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)
Jeremy Jeffress Gets a Second Chance: Those three unlikely victories against the Pirates were brilliant, but I’m a sucker for a (potential) redemption story. RHP Jeffress was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2006, but never lived up to his potential during his first stint with the organization. He’s probably best remembered not for his on-field accomplishments, but for being twice suspended for marijuana use. Jeffress was part of the 2010 Zack Greinke trade, and most recently was with the Blue Jays. The Brewers have now re-signed Jeffress to a minor league deal. The odds are against him (technically, I suppose the odds are against most minor league players), but it would be a terrific outcome for all involved if Jeffress could become a contributor. Plus, since this is 4/20, let’s spare some well wishes for a guy who was busted for doing something that’s now legal in two states.
Buzzkill (Worst event/news of the week)
Brewers Mistakes Pile Up in Pittsburgh: The Crew did win the two sloppiest games, and as Elizabeth Taylor said, there’s no deodorant like success. At the same time, some of those antics were tough to swallow. In Friday’s game, the four errors were ridiculous enough, but Khris Davis running through a stop sign a third base and making an easy out at the plate was excruciating. On Saturday, Rickie Weeks made the least of his infrequent playing time by booting a double-play ball, opening the door to a big Pirates inning – Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Gomez also made mistakes in that frame. The Brewers are playing with fire and are going to pay for these mistakes eventually.
Have One on the House (Brewers player who deserves a drink)
Wily Peralta: As they often do, the goddamn Cardinals made the Brewers look like chumps in the first two games of their season series. A sweep would have been especially humiliating on the heels of a nine-game winning streak. Just when the Brewers needed a big performance from their starter, Peralta stepped up. Not only did he only give up one run in 6.1 innings, there were about four balls hit to him that he had to make plays on. Victories against St. Louis are hard to come by, and thanks to Peralta we don’t have to wait until the end of the month.
Time to Sober Up, Pal (Brewers player who made me want to drink)
Carlos Gomez: We all know Gomez pimps his homeruns. Sometimes it’s worse than others, and it’s even occasionally defensible. Last September against the Braves, Gomez was paying back Paul Maholm for hitting him with a pitch months earlier. In today’s game against the Pirates, not only did Gomez look like an assclown, he probably cost himself an inside-the-park homerun. Gomez didn’t start running hard until he got to first base, and then he made it easily to third because of the bounce the ball took off the center field wall. Then he has the nerve to act like the Pirates are the assholes, and gets himself ejected when he’s off to the best start of his career. This has been a bad habit of Gomez’ for some time, so this seems like the perfect opportunity for someone to take him aside and explain that he’s hurting his team – not to mention that adults don’t do those things.
Back on the Wagon (Thoughts on the week ahead)
The Padres make their only trip to Milwaukee, but I must admit I have no strong feelings about them. The Brewers/Padres have been about .500 against each other the last few years, so I’m sure we’re just hoping for a regular series win without much drama. Of greater interest, the first Cubs series of the season happens next weekend. Sure, any one team can beat any other, but these are firmly in the “games you’re supposed to win” category. Plus, most of us Milwaukee fans have friends and coworkers from Chicago, and giving them grief never gets old. If looking forward to every Brewers/Cubs series is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
(Image: Associated Press)
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
