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Friday's Frosty Mug: A minor move and plummeting trade value

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Kyle is on the DL with a hand injury, so I'm making a spot start on the mug today.

The Brewers can only try to forget the Padres series after losing the in an offensive shootout yesterday by a score of 10-8. Morineko has our recap. The Padres took three of the four games this series while Milwaukee moves on to Colorado.

After the game, the Brewers made a minor roster move, sending Sean Halton back to Triple-A and purchasing the contract of reliever Rob Wooten. Wooten, 27, has been the closer for Triple-A Nashville this season, posting 20 saves with a 2.94 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

The big story coming out of last night's game wasn't that roster move, however. Rather, it was the plummeting trade value of Yovani Gallardo and, to a lesser extent, Michael Gonzalez.

There were a number of scouts at yesterday's game, at least some of whom had come to see Gallardo pitch. That includes Red Sox scouts. So it was a fine night for the beleaguered starter to have the second-worst start of his season. Gallardo went just 3.2 innings and allowed six earned runs on eight hits and three walks. In general, he looked out of sorts, and his velocity looked like it was even lower.

Howie Magner says he would be shocked if the Brewers traded Gallardo at this point, well Tom Haudricourt has the most poignant tweet of the game:

After the game, Gallardo told Adam McCalvy that he "might be overthinking". I'm not sure what that has to do with rapidly diminishing velocity, but it's something. Fox Sports Wisconsin has more quotes from Gallardo following the game.

Buried in one of Ken Rosenthal's articles is a tidbit about the Brewers saying the team appears likely to keep both Gallardo and Kyle Lohse at the trade deadline. According to Rosenthal, the two could be candidates for an offseason trade.

Curt Hogg from Reviewing the Brew reminds us that Gallardo still has value with his bat, pointing out that the pitcher is sixth on the team in offensive WAR.

Michael Gonzalez has been a popular name brought up in trade rumors as teams seek bullpen help, but he did not help his cause last night, either. Gonzalez gave up four runs in an inning of work.

With one more game in the Brewers/Padres series, this is still relevant: Gaslamp Ball has a roster of players who have played for both the Brewers and Padres. The lineup has potential and the bullpen is great, but the rotation alone will lose that team 100 games.

Meanwhile, Ryan Braun is, of course, still in the news.

Looking ahead, Donovan Hand is sore after being hit on the hand while batting, but expects to make his next start.

The Hardball Times takes a look at recent in-season managerial firings, and who stands a chance to be let go this season. Ron Roenicke is placed in the "general underachievers" category with the note that " firing him on the heels of the Ryan Braun suspension would be a rabbit punch to a reeling fanbase. Not impossible, but really cold if they do it."

In the minors, Wisconsin Sports Tap takes a look at the newest Brewers' prospect, Nick Delmonico.

Royals Review has a post up considering trades they would like to see Kansas City make, including acquiring Rickie Weeks from the Brewers. Kyle joined in to give his opinion on a potential deal.

Around the Majors:
Angels: Acquired two prospects from the Mets for an international signing bonus allotment slot.
Athletics: Placed C John Jaso on the seven-day DL and called up C Stephen Vogt.
Astros: Signed SS Wilson Amador
Braves: Placed SP Tim Hudson on DL, recalled RHP Alex Wood
Cardinals: Recalled RP Marc Rcezpenckszkzki from Triple-A and optioned RP Carlos Martinez
Dodgers: Designated SP Ted Lilly for assignment.
Marlins: Placed OF Marcell Ozuna on the DL
Royals: Hitting coach George Brett will return to his duties position as vice president of baseball operations.

Former major leaguer Robert Fickadmitted that he took performance enhancing drugs twice over his career. He says that the game is 90% clean today, however. Fick will now fade back into obscurity.

Athletics Nation has a pretty neat article up where they had an interview with Oakland's Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jim Leahey. The Athletics are currently 23rd in the MLB in average attendance.

That's all I've got today, unless you want a new sport.


Should MLB contracts be more easily voided?

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Now that Major League Baseball has, officially, handed out their first major punishment of the season for the players involved in the Anthony Bosch scandal, we are left to wonder: who’s next and are the punishments being doled out going to be enough to deter future would-be offenders? Not only that, but should organizations be allowed to void contracts that weren’t negotiated in good faith by the players and their agents?

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder and perennial MVP candidate Ryan Braun was the first to have said punishment handed out in the form of a 65-game suspension without pay. As a result of this punishment, which is less than the rumored 100-game suspension, he will lose $3.4 million in salary this season and his reputation is now forever tarnished.

One question concerning Braun and the others likely to receive a suspension remains: Is the tarnished reputation of players that were once revered as heroes in the public eye enough to curtail the use of performance enhancers at all levels in baseball?

The reason I ask is because Braun may lose out on that $3.4 million the remainder of this season but still has well over $100 million left on his existing contract. Melky Cabrera was suspended 50 games in the middle of August last season while playing for the San Francisco Giants, and still managed to get a two-year contract worth $16 million from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Is it enough to simply not pay them throughout the duration of their suspension along with the tarnished reputation or should MLB and organizations begin to make it a point to put language in contracts stating they can be voided if a player fails a drug test and is suspended as a result?

After all, those contracts that were negotiated between the players and their agents with the organizations were done in good faith that they would not do anything that could be seen as harmful to the organization or would prevent them from living up to the contract in question. A player who signs a $100 million dollar contract via free agency but "earned" that contract due to use of performance enhancing drugs wasn’t exactly negotiating in good faith, were they?

As it stands right now, there have been no reports of any contracts that the implicated or guilty signed with language relating to steroids. There is the generic language for "conduct detrimental to the team" and so-on and so-forth but even then that has never been interpreted, successfully, in a manner that has allowed a team to void the contract.

More specifically, in order to be able to successfully void any player contract, there has to be language in the contract that would allow it. Much of it has to do with the guarantee language in the contract itself.

When teams have tried to void contracts in the past, they have relied on paragraph 7(b)1 of the uniform player's contract, which states that a contract can be voided if a player "shall fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship or keep himself in first-class physical condition.''

Paragraph 3 (a), furthermore, states that "The player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to obey the club's training rules, and pledges himself to the American public and to the club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship.''

While the contract language itself seems to be one of those catch-alls, it hasn’t exactly been useful for the organizations that have tried to void contracts previously. Naturally, the Players Union would fight tooth and nail with everything they have to prevent such a dangerous precedent from being set.

Even when organizations have managed to void a player contract, it hasn’t proven to be beneficial to the team.

The Colorado Rockies attempted to void starting pitcher Denny Neagle’s contract in 2004 after he was cited on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute for oral sex. This wasn’t his first brush with the law, however, as he plead guilty to driving while impaired in 2003 which led to a minor traffic accident. The union immediately filed a grievance on Neagle’s behalf.

