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Brewers relieving situation in 2013

4 Jan

Further Checking out the Brewer Relievers for 2013 and an upgrade!

Published by: Doc on 4th Jan 2013 | View all blogs by Doc
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As I’ve talked about in the last couple blogs about the Milwaukee Brewers, they haven’t had a spectacular winter as far as big splashy names and high prices, but that can often sink a small market team like the Brewers without a salary cap. But Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is smarter than that and he has been around baseball more than a block or two, and he knows how to run a baseball team productively on a budget. Is this Moneyball 2? Who will be the Brewers Brad Pitt in this movie lol. Seriously Melvin has gotten rid of unproductive relievers such as Jose Veras, Fransisco Rodriguez, Tim Dillard, Kameron Loe, Manny Parra, Mike McLendon and Livan Hernandez. He kept the good ones in John Axford who when he’s on is pretty reliable and Jim Henderson who’s like the new farm boy flamethrower. He filled in or shared the closing duties nicely with Axford last summer. And the new guys I’ve mentioned Burke Badenhop, Tom Gorzelany, Mike Gonzalez the last two from the 2012 playoff Washington Nationals should be good. Both Gorzelany and Gonzalez are left handed specialists and it’s always good to have a southpaw to throw from the other side of the plate. Another name the Brewers relievers will be counting on is Brandon Kintzler who is a quality reliever when healthy. That should fill six of the seven bullpen spots for the Brewers. And one last name to look out for is right hander Michael Olmsted who could be promoted soon from the minor leagues. He is a 6-6 power pitcher who had pitched in the Boston system and then in Japan. Boston didn’t want to lose him, but didn’t have a spot on their 40 man roster. Boston, the Red Sox loss could be the Brewers gem or diamond in the rough . We’ll see. Anyway in closing the Brewers don’t have a lot of big names behind Axford and AX needs to return to his lights out 2011 performance when he didn’t blow a save after opening day until the playoffs. The relievers may be inexperienced and the quality may be underrated for now but the depth is there which the Brewers needed, and if they shine in the major leagues that quality will shine through like a bright light on opposing hitters in Milwaukee this season. So Shine the Light Brewer pitchers and especially the relievers. Like a flashlight shining in your face, that’s how hard they want to make it to hit Milwaukee pitching. Lights Out! Have a great season and Go Brewers Go! Doc.

 

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Milwaukee Brewers 2013 Prospects and A look at the Brewers 2013 Season

2 Jan

Milwaukee Brewers exciting new prospects and the state of the team heading into 2013.

Published by: Doc on 2nd Jan 2013 | View all blogs by Doc
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Well the calendar has turned to 2013, so we are officially in the year of the next baseball season. I’ve been checking out the Milwaukee Brewers, my old hometown team and the team that I’m going to be covering mostly for Basebook this year which I’m really excited about. For my first assignment I’ve been asked to check out the Brewers young prospects and the state of the team heading into 2013. And it’s coming quicker than you already think. Pitchers and catchers report in 40 days. Spring and time out at the ballpark and watching baseball are almost here again. For the Brewers, they have a couple exciting position player s developing in the minor leagues that I found out about at Brewers.com . Hunter Morris is a first baseman and a left handed bat in the Southern League where he was the MVP of Double A Ball last year. Whenever he comes up he could fill in for Corey Hart at first base who is in the final year of his contract unless he gets an extension. He could also send Hart last year at first base, back out to right field as insurance. Also the Brewers have a young second baseman at Triple A Scooter Jennett, who is good defensively and has some good pop in his bat even though he’s a small guy. The word on these minor leaguers is that they are not in the class of a Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart former Brewer farmhands who became star major league players. But they are good and they could be up in the majors sometime this year or in 2014. Meanwhile the Brewers also have some young arms to bolster their rotation and they have made some improvement in the bullpen as well. Willie Peralta, Mark Rogers and Mike Fiers all spent time on the mound for the Brewers in 2012 and they could be starting pitching options for the Brewers in 2013. Also Marco Estrada is another option and Chris Narveson will be back from shoulder surgery. Yovanni Gallardo also returns as the ace for the Brewers and a quality pitcher and bat as well. He once hit a home run against 300 game winner former flamethrower Randy Johnson a few years back so that’s a bonus. Also the Brewers picked up Tom Gorzelany a left hander from the Washington Nationals last year. He will bolster a Brewers bullpen that was last in the National League last year and he could be a starter as well. Another reliever the Brewers picked up was right hander Burke Badenhop acquired in a trade last month from the Tampa Bay Rays. So the Brewers may not have gotten a top name quality pitcher like starter Ryan Dempster who was in the Brewers eyes, but ended up with the bigger market Boston Red Sox. But Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is crafty with his budget and signings and has kept a small market team competitive in Milwaukee for the Brewers. Finally the Brewers are also set pretty well with their position player starters for 2013, so they didn’t make any big moves there. And they have an exciting young 22 year old shortstop Jean Segura who has a nice arm and bat at shortstop so that’s exciting. The Brewers led the National League in homers and stolen bases this year so with a quality offense that’s why they have concentrated on improving the pitching this winter. And even though they didn’t sign any big splashy names, costing more money , they have found a way to remain competitive and I’m excited to see how this young and veteran group of Brewers meshes together in spring training and into the 2013 season. I think this could be an exciting season where the Brewers can compete again for a division title or wild card position in the National League. And I am from Milwaukee, and sometimes get up to Miller Park in the summer to see a game. Wouldn’t that be exciting to do a game and field report from there! Go Brewers and Slide Bernie Brewer Slide as Brewers Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Uecker calls another home run Get up and get out of here Gone for the Brewers. Talk soon. Doc.

