Which Brewers starting pitcher has most to prove in 2012?

With Monday being the first official workout for Brewers pitchers and catchers at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, it's time to start thinking baseball. More specifically, I really wanted to take a closer look at the starting pitchers on the Brewers staff in this post. As I talked in a post last month, all five starters return from last season. Usually with everyone back complacency could be a factor in performance this season. But with this group, all five have something to prove. With the status of Ryan Braun up in the air, the team will lean on the pitching staff to carry them through the time he is out.

We'll start with the man that proved he was the ace last season, Yovani Gallardo (Baseball reference stats). He was the man that the team turned to in the playoffs to get big wins and throughout the regular season was a horse, winning a career high 17 games and was the first Brewers pitcher to strike out 200 batters in three consecutive seasons in team history. His 3.52 ERA was a career high for a full season. Most importantly, he walked just 59 batters, or just 2.6 per nine innings. That's a full one batter less than his previous best set in 2010. The big number for Gallardo, and this is what he has to prove is the 207 innings he threw last season, plus the 26 innings he threw in 12 days in the playoffs.. That's 44 1/3 innings more than his previous high for a season. Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci has come up with the "Verducci Effect" which tracks the jumps in innings a pitcher makes from year to year. Anything over 30 for a 25-and-under hurler has a good chance of resulting in injury or regression the following season. So, he's got that and a season to show that he is in fact the true ace of the staff this season.

After Gallardo, Zack Greinke proved himself last year, after getting the ire of fans with his basketball injury during spring training. After missing all of Spring Training Greinke took only three starts in the minors before he made his Brewers debut May 4. While the Brewers played well behind him when he took the mound, his performances were lackluster at times. The Brewers went 10-5 in his first 15 starts (he went 7-4), but his 4.84 ERA was not Greinke-like (Game logs). His strikeouts were there, but he'd get wreckless at times. The second half of the season was where Greinke turned the corner and showed why he has a Cy Young award in his trophy case. From July 27 on, Greinke was 9-2, leading the Brewers to an 11-2 record during that stretch. He posted a 2.77 ERA, struck out 87 while walking just 27 (Game Logs). Those were the numbers fans were expecting out of the gate. This season, he's got to make it through the spring and then start the season with the same effort he finished last season with. If he does that, he will push Gallardo and have a shot to win an NL Cy Young. Oh, and how can I forget he is a free agent after this season. So he's auditioning for a possible contract. Now, the Brewers are rumored to want a deal with him and it sounds like something he would welcome. We shall see how that pans out.

Shaun Marcum is the middle man in the starting rotation and could take the cake as the most interesting and maybe the one with the most to prove. I can't remember a guy having a regular season like him and then tanking that bad. He pitched just 9.2 postseason innings and allowed 17 hits and 16 runs, all earned, during that time. Yeah, it was bad. That makes what he did during the regular season seem out of place. It was rather stellar. He went 13-7 and posted a 3.54 ERA which was .02 behind Gallardo as the best of the staff (Game Logs). His 200.2 innings were a career high. But, when it comes down to it, the awful outings he had in Phoenix in the NLDS and the two outings in the NLCS against the Cardinals are the black eye on his 2011 season. Like it or not, that's how it is. Add to the fact that he's also a free agent adds to the mix where other teams will be keeping an eye on him. When it comes to the Brewers signing him, I really only see them signing either he or Greinke. Not both.

Randy Wolf was as consistent a No. 4 starter last season as there was in the Majors. He hadhttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2149688284499501924#editor/target=post;postID=7026812923272109016 the most innings during the regular season with 212.1 innings pitched and his 3.69 ERA is the fourth lowest of his 12-year Major League career. He struck out 134 hitters while walking 66, but allowed just 214 hits for the regular season (Game Logs). Those numbers aren't jump-off-the-page great, but they are pretty good. During the Brewers run last season when they took over the NL Central, Wolf was the focal point. He won five straight decisions in late July into early August. He was the tough-luck loser last season at times, losing five games on the season when he allowed three runs or less. What does Wolf have to prove? He too is a free agent after this season. It seems unlikely the team will resign him as he will be 35 this season. Last season he was the pitcher they wanted when they signed him prior to the 2009 season.