Ultimately, according to the Denver Post, a settlement was reached the following year as the Rockies were required to pay Neagle roughly $16 million of the $19.5 million owed to him per his contract. The team saved nearly $3.5 million, not including the costs and resources used to make the case they were within their right to void his contract and pay him nothing.

The Baltimore Orioles were another organization that attempted to completely void a player’s contract, using the "personal conduct" clause in the contract, that same year in 2004. Former Orioles starting pitcher Sidney Ponson was released by the Orioles and the organization refused to pay him the remaining money on his contract, nearly $10.1 million, because they stated he violated a morals clause in his contract.

What led to the organization taking that route was the fact that Ponson had been arrested on Christmas Day 2004 when he was charged with assaulting an Aruban judge following an incident in which there were complaints with how he was handling his power boat. He spent 11 days in jail before finally reaching a settlement that included paying restitution, community service, and making contributions to local charities there on the island.

Not even a month later, in January 2005, he was charged with driving under the influence in Broward County, Florida and then managed to earn himself another drunken driving arrest later that year in August in downtown Baltimore.

When it was all said and done, a settlement was reached between Ponson, the MLBPA, and the Orioles organization that ended up paying Ponson the majority of the $10.1 million owed to him according to a report from FoxSports.com.

As you can see, it is beyond difficult and nearly impossible to successfully void a player’s contract based on any sort of conduct detrimental to the team or trying to invoke some variation of the morals clause. Previous contracts that have been voided successfully, where the termination of said contract benefited the organization more than the player, would be due to paragraph 5(b), which is what the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees were able to do with Ron Gant and Aaron Booneway back when.

5. (b) The Player and the Club recognize and agree that the Player’s participation in certain other sports may impair or destroy his ability and skill as a baseball player. Accordingly, the Player agrees that he will not engage in professional boxing or wrestling; and that, except with the written consent of the Club, he will not engage in skiing, auto racing, motorcycle racing, sky diving, or in any game or exhibition of football, soccer, professional league basketball, ice hockey or other sport involving a substantial risk of personal injury.

So if a player violates this section of their contract, where they injure themselves participating in activities that are deemed risky, it is okay to void the contract but not when there are certain behaviors that reflect poorly on the game and the organization(s) involved from a moral and common decency stance?

Should the moral clause of all player contracts start to include more specific language in them?

After all, if an organization is able to void a player contract based on some vague moral clause, it would certainly be a cause for concern for all players that organizations could simply void contracts based on some vague language to get out from under a bad contract that they agreed to in the first place.

We all know that spousal abuse or physical and mental abuse of any kind towards another individual, especially with the intent to cause harm, is bad and our society as a whole frowns upon such behavior. Same thing for violent criminal offenses, alcohol and drug abuse or driving while under the influence.

The point is these moral clauses should be better defined if organizations would like the option to remove players who become nuisances to the organization or their teammates. Without detailed language concerning specific behaviors that would be, or should be, cause for voiding a contract outright, it will never happen because it leaves open the possibility that organizations across the sport could abuse the "morals clause" to save themselves some money.

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Streamer Report: Friday's Streamers

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The Streamer Report provides you with daily startng pitcher streaming selections for owners who prefer to stream starting pitchers on a daily basis. This report identifies starting pitchers who are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, and who either has a decent track record vs their opponent, has pitched well of late, or has a decent matchup.

Before I get into Friday's streamers, here is a look at how my streamers from Wednesday performed:

Jorge De La Rosa vs Marlins - 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, BB, 5 K, W

Chad Gaudin vs Reds - 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, K, L

Felix Doubront vs Rays - 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, L

Combined stats: 16.1 IP, 18 H, 9 ER, 8 BB, 11 K, W, 2 L, 4.86 ERA, 1.56 WHIP

Friday's Streamers

Since I am late in posting this Streamer Report, I will just list the streamers without comments:

Henderson Alvarez vs Pirates

Tyler Chatwood vs Brewers

Eric Stults vs Diamondbacks

Aaron Rodgers on Ryan Braun: 'Shocked' and 'disappointed' over recent events

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended Ryan Braun when others accused the Milwaukee Brewers player of using performance-enhancing drugs. The All-Pro quarterback has changed his stance following the latter's recent suspsnesion, however, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he was hurt and disappointed to learn that Braun had basically admitted to using PEDs when addressing his 65-game suspension.

"I was shocked, I really was, just like many of you were," Rodgers said. "It doesn't feel great being lied to like that and I'm disappointed in the way it all went down"

Rodgers added that Braun "looked [him] in the eye on multiple occasions" and denied that there was any truth to the allegations of PED use. Rodgers had been an outspoken defender of Braun in public settings and was so confident in his friend's innocence he once told a fan he'd bet his 2013 salary that Braun is clean.

Rodgers isn't the only person Braun hurt, though, because his Brewers teammates were upset to learn that they'd been lied to as well after Braun went to teammates last year to discuss the allegations and ask for their support.

Braun was suspended for the remainder of the MLB season on Monday.

More from SB Nation:

Belichick opens up about Hernandez | Florida removes All-America brick

SB Nation's guide to sports networks

David Roth: Robert Griffin III gets up

How to defend the read option

Complete NFL training camp coverage

Mired in scandal, Brewers hope trip to Coors Field provides respite

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The Milwaukee Brewers were dealt a blow earlier in the week, aside from their series loss to the National League West division's last-place team, and must now carry on with the weight of a drug scandal on their shoulders, in addition to the pain they were already feeling after falling 21 games out of first place in the NL Central.

Following an investigation that dragged on for several months, MLB wielded its hammer upon the Brewers, changing the course of the team's immediate future and casting a sea of questions around the organization that will persist long after the completion of its miserable 2013 campaign.

And, it's all because of Yuniesky Betancourt.

Check out TiqIQ for Colorado Rockies tickets.

The 31-year-old veteran allegedly tested positive for performance-reducing drugs prior to the start of the season and, after months of behind-the-scenes negotiating with the commissioner's office, will be ordered to continue playing for an undetermined period of time.

In his ninth big-league season, Betancourt is hitting .209/.237/.353 while, for some reason, playing first base and left field, among other positions. Betancourt has long been rumored to have been taking PRD's over the course of his lengthy career, during which he has posted a lifetime on-base percentage of .286 in 4,160 plate appearances.

The Brewers have declined to comment to anybody ever on the situation, although Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan has reported that HE KNOWS FOR SURE that Betancourt's teammates and coaches are none-too-thrilled with MLB's decision.

Regardless, the Brew Crew must continue to push forward.

They didn't do that at home against the San Diego Padres after the BIG NEWS was announced, though the team trounced the Miami Marlins in a weekend series, and we all know what they went on to do at Coors Field in their next slate of games.

That, alone, should give the Brewers hope this weekend in Denver. Tough times certainly lie ahead, but with Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura in the field and Bob Uecker in the booth, how tough can it really be?

We may find out soon, as word is starting to circulate around the baseball community that Brewers starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny might be on the hook for a positive face-enhancing drug test. Also, Donovan Hand. He didn't really do anything, just ... DONOVAN HAND, y'know?

