June 2007
Brewers Lose – 6-5 – Heartbreaker for Coco. All is Not Lost. No Fraidy Cats! PLUS: Happy Peppy People!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Welcome Back to Your Favorite Brewers Blog!
Well, where should I start?
How about at the end.
At a place called Heartbreak Hotel.
There, a Man Called Coco came into the game in the ninth inning with a chance for his league-leading 28th save, his Brewers leading 5-3 having staked starter Yovanni Gallardo to a 5-0 lead in the first.
YoGa.
So what happened?
Ryan Theriot led off and fouled out to Rickie Weeks. Alfonso Soriano singled to center, then Mike Fontenot singled to right, with Soriano going to third. Derrek Lee hit a sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Soriano.
And with two outs and on the first pitch, Coco hung a slider over the plate and Aramis Ramirez homered to left field on a line shot.
Crowd Goes Wild.
"Listen to the crowd."
"Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!"
Yawn.
…
Take it from your pal Yogi, the loss stunk, sure, but do not panic, do not fear, all is not lost.
Far from it.
Friday’s game proved several important things:
1) YoGa, Yovanni Gallardo has legitimate Big League stuff and he can pitch. Whether as a starter or reliever, YoGa is going to be a great asset to this team as the long season continues.
IP H R ER BB K
6.0 5 2 2 2 7
2) Outside of the blown save, the bullpen pitched very well. Carlos Villaneuva, Matt Wise, and Derrick Turnbow, The Most Exciting Man in Baseball, allowed only one run over their two innings pitched. The bullpen looks like their arms are "live" and their ability to pitch seems to be getting better as the season goes along.
Here’s what Coco had to say about the loss.
"Every time you hang a pitch
it’s going a long ways, especially a slider. He’s a pretty good hitter. He got
it on the sweet spot of the bat and it went a long way. It’s not the first time
it happened and it won’t be the last time that it happens."
Let me repeat that, It won’t be the last time that it happens."
Got that?
Losses happen.
It’s part of the game.
Step away from the ledge "Fraidy Cats."
It’s just one game.
It’s a long season.
And the Crew will be just fine.
Just sayin’.
…
In a break from the New Tradition that is the Baseball Haiku, your pal Yogi has something for you to turn that frown upside down and smile, smile, smile.
It’s a Classic.
Hi-Larious!
Genius, actually.
Really.
One take.
Recorded live.
Genius.
It’s So Tasty, Too!
Don’t Be Unpoopular!
Enjoy!
Yogi’s Book Corner! – Our First Review!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
It’s time to take a visit to Yogi’s Book Corner!
On our last visit, your pal Yogi laid out a list of the best baseball books ever as a suggested Summer reading list.
In the interim, I came across several additional titles that I thought you might like.
Therefore, putting to good use yesterday’s “off-day” let me share with you the very excellent,
“Past Time – Baseball as History" [Oxford Press, published in 2000] by Jules Tygiel, Professor of History at San Francisco State University and author of “Baseball’s Great Experiment – Jackie Robinson and his Legacy.”
“Past Time” is organized into 9 Chapters (innings) each exploring a different “age” of baseball and highlights one or more important biographical subjects and puts their contributions to baseball within the larger context of American social, cultural, and technological change.
Beginning in the 1850’s with the advent of the game, the book moves chronologically into the establishment of professional baseball; the importance of “Grandfather Baseball,” Henry Chadwick, and his use of statistics; and then to the rise of the American league led by Charles Comiskey, Clark Griffith, John McGraw, and Connie Mack.
The next chapters explore the phenomenon that was Babe Ruth and then the ways in which radio and other technologies helped fuel the Nation’s interest in baseball.
I especially liked the chapters covering the careers and competition between Branch Rickey and Larry MacPhail as well as the history of African-American players in the 1920’s through the time of integration. Each of these chapters was rich in story and was made full by the ample quotes and references.
"Past Time" in general is loaded with colorful anecdotes and many of baseball’s luminaries find their way into the book. The footnotes are extensive and the index is complete.
