Nats @ Brewers
While the Cubs and the Cards duke it out at Wrigley this weekend, the Brewers begin a four game homestand Friday after enjoying their first day off since the All Star break. The Crew managed to “weather the storm” during a key stretch of the schedule. Twenty days straight, 13 on the road. What a roller coaster ride. Seven straight wins on the road to start, a 1-6 homestand, then a dugout dustup and a 4-2 road trip. The Crew finished 12-8. They were five games back when the stretch started and five back when it ended.
No team in the National League has played more games (60) or won more games (32) on the road this season than the Brew Crew. That’s an encouraging sign but only if they take care of business at home.
Now it’s the Washington Nationals at Miller Park. The Nats have a different look these days after trading Jon Rauch, and releasing Johnny Estrada, Paul LoDuca and Felipe Lopez.
Washington is playing good baseball lately. They’ve won six of seven since losing a season-high tying nine games in a row. They are scoring six runs per game in that stretch.
Some other news and notes for the series:
In four of the past five years, the series between these teams in Milwaukee has resulted in a sweep. In 2003 and 2006, the Nationals/Expos swept the Brewers. In 2004 and 2007, the Brewers swept the Nationals/Expos.
Milwaukee went 4-2 on its recent six-game road trip, but has lost five straight at Miller Park.
The Nationals have 291 extra-base hits (193 doubles, 15 triples and 83 home runs) in 2008, the fewest in the National League.
Lastings Milledge is batting .407 (11-for-27) and slugging .926 (25/27) with four home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored in the month of August.
Prince Fielder is riding a 10-game hitting streak. Over the streak, Fielder is batting .351 (13-for-37) and slugging .892 (33/37) with six home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored.
The Pitching Matchups:
Friday: CC Sabathia (5-0, 1.88) vs. RHP Collin Balester (2-3, 4.55) on FSN Wisconsin
Saturday: Ben Sheets (10-5, 3.14) vs. RHP Tim Redding (8-6, 4.44) on FSN Wisconsin
Sunday: Manny Parra (9-5, 4.18) vs. LHP John Lannan (6-11, 3.55) on FSN Wisconsin
Monday: Dave Bush (6-9, 4.50) vs. RHP Garrett Mock *No live TV, FSN Squeeze Play
Have a great weekend.
-BA
Brian Anderson's House of Blogs 
give ned yost credit fot sticking with rivera ? he has not
played snice july 27th sticking with him ? really?
what is kendall batting this past month ?
one last thing on ned — hit and run with parra and kendall
on first?
mike rivera should get more playing time he can bat better than kendall but I don’t can he call pitches better than him.
Brian,
Great blog. The Brew Crew are no doubt having a great season. But I’m wondering, how do you think they will be able to recover assuming they will lose both Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia to free agency this off season?
Check out my blog and feel free to comment any time – “The Hot Corner” – http://dailyrant.mlblogs.com/
Hey there, first let me say “DON’T EVER LEAVE THE BOOTH!” We really enjoy listening to you call the game. YOU do a great job!
I always wondered if you had a blog of some kind. Tonight I found a link to your blog on the Brewer Nation. There’s a guy on there named Big Rygg. He had a great entry about a script for the dugout in Philadelphia. It’s called “A Look Inside the Clubhouse Tonight.” Funny, funny stuff. You really need to take a look at this one. It’s too bad he didn’t write it to Yost.
Regarding Yost………..it seems that there is more cohesiveness in the dugout these last couple of games. Sveum seems to be “into” the game more than Yost did. I think Yost had to know the end was near. Just the change in his expressions were a sign. Good to see Robin Yount in there. It’s obvious they make a good team. Just an observation on how much more relaxed and focused the team seems.
Regarding the Cubs………you don’t think they’ll just kind of roll over and play dead just to see us NOT get the wildcard, do you? I saw some replays of plays that should have been made tonight in their game against the Mets. I would hope that wouldn’t be the case, but every season has a spoiler. I would just hope it wouldn’t be intentional.
Last but definately not least. Go Fielder!!!!! Dejavu from 2005. What a way to end the game! My neighbors must think I’m nuts the way I yell during the game. Oh well…………you can take the girl out of Miller Park, but you can’t take the feeling of Miller Park out of the girl !
Keep up the great work in the booth. Our household hopes you have a long, happy, productive career with the team! Best of luck.