2009-07-03 Brewers (Suppan) at Chicago (Zambrano) : 1:20 PM CT [Brewers lose, 2-1]

[pretendastronaut]

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North Side Baseball

[pretendastronaut]

Per McCalvy;

 

Jason Kendall C

Craig Counsell 2B

Ryan Braun LF

Prince Fielder 1B

Casey McGehee 3B

Mike Cameron CF

Corey Hart RF

J.J. Hardy SS

Jeff Suppan RHP

[naivin]

Seems a bit odd that he would drop Hardy but keep McGehee in there considering the pathetic nights they both had last night. I assume Hardy has not hit Zambrano well, just as I assume Kendall has. Not sure why you wouldn't want to get another LH bat in there. Anyone know what the wind is doing?

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

McGehee looked like he was pressing a little last night. Hopefully he's got the first trip back to Wrigley jitters out. That was Cam's best game in over a month for sure. He's streaky, it'd be great to get him going.

 

Let's hope we get a Z meltdown and a gatorade machine take out today.

[naivin]

Gatorade machines have been removed from the dugout. Only coolers now. Given the heat and such he has received since Sunday, I am assuming Z will give up about 2 hits today.

[pretendastronaut]

weather.com says it's from the NW, which would be blowing out (I believe) at the moment.

[The Truth]

That is a bizarre lineup. Even Ned Yost would have a hard time coming up with a lineup that strange.

 

Look for Hardy to go oh-for, with a bit of a 'tude. He hates batting 8th

[bklynbrewcrew]

Great lineup today. Have your worst hitter leading off and have Gamel rot on the bench again. Ned Macha is a complete dope.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Brewers Classics showing up on DirecTV for once...what a treat. Even tough I know the result, I still have no confidence in Turnbow finishing this.

[pretendastronaut]

Fielder, Hart, and Kendall are the only Brewers batting over .300 versus Zambrano. Kendall has been slapping hits around for a few days. Those two things probably combined more towards Kendall leading off a lineup with no true leadoff hitter, more than Macha being a "complete dope."

[naivin]

Well Hardy hasn't been slapping the hits around, he has been hammering the ball around the last few days, with the exception of last night, and he dropped him to the 8 spot. I know he doesn't have great hostory with Z, but it does seem a bit odd.

[bucks2281]

I'll say there's a fairly good chance of Zambrano homering today. Happens at least once a year.

[pretendastronaut]

I'm not saying I like it naivin, or that it's not odd, just trying to actually understand it instead of conjecture. Personally I'd like to keep JJ in the 2 spot for an extended period, because I agree, he's swinging better than most give him credit for.

 

If anyone ever watches the NSBB IGTs, there is a guy over there, Fred Hornkohl, who always has a slew of random trivia/facts. He posted this tidbit, which I'll take as a positive for us;

 

CUBS have put up back to back games with double digit hits for the seventh time this year. You have to go back to Aug '08 for the last time they had 3 consecutive games with double digit hits. In 2 starts against Suppan this year, the CUBS have put up hit totals of 5 & 9.

[pretendastronaut]

Cubs Lineup via NSBB:

 

Soriano, lf

Theriot, ss

D Lee, 1b

Bradley, rf

Fox, 3b

Fukudome, cf

Fontenot, 2b

K. Hill, c

Zambrano, p

[southpaw121505]

FIRE IT UP BOYS

[hawing]

That is a bizarre lineup. Even Ned Yost would have a hard time coming up with a lineup that strange.

Yeah, it's not really a JV/forfeit lineup. Maybe Ken chose the order via dice roll. I guess I'll still hope for better than I expect.

[topper09er]

In general the rule of thumb for wrigley is on warm days (the summer day games) the wind is blowing out because it is coming from the warmer south to the lake, and on cooler days (spring and fall games) the wind is blowing in because it is coming from the lake.

[pebadger]

I know this is supposed to be entertainment, but I'm on edge already after last night. Let's find a way, Crew.

[phxMILWfan]

I don't have a problem with the lineup. I know J.J. hates hitting 8th but I think Kendall and Counsell 1 & 2 against Zambrano could be good. They see a lot of pitches and if the ump isn't giving Z pitches out of the zone he may implode.

[GB12]

Since there is nothing else on I was kind of watching Brewers Live. Our announcers really need to stop saying the phrase "friendly confines of Wrigley Field". In the five minutes I watched they said it at least 4 times.

[topper09er]

Overall on the season I like Macha effort at changing the lineup to get the "hot" players hitting together and higher in the order. Hopefully Cam heats up and can go back to 5th and if McGehee starts to cool off we can get Gamel in there.

[pebadger]

Thud.

 

If Soriano homers to lead off, I'll puke.

[logan82]

Kendall never leading off or batting above the 7 hole would be a good idea. Kendall leading off is, well, dumb.

 

Anyone know what the wind is doing?

 

Obviously blowing away Macha's calendar because he seems to think it is 2005.

 

Fielder, Hart, and Kendall are the only Brewers batting over .300 versus Zambrano. Kendall has been slapping hits around for a few days. Those two things probably combined more towards Kendall leading off a lineup with no true leadoff hitter, more than Macha being a "complete dope."

 

Nope, he's a dope. Individual batting match up numbers are completely meaningless. Counsell is fine as a lead off hitter against RHP.

[phxMILWfan]

Nice start Soup! I like the brush back pitch to Lee.

[pebadger]

Way to go Soup. He's wearing the red military honors cap, so maybe this is his day.