Kuzul

If you are looking for Corey Hart’s name on the 2010 All-Star ballot, have fun trying, because you won’t find it.

That’s right, because the Milwaukee outfielder with 17 home runs, 41 RBI, and a .610 slugging pct. was not in the Opening Day starting lineup, he is not on the fan ballot for the All-Star game.

In just 53 games, Hart already has five more home runs and seven fewer RBI than his 2009 totals. His 17 long balls lead the National League by three over Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Mark Reynolds, and Dan Uggla.

Hart’s breakout season has not only resulted in runs, but has silenced his many critics. As recent as this offseason, fans and media alike were calling for his head and outraged when he won a $4.8 million salary in an arbitration case. Hart was not producing at all at the plate and was caught stealing six out of seventeen times. He was chasing deliberately thrown balls, resulting in 92 strikeouts in 115 games.

April was nothing special for Hart; he platooned with Jim Edmonds for the majority of the month. He hit three home runs and exited the month with a .798 OPS.

With some players, confidence comes before success, but for some, the antithesis is relevant. Corey Hart is a case of success before confidence.

This showed in May when Hart began to heat up. On May 15 and 16, he homered once in each game against Philadelphia, his first dingers of the month. The next night, he socked two against Cincinnati. That was just the beginning.

In 26 games, Hart is hitting .286 with an astounding 14 homers and 29 RBI. His OPS in that span is 1.134, up over .350 from the day before his binge began. Perhaps the highlights of his hot streak were during a weekend series against New York at the end of the month. Corey broke a 0-0 tie in a pitcher’s duel featuring Yovani Gallardo and Johan Santana with a walk-off two run blast. He followed that shot up with his first career grand slam in the first inning the next game and with a two run blast in his next at-bat for three homers in three at bats.

Add on to this Hart’s stellar play in the field. Throughout his streak, Corey has been all over right field making running grabs and playing with an extra step. He has only one error to date and four assists.

The confidence is definitely showing for the National League home run leader. Despite not being on the starter’s ballot for the All-Star Game, he is well on his way to his second career All-Star appearance. He just goes to show that you gotta’ have Hart.

The confidence is definitely showing in the NL home run leader.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have been a young team throughout the decade. Young players such as Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo, and Corey Hart have been the core of the team during the franchise turnaround.

But with some of the key players getting older, Milwaukee will need a set of prospects to produce at the Big League level.

The following are the top twenty-five prospects, according to www.milbprospects.blogspot.com.

1 Alcides Escobar , SS , MIL
2 Brett Lawrie , 2B , MIL
3 Kentrail Davis , OF , MIL
4 Mat Gamel , 3B , MIL
5 Evan Anundsen , P , MIL
6 Jake Odorizzi , P , MIL
7 Caleb Gindl , OF , MIL
8 Eric Arnett , P , MIL
9 Jose Pena , OF , MIL
10 Mark Rogers , P , MIL
11 Jon Lucroy , C , MIL
12 Kyle Heckathorn , P , MIL
13 Angel Salome , C , MIL
14 Amaury Rivas , P , MIL
15 Cody Scarpetta , P , MIL
16 Max Walla , OF , MIL
17 Wily Peralta , P , MIL
18 Jeremy Jeffress , P , MIL
19 Maverick Lasker , P , MIL
20 Taylor Green , 3B , MIL
21 Eric Farris , 2B , MIL
22 Logan Schafer , OF , MIL
23 Mark Willinsky , P , MIL
24 Cutter Dykstra , OF , MIL
25 Zach Braddock , P , MIL

Alcides Escobar, Jon Lucroy, and Zach Braddock are all currently on the Brewers 25 man roster.

Escobar appears to have the shortstop position locked up for years. The team traded JJ Hardy to Minnesota for Carlos Gomez, signalling that their trust has been placed in the hands of the young shortstop from Venezuela.

Alcides’s glove is one of the best in the National League already. His double plays are crisp and he possesses a cannon to throw out the runner.

However, his plate discipline comes into question often. Escobar draws very few walks, which would be very helpful with his speed. He is currently tied for the NL lead in triples.

Second base may be where the biggest dilemma pops up. 2008 first round pick Brett Lawrie has shown that he has the tools to play for the Brewers, and it is just a matter of time before the Canadian gets the call.

But Rickie Weeks is the franchise’s second baseman. Lawrie is too valuable to get rid of, and he already switched from catcher to second base.

