Paul Molitor

Know Thy Enemy

FingersSI — Can Rollie return? It could make the difference in the Series.

ST. LOUIS — We know the Tigers. We know the Sox, both Red and White. We know the Yankees, the Orioles and the Angels. We know those teams are not as good as the Milwaukee Brewers, American League Champions for 1982.

But what about the St. Louis Cardinals? What do we know about the Crew’s newest enemies and champions of the National League?

We know they went 92-70 to win the NL East and swept the Braves in the NLCS. (Seriously, how cool would it have been to kick the snot out of the Braves, the team that broke Milwaukee’s heart after the 1965 season?)

The Cards won’t bludgeon you to death as they were last in the NL in home runs (67). But they were second in batting average (.264) and first in on base percentage (.334). They have excellent team speed (200 stolen bases led the league by 35), excellent defense and above average pitching.

Thanks to the powerful KMOX, upon which Jack Buck’s voice rolls like thunder across the plains, the Cards have fans across the deep South and as far west as Colorado. The 50,000-watt mega-station has fascinated generations of Cards fans. While the Cardinals faithful have been rewarded with eight World Series titles, they’ve been waiting longer than Brewers fans as the Cards haven’t won a championship since 1967. Not as bad as the Cubs (1908) or those cheaters on the South Side (1917), but long enough.

So, the scene is set. Game 1 is tonight in the Gateway City at the cookie-cutter craphole with plastic grass known as Busch Stadium.

Lineups will be forthcoming, but let’s look at the potential positional matchups for the series.

FIRST BASE
Cecil Cooper vs. Keith Hernandez

Hernandez is one of the finer first basemen in either league. He hit .299, walked 100 times and drove in 94 runs. He’s won four straight Gold Gloves. He’ll probably win a fifth this season. Crew fans know Coop, a hero for driving in the two runs to win Game 5 of the ALCS. Cooper is more of a run producer than Hernandez, driving in more than 100 (121) for the third time in four seasons and has won two consecutive Silver Slugger awards. His .313 average and 32 dingers aren’t half bad either. He’s not the defensive wizard Hernandez is, however.

Advantage: Push.

SECOND BASE
Jim Gantner vs. Tommy Herr

Herr, the Cardinals’ leadoff hitter, hit .266 and struck out (56) almost as often as he walked (57). He isn’t much of a table setter, but Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog has stuck with him at the top of the order most of the season. Gantner is all guts and guile. It is interesting, though, Gantner, who bats ninth in the Brewers’ order, hit .295 and had one more hits (132) than Herr this season. Gumby doesn’t walk much, but then again, what Brewer does? Both can hold their own on defense.

Advantage: Gantner

SHORTSTOP
Robin Yount vs. Ozzie Smith

Smith is the best defensive shortstop of his generation and gathers Gold Gloves like he does routine grounders. In his first season as a Card, he vacuumed the Busch Stadium carpet like a Hoover, committing only 13 errors. Yet, he can’t hit a lick (.248) and has power to no fields. And then there’s Yount. He isn’t the fielder Smith is, but then Smith couldn’t lift Robin’s bat. We’re talking about the American League MVP here, people. His season was historic. The Kid is The Man.

Advantage: Yount

THIRD BASE
Paul Molitor vs Ken Oberkfell

Oberkfell hit .289 from the eighth spot in the lineup. He doesn’t walk much, he doesn’t steal much, he doesn’t hit for power. Molly is “The Ignitor,” led the American League with 136 runs and is one of the best base runners in all of baseball. Oberkfell made only 11 errors at the hot corner, while Molly made 29, but his bat more than makes up for his deficiency in the field.

Advantage: Molitor

LEFT FIELD
Ben Oglivie vs Lonnie Smith

Smith led the National League in runs, stole 68 bases and hit .307. He is the engine for St. Louis’ small ball attack. Former Brewers and now Mets manager George Bamberger (Bambi!) has this to say about Smith: “You must keep him off base. A walk, a single or an error is as good as a double for him, because he is a prime base-stealer.” Duly noted. Oglivie can mash (34 homers in ’82) and drive ’em home (102), but doesn’t hit for average (.244), didn’t hit well against the Angels and has bruised ribs.

