Thursday, September 18, 2008

Harden-Bush Rubbermatch Open Thread

We have a day game today. The Brewers send Dave Bush (9-10, 4.24 ERA, 42 BB/103 SO) against the Cubs' Rich Harden (10-2, 2.04 ERA, 50 BB/170 SO). Bushie and the Crew will have their work cut out for them today. I think it's safe to call this, "the biggest start of Dave Bush's Career." Hopefully it will go better for him than it did for Ben Sheets last night, and hopefully the bats will stay alive. No line up yet, but we'll update when it's available.

Update (from Paul): Your Lineup (Now With Handedness!):

CF Mike Cameron - R
2B Ray Durham - S
LF Ryan Braun - R
1B Prince Fielder - L
SS J.J. Hardy - R
RF Corey Hart - R
3B Craig Counsell - L
C Jason Kendall - R
RHP Dave Bush - R

244 comments:

  1. I can't find lineup either, but I've heard it contains neither Hart nor Kendall.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bad info. jsonline shows same lineup as yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Does the Crew even have a backup catcher?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, this is just beautiful; the only Brewer with more than 3 at-bats against Harden, Ray Durham, has a career batting average under half the Mendoza line.

    I know; we hate BA, but mlb.com doesn't put up slugging or on-base percentage.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Damn; it just gets worse. Somehow missed the 0-5 lifetime Cameron has against Harden.

    I hope we get progression to the mean in a hurry.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fear not. Bush is batting .500 against Harden.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't get Rivera either. How god-awful a catcher can he be to warrant such a sacrifice of offense on an offense-starved team?

    ReplyDelete
  8. The lineup is now up, with hadnedness.

    ReplyDelete
  9. here ya go steve...

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/p-pvb.cgi?n1=harderi01#choice=&bats=&minPA2=0&minPA=0&orderbydir=DESC&orderbydirb=ASC&n1=harderi01&as=pitcher&year_game=career&opp_id=MIL&orderby=PA&orderbyb=Name

    now, back to watching my employer take its turn around the proverbial drain

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey, drastic subject change.

    What are your thoughts on the Brewers offering Sheets a one-year, performance enhanced contract?

    In theory, it would benefit the Brewers; they would retain one of their "aces," and Sheets would have a full year to prove he's healthy before hitting FA.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sheets has no reason to take it, he'll get much better offers

    ReplyDelete
  12. Not a bad idea, but I suspect that he'll be looking for long term (or at least 3 year) if he can get it at all. I think that in the back of his mind he probably wonders how much longer he'll last.

    Still, I think it's worth a shot and a good idea. After all, you just gave Gagne 10 Mill, I'd certainly rather throw that at a short term Sheets deal.

    ReplyDelete
  13. good thing that wind is blowing in

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gotta be 30 pitches for Harden. Use him up JJ.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I lovew it. 29 pitches already. Yeah.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey; the Brewers have learned how to take pitches.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The high fastball swing was dumb, but he did start behind on a called strike (that looked outside on Pitchfx, btw).

    ReplyDelete
  18. Regression to the mean; Counsell used to be a bases-loaded clearer.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Still, Harden only has about 47 pitches left today.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 38 pitches in the first.

    There is precedent to my Sheets proposal, didn't Andre Dawson do something similar with the Cubs in the early 80s? I think he gave them a signed, blank contract.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Counse just cleared em again. attaboy

    ReplyDelete
  22. They ain't awful in the pen. We needed to get more than 1 out of that.

    Sheets will still get 4-65. I hope it's from us.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The middle of the pen is soft. The secret to beating the Cubs is to knock out the starter in the 5th or sooner. Make the use Howry, Cotts, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  24. THat was a spectacular last pitch mr bush

    ReplyDelete
  25. Some loud Brew Crew fans there today.

    ReplyDelete
  26. C'mon Kendal, let's get a 11-pitch at-bat

    ReplyDelete
  27. Harden is heating up, he's hit 96 mph, but at 48 pitches

    ReplyDelete
  28. He's on because he struck out Kendal, Bush and Cameron? I don't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Harden's gone 100-plus two of his last three starts. What makes you think he's only good for 85 today?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Last time out Jimmy hit that Grand Slam off of Bush, correct?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Edmonds has 3 homers in 4 at bats against Bush this year.

