SB Nation - Byung-Hyun Kim

Sending A Shark After The Sweep: Cubs vs. Brewers Preview, Wednesday 9/23, 7:05 CT

Al — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Darren Hauck - AP

Write your own caption.

Over the last few days, I have posted a few "write your own caption" photos, and no one's really contributed one, due, I suppose, to being focused on other issues.

However, I think today's photo should result in quite a few good caption ideas. Fire away! I will choose what I think is the best one and send the poster a copy of the DVD "Chasing October". (Which, unfortunately, we are still doing.)

A few other baseball notes while we get ready for an attempt at the second Cubs series sweep this month (and both on the road, too):

Our old pal Brian Roberts -- remember him? -- needs five more doubles to have 60 this year. That's a milestone that has been reached only six times in baseball history and not since 1936, when the Tigers' Charlie Gehringer had 60 and the Cardinals' Joe Medwick had 64. The closest anyone has come since then was Todd Helton's 59 in 2000.
Attendance for many teams is down in the recession, so teams selling playoff tickets are pricing some of them at bargain levels.
Tiger Stadium is completely gone. Sad that they couldn't have found a way to preserve at least a small part of it.
I found Flip Flop Flyball via Rob Neyer's Sweet Spot (great stuff, Rob, and yes, I know, I found all the other links today at your blog, too). The Flip Flop Flyball guy makes cool and interesting charts and graphs -- here's one that's timely.

Lineup via Twittermyer:

Theriot, ss; Colvin, cf; Lee, 1b; Ramirez, 3b; Fox, lf; Baker, 2b; Johnson, rf; Soto, c; Samardzija, p

Today's Starting Pitchers


Jeff Samardzija Cubs	vs.	Chris Narveson Brewers

1-2	W-L	1-0
7.89	ERA	4.22
18	SO	27
14	BB	12
5	HR	6
vs. Mil	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Jeff Samardzija	1-2	19	1	0	0	0	0	29.2	41	26	26	5	14	18	7.89	1.85

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Chris Narveson	1-0	18	2	0	0	0	0	32.0	33	15	15	6	12	27	4.22	1.41

Jeff Samardzija is making his second major league start. The first one wasn't very good. Let's hope for improvement -- I really would like to see the Shark pitch well so he has a shot at the 2010 staff. He has never faced the Brewers.

Chris Narveson is the very definition of a journeyman. Originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 2nd round in 2000, he was traded to the Rockies in 2004 as part of the deal that brought Larry Walker to St. Louis. Then Colorado sent him to Boston for Byung-Hyun Kim. He was later waived by the Red Sox, claimed by the Cardinals who then let him go as a six-year free agent; the Brewers signed him before the 2008 season. In his minor league career he played for: Johnson City, Peoria (when it was a Cardinals affiliate), Potomac, Johnson City again, Peoria again, Palm Beach, Tennessee, Tulsa, Pawtucket, Memphis, Palm Beach again, Memphis again, Palm Beach and Memphis for a third time, and Nashville. Just think of the frequent-flyer (or maybe it's frequent-bus) miles. He has never started against the Cubs, but threw one inning of relief in each of three games at Wrigley Field in July, allowing a total of four hits and a run. Mike Fontenot was 2-for-3 against him with a double.

Today's game is again cable-only; CSN Chicago and FSN Wisconsin. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball.

Overflow comment threads will post today at 8:15 and 9:15 pm CDT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Tuesday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:02:06 -0000

Some things to read while learning that your breast implants will keep you from boxing. (h/t Grand National Championships)

It's been noted ad nauseum this offseason that Doug Melvin has not been involved in an arbitration hearing since joining the Brewers, but the team is coming down to the wire with Corey Hart. Hart's arbitration hearing is scheduled for tomorrow and the two sides do not sound close to resolving their $1.1 million difference.

$1.1 million may not sound like a lot, but you can use it to sign all kinds of retreads and reclamation projects. As noted in this FanShot, the Brewers have expressed interest in a minor league contract for Jason Isringhausen. They're also still monitoring Chad Cordero's rehab process.

Maybe signing a multi-year deal had an impact after all: Prince Fielder has reportedly slimmed down and his improved physique is drawing notice in camp. Hopefully Fielder can keep his weight in check from here on out...having weight and conditioning issues before your 25th birthday doesn't exactly bode well for a long major league career.

