Yuniesky Betancourt a photo essay

with apologies to Amy Turk we bid a fond farewell to Yuni Betancourt

Around the infield episode 7

When we last left our loveable losers on the diamond they still had jobs.

Times have changed.

Scene: somewhere near the Milwaukee River

oh no oh noooooo

Oh wow this is probably the worst news I've had to hear minus a death notice.

Ryan Braun fails drug test

Seriously??

Seriously?????

This made me want to throw up.  I really hope this ends up not being true.  Ryan Braun is the face of the Brewers for the next 10 years at least.  He's on both of my player shirts, one of which I was wearing when I got hit by the steel chair by the ESPN report.

Seriously??

If this turns out to be true, I'm not sure how we deal with this. 

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yeah I'm just opening myself up to stalkers I know

*crosses fingers*

K-Rod accepts arbitration, the Simpsons react

Ok, so Doug Melvin's gamble of offering Francisco Rodriguez arbritration didn't exactly work out as he kind of accepted it instead of looking for an actual closer job and a multi-year contract elsewhere.

$15 million for a set up guy....awesome!!

Let's get the public's reactions via Simpsons clips...why?? why not??

The part of K-Rod will be played by Christiano Ronaldo:





Brewers fans reactions:











Doug Melvin:





Melvin gets the news:







Attanasio gets the news:





reactions from around MLB:







Yuni checks in:

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yeah I'm just opening myself up to stalkers I know

*crosses fingers*

The Brewers in internet memes

We're taking a break from the offseason stat analysis (will return next week) in favor of stupid internet humor.

Enjoy**

(**remember anything thrown at your computer will not actually hit me)

confused?? or just want more memes

or make your own and send it to me, I'll add it

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yeah I'm just opening myself up to stalkers I know

*crosses fingers*

More numbers and historical comparisons

Want more statistical comparisons??  Of course you do.

This time we're taking career numbers (Brewers career numbers, that is) and comparing what they would average out to every 162 games.

These are raw numbers, 1 AB and you qualify.

you can see all the numbers here

Ready?? Go.

Introducing Dale Sveum

In my long-standing tradition (like a month or so) of over-analyzing important press conferences (see Doug Melvin Theo Epstein and MIke Matheny) today we turn to former Brewers hitting coach/interim manager Dale Sveum.

This should be fun

Dale Sveum is managing the Cubs!!

I was going to write about this but didn't have time and then Miller Park Drunk pretty much nailed it so I didn't have to, thanks!!

Never forget 1987

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yeah I'm just opening myself up to stalkers I know

*crosses fingers*

Statistical oddities in baseball history

If you've been a regular to my little slice of the internet here you know I love working with numbers.  Looking for material for my newest hobby making sporcle quizzes I got a bit distracted and found some fun numbers.

Davy Force had 1 career home run in 4406 plate appearances (or 4407, Baseball Reference and Fangraphs have different numbers).  Pete Rose had 15861 plate appearances.  If Force had made it to Rose's number he would have had 3.6 HR's.  Force was listed at 5' 4" 130 lbs, not surprising he wasn't a power hitter.  If Barry Bonds had made it to 15861 PA's he would have had 959 HR's.

Introducing Mike Matheny

We've analyzed Doug Melvin and Theo Epstein, oh did the Cardinals hire someone??

Let's dig in, shall we??

The Cardinals on Monday formally named a manager blessed with intangibles

ingangibles > DUI's

The greatest Brewers team ever

Inspired by one of my favorite baseball stat geek blogs Beyond the Boxscore and their All True Brewers Team I wanted to take a different approach.

What if you could field a team consisting of players that had the best single seasons in franchise history.

How we're going to do this:

• Strictly based on WAR (wins above replacement) according to Baseball Reference
• 5 starting pitchers
• 7 relief pitchers (6 with a DH substituted in for an AL lineup)
• 2 relievers will be converted starters to fill long relief needs
• 1 will be the closer
• 2 backup infielders
• 2 backup outfielders
• 1 backup catcher

On home runs and history

Well the offseason has left me very little material so far other than a couple of worthless press conferences.

So a couple of days ago I was killing some time before the Iowa and Green Bay football games this past weekend by playing my favorite time waster sporcle.

I got to a couple home run quizzes

which led me to this one

***stop now and play them first***

The Cubs hired Theo Epstein

 The Cubs introduced Theo Epstein Tuesday as Exectutive Vice President of Talent Relations president of baseball operations with a press conference.  Was it as hilarious as Doug Melvin's was??

Yep

Full stories at cbssports.com and the world's greatest newspaper.

