Know Your Foe #1: Rockies visit Brewers to open season

by Russ Oates on Apr 5, 2010 10:00 AM MDT in Know Your Foe

Welcome to my first edition of Know Your Foe. Short and simple for today, but as the season goes on I'll have much more when previewing series. I hope to make the Q&A with an opposing blog a regular feature of KYF.

Milwaukee Brewers (80-82, 3rd NL Central)

Milwaukee Brewers

Rockies' 2009 record against Brewers: 6-0. The Brewers went down in defeat thrice at Miller Park as the Rockies continued their way to an eventual 11-game win streak in early to mid-June. Jason Hammel, Jorge De La Rosa, and Aaron Cook picked up the wins. Hammel and Cook picked up two of the three victories at Coors Field at the end of September. Matt Belisle recorded the other win in the 11th inning after having watched Huston Street blow a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning.

Monday-Wednesday: 3-game series @ Miller Park

Probable Pitchers

Monday, 5 April 2010, 12:10 MDT: Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 5.7 WAR in 2009) vs. Yovani Gallardo (13-12, 2.7 WAR)

Tuesday, 6 April 2010, 6:10 MDT: Greg Smith (7-16, 1.5 WAR with 2008 A's) vs. Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.0 WAR with 2009 Dodgers)

Wednesday, 7 April 2010, 11:10 MDT: Aaron Cook (11-6, 1.9 WAR in 2009) vs. Doug Davis (9-14, 1.7 WAR with 2009 D'Backs)

Probable Lineup

Rickie Weeks, 2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Jim Edmonds, RF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C
Alcides Escobar, SS
Pitcher

Closer: Trevor Hoffman

Join me after the jump for a few questions with Rubie Q from Brew Crew Ball.

1. Is this the season Rickie Weeks breaks out? Is he the key to a successful season?

As one of the commenters on Brew Crew Ball pointed out, this is actually the Fourth Annual Rickie Weeks Break Out Season. I bear some personal responsibility for that, as I dubbed the '09 season "The Summer of Rickie Weeks" after 10 games, when Weeks started the season like a man on fire. Of course, a couple weeks later, Rickie's wrist exploded on a check swing in St. Louis, and his promising start went down the drain. He's looked very good this spring, but I'm not about to jinx it by predicting that Rickie's finally going to bust out this year.

In my opinion, Weeks is the most important position player on the team for a couple of reasons: (1) the last two years, when he was hurt and/or playing terrible, the Brewers had to use some of their trade chits to bring in second basemen: Ray Durham in '08, and Felipe Lopez in '09; and (2) we have a good idea what to expect at every other position. Rickie's the wild card. If the team is going to contend, it needs Weeks playing well, and playing well for the full season.

2. What impact to do you expect Rick Peterson to have with the pitching staff?

That's a question Brewer fans have been debating all offseason. The starting pitching staff was historically awful last year; only Baltimore had a worse staff ERA, and we had two pitchers (Braden Looper and Jeff Suppan) pitch at below-replacement levels while making 30+ starts (each). So: there's nowhere to go but up, and, in all likelihood, Peterson will be getting some (or most) of the credit when that happens. That said, we've got three veterans (Dave Bush, Doug Davis, and Randy Wolf) with established track records, and a budding star in Yovani Gallardo, who's set to be the staff ace for years to come. Peterson doesn't need to work his magic with them -- in my opinion, the Brewers need him to make something of Manny Parra (who's got oodles of talent but hasn't yet put it together) and to see if there's anything salvageable with Suppan. The early returns for those two in Spring Training weren't encouraging, to say the least.

3. So it's been a few years, but defend Ryan Braun as 2007 NL RoY over Tulo.

Man, you guys are still hung up on that one, huh? I can throw some alphabet soup at you -- Braun's .422 wOBA vs. Tulo's .361 wOBA, Braun hitting 10 more homers in 40 fewer games, blah blah blah; it's just too bad that no one kept defensive statistics in '07, because I've heard, anecdotally, that Tulo is a much better defender than Braun -- but we all know that the vote resulted from the prominent Midwest media bias.

4. What type of brews would some of your starters be?

Ryan Braun: Miller High Life. The Champagne of Beers has been one of my favorites since college. It's delicious and surprisingly cheap, much like Braun's 8-year, $45 million contract.

Trevor Hoffman: Leinie's Red. Old and reliable. I've yet to meet someone who doesn't like Leinie's Red, one of the signature offerings of the small brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Gregg Zaun: Pabst Blue Ribbon. I grew up around PBR, and it was always the beer that your dad and his 40-year-old pals drank. So I was somewhat taken aback when I moved to Minnesota and discovered that trendy youngsters have flocked to Pabst. It's the best comparison I can come up with for new Brewer backstop Gregg Zaun, who's been a part-time player for essentially his entire career. Last offseason, he became a trendy target, and now he's our starting catcher. Will it work? I don't know, but I hope it's better that PBR. That stuff tastes like a sock.

Prince Fielder: Guinness. One of the most famous beers in the world for the Brewers best hitter and (probably) second-most-famous player. You know what you're getting when you order a Guinness. At this stage in his career, you know what to expect out of Prince, too: an OPS circa 1.000, with around 40 taters, and some epic belly-flop slides into second base.

