***Official*** April 2 Gameday Thread (1 Viewer)

[Keys Myaths]

Kansas City at Detroit 1:05 PM Bannister vs Rogers

Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs 2:20 PM Suppan vs Lilly

Boston at Oakland 3:35 PM Lester vs Harden

Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM Garza vs Cabrera

Chicago Sox at Cleveland 7:05 PM Vazquez vs Carmona

Toronto at NY Yankees 7:05 PM Burnett vs Mussina

Washington at Philadelphia 7:05 PM Redding vs Hamels

Pittsburgh at Atlanta 7:10 PM Gorzelanny vs Jurrjens

Arizona at Cincinnati 7:10 PM Haren vs Arroyo

NY Mets at Florida 7:10 PM Perez vs Miller

LA Angels at Minnesota 8:10 PM Saunders vs Blackburn

Colorado at St. Louis 8:15 PM Cook vs Wellemeyer

Houston at San Diego 10:05 PM Rodriguez vs Maddux

Texas at Seattle 10:10 PM Jennings vs Silva

San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM Lincecum vs Billingsley

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Watching the Tigers right now.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

2 k's for Rogers in the 1st

 

[Doctor Detroit]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

 

[ceo3west]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Thats it, I'm dropping Cabrera

 

[culdeus]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Throwing a perfect game**If you take out Renteria

 

[MAC_32]

See that Leyland? That could have been your 6th inning on Monday. Why you brought in effin Grilli over Miner is still a mystery to me.

We really need to get Bannister's pitch count up this inning if nothing else.

 

[ceo3west]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Brian Bannister? This is ridiculous. Brian Bannister.

 

[Sammy3469]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Brian Bannister? This is ridiculous. Brian Bannister.

He's smart

 

[MAC_32]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Brian Bannister? This is ridiculous. Brian Bannister.

He's smart

and he owns the Tigers, we played poorly against him last year too. He now has a 1.9 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 14 K in 25 IP against Detroit and a 0.6 ERA, 0.5 WHIP, 7 K in 14 IP at Comerica.

 

[Eephus]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Brian Bannister? This is ridiculous. Brian Bannister.

He's smart

role model

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

If Brian Bannister pitched against the Tigers every game, he'd win the Cy Young.

Brian Bannister? This is ridiculous. Brian Bannister.

Looks to me like KC might just be decent this year and no longer a doormat for you an everyone else to throw their stones at and kick around. It ain't like it is only Bannister......Nunez and Soria have made DET look silly as well.

 

[dirtyhalos]

wow, harden gets out of that 1st inning unscored, nice

 

[Redwes25]

What is up with Suppan batting 8th for the Brewers? Left Hart on Second to end an inning and now the second out with Hart on Third.

 

[strykerpks]

What is up with Suppan batting 8th for the Brewers? Left Hart on Second to end an inning and now the second out with Hart on Third.

Yost is pulling a LaRussa, having his pitchers hit 8th with Kendall in the lineup. With Kendall batting 9th they project like 30 more runs over the course of the year or some crap like that. I'll see if i can find the article

 

[Knightro]

Soto had a terrible 6th behind the plate. Hart stole 2nd and 3rd base, then Soto throws away the ball on a delayed steal by Kendall allowing Hart to score. He added to that by allowing a pass ball that moved another runner into scoring position. Too bad the cameras cut away before Soto made it to the dugout to face Lou.

 

[MAC_32]

What is up with Suppan batting 8th for the Brewers? Left Hart on Second to end an inning and now the second out with Hart on Third.

The Brewers are having their pitchers batting 8th this year, it's supposed to lead to an improved offense in theory. LaRussa has done it in the past and I believe I read somewhere that St Louis was going to do this in 08 too. I won't criticize the move as apparently these teams have done extensive research on this and I had never thought about it before, but I certainly question it.

 

[strykerpks]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

 

[Redwes25]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

 

[shadyridr]

Why did Lilly come out of the game in the 4th inning?

 

[shadyridr]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I think its kind of cool that they used this study to change their lineup.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Soto had a terrible 6th behind the plate. Hart stole 2nd and 3rd base, then Soto throws away the ball on a delayed steal by Kendall allowing Hart to score. He added to that by allowing a pass ball that moved another runner into scoring position. Too bad the cameras cut away before Soto made it to the dugout to face Lou.

I'm at work listening to this poo-squirt of a game and I am having trouble not throwing my monitor out the window.No sleep + A LOT of caffeine + Cubs losing to Brewers = Rage. Trade that Soto garbage and Pie trash for some nice white batting practice balls and some scotch for Lou. No bourbon. Like a case. I'm not going to make it the full 162 like this, am I?

 

[strykerpks]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I'm not a baseball afficionado by any means but I enjoy the game so take this with a giant boulder of salt.I dont think its necessarily 100% about cutting Kendals DP figures. I think the theory is more that opponents have to pitch to Hardy/Hall in the 6/7 slot and then in the 9 slot, they have to pitch to Kendall, thus giving the top of the lineup more opportunities.

 

[shadyridr]

I got Soriano on 2 teams and ******* is batting .000. You think lou puts him back in the leadoff spot?

 

[Redwes25]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I'm not a baseball afficionado by any means but I enjoy the game so take this with a giant boulder of salt.I dont think its necessarily 100% about cutting Kendals DP figures. I think the theory is more that opponents have to pitch to Hardy/Hall in the 6/7 slot and then in the 9 slot, they have to pitch to Kendall, thus giving the top of the lineup more opportunities.

I think it does the opposite as less batters before you get to the easy out at pitcher. Probably the real goal is to have more guys on base for Fielder and Braun.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

I got Soriano on 2 teams and ******* is batting .000. You think lou puts him back in the leadoff spot?

