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Here’s Andrew McCutchen’s Fourth Career Walk-off Home Run

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

One of our favorite players around the league, The Dread Pirate is finding his way once again.

We were actually watching this game live (illegally – MLB blackout restrictions can’t keep us down) when McCutchen went boom off the last arm in the Brewers bullpen, poor Mike Fiers. Pirates win 4-3 in a thriller. And the Pirates are hanging tough at 22-17. They’re not going to the playoffs or anything. But it would be good for baseball if the Buccos were able to finally crack that .500 egg after all these years.

We’ve got a suspicion this is going to be the year.

Filed Under: Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, walk off wins Tagged With:

I can get used to Los Rojos

May 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

losrojos

The Reds are finally giving me reason to get excited.

Here’s the play from Friday night’s 4-3 win over the Brewers that you probably heard everyone talking about. You won’t see a better double play turn in the next decade. You just won’t.

Phillips added a homer in the bottom of the inning that would stand up to be the difference in the win.

Then there was Saturday, lovely Saturday. The Reds tortured poor Hiram Burgos to the tune of 10 earned runs in three innings pitched. Jay Bruce led the charge with this home run (and two doubles):

He’s got the total up to three now, which is a couple more than Matt Kemp. The Reds won a wild one 13-7 yesterday.

The Reds enter Sunday gunning for the sweep on Mother’s Day.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , ,

I think I’m falling for Carlos Gomez

May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

CaGomez

Playing Fantasy Baseball can cause you to follow and fall for some strange figures during the course of a Major League season. Almost a year ago at this time, I thought that player was Dayan Viciedo.

The history books will prove that Viciedo was not a fastball demolishing monster, but rather a player who just got extremely hot for a few weeks in May 2012. But I think Carlos Gomez is something different than just a player who is on a hot streak.

A couple weeks ago Michael Bourn went down with a hand injury and when Jason Heyward hit the disabled list with appendicitis, I was in dire need for an outfielder that could fill in. I took a very late round flyer on Carlos Gomez because I liked his power/speed mix. He has the ability to hit 20 home runs and steal 40 bags. Milwaukee’s Miller Park is an underrated launching pad that doesn’t get mentioned with the likes of Coors, Great American and New Yankee Stadium.

In Gomez’s first nine games played this year he was hitting .162 with no walks. On April 14th – the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals – Gomez started on a tear. Into my fantasy lineup he went, not by choice but by circumstance.

Since that April 14th day Gomez has posted a slash line of .509/.576/.912, and the player who walked just 20 times all of last season has compiled six walks. He’s homered five times and stolen six bases. He’s collected 29 hits. He is a monster. He should replace that nameplate on his back that reads ‘Gomez’ with ‘Better than Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton’ but it wouldn’t fit on the back of the jersey. And he likely came to you ten rounds later than those players due to bad fantasy owners who draft guys based on name and not on the things they’re capable of.

He is a Latin player with the swag to match. When he hits a home run, he flips the bat like it’s a walk-off job. He plays with fire. When he makes an out he drops four letter F-bombs with cunning regularity. He is every fantasy owner’s dream player, and I could care less if Michael Bourn takes a summer long sabattical.

Carlos Gomez has the look of a superstar. If it all comes crashing down, this is a hot streak that hits throughout the course of the season that did not go without notice or appreciation. And that’s why fantasy baseball is great. It provides us with the most unlikely of heroes. It piques our interest in the most obscure sorts. Like Milwaukee’s flashy 6th-hole hitter.

But for at least a three week period to begin the 2013 season, Carlos Gomez was on top of the world. And no one can take it away from either of us.

Filed Under: Fantasy Baseball, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With:

Rank Relief: Changing from a moustache to a beard hasn’t helped John Axford

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

rank relief 5.1-1

Starling Marte is staring to sprint but he’s going to be able to jog on this one.

The Brewers moved John Axford out of the closer role but apparently it’s no better hide him in the 8th inning.  Axford came in with a 2 run lead, but the hard hitting Pirates (.252/.323/ .410) weren’t going to settle for that.  Axford went to work quickly, allowing a single and then a two run homer to tie the game by Starling Marte. (pictured above)  Ron Roenicke hadn’t seen enough though.  He let Axford continue to piss away the lead and by the time he came to get him the lead was gone, and they wouldn’t get it back.

rank relief 5.1-2

Final tally:  3 singles, 1 homerun, 2 outs, 3 runs, 1 loss.  Brewers fans have suffered a horrible bullpen long enough.  Outside of Axford selling his soul for one good season, what else have they had.  Weird.

Filed Under: Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: ,

Tonight, John Axford out-Marmol’d Carlos Marmol

April 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

To update a situation we’ve been following rather closely, we want you to actually prepare to have your mind blown.

