Series Thread: Brewers @ Miguel Diaz & the Padres

[El Duderino]

I'm excited and entertained by this team but I really don't want to get my hopes up. This pitching is not very good and the bats will cool off. I'm thinking they are due for a cold streak pretty soon. Bring them back to earth.

The pitching clearly is a problem, but i do believe that the offense is legit good.

Up and down the lineup, especially when healthy there are no easy outs besides Arcia assuming Villar starts hitting better and lots of extra base hit guys.

The interesting thing is what Counsell will do once Thames and Braun get back in the lineup because Hernan Perez has an .863 OPS and is good defensively at multiple positions, so he deserves to play a lot. I guess Counsell could just play him all over the place from day to day and rest guys at 2nd/SS and various OF spots

That doesn't even account for Aguliar who is raking also, but plays the same position as Thames.

[blazza18]

Lets build around Sogard.

[BUCKnation]

Sogard again

[bizarro]

Sogard with one of the most amazing call-up tears I have ever witnessed. Holy ****.

[bizarro]

Look out: Barnes has his slider back. Looking real sharp these past few outings. Very good sign for the 8th inning.

[bizarro]

Words I never imagined hearing from an opposing announcer this season:

"It's very important the Padres don't flip this line-up to face Eric Sogard again."

Unreal.

[Iheartfootball]

Knebel has lousy command at times. But I guess that's part of being a flame thrower? It's either strike out or walk with him.

[H2tObes]

Kudos to Stearns, looking like a genius this season

[bizarro]

Knebel has lousy command at times. But I guess that's part of being a flame thrower? It's either strike out or walk with him.

Yeah, when you're touching 99 mph and getting up 2-0 you're going to run into that from time-to-time. He was up 3-0 on Hedges and proceeded to blow 2 fastballs by him and then throws an absolutely gutsy curve w/ the game in the balance. Outside corner. Low. Ring it up. He's a closer. What is that, 23 straight appearances w/ a K?

[Iheartfootball]

Knebel has lousy command at times. But I guess that's part of being a flame thrower? It's either strike out or walk with him.

Yeah, when you're touching 99 mph and getting up 2-0 you're going to run into that from time-to-time. He was up 3-0 on Hedges and proceeded to blow 2 fastballs by him and then throws an absolutely gutsy curve w/ the game in the balance. Outside corner. Low. Ring it up. He's a closer. What is that, 23 straight appearances w/ a K?

Yeah, he's pretty good so far. If he can stay okay mentally he'll be fine.

Monday he had 22, add yesterday and today. I think that's 24 in a row with a K.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Kudos to Stearns, looking like a genius this season

For sure. I feel like we all have to use the 'this isn't sustainable' preface with all posts and realistically I don't think this early hot start is. But what is very encouraging and might be sustainable is Stearns and his crew seem to have a very keen eye for talent. Counsel progression as a manager is also very encouraging. Having a really solid Front Office and Manager infrastructure in place is probably the most import part of a rebuild and so far so good on that front.

[Iheartfootball]

Yep. I like that Counsell takes calculated risks and seems to learn from his mistakes. I think his diverse baseball background (Front office work) makes him more open minded to changing something that isn't working by most means necessary (analytics).

I'm onboard with him as skipper. He mostly stays out of the way, sets decent lineups, and pulls pitchers when necessary.


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[Iheartfootball]

I'm looking forward to the draft in June. RE: Talent evaluation


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[ReasonablySober]

The production this team is getting at every position is insane.

[Thunder Muscle]

Agreed. I thought offensively that catching was going to be brutal, but they both have been excellent. And the offense has been good in spite of Villar hitting low 200's and Braun missing almost 1/3 of the season. It has been nice to see Santana and Broxton up their average's a bit.

I go back and forth. Pessimist in me says that the offense is going to level off and the pitching is not good enough to sustain any kind of consistent winning. The optimist says that they're winning in spite of mediocre pitching and missing some what you would deem key parts. You would think adding Guerra would boost the starting rotation and I'm still hoping Nelson/Davies improve a bit. If Villars comes around and Braun gets healthy, that is more weapons on offense.

Certainly has been an unexpected fun few weeks here. How mad is Twirl?

[JimmyTheKid]

One of the local radio hosts said "everything is falling perfectly" for the Brewers to be 6 games over.

Except:

*Our best pitcher from last season got hurt in game 1 and hasn't pitched since
*Braun has missed a ton of games
*Thames just missed a week
*Our closer was demoted because he couldn't get anyone out
*Villar has been terrible

I don't know if this is sustainable or not, I'm going to doubt it with a quick look at our starting rotation, but Stearns and Counsell have certainly pushed all the right buttons to this point.