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7-5-2004: Cubs (Clement) @ Brewers (Sheets)

JaNelson52

By JaNelson52,
in Archived Game Threads

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PrimetimeHater Prep Ball

PrimetimeHater

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Now, if you want to see some fans really freak out, just check out the MLB cubs message board after a Cubs loss. Their offense is terrible, they'll never win the division, they just got beat by the lowly Brewers. That's my favorite part about any win over the Cubs, just reading the game thread is one of the most entertaining things you can do.
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Mike2k33 College Ball

Mike2k33

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I think this was the biggest win of the year so far. It wasn't as dramatic as the 9-0 game or the 5-0 game or even that back and forth Minnesota game at Miller Park. However, the Crew had to get back on the right track and they did just that against a tough team in front of a charged up crowd(the Brewers won in front of a big crowd? That doesn't happen much).

 

Now hopefully Victor(y) can win us another series tomorrow night against Prior.

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gregmag Draft Eligible

gregmag

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I never get to do this, and I won't have another chance until the Brewers come to Philly next month, so here's what I noticed from the best seats I will ever have at Miller Park (because they were the only ones my dad could get when I and some family friends firmed up our plans to come to town):

 

Sheets was actually better than his line, in that Sosa's "walk" came on strike three and two of the Cubs' so-called hits could easily have been ruled errors. At the same time, amazingly enough, Ben wasn't absolutely on top of his game. He labored a bit, threw a lot of pitches, and got behind some guys. But man -- he can dial it up almost at will. After Barrett's so-called double (how is that not, at most, a single and an error that allows the runner to advance?), he just got pissed. The Cubs never saw first base again. His curve was erratic early, and I noticed him throwing nothing but hooks during his warmups before the third inning. It seemed to help.

 

The Brewers didn't hit for squat, but they worked the count brilliantly, no one better than Grieve. For all the times people advocate having an otherwise marginal player in the lineup because his speed on the bases messes up a pitcher's concentration, how about an argument that Grieve should play for no other reason than he tortures the pitcher? Absolutely he shouldn't be hitting in a "clear the table" position -- although Ginter deserves more blame for making outs in RBI situations than Grieve does for deferring to Ginter with the walks -- but he is very valuable as a table setter.

 

Jenkins just looked lost at the plate. He didn't go up there with any kind of plan. Helms looked even worse; at least Jenkins wasn't flailing at balls three feet out of the strike zone. For that matter, Overbay wasn't exactly locked in. Maybe the hitters are just trying to spur Sheets on to the next level; it seems to be working.

 

Grieve and Helms both looked helpless in the field early on, but each made a sweet play later -- Grieve on Walker's sinking liner in the fifth, Helms on Barrett's grounder off Kolb's hand in the ninth. They try, for sure, and sometimes they come up with the play.

 

On a personal note: Best. Game. Ever. The sun came out on a cool summer day, the Brewers won a thriller behind their two newly minted all-stars, the Cubs' fans went home in tears, I sat in the third row behind home plate, Dusty Baker autographed my scorecard (before his untimely death at the hands of Jose Macias), and the father of a friend of mine turned out to be an insider who got, and gave me out of the blue, a ball that Sheets had used to strike out Sosa. It don't get any better than that.

 

Greg.

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batman First Round Pick

batman

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Wow, great report Greg. I wish more people would do this... I love hearing about folks' "at the game" experiences - they add so much to the meat and potatoes recaps.

 

You'll have to frame that ball, for sure. A nice big "Cork" Cubs logo would be a great accessory. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

~Bill

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gregmag Draft Eligible

gregmag

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Thanks, Bill; love the cork idea.

 

I just read through this thread, and it reminded me of a few more things:

 

Viz was filthy in the 8th; this outing proves why he deserves his role. If the defense had backed him up, he would have been out of the inning clean. He was throwing gas and controlling the strike zone like a master.

 

Somebody mentioned Moeller's blocks . . . he was amazing. Sheets bounced at least four curveballs up there, and I think Viz had at least one adventure pitch. Moeller smothered everything so well that he didn't even have to pick up the ball and @#%$ his arm threateningly.

 

I would never, ever overgeneralize, but Cubs fans are, by and large, ignorant morons. Some overheard remarks: "Why are they taking [sheets] out? He hasn't thrown that many pitches!" (In all fairness, I guess watching Dusty will do that to you.) "Who's this guy?" (On NL All-Star Dan Kolb). "That was a strike, ref!" (after every friggin' pitch by Matt "wild man" Clement, and yes, they said "ref").

 

Chris Magruder was on deck in the 8th to pinch hit for Viz (in the fith slot) had Overbay reached.

 

Finally, we just saw a game in which the only scoring came on a Craig Counsell home run; Geoff Jenkins stole a base; and Dan Kolb struck out two men in an inning. The world is a strange and wonderful place.

 

Greg.

