Where to begin. The Brewers swept the Pirates at home, thanks mostly in part to the continued WHITE-HOT bat of J.J. Hardy.
What Hardy is doing right now is just insane. In the month of July, Hardy has launched six homers, driven in 11 runs and has 36 total bases. All that in six games. In March/April-June, Hardy hit a total of six homers and drove in 27 runs. And again, he has 36 total bases, 36! That means J.J. is just socking the ball all around the field. He had 28 total bases in March/April, 32 in May and 43 last month. We all got on J.J. pretty hard early in the season, and rightfully so, but he's definitely validating his slow start with his recent power surge.
More on the sweep, the Brewers did what they were supposed to do, they beat a bad team. Friday was a big win for them, they could have easily packed it in and not shown up after their meltdown in the desert. Instead they got off the plane in Milwaukee, looking to hammer the Pirates, and they did just that.
Suppan struggled immensely. The Crew spotted him 4 runs in the first and he gave them right back in the second. Soup gave up six runs in just three innings. He hasn't looked all that good lately, but you know what...I don't care. We just added C.C. Sabathia to our rotation! Suddenly Soup isn't relied on as much anymore.
Ah yes, C.C. Sabathia. Did I not say he'd be a Brewer by his Tuesday start? Oops. Though we didn't really want to part with a talent like LaPorta, especially considering C.C. is just a rental, I think we were all OK with the deal. LaPorta, Green and Cain for Sabathia...fine. But then late last night, word broke that wasn't the deal. LaPorta, Zack Jackson, Rob Bryson and a PTBNL. Hard Core reports the PTBNL is probably Green, the Tribe want to convert him to second so they want to scout him more. Thats what we gave up? Fine. I can now see why Indian fans hate Mark Shapiro so much.
When Shapiro tried to milk more out of Melvin by asking them to up the offer, I was a tad bit worried we'd have to give up more. A little worried until I saw the Phillies were also courting him, and depending on who you believed, the Dodgers. Unless the Dodgers were going to part with Clayton Kershaw and current major leaguers, they couldn't match that and unless the Phillies were going to part with Cole Hamels or Chase Utley, they couldn't either. Melvin held firm and got C.C. for less than we thought it was going to take.
Jackson is terrible. He's a soft tosser who struggles with his command and doesn't have an out pitch. Yeah, good luck with him pitching in the American League Cleveland. Bryson is supposedly going to be a closer someday, but that's years away. We had far better pitchers in our system they could have asked for. Green is a very good young player, but since we have Gamel, the loss isn't that big. By making this deal, Melvin totally redeemed himself for all the flak he took over last years Linebrink deal (which actually wasn't that bad of a trade when you look back at it).
A message to C.C. Sabathia, you're going to love it here. If I'm to believe what your friends have said to the press, you're not a big city guy and like places like Cleveland, well you'll love Milwaukee if that's true. You're going to be viewed as a savior in this winner starved city. As soon as you land here, you're going to be given a key to to the city. The fans already love you. Tuesday night is going to be a playoff atmosphere. It will be the craziest we've ever seen Miller Park, as C.C. makes his Milwaukee debut.
Lastly, get out and vote for J.C. Hart and make him an All-Star. He's more than deserving, as his numbers are nearly identical to those of Ryan Braun.
