MVN - Most Valuable Network

Sabathia watches no run support for McClung in 4-3 loss

C.C. Sabathia made it to Miller Park Monday night for his first game in a Brewers’ uniform…but, after the fanfare died down, he saw the Brewers imitate the Indians–provide little run support for their starting pitcher.Seth McClung was outdueled by Rockies’ starter Ubaldo Jimenez–both kept their opponent off the board for the first three innings. But the Rockies plated a run in apiece in innings 4-7 (McClung was charged with two of them), to give the Rox a 4-0 lead after 7 innings.

The Crew came back in the bottom of the 8th…sort of. Taylor Buchholz came in to pitch for Jimenez…First, Gabe Kapler hits a squibbler down the first-base line that Rockies’ first baseman Joe Koshansky bobbled to allow Kapler to reach first on an error. Buchholz gave the Crew their second gift of the inning after throwing a wild pitch to advance Kapler to second; the third gift came when catcher Chris Iannetta and third baseman Garrett Atkins both watched Craig Counsell’s pop-up in front of home plate fall to the ground. Buchholz then walked J.J. Hardy on five pitches to load the bases for Ryan Braun. In what can only be termed a perverse sense of justice from a higher power wanting to undo the imbalance of the inning, Braun’s line drive up the middle caught the pitcher’s mound, thus causing the base hit to turn into a soft grounder, which the Rockies’ infield turned into a double play–but Kapler scored on the play, while Counsell advanced to third. Prince Fielder then proceeded to smash a 2-run home run to deep center to bring the Crew to within one, but that was the end of the scoring for the Brewers for the night.

Sabathia gets the start Tuesday night. Sabathia’s addition, coupled with Jeff Suppan going on the 15-day DL, has enabled Ned Yost to adjust the rotation to McClung, Sabathia, Bush, Sheets, and Parra. Parra was moved back in the rotation by a few days to enable him to start against the Reds, a team stocked with left-handed hitters, according to Adam McCalvy at mlb.com. As such, Parra was able to get in an inning of relief work Monday night. McClung and Sabathia are then slated to pitch this weekend against the Reds heading into the All-Star break, giving Sheets a full five days worth of rest before pitching in the All-Star game.

When the Brewers return from the break, Ned Yost gets to align his rotation anyway he sees fit, as the Crew doesn’t play again until Friday in San Francisco. If Sheets only pitches one inning Tuesday night, he should be okay to go next Friday night against the Giants. Sabathia would likely go second, possibly followed by either the right-handed Dave Bush or McClung. Yost will likely keep his stretch-run rotation a secret as long as possible, and might want to surprise folks by moving Parra into the #3 spot, after the left-handed Sabathia, in hopes of gaining an edge (teams would not be able to utilize righty vs. lefty plattoons as much…in other words, righties that would have otherwise gotten a day off will have to play back-to-back games). With four games against the second-place Cardinals right after the Giants’ series, Yost will want to align his rotation so Sheets and Sabathia each make a start against the Redbirds, possible if Sheets and Sabathia pitch in the first two games in S.F. so they’d pitch the last two games in St. Louis. With Albert Pujols, Ryan Ludwick, and Troy Glaus all being right-handed hitters, Yost could likely opt for Parra to start on Sunday versus the Giants, leaving the righties McClung and Bush for the Cards’ series.

Series Preview: Rockies (37-52) @ Brewers (49-39)

Pitching Probables:
Monday, 7/07, 7:05 p.m. CT: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8, 4.50) vs. RHP Seth McClung (5-3, 4.18)
Tuesday, 7/08, 7:05 p.m. CT: LHP Mark Redman (2-3, 7.05) vs. LHP C.C. Sabathia (6-8, 3.83)*
Wednesday, 7/09, 7:05 p.m. CT: RHP Greg Reynolds (2-6, 6.71) vs. RHP Ben Sheets (10-2. 2.77)
Thursday, 7/10, 1:05 p.m. CT: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (3-4, 6.58) vs. TBD
*= AL record

Things to look for:
1. How will Sabathia do in his first start with the Brewers…especially working with a new catcher on short notice?
2. How will skipper Ned Yost tweek his rotation with the addition of Sabathia? Which starter will go to the bullpen, and which player will be sent down to the minors?
3. Can the Brewers avenge their 1-2 mark at Coors’ field earlier this season?

Update: Zack Jackson in the trade to Tribe

In his blog, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and JSOnline.com reported that AAA starter Zach Jackson, reliever Rob Byson from West Virginia and a “player-to-be-named” (which he says will likely be Taylor Green), along with Matt LaPorta, will go to the Indians for C.C. Sabathia.

Including Jackson is a pleasant surprise for Brewers’ fans…Jackson has struggled in the minors in the Brewers’ system, and was a longshot at best to crack the rotation for Milwaukee in 2009; Jackson will get a much deserved fresh start with the Indians, where he could become a #4 or #5 starter right away or in 2009.

I thought it was weird that the reports had the Tribe looking at two outfielders and a third baseman; a starter, outfielder, third baseman, and a reliever improves the chances that Cleveland will wind up with a couple everyday players out of this trade.

Side note–I think Brewers’ fans like the Indians for a number of reasons–Cleveland is another Midwest, blue-collar city, the Tribe played that home series against the Angels in Miller Park last year, and, of course, who could forget the film, “Major League”–about the Indians, but shot in Milwaukee…the Indians’ “Harry Doyle” is our Bob Uecker.

CC Sabathia is a Milwaukee Brewer

Yes, Brewers fans, celebrate the night away! CC Sabathia is now a Milwaukee Brewer pending paperwork and an exchange of medical records. Sabathia is expected to start his first game for the Brewers on Tuesday night versus the Rockies.

Sabathia is the reigning AL Cy Young award winner and after getting off to a slow start this season has reverted back to his old self. In his last 10 starts, Sabathia is 4-3 with a 2.22 ERA. He has pitched 77 innings and struck out 77 batters. For the year, Sabathia leads the AL in strikeouts with 123.

The Brewers did give up quite a lot to acquire Sabathia. Matt LaPorta, the Brewers 2007 first round draft choice, is the center piece of the deal. LaPorta is batting .288 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 84 games this season. The Brewers also gave up their 2007 Minor League Player of the Year in Taylor Green. Green is a third baseman at single A Brevard County. He is batting .295 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 81 games this season. There is at least one more prospect going to the Indians but no one is quite sure who it is at this point.

The Brewers completed a sweep of the Pirates today and now sit only 3.5 games back of division leading Chicago and are now tied with the Cardinals for the NL Wild Card lead. It’s likely that Seth McClung will get moved to the bullpen and serve as a set-up man for Salomon Torres. A rotation anchored by CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets is as good of a 1-2 in the National League. The Brewers could still trade for one more starter or maybe a relief pitcher. There are still rumors of the Brewers sending Tony Gwynn to the Padres for either Greg Maddux or Randy Wolf. If that happens, Dave Bush will likely head to the bullpen as well.

A ton of credit needs to go to GM Doug Melvin and Owner Mark Attanasio for having the guts to make this trade. I think this guarantees post season baseball in Milwaukee for the first time in 26 years. Get out there and support your team, Milwaukee! The management is showing they are serious about winning, now it’s time for the fans to show they are serious about supporting a winner!