I Laughed, I Cried, I Had Questions

When the Brewers squeaked by with today's 4-3 win in the 10th, I was relieved but also puzzled. Here are my questions. Hit "Comments" to share your thoughts...

*Why oh why did Gagne get to stay in so long; what's the trigger for when you pull a Closer?

*On TV and the radio nobody seemed to understand why Prince balked at stepping on the bag with Pie plowing toward him. Doesn't anybody remember the second-to-last game last season when he did exactly that, got nailed in the ankle and ended up missing the season closer?

*Where can I buy some light-brown hair dye in a hurry. Thanks to that 9th inning I now have twice the grey hair I had this morning.

Comments

[Scotty]

Curt is right on all 3 answers...just to add to number one...read a quote from Gagne yesterday on Haudricort's (JS beat writer) blog that he felt good about having a horrible inning, but then worked out of the inning (no one out at that point). That's what Ned wants too. Now if he would have walked the next batter after the homer...he gone...and then put in Riske...but he worked out of it...has confidence...he'll be fine.

[Curt]

1) Trust your closer. Always trust your closer. (Note: I don't necessarily subscribe to this rule, especially given tonight, but this is Baseball Wisdom (cap letters intentional) at its finest. If you bring someone up in the pen when your closer is on the mound, you basically undermine ten million dollars of spending. Fast.*)

2) Agreed. But still frustrating to watch.

3) Walgreens.

* Ellen moved to the other end of the couch after Gagne put the first man on. I was LIVID. Ten million dollars for WHAT? I actually promised to buy a Riske jersey if he closed it down. So, well, there's that. I would prefer a Counsell jersey. Tres Stud, Senor Counsell.

Net/net, I fear a long - very long - season with this Brewers bullpen. I feel no confidence or affinity with any of them. And we haven't even had Turnbow get the ball (that will be a "Duck and Cover" event for Brewers fans across the state event).