Game Recap

Brewers Win in Kuenn Debut

Brewers 5, Mariners 2
Brewers now 24-24 (5th)
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It didn't take long for Harvey Kuenn's new managerial style to pay off.

SEATTLE — There’s no way to know if switching managers after 47 games will make a difference over the long haul for the Milwaukee Brewers. We don’t have a time machine. But today, in Harvey Kuenn‘s managerial debut, it did.

It’s possible that whether Kuenn or Buck Rodgers managed this team today, the offense would have performed the same. The Brewers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI groundout by Ben Oglivie. They increased the lead to two when Marshall Edwards scored on a Little League home run, a triple that led to a run due to a Mariners error. Cecil Cooper made it 3-1 with an RBI single in the sixth, and after the Mariners pulled to within one Cooper added a two-run homer in the eighth.

That’s what you’ll see in the box score. You’ll also see that the Brewers didn’t commit an error in this game, a rarity under Rodgers. But what you won’t see — or might miss — is what happened to Mike Caldwell in the sixth. Or, more precisely, what didn’t happen to him.

Richie Zisk opened the frame with a double to left and Al Cowens followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third with no one out in a 3-1 game. Former manager Buck Rodgers was notorious for taking out pitchers early when they got into trouble, often prematurely. He earned the nickname “Captain Hook” as a result.

Harvey Kuenn stuck with Caldwell. He induced a Gary Gray double play ball that scored Zisk, and Todd Cruz flied out to right to end the inning. Piece of cake.

Caldwell pitched the rest of the game, throwing three hitless innings and retiring nine of 10 batters. He retired 11 of 12 since the two consecutive hits in the sixth.

It was Caldwell’s third complete game of the season and the first time he’s pitched into the ninth since May 8. Yesterday, Rodgers referred to two “cancers” on the team, and many believe one of those players is Caldwell. You cannot underestimate the emotional lift a change in leadership can have on a player like Caldwell.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a new season right now,” said Caldwell. “I’m going to be busting my tail and hoping I can add to what I think is a new team spirit.”

Is today’s game a sign that Harvey will go longer with the starters?

“I would say yes,” he said. “I would say they have to have confidence they can get somebody out in a tough situation. To me, if they’re throwing the ball as well in the eighth inning as when they started, there’s no reason they can’t get the guy out. To me it doesn’t make any difference than if you don’t get the guy out in the second in a tough situation. What difference does it make in the eighth? They wouldn’t be in that situation if they didn’t get them out in the second.”

Follow that? It could be brilliant or it could be gibberish. But today, it worked.

Kuenn continued: “I think Mike was throwing the ball exceptionally well. I think he was throwing as well in the eighth and ninth as he was early in the ball game.”

That’s tough to argue. Through yesterday, the Brewers were a team in disarray, lacking leadership and overflowing with discontent. They were a tight, excitable bunch that lacked execution and accountability. But they were talented.

Today, we saw a new team. We saw a confident team. We saw a team that was loose and able to execute. We saw a complete team.

Will it only last a day? Only time will tell. But this was a good start.

Game Notes: Gorman Thomas‘ shoulder is getting better, and he hit a couple of homers during batting practice. No decision yet on whether he’ll be put on the disabled list … Moose Haas’ elbow tendinitis is well enough to pitch in the June 4 series opener against the A’s … Pitching coach Cal McLish, who has been dealing with health problems, will rejoin the team next week.

Brewers Win, Delay Change

June 1 Leave a Comment

Brewers 2, Mariners 1
Brewers now 23-24 (5th)
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Ted Simmons connected on his sixth home run of the season in the second.

SEATTLE – Maybe things are turning around? Or….

It’s tough to get your hopes up these days. It seems that every time you acknowledge a good game, a game that could be a positive turning point, the Brewers follow it up with three games across the other side of the tracks.

So what do we make of this win? Cautious optimism.

Pete Vuckovich was… encouragingly good. He allowed only a run in 7 2/3 innings on four hits and three walks, striking out six. It was his second win since his return from the mysterious and controversial ankle injury.

Rollie Fingers was… the Rollie Fingers we expect. Fingers has been good this season, but not the automatic save we were spoiled with last season. He came into a high leverage situation in the eighth with two outs, a runner on first and the first run of the inning in. Richie Zisk lifted a deep fly ball to the wall in left. On some days and in some parks, that may have been a two-run homer to give the Mariners the lead. Today, it wasn’t.

The defense was… okay. In fact, the defense almost gave this game away. We’re used to seeing numbers other than “0” in the “E” column of Brewers box scores, and the Brewers waited until the ninth inning to fulfill their erroneous duty. Al Cowens hit a grounder to short to lead off the ninth and Robin Yount promptly booted it. Fingers then threw a wild pictch to put Cowens in scoring position with no one out. Luckily, Fingers got out of it.

