Angels

Vuke Returns, Brewers Top Angels

Brewers 4, Angels 3
Brewers now 21-21 (4th)
Box Score | Season Schedule

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)
Box Score | Season Schedule

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)
Box Score | Season Schedule

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.

Renko Needs 93 Pitches to Dispose of Crew

May 18 5 Comments

Angels 4, Brewers 1
Brewers now 18-16 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

EdwardsFront — Here is the extent of your Milwaukee Brewers' offense.

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers collected three whole hits today. Angels starter Steve Renko retired the last 20 batters he faced.

Yeah, it was one of those games. The Angels scored a run in each of the first two innings, but even though the Brewers made it a one-run game in the third, the game seemed strangely out of reach.

If you’re looking for positives, Mike Caldwell recovered from an embarrassment last time on the mound to look passable as a starting pitcher. He allowed nine earned runs on 13 hits in five innings in a 13-2 loss to the White Sox May 13, and he allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 7 1/3 today. Not great, but better. Makes the last debacle seem more like a hiccup than an illness.

The only pitcher that mattered, though, was 37-year-old Steve Renko. It took him all of 93 pitches to finish this game. The Brewers were lucky to score one. Even luckier that it was light-hitting Marshall Edwards, who smacked his second homer since being called up from Vancouver a little over a week ago.

Are you worried? I’m worried. This team has won two of their last eight games. They’re still playing with a short bullpen, refusing to replace Bob McClure and Pete Vuckovich on the roster. While McClure appears close, Vuke isn’t. He tried throwing today and couldn’t land on his injured foot.

Paul Molitor left today’s game with an injured shoulder. He first hurt it making a throw on May 16. He is not a player the Brewers can stand to lose.

Nearly the entire middle of the Brewers’ order is struggling. Since starting their current slide against the Royals, Ben Oglivie is 4-for-29; Ted Simmons is 3-for-24; and Gorman Thomas is 4-for-31.

So the offense is down. Vuke and McClure are still hurt and the bullpen is scuffling. Now Paul Molitor is hurt. It’s bound to get better, right?

It needs to, and fast. Down four games in the AL East, the Brewers can’t stand to lose more ground.