Counsell Fails to Play Small Ball, About to Blow it Late in Game Again. Villar Boots Easy Double Play Tag Out.
For the 3rd time in the last week Craig Counsell has failed to play small ball late in a game and it's cost him. Well to be fair this game is still up for grabs as the Brewers are tied 2-2 with the Cubs still batting in the 8th inning. The Brewers have just pulled in Corey Kenebel to replace Josh Hader in an inning that if not for a Jonathon Villar drop of an easy tag out would be over. In my mind though the game was over when the Brewers failed to extend their 2-1 lead the inning prior.
It goes like this, though Villar cost the Brewers a big run late in the game it was the inning before with the Crew at the plate where Counsell likely cost the Brewers the game. After a lead off double by Perez and the bottom of the order due up in a 2-1 game, Counsell elected to have them all swing away instead of trying to manufacture a run. Instead of pinch running for a slow Perez and bunting that pinch runner down to third, Counsell let's Jonathon Villar swing away! Strike 1,2 & 3 and the runner was still on 2nd base. The next 2 guys strike out as well and just like that the Crew had blown a golden opportunity to extend the lead to 3-1. What's especially heart breaking about Counsell's strategy not to manufacture a run is that he has his 2 bullpen aces fresh and ready to go. If the Brewers would have extended the lead to 2 runs you would have to feel good about their chances of winning with Hader and Knebel pitching the rest of the way. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Counsell has employed this strategy.
In the series versus the 17 win White Sox, Counsell elected to swing away in lieu of playing small ball late in the 2nd and 3rd games of the series. Luckily the strategy worked out for the Crew in the 2nd game. The Brewers won 5-0 even after failing to plate a run in back to back innings with a runner on 3rd and nobody out. Of course had the Brewers played small ball in the 2nd game it still likely would have worked out because the Sox ended up being shut out. Just because the Brewers won that game didn't make Counsell's strategy correct. He just got lucky in my opinion.
In the third and deciding game versus the White Sox the same strategy of swinging away late in the game with a runner in scoring position and nobody out likely cost the Brewers the game. Had the Brewers been able to manufacture a late run versus the Sox in that 3rd game and take the lead then we all know what would have happened next. Hader and Knebel would have come in and closed the door on the 17 win Sox. It was a mistake by Counsell that cost the Brewers not only a W in the Win column but may have cost them some confidence too!
Counsell's refusal to play small ball is incredibly thick considering he has the best bullpen in the majors at his disposal. It is mind blowing to me that he doesn't try to scratch across any and every run possible late in games. Lead off doubles by slow players should lead to an instant pinch runner with speed. Everyone should know how to bunt a baseball and bunt it well. Speed and small ball is a deadly combination late in games because it applies pressure on the opposition. The pressure is even greater on opposing teams knowing they'll have to face Hader and Knebel with a 2 or 3 run deficit.
All in all Counsell's refusal to play fundamental baseball in tight situations is going to cost the Brewers in the end. Great pitching doesn't allow too many home runs and if the Brewer's are fortunate enough to make the playoffs this year they are going to be facing great pitching. Learn to play some "Small Ball" Craig or the Brewers are going to waste a great season!!
Update: I called this Brewer's game! I said they were going to lose after blowing the 2-1 lead that should have been 3-1 and lose they did in the 11th inning! The Brewers ended up taking 2 of 3 in this series but it could have been and should have been a sweep. I should truly manage the Brewers!
Monday, June 18, 2018
Brewers - Small Ball?
Craig Counsell, Brewers Need to Play "Small Ball" Late in Games for Continued Success!
It seems to me that the Brewers and Craig Counsell are sold on the new age analytics, the "money ball" type analytics if you will. I'm here to tell you that following the new age analytics will kill this team. First, the very action of making a baseball decision based on past statistics adds a different variable to the set of variables used to compile those very statistics. Changing the variables and expecting the same outcome is not only flawed logic it's going to be the end of this very talented team's season.
The first problem with the Brewer's employing the "moneyball" strategy is that it means the Brewers will not play "small ball" or "sacrifice runners" to tack on insurance runs. While the statistics say that sacrificing runners doesn't offer any advantage over swinging away, the statistics don't isolate a single team with a certain set of players. That is to say that for every team that failed miserably at sacrificing runners and playing "small ball" there was a team that was great at the strategy. I would imagine that a team with speedy runners, guys who could bunt well and a shut down bullpen would execute the strategy well. Speedy runners and guys that can bunt well are probably obvious for the strategy to work well but if you add in Closing Pitchers that shut the door on the opponent after the 6th inning (Hader, Knebel), they put an immense pressure on an opposing team not to fall behind late!! With the Brewers having the unique set of Hader and Knebel they should be scratching and clawing to get insurance runs. Getting those guys an extra run or two late in games is a recipe for great success and a recipe that the Brewers will need to employ if they are to go any farther than a wild card game loss this season!!
