4/4/07 Dodgers (Schmidt) @ Brewers (Suppan): 7:05 PM CDT

[tomwopat]

An exciting ending to a mostly excruciatingly boring game. Schmidt transforms into Steve Trachsel in high leverage situations.

 

I somehow knew the game was over when Prince didn't hit a home run. Saito's command problems seemed to dissapear when he pitched from the stretch.

 

I defend Nedly's decision to hit away, with three honest-to-goodness hitters coming up it doesn't make sense to waste any outs to gain a minimal probability to score one run.

 

The contact play, however, made absolutely no sense to me. If you're that desparate to score one run, why not just suicide squeeze?

 

Left Field really had it out for Luis Gonzalez, continuing the "you suck" chant while he was at bat, at 1st base, at 2nd base, and even after he was taken out of the game. Unfortunately Right Field had to follow suit and take it out on Brady Clark. Really, what did he ever do to Milwaukee? Do all ex-utility outfielders get the same treatment?

 

edit: last part about crowd

[splitterpfj]

I just got home from the game...man, I hate the ones like tonight. 11 runners stranded, many of them in scoring position, Hall gets picked off, Weeks hits a shot right at 'em, Villanueva...wow.

 

I like a lot of what I see from the team, but tonight they seemed to work the perfect combination to prevent themselves from winning.

[splitterpfj]

Watching Suppan tonight was a lot like watching Doug Davis. He made some pitches when he needed to, but the Dodgers had plenty of baserunners...in and out of trouble most of the time. He looked exactly as advertised, a guy that can keep his team in a game, but will never overwhelm the opposition.

 

I'll take it, the team certainly could have won the game.

[brewcrew44]

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Unfortunately Right Field had to follow suit and take it out on Brady Clark. Really, what did he ever do to Milwaukee? Do all ex-utility outfielders get the same treatment?

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Yep, I was in the RFB. I didn't join along with the Clark chants becuase, as you said, Clark was fine in Milwaukee. But it was a good atmosphere in the bleachers, lots of fun.

[joshjs]

Just got back from the park, feeling good, even though the Crew let the game slip through their fingers.

 

The thought I kept coming back to, watching opportunity after opportunity pass by, was this: Every one of these guys gives us a chance to win. Yeah, they didn't get it done tonight, but they hit. They all did.

 

Things are still looking up.

[joshjs]

One more thought: The crowd was really into it tonight. You had your share of people leaving early, but it was a very strong crowd for the time and the weather. Two years ago, that game would've been lucky to draw 12,000, and tonight it was almost double that.

 

Is Milwaukee a baseball town again? I hope so.

[owbc]

Also just back from the game...

 

If there was ever a "good" loss, this was it. It looked like the game was over when the Villanueva move backfired. I don't blame Ned for it, but maybe we should swap him with Capellan?

 

Both teams had their chances, but the momentum was in favor of the Brewers at the end, and after Hall was down 2 strikes, he probably should have just tried to move Prince to third and go for the tie. Nice comeback though.

 

Finally, it was quite chilly inside Miller Park. We were in section 230 and there was a cold draft that made it cold, even with our coats on. Still way better than outside though!!!

[bigredrobbo]

Interestingly enough, all the guys that traditionally get the man-love round here, Hall, Prince, Villy and Gross were the ones that didn't get the job done tonight, yet Counsell, JJ and Jenks delivered.

 

Not that you'd know that, however. I'd love just once to see some parity in the comments by many BF.net posters.

 

And I don't remember the 20/20 hindsight goggles being used quite as much as they have in IGTs this season, but I don't know what that says about us...

[wOOgiE22]

Just got back from the game. Very disappointing, but it was a very exciting game to say the least! I was sitting in the right field bleachers, and basically Ethier, Kemp, and Brady were getting it the whole game. I know Brady did nothing to get that, but the atmosphere was great in right field especially in the later innings!

[treego]

Dumb and unappreciative people harassing Brady Clark ... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

Brady Clark came to the ballpark every day and gave his all. Don't forget this guy was absolutely wonderful and clutch for the whole season in 2005 when we actually had a non-losing season. Clark was one of the top hitters in the NL that season, in terms of just getting hits (300-plus hitter).

 

People giving Clark a hard time reflect negatively on fans, in general, and Brewer fans in particular.

[wOOgiE22]

but you have to look at the people that did it though. most of them looked a little bit tipsy.

[Schlitz001]

@#%$

[craigharmann]

I agree with a few previous posters. I caught the game from the 6th on, and I just had this feeling they were going to come back, but I most definitely did not want to walk away from the TV. They keep fighting, and they're not giving up. So far, after 3 games I've been impressed. If nothing else, it's going to be a fun, exciting year, but I think they're going to win a bunch of games! I didn't understand why, with Prince on 2nd, Bill didn't at least try to get something over to the right side to get Prince over to third. Bill and Brian picked up on how he looked over to right field before he had his hit earler, but his AB in the 9th, he was trying to pull it. It seemed like he was trying to win the game. Get the runner to third, a sac fly ties it. Bring in CoCo for the 10th, and take your chances from there. But still, a very exciting game. BRING ON THE SCRUBS!

[Ennder]

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That's a called play that comes from the dugout. It's called a "contact play" as in the runner takes off on contact no matter where the ball is hit (as long as it's on the ground)

 

You don't see it run much in MLB because the fielders are so advanced that it is a very low % play unless the ball gets through.

 

But then again Ned likes to use plays that work in HS and little league. That's twice in 2 days.

 

And I'll remind you that Prince was on deck at the time.

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Actually its called quite a bit for better or worse but I'm sure that doesn't fit in with your anti Ned stance you seem to be taking this year. I've seen LaRussa call it this year already and Soscia in the half dozen games I've watched.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

I dont question Ned for using CV, but after 2 walks I think I would have pulled him. Hope we learned something today and Ned puts a shorter leash on the RP's. I almost would have gone with Vargas over CV.

 

Tons of scoring chances for the Brewers went by the wayside. Nice to see we are hitting the ball well and lets hope that will continue against the Cubs this weekend.

[brewmann04]

I am not sure Cv is comfrontable comming out of the Pen.

It only 1 game but think he better in Nashville as a starter.

[TheEndless7]

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I am not sure Cv is comfrontable comming out of the Pen.

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I agree. I'd rather plug him into the rotation and put Vargus in the pen, but hopefully Vargus proves me wrong there.

[Blazer25]

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Actually its called quite a bit for better or worse

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Really? You think LaRussa would call it with Pujols on deck?

 

It was another bad call in a close game and potentially cost us a run.

[Brian the Automator]

[ Really? You think LaRussa would call it with Pujols on deck? ]

 

There's a difference between using a contact play with a perennial MVP candidate paired with an arbitrary hitter and a good contact hitter and one of the fastest players on the team.

 

You're going to have to do better than that.

[uecker9]

Really? You think LaRussa would call it with Pujols on deck?

 

maybe he should, they were outscored 20-2 by the mets.wow

[Blazer25]

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There's a difference between using a contact play with a perennial MVP candidate paired with an arbitrary hitter and a good contact hitter and one of the fastest players on the team.

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The Cards best hitter is Pujols...ours is arguably Prince.

 

I guess I don't see the difference. You're giving up an out (at the plate no less) in front of your best hitter comming to the plate.

 

It's a low % play no matter who is hitting/ running. Why do it when the heart of your order is comming up?

 

I can see doing it with the 6-7-8 guys or even the pitcher.

 

If you wanted to score that run that bad a squeeze is a better play with JJ up. You could even run a safety squeeze.