For more on Betancourt, Gorzelanny, Hand and the Brewers, head over to the excellent Brew Crew Ball.

*****

Probable pitchers

Game 1: Friday, July 26 at 6:40 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)

Wily Peralta (7-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. Tyler Chatwood (6-3, 2.48 ERA)

Game 2: Saturday, July 27 at 6:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)

Tom Gorzelanny (1-4, 2.47) vs. Collin McHugh (5-3, 2.70 ERA)*

Game 3: Sunday, July 28 at 2:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)

Donovan Hand (0-2, 3.41) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (9-5, 3.53)

* - Minor league stats

*****


Batting

GABRH2B3BHRRBIBBKSBCSAVGOBPSLG
Jean Segura994025612612811381753305.313.349.465
Carlos Gomez943555410722916491892224.301.345.549
Ryan Braun612253067142938275645.298.372.498
Norichika Aoki953815211214152133211310.294.362.375
Jonathan Lucroy8730529871241455213831.285.333.489
Alfredo Figaro22111300020500.273.273.273
Aramis Ramirez541812149110526233801.271.359.414
Marco Estrada12190510020800.263.263.316
Yovani Gallardo2440410202302100.250.250.450
Caleb Gindl17363920146420.250.357.389
Jeff Bianchi51108826410732421.241.268.296
Juan Francisco40126162921717124300.230.303.429
Logan Schafer871962045132219123640.230.284.347
Khris Davis17183420112920.222.333.500
Scooter Gennett17424911152700.214.250.357
Rickie Weeks9230437651411022399573.214.319.365
Yuniesky Betancourt892782258811035104900.209.237.353
Sean Halton194539201211300.200.217.311
Donovan Hand1650100000200.200.333.200
Martin Maldonado4613410246131684000.179.241.306
Alex Gonzalez411131420301832600.177.203.230
Kyle Lohse223926000212100.154.175.154
Wily Peralta213515000011500.143.167.143
Blake Lalli16241300020700.125.125.125
Hiram Burgos680100000600.125.125.125
Josh Prince883110001100.125.222.250
Tom Gorzelanny36100100000600.100.100.100
Tyler Thornburg650000000200.000.000.000
Mike Fiers1140000000400.000.000.000
Johnny Hellweg430000000000.000.000.000
Burke Badenhop4510000000100.000.000.000
John Axford4900000000000.000.000.000
Brandon Kintzler4000000000000.000.000.000
Michael Gonzalez5100000000000.000.000.000
Chris Narveson200000000000.000.000.000
Jim Henderson3900000000000.000.000.000
Francisco Rodriguez2500000000000.000.000.000

Pitching

W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
Chris Narveson0-02000002.01000100.001.00
Francisco Rodriguez1-12500010024.2173329261.091.05
Jim Henderson3-33900011337.22799215422.151.12
Tom Gorzelanny1-4364000158.1412016623562.471.10
Tyler Thornburg1-060000018.1176615112.951.20
Brandon Kintzler2-0400000044.1321515212393.05.99
Kyle Lohse7-722210000128.112550482019823.371.12
John Axford4-3490000442.2421716617433.381.38
Donovan Hand0-2164000037.039151439203.411.30
Michael Gonzalez0-3510000335.1361515517433.821.50
Burke Badenhop1-3450001143.0402419410313.981.16
Wily Peralta7-921211100121.112671581147774.301.43
Alfredo Figaro1-2225000056.26232281312464.451.31
Yovani Gallardo8-924220000123.2133746713481004.881.46
Marco Estrada4-41212000069.17642411418625.321.36
Hiram Burgos1-266000029.1382321511186.441.67
Mike Fiers1-4113000022.128201886157.251.52
Johnny Hellweg0-343000010.2192013013310.973.00


Milwaukee Brewers Injuries

15-Day

PlayerInjury TypeInjury Date
Marco Estradahamstring06/04/2013
Aramis Ramirezknee07/07/2013

60 Day DL / Out for the season

PlayerInjury TypeInjury Date
Corey Hartknee03/22/2013
Mat Gamelknee03/20/2013
Taylor Greenhip03/22/2013
Mark Rogersshoulder03/25/2013

Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 26

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Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were deep-sixed by the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 10-6.

It was a grim first game with the Cubs for Justin Grimm, and I hope I don't have to use that line again. (I'm sure Justin has never heard it before). He took the loss after he allowed seven runs on eight hits over only two innings. Grimm walked two and struck out two.

Most of the Cubs offense came from first baseman Edgar Gonzalez, who hit an RBI double in the fourth inning and then cleared the bases with a three-run double in the the seventh. Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with the four RBI.

DH Brad Nelson went 2 for 4 with a two-run double in the fifth. He scored one run. Shortstop Donnie Murphy went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were out-dazzled by the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 9-8.

Starter A.J. Morris got knocked around for six runs on seven hits, including a two-run home run, in only three innings. Morris walked two and struck out three.

This was a game that went back and forth until Kevin Rhoderick took the mound in the seventh and gave up a run on three walks and a hit in only two-thirds of an inning. He did not have a strikeout. The loss dropped Rhoderick's record to 1-4.

The Smokies hit three home runs in this game. The first was hit by third baseman Christian Villanueva, who hit a solo home run in the second inning, his 13th of the season. Villanueva went 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Three batters later in the second inning, catcher Rafael Lopez launched his eighth home run with a man on. Lopez was a perfect 3 for 3 and he also doubled and walked. Lopez had three total RBI and he scored twice.

The third home run came in the fourth inning when first baseman Justin Bour cranked hit third home run in as many games and thirteenth of the season. Bour was 1 for 5 with the one run batted in.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs made the Palm Beach Cardinals blue, 4-2.

It was win number five for Matt Loosen, who didn't allow a run over the first five innings. He surrendered six hits, all singles, and issued two walks. Loosen struck out four.

Frank Del Valle got his sixth save the hard way as he loaded the bases with two outs before striking out the final batter to end the game. Del Valle allowed two hits and a walk in his one inning of work. He struck out two.

Daytona won this game despite being outhit 11 to 5. Three of those hits came in a three-run third inning. First baseman Dustin Geiger was 1 for 2 with a double and two walks. He scored once.

Only a 45 minute rain delay for this one.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars won their second straight game, 4-1 over the Beloit Snappers (Athletics).

It was a strong start for Felix Pena, who won his fourth game after he gave up only one run over six innings. Pena allowed four hits and issued but one walk while he sent seven Snappers down on strikes.

Michael Hamann tossed a perfect ninth inning for his third save. He did not have a strikeout.

Catcher Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to make the score 4-0. It was his ninth home run of the season. Contreras went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Shortstop Marco Hernandez went 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Hernandez scored twice.

Right fielder Reggie Golden went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks crushed the Spokane Indians (Rangers). 9-1.

