If the Brewers are going to contend in the second half of this 2009 campaign, then they are going to need Manny Parra to step up. But if Manny Parra is going to step up, then the Brewers need the bullpen not to give games away so willingly when he does, which is unfortunately what happened on Thursday.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Bullpen Blows Parra's Magnificent Return
Posted by
Winks
at
7:16 PM
2
comments
Labels: Carlos Villanueva, Manny Parra, Milwaukee Brewers, Mitch Stetter, St. Louis Cardinals, Todd Coffey
Winks Thinks: The Happy Halladays Edition
Had a little bit of writer's block for awhile this week, so I decided to contribute to one of the hottest topics out there right now for Wisconsin sports fans: Should the Brewers make a move for a pitcher, and if so who should they trade for? You can find my thoughts on that as well as opinions on MacGruber, Schlitz, and what one thing the WWE does that should be incorporated into our daily lives, all in this week's edition of Winks Thinks.
Posted by
Winks
at
11:40 AM
0
comments
Labels: Milwaukee Brewers, Roy Halladay, Sports Bubbler, Toronto Blue Jays, Winks Thinks
Beating St. Louis Really Does Make Me Warm Inside
Seriously, I really am starting to hate St. Louis more than Chicago at this point, at least in terms of their National League representatives. The Cubs may be an overall joke of a franchise, but at least they stand for something. The Cardinals are just a bunch of crybaby hacks that think it's cool to bat the pitcher 8th, which is the dumbest thing in baseball. This might not make sense, but I think while I hate losing to the Cubs the most, it's actually the Cardinals who I like beating the most. Maybe?
The Cards rocked up Soup a bit in the fourth inning, but the Brewers came back via a Mat Gamel 2-run shot and a Craig Counsell RBI single before Prince Fielder brought home the winning run with an RBI single in the 8th inning. Trevor Hoffman struggled a bit but locked down his 19th save of the season, and the Crew beat St. Louis 5-4, moving one game back in the NL Central race.
Player of the Game in this one is really between Gamel and Prince, but I'm going to give it to Prince. It was a clutch infield single that Prince legged out with 2-outs and the bases loaded, so I feel he should be rewarded.
In other news, Parra will get the start in the day game on Thursday. Thanks for playing, Chris Narveson.
It's all your fault I screen my phone calls.
I know the writing's have been limited already this week, but that's because I've decided to actually start applying for jobs instead of just saying I'm applying for jobs, so thanks for the patience. There will be a new Winks Thinks up late Thursday morning though, with an emphasis on the Brewers, so stay tuned for that.
Posted by
Winks
at
1:02 AM
1 comments
Labels: Chicago Cubs, Chris Narveson, Craig Counsell, Jeff Suppan, Manny Parra, Mat Gamel, Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, St. Louis Cardinals, Trevor Hoffman
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
POTG: Cardinals 5, Brewers 0
The umping was questionable, Ryan Braun couldn't respond after his comments, Jason Kendall needs to change his approach at the plate, and Adam Wainwright owns us. That's about it from this one, which now puts the Cardinals ahead of the Crew by two games in the Central. I'm starting to hate the Cardinals at Cubs-like proportions right now, people.
Player of the Game: Corey Hart had three hits. Corey Hart.
When you're a spy...
Posted by
Winks
at
10:02 PM
3
comments
Labels: Adam Wainwright, Corey Hart, Jason Kendall, Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, St. Louis Cardinals
Parra On His Way Back?
Does Doug Melvin actually feel pressure to make this pitching staff better because of recent comments from his All-Star outfielder? Probably not, but it looks like he's about to make a move anyway, although not of the blockbuster type Sabathia deal that happened one year ago today.
Posted by
Winks
at
3:49 PM
4
comments
Labels: Alcides Escobar, C.C. Sabathia, Doug Melvin, Manny Parra, Mat Gamel, Milwaukee Brewers, Nashville Sounds, Ryan Braun
Enough About Braun and Melvin, Please
So Ryan Braun said some things about how the Brewers pitching staff is struggling, and how they need another arm. Then Doug Melvin decided to come out to the media and tell us he was ticked off about what Braun had said. Now, the two guys are apparently going to get together and talk today to hash things out and move on. In two words, Who Cares.
