Jerry Augustine

It is Time for Change at the Top

Buck Rodgers is a bad fit for this veteran team.

In 1981, the Brewers were a loose, professional and happy bunch. They also won, and whether the former bred the latter or vice versa, the personality of the team and the results were starkly different last season than through May 23 of this season.

Far too much is going wrong:

Two players have demanded a trade already at some point in 1982. Charlie Moore started the trend in spring training and only agreed to stay once he was assured playing time in right field. Roy Howell requested his trade during the spring as well and continues to be unhappy about his role as the third third baseman. Yet there are no takers of his paltry batting average.
Rollie Fingers, who won both the AL MVP and Cy Young awards in 1981, has been less than perfect in 1982. He has lost five times when entering tied games. He’s also shown his displeasure with the way that he has been used.
Pete Vuckovich injured his ankle either when sliding down a slick hill behind Royals Stadium in a rain storm prior to the game or when a video game fell on it. Either way, his absence caused immediate problems on the staff (Jerry Augustine started that game in Kansas City and allowed 12 earned runs in five innings) and Vuke threatened to take legal action when rumors surfaced that he was less than forthcoming about the source of his injury.
Bob McClure was hit on the elbow by a line drive and missed time as well. The Brewers’ brass made a serious miscalculation when neither pitcher was replaced on the roster and the Brewers instead went with an eight-man staff while they awaited their return.
While there are some offensive players performing well (Paul Molitor is hitting .301, Robin Yount .291 and Cecil Cooper .340), others are downright offensive. Gorman Thomas went the entire month of April without a home run and is hitting .228. Ben Oglivie is hitting .224 and catcher Ted Simmons is hitting .203 and continues to look like his best days are behind him.
The Brewers aren’t getting consistent pitching. The staff is led by Moose Haas with a 3.22 ERA, but Mike Caldwell‘s is 4.45, Bob McClure’s is 5.14 and Randy Lerch‘s is 5.36, all pitchers who have made several starts. Pete Vuckovich may have a 3.79 ERA, but he hasn’t pitched since May 6.

The biggest problem, though, is a lack of leadership. Whether Buck Rodgers is a poor leader or simply a bad fit for this team, his players do not have his back. They routinely call him out in the press and refuse to sugarcoat their feelings about the man in charge.

And that, along with the swirling rumors that former team captain Sal Bando is ready to take over, are the main reasons that it is time to make a change. Even when they win, the team isn’t happy. They aren’t loose. And they aren’t professional.

It is time that the Brewers find a leader, as Bud Lea of the Milwaukee Sentinel said, who is more of a den mother than a major league manager. They need a leader who will stroke egos and let his players play instead of micromanaging with strategies that many of his players aren’t comfortable carrying out.

The Brewers need a player’s manager, and they need him now.

Offense, Defense Falter Again

May 22 Leave a Comment

Mariners 7, Brewers 1
Brewers now 20-18 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

MILWAUKEE — For two consecutive, glorious games, everything went right for the Brewers. Magnificent pitching, timely hitting and solid defense. Today, debt was paid to the baseball gods.

Very little went right. Starter Randy Lerch was knocked around for seven runs on six hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. But that didn’t fall entirely on Lerch.

With two down in the third, the Mariners had scored three runs. A grounder was hit to short and Robin Yount mishandled it for an error, loading the bases. Jim Maler then hit a grand slam to make it 7-0.

Four unearned runs.

All of the Mariners runs were scored in that one inning. The Brewers’ defense did what they could to help them score more with two more errors, but the bullpen kept Seattle at bay.

On a day in which the inconsistent Brewers offense managed only a run on four hits, the bullpen was the one collective shining star. Jim Slaton, Jerry Augustine and Jamie Easterly combined to allow only a single baserunner through 4 1/3 innings in relief of Lerch.

Of course, that’s yet another case of too little, too late when you give up seven runs in an inning and your lineup can’t muster more than a single hit in an inning. The only Brewers run scored as a gift when starter Gene Nelson walked the bases loaded in the first and Gorman Thomas scored on a groundout. A run without a hit, apparently one of the few ways this team can score right now.

That’s six straight games in which the Brewers have scored four or fewer runs and eight of the last nine. Not going to cut it with this average pitching staff.

Game Notes: Paul Molitor, who has been nursing a sore shoulder, sat out today’s game. Don Money started at third base and hit cleanup while second baseman Jim Gantner hit in Molitor’s customary leadoff spot.

Brewers Strand Win in Scoring Position

May 16 Leave a Comment

White Sox 6, Brewers 1
Brewers now 18-15 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Pete Vuckovich — Vuke did not drop a video game on his foot. If you think so, you're a liar and will be hearing from his lawyers.

CHICAGO — Paul Molitor scored on a Robin Yount single in the first inning. And that… Well, that was it for the Brewers today in Chicago.

Sure, they had 11 hits. Molitor and Jim Gantner each had three hits. But they were awful when it counted. The Brewers left 10 men on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Awful.

I guess another positive was that Randy Lerch was reasonably effective. He didn’t allow a run until the sixth inning, when the White Sox scored two. But as we know, the offense failed miserably. When Randy Lerch is on the mound, you know you need to score runs.

Sure, Lerch was pretty good today. But he’s not the kind of guy who goes deep into games. And when that happens, the Brewers’ shaky bullpen is often exposed. It was again today.

Dwight Bernard allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in one miserable inning. Jamie Easterly faced two batters and couldn’t get either out.

At least Jerry Augustine pitched a scoreless ninth to get his ERA down to 7.47. That thing is going to be inflated for a while after his surprise start against the Royals.

It was a disappointing game. Not a heartbreaker. You looked at this one on the schedule and figured it would be tough to win. But when Lerch pitches well and your offense collects 11 hits, you’d think you would have a chance.

Not on this day.

The Brewers have a day off tomorrow before opening an eight game homestand against the Angels.

Game Notes: Ted Simmons is now hitting just .208 on the season … Cecil Cooper had his first game off of the season … A rumor is swirling that Pete Vuckovich‘s ankle was not injured in a fall behind Royals Stadium, but instead due to a video game mishap. He is not happy. “I’m having my lawyer look at it. I don’t appreciate being called a liar.” Vuckovich has missed two scheduled starts and will likely miss a third.

Thomas, Slaton, Fingers Star in Win

May 14 Leave a Comment

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

May 13 Leave a Comment

White Sox 13, Brewers 2
Brewers now 16-14 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Lamarr Hoyt helped extend the Brewers' losing streak to four

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.

Brewers Battered and Humiliated in Loss

May 11 Leave a Comment

Royals 17, Brewers 3
Brewers now 16-12 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Jerry Augustine — This was a game that Augustine would like to forget.

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.