Tonight in a game at Wrigley Field, the Cubbies defeated the Brewers 6-3 in a game the baseball universe will forget forever in 24 hours. The key to take home is that John Axford was actually responsible for Carlos Marmol getting awarded a win.

Axford did his usual dance steps, entering the game and promptly got Alfonso Soriano to fly out to center. The Hurricane Axford storm clouds were only brewing at that point (no pun), though.

In the bottom of the 8th of a 3-3 ballgame, Axford allowed a double to Nate Schierholtz and a couple of walks. Of course, those men would all score after Axford was removed from the game.

This prompted this Brewers fan to create the ever creative hash-tag of #wiscohatesyou.


John axford literally has no place in society. He should just start running into parked cars. #wiscohatesyou
April 10, 2013 3:06 am via txtReplyRetweetFavorite
@BrianKirt11
Brian Kirt

The lesson to be learned here is that; when John Axford and Carlos Marmol both dress in uniform and are in attendance at the same ballpark, someone is shitting the bed. There’s just no getting around it. Also, if John Axford’s goal ever becomes getting hit by parked cars we have full confidence in him. If ever a guy was on a roll getting hit, Axford’s certainly found his groove.

Filed Under: Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , ,

Rank Relief: John Axford gets the hook

April 8, 2013 by 2 Comments

Rank Relief 4.7.13

A familiar face has fallen to us this Sunday afternoon.  And if John Axford somehow stays in the “closer” role much longer I have a feeling we’ll become well acquainted.  Axford came in to the game in the 10th and actually completed a clean inning.  Just like at the poker table sometimes you just have to take a profit and get the hell out of there – and if Axford works a clean inning in extras, don’t dance with devil too long.  Defying this sound logic, Ron Roenicke sent Axford out again in the 11th.  This what happened:

Rank Relief2 4.7.13

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen that look on Axford’s face.  Until next time John.

Note:  We almost had our first double rank relief as our old friend Heath Bell gave up one run in the bottom of the 11th, but alas was able to close out the game.

Filed Under: Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: ,

Milwaukee Brewers 2013 Team Preview

March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Ryan Braun

How much of this Brewers season will Ryan Braun be a part of?

The biggest storyline for the 2013 Milwaukee Brewers will be whether or not they get a full season of Ryan Braun. There is a rumor circulating that in a few weeks Braun will receive a 50-game PED suspension from the MLB front offices.

I used to really enjoy Ryan Braun. But you know something? A quick browse of his career numbers, and they suddenly look a little bit out of control to me. Too perfect. Too clean. Not enough blemishes. There’s no doubting that Braun is a generational talent type. It’s possible that these numbers were achieved cleanly. But the fact of the matter is that when you’re hearing his name whispered amongst the cheaters, you start believing there’s a possibility. If I had to wager one way or another, I would say that Ryan Braun has used something that would give him an extra edge. That’s just my instinct at this time.

Braun receiving a 50-game time out would change the entire landscape of this Brewers team this season. With Braun this team can be formidable on a lot of nights. Without him, the cupboard looks a little bit bare.

The Brewers had themselves a nice little D+ off-season, at best.

Major Off-Season Moves:

  • Signed LHP Tom Gorzelanny
  • Signed LHP Mike Gonzalez
  • Traded for Burke Badenhop

Almost like a rite of passage into spring time, Mat Gamel hurt himself again. Never trust a Mat who spells his name with just one ‘t’. It’s bad karma. I don’t know any. Also, Corey Hart will miss his usual six or so weeks to start the season and then spring into action and tear the shit out of the baseball for the final five or so months.

Your 2013 Milwaukee Brewers, after the jump. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Diamond Hoggers Season Previews, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Ruh Roh Ryan

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

brauncheat

It would appear that Ryan Braun knew Anthony Bosch (Biogenisis Lab Guy) a little bit better than he led on:

The list was written in April, in the hand of Biogenesis of America clinic founder Anthony Bosch. Among the names is the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun, and to the right of that name is a figure: $1,500.

That list, a source familiar with Bosch’s operation told “Outside the Lines,” indicates that those players received performance-enhancing drugs from Bosch, and owed him money. The document, one of dozens obtained by “Outside the Lines,” suggests a closer link to Bosch and the now-shuttered clinic he ran in Coral Gables, Fla., than Braun has acknowledged.

I used to think Ryan Braun was pretty nifty. At this point, he’s moving into A-Rod territory pretty quickly. I want this guy to go down and go down hard.

And if he’s innocent, I’ll worry about apologies later. $1500 is a lot of coin to pay for advice, though.