Starter Rob Zastryzny gave up his first run as a professional, but still pitched well in a two-inning start. He gave up a run after three straight one-out singles in the first inning. His final line was one run on four hits over two innings. he walked one and struck out three.

Sam Wilson, Zack Godley and Scott Frazier each tossed two scoreless innings and Tyler Bremer pitched the ninth to finish out the game. They retired 15 straight batters from a walk in the fourth inning until a one-out single in the ninth. Wilson was awarded the win, his second. The only baserunner he allowed was that walk. Wilson had one strike out.

Third baseman Kris Bryant crushed his first professional home run with two on in the third inning. He was 1 for 4 with a walk. You can see video of the home run here.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver came a home run short of the cycle as he went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. He scored two runs and had one batted in.

AZL Cubs

Played two games with the Angels. They Lost a game suspended on July 20, 8-7 and dropped the regularly scheduled game 13-4.

Saturday Notebook: Misdirected Rage, Educating Players, No-Hitter With A Loss, and Tons of GIFs

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The big news earlier this week was that Ryan Braun was suspended for the remainder of the season (65 games) for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic. To some, this appeared to be a case of getting revenge by MLB after Braun humiliated them by failing a PED test back in 2011 only to beat it by arguing that the chain of custody was broken with his urine sample.

Braun swore by his innocence to the very end, at least until it was revealed that he was involved with Biogenesis. Although he's suspended for the rest of the year, this wasn't that bad of an outcome for Braun as the Brewers have been terrible this year and Braun himself had been injured for a good part of the season.

Regardless, I can't help but think of this blog post I wrote in February 2012, right after it was announced that Braun's appeal of his failed test had been upheld. I titled my post "Get Your Priorities In Order," and the article focused on how MLB's and many fans' collective rage is misdirected at the player that uses steroids, while those that get DUIs and physically and sexually assault other people (in particular the Rays' Josh Lueke*) are mostly exonerated in public.

* To be fair though, it almost seems like the Rays have been punishing Lueke on their own by mostly keeping him stuck in Triple-A this season. Though he has made 11 appearances for the big league club this year, he's been dominating at Durham in 2013 only to be mired down there. Also, it's not like this is an Anthony Slama situation, as Lueke actually throws in the mid-90s and certainly has the stuff to get big league hitters out, provided he doesn't lose his control.

In particular, I think this paragraph that I wrote does a good job of summarizing my annoyance.

What I want is for sports to stop acting like using PEDs is the biggest crime you can possibly commit. When you do that, you’re really only harming yourself, and there’s not even substantial evidence that all steroids make you a better player. Yet if you have a DUI or are charged with a violent crime, you’re risking someone else’s life. That should be treated as being a much bigger deal, but it isn’t. Typically the sport lets the state judicial system handle the punishment, but they shouldn’t be afraid to step in themselves more often, even if the player’s union files a grievance. If a Twins player was caught driving drunk, I’d want him to be suspended to send a message to everyone else on the team, "This is not okay." But that’s never going to happen, because that will never be as big of a travesty as doping, and that’s a damn shame.

The reason I bring this up again is not to beat on Lueke once more, but instead to focus on another reliever in Francisco Rodriguez. Matthew Pouliot of Hardball Talk reminds us that K-Rod - who was just traded from the Brewers to the Orioles this week - attacked his girlfriend's father in 2010 at Citi Field in New York City. It's also been on record that he beat up his then-girlfriend and also attacked another one of his girlfriends, all in the past couple years. So yeah, Ryan Braun is a disgrace to the sport as his name is plastered all over ESPN and the Internet, but Francisco Rodriguez will be one of the saviors for the Orioles' playoff run.

Becoming a better baseball player through illegitimate means and lying about it is a far worse crime than multiple physical assaults. Glad to see nothing's changed, America.

  • Gabe Kapler was a major league outfielder for twelve seasons, including a short period as a coach right in the middle. He discovered while being with the Red Sox that front offices have been evaluating players in a much different manner than the players themselves think, and that it's necessary and beneficial for the athletes to catch up. In particular, he mentions Rusty Greer, who was freaking out over failing to earn an RBI in several weeks. Kapler pointed out now that Greer's misfortune was due to a combination of factors moreso than Greer's supposed inability to hit with a runner in scoring position. It also reminds me of former White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, who hit 27 homers in 2009. Dye was a free agent in the offseason and he was so certain he'd get a guaranteed contract due to his power, but teams instead focused more on his awful defense (he was one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball) and were only interested in signing him as a DH. Dye disagreed and also was unwilling to take a minor league contract, and he was basically forced out of the league because of his stubbornness to accept himself for what he really was - a decent DH. Kapler isn't saying that players need to be fluent in advanced statistics, but he feels that if players were more conscious of what teams are really evaluating, they would realize that consistently hitting line drives around the ballpark is more important than achieving that .300 batting average.
  • Houston's Erik Bedard had an interesting stat line last Saturday. Facing the Seattle Mariners (yeah, the same Mariners that lit up Kevin Correia), Bedard kept the Mariners hitless through 6 1/3 innings. However, Bedard also mixed in 5 walks and ended up leaving the game, being replaced by Jose Cisnero, who walked the second batter he faced and then gave up a 2-run double. The Mariners ended up losing the game 4-2 with Bedard earning the loss. Bedard's stat line is significant because he became just the 9th pitcher since 1901 to pitch at least 6 innings, allow no hits, and get charged with the loss in a game. Although it's rare, the last time this happened was actually 2008 when the Angels' Jered Weaver pitched 6 innings with no hits, but allowed a run in a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Mariano Rivera's farewell tour rages on.


  • I wrote a guest post on Twins Daily looking at the Tampa Bay Rays as a trade target with the Twins. I basically looked at only starting pitcher prospects that the Twins could get back in a trade, with my dream target being the major league-ready Chris Archer.
Finally, because I now follow GIF-master @cjzero on Twitter and he appears to be a Twins fan, I have a ton of GIFs this week and a good chunk are Twins-related. Some other junk is also mixed in.

  1. Next time this team has skydivers, they'll remember to keep the players off the field. (Related note, I remember the Twins having skydivers in the inaugural season and one guy hit the limestone overhang and another had to do a tumble during his landing because he plummeted too fast.)
  2. This Twins batboy spinning a helmet on his finger reminds me of this guy at college that would always spin his lunch tray on one finger.
  3. Mental note: Do not sit near Anthony Swarzakduring Kiss Cam.
  4. Less popular ideas to make baseball more interesting: Installing a springboard at 1st base.
  5. Rays reliever Alex Torres has a nifty new pickoff move he'd like to show you.
  6. I think the usefulness of those Phiten necklaces is pretty dubious, but it seems like Samuel Deduno has unlocked their magical powers. All you have to do is chew on the necklace while pitching.
  7. Earlier this season, Twins players ignored Justin Morneau after he hit a home run. The ignorance continues as Clete Thomasdoesn't even acknowledge Morneau after scoring a run.
  8. Finally, and this is my favorite, it's Morneau's ninja slide to score a run against the Angels.

