3/21/06 Brewers (Capuano) at Cubs, 2:00 PM, MLB Audio?

[Mass Haas]

The Brewer press notes indicate today's game will not be webcast, but MLB Gameday Audio indicates otherwise -- we'll see...

 

Brewers Bullpen Coach returns to camp from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) . . . Castro served as the Pitching Coach for the Dominican Republic.

 

Drew Olson of the JS:

 

Phoenix - - A week ago, the muscles in J.J. Hardy's lower back were so tight he had trouble pulling on his uniform pants and walking across the clubhouse. This afternoon, he'll be the Milwaukee Brewers starting shortstop for an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs at HoHoKam Park in Mesa. Hardy has been working on a strengthening program to avoid a recurrence of the back spasms that sidelined him a week.

 

"It's something I'll do the rest of my season and probably the rest of my career,'' he said.

 

In other injury news, right-hander Ben Sheets will throw on the side today as he continues his comeback from a strained back muscle. Sheets is not expected to be ready for opening day, but there is a chance he may open the season on the 25-man roster rather than the disabled list.

 

Right-hander Rick Helling, a long reliever who could be put into the starting rotation if Sheets isn't ready, will throw two innings / 35 pitches in a minor-league game today. Helling has been slowed by arm soreness this spring.

 

The Brewers, who were off on Monday, will start lefty Chris Capauno, who is slated to throw five innings or 80 pitches. Milwaukee also will be without rookie first baseman Prince Fielder, who is in Florida for the birth of his second child.

 

Here is the Brewers' lineup for the game against the Cubs:

 

1. Brady Clark, cf.

2. J.J. Hardy, ss

3. Geoff Jenkins, rf

4. Carlos Lee, lf

5. Bill Hall, 3b

6. Jeff Cirillo, 2b

7. Corey Hart, 1b

8. Chad Moeller, c

9. Chris Capuano, p.

 

Relievers: Justin Lehr, Jared Fernandez.

 

More Brewer site notes:

 

Traveling to Mesa from Brewers Minor League camp are: IF Ozzie Chavez (#25) and OF Charlie Fermaint (#33).

[ja002h]

Affirmative on audio. I'm listening to crowd noise as I type..

[DHonks]

Carlos Lee a late scratch, with a "twinge" in his groin, suffered on Sunday

[Oldcity]

Boy all these little injuries in Spring Training really make you realize what players must play through during the regular season.

[M Skjellyfetti]

I can do some PBP for a little while now if anyone wants.

After 1 and a half innings, score is still 0-0

 

Bottom 2nd

Capuano pitching

Michael Barrett: 4

Todd Walker: 4-3 (Corey Hart heads off diamond thinking there are 3 outs, and apparently gets laughed at by J.J. Hardy)

Matt Murton: BB

Ronny Cedeno: HR, Murton scores, 2-0 Cubs

Sean Marshall: 9 Diving Catch by Jenkins

1 Hit, 2 Runs (Both Earned), 0 Errors

 

Top 3rd

Marshall pitching

Chris Capuano: U3

Brady Clark: 8

J.J. Hardy: Single to Left-Center

Geoff Jenkins: 6-3

1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Errors

 

Bottom 3rd

Juan Pierre: Double down 3rd base line

Jerry Hairston: B1-3, Pierre to 3rd

Aramis Ramirez: "Single" (E5 if scored by competent people), Pierre scores, 3-0 Cubs

Jacque Jones: K looking

Michael Barrett: 5

2 hits, 1 Earned Run, "0" Errors

 

Brewers, Brewers keep turning up the heat!

 

Top 4th

Bobby Howry now pitching

Nelson Cruz: Double to Right

Bill Hall: Double to Right-Center, Cruz scores, 3-1 Cubs

Jeff Cirillo: BB

Corey Hart:GIDP 6-4-3, Bill Hall to 3rd

Chad Moeller: Double to Left Center, Bill Hall scores, 3-2 Cubs

Chris Capuano: K I think? I spaced out a little bit.

