Brewers 6, Cubs 3 (12 Innings)
Player of the Game: Lyle Overbay
Record: 3-0
Isn’t this exciting?! What an amazing start to the season for the Brew Crew. Now, if our boys can just take one of the next two from the Chubs, we’re off to a fantastic start. I don’t have much time to review this beast, but I’ll give everyone a quick review since I know you’re all interested. I’m sure a lot of you watched the game, so I don’t have to go into detail about the comeback or simple things like that.
The key number for today’s game was 12. 12 innings, 12 hits, and 12 walks. Add to that 2 HBP by Brady “On-base machine” Clark, and you have a ridiculous 26 baserunners in 12 innings of play. Let me complain about why the Crew only scored 6 runs, and only 3 through the first 11 innings:
Ned Yost sometimes does stuff that is utterly inexplicable and complete intolerable. Sending Brady Clark to steal a lot is a common offense of his, but not his worst offense. Another offense is bringing in Phelps and Glover into the most high-pressure relief situations of the year before giving the ball to Mike Adams, but I won’t complain about that either because it worked out for the best. However, his decision to put a hit-and-run on with runners on first and second, one being Damian Miller at second, with Chris Capuano batting is beyond insanity. What in the hell was he thinking? Obviously, Capuano swings and misses at a ridiculously high fastball from Kerry Wood and Miller is out by about 20 steps at third. Do I need to go into any more detail about this or do you get the point?
It’s amazing that the Crew hung in the game and managed to win in the end with the nonsense on the bases and Geoff Jenkins being an absolute piece of shit at the plate. I love when my hitters strike out as much as anyone in the world, but when Jenkins consistently swings at ball four, I get really upset. Words cannot describe how bad he was at the plate today.
Similarly, words cannot describe how good the bullpen was today. Capuano pitched decently, but he left runners on second and third with only one down in the sixth. From that point on, the Crew bullpen came in and did not surrender a run. The less diehard baseball fans out there will eventually figure out who these guys are, but until then, just realize that Doug Melvin has put a whole bunch of scraps together and maybe formed something pretty worthwhile.
A final point before I must depart, Brady Clark goes 0-2 with 3 BB and 2 HBP. Don’t you just love this guy?