Let's dive into this one.

"It feels truly great to be a Cub today," Epstein said in his opening remarks.

That's because there's no game today

"I'd like to thank Cubs fans for being so incredibly welcoming to me and my family already

you haven't lost a game yet

So you want to buy a first baseman

With no actual baseball to write about (what, they're still playing...I had no idea) and another boring Packers win on Sunday I started looking at some numbers (and thanks to fangraphs for killing the majority of my Sunday).

Ok, so there are a couple first basemen about to hit free agency once the season ends, perhaps you've heard of them their names are Albert and Prince.  Both of these guys are going to get roughly $87 bajillion* contracts in free agency this winter but should they??**

Analyzing Melvin's comments

Doug Melvin addressed the media Wednesday (no invite for me??).  Well it was covered by Todd Rosiak at JS Online and Adam McCalvy at MLB.com and it was apparently full of nothing but warm fuzzies and "we'll decide on him later"

I dug deeper into Melvin's brain:

it's what I do

The goals, he says, haven't changed: Get to the World Series and win it.

Thank you captain obvious

"You won 96 ball games; how do you improve on a 96-win club?"

win 97

Around the infield episode 6

When we last left our gang of gloveless infielders they had finally gotten a hold of this batting stuff.

Scene:  Brewers clubhouse, team cleaning out their lockers.

Well guys, looks like the end of the road

Yep, guess we should have practiced our fielding a few more times

I thought my glove was ok, only 2 errors in my first playoffs!!

Games 5 & 6

via fangraphs

Things went south (or north depending on the perspective) fast in both games.

7 errors.

14 earned runs, along with 5 unearned.

Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun combine to go 1/16, .063/.063/.125, 1 RBI, 5 K's

Kameron Loe pitched in both games.

Loe = Loss

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The dream is over

 I'll be back with a more rational analysis...assuming I can come up with one, later.

7 errors and 18 runs in 2 games isn't going to win many games.




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Game 5

Wow, that was incredibly horrible baseball

And you were doing so well JHJ

Until I find pictures of the other garbage from this game, let's just say it went something like this

Back home for Game 6 and hopefully 7

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game 4 quick hit

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quick hit, Mark Kotsay

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well that stunk

Game 2 was awful.   There really isn't anything more to say about it.

 12 seconds into the game we were favored!!

Marcum sucked, Pujols went ham, game over.

See you Wednesday night for game 3

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Around the infield episode 5

When we last left our loveable gang of do-nothing infielders they were trying to get their mojo back.

Scene1: Miller Park locker room after the regular season finale

good job this season guys, we'll get things turned around in the playoffs

good night Casey, see you Game 1

NLCS preview

wow this will be easy

so we can see what Google thinks about the Cardinals (most viewed post here, more than doubling #2)

see what else is in Matt Holliday's ear

see what a Brewers fan goes through during a random Cubs/Cardinals game

see how they compared on August 7/2011

and just see everything about St. Louis that you could possibly want

I'm really getting close to baseball reference levels of information here

you're welcome, go Brewers!!

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Game 5 delayed reactions

Don't you hate when real life gets in the way of keeping up with a baseball blog that you do in your spare time for free??

I know right??

It's Saturday night and I finally have my first (sober(well kinda)) chance to sit down and reflect on the dramatics of Friday's Game 5 and the emotional roller coaster it took me (well, all of us...but specifically me).

Randy Wolf was historically horrible

 According to Baseball Reference there have only been 15 pitchers that went past -.500 WPA in #postseason history.  Guess who cracked the top 15??

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Game 4: you want bad starts, you got bad starts

 TBS made a point of just how similar Game 4 starters Randy Wolf and Joe Saunders were this season with:

• Record
• Wolf 13-10
• Saunders 12-13
• ERA
• Wolf 3.69
• Saunders 3.69
• IP
• Wolf 212.1
• Saunders 212.0
• Hits
• Wolf 214
• Saunders 210
• WHIP
• Wolf 1.32
• Saunders 1.31
• Earned Runs
• Wolf 87
• Saunders 87

Ok you get the point.  The most important stat coming out of game 4:

• Game 4 IP
• Wolf 3.0
• Saunders 3.0

Yeah that's bad.

Ok so how often has that happened*:

Not a big fan of the desert

I don't particularly want to talk about Game 3.  Shawn Marcum just didn't have it and the Brewers were once again unable to figure out Arizona rookie Josh Collmenter.

Collmenter has pitched his three best games against the Brewers with a WPA of .388, .462, and now tonight really only .187?? 

