Brewers, Padres Split in Fun Series with Wild Ending

The Brewers are officially out of playoff contention. Not as soon as I figured we'd be, and we honestly had a nice run, but the shellacking by the Giants was enough to rule us out for a long term run. Again, considering the quality of the team when I got to it, the fact that I'm looking at a ninth place finish is a lot to be proud of. 

And so now, basically everything I have left to do, other than run out the clock, is be the spoiler. I couldn't spoil things for Billy, so that led me to Andy's Padres, who I've matched a lot better against. Suffice to say it went well for me. Arguably it could have gone better, and one specific decision will likely be haunting me all offseason. But regardless, a split was what I came in hoping for and that's what I got.

Here now the results, which, in honor of NFL RedZone, has ad breaks now:

Game 1: Brewers 4, Padres 0

W: Jameson Taillon

L: Robert Gasser

SV: Kyle Finnegan

Not to give the game away entirely but I do have a method to prepping for series now. Very happy I've got a system, as I worried I'd still be flying blind by now. Yeah, I can read opposing pitchers. So I saw Robert Gasser's card had a ton of N-HR spots for lefties and of course I started all my N-lefties, in addition to the usual gang of lefty-killers. And wouldn't you believe it, I hit zero of those N-HR spots. Yet I still won the game. 

The offensive swell against Gasser came mostly from small-ball. Jeimer Candelario hit a sac in the first that scored Heliot Ramos. Then in the third Xander Bogaerts, with the bases loaded, singled in two runs. No homers though. 

Thankfully this happened during the Jameson Taillon game. Jamo was absolutely stellar. I knew I was limiting his innings so he could start next series, but the 6 innings I got from him were excellent. No runs, 4 Ks and only one hit allowed, a Lars Nootbaar single in the third. Taillon, since Sale and Fedde left, has stepped up in a huge way, and I couldn't be happier.

The only other Brewers run would come on a Blake Perkins RBI in the sixth off of Jorge Lopez. The only other Padres hit would come from Jake McCarthy in the eighth. No bases were stolen, no homers were hit, and the Brewers only gave up 2 hits the whole game. Lots to be happy about for me here. Though this was the game where 6 of 7 straight Brewers struck out. That was something.

[This writeup is sponsored by Tostito's Tortilla chips. Tostito's: we're 90% sure the chips don't have crack in them. Honest to god they're that addictive on their own.]

Game 2: Padres 8, Brewers 4

W: Pablo Lopez

L: Bailey Falter

SV: Devin Williams

I think I knew what I was in for this game when the top 3 Brewers batters did nothing, on rotten luck rolls, and then Bailey Falter got up, walked two men on and gave up a homer to Dansby Swanson. Yeah. Bailey does that.

Honestly this one could have been close if it weren't for Bailey. The Brewers actually delivered some damage throughout, including a Michael Conforto solo homer in the 2nd and a Gavin Lux 2-run bomb in the third. The game stood tied for an inning, and both starters settled in. But the thing about Bailey Falter is that as bad as his first innings are, that's never usually all.

And so in the fourth, all hell broke loose. First Jake McCarthy made it on, then he stole two bases. Then 3 walks, including one walking a run home. Then RBI singles from Mark Canha and Paul Goldschmidt. 5 runs scored in that inning. You know, it takes a lot to make me really consider if it's worth starting Valente Bellozo over you, but Bailey really tested me this game.

It was 8-3 for most of the game. I put in Hicks and rolled. Then in the top of the ninth, with Jesse Chavez on, the bases got loaded and an error brought Jeimer Candelario home, meaning Andy needed a Devin Williams appearance in a game that he thought was already won. Yes, Williams K'd the top 2 batters for the save, but the fact that I made this game a save situation was a win for me. Gotta take 'em where I can.

[This writeup is sponsored by Topps Baseball Cards. Buy Topps: remember when you could get 20 packs for 20 bucks? Enjoy shelling out 24 for like 40 cards.]

