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NLDS Open Thread: Brewers-Phillies, Game 2
2008-10-02 14:40
by Mark T.R. Donohue

Milwaukee will hope that rented ace C.C. Sabathia can paper over the big problems with defense and clutch hitting they displayed in the first game. Philadelphia will counter with Brett Myers, who's had a tough season -- but did pitch a complete game in his one start against the Brewers this year. Milwaukee will have to take the field in this one knowing that Ben Sheets, their other frontline starter, will not be available to help them in this series or in any other this year. The frequently sidelined Sheets has an torn muscle in his pitching elbow.

Counting the loss yesterday, Milwaukee is now 1-6 against the Phillies for the year. That one win came on April 23rd, before C.C. was even in a Brewers uniform. Better patience on the part of Brewers hitters, especially against offspeed pitches, will be required to reverse the trend. Sabathia alone makes Milwaukee the favorite in this game, according to the oddsmakers. This will be a very different series going back to Miller Park 1-1 as opposed to 0-2. Given his team's pitching disorganization, Sabathia may need to deliver no less a performance than did Cole Hamels for his opponents in Game 1.

Starting lineups:

Milwaukee (90-72)
Cameron, CF
Durham, 2B
Braun, LF
Fielder, 1B
Hardy, SS
Hart, RF
Counsell, 3B
Kendall, C
Sabathia, P

Philadelphia (92-70)
Rollins, SS
Victorino, CF
Utley, 2B
Howard, 1B
Burrell, LF
Werth, RF
Feliz, 3B
Ruiz, C
Myers, P

Comments (59)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-10-02 14:56:17
1.   Mark T.R. Donohue
Changes from Game 1: For the Brewers, Counsell replaces Bill Hall at third and Durham supplants Rickie Weeks at second. The Phillies start the same eight guys but with Victorino and Werth swapping places.
2008-10-02 15:02:13
2.   trainwreck
In my view, this is pretty much the Brewers one chance to prevent a sweep.
2008-10-02 15:03:35
3.   Mark T.R. Donohue
2 I think the atmosphere at Miller Park, with the Milwaukee fans not having seen playoff action in a generation, might be good enough for them to steal a win there. But they HAVE to win this one.
2008-10-02 15:12:41
4.   Humma Kavula
So the Brewers have no chance to take the series? At all?
2008-10-02 15:13:11
5.   Humma Kavula
Hebrew Hammer comes through!
2008-10-02 15:13:52
6.   Humma Kavula
IBB of Fielder -- in the first inning!
2008-10-02 15:14:57
7.   trainwreck
4
I think it is small, but then again the Rockies were throwing Josh Fogg out there and they made the World Series.
2008-10-02 15:15:38
8.   Mark T.R. Donohue
4 If they win tonight, then win 1 of 2 at home, they can start Sabathia in Game 5.
2008-10-02 15:17:08
9.   trainwreck
Looks like crappy Brett Myers has shown up tonight.
2008-10-02 15:17:34
10.   overkill94
Ah, I see Bad Brett Myers showed up today
2008-10-02 15:18:48
11.   Humma Kavula
Brewers get one, but they had to be thinking bigger there.

Still think walking Fielder there was kinda crazy. But then again, maybe he woulda doubled off the wall.

2008-10-02 15:19:05
12.   overkill94
Wow, Corey Hart has been absolutely terrible for over a month now. My fantasy team knows first-hand!
2008-10-02 15:19:29
13.   ToyCannon
Myers was so good after he came back from his Minor League stint and then he hit the tank during his last two starts. Looks like he's still having big problems.
2008-10-02 15:19:34
14.   Bob Timmermann
I would like to point out that it's CC Sabathia and I think Mark TR Donohue should get with the program!
2008-10-02 15:20:14
15.   ToyCannon
12
Month nothing, he's sucked since the all-star break. My team also knows.
2008-10-02 15:20:32
16.   Mark T.R. Donohue
Kinda wonder if with Sabathia going the Phillies were half-punting on this game, given how bad Myers was in his last couple of starts. If he had any chance of being good it was at home. 'Course, he's by no means out of this one yet.
2008-10-02 15:24:43
17.   Mark T.R. Donohue
Ha ha. Running on Jason Kendall. It's like taking candy from something even less resistant than a baby... like a candy jar.
2008-10-02 15:24:45
18.   Humma Kavula
Victorino: not punting.
2008-10-02 15:27:44
19.   Bob Timmermann
Is this is the biggest combined poundage in a pitcher-hitter matchup in the majors? Or is that Sabathia-Dunn?
2008-10-02 15:28:04
20.   Humma Kavula
17 Two things:

