Randy Lerch

It is Time for Change at the Top

May 24

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

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

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.

Cooper is Super in 8-3 Win

May 15

Brewers 8, White Sox 3
Brewers now 18-14 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Cecil Cooper drove in four runs to power the Brewers to an 8-3 win.

CHICAGO — Down 1-0 in the third with two outs to 22-year-old All-Star lefty Britt Burns, the Brewers needed a hero. Cecil Cooper, the Crew’s most consistent offensive contributor and an early MVP favorite, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.

Cooper promptly doubled home Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor, and Robin Yount to give the Brewers the lead. Dependable Cooper comes through again.

The White Sox would tie the game in the 8th when Ron LeFlore doubled in two runs off of Dwight Bernard, who had come in to relieve starter Moose Haas. The lead was temporary.

Cooper walked to lead off the bottom of the 8th, and would then score along with Gorman Thomas on a Don Money double to left to take the lead and knock Burns from the game. A perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Jim Gantner off of reliever Jerry Koosman would bring in the third run of the inning to make it 6-3.

The Brewers would pad their lead in the ninth when Cooper singled home Yount and a run scored on a bases loaded, Charlie Moore groundout.

Cooper would finish the day with two hits, a walk, two runs scored and four driven in. He’s now hitting a robust .354 with 21 RBI on the season. Cooper was super, and his contributions are becoming commonplace.

Moose Haas started on the mound for the Brewers, allowing three runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. Two of those runs scored with Dwight Bernard, who relieved him in the seventh, on the mound.

It was a solid win against a young star in Burns and the now 20-12 White Sox. The Brewers go for the sweep tomorrow with Randy Lerch on the mound.

Game Notes: Don Money collected three hits, all doubles … Unsubstantiated reports that Pete Vuckovich actually hurt his ankle when a video game fell on it, not slipping on a hill … Jim Gantner and Ned Yost collected two hits apiece.

Card of the Day: 1982 Topps Randy Lerch

May 9

The look on Randy’s face suggests someone just said something awful about his mom, and he’s trying to determine whether he can take you.

[VIEW THE FULL 1982 BREWERS TOPPS SET]

Arms Lead Crew to Victory

May 7

Brewers 4, Twins 1
Brewers now 14-10 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

MILWAUKEE — Prior to today’s game, the Brewers gathered in the clubhouse to watch the highlight film of the 1981 season. You know how it ended. Don Money knew how it ended (with him hitting a deep fly ball to the left field corner that was caught by Dave Winfield). Money was no where to be seen for most of the viewing.

Maybe Money thought it was over. Maybe he was hoping that maybe, just maybe, the ending would change. Maybe he likes to torture himself. But Money entered the clubhouse just as the final play was shown.

His audible response? We can’t tell you. We’re classy and professional and stuff. But he wasn’t happy.

Why would the team decide to show highlights of this agonizing conclusion prior to a game? Was it intended to be celebratory or motivational? Either way, it led to a victory today.

The Brewers like playing the Twins. Gorman Thomas and Ted Simmons, who have otherwise had a nightmare start to the season, both hit their third homers of the season today. All six combined home run balls have come agains the Twins.

Cecil Cooper, who may the be the early season favorite for AL Most Valuable Player, hit his second homer, went 3-for-4 and increased his batting average to .371.

But as has been the trend of late, the Brewers have been riding a wave of unexpected heroes to victory. Today, that hero was Randy Lerch. The afterthought in the Brewers rotation — the redheaded stepchild even — allowed only a run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Jim Slaton also continued his Spahn-like domination of opposing hitters in recent games. Today, he pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing only a hit and no runs to earn his first career save. If that sounds familiar, it’s because in his last appearance, Slaton pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-hit, no run ball in relief.

In fact, Slaton now has a streak going of 10 scoreless innings. Incredible.

Today marked a nice, team win. A motivated and focused team. A team that, if they continue to get these contributions across the board, may be able to give Don Money something to smile about when this season comes to an end.