Ralph Michael! I mean, come on. The best part of these Donruss cards is the full given name. Brutal for razzing purposes.
Mike Caldwell
Renko Needs 93 Pitches to Dispose of Crew
Angels 4, Brewers 1
Brewers now 18-16 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
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.
Pitching a Problem for Crew
The Brewers have a day off today, which gives us an opportunity to take a closer look at how the team stacks up with the rest of the league. Let’s focus on the dreaded “P” word: PITCHING.
I don’t think anyone needs to tell you that the Brewers have pitching problems. They’ve lost games in the past week by scores of 17-3, 9-7 and 13-2. Part of it is due to injuries. Both Pete Vuckovich (ankle) and Bob McClure (elbow) are out, and they haven’t been replaced on the staff. So not only is the team lacking two of it’s more dependable pitchers, but there is no depth to be found.
Once you look at the pitching leaders, you see just how dire the situation is. Mike Caldwell has one shutout, technically putting him in the top four (tied with several pitchers) in that category. Rollie Fingers is third in saves. But otherwise, no Brewers pitcher gets a sniff of the top.
The fourth best qualifying ERA in the American League is 2.15. The best qualifying ERA on the Brewers is 3.62, from Moose Haas. For goodness sake, Rollie Fingers is tied with Haas for the team lead in strikeouts with 23. The closer leads the team in strikeouts! By comparison, the fourth most strikeouts in the AL comes from starter Dennis Eckersley, with 42.
You can complain until you’re blue in the face about the offense. But this team needs more consistent pitching to win.
Stats through 5/16/82
AL Wins 1. La Marr Hoyt (CHW) – 7 2. Ron Guidry (NYY) – 5 3. Jack Morris (DET) – 5 4. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 5 |
NL Wins 1. Don Sutton (HOU) – 6 2. Dickie Noles (CHC) – 5 3. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 5 4. Bruce Berenyi (CIN) – 4 |
Brewers Wins 1. Pete Vuckovich – 4 2. Randy Lerch – 3 3. Jim Slaton – 3 4. Dwight Bernard – 2 |
AL ERA 1. L Hoyt (CHW) – 1.43 2. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 2.07 3. Don Aase (CAL) – 2.11 4. J Matlack (TEX) – 2.15 |
NL ERA 1. S Rogers (MON) – 1.93 2. S Sanderson (MON) – 2.34 3. B Berenyi (CIN) – 2.35 4. Mike Scott (NYM) – 2.36 |
Brewers ERA 1. Moose Haas – 3.62 2. Pete Vuckovich – 3.79 3. Mike Caldwell – 4.12 |
AL Strikeouts 1. Floyd Bannister (SEA) – 49 2. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 47 3. Ron Guidry (NYY) – 42 4. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 41 |
NL Strikeouts 1. Mario Soto (CIN) – 66 2. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 63 3. Steve Rogers (MON) – 43 4. Tim Lollar (SDP) – 41 |
Brewers Strikeouts 1. Rollie Fingers – 23 2. Moose Haas – 23 3. Pete Vuckovich – 20 4. Dwight Bernard – 18 |
AL Saves 1. Salome Barojas (CHW) – 9 2. Dan Quisenberry (KCR) – 9 *3. Rollie Fingers (MIL) – 8 4. Rich Gossage (NYY) – 8 |
NL Saves 1. Bruce Sutter (STL) – 11 2. Neil Allen (NYM) – 9 3. Tom Hume (CIN) – 8 4. Gene Garber (ATL) – 7 |
Brewers Saves 1. Rollie Fingers – 8 2. Dwight Bernard – 1 3. Jim Slaton – 1 |
AL Innings 1. Ken Forsch (CAL) – 71.0 2. S McGregor (BAL) – 69.7 3. Rick Langford (OAK) – 68.0 4. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 65.0 |
NL Innings 1. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 65.0 2. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 63.0 3. Mario Soto (CIN) – 62.7 4. Jerry Reuss (LAD) – 61.0 |
Brewers Innings 1. Moose Haas – 49.7 2. Mike Caldwell – 48.0 3. Pete Vuckovich – 40.3 4. Randy Lerch – 35.7 |
AL Hits Allowed 1. Rick Langford (OAK) – 73 2. Scott McGregor (BAL) – 69 3. Gaylord Perry (SEA) – 66 4. Mark Bomback (TOR) – 62 |
