MVN: Most Valuable Network

During Thursday evening's FSWisconsin broadcast, announcer Bill Schroeder was commenting that the move of Seth McClung to the starting rotation left the bullpen depleted of "long" relievers--those that could go more than two innings.  This puzzled me, as Mark DiFelice used to be a starter...in fact, if McClung continues to have bad starts like last night, DiFelice should be, I think, given a chance to start with the Brewers.  But no one in the organization seems to be thinking of DiFelice as a starter candidate.

First, he must have major league stuff, as he's been on the 25-man roster the entire season, posting a 4-0, 1.72 mark over 31.3 IP in 31 games to date (not to mention a 2.84 ERA in '08 over 19 IP).  This year, DiFelice has pitched 2 innings on two occasions, and over an inning in five other games.

So, then, they must feel that his stuff drops off after two innings.  DiFelice went 4 full innings in the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, throwing 45 pitchers, with 33 of them for strikes, resulting in just 3 hits and 0 ER's.  DiFelice was a starter at Nashville last season as well.

At the very least, DiFelice should be the "go-to" guy whenever a starter starts getting around in the 3rd or 4th inning...and if McClung or Suppan continue to have rough starts, I'd like to see DiFelice get a shot at starting before trading Alcides Escobar for a Jarrod Washburn.

Some years ago, the Brewers were noted for their "June Swoon"--in other words, they'd head into June with a winning record, only to fall apart in June and finish the month near the bottom of the division.Earlier in the week, I overhead on the radio that that the '09 Brewers had an identical record to their Wild Card team of last year--meaning, that these new Brewers weren't following the trends of the past.After Tuesday night's thrilling win over the Mets, the Crew stands at 42-35, alone in first in the NL Central, and a full three games ahead in the loss column over the Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs.The offense is still there--Braunie is hitting .327 with 16 HR's, and even Fielder is above the .300 mark at .307 with 20 HR's.  Cubs' cast-off Casey McGehee, filling in for Weeks and Hall, is hitting .325, begging the question...When is the last... Read more

Mike Burns will be called up from AAA Nashville to take Dave Bush's spot on the roster and in the rotation, following Tuesday's decision to put Bush on the 15-day DL.  I like that Doug Melvin is willing to see what his arms in Nashville are capable of before going to the trading well.Speaking of trading wells, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Brewers may be shopping outfielder Corey Hart to acquire a Braves' starter...but that the deal won't go anywhere until the Braves can unload Jeff Francoeur:The Brewers' quest for pitching could lead to renewed talks with the Braves, who in the past have targeted Brewers right fielder Corey Hart. The Braves would need to clear their own right fielder, Jeff Francoeur, before acquiring Hart, and no team is hot after Francoeur.The problem for the Brewers in trading Hart is their lack of a suitable replacement.First, I... Read more

As of Monday morning, here's what we've learned about any pending roster changes to add 1-2 starters to the rotation: Any moves to add a starting pitcher will not involve the demotion of Mat Gamel, according to Anthony Witrado of JSOnline.com.  Gamel, who was originally called up to be the DH for Interleague games in AL parks, is now effectively taking over Rickie Weeks' spot on the roster.  This also means that Gamel is now only going to be under the Brewers' control throught the 2014 season. The 25-man roster now stands at 12 pitchers and 13 positions players, so if 1-2 pitchers are added to the 25-man from AAA Nashville, it is likely that the first will be a pitcher; the second would probably be Dave Bush going on the DL.  Here, then, are my odds of what will happen: Thursday Night Starter vs. the Twins: 3:2   Seth McClung... Read more

Adam McCalvy reported on Sunday:The Brewers' starting pitcher for Thursday is "to be announced," manager Ken Macha said, a strong indication that Dave Bush could be bumped from his scheduled start against the Twins to rest his fatigued right arm....the Brewers' starting rotation is in limbo, and Macha will meet with general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash and the coaching staff early Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park to discuss their options. Melvin has been looking hard at potential trades, but it appears unlikely that he will be able to acquire a starter as early as this weekMacha reiterated on Sunday that he would rather leave Seth McClung in the bullpen, where he has been a key to that unit's success this season. Entering the season, McClung was told he was the "sixth starter," the first line of defense should the team need an extra arm. "Seth, for me,... Read more

