There’s a few death & taxes-style sure things in Milwaukee. Brian Egeness can never record another note of music and he’s still one of the best guitar players of all time. With the possible exception of Gordon Gano, the late Jeffrey Dahmer remains the city’s most universally despised icon. And when it’s warm outside, it’s fairly certain Ben Sheets will find a way to hurt himself, and Eric Gagne will find a way to hurt the Brewers.
The former took an early shower Monday after firing 5 scoreless innings against the visiting New York Mets, the LSU product complaining of tightness in his left groin. The latter took the hill with a 2-1 lead in the 8th and allowed a double to Danny Murphy, followed by a 2-run Carlos Delgado HR the Mets’ talismanic 1B golfed over the right-field wall. despite the heavy shadows falling across the Miller Park batters box.
Though much credit should go to Delgado — who has practically oozed all-things clutch over the past 9 weeks — Gagne is nothing short of a Heilman-esque liability for Ned Yost. If the Brewers manage to hang on to the NL Wild Card, the only playoff role appropriate for Gagne will be CBC guest commentary.
Mets starter Johan Santana whiffed 10 while allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings. For a change, Santana received ample support from his bullpen, as the quartet of Nelson “No Cheering In The Dugout” Figueroa, Joe Smith, Pedro Felicano and Luis Ayala (4 saves in 5 chances) combined to retire 9 of the 10 men they faced, while striking out 5.
Monday’s result coupled with Kyle Kendrick’s bed-shitting performance in DC increases the Mets’ NL East lead to 2 games with 24 remaining. While Hot Foot’s Robby O’Daniel has a gripe over next weekend’s series against Philly not coming at the season’s close, the Daily News’ Adam Rubin notes Shea Stadium’s possible finale on Sept. 28 will take place without Mookie Wilson or Davey Johnson in attendance. Rubin claims both icons from the ’86 championship team “have had a falling out with the organization”. Surely if the Mets can forgive Randy Niemann for pouring champagne all over a grumpy Frank Cashen, Mookie oughta be pardoned for wearing Cards swag during the 2006 NLCS.
I have always been pro-Kendrick, but KK has really faltered as of late and there is no way he can be going up against Johan Santana this coming Sunday at Shea. Reports indicate that Cole Hamels will be moved back to the Sunday night start contingent on his pitch count tomorrow in DC. The Phillies really need both an economical start and for the bats to be cracking as by Sunday night there may be too much at stake.
It’s a matter of record Chuck – you jinxed him on this very blog!
“Gagne: North Side for ‘thank you.'”
Reports of Ben Sheets’ annual demise (and Eric Gagne’s weekly disappointment) are not at all exaggerated, as the Cubs have dropped three in a row. I don’t know what Zambrano is talking about with this “dead arm” business, but entering September it’s not what anyone in the Recublican party wants to hear. Then again, the Cardinals are officially retreating into oblivion, so the Cubs and Brewers will be seeing each other in October one way or the other.
As to the Brewers current schedule … in the words of Casey Stengel, “Metsies! Metsies! Metsies!”
Ben