are the least exciting "highlight" videos. Yup, there it is... fastball up, guy runs back, over the wall, guy trots around track. When I'm listening to a game on MLB.com, the replays I would most like to see are borderline calls that could have been an out or not, or a rundown, or really anything where the outcome is more in question. "Web gems" are ok too, but they don't inform the story of the game that much.
They have some kind of automated video segment for every scoring play. Then I guess they must manually flag some "web gems." I'm just not sure how useful this is.
Addendum...
NUMBER TWO HUNDRED FOR BIG PRINCE!!! OK, a game-tying smash is pretty exciting.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I Love a Friendly Chat During a Blowout
Provis: Did you see LaRussa isn't managing there tonight?
Uecker: Must be a "Free Pasta" night somewhere.
Provis: He was actually diagnosed with shingles.
Uecker: I just had my roof redone.
Provis: I think we're talking about different shingles.
Uecker: Good, because mine were expensive.
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Provis: Did you see LaRussa isn't managing there tonight?
Uecker: Must be a "Free Pasta" night somewhere.
Provis: He was actually diagnosed with shingles.
Uecker: I just had my roof redone.
Provis: I think we're talking about different shingles.
Uecker: Good, because mine were expensive.
First this,
and also this.
RIP Kenny Geidel.
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and also this.
RIP Kenny Geidel.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Corey Hart Receives the Ultimate Insult?
Bases loaded, two outs, ninth inning, down by 3. Who comes in to pinch-hit?
I'll-See-Counsell-In-Chambers
I like the call! Eduardo Sanchez was having a hard time with wildness and Counsell has better strike zone control. Still, not going with the guy who had 30 home runs last year and instead going with the guy hitting .222 with no extra-base hits. Dang.
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Bases loaded, two outs, ninth inning, down by 3. Who comes in to pinch-hit?
I'll-See-Counsell-In-Chambers
I like the call! Eduardo Sanchez was having a hard time with wildness and Counsell has better strike zone control. Still, not going with the guy who had 30 home runs last year and instead going with the guy hitting .222 with no extra-base hits. Dang.
Thinking About Brewers Coaches
One of the great things about listening to the previous night's games in the morning while working is the archives begin with the Ron Roenicke Show. A couple games ago there was also an interview with third base coach Ed Sedar.
Both Sedar and Roenicke sound like really nice guys. Really pleasant, soft-spoken neighbors who will chat with you about this or that. Roenicke comes across as just another fan. When he talks about good things from a game, there is no insight other than what everybody saw. "Yeah, I wasn't sure about that ball Gomez caught but he's got such great speed and he got it." "Guys are starting to hit better, I think." "The guys tell me that [Kyle McClellan] is tough on them in relief. He throws all the pitches well." "Gosh, I'd sure like it if we could get out of this 7-game losing streak."
I wish I could say that these interviews gave me confidence. He sounds like a middle manager who ambles around a department he doesn't really understand. Maybe he's a "players manager," a guy who is just like one of the team and does all the business end of things - turning in a lineup, calling in pitchers, etc. but doesn't do too much else. He doesn't sound like a motivator in any way. Maybe this can work. I don't know.
Ed Sedar had a refreshingly different voice for sports. With a slight lisp and a gentle tone, it was the least macho I've ever heard from a sports guy. Sedar is a huge man and a former four-sport athlete who played in the White Sox organization, and a dad who loves cooking and his three golden retrievers: Sadie, Jake and Romeo. No mention of him being married. I have to admit I'm pulling for the idea that he's gay only because that might lead to more open-mindedness in pro sports.
At first base, is Garth Iorg. I remember when he was a major leaguer and I hated getting his baseball card. Dane Iorg too. Nothing personal against those guys but I swear I had 100 copies of each of them. Every pack had a dang Iorg in it. Them and Jim Beattie.
Anyway, I like these guys as people. Whether or not they can make this team successful (or what a coaching staff can do, anyway) remains to be seen. I'm already not that much of a fan of Roenicke as a strategist. I'd like to see if he'll make adjustments. Batting Gomez eighth last night is a good sign.
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One of the great things about listening to the previous night's games in the morning while working is the archives begin with the Ron Roenicke Show. A couple games ago there was also an interview with third base coach Ed Sedar.
Both Sedar and Roenicke sound like really nice guys. Really pleasant, soft-spoken neighbors who will chat with you about this or that. Roenicke comes across as just another fan. When he talks about good things from a game, there is no insight other than what everybody saw. "Yeah, I wasn't sure about that ball Gomez caught but he's got such great speed and he got it." "Guys are starting to hit better, I think." "The guys tell me that [Kyle McClellan] is tough on them in relief. He throws all the pitches well." "Gosh, I'd sure like it if we could get out of this 7-game losing streak."
I wish I could say that these interviews gave me confidence. He sounds like a middle manager who ambles around a department he doesn't really understand. Maybe he's a "players manager," a guy who is just like one of the team and does all the business end of things - turning in a lineup, calling in pitchers, etc. but doesn't do too much else. He doesn't sound like a motivator in any way. Maybe this can work. I don't know.