Brad Ziegler's terrible, horrible, no good very bad rotten day

After Jerry Hairston Jr doubled off of Daniel Hudson with 1 out in the 6th things kind of took a turn for the worst when Brad Ziegler took over:


with a brief time out for T-mobile

 marry me??

Ok, back on topic

The regular season as seen by....well me

The playoffs are just a couple hours from starting for the Brewers and while I obviously hope for a few more weeks I decided to go back and relive the past 8 months through my own eyes and words.

• 2/21
• First post was pretty much on point for what eventually occurred, although it wouldn't exactly go smoothly.  You'll see.
• 2/23
• Adam Wainwright got hurt
• wow, they could really use him now
• 2/23
• nevermind they got Kevin Millwood
• that never happened
• he sucked for the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rockies instead
•  3/31
• Opening day  with much optimism
• 3/31
• Opening day gut reaction
• NSFW!!
• 4/1
• a slightly calmer reaction 
• 4/3
• 0-3
• well yeah this happened
• 4/10
• 2 hilarious clips that are of course no longer available
• thanks MLB internet nazis
• 4/19
• true story about how the Brewers beat Roy Halladay
• 5/1
• first month reaction mostly fair
• 5/23
• seriously, don't click this 
• later 5/23
• business starts to pick up 
• 5/24
• Oh we rollin now
• 6/18
• Yuni gets the #TCAP treatment 
• 6/19
• I make a humbling admission
•  6/22
• I can't stop being wrong 
• 6/24
• hi Lindsey 
• 6/27
• McGehee isn't doing well 
• 7/5
• Around the infield episode 1 
• 7/11
• I went to a game!! 
• 7/13
• K-Rod!! 
• 7/14
• Around the infield episode 2 
• 7/15
• shuffle the lineup 
• not exactly how I suggested, but it happened
•  7/16
• Ex-pitchers get together 
• 7/27
• Wil Nieves traded for a dollar 
• 8/6
• Around the infield episode 3
• 8/15
• Pirates cancel season finale in Milwaukee 
• relevant because my mother thought this was serious
• facepalm
• 8/17
• Ron Roenicke gets a mysterious call 
•  8/19
• I interviewed Ken Macha 
• 8/20
• I sat through an entire Cubs/Cardinals game 
• 8/29
• I got Google's opinion on the Cardinals 
• 9/4
• a completely unbiased look at the Brewers 
• 913
• Around the infield episode 4
• 9/24
• division champs 
• 9/29
• best baseball night ever

I was kinda awesome wasn't I??


now make with the clicks kids, you've got until 1:07

go Brewers!!

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Your guide to the NL playoffs part choke: Atlanta

I did this for the Central race back when it was, you know,  a race when Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Milwaukee all still had playoff hopes. The Brewers kind of decided they didn't want a real pennant race so nobody needed my cheat sheets for the division.  Let's take a look at the playoff teams shall we??

*Editors note: I had this ready to post 3 days ago just in case Atlanta didn't choke away their lead...ok they did but I'm not wasting all that work...enjoy*


part 1: Philadelphia
part 2: Milwaukee!!
part 3: Arizona
part 4: St Louis...again 

Your guide to the NL playoffs part 4: Atlan.....uhhh: St. Louis

I did this for the Central race back when it was, you know,  a race when Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Milwaukee all still had playoff hopes. The Brewers kind of decided they didn't want a real pennant race so nobody needed my cheat sheets for the division.  Let's take a look at the playoff teams shall we??

Well after the insane events of Wednesday night turns out this one was done already.

St. Louis

I'm still posting my Atlanta preview in a bit....they can read it over Daquiris in Jamaica


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What a night

The final playoff preview(s) will be up soon but what a way to end the regular season.  If you went to bed before 10pm central time you missed out on probably the craziest string of events I've ever seen in my years as a baseball fan.

In summary:

Brewers had a rather uneventful game clinching the 2 spot and avoiding the Phillies

With the 6 division winners decided, the Wild Cards races went crazy.

The Rays and Red Sox were tied in the AL, while the Braves and Cardinals were tied in the NL with both the Sox and Braves trying to avoid epic collapses.  While neither controlled their own destiny, they both were in good position to at least push it to a playoff in Atlanta's case and take it outright in Boston's case.

Yeah that didn't happen.

Let's start with the NL.

The Cardinals made quick work of the Astros putting up 5 in the first and letting Chris Carpenter cruise on a 2-hitter to put the pressure on the Braves.

The Braves took a 3-2 lead into the 8th against the Phillies with their vaunted bullpen against a team playing for nothing but avoiding injuries and were at least poised to force a playoff.  The Phillies loaded the bases in the 8th then Raul Ibanez struck out.