The Brewers had a chance to sweep the Cubs. Had they employed a "small ball" "sacrificing" style in the first game versus the Cubs they would have had 3 opportunities after the 5th inning to get a runner to 3rd base with less than two outs. Had just one batter hit a sacrifice fly of those 3 the Brewers would have had a 3-1 lead when Hader entered the game. Everybody blamed villar for dropping the tag out but had the Brewers had the insurance run they still win that game!!
It seems to me that the Brewers and Craig Counsell are sold on the new age analytics, the "money ball" type analytics if you will. I'm here to tell you that following the new age analytics will kill this team. First, the very action of making a baseball decision based on past statistics adds a different variable to the set of variables used to compile those very statistics. Changing the variables and expecting the same outcome is not only flawed logic it's going to be the end of this very talented team's season.
Josh Hader & Brewers Bull Pen put Team in Great
Position to Play "Small Ball"
The Brewers had a chance to sweep the Cubs. Had they employed a "small ball" "sacrificing" style in the first game versus the Cubs they would have had 3 opportunities after the 5th inning to get a runner to 3rd base with less than two outs. Had just one batter hit a sacrifice fly of those 3 the Brewers would have had a 3-1 lead when Hader entered the game. Everybody blamed villar for dropping the tag out but had the Brewers had the insurance run they still win that game!!
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Brewer's Can't Score vs Cubs!
Brewers look to put runs on the board after Cubs pitchers dominated first two meetings
When the Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night at Miller Park, their task will be simple: score some runs.
Scoring runs became an onerus task for the Brewers in the first two meetings with their National League Central rivals this season. In those eight games in April, four at home and four at Wrigley Field, Chicago’s pitchers combined for an amazing five shutouts.
It must be noted that hitting conditions were horrid in Chicago in late April, when frigid, windy weather made it all but impossible to drive the baseball. But, in shutting out the Brewers in three of those four games, the Cubs did scratch across nine runs while Milwaukee managed only two.
"That was a tough series for us but look how we've played this whole season," said right-hander Chase Anderson, who gets the start Tuesday for the Brewers. "Other than that, we've been really consistent in how we've played.
"We know it's a big series. Both teams are at the top of the division. We'd like to come out and set the tone. We're looking forward to it. These games are always dog fights."
THE GAME: 5 Takeaways | Box score
NOTES: Hero today, gone tomorrow: Ji-Man Choi sent to minors
MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics
In going 1-7 against Chicago in those two series, the Brewers accumulated only 37 hits while scoring nine runs, five coming in their only victory April 6 at Miller Park. The Cubs put together 59 hits in those games and scored 29 runs, an average of only 3.6 per game in the pitching dominated competition.
In the four-game sweep at Wrigley, Chicago’s starting pitchers did not allow even one earned run, a historic accomplishment. In 27 innings, the Cubs’ rotation allowed a mere 11 hits and one unearned run, with six walks and 24 strikeouts. Overall, Chicago’s starters posted a 0.90 ERA in the eight games against Milwaukee.
“They’ve pitched very well against us this year,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The conditions in the series at Wrigley were not conducive to offense. That was an impossible series for offense. But they’ve pitched well against us.”
One of the starting pitchers who bedeviled the Brewers, off-season acquisition Yu Darvish (12 innings, five hits, one earned run), is on the disabled list and won’t appear in the upcoming series. But first up for the Cubs is left-hander Jose Quintana, who has dominated Milwaukee since being acquired from the White Sox in the middle of last season.
In two starts against the Brewers this season, Quintana is a perfect 2-0 and 0.00 with 13 scoreless innings and only five hits allowed. In six career outings against Milwaukee, he is 4-1 and 0.63, allowing only 22 hits in 43 innings.
“In the last two years, he has pitched very nice games against us,” Counsell said. “We’ve looked at it. We’ll examine some different ways. But, if you look at the games, he has made good pitches against us. Our roster hasn’t ch
anged significantly, so it’s the same matchups.
“In these intradivisional games, it’s execution because there are no secrets. You know what to expect. So, it’s execution on both sides. They’re all important games to me. This is a team that has been at the top of the mountain for three years and we’re trying to knock them off.”
Cubs starter Jose Quintana has shut out the Brewers twice this season.
When the Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night at Miller Park, their task will be simple: score some runs.
Scoring runs became an onerus task for the Brewers in the first two meetings with their National League Central rivals this season. In those eight games in April, four at home and four at Wrigley Field, Chicago’s pitchers combined for an amazing five shutouts.
