[sausagepeteza]

My first ever game thread. We'll see if I can bring them Brewers some luck.

For the second time four days, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has had to shuffle his lineup due to a sprained digit.

This time it's Casey McGehee, who injured his left thumb after getting it caught in Joey Votto's jersey on the final play of the game last night. In his stead, Roenicke will go with Craig Counsell at third base and at the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

No further details on the injury yet. We'll learn more after we meet with Roenicke around 4:30. I'll post a quick update afterward.

Batting Counsell second means Carlos Gomez will slide all the way to the eighth spot -- a move many of you have been clamoring for now for weeks. Funny part is, he's 8 for 19 on this homestand and showing much better plate discipline.

Anyway, here's the lineup. Once again, I'll post the Reds' once they make it available.

Brewers

2B Rickie Weeks
3B Craig Counsell
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
RF Mark Kotsay
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
C Jonathan Lucroy
CF Carlos Gomez
P Marco Estrada

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/120729709.html

[RetardRon]

LOL.... So RR waits for Gomez to get hot, THEN moves him to the spot in the order that requires the most plate discipline.

Thats insane..

[adambr2]

Yeah if you're going to move Gomez down (which if you've stuck with him at #2 and he finally gets hot, it seems like an odd time to change it up), he's a far better fit at #7. Counsell at #8 would have been fine. Counsell is not some stud that needs to be batting at the top of the lineup like he has. He's a fine fit at #8.

Again, I love our team. Get Hart back, McGehee, Greinke, we're golden. But for RR's first 20-25 games, I've yet to really see much, if anything, that really makes me like him a lot. I know managers have little impact on the game itself, but for his part I've seen a lot more peculiar moves than good ones.

[dusters]

8 spot requires the most plate discipline? Why is that? I would think it requires the least since you oftentimes have to widen your strike zone because you know they would rather face the pitcher.

[RetardRon]

8 spot requires the most plate discipline? Why is that? I would think it requires the least since you oftentimes have to widen your strike zone because you know they would rather face the pitcher.

Thats exactly why it requires the discipline... Often times you get pitched around because they are willing to put #8 on to get to the pitcher. A good hitter wont widen his zone, he will take the walk.

[UWbrewball]

We just need to win a goddamn game.

Hart coming back tomorrow...

[dusters]

8 spot requires the most plate discipline? Why is that? I would think it requires the least since you oftentimes have to widen your strike zone because you know they would rather face the pitcher.

Thats exactly why it requires the discipline... Often times you get pitched around because they are willing to put #8 on to get to the pitcher. A good hitter wont widen his zone, he will take the walk.

But at times good discipline wouldn't really be a good thing, say you have a man on 2nd or third with 2 outs and Dough Davis is on deck....

[Macha Man]

8 spot requires the most plate discipline? Why is that? I would think it requires the least since you oftentimes have to widen your strike zone because you know they would rather face the pitcher.

Thats exactly why it requires the discipline... Often times you get pitched around because they are willing to put #8 on to get to the pitcher. A good hitter wont widen his zone, he will take the walk.

But at times good discipline wouldn't really be a good thing, say you have a man on 2nd or third with 2 outs and Dough Davis is on deck....

It all depends on the situation, that's why 8 is such a tough spot. Ideally, you'd want a guy with good plate discipline, but can also be a bad-ball hitter. Now obviously that's not exactly a common combination, so you have to pick your poison. Rather have a guy with good plate discipline to turn the order over? Or a guy who will swing, and hit, a lot of pitches that is more likely to drive in runs if needed, but less likely to take the walk when needed.

[Fan174]

It all depends on the situation, that's why 8 is such a tough spot.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Both are right. Nobody on, 2 outs, it probably takes the most. 2 on 2 outs, you want a guy to expand a bit.

[KrayJackson]

It all depends on the situation, that's why 8 is such a tough spot.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Both are right. Nobody on, 2 outs, it probably takes the most. 2 on 2 outs, you want a guy to expand a bit.

So what you're saying is that you wanna bat Prince 8th?

[Fan174]

So what you're saying is that you wanna bat Prince 8th?

LOL.....sure, why not? No, actually, the guy best suited to hit there is probably Counsell.

[UWbrewball]

A weird occurrance in batting practice might hasten Hart's move back to the active roster tonight, actually. On my way back up to the pressbox Erick Almonte was hit in the face by a thrown ball during practice, the Associated Press reported, and apparently knocked silly.

Almonte was likely going down with Hart returning tomorrow anyway. I'll be sure to update if the Brewers announce something before the game here.

[Scoots0303]

Shit, did you guys see this? They just activated Hart tonight and put Almonte on the 7 day concussion DL. Wow.

[medicalgary33]

just saw that. Crazy. Yay Hart! Poor Almonte. Of all the ways to go down.

[McClunger]

Did he hit himself in the head striking out?

[tonyei31]

LOL. Something is so fishy about this 'concussion' I am sure it is legit but what are the odds, really?

[medicalgary33]

It still only leaves them with 3 bench players tonight with McGehee unavailable. Still crazy and like you said, what aer the odds.

[McClunger]

LOL!!

He took one off the forehead during warmups? HAHA!

[Scoots0303]

An infielder better not get injured. Only got 4 of 'em.

[medicalgary33]

The shift worked like a charm there.

Id like to point out, for all the complaining about hits that get through, because its different, are we just simply over looking the plays that it prevents hits and blind to the fact it does help? BA and Rock were talking about that last night.