25 Jul
Me, I don’t drink game thread: July 25, Braves at Brewers
I have to wonder about a town whose identity is so caught up in a mind-altering drug. It’s like, “If you aren’t at least a little drunk, you can’t stand to live in Wisconsin!” But I try not to judge. Well, except for baseball players who don’t produce.
Peter Gammons was talking about a 40-man callup for Jason Heyward… but I generally ignore everything he says
July 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pmWhen I was a kid my favorite cousins lived in Racine (home of John Matuszak, the sign used to say), so I have a positive association with the area. And yes, we ate many beer brats while there.
Incidentally, I attended Tommy Hanson’s ML debut versus Milwaukee via a family pack (4 tix, 4 hot dogs, 4 Cokes). It wasn’t a very crowded section, but everyone else in it was a Brewers fan. Had to be the hot dogs, right?
July 25th, 2009 at 2:41 pmEarlier this year, I said that the Cubs had the fattest, ugliest fans in the NL. I take that back; the Brewers have the fattest fans, but the Cubs fans are still the ugliest.
July 25th, 2009 at 2:46 pmI’m from VA and would like to return there eventually, but my family’s really enjoyed being in Madison for 4 years and counting (and we don’t drink either). It’s a really good place to live, and would be great if the winter weren’t so long.
Gotta run to the store to pick up some brats and sausages for the grill while we listen to the game…
July 25th, 2009 at 3:08 pm#3
July 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pmMac,
I take you’ve never seen a game in Philly?
Whilst at UK, I worked for a horse racing magazine (“The Blood-Horse”, no less). I had been playing the guitar for about five years with little to show for it either monetarily or romantically.
I taught a co-worker his first three chords. One year later, he was touring in Tom T. Hall’s band. The groupies probably didn’t rival those that followed the Stones, but still …
I remained at the magazine, poor and wanting as before.
Wisconites are the nicest people I’ve ever met. There is nothing behind their eyes – they just tell you the truth as they know it. In the South, we have manners. Up there, they just speak.
How can you hate a stadium that has a Sausage Race? Are you Satan?
Stu, what’s wrong with David Pryce?
July 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pmububba,
do you remember the UGA / Pitt Sugar Bowl?
Never has a “talent” disparity been on such display. I swear all the Pitt girls had five o’clock shadow.
July 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pmClearly, Mac is not a Keillor.
July 25th, 2009 at 3:37 pmhank,
Which one?
The Dawgs played the Dorsett Pitt team at the end of the ’76 season & they played the Marino Pitt team at the end of the ’81 season.
I was at the second game. Fact is, I don’t remember too many girls wearing Pitt colors at all. It was a sea of Red & Black in the French Quarter.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:09 pmThe top story on ESPN.com right now is about the WNBA All-Star Game. Sheesh.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:11 pmAnkiel just made his second fantastic catch at the wall. The second one was flat-out transcendent.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pmI saw that one Sansho. I liked how he immediately threw to first after the catch.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pmLudwick has made a catch at the wall, too. The Cards are either temporarily skirting disaster, or are fated to win this game.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:29 pmMcClouth – 8
July 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pmPrado – 4
Jones – 5
McCann – 2
Anderson – 7
Escobar – 6
Kotchman – 3
Church – 9
Hanson – 1
Ludwick also hit a line-drive home run. I like him a lot.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:44 pmI voted for Foreigner in the poll, BTW. The other ’70s-’80s stuff is defensible, either genuinely or ironically. But Foreigner — that would just be pathetic.
Apologies to all you Foreigner fans. Not really.
July 25th, 2009 at 4:50 pmI’ve been to Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee. I definitely like the Kenosha/Racine area better than Milwaukee. but yeah, my jaw dropped driving through Kenosha because there was a bar at every single corner.
If anyone is ever in Racine, get some kringles!!!
