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7/27/05 D-Backs (Vargas) @ Crew (Ohka) 1:05 CST/Bad Mojo II

rluzinski

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Cooper Prep Ball

Cooper

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Baaaaaad Mojo.

 

Dressed for success

Brewers break out sweep suits

By TOM HAUDRICOURT

of the Journal Sentinel staff

Last Updated: June 24, 2001

Chicago - As impressive as the Milwaukee Brewers were on the playing surface of Wrigley Field over the weekend, one of the boldest statements they made came as they filed out of the visitor's clubhouse late Sunday afternoon.

 

Jamey Wright was wearing a bright red, pin-stripe suit, black shirt and rose-colored glasses. David Weathers sported a shiny silver zoot suit right out of the Roaring '20s. Chad Fox stepped out wearing a colorful plaid outfit that could have been made from the curtains of a seedy motel.

 

Allen Levrault wore an electric aqua-color outfit that came without batteries included. Curtis Leskanic opted for a canary yellow suit with matching shirt. And, last but not least, Jeromy Burnitz donned a leopard-print model that would have stood out even in the San Diego Zoo.

 

"You think these guys will make Mr. Blackwell's list?" manager Davey Lopes asked. "And I don't mean his good list."

 

Asked to explain the sartorial madness, Burnitz explained, "These are our 'sweep suits.' We've been waiting to wear them."

 

That chance finally came when the suddenly surging Brewers finished off a three-game sweep of the first-place Chicago Cubs with a 6-3 victory behind yet another solid pitching performance and home runs from Burnitz, Jose Hernandez and Tyler Houston.

 

It was an afternoon that featured many of the elements that have come to define the 2001 edition of the Brewers. The bullpen was bullet-proof once again. The offense reached double figures in strikeouts (12) for the 21st time in 72 games. And the long ball once again was the key to victory.

 

"The bottom line is we won," Lopes said. "That negates the strikeouts and everything else. Like I've said all year, this is who we are."

 

The sweep was the most dramatic development this season for the Brewers, who are 5-1 on a 10-game trip and four games above .500 (38-34) for the season. Don't forget, the Cubs came into this series with a 13-game winning streak at Wrigley and red-hot Kerry Wood on the mound in the opener.

 

"I felt after we beat Kerry Wood, we had a good chance to sweep them," Lopes said. "That set the tone for the weekend."

 

Rookie Ben Sheets took the mound for the Brewers, trying to live up to the magnificent performances of starters Jimmy Haynes and Wright in the first two games (one run in 15 innings combined). Sheets wasn't nearly as dominating but he got the job done nevertheless to record his fifth consecutive victory.

 

Actually, Sheets kept the Cubs in line with the exception of first baseman Matt Stairs, who accounted for all of Chicago's scoring with a pair of home runs. Fortunately for Sheets, he was working with an early three-run cushion, courtesy of Burnitz's three-run homer off Jason Bere.

 

"I still don't feel good at the plate right now," said Burnitz, who was 0 for 6 with three strikeouts in the first two games. "I just hit one to the right place today. There was a jet stream out to left-center."

 

Sheets battled for 51/3 innings before turning it over to the bullpen, which logged 62/3 scoreless innings in the series. Houston bounced back from three consecutive strikeouts to slug a two-run homer off reliever Jeff Fassero in the eighth, and Leskanic closed out the Cubs for the third consecutive day.

 

With a 9-4 record and 3.52 ERA, Sheets has thrust himself into consideration to be the Brewers' representative in the All-Star Game. He'll get two more starts before the pitching staffs are selected, and 10 or so victories will be difficult to ignore.

 

"He's done a great job," Lopes said. "He's still learning. The more he goes out there, the more confident he'll become."

 

And, just like that, the Brewers had jumped from 71/2 games behind Chicago to 41/2 in the NL Central. The sweep was Milwaukee's first at Wrigley and the first on the road since last August in Arizona.

 

It was little wonder afterward that some of the Brewers decided it was time to break out their happy wear.

 

"Why not have some fun?" said Burnitz, who might have been handcuffed had the fashion police been on duty.

 

"When we go on the road, we dress up for each other. We go right to the plane, so we're the only ones who see each other. It's just for giggles. Why not have some fun?"

 

After this particular weekend, why not, indeed.

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Bucky Rules College Ball

Bucky Rules

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Quote:
Rookie Ben Sheets took the mound for the Brewers, trying to live up to the magnificent performances of starters Jimmy Haynes and Wright in the first two games (one run in 15 innings combined). Sheets wasn't nearly as dominating but he got the job done nevertheless to record his fifth consecutive victory.

 

That line struck me as hilarious.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/roll.gif

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Hammer First Round Pick

Hammer

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I don't have the ability to post a picture due to a block from my company but a pic of Don King and his "broom" would work well at this point http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif
@BrewCrewCritic on Twitter "Racing Sausages" - "Huh?"
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Brian the Automator Biloxi Shuckers

Brian the Automator

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Today's Lineups:

 

 1 Craig Counsell, 2B Brady Clark, CF 2 Royce Clayton, SS Rickie Weeks, 2B 3 Luis Gonzalez, LF Lyle Overbay, 1B 4 Troy Glaus, 3B Carlos Lee, LF 5 Shawn Green, RF Geoff Jenkins, RF 6 Chad Tracy, 1B Wes Helms, 3B 7 Quinton McCracken, CF J.J. Hardy, SS 8 Chris Snyder, C Chad Moeller, C 9 Claudio Vargas, P Tomo Ohka, P

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homer MVP

homer

Brewer Fanatic Contributor
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Ralph,

Smaller picture would be appreciated.

 

EDIT: thanks!

"Dustin Pedroia doesn't have the strength or bat speed to hit major-league pitching consistently, and he has no power......He probably has a future as a backup infielder if he can stop rolling over to third base and shortstop." Keith Law, 2006
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homer MVP

homer

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Quote:
Why does Yost absolutely, positively REFUSE to play Branyan 2 days in a row? Is it that crappy .900 OPS that's scaring him away?

 

Maybe he needs him on the bench in case another glove breaks.

"Dustin Pedroia doesn't have the strength or bat speed to hit major-league pitching consistently, and he has no power......He probably has a future as a backup infielder if he can stop rolling over to third base and shortstop." Keith Law, 2006
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