Posted by
Winks
at
1:43 PM
3
comments
Labels: Doug Melvin, Mike Burns, Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, Seth McClung, St. Louis Cardinals
Monday, July 6, 2009
Prince Fielder, Home Run Derby Participant
The four first basemen that will represent the NL for in the All-Star game will also be representing the league for the Home Run Derby. Prince Fielder will join Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Howard to see how many of them can hit the best batting practice on Monday night in St. Louis. Prince's last Home Run Derby was in 2007, although his total of three was not enough to advance him past the first round.
Posted by
Winks
at
10:54 PM
1 comments
Labels: Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Charlie Manuel, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB All-Star Game, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, St. Louis Cardinals
Save the Wave
The biggest thing I noticed about the Milwaukee Wave soccer franchise when I worked there last winter was that this just wasn't a team, this was essentially a family. The sales people seemed to know every season ticket holder by name, season ticket holders from the inaugural season 25 years ago were still in attendance, and players could often be seen chatting to fans before, after, and even during games. But if the Wave is to ever play another soccer game at U.S. Cellular Field, or anywhere for that matter, than the theme of 'family' is going to have to be stronger than ever.
Posted by
Winks
at
5:21 PM
0
comments
Labels: Charlie Krause, Keith Tozer, Milwaukee Wave, Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, Sports Bubbler
McNair's Death Still Clouded in Mystery
I've yet to comment on the sudden death of Steve McNair, because frankly I just don't know how. I've always liked Steve McNair, he was a good player and seemed like a decent guy. That, and he was so good in college for Alcorn State that he lead them into the Division I college football Top 25, even though Alcorn State is a Division I-AA school. Maybe other people will remember him for the Super Bowl drive that wasn't to be against the Rams, but I'll remember him for being on Bear's fantasy team every single year since we were seventeen. But I digress.
Posted by
Winks
at
3:47 PM
0
comments
Labels: Alcorn State, Bear, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Braun Gets All-Star Nod, Calls Out Pitchers
Sure, the Brewers lost to the Cubs 8-2 on Sunday, dropping their series in Wrigley three games to four. And yeah, the Brewers are now just four games over .500, which isn't really where you'd thought they'd be right now after how they were playing earlier this season. But the story that is going to come out of this one is that Ryan Braun pretty much threw guys like Seth McClung and Mike Burns under the bus after the game. But he can do that, because he's an All-Star.
Posted by
Winks
at
9:44 PM
6
comments
Labels: Casey McGehee, Chicago Cubs, Dave Bush, Manny Parra, Mike Burns, Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Seth McClung
Braun, Fielder Earn All-Star Bids
Well, despite Brewers fans efforts to get guys like Jason Kendall and Bill Hall into the All-Star game, only two Brewers ended up making the squad. Ryan Braun lead all National League outfielders in the fan voting, and will start in left field for the second season in a row. Prince Fielder has made the team as a reserve at first base, and will likely see one at-bat at most. I can't remember the last time a Brewer really made a key impact in an All-Star game, so hopefully Braun can perform next Tuesday. Here's a list of the entire roster for both squads.
Posted by
Winks
at
5:35 PM
3
comments
Labels: Bill Hall, Francisco Cordero, Jason Kendall, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB All-Star Game, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, St. Louis Cardinals, Trevor Hoffman, Yovani Gallardo
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Brewers Bring the Fireworks Against Cubs
The Brewers series against the Cubs has not been going well so far. Especially with how the game ended on Friday afternoon where an apparent Mark DeFelice strike three ended up being ball four, costing Milwaukee the game in extra innings. That pitch he threw can be debated ball or strike all season long, but there was nothing the Crew could do about it. All that they could do was make sure they didn't let it bother them on Saturday as they tried to salvage the series.
