There are several reasons why I don't think the Milwaukee Brewers will win the wide-open NL Central this season. Among them is the fact that manager Ken Macha (left) is an idiot.
Last year, I thought Milwaukee had the talent to beat the Cubs, but they finished seven games back, in part, because Lou Piniella got more out of his roster than Ned Yost. Well, Yost is gone now, but Macha isn't much better.
That point was driven home today as I watched the 10th inning of the Cubs' 2-1 win over Milwaukee. Here's the situation: Score tied 1-1, Ryan Theriot on third representing the winning run. Two outs, Milton Bradley at the plate. Pitcher's spot on-deck, Geovany Soto waiting to pinch-hit. Right-hander Mark DiFelice pitching.
Your move, Macha! What does he do? He walks Milton Bradley intentionally. No joke. I'm serious. He walked Milton Bradley intentionally. You've gotta be kidding.
This is the same Bradley who is hitting .192 against right-handed pitchers this season. Has Bradley gotten a single big hit for the Cubs yet this year? Not only would I pitch to Bradley in that situation, I'd lob the damn ball up there underhanded to make sure he swung at it.
It isn't like DiFelice actually wanted to pitch to Soto. He threw four straight wide ones to him, and that loaded the bases for Jake Fox. After a lengthy at-bat where Fox spoiled off three 3-2 pitches, DiFelice walked Fox on a borderline pitch that could have gone either way. Cubs win.
Why in the hell would you ever intentionally walk Milton Bradley? Only if you're a bad manager, like Ken Macha.
As bad as Chicago baseball teams has been all season, the Cubs and the White Sox are right in the middle of the race. If the Cubs and the White Sox finish the pre-All-Star break in first place, talk about getting away with murder.
The Sun-Times back page says "Reason to D-LEEVE" in today's paper.
Great back cover, but cheesy title.
For one thing, the Cubs are not even in first place. Second thing, the Cubs are on a mini roll not going through a crazy stretch of winning games like the Yankees are doing. Finally, I don't even think the Cubs are doing anything special.
For playing well for one week, it should not constitute the paper to make fans feel they have something to believe.
Are the Cubs even in .500? Geez.