Chris Narveson is back to close out the rotation and after listening to a discussion on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee Monday, one would think he would be the guy that could become complacent. But Drew Olson doesn't see that happening with him. I say he has something to prove because the pitching staff for 2013 is going to be retooled and if he wants to be a part of it and move up from the No. 5 slot, he'll have to work at it. At one point in 2011 Narveson was 2-4 through May with a 4.68 ERA. Once the calendar turned to June, Narvey turned it on. He went 9-4 the rest of the way with a 4.32 ERA (Game Logs). That's about what you would want out of your No. 5 guy.

So, after all that, it seems pretty clear who the guy with the most to prove is. That's Marcum. The postseason can define guys. If there were ever a reason people, or fans, can point to and say "That's why the team didn't go to the World Series," it's him. The biggest way to make us as fans forget about that is to have the same regular season he had last year. General Managers across the Majors will also have to say he is the most interesting because he was an innings hog last year. It was a personal high for him, but it showed the elbow had healed after his Tommy John Surgery. If he backs that up again and something can't be worked out to stay in Milwaukee, a big deal awaits him next season.

What do you think? Comment and let me know!

Top five Brewers storylines heading into Spring Training 2012

With the sendoff of the semi full of equipment from Miller Park Thursday, the countdown to Spring Training is officially on. Yes, pitchers and catchers report to Maryvale Baseball Park outside Phoenix in nine days! That has me already crafting up the five biggest storylines to follow throughout camp. Let's jump right into it.

5. Injuries. The overwhelming story after the first few days of Spring Training last year was Zack Greinke's basketball injury. The team cannot afford a distraction or an injury like that in this camp with the Ryan Braun situation already looming large on what will happen. Rickie Weeks is coming back from an injury at the end of last season. I know he came back to play in the playoffs, but really wasn't the same player he was before the injury. If something were to happen to Greinke or any of the five returning starting pitchers, things could go a little sideways in Maryvale and beyond. I know every teams needs to avoid the injury bug, but I would have to say the margin for error for this team is quite slim already before injuries.

4. The starting rotation and the back end of the bullpen are established even before the guys even start heading towards the dessert, but the middle of the bullpen is still up in the air. As I wrote a couple weeks back, that's where there would be openings to guys to make the roster. Manny Parra is back from injury. Zach Braddock hopes to have figured things out with his sleep disorder. Beyond those two, it's anyone's guess who will emerge and close out the sixth and seventh spots in the bullpen. As a fan, this is one of those things that will only be read about in the box scores because if you watch or pay attention to every inning of every single one of these games, you probably will lose your mind in boredom.

3. Whether or not the Brewers fess up that signing Nori Aoki was an insurance policy for a possible Ryan Braun suspension is one thing, having Aoki shine during the spring will give hope that the team won't fall on its face if the MVP is suspended for the first 50 games. Aoki has been a batting champ in Japan, so he can hit. But can he hit MLB pitching? Can he make it in left field? Those are the questions surrounding him and should be something that has to be watched through the spring as a whole not just a handful of games.

2. Mat Gamel has to show the coaching staff and all of us in Brewer Nation he is ready to take the next step and be the everyday first baseman for this team. It should be noted he is out of Minor League options, so he will have to make the big league roster or it's up in the air where he'll end up this season. Judging by what he did not at first base in the field and more significantly at the plate, Gamel has come into his own. If he gets cconsistent at-bats this spring he should set himself up to get those at-bats during the season, too, which will only better his chances to avoid being platooned with Corey Hart at first.

1. The Ryan Braun Situation might be the biggest story in all of baseball that will develop between now and the nine days leading into Spring Training. News broke today the arbitrator does not have to deliver the verdict on Braun's appeal by Monday. If it doesn't come down by then, it should still be out by next Saturday before the Brewers officially open camp. Regardless of the outcome, Braun will be at camp and ready to follow up his MVP season.

There they are. Of course, seeing how Alex Gonzalez and Aramis Ramirez take to the Brewers and the surroundings here will be something to watch, but it's one of those things that will get worked out as the spring unfolds.

Did I miss one? Hit me up with some comments!

Fate of Brewers season doesn't entirely lie with Braun

With Ryan Braun finally getting his day to appeal his positive test for a banned substance, the National League MVP and the Brewers can finally start to put the final pieces together for the 2012 season. Will the Brewers have their superstar left fielder or not though the first two months of the season? We will find out shortly.