3 hits, 2 runs, both earned, 0 Errors

 

Bottom 4th

Todd Walker: 8

Matt Murton: 4-3

Ronny Cedeno: 7

0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Errors

 

Top 5th

Brady Clark: Single to Left

J.J. Hardy: FC 3-6 (Hardy almost hit by pitch, but swung anyways and made contact, DP ball, but Walker wasn't on bag when throw was made)

Geoff Jenkins: 6-5-3 DP (Big defensive shift)

1 hit, 0 runs, 0 errors

 

That's all I can do for now, go Brewers.

[DHonks]

I miss watching Cappy pitch, settling into his groove throwing fastball in and changeup away to righties. You could always tell last year when he felt good, because he'd just show the two pitches to righties, and alternate them.

[1992casey]

Good report on Rick Helling. 31 pitches and feeling good today.

[deeswan]

Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat.....

[1992casey]

They're playing "Brewers, Keep Turnin' Up The Heat". Have they been doing this on the webcasts all spring?

[M Skjellyfetti]

Yes, they have. That's about the 3rd time I've heard it this spring, and I haven't been listening all that much.

[M Skjellyfetti]

Anyone know who hit between Pierre and Ramirez last inning? I missed the name.

[undertow67]

Anyone know who hit between Pierre and Ramirez last inning? I missed the name.

 

 

Jerry Hairston, sac bunt, I believe feilded by Capuano.

[1992casey]

Have they played "Brewer Fever" (Come See What's Brewin') at all?

 

If not, I say we e-mail the booth and request it.

[scoop53714]

Is it becoming concerning that Weeks will have had only a few games next week before kicking off the regular season? This minor injury seems to be eating up his entire spring training. Is he a question mark for April 3rd?

[M Skjellyfetti]

Chad Moeller crushes one and picks up an RBI after initially attempting an RBI bunt single.

 

Free Chad Moeller! (or just don't unfree him?)

[DHonks]

Is it becoming concerning that Weeks will have had only a few games next week before kicking off the regular season? This minor injury seems to be eating up his entire spring training

 

no concern about his performance. My concern is that this is a muscle that can often lead to nagging injuries, much like a groin injury. Best to rest him now as long as it takes

[thumperden]

Right DHonks! The hard part about that muscle is that in order to test it you have to make a movement in isolation with it. You never know how it feels or how it's healed until you test it. Testing it can aggravate the injury which can to more setbacks.

[bork]

Any talk about Sheets during the game? The JS is reporting that Yost named Davis the opening day starter. Sheets will probably start on the DL and have a rehab stint in Hunstville.

[plowjockey]

Brett Abernathy making a statement. 2 rbi single to tie it.

[brewmann04]

has Cruz done enough to beat out Gross?

[thelastbrewfan]

Did I just hear an ad for the WBC?

 

I'll be sure to catch that.

[Brian the Automator]

Abernathy has played 2 positions in his major league career... These are best case scenario depth charts for him:

 

LF: Lee, Gross, Hart, Abernathy

2B: Weeks, Hall, Abernathy, Cirillo (and it's really a toss-up between these two, depending on the need of offense vs. defense).

 

Barring injury, I don't see how the team carries him.

[fondybrewfan]

Is Cappy still pitching or is someone else now in the game? the score is 4-4 I presume?

[Brian the Automator]

[ has Cruz done enough to beat out Gross? ]

 

Yes, but it doesn't matter, as I think it's 95% likely that Cruz is headed to AAA. Melvin has said this previously, and i don't necessarily disagree. I've mentioned this in other threads, but starting every day in CF will do wonders for Cruz's value.

[dadofandrew]

Abernathy's best case is to be the guy they choose to come up in case of injury to Rickie, JJ, Bill, Corey, or Jeff.

 

As of this second, I'd say it'd be him...unless Zach Sorenson goes down with him.