Reversal of Fortune

Anyone watching the Brewers play the Reds on Sunday after Saturday’s amazing win could only be wondering one thing. What happened? Did the guys get over confident? Did they stay out too late celebrating Saturday night? Are the retro uniforms not such a great idea? (The Brewers have yet to score even one run in the “new” Sunday uniforms.) I guess one good turn deserves another and the Reds returned Saturday’s favor on Sunday, stomping the Brewers 11-0.

First of all, what’s going on with Doug Davis? His last two outings have been absolutely disastrous, not something we want to see from our #2 pitcher three weeks into the season. His effort wasn’t helped Sunday afternoon by the pea-sized strike zone determined by home plate umpire Greg Gibson. Davis’ attempts to nibble around the outside corners of the plate were denied repeatedly, and batter after batter was walked. Milwaukee pitchers walked a total of 13 batsmen yesterday, nine by Davis alone, who tied a club record. Four of those walks ended up scoring runs.

Some batters made it to first after being hit. Three Cincy batsmen got free rides after taking one for the team, two in the case of Austin Kearns, who, as Bill Schroeder put it, “has a home and a condo on the disabled list, and doesn’t want to visit either of them.” One of the runners put on base after being hit scored a run for the Reds. Combine that with the walks that scored runs and we have a total of five runs being scored on zero hits. Amazingly enough, the Reds stranded 15 runners throughout the course of the game. I guess we were lucky we didn’t lose by more than just eleven.

The loss this time really can’t be blamed on bad calls by the umpires either. Larry Vanover was safely at third, and we never got runners far enough for him to screw up a call for us, so he wasn’t a factor today. There was one stinker at first though. I can’t remember exactly which inning or who threw the ball to Prince, but it was early in the game, and the runner was clearly out. Even Daron Sutton laughed during the instant replay and said over and over, “he’s out!” But that one out that wasn’t would have had little effect on yesterday’s outcome.

I do have a theory of my own, and you all are welcome to debate this with me. Baseball is a very superstitious game, full of routines and streaks. I personally believe in jinxes, and it seems that Bill Schroeder and Daron Sutton are guilty of committing a few of them. Take yesterday for example. Aaron Harang was pitching on three days rest, and Bill and Daron took us threw Harang’s different stats after four and five days rest. They noticed that he pitched better with more rest, and said that maybe we could take advantage of the fact that he’s pitching after only three days rest. Jinx. Harang carved up our batters like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Later in the game, no sooner than Derrick Turnbow took the mound did Daron say he hadn’t given up a single run all season. Jinx. Turnbow gave up a three run homer.

During Davis’ fourth start in Houston when he gave up nine runs, once he left the game, Daron and Bill commented that every time he’s pitched, the team has been behind when he left the game and they always came back and won. Jinx. The Brewers lost that game 13-12.

Is anyone else seeing a pattern here? There are lots more times that this has happened during broadcasts. These are just the most recent examples. Maybe I’m being overly superstitious, but Bill and Daron, I’m begging you. When you make statements that like, knock on wood, throw salt over your shoulders or something. Our guys need all the help they can get right now! Better yet, save the comments till afterward and avoid the threat of a jinx altogether.

Of course I could just be grasping at straws, trying desperately to explain why my team is playing so erratically. But baseball is a superstitious sport. Crash Davies said it best in “Bull Durham.” “If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women’s underwear -- then you are!” Hmmm, think someone should get Doug Davis a garter belt?

In other news, Rickie Weeks committed another error yesterday. I know you’re all in shock over that one. Officially, he’s committed only five errors, but we all know it’s closer to eight or ten. But thanks to hometown scoring in other parks, and the need to give their batters hits, he’s officially saddled with only five. So to emulate Daron Sutton, Rickie is on pace to end the season, ‘officially,’ with 42.6 errors. Figure in hometown scoring and he’ll likely screw up closer to 55 times. Way to go Rickie!

My favorite pitcher takes the mound tonight against Atlanta, and I’ll be there to cheer him on, proudly wearing my #39 jersey, with fingers crossed that he can get us back to .500. (knock on wood!) Good luck tonight, Chris, and go Brewers!