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Brewers beat 6/12
Weeks gets standing ovation for 500th hit
MILWAUKEE — With a fifth-inning double against the Rangers on Saturday, Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks recorded the 500th hit of his career.
After the double, Brewers fans gave Weeks a standing ovation. He was then picked off attempting to steal third.
Before the game, the milestone was the furthest thing from Weeks’ mind.
“Honestly, that’s the first I’ve even known about it,” Weeks said when asked about what it would mean to reach 500 hits. “I’m not real big on milestones like that.”
Still, Weeks, who is in his seventh season of his big league career, said he would be happy to get hit No. 500.
“It’s just one of those things that when it comes I’ll, of course, appreciate it,” Weeks said, “but for the most part it’s just one of those things that, when it comes, it comes.”
Lucroy brings different skills to position
MILWAUKEE — He hasn’t been named the No. 1 catcher for the Brewers just yet, but rookie Jonathan Lucroy is certainly going to get a chance to earn the spot.
Lucroy, who was called up May 21 in place of injured starter Gregg Zaun, started his third straight game behind the plate for the Brewers on Saturday. With three starts on the homestand, Lucroy has doubled his career total.
Lucroy brings to the table something the Brewers haven’t had all season: a catcher who can consistently throw runners out. In seven games — one of which he entered late as a pinch hitter — Lucroy has thrown out two of five runners attempting to steal.
“We’re trying to address the stolen bases,” manager Ken Macha said, referring to his decision to start Lucroy. “He’s certainly done a nice job so far with that.”
Although throwing out baserunners is just part of his job as a catcher, Lucroy admits it’s one aspect in which he really strives for success.
“I take a lot of pride in doing that; I fully enjoy throwing people out,” Lucroy said. “I do my best every day to be perfect in that regard, because that’s one part of the game I feel like I can control.
“You really can’t control a lot of parts of the game, so I feel like I can really contribute a lot by throwing runners out and keeping guys off base the best I can.”
With George Kottaras 0-for-7 on the homestand and 3-for-25 with just three walks this month, Lucroy is getting his chance to show what he can bring to the table.
Since he has joined the big league club, Lucroy has been the hardest worker in the clubhouse, Macha said, routinely arriving at the ballpark six or seven hours before the first pitch.
But as with every other position, it all boils down to results for Macha.
“Everybody gets an opportunity,” Macha said. “It’s up to production. So, get some hits, throw out some runners, catch a winner, that’s all part of the formula.”
Wherever Hart bats, success has followed
MILWAUKEE — You don’t see too many guys leading the league in home runs batting second, but that’s what Corey Hart continued to do for the Brewers on Saturday.
Hart, whose 17 home runs were a National League best entering Saturday, also ranked third in the Majors behind the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista and the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, who had belted 18 homers apiece.
With Hart swinging a hot bat over the last month, manager Ken Macha moved him to the No. 2 spot on Friday. Hart proceeded to go 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
“I kind of liked it last night,” Macha said of the move. “The guy’s swinging the bat. He’s on base a bunch. I want those guys to get on base for Prince [Fielder] and [Ryan Braun].”
Macha likes the power potential of Hart batting between leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks and Fielder.
If Weeks gets on base in front of Hart, it gives the Brewers the chance for a quick two runs before recording an out. Regardless of his spot in the lineup, Hart continues to hit home runs, totaling 14 since May 15.
“He’s a special hitter. He’s got some tools that not everybody has,” third baseman Casey McGehee said of Hart. “For him to be doing it as consistent as he is right now, is pretty impressive to watch.
“It just extends it so far. He’s hitting second, and that worked. He’s been hitting sixth, and that’s been working. So when he’s going good, it makes a huge difference.”
Macha enjoying new luxuries with bullpen
MILWAUKEE — After using just two pitchers Friday, manager Ken Macha had seven of his eight relievers available Saturday against the Rangers. It’s a luxury Macha hasn’t been able to enjoy too many times this season.
After releasing Jeff Suppan, designating Claudio Vargas for assignment, and placing Todd Coffey and LaTroy Hawkins on the disabled list, the Brewers’ bullpen looks a lot different than it did to open the season.
The bullpen now consists of Chris Capuano, Kameron Loe, Zach Braddock, John Axford, Chris Smith, David Riske, Carlos Villanueva and Trevor Hoffman. Of those eight, the last two are the only remaining members from the Opening Day roster.