Maybe it's the optimist in me and believer that this season will be just as special as the last, but part of me thinks the Brewers can hold the fort down while Braun is away and keep the National League Central crown within reach if he is out for the worst-case scenario of 50 games. Don't get me wrong, Brauns .332 batting average, 33 home runs, 111 RBIs and 33 stolen bases will be hard to replace in the top third of the lineup on top of the loss of Prince Fielder, but for 50 games and 57 days, the Brewers can weather the storm. Here's how.

When Rickie Weeks went out in August last year, fans, myself included, feared things could go south, but the pitching emerged to carry the team to the NL Central title. That will have to happen at the start of this season. All five starters return and all have something to prove.

Yovani Gallardo is ready to prove he is a true ace, even if he's not the pitcher on the staff with a Cy Young Trophy in his trophy case. As good as he was in the playoffs last year, is the level I expect to see Gallardo all season. He was inconsistent at times last year letting his pitch count get the best of him and force him out of games early. I'd expect to see that as a point of emphasis from the start of Spring Training.

Zack Greinke, you know the guy who does have a Cy Young, wants to put the rough spring from last year behind him and I expect him to come out of the gates strong. While Gallardo was shining in the postseason last year, Shaun Marcum was busy flipping his glove in disgust as he lost all three starts in awful fashion. (Can't forget the glove flip in Phoenix!). The kicker on top of it all for Greinke and Marcum is both are free agents after the season and are auditioning for big money elsewhere.

Randy Wolf is in a similar boat in the final year of his three-year deal. Last year he was the guy that was the most consistent pitcher during the season, but got little to no run support in some of his best outings. Finally Chris Narveson is back in the five-hole at the back of the rotation and has to prove himself to a point to maybe earn a chance top step up on the rotation with possibly two or three of the other guys leaving the rotation after the season.

As for the offense, the thought with filling the shoes of Prince was not to drop it all on one guy, but to spread the load throughout the lineup. That has to be the mindset of Corey Hart, Weeks (who should move up to the No. 3 spot in front of Aramis Ramirez) and everyone including the new guy Nori Aoki.

Only time will tell how things unfold, but the pieces are in place for the Brewers to be at least within shouting distance of the top of the division if Braun is out for 50 games at worst or (what I'm hoping for) a 25-game ban. The pitching is the key to the team, especially the starters out of the gate.

Previewing the Brewers vs. D-Backs NLDS

It's finally here! What us as Brewers fans figured would be on the horizon at the start of September is now upon us with the National League Divisional Series opening Saturday at Miller Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It's a series, to be honest that is not an easy one for the Brewers, but definitely not one that are an underdog in, either.

As the Brewers learned in 2008, having an offense may be important, but winning a playoff series comes down to pitching. Both teams have named their Game 1 starters with Yovani Gallardo (17-10, 3.52 ERA), the man who started Opening Day, going for the Brewers and Ian Kennedy, who won 21 games (with a 2.88 ERA) during the season for the Diamondbacks. That's basically both aces going for Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and D-Backs skipper Kirk Gibson.

Winning Game 1 is crucial for both teams as the winner of that game gets a great advantage in this best-of-five series. You'd have to expect both guys to go deep into the game and keep that one close with things coming down to defense and clutch hitting. That's what scares me about the Brewers. There have been times this season where they just shut down with runners in scoring position and times when their defense has been shotty, at best. But they are at home and they did win 57 games there during the regular season which makes me believe they will be ready to click on all cylinders to start the series off.

If both pitchers are on their game it may take just a couple mistakes to turn the game. That's why I think the Brewers might have the edge with their offense because they can do so much with those mistakes, blasting them over the fence at Miller Park. That isn't just going on potential. In recent weeks, especially over the last week which saw them go 5-1 to close the season at Miller Park, the Brewers have been bashing home runs.
With both teams having solid bullpens with closers on both sides having over 45 saves apiece, that's what it could come down to.

Looking beyond to Game 2, the Brewers have a decision to make with Zack Greinke, but I'd lean toward him starting in Game 3 with either Shaun Marcum or Randy Wolf getting the nod in Game 2. Arizona has named starters for Games 2 and 3 with Tim Hudson (16-12, 3.49 ERA) going in Game 2 and Joe Saunders (12-12, 3.69 ERA) getting the nod in Game 4.

