There's something brewing - A Badenian going America

[Loeffle]

March 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


26th March 2009

Spring Training Game #20 – Milwaukee (10-9) vs. New York (6-13)

New York 5 - Milwaukee 1

W: R. Mahay (2-0), L: C. Armstrong (0-3)
HR: F. Martinez (1) / -


Elsewhere:

Buffalo's reliever Fernando Cabrera (0-0, 0.00 ERA) signed a new 1-year contract worth $4,070,000.

[Loeffle]

March 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


27th March 2009

Spring Training Game #21 – Milwaukee (10-10) vs. San Francisco (11-9)

San Francisco 4 - Milwaukee 3

W: B. Wilson (1-0), L: E. Gagne (0-2)
HR: R. Durham (4), J. Larish (3), N. Schierholtz (2) / O. Hudson (1)


Elsewhere:

RF Jeff Francoeur (.309, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 1 SB) signed a new 3-year contract worth $28,170,000 with the Braves.

[Loeffle]

March 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


28th March 2009

Spring Training Game #22 – Milwaukee (10-11) vs. Los Angeles (13-8)

Los Angeles 4 - Milwaukee 10

W: D. Bush (1-2), L: B. Penny (1-1)
HR: J. Gonzalez (1) / -


Elsewhere:

LF Corey Hart (.283, 2 HR, 13 RBI) won't play for the White Sox this season. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament and will miss a year.

[Loeffle]

March 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


29th March 2009

Spring Training Game #23 – Milwaukee (11-11) vs. Colorado (8-14)

Colorado 0 - Milwaukee 9

W: F. Rosario (1-0), L: K. Kiker (0-4)
HR: - / J. Estrada (5), G. Gross (2)

Rosario who started for the injured Villanueva was pretty impressive.

[Loeffle]

March 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


30th March 2009

Spring Training Game #24 – Milwaukee (12-11) vs. Pittsburgh (8-15)

Pittsburgh 4 - Milwaukee 12

W: M. Wise (2-1), L: D. Turnbow (0-1)
HR: - / G. Gross (3)

After struggling early on we finished spring training at 13-11.
The best teams were:
Cincinnati 18-6
Vancouver 17-7
Tampa Bay 16-8
Atlanta 16-8
Houston 16-8
Rockbottom:
Washington 5-19
Kansas City 7-17
Florida 7-17
Cubs 7-17


Elsewhere:

The Braves 3B Chipper Jones (.218, 2 HR, 8 RBI) signed a new three-year contract worth $49,410,000. He's 36 now.


Trade:

The Astros traded LF Carlos Lee (.302, 1 HR, 5 RBI) to the Padres for CF Mike Cameron (.256, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB) and minor league 1B Maurice Tremb (.311, 0 HR, 28 RBI - R).

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


2nd April 2009

The Mets closer Billy Wagner (0-0-2, 3.00 ERA) signed a new 2-year contract worth $23,000,000.

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


4th April 2009

Opening Day Roster:

SP1 Brandon Webb (1-0, 2.70 ERA, 6 BB, 7 K)
SP2 David Bush (1-2, 3.50 ERA, 5 BB, 13 K)
SP3 Yovani Gallardo (3-0, 1.34 ERA, 11 BB, 12 K)
SP4 Chris Capuano (0-1, 2.25 ERA, 5 BB, 14 K)
SP5 Francisco Rosario (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 BB, 2 K) / Carlos Villanueva (0-0, 5.17 ERA, 4 BB, 12 K) (Villanueva will come off the DL in five days. He might do a rehab start at Nashville before joining the team)
MR Jose Capellan (0-0, 5.79 ERA, 6 BB, 11 K)
MR Christopher Armstrong (0-3, 8.78 ERA, 14 BB, 10 K)
MUR Matt Wise (2-1, 6.11 ERA, 10 BB, 11 K)
SM Jeremy Accardo (0-0, 6.14 ERA, 10 BB, 11 K)
SM Davis Romero (3-1-1, 3.38 ERA, 5 BB, 12 K)
CL Eric Gagne (0-2-1, 2.13 ERA, 11 BB, 13 K)

C Johnny Estrada (.323, 5 HR, 17 RBI)
1B Prince Fielder (.339, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB)
2B Orlando Hudson (.263, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 SB)
3B Mat Gamel (.321, 4 HR, 9 RBI)
SS Cesar Izturis (.256, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4 SB)
LF Ryan Braun (.308, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB)
CF Justin Upton (.291, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 4 SB)
RF Gabe Gross (.200, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB)

C Henry Blanco (.262, 0 HR, 6 RBI)
1B Garrett Jones (.250, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
2B Mark Reynolds (.239, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB)
3B Mike Lowell (.347, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
LF Shane Victorino (.167, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB)
RF Lorenzo Cain (.212, 1 HR, 3 RBI 1 SB)
One of these guys will head back to Nashville, when Villanueva is ready to pitch again.

