Games 46, 47, 48: Brewers vs. Giants

[coolhandluke121]

I really like this Giants team. They have a very balanced lineup and deep rotation. LAD and the Nats have the star power, but this team is still a definite contender.

Keep losing close games, Brewers. Can't play too poorly or guys will lose their trade value. Can't play too well or the Brewers won't trade anyone.

[BigDee]

Braun goes boom!

[BigDee]

Time to get Lohse out of there.

[BigDee]

Good god please stop.

[BigDee]

Game over.

[coolhandluke121]

I've thought for a long time that teams should rely less on their starters and use more long relievers. The third time through the order is often a killer, and most starters have dramatically worse stats in that situation.

That second at-bat can be a huge liability, too, as we saw today. Lohse struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 4th. Too early to pull him when his pitch count is low and the team needs to manage the bullpen? Not if your starters average 60-70 pitches per outing and pitch on 3 days rest. I don't know but I think that's realistic, and would be curious to see how it affects injury rates. The first reliever would almost always be able to give you 2-3 innings before the pitcher's spot came up again in the order, and if you've got enough versatile defenders to make smart double-switches you can really maximize your quality at-bats.

[blazza18]

Everything about Braun's HR was beautiful. He murdered that ball.

[BigDee]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AndrewGruman/status/602950355790471168[/tweet]

[BigDee]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/602951445277704193[/tweet]

[coolhandluke121]

Good news as far as I'm concerned. The sooner they give up on the season, the better. I was a little worried that they would go on a run, but those tough losses in Atlanta combined with this make me feel better. Too bad Lohse had another tough outing though.

[LittleRooster]

Keep the L's coming boys!

[Sky Bucks]

At the rate Braun is going, do you think he's trade bait?

[blazza18]

I didn't realise how bad we were still doing. Worst record in the league with the 2nd worst run differential.

[El Duderino]

I've thought for a long time that teams should rely less on their starters and use more long relievers. The third time through the order is often a killer, and most starters have dramatically worse stats in that situation.

That second at-bat can be a huge liability, too, as we saw today. Lohse struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 4th. Too early to pull him when his pitch count is low and the team needs to manage the bullpen? Not if your starters average 60-70 pitches per outing and pitch on 3 days rest. I don't know but I think that's realistic, and would be curious to see how it affects injury rates. The first reliever would almost always be able to give you 2-3 innings before the pitcher's spot came up again in the order, and if you've got enough versatile defenders to make smart double-switches you can really maximize your quality at-bats.

I think this is one of those things which sound better in theory than it would be realistic and practical if tried to implement.

Say a starter is pitching great, but then hits the 60-70 pitch limit, do you yank him then for a likely inferior middle relief pitcher? Even more problematic if a team has a really good number 1 and 2 starter. You'd be regularly yanking them early in games where they are pitching well. On the flip side, if a starter is struggling by throwing a lot of pitches and hits the 60-70 pitch count in say only the 3rd inning, does he get yanked? It would be a manager's nightmare trying to balance everything.

Those middle relief pitchers would have to end up being really good or it would lose lots of games. They'd also be hard to replace with better quality once a season started if they weren't getting the job done. Those middle relief pitchers would arguably be among the top few most important pitchers on the staff. Teams would likely have to carry a 13 man pitching staff all season to protect themselves from failure by those middle relievers.

[Mags FTW]

Why do you guys still watch? And on a beautiful Memorial Day too. You're wasting your lives.

[El Duderino]

Why do you guys still watch? And on a beautiful Memorial Day too. You're wasting your lives.

I can only speak for myself, but DVR's are one of my favorite entertainment inventions in awhile. Rarely do i watch anything live or at the scheduled programming time. Get to watch anything at my convenience, can pause while watching something, and get to fast forward through all commercials.

It's to the point that if say i have company over for a Packers game or the rare instance i'm watching a show at it's scheduled time, i'll sometimes find myself reaching for the remote when a block of commercials start and i have to think, oh yea, i'm actually not watching a recording.

Makes me wonder how advertisers decide on rate fees given so many people have a DVR and also blast right through commercials?

Sports leagues have benefited though because sports are an event many viewers watch live compared to other shows.

[RIPskaterdude]

thanks for the win, please give more

[Flap Jackson]

Anybody else think Aramis' expression as he was rounding the bases seemed like, "Feels good to get one, but what's the point?"

I always had a fearful respect for him when he was a Pirate and a Cub. I have also been pleased with his production in the lineup (when he's healthy) as a Brewer. I hope they trade him out of respect to a playoff contender that needs him, since this is his last year.

[blazza18]

Do we trade Braun if we can ?

[DanoMac]

^Hope so