Brewers vs. Rockies preview: Carlos Gonzalez out of the lineup again; Collin McHugh on the mound

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Carlos Gonzalez is not in the lineup for the second consecutive game on Saturday after leaving Thursday's game against the Miami Marlins with a finger injury.

The Rockies didn't miss Gonzalez much on Friday, plating eight runs in the first four innings against Milwaukee Brewers starter Wily Peralta en route to an 8-3 victory. They'll have to tread water without Gonzalez again on Saturday while facing Tom Gorzelanny, who owns a 7.20 career ERA in 20 career innings at Coors Field.

Collin McHugh will make his first start at the big-league level since joining the Rockies organization on June 18 after being acquired from the New York Mets in exchange for Eric Young Jr. McHugh owns a 10.29 ERA in seven major league innings in 2013 after posting a 7.59 ERA for the Mets last season. He has faced the Brewers once in his career, allowing a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning in 2012.

Here are the lineups, courtesy of Baseball Press:

Brewers

1. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
2. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
3. Jean Segura (R) SS
4. Jonathan Lucroy (R) C
5. Carlos Gomez (R) CF
6. Caleb Gindl (L) LF
7. Juan Francisco (L) 1B
8. Yuniesky Betancourt (R) 3B
9. Tom Gorzelanny (R) P

Rockies

1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B
3. Troy Tulowitzki (R) SS
4. Michael Cuddyer (R) RF
5. Wilin Rosario (R) C
6. Todd Helton (L) 1B
7. Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
8. Charlie Blackmon (L) LF
9. Collin McHugh (R) P

The GameThread will be up shortly.


Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 27

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Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were shut down by the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 5-0.

Barret Loux started and took his fifth loss. Loux allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out four.

Iowa had four hits, all singles. First baseman Edwin Maysonet was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies choked the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 6-3.

Another strong start for Kyle Hendricks, who gave up two runs over seven innings to improve his record to 10-3. One of the two runs was unearned. Hendricks was touched for six hits. He struck out six and walked only one.

Frank Batista entered the game with one out in the ninth, runners on first and second and the tying run at the plate. He got two ground ball outs to end the game. It was his 13th save.

For the fourth straight day, first baseman Justin Bour hit a home run. This one was a solo home run in the fifth inning, his 14th this season. Bour was 1 for 5.

Bour's home run was one of four the Smokies hit in the game. Right fielder Rubi Silva hit his thirteenth of the season with a man on in the second inning. Silva also tripled in a 3 for 4 game, coming a double short of the cycle. Silva scored twice.

In the third inning, center fielder John Andreoli cranked his second home run of the season with the bases empty Andreoli went 1 for 5.

Finally, third baseman Christian Villanueva hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his fourteenth this season. Villanueva was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 and had the only non-home run RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs scored four in the eighth and twice in the ninth to finish off the Palm Beach Cardinals, 6-0.

Starter Eduardo Figueroa allowed six hits over the first five innings. Figueroa struck out five and walked two.

Jeffry Antigua pitched the final three innings and got the win. He allowed a hit and a walk and struck out three. The win was Antigua's sixth this season and first with Daytona.

With this game, Antigua has now pitched for all four Cubs full-season minor league teams this season.

First baseman Dustin Geiger broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning with a two-run single. Geiger went 3 for 4 with a walk and one run scored. He just had the two runs batted in.

Left fielder Taiwan Easterling hit a ground-rule double in the eighth inning, scoring Geiger. It was Daytona's only extra base hit of the game. Easterling was 1 for 4.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were extinguished by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 4-1.

Tayler Scott gave up three runs in the first inning and the Cougars never caught up. Scott finished after five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. He walked two and didn't strike out anyone.

The only Cougars run came on a solo home run by Dan Vogelbach in the top of the first inning. It was his fifteenth home run of the year. Vogelbach was 1 for 4.

DH Rock Shoulders went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 3-1.

James Pugliese threw the first six innings and allowed only one run on five hits. He struck out four and didn't walk anyone.

Eddie Orozco pitched the top of the ninth inning and allowed two runs and took the loss. Orozco gave up the two runs on two hits and two walks, one of which was intentional. Orozco had one strikeout.

Second baseman Danny Lockhart went 3 for 4 and scored the lone Boise run in the sixth inning.

This game started at 10:00am local time to accommodate a music festival taking place next door to Memorial Stadium.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Diamondbacks, 7-1.

Dodgers minor league report July 27: Corey Seager and Joey Curletta each homer in wins

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Minor League Player of the Day: Joey Curletta, Ogden Raptors. 2012 draftee, Curletta goes 4 for 5 with a home run and 6 RBI.

Triple-A: The Isotopes and the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins) played the suspended game first and the Isotopes got ahead and were able to win 8 to 5. A sloppily played game (6 errors, 4 for the Zephyrs) that featured the regularly scheduled game starter for the Isotopes, Matt Palmer"started" this one and he pitched a fine game. Palmer was able to pitch 6 innings, giving up just 2 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks and striking out 6. Javy Guerra picked up his seventh save, going 1.2 innings with 1 strikeout. Playing second base, Dee Gordonhad 3 hits including a double and a triple, scored 3 runs and stole 2 bases. Nick Buss also had a 3 hits, including a 2-run home run.

A 7-inning game took place soon after the first game and the Isotopes swept the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins) 5 to 4. Ian Stewarthit a 2-run shot in the 4-run 4th inning. Stewart has only hit .245 in 53 AB for the Isotopes if you have any ideas of Ian adding help to the Dodgers. Sean White picked up the win going 2 innings without allowing a run. Peter Moylan got the save.

Double-A: The Lookouts bested the Jackson Generals (Mariners) 8 - 5. Ross Striplingreturned to the starter's role and he wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the year, giving up 3 runs and 3 hits in 4 IP. Instead it was Garrett Gould who struck out 10 in 4.2 IP while giving up 2 runs, who got the win. In the DH role, Joc Pederson had a good game with 2 hits including a double, 2 runs scored, an RBI and a walk.

High Class-A: After the Lancaster Jethawks (Astros) tied the game at 3, Rancho Cucamonga scored 4 runs and won 7 to 5. Starter Jharel Cotton and Raydel Sanchez pitched the first 4.2 for the Quakes and they gave up 3 runs. Matt Shelton settled things down going 2.1 and just allowing 1 walk and 1 strikeout. Scott Schebler has had a slow week but he had 2 hits and a run scored.

Low Class-A: In a game where two of the top prospects for the Dodgers and in baseball played, Corey Seager and Julio Urias, the Great Lakes Loons beat the Lake County Captains (Cubs) 7 to 4. Seager hit a solo shot to provide a little insurance, he went 2 for 4. Julio Urias started but only pitched 2 innings, Urias did strike out 3 but he gave up 2 runs, 3 hits and a walk. Geoff Brown got the win and Craig Stem picked up his 14th save.