You can’t help but attribute a decent chunk of this win to luck. The Brewers scored just enough to beat a bad offensive team 2-1. I don’t know if this should fall in the “encouraged” or “optimistic” categories. It should probably fall in the “yeah, that’s what they’re supposed to do” category.

Maybe it’s a positive sign. Maybe they’re turning the corner. Or, they may just be delaying the inevitable. In some ways, I wish they’d just lose a game like this so that they could make some major changes, rather than barely winning and sticking with what they’ve got.

According to Harry Dalton, change isn’t imminent: “No matter how hard it is, the general manager’s job is to remain patient. I still firmly believe that this team has outstanding talent. I just don’t think we’re a very good team at this time.”

Game Notes: Robin Yount’s ninth inning error was his first in the final three innings of a game since 1980 … It was Fingers’ 11th save of the season … Vuckovich won his fifth consecutive game … Only two Mariners reached as far as third base … Ted Simmons hit a solo home run in the second, giving the Brewers eight home runs in their last three games and fifth in their last two.

Brewers Blow Three Leads, Lose

June 1 Leave a Comment

Mariners 5, Brewers 4 (11)
Brewers now 22-24 (6th)
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Rollie Fingers isn't happy that Mike Caldwell was called on to close the game.

SEATTLE — Remember how loose the Brewers were in yesterday’s win? Yeah, losing changes things.

Once again, the Brewers blew leads (2-0 in the first, 3-2 in the ninth and 4-3 in the 11th). This time, it was the trifecta.

With a runner on second and two outs in the ninth of a 3-2 game, manager Buck Rodgers went to the bullpen in an attempt to retire lefty Bruce Bochte. Was it Rollie Fingers, the closer? No. Rodgers went with usual-starter Mike Caldwell, who many fans remember had given up a home run to Bochte into the third deck of the King Dome in the 10th inning two years ago.

Bochte hit a single to score Rick Sweet and force extra innings. It was only then that Fingers came on to get the final out. It would be the only batter he would face.

Why? In all likelihood, words were exchanged between innings.

Fingers after the game: “That’s probably the final nail in the coffin,” Fingers said, presumably referring to Rodgers’ fate. “Does he think I can’t get a left-hander out? I’m getting good money to do that.”

Fingers wasn’t done: “That’s my job, to come in save situations. Mike Caldwell is paid to start. I’m paid to relieve.”

Did Rodgers panic, over thinking the move? “I shot my wad in the ninth inning,” he explained. “I was trying to get the game over in the ninth.”

Other players in the clubhouse weren’t shy when talking about the current state of the team. “We’re in serious trouble if we can’t beat these guys,” said Cecil Cooper, “especially when you take the lead three times and can’t hold it. There’s just no answers. What do you do? What do you do now? We’re losing every way we can. Those two games we lost in Anaheim, we were up three runs and we lose. We’ve lost three games on this trip and we should have won every one of them.”

Gantner made a not so subtle hint at the change he expected to be made: “You can’t fire 25 players. Sometimes the manager’s at the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s really too bad. We’re going to have to do something to shake up this club. I’m not saying fire the manager, but something has to be done to shake up this club.”

It was the Brewers’ 14th loss in 20 games, dropping back to two games under .500. For the first time since April 18 when they were 6-9, the Brewers are in sixth place.

Game Notes: The Brewers have played in seven extra innings games and lost six of them … Cecil Cooper went 4-for-5 with two home runs, raising his season total to eight … Robin Yount also hit two homers and now has four on the season. He has 11 career home runs at the King Dome, tying him with Roy Smalley of the Yankees for most by an opposing player … No decision has been made on whether to put Gorman Thomas, who is dealing with a sore shoulder, on the disabled list. He is experiencing some more range of motion, but is still sore … Charlie Moore, out with a jammed thumb, threw and took batting practice prior to the game … Pitcher Moose Haas, who was removed during his last start due to elbow tendinitis, will throw on the side prior to tomorrow’s game to determine if he can start. If not, Jim Slaton will pitch in his place.

Brewers Are Loose in Win

May 30 Leave a Comment

Brewers 7, Angels 3
Brewers now 22-23 (4th)
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Cecil Cooper went 2-for-4 with his sixth homer of the season.

ANAHEIM — After blowing three-run leads in back-to-back games, it was nice to flip the script on the Angels today.

Down 3-0 in the fifth, the Brewers busted out for four runs on starter Bruce Kison, highlighted by a two-out, two-run homer by first baseman Cecil Cooper. Knowing the team’s recent history of giving back leads, it was also comforting when the Crew tacked on three more runs via a single by Marshall Edwards and homers by Ted Simmons and Ben Oglivie.