Advantage: Smith

CENTER FIELD
Gorman Thomas vs. Willie McGee

This position (and left field as well) show the yin and the yang of this World Series matchup: Harvey’s Wallbangers vs. Whitey’s Speed Demons. We all love Stormin’ Gorman, his disheveled look and his complete lack of regard for his body, which he throws around the outfield with abandon. Which is why he’s hobbled by a bum knee heading into the series. He hits homers (his 39 tied for the AL lead this season), he drives in runs (112) and strikes out a lot (143). McGee, a switch-hitting rookie, walks faster than Thomas runs and when McGee runs, watch out. He’s lightning on the paths and stole 24 bases in 36 attempts. What’s scary is he’s still learning the game.

Advantage: McGee

RIGHT FIELD
Charlie Moore vs. George Hendrick

Both men have powerful arms. You can ask Reggie Jackson’s about Moore’s. Hendrick can hit. Moore barely can.

Advantage: Hendrick

CATCHER
Ted Simmons vs. Darrell Porter

Simmons broke in with the Cards, who traded him — along with Pete Vuckovich and Rollie Fingers — to the Brewers before the ’81 season. You can imagine how much he wants to win this series. He can hit with power from either side of the plate, but may be the slowest human being ever. Porter is a former Brewer who handles pitchers well and can get hot, but normally he won’t set the World (Series) on fire.

Advantage: Simmons

PITCHING

Neither team has a dominant strikeout artist like a Nolan Ryan or a mesmerizer such as Steve Carlton, but they both have adequate rotations. Joaquin Andujar and Bob Forsch each won 15, the most on the Cards. Andujar was the better of the two with a 2.47 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Vuckovich led the Crew with 18 wins and Caldwell won 17. Caldwell was a horse with 12 complete games. Don Sutton was a great late addition to the rotation and should help the Crew. The bullpens are adequate, but the Cards have the advantage with Bruce Sutter over Pete Ladd, despite Ladd’s ALCS heroics. There are rumors that Rollie Fingers may — may — be available for the World Series.

Advantage: If Fingers can pitch, Crew; if not, push

OFFENSE

Speed vs. power. Running from station to station or jogging around the bases after a three-run homer. These are as different as two offenses get. The Cards hit 67 home runs all season. Robin Yount and Cecil Cooper combined to hit 61. The thing about the Crew is they have power (216 homers) and speed at the top of the lineup (Molly had 41 steals). They can pretty much beat you every which way.

Advantage: Brewers

DEFENSE

The Brewers aren’t exactly ham-handed in the field, but they’re not the Cardinals. Few teams are. Granted, it’s easier to pick clean a grounder off of turf, but then again, balls get through more quickly on the plastic grass. The Cardinals’ range is far better than the Brewers. Ozzie Smith and Keith Hernandez anchor a stellar defensive infield and the outfielders have great speed.

Advantage: Cardinals

MANAGERS
Harvey Kuenn vs. Whitey Herzog

Again, depends on which style you prefer. Herzog pushes buttons. Kuenn let’s ’em play. As much as I like, nay, love Harvey, in the World Series, you probably need someone who can make a shrewd move or 10.

Advantage: Herzog

BEER
Miller and Pabst vs. Budweiser

Like we’d pick anything else. Plus, Miller Lite commercials are the best.

Advantage: Milwaukee

CONCLUSION

We’re Brewers fans, of course, and we want the Crew to capture its first series win. But will they? We say yes. With comparable pitching and a quick-to-score, and downright frightening offense, Harvey’s Wallbangers will bring Milwaukee its first world championship since 1957 in six games.

Quotes from the American League Champs

October 10 Leave a Comment

The following quotes were taken by the Milwaukee Sentinel on the field and in the clubhouse following the Milwaukee Brewers’ 4-3 win over the California Angels today to advance to the World Series. Recap of the game can be found here.

Cecil Cooper on seventh inning hit: “When I walked up there all I could think about was getting another chance. You have to go up there thinking about staying under control, going the other way. I thought I might see (left hander Andy) Hassler in that situation.”