My prediction is that we will see him on the roster next season, then become the starter in 2012, while the Brewers get rid of Weeks. They could trade him for a much-needed young pitcher or possibly a center fielder or catcher. His contract expires at the end of 2010.

The key emphasis of the team is on a young arm—Eric Arnett and Jake Odorizzi.

Arnett was the team’s first round pick out of Indiana University in 2009. He throws a low to mid 90’s fastball, a sinker, a mediocre changeup, and the potential of a slider. One issue facing Arnett is his high pitch counts while with the Hoosiers. He is currently with Class A Wisconsin.

Odorizzi was the 32nd overall pick in 2008, a bit overshadowed by the selection of Lawrie (the Brewers received the supplementary pick as a result of losing Francisco Cordero). His velocity is about the same as Arnett’s. His slider is considered “nasty sometimes” according to one scout. His curveball can be his out pitch.

Look for both of these pitchers to be in the rotation by 2013, if not earlier. While surprising, the team could trade either one of them for a mid-season acquisition, just as they did in 2008 with Matt LaPorta.

At the catcher position, veterans have held the position for the longest of times. That may change soon, however. 27 year-old George Kottaras has shown good pop and an OBP over .400 as the backup-turned-starter this season. If the team is smart, they will keep him around next season as the minor league catching talent matures.

Jon Lucroy has been Kottaras’s backup ever since Gregg Zaun went down in mid-May. At only 23 years old, he has skills behind the plate that blend right in with the rest of the Big League backstops. He is an above-average hitting catcher, proving this with a single in his first MLB at bat.

Angel Salome has long been considered the top catching prospect, though his hype has dropped over the course of the past year. Salome will not make the team as a defensive catcher, but rather as a hitter. He hit .360 in 98 games with AA Huntsville in 2008. Over his minor league career, Angel is hitting .316.

Currently on a personal leave from baseball due to the birth of his child, expect to see Salome in September, but as a rarely-used catcher.

As for the bullpen, Braddock and John Axford are the two top prospects. Braddock was projected as the closer by 2013 by Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt. His slider is devastating and is his main pitch. Braddock has not given up a run yet in 2010.

The closer projection may have taken a different turn with the downfall of Trevor Hoffman. This, along with injuries, set up the table for John Axford. A 42nd round pick in 2005, Axford is only signed through 2010. The Brewers need to sign him this offseason to lock up the future shut down closer.

If Axford becomes the franchise’s closer, the Brewers may not keep Braddock. His talent could be used elsewhere as a closer, making more money than Milwaukee would pay him to set up for Axford.

Axford has appeared in seven games in 2010 after being a September call-up in 2009. He notched two saves in two attempts, striking out the side against Minnesota. His 97 mph fastball blows away batters. Axford has shown that he can be a dominant closer in only seven appearances. In addition to his pitching, his mustache has made him a fan favorite within a month.

Mat Gamel played in 61 games last season, hitting five home runs and batting .242. His power is his greatest asset. The Brewers may try to hide his weak glove, as they did with Ryan Braun, who struggled mightily at third base as a rookie. Gamel had a .885 fielding percentage in 2009.

Casey McGehee has solidified himself as a legitimate third baseman, currently leading the NL in RBI. The team would not want to lose their hidden gem, so Gamel is faced with a few options:

1) Move to right field, where his glove won’t be as big of a problem;

2) Get traded for a young pitcher;

3) Become a back-up third baseman.

The most interesting story is that of Jeremy Jeffress. The right hander, 22, has always had Major League-level talent with a hard fastball and a hard slider.

Drafted in the first round of the 2006, he was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for drug abuse. In 2008, he reached AA, struggled, and was sent back to A ball. Most recently, he tested positive for marijuana, receiving a 100 game suspension along with the knowledge that one more positive test would lead to a lifetime ban.

The Brewers still have hopes for the talented Jeffress, who is scheduled to return to baseball soon. But with good young pitchers around him, he will have to fight for his spot on a future team.

Other top prospects on the top 25 list that I did not mention specifically, include: Kentrail Davis, Kyle Heckathorn, Cutter Dykstra, Amaury Rivas, Cody Scarpetta, Max Walla, and Logan Schafer.

Here are some other prospects I am high on: OF D’Vontrey Richardson, P Tim Dillard, P Chuck Lofgren, and OF Lorenzo Cain.

