Brewers @ Padres 8/12 - 8/14 : Series Wrap-Up

Series 39 - Milwaukee Brewers @ San Diego Padres August 12 - August 14 at Petco Park Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI

Times have always been tough for the Brewers on the West Coast. I don't know if it is the time difference, or the flight, or the distance from home, but I always cringe when I look at the schedule and see the West Coast road trip. Truth be told, the Padres, Giants and Giants really aren't that good (and I guess the same can be said for Arizona) so I don't understand why the Brewers struggle so much here. A lot is always said about Petco Park being a pitchers park, and due to the dimensions and location (by the salty sea) the ball carries differently there. It has a real spacious outfield, so the guys playing out there need to be on their toes. Besides that, I really don't get why it is tough to play there. I guess from my recliner or computer chair, I can sit back and judge without ever being asked to perform at a high level at that place, so I might as well shut my mouth before they put me out there to prove that I am better than them. I am a semi-professional athlete (thanks to my appearance in 3 consecutive World Series of Beer Pong competitions) but there's no way that I'm even remotely close to being in the same league as Gabe Kapler, Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron and Corey Hart. Those guys sure are something special. I wonder if they will factor into any of these road games (including the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.) In case you didn't get the hint, these outfielders will play a significant role in the outcome here. Gosh, I shouldn't have had to say that, I was laying it on pretty G D thick. Get your melon examined dude, you may have a screw loose. Sorry about the insults, I don't mean to lay it all on you. It's not your fault that you can't understand things. Blame your parents.

Game 1 (Monday) - Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.56 ERA) vs Cha Seung Baek (4-7, 5.20 ERA)

Jeff Suppan really needed a good start today to keep the trend going. All 4 other pitchers did really well their last time out, and 3 out of the 4 of them personally secured victories but the Brewers were victorious in all 4 games. Suppan stepped up to the challenge and went 8 solid innings, giving up only 2 runs. Since the game is being played in San Diego, the game started at 9:00 pm central time, which was nice because on Mondays I only work until 7:00 pm. I met my brother Tim at the Oakland Trattoria and watched the game in its entirety, and got discounted drinks courtesy of his girlfriend Sarah, who works at the joint. I got some pasta in alfredo sauce and some sweet faccachia bread. All in all, it was a great night, but I'm making myself hungry right now just think about that food. I best get back to the game wrap-up, or I might start eating the keys off of my keyboard. Tht wuld mk it hrd t typ. Oh snap! Whr th hll did my lttrs go? Sht. Mike Cameron made his presence known at his former ballpark (he was a member of these Padres in 2006 + 2007) by hitting a homerun in his first at bat and making a couple of great defensive plays. Say what you want about his strikeouts and his .234 batting average - he is the best defender on the team, brings valuable veteran leadership, and has great power numbers (19 homeruns and 49 RBIs despite missing the entire month of April). I see no reason why we shouldn't exercise his 2009 option. Fielder added a 3 run homer, and he is quickly catching up to the team lead held by Braun, who is out of the lineup do to a muscle injury around his ribcage. Come back soon Braun. Final score Brewers 5, Padres 2.

Brewers record : 69 - 51, 2nd place NL Central, 1st place NL Wild Card

Game 2 (Saturday) - CC Sabathia (13-8, 3.04 ERA) vs Josh Banks (3-5, 4.37 ERA)

I don't like to predict a win because I think that it can jinx it, but I guaranteed this win. I would have put some money down on the game, but my work computer has blocked my online gambling webpage. Bastards. Why can't I gamble and look at porn at work? There's nothing wrong with that, right? They also blocked EBay, which really doesn't give me anything to do. Thankfully, they allow me to access ESPN's Gameday, so I can at least follow my Brewers when I'm stuck in this hellhole during a game. I really wished that I did toss some money down, because once again I would've made some dollars off of CC and the boys. In a rare oddity, CC Sabathia didn't pitch a complete game, and only made it through 7 today. It was ok though, because he only allowed 1 run and the offense spotted him 7 to work with. Fielder his another homerun today, but Corey Hart was the big hero today, as he went 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. The big strike was his bases clearing triple in the 5th inning that sealed the deal. Orf orf orf, like that slot machine up at the Lac Vieux Desert Casino in Watersmeet. What more can you say about CC? Every single time he goes out there and effectively prices himself out of Milwaukee's range. At least we can appreciate him while he is here. Hooray for CC! I love you. Final score Brewers 7, Padres 1.

Brewers record : 70 - 51, 2nd place NL Central, 1st place NL Wild Card

Game 3 (Sunday) - Ben Sheets (11-6, 3.00 ERA) vs Jake Peavy (9-8, 2.61 ERA)

The mighty Ben Sheets has ace envy, and it seems he no longer believes in himself. His pitches just don't have that same zip and life on them, and he is really starting to disappoint me. Today was a day game, and I had off of work, so normally I would be allowed to sit and watch the entire game and probably open up some fine Milwaukee brewed beverages, but today was not a normal day. Since I don't own a car, I had to borrow my Mom's to start moving into my new apartment. It's a good thing that I missed the majority of this game, because for the most part it was not very fun to watch. Sheets actually did his part today, going 7 innings and allowing 3 runs (although those runs all came around to score in the 7th inning). The offense pulled a 2004 on him and gave him little to no run support, and the often criticized Mike Cameron provided all of the offense today. He knocked in a run in the 7th, and hit a solo homerun in the 9th, but that's all that Milwaukee could muster against Jake Peavy and the Padres bullpen. It was Sheets vs Peavy, and you expected a high scoring affair? It's just too bad the Brewers couldn't pull this one out, but it's to be expected when facing a pitcher like Peavy. Final score Padres 3, Brewers 2.

Brewers record : 70 - 52, 2nd place NL Central, 1st place NL Wild Card

I hate the expectations that I put on this team in 2008. They win 2 of 3 on the road against a West Coast team and I'm pissed off that they didn't sweep the series. I figure since it is the Padres (who should be the worst team in the NL, but those lowly Washington Nationals keep on losing) the Brewers should win every single game. But they didn't. It sucks for Sheets to keep losing, but this one really wasn't his fault. He just kind of gave up too many runs too late in the game and the Brewers offense got stymied by Peavy and Hoffman. But hey, it happens more often than not. So now we have to take some kind of momentum going up The 5 to Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are another team struggling in the pathetic NL West, but the Brewers have also historically played poorly at Dodger Stadium. I guess we'll see, but since I already know, I have to live without optimism of that series. Curse me and these post-series wrap-ups.

Next up - August 15 (Friday) - August 17 (Sunday) Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA

- pookon -

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