Corey Hart: Delirium Tremens. I can have one DT before getting loopy. Similarly, I can usually watch one Corey Hart at-bat -- my favorites: Corey hacks at the first pitch after the batter ahead of him walked on four pitches, or Corey lunging at three straight down-and-away sliders -- before I start mumbling incoherently.

Jeff Suppan: Milwaukee's Best ICE. I don't know if you've ever been subjected to MB ICE, but, if you've haven't, you're not missing anything. It's the single worst beer I've ever had, and you can't get the taste out of your mouth for a week. If that ain't Soup, I don't know what is.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would rather have Jason Hammel than a ROTY trophy for Tulo

just sayin’…

Co-Captain of the Greg Lovers Club (along with Silverblood)

by Muzia on Apr 5, 2010 10:21 AM MDT reply actions

Go to BCB

to read my Q&A, which the above referenced.

"Silly, Mr. Hornberger, always saying hate when he means love." - Kenneth the page on 30 Rock

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Apr 5, 2010 10:24 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I already did.

Co-Captain of the Greg Lovers Club (along with Silverblood)

by Muzia on Apr 5, 2010 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions

interesting that you didnt mention the common answer of Stewie as "must step up"

As common as that answer is, Stewart not stepping up would cost is a lot more than Hawpe continuing the slide from the second half

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 5, 2010 10:39 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

+1

I’ll take the very same number of dingerz, even if over a full season, if he can at least hit .265 and have a decent OBP. Otherwise, a full season of Ian could challenge MarK Reynolds for a new K’s record…

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Apr 5, 2010 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, to be honest I don't see Hawpe as much of a key this year...

any great production from him would be a bonus. I’m certainly not expecting much…Stewart, though, I am expecting to do very well.

The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Apr 5, 2010 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions

Now I'm thirsty.

"Because I am a Rockie." - Todd

Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego

by phishbate on Apr 5, 2010 10:28 AM MDT reply actions

I really hope that beer feature is a part of KYF all season....

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Apr 5, 2010 10:32 AM MDT reply actions

i was going to do that during last year's second half

But I forgot. Over and over again

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Apr 5, 2010 10:37 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Musta been the delerium tremens....

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Apr 5, 2010 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I asked it because

we’re playing the Brewers, but I might use that as the last question.

"Silly, Mr. Hornberger, always saying hate when he means love." - Kenneth the page on 30 Rock

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.

by Russ Oates on Apr 5, 2010 10:39 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Gates just opened in Milwaukee

My buddy just sent a picture from Miller Park

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Jackie Robinson

Follow me with the Rays grounds crew at-
https://twitter.com/TripleCrown59
www.facebook.com/TripleCrown59

by walkoff59 on Apr 5, 2010 10:35 AM MDT reply actions

Is that with the roof open? Those are wicked shadows.

by RoxnSox09 on Apr 5, 2010 10:47 AM MDT up reply actions

I really love miller park.

Saved by the buoyancy of citrus.

by Justus on Apr 5, 2010 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions

As do I

My sis lives in Milwaukee, and I’m planning on going out there in July or August for a few days…hope to get to a game there.

Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave

by Mondogarage on Apr 5, 2010 10:56 AM MDT up reply actions

Opening day is finally here, GO ROX!

Good to see S. Smith get the start today, lets watch him RAKE, and Ubaldo mow down Brewers, GO ROX!!

by GoRoxInNSB,FL on Apr 5, 2010 10:59 AM MDT reply actions

Just want to mention

I really like the interview with someone from the opponent’s blog. Gives some insight into what the other fanbases are thinking. Hopefully that can be done for every opponent that we haven’t played in a while. Keep up the good work!

Caution: Colorado teams are better than they appear.

by ShadowPenguin on Apr 5, 2010 11:09 AM MDT reply actions

switched series...

FYI, you’ve got those series backwards. The June one was at Miller Park, the September at Coors. I’m a CO native/Rox fan displaced to Wisconsin, and I was at one of the June games. :-) It was the only game I made it to all year (who wants to see the Brewers anyway, unless they’re playing my Rox?), so it was pretty memorable.

Just me being nitpicky. ;-) Go Rox!

by sylverling on Apr 5, 2010 11:10 AM MDT reply actions

This is going to be a great series

2 teams making great strides in the right directions (neither of which get nearly enough national love).

The Rockies are hoping that 2009 was the year of experience that all their young STARterS needed to succeed in 2010, the Brewers have a sick offense and made some nice defensive improvements along with rebuilding a staff that won’t be too sexy but also seems like underrated quality (as long as suppan is Dled)

Jimenez vs. Gallardo? Sign me up

"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker

by Resolution on Apr 5, 2010 11:10 AM MDT reply actions

should be a fun series

hopefully we take 2 out of 3…GO ROCKIES!

TULO = 2010 MVP!

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Apr 5, 2010 11:12 AM MDT reply actions

Anywhere to watch

Is there anywhere to watch the game online, besides Mlb.tv. I live in Iowa and I’m worried the stupid MLB Blackout rules won’t let me watch the game anywhere.

by TuloRocks on Apr 5, 2010 11:35 AM MDT reply actions