As a Brewers fan, part of me thinks this series will probably go four games with the Diamondbacks taking Game 2 and the Brewers pulling it together to shut down the Diamondbacks and win their first playoff series since the 1982 American League Championship Series. If it does go to a Game 5, the Brewers would most certainly tab Gallardo to get the start at home in front of what should be a rocking Miller Park. Having home field is so important to this team, rolling him out there with the home field would be what puts the Brew Crew over the top.


In case you were wondering, yes I will be in attendance for both games from the perch in section 223, row 6. A big shout out to those who I'll be spending my weekend with including @RJO25, @jessgaler and @aehlen. For the latter two, that is their first Wilber's Way shout out. Hope to see you at the tailgate to prepare for this great weekend of games! Giddy up!



Usually I'd do my Bears and NFL weekend preview in this part, but I haven't had a Brewers post in a bit and couldn't not do one heading into the weekend. That said, I still have my NFL picks and an abbreviated Bears preview.

Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Ron "Chico" Rivera and the Panthers come to Soldier Field this weekend in a game that, honestly has me a bit worried. The Bears have to be favorites in this one, but Newton has been a highlight film through the first three weeks of the season and could post a threat against a weak Bears secondary. I still like the Bears' front four and their ability to get after Cam in the pocket and make Newton pass the ball downfield and field them, but from what we've seen from him, he can chuck it around the field.
That turns the attention back to the Bears defense. Fortunately for Mike Martz, the Panthers defense is nowhere close to the Packers defense and should make him look a little better this week. The key is simple, PUT THE BALL IN MATT FORTE'S HANDS!
Score prediction: Bears 24, Panthers 20.

Here's the rest of the picks. Last week I had another 10-6 week to push my record for the season to 33-15. Winners, as always, are in bold.
Bills at Bengals
Panthers at Bears
Titans at Browns
Lions at Cowboys
Vikings at Chiefs
Redskins at Rams
Saints at Jaguars
49ers at Eagles
Steelers at Texans
Falcons at Seahawks
Giants at Cardinals
Broncos at Packers
Patriots at Raiders
Dolphins at Chargers
Jets at Ravens
Colts at Buccaneers

Brewers Nation: Don't panic as postseason looms

Call me the eternal optimist or a fan that thinks the last week of the Brewers season was what I called it a couple weeks back, a market correction. That's why I'm not worried about this team going forward to not only clinch the National League Central title and beyond into the NL Divisional Series.

And before you jump on me for blindly thinking like this, I'll tell you why. Of course there's Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, a healthy Rickie Weeks getting healthy and back in his groove, but most importantly a steady pitching staff that has been the backbone of this team all year.

Yes there have been (and almost always are) ups and downs over the course of a baseball season. That has certainly been the case for the Brewers, but over the last week to 10 days, it has been a bit of feast or famine for this Brewers team as it works itself out of the funk it was in against the Cardinals and Phillies at the start of the month.

The biggest key I can take out of the funk and even the great weekend showing in Cincinnati was that while Braun and Fielder have played well, most would agree they are not on the tears we saw them on at times during the season. These things go in cycles and you'd have to think things are coming back toward at upswing at the right time. Last Tuesday night's game against the Rockies showed what both mean to this team, combining to homer for both of the team's runs that led to the dramatic walk-off victory (Did you see us in the 223?). The two of them getting hot at the right time, in the playoffs no less would make this team almost unstoppable. While that may be a bit of me wishing, I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility as niether have shown signs of cracking under the pressure of clinching a division title in this race.

There are no trades that could help a team looking into the playoffs into September, but that's what the return of Rickie Weeks from the disabled list feels like for this Brewers team. Sure this team went on it's great 27-5 run while he was on the DL, but the offense was not what it was with him in it as the pitching carried this team. Manager Ron Roenicke will tell you this team needs Weeks if it wants to make noise in the playoffs.

Weeks finally played his first full game since coming off the DL Monday night and said he felt pretty good about things. It's been a slow process, but you can see he's starting to get his bearings back at the plate and will serve as great protection to Braun and Fielder hitting out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup with his power and speed that could set the table for the bottom half of the order to do some damage.

