In the News (6/1)

Sunday’s Game: Brewers 5, Reds 2

Record: 30-20, First Place

- The Brewers scored two in the first and one in the second to set the tone.

- Yovanni Gallardo’s pitch count got high, but he pitched 5 1/3, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out nine.

- Mike Cameron went 2-4 with a home run. He’s hot again.

- Cameron committed an error when Braun didn’t get out of the way on a fly ball. It was a tough error for Cam as Braun should have let Cameron catch the ball, but instead nearly ran into him.

- Mat Gamel had two hits in the game and will remain on the team through at least the interleague games.

- Trevor Hoffman remained perfect and got the save on his bobblehead day. Here’s some video of his entrance and the save.

- Peter Gammons says Trevor Hoffman has stabilized the Milwaukee bullpen:

- The Brewers reached 30 wins quicker than they ever have in franchise history.

- This is the first time the Brewers swept the Reds in Milwaukee since July 3-5, 2006.

- Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips is one of my least favorite players in the game. Mostly because he’s always talking and generally being a dick. Well, he struck again:

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“I feel we’re a better team than the Brewers,” he said. “We lost because they did the little things and we didn’t do the little things. They’re a good team, but this should never have happened.”

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and

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“Hey, they’re a good team, but we’re better.”

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Nope. You’re not better. You just got swept convincingly. Shut your mouth and get out of town. We’ll see you again in late August when your team will inevitably be out of the playoff race…

- Some post-game audio.

Brewers News

- Keep in mind that Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe seems to be wrong far, far, far more wrong than he’s right, but he’s reporting that teams are asking about Corey Hart and that the Brewers could move him for a starting pitcher. Cafardo says the Tigers, Giants, and Red Sox have scouted him.

Since the Brewers would have no legitimate replacement for him (on the team now or ready to come up from the minors), I sincerely doubt they’d consider moving Hart. Plus, the pitching has been very good and if another arm is needed, they have Seth McClung ready to slide in.

- Russell Branyan is having a career year and could be available via trade. Would the Brewers be interested? Unlikely. But that doesn’t mean I won’t dream of The Muscle in Brewer Blue again.

- If the Reds fall out of contention, would they look to trade Aaron Harang? And would the Brewers be interested?

- Danny Knobbler of CBS Sports says the Brewers will probably be active in the trade market this season.

- The Brewers have FINALLY figured out how to handle Trevor Hoffman’s entrance.

- Alcides Escobar will not be starting at second for the Brewers. He has moved back to shortstop at Nashville.

- Manny Parra’s start to the ‘09 season looks a lot like his start to his ‘08 season, except a little better. It’s frustrating watching Parra pitch because it’s easy to see that he has very good “stuff,” but can’t quite seem to put it all together. We have to be patient with him though as lefties mature a little slower and he is in just his second full season in the bigs.

- The Brew Town Beat asks for some love for the NL’s leading RBI man, Prince Fielder.

- The Brewers could add some pitching to the system in the MLB draft next week.

- Todd Coffey continues being awesome. There’s some background on the Ultimate Warrior theme song music choice.

- Many, including me, were skeptical of the choice of Bill Castro as the pitching coach at the beginning of the year. So far, I have had no reason to second guess the choice…

- Brewers third base coach Brad Fischer is “living out a dream” as he gets to coach on his home-state team.

- Al’s Ramblings points out how spectacular Carlos Villanueva has been since a bumpy start. He hasn’t been quite as good as Al pointed out though, he gave up two runs on May 1. He was not scored upon the rest of the month though.

- Macha is not sure who will hit leadoff against lefties. He hinted it could be Casey McGehee.

- Rickie Weeks will rehab his injury at home. Prince suggests he’ll try to make it back at the end of this season like Gallardo did last year.

Minor Leagues

- The Timber Rattlers swept the West Michigan Whitecaps this weekend. It was the first time an Appleton baseball team swept the Whitecaps in Comstock Park since the Whitecaps joined the Midwest League in 1994.

- Justin’s Brewers Blog takes a look at how the Brewers minor leaguers have done so far this season.

- At the Old Ball Game takes a look at the first third of the Sounds’ season.

- Pitcher Mark Holliman, a minor-league Rule 5 Draft choice, is “starting over” with the Stars.

NL Central

- Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene was sent to the DL as he battles social anxiety disorder. I wish him the best in his recovery. It sounds like a tough spot to be in.

- Roy Oswalt could be hoping for a trade out of Houston. He is apparently not interested in pitching for the White Sox.

- Jose Valverde is making some progress in his rehab from a calf strain.

- The Cubs will be replacing their oft-beaten Gatorade machine.

- Alfonso Soriano has a sore knee.

- Edinson Volquez is set to return today.

Other News

- Worst case scenario. Tony Gwynn Jr. has started out OK in San Diego so the Brewers fans that held onto the idea that TGJ should have been the future leadoff hitter/centerfielder on the Brewers will bitch. Look, the guys’ upside is a below-average starter or fourth outfielder. The trade was excellent.

- Joe Morgan drinks on the job? That would help explain all of the stupid things he says.