Series Thread: Brewers @ Pirates

[BUCKnation]

This series blows

Also, pinch hitting Phillips for Broxton, come on man.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'm hitting a point of just being done with broxton. Rather all his abs go to anyone else.

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[wichmae]

Villar single. Villar promptly thrown out trying to steal in a two run game.


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[Thunder Muscle]

Reminds me of 2001 when the Crew swept the Cubs, 4 games over 500, everyone feeling good, and then go into a game set in Pittsburgh and get swept out of town never to be heard from again...

[blazza18]

Terrible way for the season to end.

[raysbookclub]

Glass-half-full post: Still a lot of season left. Let's get better against the Phillies. It wasn't long ago that our division lead was 1.5 games like it is now. We've missed Sogard, who made us look a lot better, esp in a park like Pittsburgh where HRs are harder to rely on.

And this season, wins are all gravy anyway. Getting a hard look at Villar and Broxton and Arcia and Santana and Shaw (along with pitchers like Nelson, Suter, Davies) are important season goals that we're achieving. The latter three are looking like good-to-great players. Villar and Broxton not so much. Nelson looks like a keeper. Suter and Davies are decent back-end rotation starters at this point. Still a few months left, but I think we have a much better handle on who they are.

Going into the next few years, we should feel great about SS and 3B. Braun/Thames/Aguilar are solid at LF/1B. C looks good overall as a franchise. We have a few good bullpen pieces and a few good starters. Need more pitching (but 4 SPs in our top 5 prospects) and upgrades at CF (lots of possible prospects) and 2B (Diaz/Hiura?).

[Prickle]

This series blows

Also, pinch hitting Phillips for Broxton, come on man.

Seriously. What the f*ck was Counsell thinking there? How did he really think that was gonna turn out? Was Broxton's like 90% K-rate lately not a good enough indication? I know it was a left-handed pitcher, but Phillips would still be a far better option, especially coming off a double his last at-bat. If anything, it should've been Braun pinch-hitting in that situation. Use Broxton as a pinch-runner - that's a place where he can actually benefit the team.

What made this even more ridiculous, was the fact that Broxton was promptly pinch-hit for in his very next at-bat, in a very similar situation. If he couldn't handle that situation in the 8th, what made Counsell think he could in the 6th? Quite frankly, Broxton cannot handle any situation that involves a bat in his hands.

All I know is, when Sogard returns, if it's Phillips and not Broxton that goes down, I'm gonna be pissed. Broxton has had ample playing time and has shown what he can do. Why can't Phillips (or Brinson) be afforded the same opportunity? Yes, there will likely be some growing pains, but even if they struggle, it's not gonna be any worse than the CF production we're getting now.

[Prickle]

It doesn't really seem like it right now, but a 5 1/2 game lead in a division is a pretty substantial lead. Just as it took the Brewers weeks to build that lead, it usually takes weeks to give it up. The fact that they have almost lost it in just 5 days is pretty impressive. Gotta give credit to the Cubs though; it's only happened because they've been winning everyday. It's been a perfect storm of one team getting hot at the exact same time as one getting cold. We better sweep in Philly, because it could get ugly in DC if the team continues to struggle scoring without the HR.

[JimmyTheKid]

This series blows

Also, pinch hitting Phillips for Broxton, come on man.

Yup. Counsell's been overthinking a bit lately. Forget the lefty righty matchup stuff in that situation. Phillips was one of the few hitters to put together a decent AB to that point in the game and you replace him with a guy who's really scuffling to make contact with the baseball against BOTH lefties and righties? Bad.

I also felt bringing in Oliver Drake to finish 1/3 of an inning after Guerra gave up 3 runs (but still had a low pitch count) was also an example of Counsell overthinking. Just let Guerra finish out the 6th and bring in a reliever to start a fresh 7th inning.

[JimmyTheKid]

This series blows

Also, pinch hitting Phillips for Broxton, come on man.

Seriously. What the f*ck was Counsell thinking there? How did he really think that was gonna turn out? Was Broxton's like 90% K-rate lately not a good enough indication? I know it was a left-handed pitcher, but Phillips would still be a far better option, especially coming off a double his last at-bat. If anything, it should've been Braun pinch-hitting in that situation. Use Broxton as a pinch-runner - that's a place where he can actually benefit the team.

What made this even more ridiculous, was the fact that Broxton was promptly pinch-hit for in his very next at-bat, in a very similar situation. If he couldn't handle that situation in the 8th, what made Counsell think he could in the 6th? Quite frankly, Broxton cannot handle any situation that involves a bat in his hands.

All I know is, when Sogard returns, if it's Phillips and not Broxton that goes down, I'm gonna be pissed. Broxton has had ample playing time and has shown what he can do. Why can't Phillips (or Brinson) be afforded the same opportunity? Yes, there will likely be some growing pains, but even if they struggle, it's not gonna be any worse than the CF production we're getting now.

Yup been saying it for awhile. Just cut Broxton. I know he's popular in the clubhouse but Stearns has proven to have a quick trigger finger with other underperforming players. Not sure why Broxton is the exception. Its time for the Phillips/Brinson platoon in CF. Or Phillips/Hernan or Brinson/Hernan.

[BUCKnation]

Does he still have any options? I'd send him down to try to figure it out. He's batting what 4/45 this month?

[wichmae]

Does he still have any options? I'd send him down to try to figure it out. He's batting what 4/45 this month?

Hes hitting 11/69 .159 with 3 hr's

[Iheartfootball]

Broxton is who he is at this point. Streaky power hitter that Ks a ton.


Fast in the OF but misjudged balls often.

[BUCKnation]

Does he still have any options? I'd send him down to try to figure it out. He's batting what 4/45 this month?

Hes hitting 11/69 .159 with 3 hr's

Broxton is hitting 3/44 with 1 HR this month (July), .068

[El Duderino]

Yup been saying it for awhile. Just cut Broxton. I know he's popular in the clubhouse but Stearns has proven to have a quick trigger finger with other underperforming players. Not sure why Broxton is the exception. Its time for the Phillips/Brinson platoon in CF. Or Phillips/Hernan or Brinson/Hernan.

Wouldn't have to waive Broxton.

He wouldn't fetch much in a trade, but someone would trade for him given he has skills and is dirt cheap financially.

[wichmae]

Does he still have any options? I'd send him down to try to figure it out. He's batting what 4/45 this month?

Hes hitting 11/69 .159 with 3 hr's

Broxton is hitting 3/44 with 1 HR this month (July), .068

I went last 30 days. since its a "month" sample size. Shoulda clarified.

[BUCKnation]

Hes hitting 11/69 .159 with 3 hr's

Broxton is hitting 3/44 with 1 HR this month (July), .068

I went last 30 days. since its a "month" sample size. Shoulda clarified.

Thought so. Either way it isn't good.