Tygiel is most successful in explicating the history of American through the history of baseball in his chapter on Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard ‘Round the World.” This chapter, like the others, treats the cultural and societal history of America with a fairly even hand and Past Time never comes off sounding excessively preachy or pedantic.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book for you Brewers Fans will be the one on the Milwaukee Braves. This chapter painted a very colorful and captivating portrait of the emergence of the Braves in Milwaukee and how their success changed the way baseball as a business was conducted, ending in the flight of the Braves to Atlanta and the beginning of baseball of expansion.
In sum, “Past Time” is an enjoyable book rich in detail and offers an interesting and well-balanced look at the many aspects of baseball history and its biographies as they relate to American social, economic, and cultural history.
If you’re looking for a good general baseball history “Past Time” might suit your needs, no matter your level of interest or expertise in the subject matter. I think even the most knowledgeable baseball fan or reader of baseball history will enjoy this fine book.
Just sayin’.
And that’s a wrap of this edition of “Yogi’s Book Corner!”
I hope you enjoyed it!
I know I did.
I’m like that.
Just sayin’, again.
Until then…
Be well.
Enjoy!
Brewers Win! 6-3! – Walk-Off Winner in 11! Yogi Asks: Does Anybody Care?!?! PLUS: A Fantastic Musical Tribute!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Welcome Back to Your Favorite Brewers Blog!
Let’s begin with a call: Paging Ms. Bonnie Brewer!
Another Clean Sweep!
…
Consider This:
The Brewers went 9-1 on this latest home stand!
The Crew have won 5 straight season series!
Your Brewers have the BEST RECORD IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE with less than two weeks before the All-Star break!
Prince Fielder will be elected to the All-Star game with more votes than any other position player!
And most importantly, the Milwaukee Brewers hold a 7 1/2 game lead in the National League Central over their nearest rival, the Chicago Cubs!
!
!
!
Are you starting to Believe?
Or are you still Afraid?
?
…
Today’s game saw Jeff Suppan work 6 innings, and then leave the game without a decision with the game tied at 3-3.
Then it was Matt Wise, Derrick Turnbow (The Most Exciting Man in Basebal), A Man Called Coco all of whom pitched in relief, holding the Astros scoreless.
Then it was the recent starter and newly minted reliever Dave Bush (!) who finished the game for the win!
Say what you will, but when Chris Capuano returns to the line-up and YoGa, Yovanni Gallardo, goes to the bullpen, this team is looking like it might have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.
Just sayin’.
…
So how did this one end?
Damian Miller.
Walk-off three-run blast to left center.
…
Do you think this team cared about winning this game?
I’ll let the players answer the question:
…
…
Do the Math.
!
Just sayin’, again.
…
Bob Uecker reported that Gorman Thomas called him to tell him that Jimmy Gantner was thrown out of a game last night for the first time as the Wisconsin Woodchucks manager.
And then Uecker said, "The only thing was there wasn’t a game last night."
Gold.
Pure Gold.
Keep up the Good Work Gumby!
…
I watched the game from the eighth inning on (as opposed to listening to the game on the radio) and was treated to the feed coming from FSN Houston.
Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies are the play-by-play and color-guy, respectively. I thought they were pretty darn good. If I was an Astros fan I would have no problem tuning into the games. Brown and Deshaies are relaxed, knowledgeable, affable, and give the viewer a good sense of what’s going on.
Real Good.
And I didn’t know this until today but the Astros have the Great Milo Hamilton doing the play-by-play on the Radio! Hamilton is a Giant amongst men. Read about him Here. 
Hall of Famer!
And More!
…
Your pal Yogi has been saying for some time now that the real test of this Brewers team comes this week.
Well, so far they have responded to the challenge but it is up to them now to go into Wrigley and win at least 2-out-of-3 from the Cubs.
Can they do it?
I think they can.
And I think they will!
