One of the most interesting things about baseball, and one that provides a pile of fuel to sports talk radio and water cooler fan discussion, is what the team does when it’s getting killed early.
That’s the issue that faced the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend when they were walloped, 14-1, by the Mets at Citi Field. (Note: The Brewers blanked the Mets on Friday, 7-0.)
Brewers pitcher Matt Garza gave up 10 hits, three walks and 10 runs in just over three innings. That it was brutal and ugly and Garza had to stay out there, getting duped on over and over as the parade around the bases went on and on for the Mets.
As you watched the slaughter, the question came up about whether manager Craig Counsell and the Brewers were throwing in the towel and giving up after just four innings. By the time the game came to an end there were no Brewers starters left on the field.
Counsell, in video from the Brewers' website, was realistic after the game trying to explain what happened and why he left Garza in the game.
"I figure it was just an ugly game and that’s why we’re happy there’s a game tomorrow," he said. "You flush it away at the ballpark and get ready for tomorrow. It just happened fast. It snowballed pretty fast. I wish I could have gotten him (Garza) out of their quicker and wish I had.
"I thought he made a mistake to (Wilmer) Flores (who hit a grand slam) but didn’t think he was pitching that poorly. I thought he could get through that inning and then keep going quite honestly. It’s one of those nights when it didn’t go right."
For his part, Garza didn’t dodge any questions about what happened.
"It's on me," Garza said. "My job is to go deep; I didn't. I didn't get anywhere close to what I wanted to accomplish. You just 'wear it and move on."You 'flush it' and go. It's like a fight. You get knocked down, and it's how you get back up. That's all it is. Am I going to lay down or am I going to get back up? I like getting back up. That's why I'm here."
The one thing that nobody in baseball – or any sport for that matter – ever talks about giving up in a game. That’s anathema to the concept of being a professional.
But sometimes actions – leaving in a pitcher who is getting pounded and sitting all your starters – speak louder than words.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
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