Opposing Views

[rferry]

Game recaps

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (RR)

MLB Brewers

Associated Press

 

Game threads

Brewer Fan

Brew Crew Ball

 

In review

TURNING POINT: Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks had a chance for an inning-ending double play in the seventh but committed a throwing error that allowed the Marlins to pull within 4-3. Florida tied the score the following inning after Carlos Lee missed a diving catch on Encarnacion’s triple. /---/ MJS

 

Another ill-advised defensive maneuver in the eighth helped the Marlins pull even against Julio Santana. With one down, Juan Encarnacion sent a sinking liner toward left-center. Instead of keeping the ball in front of him, Lee attempted a diving catch and missed, allowing Encarnacion to leg out a triple.

"He was going for it," said Yost. "He barely missed it. All of our defensive mistakes were made in the infield." /---/ MJS {The reference to Santana is related to the strikeout record he held against the Brewers}

 

During the 28-up, 28-down stretch, the Brewers got only three balls out of the infield. First base umpire Kerwin Danley blew a call on Rickie Weeks in the seventh when Florida first baseman Carlos Delgado came off the bag to take a throw from shortstop Alex Gonzalez, but that proved a mere footnote. /---/ MJS

 

"I think that we might have got a little too relaxed after we got the lead," said Hardy, who struck out three times for the first time in his career. "We got content, rather than relaxed." /---/ MLB

 

With Encarnacion, I wasn't giving in," said Obermueller. "I went right after him. But he got extended on a fastball; I didn't get it away enough. It's very disappointing to come down to a situation like that. You feel you let the team down." /---/ MJS

 

When the offense is deep-sixed like it was Wednesday night, how much pressure does it put on the bullpen to be perfect?

"It puts a little bit of pressure on," said Obermueller (1-2), choosing his words carefully. "But that's what we're there to do." /---/ MLB

 

Yost did not start Russell Branyan at third base for a second consecutive game since returning from the DL. Branyan collected three hits and two RBI Tuesday night but Yost thought he was a step slow in the field. {A step slow? 0 - 1 equals -1} /---/ MJS

 

Forty-four of the Brewers’ 84 games (52.4%) have been decided by one or two runs. They are 13-13 in one-run games and 4-14 in two-run games. /---/ MJS

 

 

 

Hall has hit a wall

"Once you make an adjustment to them, they adjust to you," Hall said. "Then you adjust back. It's a big chess match. Sometimes you win it, sometimes you lose."

 

"Does the scouting report ever change on A-Rod or any of those other guys? No," Yost said. "They know what he is. They know what Billy is. He's been here three years now." {Some interesting comments in that odd I-don't-follow sort of way from Yost here}

 

 

Looking ahead

Rob and Al look at what might be for the 2006 Brewers

 

Cubs fans hurricane forecasting

 

PITCHING MATCHUP: Milwaukee RHP Victor Santos (2-8, 3.28) vs. Florida RHP Brian Moehler (3-6, 3.16). Santos hasn’t been particularly sharp of late (0-3, 5.09 ERA in last four starts) but he has probably pressed a bit after a series of strong outings in which he had no run support. The Brewers have scored three or fewer runs in 11 of his 16 starts, and only 15 runs in his eight losses. This is a good pitching match-up because Moehler has been the Marlins’ tough-luck starter. He has never won in Dolphins Stadium, going 0-4 in eight starts despite a 2.53 ERA. Moehler has not faced the Brewers since 2000, when he pitched for the Detroit Tigers. He is 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA in seven career starts against Milwaukee. /---/ MJS

 

Seeking to give Carlos Lee as much practice as possible for the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday in Detroit, Yost has been allowing coach Rich Donnelly to throw one round of batting practice a day in the same tempo as the Derby. /---/ MJS

 

 

Other News

Former Marlin farmhand Kevin Hooper was called up to the Detroit Tigers for his major league debut. He wasn't hitting well in AAA, shouldn't receive any playing time in the bigs and should return when Jason Smith returns this week.

[PositiveHype]

My view is simple:

 

I saw the Marlins in this series basically being the same team that they have been all year. They just wait around for the big hit, which always comes in the 3rd game of a series after they have lost the first 2 games. They usually score the big or winning runs after they get 4 hits, 4 walks, or a combination of both in an inning. There is really no aggression; just base-to-base offensive strategy. Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z. It's like watching an AL team.

 

:banghead

[Beetle]

Thanks, RFerry.

 

Those Cubbie comments are particularly amusing:

 

Re:Tropical Storm set to hit Florida Saturday morning

Cub fan 1: "It's possible these games would be made up in Chicago since the Cubs play the Marlins again in August (I believe) which might benefit this team."

 

Cub fan 2: "Actually, with our near NL-worst 21-21 home record, I think I would rather play on the road. Even the freaking Rockies have a winning home record. Pardon me while I vomit."

[Marlins2003]

Thanks Rferry. Great read. Enjoyed it immensely. :thumbup

[QuickGold]

Thanks for posting