You Found Me

Welcome to My Summer of Baseball. I'm not into the swing of things yet...but the season is about to begin. Watch for my first post after the first pitch meets bat in Milwaukee on April 4....

Comments

[Matt]

This is a reponse to Pete's July 9th comments...I am commpelled to quote Glen Gary Glenn Ross..."I told Mitch & Murray that the real favor is to fire your f&%*ing ass because a loser is a loser." When the Brew crew wins-they're winners, when they lose-they are losers. It is a zero-sum game...

[Chris]

Would you care to share with the bloggers who visit this site the bet you made regarding the Cubs Brewers series.

[Chris]

Some questions to ponder?

- Do you think that the Brew Crew will throw in the towel after getting swept in their first 3 games?

- Will the Brewers draw bigger crowds for the home games against the Cubs than for all the other home games combined?

- If they got rid of the sausage race, would people still go to Miller Park?

[Curt]

Game On!

Overall, bullish expectations for the year. So much to be optimistic about. But also, more than a handful of things to worry about. To wit, here are my top four concerns:

* Rickie Weeks: Can he put together a consistent offensive effort? What about his defensive malaise and ennui - can he snap out of his perennial funk(s)?

* Pitching: On paper (or arguably, "on paper and in concept"), we have one of the strongest (and deepest) starting rotations in the majors. Then again, we didn't have a single starter who won more than 12 games last year. So there's that.

* Pitching, Part Two: Our starters have been horrible at getting into the seventh inning. This puts pressure on our bullpen, which essentially had a complete "Capuano-esque" meltdown near the end of last year. Not just having strong starters, but having them go deep into games, is critical to set the table for everything else.

* The MSOB Blog: Can it really be pulled off? Can someone actually make it to every game (almost), and have something to say every about every game? (I think so - this is frankly the least of my Brewers-related concerns this year...)

That said, here are a few of the team changes/additions that I am most excited about:

* Gallardo and Parra. These kids can pitch. I'm excited to see them really dig into their first season in the full-time starter role.

* Cameron: I think his defense alone will make a giant difference. (Book it: Add four W's to the column from his defense alone this year.)

* Simba: Adding Simmons as bench coach is the right guy at the right time. He has seen what Yost hasn't (more roles, more teams, more perspective), and can provide Yost with the wide-angle lens that he lost (particularly related to late inning pitching decisions late in last year - let's call it the "Aquino Effect"). He will have a general "calming influence" on the myriad of peaks and valleys that come from 162 games of baseball.

* Chorizo: A fantastic addition to the culinary experience at Miller Park. Not to mention a dark horse in the sausage race. I recommend the bun, not the tortilla, but that's just me.

My biggest sorrow on opening day will be the absence of Damian Miller. That guy was just the heart and soul of Old School Brewer Baseball. I realize he's older than Job, but he was always good for some theatrics, if not perspective in the clubhouse after a tough loss ("Mongo likes candy.)

Last, I need to note that "Summer of Baseball" can be shortened to "My SOB." Here's hoping we don't mutter too many profanities this season, at least not in frustration.

There's an old saying in baseball -- every team wins 54 games and every team loses 54 games. It's what you do with the other 54 games that matters. Here's hoping this is the year the Brewers figure out what to do with the "other 54 games." (Full disclosure - I "borrowed" that pithy baseball quip from "The West Wing.")

Play ball!