Orioles-Brewers Preview (5/26-5/28)

Brewers previews to get you ready for the series where we have five things to watch, pitching matchups and prediction. We add a YouTube video in the mix, it could be really anything.   

Pitching Matchups
Monday:      Chris Tillman (4-2 4.21) vs. Kyle Lohse (6-1 2.67)     1:10 pm FSNWI
Tuesday:      Wei-Yen Chen (5-2 4.08) vs. Matt Garza (2-4 4.92)       7:10 pm FSNWI
Wednesday: Bud Norris (3-4 3.83) vs. Yovani Gallardo (2-3 3.51) 7:10 pm FSNWI

Five Things To Watch
1.) Home Sweet Home - Brewers are back at Miller Park for the first time in two weeks. The road trip ended on a high note with the Crew taking two of three from Miami, but in reality, Milwaukee really should be on a five-game winning streak as they pissed away both Thursday and Saturday's game. Even though the Brewers are only four games above .500 at home, it is still nice to be playing in front of the fans and getting to sleep in their own bed each night. This week at home needs to be an efficient one, and hopefully the hot hitting continues this week.  .

2.) New World Order - Ron Roenicke has been criticized by me in the past for being very generic and robotic with some of the decisions he makes in all aspects of the game. Roenicke thought outside the box to put Ryan Braun hitting second and Carlos Gomez in the cleanup spot. The Brewers scored seven and nine runs in their two wins this weekend, their highest run total in a game since their eight-run output against Arizona on May, 3rd. Roenicke is sticking with the lineup today, and you wonder if Aramis Ramirez will be hitting fifth when he returns from injury or if Roenicke will revert back to the old lineup.

3.) Kyle Lohse's continued success - This could be the biggest jinx of the season given I am writing this about 40 minutes before he tows the rubber, but right now, he is the best pitcher on the Brewers staff. Everything is working for Lohse which is great to see as other pitchers have struggled slightly. One thing that might make you a little nervous about today is Lohse really has seen any of the bats for Baltimore. That can also work to a pitcher's advantage too. Lohse goes out there with another strong outing like he did against Atlanta, I think you can make a case he deserves to be in consideration for Pitcher of the Month in the National League.

4.) Avoiding Nelson Cruz - One of the hottest players in baseball right now with 16 home runs for the season and hitting .295. Orioles picked him up as a flyer before the season started and no one really thought much of it yet he is carrying the team right now leading them in almost every batting category. One advantage the Brewers do have with him though is he cannot play defense to save his soul meaning the Crew could get some added chances with balls hit to left field this week. Given Miller Park and the weather this week, you almost have to expect Cruz to hit one or two out, let's hope they are solo shots.

5.) Little pitching, big offense week? - It is humid as all hell today meaning the panels will be open today and likely tomorrow if the storms hold off which is good news if you like a lot of offense. I wouldn't be surprised to see several balls fly out of the stadium. Granted, Brewers pitching has been good and Orioles haven't been too bad so maybe I am wrong and we will see a bunch of pitcher's duels like we have grown accustomed to in the first two months of the baseball season.

Appropriate YouTube video


For all the troops out there, serving, served or lost in combat. THANK YOU. This day is about remembering the fallen whom fought for our freedom. Nothing better than montages of soldiers coming home to their families.

Prediction 
Brewers have done well against the AL East thus far going 5-1. I could see two out of three from the Crew. Feels like they are getting warm again.

Charlie.

Random Thoughts From a Tuesday Miller Park Adventure

I decided to make another trip to Miller Park. It was too hard not to pass up the opportunity to drink four dollar beers, dollar dogs and four dollar nachos. Also, there were a chance for fireworks with the reunion of Cole and Gomez. Here is what I witnessed at the game. 

- We usually go to a bar before the game, and I finished a workout before going meaning I was starving. Waiting for the opportunity to have food at the game nearly killed me. Hearing the waitress ask about appetizers only to rebuff her crushed me inside.

- First thing we did when we got to the game is took advantage of the deal at Miller Park.  I ended up with what my buddy Mike called the 'Miller Park Happy Meal' - Plate of nachos, two hot dogs and a beer. All for 10 dollars.

- I understand the workers are usually working for a cause. I believe the first one was for a church so I will be nice, but what planet do you dress the nachos with cheese over the top versus in the little cup?  Thankfully, I didn't spill cheese nor was I with any female companion, but man, that could have been disastrous

- Losing a beer bet on a sausage race is one of the more depressing things to have happen to me in the past couple weeks. I bet my friend Chuck that the Bratwurst would win and the goddamn Italian Sausage ran like it was a 100M dash for the Gold Medal.  Horrible.

- Rickie Weeks is hitting .333. I am starting to love Weeks again. Glad I got to see him for one at-bat last night. He should be starting in the next two games against two lefties.  

