MVN - Most Valuable Network

Series Preview: Dodgers (19-18) at Brewers (19-19)

The Brewers, fresh off taking three of four from rival St. Louis, finish their homestand with three against the L.A. Dodgers, who have just lost four games in a row, including three to Houston, and scored one run or less in three of those four games. The meeting marks the first series between the two teams that opened the 2007 season at Miller Park against each other; both teams won three and lost three against each other in 2007.

Pitching Probables:
Tuesday, 5/13, 7:05 p.m. CT: RHP Brad Penny (5-3, 4.79) vs. RHP Carlos Villanueva (1-4, 6.46)
Wednesday, 5/14, 7:05 p.m. CT: RHP Derek Lowe (2-3, 4.43) vs. LHP Manny Parra (1-2, 5.79)
Thursday, 5/15, 12:05 p.m. CT: RHP Chad Billingsley (2-5, 4.89) vs. RHP Ben Sheets (4-0, 2.53)

Things to look for:

1. Can the mostly right-handed hitting Brewers continue their hot homestand against three right-handed starters?
2. Can Villanueva and Parra earn their second win on the season…or at least get their ERA’s below 5.00?
3. Can Sheets replicate his complete game against the Dodgers to start off the 2007 season?
4. Can Ryan Braun continue his hot bat of 4 HR’s and 4 RBI’s in the last two games? Can Prince Fielder finally get going against three right-handed Dodger starters?
5. Can the Crew take two out of three to go above .500 before starting their interleague play against the World Champion Boston Red Sox?

Brewers finish off the Cardinals in a statement series

If ever there was a time the Brewers needed a series win it was this one with the Cardinals. It may only be the second week in May, but coming into Friday night the Brewers had lost six straight games and were in total free-fall mode. Nothing that winning three of four against a division rival couldn’t fix.

Dave Bush pitched a phenomenal game when needed. Bush got through six innings and only gave up a first inning home run to Rick Ankiel on the night. Bush only walked two and gave up four hits in winning his first game of the year.

Eric Gagne spoke to the media on Monday before the game and said he was ready for the ninth inning again. Manager Ned Yost thinks otherwise and brought Gagne in for the seventh inning today. Gagne got through the seventh and eighth, giving up a run on two walks and two hits while striking out only one. I wouldn’t expect Gagne to regain the closer role for at least a week.

Mitch Stetter was unable to close out the game as he walked four batters in only 2/3 innings. Guillermo Mota came on to get the last out and record his first save of the season.

Ryan Braun continues to be a Cardinal killer. After hitting two home runs on Sunday, Braun followed that up with two more Monday night. He went 2-3 on the night with the two home runs, a walk and three runs scored. His average now sits at .288 and he appears that he is now locked in at the plate which is bad news for the National League.

Corey Hart had two hits on the night to up his average over .300 to .304. Hart had a two-out, two rbi single in the third that broke the game open for the Brewers. Jason Kendall also got two hits on the night. Bill Hall hit his eighth homer of the year to finish off the Brewers’ scoring.

The Brewers continue their home stand Tuesday night as the Dodgers come to town. It’s always a pleasure to watch the Dodgers as they have always been one of my favorite teams. I look forward to getting some nice shots of the legendary Vin Scully in the booth. Carlos Villanueva takes the mound for the Crew against Brad Penny for the Dodgers.

Brews win, 5-3, with pink bats & new ‘tude

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, 5-3, due to:
a. They always seem to win when someone is using a pink bat
b. Ryan Braun hit a pair of home runs
c. Jeff Suppan had his 5th quality start of the season, allowing just 1 ER over 7 IP
d. Ned Yost has changed to a new philosophy on closing, going with whomever is best suited for the situation
e. All of the above

Of course, “e” is the best answer. Brian Shouse earned his first save of the year, as Salomon Torres, who started the 9th inning, allowed an earned run to cut the lead to 5-3.

Ah, but those pink bats come through again…and, once again, the Brewers want to keep them. This time, Braun is going to appeal to the powers that be to keep his pink bat. I wonder if Braun is the highest bidder for his bat if he could keep using it? Maybe Brewers’ owner Mark Attanasio could win the bidding on Braun’s bat much like he did for Hall’s bat back in ‘06…only this time, give it to the player instead of his mother.

Sheets is Sheets and Gagne is well…not the Gagne of old

The Brewers lost to the Cardinals on Saturday, 5-3. Although Eric Gagne didn’t blow another save, he did take the loss, his second of the season, after allowing the Cardinals to load the bases and score two in the top of the ninth. Gagne walked one and gave up three hits in his only inning of work.

Ben Sheets did what he does; he pitched seven innings and only gave up three runs, keeping the Brewers in the game. Sheets struck out six batters to become the Brewers all-time leader in strikeouts. He left the game trailing 3-0, but the Brewers rallied to ensure a no decision.

They scored two in the bottom of the seventh and Prince Fielder homered in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. It was Fielder’s fifth home run of the year. The Brewers had a golden opportunity to take the lead but with the bases loaded Jason Kendall missed the sign for the suicide squeeze and Bill Hall was caught off third base and tagged out to kill the rally. The top of the order was unable to do anything in the ninth against Ryan Franklin and the Brewers lost another game to the division leaders. They now sit five games back of the Cards with two games to go in the series.

Jeff Suppan takes the mound for the Crew on Sunday against Braden Looper.