Were the Brewers loose? Apparently. Closer Rollie Fingers walked out to the mound for the ninth, but Jamie Easterly, who had come on in the eighth, was already there. Fingers looked at Easterly with a straight face and said, “Hey, Rat. I’m the pitcher,” referring to Easterly’s nickname.

“Did Buck forget to tell me?” Easterly asked. Fingers laughed and trotted back to the dugout. It was all a set-up.

It was only one win, and only the sixth in their last 19 games. But that only makes you appreciate it more.

Game Notes: Gorman Thomas, who injured his shoulder diving for a ball on May 28, is unable to move his arm more than a few inches. Team says he could be out up to three weeks, though Thomas thinks he’ll be back in seven to 10 days … Since Charlie Moore is also out with a jammed thumb, the Brewers are without a reserve outfielder … If Thomas is put on the disabled list, the Brewers may call up Kevin Bass or make a trade for an outfielder … In the four games against the Angels, Cecil Cooper had seven hits, including three homers and six RBI.

Reggie Sends Crew to Fifth Place

May 29 Leave a Comment

Angels 5, Brewers 4 (10)
Brewers now 21-23 (5th)
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Reggie Jackson was quite proud of his game winning home run, as he tends to be.

ANAHEIM — Today’s game between the Brewers and Angels was nationally televised. The entire country was able to see for themselves just how flawed these Brewers are.

A blown 4-1 lead in the seventh, the second consecutive three-run lead lost. Fourteen hits, but 10 runners left on base. A blown save by the league’s pre-eminent closer. A Reggie Jackson home run in the bottom of the 10th to end the game. Only one win in six extra inning games. Two straight losses and six losses in the last seven games. Two games under .500 and fifth place for the first time since the Brewers were 4-6 on April 21.

And, of course, the controversy that follows losing. Manager Buck Rodgers and several Brewers are rumored to be fighting for their jobs. Today, All-Star closer Rollie Fingers made his dissatisfaction known.

Fingers relieved Randy Lerch in the seventh with runners on second and third and no outs, nursing a 4-1 lead. In eight previous starts, Lerch had lasted seven innings only once. So it should have been no surprise when he was unable to retire a batter to open the seventh.

Fingers felt the same, and wondered out loud why he hadn’t been brought in to start the inning rather than try to clean up Lerch’s mess. Bob Boone singled in two to make it a 4-3 game. With two down in the ninth, Fingers allowed an RBI single by Bobby Grich to send the game to extra innings.

Then, of course, came the shot the whole world saw. The booming drive by Reggie Jackson to left center field. Jackson swung mightily and posed, admiring his shot while he kissed his biceps and shouted to all who would listen: “That was me! I did it! Reggie Jackson! Me! Look at me!” Easterly put his head down in shame and scuffled back to the dugout.

The game may have ended dramatically to some, but it was no surprise to anyone who has been following this team closely. Drama implies the unexpected. We’ve seen this happen before.

The question all Brewers fans want answered: How many times do we need to see the same game end in the same painful way before changes are made?

Game Notes: Centerfielder Gorman Thomas injured his shoulder making a diving catch in yesterday’s game and did not play. He is considered day-to-day.

Brewers Start with Bang, End with Whimper

May 28 Leave a Comment

Angels 6, Brewers 5
Brewers now 21-22 (4th)
Box Score | Season Schedule

ANAHEIM — Through 6 1/2 innings today, it had appeared that the Brewers we’ve all been waiting for had finally arrived.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth, Cecil Cooper, Don Money and Gorman Thomas led off the inning with back-to-back-to-back home runs, a franchise record. Through six innings, Mike Caldwell had allowed two runs on five hits and no walks. And the defense behind him sparkled. Gorman Thomas made a diving catch on a line drive by Bob Boone in the third, then jumped up and doubled off Rod Carew at first.

It was all going so well. Maybe too well.

Then the Angels scored three runs off of Caldwell and Dwight Bernard in the seventh to tie up the game. Don Baylor would add the clincher in the eighth on a solo home run off of Bernard.

It was a loss. It was a painful loss. The Brewers have now dropped 12 of 17 to fall to 21-22 and 7 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. There were signs of hope, but we need more than signs right now.

The Brewers need results.

Game Notes: Charlie Moore will miss a couple of games with a jammed thumb, suffered in the first inning of yesterday’s game … Ted Simmons has hit safely in six straight games, his longest streak as a Brewer … Minor league pitching instructor Pat Dobson will replace Cal McLish as the team’s pitching coach until he’s healthy enough to return.