Episode 56 "Jamie Easterly Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Hot Stove/Winter Meetings (0:00-38:00)

- Acquire Burke Badenhop in trade

- Sign LHP Travis Webb to Minor League Deal

- Who is still out in SP market

- Who is still out in RP market

Break

News & Notes (38:00-1:00:00)

- Counsell staying

- Brewers upset w/ Nashville Stadium

- Weeks back to leadoff?

- Gamel's role with club?

Episode 55 "Marcus Hanel Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Quick 2012 Wrap Up 0:00-21:00
Break
Early Hot Stove Talk 21:00-37:00

Episode 54 "David Riske Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Wild Card Mania Running Wild! 0:00-38:00
Break
NL MVP Race (Braun, Cutch, Posey) 38:00-58:00
Break
Preview/Chalet Award Winner 58:00-1:01:00

Episode 53 "Victor Santos Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Randy Wolf Released! 0:00-16:00
Break
Corey Hart Wants To Stay, Is It Possible? 16:00-33:00
Break
Axford Back In Closer Role 33:00-47:00
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 47:00-1:03:00

Episode 52 "Sergio Mitre Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Segura Gets The Call 0:00-15:00
Break
Shaun Marcum: Yay or Nay in 13'? 15:00-30:00
Break
CF in 13'? 30:00-49:00
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 49:00-1:01:00

I Stand With Stan

Today the Milwaukee Brewers decided to make a move they hope will right the ship for their bullpen, firing the bullpen coach Stan Kyles. Much of the Brewer world is upset with this move, including myself. Kyles was a great person for the community, and although partially responsible for coaching his players has no direct influence on their performances.

Someone in the bullpen needed to suffer. After giving up 9 runs in a single game, everyone in baseball should have seen a move coming, but to fire the man who answers the phone and gets players ready seems like the wrong route. It is true, Kyles does have a role in working with bullpen pitchers. You can consider him the assistant pitching coach. But to fire someone in that bullpen who is not directly responsible for giving up run after run makes no sense. Kyles has not thrown a single pitch, he has not blown a single lead, he has not put the Brewers into insurmountable deficits, yet while he was surrounded by players who fit those criteria, he is the one without a job.

Congratulations to Kyles for taking the high road out of town. In his last moments with the media he basically said I understand why they did it. He didn’t whine about being the scapegoat. He didn’t complain like I am doing for him. Really if Stan doesn’t feel the need to fight this, the rest of the Brewers fandom should shut their mouths because when you get down to it, it’s only his battle to fight. I refuse to do that. As a fan it is offensive that they would take away the job of a coach, who has a family to support and does so much for this community, when you can get rid of one of the people directly responsible for the chaos. The pitchers get the message just as well if you get rid of one of them. Showing them that they can lose their job no matter how much credibility they have built up before this year.

I hope this move works. I hope every pitcher sitting in that bullpen, with the exception of Jim Henderson, sits out there and realizes that their poor performance is directly responsible for a man losing his job who didn’t deserve it. I hope they know that every home run they have allowed cost this man a profession he loves dearly. I hope they throw until their arms fall off and make this sacrifice at least worth something. I just hope if they do succeed no one takes it as a sign that this is the right move.

Congratulations to the Brewers front office for playing the villain. You had so many other options and chose the wrong one. I wouldn’t cut any of the coaches, but I would cut and send down almost all of the bullpen. If you’re going to punish someone, punish someone who is directly responsible.

-Brad

Astros at Brewers Series Preview 7/30 through 8/1

Milwaukee Brewers (45-56) vs. Washington Nationals (35-68)

Miller Park

Probable Starters

Monday July 30th 7:10pm

Game 1

Marco Estrada (0-4 4.52 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (5-8 5.05 ERA)

Tuesday July 31st 7:10pm

Game 2

Yovani Gallardo (8-8 4.07 ERA) vs. Dallas Keuchel (1-3 4.63 ERA)

Wednesday August 1st 1:10pm

Game 3

Michael Fiers (4-4 1.77 ERA) vs. Jordan Lyles (2-7 5.54 ERA)

Good news! The Astros come to town! Better news! Every starter the Astros are sending to the mound had an ERA of 7 or worse in July! Bad news, the Brewers still have the same bullpen they did during the Nationals series, so really no situation is every a good situation after the starter leaves.

The picture for this series: the Astros are bad, very very very bad. But collectively they probably have more talent than our bullpen that can give up multiple leads in one game and nine runs in a matter of 5 innings. The Brewers starters should be looking at going 9 innings to get a win.

The best chance for the Brewers to win? Wednesday with Fiers taking the mound. Fiers has given up ONLY 4 RUNS OVER HIS LAST SEVEN STARTS. They also have a great chance with Yovani going against the Astros. Yo has an 11-2 record with a 2.72 ERA in his career against the ‘Stros.

This is probably the best chance for the Crew to win in a long time, unless major changes come to the ‘pen that are much more significant (and less douche) than firing a bullpen coach that has minimal impact on pitching performance, the Brewers can get swept in any series. I think the Brewers will take 2 of 3. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go 0-3. I suggest every fan stops watching in the seventh. That’s what I started doing and the Brewers are a lot better in my head than they are in real life.

-Brad

Episode 51 "Jim Henderson Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Greinke For Segura/Hellweg/Pena 0:00-18:30
Break
Bullpen Goes From Bad To Total Joke 18:30-29:00
Break
Rotation Rest Of Season? 29:00-43:00
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 43:00-51:00