'Other guys' play big role in Brewers 2-0 series lead

For the Brewers to be successful in the postseason, everyone knew MVP candidates Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder would have to be successful at the plate. Through two games, both have not disappointed with Bruan hitting .750 (6 for 8 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and four runs scored) and Fielder .375 (3 of 8 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored). NLDS Stats

What wasn't expected was the contributions of some of the "other guys" in their lineup, namely Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Jonathan Lucroy. Hairston may have been the speculated starter entering the postseason, but when manager Ron Roenicke made the call for the veteran to get the nod over the struggling Casey McGehee, most would say they didn't expect what he's done through two games, hitting .500 with three hits, including a double, plus an RBI and a walk. Hitting in the sixth spot behind what looks to be a nearly healthy Rickie Weeks, Hairston has filled what had been a black hole for most of the season with McGehee struggling.

Many would have thought Roenicke would have tapped Minor League Player of the Year Taylor Green for the spot, but to put a rookie in that spot in the postseason would have been a huge gamble. Roenicke gave Hairston the nod and he's played well since the final weekend of the regular season. For a guy that was brought in to fill the gap while Weeks was out with injury, this has the potential to be one of the best acquisitions this team has made.

This move adds itself to the laundry list of calls made by Roenicke that have all seemed to pan out throughout the season. He's pushed all the right buttons this year and Hairston has stepped in nicely when the stage is as big as it's been all season. It's a credit to both Roenicke and Hairston to be in this spot to help this Brewers lineup. Following the cluster of Braun, Fielder and Weeks Hairston will no doubt see runners on base throughout the series and beyond and if he can continue to deliver, this lineup is that much more dangerous.

Lucroy has come up big, as well, going 3 for 8 (.375) with two RBIs and a run scored. The biggest play he's made doesn't show up in those numbers as the sacrifice squeeze Sunday night that brought Hairston in from third and earned him the nickname "Mr. Bunt." It was the play that broke open the inning that led to five Brewers runs and led to the big 9-4 victory. But, as Diamondbacks Ian Kennedy said, he's not a good hitter. Whatever. Keep thinking that buddy. You also thought you could pitch to Fielder in Game 1. How'd that work out for you?

He's also had a good showing behind the plate for the team, calling the shots for Yovani Gallardo in Game 1 and Zack Greinke in Game 2. Nothing speaks better about a catcher than a pitcher's confidence in him to block a breaking ball in the dirt with runners on base. There were many of those Sunday and all were stopped by "Luc."

The averages aren't there for Corey Hart and Nyjer Morgan to this point in the series, but both had big hits in the sixth inning. Hart's coming after the Diamondbacks intentionally walked pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay and Morgan's two-run single officially busted the game wide open. The Brewers will need both to step up, but both delivered a timely hit, which makes up for things, somewhat. We can live with that.

Going forward, yes Braun and Fielder need to continue to deliver the big hits for this team, but the role players need to continue to put them in a position where they have to get pitched to. It's as much on the big boppers as the rest of the roster. Through two games they've delivered, only time will tell if they can keep it up.



That was the perch for this writer for both Game 1 and 2 of the NLDS at Miller Park with only the best fans the Cathedral has seen. I can say this crowd seemed even livelier than 2008 for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Phillies. Beyond our 223, I couldn't have been happier with the life of the crowd throughout the game. It got a little tense for an inning and a half Sunday, but the fans didn't cash out and when the team needed some life in the bottom of the sixth, us towel-waving "idiots" were there to get loud and make it tough on the Diamondbacks. I can only hope to be back for at least one game of the NLCS and see it get even wilder as we try to have a hand in pushing this team even farther. Keep it up Milwaukee!

Track record shows Zack Greinke is not one to worry about

There has been a lot of talk circulating on Twitter and the blogosphere expressing concern with Zack Greinke's comments to the beat reporters Tuesday.
Here's a link to Adam McCalvy's story on Brewers.com that was up late Tuesday. Over on the J-S side of it all, Tom Haudricourt gave way to Michael Hunt to do more of a column on the sitdown with the 2009 Cy Young winner.
Both also came back yesterday with reactionary stories on the interview. MLB.com got McCalvy's story saying manager Ron Roenicke is a fan of Greinke and Hunt had another column today, as well, saying you make special exceptions for the exceptional talent and that Doug Melvin knew what he was getting into by trading for Greinke.
He said some pretty powerful things in those pieces and was brutally honest, which I love and respect. It's something you don't hear from Major League players anymore because they expect to have their words ripped apart (kind of like what we're doing now).
He said he finds fans annoying and that media is a bit annoying. Should I have a problem with that? I'd guess most fans are annoying. That's why if I see a guy or player out about the town I question whether I should say anything to him. Yes, it would be cool to say hi, but he hears that all the time and doesn't want to be bothered. Plus, some fans are downright annoying when trying to get autographs.
And media, outside of maybe the beat guys you see everyday at the ballpark from mid February through September and hopefully into October, could be annoying. The beat guys can build a friendship with the players and have some repore established. I'd guess he's talking about the national guys who come to town and try to get something quick out of guys and then bolt. Those guys, unless they've been around for a while, aren't well known and don't have those relationships established. I don't have any problems with these.
The other comments he made, to me show off his work ethic and gives you a clue what baseball means to him. He would rather the game be played without money involved like it is today. He's prefer to make what a "normal" person makes to play the game. He said he hates the distractions and just comes to work everyday, whether it's his day to pitch or a day in between where he has to do prep.
I can respect that. Yes, I'm giving him a slight pass because of his social anxiety disorder, but once the season starts he's got blinders on and is focusing on working. In a way, I wish more players had that focus. I'd probably be surprised how many guys come to the stadium drunk or high on a given day.
The other part that raised eyebrows was him saying in Kansas City last year there were times he started to "dog it" at the end of the season. Some people were shocked by this. Come on now. Tell me if the team was losing game after game you wouldn't start to think the same thing. Of course he was working hard, but not to the extent or level he had for himself in the second half of the season. There's been times at past jobs where I've busted my tail and seen others there do much less and still get their check. It makes you question why you work so hard and I totally understand it.
The best way for the Brewers to make sure he doesn't cash it in before they're eliminated from contention is by winning and with the team they have assembled, I don't think that should be a problem this year.


The only problem that could derail the Brewers from contending this season is injuries and Wednesday, just the second day of full-squad workouts, was a bad day. Four different players, including Greinke were bit by the injury bug. Greinke was held out of throwing live BP yesterday, but did throw today and pitching coach Rick Kranitz said he was very happy with what he saw. Here's Haudricourt's "Brewers Blog" post on it.
Of course, there was somewhat major injury news yesterday that Jonathan Lucroy would miss a month of spring training after breaking his right pinky, needing to have a pin placed in it to ensure it heals straight. Add to that Mat Gamel would miss a week with a strained oblique and things looked pretty rough around Maryvale. Let's hope things fall in going into Monday's Spring Training openers with games against the Cubs and Giants.

Onto some pop culture for the day. If you haven't seen the Hangover 2 teaser trailer that has leaked, be sure to take a look. It has some promise and we can only imagine what the guys have gotten themselves into now. It doesn't show us a lot of details, but it's a glimpse. What's up with Allan?


Also big is this fake ET 2 trailer. This isn't real, but shows what the sequel would be like if it were made today. My one question, why are the Jonas Brothers at the center of it?!


OK. Back to reality and the Nussie Hunter of the day. You probably remember Michelle Trachtenberg from back in the day on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Well, she's 25 now and has grown up quite well. Take a look for yourself and check her out in the new Maxim.