Of course a team is only as good as it's starting pitcher and this season has shown what that looks like in Milwaukee for the first time in a long time. Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf and even Chris Narveson were the big part of the late July-August push that put this team where it is now. While they've had a couple hiccups in recent weeks, I'd give them a couple passes as you'd expect this offense to back them with a couple runs each night, so it's not all their fault for a couple of the losses, you just want them to stay consistent and for much of the last week, the top four especially have been spot on. There really isn't much question as to whether they can keep it up because they have for the entire second half of the season.

This team has all the tools it needs to be successful this postseason. The next week will be a bit of preparation for that as I'd expect Roenicke to tweak the pitching rotation to line things up for the NLDS, but playing meaningful games up until the final day of the season will pay dividends. Should be fun to watch unfold.

WW 193: Roadtrip can still be salvaged in Miami for Brewers

First off, I know I've been gone for a while. I've been writing some freelance high school baseball stuff for another Web site and doing it in the time I would have normally posted on here. So, I have a free night and figured I'd get back to updating things on "The Way."


After losing two of three games in Cincinnati this week, all the talk surrounding the Brewers is that the team can't win on the road. Well, they can't win in Great American Ballpark to save themselves, going just 2-12 in the last two years. Those are just awful numbers and may be playing mind tricks on the team. It was something the guys on 540 ESPN's D-List talked about with Tom Haudricourt a week or so ago and kind of makes sense in that the guys end up trying too hard. In baseball, you can't do that much if at all because it shows and works against you.
Looking at what is coming up in Florida against the Marlins, all is not lost and they could put some things together to get home with a .500 road trip when it is all said and done. Randy Wolf goes Friday and we should expect Wil Nieves to get the nod behind the plate. With him back catching Wolf, the lefty has allowed just seven hits in the two games. Ricky Nolasco is a guy the Brewers usually hit pretty well, so I'm not worried about how things shake out there.
On Saturday, Yovani Gallardo looks to follow up another gem last Sunday when he pushed his record to 7-2 on the years and watched his ERA drop to 3.89 on the season. Yo was the pitcher of the month for May and seems to have put the hiccups (that's what I'll call them) behind him in the last two weeks of April. Ricky Volstad didn't walk a bunch of guys in his last outing, but got rocked by the Diamondbacks and lasted just 3 1/3 innings. The Brewers offense should be able to deliver something similar. He's just 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA, too, so I see the bats having a chance to come around.
Sunday's game is the one with the biggest chance for a Brewers loss, in my eyes, with Chris Narveson going against Anibal Sanchez. Narvey has been bitten by one bad inning again this season, especially lately. Sanchez has been dominant of late, including his last outing where he went eight inning and gave up six hits and K'd eight.
Finally, on Monday Zack Greinke gets the nod and we are all still waiting for the dominant Zack to show his form. As it's noted in the MLB story I got the probables from, the Brewers are 5-1 in games he starts, so it seems even if he's just slightly above average, they play well behind the guy.
I know I focused a lot on the pitching, but it wasn't that bad in the two losses early in the week. If the offense can find a way to tack on the runs late in the game Wednesday, they win the game and the late rally means nothing. It's what they did Tuesday in earning the win and snuff out any chance of a comeback the Reds seem to have in close games there against the Crew.
Corey Hart continues to be hot at the plate despite his bout with dehydration and some are even hinting of a move for him to the No. 5 spot behind Ryan and Prince as opposed to in front of them. I'm not sure if that means going with Gomez and Morgan in front of them full-time. If so, I'm not sure I'm behind that. Gomez has done some good things and I'm not sure a platoon in the No. 2 hole is a good idea.


Just a short bit on the NBA Finals as it's on in the background behind me. I picked the Heat to win in six, but was hoping for some fight from the Mavericks. Through the first half, they are shooting much better and should be in this in the end. Hope they can steal this one and head to Dallas.
I'm loving the word that Cavs fans are printing up shirts and getting behind the Mavs. I say I love it because it's so comical, but I'm not sure I would be proud of the fact you are rooting against one man. I know he burned you, but get over it.