Posted by
Winks
at
3:46 PM
1 comments
Labels: Braden Looper, Casey McGehee, Chicago Cubs, J.J Hardy, Jeff Suppan, Mark DeFelice, Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder
Happy 4th of July
That's kind of, interesting. As for a musical selection, here's Chicago with "Saturday in the Park", which is very fitting today as it is Saturday, in the Park, I think it was the 4th of July. Happy birthday, America.
Posted by
Winks
at
12:00 AM
1 comments
Labels: Chicago (band), dominos, Happy 4th of July
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Lee, Cubs Homer All Over Brewers
Derrek Lee hit a three run homer off of Seth McClung, and a Grand Slam off of Chris Smith, and that's pretty much all you need to know about this one. The Cubs added solo shots from Jake Fox and Geovany Soto to power past the Brewers 9-5 in their first game in a four game series.
Posted by
Winks
at
10:57 PM
4
comments
Labels: Chicago Cubs, Chris Smith, Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto, Jake Fox, Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Seth McClung
Ricky Rubio is a Dicktease
Looks like my little Spanish friend isn't going to play with the Timberwolves after all, but instead will stay in Spain for the next two years. Now, the T'Wolves still have his rights, but it's going to be awhile before we see Rubio eventually get traded to the Knicks. Don't cry though Minnesota, Brent Favre should be arriving any day now.
Posted by
Winks
at
4:19 PM
0
comments
Labels: Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Ricky Rubio, Spain
Winks Thinks: The Young Money Edition
There he is ladies and gentlemen, the future of the Milwaukee Bucks. I firmly believe that Brandon Jennings is going to be the one to help lead the Bucks into the promised land, a topic I cover in this week's Winks Thinks, my weekly feature at SportsBubbler.com. Also covered in this edition are Michael Jackson, Manny Ramirez, and more pointless dribble about my own life. So enjoy this week's edition, and then meet us out a JR's Sports Bar in Fond du Lac tonight for my dad's book signing from 5-8pm. I'm more than ready to plug this book in PFT-Sprint like proportions, so just be aware of that.
Posted by
Winks
at
12:25 PM
0
comments
Labels: Brandon Jennings, Manny Ramirez, Michael Jackson, Sports Bubbler, Winks Thinks
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Lame.
Yovani Gallardo: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K. Pretty much the line you'd expect out of a Player of the Game recipient. Also the line you'd expect out of the game's winning pitcher. But that was not the case on Wednesday, as the Brewers fell to the New York Mets 1-0. These are days you just have to realize that baseball is a funny game, and that there are 162 games in a season for a reason.
Posted by
Winks
at
9:26 PM
1 comments
Labels: Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Yovani Gallardo
Looks Like Charlie V is Heading to Detroit
John Hammond may not want Charlie Villanueva, but apparently his former team does. The Pistons are reportedly going to sign Charlie to a 5-year, $37 million deal, which is definitely way out of the Bucks price range for him. I wish him the best of luck, as always, but I am looking forward to the first Pistons/Bucks game this season. Detroit also agreed to terms with another Central Division free agent, the Bulls' Ben Gordon.
Posted by
Winks
at
9:15 PM
2
comments
Labels: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Chicago Bulls, Collin West, Detroit Pistons, John Hammond, Milwaukee Bucks
Wave's Future Looks Bleak
The longest running professional soccer franchise in America could be calling it quits.
Posted by
Winks
at
9:00 PM
0
comments
Labels: Milwaukee Wave, NISL, Sports Bubbler, Xtreme Soccer League
Brewers Still Mulling Pitching Options
We've all heard the rumors regarding just how the Brewers might try to bolster their pitching staff before the trade deadline, with names including Cliff Lee, Doug Davis, and any Seattle Mariner. I personally want to see a return stint from Doug Davis, if for no other reason than I like when old Brewers come back to Milwaukee.
Posted by
Winks
at
1:08 PM
0
comments
Labels: Brandon Backe, Cliff Lee, Doug Davis, Houston Astros, Mike Burns, Milwaukee Brewers