1) Who gives candy to a baby? Why is the baby even holding the candy in the first place? The first thing the baby is going to do is eat the candy, and babies don't need that.

2) Taking anything from a baby is not as easy as advertised. Oh, sure, you can get it out of the baby's hand -- that's not hard -- but be prepared for screaming, screaming, screaming, screaming, screaming. Very difficult to enjoy your candy in that situation.

2008-10-02 15:28:13
21.   Bob Timmermann
The listed total is 545 lbs.
2008-10-02 15:30:23
22.   Mark T.R. Donohue
I wonder if John Corbett has ever actually been to an Applebee's.
2008-10-02 15:39:40
23.   trainwreck
20
Simple, just take the baby with you.
2008-10-02 15:42:37
24.   Humma Kavula
23 Or stick the baby in a soundproof room, a la Frip's suggestion on DT a few days ago?
2008-10-02 15:43:35
25.   Humma Kavula
I am!

Listening to somebody!

On ESPN radio!

Who likes!

To punctuate!

His calls!

Of the plays!

Of the game!

With exclamation poooooooooooints!

2008-10-02 15:43:55
26.   Bob Timmermann
Pedro!

Feliz!

2008-10-02 15:47:57
27.   Mark T.R. Donohue
What happens if "CC" isn't dominant? Psychologically it would have to crush the Brewers, right? Even if they had a chance still to win this game. It's the all-the-eggs-in-one-basket theory, like the Cubs getting home-field and starting the unbeatable-at-home Dempster and... losing.
2008-10-02 15:53:41
28.   Humma Kavula
Shane Victorino still isn't punting.
2008-10-02 15:54:06
29.   Mark T.R. Donohue
Wow. I did not see that coming.
2008-10-02 15:54:19
30.   Bob Timmermann
Well, thanks for playing this year Brewers.
2008-10-02 15:55:23
31.   trainwreck
Sad that they waited for the playoffs this long and this is how it starts for them.
2008-10-02 15:57:27
32.   Humma Kavula
Should the Dodgers be good/lucky enough to survive to the next round, I have a feeling that Old Friends Victorino and Werth are going to be a major pain in the butt.

But I get ahead of myself. The Dodgers have won one game. They don't have their series locked up yet by any means at all.

2008-10-02 15:58:58
33.   Bob Timmermann
The Brewers knocked out the Mets and they have my eternal gratitude for that. Any year the playoffs don't have the Mets is a good year.
2008-10-02 15:59:33
34.   KG16
25 - Stiener is doing games for ESPN radio?
2008-10-02 16:01:54
35.   Humma Kavula
34 Steiner has grown on me. He'll never be Vin Scully, but he doesn't have to be. Steiner's excitement and enthusiasm seems genuine, and while I wish he'd learn to watch the outfielders on fly balls, he does enough right that he doesn't bother me so much anymore.

This guy makes Steiner seem like Droopy Dawg.

2008-10-02 16:02:22
36.   KG16
33 - but what is wrong with baseball when neither New York team gets into the playoffs?

[/espn]

2008-10-02 16:03:36
37.   Humma Kavula
36 ESPN says it's wrong, but it feels soooooo right.
2008-10-02 16:04:41
38.   KG16
35 - ah, ok. It's funny, I haven't listened to more than a few innings of dodger games on the radio this year... usually the first couple of innings on the way home, if that. So everyone telling me how bad Steiner is had me concerned as I was driving during Loney's grand slam. I was thinking, crap, it's going to drop, it's going to drop.

Then it didn't, and I almost did the Homer Simpson USA/flashing lights/honking horn celebration on the freeway.