July 25th, 2009 at 5:03 pmNew Jeffy nickname: Francosaur. I don’t know if this is for him, or for his dwindling band of local fangirls.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:03 pm@17
Yes, kringle! All my Wisconsin relatives have moved south, but we still get kringle mail-ordered from Racine for Christmas every year. It’s that good.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pmoh god, they are the best. I was mailed two for my bday, one strawberry, and one turtle. I didn’t even know turtle kringles existed. It was glorious.
jesus christ… now I’m gonna have to get some mailed here.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pmPhiladelphia = scrapple
Milwaukee = kringle
I’ve had both. Milwaukee FTW.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:23 pmUgh, Rollins stays hot with a grand slam and Victorino makes it back to back.
I’m not sure about ugliest fan group, but I do know that no group of fans is so odious as those in Philadelphia. (Except those in Manchester, and that’s a whole different sport.)
July 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pmBig Met Fun!
July 25th, 2009 at 5:32 pmAnd, proving my point, the Phils-Cards game grinds to a halt because some fan was shining a laser pointer into the eyes of the Cardinal batters.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pmThat’s F’ed up. I think I’d very tempted to make you forfeit if I were the crew chief.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pmMost Phils fans hate themselves more than they hate the visiting team.
Spent a weekend in Manchester, England, once. Never seen so many stumbling drunks or so much broken glass in the (cobblestone) street in my life. The locals speak English, but you still need an interpreter.
Great clubs, though. If you’ve ever seen the film, 24-Hour Party People, it’s like that.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:59 pmIf that happened spike, I would go to Turner Field and do that every day dressed in the opposing team’s jersey
July 25th, 2009 at 6:01 pmcool throwbacks
July 25th, 2009 at 6:06 pmregarding Halladay:
July 25th, 2009 at 6:09 pmis it me or is this the most coverage on a single player ever at the trade deadline? It’s getting pretty ridiculous.
Wrong half of the inning for double plays, Nitram.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pmMets up 3-0 after half an inning. Frenchy hit a sac fly, as he continues his crusade to make his trade look better for people who aren’t paying attention.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:22 pmOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, an RBI!
July 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pmI actually am rooting for the Mets now most of the time now. They’re not contenders and they’re playing against the Astros who are Wild Card competition.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pmFielder doesn’t exactly look smaller in that weird uniform.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pmRandy Johnson and Carlos Beltran–who both happened to end up in Houston—had as much or more coverage at the deadline.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pmI just realized that Church took Canizares’ uniform number. I think that should tell Barbaro where he stands.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:44 pmHey, Bob Uecker doing a guest inning on Braves radio, awesome.
How is McLouth such an efficient basestealer? It’s a bit uncanny.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:44 pmThe players are drowning in their uniforms
July 25th, 2009 at 6:48 pmSomehow I don’t think we’ll see a whole lot of Braves offense this evening.
July 25th, 2009 at 6:55 pmBrian seems to throwing better lately
July 25th, 2009 at 7:00 pmI don’t like the way the uniforms are cut, and I’m not crazy about the logos, but at least they’re grey with red trim as God intended.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:02 pmIf that happened spike, I would go to Turner Field and do that every day dressed in the opposing team’s jersey
You really would risk a 20 year stretch in prison for every home game? You must be quite the fan.
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/12/27/teenager-in-ca-arres.html
And really, i did say tempted, not that I would do it. They could make them replay the game in an empty stadium, like a recent italian serie a team had to.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:06 pmWho doesn’t know this? The announcers, apparently.
Hank Aaron played for the Mobile Black Bears (Willie Mays was a Birmingham Black Baron) but the Black Bears weren’t considered an elite Negro league team. In the upper levels, he played for the Indianapolis Clowns, the team the Braves purchased him from.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pm¡Ha, I have stolen your run support, Tommy Hanson!
July 25th, 2009 at 7:17 pmHas anyone else been enjoying Joe’s uniform and sock commentary as much as I have tonight? Some definite Carl Monday action goin on in the booth tonight.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pmTo be fair, Yovani Gallardo is an excellent pitcher.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:21 pm“Joe, why are you wearing an Ohio State hoodie?”
July 25th, 2009 at 7:29 pmSpike you need to read that article. It was for shining a laser pointer at a plane’s cockpit as it was landing. It was a life threatening incident. It does mean shining a laser pointer in anyone’s eye will warrant 20 years in prison.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pmChipper looks like he’s wearing cement shoes. Both of those balls could have been had.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:44 pmC.B. Bucknor sucks at umpiring.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:44 pmChipper is old and long in the knee. He can’t move any more at 3rd, dare I say he has become more of a defensive liability than a defensive asset?