Looking ahead to 2013, here is my projected lineup:

C: Jon Lucroy/ Angel Salome

1B: Prince Fielder (they’ll sign him to a big contract)

2B: Brett Lawrie

SS: Alcides Escobar

3B: Casey McGehee

LF: Ryan Braun

CF: Kentrail Davis

RF: Mat Gamel

Starting Rotation: Yovani Gallardo, Eric Arnett, Cody Scarpetta, Jake Odorizzi, Amaury Rivas

Closer: John Axford

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“Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax.” —Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko

Face it. If you aren’t a Yankees fan, then there will always be a sense, some sort of cognizance of hate towards them. Whether you are an extremist, hoping at all costs that the Yanks lose, or simply not a fan of them, everybody has had the feeling that they are sick of the Yankees.

For me, I have never hated  the Bombers. But, being a baseball fan, it’s hard to root for them in spite of all their success.

The Yankees and Boston Red Sox would make a good movie, “Neighbors Gone Bad.”

That because fans of one loathe, hate, abhor, and are appalled by their sworn enemy. In Beantown and the Big Apple, there is no fence-sitting—you either root for one, or don’t care at all.

We all know that the Yankees are the most hated sports team in America. Here is a list of the 10 main reasons why people love to hate them.

1. 27 World Championships

The Yankees have appeared in 38 percent of the World Series, winning 27 of them, or about 26 percent. The nearest franchise to them is St. Louis, far behind with 10 titles. Watching the Yankees win title after title can grow as old as watching paint dry.

People hate the Yankees for winning, and winning, and winning—it seems like it’s all they ever do. Having the Bronx Bombers as favorites year after year grows old, as well. This is especially painful to fans of teams that have not experienced a World Series title.

2. The “Yankee Mystique”

From 1998 to 2001, New York went 9-0 at home during the World Series. Some claimed about a “Yankee mystique” that surrounded them, and pushed them to victory. While it is undeniable that playing at Yankee Stadium does give New York an advantage, many people don’t believe there is anything mysterious about playing there in October.

This, however, was furthered in the 2001 World Series. After a one-run victory in Game Three, the Yankees were down 3-1 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, when Tino Martinez hit a game-tying homer. Derek Jeter won it with an opposite field homer in the 10th.

The same process repeated itself in Game Five, a tying home run with two out, followed by a winner in extra innings. No other team has had quite the amount of events happen in their ballpark that the Yankees have had.

3. Teams Hate to Play Them

Fans of American League teams do not enjoy playing New York, for the majority.

At home, the crowd will not be as partisan with Yankee supporters scattered across the bleachers. Along with this, they are good. Their pitching, hitting, fielding, and base-running consistently beat their opponents.

As an opposing fan, the Yankees are the last team that you want beating you. Unfortunately, this is what goes down.

4. The Boss

As much as Yankee haters dislike the team itself, the man formerly in charge was despised even more. Not only did George Steinbrenner spend as much money as it took to win, but struck controversy amidst the team.

His facial hair rule often created problems. Players such as Don Mattingly, Thurman Munson, Roy White, and Goose Gossage all were ordered to shave their facial hair. When Mattingly refused, he was benched.

Steinbrenner was known for his in-game managerial decisions made from the owner’s box. He was given the nickname “Manager George” for these moves.

Many never liked Steinbrenner’s demeanor, his insults, controversy, or hands-on owning, but there is no denying that the Yankees won have won seven titles during his reign.

5. All the Attention

It seems that you can’t go channel surfing through the sports networks for 15 minutes without hearing about the Yankees.

Coming out of New York, and with a wide fan base, the Yanks are constantly the talk of the sports world, whether it be over a new signing, trade, or game recap. The vast New York City media undoubtedly contributes to all this.

Fans get tired of all the national attention given to the Yankees. It sometimes can get to a point when we baseball fans want highlights from other teams, as well. This adds to why people hate the Yankees.

6. The Big Apple

Who doesn’t love the NYC?

Apparently, some people don’t. They see that the Yankees play in the city, thus it can’t be that great. The glitz and glamour there is unlike in any other city in the world.

How many other cities have songs written about them (no, little towns in Mississippi don’t count)? The Big Apple has seemingly all the world’s components wrapped into one huge metropolitan area, and a perennially winning baseball club gives the city even more.