Oh well, the Phillies have nothing to play for right.

Or not.

Chase Utley comes up with a sacrifice fly in the 9th off Craig Kimbrel after a hit and 2 walks.  Kimbrel walks another but gets out of the 9th with the score still tied.

10th, 11th, and 12th go by without any action and the Cardinals standing by with the champagne waiting.

Enter Scott Linebrink.

Phillies score, Braves don't.  Cardinals celebrate!!

How about the AL??

Oh boy.

Yankees take a 7-0 lead over Tampa Bay into the 8th inning while the Red Sox and Orioles were in a rain delay with the Red Sox up 3-2.

That's when things really went nuts.

Tampa scores 6 in the bottom of the 8th to cut the lead to 7-6.

Bottom of the 9th the Rays are down to their last out when .108/.178/157 Dan Johnson steps up to the plate.  He gets to a 2-2 count, and down to his last strike rips one into the right field seats to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Meanwhile Red Sox/Orioles resume playing.

Nobody scores, still 3-2 Red Sox going into the 9th.  Still at worst a Thursday playoff if they hold on and a Wild Card if they hold on and the Yankees can take care of the Rays.

12th inning in Tampa: with 1 out Evan Longoria does the mirror image Dan Johnson and lines one into the left field seats, Rays win Rays win!!

Ok so Boston is still ahead, looks like a playoff Thursday with Papelbon about to finish the O's.  Adam Jones strikes out, Mark Reynolds strikes out, one more and we'll see you Thursday.

Or not.

Chris Davis doubles.

Nolan Reimold (who??) doubles with two strikes and two outs to score Davis.

Game tied.

Robert Andino singles to left, Reimold scores.

Red Sox are done, Braves are done.

Oh my, that really just happened!!

















hope I got the timeline right, did I miss anything??


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Your guide to the NL playoffs part 3, Arizona

I did this for the Central race back when it was, you know,  a race when Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Milwaukee all still had playoff hopes. The Brewers kind of decided they didn't want a real pennant race so nobody needed my cheat sheets for the division.  Let's take a look at the playoff teams shall we??


part 1: Philadelphia
part 2: Milwaukee!!

Arizona Diamondbacks

you can trade a manager??

The Florida Marlins essentially traded 2 minor leaguers to the Chicago White Sox for manager Ozzie Guillen.

Immediately after finding out this was possible the Kansas City Royals traded manager Ned Yost to the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets.

In return the Royals will receive fertilizer.

When approached for comment GM Dayton Moore said "you guys said Ned wasn't worth sh*t, ha I win!!"

Ken Macha could not be awakened for comment.

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Your guide to the NL playoffs part 1, Philadelphia

*Editor's note, I accidentally posted an unfinished version of this earlier if you read that forget that ever happened....enjoy!!*

I did this for the Central race back when it was, you know,  a race when Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Milwaukee all still had playoff hopes. The Brewers kind of decided they didn't want a real pennant race so nobody needed my cheat sheets for the division.  Let's take a look at the playoff teams shall we??

First up, Philadelphia

We can haz division??

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Central champs

apologies to my friends at black heart gold pants

I'm totally stealing this tonight

dance dance dance Brewers fans!!!






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Quick hit: magic number 2

So with the Cardinals bullpen meltdown on Thursday the Brewers magic number is down to 2 and would take events of epic proportions to not win the division.

Odds of the Brewers going 0-6 at home at their current .693 record: .000837 or .0837% or roughly 1 out of every 1200 times (and keep in mind the competition is below average so that percentage should probably be even lower)

Odds of the Cardinals going 6-0 at their current .551 (they have 3 at home and 3 on the road and I don't want to get too deep into this so we're going with that) is .027983 or 2.7983% about 1 out of every 37 times.

So your cumulative probability using these numbers is....

.0000234

That's about 1 out of every 42,700 chances

Get the champagne ready kids


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quick hit, the Pirates are still the Pirates

Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals took the Pirates to 67-82 ensuring a 19th consecutive losing season. I hate to pile on but...

Their season ended on October 14, 1992 after a game 7 loss to Atlanta.

Want to know what has happened since then??

Around the infield episode 4

When we last left our light hitting infielders they had sold their soul to the ghost of Craig Counsell.

Having used up all the magic Counsell had given to them the gang has struggled ever since.

Scene: Miller Park parking lot late after Saturday night's game....

For those that aren't yet annoyed by my Brewers posts

Get ready for some football stuffs


Welcome Packers in 11

or disown me....you know, whatever



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Casey McGehee's discussion with the umpire

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