Adam Billmann | 05.24.11 at 4:45pm | 1 Comment
On May 16, the Milwaukee Brewers mascot went missing. Bernie could tweet clues to where he might be but when we would look up to his dugout he was nowhere to be found.
As the days went by I began to worry more and more, but finally after seeing Davey Nelson up in Bernie’s Dugout I knew it was time for Bullpen Door Guy to spring into action and rescue our beloved mascot.
After spending time searching Bernie’s clue’s on Twitter I had a plan of attack and set Tuesday morning as the time I would attempt the dangerous, yet heroic rescue.
When Tuesday morning came I began to get ready. It felt like a scene straight out of Batman. Brewers’ jersey was on, I put on my Brewers hat, threw on a pair of shorts to run well in and laced up my tennis shoes. The only thing missing from the whole Batman experience was my rubber nipples.
When Tuesday morning came I began to get ready. It felt like a scene straight out of Batman. Brewers’ jersey was on, I put on my Brewers hat, threw on a pair of shorts to run well in and laced up my tennis shoes. The only thing missing from the whole Batman experience was my rubber nipples.
As I drove to Joanne’s Park in Green Bay, where I suspected Bernie was being held captive, I began to get nervous. The nerves quickly subsided as I began to play ‘Eye of the Tiger’ in my head as I pulled into the parking lot.
I quietly got out of my Bullpen Door Guy mobile and began to search. I was sneaking through the park like a stealthy ninja trying not to draw any attention to myself.
As I approached a towering jungle gym I saw a tiny little hand peeking out from around the top of the slide.
“Could that be, is that really Bernie, “I said to myself.
I continued to creep closer until I could get a good look, and sure enough it was Bernie Brewer just standing there, hardly even moving.
The daring rescue was just moments away. The only thing that stood between Bernie and me were a field of wood chips and a death defying rope ladder.
I plowed through the wood chips and began to scale the ladder; it felt like it was stretched all the way to the moon, but just four steps later I was at the top of the jungle gym.
I quickly snatched Bernie, made a leap through some swing steps and back towards the car.
I was in awe!
“I did it; I saved Bernie Brewers,” I shouted in the Bullpen Door Guy mobile.
I returned Bernie to his beloved dugout out. I could tell he was about to say something but I stopped him and said, “Being the Brewers mascot is a thank you in itself, let’s just keep winning.”
Bernie with his hero, Bullpen Door Guy.
Ryan Braun watches his first inning three-run homer on May, 15, in Milwaukee against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Photo By Michael Sears, JS Online
The Brewers may have gotten off to a slow start in 2011 but they are 6-2 in its last eight games since ending its seven game skid. Just two games under .500 (19-21) now, the four game West Coast road trip could be just what the Crew needs to get over the hump.
In 147 at-bats playing on the West Coast over the past three seasons, Braun is batting .347 with 7 home runs and 32 runs batted in.
Over the last three seasons the Brewers have had a lot of success in Arizona and California. The Brewers are 25-16 and look to improve upon those numbers in a two game series against a struggling Los Angeles Dodgers team who have won four games in its last 11. Over that span the Dodgers have scored five runs just once, in a 10-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Brewers will also meet the San Diego Padres for two games. Just last week the Brewers took two of three against the Padres in Milwaukee and nearly completed the sweep. The Padres came storming back with an eight run eighth inning to beat the Brewers 13-6.
The Padres bats have woken up since the comeback scoring at least seven runs in all three games against the Colorado Rockies over the weekend.
Besides the Brewers playing well on the West Coast, California native Ryan Braun has been shouldering the load. In 147 at-bats over the past three seasons, Braun is batting .347 with 7 home runs and 32 runs batted in. Most of the damage has been done at Dodger Stadium compiling a .472 average, 2 home runs and 32 RBIs.
If everything can continue to go well for the Braun and the Brewers on the West Coast there is no reason not to expect them to come over with a .500 record
Photo By Mark Hoffman, JS Online
Carlos Gomez has already had a forgetful first quarter of the season. After hitting his first home run on Opening Day, Gomez has struggled in the two hole and the Brewers need to get him out of there and replace him with, Corey Hart.
Hart batted second throughout a good portion of 2010 and carried his success into his second All-Star game appearance while receiving the start. The Brewers rewarded Hart with a three-year extension worth $26.5 million, and should be taking advantage of his ability to strive in the two hole.
Over the past three years Hart has 494 career at-bats batting second and has produced a .283 average, 16 home runs, .343 on-base percentage, 32 doubles and drew 41 walks compared to Gomez batting .224 with a.283 on-base percentage in 116 at-bats this season.
Another problem with Gomez this season has not that he has been making out, its how he makes those outs. With runners on Gomez cannot continue to strike out, he needs to at least be able to advance the runners, something Hart has been able to do in the past.
Besides what both players have been able to do with a bat in their hand, it’s how they run the bases that could benefit the Brewers most.
On more than one occasion this season Gomez has made mistakes on the bases by trying to extend the play or take an extra base and killed the rally. With Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder following, getting tagged out trying to take an extra base is inexcusable.
Gomez’s aggressive base running has helped at times but could be even more valuable at the bottom of the order getting into scoring position and taking extra bases without making a mistake ahead of two of the best RBI guys in baseball.
Hart is a smart base runner who can take the extra base at the opportune time and knows his limits without making mistakes and killing rallies for the Brewers.
In 2010 the Brewers had arguable the best one through five hitters in the batting order in baseball and with Hart healthy and finding his niche at the plate, there is no reason why not to move him up in the batting order.
