Fun While It Lasted

Well, the Brewers were eliminated today by the San Diego Padres 6-3. If at the beginning of the season you would have told me that the Brewers would finish in 2nd place and have a .500 record or better, I would have been happy. However, when the Brewers had an 8-1/2 game lead on the division after the All-Star game and were 14 games over .500 at more than one point during the season, expectations understandably were raised. That, coupled with the division going to the irritating Chicago Cubs makes it all the worse.

Now, I want to see the Brewers actually finish over .500 and make the Padres earn a place in the post-season. I'll be very disappointed if the Crew roll over and play dead the last two games.

Little Leagues, Major Pressure

I still don't think the Little League World Series should be televised. It obviously places so much pressure on the kids. On the other hand, when it's on, I find it almost impossible to turn off. There is the "Us" vs. "Them" national pride issues (which again puts more pressure on the kids). But I also like watching baseball played full-out the way it's meant to be played even if it's not at the highest skill levels.

And the U.S.A. pulled off the big upset. Although now it doesn't seem to be as a big an upset as it used to be.

Even the win by the Americans was secondary to watching the raw emotions on the faces of both winners and losers. The Japanese kids were extremely gracious in defeat. Shaking hands with and hugging their opponents after the game even as tears rolled down their little faces. That was the true spirit of the game.

Inconceivable

"It's a test is all it is. We didn't lose a game in the standings. How do we react to that? My money is that these kids are going to bounce back just fine. It's all part of the process."
~~ Ned Yost, Milwaukee Brewers manager

"Iceberg? What iceberg?"
~~ Captain Edward John Smith, RMS Titanic

Major League

When the Brewers are losing (which they've been doing far too much of lately), I like to pop in the old Major League DVD. I still haven't been able to spot myself in the stadium shots in old (and now defunct) Milwaukee County Stadium or in the aerial shots over (the also defunct) Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. But it's still a fun movie.

That said, several things about the movie have always bugged me. First of all, the thought that a team would be able to cut their entire roster to bring in cheaper talent never made sense since all major league players have guaranteed contracts. One would think it would be great for the players if the Indians cut them. If they had any talent, they'd catch on elsewhere with a better team for more pay or if they didn't, they'd still get paid until their contract expired.

When Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) got the fake "red tag" in his locker indicating that he'd been cut from the major league roster, he went ballistic on manager, Lou Brown (James Gammon), saying that he'd catch on with another team and stick it up Brown's ass for cutting him. Uh, Ricky...when you get cut from the major league roster because you're not quite ready, you usually get sent to the minors. Not released outright." Duh.

Next, the "problem" of third baseman Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) being all bat and no glove would have been easy to fix. The Indians are an American League team. He just would have been made a designated hitter. Problem solved.

The speed and lack of conscience with which Lynn Westland (Rene Russo) cheats on her fiancee with Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) is disturbing. But that might just be a moral issue that I have don't share with the Hollywood crowd.

While I've never been to spring training camp, I'm pretty sure that major league players would not be bunking together like they were at summer basketball camp. Even with the league minimum being a "mere" $68,000 in 1989 (it would go up to $100,000 by 1990 and is $380,000 now), one would think that players such as Dorn and Eddie Harris (Chelcie Ross) who had been in the league for several years - and make considerably more than the minimum - would find their own accomodations even at a Motel 6 rather than barracks style bedding. Maybe minor leaguers and non-roster invitee might do that but veterans? No.

Finally, the "hunch" that led Brown to bring in "Wild Thing" Vaughn to face Clu Haywood (former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Pete Vuckovich) with the game on the line and given Vaughn's inability to keep Haywood from hitting every pitch out of the ballpark is completely absurd. But it makes for good theater.

Of course, that's all nit-picking. It's still a great movie.

Sliding Towards September

Can this team ever hold a lead? Off to a 3-0 lead through 5, the Brewers fall apart in Colorado to get killed 11-4. This after a week of blowing 5 and 6 run leads. Including Sunday's choke job against the Phillies where they gave away a 5 run advantage going into the top of the 9th at home. They haven't recovered from that yet and probably won't.

The Brewers are repeatedly blowing games with a bullpen that is 50/50 at best to get anyone out. Pitcher Matt Wise hasn't recovered from shattering a Cincinnati Red's face two weeks ago. Now he's afraid to pitch inside. When he does occasionally find the plate with a pitch, he throws a batting practice meatball that gets drilled. I thought our bullpen problems were solved when they traded away Grant Balfour (or "Grant Ball Four") and actually got more than a bag of used balls in return. But no, the problems were just beginning.

Yes, the Cubs aren't winning right now either but they're dealing with the injury to Soriano gutting their offense. The Brewers aren't pitching, aren't hitting and the managerial decisions are questionable. At least they're consistent top to bottom. I guess that's something. And we have Youvonni Gallardo pitching tomorrow so maybe we can salvage a game in the series against the Rockies.

