9/26/2007 Cardinals (Thompson) at Brewers (Villanueva): 7:05 PM CDT

[giffted1]

I'm a big Yost supporter, but hitting Pujols was just plain stupid. That certainly wasn't what cost us the game, though. We left 10 guys on base. We had two outs in the inning and managed to give up 4 runs. Its sickening.

[Hsee2006]

I guess i'm missing something. In that situation you would probably put Puhols on either way (either plunking him or walking him). So the decision to hit Puhols didn't really surprise me because he is just as likely to go yard on you. The problem in the inning is getting beat by Skip Schumaker (who?) and walking Miguel Cairo and Kelly Stinnett (yes THAT Kelly Stinnett).

 

So hitting Puhols was probably the smart thing to do. It doesn't matter how Puhols gets to first eitherway the smart move is to put him on. The concern really is that this Scotch tape bullpen has absolutly self destructed. I would really have loved to use Linebrick another inning but if you do then you probably don't have him for tomorrow. Which judging by the fact that only he and Cordero seem to be the only Major League players in the bullpen would be a big loss.

 

I guess this is why most of the guys in our bullpen were Journeymen prior to Milwaukee...play with fire you get burned.

 

But still this loss hurts....

[Mr QL]

ROFL, Ned...

 

Yea, we just put in McClung to face Pujols. Right... Pitch just got away. ;-)

[windiv07]

Ned in the post-game on the remaining days in the race: "We still have the math on our side."

 

Typical Yostian logic.

[thablingster]

Hey Ned, Turnbow has a 6.17 ERA with 3-5 days rest. Just thought you might want to know. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bobskube]

Well, I'm home. Hats off to Tony LaRussa who, with an inferior roster and patched up pitching, outmanaged Ned Yost from the get go. Plunking Fielder was masterful. It put the onus on Ned to retaliate and Ned could not resist the temptation even with a slumping lineup and trailing by a run. That started the mudslide. And we would be in extra innings right now were it not for Ned allowing Tony into his head. Well done Tony. Our manager is not fit to carry your jock strap.

I referred to this earlier. Really good point.

 

[Hsee2006]

I agree there is NO doubt that Puhols was hit on purpose. I'm sure Ned is now just trying to avoid a suspension.

[MoneyballMan]

I can't even find the right words I'm so pissed right now. I'm pissed at Yost. I'm pissed at Turnbow. I'm pissed at all the LOB. Opportunity lost.

[windiv07]

So hitting Puhols was probably the smart thing to do.

Sure, if your objective is to fire up the opposing squad while simultaneously shrinking your pitchers' strike zone from that point on after getting summarily ejected after being warned earlier by the same ump who will be calling the balls & strikes, it is downright brilliant.

[lbb020]

This could be a blessing in disguise, how about Yost gets suspended for 4 games and the brewers sweep the padres...

 

 

wait..it might have to be 5 games because he would find a way to blow a 1 game playoff.....

[JrDave2304]

Haha, La Russa "It didn't make any sense, so I think it got away from him"

 

What La Russa doesn't know is that because it makes no sense to anyone, is prolly confirmation that Yost did do it on purpose

[DuWayne Steurer]

I guess i'm missing something. In that situation you would probably put Puhols on either way (either plunking him or walking him). So the decision to hit Puhols didn't really surprise me because he is just as likely to go yard on you. The problem in the inning is getting beat by Skip Schumaker (who?) and walking Miguel Cairo and Kelly Stinnett (yes THAT Kelly Stinnett).

 

So hitting Puhols was probably the smart thing to do. It doesn't matter how Puhols gets to first eitherway the smart move is to put him on. The concern really is that this Scotch tape bullpen has absolutly self destructed. I would really have loved to use Linebrick another inning but if you do then you probably don't have him for tomorrow. Which judging by the fact that only he and Cordero seem to be the only Major League players in the bullpen would be a big loss.

 

I guess this is why most of the guys in our bullpen were Journeymen prior to Milwaukee...play with fire you get burned.

 

But still this loss hurts....

 

 

 

Pujols hits a homer about once every 20 plate appearances this year. He makes outs about 6 times out of 10. The logic that he's "as likely to go yard" is just way wrong there. With nobody on in a one run game, you don't intentionally put guys on, you just don't.

 

[Hsee2006]

If can't get a "fired up" Kelly Stinnett and Miguel Cairo out then we have a much bigger problem. Either the fact remains...would anybody have pitched to Puhols in that situation?

[DuWayne Steurer]

If can't get a "fired up" Kelly Stinnett and Miguel Cairo out then we have a much bigger problem. Either the fact remains...would anybody have pitched to Puhols in that situation?

Absolutely. His OBP says he makes outs more than he gets on base.

 

[JrDave2304]

I don't know, I still think it was better to put him on. Regardless, T-Blow did strike out the first batter he faced, for 2 outs with one on. That's still very very manageable and he should have been able to pitch out of that. People may think hitting Pujols was the biggest mistake tonight, but I think it was not leaving Linebrink in after he breezed through the 7th. Yost for some reason still loves T-Blow in the 8th, but with the way he has been struggling I think you leave in Linebrink.