Cecil Cooper: “I’m just so excited I got a base hit and we won. It took me away from being a goat.”

Cecil Cooper: “For a minute I thought it would be caught because when you hit line drives they have a tendency to hang, especially with the wind blowing in like it was. I was motioning for it to go down. It got down.”

Jim Gantner on scoring go-ahead run: “I think I flew most of the way home. When Cecil walked up there, I had a feeling he was going to get a hit and I knew I was going to score from second. I had already made up my mind that I was going to score.”

Bob McClure on Marshall Edwards’ eighth inning catch of Don Baylor fly ball: “I thought it was out when he hit it. I just stood on the mound and said stay in, stay in and then I saw it go in his glove.”

Marshall Edwards: “I knew I had to jump. You know how tall I am.”

Harvey Kuenn: “We haven’t done things easy all year and that was just another example of it.”

Pete Ladd, who saved the game: “Pure ecstasy. I don’t ever think I’ve ever jumped for joy like that when I saw the ball hit Cecil’s glove. I didn’t care who was up in that situation. I wanted the ball in that kind of an opportunity. I’ve faced (Carew) three times now, and I’ve gotten him out three times. I’m sure in the future he’ll get his hits off me, and that’s fine – as long as he didn’t get one in that situation.”

Charlie Moore on his throw to nail Reggie Jackson at third in the fifth inning: “It turned out to be a big play because it kept them from scoring another run. Inside I was cheering myself on.”

Bob McClure on throwing one pitch to Reggie Jackson in the eighth: “I wasn’t even trying to get him to hit into a double play. I was trying to get a strikeout and see what would happen to the next hitter (Lynn). But it worked out.”

Paul Molitor: “I think what happened today typifies t he character of this team. Today was a great example. We were down, but not out. We came back.”

Pete Vuckovich, on if the Brewers are invincible: “That’s a heavy word. There are too many good teams and good players for anyone to be invincible. But we’re a very confident team. I’m so proud to be a part of this unit.”

Cecil Cooper on tagging Bob Grich with an empty glove: “I didn’t argue. I knew I had made a bone headed play. I simply panicked. Realized I couldn’t reach him with the ball in my bare hand, so I tried to do it that way. I turned to Bobby at first base and told him I screwed up. And I told the guys when I got to the dugout, ‘Just give me another chance to redeem myself.'”

Bud Selig, on comparing this win to final day win against Orioles: “I don’t know. Last weekend was gut wrenching. I’ve never been filled with such anxiety. I called it an ordeal. That’s what it was.”

Bud Selig, pointing to swarming fans on the field: “Look at that scene. That makes it worth it. It’s like living a dream.”

Paul Molitor: “One of the more gratifying things has been playing for Mr. Selig. Some of it goes back to Baltimore last week when he told us ‘win or lose’ he was proud of us. That’s why it was so great to go full cycle and win it for him.”

Harvey Kuenn, on his pick for ALCS MVP (Fred Lynn won it): “Why, I would have to pick Pete Ladd. And why would you have to say why?”

Pitching coach Pat Dobson on Ladd: “When he came here (July 15) he was a one pitch pitcher. He had no slider. But he’s very easy to instruct. He learned the slider and it’s helped him 100%. It’s a pitch he needed for his career.”

Rollie Fingers on Ladd: “What he did was no surprise to me. If he has his control you know he’ll be ok. This just goes to show you that one guy doesn’t win it for you.”

Don Sutton on Harvey Kuenn: “The man is like a conductor of an orchestra. He can’t play a single instrument but he sure blends everyone else together. He’s much like Walter Alston. He doesn’t believe people come to watch manager’s manage. He believes they come to see the players play.”

Harvey Kuenn: “Words can’t express how I feel. I’ve had a lot of thrills in this game, and this is the biggest of my whole life. This is a club molded of 25 guys and coaches. Everybody loves everybody else. They don’t care who gets the winning hit or who’s the winning pitcher as long as we win.”

Ben Oglivie: “We knew we couldn’t give up. We knew we had to be stalwart. We’ve had to fight a continuing battle all year. This club always battles.”