    ReplyDelete
  32. 5 Ks in a row; I don't care that 3 of them were Kendall, Bush and Cameron.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Which makes me question who's actually running the pitching staff. Moving Bush up to face a team he doesn't have a lot of success against so McClung could face a team he doesn't have a lot of success against smacks of Maddux-ball.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Because the one of his last 3 he did not go over 100 was his last start, on Sept 11th against the Cardinals after 12 days off due to "discomfort in his shoulder" after throwing back to back +100 outings.

    Also, I heard Bruce Levine say as much on ESPN1000 today. Note that in his last start, in which he pitched fine (2 ER in 6 innings) he was pulled at 86.

    Stupid Ray Durham.

    ReplyDelete
  35. No. Needed a collaborator and the slob in the office next to me says he has "work" to do.

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a dumbshit. Must be a South Sider (though I repeat myself).

    ReplyDelete
  37. what's the pitch count for bush?

    ReplyDelete
  38. 27 before Harden ab

    ReplyDelete
  39. Now, who said that Kendall couldn't cut down stealers?

    ReplyDelete
  40. no replay on the cub channel but he looked safe

    ReplyDelete
  41. Kendall has improved defensively a ton this year, to his credit. He was atrocious in 07.

    ReplyDelete
  42. FWIW, the Brewers don't have a hit

    ReplyDelete
  43. when was the last time Hart Wasn't disappointing

    ReplyDelete
  44. Kendall still sucks golf balls through a garden hose offensively though.

    ReplyDelete
  45. 83 pitches. Too bad he doesn't bat this inning (hopefully).

    ReplyDelete
  46. At least the Harden pitch count continues to climb.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Home run probably ensured he'll finish it or at least try to. Maybe he'll get cooked.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Nice Ray.


    Is Bush really f-ing slow or something? How did he not score from 2nd on a double?

    ReplyDelete
  49. We don't need you to be Earl Weaver, Braun. Just get a solid hit to the outfield.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I and Levine were apparently wrong. This is pretty irresponsible use of Harden for a game that really doesn't matter to the Cubs.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Held at 2nd to make sure it wasn't caught.

    Infield pop-ups are not going to get it done.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Fucking Bush. He should be in right now.

    ReplyDelete
  53. And another 3 runners stranded. FUCK!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Ugh, we gotta quit leaving the bases loaded.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Key-rist. Almost JJ, but sure looked like he swung at ball 4 twice.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Harden is at a ridiculous 115 pitches, and he's actually been hit pretty hard today but for the wind. Bush has benefitted too, but not as much as Harden.

    Maybe he'll get hurt and ruin their chances.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I guess Piniella manages for stupid stats too.

    ReplyDelete
  58. hmm... a two out walk means Bush won't give up a home run now. right?

    ReplyDelete
  59. nice at bat!

    now let's see the Kendall trademarked single

    ReplyDelete
  60. How about an error to avoid the DP?

    ReplyDelete
  61. Mike Lamb? Sveum is pushing his luck.

    ReplyDelete
  62. hell yeah got home just in time!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Timing is everything.

    I was going to suggest Cover It Live, but they're having massive connectivity problems now.

    THERE'S THE LEAD!

    ReplyDelete
  64. not Earl waver but it will do.

    i'm glad we're not seeing bunting

    ReplyDelete
  65. Cover It Live has not failed for me. I like it, very good user experience. Obviously i'm big on that since i bitch about it so much.

    ReplyDelete
  66. We can try it out. I'll try to do it for the next game.

    ReplyDelete
  67. It must be an issue on the tips it's pushing to me on the producer window (as if I need them; I've been using it since November).

    ReplyDelete
  68. Most of the time it works nice. If you have questions, you've got my e-mail (I hope).

    One of the things I like about it is it does allow broadcast across multiple blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  69. There's your Webb's 5th run walking in.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Good news; we send 10 to the plate. Bad, Corey Hart shows no fucking plate discipline again to strand the bases loaded.

    ReplyDelete
  71. AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH TAKE THAT you asshole dick sucking cum guzzling Cub fans!!! AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!

    uh, sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Can we move Hart beneath the pitcher spot?