Image h/t: ESPN OTL

Filed Under: cheatin' lyin' fucks, Milwaukee Brewers, PED's Tagged With:

Stan the Man Couldn’t Sniff the Homer Bailey Express Because He Wasn’t Man Enough

July 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Remember what I told y’all?

The only thing Bernie Brewer had to drink last night was my hot piss!

[Loads rifle, fires it in the air; twice]

Where’s that little bald-headed fuckjaw Jocketty? I reckon his desires to set me down in that bullpen have disappeared just like his view of his little pecker has over the years. Looking to acquire a pitcher? Take the day off, baldy. Just tell that worry-wart Price that I’m ready to go another nine innings tonight, and I’ll go another full nine tomorrow if he brings the right ingredients for moonshine.

[Gigs frog, hard]

Braun, Ramirez, Hart, Weeks, the little china-man lead off hitter. Not a one of um’ had balls enough to fornicate with Homer’s rocket fastball last night. When Chapman came in for the 9th inning, it musta’ seemed like a fuckin’ picnic.

The fans in this town got their britches all in a wrinkle about winning a pennant. The only flag we need to worry about bringing home this year is Clint Hurdle’s wife’s panties. And that’ll be no problem because the Homer Bailey Express was built for a long season of fucking.

[Skins muskrat with pocket knife]

Go dig up that pussy Musial, tell um’ I think he’s yella. I wanna challenge him to a draw, best man wins. When he turns around, only gun I’m going to be holdin’ is that big ace meat rocket that dangles between this legs. Cooperstown ain’t never seen anything like this.

[Takes off pair of long underwear, Puts on pair of ass-less chaps]

And I’m gonna give Stan ‘The Man’ a message to deliver to his Cardinal buddies from the Prince of 98 Miles per hour….. you tell um that Homer Bailey is ready for them, and he’s comin’ out fuckin’ down the stretch! That’s right, Holliday, Beltran, Furcal, and all the other St. Louis speds they got over there. Get ready for an orgy of splitters boys, it’s Homers turn with the ladies at this square-dance.

[Looks in mirror, combs hair back with a cougar bone handle comb]

Yeeeeeeeehawwwwww! If you think that fastball moistened some panties last night, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

I’m putting the Central Division on notice! I love baseball in a pennant chase because that’s when the whores come out! YEEEEEEEEHAWWWWW!

 

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, we really do love this guy Tagged With:

Game 73, 2012: Favorite Reds Win All Summer

June 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com]

Jay Bruce clobbered his 17th home run of the season off Marco Estrada, who had lights out (12 K’s) stuff. This was culminated by Bronson Arroyo throwing 7-innings of no-hit ball. I started to think about the last time the Reds threw a no-hitter. I started getting into every pitch. Then Arroyo walked a guy. Then a double took away the no-hitter after 7 and 1/3. Then the Reds lost the lead in a matter of moments.

But the Reds were destined to win this one. Any time the Reds play at home and get a big home run from Bruce, along with a quality pitching performance and win, I’m extremely happy. And we’re at that part of the summer where baseball takes center stage. This is when you want your team to at least peak for the primary time. The days are long and hot, so you might as well mark the calendar date with as many W’s as you can.

Drew Stubbs absolutely crushed a pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning off John Axford. The Reds would win 4-3 after Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the 9th. He did the Cuban Missile Crawl.

The Reds were alone in first for at least another night.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , , , ,

Aroldis Chapman’s (Double) Barrel-roll

June 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We’re on it. If you wanted to see Aroldis Chapman’s barrel rolls from the pitching mound in Cincinnati after disposing of the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth tonight, click play.

As I told a friend, if a guy did this after closing out my team I would want blood. So it’s a damn good thing that Chapman’s on my team!

We’re going to call this the ‘Cuban Missile Crawl’. This guy’s head is clearly not right.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With:

Game 29, 2012: Brewers rock Bailey & Reds 8-3

May 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com] [Redleg Nation] [Brewers Mission 162]

Things started going badly in this one–again because of Homer Bailey’s inconsistencies.

He came out with 96 MPH stuff, some of the best velocity I’ve seen him have a in a long time and after retiring what seemed like the first two hitters of the game with ease, he came unraveled a little bit. He loaded the bases and Lucroy singled home a couple of runners and the route was on. It summed up Homer Bailey’s entire Cincinnati career. Come out with electric stuff, but for some reason you lack the ability to just get guys out and everything was labored.

After the Brewers loaded up the sacks again later in the game and Aramis Ramirez cleared then to make it 6-0, I decided it was time to head to the gym and prepare mentally for the loss. While I was on the elliptical for an hour I listened to Marty and when the Reds are losing Marty really loses focus. Bruce homered again to stretch his streak to 11 games. Brandon Phillips collected a few hits. But basically the Reds were blown out and failed to keep climbing above the .500 mark.

