04/15/05 - Cardinals (Suppan) @ Brewers (Sheets), 7:05 PM CT

[squarepusher]

Your Milwaukee Brewers open up a series with last year's NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Crew holds sole posession of 1st place in the NL Central, and now the real test begins. The Cards hit Ben Sheets the second best out of any team last year, posting a .286 batting average against him. Ben went 1-3 against them last year with a 3.70 ERA. Jeff Suppan has been dubbed "The Road Warrior" for his efforts, as least year he posted a 3.55 ERA on the road, while posting a 4.75 ERA at home. So, it only makes sense that the Brewers were able to get to him last year in St. Louis, but he pitched a 7.2 inning 3 hit gem against the Brewers in Miller Park last year.

 

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NL Central Standings:

 TEAM WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK [b]MILWAUKEE 5 3 .625 - 2-1 3-2 00-00 05-03 00-00 WON 1[/b] CINCINNATI 4 4 .500 1 3-0 1-4 03-00 01-04 00-00 WON 1 HOUSTON 4 4 .500 1 4-1 0-3 00-03 04-01 00-00 LOST 3 CHICAGO CUBS 4 5 .444 1 1/2 3-3 1-2 00-00 02-01 02-04 LOST 1 ST LOUIS 3 4 .429 1 1/2 2-3 1-1 01-02 02-02 00-00 LOST 1 PITTSBURGH 3 6 .333 2 1/2 0-2 3-4 00-00 01-04 02-02 LOST 1 

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Brewerfan.net / Statfox matchup info:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewMat...n?teamId=1

 

Milwaukeebrewers.com game preview:

milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...p&c_id=mil

 

Stlouiscaridnals.com game preview:

stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com...p&c_id=stl

 

Yahoo! Sports game preview:

sports.yahoo.com/mlb/prev...=250415108

[falloutboy]

Woo-hoo

 

4-3 Brewers.

 

Sheets gives up 2

 

Lee blasts a 2 run shot

Overbay jacks a solo

The other run comes from a surprising Moeller RBI.

 

Probably a bit too early, but I love these series more than Cubs vs Brewers.

[LS Brewer]

I am very excited as this will be my first game of the season in attendance. I am loath to make a prediction based on the Brewers recent track record with me in attendance. I just hope they make a good game of it.

 

I love April baseball where the games mean something to a fan of the Brewers and there is still hope. Over the past 12 years, as a Brewer fan, April baseball has to me what October baseball has been to a Yankee fan.

 

Go Brewers!!!

 

By the way, the first place Brewers magic number stands at 153...

[squarepusher]

This will be my "season opener" as well.... Got tickets for section 217 tonight, and I can't wait!

[Kraft4a3]

Going Sunday, but I am hoping to talk the wife into going tonight as well. It totally slipped my mind Sheets was pitching tonight. I am going to have to work extra hard to get her to go. She loves baseball and the Brewers, but I think she had her heart set on a movie.

 

Do they still have the $5 bleacher offer for college students. I still use my old college ID when I need to. That way I could tell her going to the ballgame would be cheaper than a movie.

[squarepusher]

Baseball games are just like movies that are entirely about baseball. There's your hook.

[PirateScott]

Suppan is a pitcher with heart. He's a real innings eater. If he's on, and he is most of the time, you must jump on him early. Grab a couple runs in the first inning. After that he settles down. Jeff's one that can go the distance. There might not be a chance to wait for his exit. Suppan can be compared to the Buc's Redman which you just recently saw.

 

Now that the Bucs are gone, I'm back with the Crew! Just Do It!

[brettac1]

But thankfully not left handed.

[DHonks]

Baseball games are like movies, except something exciting happens at every ballgame. Throw in that you can converse during the slow parts of a ballgame, but will be scolded if you talk during a slow part of a movie. And, of course, there's beer and sausages at ballparks

[brewerjamie15]

This is my first game of the season as well. We're up top some place I think. Anyhow, it'll be a great time and with Sheets on the hill we should see a good game.

[FVBrewerFan]

With Sheets leading off, playing at home...they really need to take this series. A sweep would be nice, but they need to win every series at home when the top of the rotation is pitching.

[DHonks]

Wow, there's some excitement on the boards. Things were lagging a bit the other day, but at 5-3 we're halfway done with one page in this thread, and we have 8 hours till gametime

[xisxisxis]

Things were lagging a bit the other day, but at 5-3 we're halfway done with one page in this thread, and we have 8 hours till gametime

 

If we could only play the Pirates all year we might have a shot at a winning record.

[UeckerAddict]

If we could only play the Pirates all year we might have a shot at a winning record.

 

But think about it. When was the last time we could say THAT? The Pirates have consistantly crushed us in recent years.

[hermanator34]

I'm always fired up for some division-leading baseball at MP, even on April 15. Hopefully, with Sheets and Davis we can get 2 of 3 against the NL champs.

 

Anyone else concerned the Cards come in hitting .228 collectively with a .715 team OPS? Hopefully they wait three more days before getting it figured out.

 

I wish the playoffs started today...

[DHonks]

But think about it. When was the last time we could say THAT? The Pirates have consistantly crushed us in recent years.

 

Throw in that our schedules the last three April's have been somewhere between difficult and impossible, and this is a relief.

[madtownbrew]

So what does everyone think about attendance this weekend? I am really hoping that all three of these games will be over the 25k mark? Unfortunately, i have a feeling we are probably looking at about 20k tonight, 25k saturday night, and 20k Sunday. I hope I'm wrong and we are in the 25-30k for all three, but I doubt it. I'm sure there will be a fair share of Card fans in attendance which should help out. Should be an exciting weekend of baseball.

[mikevan1818]

Saturdays not a night gme is it?? I thought it was 1pm?

[madtownbrew]

My bad. Your right, Saturday is a day game as well. That may hurt attendance, especially if it is a nice day in Milwaukee as people might want to stay home and work outside.

[mikevan1818]

Good...thats what I thought....well I'm eading to the game. Bringing 10 of my friends. I think we all should do the same. Get to a game, bring your family, friends, and in-laws. Let's take this series. GO crew!!

[DHonks]

I would shoot for 25k Friday night, 18k Sat, 28k Sunday. There's always something about Sunday day games

[squarepusher]

Saturday is the anit-spit-tobacco comic book giveaway, one of the most anticipated games on the calendar. They will come from far and wide to read the capers of Grossmouth.

[batman]

Speaking of special occasions, today is Jackie Robinson Day.

 

~Bill

[jakesdaddio]

Hey squarepusher...ease up on Bob Brainerd. He is a good guy, and a friend of mine. I used to work with him in Eau Claire, and he was in my wedding.

[squarepusher]

[ Hey squarepusher...ease up on Bob Brainerd. He is a good guy, and a friend of mine. I used to work with him in Eau Claire, and he was in my wedding. ]

 

You know, I actually listened to him on the D-List the other day, and I was really surprised with him. His corny TV on-air personality drives me bonkers, but he did alright on the radio.

 

I don't want to turn this into a Brainerd-bashing / Brainerd-defending thread.... but he makes a great avatar!