…
For tonight’s Fantastic Musical Tribute your pal Yogi found something that he himself saw when it was originally aired back in the day.
It was Amazing then.
It remains Amazing now.
And it’s for all of your nervous and afraid Brewers fans who have yet to Believe.
I give you…
STEVIE WONDER!
Wow!
Do You Feel Lucky?
Let’s Go To Wrigley!
Old Guys Rule! – Part III – It’s All About Love!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Although it didn’t quite happen as planned, it’s the thought that counts:
It really will be old-timers’ day in the major leagues on Wednesday, when a record seven pitchers in their 40s are scheduled to start.
The New York Yankees’ Roger Clemens (44), Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (44), Detroit’s Kenny Rogers (42), San Diego’s Greg Maddux (41), the New York Mets’ Tom Glavine (41), Houston’s Woody Williams (40) and Atlanta’s John Smoltz (40) are set to pitch on the same day.
Think about this for a moment.
These guys are in their 40′s and pitching in the Major Leagues.
Wow.
"They have a work ethic and a passion to continue playing.”
While huge contracts are certainly an incentive to stay active, many do it simply because they love the game."
Good for them.
Read the whole thing.
…
Love of the Game.
Just sayin’.
Old Guys Rule! – Part II – Avoid Catching **** From The Missus!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
It Has Happened Again.
Bill Barnes says he was scratching off a losing $2 lottery ticket inside a gas
station when he felt a hand slip into his front-left pants pocket,
where he had $300 in cash.He immediately grabbed the person’s wrist with his left hand and started
throwing punches with his right, landing six or seven blows before a
store manager intervened.
But you know there’s more to the story.
Oh yeah.
Or should I say, Oorah!
"I guess he thought I was an easy mark," Barnes, 72, told The Grand Rapids Press for a story Tuesday.
He’s anything but an easy mark: Barnes served in the Marines, was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and retired after 20 years as an iron worker.
But you knew that was coming.
And as they say, read the whole thing.
Semper Fidelis Bill Barnes!
I’ll give Mr. Barnes the last word:
Barnes said he’d probably do
the same thing again under the same circumstances, if for no other
reason than what he would face back home."I wouldn’t want my wife to give me **** for lettin’ that guy get my money," he said with a smile.
‘Nuff said.
Brewers Win! 11-5! Time To Get Crooked! – Praise For Ned! – PLUS: A Fantastic Muscial Tribute!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Welcome Back to Your Favorite Brewers Blog!
Tuesday night, the Brewers redefined the meaning of "crooked."
Nine.
Wow.
I didn’t see that coming.
The Brewers got out ahead of the Astros in the first inning after Ryan Braun hit yet another home run, this time a two-run shot.
Brawny. The Guy IS FOR REAL!
Although starter Claudio Vargas allowed the Astros to get two in the second off of solo home runs by Scott and Ausmus each, and then another two off of a two-run dinger by El Caballo, the Brewers did something few teams ever do, score 9 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The inning opened up big for the Crew with a bases-clearing single by Rickie Weeks
Thank You Rickie.
And the inning was turned into a laugher following a grand slam (his first) hit by Johnny Estrada on an 0-2 pitch!
Oh My!
Kudos must go to Ned Yost for leading his players and coaches despite having had his team No-Hit by the Tiger, and then proceeding to win five straight series in a 10-2 record to date!
As strange as it may seem, there are still emailers and callers who think Ned Yost must go.
Right.
The Brewers have the BEST record in the National League and fans want to fire the manager?
Who Are These People?
?
Is this on?
Hello?
?
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
As I said last week, the real test of this season began on Monday of this week and ends Sunday after the Cubs series.
So far, so good.
Really.
The pressure is on everyone else.
The Brewers need only continue to play the intense, focused, but fun brand of baseball they have been playing for the majority of the season and they will make the playoffs and possibly go deep.
Just sayin’.
…
Brewers relief pitcher and possible MVP candidate, Carlos Villaneuva, has retired the last 20 batters he has faced.
