(First off, we try to keep this site PG-13, but this picture is dangerously close to crossing that line. Don't blame us, blame Morry Gash.)When I watched the Cubs come back against the White Sox and then win with an Aramis Ramirez walk-off home-run, I knew today was not going to be a good day. That karma continued into the first inning of the Brewers/Orioles game tonight, as Baltimore jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against Jeff Suppan. Things were not looking good.
However, the Brewers still had nine innings in them, and they weren't about to go down easy. J.J. Hardy responded with a 2 run blast in the bottom half of the first. Baltimore answered with another two runs, but then Milwaukee came back with three in the next two innings. After a first inning that looked like a blowout was about to ensue, the Brewers were now within just one run.
It would be up to the bullpen to keep the Brewers in this game, as Jeff Suppan was only able to go 1 2/3 innings, giving up six runs. Just before the game I was thinking about re-adding him to my fantasy squad, as he's been pitching well of late. Then, almost like clockwork, Jeff Suppan shows his true colors and gives us this kind of performance. I should say, I do think Suppan is a good pitcher, and he's been throwing well this year. I'm not quite sure he earns the $10 million per year salary, but he was a good free agent pick up last year. But you have to realize, every third or fourth game Suppan will implode like this, and I guess that's just part of the territory.
Mark DeFelice (2 1/3 innings), Carlos Villanueva (4 innings), and Mitch Stetter (1 inning) only gave up 2 runs, and kept the Brewers close as their offense struggled late in the ballgame. By the time it was the bottom of the 9th, the Brewers were down 3 runs, 8-5, and George Sherrill was about to take the mound.
Then Ryan Braun somehow kept one fair along the foul line for an infield hit. Then Prince Fielder walked. Corey Hart walked soon after. With no outs, the Brewers were in business.
Enter Bill Hall.
It's been a troubling season for the guy, who has found himself starting twice a week now, if that. He came in for Branyan in a big spot, and he could be the hero with a grand slam to win the game. Honestly, any sort of hit, or even a sac fly, would have been enough for me. Hall, like he always does, thought longball, and struck out. One out.
The Brewers were still in position for a comeback....... but then Gabe Kapler hit into an anti-climatic double play, and that was your ballgame. Nice to see the Brewers mount a comeback, and never quit in this one, but we're already at the point in the season where we can not afford to lose on days the Cubs win.
Box Score.
TBC's Player of the Game: Carlos Villanueva. He went four innings, kept the Crew in the game.
2 comments:
Bill Hall i love this guy and think he is an alright baseball player that works hard and gives it 100% everyday. But i really think he need to get out of miltown. How can a guy play when he walks to the plate and ppl boo him and put their hands in the air saying "yost what the hell you doing." I think he just needs change i dont know if we can get much for him but we should try i also feel that it was a dumb move putting him into the game last night he is just up to bat trying to do to much to get back the respect ppl had for him. the guy is a 15-20 homerun hitter if he plays everyday for a season thats all he is the 35 two years ago he was just seeing the ball good. I dont care about match ups or lefty vs righty the guy has no confidence when he is at the plate and their is no reason he should even be batting. what do other ppl think.
Well since all managers use stats to make most of their descisions this one fell into that catagory.
This season....
Bill Hall hits lefties at .355 a clip and has an OBP of .423 with 3 homers in 62 at bats.
Russell Branyan hits lefties .000 in 11 at bats with 7 k's.
I love what Branyan is doing, but he is a platoon player in the best sense of the term. Over his career he hasn't been able to show that he really is anything more than that. Why try to make him something he's not.
Bill Hall was the right move. If the Brewers don't use Bill Hall in that situation, there is literally no use of him on our team and he should be waived or sent to the minors.
I get what you are saying, and right now with the fans against him maybe he has less confidence. However, if Yost makes the decision to leave Branyan in on a "hunch", refuses to play the percentages then he's not putting the team in the right position to win.
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