Gorman Thomas: “I could care less about my knee right now. I’m going to go out and get smoked tonight.”

Charlie Moore on his dance in right field: “I couldn’t stand still. I guess when you’ve never been there before, you don’t know how to react. I guess I kind of reacted stupidly. But there are no regrets. Not one regret.”

Brewers are World Series Bound!

October 10 2 Comments

Brewers 4, Angels 3
Brewers win ALCS 3-2
Box Score | Season Schedule

Brewers fans storm the field after Game 5 win

MILWAUKEE — Down two games to none just a few days ago, the Brewers had little hope of a World Series. Today, as I stand on the County Stadium infield with Pete Ladd‘s cap in my hand, the fans finally trickling back into the stands, we can say it: The Milwaukee Brewers are American League Champions.

Yes, after yet another heart-stopping, come-from-behind performance on Sunday, the Brewers beat the Angels 4-3 to advance to the World Series against either the Atlanta Braves or St. Louis Cardinals (the Cardinals lead two games to none and play tonight in Atlanta).

Declaring that baseball is a “game of inches” may be cliche, but today’s pennant deciding game was a prime example. There were several plays and non-plays, bounces of chance and clutch displays of amazing skill that led us to this celebratory stage. The game may have lasted three hours and one minute, but it was boiling over with memorable moments to last a lifetime. Let’s break it down…

Defense Early
Poor defense could have played the Brewers out of the game early, committing four errors in the first four innings.

With one out in the first and a runner on second, Reggie Jackson hit a liner at Molitor, who made a nice diving catch. However, Molitor then tried to make a quick throw to second to double up Downing, but no one was covering and the throw hit Downing on the helmet. The errant throw allowed Downing to move to third. The next batter, Fred Lynn, continued to destroy Brewers pitching by hitting a line drive base hit into left field that Oglivie misplayed. His error allowed Lynn to move to second. While allowing Lynn to move up wasn’t damaging (he would not score), Oglivie may have had a shot at Downing at home if not for the combination of the two errors. Frankly, the Brewers were lucky to allow only one run in the first.

With a runner on second and no one out in the fourth, Bobby Grich laid down a bunt towards first. Cecil Cooper picked it up, pulled the ball out of his glove and tagged Grich, who was moving into foul territory to avoid the tag. The problem was that Cooper was holding the ball in his bare hand and tagged Grich with an empty glove. Grich was initially called out, but after the Angels complained, home plate umpire Don Denkinger reversed the call and California had runners at the corners with no one out. Cooper did not tag Grich, this is true. The actual question is whether Grich ran outside of the baseline to avoid the tag. Regardless, it was ruled a sacrifice and an error on Cooper.

It would be a costly error. After Foli popped out to Cooper for the first out, Bob Boone executed his second squeeze bunt of the series to score DeCinces from third. While Boone would be safe on the play, it’s unlikely the Angels attempt a squeeze bunt had Grich been tagged out, making it two outs with Boone at the plate and a runner on third.

That said, it again could have been worse. Brian Downing grounded into an inning ending double play to keep the score at 3-1 Angels.

Defense Later
That double play in the fourth was the start of a new Brewers defense in this game. Up until that point, Milwaukee’s glovemen appeared content to throw the game away. From that poing forward, they did all thew could to save it.

The next big, game saving play came in the fifth. With one down and Reggie Jackson at first, Fred Lynn hit a bouncing ball over Cecil Cooper for a hit. Charlie Moore charged it down the first base line, and made a perfect throw on a line straight into Molitor’s glove without a bounce to nail Jackson. It was an unbelievable throw for the second out of the inning. Don Baylor, the next batter, would get another base hit that would have scored Jackson to make it a 4-2 game. Instead, the Angels did not score, and it remained 3-2. The Angels would have other opportunities to test Moore’s arm throughout the game, and each time they would pass.

The biggest play of the game was made by the most unlikely of heroes. Gorman Thomas is noticeably hobbled by a sore right knee, and it is affecting his play at the plate and in the field. With the Brewers up 4-3 in the eighth, Harvey Kuenn decided to lift Gorman from the game in favor of the speedy Marshall Edwards. The move would pay off almost immediately.