Now it's time for the Nussie Hunter. I good friend of mine got married over the weekend and when I saw the news Tony Romo did, as well, I couldn't resist to have more fun with Candace Crawford. Burlington's favorite native son has surely done himself well. She's amazing. I'm not behind the fact people are ripping him for having a bridal registry that included $10 and $20 items. Not everyone he knows is rich. Give him a break there. Makes complete sense. Anyway, here's Candace. Enjoy!

Brewers can turn corner on this roadtrip

About the time the Brewers started the season 0-4 many of the naysayers or "nonbelievers" out there figured they could cash out on the season after just five days.
Well, the Reds did win the NL Central last season and are a damn good team, so those of us that know baseball and know you can't get too up or down hung around for a full week of baseball and now have a 5-5 team on our hands with things looking to get better on this nine-game road trip to the East coast.
The Brewers showed what they were made of coming back to Miller Park and going 5-2 against the Braves and Cubs. Now it's time for the Pirates and Nationals before heading to Philly to trade body blows with the Phillies.
What the Brewers showed during the homestand was what most people that know the team figured they'd show. Yovanni Gallardo was great in getting the first win of the season and so-so Sunday as Casey McGehee belted a home run in the eighth to down the Cubs. Shaun Marcum showed improvement and should keep getting better when the rain ends and he takes the hill Wednesday in Pittsburgh. And let's not forget Chris Narveson who could show he belongs with the Zack Greinke's, Gallardo's and Marcum's with his not allowing a run in 13 innings thus far without allowing a run. And that's just the starting pitching.
Prince finally hit a homer, Ryan Braun is hitting the long ball and in bunches and for the first time I can remember both seem to be absolutely hot at the plate right now. With both of them grooving together, the Brewers are almost untouchable. Yes, they need guys on in front of them and with Rickie Weeks off to the start he is off to and either Nyjer Morgan or Carlos Gomez doing just enough in the No. 2 slot, runners were finally on when they went yard over the weekend against the Cubs and it paid off.
During the homestand, the Brewers played the type of baseball most of us expected them to play. Well, everyone but Randy Wolf, but let's not get too greedy here, people. And to think they will be getting Jonathan Lucroy back tomorrow night and Manny Parra and LaTroy Hawkins should be joining the team in the coming days in the bullpen. Then, attention can turn to the "Big Two" on the DL in Corey Hart and Zack Greinke who are both at least two weeks away from returning to the big league club.
Until then, getting to maybe a couple games above .500 would be where to expect this team to be and put themselves in a spot to rattle off some wins and make the move they have to in order to challenge the Reds for the division. At least, that's what I see them being capable of.
For those that had written them off after four games, fans like that aren't really fans at all. They look for a reason and an excuse to jump ship and just seem way too negative. Will the Brewers lose four games in a row again this season? Probably. But they'll also win four games in a row a couple times, too, so you're not supposed to get too high or low.
This team now is pretty good and when the pieces all return, will be one of the top teams in the NL both offensively and with pitching.


I didn't have a chance to catch Monday Night Raw last night, but Twitter caught fire last night when Adam "Edge" Copeland announced his retirement due to the pain he's been struggling with in his neck. He leaves as the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Superstar who has held the most titles in the history of the company.
Those are the on-paper accolades, but the man was more than just titles. As he mentions in the video, he was part of some great moments. If you know me, you know I am pretty partial to John Cena, but real recognizes real and it was great to watch John and Edge go at it week after week a few years back. The two played great off one another and brought out the best in each other in the ring and on the mic. It was so fun to watch.
The defining moment for Edge, though, is his ability in the ladder match. No one man redefined one match in the last 10 years. He was just so creative in how to use the ladder.
It is sad to see him leave the sport (yes sport), but it's good to know his name lives on and legacy will be felt for a long time.

Now to the Nussie Hunter portion of the broadcast. If you haven't seen the trailer for the new Fast and Furious movie, "Fast Five", you're missing out. It is the first movie I'm looking forward to this spring and summer and looks to be great. Of course it's great to see the boys kick ass and drive great cars, but Jordana Brewster steals the show. She will be on the cover of the May issue of Maxim, which should be great. Be sure to check out the full gallery, here. Below is a sample. You're welcome!