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hawing MVP

hawing

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Hey, gregmag, glad to see that your (rare) trip to Miller was so loaded with goodies, most especially a home team win.

 

I don't know how many times I thought to myself today, "no way is 1-0 going to hold up." But I am sooo glad it did. Golden Ben and Dan K-olb are my latest personal saviors. I imagined the media reports saying it was the Brewers' all-stars who won this game (Craig's effort notwithstanding).

 

I have to admit, after the taunt fest that was last September's Cubs-at-Brewers series, I was not looking forward to another bout with Cub Nation. (The Cubs are one thing, their fans quite another.) I think the 60-40 Cub/Brewer split estimated by the media was about on target.

But we had better luck today - this time we weren't the only Brewers fans in our section and the Cub fans around us were fairly tame - even before the first inning ended. For once, sitting in the family section helped. Still, many Cub fans could use a lesson in the meaning of "designated smoking area".

 

One thing that surprised us, crowd-wise: From our vantage point in TB 417, we can see the path pedestrians take on their way toward the Brat Haus area parking lots. Today as we left the seating bowl, we noticed what looked like pedestrian gridlock along that corridor. The gridlock lasted more than a half hour after the game ended. (Fortunately we park in the north lot off Blue Mound.) We've been to our share of sellouts but have not noticed such long lasting gridlock along a walkway before. Is that common? (considering how common a sellout is at MP)

 

I'll head out to watch Madison fireworks with relief now.

Remember: the Brewers never panic like you do.
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badgerfan.tgf Draft Eligible

badgerfan.tgf

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What about moving Grieve up in the order to either the second or third spot. He's shown that he can get on base plenty, but he's definitely not a guy I want up when there are runners on base. Taking a walk and passing the torch to Ginter is not working. Ginter can't be counted on to drive in runs in a clutch situation any more than Moeller.

 

What about going with:

Pods

Counsell

Grieve

Jenkins

Overbay

Helms

Ginter/Hall

Catcher

Pitcher

 

Or flip/flop Grieve into the two hole when Hall plays and put him third.

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rluzinski Carolina Mudcats

rluzinski

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Ginter can't be counted on to drive in runs in a clutch situation any more than Moeller.

 

If only Ginter were clutch. Actually, Ginter has a .823 OPS in the 56 AB he's had with RISP. That's better than almost everyone on the team, including, Spivey (.59http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/glasses.gif , Jenkins, Grieve and Helms. If OPS is too "new school" for you, Ginter also has the third most RBI's on the team (29) behind only Overbay and Jenkins. Considering they bat #3 and #4 in the order (RBI slots) and Ginter has been 6th or worse most of the year, that's pretty damn impressive.

 

I know I know, but those two games Ginter had left alot of guys on base. So he must suck, right? Next time atleast take the 2 seconds to check if your assumptions are correct.

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batman First Round Pick

batman

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Don't worry, MB... the way Felipe Alou rides Jason Schmidt, he'll be lucky to make it to August. If he heads to the DL again and misses a few starts, I think Benny will be the favorite. Clemens will have to fall back to earth, 'cause he'll get a lot of sentimental votes, but there's no reason Big Ben can't force the writers' hands.

 

~Bill

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davego First Round Pick

davego

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Not a Viz fan, but he guy got it done today. I thought Ned was a bit off to pull Sheets @ that point, but hats off to him for making the right call. Guess you have to praise success when you also rip failure.

 

Badger Fan posted this already, but when Grieve plays, would having him in the 2 or 3 hole and flipping Craig back to 8 be a thought? Council is pretty nice to have there to break up the 7-8-9 spots.

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gregmag Draft Eligible

gregmag

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Mothership:

 

Real gangsta-ass pitchas don't talk much

All ya hear is the black from the fastball

And real gangsta-ass pitchas don't run for s__t

Cuz real gangsta-ass pitchas can't hit at all.

 

Greg.

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gregmag Draft Eligible

gregmag

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Squarepusher or Other Appropriate Power-That-Be:

 

I just noticed that, in a post I made earlier tonight, I got bleeped. I used the offending word as a verb in a context in which it means, according to Webster, "to turn, tip, or stick up" or, relatedly, "to set a trigger for firing." I was pretty obviously NOT connoting either of the other familiar senses of the same word, which are, among other distinctions from my intended meaning, nouns, and only one of which has nothing to do with poultry.

 

Reset the filter. Stop the madness.

 

Greg.

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mothershipconnection First Round Pick

mothershipconnection

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That's beautiful Greg, "Gangsta Up" is going national, that way we'll finally get some attention from ESPN. From that same verse, Lyle Overbay has proven he is a gangsta since real gangstas don't run fast, thus confirming that Podsednik is not a real gangsta and confirming what I knew all along: Eddie Perez is the grand daddy of all O.G.'s.

Anyone else notice how ESPN had to say "most were there to see the Cubs" when stating the attendance figures on Sports Center tonight? We need catchy slogans to pop up so this team gets a little more attention.

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