After Texas were eliminated from the play-off race this week, I feared that me choosing ’surrogate’ teams for the post-season had produced some sort of unintentional curse. I’m happy to report that my jinxing skills have diminished, however, with the Colorado Rockies securing a spot in the play-offs last night.

I caught the game, and the Rockies looked very impressive casting aside the Milwaukee Brewers by 9-2. Aaron Cook pitched eight strong innings, in response to the Brewers starter Manny Parra, who had a tough day at the office, lasting only 2 2/3 innings (that seemed to go on forever and ever), giving up five runs.

The Rockies now face a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers to finish off their (normal) season, and can potentially overtake them to win the National League West. This is some turnaround by the Rockies and manager Jim Tracy. The Rockies looked dead and buried in May when he took over, but have since won 73, and lost 40 – a real contrast to their pre-Tracy record of 18-28.

The Rockies have been building up momentum for some time now, and while outsiders for a berth in the World Series, it would be hard to discount them, if they can sustain this rich vein of form and keep injury-free.

With three days of the regular season left, the play-offs are starting to take shape. Even without my beloved Mets involved I’m getting pretty excited. Picking a ’surrogate’ team probably doesn’t hurt, but even discounting that, we’re going to see some pretty special teams and players going at it this month.

Are you looking forward to the post-season? Any thoughts on what to look out for? Dare I say it, any predictions?

Aaron Cook had geen moeite met de aanval van de Milwaukee Brewers (Bron: EricKilby-Flickr)

De Colorado Rockies hebben zich donderdag verzekerd van de laatste play-offplaats in de National League. Door met 9-2 te winnen van de Milwaukee Brewers mag ook in Denver de champagnefles open. Gevierde man bij de Rox was startende werper Aaron Cook, die in acht innings slechts één punt opgaf. Zijn opponent van de Brew Crew, Manny Parra, gaf vijf punten toe in 2.2 innings.

De Rockies kunnen nog voor de titel in de NL West gaan. Dan moeten de laatste drie wedstrijden tegen concurrent Los Angeles Dodgers allemaal worden gewonnen. De Atlanta Braves zijn door de overwinning van de Rockies nu uitgeschakeld.

Read the debate intro and Bleacher Fan’s argument that players should do the playing, and GMs should do the GMing.

But, this case is bigger than just Braun and Melvin. It is about baseball as a whole and the communication from the clubhouse to the front office and vice versa.

There has always been a bizarre communication system in baseball, especially as it relates to the press. Managers often do not hear the comments of their players, and players often do not hear what their manager tells the press. For example, the manager of a team may tell the press before a game that an everyday player is not in the starting lineup that day, but the player learns the news when the clubhouse manager tapes the game’s starting lineup to the wall. Harsh? Maybe. But, that’s the reality of professional baseball communication. How many opportunities does a player have to communicate directly with the GM to relay their opinions? Not many. And when that communication does happen, I’m sure the GM does not ask the player’s opinions about how the club is doing.

Braun, like many players, feels compelled to stick up for his team and push the front office for improvement. He is fully within his right to do that. In fact he SHOULD do it. Many baseball “leaders” are too passive and unwilling to light a fire under their teammates or members of the organization. Braun, like most leaders, wants to win. A good leader pushes the right buttons because they are aggravated. They know better is possible, and they’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it.

And, most importantly for Braun in this particular case, he was right. The Brewers pitching stinks. Starter Yovani Gallardo is the only Brewers starter with an ERA below four. Fourth and fifth starters Dave Bush and Manny Parra have ERAs over 5.5 and 6.5 respectively. After watching the masterful CC Sabathia come to Milwaukee and post a sub-two ERA in his first four starts last June, Braun knows what good pitching looks like. It is fair, and completely within his right to publically acknowledge that and put some pressure on the general manager of the team to make improve the club. It is a right not exclusive to Braun, but open to all hard-working leaders in baseball.

Melvin, like many GMs, likely feels uncomfortable. General managers are always on the hot seat. In Melvin’s case more than others because he bet the farm – literally – to acquire Sabathia last season. While it did help the Brewers get to the playoffs, it did not help them once they got there. Now Melvin has fewer arrows in the quiver to trade, and has created a very difficult situation for himself and is defensive.

Good players, regardless of what sport they are in, have leverage. The team wants their best player to be happy and content. Some good players are also leaders that use their leverage to push those around them, regardless of rank or position, to get better. Melvin should be applauding his player for having the guts to stand up and fight for his team, to push to explore what he knows is possible. Braun is showing loyalty and Melvin is deserting a good player. A good GM always publically backs a player showing leadership, unless ego is more important than wins.

Manny Parra returned to the Brewers tonight and showed he got his act together during his recent couple weeks stay in Nashville.  Parra pitched seven scoreless innings tonight for Milwaukee.

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Photo credit: MLB.com

See my post earlier this morning….

Manny Parra recalled by Milwaukee

I was spot-on yesterday about the Milwaukee Brewers recalling P Manny Parra. The Nashville Sounds announced formally today that the Brewers recalled him.

