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Blogger Smackdown: Kyle Lobner Of Brew Crew Ball

Prince Fielder, Willie Randolph, and the rest of the Beermakers welcome the Mets to Miller Park for a three-game series beginning tonight. To see what was going on in Sudsville I checked in with Kyle Lobner of SB Nation Brewers site .

Star-divide

Prince Fielder: did he start eating meat again or what? What's has changed for him since last year?

Word on the street is that he started eating meat again sometime last season, but it's never been officially reported. Whatever he's eating, I'm hoping he'll stick with it, because with Rickie Weeks gone for the season and J.J. Hardy continuing to struggle, the Brewers desperately need Fielder to remain productive.

Trevor Hoffman is 41 and was pushed out of San Diego, but he's been pretty terrific this season after returning from the disabled list at the end of April. What has surprised you the most about Hoffman?

I don't know if you can call it a surprise when a guy who has produced for decades continues to do it, but certainly Hoffman's ability to remain effective this late in his career is notable. He doesn't throw hard anymore, but half the relievers in baseball could learn a lot from Hoffman's approach: he throws a ton of strikes (4 unintentional walks in 22 innings), and he challenges hitters.

Once you get past Yovani Gallardo the starting rotation has been pretty bleah. Do the Brewers have enough starting pitching to compete through September? Will their guys pitch better or will the front office look to bring in someone(s) else who will?

I don't see a big move on the horizon for this team. If anyone is brought in to help, it'll likely be a stopgap type (think Doug Davis) instead of a frontline starter. With that said, I don't think the situation is as dire as many would have you believe. Yovani Gallardo pitched very well over the weekend. Jeff Suppan has had some rough outings but has been better than expected on the whole. Braden Looper has scuffled a bit, but not enough (at this point) to lose a spot in the rotation. Dave Bush should be back after the All Star Break and there's really no reason to expect lingering effects from what was basically a glorified bruise. Manny Parra has been a major disappointment, but he's the only real hole in the rotation at the moment, and the Brewers have enough servicable guys on the roster and in AAA to attempt to cobble together a solution to that problem.

What are your impressions of the first three months of the Ken Macha Era? What are his strengths and weaknesses as a manager?

Ken Macha walked in the door with one huge asset in his pocket: He wasn't Ned Yost. He makes some baffling decisions from time to time, but that's probably true with almost any manager. All told, I think most of us would say he's doing an average or better job. His bullpen usage leaves something to be desired at times, and he occasionally shows signs of not knowing much about the team he's trying to manage.

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Wednesday's Frosty Mug

Oct 2009 from Brew Crew Ball - 61 comments

Comments

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What's up with JJ Hardy?

and why does he hate my fantasy team?

by TheBigStapler on Jun 29, 2009 2:20 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Why can’t the Brewers find a uniform to fit Prince? Drives me nuts

by WebBard on Jun 29, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He probably likes it that way

I doubt that a guy as gigantic as Fielder is really having problems finding a smaller uniform.

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jun 29, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hoffman and Rivera

It seems to me that neither’s velocity or age is going to matter for awhile in terms of success (injuries, we shall see.) How the long are these guys gonna pitch?

by BlackOps on Jun 29, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just curious

What’s up with the Post Story having players begging Minaya to make a deal. Seems like it’s made the rounds.

Is the frustration starting to show? I wonder if this is a big vote of no confidence by the players in Minaya.

Possibly a sign that some of these guys are lookin to bail on this shipwreck season.

Personally, I think FMart needs to go back down for a while. He’s just not ready. Like his D in center but looks overmatched at the plate. Word is Milledge is available for anyone that wants him. If I’m Minaya I give that strong consideration.

What he brings to the plate has to be better than FMart’s .169 average.

by Chickendirt on Jun 29, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Haha, ok. That will definitely happen.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 29, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Interesting stuff

Love these smackdowns. And Trevor Hoffman, while never as dominant as Mo, has been a phenomenal closer for 15 years.

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jun 29, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just curious

How are the guys we traded for Luis Castillo doing? Anything? I hope they blow.

by David G on Jun 29, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Nah, they blow.

I still kinda like Dustin Martin, but he’s not going anywhere. Butera sucks.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 29, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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