In the News (6/3)
Does Something Stink in Here?
Tuesday’s Game: Marlins 10, Brewers 3
Record: 30-22, 1st Place
- Uggh…this game was Ugly. Manny Parra gave up 10 runs in only 4 innings! What is the matter with this kid?
- At least newcomer Mike Burns pitched four scoreless frames.
- And Corey Hart hit a home run in garbage time.
Brewers News
- First place on June 1 is good. Losing two straight to the Marlins isn’t.
- Ken Rosenthal talks sellers and Trevor Hoffman. He also posts that Corey Hart is not available.
- Riske is having Tommy John surgery and that might be all for Riske’s career as a Brewer. We might get a little Riske next summer, if we’re lucky. Otherwise it’s been a waste of money and I really wanted to like Riske.
- Ken Macha will be on Jim Rome’s radio show today.
- Tyler did a nice job on the Julio news and subsequent Burns news, so I’m not going to link much on that but:
- Shef’s House has an introduction for Mikey.
- Tyler eats a little crow about being wrong on Julio. It’s OK Tyler, more than just you were wrong.
- The Chicago Sun-Times believes the Brewers pen is in “disarray.” Oh yeah, because Hoffman, Villa, Coffey and DiFelice are really hurting the team right now…I seriously laughed out loud at the headline.
- Should the Brewers look at Cliff Lee? As long as it isn’t Brad Penny.
- Brew Crew Ball lists some pitchers who might be attainable and asks who do you want? If we’re playing the “What if” game, I’d take Roy Halladay first, then Peavy, but only because you’d get more than a half of a year out of him, then Bedard.
- Are you ready for some summer block parties?
- The Brewers have the second best TV audience. To be honest, most people are just tuning in for Davey Nelson…
- Miller Park Drunk talks to Al from Al’s Ramblings. Hey Miller Park Drunk, we’d do an interview with you!
- Miller Park Drunk also has some guidelines for texting the Brewers.
Minor Leagues
- Chris Cody was called up to AAA Nashville from Huntsville.
- Corey Kemp and Daniel Meadows are the T-Rats players of the Week.
- More ink on the Lawrie siblings.
- Taylor Green is settling in at Huntsville. Hopefully not for too long…
- Anyone going to the Timber Rattlers Salute to Cows on Thursday?
NL Central
- The NL Central is ranked as the third best division in baseball. Finally, some respect!
- Are you sick of “Go Cubs Go”? Check out this song and video.
- The Cubs’ big offseason acquisition has suffered a leg injury running out a ground ball. No word on how serious the injury is yet.
- Soriano is also feeling weak in the legs.
- And in case you’re wondering, here’s the state of the Cubs. It’s actually a very realistic post from a Cubs blog!
- In true Dusty Baker fashion, Edinson Volquez is back on the DL. Baker said “but I didn’t get to pitch him 135 pitches in a rehab start!”
- Is Jay Bruce done being hyped? This Reds blog thinks so…
- Did Adam Dunn curse the Reds right fielders?
Other News
- Hank Aaron is thinking of buying the Florida Panthers. With how few people watch baseball in Florida, I would be a little wary of buying a team there.
- Kevin Mench was no match for the Japanese. Funny Wrap-up by Tyler.
- Brewers are no. 2 on CBS Sports’ power rankings and are no. 5 on ESPN’s.
Tags: David Riske, In the News, Jorge Julio, Mike Burns
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Parra to the ‘pen & Burns to the rotation? You obviously can’t give up on Parra, but he’s got to be a head case right now. Burns has been starting at Nashville, so it wouldn’t make sense stretch McClung out and wreck the good thing he’s got going. Burns throws the ball across the plate. That’s what i’d want in the bottom of my rotation. Anybody else sense this move might be coming?
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:47 am
Milwaukee needs to add a starting pitcher. Last night iced that cake for me. Cliff Lee perhaps.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:58 am
This Marlins series debacle is the fault of that Happy Youngster! The Marlins wanted revenge on that fail at life human. I want the HY deported!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 am
I may be wrong, but I do not see a Parra out/Burns in move coming.
Burns had a decent showing last night, but there’s certainly a reason he’s pushing 31 years old with less than 60 innings of MLB service.
I know it’s hard to look at last night OR the Minnesota massacre, but Parra is actually a valuable piece to a rotation. Yes, he’s a candidate to be blown out sometimes, but in 5 of his last 7 starts, he’s gone 6 or more innings while giving up 3 or fewer earned runs. To have a 26-year-old lefty making around $500K and under team control to (I believe) 2014… is worth working through his scuffles.
If anything, Parra (who I’m fairly certain has a minor league option or two remaining) could work out his control issues in Nashville for a week or so and some equally shakey option (see: Mike Burns, Seth McClung) could get a start once… but I think keeping with Parra is the best bet.
Cliff Lee would improve the roto… but how many times can Milwaukee deal valuable prospects to the Tribe for half a season of pitching? I’d say 0-1 more times before crippling the franchise’s future. Maybe that’s just the meek GM in me though.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Actually, I’d say it’s hard to look at any of Manny’s last seven starts and feel confident. True, he gave up 3 or less runs in five of those starts. But he also handed out 24 walks (4, 4, 2, 4, 3, 5, and 2) and gave up 48 hits (3, 8, 6, 5, 8, 7, and 11), for a tidy WHIP of 1.89 over those same seven games. If anything, with all the guys he’s been putting on base, I’d say he’s been lucky to avoid a torching before Minnesota and Florida. He’s flirting with disaster every time he takes the mound.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
If this was simply and issue of mechanics, then I would agree with you. This is clearly an issue of confidence, which you can’t teach. Granted, Parra is young and could grow in to a fine pitcher. The last time I checked, Milwaukee doesn’t have more time on their hands. They need to ride this wave out and deliver results now.
My question is what the Crew would do to find a LHP in that rotation? I don’t know of too many teams that don’t have a southpaw in their starting-rotation. Yes, I agree that the Crew would have to give up another batch of minor leaguers. It’s the price to pay when you’re a team like Milwaukee. Is Cliff Lee even the answer? Who knows. He is better than Parra though.
We’re fooling ourselves if we all think that Melvin won’t make another big trade and bring in a starting pitcher come late June and in to July. This rotation will NEVER hold. They’re good now, but barring any injury….hell….it can get ugly quick.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I can’t type/spell very well.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
It’s too bad the Blue Jays are still in it or Halladay might be an option. As far as Peavy goes, he is good but I’m not sure if he would even come to Milwaukee. Say no to Bedard and Penny. Why not send Parra down now, before he has a chance to blow 2 or 3 more games. Didn’t we learn our lesson with Julio, try Burns or better yet, bring up Dillard for a couple of starts. Leave McClung and Villy in the pen where they belong.