04/16/24
May 17, 2004
Ben"DL move waiting to happen" Sheets strikes out 18 in a win over Atlanta, the most in the majors in three years. This performance puts the Brewers back over .500. Especially in the strongest division in the league, does this mean the Brewers have turned the corner?
Sheets, not Shets. You'd think I'd catch that sort of thing on preview, wouldn't you?
posted by Jugwine at 09:50 AM on May 17, 2004
A lot of credit goes to Lyle Overbay. This guy is a stud. He already has 38 RBIs.
posted by usfbull at 09:54 AM on May 17, 2004
Yeah, we're loving Overbay here in Wisconsin. That guy is a doubles monster.
posted by rocketman at 09:54 AM on May 17, 2004
They're 10-12 against their divison Sure they are, but last year they weren't even that good. And I think without contest it's the best division in the league.
posted by rocketman at 10:09 AM on May 17, 2004
By the way, that first link was supposed to go here.
posted by rocketman at 10:14 AM on May 17, 2004
Kudos to Ben Sheets for finally figuring it all out the one year I don't draft him.
posted by yerfatma at 10:28 AM on May 17, 2004
without contest it's the best division in the league Can't disagree with you there. If the Reds and/or Brewers continue to contend, it'll be pretty safe to say it's the best division in all of baseball -- particularly if Toronto doesn't turn things around.
posted by Jugwine at 10:39 AM on May 17, 2004
If the Reds and/or Brewers continue to contend I personally don't think either of them will reach the playoffs - or St. Louis, for that matter - but I think two things about this: 1. Whoever comes in second in the NL Central will not get the wild card. Because this division is going to knock the hell out of each other all season long. 2. Whoever does end up taking the division title will have to win it by beating Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, none of whom are guaranteed wins. It's going to be a fun season. By the way, yerfatma, I agree he's still a DL move waiting to happen. Hopefully he can stay injury-free this year.
posted by rocketman at 10:55 AM on May 17, 2004
I have heard, from people who follow this way closer than I do, that the Milwaukee minor league system is chock full o' prospects. Apparently they should be a force in the next few years if some of their prospects progress the way most "experts" think they should. I can't imagine the Brewers being any good, but it may be coming.
posted by gilcintron at 11:40 AM on May 17, 2004
The Cards are going to be in it at the end. The starting pitching has been excellent lately, and the bullpen is much improved from last year. It's been the bats that haven't quite warmed up yet (hitting something like .280 with RISP).
posted by mbd1 at 12:15 PM on May 17, 2004
It's been the bats that haven't quite warmed up yet (hitting something like .280 with RISP). What's the league average for that? As a Sox fan, I'd kill for a .280 RISP right now. Far as I can see, there's only one team North of .280. Of course, it's not the Cards; they're at .242.
posted by yerfatma at 12:20 PM on May 17, 2004
It's actually .246 with RISP, according to Redbird Nation. Who knows why .280 was floated to the top of my head. That team average is going to end up around .270 by the end of the year.....and if the pitching staff doesn't disintegrate, I like the Cards chances.
posted by mbd1 at 12:29 PM on May 17, 2004
There are a lot of really good teams out there this year. Cards, Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, Marlins, Phillies, Padres, A's Angels, Yankees, Sox (both), and Twins are all playing well - should be a competitive year.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:41 AM on May 18, 2004
Rocketman, I gotta say I love you for posting this. The Brewers get so little recognition as it is, and they're playing incredible baseball so far this season. It's exciting as hell to see, and as a fan, I'm beside myself with all the come-from-behind victories. Even into the late innings, they never toss in the towel but go down fighting all the way. It's amazing. It's what we've been waiting for, and with Hardy, Gwynn, Fielder, and Spivey on the up-and-up, hoo-boy, it's going to be a fun time to be a Brewers fan. All the press that Overbay's been getting... I'm all for it, and he's hot as hell right now, but they're overlooking the consistency behind him, too. Jenkins is always dependable both on the field and at the plate, Podsednik is still playing his heart out, Clark has done some nice things in right field, and Helms is picking up his pace yet again. Add in some nice work by Moeller with the cycle not too long ago, "Toolshed" Kieschnick, who we see far too little of, and the ever-reliable Craiggers Counsell, and man oh man, what a fun year for baseball...
posted by evixir at 08:57 PM on May 18, 2004
I agree, this season so far has been a blast.
posted by rocketman at 09:17 AM on May 20, 2004
Don't get too excited yet. The only reason the Brewers are above .500 now is because they went 5-1 against the Mets and the Expos last week. They're 10-12 against their divison including an inexplicable 0-3 against the Pirates. That being said, it looks like Shets is having a pretty decent season after a gut-wrenchingly bad spring. He's only had to starts that weren't "quality starts": his first one and another where he ended up with the win anyway.