TWIB #5: 1 May - 7 May

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

John Kruk just said on Sportscenter that the Reds were off to a hot start this year because they were manufacturing runs instead of relying on the homerun.

 

The Reds are third in the majors (second in NL) in home runs this year. Poor fat John Kruk, it's like he's not even trying anymore.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Twins are really making a case for the worst team in baseball. It's May 1st, and it looks like they've given up.

[Hawk 34 0]

Kruk said the same thing I said? Jesus. I feel dirty but it's true, The Reds are scoring alot of home runs but that doesn't mean they are depending on them.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

But from what I've seen, they aren't wasting outs by moving runners along. They just seem to get a lot of guys on base, whether it be with the walk or hit. Thus, they've usually got RISP and are actually cashing in on them.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Ladies and gentlemen, your National League Player of the Week, April 24th - 30th: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano. I think he deserves it after pitching that complete shutout against the Cubs yesterday.

[mike546 0]

Will someone tell Joe Torre that Tanyon Sturtze just SUCKS ASS? It seems everyone in the world realizes this beside him.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'm surprised by the lack of Yankees/Red Sox commentary here. I figured it'd be @ 10 pages by now.

[naiwf 0]

Mets win with an amazing stroke of luck as the Nationals reliever throws away a double play ball that would have brought the game to extra innings. What was most encouraging about this contest is Zambrano's performance; 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K. That's a hell of a lot better than his previous three starts.

 

You should have heard the reaction to the Reyes baserunning blunder. It was a loud roar followed by a louder groan, and then boos.

 

I called Lo Duca ending the game in the 9th, I just thought he'd do it with a single. For a Monday night in May, it was a cool game to go to.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I'm surprised by the lack of Yankees/Red Sox commentary here. I figured it'd be @ 10 pages by now.

 

I watched the game and made a couple of notes expecting a huge running commentary in here. Surprised to see nothing... especially since it was a really fun game.

[vivalaultra 0]

Brewers beat the Astros 4-2 tonight at Miller Park. Always nice to beat teams within your own division. Derrick Turnbow is 9-for-9 on save attempts this year, and now leads the NL in saves.

 

And he's so stylishly dressed, too. And even though I'm a homer and I think the world of Brad Lidge...despite his difficulties, I've gotta say he's the best closer in the NL, at least in the young season. And to think he was a friggin' waiver claim. Oh well, we got Fernando Nieve going tomorrow against some rookie named...Ben Sheets (sp?), so I think we can count on a split.

[Kismet 0]

Shhh, don't give them any ideas, there is enough of that series coverage elsewhere. Watching the Tigers on tape-delay after the Red Wings fall apart.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Ladies and gentlemen, your National League Player of the Week, April 24th - 30th: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano. I think he deserves it after pitching that complete shutout against the Cubs yesterday.

 

 

My brother thinks Chris Capuano is the best lefty in the National League.

[vivalaultra 0]

My brother thinks Chris Capuano is the best lefty in the National League.

 

He's good, but he's no "Magic" Wandy Rodriguez.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Sounds like a Mexican Porn Star.

[KingPK 0]

I'm surprised by the lack of Yankees/Red Sox commentary here. I figured it'd be @ 10 pages by now.

 

Eh, it's the first of 17 so we're trying to pace ourselves here. I will say that, without the wind blowing in, Ortiz's homer would have cleared 475 ft. easily.

 

And the Mirabelli trade isn't that bad. Bard just looked way too uncomfortable catching Wakefield and Mirabelli wanted back in Boston. If anything, SD shouldn't have agreed to the Loretta/Mirabelli trade in the first place.

[vivalaultra 0]

Sounds like a Mexican Porn Star.

 

Well, he did come up with a mysterious "strained groin" earlier this season...and he's now apparently pitchin' free and easy...with no cup.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I weep everytime Ortiz hits a HR.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cincinnati is 8th in the N.L. in sacrifice hits, and 10th in sacrifice flies. I think their success is more due to their league leading .362 On Base Percentage, and 125 walks. If there is a small ball component, it is that they are 23 for 27 in stolen base attempts.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Brewers beat the Astros 4-2 tonight at Miller Park. Always nice to beat teams within your own division. Derrick Turnbow is 9-for-9 on save attempts this year, and now leads the NL in saves.

 

And he's so stylishly dressed, too. And even though I'm a homer and I think the world of Brad Lidge...despite his difficulties, I've gotta say he's the best closer in the NL, at least in the young season. And to think he was a friggin' waiver claim. Oh well, we got Fernando Nieve going tomorrow against some rookie named...Ben Sheets (sp?), so I think we can count on a split.