“We’re starting to lengthen out the bullpen,” Macha said.
For much of the season, Macha’s bullpen troubles consisted of pitchers not performing when called upon and a lack of pitchers available each day to begin with.
Macha was cautious not to get overconfident about his bullpen now.
“One game can put a wrench in that,” Macha said. “The game in Minnesota where [Dave] Bush only got one out, that fired a wrench into it. Or it’s like that Pirate game where we played [14] innings. That started us on the downside there a little bit. Then you’re really struggling to see who’s available.”
Now, Macha’s got a different problem to deal with, albeit one he’s happy to have. Two of his newest relievers, Capuano and Riske, have just one appearance between the two of them on the homestand.
“It’s to the point where some of the guys need work,” Macha said. “I’d like to get Cappy in the game, get him a couple innings. But that’s the value of the starter going seven innings.”
Worth noting
With a crowd of at least 32,600 on Saturday, the Brewers will reach the 1 million mark in attendance in their 29th home game. The team reached 1 million in the 27th home game last season on its way to 3,037,451. … Friday night marked just the fifth time in franchise history that the Brewers had home runs from their starters in the second, third, fourth and fifth positions in the batting order. The last time was against the Giants on April 14, 2001, when the Brew Crew had homers from Tyler Houston, Geoff Jenkins, Richie Sexson and Jeromy Burnitz. … With four home runs Friday night, the Brewers passed the Reds for first place in the National League with 76 home runs. The Reds entered Saturday second with 74, and the D-backs were third with 72.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Narveson establishes tone for Brewers’ win
MILWAUKEE — As lefty Chris Narveson struck out the side in the first inning Friday, it set the tone for the rest of the night.
After avoiding his typical first-inning struggles, Narveson (5-3) had his best outing of the season, allowing just two runs on six hits over seven innings. With a strong offensive performance backing him up, the Brewers took the series opener from the Rangers, 6-2, at Miller Park.
The Rangers had entered the series having just outscored the Mariners, 31-6, in their last three games, but Narveson was impressive in shutting them down.
“It’s just knowing what type of pitcher you are,” Narveson said. “Sometimes you get out there and you have this feeling that you have to make pitches that maybe you’re not comfortable with or that aren’t the right pitch in that situation.
“So to go out there and be able to establish the game early, set a good tone, that was able to get me where I needed to be.”
Brewers manager Ken Macha said the key for Narveson was his changeup.
“He made his pitches. The ball was down for the most part all day, and the change was really good,” Macha said. “In the first inning, he used the change, and they were swinging and missing at it.
“I’ve got a friend that lives down in Texas — he watches all of their games. He called me twice saying, ‘These guys are swinging the bats well.’ And they did against Seattle. It says something about how Narvy located the ball today.”
Although strong Brewers pitching performances lately haven’t come with much offense, that was hardly the case Friday. The Brewers’ Nos. 2 through 5 hitters each belted a home run, driving in all six of the runs for the club.
Ryan Braun, batting cleanup for the fifth straight game, got the Brewers on the board in the first with a two-run blast to left-center field, his ninth of the season.
After a Casey McGehee solo homer in the fourth, Corey Hart and Prince Fielder went back-to-back in the fifth as the Brewers matched a season high with four home runs on the night.
Hart’s home run was his 17th of the season, and his 14th in his last 26 games, dating back to May 15. The Brewers’ right fielder added 29 RBIs over the same stretch.
“I’m eating a good diet,” Hart said, joking after the game. “I’m not a home run hitter, so I think I’m just getting lucky right now. I’m just trying to make contact, and fortunately for me it’s going out. I’m just trying to stay with it as long as I can.”
Brewers hitters roughed up Rangers starter Rich Harden, who gave up all six runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out four batters.
Harden (3-3) hasn’t faired too well against the Brewers over the last two seasons. In four starts since the beginning of the 2009 season, Harden has given up 20 runs — 16 earned — on 23 hits in 17 innings pitched.
His previous starts at Miller Park had been good, however, as he entered with a 1-0 mark and a 1.38 ERA in two starts here.
“They’ve seen me over the past few years, but I know them pretty good, too,” Harden said of the Brewers. “I just didn’t make good pitches. I couldn’t get the ball down on some hitters, and it cost me.”
Narveson’s most impressive inning came in the sixth, after he gave up a leadoff double to third baseman Michael Young.
Retiring the next three batters he faced, Narveson stranded Young at third, keeping the score at 6-2.
