2018-04-05: Cubs (Lester) at Brewers (Suter) 7:10 PM CDT [Brewers lose 8-0; Knebel down w/injury]

[BadgerFan]

I don't want to stir the pot too much, but for those of you who were able to watch the game on TV, was there any mention of Knebel warming up in the pen prior to his entrance into the game? I'm sure he got some warm up tosses in the bullpen, but I wonder with the game situation what it was if Knebel assumed around the 5-6th inning that his day was going to be limited to spitting sunflower seeds and didn't get himself stretched/warmed up in preparation to come into tonight's game.

 

99% sure a torn hammy is a freak thing for a pitcher to suffer - but one would think an injury like this would happen more frequently to a guy that just spent 3 hours sitting on a chair that got a call from the dugout in the bottom of the 8th telling him to get loose because he's going to get some game work in the 9th. I frankly just don't like the adage and see no benefit of getting a key late inning reliever work in a game that's not a save or hold situation "to keep him sharp" - more often than not the pitcher's mentality and approach is different leading into that inning of work, and you have no way of knowing whether you'll need that reliever the next 3-4 straight games.

 

It was a freak injury, plain and simple. Could have happened on any pitch.

 

As for why he was in there, if he doesn't pitch tonight and then gets lit up in a save situation tomorrow, everyone would be complaining about why Counsell didn't get him any work over the past few days.

 

Bottom line is it was just a bad break.

[B-Train]

Knebel's track record of not being able to locate his curve due to lack of "work" is something that is brought up often in Brewer message boards and is a part of the plan that the coaching staff uses to keep him on top his game.

 

The issue could be a lingering effect from tweaking his leg in spring training.

[pacopete4]

Well I guess we’ll never find out if Knebel is a regression candidate or not. R.I.P.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

The irony was just too much for me. I had a really good laugh. That’s all.

 

Well, I'm glad I brought joy to someone tonight.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Knebel's track record of not being able to locate his curve due to lack of "work" is something that is brought up often in Brewer message boards and is a part of the plan that the coaching staff uses to keep him on top his game.

 

The issue could be a lingering effect from tweaking his leg in spring training.

 

LOL jinx (Post #220)

[pacopete4]

 

The irony was just too much for me. I had a really good laugh. That’s all.

 

Well, I'm glad I brought joy to someone tonight.

 

We may need it for a little while. Thank the heavens Braun ate the clutch gummy to start the year or we would be counting down the days til Packer football.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well I guess we’ll never find out if Knebel is a regression candidate or not. R.I.P.

 

I don't know ... can you be a regression candidate after missing basically a whole season? I'm sure someone here will make a case for that next February.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

The irony was just too much for me. I had a really good laugh. That’s all.

 

Well, I'm glad I brought joy to someone tonight.

 

We may need it for a little while. Thank the heavens Braun ate the clutch gummy to start the year or we would be counting down the days til Packer football.

 

I think you managed to cram about six controversial threads over the last week into that one sentence. That is much appreciated.

[B-Train]

This is a great opportunity for the leaders of this team to regroup/reset and hold everyone accountable for minimizing these mental mistakes that are frustrating to see. I look forward to these guys using this adversity to step up and start playing up to their capabilities and there is no better time than starting tomorrow against the Cubs.

[B-Train]

We will find out very soon how strong this year's team chemistry and comraderie truly is. This will be quite a test over the next couple of weeks and can really set the tone leading into the summer months.

[B-Train]

We will find out very soon how strong this year's team chemistry and comraderie truly is. This will be quite a test over the next couple of weeks and can really set the tone leading into the summer months.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This is a great opportunity for the leaders of this team to regroup/reset and hold everyone accountable for minimizing these mental mistakes that are frustrating to see. I look forward to these guys using this adversity to step up and start playing up to their capabilities and there is no better time than starting tomorrow against the Cubs.

 

Amen. Today sucks, but there is still 155 of these things to go. Thanks for reminding me of that.

[pacopete4]

We will find out very soon how strong this year's team chemistry and comraderie truly is. This will be quite a test over the next couple of weeks and can really set the tone leading into the summer months.

 

I suggest they all sit down and watch their Sandlot remake to build some team chemistry. Or maybe that’s what is tearing this team apart? Only some were in it. And there’s always the possibility that bringing back Hank has cursed this team too. Haudricourt should get on that story.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well, if you are looking for a positive, Guerra pitched a gem at Colorado Springs, and young Freddy Peralta has a 1-hitter through 5 innings in the nightcap.

[Bulldogboy]

Man, crew in very tough shape already in the pitching department. Not that it is a surprise but it's very early for this. You just can't have a starting rotation of guys who throw 85-88. Mistakes will fly a long way at that speed. I would bring up some of the youngsters who have better stuff. They will make mistakes but have much more margin for error.

[B-Train]

We will find out very soon how strong this year's team chemistry and comraderie truly is. This will be quite a test over the next couple of weeks and can really set the tone leading into the summer months.

 

I suggest they all sit down and watch their Sandlot remake to build some team chemistry. Or maybe that’s what is tearing this team apart? Only some were in it. And there’s always the possibility that bringing back Hank has cursed this team too. Haudricourt should get on that story.

 

 

It is easy to have great chemistry when things are going well. I am looking forward to seeing how they respond this early to a series of tough circumstances. Last year was very different early in terms of expectations, pitching staff/bullpen roles in question, lots of new faces, etc.... This year, roles seem to be established, playoffs expected, but throw in injuries, shaky defense and questionable focus in the home opening week. I don't doubt the guys in the clubhouse, but it is still going to a challenge and hopefully fun to watch them overcome these early hurdles.

[TJseven7]

Well, if you are looking for a positive, Guerra pitched a gem at Colorado Springs, and young Freddy Peralta has a 1-hitter through 5 innings in the nightcap.

 

Herrera (in my top 25 preseason) had a heck of a 4ip for Wisco as well.

 

It's sad but my eyes have been more on the farm than the mlb squad from the day we didn't add Cobb. Hiura set back, Knebel injury... and I'm not sure 2019 will be ready to roll at this point. Erceg had a great night.

[Lathund]

The last couple of games have been bad, but we're not even twice through the rotation yet. Both hitters and pitchers will have bad games throughout a season, it's just that when they happen early on they're much more notable. And since there's nothing else to go on, there's always the uncertainty of whether these are just those bad days, or if this is what said player really is like this year. I for one will opt for "I don't know", and give it more time before starting to worry (or not).

[3and2Fastball]

Crazy, snakebit franchise. I love 'em, but wow.... Just my wow

[Pugger]

I don't really care that we have played poorly the last couple of days. I will say that the lack of additions to the starting rotation kept us on the outside looking in for the playoffs and an early season major injury to a part of our team that I think is somewhat weak makes our playoff odds nosedive because they weren't amazing to begin with.

 

You might be the lone person who thinks our bullpen is somewhat weak. Most think it is our deepest.

 

But it just sucks to lose Cory for a significant period of time. Will we bring up a pitcher from AAA?