2008 Vent Thread (part 5)

[sheethead]

My vent is on how terrible Rickie Weeks is this year. From my IGT post:

 

Rickie Weeks (terrible, even before today's pathetic performance) = .228/.335/.380

Cubs Starting Rotation = .225/.388 (OPS, I am too lazy right now to figure out their collective OBP - I will give that one to talented kid Rickie)

 

That is Pathetic with a capital "P." Use a bigger bat Rickie, or something. Try anything... close your eyes maybe. Just stop doing what you are doing now, and do something else! For the love of God, Ned is keeping you in the leadoff position even if it kills your career. Try something else!!!!!

[DougJones43]

My vent is on how terrible Rickie Weeks is this year. From my IGT post:

 

Rickie Weeks (terrible, even before today's pathetic performance) = .228/.335/.380

Cubs Starting Rotation = .225/.388 (OPS, I am too lazy right now to figure out their collective OBP - I will give that one to talented kid Rickie)

I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of the Cubs pitchers are better defensively than Weeks as well.

[lcbj68c]

I thought tonight's game was lost on the poor decision from Cameron to throw home. Either that or Prince for not cutting that ball. If that runner is held at 1st, we get out of the inning on the double play grounder to Weeks on the next batter and leave the inning tied at 3.

[SeriesFinale]

My vent is nothing tactical or worthwhile, I just get annoyed that every time the board gets in a lather (the playoff threads and other unbridled enthusiasm this morning; the feeling and attitude here before the disastrous 1-6 homestand), it seems like the team's performance then pulls the rug out.

 

I guess I'd like it if either 1. we'd temper it when things seem to be going well or 2. they'd fulfill our confident hopes.

 

Obviously #2 is much preferable.

[ILuvDaBush]

Why didn't Ned go to his "hot hand" earlier and just bring in the Mota Man to begin the inning? Whatever. My true vent is that Carlos didn't egg on the Pujols monster and get him tossed for a few games. "Take one for the team, Chuckie."

[naivin]

I blame Gagne's new baby. Little brat couldn't wait one more day?

[marquettefan13]

I don't get why this series was two games and not three. Of course, if the Brewers win again tonight, I'm not going to complain in the slightest about not having to face LaRussa's team one more time.

On the tentative schedule for 2008 that they handed out at the end of last season this series was a 3 game one and the one in July after the all-star break was a 3 game one also but for some reason they changed that one to 4 games and this one to 2 games (a co-worker recently told me this as he has that tentative schedule they handed out in 2007).

[strawbossisevil]

People do realize that two of the three "righties" that Shouse faced were switch hitters, right? And that the third was the guy that LaRussa swapped immediately following Shouse's entrance into the game?

 

Just checkin' is all.

 

If I'm just getting in the way of a non-fact rant. Just disregard this post. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[fondybrewfan]

This is a vent that really isn't a vent. Shouse and Riske just sucked last night no matter what way you slice it. I don't really understand what the Yost issue is here. Riske pitched last night and looked good and he is more capable of going on back to back days. Shouse has been at least solid this whole year against righties (Not awesome but solid) but as someone else previously mentioned two of the guys he faced were switch hitters. So the choice came down to Shouse against a couple righties or Mota against a couple lefties. I think he made the right choice. No matter what decision he made Ned would get criticized for it. If Riske hadn't thrown 0-2 pitches right down the middle Ned probably wouldn't have been put in that position.

[lcbj68c]

The game was lost on Cameron's errant throw home that Prince failed to cut. Keeping Glaus at 1st base would have likely turned into a double play with the next hitter. Even if they can't turn the double play, the next hitter (pinch hitting pitcher) wouldn't have been able to bunt, etc with two outs. I'm not saying we go on to win the game, but that decision by Cameron really accounted for runs 4 & 5 scoring.

[fondybrewfan]

The game was lost on Cameron's errant throw home that Prince failed to cut. Keeping Glaus at 1st base would have likely turned into a double play with the next hitter. Even if they can't turn the double play, the next hitter (pinch hitting pitcher) wouldn't have been able to bunt, etc with two outs. I'm not saying we go on to win the game, but that decision by Cameron really accounted for runs 4 & 5 scoring.

I don't know if it was his decision making rather it was a ppor throw. IMO a good throw to the plate would have gotten Ludwick. Kendall had that ball on the 1st base side of home plate and Ludwick was still a couple strides from home. There is a lot of blame to go around for last nights game.

