Eric Gagne out of closer role

Note to players who play on the Brewers:

You will remain in your role no matter how poor your performance is UNLESS Yost finds out you don't want it any more through the press.

That's pretty much what this all tells me.

Change of heart on Gagne....

Another loss yesterday, this time on national tv.

My question to Melvin and Yost is this:

If the Cardinals can pull Jason Isringhause, and put the closer role up for grabs...why can't we yank Gagne?

Furthermore, if you don't pull a starter who is asking to be pulled...what does that tell the fans of Milwaukee about your expertise? Despite Gagne asking to be replaced as the closer, he does have some honorable mention of him. All too often do we see pitchers running away with their tale between their legs after a horrid outting. Gagne was ready to field questions after the loss, sitting in a chair and not in the fetal position.

That's the difference between Yost LaRussa. One is a softy and the other is a hard-ass. The hard-ass will always make farther than the softy. Meaning this, you look at all the great coaches in all sports. The ones who make it the farthest are not the "players' coach". They are the tough guys who aren't afraid to yank a closer who has over 300 saves and destined to be inducted in to the hall of fame. Will it hurt Jason's feelings? Yes, but that's the point. No one should be immune to be pulled.

I still feel he can be a great closer, but it is evident that he is beyond a slump...he's damn right struggling.

So who should take his role? My vote is for Torres and Mota to split the role. Gagne can flip down to set-up and try that. Yes, he was horrible for the RedSox in that role, but right now...options are limited.

-Also, Bill Hall can be a pretty dumb base runner at times. Case in point was yesterdays pickle.

-Prince Fielders' homerun was a clutch. Hopefully he and Braun will snap out of this ridiculous slump soon.

-Sheets still pitched a decent game only giving up a 3 runs, two of which were from a dinger. He can't do this himself Brewer fans!

*Ben Sheets made Brewer history yesterday against the Cards. He passed Teddy Higuera with tallying 1068 strike outs. This being done against Phat Albert nonetheless.

Timely Rescue!

Of all the players I thought that would pull us out of the depths of hell....Rickie Weeks came through in a major way (sounds like a rap song). With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Weeks' blast to outfield that scored two runs. This off a dominant, but recently struggling, closer in Jake Isringhausen (love that name), lit a spark under the entire clubhouse resulting in them mobbing Rickie in celebration. This was just what the team needed. An emotional victory that would loosen their ties and unbutton their suits. Because that is exactly what this club needs to do. Loosen up. One thing I have always noticed is that The Crew has a great chemistry to them. The fool around and mess with each other. They always smile, similar to what I saw last night. Look at the first month and a half of this young season and you will see stern faces and tight lipped grins. They were all business no pleasure. C'mon, this is a team filled with young men who are all under the age of 26 (excluding Cam, Sheets, and Kendall) who are starters. Get back to your clubhouse antics and start acting your age. Perhaps that is what will salvage this bumpy part of the road we're on.

All in all, the Brewers did very well last night. Even Parra pitched a good game giving up only 3 runs. If your starter can at least do that, there should be enough run support from his offense...usually. His only smudge was the 5 innings he put out and leaving the bases loaded. Our pen is deep and their are many options to use if there is trouble early on. David Riske started his turn around (actually last week he did) and pitched two solid innings and only 2 hits. He pitched out of some jams and held his composure and control of the ball. MVP goes to either Rickie Weeks (my nod) or to Brian Shouse, who once again pitched a solid inning and earned the win (3-0). Weeks' performance prove to me that he has the potential, he just needs to have consistency. That could be said about a lot of Brewers right now. My friend Rat will now blast me away telling me "I told you so" about Weeks.

- The Cardinals have the best pitching in the National League. But their once-shiny closer is struggling at Gagne proportions. Both of which having blown 5 or more saves this season.


-Sell Out Crowd last night for the Brewers...nothing like playing at home after a tough road trip. That is why Miller Park is #2 on the list of top parks. The category covering the fans is tops. Wonder why? Well, this is a good reason (see last night attendance numbers).