With one down, Don Baylor tested the new fielder with a rocket into the gap in left center. Edwards raced back to the track, leaping and crashing into the wall. The ball would have hit the top of the wall, but instead rested comfortably in the young center fielder’s glove. Doug DeCinces would then connect on a base hit into right that undoubtedly would have scored Baylor. Edwards saved a run.

Between these two plays, the Brewers defense saved at least two runs in spectacular fashion. Without either play, it would likely have been a different conclusion.

Molitor’s Baserunning
Paul Molitor led off the first inning with a line drive base hit into left field. Off the bat of any other hitter, it’s an automatic single. The ball was not in the gap, but was one that Downing charged head on. Molitor, though, was thinking two bases as soon as he hit it. The grass wet from rain, the ball slowed on its way to Downing and Molitor took second easily. Robin Yount then moved Molitor over to third on a ground out.

With one down, Cecil Cooper hit a ground ball to Doug DeCinces at third. DeCinces was distracted by Molitor at third and faked him back to the base before throwing a ball in the dirt to first. Molitor’s presence on third caused the throwing error, and there were runners on the corners and one out. If Molitor had been on second, he would have stayed there with the grounder to the left side, and Cooper is undoubtedly thrown out for the second of the inning.

Then, with one down instead of two, Ted Simmons hit a sacrifice fly that scored Molitor. Molitor’s single that turned into a double not only kept the number of outs to one instead of two, but it allowed him to get to third sooner to be in position for the sacrifice fly. That run was entirely thanks to Molitor.

Missed Opportunities
While the defense began turning things around in the fourth, the offense would not cooperate when given the opportunities in the middle innings. Missed opportunities at the plate — and an unfortunately placed grounder — nearly cost this team the game.

With Molitor and Gantner on 1st and 2nd and no outs in the 3rd, Robin Yount hit a smash right at Doug DeCinces at third, who was a step away from the bag. DeCinces quickly stepped on third and fired to second for a double play. Grich was taken out on a slide by Molitor, but otherwise it was very close to a triple play. It was a well hit ball, but it resulted in two outs and a runner on first. The Brewers would not be able to score in the third, and remained down 2-1.

In the fifth inning and the Angels leading 3-2, Cecil Cooper came up in his first clutch opportunity with two down and runners at first and second. Cooper struck out, and the Angels remained in the lead.

Oglivie Homer
Ben Oglivie didn’t play in Saturday’s game. The decision was likely two fold: Oglivie had gone 1-for-11 in the ALCS, and he injured his ribs in a collision with the wall on a Fred Lynn double in Game 3. The switch to Mark Brouhard for Game 4 proved to be one of the most ingenious moves of the series, as the back-up outfielder would key the Brewers win.

Oglivie returned to the lineup today, and he took several awkward swings that would lead observers to believe that his sore ribs were affecting his play. However, with one down in the bottom of the fourth, Oglivie hit a Bruce Kison changeup over the right field wall to make it a 3-2 game.

The run was crucial for an offense having trouble scoring. It kept the Brewers close and made the eventual win possible.

Relief Pitching
In a series with an unending list of story lines, the emergence of the Brewers bullpen is near the top. It was this group that struggled so mightily during the past couple of months, giving away several leads and wins along the way. But relief pitching was this team’s shining star in the ALCS.

With one down in the seventh, Brewers starter Pete Vuckovich walked Rod Carew. Harvey Kuenn summoned lefty Bob McClure, who induced a Reggie Jackson inning-ending double play on his first pitch. McClure would then cruise through the eighth, aided significantly by Edwards’ play in the outfield.

McClure would give up a lead-off single to Ron Jackson in the top of the ninth with a one run lead. Pete Ladd then came on to replace McClure. Bob Boone bunted over the runner for the first out, and Ladd got the final two batters to ground out to end the game.

The Brewers bullpen allowed one earned run on only five hits in 10 2/3 innings in this series. Pete Ladd was the poster boy of relief success, retiring all 10 batters he faced and striking out five. The impressive performance of the bullpen was a big reason this team is advancing to the World Series.