NL Hits Allowed 1. Steve Carlton (PHI) – 67 2. Bob Forsch (STL) – 60 3. J Eichelberger (SDP) – 59 4. Nolan Ryan (HOU) – 59 |
Brewers Hits Allowed 1. Mike Caldwell – 56 2. Moose Haas – 55 3. Pete Vuckovich – 40 4. Randy Lerch – 39 |
AL Shutouts 1. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 2 2. Dave Stieb (TOR) – 2 3. Geoff Zahn (CAL) – 2 *4. Mike Caldwell (MIL) – 1 |
NL Shutouts 1. Mike Krukow (PHI) – 2 2. Tim Lollar (SDP) – 2 3. Rick Mahler (ATL) – 2 4. Jerry Reuss (LAD) – 2 |
Brewers Shutouts 1. Mike Caldwell – 1 |
AL Complete Games 1. Ken Forsch (CAL) – 5 2. Rick Langford (OAK) – 5 3. Jack Morris (DET) – 5 4. Dennis Eckersley (BOS) – 4 |
NL Complete Games 1. F Valenzuela (LAD) – 4 2. Mike Krukow (PHI) – 3 3. Rick Mahler (ATL) – 3 4. Steve Rogers (MON) – 3 |
Brewers Complete Games 1. Mike Caldwell – 2 2. Pete Vuckovich – 1 |
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.
Brewers Torch Twins 12-1
Brewers 12, Twins 1
Brewers now 15-10 (2nd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
MILWAUKEE — What happens when your starting pitcher allows six baserunners in a complete game and your offense is 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position?
You win, son. You win.
Is Mike Caldwell the ace of this staff? It’s been looking like it. In five of his six starts this season, Caldwell has allowed three or fewer runs. He’s allowed one or nothing three times. Caldwell’s ERA is now ace-worthy at 2.72.
Granted, the Brewers didn’t need an ace on the hill on this night. In five of their eight turns at bat, the Brewers took a pass on scoring runs. Not necessary. But they scored four in the third, three in the sixth and five in the seventh. Twelve runs on 12 hits for the efficient Crew.
You know it’s been a good game when in the eighth inning your starting pitcher is still on the mound, and back-ups Don Money, Ed Romero, Roy Howell and Kevin Bass have taken temporary residency in the field.
Remember when we were worried about Gorman Thomas? That was before he was able to face the Twins. No home runs in April. Four home runs already in May. Including his third inning three-run shot today, all four of those monstrous bombs have been off of the Twins.
Which makes a guy wonder… Since Gorman is torching the Twins, they should respect his ability, correct? So why, with two outs in the third and runners at second and third, did the Twins intentionally walk Ben Oglivie to get to Thomas? He promptly made them pay.
Or maybe the Brewers are just messing with the Twins’ heads now. In the series opener on May 6, it was the Twins’ decision to have starter Brad Havens pitch to Oglivie with the bases loaded in the eighth instead of going to the bullpen that lost the game. Maybe the lesson learned there was not to pitch to Oglivie. Well, then you’ve gotta deal with Gorman.
Sure, it’s just the Twins. But playing this team has a way of making the Brewers seem like a pennant contender. And I appreciate it. Luckily, the Brewers have one more game against them tomorrow. Have no mercy!
Game Notes: Larry Hisle has been placed on the 15-day DL after injury his shoulder in batting practice. Hisle has a significant history with the injury, and the fear is that he has torn it.
May 6-9 Series Preview vs. Minnesota
Match-ups
May 6 at 7:30 pm
Pete Vuckovich (3-2, 3.90 ERA) vs. Brad Havens (1-0, 2.59 ERA)
May 7 at 7:36 pm
Randy Lerch (2-1, 6.63 ERA) vs. Albert Williams (2-1, 3.60 ERA)
May 8 at 1:30 pm
Mike Caldwell (1-2, 3.18 ERA) vs. Terry Felton (0-3, 4.76 ERA)
May 9 at 1:30 pm
Bob McClure (1-1, 5.91 ERA) vs. Pete Redfern (2-3, 5.28 ERA)
1982 Records
Milwaukee Brewers: 12-10 (3rd in AL East)
Minnesota Twins: 10-17 (6th in AL West)