Thursday July 10, 2008 -- Win for the Brewers

Happy Thursday everyone.

Dave Bush started today, and I don't know about all of you, but every five days or so I brace myself for a blowout, and not a good one. However, recently, Dave bush has been getting better. Over his first four starts he had an era of 6.75. In 22.2 innings he had given up 17 earned runs, 12 walks and 16 strike outs. He continues to get better every month posting a 5.52 era in may(giving up 8 home runs hurts your era a little bit), and a 3.65 era in June with a 19/7 strike-out to walk ratio (and only gave up 3 home runs).
Now, in his first two starts in July, Bush has pitched a stellar 16 innings with 20 strike-outs and 0 walks, not to mention only 2 earned runs (that's an era of 1.125). So Bush's spectacular play brings up a big question... who gets bumped when Suppan comes off the DL? You can't bump Manny Parra after how well he has pitched (In his last 6 starts he's given up 9 earned runs with 27 strikeouts and 19 walks in 37.1 innings) so to me, it looks like the odd one out is Seth McClung, not to say that McClung hasn't been a good pitcher. It looks to me that the only move to make is to designate Mota for assignment and move McClung to the pen.
Yes I know, I will admit it, I was excited earlier this year when I had heard that they signed Mota. Mostly because it was showing that the front office was willing to make a move to improve the team, but nevertheless, I was excited. But there comes a certain point where you have to cut your losses, and if not now, then when? The NL central is going to be decided by only a few games, and if we keep handing the game over to Mota, I am gonna have to go with the stats and assume that he is going to keep handing it over to the other team. Over his last 4 appearances, in 3 innings (including one where he gave up three runs without recording an out) he has given up 8 runs. His era in the month of July is 24! So then there are those of you out there who say "But what about Gange, he has been just as bad this year!" Trust me, I don't like defending Gange, he has been Terrible as a closer. Eventhough Gange's era as of today is a little higher (about .2) he has use outside of the closer's role, like trying him in the seventh inning where there isn't as much pressure. Not to mention designating a player for assignment that you are paying 10 million dollars to this year is just a bad decision.

Pitcher of the game: Dave Bush. Keep it ip big guy! Keep pitching like this and the Brewers will be unstoppable.

Position Player of the Game: Gabe Kapler. 3/4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs. But my personal favorite stats are 0 LOB and 0 strikeouts.

Play of the Game: Prince Fielder's career high tying 2nd triple of the year.

Question of the day: What would you do with the current pitching situation? Who would you designate for assignment/trade/demote when Suppan comes back?

Questions? Comments? Post one or contact me:
e-mail: webweb20@yahoo.com