 

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Memorable Moments of the 2012 Baseball Season and remembering Roberto Clemente after 40 years

30 Dec

Memorable Moments from the 2012 Baseball Season, Also remembering Roberto Clemente after 40 years

Published by: Doc on 30th Dec 2012 | View all blogs by Doc
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It’s the end of the year 2012, and it was another great and memorable year in baseball. The San Fransisco Giants won their 2nd World Series in 3 years after going 56 years and a city change from New York since winning their last World Series in 1954 when Willie Mays was catching fly balls there. The last out of the World Series on a called third strike was Miguel Cabrera as his Detroit Tigers got swept by the Giants. But Cabrera had a pretty good year capturing baseball’s first Triple Crown in 45 years since Carl Yasztremski won the honor in 1967 and Frank Robinson in 1966. Someone has tough shoes to fill this season if there is to be a repeat Triple Crown winner in baseball. His teammate pitcher Justin Verlander was pretty good winning the AL CY Young Award and he did good dugout interviews leading to Tiger rallies. What he couldn’t do was get batters out in the All Star Game and World Series mainly to San Fransisco Giants batters like Pablo Sandoval who hit a triple off him in the All Star Game, and then 3 home runs in the World Series Game 1. Also his Giant teammate Melky Cabrera hit a home run off Verlander in the All Star Game and won the MVP giving the National League home field advantage in the World Series. But Cabrera wasn’t able to share in the Giants joy after being suspended for 50 games for PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs). And later he was released and ended up with the Toronto Blue Jays. There were three perfect games in baseball as well. Phillip Humber of the White Sox, Mait Cain of the Giants and Felix Hernandez of the Mariners which was the first time that three perfect games had happened in one season of baseball. Bobby Valentine was fired by the Boston Red Sox for poor managing and volitale behavior. Ozzie Guillen was fired by the Florida Marlins for poor managing and insensitive comments about Cubans. The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros lost over 100 games each and the New York Yankees got swept out of the playoffs by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS before shortstop Derek Jeter their captain had his season ended with a broken ankle. Ouch I know what that feels like as I have been recovering from a broken foot this fall. The Texas Rangers after two tough World Series losses in 2010 and 2011, blew a big AL West lead to the Oakland A’s and then lost a wildcard game at home to the Baltimore Orioles one of the surprise teams in baseball. And then the Rangers lost free agents Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Mike Napoli. Some big bats to fill and the Rangers will likely be the Texas Strangers this year. And a team I like and will be focusing on Basebook here this next year, the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t play well until August after winning the NL Central and going to the NLCS in 2011. But the Brewers caught fire the last month in a half of the season and made a late playoff run behind 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun and a load of bats and improved pitching which could be even better in 2013. So we’ll see what happens in 2013. The Washington Nationals formerly the Montreal Expos made their first postseason appearance since 1981 when they were in Montreal. They lost a tough deciding game to the 2011 World Series Champion St Louis Cardinals who had another great year, but their miracle comebacks and finishes were finally finished in a pouring rainstorm down 9-0 to the San Fransisco Giants in Game 7 of the NLCS. And as I write this catcher AJ Pierzynski formerly of the White Sox has signed a 1 year 7.5 million dollar contract with the Rangers. So maybe they’ll be a little less strange after although AJ can be a volitaile and feisy character and catcher having been in a few brawls, but he also helped lead the White Sox to the 2005 World Series Championship. So we’ll see what happens this coming season and their will be more moves ahead before spring training for sure. Finally before I go a tribute to a legendary player, who many of us younger fans never saw other than highlights Roberto Clemente who died or disappeared in a tragic plane crash 40 years ago on New Years Eve in 1972 while delivering relief supplies to Nicaragua struck by an earthquake. from his homeland Puerto Rico. Clemente was only 38 years old . In an 18 year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates he played and won two World Series in 1960 and 1971. In the 1971 series he batted .414 in a 7 game Series win over the Baltimore Orioles. His last regular season hit was his 3000th so he’s the original and true Mr 3000. Also what I liked about Clemente was he had power, speed and a great arm. He always hustled and more impressively he did it while playing hurt with chronic back pain and other injuries. Roberto Clemete. I would have loved to see him play and his body was never found which adds to his everlasting mystery and mystique. We’ll remember the great Latin #21 player Roberto Clemente always. RIP. Talk soon and Have a Happy New Year and I look forward to Playing Ball Soon!! Best wishes Doc.