Along with good hitting, starting pitching and defense, the Brewers got another good performance from the bullpen, as Kameron Loe threw two scoreless innings to close out the ballgame. After putting it all together, the Brewers have won three of their last four.
“That’s the trick in this game is to get everything to match up at one time,” McGehee said. “Fortunately tonight, we were able to do it.”
Brewers beat 6/11
Burdette joins Miller Park Walk of Fame
MILWAUKEE — As the Brewers honored the late Lew Burdette on Friday, the former Milwaukee Braves pitcher became the newest member of the Miller Park Walk of Fame.
Burdette, who pitched for the Braves from 1953-63, was a key member of the 1957 World Series champion team, and he becomes the fourth former Braves player inducted since they were added to the ballot in 2007.
He joins fellow Braves greats Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and John Quinn as inductees in the Walk of Fame. As Burdette’s daughters reminisced about him, Spahn’s name came up quite a bit, as the two were close friends.
Of course, there weren’t many people with whom Burdette was not friendly.
“We grew up just so honored to have him because not only was he a wonderful ballplayer, he taught me a lot about how to be a great friend. Dad never knew a stranger,” Mary Lou Burdette-Wieloszynski said. “He also was very gracious to his fans and gave autographs out freely.
“Whenever he talked about Milwaukee, he talked about how wonderful the fans were in Milwaukee, and he liked them so much and said that they were good people. … He and Warren, he said they loved it because they were treated like a real person.”
Brewers members of the Walk of Fame are Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Commissioner Bud Selig, Cecil Cooper, Bob Uecker, Harry Dalton, Jim Gantner, Gorman Thomas, Don Money and Harvey Kuenn.
With Burdette being honored by the Brewers, his daughters — Burdette-Wieloszynski, Elaina Fontana and Madge Burdette — were in attendance Friday for the club’s series opener against the Rangers.
At a pregame news conference, they were excited for their father’s honor.
During the 1957 World Series, Burdette went 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA, allowing just two earned runs over 27 innings pitched, en route to earning MVP honors.
“We’re just really proud of our dad and very honored to be here,” Fontana said. “We’ve just had a wonderful experience growing up with our dad.”
Overall, Burdette went 173-109 with Milwaukee with a 3.53 ERA in 420 games. In 1959, he led the National League with 21 wins, and in 1956 his 2.70 ERA also led the league.
Burdette’s oldest daughter hoped to make her father proud as she threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“I hope I can throw that ball, and it’s not in the dirt,” Madge Burdette said, “and make him smile from heaven. I know he’s watching us. I’m just proud to be here.”
Patience helped Gomez score winning run
MILWAUKEE — Center fielder Carlos Gomez used his speed to the win the game for the Brewers, 5-4 in the 10th inning, on Thursday afternoon, but it was patience at the plate that gave him the chance.
Gomez drew just his seventh walk of the season as he watched four straight balls from Cubs reliever Bob Howry. Manager Ken Macha said patience is something that could greatly benefit the speedy Gomez — who has 27 strikeouts — and in turn, the team.
“You’ve got to get on to do that,” said Macha, referring to Gomez scoring the winning run. “I think his on-base is around .290 right now, so it’s not like he’s leading the team in stolen bases — it’s not like I’ve had the red light on him, either.
“Every time he gets on, he’s got the green light. Yesterday on that particular pitch, I gave him, I’m encouraging him to go on that pitch. So I don’t think he needs much more encouragement. Once he saw that, he was going.”
Gomez, who has eight steals in 10 attempts on the season, ranks second on the club behind left fielder Ryan Braun, who has 11 steals in as many attempts.
When asked about Gomez and his approach, Macha said the key for him could be determining just what kind of hitter he’s going to be.
“If you watch his BP, he can hit the ball up in the seats pretty deep,” Macha said. “You’ve got to learn what you are, what type of hitter is going to make you successful, OK?
“He’s a big strong kid. He may turn into being a power hitter. In order to do that, you’ve got to make — I’ve said this all along — it’s not go up there and look for a walk. It’s get the ball in the strike zone.”
Macha has praise for opposing manager
MILWAUKEE — The Brewers pitchers and hitters had little experience against their opponents entering the game, but there was one face in the visiting dugout, Rangers manager Ron Washington, that was very familiar for Brewers manager Ken Macha.
