Angels

Brewers Are Loose in Win

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)
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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.

Vuke Returns, Brewers Top Angels

May 27 Leave a Comment

Brewers 4, Angels 3
Brewers now 21-21 (4th)
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Pete Vuckovich made his first start since May 6.

ANAHEIM — It’s been speculated that today marks the start of a 10-game road trip that could very well determine the fates of manager Buck Rodgers and a handful of Brewers players. Coming into this game 7 1/2 games back in the AL East, this is desperation time.

Finally, the Brewers played like it, ending a four-game losing streak.

Paul Molitor led off the game with a home run over the 386-foot sign in left center off of starter Ken Forsch. Charlie Moore would drive in a run on a second inning ground out and Cecil Cooper hit a two-run homer in the third, his sixth. The offense finally showed up.

Pete Vuckovich made his first start since May 6 and pitched a solid five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks. Jamie Easterly and Rollie Fingers combined to hold the Angels to one run the rest of the way.

Beyond the numbers, we saw heart. In the fourth, Fred Lynn hit a drive to deep right field. Charlie Moore raced back, leaped and snagged what would have been a home run for the first out of the inning. Ben Oglivie would make a similarly spectacular catch in left to rob Lynn in the sixth. Then, with two down in the ninth and the tying run at first, a ground ball was hit to Paul Molitor. Molitor threw wide to first, but Cecil Cooper stretched just far enough to both catch the ball and record the game’s final out.

Maybe it was partly luck. But bad luck has gone against this team far too often. We’ve seen the alternate ending, where Cooper stretches only to see the ball go into the outfield as the tying run scores. It was nice to be on the right side of this thing.

Of course, not everything was roses today. The Brewers committed three more errors, a recurring theme. While bad defense accounted for only one run, the glovemen continue to make life difficult for the pitchers.

But today, progress was made. Jobs appear safe for another day.

Game Notes: Roy Howell made his first start since April 25, hitting second as the Designated Hitter. He went 1-for-2 and scored a run before being pinch hit for by Don Money in the fourth … Gorman Thomas played with a stiff neck that has bothered him the past few games.

Brewers Win, but Chaos Reigns

May 20 Leave a Comment

Brewers 4, Angels 1
Brewers now 19-17 (3rd)
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Buck Rodgers' days as Brewers manager may be numbered.

MILWAUKEE — Outfielder Marshall Edwards was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital this morning with a bleeding ulcer. Given the emotions stirring in the clubhouse, you’d think it would be manager Buck Rodgers dealing with a bout of indigestion.

You wouldn’t know that the Brewers scored as many runs in this game as they did the previous three.

You wouldn’t know that the Brewers snapped a three game losing streak when they topped the Angels 4-1 in Milwaukee today.

You wouldn’t know that Moose Haas pitched his first complete game of the season, throwing a gem in which he allowed only a run on six hits.

No, the focus remained on what is wrong with the team. And that focus is squarely on the manager. The rumor swirling around Milwaukee is that former team captain Sal Bando is ready to take over as soon as general manager Harry Dalton gives Rodgers his pink slip.

Want a vote of confidence from the players? You aren’t going to get one. Asked if Rodgers is respected as manager, Charlie Moore avoided the question: “I’d rather stay away from that.”

Don Money: “I don’t know. I can’t say anything.”

Gorman Thomas: “I have no comment on that.”

Their silence speaks volumes.

Bud Lea of the Milwaukee Sentinel summed it up nicely: “What this team may need is a den mother instead of a manager, someone who would stroke egos. Rodgers does not coddle anyone.”

If the players have proven anything this season it’s that they’re sensitive. Roy Howell‘s tantrum over playing time. Rollie Fingers‘ freakout over when he’s used. Charlie Moore’s demand for a trade.

Is Rodgers fighting for his job? “If we win, I stay. If we lose, I go,” he said succinctly.

True. But there hasn’t been much winning lately. And when your players don’t have your back, you might as well start packing.

Game Notes: The Brewers are now 19-17, five games behind the Tigers in the AL East … Paul Molitor returned to the lineup as the DH. He probably won’t return to the field for a few more days … Mark Brouhard, who had missed eight games with a tight calf, was back in right field … Marshall Edwards’ bleeding ulcer is expected to keep him out about a week … Ben Oglive drove in his 27th run but only the first since May 9.

Brewers Earn County Stadium Boos

May 19 Leave a Comment

Angels 7, Brewers 2
Brewers now 18-17 (3rd)
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Don Money was the extent of the Brewers' offense.

MILWAUKEE — Boooo!

Through eight innings today, the Brewers were held scoreless on five hits. Bruce Kison. Skinny little Bruce Kison. Then Don Aase came in and the Brewers pulled two runs out of their Aase in an effort to regain some dignity.

Boooooooooooooooo!

It was the third Brewers loss in a row. They’ve dropped seven of nine and have scored a grand total of four runs over the last three games. They hadn’t scored a run in 14 innings before Kison left with a strained back and Don Money lucked into a two-run homer.

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

If there are only 10,000 fans that attend your game, no one sticks around to see the end of it and someone boos, does it make a sound?

Jim Slaton was roughed up in his start, but do we blame him? The Brewers are still working with an eight-man staff while they wait for Pete Vuckovich and Bob McClure to get healthy. What a terrible miscalculation.

This is embarrassing. Somehow, the Brewers are still over .500. But at only a game over, Brewers fans may not be able to cling to that fact much longer.

We were told that this team was a contender. We expected greatness. All we have seen is inconsistent pitching, poor offensive production and pathetic defense.

Changes need to be made.

Game Notes: Don Money batted clean-up and the struggling Ben Oglivie and Gorman Thomas moved down a slot … Paul Molitor‘s shoulder injury is not a tear, only a strain. Held out of the lineup today.