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Red Sox sign reliever Joel Hanarahan and a Celebration of Baseball

30 Dec

Red Sox acquire new reliever Joel Hanarahan and celebrating Baseball

Published by: Doc on 27th Dec 2012 | View all blogs by Doc
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It’s the end of the year after Christmas and fairly quiet in the baseball world in these parts until football is over in early Febuary now with the Super Bowl. Then college basketball carries on the next couple months.

In the meantime pitchers and catchers will be reporting south in mid Febuary and spring training gets into full gear in March, before the regular season starts in early April or sometimes late March just as the college basketball season is ending. The seasons almost always change in symmetry so we have something to look forward to.

But in the offseason there are moves in the hot stove starting with the winter meetings in early December and they can happen all winter through spring training.

You never know exactly when a deal will be made either depending on the economics and other baseball situations.

This week the Boston Red Sox one of the teams I like best picked up a reliever, 31 year old Joel Hanarahan, in a 6 player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hanarahan is a big stocky righthander with 76 saves since 2011. He had a 2.72 era in 2012 and an even better 1.83 era in 2011. His walks have gone up from 2.1 to 5.4 the last few years. But you never know with relievers from day to day and year to year. Eric Gagne had 85 saves in a row several years back for the Dodgers, but by the time he got to play for the Milwaukee Brewers a couple years ago he was struggling. So you never know and just have to live with the moment That’s baseball especially, a sport where every day and situation is different which makes baseball special and most unique of different sports.

As I write this I’m listening to a new cd I received about legendary Milwaukee Brewers and funny man announcer Bob Uecker with a lot of his famous calls and stories. What great ambiance as I write this blog and I look forward to writing many more here at Basebook as the new year and season begins. Talk soon. Yours in Brewers and Baseball. Doc.

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Boston Red Sox add to their offensive attack with free agents Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino. How will the Red Sox spend next?

7 Dec

http://basebook.socialgo.com/magazine/read/new-free-agents-mike-napoli-and-shane-victorino-sign-three-year-contracts-to-play-for-the-boston-red-sox-will-sox-spend-more_88.html

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Milwaukee Brewers are making some exciting pitching moves in preparing for the 2013 Baseball Season

4 Dec

http://basebook.socialgo.com/magazine/read/milwaukee-brewers-are-making-some-pitching-moves-and-the-future-looks-bright-in-milwaukee-for-the-2013-season_86.html

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A seventh game in the National League and the Red Sox hire a new manager

22 Oct

In baseball news we have a Game 7 in the National League Championship Series between the San Fransisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Giants have climbed back into the series from a 3-1 deficit and after a 6-1 win at home in Game 6 the Giants have a chance to complete the comeback in Game 7 at home in San Fransisco Monday night. It was the Giants 5th straight elimination game victory in these playoffs.

But these Cardinals have their own fighting heart and have won deciding games at the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals in these playoffs. And they are the defending champions after coming back in the last two games at home vs the Texas Rangers in last years Fall Classic.

I checked the history and there has never been a Tigers vs Giants World Series even when the Giants played baseball in New York. The Cardinals and Tigers have played three times 1934 won by the Cardinals, 1968 won by the Tigers and most recently 2006 by the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had to win a deciding seventh game vs the New York Mets in New York to get to that 2006 World Series so there is some fairly recent history there though a lot of the players are already different.

