Did anyone know that Charlie Moore’s hair — the little that he has — is THIS RED? Wow. And what an awesome photo, Topps!
Thomas, Slaton, Fingers Star in Win
Brewers 2, White Sox 1
Brewers now 17-14
Box Score | Season Schedule
CHICAGO — You might think that a game won by the score of 2-1 may be lacking heroes. You, my friend, would be wrong.
First, I present to you Gorman Thomas. In the first inning with two outs and Ron LeFlore on second, Greg Luzinski hit a towering drive to the deepest part of Comiskey Park in centerfield. Gorman Thomas raced it down, making an amazing running catch to save a run.
Soon after, with two down in the Brewers’ half of the second inning, Thomas hit a homer off of the facing below the upper deck in left field to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
With two down in the top of the fourth, Gorman Thomas and White Sox starter Richard Dotson faced off again. On a two balls, two strikes pitch, Dotson threw ball three up around Gorman’s head, knocking him to the ground. Thomas dusted himself off, glared at Dotson, and stepped back into the batter’s box.
Gorman Thomas fouled off the next three pitches before launching the fourth into the second row of the upper deck in left.
But you can’t win a game 2-1 without pitching heroes. You may recall that this should have been Bob McClure‘s day to pitch. But he has been out with a bruised pitching elbow, so long man Jim Slaton took his turn on the mound. Slaton did more than could have possibly been expected of him against the hard-hitting (now) 20-11 White Sox. He held them to one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six.
Need a third hero? How about the mustachioed one, Rollie Fingers? Our valiant closer entered with two down and the tying run on third base in the seventh inning. Fingers got Luzinski to tap back to the mound to end that threat, and he then retired the final six White Sox batters to end the game. Perfection.
Sure, the Brewers made a couple of errors again on defense (Yount committed his seventh and Yost his first). But this is the type of hard fought game we’ve been waiting to see from the Brewers against one of the league’s top teams.
We know you have it in you, Brewers. Do it again tomorrow.
Game Notes: Today’s win ended the Brewers’ four game losing streak … Thomas now has six home runs, all hit during the month of May … Fingers recorded his seventh save … Infielder Rob Picciolo has been acquired from the Oakland A’s for minor league first baseman John Evans and pitcher Mike Warren. Warren had been drafted from the A’s last December. Picciolo, 29, will be a back-up at second, shortstop and third … Kevin Bass, who celebrated his 23rd birthday two days ago, was sent down to make room for Picciolo … Brewers pitching coach Cal McLish has been experiencing blurred vision and dizziness and is not with the team … Mark Brouhard is expected to be out a few more days, recovering from a tight calf … Jerry Augustine is being prepared for the possible signing of pitcher Dave Goltz. Augustine, who has two years left on his contract, is expected to be the odd man out.
Short-Armed Brewers Embarrassed Again
White Sox 13, Brewers 2
Brewers now 16-14 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
CHICAGO — The White Sox unveiled their new, shiny, color scoreboard today. That was pretty much the highlight of the day for the Brewers, who once again paid for being short on arms.
You know what happens when you go into games against top teams when you are short-handed in the bullpen? You get beat.
Both Bob McClure and Pete Vuckovich are hurt. Considering neither pitcher has been placed on the disabled list, that means the Brewers have only eight pitchers to work with. You might get away with that against the Twins, but you won’t against the Royals and White Sox.
And the Brewers haven’t.
Bob McClure was hurt on May 9 when a line drive hit him on the pitching elbow. Pete Vuckovich was hurt two days later when he slid down a hill on the way to his start against the Royals. As a result, Jerry Augustine was the sacrificial lamb in a 17-3 loss to the Royals, a game in which he allowed 12 runs on 15 hits in five innings.
You’d think the Brewers’ brass would learn from that game. You can’t have two dead roster spots or that game will simply repeat itself. Well, today, it essentially did.
This time, Mike Caldwell was the sacrificial lamb. Having little help in the bullpen, Caldwell needed to fight through the assault on his Earned Run Average. Caldwell pitched parts of six innings, allowing at least a run in all but one of them. When all was said and done, he had allowed nine earned runs on 13 hits in five-plus innings of work.
Meanwhile, the strong-armed White Sox cruised. Starter La Marr Hoyt went the distance in this one, allowing two runs on 10 hits. He’s now won 12 straight dating back to last season. He’s 6-0 lifetime against the Brewers.
This is embarrassing. The Brewers have now been outscored 39-11 over the past three games, allowing 52 hits. Yet nothing is being done to help the pitching staff.
Well, not nothing. They’re doing something, but nothing that is helping their staff right now. The Brewers worked out free agent pitcher Dave Goltz and were impressed and scheduled another workout for May 15. Goltz signed a lucrative six-year contract prior to the 1980 season with the Dodgers, but he never quite lived up to the hype. The Brewers could use such an arm right now.
Another arm won’t solve the defensive woes, however. Once again, the gloves behind the mound are making the pitcher’s life difficult. Four more errors were made by sloppy Brewers defenders today. Though it didn’t make a difference today in this lopsided game, it’s been the difference in several games this season. Poor fundamental defense is simply unacceptable for a major league team.
