Mark Cuban is my hero

I've had nothing to do with baseball, and no interest at all, ever since the strike a decade ago completely screwed my fantasy league. I haven't been able to conceive of anything that would lead to changing this...until now.

When I read the headline that Mark Cuban wants to buy the Cubs an involuntary smile appeared on my face. I know he can be obnoxious, but isn't he also the most enthusiastic, fan-like owner in sports? Isn't he a model of a sports fan's dream: a geek who built a multi-billion $$$ fortune from nothing, then turned it into a sports empire? And hasn't he done everything right compared to Danny Schneider? The guy even keeps his own blog!

Don't worry though, Bud will never allow it to happen.

Yovani Gallardo

OMG, OMG, OMG!

The Brewers are going to summon Gallardo and there is a good chance he will start Monday against the Giants. I *think* that this is the beginning of the end for Claudio Vargas in the rotation. Once Capuano comes off of the DL, I think the rotation will be aligned such that Sheets, Gallardo, Cappy, Suppan and Bush will be the starters and Villanueva will continue to move up the bullpen pecking order. Vargas will become what Villanueva was, a long reliever and emergency 6th starter, then finally Elmer Dessens will likely be DFA.

This plan can be knocked off track if the Brewers need to use Gallardo in relief this weekend, which is plausible. Villanueva is not useable this weekend and the bullpen was taxed yesterday, so hopefully they can get nice long starts from their starters starting with Sheets today.

Anyway, get excited for a mid 90's fastball and a killer curveball.

Matt LaPorta

Meet the new Brewers prospect (and immediately one of their top prospects once the call up of Gallardo completely drains teh pool) Matt LaPorta. Or, more like meet Matt LaPorta's swing (scroll down to pick 7):

This guy thinks that he is going to be one of the best hitters to come out of the draft. That being said, if the Brewers can somehow get him to play a passable left field, they may be looking at a 2009 lineup:
C - unknown
1B - Prince
2B - Weeks
3B - Braun
SS - Hardy
LF - LaPorta
CF - Hall
RF - Hart
SP - Gallardo

That is a lineup with a lot of power potential. Every single one of those players could probably be projected to hit 20+ dingers, with Prince and Braun looking at 30+.

Braun and Gallardo

Holy crap, the Brewers have called up Ryan Braun (left). This kid has been raking in AAA and seriously, then number of extra bases he may give up defensively is well going to be made up with his offense over the crappy 3rd base platoon the Brewers have going right now.

Check out this comment from Jerry Crasknic about Yovani Gallardo (right):

I talked to a scout at a Phillies game who told me that Yovani Gallardo is better than any starter the Brewers have right now.

That is pretty much the coolest thing I have read in a while.

Ryan Braun

Quick must-read if you are wondering why Graffy and Counsell are manning the hot corner for the Brewers.

Brewers

From Jayson Stark's rumblin stumblin grumblin's

The Maddux who has had the biggest impact on the National League in 2007 might not be Greg. It could be his big brother Mike, who has turned into one of the best pitching coaches in the biz in Milwaukee.

There are plenty of examples of pitchers Maddux has turned around. But how about his three closers -- Dan Kolb (signed after getting released by Texas), Derrick Turnbow (a waiver claim) and Francisco Cordero (who had a 7.50 ERA last year this time in Texas).

"Let's just say it's not by accident these three guys all developed into All-Star closers," said manager Ned Yost. Maddux told Rumblings he doesn't want any accolades. "I'll take the blame," he said. "Let them [the pitchers] get the credit." Sorry. He gets it anyway.

Maddux built back Cordero's psyche and expanded his repertoire. He encouraged Turnbow to go home last winter, after a brutal year, and "hit the eraser button." And now he reminds The Chief constantly to slow down and "control the pace of the game." And how did Maddux figure out the secret to controlling that pace? By doing such a lousy job of it during his own career, he said. "That's how I learned," he laughed. "By looking back on my playing days and figuring out all the things I wish I'd done different."

• While everybody was fixating on J.J. Hardy's home run total, we might have missed his most incredible stat of all. He has been so locked in, 57 percent of his swings have put the ball in play this year. That's the fourth-best percentage in the NL. And no one else in the top 10 has hit more than two homers. "I can't tell you how badly I missed on J.J. Hardy as an offensive player," said one executive who scouted Hardy in high school. "I loved his hands in the field. He had an unbelievable arm. But I thought there was no way his bat would work at all. Too much swinging and missing." Hey, not anymore.

That is amazing!

Brewer East Coast Success

I think the three games at NYM were a success for the Brewers despite going 1-2. Why?

1) They learned they are not the greatest team of all time.
2) They learned they are good enough to hand with the big boys on the road.
3) The beat the big boys bad once on the road, lost a toss up game and lost one game bad.

The game they lost was against Oliver Perez. They are historically bad against OP (see below). Further, the type of pitcher that OP is means that he should excel when he gets an early lead like the Mets gave him. He has good stuff and sometimes needs a little boost in confidence to go right after hitters. A few runs and prior success will give you that confidence and keeps him out of the trouble he gets in when he starts walking batters.

Oliver Perez's last 27.1 innings against the Brewers: 37 K's (37:27.1 K/IP) and a .210 BAA.
Over that same time span against all teams he has a .246 BAA and 438:411.2 K/IP ratio.