Clutch Hitting and Lucky Bounces
With one down in the seventh, Charlie Moore hit a jam shot that was falling into no-man’s land behind the pitcher’s mound. Bobby Grich dove and caught it on the bounce. The attempt was correctly called a trap, to Grich’s dismay, and Moore was safe on an infield single. But had Grich caught the ball, there would have been two down.

Gantner then hit a single and Molitor popped out into foul territory. Again, had Grich made the catch, the inning would have been over. Instead, Robin Yount was up with a man on first and two down. Yount took a very close pitch for ball four that could have conceivably been called either way, and Cecil Cooper was then up with two down and the bases loaded.

Had Grich made that catch or a ball been instead called a strike, this inning was over. Instead, Cooper came up and laced a two-RBI single into left to take a 4-3 lead. It was the biggest hit in the history of this franchise. But a hit that needed assistance to be possible.

Destiny
Is baseball a game of inches? Damn right it is. I recognize that had several bounces gone a different way, the Brewers’ season would be over. I also recognize that the incredible skill displayed by the defense (after a bad start) and bullpen as well as some very clutch baserunning and hitting led to this win. The Brewers earned every bit of the American League Championship.

But with each big play that leads to another jaw-dropping win, it’s becoming clear that the Brewers aren’t just a good team. They are a great team. And a team of destiny.

Your American League Champion Brewers will face either the Braves or Cardinals in the World Series on October 12, though it may start later depending on the completion date of the NLCS.

Brewers Take Game 3

October 8 1 Comment

Brewers 5, Angels 3
Angels now lead ALCS 2-1
Box Score | Season Schedule

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers came into Game 3 of the ALCS in do-or-die mode. Win, and there’s another day. Lose, and you’re dead. Figuratively speaking, at least.

Don Sutton and The Crew were up to the challenge, as they were in full control of the game from start to finish. Sure, it finished as only a two run margin, a 5-3 Brewers win. Yeah, the Brewers only managed six hits. But there was a positive feel in this one.

Yes, it’s a feel we haven’t had in some time. Control. Most importantly, they had a pitcher on the mound who wasn’t giving an inch, at least until a charitable fan decided to give that inch late.

Up until Friday, Brewers pitchers had repeatedly given up early runs, putting their offense in an immediate hole. An offense that has looked nothing like the Harvey’s Wallbangers of most of the regular season.

But you can’t always count on your offense to score bunches of runs. That is what makes solid starting pitching so important. And that is why Harry Dalton went out and traded for Don Sutton. For games just like the one on the final day of the regular season against the Orioles. And like this one.

Backs against the wall.

Don Sutton is the man, people. He allowed a hit and a walk in the first inning, but not another baserunner until a DeCinces single in the fifth. Prior to the eighth inning, Sutton had only allowed more than one baserunner in an inning once, that opening frame. Yes, Sutton was in supreme control.

The Brewers offense didn’t collect a hit until the fourth inning, but they did so in style. The Brewers hadn’t scored three runs in an inning since that last time Sutton was on the mound. The Crew collected three runs on three hits and a walk in the fourth, breaking through a massive funk at the plate.

Paul Molitor then added the exclamation point, hitting a much-needed two-run homer in the seventh making it 5-0. At the time, it seemed just like piling on. But it turned out to be crucial run production.

The Angels finally figured out Sutton in the bottom of the eighth, with a jump start from the aforementioned fan. Bob Boone led off the inning with a deep fly ball to left. Ben Oglivie headed to the track, leaped, and as the ball was about to enter his glove…

A fan reached over the wall and snagged it. Replays showed it clearly to be the case. It shouldn’t have been a home run, and it was probably going to be an out. Left field umpire Larry Barnett disagreed, however, and that’s all that mattered.

The Angels would score three runs on four hits in the inning, including the leadoff snafu. But by then, it was too late. They weren’t coming back.

Sutton allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings of mound work. He was the stopper the Brewers needed.

“We were shut down for seven innings by one of the best pitchers in baseball in the last 15 years,” said Angels manager Gene Mauch. “He’s very clever… very clever.”