As for tonight it will be a great game hopefully and it’s a shame one of these teams has to go home. These Giants without a real superstar have been spectacular and the Cardinals never seem to die away as well. But one of these teams will lose tonight. Its tough to see the Giants losing at home and they seem to have taken over the last couple games with their backs to the wall. And even though I’m not a Cardinals fan I hate picking against them because they have a real fighting heart as well as the Giants and Beth Sportsblogger is a huge Cardinals fan here on the blogs so I’m rooting for her as a friend here. So to be different I’ll pick against the traditional thinking of picking the home team and I’ll pick the Cardinals tonight for her. They’re a team that has broken a lot of fans hearts including mine with the Brewers and Rangers in last years playoffs, and continuing this year with elimination victories over the Braves and Nationals on the road in deciding games. So until they’re dead the Titanic has not sunk yet. Maybe tonight they hit their iceberg. Or they’ll crash through again and head back on to the World Series. The winner tonight will host the Detroit Tigers and Game 1 Starter Justin Verlander in the World Series where the National League has home field advantage. We’ll see what happens.

Finally the Boston Red Sox one of my favorite teams finally hired their new manager John Farrell who had managed the Toronto Blue Jays the last few years and was the Red Sox pitching coach from 2007-2010. The Red Sox who finished an uncharacteristic last place in the American League this season under the outspoken embattled Bobby Valentine say they trust and like their new manager. We’ll see if that translates to better play and more wins on the field now that the Red Sox have the manager they really wanted. Best wishes and talk soon. Bratman

 

 

 

 

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Who should the next Boston Red Sox Manager be? I like Nomar Garciaparra among others

10 Oct

So who should be the Boston Red Sox manager to replace the fired Bobby Valentine?  If you don’t like the Red Sox or don’t care you might not think about it, but as a Red Sox and baseball fan it does give me some curiosity and I’m sure it does you too.

I have read that the Red Sox would like to pursue Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell who used to be a Red Sox pitching coach and still has a year on his contract. I have also heard about interest in Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia if he he is let out of his contract or let go by the Angels. Hard to figure he has managed there since 2000, and he led the Angels to the 2002 World Series title.

I as a fan who has no knowledge or other information, has my own ideas and they involve some former Red Sox and major league players, besides the gem in the rough of the coaching ranks that only baseball insiders know.

I like former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra now an ESPN analyst. He is a young, bright and calm baseball mind. He is beloved in Boston as a player where he played from 1994 through the middle of the 2004 season when he was traded ironically before the Red Sox won their first World Series that season in 86 years. I think he would have a great demeanor for Boston Baseball where they need a great manager who can put up with egos, talent and the pressure of the Boston baseball market where they talk Red Sox baseball all year.

I thought of former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling also an ESPN Analyst, but he is quite outspoken and likes to talk on talk radio. He might be a wilder choice than Bobby Valentine was, but he does know baseball and pitching well and is also a hero from his bloody sock performance in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS when he was hurt and won a big game against the Yankees in the legendary ALCS where the Red Sox came from 3-0 down to win. But being a former player alone doesn’t lead to greatness as a coach or manager of course. There are lots of great players who have failed and are not great coaches or managers

Other former players I thought of are Ryne Sandberg who has managed in the Cubs minor league system, Tony Gwynn who has over 3000 hits and is an excellent baseball strategist and coach. Also former Red Sox and Yankees third baseman Wade Boggs who also has over 3000 hits. These are just a few ideas among many others. I like Nomar Garciaparra the best as a choice for Red Sox manager, but you can argue he doesn’t have coaching experience. But a good baseball mind is what is needed and the demeanor to fit with the players and city. I think Nomar has this, but so do many others and a decision probably wont be made until after the playoffs. But we’ll see what happens and it is interesting discussion especially because its Boston Red Sox Baseball.  Best wishes and talk soon. Bratman

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Some excitement to be decided on the final day of the baseball regular season

3 Oct

October 3rd, 1951  is a very famous date in baseball history as it is the 61st anniversary of Bobby Thomson’s shot around the world. “The Giants win the pennant” you’ve heard the call many times as the then New York Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in a playoff to win the pennant.

And today is the final day of this baseball season, and it could be very exciting. The New York Yankees are one game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. One will win the division and the other will be one of the two wildcards. If there is a tie in the standings there will be a one game playoff for the AL East in Baltimore. Meanwhile on the West Coast the Texas Rangers will play at the Oakland A’s. They are tied for the AL West. Again both will make the playoffs one as a wild card and one as the AL West Champion. Just a note the A’s were 13 games out in June so they have made a remarkable comeback in the AL West.

