Tagged: Brewers Musings

September 7, 2011

Weeks’ Return, Braun’s Batting Title Quest, More Plushdamentals, and Other Brewers Musings

By Curt Hogg

Because nobody really wants to read paragraph after paragraph besides, well, me, headlines surrounding the Milwaukee Brewers are posted here in the new “Brewers Musings” section along with just a little opinion spiced in by yours truly. Excited!?! Probably not, but I am. So open up those commodious brains to get the Brewers headlines.

Rickie Weeks Injury Update

As much as we loved Jerry Hairston Jr. (endearingly referred to Hairy Jerry in the Hogg household), the return of All Star second baseman Rickie Weeks in much-anticipated. Take that, National League.

Manager Ron Roenicke indicated that Weeks will be activated for the weekend series against the Phillies and will be available for limited pinch hit duties. Weeks ran bases Wednesday, a huge step forward after being placed on the DL July 28 after hurting his ankle over first base.

“If we activate him, it’s not activating him so he can play second base,” Roenicke said. “It’s activating him so he can bat, and if we get in a game where we’re up a lot or down a lot, maybe we can put him at second base for a couple innings. Something to ease him in.”

If I had to put on my Roenicke Cap and guess when Weeks will be back fully, my best shot would be for Saturday or Sunday in Cincinnati. One thing well known around the MLB is that the Brewers will be extra cautious with Weeks, wanting him back for the Playoffs.

Braun’s Brawn

As of Wednesday afternoon, Ryan Braun (.333) is only two percentage points behind Mets shortstop Jose Reyes for the batting title. Braun isn’t the kind of guy to let this chase get to his head.

“Certain people are motivated by stuff like that, and I think he’s one of them,” Dale Sveum said. “I don’t think it hurts. Sometimes it can hurt guys, but those kinds of achievements motivate Brauny. Just like last year.”

Not only is Braun in the chase for the batting title after a red-hot August in which he batted .369, but the Brewers All Star outfielder is one of the leading candidates for the National League MVP along with Matt Kemp, and teammate Prince Fielder. Braun could not have responded to his long-term contract any better than he has, posting career-best numbers.

As for the last time Braun hit under .300, you would have to back to may, when his scuffles at the plate were evidenced by his completely abysmal .299 average that only lasted one day. Terrible, right?

Plushdamentals In Full Swing

Nothing, not even the legendary Vin Scully’s words, could match Plush. Nothing.

George Kottaras’ Cycle

Saturday night in Houston made Brewers and baseball fans alike strike the question of “Who needs Prince and Braun when you have George Kottaras?”

After his ground-rule double to Tal’s Hill in center field at Minute Maid Park sealed the cycle, the first in the MLB this season, the entire Brewers dugout erupted, with Kottaras responding with a Beast Mode celebration. I’m sure that wasn’t the only place clad with Brewers hats and jerseys that erupted, as nobody expected the Brewers backup catcher to accomplish this feat.

To put it in perspective, this season three no-hitters have been thrown, one of them by a legitimate MVP candidate. Only one player has hit for the cycle, and it came from the unassuming backup catcher for the Brewers. Milwaukee must just have a thing with backup catchers hitting for the cycle.

As has been said by too many people to quote simply one, sometimes you have to expect the unexpected. Just don’t expect George Kottaras to hit for the cycle, really.

August 23, 2011

Roenicke on “Beast Mode”, Betancourt’s Name, and Other Brewers Musings

By Curt Hogg

Roenicke Addresses “Beast Mode”

The Brewers have been celebrating big hits with the “Beast Mode” celebration, as dubbed by outfielder and Plushdamentals namesake Nyjer Morgan. Before you ask “what’s beast mode”, just click on the link to avoid what will turn into a three-paragraph explanation. None of us really want that.

Anyways, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke was asked about his thoughts on the team’s celebration, and he did not speak too highly of it. With the team even celebrating routine singles recently, the skipper had an opinion on it.

I don’t want it to get carried away,” Roenicke said. “Do I like it? Not particularly. But I don’t think that I’m just going to come out and say, ‘Don’t do it again.’ If I see it get worse, and I see it being a problem, then I’ll talk to the guys about it.”

What does this unimportant, young voice say about Roenicke’s take on the Monsters of Miller Park? I’ll let Corey Hart talk for me.

“I think it’s good if other teams don’t like it.”

Right on, Corey! Keep doing the Monsters, Inc. Beast Mode celebration, Milwaukee. Brewers fans love it, who cares what other teams think of it? The Brewers have been known for eccentric celebrations (see Atom Bomb, Fielder. And also Jerseys, Un-tuck ’em.) The Rangers had the antler and claw celebration last season and the Beast Mode is the 2011 version of that.

Sorry, Yuni B

Yuni B. That’s what I’m just going to call Brewers shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. Or should I say Betancour?

Fox Saturday Baseball announcer Matt Vasgersian said during the broadcast that he spoke with a Spanish member of the media who told him the ‘t’ in ‘Betancourt’ was not pronounced. Thus comes Yuni-Gate.

On Monday during the Brewers-Pirates double header, Fox Sports Wisconsin play-by-play man Brian Anderson referred to him without the ‘t’. Just “Betancour”. Got that, kids?

Or we could all pull a Curt Hogg and simply refer to the formerly sub-mediocre, turned stellar hitter as Yuni B. Crisis averted.

Narveson Needs Manicure

Narveson breaks nail, any female Brewers fan winces.

During the opener of the Brewers aforementioned twinbill at PNC Park, starting pitcher Chris Narveson chipped a nail on his pitching hand. Great.

So we get our number five starter back from the DL for a blister on his hand and he chips a nail? Somebody get this guy a manicure, ASAP. Lotion, band-aids, soap, salon, something, anything will do.

The Brewers won 8-1 anyway and Narveson picked up the win to improve to 10-8.

I Wouldn’t Kill For Much, But….

That’s the Tony Plush rally towel the Brewers will be giving away to the first 30,000 fans on September 9. Not only could I possibly get free tickets to this game rather easily, but I’m in love with an inanimate object. Weird, I know.

So why don’t I go?

Thanks to the geniuses who schedule the Whitnall Cross Country Invitational for Friday, September 9, I’m otherwise obligated. (Yes, I am only in high school. Shocker! Don’t be too surprised.) As much as I would love to skip the meet, Coach would have my a** and I wouldn’t run for the next three or four meets, per say.

C’mon, man!