Hair of the Dog, Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Can we just change his name to Eric Sunk-Cost?

This is the Brewers' Baseball Reference page. Here is a comprehensive list of pitchers on this page with worse ERA+s than Eric Gagne’s sparkling 64:

1. Julian Tavarez – 50 (Not on team)
2. Derrick Turnbow – 28 (Not on team)

Aaaand that’s it. Eric Gagne is not only the worst pitcher on the Brewers, he is BY FAR the worst pitcher on the Brewers. No one else is even close. Tim Dillard would be next in line, but he has been a full 20% better than Gagne.

The fact is that Eric Gagne should not longer be on the team. It may have been worth taking a chance on the once dominant steroid user, but in nearly a full season he has not shown himself to be more valuable than anyone using any metric. He has the worst regular ERA on the team at 6.81, he’s struck out 29, but he’s walked 19 in only 35.66 innings. He’s given up 10 (TEN) HRs! Righties kill him (.338/.427/.634), and lefties hit him hard (.247/.337/..479). He is positively awful at home (8.05 ERA) and merely terrible on the road (5.40 ERA).

Some think he’s improved since the All-Star break, but he was so terrible in the first half that an improvement was almost a statistical certainty, and if you improve from opponents crushing you to the tune of .305/.411/.558 to having them only crush you to the tune of .265/.321/.551, well, that’s really not worth talking about.

Perhaps the worst thing about Gagne is his complete inability to put guys away. After being down 0-2 in the count against Gagne, batters this year (over 33 PAs), are hitting .258/.303/.645. That’s amazing, and shows a complete lack of ability to miss bats and take advantage of being up in the count.

The only reason to continue to trot Gagne out there is that he makes $10 million, and that’s only a reason if you’re an idiot. He should definitely not be on the playoff roster, and really, he should be cut tomorrow.

Ben's Groin

I suspect that removing Ben Sheets was more precautionary than reactionary, and that he'll be fine. For a team with a 94.6% chance of making the playoffs, this is a smart move. Just as the Cubs are giving Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden a few extra days to work through some nagging injuries (at least they hope Zambrano's injuries are of the nagging variety), there is no reason to take any unnecessary risks with one of your two most important post-season players.

Plus, even though the Brewers lost yesterday, the Cardinals, Cubs, and Phillies all lost as well.

Ned’s Short Memory

“That was my first no-hitter. I could have told my grandkids about it."

-Ned Yost, commenting on CC Sabathia’s near no-hitter.

Ned, you can tell your grandkids about Justin Verlander if it’s that important to you.

The Surprising Packer Cuts

Jon Ryan, we hardly knew you. I'm quite surprised at this. Frost is supposedly a good directional punter, which I like (and I'll believe when I see) but Ryan's power isn't something you can teach. This is a gamble.

I'm also shocked that both Noah Herron and Vernand Morency were cut. I figured that one of the two would probably make the team, as both are useful pass-blockers and receivers. Congratulations to Kregg Lumpkin, who managed to beat out the incumbents.

This raises interesting questions about 3rd down. Will Brandon Jackson get Aaron Rodgers killed in pass protection? Only time will tell.

If he does, Matt Flynn will step in instead of Brian Brohm, who had what can only be described as a disappointing preseason. I still think that Brohm is the more talented player, and will eventually regain the spot, but Flynn has clearly outplayed him so far. Who knows, maybe they have something here.

Evridge is OK, So Far.

My impression of the Badgers is that they’re the same old Badgers. Their mountainous offensive line will open huge holes for PJ Hill, and the rest is uncertain.

Allan Evridge looks like he has the physical tools to be great. I saw a strong arm, a tight spiral, and excellent accuracy when he had time. I also saw one of the worst and most damaging interceptions I have seen when Evridge failed to put the ball on his receiver’s outside shoulder in the endzone, resulting in an endzone interception and a near pick-6. The Badgers were a few stupid mistakes (Evridge’s pick plus PJ Hill’s fumble out of the end zone) from putting up the type of gaudy blowout against Akron that Penn St. did against Coastal Carolina.

The defense looked a step slow at times. It will be interesting to see how they handle a competent offense. I am not looking forward to seeing the Illinois spread later this year. Take the "over" in that game.

Still, they can control the ground and control the clock, and that will get you far in life.

Get Those Fantasy Lineups In Early!

The Redskins and Giants kick off the NFL season this Thursday. Don’t forget!

Today’s Hair of the Dog

Is brought to you by Magic Hat #9, one of the best beers I’ve ever had. Also excellent with Guinness as a Black Magic.



Also, Hamlet 2 is awesome.