8/8/07 Update: Nope, Gallardo wasn't the the stopper today. He got shelled for 11 runs in 2-2/3 innings. His ERA went from #5 in the National League at 2.30 (or thereabouts) to 4.90. Yeech. Oh, and the Brewers lost 19-4.

Cubs Motivation

Does Anyone Want to Win This Division?

Well, the Brewers FINALLY won a game. Held on by the hair on Coco Cordero's chinny chin chin. Fortunately, no one else in the division seems able to win a series and gain any ground. The Cubs, the supposed class of the division, can't get out of their own way and Sweet Lou Piniella is heading to a nervous breakdown.

Of course, the Brewers can't count on everyone else losing the rest of the season. And they can't count on playing the Pirates and Nationals all year long. They're a young team but they need to find a way to pull themselves together. And finding a replacement for Dave Bush might not be a bad idea. He's pitching tomorrow and will doubtlessly get lit up. Sure, he's a number 4 or 5 starter but geez he's automatic. An automatic loss. Hopefully, the Cubs will get shellacked too.

Poor Little Rich Girl

How sad a day it is when socialite millionairesses are held to the same standards as the wretched, huddled masses that tune in to their reality TV shows. Paris Hilton has fired her publicist for allegedly mis-informing her that she could drive following Paris' DUI plea. Poor little Paris didn't know her license was suspended. Despite being told by the police on at least one prior occasion before prosecutors moved to revoke her probation. Of course, in the end, it's up to each driver to be responsible for knowing the status of his or her license. "I'm very busy and didn't ask my attorneys about it" doesn't cut it. Neither does going on a radio interview hours after a DUI and saying, "It's no big deal. I just wanted an In-n-Out Burger".

Is this a witch hunt? Well, regardless of what you think of Paris Hilton and her kind, if the treatment she's receiving isn't typical of how DUI probation violators are scrutinized, it should be. Does the D.A. have to wait until she actually kills someone while under the influence? Or even kills herself?

Speaking of which, the DUI issue has raised its head in the case of Josh Hancock, a 29 year old journeyman pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. When word of his early morning fatal collision spread, it wasn't long before the question started being raised of whether alcohol was involved. Immediately, apologists rose to the defense of the fallen athlete. "You can't leap to conclusion on this. The tests results aren't back yet." Well, the test results are now back and the conclusions are clear that Hancock had over 2x the legal BAC at the time of his death and marijuana paraphrenalia was also found in his vehicle. Does it make it less of a tragedy for his friends and family? No. But he apparently had opportunities to avoid his demise. Hancock reportedly turned down offers to have a cab called for him.

Now the Cardinals have banned alcohol from the clubhouse. Not necessarily a bad idea given their manager's own DUI problems. It won't stop players from jumping in their luxury automobiles and driving down the road for a drink. But it will insulate the team from potential liability which could have arisen if an intoxicated player were to get loaded in the clubhouse and injured/killed someone. I don't know if Missouri has social host Dram Shop liability but better safe than sorry.

Uh Oh, It's Kerry Sheets

Or is it Ben Prior? Or Ben Dover? Ugh. Ben Sheets is hurt again. Injured his groin. He's fragile enough to be a Cubs starter. I really don't know how a baseball player injures his groin. If you warm up properly, you shouldn't have any trouble. Yet, Sheets always finds away to get hurt.

Ironically, Sheets got hurt on the same day that the Cubs' Mark "The Porcelain Doll" Prior was shut down for the year. Unfortunately, Sheets' injury allowed the Cubs to salvage the final game of the series against the Brewers today. He had shut them down for three innings before coming out and his no-name replacement got lit up. But Milwaukee is still in first place. Hopefully, Sheets won't miss too much time. He's still the Brewers' ace at least he would be until the next injury.

When asked about the decision to shut Sheets down after three innings, Mark Maddux, the Brewers pitching coach commented that a groin isn't something you want to mess with. Really? I spent much of my single life doing just that.

For more on Sheets' injury, click here.

Same Ol' Cubs

Lou Piniella has already had his fill of Cubs' tradition. Bucky Katt could have told Lou all about that before he took the manager's job.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone. No, no bunnies or eggs here. Not that I won't be eating chocolate ones for the next week or two.

Weekend was full of fun and adventure. We signed up with a real estate broker to sell the condo on Saturday. He bemoaned the condo market right now but did like the upgrades we put into the place. We then went to see Wicked in downtown Chicago at the Ford Oriental Theater. It was a very good show. It wasn't Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, but it was very enjoyable. Some catchy tunes but probably not a soundtrack that I'll run out and get.

