Crew Bites Back

Finally, the Brewers give me something to write about, as they defeated the Diamondbacks last night, 10-5, avoiding a sweep and snapping the five game losing streak. Adam McCalvy mentioned this "all road" losing streak in his article on the Brewers' website, as he discussed how the team usually plays so badly away from home. Call me crazy, Adam, but I would have sworn those last three losses before the All-Star break were at Miller Park. Or maybe he's referring to the sweep at Minnesota, (which occured before the last homestand), plus the two losses at Arizona. Hmmmm.

At any rate, the second half has not gotten off to the blistering start that we all hoped for, (and need if we're going to keep Carlos Lee beyond the end of this season). Well actually, I take that back. The Brewers did get off to a good start, defeating the Diamondbacks Friday night, that is until Derrick Turnbow came in and gave it away on four pitches. D-Bow said he felt good, he just "left one up" in the strike zone to Estrada, who pounded a two-run homer to snatch away the Brewers' victory. Well, Derrick, it's your job not to leave one up.

Derrick also mentioned before the All-Star game that he was looking forward to sitting in the dugout and picking the brains of all the other closers. Apparently the only brain he picked was Trevor Hoffman's.

I just don't even want to talk about Saturday's game. It was just plain ugly, which is a suprise considering we had Chris Capuano on the mound. I guess that's what eight days of rest will do to you. Maybe Ned should have gone with his original plan of having Chris pitch Friday, and Davis on Saturday. Or maybe if Phil Garner had, I don't know, maybe played one of the players that he didn't pick, instead of favoring his own guys, Chris could have stayed sharp.

I have my own theory about the Brewers' inconsistency, and I've mentioned it before. I believe the team is hexed by their announcers. During the Minnesota series, (I think,) Daron was going on and on about how the bat of one particular Twin had been so quiet. The word "quiet" was still coming out of his mouth when the player in question hit a home run. An awkward silence, then "till now." That home run started a deluge of hits by the opposing team from which the Brewers never recovered.

Yesterday, Jim Powell was talking about how Dave Bush was throwing a no-hitter. The second after the words had been spoken, literally the next pitch, Bush have up his first hit of the game. Isn't it a well-known superstition that you never mention a no-hitter until it's over?

Those of you who watch and listen to all the games, as I do, know that this happens with alarming frequency. Bob Uecker never makes comments like the ones mentioned above. He sticks to the cold hard stats until after the at-bat, or inning, or whatever the case may be. I'm fully convinced that if Bill and Daron could simply shut up and just call the game, the Brewers would win a lot more. Of course, this theory isn't grounded in any kind of reality, but it gives me somewhere to focus my frustration when the team loses, instead of actually facing the reality that they may not be the playoff contending team I believe them to be.

By the time the team gets back to Miller Park on the 24th, it will have been 19 days since I last attended a game. (I'm already starting to go through withdrawals.) The next homestand is huge, as we are playing division rivals Pittsbugh and Cincinnati. Well, actually because we're playing Cincy, a team that really needs to be taken down a few pegs. I hope you will all join me in welcoming the Crew back to Miller Park, and cheering them "northward" in the division standings.

But first, rookie Zach Jackson takes on All-Star Jason Schmidt and BALCO, I mean Barry Bonds tonight in San Francisco. "Zachson," as he has been dubbed by the HOG's Bob and Brian, is coming off a tough loss against the Cubs on July 7. Schmidt, is coming off a July 9 loss to the Dodgers, and hasn't recorded a win since June 6.

St. Louis begins their series against the surging Atlanta Braves tonight, but Cincy and Houston both have the night off. Cincinnati will take on the Mets starting tomorrow night, and Houston begins a series against the Cubs. With any luck, Atlanta can take a couple from St. Louis, NY can beat the crap out of Cincy, and the Cubs can find some magic against Houston. If the stars can align and we can take at least a couple from San Fran, then a couple from Cincy, (and Bill and Daron could stop jinxing the team!), we could be looking pretty good heading back to the Brew City next week.

So let's all stay up late the next few nights (I hate West Coast trips!) and send some good karma to our boys out in California. Until next time, go Brewers!