2018-07-31: Brewers (Miley) at Dodgers (Buehler) 9:10 PM CDT [Brewers win, 1-0 -- Wade Miley pitches a gem w/ 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K]

[cesser000]

The Milwaukee Brewers are back in 1st place!!!

 

For all the pessimists who said they wouldn't sniff 1st place again this season, Ha!

And for all the pessimists who said Shaw couldn't play 2B - 502 to Right, I'm looking at you.

[bucks2281]

So glad to have Soria in the pen. His addition was a great move and a game like tonight shows why

[tigerbrew]

Excellent shutout win. Wade Miley has been fantastic and our bullpen have like 4-5 closers.

[wildcat83]

Miley had a great spring. I remember quotes from him about his off season workouts, coming in to camp in great shape. Then, the injury bug hit, but you have to appreciate his persistence. Setting himself up for a great couple of months here.

 

Don't want injury obviously, but that arm will be much fresher down the stretch with less innings on it.

[sdcheezhd]

The Dodgers had 1 baserunner after the 2d - a 2 out single in the 5th. They saw 2 pitches with a runner in scoring position. The only time they had a guy on w less than 2 outs the next pitch was a DP.

[long ball]

Hell of a game from the pitching staff and defense. Miley was spotting his pitches all night.

 

I was so indifferent to the Miley signing this off season not expecting him to do much of anything if he even made the team. Happy to see him doing well.

 

Pumped about this win.

[Oxy]

JJ vs Machado, 1-0 game in bottom of the 9th. Baseball is so boring.

 

This was truly a game for baseball fans. Especially the at-bat you highlighted. JJ giving MM 2 splitters, the second one ripped just foul for a near double.... Everyone expecting JJ to come back with the high heat-including Orel Hershiser (and probably MM)-- Instead he buries another splitter in the dirt and makes Machado look silly. Good stuff.

[rickh150]

Perez in for Shaw in 9th...

[pacopete4]

Perez in for Shaw in 9th...

 

It’s the national league. Double switches happen a lot. Shaw was last out. Pitching change coming. It made a ton of sense to put Perez in incase the game gets tied up.

[BruisedCrew]

So, did we just see our new closer, or will it truly be a committee approach? Knebel only gets chances with a 2 or more run lead until he gets right.

 

Don't see any reason Counsell won't be good to his word on this one.

 

I don’t think it will exactly be closer by committee because, at least for the time being, I see Knebel as the primary closer. But, because the Brewers often have to use 3 or 4 relievers to close out wins (last night’s game was a pleasant exception) they can’t have hard and fast roles for the top end relievers. When they have to use 4 relievers like they did in Monday it might come down to who is the freshest. If they have a chance to win tonight, Soria and Jeffress will probably be lower on the list because they have each pitched 2 nights in a row. And I’m not sure if Hader will be available since they seem to give him more than one day of rest if he throws multiple innings like he did Monday. So, Burnes, Jennings, and Albers are more likely to see action tonight with Knebel set to close if an opportunity is there.

 

I also think it seems to be going unnoticed that Jeffress has had his own bouts of inconsistency lately. Maybe they don’t get as much attention because he isn’t usually pitching the ninth inning. But, after being almost perfect for the first two months, he has been somewhat less than that since then. Knebel’s season long numbers are weighted down by some awful performances early in the year, including some in mop up non save situations (including when he got hurt). Since late May, I think Jeffress and Knebel have been pretty much equally effective with some rough outings thrown in for both. I have about the same level of confidence in each of them as a closer, and I suspect Counsell is the same way. Jeffress might be a little better at pitching multiple days consecutively, and that could be why he got the nod last night.

[rickh150]

Perez in for Shaw in 9th...

 

It’s the national league. Double switches happen a lot. Shaw was last out. Pitching change coming. It made a ton of sense to put Perez in incase the game gets tied up.

 

Agreed.

I didn't hear the announcers mention this, and Shaw's defense and useage has been a topic of concern.

[RobDeer 45]

What a game, what a win! That was a lot of fun to watch last night. Not sure if this was talked about, but how about Lo Cain smacking his mit with fist right before robbing that HR! Can of corn! That was so cool.