2009-05-05 Brewers (Suppan) at Pirates (Snell): 6:05 PM CDT [Brewers win, 8-5]

[crewcrazy]

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[RobDeer 45]

Let's keep the streak going! In all seriousness, it would be nice to see our bats start out hot and get us an early lead. I think we have been fortunate to get the late innings offense we've been getting but we really could use an early lead. Hope Soup pitches well.

[crewcrazy]

I haven't been able to find Woogie's pitcher graphics the past few games, so I substituted in a couple pictures from the respective players' Yahoo! Sports profiles. For those that want the stats:

 

Jeff Suppan (1-2, 5.88 ERA)

vs.

Ian Snell (1-3, 3.72 ERA)

 

The Brewers are 14-12, 3 games behind division leading St. Louis. The Pirates are 12-13 and 4.5 games back.

[hawing]

Brewers, Brewers. Keep turning up the heat.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Brewers, Brewers. Keep turning up the heat.

 

I now have that song playing in my head...and I love it! Let's hope Snell is a little more mortal tonight.

 

Instead of Where's Waldo? It's Where's Rickie? Where will he bat tonight? I think Hart sticks in the leadoff spot and he puts him second. Any thoughts?

[Invader3K]

Haudricourt reports that Hall is out tonight, but Braun will be starting.

[sargennm]

Here's the lineup from TH's blog:

 

2B Rickie Weeks

3B Craig Counsell

LF Ryan Braun

1B Prince Fielder

CF Mike Cameron

RF Corey Hart

SS J.J. Hardy

C Jason Kendall

RHP Jeff Suppan

[crewcrazy]

Still don't like seeing Counsell hit so high in the order, but I guess it beats having Counsell-Kendall-Suppan to round out the bottom third.

 

Not like it matters, anyway. Macha could start the Nashville Sounds and still win against Pittsburgh.

 

In all seriousness, I think the streak ends tonight. Hopefully I'm wrong, but this is just getting ridiculous!

[GormanHarvey]

Still don't like seeing Counsell hit so high in the order, but I guess it beats having Counsell-Kendall-Suppan to round out the bottom third.

Typically I would agree with you because I have never been a fan of Counsell, but I don't have a problem with it when he as an OBP of .395 and that has carried over from the last month of last season. He seems to have a magic force field around the strike zone. The guy gets walked an inordinate amount for someone that really can't hurt you that badly. He will usually give you a good AB and should provide Rickie some chances to run should that opportunity present itself and they want to take that risk in front of Braun and Prince.

 

On another note, I REALLY hope Hall's hamstring problem is just a day or 2 type of thing. It just stinks for him. Seems like every time he gets comfortable and in a groove something bad happens or they have him swithc positions. If he is healthy all year and they are able to leave him at 3rd, I truely think he is going to have a great season. Get back soon Billy! We need you! And stay healthy Braun so moving Hall around isn't an issue when we face LHP

[ajpryor]

But Cubs losing 6-2 going into the 9th

[MJLiverock]

Take a look at that Cubs lineup, talk about the B team team.

[steve267268]

Counsell at 2 can be good for a couple of reasons:

 

1. It provides a lefty bat to make the first five hitters: R L R L R. This may come in handy later in the game.

 

2. While he's not a doubles or homerun machine, he gets on base (as noted above). A good thing when considering the fact that he's hitting in front of Braun, Fielder, and Cameron. It should also provide him some hittable strikes, however, this might not be a good thing...

 

3. Just to throw it in there, it leaves open the possibility of Hall coming in later in the game to pinch hit against a lefty and one-up what Braun did last night. Only-half joking.

[topper09er]

Macha is showing very un-Ned like thinking with Counsell hitting 2...because Counsell is hot right now. He is 7 of his last 22 and for whatever reason he is seeing the ball well and playing above his career numbers. Same thing with Hardy hitting 7 now, he is struggling so move him down. Just like when Macha moved the red-hot Cameron to 5 over Hardy. This is SOOO refreshing to see a manager change around the lineup based on who is hot.

[giffted1]

Macha is showing very un-Ned like thinking with Counsell hitting 2...because Counsell is hot right now. He is 7 of his last 22 and for whatever reason he is seeing the ball well and playing above his career numbers. Same thing with Hardy hitting 7 now, he is struggling so move him down. Just like when Macha moved the red-hot Cameron to 5 over Hardy. This is SOOO refreshing to see a manager change around the lineup based on who is hot.

Huh? Yost was endlessly bashed for going with the "hot hand" in the lineup. Just search "Yost hot hand."

[SeriesFinale]

Still at work out West here...what was the injury delay?

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Sanchez on the dive. Stayed in the game.

[sargennm]

At least it wasn't a lead off home run ...

[SeriesFinale]

Thanks SoCal...when I saw they had a video highlight for Sanchez diving I assumed it was something like Billy last night.

 

I got worried because Braunie was coming to bat...

[SeriesFinale]

Suppan must lead MLB in 1st inning homers.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

Suppan has the Pirates right where he want's them. Ahead early ...

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

At least he waited until the second hitter this time.

 

Ooops...missed your post sarge.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

and now its a tie game...thanks JJ

[SeriesFinale]

I love it when JJ brings Corey home (they're both on my fantasy team!)

 

It's really remarkable--Suppan has given up extra base hits, all for runs (total of seven), in the first inning of five of his six games this year. Let's hope we get the Soup who settles down and not the one who walks in three runs today.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Maybe Soup should throw an inning of BP before he starts. It might help Rickie to knock a couple extra into the seats too.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

Nice inning by Soup