Washington, who is in his fourth year as manager for the Rangers, coached with Macha for eight years in Oakland, where he served as first-base coach in 1996 before becoming the A’s infield and third-base coach from 1997-2006.
During that time, Washington developed a number of great infielders for Oakland.
“As far as I’m concerned, Wash is the best guy out there, and I think the proof is in the product that he put out there in Oakland,” Macha said. “He took a catcher in Scott Hatteberg and made him a pretty good first baseman. Mark Ellis, I think, holds the record in the American League for fewest errors at second base for an entire season, and Eric Chavez has got four or five Gold Gloves, not to mention the shortstops, [Miguel] Tejada and then Bobby Crosby, that he had.
“So the product is out there, and the reason that it’s out there is his work ethic. And I bet you if you go to Michael Young or Ian Kinsler and asked them, they’re going to tell you the same thing.”
With the Rangers in town for a three-game set over the weekend, Macha was happy to see Washington, though he hoped to take the series from his old friend.
“I consider him a dear friend,” Macha said. “It’s just a relationship that’s built over those years that we were together. So I wish him well, except for these next three days.”
Worth noting
Friday’s game marks the first visit by the Rangers to Miller Park since it opened in 2001. Texas has not played in Milwaukee since 1997, when both clubs were members of the American League. The Rangers won, 7-1, that day. … The winning pitcher in that game was Darren Oliver, who was in uniform for the Rangers on Friday. Oliver, 39, began his career with Texas and played with seven other teams before rejoining the club for a third time this season. … Since beginning the season 4-14 at home, the Brewers have gone 6-3 over their last nine games at Miller Park and have won three consecutive home series, going 2-1 against the Astros, Mets and Cubs. … With his 246th straight game played on Friday, first baseman Prince Fielder tied Robin Yount for the second longest streak in franchise history. Yount also owns the longest streak, at 274 games, which spanned from 1987-89. … The Brewers will host the first Brewers Block Party of 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday at McCarty Park in West Allis, Wis. With the weather a bit of a concern, check brewers.com/blockparty Saturday morning for an update on the status.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Pitching and size comprise Brewers’ picks
MILWAUKEE — It came as no surprise on Monday when the Brewers selected a young power arm with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. Their selection of 28 pitchers in 50 total picks is no shock either.
This season, as well as the recent past, pitching has been the club’s Achilles’ heel. With that in mind, the Brewers set out to find as many good pitching prospects as they could find who merited a selection.
First on that list was high school right-hander Dylan Covey, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound hurler with a plus fastball and plus curveball. Covey was a pick that general manager Doug Melvin was quite pleased with on the Draft’s first day.
“I give the guys credit for not taking the easy way out and maybe going after a college pitcher that might be able to get there quick and pitch in the bullpen,” Melvin said on Monday night.
Age-wise, the Brewers trended toward college-aged athletes. Out of 50 picks, the club took 31 from college, five from junior colleges and 14 from high school.
Of those 31 college selections, 15 were pitchers while the other 16 were position players. Out of 28 pitchers, the club took just eight lefties. After pitchers, the position at which the Brewers made the most picks was at catcher, taking six.
One of the Brewers’ more notable selections on Day 3 was Billy Schroeder, a senior left fielder from Grand Canyon University — taken by the Brewers in the 47th round with the 1,419th overall pick. Schroeder, who is a 6-foot, 210-pound right-handed hitter, is the son of former Brewers catcher and current club broadcaster Bill Schroeder.
Schroeder wasn’t the only familiar name on the Brewers’ Draft sheet, however. One round later, the club selected lefty Marques Kyles out of Limestone College in South Carolina. Kyles, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound senior, is the son of Brewers bullpen coach Stan Kyles.
“It’s great to be able to give opportunity to people you’re familiar with,” said Bruce Seid, the Brewers’ scouting director. “They’ve played at the collegiate level, and they actually bring something to the table that could be helpful to our organization.
“We’re happy to have them. And we’re happy to be the ones to give them the opportunity.”
Along with Schroeder, the Brewers selected two other players with Wisconsin ties.
Right-handed pitcher Conor Fisk, from Grafton High School, was taken at No. 1,029 overall. Another right-hander, Scott Matyas — who attended Kettle Moraine High School before pitching for the University of Minnesota — was taken with the No. 1,209 pick.
Another notable aspect of the Brewers’ 2010 Draft class is size. Out of 50 picks, only eight stand shorter than 6-foot and only one is shorter than 5-foot-10. At 6-foot-9, Kyles is the tallest of the Brewers’ picks, while five others are 6-foot-6 or taller.