July 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pmi just turned on the game, is the brewers pitcher that good or we in the francourian days again?
July 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pm44,
July 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pmFunny.
What an unlucky inning.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:47 pmWe have absolutely no clue how to hit Gallardo…
July 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pmNothing like having a manager who scouts the opposing pitcher. I’m glad we have manager who doesn’t just show up with his beer belly and sit on a bench and talk to the pitching coach the whole game
July 25th, 2009 at 7:54 pmPrince is one huge fat dude….
July 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pmI hate groundball singles.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pmTommy’s not striking anyone out tonight.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pmif prince doesnt drop weight how many years does he have left?
July 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pmCome on Bucknor, call it both ways.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:58 pmI can tell Tommy is still sick. His velocity isn’t where it should be. He is getting by with what he has.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:59 pm@61 What do you expect from Bucknor?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:00 pmGuys, Gallardo is a very good pitcher; when he has problems it’s because his control is off and that’s not at all the case tonight. This isn’t a case of bad scouting or of us making a mediocre pitcher look like a Hall of Famer.
Really, I don’t get why the Brewers are hovering around .500, they ought to be much better than that. And with the Cubs stumbling out of the gate, they have to hate not taking the division when it is there to be taken.
Also this is an incredible start for a young pitcher who has seemingly been flu-ridden the entire time he’s been up in the majors. I can understand why they checked him for mono.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:00 pm@64 because they remebered they are the brewers hahah. the central is a tight division but their pitching has been hurting lately.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:01 pmHe’s just above the Eric Gregg level.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:02 pmReally, I don’t get why the Brewers are hovering around .500, they ought to be much better than that.
It’s because Gallardo’s their only good starter.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:03 pm6 nice innings by a guy clearly not at full strength. Tommy sure is an easy guy to root for.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pmnice 5-3 double play there
July 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm@67 Even so their offense ought to keep them in more games than it has.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pmYou could say the same thing about the Nationals. Don’t get me wrong, Milwaukee’s a decent team, but when you have a shallow pitching staff that’s what happens.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:05 pmCLUELESS!!!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:08 pmI thought we all should know what a shallow pitching staff can do to a team…
July 25th, 2009 at 8:09 pmTommy has to throw a lot of pitchers to get people out.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:13 pmAwesome!!! The pitchers are beating up Bucknor!!1
July 25th, 2009 at 8:15 pmTony, Tommy is having a lower pitcher count than Gallardo. What are you talking about?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:16 pmI wish Bobby wouldn’t have left Tommy in there. He’s been laboring the last two innings.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:16 pmTony, Tommy’s pitch count has been pretty reasonable- 85 pitches through six innings. He’s done OK except for the 5th, when he just got dinked and dunked to death.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:16 pmI’m talking the current at-bat. Is that okay?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:18 pmI don’t really like it either, but I guess Bobby would rather have Hanson out there than Acosta and Co.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:18 pmGreat play Nate!!! At least you got an out!!!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:20 pmBobby, time to take Tommy out?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:21 pmGreat work Tommy.
I can’t wait to see Heyward in Atlanta.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:21 pmBobby is back to his 90s “kill my starting pitchers” mode…
July 25th, 2009 at 8:22 pmWow, way to grind it out.
<3 Tommy
July 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pmGutsy outing by Hanson.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pmMan, Tommy was lucky to get out of all that. He made it awful hard on himself and I still maintain he shouldn’t have been out there.
But what a great, gutty performance by the kid. 7 innings, 2 runs is good for anyone, let alone a 22-year old rookie with the flu.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pmIf Bobby is sending out Norton instead of KJ to start the inning, I think the man is ready to retire.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pmOh come now, KC. 107 pitches isn’t a killing workload.
You did your part, Tommy. Now let’s see if our offense can do theirs.
Edit: KC, you’re right about Norton. Honestly, Norton’s got the Pictures and the Videotape with THX sound.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:24 pmNorton?????????????????????