The neat thing is that I had not gotten his autograph until just two nights ago since he’s been down in Nashville.  But on Tuesday night I was sitting on Row 12 behind home plate, Section N, and I looked four rows behind me and he was sitting in plain clothes charting the pitches for Narron.  I happened to have my small case of cards for autographs and I took his baseball card out and had him sign it. Whew!  That was close.

Good luck Manny!

Read my post yesterday about the story.

In all likelihood P Manny Parra is on his way back to Milwaukee after having been sent down for remedial work on June 15th [read post].  The lefty has turned in three quality starts in four attempts since he came down to Nashville. In four Triple-A starts, he went 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA.

Parra was 3-7 with a 7.52 ERA in 13 starts before the Brewers demoted him to Nashville after a loss to the White Sox on June 13.

Parra is not listed as a probable Nashville-starter in the next several games, at least through July 12th, the minor league All-Star break. His name and stats were also ommitted in today’s media game notes for the Sounds.

I sat four downs from Parra and Cody last night, who were doing pitching charts from behind home plate.

In four Triple-A starts, he went 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA.

Manny’s first peformance at Nashville was June 17th in which he figured in a no-decision [read post]. Parra went 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs (1 ER), 4 walks, 4 SOs.

Parra’s second Sound’s appearance on June 23rd resulted in a  loss [read post] although he probbaly pitched even better that his first game. Manny went 7.0 innings, yielded 5 hits, one run, (1 ER), walked 2, and struck-out 3.

His third appearance was poor as he absorbed the loss on June 28th in a blow-out [read post]. He only went 4.2 innings and was hit hard on five hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, walked five, struck-out 5.

Manny’s last performance on July 3rd was superb as he gained the win over Round Rock. The southpaw went 7.0 innings giving up just two hits and no runs

LHP Manny Parra (W, 1-2) – on re-assignment from the Milwaukee Brewers – gave a superb performance tonight on the road against the Round Rock Express.  The southpaw went 7.0 innings giving up just two hits and no runs as the Nashville Sounds (46-36) won by a score of 3-1 against the Express. Ryan Houston earned his third save pitching a scoreless ninth for the Sounds.

Manny Parra won tonight, giving up two hits and no runs.

Game summary:

Hernan Iribarren’s 14th double to centerfield in the 3rd inning plated teammate Alcides Escobar to give Nashville a 1-0 lead. The Sounds scored again in the fifth. Parra gained a one-out walk followed by Escobar’s 22nd double to left, moving Parra to 3rd.  Iribarren provided the RBI-effort again hitting a sacrifice fly to center scoring Parra.  2-0 Sounds.

Nashville-reliever Dave Johnson worked in the 8th but could only retire two batters. He gave up two hits and surrendered the only Round Rock run. After retiring the first two batters he then allowed Jason Smith to double to right, followed by an RBI single by Bogusevic to make the score 2-1 after eight.

Sound’s slugger Joe Koshansky hit a two-out solo home run (16) to right center field in the bottom of the ninth to give Nashville a little breathing room.  It would be the eventual final score as the Express failed to mount a comeback.  3-1 Nashville.

Manny Parra got the win (1-2) throwing 86 pitches with 52 of them strikes. He was in command the entire time in front of the huge crowd of 12,106 at Dell Diamond.

Sound’s game MVP: Manny Parra (W, 1-2).

The Nashville Sounds (43-34) took one of their worst losses of the year tonight at Greer, losing badly by a score of 12-1 to the Oklahoma City RedHawks (37-38). The RedHawks hit every pitcher hard the Sounds sent to the mound.

Manny Parra (L, 0-2) took the loss for the Sounds. He only went 4.2 innings and was hit hard on five hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, walked five, struck-out 5.

Manny Parra (0-2) for the Sounds

Tonight was just not a good night for the Sounds. They went 0-for-12 with RISP.  It was not pretty. The RedHawks scored two in the 4th and five runs in the 5th inning. The debacle continued in the 8th when the RedHawks plated 4 more runners. The only bright spot for the Sounds was a home run (5) by Cole Gillespie [LISTEN] in the fifth.

Right-hander Tim Dillard (7-3, 4.11) makes the start for Nashville against Oklahoma City righty Josh Rupe (1-4, 5.77).

Manny Parra

In a rare pitcher’s-duel, the Nashville Sounds (41-31) lost to the Albuquerque Isotopes (36-35) by a score of 1-0.  It was only the 5th time the Sounds have been shut-out this year, and the first by a score of 1-0. Nashville has lost three straight games by only one run.

Manny Parra, who was sent down from Milwaukee on June 15th, started his second game for the Sounds tonight (0-1, 1.38) and pitched very well though he absorbed the loss. In 13.0 innings of work for the Sounds so far he has posted as an impressive 1.38 ERA, allowing just two runs on nine hits. Tonight Parra threw 93 pitches in7 innings; 59 of them were strikes.

Three Isotope’s pitchers accounted for blanking Nashville tonight. The win went to Avarado (W, 5-5).

There is not much of a game to summarize in terms of offense. The Isotope’s lone run came int he 7th inning when Dee Brown’s two-out single to right off Parra plated teammmate Luis Maza.

