[jaykno14]

7/24: vs Pirates (51-49/29-21 Rd), win 8-3 - WP: Shields
Well Zach Jackson faired pretty well in his second start. He went seven innings and gave up three runs, but was losing 3-0 when he came out. We then went on to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh, and five in the eighth. All eight runs came off one pitcher, relief pitcher Damaso Marte. Jeff Mathis had his first home run as a Brewer today, Corey Hart hit his third home run of the year, and Juan Rivera had a home run. We had eight hits as a team, and leading the way was our six and seven hitters. Corey Hart was 2-3 with three RBIs and two run scored (he also had a double), and Jeff Mathis was 3-4 with a run and two RBIs.

7/25: vs Pirates, win 4-3 - WP: Calero (7-0)
In his first start, Carlos Villanueva struggled out of the gate giving up six hits and all three runs in his first two innings, but settled in to go five innings allowing only seven hits and striking out six. Jose Capellan and Kiko Calero each had great outings out of the bullpen both going two innings of scoreless ball. We were down 3-1 going into the bottom of the ninth. Bill Hall led off the inning with a solo shot to left field. They then were able to get Hart to ground out to third, but that would be the final out they get. Three straight singles from Mathis, Aybar, and pinch hitter Mike Rivera led to a two-run game winning single by Rickie Weeks to end the game. Erick Aybar was 3-4 with two runs, and Rickie Weeks was 2-5, but those were the only two people with a multi-hit game.

7/26: vs Pirates, loss 2-3 - LP: Bush (6-9)
Bush gave up two runs in 4.2 innings, but a lack of hitting led to a 2-3 loss. As a team we pulled out six hits, and one of our runs came off a home run from Dave Bush. Geoff Jenkins also had a pinch hit RBI to drive in the second run. We are now only a game and a half behind the Pirates in the division.

7/27: OFF

7/28: vs Cincinnati (57-45/26-24 Rd), win 7-1 - WP: Blanton (9-3)
Joe Blanton went seven inning giving up four hits, and striking out six. He did not allow a run. Rickie Weeks was 3-4 with two RBI and two runs on the day. Prince Fielder was 0-2, but he had two RBIs and a walk. Bill Hall, Jeff Mathis, Gabe Gross, and Juan Rivera all had a hit, with Gross hitting an RBI double in the second inning. Juan Rivera came in in the seventh, when they brought in a lefty to pitch. Geoff Jenkins had an RBI in the game also. In total, we only had seven hits as a team.

7/29: vs Cincinnati, loss 3-8 - LP: Sheets (5-10)
Sheets struggled again, and five of the runs today were unearned. Capellan relieved Sheets, who gave up six runs total, and three unearned in 6.2 innings, and gave up two more unearned runs, before giving away to Yovani Gallardo who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. We only had six hits as a team, and Juan Rivera had the biggest day going 2-4 with a run.

7/30: vs Cincinnati, win 6-0 - WP: Jackson (2-0)
Zach Jackson pitched 6.2 innings and gave up four hits and two walks. He also struck out 11 batters. Jose Capellan and Derrick Turnbow both pitched scoreless outings as we picked up another shutout. Juan Rivera had two home runs today, good for a 2-4 day with two runs and three RBIs. Rickie Weeks had a two RBI double and went 1-4 with a walk. Bill Hall was also 1-4 with a run, and Prince Fielder went 1-3 with a run.

Jay's Thoughts: Another good week, and we were able to move up to only six games back of the Reds. However, we are 8.5 out of the wild card. I am hoping that sooner or later Sheets can pick it up, but as of now it doesn't look as if that is going to be the case for a while. Jackson has been pitching very well out of the rotation so far, and Villanueva will go in the opener of this coming week. We are still only 2.5 back of the second place team, the Cardinals, in the Central, 1.5 back of the Cubs, and a half game back of the Pirates.

Team Stats
Record: 52-53 (4-2), six games back
Streak: Won 1
Batting Average: .255 - 12th in NL
ERA: 4.82 - 15th in NL
Power Rank: 12th, 92 points

Down on the Farm
1. SP Yovani Gallardo (MLB): 2 G, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2 HA, 1 K
2. SS Erick Aybar (MLB): 15 G, 54 AB, 13 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB, 6 K, .241/.305/.296, 2 SB
3. SP Carlos Villanueva (MLB): 1 GS, 5.40 ERA, 5.0 IP, 7 HA, 3 ER, 0 HRA, 1 BB, 6 K
4. SP Zach Jackson (MLB): 7 G, 3 GS, 2-0, 0.92 ERA, 29.1 IP, 14 HA, 3 ER, 0 HRA, 7 BB, 33 K, 3 QS
5. 3B Evan Longoria (R+): 40 G, 152 AB, 52 H, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 26 R, 22 BB, 16 K, .342/.425/.480
6. 2B Rickie Weeks (MLB): 100 G, 397 AB, 97 H, 21 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 67 R, 61 BB, .244/.357/.428
7. C Jeff Mathis (MLB): 98 G, 352 AB, 95 H, 20 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 47 R, 40 BB, .270/.348/.440
8. OF Tony Gwynn (AAA): 71 G, 287 AB, 95 H, 22 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 36 RBI, 48 R, 38 BB, 25 SB, .331/.407/.425
9. OF Corey Hart (MLB): 67 G, 107 AB, 27 H, 8 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 13 R, .252/.310/.411
10. OF Charlie Fermaint (A+): 103 G, 419 AB, 131 H, 17 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 57 R, .313/.380/.432

