Oglivie was a big acquisition for the Brewers, coming from the Tigers. His 1980 season was magical when he hit .304, smacked 41 homers, and drove in 118.
Ben Oglivie
Unwanted Blast From the Past
Orioles 7, Brewers 2
Brewers now 27-25 (3rd)
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MILWAUKEE — Brewers VP of Marketing Dick Hackett is trying to obtain a trademark for “Harvey’s Wallbangers.” Hold up just a second there, Dick.
The nickname is only two days old. The manager after which it is named has been at the helm for only five games. We all got a bit giddy in those first four games. But let’s pull back just a little on the enthusiasm.
Remember when the Brewers had an inconsistent offense, a pitching staff that couldn’t be depended on and a defense that made you cringe on every ball in play? You know, that team that we thought was dead once Buck Rodgers was fired? Yeah, that team came back today.
Orioles starting pitcher Jim Palmer, he of a 6.02 ERA prior to the game, threw 91 pitches en route to a far too easy complete game victory over those “Wallbangers.” While the Brewers did manage two home runs (Ben Oglivie and Robin Yount each contributed late inning meaningless blasts), they were able to connect on only five base hits all game.
Meanwhile, we thought that Mike Caldwell was a new man. Labeled as a “cancer” by his departing manager (whether he meant to peg Caldwell or not), he seemed reborn with a complete game victory in Harvey Kuenn‘s debut. Today, the Caldwell of old returned.
Havey Kuenn, loved for allowing his pitchers to fight through their own struggles, probably left Caldwell in too long. He allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 before Kuenn finally put him out of his misery.
The bullpen was fine, allowing one run the rest of the way, but by that point it was too late. Caldwell had already given the Orioles a 6-0 lead.
Jim Palmer pitched a complete game. The same guy who isn’t speaking to the media because of rumors he’s on his way out of Baltimore. The same guy whose name has come up as potential trade bait for Bucky “Freaking” Dent, he of a .165 batting average. Awesome.
Okay, maybe I’m overreacting to one loss. But I can’t help but think we were overreacting to four wins. Can a manager really change a team that much?
I guess we’ll get a better sense tomorrow.
Game Notes: The Brewers are now 10-13 at County Stadium and 17-12 on the road this season … Cecil Cooper, who hit .476 with four home runs in six games last week, was named the AL Player of the Week … Pitching coach Cal McLish hopes to return to uniform tomorrow. He’s been suffering from myasthenia gravis, which affects nerve endings of the muscles … Three substitute umpires worked the game filling in for the crew that normally works with Lou DiMuro, who was killed when he was hit by a car yesterday in Arlington.
Harvey’s Wallbangers are Born
Brewers 11, A’s 3
Brewers now 26-24 (4th)
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OAKLAND — Following a second consecutive rout of the Oakland Athletics under new manager Harvey Kuenn, general manager Harry Dalton insisted it was time for a new nickname. Under George Bamberger, the Brewers were “Bambi’s Bombers.” Under Buck Rodgers, they were “Rodgers’ Raiders” (no, that one never really took off). So what did Dalton have in mind?
Harvey’s Ballbangers.
Yeah. Hey, Harry? Let’s leave the nicknames to others. Someone who may spot dirty unintended double-meanings because they are under the age of 100. You know. Someone like Cecil Cooper.
“Naw, just like the drink,” said Cooper. “Harvey’s Wallbangers. We keep banging ’em off the walls.”
Perfect! Thank you, Coop. Much better than banging balls. Much better.
The truth is that while walls were “banged” today with five doubles, they may be best known for their ability to hit balls over the walls. For the second time since May 28, the Brewers hit home runs in three consecutive at bats. This time it was Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper and Ben Oglivie in the seventh inning. Last time they accomplished the feat was in Anaheim and the Brewers actually lost.
Not this time. And for good measure, the Brewers hit two more consecutive homers in the ninth, this time by Ted Simmons and Gorman Thomas. The Brewers set a club record with 37 total bases and tied marks of 10 extra base hits and the three consecutive homers that has now been accomplished twice this season.
The Brewers have scored 26 runs in three games under their new skipper, including 10 or more in their last two. This same team had gone 22 straight games without scoring 10 runs in a game.
Missed in all of this ball and wall banging is that the Brewers’ pitching again was stellar. For the second time in three games, only the starter was needed. This time it was Bob McClure who pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight.
The focus may be on the offense right now, but these are total team efforts. Three times in a row.
“It’s just a different atmosphere,” Gorman Thomas explained.
Whatever it is, it’s working.
Game Notes: In the first nine games of the current road trip, Cecil Cooper has 17 hits and seven home runs in 37 at bats … Reliever Dave Beard received his first major league start when Steve McCatty came up with a stiff shoulder before the game … Paul Molitor was the only Brewer not to get a hit in the game. He is in a 2-for-26 slump … Roy Howell, who has started the last two games after being used sparingly under Buck Rodgers, went 3-for-5 … Cecil Cooper, Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie all have 10 home runs … Beginning June 7, fans entering County Stadium will be allowed to bring small coolers and thermo bottles containing non-alcoholic beverages into the ballpark.
Brewers Win in Kuenn Debut
Brewers 5, Mariners 2
Brewers now 24-24 (5th)
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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.
Card of the Day: 1982 Donruss Ben Oglivie
Every trade seemed to go the Brewers’ way in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and the Oglivie acquisition was no exception. Benji was acquired from the Tigers in 1977 for pitchers Rich Folkers and Jim Slaton. Slaton spent one season with the Tigers before returning to the Brewers as a free agent.
Brewers Are Loose in Win
Brewers 7, Angels 3
Brewers now 22-23 (4th)
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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.