Game Notes: The Brewers have lost four straight and are 4.5 games back in the American League East … Bob McClure threw on the sidelines prior to todays game and reported some progress, but isn’t expected to be ready for his next scheduled start against the Angels … Dave Goltz is 105-98 in a 10-year career and won 20 games with the Twins. Goltz claims the Brewers were his first choice before signing with the Dodgers for more money. He is also trying out for the California Angels and may have workouts with the White Sox and Royals as well.
Card of the Day: 1982 Fleer Jamie Easterly
Jamie Easterly, doin’ what he does best: Chillin’. He makes the beard and glasses look good.
Four Solo Homers Not Enough
Royals 9, Brewers 7
Brewers now 16-13 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
KANSAS CITY — At least the Brewers didn’t lose this game 17-3. But that didn’t make it any less painful, as the Royals swept the Brewers in a one-sided three-game series.
Today’s pitching-challenged sea saw battle was a roller coaster of emotions. The game either tied or switched leaders four times. The Brewers would hit four home runs, three by Paul Molitor. The problem, however, was that all of those shots were of the solo variety.
When you give up nine runs, fingers typically point at the pitchers. While they aren’t completely without blame, the Brewers’ defense committed three errors that would all lead to unearned runs. Four unearned runs would score in all, which would be the difference in this game.
It’s been a common theme, really. Brewers offense is powerful, but not particularly timely. Pitching is good enough to win, but bad defense does them no favors. We’ve read this story before.
It would be the Brewers’ fourth straight loss to the Royals, who have taken five of six this season. It’s a reminder that the Brewers’ 16-13 record is a bit deceiving. The Crew has faced six teams so far this season, and only two (Chicago and Kansas City, who are a combined 32-23) have winning records. The Brewers are 2-6 against those two teams while they are 14-7 against the rest. Who are the rest, you ask? Toronto, Cleveland, Texas and Minnesota, who have a combined 45-74 (.378) record.
The Brewers have proven to us that they can beat bad teams. But they’ve yet to show us they can compete with the big boys. Until they do, there’s reason to be skeptical about their competitive record, good enough for third in the AL East.
Game Notes: Outfielder Kevin Bass turned 23 today. He pinch ran and played centerfield … Marshall Edwards hit his first career major league home run … Pitching coach Cal McLish was ejected in the ninth for arguing a called ball on John Wathan … Pitcher Dave Golz, who was released this spring by the Dodgers, will work out for the Brewers tomorrow in Chicago.
Brewers Battered and Humiliated in Loss
Royals 17, Brewers 3
Brewers now 16-12 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
KANSAS CITY — What the hell was that??
This game was a disaster before it started. Brewers ace Pete Vuckovich, who was scheduled to start today’s game, sprained his ankle when he slipped down a rain-soaked hill behind Royals Stadium on his way to the game.
Let’s think about this for a moment. Pete Vuckovich should have started. He has a 2.62 ERA and three wins covering his last three starts. The bonehead is climbing down a hill in the rain behind the stadium. He can’t get a ride to the game? What is the guy doing?
So instead of Vuke, the Brewers get Jerry Augustine. Jerry Augustine. Yeah, that Jerry Augustine. The mop-up guy to the mop-up guy. He of only two appearances this season before today’s game. Sure, he did surprisingly well in those two appearances, but his luck was bound to change.
It changed in a hurry. Augustine allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in the first inning. In the second, he allowed three more runs on three more hits. If this were a typical game, Augustine never would have lasted the second inning. But he stayed out there.
Why? Because the team is short-handed. Or short-armed. Bob McClure has an elbow injury. You know about Vuke’s run-in with a hill. Jim Slaton, whose arm has to be turning to Jell-O from overuse, will be starting in McClure’s place. So the options were limited.
Augustine stayed through the third, which he managed to escape without allowing a run. And the fourth. Then, he allowed five more runs on five hits and a walk in the fifth.
Augustine may have kept pitching, but he was saved by a 54-minute rain delay. His final line after Jamie Easterly finally put him out of his misery: five innings pitched, 12 earned runs, 15 hits, two walks.
“I wondered if he missed curfew last night or something,” said Royals catcher John Wathan, who feasted on Augustine and Brewers pitching for three hits. “A lot of us on the bench were wondering what he’d done.”
Augustine was surely wondering the same thing. “This is probably the most humiliating day I’ve ever had,” he said.
Of course, when it rains it pours. Larry Hisle‘s right rotator cuff is torn again. You know, that bastard shoulder of his. It’s bothered him for three seasons now and undergone two operations. He’s out for a minimum of two months. If we’re going to be honest with ourselves, his career is likely over.
Hisle’s spring started with such promise. He was one of the team’s top performers. When the season got underway, he dealt with nagging injuries to his wrist and eye. But they were just annoyances. His shoulder was fine. Then this.
Things were looking so good for this team after a four-game sweep of the Twins. Now? Battered, bruised and humiliated.
Game Notes: X-rays on Vuckovich’s ankle were negative … Bob McClure threw prior to the game and his injured elbow did not respond well. Jim Slaton will start in his place on May 14 … Brewers general manager Harry Dalton says the team will explore acquiring shortstop Rob Picciolo or infielder/outfielder Rodney Scott. Picciolo was designated for assignment by the A’s and Scott was put on waivers by the Expos last weekend.