[endaround]

Shouse has been at least solid this whole year against righties (Not awesome but solid)

No, no, a thousand times no. The myth of Shouse being decent against right handers is another Yostian thing that just isn't true no matter how much Brian and Bill talk about it. He still can't get them out, about all he has going for him is luck. He hasn't become a different pitcher, he still throws the same and over the last three years his split vs RHB is.314/.388/.451.

[Fatter than Joey]

I thought when Prince hit that guy in the back with his throw after Mota picked him off was funny. It would have been funnier had he hit the guy in the helmet, but plopping him in the back will have to do.

 

What a horrible defender.

[brewmann04]

I been very dissapointed in Riske Performance this year ,and wonder if we might just see Melvin make a waive wire deal.

[IIAY]

It bothers me that some people try to pin this one on Yost. It was lack of execution, plain and simple. Riskie didn't do his job, and off-target throws by Cameron and Hardy didn't help matters any. Add in a few missed opportunities at the plate, and it all ends up in a L. But don't try to tell me that this one is on Yost.

[DatHoser]

I vow to turn off the tv the next time Riske pitches. Every time I see him pitch, he blows a game. If I listen on the radio, he's ok. Sorry Dave, I'm the cause of you're throwing meatballs at critical times.

 

Last night just killed me because the Cardinals really need to be smacked with a reality stick.

[Postseason2006]

My vent is that the Brewers had Monday and today off and a chance to bury the 'birds and Yost waited to get the pen up until Riske had imploded. Has Ned ever heard of getting the catcher and Maddux out to stall? When it comes to the pitching staff, Ned is dumber than Dusty Baker.

[1992casey]

It's mind boggling to me that there's 30 managers in the game right now, and not a single one of them has the creativity to use their best reliever in late innings against the opponent's best hitters.

Playing it "by the book" is the safest way to protect your behind. Also, for whatever reason, people involved with baseball don't take kindly to new ways of thinking or doing things.

That chapter of 'the book' is less than 20 years old. For whatever reason, managers picked up on it quickly when it was written. It's time to tear out those pages.

[Postseason2006]

I was just thinking about the 2006 World Series and the crap the LaRussa did to Kenny Rodgers. What a putz. He's still pulled the biggest choke jobs in World Series history getting his butt handed to him by the Dodgers in 88 and spanked by the Reds in 90.

[pitchleague]

The Cubs are one charmed team.

 

That is all.

[crewcrazy]

At least this ridiculous late-inning comeback by the Cubs benefits the Brewers somewhat by knocking the Phillies down by a half game. It's crazy how they always seem to come through in the late innings, though (while I'm sure they say the same things about the Brewers and their 38 wins in the last inning or whatever it is).

[Postseason2006]

Jeez, a what a suprise on the half an hour pose job by Ramirez.

[wibadgers23]

FSN didn't air the game tonight. Instead, they are showing some stupid golf crap. This sucks.

[nohopspanther]

FSN didn't air the game tonight. Instead, they are showing some stupid golf crap. This sucks.

Saturdays are always on WMLW.

[fondybrewfan]

Shouse has been at least solid this whole year against righties (Not awesome but solid)

No, no, a thousand times no. The myth of Shouse being decent against right handers is another Yostian thing that just isn't true no matter how much Brian and Bill talk about it. He still can't get them out, about all he has going for him is luck. He hasn't become a different pitcher, he still throws the same and over the last three years his split vs RHB is.314/.388/.451.

I made no mention of his performance against righties the last 3 years. THIS year he is .284/.365/.407 for an OPS agaisnt of .772. I would consider that pretty good but not great by any means. Yeah in the last 3 years it doesn't look as good but is only because his 2006 numbers were atrocious against righties. Even in 2007 he was .295/.352/.337 for an OPS against of .689. That is pretty damn good. He gives up his fair share of hits but in the last two years righties have a pretty bad slugging percentage against him. I don't know if you can call him lucky in regards to his SLG because it has happend in each of the last 2 years. He is not nearly as bad against righties as you think he is. His 2006 numbers really skew everything when he had a .936 OPS against. I have said earlier on this board that righties have dinked and dunked off of him this year but his slugging percentages indicate that not to many righties hit him with any authority. I'll take that from a lefty specialist any day

 

I never said he was a world beater but those numbers seem to show me pretty conclusively that he has been solid. Obviously we have better options against righties in our bullpen but I am pretty confident with Shouse out there.