Brewers win game 1: “Compliment Sandwich” Series

Let’s skip the foreplay sailors.  You all saw and/or listened to the game today.  There is no need for a re-cap, but there is plenty of need for reflection.  After every game in this series, we are going to be looking over and making a nice “compliment sandwich” for it.  The Brewers won convincingly 4-1, and thus took a 1-0 lead in the series.  If you are not familiar with the “compliment sandwich” format, it goes something like this:

"We talk about something good from today, then we talk about something that was the opposite of good or needs improvement, then we sandwich it with something good.  Now, the compliment sandwich is interchangeable.  Sometimes it can go bad-good-bad."

Tonight we shall enjoy, the good kind of compliment sandwich…a bologna sandwich.

The Bread — Pitching —  Yovani Gallardo threw 8 innings and only gave up 1 run.  His pitches were low in the strike zone and the velocity stayed consistent through the entire game.  This makes me feel really good about Gallardo’s next start.  That could either be Game 5 of this series, or hopefully Game 1 of the NLCS.  In two career playoff starts, Gallardo has only allowed 1 earned run.  If our back is against the wall, I want him on the mound, especially if the game is in Brew City.  John Axford’s mustache glistened in the sunlight, as he retired the side in the 9th for his first career post-season save.  In my estimation, the power of Johns’ fu manchu, paired with the sunlight, made his fastball almost unhittable.  Tomorrow, Zack Greinke will take the mound on 3 days rest.  It did not phase him earlier in the week, so I would expect him to be fine.

The Bologna — Batters not wearing 8 and 28 –Braun and Fielder went  a combined 5 for 8, with 3 runs and 2 RBI’s.  The rest of the team was 3 for 19 with 2 RBI’s.  Here’s the thing, I like bologna.  Even though it’s exact contents are not exactly known.  I sort of assumed that if this team was going to succeed, that Braun and Fielder would have to carry a vast amount of the offensive load.  The bottom of the order had a few clutch hits this afternoon and they have earned some recognition.  JHJ, Yuni B, and Lucroy…great job today.  You guys made delicious, high-class bologna (see below).  One of the best moments of todays game was Prince realizing that Ian Kennedy was going to pitch to him.  This strange little smirk came over his face, like he knew what the next pitch was going to be.  At that moment I had an epiphany, Prince Fielder is going to carry this team on his back.  I could just as easily say the same thing for Brauny.  As long as we get a little contribution from other sources, everything will be fine.  Considering that this was the biggest problem in today’s game, things could have certainly gone worse.  I love bologna.

Bottom Bread — Ryan Roberts —  This is more funny than anything.  As I watched the game on TBS, I noticed something after Ryan Roberts hit his solo home run in the Top of the 8th.  When Mr. Neck Tattoo (that’s what I called him all game long) crossed home plate, it appeared as if he ran past home plate and stared down the Miller Park crowd.  Now, I could have just been making things up, but it sure seemed like he challenged Brew Crew Nation.  What old neck tattoo failed to realize, is that his gesture of insolence pissed off Yo.  After Roberts home run, Gallardo got surgical on the next three batters.  Ryan Roberts gets to be bottom bread because this team plays better when they have a little chip on their shoulders.  If this stare down did happen, I am sure the team will hear about it.  They will seek revenge for this injustice.

That is how you make a delicious compliment sandwich.  Let’s all hope we can make another delicious sandwich together tomorrow.    Would love to make a sandwich with Greinke bread…

One win closer to the World Series.  Sleep tight and dream of snakes being afraid of cold-filtered Miller Lite.  Obviously the beer vanquished the snake.  What a dream it shall be.  Zack Greinke will be there, so you have that to look forward too.  Tomorrow is going to be a very big day.

Go Brewers!!!