Rookie (Ogden): Ogden ended the Orem Owlz (Angels) playoff chances as they beat them 12 to 8. Both teams will try to qualify in the second half but in this game, Ogden eventually led 12-4 until the Owlz also scored 4 runs in their part of the 9th but it wasn't enough. Joey Curletta had 4 hits including a home run to lead the Raptors but 5 players had 2 or more hits, Hank Yates, Kyle Farmer, Alex Santana and Jacob Scavuzzo. Luis De Paula (why did I think of this guy when I saw that name) got the win.

Rookie (Arizona): While fellow country man, Julio Urias has made prospect lists with his emergence, Logan White mentioned earlier this week, don't miss out on Victor Gonzalez, a 17 year old, 6 foot, 200 lbs left hander. Gonzalez has pitched great for the Rookie team but last night, he gave up 3 runs while not getting out of the first inning as the Brewers defeated the Dodgers 4 to 3. The rest of 8.2 innings was pretty well pitched but the Dodgers could not catch up.

Transactions: Pitcher Steve Smithis assigned from Chattanooga to Albuquerque. Marty Herum and Tyger Pederson (33rd Round draft pick) were assigned to Arizona.

Coming up: In Albuquerque, Stephen Fifemakes his second rehab start for the Isotopes. Lookouts hand the ball to Andres Santiagoas he starts the series opener against Jacksonville. Jon Michael Redding laces it up for the Quakes. First Round pick Chris Anderson makes another start for the Loons.

Box scores / Game info

Albuquerque Isotopes Game 1 Box Score (AAA)

Albuquerque Isotopes Game 2 Box Score (AAA)

Chattanooga Lookouts Box Score (AA)

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Box Score (HiA)

Great Lakes Loons Box Score (LoA)

Ogden Raptors Box Score (Rookie)

AZL Dodgers Box Score (Rookie)

Dominican Dodgers (Rookie)

Minor League Central - Daily Dodger Recap

Game 106 Preview: Donovan Hand vs. Jhoulys Chacin

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DENVER -- Jhoulys Chacin has had quietly one of the best starting pitching seasons in MLB in 2013. If you're a believer in fWAR, Chacin's 3.1 mark places him 5th in the NL and 11th overall among starting pitchers. If you prefer rWAR, his 4.0 mark also ranks 5th in the NL (behind rotation mate Jorge De La Rosa, who has 4.5 rWAR) and 10th in MLB.

That's because the 25 year-old right-hander has managed a 3.53 ERA and 3.09 FIP in a good hitting environment while allowing HRs on a historically good 2.8% of his flyballs. That's lucky and will probably regress, but the fact remains that Chacin is a front of rotation type pitcher that nobody outside of Colorado talks about.

The struggling Rockies offense will need another great performance from Chacin, who was hit in the thigh by a line drive in his last start, today. The team had a golden opportunity with a 10 game homestand against the bottom-dwellers of the NL right out of the All-Star break, but dreadful hitting has meant that Colorado needs a win in today's game to salvage a 5-5 record on the homestand.

Opposing Chacin today will be Donovan Hand, a 27 year-old rookie right-hander who has made 16 appearances for the Brewers this season, only four of them starts. I pride myself on my knowledge of baseball, but Hand is a player I literally just heard of this morning. I can't make this up: he was literally struck in the hand in his previous start.

Looking at his stats, Hand's actually achieved decent results in his 37 innings pitched, sustaining a 3.41 ERA and 1.30 WHIP despite a meager 4.9 K/9 rate, perhaps due to a 54% GB rate that would rank him in the upper echelon of the league if he had more innings. Far more dangerous is the potential for bad puns that he brings to the table. I'll be providing Jenny and company a good list of Hand puns today.

Lineups

vs.

Looks like a Sunday squad today. I'll have more on Carlos Gonzalez's injury in a little bit.

Time: 2:10 MT

MLB Gameday Link

KKSE Episode 4, 7:30 PM CST: Big Ten Media Days recap

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Join us for another live episode on Blog Talk Radio -- tonight at 7:30 PM CST!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kielbasakingsse/2013/07/29/july-29th-2013--big-ten-media-days-recap

We'll discuss what "The Polish Rifle" Scott Wisniewski saw at Big Ten Media Days as well as play interviews with head coach Gary Andersen, seniors Chris Borland, Jared Abbrederis and James White.

Plus, we'll talk the Ryan Braun situation, the Bucks' new signings and of course, more football with early Packers training camp talk.

Don't be shy - call in and say hello at 646-595-4717.

MLB Scores: Potent Rockies offense rallies for 6-5 win

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DENVER -- With the prospect of losing to the bottom dwelling Brewers on a Yuniesky Betancourt home run and ending a 10 game home stand against said bottom dwellers with a 4-6 record, the heart of the order was able to wake from its slumber and deliver a comeback to send the Rockies on the road on a positive note.

"Great job battling back for us," manager Walt Weiss said after the game. "Our offense is showing some signs of coming to life and that's a good thing."

Down 5-4 in the 8th, Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer hit back to back doubles to lead off, while Nolan Arenado singled sharply to center with one out to bring across the go-ahead run.

"The wind got taken out of our sails a little bit in the top of the inning, so for Tulo to get a double to lead off the inning ... luckily we were able to scrape (the run) across," Cuddyer said after the game.

When Betancourt, perhaps the worst everyday player in the big leagues, had just hit a two run shot off of Matt Belisle with the Rockies clinging to a one run lead in the top of the 8th, things looked bleak for a Rockies squad in desperate need of a win.

"Another no-excuse pitch, I put it on a Tee for him," Belisle said after the game. "As soon as it left my hand I knew it was not gonna be good, the ball got away from me -- hasn't happened in a while."

Before the eighth-inning rally, the Rockies had already overcome an early 3-1 deficit thanks to a cornucopia of solo home runs -- one by each of the top four hitters in the lineup.

Troy Tulowitzki opened the game's scoring with a solo shot in the first, while Corey Dickerson headlined the show with his first MLB homer, a shot to right center in the 6th. Dickerson's homer was swiftly coupled with Michael Cuddyer's solo blast two batters later, while Dexter Fowler temporarily put the Rockies ahead in the 7th with an opposite field shot hitting right-handed.

"It was good to see Corey swing the bat -- he's had an unbelievable year down in AAA," Weiss said. "We think he's going to be a nice addition for us."

In all, the Rockies had 12 hits on the night, including Todd Helton's 37th career triple - his first since April 27, 2012. Fowler, Dickerson, Tulowitzki, Cuddyer, and Arenado all had multi-hit efforts on the day.

Jhoulys Chacin, as Rockies starters have done throughout July, pitched well enough to win in this one - though he was denied by Betancourt's HR. He went seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out four. After he allowed single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings, Chacin was able to shut down the Brewers for the next three frames.

"I battled for four innings -- I was getting behind and they took advantage, my sinker wasn't going down," said Chacin. "After that I was able to get the ball down and give the team a chance to get back in the game."