Team Minor League System Rank: 15th - Gallardo (54th), Aybar (56th), Villanueva (63rd), Jackson (72nd), Longoria (87th)

Hitting
OF Gabe Gross: 20 G, 21 AB, 7 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 4 R, .333/.348/.476
OF Brady Clark: 86 G, 238 AB, 70 H, 10 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 29 R, 20 BB, .294/.365/.424
3B Bill Hall: 104 G, 400 AB, 95 H, 19 2B, 6 3B, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 62 R, 26 BB, .237/.285/.398, 6 SB
C Mike Rivera: 59 G, 173 AB, 44 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 17 R, 10 BB, 44 K, .254/.294/.335

Pitching
SP David Bush: 21 GS, 6-9, 132 IP, 132 HA, 13 HRA, 55 ER, 33 BB, 75 K, 3.75 ERA, .260 OAVE
MR Ben Hendrickson: 14 G, 0-1, 25.1 IP, 24 HA, 4 HRA, 13 ER, 6 BB, 23 K, 4.62 ERA, .247 OAVE
CL Derrick Turnbow: 31 G, 2-2, 19 S, 39.1 IP, 28 HA, 3 HRA, 10 ER, 25 BB, 33 K, 2.29 ERA, .200 OAVE

Around the League
It was a very busy week on the trade market again, but there were also some contract extensions as a result of some of the trades that were made this past week. Alfonso Soriano signed a five year, $90M contract with the Devil Rays, which came as a slight surprise that the small market Devil Rays would make such an investment. Taking a look at their front office part of the team, it does appear that they would preffer to win now. The other extension was with Carlos Lee, the former Brewer. He agreed to a three year deal that will be worth $51,120,000 over the span of the contract. With Los Angeles he has hit .271 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

There were also a LOT of trades this week, where we saw contending teams picking up some talent for the late season run, and not so contending teams stock the minor leagues. There were a lot more smaller trades, but I am just going to give you the trades that will affect the big league level so that is why there are not many trades listed.

7/24:
WASHINGTON trades
CL Chad Cordero: 24 yrs old, 3-3, 15 S, 3.96 ERA, will be the set up man in Atlanta
ATLANTA trades
SP Brady Endl: 24 yrs old, 2-7, 3.47 ERA at AAA, will report to AAA


TEXAS trades
MR Broc Coffman: 21 yrs old, 1-3, 13 S at AAA, will take Cordero's spot as Closer
WASHINGTON trades
RF Edgardo Baez: 21 yrs old, .256, 4 HR, 41 RBI at A, will report to Rookie ball
CF Jordan Schafer: 19 yrs old, this is the third team he has been with this season


7/26:
CLEVELAND trades
CF Jonathan Van Every: 26 yrs old, 13 HR, 57 RBI at AAA, will play CF for Florida
FLORIDA trades
2B Dan Uggla: 26 yrs old, 13 HR, .253, 43 RBIs, will play 2B for Cleveland
SP Sean West: 20 yrs old, 4-6, 3.02 ERA at A, will report to AAA


7/28:
ARIZONA trades
SP Micah Owings: 23 yrs old, 7-4, 3.37 ERA at AAA, will be in Atlanta's starting rotation
ATLANTA trades
SP Jose Ascanio: 21 yrs old, 3-7, 3.76 ERA at A, will report to A


ARIZONA trades
SP Brandon Webb: 27 yrs old, 4-14, 5.50 ERA, will be in Chicago's starting rotation
CHICAGO (N) trades
SS Dylan Johnston: 19 yrs old, .270, 3 HR, 26 RBI, will report to AAA
LF Jesus Valdez: 21 yrs old, .256, 3 HR, 36 RBI, will report to AAA


7/29:
TAMPA BAY trades
SP Scott Kazmir: 21 yrs old, 9-6, 3.20 ERA, will be in Seattle's starting rotation
SEATTLE trades
CF Michael Saunders: 22 yrs old, .262, 3 HR, 25 RBI at A, will report to AAA
SP Shawn Nottingham: 21 yrs old, 9-6, 3.54 ERA at A, will report to AAA


7/30:
FLORIDA trades
1B Mike Jacobs: 25 yrs old, .300, 18 HR, 49 RBI, will start at first for the Pirates
LF J.T. Restko: 21 yrs old, .241 at A, will report to AAA
PITSBURGH trades
MR Damaso Marte: 31 yrs old, 6.65 ERA, 3-1, will be in the bullpen for Florida
2B Craig Stansbery: 24 yrs old, .211, 6 HR at AA, will report to AAA
$1,900,000 in cash

What's On Tap?
7/31: @ Rockies (52-52/29-22 Hm)
8/01: @ Rockies*
8/02: @ Rockies
8/03: OFF
8/04: @ Cardinals (54-50/25-25 Hm)
8/05: @ Cardinals*
8/06: @ Cardinals