Race to fill Brewers fifth starter post is clear as mud

Sorry for being away over the last week or so. I don't get too worked up over Spring Training over positive things or negative showings, especially with guys that have been in the league for a bit. I suggest you do the same.
With the word last week that Zack Greinke was going to miss his first three starts of the regular season with that cracked rib, speculation then turned to who will man the No. 5 starter role with everyone else sliding up in the rotation for the first two weeks of the season? Today, that question got answered... Sort of.
We know the first of those three starts will not go to Mark Rogers. The reason? His injury set him behind most of the other pitchers who are starters and he is only able to go one inning while everyone else in the running is up to a full five innings at this point.
So who's left? Glad you asked. There are a couple familiar names and one we'll all have to learn. The man that now seems to be the front runner to be picked by Ron Roenicke is Wily Peralta, as Brewers.com's Adam McCalvy reports. Peralta's Spring stats are nothing to get real excited about, but he's a right-hander and has pitched the most innings and could be the most ready when the season starts in 15 days.
The candidate known by the team and fans is Marco Rivera. Of course, it's hard to forget his "questionable" injury he suffered last season before the Brewers tried sending him back down to Nashville. His stats last year weren't much to desire, but he was serviceable and did deliver some solid innings. In relief, he wasn't that great there.
Fellow rookie Eulogio De La Cruz is the third arm in the mix and he is probably on the outside right now because, as his stats show, he is not Major League material just yet.
These guys will not be asked to go nine innings. The bullpen will be on call after the third inning when the winner of this battle starts a game, so no need to put too much into how good these guys will do going deep into a game. Plus, guys like Manny Parra and Kameron Loe add long-relief options in the pen that could bridge the gap to the back end of the pen to close those games.
That said, to me, it seems it's between Peralta and Rivera at the moment to earn the job. Of course one may get the first one and the other may be the second and will be sent back down to Nashville following their game. That will bring a fresh arm back to the bullpen. I'm not decided on either guy and will have to take another week to let this thing sort itself out.


It's tourney time and while I have only completed one bracket, but have a few more I need to finish. Yes, it's a fun time of year when the girl who knows nothing about sports, but likes the Bullfrogs to beat the Blue Demons because she likes frogs and wins $300 in your pool.
Heard about the Wall Street Journal's blind NCAA tourney pick 'em. It's pretty cool. Be sure to check it out, here.
Got any pools you want me in? Shoot me a link on my FB or Twitter.

Irina Shayk may have landed the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but it's very clear who the stunner of the publication is this year. The Nussie Hunter showed you to her a week before the issue was released and can't get enough of her. Her name is Kate Upton. And she's a bikini model that has been busy of late. Be sure so check her out on Guyism.com, with a sample below. Going to use a sturdy limb to predict she's got a shot at the cover next year!

Greinke injury adds salt on Brewers injury news

I was actually planning on writing something today on how injuries have been the only news coming out of Brewers Spring Training in Maryvale when I was in my car and heard Zack Greinke would miss 2-4 more weeks with a fractured rib.
That news, first broke by the Journal-Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt, adds a bit of insult to injury, literally. I know it's still early and the odds all five starters would make it through the entire season without a minor DL stint from any of them would not happen, but to start the season with all this drama, puts the team behind the eight ball so to speak.
Maybe it's the fact Greinke was hurt playing in a pickup basketball game and it has me a bit miffed about the whole ordeal. There's nothing wrong with a guy playing other sports and basketball is a good one to work on endurance. But how he described his games and someone telling him he was going to get hurt, is not a good sign.
As Jaymes Langrehr wrote over on his The Brewers Bar blog, this isn't something to get too worked up over. I see what he's saying. He's not missing the season or an extended period of time. That could be true if this doesn't linger around. The team and the training staff knew of the injury and let him play with it. His control in his two spring starts were far from Greinke's norm. We at least have that in hindsight. But he cannot rush back and has to heed the advice from the doctors at all turns to tread lightly. For the first time in his career he is playing on a team with extremely high expectations. He has made it clear he is a firey competitor and wants to be a part of things. But those expectations are nothing without him. At least, they're not as high without him. He is the Ace of Spades so to speak and will lead the staff when he gets healthy.
As I said, I was planning on writing an injury post today before this news came out and the biggest news after Greinke is Corey Hart. He can't even turn when fielding balls in the outfield, so it's time to keep him shut down for a while. I'm not worried about him so much as Greinke. Yes, he needs at bats, but he doesn't need extended time to build himself up to get his timing down at the plate. He can get 10 at-bats in a day on the Minor League side of the Spring Training complex in Maryvale and be fine. He is still on track to start Opening Day in Cincy.
With Mark Rogers, one of the likely candidates to make fill-in appearances in Greinke's absence at the start of the season also shut down with an injury, the pieces are already falling out of place for the Brewers. At this point they are nothing too serious and can be overcome before the season starts, it's just hard to build back up and get ready once the season starts. Games are every day and this team will be in a race throughout the season, unable to afford throwing a few games by the wayside while multiple stars are healing. That's how seasons get lost.
Am I worried yet? No. I am concerned. News other than that of injuries is welcome. There is some I'm seeing, but the biggest has been the injuries. Hopefully things will start to work themselves out over the next three and a half weeks.