 

I just don't think this was our game to win tonight. Way too many missed opportunities to put them away early. You don't leave 9 men on base, get all 3 of your RBIs from one person, and win many/any games.

[Hsee2006]

And the following three guys in the lineup make outs at around 8 out of ever 10 at bats. Its the equivalent to pitching to a juiced up Barry Bonds with the bases empty and a pitcher on deck and in the whole. In the end we still got beat by some really bad hitters.

[pretendastronaut]

Well, I'm home. Hats off to Tony LaRussa who, with an inferior roster and patched up pitching, outmanaged Ned Yost from the get go. Plunking Fielder was masterful. It put the onus on Ned to retaliate and Ned could not resist the temptation even with a slumping lineup and trailing by a run. That started the mudslide. And we would be in extra innings right now were it not for Ned allowing Tony into his head. Well done Tony. Our manager is not fit to carry your jock strap.

I referred to this earlier. Really good point.

 

 

The brutal part is Coushon basically said the same thing in the post game. Also, did anyone notice Rock didn't talk for what felt like a good 5 minutes after the Tbow walk. Either he was seriously peeved, or he had to go the restroom. I'm going to guess the former.

[pretendastronaut]

I don't know, I still think it was better to put him on. Regardless, T-Blow did strike out the first batter he faced, for 2 outs with one on. That's still very very manageable and he should have been able to pitch out of that.

 

Yes, again, there's no lack of blame to go on Turnbow for not being able to even put a ball in play against poor hitters, but he shouldn't have also been set up for a position that its well known he can't handle.

[DuWayne Steurer]

And the following three guys in the lineup make outs at around 8 out of ever 10 at bats. Its the equivalent to pitching to a juiced up Barry Bonds with the bases empty and a pitcher on deck and in the whole. In the end we still got beat by some really bad hitters.

Well, actually Ludwick is hitting .270, and Shumaker is hitting .319, which is surely not 8 outs out of 10.

 

Unless the batter you're facing is Barry Bonds in his absolute prime, you don't put a man on base for free when there's nobody on, especially with a pair of decent hitters coming up.

[JET15]

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray no Cub fans tomorrow I meet.

If Ned gets suspended before I wake, I pray the Brewers go on to sweep.

 

God bless Prince and Ryan and Coco... oh, and all my buds at BrewerFan.net

[windiv07]

If can't get a "fired up" Kelly Stinnett and Miguel Cairo out then we have a much bigger problem. Either the fact remains...would anybody have pitched to Puhols in that situation?

I probably could've managed to walk him on 4 pitches myself (without plunking him). Unfortunately, I am not in the Brewers' bullpen or I would've disobeyed orders in hopes of circumventing my own boss' self- destructive tendancies...since he was going to pull me out anyway (according to what he himself admitted the post-game interview). Matt Wise certainly would've done the same.

[JrDave2304]

We can argue about it, but the key is we lost and missed a huge opportunity. There were A LOT of things that could've/should've happened that didn't and I don't think we can single out one thing i particular that cost us the game. It just wasn't our night.

 

Put it behind us, buckle down against the Padres, and keep putting pressure on the Cubs.

[owbc]

The right moves were made tonight. Turnbow didn't come through. The Maddox/Sveum combination probably should have taken him out when the bases were loaded...or when the count was 2-0...or 3-0.

 

I think Turnbow got the jitters. He's still way too effective of a weapon to let go when he's on. He just needs a very short leash. More than 1 runner on, and he gets taken out.

 

Blame Part 2: Where was the offense tonight? Scoring 3 runs doesn't cut it.

[ArrogantNemesis]

Jet15;

 

Nice metallica parody.

 

From a Cub fan.

 

Here's to an exciting finish, guys. Maybe the best team win.

[ArrogantNemesis]

Here's the problem, from a Brewers fan POV;

 

Junior/Dunn/Hamilton is all gone for the season, only to be replaced by a OF of Hopper/Coats/Ellison. Now, a Phillips/Votto/Encarnasion is as talent as anybodys, albeit unproven, you don't like the potential lineup the Reds will send out. And with the Cubs, throwing Z/Lilly/Hill (I'm hoping Lou will kick Trax out of the rotation, and bump Hill to his normal pitch day, instead of the extra day), you can't like the Reds chances.

 

Now with that said, I like the Cubs chances when Monday started, of having to "JUST WIN" 3 games out of six, but due to their stupidity, this race will go down to the wire.

 

And I remember a few days ago, you guys were complaining about "the strke zone" and bad calls, in the Braves series, guess what......the umpires, have been just as bad for the Cubs, in Florida, as they were for you guys in Atl. So, all this talk about the Cubs having a "horseshow up the caboddle" is farfetch.

 

And good luck.