8/20/2004: Brewers (Davis) v. Phillies (Milton)

[brettac1]

Dealin' Doug takes the hill for the Crew against a fellow struggling team, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers offense has been picking it up lately, thanks to the contributions of Russell the Muscle, but the pitching is slipping due to injuries in the pen and, in some cases, overwork. The Phillies are playing possibly the worst baseball in the league, on a 7 game losing streak and coming off a 1-9 homestand at their brand new ballpark. Milton is 12-2, yet has a 4.81 ERA. He gets the most run support in the league - the anti-Ben Sheets if you will (both in terms of run support and ability). In three starts spanning 22 innings against the Crew, Milton is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. He also happens to be LH, meaning we will likely get to see the wonders of Wes Helms manning the hot corner tonight.

 

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[stkmtimo]

Well, what else can I say except go Doug and shut down Milton's run support!

 

Tim

[tyguy20204]

The return of Wes Helms. And Brady Clark takes over the two spot.

 

 PHILADELPHIA MILWAUKEE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Jimmy Rollins SS .280 8 47 Scott Podsednik CF .251 10 29 Placido Polanco 2B .282 10 28 Brady Clark RF .267 5 28 Bobby Abreu RF .295 26 87 Lyle Overbay 1B .321 13 72 Jim Thome 1B .283 36 83 Bill Hall 2B .262 7 44 David Bell 3B .279 13 55 Geoff Jenkins LF .250 19 66 Mike Lieberthal C .251 12 42 Wes Helms 3B .263 2 21 Lou Collier LF .316 1 2 Craig Counsell SS .254 2 20 Marlon Byrd CF .239 4 26 Chad Moeller C .215 4 23 Eric Milton LHP .143 0 3 Doug Davis LHP .020 0 0 (12-2, 4.81) (10-9, 3.67) 

[stkmtimo]

Bill Hall batting cleanup could be interesting. Too bad Helms is in there.

 

Tim

[DuWayne Steurer]

I'm going on a 7 town rampage of destruction. Due to Wes Helms being in the lineup over Branyan, I can't be held responsible for my actions.

 

Yost, pull your head OUT OF YOUR A**.

[tyguy20204]

It must have been Branyan's errors yesterday.

 

Because Wes doesn't have defensive difficulties. Right.

[stkmtimo]

Hey RoCo...Helms is a righty! Yost has no idea what he's doing.

 

Tim

[stkmtimo]

According to Sutton Yost was "tempted to start Russ Branyan against the lefty Milton today." Yeah, sure he was.

 

Tim

[stkmtimo]

Nice way for Brady Clark to work the walk off of Milton.

 

Edit - And he *gasp* steals second!

 

Tim

[ja002h]

Finally Brady gets put in the 2 hole.

[brettac1]

Quick question - why is Hall batting 4th? He has a .356 SLG vs. LHP, and an OPS of .593. His career line vs. lefties: .204/.243/.306/.549.

 

Also, as I have said in the past, I support Ned in the Helms v. LHP platoon. He has hit them well this season. I do, however, wish that Branyan would play RF, Clark CF, and Magruder LF vs. lefties.

 

And, apparently on cue, Billy K's w/ a man on third and 1 out.

[950opsLHcatcher]

Whoa, Lou Collier is in LF for the Phillies. Sweet memories that guy brings back.

 

Edit: The Brewers not scoring with runners on first and third and one out... also sweet memories. From the other day.

[stkmtimo]

Scotty with the triple...almost outta there!

 

Crew leads 1-0...Clark with the sac fly.

 

Tim

[Frisbee Slider]

They made Brady's sac fly seem heroic.

[stkmtimo]

You're right, after all, we can't score many runs.

 

If I hear Daron say one more time how great one of Milton's pitches is!!

 

Tim

[squarepusher]

Base hit Wes Helms. Great.

[tyguy20204]

There goes the no hitter. Thanks Pods.

[stkmtimo]

Stupid Lou Collier.

 

Tim

[brettac1]

I have to admit, I don't mind Helms playing only v. LHP. He does just fine, however, did you see the way the camera went to Yost in the dugout just looking for a smile and to see him mouth the words "I knew you could do it Wes!"? Regardless, I like the platoon, but I would also like to see Branyan play vs. LHP, since he is their best power bat, and play in the OF. I'd also like to see Pods and Jenks sit vs. them since they totally suck against lefties. Here would be my line-up:

 

1. Clark CF - .278, .384, .361, .745, 1 HR (72 AB)

 

2. Counsell/Hall (horse-a-piece) SS

- Counsell: .210, .300, .290, .590, 0 HR (62 AB)

- Hall: .219, .237, .356, .593, 2 HR (73 AB)

 

3. Overbay 1B - .317, .377, .574, .951, 4 HR (101 AB)

 

4. Branyan RF - Only has 6 AB this year (.333, .375, .833, 1.208, 1 HR), so career stats of .251, .323, .579, .902, 15 HR (171 AB) will be used to justify his inclusion

 

5. Helms 3B - .308, .379, .385, .764, 0 HR (52 AB). Last year - .314, .425, .581, 1.006, 6 HR (86 AB). The guy undoubtedly deserves a chance, if only against LHP. The only thing that is down sharply for him this year is his SLG - could his knee injury have taken some of his power away (don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan)?

 

6. Ginter (when/if he comes back)/Durrington/Hall 2B

- Ginter: .278, .331, .444, .825, 1 HR (54 AB)

- Durrington: .381, .409, .667, 1.076, 2 HR (21 AB)

- Hall: See two spot

 

7. Magruder LF - .455, .538, .818, 1.357, 1 HR (11 AB). Career stats: .288, .310, .472, .782, 5 HR (125 AB)

 

8. Moeller/Bennett C (look away, they're hideous)

- Moeller: .175, .233, .250, .483, 1 HR (40 AB)

- Bennett: .179, .233, .250, .483, 0 HR (28 AB)

 

9. P

 

Over these guys:

Podsednik: .227, .315, .381, .697, 3 HR (97 AB)

Jenkins: .211, .283, .377, .661, 5 HR (114 AB)

 

Team stats against LHP:

.248 AVG, .326 OBP, .402 SLG%, .728 OPS, 25 HR (838 AB)

 

Team stats against RHP (actually worse, but probably due to sample size):

.253, .324, .383, .707, 74 (3226 AB)

 

Thoughts?

 

EDIT: Added some stats and stuff

[stkmtimo]

There goes the tie ballgame. 3-1 Phillies, Abreu 2 run homer.

 

Tim

[stkmtimo]

Chad Moeller takes Eric Milton deep! 3-2 Phillies lead.

 

Tim

[hawing]

I have no comment...just wanted to see this game thread get off page one.

 

Of course, as I write this the Phillies go deep. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

What's up with Wes' goatee?

[stkmtimo]

Another game, another loss. Davis pitches very well, gets 2 runs in support and loses.

 

Tim

[stkmtimo]

Just read this: "The Brewers outrighted LHP Matt Ford from their 40-man roster. Ford has been pitching at Double A Huntsville, where he's 1-6 with a 4.36 ERA, and will remain there"

 

Tim

[squarepusher]

So much for the great Rule 5 experiment of 2003.... It's too bad really, because at the time, a had a whole lot of faith in it.