Wow.
Really.
…
News is breaking out of Chicago that White Sox Ace, Mark Beuhrle, will sign an extension with the Sox.
So much for that.
And yes, I was thinking about trading TG,Jr for Beuhrle.
Crazy, no?
…
For this Fantastic Musical Tribute your pal Yogi found something I think you will really like.
Really.
Because I am filled Love Power!
Anything Is Possible!
…
Enjoy!
UPDATE: 2008 Fantasy Camp Filling Up! – Also: Mark Your Calenders For Renunion Game! – PLUS: We Need Players For The Old School Wood Bat Tournament!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Your pal Yogi has an important UPDATE on the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp.
…
I emailed Bill Schroeder today and asked him how many people have already signed up for the 2008 camp?
Rock emailed back me today with the answer:
50!
The 2008 Fantasy Camp will likely have around 84 campers (give or take) which means that there are only 32 slots left!
So if you’re interested in attending, you better get on it!
Also as a reminder, the Reunion Game will be played on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at Miller Park and I believe the on-field introductions will be made on Wednesday, September 5, during the game against the Houston Astros.
If you haven’t already started throwing, running, and taking some swings, it’s time to get started soon!
…
And lastly, we have only 5 guys committed to play in the Dave Henderson Old School Wood Bat Tournament.
Click Here to Read More About It!
Come On!
We Need To Represent!
Contact me for more info.
Just sayin’.
…
Until then…
Enjoy!
The Other Crew With The Right Stuff! – Belated Welcome Home! – PLUS: An Amazing Woman You Should Know!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
I’m a bit late on this but join me in welcoming home and congratulating the crew of STS-117 on their successful mission and their safe return home!
The STS-117 crew began its mission June 8 and arrived at the station
June 10. They quickly began work to install the Starboard 3 and 4
(S3/S4) truss structure to the outpost and retracted a set of arrays on
the Port 6 (P6) truss. The (S3/S4) contains a new set of solar arrays
that increases station power-generation capabilities. The P6 will be
relocated during a future assembly mission.Mission
Specialists Patrick Forrester, John "Danny" Olivas, Jim Reilly and
Steven Swanson conducted a total of four spacewalks to activate the
S3/S4 and to retract the P6 arrays. During the third spacewalk, Olivas
repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital
maneuvering system pod.Landing also marked the end of a
record-setting spaceflight by Mission Specialist Suni Williams. She
broke the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman early in the
morning on June 16.Williams’ journey began in December with
the launch of STS-116. She lived on the space station for six months
before switching places on the STS-117 crew with Clayton Anderson, who
is now a flight engineer on the station. When Atlantis landed, she had
accumulated 194 days, 18 hours and 58 minutes during her spaceflight.
Amazing!
I don’t know when it happened but the miracle and marvel that is space flight and exploration seems to have disappeared from the public’s imagination.
Ask anyone about the latest starlet or party-girl and they probably know everything about them including their time in and out of rehab, the last time they were arrested, or even if they did or did not wear underwear.
But ask someone about Suni Williams and they will most likely not the have faintest idea who are talking about.
From her biography:
EDUCATION:
Needham High School, Needham, Massachusetts, 1983.
B.S., Physical Science, U.S. Naval Academy, 1987.
M.S., Engineering Management, Florida Institute of Technology, 1995.ORGANIZATIONS: Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Society of Flight Test Engineers, American Helicopter Association.
SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and various other service awards.
Commander Williams
The STS-117 Crew Back Home (click to enlarge):
Well Done!
And Thanks!
Really.
Brewers Win! 6-1! Enough is Enough! – The Most Exciting Man in Baseball! – PLUS: A Very Special “Shout Out” and A Fantastic Musical Tribute!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Welcome Back to Your Favorite Brewers Blog!
…
Monday night, Dr. Jack, Gibby, and your pal Yogi were on hand at Miller Park as the Brewers beat up on the Houston Astros.