Game 3- Brewers 5, Padres 3

W: Ben Lively

L: Max Fried

SV: Kyle Finnegan

Here's my favorite detail about this game, other than the fact that I won it. So Lively gets the first two batters out in the 1st, right? Andy asks to take a look at Lively's card, just to see where the hit chances are, the homer chances. That's fine, I allow it, cool. Next batter, Manny Machado. Homer right to one of those spots. Then Matt Vierling. Homer to like the next spot over on the same column. Then Bryan de la Cruz smokes a single. I'm going 'you know, a more competitive sort would look into the timing of this'. Just funny as hell.

But yeah, the Padres started this one with a 3-0 lead through two, thanks to some small-balling from Mark Canha in the second. Barring that, Ben Lively was pretty strong, allowing 5 hits and striking out 4. He's been pretty good for me this year but will just have starts where it doesn't come together. This honestly wasn't one of them.

However, Andy did start a lefty. So there was some damage. In the third, Perkins and Pillar worked consecutive doubles, then Isaac Paredes had the RBI to bring Pillar home. Fried, with some exception, did well, striking out 7 Brewers and keeping things close, at 3-2, for five innings. The sixth was when things went wrong. The bases were loaded [including on a Travis d'Arnaud HBP that ensures his season will end under the mendoza line], and RBIs from Norby and Stowers brought  guys home. The Stowers RBI single was an infielder error that Andy was not at all pleased by. The frustration was palpable. He had this game, and the little stuff ripped it away.

The Brewers' bullpen closed it out, including another save from Finnegan. This was a crucial win for me, though it did give Andy the idea that his season was lost. 

Luckily I'm a nice guy and gave him this last one essentially.

Game 4- Padres 5, Brewers 4

W: Pablo Lopez

L; Victor Vodnik

I am fine with having won 35 this year. I could win maybe one or two more if things really go well next series. But I'm content with how I've done. That being said...I should have won this game. I literally dictated that one decision would come back to haunt me, and it did. I played myself while also knowing I'd play myself. 

Here's what makes it especially heartbreaking: Carlos Rodon, in what will likely be his last start of the season, pitched an absolute gem, one of his best starts for me. First of all, he struck out EVERYBODY. Struck out the side in the first. Then struck out the side in the third. Finished the day with 8 Ks, 5 hits and 5 walks, plus only 3 runs. Two came on solo homers from Lars Nootbaar and Manny Machado, and the other on yet another RBI single from Mark Canha. Rodon looked very good, and looked to finish this season on a high note.

The Brewers' offense also looked to fall into place against Miles Mikolas, with an early RBI from Nick Fortes, then Gavin Lux's 2nd 2-run homer of the day [and he's not exactly known for his power]. It was tied at 3 for a while. I think this was the game where I not only botched a diamond but also rolled a 20 on a 'single one to 18'. Funny stuff like that.

In the top of the ninth, Blake Perkins hit a solo shot off his old teammate A.J. Puk to take the lead. Absolutely huge. I had the win in my grasp. Going into bottom 9, I had to decide whether to keep Victor Vodnik on, after a great inning of work, or bring in Finnegan, who's a great closer but can also screw me when my guard's done. I decided, after much forethought, to keep in Vodnik. And I did say, out loud, 'I may regret this in the morning, or in about a minute'.

There were two outs and a man on second. And when Andy pinch-hit Randal Grichuk I sort of trusted the odds. Could be the last out. Could be a mistake. And of course, 2 run walk-off homer. Of course. And now I'll stay up at night thinking about what would have happened if I'd put on Finnegan. 

Yeah, extremely fun series, as it always is with Andy. I did what I expected to do yet got a little greedy. As a manager you have to take risks like that and uh, sometimes they don't pay off. What can I say? Still got to 35 wins though, that's great for me.

And now all that remains is to play this final series against the Nats [next monday I believe], and then I hang up my Milwaukee caps for the winter. I've had a lot of fun, outdone my own expectations and come into my own here. Rest assured, the Jordan Schmidt KPSL experience is only getting started.