The Brewers Bar Weekly Hangover 7/5/15

Each Sunday evening we will review our favorite and least favorite events of the previous week, and share our perspective on how the team is doing. Please enjoy responsibly.

Cheers! (Best event/news of the week)

Marcus Hanel Sets Citizens Bank Park Cheesesteak Record: This has probably been the best week of the 2015 Brewers season.  The team is riding a season high eight-game winning streak during which all players have put forth their best effort, especially on the offensive side – they’ve scored 58 runs on 107 hits during that span.  The team is finally firing on all cylinders and has actually been fun to watch.

But surely there can be no dispute that the best news of the week was Hanel breaking the Citizens Bank Park individual record for most cheesesteaks eaten in the visiting clubhouse.  I must admit I wasn’t aware there was a competitive aspect to cheesesteak consumption among Phillies opponents, but it has a rich history.  Interestingly (although not surprisingly), the top contenders are bullpen personnel: “[Mets] bullpen catcher Eric Langill set the three-day record (17) the previous season. Fellow bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello set the single-day record with 7 1/2 — only to see White Sox bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen top his record later in the year.”

Hanel set a new three-day record with 18, and ultimately established a four-game record of 23, well exceeding the previous four-game mark of 18 set by Miami Marlins pitcher Mat Latos.  It’s safe to say that Hanel has firmly established himself as an American Icon.

Hanel’s incredible feat was the icing on the cake of a brilliant series in Philadelphia that had numerous highlights and moments that brought smiles to our faces.

Buzzkill (Worst event/news of the week)

This Idiocy with the Cell Phone LED Lights in Cincinnati: During Friday’s game the FSWisconsin crew called attention to the fact that Reds fans were lighting up their phones in the stands, reminiscent of the way fans used to hold up cigarette lighters at rock concerts.  Amusingly, they did it while Joey Votto was at bat, oblivious to how much they were annoying their hometown hero.  They did it again the next night, and at least did the sensible thing and waited until the Brewers were batting.  But Christ, what an irritating, oafish stunt.  Apparently, this isn’t the first time Reds fans have pulled this attention-seeking crap.  Cincinnati media noticed it happening last year, and noted that this stupid behavior may have started with fans of the Texas Rangers.  Wherever it started, I assume we all agree that any fans who would participate in such sophomoric, self-indulgent behavior ought to be sterilized.

Have One on the House (Brewers player who deserves a drink)

Adam Lind: The Brewers have been on fire, so for the first time all season it’s tough to pick a player of the week.  Gerardo Parra hit .448 last week, Aramis Ramirez hit .545, Ryan Braun hit .412, Taylor Jungmann had two great starts, Kyle Lohse didn’t give up a homer, etc.  That said, I’d like to recognize Adam Lind because not only did he hit pretty well last week (.360), but today he tied the Brewers franchise record for most consecutive games with an RBI (9).

Time to Sober Up, Pal (Brewers player who made me want to drink)

Matt Garza: Still racking up the non-quality starts.  But the Brewers went on to win that game so let’s not dwell on it too much.

Back on the Wagon (Thoughts on the week ahead)

It’s the last week before the All Star break and it’s an odd one.  The Brewers fly in for a three-game series against the Braves at home, and then it’s out to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers.  Milwaukee got one win in a four-game series in Atlanta in May, bringing them to 11 games under .500.  If they can take two of three this week, they’ll be back to 11 games under.  That seems like a surmountable deficit, at least as far as getting back to .500 is concerned.  Maybe this season will turn out to be the reverse of 2014, and they’ll be crazy hot in the second half of the season instead of the first on their way to an average record.

The Dodgers were the opponent in one of the better wins of the Brewers’ 2015 season.  It was Counsell’s first game as manager, and the Crew came back in late innings thanks in part to Hector Gomez’ first career homerun off of Clayton Kershaw.

For what it’s worth, the Brewers are 13-5 at Dodger stadium since 2009.  Seems like the perfect place to wind up the first half of the 2015 season.

(Image: Brewers)