Rex Brothers shut the door for his 7th save, and that was all she wrote on this one.

The win clinched the series and salvaged a 5-5 home stand for the Rockies. Against a slate of teams that were at the bottom of the NL, that's not good for the Rockies' playoff aspirations -- but a 5-5 record beats a 4-6 mark. Next up, the Rockies will head out on a tough 10 game East Coast road trip.

"We've got to make a run here at some point and we're fully capable of doing it," Weiss said. "We're getting great pitching and that's a good place to start, the bats seem to be coming around."

Added Belisle: "We've talked amongst ourselves and understand that we know who we are and we know who we're chasing. If we're gonna do this we're going to have to pick up the way we're playing -- we all know that we're capable of it."

Graph


Source: FanGraphs

We Salute: Cuddyer (.398 WPA), Brothers (.204), Chacin (.170), Tulowitzki (.164), Fowler (.129), Dickerson (.106)

We Are Disappointed In: Belisle (-.329), Jonathan Herrera (-.137)

Roll Call

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Panda Rating: Happy Panda

KKSE Episode 4: Big Ten Media Days, Ryan Braun and the Packers

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Cześć all!

Long show this week, ran a little long with all the interviews from Big Ten Media Days -- those are at the end of the podcast for your listening pleasure. OVER TWO HOURS OF WISCONSIN SPORTS TALK!

Listen to internet radio with Kielbasa Kings Sports Extravaganza on BlogTalkRadio

1- to 27-minute mark: We discuss Ryan Braun and the media's coverage of the whole circus, plus debating PEDs in other professional sports

27- to 33-minute mark: Quick Bucks talk about the signing of Gary Neal and the big Ukrainian center

34- to 51 minute-mark: We discuss Packers training camp, Aaron Rodgers' handling of the Braun situation, former Packers/current Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings and other NFL news and notes (it was an especially painful week for injuries.

56:25-minute mark to end of show: Scott highlights his time in Chicago as part of Bucky's 5th Quarter, what stood out in terms of which Badgers said what, along with audio from the event from Gary Andersen and seniors Chris Borland, Jared Abbrederis and James White.

Next week: Audio and news from Wisconsin's own media day, Major League Baseball trading deadline deals and probably some Packers.

Today In Brewer History: Henderson's final Milwaukee game

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On this day in 2001 the Padres stomped the Brewers at Miller Park, riding a three-run fourth and six-run sixth inning to a 12-5 victory. Leading the way for San Diego was 42-year-old leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson, who went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of RBI in his final game in Milwaukee.

158 of Henderson's 3081 career major league games came against the Brewers, including appearances in four different decades. The Brewers first faced the speedy outfielder on September 3, 1979. Henderson stole 87 of his MLB record 1406 bases against Milwaukee, and scored 116 of his 2295 runs. The Brewers actually kept Henderson more or less in check over the years: His .777 career OPS against them was 43 points lower than his overall career mark (.820).

Henderson ranks 31st on the all-time list with 158 games played against Milwaukee. The career leader is Reggie Jackson, who appeared in 233 games against the franchise between 1969-87.

With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:

  • 2004-06 Brewer Mike Adams, who turns 35.
  • 1996-97 Brewer Todd Dunn, the #35 overall pick in the 1993 draft, who turns 43.
  • 1980 Brewer Dave LaPoint, who turns 54.

Today is also the 25th anniversary of Paul Molitor hitting career home run #100 in 1988, and the 13th anniversary of the Brewers holding Bob Wickman Poster Night one day after trading Wickman to Cleveland in 2000. We covered those events in this space last year and two years ago, respectively.


MLB Bullets Threw A Party And No One Came

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Today I'm proud to announce that MLB Bullets will have nothing but positive news about the game that we all love. No news about steroids, suspensions, injuries or players behaving badly. Just kidding. It's the same old stuff we've been dealing with all year.


And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.

    Around the Bases: Derek Jeter homers in return, Alfonso Soriano wins it for Yankees

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    Yankees 6, Rays 5:Derek Jeter hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his return to the lineup, and Alfonso Soriano capped off a big day with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Soriano went 4-for-5 on the day with a homer and three RBIs. Ichiro Suzuki added four hits for New York. Wil Myers went yard twice in the loss for Tampa Bay. Here's Soriano's game-winner:

    Indians 6, Rangers 0:Ubaldo Jimenez struck out six in eight shutout innings to lead the Indians past the Rangers. Mike Aviles hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning and Michael Bourn drove in two runs for Cleveland. The Rangers only managed two hits off Jimenez and Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano.

    Blue Jays 2, Astros 1:Colby Rasmus hit a walk-off single off Wesley Wright to push the Blue Jays past the Astros. Todd Redmond struck out 10 in six innings for Toronto, but he took a no decision. Jarred Cosart gave up one run in six innings for Houston.

    Tigers 12, Phillies 4: Jhonny Peralta hit a grand slam in an eight-run sixth inning that blew the game open for Detroit. Ramon Santiago added three hits and Victor Martinez drove in two runs. Miguel Cabrera and Tigers manager Jim Leyland were both ejected early in the game for arguing balls and strikes.

    Marlins 3, Pirates 2:Jose Fernandez gave up two runs and struck out 13 in eight innings to earn the victory for Miami. Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning that would stand up for the Marlins the rest of the way. The Pirates scored two runs in the second inning, but that was the only offense they could muster.

    Red Sox 5, Orioles 0:Jon Lester tossed seven shutout innings as the Red Sox blanked the Orioles. Lester allowed just four hits and struck out eight in his seven innings of work. David Ortiz went 4-for-4, hitting his 20th home run of the year and knocking in two runs. With the win and Tampa Bay's loss, Boston has regained a half-game lead in the AL East.

    Nationals 14, Mets 1: The bottom of Washington's order did a lot of damage in a rout of the Mets, with Ian Desmond, Denard Span and Wilson Ramos combining for 10 hits and 10 RBIs. Ramos hit a grand slam in the third inning, while Desmond and Span both went 4-for-4. Taylor Jordan earned his first MLB win by giving up just one run in six innings.

    Royals 4, White Sox 2 (12 innings):Alex Gordon hit a go-ahead two-run blast in the top of the 12th inning and Greg Holland shut the door in the bottom of the 12th as the Royals capped off a sweep of the White Sox. Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko drove in the only runs for Chicago, with Dunn hitting his 25th homer of the year in the sixth inning.

    Athletics 10, Angels 6:Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-5 and knocked in four runs as the Athletics came back from an early 5-0 deficit to snatch the victory from the Angels. Oakland starter Jarrod Parker gave up four runs in the first inning and another in the second before settling down and making it through five innings. The A's overtook the Angels thanks to a five-run sixth inning.

