Brewers drop game, series to Dodgers

For the first six innings yesterday Ben Sheets pitched lights-out and it appeared that if the offense could just tally a single run, they would take the game and series. That thought went up in flames in the top of the seventh. Sheets gave up six hits and six runs while only recording one out in the inning. The Brewers trailed 6-0 and Sheets was out of the game.
The offense went back into their season-long funk and could only muster two runs which included the tenth home run of the season by Ryan Braun.
The Brewers have now played 41 games this season and are now past the quarter-pole of the season. Their record stands at 20-21, tied for fourth in the division with the Pirates and they sit five games back of the first place Cubs.
Rickie Weeks is still only hitting .187 and it really is time for a change. I’m not ready to give up on Rickie complete because I still believe that he has as much talent as any second baseman in all of baseball. It is time to move him out of the leadoff spot though. Put him in the fifth, sixth, or seventh in the lineup, I don’t care. Maybe the move to a run producing spot will help him relax and not take him out of his game.
JJ Hardy appears most comfortable hitting in the two-hole. This move would fit his aggressive nature at the plate. Hardy isn’t patient enough to bat in front of the pitcher, and he’s almost like an automatic out when hitting there.
I hate to see Corey Hart bat leadoff because I think his bat it too valuable as a run producer at this time, but I don’t think the team has any other options for the leadoff spot right now. Hart is patient at the plate, takes walks and he can bunt for a base hit at any time.
A few years ago when I came back to the Brewers after years off from being too frustrated with management, Bill Hall became the player that got me excited not only about the team but the future of the organization. He was such a versatile player and seemed like he was this generation’s Paul Molitor, a real ignitor for the offense. How quickly all that has gone away in just a couple season. Hall is playing great defense but he still tries to pull EVERY pitch he sees at the plate. If his plate discipline doesn’t improve, Mat Gamel could get the call sooner rather than later if Gamel’s defense improves.
In a move that has our own David Hannes doing backflips, Mark DiFelice was called up from Triple A Nashville to replace David Riske who was placed on the DL with an elbow injury.
The Brewers now embark on another three-city road trip. They travel this weekend to face the Boston Red Sox. Jeff Suppan will take the mound Friday night against Dice-K.