Game 2 start time pushed to 4:07 due to Yankees/Tigers rainout
September 30, 2011Game 2 start time pushed to 4:07 due to Yankees/Tigers rainout
Axford’s rise to prominence a movie-like story
September 30, 2011The scene opens with John Axford, a Canadian cell phone salesman, waiting alone in an indoor baseball facility. Outside, a blizzard rages, making it hard to believe that any scouts would actually show up to watch him throw a baseball off a portable mound. A few said they would be there. Only one scout kept his word.
Retractable-roof playoff series first of its kind
September 30, 2011The National League Division Series between the Brewers and D-backs is sure to feature plenty of surprises. But one thing is for certain, there won't be any rain delays or postponed games due to weather, as both clubs play in home ballparks with retractable roofs.
No, Starting Zack Greinke Sunday Is Not A “Panic Move.”
September 30, 2011
There's been some interesting reaction out there to the Brewers' decision to start Zack Greinke on Sunday on short rest. It's been the expected decision for a couple of days now: Ron Roenicke had implied he'd leave it up to Greinke and I think we all suspected he'd choose short rest Sunday over extra rest and a Tuesday start.
Seth Pollack of SB Nation Arizona, however, sees the situation a little differently. Here are some quotes from a post he just published:
Roenicke asking his pitcher to throw on short rest for two consecutive games for the first time in his career shows how little confidence he has in Greinke's ability to win on the road.
...
It's the kind of high-risk moves managers make that can easily backfire and certainly is a sign that Roenicke doesn't have full confidence in his team to deliver in any situation.
Let me start with this: I have no idea why Ron Roenicke (or any other manager in his shoes) would be prone to panic or lacking confidence right now. He's managing a 96 win team that hasn't lost a playoff game yet and has homefield advantage in the series. Furthermore, if Greinke had told Roenicke anything but "I'm dead set on making this start," Roenicke would have had two other good options to start in his place, Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf.
Greinke is in somewhat uncharted territory here: This will be his first playoff appearance and the first time he's ever pitched back-to-back starts on short rest. But it's also worth noting that his workload to this point has been much less than usual: Because he missed all of April and part of May he's only thrown 171.2 innings this season. He threw over 220 in 2009 and 2010.
Simply put, there's no reason to believe that Ron Roenicke or anyone else in the organization is forcing Greinke onto the mound to avoid the alternatives. They're doing everything they can to put their best possible team on the field at home this weekend, and I think that's commendable.
D-backs, Brewers ready to raise stakes in Game 1
September 30, 2011When the National League Division Series begins at Miller Park on Saturday, the host Brewers will be fulfilling a potential made clear last winter, while the visiting D-backs will be fulfilling what could only have been a warm and fuzzy dream then.
D-backs, Brewers ready to raise stakes in Game 1
September 30, 2011When the National League Division Series begins at Miller Park on Saturday, the host Brewers will be fulfilling a potential made clear last winter, while the visiting D-backs will be fulfilling what could only have been a warm and fuzzy dream then.
Gibson recalls slugging young Fielder
September 30, 2011One Brewers player in particular was stirring memories Friday for D-backs manager Kirk Gibson, whose club will face Milwaukee in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday. Gibson played three seasons with Prince Fielder's father, Cecil, in Detroit.
Plans revealed for Game 1 at Miller Park
September 30, 2011The Brewers announced Friday they will bring back the same winning first pitch and national anthem combination for Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday as they had for Game 3 in 2008.
Greinke to start Game 2 on three days’ rest
September 30, 2011Zack Greinke will pitch Game 2 for the Brewers in the National League Division Series, his second straight start on three days' rest.
Success starts on mound for D-backs, Brewers
September 30, 2011Two of baseball's best young pitchers, the leading edges of two of baseball's most successfully rebuilt pitching staffs, will open this National League Division Series, Arizona vs. Milwaukee.