Sunday, June 7, 2009

Back to Back Shut-outs


Milwaukee is 33-23, tied for the 2nd best record in baseball (with Boston).

This is nice. A fan could get used to this sort of success. Before Friday's game I pretty much knew that the Braves couldn't hit. After all, that's why they brought in McClouth. In both games, starting pitchers Yovanni Gallardo (6-2) and Jeff Suppan have pretty much had their way. Yo lasted 110 pitches and 8 complete innings before letting Carlos Villenueva take over. Right when the bullpen needed the most rest, Yo delivered and probably could've gone the complete game. He gave up only 2 hits and fanned 6 for his second best performance of the season.

In last nights game Jeff Suppan went 5 1/3 giving up 6 hits and 2 k's. He looked calm and collective from the very start. Todd Coffey relieved him in the 6th and then leftie Mitch Stetter struck out the final batter of the inning. Trevor Hoffman notched his 15 straight save and continues his dominance since coming to Milwaukee with a 0.00 ERA.

Prince Feilder (15) had a pair of HR's last night, in back-to-back plate appearences. Both were shot almost exactly to the same part of the park (right-center). He also had a double in Friday's game and went 2 for 2. He is now batting .299 on the season.

Mat Gamel's batting average continues to rise; it's now at .262 on the season. He had a 4-RBI game on Friday with a double and a ground rule double last night.. This guy is like Lyle Overbay, only at 3B. He loves to pound out the doubles (4).

Craig Counsell went 4 for 9 in the past two games and is now batting .315 on the year. Enough can't be said about this man. Thank God Doug Melvin decided to re-sign him to another year.

-Carlos Villanueva has been stellar most of the season. He has now pitched 15 score-less innings. Some of his confidence and success can be credited to Trevor Hoffman's addition to the team. In Carlos' past 9 innings he has not allowed a hit, a reliever's version of a no-hitter.

-Brett Lawrie has had a challenging start to his new career, one that's filled with ups and downs and a position change to 2B. He'll be fine. He just needs to grow in to his body more and mature. Instead of playing 20-30 games a season (high school)...he now has to play many many more. It's a looooong season. He was also announced as the reserve 2B for the 2009 Midwest League All-Star game along with 4 other Rattlers.

-Doug Melvin is a great GM. However, it is in my opinion, that he's given non-performers like Jenkins, Billy Hall, and Eric Gagne far too many chances. That's starting to change now. This season he has already released Brad Nelson and shipped Chris Duffy to the minors. Now if only he would do the same with Billy Hall. He stinks.

-Milwaukee faces top NL prospect Tommy Hanson today.

-Chipper Jones left yesterday's game due to dizziness.

-JJ to the Red Sox? Apparently that's been discussed over the weekend. Jeb Lowrie won't return until the second half and JJ Hardy is a prime target, especially with Escobar patiently awaiting his shot. Melvin believe's he's ready. Perhaps the Crew could get a solid starting pitcher in return for JJ. According to Tom Oates of the Wis. State Journal, this is what priority #1 should be for Doug Melvin. I agree. The Crew desperately needs to add another starting pitcher. Manny Parra may settle in down the road, but you can't take that chance. Perhaps Tim Wakefield and a prospect? I'd like to have a veteran like Wakefield in that starting rotation. No matter what....I don't want Brad Penny...he's far too over-hyped.

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