Brewers take 2 of 3 from Astros, bring on the Reds

On Friday night, the Brewers put up softball league numbers.  On Saturday, Betancourt and Lucroy made the two biggest base running mistakes I have veer seen in a major league game.  Then on Easter, Randy Wolf did his best to prove that his last two starts where not aberrations.  We will discuss all of this indivdually……………right now.

Brewers 14  vs  Astros 7    

Yovani Gallardo took the hill on Friday night and had another rough outing.  Yo only made it through 6 innings, while giving up 8 hits and 4 runs.  However, the Brewers scored 14 runs in support of Gallardo (including Yo hitting his first home run of this young season).  Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez each hit 3-run homer’s.  This game was only close for the first 3 innings, then the Crew just opened it up.  A team that has been relatively stagnant offensively, finally appeared to have hit their stride in this game.  At times I felt like I was watching a video game, maybe the Astros just have that effect on their opponents.  Something of note from this game; Sean Green had his first rough outing of the season, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in just one inning of work (this will be important later).

Brewers 6  vs  Astros 9 

Before I even give you a breakdown of this game, please watch thisotherwise nothing after this point will make sense.  First of all, you NEVER run from third base if the ball is hit to that side of the infield.  That is T-Ball knowledge Yuni.  If I am Lucroy, why in the name of the Easter Bunny am I going to listen to the idiot stuck in the middle of a pickle?  This play will be forever scorched into my memory as possibly the worst play in Brewers history.  If someone can find me one that they think is worse, I would love to see it.  At this point in the game there are NO OUTS!!!!  Did Sedar send Yuni?  If so, then Sedar should be pulled off third base coach duties.  How embarassing.  Remember that time I told you to remember Sean Green getting blasted on Friday?  Well on Saturday, Green came in to pitch the 10th inning (after an amazing play at the plate by Ruan Braun in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 6’s).  Green recorded 2 outs while giving up a walk, three hits, and three runs.  Those three runs ended up being more than enough for the Astros to avoid the sweep. 

Brewers 4  vs  Astros 1

What happened to Randy Wolf?  On Easter afternoon, Wolf had a shutout through 7.2 innings of work.  Then he made one minor mistake to some kid named Towles, which spoiled the shutout……but who cares?  Randy Wolf has a 3-2 record and a 2.84 ERA so far this season.  There is no doubt that he is the hottest pitcher in the rotation at this moment.  Brandon Boggs hit his first homer in a Brew Crew uniform to get the Brewers on the board(already 1 more HR than Kotsay).  Rickie Weeks hit a monster shot to the opposite field, but if you think that is crazy Prince Fielder had an RBI triple(ESPN did a second by second breakdown of how long it took him to go from base to base, this is how it shook down; 5.8 second froms home to 1st, 3.8 seconds from 1st to 2nd, 4.2 seconds from 2nd to 3rd).  That Easter Bunny works in mysterious ways.  Carlos Gomez continues to show promise in waves and today was no diferent, going 3 for 5.  Another glaring stat for the Brewers, 11 hits but only 4 runs.  I had really hoped this would not happen again this season, but I can’t win them all.  Great way to end this series going into a huge home stand with the Reds.

My Rant about the upcoming Reds Series

     The Reds series is going to be very important, not just in the standings but for our pride as well.  Currently the Brewers find themselves 1/2 game back of the Cardinals and 1/2 game ahead of the Reds.  After the season opening sweep we suffered in Cincinnati, we need some retribution.  In fact, Roenicke should be looking for “A Day of Reckoning”.  Webster’s defines this as; the day or time when one must pay one’s debts, or be punished for one’s transgressions.

     I need to have the memory of Axford giving up 4 runs in the Top of the 9th of game 1 wiped from my memory.  Even worse was the absolute thrashing we took in the 3rd game, 12-3 Reds was the final.  The Brewers only scored 11 runs in the 3 game series, while the Reds scored 23.  We can not afford to let these guys walk all over us again.  Chris Narveson will be facing off against Bronson Arroyo in game 1, which will be played tonight.  Game 2 is shaping up to be Marco Estrada for the Crew and Winona Ryder enthusiast Chris Leake for the Reds.  And in theory, game 3 will see Gallardo against Sam LeCure who has a career 5.79 ERA against our beloved Crew.  We need to take 2 out of 3 in this series, otherwise it is going to be difficult to stay close to the Reds. 

     The NL Central is (so far) the weakest division in baseball.  There is no reason that the Brewers can not keep pace with the Reds and Cardinals.  If we can escape April with an above .500 record, the return of Hart and Greinke will only make us better in May.  The Cubs, Pirates, and Astros do not have the talent to hang with the Crew, Cards, and Reds.  This division is going to be a 3 team race, so every game against the Reds and Cards has to be that much more important. 

     Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend.  I spent it with my best friends (Ross and Michael) and Brewers Super Fan, Walter.  We had a delicious meal of Spanish chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, and off course Ross’ deviled eggs.  Really missed my family though.  Love you Mom, Dad, Boots, Snick, Nan, Chris, Kevin, Megan, Jessi, Grandma and Grandpa Sombke, Aunt Margaret, and especially my wife Ashley who had to work.  Missed you all very much this Easter.  Hope you all had a wonderful day.

     Until next time, if you don’t know anything about the honey badger…….this will not help.  I can not stop watching this and laughing.  Hope it gives you a good Monday morning chuckle.  Warning: This video is not intended for children.  It contains vulgar language and animal on animal violence.