We then drove up to Milwaukee Saturday evening. Stopped in Kenosha at The Chancery for dinner. I had the "Friday" fish fry which they now serve all week. It used to be all you can eat fish and fries but no longer. The breading isn't as good as it used to be either but it's still very good. Kerry had a good piece of tilapia and some onion cheezy soup. She thought it was good.

Sunday, we went to my Mom's (and her husband, Gerry's) non-denominational church's Easter service. I'm still not a big fan of the informal service structure and contemporary music. I still kind of think it's a "follow the bouncing ball" service. And one song had a refrain: "What a Savior!" And I couldn't but help think of Russian comedian Yakoff Smirnoff and his catch-phrase: "What a country."

We then went back to mom and Gerry's place and had a ham sandwich and fruit plate brunch before Kerry and I went down to Miller Park to watch the Brewers take on the Cubs. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Brewers got off to an early lead and then held on despite a Cubs rally in the 6th inning. The Brewers put the game away in the 8th to win 9-4 but the game was a lot closer than it needed to be.

Play Ball

As the baseball season gets ready for its first pitch, the big question is, "Will Tony LaRussa hear chants of 'D.U.I.! D.U.I.!' in every stadium in which the Cardinals play?" I mean besides Wrigley?

See the LaRussa's Smoking Gun DUI report here.

Brew City Darkhorse?

Numerous pundits are picking the Milwaukee Brewers as a darkhorse contender for the National League Central Division in 2007. Does this mean the Brewers will be surprisingly good or the division is just going to be surprisingly bad. Well, with the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals and perennial contenders the Houston Astros suffing serious attrition to free agency the way got a whole lot easier. The Pittsburgh Pirates will struggle to sniff .500 and the Chicago Cubs, well, they're the Cubs. I don't care how much money they spent in the off-season.

The Brewers on the other hand have a solid starting rotation (assuming Ben Sheets stays healthy), a reliable closer and, if Derrick Turnbow can handle the "demotion" to set up man and continue to pitch like he has in Spring Training, the Brewers could make the game short for their opponents. The Brewers infield has been called the best young infield in baseball by ESPN (although this was before 3B Ryan Braun was sent down to the minor). Even with journeymen infielders Tony Granffanino and Craig Counsell platooning at third, the infield should be a definite strength this year. And if Braun can figure out how to field the position, he could be back this year. Heck, even Roger Dorn figured it out.

Now that Geoff Jenkins and Kevin Mensch appear to have stopped bitching about their potential platooning in right field, even the outfield situation seems to be firming up. Corey Hart may be an emerging star in left and Jack of All Positions Bill Hall will provide exceptional pop in centerfield.This could be the year to finally go above .500 and make a real run at the playoffs. I don't expect the Brewers to be the Yankees or Red Sox but some consistent hope would be nice. My usual mantra of "Just finish ahead of the Cubs" isn't going to be enough this year.

Finally, I just want to acknowledge one of the best designed logos in sports history:

Play Ball!

Yes, pitchers and catchers just reported to spring training last week and position players slowly are filtering in as well. But let me be the first to report: THE CHICAGO CUBS ARE ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION.

"What?" you ask, "Didn't the Cubs just bring in a new high profile manager who was wanted by nearly every club with a managerial opening?" Very true. This is supposed to be the "next year" that Cubs fans have been waiting for. But the Cubs have brought in the "It" manager before and while "Dusty" Piniella may breathe some long missing life into the dugout, the talent on the field has to get the job done. I'm still waiting for Piniella's miraculous turnaround to happen in Tampa.

"What about the Cubs free agent signings? Certainly they'll help." Alfonso Soriano is a top notch hitter. Slugging in a pitcher friendly RFK Stadium last year was most impressive especially given the early controversy of his position change. But don't you think he might be looking at the second base position at Wrigley with a jealous eye with the revolving door of so-called talent there? Ronny Cedeno is still just trying to avoid spiking himself after moving to second. Mark LaRosa? Ryan Theriot? Are they really the answer? Just wait. A controversy will be a-brewin'.

The Cubs overpaid for Ted Lilly which will incite Carlos Zambrano to demand even more money or risk yet another clubhouse distraction. As Zambrano (or as he refers to himself "The Big Z") said, "Whatever happens, I don't want to know about a contract during the season. I want to sign with the Cubs before the season starts. If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks." Gotta love a guy who talks about himself in the third person. Oh, YEAH!

And, of course, the Cubs didn't just sign new problems. They re-signed Aramis Ramirez. He of the lackadaisical hustle and head-bonking pop-ups. If Piniella can get Ramirez to show some heart, the Cubs may actually have some hope. Nah.

Oops, gotta go. Kerry Wood just got hurt again and Larry Rothschild is helping him and Mark Prior rehab with the infamous towel drills. Ya know, cuz that's been so effective in the past.