Also the Orioles, Yankees, Athletics and Rangers are all fighting for the best record in the American League.

Meanwhile Miguel Cabrera,  a member of the other American League playoff team, the Detroit Tigers the AL Central champs has  a chance to win the Triple Crown in baseball.

Wiinning the Triple Crown is a rare feat as a player must lead the league in batting average, runs batted in and home runs. And going into the final day of the season Cabrera has the lead in all three categories. The last men to win the Triple Crown were Carl Yastzremski in 1967 and Frank Robinson in 1966. Cabrera has a .331 batting average 44 homers and 139 runs batted in, RBIs.  We’ll see what happens there.

Meanwhile in the National League the Cincinatti Reds and the Washington Nationals are tied for the best record in the National League and since the National League won the All Star game the team that has the best record in the NL will have home field throughout the World  Series. And as far as a playoff note the St Louis Cardinals the defending World Champions will be able to defend their crown as they beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers for the final NL Playoff spot. The Cardinals will play at the Atlanta Braves on Friday in the NL Wildcard game.

As for me I’ll be rooting for the Texas Rangers to try to win the AL West today and if not that the wild card game so they can try to eventually get back to the World Series for a third year in a row after losing the last two World Series to the San Fransisco Giants the NL West winner this year in 2010 and the St Louis Cardinals in 2011.

Other teams that I like the Milwaukee Brewers had a strong finish and will finish over .500 with an 83-78 record heading into their season finale tonight. The Boston Red Sox meanwhile had a horrible year for them at 69-92 and will finish in last place in the AL East. Embattled manager Bobby Valentine’s future there is in question. However the Red Sox still could spoil some things facing the Yankees in their season finale tonight. Finally woes to the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. As recently as 2003 they finished a game apart at the top of the NL Central with the Cubs winning. In 2005 the Astros went to the World Series. Today they will play each other in the season finale and the Astros final game in the National League. And both teams have over 100 losses. The Cubs have 101 losses and the Astros have 106 losses. Perhaps as a good friend of mine has mentioned these teams should be demoted to the minor leagues in Peoria and Round Rock.

Oh well Opening Day is only 6 months away and we can always dream of next year. In the meantime enjoy the suspense of the final day of the season, Miguel Cabrera’s Triple Crown chase and the playoffs. Enjoy the games as October baseball is here! Best wishes. Bratman

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Baseball races are heating up with three weeks to go. Here’s what’s happening.

12 Sep

Well things are heating up in baseball as  5 teams are fighting for two wildcard spots within 5 games of each other in the American League. In the National League there are ALSO  5 teams within 5 games of the second wildcard spot.

This is what MLB Commisioner Bud Selig had in mind when he added the second wild card spot this year for more competitive balance and excitement in baseball.

And all the divisional races in the American League are within 3 games of each other.

The A’s and the Yankees have the top two AL wildcard spots while the Rays are 2 back, the Angels 2.5 and the Tigers 5 games back of the last wildcard spot as the Yankees who are also tied with the Orioles for the AL East lead though the Orioles currently hold a tiebreaker for the division.

In the NL wildcard it’s even more crazy. The Braves have a six game lead for the first wildcard spot. Then it gets interesting as the Cardinals who are last years World Series Champs lead the Dodgers by one game, the Pirates by 2.5 games. And then the late charging Phillies and Brewers are 4 games back and the Diamondbacks are 5  games out. The Phillies, Brewers and Diamondbacks all played in a deciding 5th game of the divisional round last year and here they are again after a disappointing first five months of the season fighting back into the race. It’s crazy and kind of exciting for baseball.

Besides the tight AL East race between the Orioles and Yankees, the White Sox lead the Tigers by 2 games in the AL Central.  And the Rangers try to hold off the A’s in the AL West and the Rangers have the best record in the AL by 5 games over the AL East leader.

In the National League which has home field advantage in the World Series for winning the All Star Game, the NL East  Nationals have the best record by 2.5 games over the NL Central leading Reds and then the Giants lead the NL West.

So in conclusion the wildcard and divisional races add a lot of excitement to the playoff races which would be over in a lot of cases without the wildcard chase.

And following the regular season which ends Wednesday October 3, there will be a one game playoff between the wildcard teams before the rest of the playoffs begin. It will just be more fun to see which teams get in and which one’s are left out. So enjoy the rest of the regular season and playoffs, and good luck if your teams are involved in the playoff chase or whoever you are rooting for down the stretch. Best wishes. Talk soon. Bratman

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