Making today’s afternoon delight of Johnny Cueto vs. Zach Greinke a huge contest.

Highlights:

Jay Bruce goes opposite field for his 10th home run of the year

Brandon Phillips, great grab over the shoulder

Full highlights

Potpourri:

-The Reds 8-3 loss in Milwaukee will mean little on May 8th of 2012 in baseball history. This will forever be the night that Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in Baltimore. It’s a more exclusive list than perfect games. And we are the franchise who traded that guy.

Although I briefly remember Mike Cameron and Carlos Delgado doing it; I remember Shawn Green and Mark Whiten’s historic nights well.

-Jay Bruce hit streak update: 11 games, 17 of 41 (.415), 7 HR, 14 RBI, 1.499 OPS during this streak.

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , , ,

Game 28, 2012: Reds put it all together in 6-1 win over Brewers

May 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com] [Mark Sheldon] [Redleg Nation]

This was one of the most complete efforts on the year so far for the Reds. It probably starts with Bunny Arroyo’s fine outing on the mound. He somehow struck out nine Brewers, allowed only the mammoth home run to Ryan Braun and walked just one. He’s now 2-1 on the season with a 2.75 ERA. The Reds starters are getting it done, between Bunny’s fine effort and what Mat Latos did on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

The Reds pounded out another ten hits last night, with a lot of the damage coming in that big 4th inning. This is either the first time they’ve been a couple games over .500 this season, or it sure feels like it. It’s really no time to relax even though they’ve taken four of five and 11 of 16 games. This is the time to keep the foot on the gas and make a run.

How about Bruce’s monster home run last night? That was the longest home run I’ve ever seen him hit. He ran it with humility and didn’t show up Marco Estrada, but that thing traveled to Kenosha, WI. Couple of hits for Brandon Phillips, couple of hits for Ryan Hanigan, Zach Cozart homered; everyone really contributed.

Homer Bailey and Yovani Gallardo I’m a little worried about tonight.

Highlights:

Bruce hits a MONSTER 442-foot home run (9)

Bunny Arroyo was magnificent

Welcome back, Miguel Cairo

Zach Cozart solo bomb (3) ties the game

Joey Votto RBI Double gives the Reds the lead

Ryan Braun goes yard off Bronson Arroyo early, his 9th

Potpourri:

-Jay Bruce’s home run is worth checking out Hit Tracker for the first time this year if you haven’t.

-Behind Atlanta’s Michael Bourn, Bruce has the second longest active hitting streak in baseball now at 10 games. He’s gone 15 of 37, for a .405 average. He’s slugging 1.027 during the life of the streak. He’s got six homers, 12 RBI, and ten runs during it. Bruce had two 12-game hitting streaks as a rookie.

-Check out my buddy Dave here with Sal Fasano, on “What it takes to be a great catcher”. I remember when Jeff Pearlman told me that Fasano was one of the best pro-athletes he had ever met in terms of humility and just being a great human being. Great work on this Dave.

-Ended up owing my wife a trip to UDF for ice-cream when the Reds had that big inning. Where’s the Peach!?!?

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Return of a Generational Superstar: Jason Heyward is Back

April 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment

When I woke up this morning I got an e-mail about my Jason Heyward Baseball-Reference page sponsorship expiring in 20 days.

In a year’s time, it seems like I was barely able to take solace in my own epitaph written on that page:

Every once in a while, we who follow the game of baseball are blessed with a generational talent of that era. This is that player.

And I could be wrong, but I think Heyward is back. Really back. Been to the lowest depths and didn’t know how good he had it once back. The wheels could still fall off just like they did after last April, but I think we’re seeing that crown jewel prospect who was once ranked ahead of Stephen Strasburg starting to become a force again.

I had the chance to scout Heyward’s at-bats all day long on MLB.tv. I made my wife mad because she couldn’t peel me away from the computer screen to put up an umbrella on our new porch table. I had to see his plate presence. I had to see what kind of pitches he was swinging at. And of course, what kind of results was he yielding.

In the first at-bat of Heyward’s game (a 7-4 win to complete an Atlanta sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers) he got Chris Narveson into a 3-1 count but just got jammed and flew out to center. He didn’t swing at any bad pitches. Next time up Heyward hit a towering home run off the lefty starter into the right field seats. It doesn’t look like line-drive power to me. He followed that by lining a 3-0 count rocket to left field off a lefty reliever and a walk off John Axford.

These 1 for 3 with a walk and an extra base hit are the types of games that you will take all day long from Heyward, or any young player trying to make his way back. Heyward looks like he’s onto something special again.

And those are really cool shoes to honor Jackie Robinson.

Filed Under: Atlanta Braves, Jackie Robinson, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: ,
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