8/22/07 IGT Brewers (Suppan) at Diamondbacks (Webb) 8:40 CST.

[wisconsinfan47]

Pitching Matchup, from MLB.com

Brewers: Suppan (8-10, 4.89) delivered yet another mediocre start his last time out, allowing four runs -- three earned -- in 5 2/3 innings against the Reds. But Suppan also was victimized by four Brewers errors which played a part in all four runs scoring. Suppan hasn't lasted six full innings in 10 of his last 14 starts after being unable to do so just once in his first 12 outings.

 

D-backs: Webb (13-8, 4.63) has simply been unhittable in his last five starts. The right-hander has thrown 42 scoreless innings, the second longest streak since division play began in 1969. Former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser owns the record with 59. In his last three starts, Webb has gone the distance becoming the first to do that since Roger Clemens in 1998. In his last start against the Braves, Webb allowed just two hits and one walk while fanning six. Just one Atlanta batter got as far as second base in the game.

 

I think we can get to Webb if we make him throw a lot of pitches...easier said than done, of course. He's gone the distance in his last 3 starts, and might be wearing down. The player to watch, IMO, will be Johnny Estrada, and his approach at the plate against his former team and the Cy Young winner he caught for. I'd rather see the more patient Miller out there, but with Damian 6 for his last 37 and a night game, I think Yost gives Estrada the nod. Webb is the best sinkerballer in the major's, and Johnny has grounder into 14 DP's this year. Let's hope "Johnny Double Play" doesn't live up to his name with any 1st pitch, bases loaded, double plays.

 

&%#@! (don't say it!) the Diamondbacks!

[LS Brewer]

I hate the late start! Anyway, someone has to get to Webb eventually. It might as well be the Brewers.

The thread title is messed up. I think that happens when you use the *at* symbol on the thread title.

[GormanHarvey]

Hey Brian - you have any western style Suppan artwork for us today? It worked last night!

[TooLiveBrew]

Time to bust up the streak. Webb is hot, but I think the team's experience in being no-hit by Verlander will come into play here. Sometimes there just isn't a whole lot you can do - a pitcher is just dialed in. However, you have to work with what you've got, and make sure to not help the pitcher out a whole lot. A pitcher gets a lot of help from the offenses he faces to compile a streak like Webb's got going. That's not to say he's merely lucky, but he obviously doesn't need any help from us right now to be tough.

 

Even though he's an elite sinkerballer, and has the Cy Young award, Webb actually walks a fair amount of batters. He's at 57 through 187 2/3 IP thus far. Not cause for concern for Brandon, but not the miniscule total one might expect. The scoreless streak has meant a lot of work on his body, too. He's thrown 542 pitches over his last five starts (the streak...7/25-on), an average of 108 per start, and no fewer than 102 in any game since July 25th. In addition, he's been giving up a much higher rate of air outs vs. ground outs, not the norm for a sinkerballer. Perhaps that suggests some tiring of his arm? I'm not really sure, but it does stand out that, through this streak, his air outs have incresed noticeably.

 

Since the first game of this streak, in which he retired 11 batters on the ground to 2 in the air (with 8 Ks), in the next four games the ratio was 45go/30ao. Again, no cause for alarm, but something I think it's important to note. In any event, forget anything in the past, forget 'breaking up the streak', let's just get a win!

[uecker9]

Brewers are 15th in the NL and 28th overall in GIDP. For whatever that's worth.

[Brian the Automator]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/phearinc/jeff_sweepan.jpg

 

 

[samwise]

http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/96925129fb85b4696841aac2efc77a16a89f50d.pjpg

 

 

Bulldog wants some runs.

[GormanHarvey]

Thats real nice. If that doesn't bring as a @#$%&, I don't know what will

[TauPentaRei]

I don't know if this is the best place to praise an opponent's pitcher, save for the jinxing qualities adulation brings...

 

Webb has thrown 323 pitches over his last 3 starts: 27 innings.

 

Suppan has thrown 322 pitches over his last 3 starts: 17 innings.

 

That's nice!

[HOF4canrake]

When and how will the Brewers snap Webb's scoreless streak?

I'll go with...
Gross 1-out walk
Braun RBI double.

[Bruce Ciskie]

We're getting a run off this guy.

 

That's all I have.

[bjkrautk]

When and how will the Brewers snap Webb's scoreless streak?

 

1st inning Home Run, courtesy of Prince Fielder.

[drezdn]

On the off chance that the Brewers are completely out of the game by the ninth, I think either Estrada or Counsell should pitch. Heck, one could pitch the 8th and the other the 9th.

[BrewCrewForever]

Sorry Mr. Webb, Orel is still going to hold the record after tonight.

[Brian the Automator]

When and how will the Brewers snap Webb's scoreless streak?

 

Rickie Weeks walks, steals second, advances to third on throwing error by catcher, scores on throwing error by center fielder.

[GormanHarvey]

Leadoff ding dong by R Weeks - 1st in nearly 4 months

[drezdn]

Hardy gets a double in the third, Suppan hits a two run blast.

[sheethead]

...and Johnny has grounder into 14 DP's this year. Let's hope "Johnny Double Play" doesn't live up to his name with any 1st pitch, bases loaded, double plays.

 

Is it really only 14? Seems like hundreds.

 

Brewers will get at least one run off Webb within the first 4 innings, that is my prediction.

[tomwopat]

Brewers are 15th in the NL and 28th overall in GIDP. For whatever that's worth.

Kinda hard to GIDP with nobody on base.

 

Given the Brewers' HR abilities it's hard to think that he won't hang at least one and have it leave the park.

[phatmatt1215]

When and how will the Brewers snap Webb's scoreless streak?

 

HR by Fielder sometime during the game.

[SlideBernieSlide]

The player to watch, IMO, will be Johnny Estrada, and his approach at the plate against his former team and the Cy Young winner he caught for. I'd rather see the more patient Miller out there, but with Damian 6 for his last 37 and a night game, I think Yost gives Estrada the nod.

Isn't Miller now Suppan's personal catcher? I had thought that was true, but Johnny caught Soup's last game. That didn't go so well, so I figured the Soup-Miller combo would be back together tonight? I think Ned likes the idea of back to back off days for Johnny. Who Knows?

[RightFieldCoder]

Brewers are 15th in the NL and 28th overall in GIDP. For whatever that's worth.

The Brewers are 10th in the NL and 20th overall in OBP. And we're 16th and 29th in GO/AO. So I'd imagine that our total number of DPs is pretty low.

 

I don't care about the streak. However we get the W is good enough for me.

 

So the Soup is on at Webb's?

[And That]

Sorry Mr. Webb, Orel is still going to hold the record after tonight.

Well, yah, unless Brandon pitches 17.1 scoreless.

[Brewcrewin07]

Well, not the lineup I would sent out against Webb, but I'm not the manager, so what do I know??

 

Here is the Brewers' lineup for tonight:

 

RF Gabe Gross

2B Craig Counsell

1B Prince Fielder

38 Ryan Braun

LF Geoff Jenkins

CF Bill Hall

C Damian Miller

SS J.J. Hardy

RHP Jeff Suppan

[drezdn]

Just because no one else has said it (though he has been cooling down recently), Braun is going to be the one to do it.