Going to shift some gears here. Remember a couple weeks back when The Rock made his return to a WWE ring? Well, it was Stone Cold's turn this week. The Rattlesnake makes his entrance around 8:30 if you don't want to watch this whole thing.


Now onto our Nussie Hunter portion of tonight's broadcast. Aubrey O'Day premiered her new reality show on the WE Network Monday night. She wasn't the main attraction, however. That honor went to the Krupa sisters. I'm sure you've heard of Joanna. She was a Juggy dancer on the Man Show back in the day and has made a couple appearances in Playboy. Her sister is equally as exquisite. As you can see below, they stole the show. There's more where that came from, here.

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.

Pinch yourself, Greinke really is a Brewer!

I woke up Sunday morning like it was Christmas, hoping what I had seen Saturday night was true. Many sources confirmed it. So Monday, when I saw Zack Greinke had caught an early-morning flight to come to town and meet the media, there was no way it couldn't be true. The way it all went down Saturday night gave me reason to wonder and just hope everything was true. But as I wrote earlier today on Examiner.com, multiple reports confirmed what was originally reported by Jim Breen, writer of Bernie's Crew, a Brewers fan blog. Here's the video of that trip to the Brewers clubhouse this morning.
Yes, the Brewers have acquired the 2009 Cy Young Award winner to lead the staff into the 2011 season as one of the contenders. (Wow, I can't believe I just wrote that.)
The words that ring the best to me from what he said this morning was that he is "the happiest he's been since he was drafted" in 2002. Those are some strong words and considering he had to waive his no-trade clause to make the deal stick, says it was partly his choice to come here. Well, Zack , welcome to Brew Town.
I've had a lot of conversations with friends over the move in the last two days and he immediately does make this team a contender. Before you jump on the "The Brewers have no offense" wagon, remember the Giants had the worst offense in baseball last year, but got hot at the plate and had the pitching all year and ended up winning the World Series.
There is one question mark that I do see that does need to be addressed and that is defense. Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain provide great defense up the middle for this team and would have likely been the Opening Day starters here. Now Yuniesky Betancourt at short and the prospect of giving Carlos Gomez the reigns back in center makes me a bit nervous. While the Giants may have had bad offense, they game through when needed because of potential. I'm not so sure those two guys have that potential. Yes, the Brewers resigned Craig Counsell today, but you can't expect him to start or play significant time before his age is evident.
The moves to solidify those positions will not be big ones, but they'll need to be ones for role players that can step in and contribute mostly in the field, but occasionally at the plate. Just as I don't really know who would be on the block to trade away for Greinke, I do not know where this player or players will come from. Just as Melvin has done in the past two weeks, I'm sure he'll find someone to step in if they are out there.

The move for the Brewers to get Greinke was big news (Rightfully so). And all the Cubs fans were jacked to get Kerry Wood back. Well, one of my go-to blogs is Miller Park Drunk and he has a shirt that says it better than I could.  You can buy the shirt, here!


A totally non Brewers item to post now, but it was just too cool to not post. Plus, it's Christmas week. One of my favorite times of the year! Enjoy! Oh, and be sure to bust out your lighter app and take part.


Time to get right into the Nussie Hunter portion of the program. Since we're meeting and getting to know Zack Greinke, why not get to know his wife, Emily, as well. She has been ranked among baseball's hottest WAGs over the past couple years. And well, can you blame them after seeing her here and below?