    Cubs 2, Giants 1: The Cubs swept the Giants with three-straight one-run wins. In Sunday's win, Travis Wood gave up one unearned run in seven innings and also homered in the fifth inning to get Chicago on the board. Wellington Castillo hit a home run in the seventh inning that proved to be the game-winner. Tim Lincecum struck out 10 in seven innings of work, but he picked up his 11th loss of the year.

    Dodgers 1, Reds 0 (11 innings): Dodgers rookie sensation Yasiel Puig broke a scoreless tie in the 11th inning with a walk-off blast off Curtis Partch. Brandon League pitched two scoreless innings to nab the victory. Chris Capuano started for the Dodgers, giving up just three hits in 6⅔ innings. Tony Cingrani gave up only one hit and struck out 11 in seven innings for Cincinnati.

    Puig-slide

    Rockies 6, Brewers 5:Nolan Arenado hit a go-ahead single in the bottom of the eighth to rally the Rockies to victory in a back-and-forth affair. Dexter Fowler put the Rockies ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a home run, but the Brewers went ahead 5-4 in the top of the eighth. Troy Tulowitzki went yard and Michael Cuddyer knocked in two runs for Colorado.

    Mariners 6, Twins 4:Nick Franklin homered twice and knocked in four runs to push the Mariners past the Twins. Seattle used a four-run fourth inning to seize control of the game, and Franklin's second home run of the game in the seventh inning provided some insurance after Minnesota got within one run.

    Padres 1, Diamondbacks 0:Tyson Ross allowed three hits and struck out seven in eight shutout innings to earn the victory for San Diego. Carlos Quentin drove in the only run of the game in the first inning. Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin gave up only one run in eight innings while striking out eight, but he was saddled with the loss.

    Braves 5, Cardinals 2:Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs as the Braves swept the Cardinals in Atlanta for the first time in 10 years. The game was tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning before pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single. Heyward followed that up with an RBI single of his own. Kris Medlen pitched six innings of two-run ball to notch the victory, while Craig Kimbrel picked up his 31st save of the year.

    More from SB Nation:

    Yasiel Puig hits first career walk-off homer

    Phillies sign Cuban RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

    Albert Pujols out for up to a year

    Minor League Ball: Early 2014 draft rankings

    Yankees ownership overruled Cashman on Soriano trade

    Rest in peace, George Scott

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    We have sad news to pass along today as the Delta Democrat Times (via The Sporting News, via Joe Block) is reporting that 14-year big leaguer and 1972-76 Brewer George Scott has passed away. He was 69 years old.

    Scott made his major league debut as a member of the Red Sox in 1966 before being traded to the Brewers in 1971 and having some of his best years in Milwaukee. Scott played first base and hit .283/.342/.456 over five seasons with the Brewers, winning five Gold Gloves. He led the AL with 36 homers, 109 RBI and 318 total bases in 1975, and his 115 home runs are the 16th most in franchise history.

    Despite having been a great player in his own right, Brewers fans' most lasting memory of Scott might be the trade that sent him away: The Brewers dealt him back to Boston in 1976 in the deal that brought Cecil Cooper to Milwaukee.

    The Brewers honored Scott with a bobblehead earlier this season, on April 21. The bobble featured Scott standing next to a stack of five Gold Gloves.

    Milwaukee Brewers offering $10 concession voucher cards for Aug. home games

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    The Milwaukee Brewers will be handing out $10 concession voucher cards to every fan who attends a home game in Aug., according to Brewers marketing manager Caitlin Moyer.

    Fans will be given the $10 voucher cards when they enter Miller Park. The voucher cards can be used for food, beverages, tickets and merchandise at nearly every outlet in the stadium. The cards can be combined for larger purchases and can be used at any game for the remainder of the season.

    Brewers principal owner Mark Attansio discussed the plan, telling Moyer:

    "This has been a challenging season for all of us, but the one thing that has never wavered has been the tremendous support we have received from fans who love the Brewers. We wanted to do something meaningful to show our appreciation, and we will strive to provide the best fan experience possible."

    Milwaukee expects to average 30,000 fans per home game in Aug.. The Brewers have 12 games at home during the month, and plan to hand out $3.6 million worth of vouchers.

    The Brewers entered Sunday with a 43-61 record, 20 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for last place in the NL Central.

    More from SB Nation:

    Yasiel Puig hits first career walk-off homer

    Phillies sign Cuban RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

    Albert Pujols out for up to a year

    Minor League Ball: Early 2014 draft rankings

    Yankees ownership overruled Cashman on Soriano trade

    Tonight's Matchup: Brewers (Lohse) @ Cubs (Samardzija)

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    Entering play today, the Brewers have played 104 games and have 58 remaining. No less than eleven of those contests are against the Cubs.

    They'll play one of those games at 7:05 tonight when they take on Jeff Samardzija (3.94 ERA, 3.66 FIP) at Wrigley Field. Samardzija has struggled a bit lately, and allowed four runs on six hits over 5.2 innings against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He has a 6.85 ERA over four appearances in July and a 5.18 mark since June 1.

    I preach this a lot, but patience could be the key to success for the Brewers again tonight against Samardzija. He's walked 15 batters in 23.2 innnings in July (5.7 per nine innings) after giving out just 2.9 per nine over the season's first three months. He's also pitching on normal rest tonight despite having thrown 118 pitches his last time out. He's exceeded 110 pitches in seven of his last 12 outings.

    The Brewers beat Samardzija on April 19, knocking him around to the tune of five runs on six hits over seven innings and hitting a pair of home runs (Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun). Three active Brewers have faced him ten times or more:

    PlayerPAAVGOBPSLGOPS
    Jonathan Lucroy12.100.250.300.550
    Norichika Aoki11.500.545.8001.345
    Rickie Weeks10.250.400.375.775

    He'll face Kyle Lohse (3.37 ERA, 4.23 FIP) in a game that has an outside chance at featuring the veteran righty's final Brewer appearance. Lohse has been great lately, allowing a single run on five hits against the Padres on Wednesday with no walks and six strikeouts. His 112 pitches thrown in that game are a new season high.

    While Samardzija's walk rate is trending the wrong way, Lohse's is doing exactly the opposite. He's issued one walk or less in 12 of his last 13 appearances, averaging just 1.02 free passes per nine innings over that span. He has, however, allowed 14 home runs over that time.

    Lohse beat the Cubs on June 25, holding them to three runs on eight hits over seven innings. Three current Cubs have faced him ten times or more:

    PlayerPAAVGOBPSLGOPS
    David DeJesus27.462.481.6921.174
    Darwin Barney22.263.250.316.566
    Starlin Castro20.250.250.250.500

    Here's tonight's lineup:

    Rickie Weeks 2B
    Norichika Aoki RF
    Jean Segura SS
    Jonathan Lucroy C
    Carlos Gomez CF
    Caleb Gindl LF
    Juan Francisco 1B
    Jeff Bianchi 3B
    Kyle Lohse P

    And in the bullpen:

    It's cloudy in Chicago tonight, but the weather should not be an issue. Expect a game time temperature around 71 with winds blowing in from right.

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