Manny Parra came off the 60-day disabled list today. He will start the season at AAA, so we can see how he dealt with his long injury.

The biggest surprise of spring training is that Mat Gamel most likely won the job at 3B. He will platoon with Mike Lowell. The bullpen pitched as awful as always and it will be interesting to see which of those guys is having an ERA below 6.00 at 1st May. The battle for the outfield backups was hard as none of the candidates did especially well. Therefore I opted for switch hitting Victorino and speedy versatile Cain. Jones stays for the moment because we are lacking left handed bats.

[Vris]

Fielder stole 2 bags? How'd you manage that; put hamburgers at 2nd?

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


4th April 2009

It's time to play ball also in 2009

Seattle at Oakland: 3-2
W: F. Hernandez; L: R. Harden

New York at Boston: 2-7
W: D. Matsuzaka; L: P. Hughes

Colorado at Los Angeles: 1-4
W: J. McDonald; L: B. Hynick

Florida at New York: 3-5
W: A. Burgos; L. G. Perkins


Reliever Jason Schmidt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) signed a one year contract extension worth $4,410,000 with the Dodgers.

[Loeffle]

Originally Posted by Vris

Fielder stole 2 bags? How'd you manage that; put hamburgers at 2nd?

Fielder stole 16 bases in 2007 and 25 in 2008.
Actually had a 25/25 season last year

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


6th April 2009


The Giants Matt Cain (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitched a 8-0 shutout against the Pirates. He allowed six hits, walked three and struck out six batters.

RF Carlos Gonzalez (.833, 1 HR, 4 RBI) stroke five hits for the Diamondbacks who demolished the Rockies 16-5.

[Vris]

I didn't think a man that large could steal 25 bags in a season.

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


7th April 2009

Finally also opening day for us. While the Rockies and Marlins stand already at 1-2, we, the Astros, Twins and Royals have yet the play a game.
The owner expects us to finish better than .500. Sounds like we should be able to achieve that as I think we have a much better team than last season. Our bullpen looks quite different, and we have many options there if someone should fail. We also added infield depth and experience with Lowell and Hudson. Our starting rotation should be solid at least and if the bullpen struggles, we can still convert a starter to reliever as we are rather deep in that department.

We face the Astros in Houston to start the season. They traded Lee to get Cameron a couple of days ago. Their spring went with a 16-8 record very well.


Injury Report:

Milwaukee
- SP C. Villanueva (1 day)
- CL S. Fujita (4-5 weeks)
- 2B R. Weeks (7 weeks)

Houston
no injuries


Game #1 – Milwaukee [0-0] (B. Webb 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Houston [0-0] (R. Oswalt 0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SS C. Izturis - 2B O. Hudson - LF R. Braun - 1B P. Fielder - CF J. Upton - RF G. Gross - C J. Estrada - 3B M. Gamel

Milwaukee at Houston: 8-4

W: B. Webb (1-0); L: J. Jennings (0-1)
HR: - / Patterson (1)
SB: R. Braun (1), O. Hudson 3 (3) / F. Lopez (1)
E: P. Fielder (1), G. Gross (1) / C. Patterson (1)
MoM: C. Patterson - 1/4, 1 R, HR, 3 RBI
Time: 3:22
Attendance: 40833


Elsewhere:

Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be out seven to eight weeks with a strained rotator cuff muscle.

[Loeffle]

Originally Posted by Vris

I didn't think a man that large could steal 25 bags in a season.

Well, I didn't create him with SB 78/100

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


8th April 2009

The Yankees re-signed reliever Dennys Reyes (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for another year. The Mexican heavyweight will make $3,620,000.