-On facebook, there is a Brewer application (or something like that) which you can add to your page, for those who facebook. On that application there is a pretty sweet trivia game you can play. I was doing fantastic until it was the end of the work day and the office was shutting down. I will try again next Friday. Try it, there are some good questions.

Here's a cheery tidbit for you!

Ryan Braun is rumored to be signing a lengthly contract with the Brewers. As reported by Rightfieldbleachers.com.

At first, I took this with a grain of salt. However, I remember reading about the The Crew having talks with his agent about doing so last month. If this is in fact true.... I would be a very happy man. They are saying that he would make 8 or 9 million a year through 2013.

I can imagine that Prince Fielder will get his during the offseason. Hopefully this will light a spark under Brauns ass in the batters box.
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Kevin Mench (Shrek), who returned to his old team, was sent to Toronto.
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Jim Edmunds was released by the Padres. What happened to him?
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No shocker here, Koren Robinson was let go by the Packers today. Cowboys have left messages on his answering maching (I just made that last part up).

Streak hits 6 game

This is pretty much drilled in to my head now thanks to Brian Anderson and blogs around the Dairy State. Besides Ben Sheets....no other starting pitcher has won a game since Apil 5th. That is over a month ago people. Carlos Villenueva added to this debacle last night after pitching, once again, a decent 5 innings (7 runs) and then getting bent over in the 5th. For some reason or another, the Brewers collapse in innings 5 and 6. It is quite evident that perhaps a change in to our deep bullpen should be made or at least prepared much earlier than what we have seen. The moment the starting pitcher looks shaky or gives up a run, YANKem Ned! It appears we have fallen in to the funk of our pitchers not being able to last 6 innings which is the norm. Likewise for our relievers lasting more than one inning. Which could be the reason why Ned doesn't yankem.

To make matters worse, you can't rely on your pitcher to ignite the offense. Carlos tried to do that with a well positioned hit down the first base line last night. In fact, he had two hits last night which I was very excited about. Compare that to the likes of Ben Sheets who has one hit on the year, that makes me happier than a pig in shit.

The usual Brewer suspects were silent at the plate....once again. There was some glimmer of hope though when Joe Dillon had two hits followed by other players from the bench trying to make a difference. Braun and Cameron went 0'fer.

Michael Hunt of JSonline.com (get it? never gets old...Mike Hunt) starts to shed light to the topic of Yost being canned. Let's face it...it is no longer the question of not being loyal to the Brewers Organization when you discuss firing him. It's now fashionably hip. It's like chatting with your friends on Myspace type-cool. The Ned countdown has begun people. He has the next 6 games, that's 2 series, to salvage at least another month as the skipper. Not to mention they are HOME games, too, should be enough to reach him. Ted Simmons meanwhile is thinking, "okay here I go, this what Mark and I were talking about in winter...if sh*t hits the fan, get ready for plan B".

I personally thought it was time for Yost to be canned after last years collapse. Granted, it was not as bad as Willie Randolph's self destruction with the Mets. This WAS more painful than re-irritating the ol'hemroids after you thought they were gone for good. I will ask this question again, as I have over and over and over again.........
WHO ORDERS A BEAMBALL IN A PENNANT RACE WITH ONLY A COUPLE OF GAMES REMAINING? (Albert Pujols Beam Ball ala '07). Well, that would be ol'Ned.
My wife Kelly likes to tell me that Ned looks like a sweet little man. He's little alright.

Doug Melvin, you will be right behind Ned at the end of the season if the team does not finish over .500. Gone will be the days of saying, "We're a young team, next year however...." or "Our farm system is the best in the majors". Both of which are now quotes from the past. Our team is now reaching 3-4 years solid experience in the Majors. Our beloved farm system has now been passed over by the likes of Florida and even Chicago. So, changes will be made.