July 25th, 2009 at 8:25 pmOk Bobby, time to retire.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:26 pmThe Norton Virus.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:26 pmI think Greg Norton is Bobby’s equivalent of a sacrifice bunt, without the benefit of moving up a base. “Here’s a free out, guys.”
July 25th, 2009 at 8:27 pmBrian, 107-pitches is fine, I just don’t think TOmmy should face Bruan.
Bobby, see what you get with Norton?!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:28 pmThis is our chance now. We have no hope against Hoffman.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:31 pmWho does Coffey think he is? John Rocker?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:32 pmImagine where we might be now if we’d had an actual hitter up to start the inning, instead of “Emperor” Norton.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:32 pmOh no… it’s Todd Coffey!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:33 pmI wish someone besides Hanson and McLouth had showed up tonight.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:34 pmCoffey looks disconcertingly like a redheaded Dan Kolb.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:37 pmYou know what AAR….YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
Oh Martin…
July 25th, 2009 at 8:38 pmRough night for Prado.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:38 pmTake him deep, Chipper……nope, not deep enough…..
July 25th, 2009 at 8:40 pmI think our hitters need some of this.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:41 pm17 hits last night, Zito shut them down before that, now tonite.
We really need to win tonite, or tomorrow is a must-win.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:46 pmHart sucks.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:48 pmI wish our catchers would throw to first more often. I have fond memories of Manny getting thrown out at first during the late innings in the ’95 series.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:48 pmEric, can you please attack the strike zone? Bobby, one hitter too late?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:49 pmMaybe O’Flaherty should be in the doghouse.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:50 pmWow…
July 25th, 2009 at 8:52 pmI don’t get why Bobby let him pitch to Hart after he was announced then Hardy.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:52 pmBases loaded, Braves down 2-0 in the 8th. Manny Acosta in the ballgame. What could go wrong?
July 25th, 2009 at 8:53 pmO’Flaherty strikes out Prince Fielder then walks 3 straight RH batters. LOOGY, Bobby, LOOGY.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:54 pm@107, that is one of my favorite all time plays. I have a vivid memory of Javy cutting his eyes to first and putting down a clenched fist on the center field cam just before taking the pitch and gunning it to first.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:56 pm@105 We were facing must-wins against the Mets maybe, but the Florida games are more important than either of these two.
And generally, there are very few must-win games in July or at all until late August.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:56 pmOh well, win tomorrow and it’s another series victory.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:57 pm@115
They are all important. Lose tomorrow and the Brewers move back in front of the Braves in the wild card. And when the Phillies win, the Braves obviously can’t afford to lose.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pmNot that we would win tonight, but tonight once again demonstrate Bobby’s most glaring weaknesses. He is not helping the team at all tonight.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pmTony, in my opinion, the Braves can’t afford to lose any game, but that’s not going to happen. So, just take it easy!
July 25th, 2009 at 9:01 pmTrue, but there’s not much a manager can do when his team’s getting shut out.
Wait, who the hell is “Mitch Stetter”?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:01 pmWow, the Brewers have a four-run lead and they aren’t using their closer. I bet he was warmed up and everything.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:02 pmIt’s starting to get painful watching McCann against lefthanders…he’s now hittin .217.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:03 pmSane bullpen management… I’d say that I miss it, but when have we really had it?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:03 pmHey Mac, don’t question our HOF manager!!! Ken Macha isn’t going to the HOF like Bobby!
July 25th, 2009 at 9:04 pmNow that the game is over. Can someone explain to me why Norton was pinch hitting leading off the 8th?
By the way, did you see Escobar hustling to first?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:08 pmRickey Henderson Hall of Fame Induction Speech Drinking Game
July 25th, 2009 at 9:08 pmBobby has, on his bench, a right-handed hitting catcher and a right-handed hitting outfielder. Yet he does nothing and lets McCann and ACHE hit against a side-armed lefty that left-handed batters have no shot at even touching. I know he’s good with the non-strategical things. But why does he have to suck at on-field decisions?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:09 pmRecapped. Let’s get them tomorrow.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:12 pm