On the other side of the coin, Jason Kendall appears to want to catch every day until he's 50. As noted in this FanShot, Ken Macha is hoping to get Kendall a little more rest in 2009, but recognizes it will be a struggle at times.

On prospects:

Dugout Central has Hernan Iribarren, Vinny Rottino and Eduardo Morlan as the Brewer rookies to watch in 2009. With the possible exception of Morlan, it's hard to imagine a scenario where any of these guys make the roster.
Adam McCalvy notes that Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel are two of just three Brewer camp invitees that haven't reported yet (Mike Cameron is the other). Gamel recently became a father for the first time, and Escobar apparently missed his flight out of Venezuela. McCalvy also notes that Escobar was not actually kicked off his winter league team, as had been previously reported.
Baseball America's minor league transactions shows the Brewers signed minor league journeyman John Raburn to a deal. Raburn has played 954 games as part of four organizations in nine minor league seasons, but just 45 games above AA.

Behold a momentus day, Brewer fans, because today is the first time I'm linking to 2009 Playoff Odds. MLB Playoff Odds projects the Brewers for 82.5 wins, giving them a 21.7% chance at winning the Central and a 27.8% chance at the playoffs overall.

On the transaction wire:

Braves: Ken Griffey is expected to decide today if he wants to play for Atlanta or Seattle in 2009.
Mariners: Signed Jason Phillips to a minor league deal.
Nationals: Odalis Perez has reportedly changed his mind about his minor league deal with the Nationals, and is now waiting at home, although he was gone for three days before the Nationals figured out why. (h/t FanShot)
Red Sox: Signed Brad Wilkerson to a minor league deal.
Twins: Corey Koskie has not signed a contract with the team, but he is working out in camp with the Twins and hopes to sign a contract after playing for Team Canada in the WBC.

Speaking of the WBC, there are a handful of stories every day about this or that player deciding to play or not play, and I usually scroll past most of them, because I don't think they're that interesting. This one, though, is new: Byung-Hyun Kim will miss the WBC because he lost his passport.

Yesterday I mentioned visa issues as a staple of spring training reporting. Today, visa issues are making Tony Armas, Jr. late to Mets camp for the second straight season. Enjoy AAA, Tony.

Last year I reported on every spring training bump and bruise I heard about, and it may have been overkill. This year, I'll try to limit it to injuries that may impact a player's readiness for Opening Day. Pedro Feliz, for example, is experiencing delays in his recovery from offseason back surgery, and his ability to be ready in April is in doubt.

Oh, and what would you do with a painting of you slaying a dragon? I've got a blank wall in my office where it would fit nicely.

The Brewer Advent Calendar #19: Craig Counsell

KLSnow — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:00:11 -0000

So today, it really is nineteen days until pitchers and catchers report to Maryvale. Behind door #19 we find...Craig Counsell!

via www.alaskabaseballleague.com

On top of two stints as a Brewer in his career, Craig Counsell appeared in four games for the Rockies between 1995 and 1997, 195 games for the Marlins between 1997 and 1999, and 664 as a Diamondback between 2000 and 2006, with one year spent as a Brewer in 2004.

If you're not seeing the significance, here it is: Counsell has played for three of the last four expansion teams. No one has ever played for all four, but sixteen players, including eight active players and one other 2009 Brewer, have played for three:

Player	D-Backs	Marlins	Rays	Rockies
Greg Colbrunn	1999-2002, 2004	1994-1996		1995, 1997
Craig Counsell	2000-2003, 2005-2006	1997-1999		1998
Damion Easley	2006	2004-2005	2003
Lenny Harris	1999-2000	2003-2005		1999
Livan Hernandez	2006-2007	1996-1999		2008
Matt Herges	2005	2006		2007-2008
Charles Johnson		1994-1998, 2001-2002	2005	2003-2004
Jorge Julio	2006	2007		2007
Joe Kennedy	2007		2001-2003	2004-2005
Byung-Hyun Kim	1999-2003	2007		2005-2007
Quinton McCracken	2002-2005		1998-2000	1995-1997
Dan Miceli		2000-2001	2006	2001, 2003, 2005
Mike Myers	2002-2003	1995		2000-2001
Vladimir Nunez	1998-1999	1999-2003		2004
Jason Smith	2007		2002-2003	2006
Bobby Witt	2001	1995	1999

Thanks to TheJay for the info. Active players are in bold. Am I the only one with the urge to trade Julio and Counsell to the Rays to complete the tetrad?