Goldy's Weekly Takes

Two weeks.

A lot can change in two weeks time. Two weeks ago today, the Brewers had a 3-4 record and had lost 4 of their last 5 games. They were playing a style of baseball that was eerily familiar to the Davey Lopes/Jerry Royster teams of old. I don't think I need to explain that style to the 8 Brewers' die hards that frequent Chuckie Hacks. Anyway, the team was facing the conclusion of a suspended game in which they had chances to win but was thwarted by two good plays in the Marlins outfield and the regularly scheduled game. I don't think it was a stretch to say that, at 7 games into the season, the season was already at a crossroad. If the Brewers lose both of those games, how do they respond? They are still a young team and would have to fight the idea of "here we go again" in regards to poor road play and the strange inability to defeat the Marlins. However, the Crew stepped it up and won both games and have been on a roll ever since.

There has been some bad D since then. Even some Little League terrible D. Still some games with a complete lack of hits with RISP. However, this team is coming around. In Florida, they faced their first rough patch of the season and got through it with flying colors. Over the next 5 months, there will be more losing streaks. At this point, I think the team has the confidence to work through any slumps and we won''t see any of those monster losing streaks we saw in the past.

This team has really stepped it up the past few games. Games that would have been loses in the past. How many times in the past did the Brewers get down 4-0 and just shut down shop and score no runs as everyone tried to hit homers. Same with Sunday's game. That would have been a loss last year. I think there was a bit of a scare with the Estrada situation. However, I do like the fact that we have 3 solid options to call up from AAA and not one of them are named Chad Moeller, Henry Blanco, Paul Bako or Raul Casanova.

Other Brewer topics of note: I like Carlos (not Hector) Villanueva. He obviously came up huge on Monday, but he needs to stop falling behind in the count. Seemed like every batter was up 2-1 on him. I wonder if that has something to do with him coming out of the pen? Also, the big question is when will Ryan Braun be called up? Unless there is an injury, I don't see him being called up until the two weeks of interleague play in mid-June. The Crew plays 9 straight games on the road against AL teams. Much like with Prince in '04, I could see Braun coming up at this time to get some at bats with a game or 2 in the field.

Anyhow, I love how this team is playing so far. The games have been fun to watch and the players seem to be having a good time. Looks like a close knit bunch. Much like the '82 team. I am even coming around on Mench a bit. No longer wish him the incurable strain of gonorrhea that I wished upon him last week.

On to some other thoughts:

• When Jim Powell gets super excited, he tends to sound like Kermit the Frog. Case in point, Bill Hall's grand slam last week. I keep expecting the Swedish Chef and the things that sang "Mah Na Mah Na" to make an appearance as well.



• I am a huge fan of Sirius satellite radio. Even though Backspin hit the crapper sometime around October last year (topic for another time) when I drive the Jeep, the regular radio never comes on (except for Brewers games). Anyhow, a few months ago, the introduced the '90's alternative channel. I could pretty much listen to this all day since my musical stylings are stuck somewhere in the mid-90's. Anyhow, coming back from marinette the other week, I heard 2 SevenMaryThree songs. This got me to thinking: If SevenMaryThree lived down the block from me and I didn't have to pay travel expenses, how much would it cost to have them play the big Goldsworthy Cook Out this summer? $300? A case of Pabst?



• Also stopped at the Packer Hall of Fame the other weekend. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the Ray Rhodes exhibit anywhere.



• Don't know how I feel about the Badgers' football season yet. They have potential to be great, but I don't like how the RB position is shaping up. If Hill can stay healthy, things will be fine. Self-admittedly, he needs to find his holes better. Smith appears to have all the talent in the world but has the running style of LeShon Johnson, must bust everything outside. (Hey LeShon Johnson is in the game, I bet the run a sweep or a screen!) All this adds up to if Johnny Clay comes ready to play, he could get his fair share of carries this year.



• Speaking of Big Ten football, watch out for Iowa this year. They have good players and don't have to play Michigan or Ohio State. Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate Iowa, but you have to respect Ferentz and without OSU or Michigan on the schedule, look for the Hawks to be at the top of the standings.



• What if I were to tell you the Felix Pie era will not go well in Chicago. Is that something you might be interested in? At least Felix was wise enough to change numbers from 17 to 20 after a couple games. I am pretty sure Grace put a curse on that number. The only other guy to wear 17 since Grace left was Adam Greenberg. The same Adam Greenberg who was hit in the head in his first ML plate appearance and hasn't been back up since. He is now at AA in the Royals system. On the bright side, he has a career 1.000 OBP in the bigs. The conclusion here is, don't wear #17 if you play for the Cubs.



• Is Ann Carroll gone? I have not seen that idiot on the past few Brewers Live! She appears to be a first-class moron.



• Is it safe to call Rich Hill the Cubs ace at this point? In my book he is.



• Saw a picture of her on SI.com and I am going to have to say that Carrie Underwood is not ugly. I am more a fan of the brunettes, but Carrie Underwood is freakin smoking hot.



• The Cleveland Hi-bore driver could be the largest driver I have ever seen. G hit shots that he knew were bad, but somehow was able to keep them straight and far with this thing. I am sure if I used golf clubs from 30 years ago, I would shoot in the 150's.



• I was glad to see the big crowds at Miller this weekend, but the wave? Give me a break. That is acceptable at Badger football games and Indians-Angles games in Milwaukee, but not at Brewers games.



• Finally, I think there are a number of good baseball fans in Milwaukee, but to boo Carlos Lee is just stupid. I still don't understand the reason behind the booing. He never said anything bad about the team or the city and signed for 30 million more than the Brewers offered. good for Carlos. Also, if we were really good fans, we would chant "Pujols" any time Lidge was pitching.
  

'til next week, "I love lamp".