Nicole from Brew Crew Ball thought it'd be a good idea if we caught up with each other. I agreed. I feel like once again we got the better end of the deal, because after reading her update I realized that mine was pretty crappy. In my defense I don't think I understood the assignment. In any case Nicole fills us in on what the Brewers have been up to since we last played them.
When we last talked I jokingly offered Trevor Hoffman back to San Diego. Little did I know that that was just the start of the Hoffman saga here in Milwaukee. He was just 5 for his first 10 save opportunities and in early May was pulled from the closer role and was used only in low leverage situation. His replacement is rookie John Axford.
Axford, called up on May 15, was tentatively put in the closer role to start with, but solid pitching solidified his spot in the 9th inning. He has an ERA of just 2.74 and is 18-for-20 in save opportunities.
Hoffman gradually performed better and has been given more late-inning opportunities. Since mid-May, he’s earned just two saves.
Career save 598 came Wednesday night when he entered the game with bases loaded and two outs against St. Louis. He struck the batter out in three pitches. We’re all hoping that Trevor is the one we see here down the stretch.The other major lineup change comes in centerfield. Carlos Gomez was hit in the head by a pitch and was put on the DL with a concussion. Gomez was getting every day starts because Jody Gerut had been on the DL since May with a bruised left field.
With both CF options out of commission, the Brewers called up Lorenzo Cain, who started the season in AA. Over ten games, Cain’s racked up an OPS of .933 and has basically solidified himself as the every day starter. In addition, the Brewers received Chris Dickerson from the Reds for Jim Edmonds. As a player, Dickerson is much like Gerut, but younger and with more years under contract.
This meant that when Gerut was ready to return from the DL, we had no need for him. So we’re eating his $2 million dollar contract while the Padres hope he proves himself in AAA.
We spoke about Uecker and his impending surgery last time. He’s back in the booth for home games now and will be making a limited amount of road trips. We’re thrilled that he’s ok and back to calling games.
Note: Jerry Hairston Jr. was scratched from the line up due to sickness. As someone who fancies himself an amateur medical hobbyist I can tell you that 9 times out of 10, "sickness" means diarrhea.
Go Padres!