    ReplyDelete
  73. and move tracker to the rotted cellar?

    ReplyDelete
  74. If at first you don't succeed with the double play, try, try again.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Was Bush pulled because of his short rest?

    ReplyDelete
  76. It obviously would have been nice if Hart had cleared out those bases, but it was a solid inning in which a bunch og guys showed good plate disciplin and we scored runs.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Could be. Could also be that Sveum saw the 6th and 7th (pre-Mormol and Wood) as best opportunities to score, and thus required a bat in his spot.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Tracker got it. Bush was at 66 pitches.

    ReplyDelete
  79. 4-pitch inning. Give him another one!!!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Nice inning Gagne. 4 pitches and out.

    ReplyDelete
  81. At least they left GAGme back home. 6 outs to the win.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Pat Gagne on the head, tell him well-done.

    ReplyDelete
  83. i hope, some day, we can find a blog where stupid name play nickname insults die miserable deaths.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hart is making an excellent case for making Tony Gwynn Jr a major-league outfielder, at least temporarily.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Why not Gagne? McClung's likey to need three or four innings of bullpen help tomorrow. Let's not cook em all.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Hart belongs in the lineup. maybe at the eight spot

    ReplyDelete
  87. "i hope, some day, we can find a blog where stupid name play nickname insults die miserable deaths."

    Agreed.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Ah, the Rules of Yost still apparently apply. Eighth inning guy in save situations must work eighth inning of games in save situations. Right after set your treestand downwind of the buck scrape, and ahead of be a prick to Tom Haudricourt in the press conference.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Maybe it's a smart rule. Maybe the rule now is, "use your worst pitcher [Gagne] sparingly."

    ReplyDelete
  90. Why was JJ bunting? Only a boneheaded play made it work.

    Hardy erases himself.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Bob, that was a bad idea w/ nobody out. out by 10 feet

    ReplyDelete
  92. Way to run right out of an inning.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Braun!? you are Fing kidding me

    ReplyDelete
  94. Well, at least it's not over yet. All those squandered runs in the top of the 9th...

    ReplyDelete
  95. And they still have a tough arm in their pen. And Kendal is hitting for himself.

    Ugh.


    C'mon Brewers!

    ReplyDelete
  96. we don't have a lefthander on the bench?

    ReplyDelete
  97. The batboy would've been a better choice.

    ReplyDelete
  98. We already used Nelson and Lamb. I think I heard Gamel was hurt. Or was that Escobar?

    ReplyDelete
  99. Thought I heard Gamel was hurt.

    To the bottom of the inning.

    ReplyDelete
  100. fuckinay. what a brutal loss this is gonna be.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Let's see who comes up on the 11th. It was a double-switch in the 10th for the Cubs.

    ReplyDelete
  102. And it's Wood. Pinella doesn't want this to go past 11.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Fielder-Wood should be interesting

    ReplyDelete
  104. I'm glad to see Marmol gone. Wood can be had.

    ReplyDelete
  105. If the wind weren't blowing in, it would be interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  106. Woody might be in love with that Curve with 2 strikes. If you know it's coming you can hit it.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Ray had the right idea. Patience please. Protect when you have two strikes

    ReplyDelete
  108. Fielder!? that wasn't even close

    ReplyDelete
  109. Well, get a hold here. Then we get Howry?

    ReplyDelete
  110. If there was discipline they wouldn't see a two strike curve

    ReplyDelete
  111. I'd almost make McClung the closer the last 10 games.

    ReplyDelete
  112. Where did that miss? MLB's Gameday had it knee-high down main street.

    ReplyDelete
  113. Shut it you Whiny bitch.

    Though i think several brewers have been danger close to ejection

    ReplyDelete
  114. Edmonds can't believe he was ejected.

    "What!? Why!?"

    ReplyDelete
  115. THe Cubs channel pitch tracker is for shit. It only shows where the pitch ended in the Cathcer's mitt. Doesn't show where it went through the zone.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Couldn't quite turn the double play, but Fielder got the lead out.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Busted 200 comments! Yeah Baby. We're going to win now.

    And we get the lead runner!

    ReplyDelete