Sports
It’s only April, stay cool. (3-6)
Dear Ken, It’s been a tough start, but stay cool. Let the Fonz show you how – that’s what he’s here for. Forget that we’re still looking for that first series win after dropping four of six games at home against the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. No need to fluster; it’s April. Here’s some free advice I think can help our Crew. About the starting rotation: Bloggers are calling for Jeff Suppan’s head after Monday’s debacle. I saw the look on your face after his third consecutive bases-loaded walk; I’m not surprised that you pushed Soup back in the rotation so he can work on throwing strikes without, you know, giving away ballgames to our archrivals. Yovani Gallardo suffered some growing pains when the Reds busted him for seven runs Tuesday. Shit happens, YoGa will be fine. Manny Parra and Braden Looper looked solid in their outings, and I’m liking the back half of the rotation. Now about those bats: Word on the street is Ryan Braun is nursing that intercostal strain from last year, which is why he’s off to a slow, homer-less start. You have seven other hitters to pick up the slack. Mike Cameron is on fire, the best we’ve seen him hit in Milwaukee. Corey Hart is looking better; thanks for passing along my advice about laying off those low-and-away breaking pitches. “Pretty” Rickie Weeks is showing some pop in his bat, but I’m not sure he belongs in the leadoff spot with his strikeout numbers. Try batting him in the six or seven spot, and put Kendall in the leadoff spot like you did in Oakland. Your bullpen is like a box of chocolates: They’ve only blown one lead, but maybe that’s because they haven’t inhereted very many leads yet. It’s early, but it scares me that Todd Coffey has the best-looking arm of the bunch. You must be looking forward to closer Trevor Hoffman’s return; I like Carlos Villanueva better in middle relief. Notes to pass along to the guys: Bill Hall: Slightly above average is all we need. Maintain. Dave Bush: Love the beard; it’s way badder than Corey’s. Bill Schroeder: If you see Trenni Kuznierek, tell her we miss her. Craig Counsell: Keep it gritty. That’s how we do in North Central Little League. Brian Anderson: I never made the “connection” between Wilco and Grateful Dead fans, thanks for pointing that out. I’m sure Jeff Tweedy appreciated it. That should do it, Ken. Stay positive, and be well on your upcoming eleven-game road trip. Best, Adam Lovinus
Apr 16th, 2009 by Adam Lovinus
Welcome Home, Ken! (2-4)
Dear Ken Macha, After going 1-2 out in San Francisco, you took the Crew back to Milwaukee for the unofficial holiday that is the Brewers’ home opener. Just in case you were wondering: that smell was from all the brats, that large contraption in the parking lot with the multitude of tubes is a 12-person beer bong and, yes, Cubs fans are really like that all the time. I’m sure you were excited to get your first home game under your belt and to see how Braden Looper would pitch in his first start as a Brewer. After straining a back muscle during a particularly vicious sneeze, Looper spent most of spring training in an allergen-free suite at Miller Park. Well-rested, Looper looked to start his Brewers career off on the right foot against the Cubs. And indeed he did, scattering four walks and five hits, including a home run to Milton “Chutes n’ Ladders” Bradley, in a reasonably solid five innings of work. That’s got us feeling good, I’m sure you as well. But like Miller Chill, things turned horribly sour after Seth McClung gave up that two-run home run to Koyie Hill in the sixth. You probably weren’t very happy with that, but you managed to keep your composure without making weird faces like a certain ex-manager used to do all the time. Fortunately for you, Ryan Braun brought back fonder memories of 2008 when he plated a huskier-for-2009 Rickie Weeks to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Your first game in the stadium that the tenth-of-a-penny tax paid for was a success, and everyone in Milwaukee drank even more to celebrate. Well done, Ken. Saturday was a similar story, but a different ending. Our victory was snatched from our non-beer hand by Alfonso Soriano’s two-run home run off the non-twittering Villanueva (Carlos) in the top of the ninth. As disappointing as that was, it’s important to remember that Dave Bush pitched well, and Prince Fielder was able to make Carlos Zambrano forget about his no-hitter at Miller Park last year. Even Jon Corey Hart showed improved patience at the plate, walking twice in each of the first two games of the series. That’s not bad for someone who walks about as often as a Waukesha motorist parked at a Sonic. You had sufferin’ Jeff Suppan on the mound on Sunday, much to the chagrin of everyone who likes to win baseball games. Jeff’s been getting a bad rap lately from fans, blogs and admirers of good pitching everywhere, but at least he’s earned the respect of Doug Melvin and the rest of the Brewer’s front office. Does he still have your respect after Sunday’s horrible outing? Three consecutive bases loaded walks? Srsly? I know you’re calm as the other side of the pillow, Ken, but Soup’s struggles have to be bothering you, right? Well, chin up. I don’t need to tell you it’s early yet. Best regards, Rob Vosters
Apr 13th, 2009 by Adam Lovinus
Welcome aboard, Ken (1-1)
4/9/2009 Dear Ken Macha, Welcome aboard! How does it feel to be a Milwaukee Brewer? We’re so glad you’re here; it’s great to see someone that’s not Ned Yost in the dugout this spring. I don’t know if you followed the Brewers last year, but ol’ Nedly was run out of town when his playoffs-bound ball club nearly derailed at the end of last season. So live up your not-Ned honeymoon – it should last at least through May or so. I’m familiar with your work in Oakland, so I know you’re a playoffs-type guy. That’s good; we’re all expecting playoffs in Milwaukee after our taste in ’08. Other more pessimistic bloggers are predicting a .500 season. Not me, and I know not you either. You took a lot of guff for starting Jeff Suppan opening day. Admittedly, yeah, I thought it was a weird move. Jeff’s a good guy and a veteran; he came with a pedigree to be ice-cold in big games. But you’ll learn he puts an inordinate amount of runners on base, and that’s frankly annoying. You’ll catch on, and probably become annoyed too. I like your aggressiveness running the bases, and the way you deked-out the FSN guys talking about your “conservative” approach. Very sneaky. I’m glad to see Ryan Braun and Mike Cameron attempt steals; it brings me back to the run-and-gun days of Tom Trebelhorn. Also, thank you for having a short string with relief pitchers who can’t find the strike zone. Nedly used to let pitchers have focus meltdowns on the mound. When you pulled Mitch Stetter after walking one batter in the 7th inning last night, it was a relief. Thanks. I think the two-hole is a great place for Corey Hart. He’ll see better pitches and maybe he won’t be so apt to flail at garbage like he did at the end of last year. Stick with him. Please tell Ricky Weeks to set an example for Little Leaguers and catch pop flies with TWO HANDS! Makes me nervous otherwise. You know that Yovani Gallardo is your staff ace. What you might not know is he can bat fifth — did you see what he did with that Randy Johnson fastball last night? Something to consider. Tell Prince Fielder and Bill Hall to lay off the high ones. That’s all for now. Go out at take this series from the Giants, and we’ll see you this weekend. Thanks again, and welcome aboard! Sincerely, A. Lovinus
Apr 9th, 2009 by Adam Lovinus
Wisconsin Prominent in SI Coverage This Week
Sports Illustrated is loaded with Wisconsin ties this week, both in print and on the internet – and we’re not even talking about the first place Brewers.
Jul 6th, 2007 by Michael Horne
