This Just Isn't Fun Right Now

New rule: When there is a runner on first base that is threatening to steal second, just let him go. Let him go. Kendall isn't going to throw him out anyway, and it's not worth trying to keep him at first. Why? Because Manny Parra isn't good enough yet to juggle both a runner at first and a guy at the plate. Case in point? Jerry Hairston's two-run shot that helped the Reds beat Milwaukee 6-1, all while Willy Taveras was threatening to steal.

The Brewers had plenty of chances to come up, as they have had in nights before, but Villanueva imploded again in the 9th and the Brewers had no chance to come back. The loss means the Brewers are now 2-6 on the young season, and they've already dropped their third series of the season. The rubber match is tonight at 7pm, and Milwaukee needs a win in the worst way.

I'm not sure what else I can say that I didn't already yesterday, when I walked the line between calmness and pressing the panic button. The Brewers need to step up, both on the mound and at the plate. Parra didn't pitch that terribly yesterday, but the four walks did prove to be deadly. Apparently, walks are up throughout the major leagues, but not every team is 2-6 right now, so that fact doesn't comfort me.

We need help from our offense as well. Ryan Braun is hitting .200, Prince Fielder is batting .176, and J.J. Hardy is at a .156 clip right now. Not very admirable for our 3-5 hitters. As for Jason Kendall, the man who said this offseason that Milwaukee still hasn't seen what he can do at the plate? Yeah, he's hitting .095.

The Brewers are 2-6 after eight games of a long season. That's not a legitimate cause for panic. But the fact that we are losing the games in a similar fashion - walks and poor play from our power hitters - is reason enough for me.

Confidence. Listen, if you learn nothin' else when you're here, you learn this, all right? This is not just about hockey. It's easy to be confident when you have control of the puck. It's very, very difficult to keep that confidence when you gotta take whatever strange bounces life throws your way. Don't be careless, but don't be too careful either. You cannot be afraid to lose! That's how you gain the confidence to attack the game when the puck isn't yours. That's how you attack life... even when you think you don't have any control. And that's how you play real defense. 

That box score quote is in honor of a fallen character from 24 this week.

Player of the Game: Well look at that, it was J.J. Hardy.