The clever Sutton was relieved by Pete Ladd, who provided a much needed spark from the bullpen. Ladd went the final 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, striking out two. Ladd, who blew two late season games with big home runs, has struck out five of the seven batters he’s faced in this series.

“Relief is something that you already better be equipped to handle the pressure and go out there,” said Ladd, “or you might as well stay in the bullpen.”

How things can change for Ladd and this Brewers bullpen. The one thing you can say about this ALCS so far is that the bullpen has not been the problem. While they may not have been dependable as a group ever since Rollie Fingers went down, the bullpen has allowed only one earned run and three hits through 6 1/3 innings pitched.

Are the Brewers back? I think so. I hope so. They have a significant test on Saturday, skipping the struggling Mike Caldwell in the rotation in favor of Moose Haas. He’ll be up against veteran Tommy John, who dominated the Brewers in Game 1.

But the game is at home, and if they tie up the series at two apiece, the Brewers suddenly become favorites in Game 5, in Brew Town as well.

Am I confident? That may be a stretch. But I’ve perked up a bit. Don Sutton and the Brewers gave us a playoff victory, which is somewhat satisfying. And being down 2-1 feels nowhere near as hopeless as 2-0. It also means the Brewers are two home victories from the World Series.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. One win at a time. It starts with Moose Haas on Saturday at 3:45 CDT.

What do you think? Do the Brewers have a realistic chance of winning with Moose Haas on the mound?

Kison Dominates Brewers 4-2

October 6 5 Comments

Angels 4, Brewers 2
Angels now lead ALCS 2-0
Box Score | Season Schedule

This is the nerd who dominated the Brewers today.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Paul Molitor hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is the extent of your Brewers highlights for Wednesday night’s 4-2 Game 2 loss to the California Angels in the American League Championship Series.

Bruce Kison was on the mound for the Angels, a solid veteran hurler, but the type of pitcher these Brewers have mashed repeatedly all season long. Instead, Kison allowed only two runs on five hits while striking out eight in nine innings of work.

Meanwhile, the Brewers had the — reportedly — leading AL Cy Young candidate on the mound in Pete Vuckovich. Vuke was fine, but was far from matching Kison’s precision. Vuckovich pitched eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks.

Of course, the Brewers provided other moments for the highlight reel. Molitor also had a single. Yount had a single. Charlie Moore connected on two singles. And that… well, that’s it.

Wait, it actually gets a bit worse. The Brewers only managed five hits (four of which were singles), and they never walked once. Eliminating the final regular season win for a moment, the Brewers have scored 12 runs in the other five most recent games.

Harvey’s Wallbangers?

While the Orioles feasted during the first two innings in the final regular season series, the Angels have scored eight runs during the third and fourth innings so far, at least one run in each inning. Brewers pitchers need to find a way to get through the early stages of the game.

The Brewers now trail the Angels two games to none. Unlike the final Orioles series when the Brewers needed to only win one of four games to move on, Milwaukee is in a much more urgent situation this time around. Down 2-0, they must string off three consecutive wins. A feat, as Rob Peterson pointed out in today’s preview, that has never been accomplished.

“We had two losses to use up,” reflected Paul Molitor, “and both of them are used. “You simply can’t get any closer than this to saying hello to the offseason. We have to regroup, though we all know it’s a tough task to win three straight.”

Sure is. Especially considering this team has lost six of their last seven.

Luckily, the remainder of the series will be played entirely within Milwaukee County Stadium. The home fans may just provide that extra boost the Brewers need to get back into this thing. Though to be fair, their record at home this season (48-34) is nearly identical to their road record (47-33).

In other words, World Series plans need to be put on hold. At this point, I simply want the Brewers to win a game. One game. It’s not asking much. Give us something to be proud of.

Don Sutton is scheduled to be on the mound for the Game 3 match-up at 7:25 pm CDT in Milwaukee on October 8 after a day off. The Brewers offense will need to wake up against 18-game winner Geoff Zahn.

What do you think? Do the Brewers still have a chance to pull this out?