Saturday may have foretold the future for the Brewers...at least for the next start for two starters.Dave Bush struggled mightily again for the parent club, lasting only 3 innings and allowing 5 ER's en route to his 4th loss on the year.  In his last 6 starts, Bush has gone 0-4, and allowed 29 ER's over 28 IP's.Meanwhile, Mike Burns--who spelled Manny Parra in a game in Florida earlier this year--pitched 7.33 IP for the Sounds, allowing just 1 ER, and lowered his ERA to 2.55.Earlier, I speculated that Burns is a likely candidate to replace Parra for the 5th spot in the rotation.  But, after the Brewers' game, Bush admitted to feeling some fatigue in his throwing arm, prompting everyone to feel he might benefit from an additional day of rest.  Enter Burns.Burns could now start next Thursday on five days rest in place of Bush, and Bush could... Read more

With Manny Parra getting sent down to AAA Nashville last week, they created the need for a 5th starter in their rotation.  Due to numerous off days, the Crew won't need a 5th starter again until next Saturday, the 27th, for a home game against the Giants.Although rumors abound about Brewers' GM Doug Melvin signing Pedro Martinez or trading for Mariners' starter Erik Bedard, Melvin also worked with Don Money and the Sounds' rotation to give him two additional options for next Saturday.Prior to Parra's demotion, the Sounds' rotation was: Tim Dillard, Mike Burns, Lindsay Gulin, Chase Wright, and Chris Cody; last Wednesday, Parra got the start for the Sounds in Cody's place in the rotation...and Cody was bumped back two nights, getting the start on Friday night, bumping Burns back a spot in the rotation.So why all the changes?  To give the Brewers a number of options for their... Read more

With Manny Parra getting sent down to AAA Nashville last week, they created the need for a 5th starter in their rotation.  Due to numerous off days, the Crew won't need a 5th starter again until next Saturday, the 27th, for a home game against the Giants.Although rumors abound about Brewers' GM Doug Melvin signing Pedro Martinez or trading for Mariners' starter Erik Bedard, Melvin also worked with Don Money and the Sounds' rotation to give him two additional options for next Saturday.Prior to Parra's demotion, the Sounds' rotation was: Tim Dillard, Mike Burns, Lindsay Gulin, Chase Wright, and Chris Cody; last Wednesday, Parra got the start for the Sounds in Cody's place in the rotation...and Cody was bumped back two nights, getting the start on Friday night, bumping Burns back a spot in the rotation.So why all the changes?  To give the Brewers a number of options for their... Read more

Wow, that was fast. Reminiscent of a Saturday Night Live skit (the one where Fran Tarkenton thought he would be canceled as the host of SNL after a Super Bowl loss...before revealing he "was told at halftime"), Manny Parra gave up six hits in the 2nd, only to get the hook and take a shower, before finding Brewers' GM Doug Melvin in the clubhouse telling him he needed to pack for Nashville instead of Cleveland to work with Sounds' pitching coach and former Brewer pitcher Chris Bosio to work on his command and confidence. Left-handed reliever Chris Narveson was called up to take his spot on the 25-man, but his time on the Crew may be limited to just two weeks.  With the day off on Thursday--Parra's slot in the rotation--and another next Monday, the Brewers will not need a 5th starter until Saturday the 27th.  So adding Narveson will mean an... Read more

As part of his write-up on Friday, JSOnline.com writer Anthony Witrado, noted that Ken Macha stated:"Right now we're not getting a lot of innings out of our starters.  We're going to have to reverse that trend. We do have a few off days coming up where we'll be able to give people more rest or skip people in the rotation."Read: "The next day off is Thursday, the 18th, which would have been Manny Parra's to start were we to have a game; but since our next game is on Friday the 19th, I can start our veteran Braden Looper on his usual four days rest, and give Parra six days rest, a chance to learn Detroit hitters by talking with Looper...and pushing Parra back a day in the rotation."Not to mention that both Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordoñez are right-handed batters that are currently hitting .340 and .309, respectively, against... Read more

Almost two years ago, the Brewers wanted (some say needed) to dump reliever Jose Capellan...and dealt Capellan to the Tigers for Chris Cody.That gamble may soon pay off.Cody started the year in AA Huntsville, compiling an impressive 5-1, 2.30 mark with 48 K's, just 10 BB's, and a 0.89 WHIP.  So they loaded up the truck and sent him up I-65 to AAA Nashville.In his first start, against Iowa, Cody allowed 1 ER over 6.33 IP, allowing 8 hits, 1 BB and 1 K.Cody made his second start for the Sounds on Friday night against Memphis, the Cardinals' affiliate.  Through 7 innings, Cody has thrown 88 pitches--60 for strikes--given up 1 ER on 5 hits, with 3 K's and a walk.So, while it is way to early to tell, Cody is shaping up as another option for the Brewers' starting rotation in a month or so...if his development progresses nicely,... Read more