Since MMP didn't make the thread yet and isn't online with the first pitch is two minutes away...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier this month, Hanley Ramirez was benched for failing to hustle. The Florida Marlins star has had no such issues when facing the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Ramirez will try to extend a lengthy hitting streak against Milwaukee on Monday when the Brewers and Marlins open a four-game set at Sun Life Stadium.

 

The shortstop was benched for one game by manager Fredi Gonzalez after accidentally kicking a ball and then lightly jogging after it, allowing two runs to score in a 5-1 loss to Arizona on May 17.

 

The Marlins (25-26) have gone 4-7 since then, but all the blame for that record cannot be placed on Ramirez. Last year's NL batting champion has hit .317 with four multihit games over that stretch.

 

Ramirez, who's batting .298 overall, doubled and scored Sunday in a 1-0 win over Philadelphia that came less than 24 hours after the Marlins were beaten by the same score in a perfect game pitched by Roy Halladay.

 

"Not so perfect, but we got the win," said Gonzalez.

 

It's clear Ramirez relishes stepping in the batter's box against Milwaukee. He's hitting .460 (23 for 50) during a 13-game hitting streak versus the Brewers, and his .413 career average in this series is his highest against any NL club.

 

He has three hits in nine career at-bats against Milwaukee starter Dave Bush (1-5, 5.05 ERA), who will try for his first win in nearly six weeks.

 

Since beating Pittsburgh on April 20, the right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.55 ERA in seven starts. In his most recent road outing May 21, Bush was tagged for seven runs and six hits in one-third of an inning as the Brewers fell 15-3 to Minnesota.

 

He bounced back Thursday against Houston, allowing two unearned runs and four hits over five innings as Milwaukee (21-28) rallied for a 4-3 win in 10.

 

Bush is 1/3 with a 6.65 ERA in four career road starts versus Florida.

 

He has gone past the sixth inning just twice in 10 starts this year, but Milwaukee will want a long outing from Bush given how poorly its bullpen has pitched. Brewers relievers allowed eight runs in four innings of Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Mets, raising their ERA to 5.89.

 

"A little bit of a downer-note game," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said.

 

Ricky Nolasco (4-4, 4.65) will try to avoid losing his third consecutive start for Florida. The right-hander has surrendered 11 runs over 9 1/3 innings in his last two appearances.

 

Nolasco lasted a season low-tying four innings Thursday against Atlanta, and allowed three runs and eight hits in the 8-3 defeat.

 

He's 0-1 with an 11.81 ERA in three career home starts versus Milwaukee.

 

Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks is 4 for 5 with a homer in his career against Nolasco. He homered twice and finished with three hits and three RBIs in Sunday's loss.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=300531128

PRAY TO JOBU TO WAKE UP THE BATS

Damnit. Gonna be tough holding this Brewer offense down.

Already battling from behind.

C'mon HanRam.

They're down by a run so the game is probably over.

whoa. :banghead

Really?

:blink:

These white hats are hideous.

Down 3-0 is hideous.

These white hats are hideous.

 

 

They wouldn't look too bad with a black brim and regular marlin colors on the logo.

Yup, not looking good today.....

Cantu gets more replaceable every day.

I'm really surprised we didn't get something out of that... lol jk, Cameron Maybin was hitting.

We are just terrible

ARE YOU f***ING SERIOUS, HANLEY?

 

You know what, just f*** this team right now. I'm going swimming.

I'm sorry, are we facing Halladay again right now?

Their pitcher is hitting better than our entire team right now. Pathetic.

Every single player on this team is streaky as hell. They've all shown moments of greatness, but are not dependable at all. I say there is not a single position on this team that isn't replaceable. The organization could trade every player but JJ for all I care.

This offense is just pathetic right now... really tough to watch.

The horror......the horror.....

Chris Bleepin' Narveson, folks.

 

Halladay's perfect game needs a huge asterisk. As in the team he got the perfecto against can't hit their way out of a paper bag.

This team's offense is pathetic.

Chris Bleepin' Narveson, folks.

 

Halladay's perfect game needs a huge asterisk. As in the team he got the perfecto against can't hit their way out of a paper bag.

 

 

I kinda want to agree with you, but the Doc is still the Doc, no matter who he faces.