Now......that all being said, the team could actually step behind their fearless leader and start producing. Ned cant be out at home plate cupping your balls while you're doing an at-bat. He can't be out there at third base with you Bill Hall telling you to get in front of the frickn ground ball every time, nor can he sit native-american style out at the pitchers mound every time the 5th or 6th inning come around. It's time to cut the umbilical cord to this "young team" and have them grow a set. Play like you belong...'cus lord knows that you all do.

The Four-Letter Network pours salt on our open wounds!

I despise ESPN for all they are worth. I will watch SportsCenter, yes I will. But that is about it. I have ranted about this channel for many years. The likes of Steven A. Smith yelling at me in a preacher voice about NBA players or the belly-aching Tony Kornheiser does on MNF, this sports station is annoying to me.

So, you can imagine my thoughts when I read this....
as pointed out by Jsonline.com today.

In chronological order, this piece tears apart the Brewers to the very core. Yes, Melvin and Yost tend to dish out second chances like Bret Michael's does herpies. Certainly, I remember the blunders of trades the club has made over the past 25 plus years. It still gives me heartburn when I think of the name Ricky Bones and Glendon Rusch. Yet, through all of this turmoil I still love my Brewers.

So....this adds to the gaggle of other reasons why I dislike this network. That and Chris Berman too.

Brewers have lost 8 of their last 11 games, 4 game losing streak

The Milwaukee Brewers are in to the second week of May and are at a lowly 16-16 record. Below expectations? Yes. Ned Yost has just eased his way on to the chopping block platform. Will it happen before the All-Star break? No. However if they are under .500 by then, it could result in the Crew having a new skipper. I'm thinking Ted Simmons as the interim manager.
Ned has to start using names in the post-season interviews to light a flame under their arses. There is no accountability right now. It's the ol' run around of, "It's early in the season".
Leaders have to step now, because it should've been don 2 weeks ago.

Sheets....Time to step up to the plate (not figuratively) and voice your concerns!
Prince....Where are you?
Cameron.....Why haven't you stood up and said anything, call someone out?
Braun.....You have an excuse, you're young. Yet you still had the only balls to actually show the
Brewers have a temper (nice job).

"It's frustrating; it's beyond frustrating," said a normally low-key Ryan Braun. "I'm (bleeping) sick of saying it's early. You can only say that for so long. You can only say, 'It's early,' you can only say, 'It's going to be all right' for so long."
Jsonline.com

It is as if the Milwaukee Bucks took to the field this season in Brewer uniforms. Where is the leadership?

Now I hate to be on the Yost-Haters' of Milwaukee bandwagon. But you have to admit, he is under the gun right now. His team had huge expectations and have been in a slump since Spring Training.

If you were to ask me who the MVP was right now....I would say Ben Sheets. Bill Schroeder discussed this last night I belive. There is no single fielder who is worthy right now of being the teams MVP. They are all lackluster at best. Cory Hart is the only hitter batting over .300 (.303 still) .

Milwaukee's starting line-up is batting minimal .247 at the plat thus far in to the 2008 season.

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The good news is this....

The Brewers will snap out of this slump. And yes, you can call it a slump Journal-Sentinel!
I would imagine they start to right the ship tonight, at least grabbing one game out of the series before igniting at home against St Louis. That will be moment when the Crew will have a nut cup check and see what they are made of this season! I belive they still are the best team in the Central....they just need to get a good kick in the ass!

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LaPorta Watch!!!!!
Matt earns his second consecutive Player of the Week award down in Double-A Hunstville. Perhaps the kid could see the big leagues sooner?
Season:
HR
33 RBI's

Another Brewer minor leaguer who is climbing the prospect ladder is catcher Angel Salome. This kid is the future catcher of our club! Although not immune to the current culture of the steroid era (served a 50 game suspension), he still is showing good signs of being a solid hitter and thrower from behind the plate. In only 17 games, this slugger already has 4 three-hit games!