Why not? That or they go get Roberts.

 

[Sammy3469]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I'm not a baseball afficionado by any means but I enjoy the game so take this with a giant boulder of salt.I dont think its necessarily 100% about cutting Kendals DP figures. I think the theory is more that opponents have to pitch to Hardy/Hall in the 6/7 slot and then in the 9 slot, they have to pitch to Kendall, thus giving the top of the lineup more opportunities.

I think it does the opposite as less batters before you get to the easy out at pitcher. Probably the real goal is to have more guys on base for Fielder and Braun.

The basic idea is that Kendell has such a low SLG % that he's not going to drive in a whole lot of runs batting 8th even with a decent OBP, so you're better off having the opportunity of having 3 guys trying to get on in front of Fielder and Braun instead of 2. Like the article says it should equate to 30 runs a year if Kendell hits like he did last year. If he's any better than that it becomes much more of a push.

 

[shadyridr]

I got Soriano on 2 teams and ******* is batting .000. You think lou puts him back in the leadoff spot?

Why not? That or they go get Roberts.

Seems like the guy cant hit anywhere but leadoff.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

I got Soriano on 2 teams and ******* is batting .000. You think lou puts him back in the leadoff spot?

Why not? That or they go get Roberts.

Seems like the guy cant hit anywhere but leadoff.

I mean Rickey did it. Why not? Seriously? I don't get it but the guy mashes at the top.

 

[Eephus]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I'm not a baseball afficionado by any means but I enjoy the game so take this with a giant boulder of salt.I dont think its necessarily 100% about cutting Kendals DP figures. I think the theory is more that opponents have to pitch to Hardy/Hall in the 6/7 slot and then in the 9 slot, they have to pitch to Kendall, thus giving the top of the lineup more opportunities.

I think it does the opposite as less batters before you get to the easy out at pitcher. Probably the real goal is to have more guys on base for Fielder and Braun.

The basic idea is that Kendell has such a low SLG % that he's not going to drive in a whole lot of runs batting 8th even with a decent OBP, so you're better off having the opportunity of having 3 guys trying to get on in front of Fielder and Braun instead of 2. Like the article says it should equate to 30 runs a year if Kendell hits like he did last year. If he's any better than that it becomes much more of a push.

I haven't seen the research but that 30 run difference number sounds flavved to me. The Brewers C slot combined for 66 RC last year, Kendall was even worse in Oak & ChC. With some situational exceptions, what Kendall and the Brewer Ps do with their ABs is independent of their position in the batting order. Also, at least 1/3 of the P's PAs will be taken by pinch hitters. I don't see where the order in which those ABs could possibly account for that large of a runs differential.

 

[Eephus]

Yost has pitchers batting 8th

Team research indicated that based on last year's statistics for the players, with the pitcher batting eighth and Kendall ninth the Brewers should score 30 more runs than they did last season, when they scored 801 runs. The research also showed that every 10 more runs equals a victory.

"You have to have a special circumstance in order to have a guy (other than a pitcher) hit ninth," Yost said.

That circumstance is Kendall, a contact hitter who hits a lot of ground balls. Going into Monday's game, he had hit into two double plays in nine at-bats this spring.

"We figure if we bat (Kendall) ninth, we can cut his double-play figure in half," Yost said. "That presents more scoring opportunities for us. It's not a knock against him. He's a high-contact, put-the-ball-in-play-on-the-ground kind of guy. Normally that results in a lot of double plays."

No matter how the lineup breaks down, Yost is looking for every advantage.

"I think we'll be able to do more things offensively," Yost said. "We'll be able to steal more. We hope we'll go first to third more.

"We scored 801 runs last year and we have to figure out what we want to do this year. The goal jumps up, it increases by quite a big margin, and there are a lot of things we have to do to make that happen."

And that might include switching the pitcher from his traditional ninth spot.

So let me get this straight. There real reason is to avoid double plays for Kendell? Seems odd reasoning to me. Though I do think it hurts the value of whoever is batting 5th or 6th given they are both more likely to have the pitcher at bat when they are on base.

I'm not a baseball afficionado by any means but I enjoy the game so take this with a giant boulder of salt.I dont think its necessarily 100% about cutting Kendals DP figures. I think the theory is more that opponents have to pitch to Hardy/Hall in the 6/7 slot and then in the 9 slot, they have to pitch to Kendall, thus giving the top of the lineup more opportunities.

I think it does the opposite as less batters before you get to the easy out at pitcher. Probably the real goal is to have more guys on base for Fielder and Braun.

The basic idea is that Kendell has such a low SLG % that he's not going to drive in a whole lot of runs batting 8th even with a decent OBP, so you're better off having the opportunity of having 3 guys trying to get on in front of Fielder and Braun instead of 2. Like the article says it should equate to 30 runs a year if Kendell hits like he did last year. If he's any better than that it becomes much more of a push.

I haven't seen the research but that 30 run difference number sounds flavved to me. The Brewers C slot combined for 66 RC last year, Kendall was even worse in Oak & ChC. With some situational exceptions, what Kendall and the Brewer Ps do with their ABs is independent of their position in the batting order. Also, at least 1/3 of the P's PAs will be taken by pinch hitters. I don't see where the order in which those ABs could possibly account for that large of a runs differential.

On the other hand, Kendall just hit his second double of the day. Maybe there's more to this?

 

[shadyridr]

he Cubs will put Alfonso Soriano back in the leadoff spot for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

That didn't take long. Soriano is 0-for-9 in two games as a No. 2 hitter. Ryan Theriot will head back to that spot now.

 

[Eephus]

Eugenio Velez gets the start at 2B for the Gigantes. A walk and a SB to lead off. His OBP is still 1.000.