 

I take it you're joking about Sheets being a rookie...at least I hope so. Sheets should have a good outing...the question is if he gets any kind of bat support.

 

Yeah, the Brewers have definitely made out well on waiver claims over the past couple seasons. Doug Melvin is doing a great job as a GM (I don't think he's made one bad trade yet), and the other plus is that pitching coach Mike Maddux (Greg's brother) seems like he can turn virtually anyone into a good pitcher.

 

As far as Chris Capuano, he probably had the quietest 18 win season ever last year, at least in the NL. His pick off move is quite potent, to boot.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

To give another example of Milwaukee's success on the waiver wire, they nabbed Scott Podsednik on waivers in the 2002-03 offseason. After two moderately successful seasons they flipped him for Carlos Lee. Then there's the Keith Ginter for Nelson Cruz swap.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Phillies' fans (and other interested parties), Cole Hamels takes the mound for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre today at 2pm ET in Richmond, and the audio is available online at redbarons.com.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cole Hamels' line so far: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ks. I'm worried about the lower strikeout rate. Clearly AAA batters are catching up with him.

[Hawk 34 0]

Reds defeat the Red Birds again with a single from Valentin in the 9th to score the winning run. This isn't news but Williams really sucks.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Brian Falkenborg, not Jason Isringhausen, takes the loss against the current division leader. I mean, I know that we were basically playing to lose with Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen out, but why bring in the 12th guy out of the bullpen in a tight situation against a division rival?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hamels: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, 89 pitches.

 

Edit: Final Line, 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 Ks, 114 pitches.

 

That's 26 strikeouts in 16 AAA innings with one walk, five hits, no runs allowed, and a 2-0 record for his efforts. I think the Phils' should leave Hamels in AAA through the next homestand and evaluate him from there. Obviously though I want to see him make a start in Scranton in person. I honestly can not remember the Red Barons' EVER having a pitching prospect of this caliber come through.

[Guest Felonies!]

8-0 Pirates. Astounding.

[the pinjockey 0]

I think it needs to be said again that if you want to see Cole in Scranton you better make it to his next start. Striking out the side in the 9th 100 odd pitches in is sick.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think it needs to be said again that if you want to see Cole in Scranton you better make it to his next start. Striking out the side in the 9th 100 odd pitches in is sick.

His first SWB home start will likely be this Sunday, but I'll have work. I could probably make his second start on Friday the 12th. The Red Barons' consecutive scoreless innings record is 29 1/3 (set by Tim Mauser in 1991). I'd like to see Hamels take a shot at that. Hamels already holds the Barons' single game record for strikeouts by a lefty. I have already seen Hamels make a AA start in Binghamton though, so it wouldn't be a complete loss if he got called up.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

It's just embarrassing to be a Cubs fan these days. I know it's only May 2, but the Cubs have scored an amazing four runs in the last four games. That includes being shut out twice in the last three. Missing Lee obviously hurts, but it's not realistic to think they'd be doing so much better with him in there.

 

Let's consider that so far, Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones have been miserable failures. The Cubs have this stupid notion that having speedy guys is going to parlay into more runs, but that won't happen when these speedy guys are hitting around or lower than .300 with matching OBP. They gave up three guys for Juan Pierre to get on base. Right now, his OBP is looking like Corey Patterson's. And that's no exaggeration. At least Patterson offered some power in there. And let's not get started on Jones. He couldn't hit a lefty to save his life; he's another masher with minimal power and no patience. Plus he doesn't seem to be adjusting too well to the Windy City.

 

Of course, this wouldn't look AS bad if we had some semblence of pitching. Guzman didn't look that bad today, but his line looks a lot worse thanks to Roberto Novoa, who I'm convinced is only brought into games to turn a losing effort into a complete blowout.

 

It's just unbelivable that a team with this sort of income could only produce Pierre, Jones, and some bullpen guys. Oh, and Neifi with his sub .200 OBP and Glendon with his plus-8 ERA.

 

I'm aware few people want to read this, but I needed to vent. This franchise just looks uterly lost half the time and it's frustrating when you consider where they were two or three years ago. And to think, Lee's injury is probably ensuring a Dusty extension. I'd probably accept another poor season if it meant moving him and his crew out and getting someone with a clue in there.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Good lord Bruiser, they're 14-11!