Ed Sedar had a refreshingly different voice for sports. With a slight lisp and a gentle tone, it was the least macho I've ever heard from a sports guy. Sedar is a huge man and a former four-sport athlete who played in the White Sox organization, and a dad who loves cooking and his three golden retrievers: Sadie, Jake and Romeo. No mention of him being married. I have to admit I'm pulling for the idea that he's gay only because that might lead to more open-mindedness in pro sports.
At first base, is Garth Iorg. I remember when he was a major leaguer and I hated getting his baseball card. Dane Iorg too. Nothing personal against those guys but I swear I had 100 copies of each of them. Every pack had a dang Iorg in it. Them and Jim Beattie.
Anyway, I like these guys as people. Whether or not they can make this team successful (or what a coaching staff can do, anyway) remains to be seen. I'm already not that much of a fan of Roenicke as a strategist. I'd like to see if he'll make adjustments. Batting Gomez eighth last night is a good sign.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Two Games, Almost Two No-Hitters
Doing some freelance programming today got to listen to both last night's Brewers game and today's. In both, a no-hitter went until late in the game. Pretty exciting!
I'm very encouraged with Mike McClendon.
I'm encouraged by Yo! (Though he's still walking too many guys.)
I'm encouraged by a dang win.
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Doing some freelance programming today got to listen to both last night's Brewers game and today's. In both, a no-hitter went until late in the game. Pretty exciting!
I'm very encouraged with Mike McClendon.
I'm encouraged by Yo! (Though he's still walking too many guys.)
I'm encouraged by a dang win.
Friday, May 06, 2011
At least we can laugh sometimes
"What made Johnny [Logan] a better scout than you?" - Provis
"I think he went to the games." - Ueck
*laughs* - Provis
"I just looked at the box scores." - Ueck
Nyjer Morgan went down with a broken finger last night pulling out the great Brewer play of the sacrifice bunt. The shine might be coming off Tony Plush a bit. He had a rough night. Bunted for a hit which was good but then got caught stealing when he was halfway to second before Brandon Beachy even released the ball. He also dove and turned a single into a double.
Manny Parra is down for the year too... TJ surgery + more. Not sure that I care.
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"What made Johnny [Logan] a better scout than you?" - Provis
"I think he went to the games." - Ueck
*laughs* - Provis
"I just looked at the box scores." - Ueck
Nyjer Morgan went down with a broken finger last night pulling out the great Brewer play of the sacrifice bunt. The shine might be coming off Tony Plush a bit. He had a rough night. Bunted for a hit which was good but then got caught stealing when he was halfway to second before Brandon Beachy even released the ball. He also dove and turned a single into a double.
Manny Parra is down for the year too... TJ surgery + more. Not sure that I care.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
27-12
That's the score in all of the sixth innings so far this season. Opponents 27, Brewers 12. Once again last night, the Brewers seemed to be in a tight game where runs are hard to come by and the wheels came off in the 6th inning, third time through the order against our starters. There's an air of desperation right now in the run scoring. It seems like every 2-1 or 1-0 lead just feels like you have to hope for a shutout the rest of the way because no more is coming.
Not sure what the problem is on offense. The team seems like OBP is terrible but they are 4th in the league at .326. Of course the dead-last Padres lead the league at .358. Slugging, we're 3rd in the league. (Wow, again San Diego is leading... what's up with that?) Anyway, added together, though... we're 10th in the league in scoring. Maybe our timing is just bad. Or maybe I'm just totally wrong. We're 14th in the league in pitching VORP.
Well, we got Granky! He was a bit rusty, though. Braun's streak ended. Zach Braddock is on the DL with a sleep disorder - his own, not Roenicke's. Five game losing streak puts us only a game ahead of the Astros in last. Ugh. This 5-12 road team needs to return to its 9-5 home ASAP!
oh and p.s.
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That's the score in all of the sixth innings so far this season. Opponents 27, Brewers 12. Once again last night, the Brewers seemed to be in a tight game where runs are hard to come by and the wheels came off in the 6th inning, third time through the order against our starters. There's an air of desperation right now in the run scoring. It seems like every 2-1 or 1-0 lead just feels like you have to hope for a shutout the rest of the way because no more is coming.
Not sure what the problem is on offense. The team seems like OBP is terrible but they are 4th in the league at .326. Of course the dead-last Padres lead the league at .358. Slugging, we're 3rd in the league. (Wow, again San Diego is leading... what's up with that?) Anyway, added together, though... we're 10th in the league in scoring. Maybe our timing is just bad. Or maybe I'm just totally wrong. We're 14th in the league in pitching VORP.
Well, we got Granky! He was a bit rusty, though. Braun's streak ended. Zach Braddock is on the DL with a sleep disorder - his own, not Roenicke's. Five game losing streak puts us only a game ahead of the Astros in last. Ugh. This 5-12 road team needs to return to its 9-5 home ASAP!
oh and p.s.