According to Ray Montgomery, assistant director of amateur scouting, size is one of the top criteria for the Brewers, and it showed throughout the Draft.
“We accomplished a lot of our goals,” Montgomery said. “We wanted to bring some big, physical guys, some guys with good arms and some great athletes. I think we did that over the last three days.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Family ties highlight Crew’s Day 3 picks
MILWAUKEE — For their picks in the 47th and 48th rounds of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, the Brewers didn’t have to go far to do their research, as they selected the sons of two club employees.
In the 47th round, with the 1,419th overall pick, the Brewers selected left fielder Billy Schroeder, son of former Brewers catcher and current Brewers broadcaster Bill Schroeder.
One round later, with the 1,439th overall pick, left-handed pitcher Marques Kyles, son of bullpen coach Stan Kyles, was the Brewers’ pick.
For Schroeder, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior from Grand Canyon University, the Brewers’ selection is an honor, but it does not appear as though he will join the organization.
“He’s not going to play, he has other irons in the fire,” said Bill Schroeder of his son before Wednesday’s game. “But it was nice of them to do that.”
Kyles, on the other hand, has different plans than Schroeder.
According to his father, there’s a good chance the 6-foot-9 senior out of Limestone College will sign on to play with the Brewers.
“He’s looking forward to it; it’s a good opportunity for him,” Kyles said of his son. “He’s graduated, and with the way the job market is now, there’s not a whole lot of things out there even though he had a double major.
“He’s looking forward to having time to devote just to baseball over the next year.”
According to Ray Montgomery, assistant amateur scouting director for the Brewers, the picks have to do with more than just name recognition, too.
For one, Stan Kyles is a lefty, something the club valued highly in the Draft.
“Left-handed pitching is always in demand,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think you can ever have enough of that.”
Kyles’ size, in addition to being a lefty, make him a prime candidate to be the type of “gem” the club was looking for on the Draft’s final day. With its knowledge of his father’s ability as well, Kyles was the perfect fit for a late-round selection.
“I played with Stan Kyles about 30 years ago, and Stan was a good player,” said Bruce Seid, the Crew’s scouting director. “Marques is a 6-foot-9 lefty. He’s got a ways to go, but he’s got a lot of whip to his arm and he’ll get some time to develop. We’re happy to be able to bring him in to be a Brewer.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Morris, Brewers surprised by fall to 4th round
MILWAUKEE — Hunter Morris didn’t expect to still be on the board in the fourth round. The Brewers, who selected Morris with their fourth-round pick, didn’t either.
With his name not being called through the first three rounds, Morris began to worry a bit.
“I was on the phone with my dad,” Morris said, “and we were kind of sitting there with raised eyebrows, saying, ‘What’s going on?’”
Morris, who said he was driving to his apartment at the time, got his answer shortly thereafter. As they were talking, his dad interrupted to congratulate him. After the wait, Morris was thrilled with the news and relieved for the process to be over with.
With the 129th overall pick, just 11 slots after teammate Trent Mummey was taken by the Baltimore Orioles, the Milwaukee Brewers took Morris, a first baseman from Auburn.
“He was too hard to pass up,” said Bruce Seid, scouting director. “We liked him a lot out of high school. We’ve known him a long time. … He fits the profile of what a first baseman should look like.”
Morris, who was previously drafted by the Red Sox in 2007, has an above-average bat all around with impressive raw power as a left-handed hitter. On the basepaths, he’s said to have better-than-expected speed.
Defensively, Morris has improved at first base and is considered athletic enough, with a good enough arm as well, to play a corner outfield spot.
Physically, he’s drawn comparisons to Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies. And while he was a little overweight early in his college career, he has lost some weight recently and changed his body significantly.
Morris’ hometown, Huntsville, Ala., also happens to be the home of the Brewers’ Double-A affiliate in the Southern League, the Huntsville Stars.
But after waiting longer than expected to hear his name called Tuesday, the Huntsville native didn’t have his sights set on his hometown Minor League club.
“I would like to everything I can to not spend too much time in Huntsville. I’d like to get to Milwaukee as fast as possible,” Morris said. “I think I can bring a lot to that part of the organization.
“There are a lot of people in Huntsville that have followed me and my baseball career. Hopefully, I’ll get to play in front of those fans here in the next year or so.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
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