There were 28,000+ in attendance making the total attendance for the year over 1.3 Million!
!
Ben Sheets pitched for the Brewers and as you may have read in other reports, Sheets did not look great. He missed high and wide with a lot of pitches and never seemed to be sharp.
Still, it was enough to beat a tired and fading Astros team who themselves looked just plain bad at times.
Good Enough.
Offensively the Brewers played some small ball and managed to manufacture several runs leaving only 7 on base.
On a reassuring note, it was great to see JJ Hardy back in the line-up and even more so to see him smoke a line drive home run to left field in the first inning.
Prince Fielder crushed a ball into deep center field in the eighth inning for his National League leading 27th home run ending a mini-drought of a week or so.
Long Gone.
Now I know many of you are wondering, "Hey Yogi, so what happened on Sunday?"
?
I’ve got two words for you:
Derrick Turnbow
Turnbow may be the most exciting player in baseball as he can be absolutely lights-out brilliant in one instant and completely wild and damaging the next.
Case in point: In Monday’s game, Turnbow convincingly struck out Houston’s young and possible future All-Star center fielder Hunter Pence in the top of the eighth inning only to have the third strike get by catcher Johnny Estrada allowing Pence to make it to first easily on the wild pitch.
As for Sunday’s brutal loss to the Royals, I think the team may have taken the Royals for granted with all the talk in the press and by the fans that the Royals were a AA team.
And yes, Ned Yost in the Sunday pre-game interview with Bob Uecker said that it was important not to look past any opponent, including the Royals, because they could "kick their *ss", but in the end the Brewers did just that, let up and lose.
So be it.
And no, the loss was not Turnbow’s fault, no more than any of the Brewers hitters that left men on base or the other relievers that didn’t hold.
Win as a Team.
Lose as a Team.
But still, Derrick Turnbow
The Most Exciting Man in Baseball!
Just sayin’.
…
Let me give a HUGE shout-out to Rock, BA, and Craig Coshun who are ever Gracious, Warm, and totally Great Guys.
Really.
Dr. Jack, Gibby, and I got a chance to say "Hello" to them Monday night going "behind the scenes" once again.
Again, to see how hard BA and Rock work and how gifted they are at what they do is amazing.
Men At Work.
Same for Craig, they all make it look easy.
And it’s not.
Just sayin, again.
…
What to do?
What to do?
Lost in Sunday’s loss was the performance of the Amazing YoGa, Yovanni Gallardo.
This guy is the Real Deal.
And he can really deal.
Really.
Does YoGa stay up in the Bigs?
Does he move into the starter’s rotation?
Does he move to the bullpen?
?
As they say, Stay Tuned.
…
________________________________________________________________________
For tonight’s Fantastic Musical Tribute your pal Yogi felt it might be fun to "mix it up".
I’m like that.
So here for your enjoyment…
Are They Not Men?!?!
They Are Devo!
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH!
Yeah!
Enjoy!
The Only Weighted Exercise You Will Ever Have To Do! – Do It Today!
Loyal Readers and Brewers Fans!
Let me tell you about an amazing exercise, something Sensei Dominik taught me and something that I know you’ll enjoy, too!
First , let me introduce you to the Kettlebell.
Say Hello To Your New Best Friend.
…
This my Friends is the only weight you’ll ever need.
Really.
Sit-ups.
Push-ups.
Sprints.
These are the foundations of any home workout. So much so, that if all you ever did were these three, you would be doing just fine.
Of course, you could change the push-ups to Hindu push-ups, and add Hindu squats and pull-ups (or chin-ups), and you would nearly have a total-body workout.
But add the Kettlebell and Look OUT!
Click Here to see a brief explanation of what the Kettlebell is.
And this is the exercise that you need to learn.
The Turkish Get-Up.
It Is Harder Than It Looks.
…
Click Here for another video on the Turkish Get Up.
And lastly, here is another look at how to do the Turkish Get Up.
…
Go out and get your very own kettlebell today!
Enjoy!
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