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


8th April 2009


Game #2 – Milwaukee [1-0] (D. Bush 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Houston [0-1] (M. Albers 0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SS C. Izturis - 2B O. Hudson - LF R. Braun - 1B P. Fielder - CF J. Upton - RF G. Gross - C J. Estrada - 3B M. Gamel

Milwaukee at Houston: 2-9

W: M. Albers (1-0); L: D. Bush (0-1)
HR: R. Braun 2 (2) / -
SB: - / F. Lopez (2), J. Towles (1)
E: M. Gamel (1) / C. Patterson (2)
MoM: J. Towles - 2/4, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB
Time: 2:57
Attendance: 35899

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


9th April 2009

Off-Day


Elsewhere:

Disaster for the Astros! Their newly acquired CF Mike Cameron (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI) tore his achilles tendon today and is out for the season. Cameron arrived only ten days ago in a trade that sent Carlos Lee (.273, 1 HR, 3 RBI) to the Padres.

The first rehab start of Carlos Villanueva for AAA Nashville went very well. In 7.1 IP, he allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out eight. He didn't allow any earned runs. The Sounds rallied in the ninth to beat Oklahoma 4-3. Former first round pick Ángel Tapia picked up his first save.

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


10th April 2009

The first real series of the season sends us to Arizona. A team which more or less on the same high level the past two season as we. But we have now their ace in Brandon Webb, while they signed Ben Sheets to a long term contract. In Alan Embree, Juan Cruz and Bill Hall they also have three other ex-Brewers on their active roster.


Injury Report:

Milwaukee
- CL S. Fujita (4 weeks)
- 2B R. Weeks (6-7 weeks)

Arizona
- SS S. Drew (5 weeks)


Game #3 – Milwaukee [1-1] (Y. Gallardo 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Arizona [2-2] (S. Marcum 0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SS C. Izturis - 2B O. Hudson - LF R. Braun - 1B P. Fielder - CF J. Upton - RF G. Gross - C J. Estrada - 3B M. Gamel

Milwaukee at Arizona: 2-5

W: S. Marcum (1-0); L: Y. Gallardo (0-1)
H: A. Embree (1), C. Robertson (1), D. Davis (1)
S: J. Cruz (1)
HR: - / -
SB: O. Hudson (4), C. Izturis (1) / -
E: R. Braun (1), Y. Gallardo 2 (2) / T. Wiggington (1), C. Jackson (1)
MoM: S. Marcum - 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Time: 2:41
Attendance: 49011


Elsewhere:

The Giants will have to deal without 2B Ray Durham (.412, 0 HR, 5 RBI) for two to three weeks. The veteran has a tender anterior cruciate ligament.

Manny Parra's first start since last June didn't go well. He allowed ten hits and five earned runs in 4.2 IP. The Sounds eventually lost 2-6 against the Red Hawks.

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


11th April 2009


Game #4 – Milwaukee [1-2] (C. Capuano 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Arizona [3-2] (B. Sheets 0-0, 6.75 ERA)

SS C. Izturis - 2B O. Hudson - LF R. Braun - 1B P. Fielder - CF J. Upton - C J. Estrada - 3B M. Lowell - RF S. Victorino

Milwaukee at Arizona: 8-3

W: C. Capuano (1-0); L: B. Sheets (0-1)
H: D. Romero (1)
HR: R. Braun (3), G. Gross (1) / T. Wiggington (2), C. Gonzalez (2)
SB: S. Victorino (1), J. Upton (1) / -
CS: - / E. Bonifacio (1), H. Blalock (1)
E: S. Victorino (1) / M. Montero (1)
MoM: G. Gross - 1/1, 1 R, HR, 3 RBI
Time: 3:03
Attendance: 41864


Elsewhere:

The Astros LF Lance Berkman (.158, 1 HR, 2 RBI) hit his 300th career home run. His career average is .302.

The Vancouver Marmots (5-0) are MLB's only unbeaten team. The only winless team is surprise surprise Texas (0-5).

[Loeffle]

April 2009 - Milwaukee Brewers
Manager and GM Fritsche


12th April 2009


Game #4 – Milwaukee [2-2] (F. Rosario 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Arizona [3-3] (K. Slowey 0-1, 4.70 ERA)

SS C. Izturis - RF G. Gross - LF R. Braun - 1B P. Fielder - CF J. Upton - C J. Estrada - 3B M. Gamel - 2B M. Reynolds

Milwaukee at Arizona: 5-6

W: K. Slowey (1-1); L: F. Rosario (0-1)
H: A. Embree (2), R. Speier (2)
S: J. Valverde (2)
HR: G. Gross (2) / C. Quentin (1)
CS: P. Fielder (1) / -
E: J. Accardo (1) / E. Bonifacio (2)
MoM: G. Gross - 3/5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Time: 3:19
Attendance: 40133