- We had seats in the four row of the bleachers, but instead of being cramped in, we sat near the top of the section.  Why?  It felt better truthfully and there were a little under 25,000 in the ballpark so there was space to move around a bit.

- Although in our seats, some punk ass kids were dropping a soda and ice cubes from above. Thankfully, my man Dennis was carrying a big stick and vowed for it to stop. It did after a 10 cubes. I really wanted to go Tommy Boy on these scoundrels.



- Gerrit Cole is probably the least liked opposing player right now. He was booed lustfully throughout the game, and then when he hit Carlos Gomez, the boos were deafening. Cole didn't really struggle against the Brewers rather his defense was downright terrible throughout the game.

- One of the discussions we had was during the week what if Miller Park had an open seat policy where you could sit wherever you wanted in some of the seats. Personally, this would probably be chaotic and not work because generally, people are assholes. But it would be interesting to see what happens to upper deck if it were General Admission for 15 dollars during the week. I doubt it would ever happen unless we get to a utopia state.

- Overall, a solid Brewers win. They got some timely hitting from Jonathan Lucroy whose red hot right now. Jean Segura got a great BALL DON'T LIE double including another hit and Weeks had another big base knock. Nice start to the series

- 3-0 on the year and heading back against Baltimore in a couple weeks.  

Charlie.  

Yankees-Brewers Preview (5/9-5/11)

Brewers previews to get you ready for the series where we have five things to watch, pitching matchups and prediction. We add a YouTube video in the mix, it could be really anything.   

Pitching Matchups
Friday:    Masahiro Tanaka (4-0 2.53) vs. Yovani Gallardo (2-1 2.47)  7:10 pm FSNWI
Saturday: CC Sabathia (3-4 5.75) vs. Kyle Lohse (4-1 2.72)                6:10 pm FSNWI
Sunday:    David Phelps (0-0 3.18) vs. Matt Garza (2-3 4.93)               1:10 pm FSNWI

Five Things To Watch
1.) The return of CC -  This is kind of awesome. I don't care if CC dominates the Crew on Saturday night, I am just happy to have him back at Miller Park. The 2008 Summer with CC was absolutely awesome where he pitched on three days rest multiple times, and if he had a better first half with Cleveland, he would have been Cy Young that season. I don't think anyone will boo CC and if they do, f--- those people. I hope he gets a standing ovation when he hits in the mound in the bottom of the first inning. I wish Brian Anderson was back so he could talk about CC's non-no hitter at Pittsburgh because that would have been the best. Look forward to have the big.. er smallish fella back in Milwaukee.

2.) Can Tanaka lose a game or will he strike out 20? - With how things are going for the Brewers, it would be classic of them to absolutely crush Tanaka tonight with six or seven runs in three innings. That would be hilarious and typical of the Brewers. But let's be real here, Tanaka is all that and a bag of chips right now. Brewers have trouble with strikeouts which could be bad news with Tanaka as he has struck out at least five batters in all of this starts this season. Additionally, Tanaka has gone at least 6.1 innings in his six starts this season. I will point out this against him though, the last three games he has given up five home runs with a potential open Miller Park... It could get ugly.

3.) Lineup changes happening or nah - Last year, Ron Roenicke kept moving his lineup around and this year it has been the complete opposite. This Brewers team is struggling in some of kind of way since Braun's absence. Brewers are currently averaging 3.8 runs in the last 10 games, but in two of those games, Milwaukee scored runs in extra innings and they had one eight run performance. Something needs to change with the lineup whether it is moving Aramis Ramirez down in the order or putting Carlos Gomez in more of a power, run-scoring spot. Also don't sleep on Jean Segura getting moved up, he seemed very comfortable there on Monday night.

4.) Matt Garza watch - Even though Matt Garza got the 'win' on Monday night, he didn't really pitched that well. He had trouble with the top of the Arizona order for the first two times through allowing three runs in the first three innings. He got comfortable in the next three settling down. I don't know what needs to be tweaked or if he just doesn't have it right now, but at some point, Garza needs to deliver another big start for this team.

5.) Miller Park finally open? - The weather this weekend seems like it could be a great one. Right now, it is beautiful out there albeit a bit windy. There is no good reason for the roof to be closed unless they are worried about the wind, but even at 10 pm, it seems like the temperate will be around 59 degrees. Tomorrow, it is going to be 70 degrees and the following day is 74 with a chance of rain. Roof should be open all weekend and if not, Milwaukee needs to toughen up a bit.

Appropriate YouTube Videos

Damn, I forgot a little bit how awesome that final week was with the two walk-offs, CC going complete in the final game.

Prediction 
Every fiber in body says the Brewers win only one or get swept this weekend, but I am in a good mood so we are going with two of three.