2008-10-02 16:06:04
39.   Humma Kavula
35 This gets at something I want to know: who decided that a play-by-play/color man team is always better than a single guy handling the duties?

I mean, Scully is a genius at his job, but I think part of the reason is that he has a more natural, easier format than "modern" teams. We'll never know what Steiner would be like if he was freed of his Mondayshackles.

2008-10-02 16:14:12
40.   ToyCannon
39
Totally agree. How would you like to be good at your job but 1/2 the time have to defer to an idiot.

My only complaint with Vinny since I was a kid was his commercials. I never liked the idea of Vinny selling me on killing my arteries. Doesn't seem like a very grandfatherly thing to do. It would have been great if they just hired Rick Monotone Monday to do the commercials.

2008-10-02 16:15:57
41.   ToyCannon
As a Dodger fan I would like the Brewers to show some life at home. It would not be a good thing for them to line up Hamels in game one but he is the only Phillie pitcher who worries me.
2008-10-02 16:16:27
42.   Humma Kavula
40 To a certain extent, though, that is Scully's job. He is a pitchman, trying to sell you baseball tickets, hot dogs, souvenirs...
2008-10-02 16:23:22
43.   Mark T.R. Donohue
41 I don't know if we can write the Cubs off just yet.

No, wait. Yes, we totally can.

2008-10-02 16:24:09
44.   underdog
You mean Craig Counsell is not the Brewers' savior? {shocked!}
2008-10-02 16:25:04
45.   KG16
How would you like to be good at your job but 1/2 the time have to defer to an idiot.

I think a lot of people feel this way about their jobs.

I think it's something that goes in cycles. Remember, Vin was not always alone; heck, even Chick Hearn had a color guy. ESPN plays around with the number of guys in the booth, depending on who is calling. But for a lot of guys, I think telling the story of the game is actually tough. It's easier to talk to someone else about the game and historical accounts, and what not. Especially in baseball where there is a lot of down time.

2008-10-02 16:25:06
46.   underdog
43 No they're not! Shush!
2008-10-02 16:26:51
47.   KG16
43 - I don't think you can write the Cubs off until something totally insane happens. Black cat, Bartman, whatever. This year, I'm fully expecting one of their outfielders to chase a ball into the ivy, resulting in an inside the park home run instead of a ground rule double.
2008-10-02 16:42:43
48.   Mark T.R. Donohue
47 I was fully expected Sabathia to dominate and Carlos Zambrano to implode tonight. I suppose the latter is still possible.
2008-10-02 17:05:00
49.   Humma Kavula
ESPN Radio announcer now discussing the Phillies uniforms.
2008-10-02 17:06:05
50.   ToyCannon
45
It is not tough, they just don't hire the right people to do the job. If you only hire family people(Carey's and Bucks) along with non broadcasting skilled athletes that is what you get in the booth.
Broadcasting used to be skill honed along the way, now we just get hacks who don't understand the current game or are lazy at their job.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-10-02 17:07:31
51.   ToyCannon
43
I'm not writing them off. Wouldn't shock me if we won today and then lost the next 3 games as the Cubs go on to win the World Series. When the curse breaks it will break big.
2008-10-02 17:11:03
52.   Humma Kavula
Where is Thief River Falls? What alert is that for Shane Victorino?
2008-10-02 17:25:05
53.   Bob Timmermann
Thief River Falls is in NW Minnesota.
2008-10-02 17:27:03
54.   Bob Timmermann
10 hits in the game.

1 single.

2008-10-02 17:32:52
55.   Humma Kavula
ESPN Radio:

"When he was the Dodger closer, [Gagne] was automatic. Got the nickname 'Lights Out.'"

2008-10-02 17:51:43
56.   Raf
49 That may be Michael Kay...
2008-10-02 17:53:00
57.   Humma Kavula
Is that Michael Kay? The Yankees guy?

Is he liked in New York?

2008-10-02 17:53:30
58.   Humma Kavula
it IS michael kay, per his self-identification.
2008-10-02 18:11:50
59.   blue22
Michael Kay AND Steve Philips on the radio. Lordy lordy.

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