7. 2009

Nearly a decade passed without seeing the New York Yankees winning a World Series. Almost.

If that had happened, we all might as well cry blasphemy on the baseball gods because the endowed Yankees must win a championship, right?

Well, the gods still find pleasure in watching the Yanks win. In 2009, they won World Series No. 27, a 4-2 series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Just as fans were beginning to forget about their hatred toward the Yankees, because they were slowly becoming average, BOOM!, they were back on top.

Their championship renewed many people’s hate toward the Yankees, including my mother’s, who couldn’t stand to watch any of the World Series. As the series ended, America collectively uttered, “NOT AGAIN!”

8. Pinstripes

There is something prestigious and dignifying about the white with black pinstripes that the Yankees sport. While other teams have pinstripe uniforms, these are the Yanks’ home uniforms. There comes talk about how spectacular the pinstripes are; their classy look representing the Yankees.

This is the antithesis of those who despise the team. Pinstripes are just another way for them to pull themselves away from the pack, and stand out in the league. No other team’s jersey has as much history as the Yankees, but  those who don’t like them consider that talk wish-wash.  

9. The Empire

There is more to the Yankees than the team. The organization is the empire of the baseball world. They dominate revenue, pay roll, and championships. They can afford to put tickets at high prices, because it is assured that fans will come out night after night.

The Yankees are the epitome of a large-market team. The small-market teams don’t even compare to the size and power of the Yankees.

They have built an empire in baseball that they are well aware of, and make it known to the league in multiple ways. The big businessmen are the ones running the Yankees. What the Yankees do garners much more attention than what any other organization does.

10. Shopping Spree

$206,333,389.

That is how much the Yankees will spend in 2010 on player salaries, not including player bonuses for performance. To put this is perspective, the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays spent about $70 million on salaries.

That’s right. This year, New York will spend triple the amount that the Rays do. The Yankees can afford the big players that the Rays, or any other small-market team cannot.

Look at the names on the Yanks: Mark Teixera, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Javier Vazquez, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Joba Chamberlain.

How many other teams can afford all of these players? Nine players on the Yankees will make over $10 million in 2010. Besides Boston, no other team could possibly afford this.

The Yankees’ unlimited spending spree agitates numerous fans, including me.

While most teams are limited to one big-name free agent and other smaller ones, New York does not stop at one.

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Coming into Saturday night’s contest between Milwaukee and Arizona, outfielder Jody Gerut had only four hits on the year.

Gerut matched his season with four hits in the Brewers’ 17-3 rout of Arizona.

And they weren’t just any four hits.

With a single, double, triple, and home run, Gerut became just the sixth player in Brewers history to hit for the cycle.

The outfielder, who had made only four starts all season, definitely earned himself a spot in Sunday’s game.

“It’s going to be tough not to put him in the lineup,” said Brewers manager, Ken Macha.

Gerut is possibly the most unlikely Milwaukee candidate to hit for the cycle.

Macha wasn’t even sure who to start coming into Saturday afternoon, saying he “flipped a coin” to determine whether to pencil in Gerut or Corey Hart. This was a rare joke from the skipper, who studies match-ups as much as any other manager. But the 32-year-old Gerut’s start in right field was still surprising.

Gerut drove in four runs. Ryan Braun, who hit a 467-foot tape measure home run, also had 4 RBIs. McGehee had three hits and two RBI. Starter Randy Wolf (3-2) overcame a shaky first frame to get the win in a six inning performance.

It was the third time Milwaukee had scored 11 or more runs in the last five games. It was the sixth time they’ve reached double digit runs this season.

The St. Louis Rams have begun to envy the Brewers’ offense of late.

Gerut homered in the second inning, then singled to load the bases in the third. His fifth inning, RBI triple ignited a six-run outburst that put the game on ice. With the rally, the Brewers led 12-2. After two hitless at bats, Gerut thought he wouldn’t get another chance at history. But after Milwaukee exploded for four more runs in the ninth, he laced a double off Arizona’s center field wall.

“It’s unbelievable. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in a game,” Gerut told reporters.

Coming into the game, Gerut was a paltry 1 for 21 against right-handed pitchers.

Arizona’s Mark Reynolds hit a solo home run off of Wolf in the sixth. It was Reynolds’ 99th career blast.

After finishing the series with Arizona on Mother’s Day, the Brewers head back to Miller Park to face the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series.

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