Series Recap: Brewers at Cubs

One of the things I love most about baseball is tomorrow is always a brand new day and you just need to move on no matter what the previous day’s result. The Cubs torched the Brewers 19-5 on Wednesday night. By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, that game meant nothing and the Brewers gave the Cubs a much more devastating loss. And if you don’t believe that, all you had to do was listen to Chicago radio after the game yesterday.
Ben Sheets battled control problems on Tuesday night but showed that even walking a career-high 7 batters that he can still do enough on the mound to get the win. If Brandon Webb wasn’t pitching lights-out, Sheets would be the early front runner for NL Cy Young winner.
Jeff Suppan did more than struggle. He was simply awful on Wednesday night. It doesn’t concern me too much because Suppan is a veteran and should be able to bounce back. Now if he has similar results his next couple starts, I’ll change my mind.
Yovani Gallardo continues to show why he will be the future ace of this staff. Three starts-three quality starts so far this season. Unfortunately, he has exactly zero wins to show for it.
Eric Gagne is quietly taking form as a dominant NL closer. He notched his eighth and ninth saves against the Cubs and as long as he’s not used for more than three straight days, he is a true star at the end of the bullpen.
Rickie Weeks is finally batting over .200. Yes, we are five weeks into the season and that is simply unacceptable for a leadoff hitter, but his average seems to be constantly heading upward. He drew a walk in the ninth inning against the Cubs on Thursday but followed it up with running through Dale Sveum’s stop sign at third base. Weeks was thrown out at home, possibly costing the Brewers an insurance run.
Ryan Braun seems like he is finally locked in at the plate. He homered off of Carlos Zambrano on Thursday and had three of the four RBI for the team. If he starts swinging the bat like last season, this team should catch a hot streak and vault into first place.
I was excited to finally see Mike Cameron in a Brewers’ uniform on Tuesday night. He made an immediate impact with a double and a run scored in his first at bat. Cameron is off to a good start and although I know he will struggle at times and strike out a ton, he will provide guidance and leadership for the young Brewers that will prove to be invaluable.
This will probably be the last time I mention Derrick Turnbow as a Milwaukee Brewer player. Joe Dillion is on his way to Houston to join the team Friday night and Turnbow is the logical choice for Dillon to replace. GM Doug Melvin will do his best to trade Turnbow for anything, but the more likely scenario will see Turnbow given his outright relief. He became a rock star in Milwaukee but it’s time for a divorce. Turnbow may be the biggest head case in the Majors right now and I hope a change in uniforms can help with his control and mental status. Thanks for the memories, D-Bow.
The Brewers now head to Houston for a three game series against the Astros. Carlos Villanueva takes the mound and will face Houston’s ace, Roy Oswalt.