It must be noted that hitting conditions were horrid in Chicago in late April, when frigid, windy weather made it all but impossible to drive the baseball. But, in shutting out the Brewers in three of those four games, the Cubs did scratch across nine runs while Milwaukee managed only two.
"That was a tough series for us but look how we've played this whole season," said right-hander Chase Anderson, who gets the start Tuesday for the Brewers. "Other than that, we've been really consistent in how we've played.
"We know it's a big series. Both teams are at the top of the division. We'd like to come out and set the tone. We're looking forward to it. These games are always dog fights."
THE GAME: 5 Takeaways | Box score
NOTES: Hero today, gone tomorrow: Ji-Man Choi sent to minors
MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics
In going 1-7 against Chicago in those two series, the Brewers accumulated only 37 hits while scoring nine runs, five coming in their only victory April 6 at Miller Park. The Cubs put together 59 hits in those games and scored 29 runs, an average of only 3.6 per game in the pitching dominated competition.
In the four-game sweep at Wrigley, Chicago’s starting pitchers did not allow even one earned run, a historic accomplishment. In 27 innings, the Cubs’ rotation allowed a mere 11 hits and one unearned run, with six walks and 24 strikeouts. Overall, Chicago’s starters posted a 0.90 ERA in the eight games against Milwaukee.
“They’ve pitched very well against us this year,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The conditions in the series at Wrigley were not conducive to offense. That was an impossible series for offense. But they’ve pitched well against us.”
One of the starting pitchers who bedeviled the Brewers, off-season acquisition Yu Darvish (12 innings, five hits, one earned run), is on the disabled list and won’t appear in the upcoming series. But first up for the Cubs is left-hander Jose Quintana, who has dominated Milwaukee since being acquired from the White Sox in the middle of last season.
In two starts against the Brewers this season, Quintana is a perfect 2-0 and 0.00 with 13 scoreless innings and only five hits allowed. In six career outings against Milwaukee, he is 4-1 and 0.63, allowing only 22 hits in 43 innings.
“In the last two years, he has pitched very nice games against us,” Counsell said. “We’ve looked at it. We’ll examine some different ways. But, if you look at the games, he has made good pitches against us. Our roster hasn’t ch
anged significantly, so it’s the same matchups.
“In these intradivisional games, it’s execution because there are no secrets. You know what to expect. So, it’s execution on both sides. They’re all important games to me. This is a team that has been at the top of the mountain for three years and we’re trying to knock them off.”
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Craig Counsell to Blame for Loss?
Was Craig Counsell to Blame for Brewers Loss to White Sox?
Craig Counsell, since being hired by the Brewers, has been a good manager and there's really little debating that point. The Crew has exceeded expectations since Counsell took over and for that he deserves praise. In the recent series with the White Sox however this fan noticed some disturbing trends that must be quelled if this team is to finish what it's started in the first few months of the baseball season. The quelling will most assuredly have to begin with the Crew's manager.
It's ironic that the first disturbing trend that I noticed took place on Saturday. That was the one game the Crew won in the series 5-0. In consecutive innings late in the game, in what was up to that point a 1 run ball game, the Brewers failed to plate a run while having a man on 3rd base with nobody out. I'm not even going to get into the odds of such an event happening because it simply should "NOT" happen to a ball club that sees itself as a contender.
It was my view that in that situation it was up to Counsell to do everything in his power to extend the lead. He did nothing! No suicide squeeze, no hit and run, nothing! It seemed as though Counsell was expecting his team to continue hitting at a blistering .500 pace with runners in scoring position? That's just not going to continue for an entire season and it's a manager's job to understand that fact and to help his team out in that situation.
The second disturbing trend that this fan noticed was Counsell's inappropriate use of the bullpen. On Friday 2 Brewer's middle relievers got lit up by the White Sox in an 8-3 blow out loss. The 2 Pitchers were hit hard by the Sox and you could tell that the Sox had their number. Sometimes in baseball it's like that. For whatever reason certain teams just hit certain pitchers well. That's all fine and dandy as it's a part of the game. What a manager shouldn't do is put those same two middle relievers back into a tight ball game just a few days later against the same team? That was just a dull move by a manager who I had thought was rather sharp. The move in fact not only lost the Brewers the game it lost them the series against the Sox.
Now, I don't want to sound like a doom and gloomer but losing 2 out of 3 to a team that had only won 17 games coming in is not a good sign. This series seemed an awful lot like the beginning of a downward trend for the Crew. If Counsell doesn't change a few things in his managing style, he could end up spoiling what had the beginnings of a magical season.
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