Manny Ramirez made his debut back to professional baseball for the Isotopes tonight and went 0 for 2, striking out once.

Bourgeois is still red-hot.

The Nashville Sounds (now 40-27) won 3-2 in the 11th inning today and Manny Parra pitched his first game since being sent down recently from Milwaukee. Parra made a quality start, going six innings, yielding just four hits, two runs (1 earned), four walks and four strike-outs.

The Sounds are still five games ahead in the American North. They have won nine of their last ten.

[Note: I did not personally attend the game so I do not have photos of this game.]

Game summary:

A first-inning two-out single by Ramirez plated the first run for the Express, 1-0 Express.  Nashville tied it in the 4th with doubles by Almonte and Heether.  Manzell’as RBI single in the fifth gave the Express a 2-1 lead.

Heether’s RBI single in the bottom of the 8th scored Almonte, tying the score. 2-2 would remain the score until the Sound’s plated the winning run. Cole Gillespie led off with a single. Houston then laid down a perfect sac-bunt to the pitcher, advancing Gillespie to 2B. Up came the torrid bat of Jason Bourgeois. He stroked the game-winning RBI single to left [LISTEN], scoring Gillespie to win the game.

Ryan Houston (W, 4-1) pitched brilliantly the last two innings, yielding just one hit and no runs, to earn the victory.

MVP: Jason Bourgeois, game-winning RBI-single in 11th inning.

26 yr old LHP Manny Parra has been assigned to Triple-A Nashville from the Milwaukee Brewers where he was 3-8 with a 7.52 ERA in 13 starts for the Brewers.  Parra was previously with Nashville in 2007 when he pitched a perfect game against Round Rock (June 25th).

I don’t know how many proverbial straws Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitcher Manny Parra is working with, but hopefully this is his last one in Ken Macha’s eyes.

After finishing just 1.2 innings Saturday giving up six earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out none, Parra has used just about every excuse he could possibly give for his recent struggles. He is the first pitcher in the MLB to reach eight losses and has not won a decision since May 17th.

In his last five starts, Parra is 0-3 with a 13.29 ERA and has worked into the sixth inning just one time in that span.

Parra seemed to find his groove in the middle of the year as he won three straight decisions on three quality starts. However, Parra has been downright terrible ever since and there seems to be no end in sight.

It was fitting the opposing starter in today’s game, Jose Contreras, was also struggling at the beginning of the year before being demoted to AAA for a month. Since he rejoined the White Sox, he has pitched 16 straight shutout innings and won both of his contests.

It seems about time the Brewers do the same with Parra who needs desperately to find his command if he is ever going to succeed in the majors.

One of the reasons the Brewers have been so hesitant to move Parra down is because they feel they do not have a better or more reasonable replacement for the 27-year-old left hander.

While general manager Doug Melvin has shot down any rumors that he is talking to team’s about potential deals for a front-line pitcher in exchange for J.J. Hardy or Corey Hart, many believe he is indeed doing so.

Names that have been thrown around in potential deals are Boston’s Brad Penny, Cleveland’s Cliff Lee, and even San Diego’s Jake Peavy.

This is not Manny Being Manny.....

In house, the Brewers have a couple potential options they can use if Parra were to be sent down to the minors. The most realistic possibility is relief pitcher Seth McClung moving into the rotation.

Last year, McClung started 12 games for the Brew Crew going 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA. While his numbers were better as a reliever last year and he is enjoying one of his best seasons as a pitcher, his name might be called to the rotation soon.

The next option would be Mark DiFelice who has never started a game in his major league career. He is capable of going multiple innings in relief appearances and, if he prepared for it, could probably convert to a half decent starter.

Recent call-up Chris Smith is in the same boat as DiFelice in that he has never started a game, but would be capable of pitching good innings. Mike Burns was also called up for a couple weeks ago and made good appearances, once after Parra exited a game.

Smith and Burns would more than likely be short-term solutions, but both would be better options than the struggling Parra.

There is currently no one in AAA Nashville that would be a logical choice to come up to The Show, 26-year-old right hander Tim Dillard would be the best option. Currently 7-3 with a 4.23 ERA, he has handled the starter’s role before and would give the Brewers good innings, something they desperately need.

Parra may stay in the rotation and try to work out his kinks on the run, but the Brewers are really starting to play with fire by sending him out every fifth day. It is killing the bullpen and taking the Brewers out of ballgames. Their offense is good, but not that good.

NOTES — White Sox

Of course, every Cubs reader is going to read that headline and assume I am talking about whatever curse is plaguing the North Siders this year.

But, alas, the curse I am referring to is the one involving pitchers facing the White Sox for the first time in their career. As I noted earlier, pitchers facing the White Sox for the first time were 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA entering Saturday’s game against the Brewers.

Apparently, Milwaukee starter Manny Parra didn’t get the memo. Parra was yanked after a disastrous 1 2/2 innings in which he allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks.

The White Sox currently hold a 7-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth. I won’t say the curse is officially broken until the White Sox emerge from this game with a victory.