Injury Update: Prior to the game, there were rumors that Vuckovich may not be able to pitch due to a sore shoulder. He received a couple of cortisone shots for the injury, which manager Harvey Kuenn calls a “tired arm,” during the past week.

National League Championship Series: The opening game of the NLCS was stopped due to rain with one out in the fifth inning and the Braves leading 1-0. Only two outs from being official, the game was called after two hours and 28 minutes of delays. They’ll instead play tomorrow.

Quotes From the AL East Champs

October 3 Leave a Comment

The following quotes were gathered by the Milwaukee Sentinel in the champagne-soaked visitors’ clubhouse. You can also read the game recap of this epic game here.

Harvey Kuenn, on his visit to the mound in the eighth: “I was close to taking him (Sutton) out,” Keunn recalled. “But when he said he could get the next guy out, and being an honest guy like Sutton is, I certainly wasn’t going to take him out.”

Ted Simmons: “Yesterday, I felt like my heart was wide open and I felt they were ready to pluck it out. But this morning, I woke up and just started thinking about the game. Last year (when the Brewers won the second half title of the strike season) there was an asterisk. But this is what people in this business seek. This is a credential, and I earned it. And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever earned.”

Paul Molitor: “For the last three or four days, all I’ve been talking about is how resilient this team has been all year. If we had lost, I don’t know what I’d be saying right now. But we regrouped one more time. The home run by Robin in the first inning was just a sign to them that we weren’t going to roll over and play dead.”

Bud Selig: “All these kids are so happy and I’m so happy for them. But we still have a long way to go, we still have the Angels in front of us.”

Gorman Thomas: “Damn, this is why I love this game. Down to the last moment. I love it.”

Paul Molitor, about Selig’s talk before the game: “He just came in and told us how much he loved us and if we won or lost it wouldn’t change a thing. We were loose beforehand but that just gave us a little extra incentive to win for the man. He’s lived and died with this, through the good years and all the bad years. This has to be very gratifying to him.”

Harvey Kuenn on team’s chances today: “Honestly, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind and I don’t think there was any doubt in the minds of the guys who put on the uniform.”

Jim Palmer: “Robin’s a fine player, but there are three or four MVP’s on that club. I don’t know why they always single him out.”

Don Sutton on discussion with home plate umpire Don Denkinger prior to the bottom of the third: “He said that somehow a mysteriously scuffed ball had gotten into the game. He asked me not to throw it if I found one. I asked him if I was supposed to play policeman and check all the balls. He said, ‘no, he’d take care of that, but he would certainly be happy if I didn’t find anymore.’ I said, ‘Me too because they sure are hard to throw straight.'”

Don Sutton on accusations: “I’ve never cut a baseball in my life. I’m tired of hearing this stuff. I’m the most accused and least convicted guy in America.”

Don Sutton: “Robin Yount is the best athlete I have ever played with. He’s not an All Star, he’s not an MVP, he’s All World. I’ve played with some great people but he stands taller than the rest.”

Robin Yount, on losing the batting title to Willie Wilson by .00092 points: “The batting title was the last thing on my mind. There were more important things to talk about. If it was up to me, they wouldn’t have that award (MVP). One guy can’t carry a team for 162 games. The only awards that should be given in this game are team awards.”

Harvey Kuenn on Don Sutton: “He had a sore throat this week. He took something for it and broke out in a rash. I don’t think he had a rash today though. He had a good fastball, changeup, slider and curve, but no rash.”

Don Sutton: “I had a sore throat, I took a penicillin shot to get rid of it – something I’ve done my whole life and it kicked back on me for the first time. I took penicillin to get rid of the cold, cortisone to get rid of the penicillin and water to get rid of the cortisone. I guess you could say it was better pitching through chemistry.”

Don Sutton: “The key thing wasn’t what I did, it was the play Benji made (in the 8th). I have thought all along that this club could win with or without me. This is the best collection of talent I’ve ever been associated with. I’m just happy to be along for this ride.”

Harvey Kuenn on Yount: “He’s the best overall shortstop I have ever seen. There’s no question in my mind he’s MVP, and it’s just a shame he didn’t win the batting title. There are not enough words to describe him.”