TTM Dave Bush

As of late, I find myself being reminded by fellow bloggers (Motherscratcher, and Patricia & Lucy) that the season is young. Some players just have slow starts, that's all. Perhaps these souls are correct, and things will turn around for the Brew Crew. A 4-9 start isn't what I had in mind, but then again, how a season starts most often has no bearing on how it will finish. At this point in the season in 1987, Milwaukee had just been handed it's first loss. Their record on Earth Day that year was 13-1. Two weeks later, they would begin a streak of 12 straight losses. They failed to make the playoffs that year.

Words of encouragement seem to mean a lot more coming from a Cleveland Indians fan, for surely they would know about patience and such. I know of a dentist in Ohio who must be the most patient of baseball fans.

As bad as the Brewers are playing right now, one thing hasn't changed about my outlook on the game: the cards. In fact, even though Milwaukee can't pitch their way out of a wet paper bag, new cards continue to come out, which means more Ryan Braun cards for me to get my hands on. And this I like.

I also like it when CURRENT PLAYERS send back the cards I sent them at the beginning of Spring Training. Today's TTM auto is from Brewers pitcher Dave Bush, whose slow start this season just means that he's wearing a Brewers uniform. Bushy has been Milwaukee's most consistent pitcher over the last 3 seasons, averaging 12 wins per. Of course these stats should mean very little to someone whose team doesn't call the smallest media market in all of baseball home, but to a Brewers fan this means a lot.

Now, if only I had sent a note with the letter I DID send with the card, reminding Bushy to allow the ink to dry before placing the card back in the sleeve. Dammit.

Go Crew.

Chicken Runs at Midnight

I first heard the story of "Chicken Runs at Midnight" from two folks at Church one night. My wife and I go to a class on Thursday nights at church, and one week I wore my "Brewers" batting practice jacket - I think it must have been around the start of Spring Training. One older couple in the room said "Milwaukee, huh? Well, we lived in Arizona for a time and became fans of the Diamondbacks, and especially of Craig Counsell". I said "Sure, I love Craigers. He plays for the Brew Crew now, what a great ballplayer". The older woman asked me "So, have you heard the story of him, and 'Chicken Runs at Midnight?'"

No sooner had we arrived at home after class that night was I online looking up the story. Here's the best account I can find of it. Go ahead and read it, then come back. You'll thank me.

This is only the second "current-Brewer" card to come back from Spring Training this year - the first one being pitcher Manny Parra. I love this card, probably my favorite of all the '09 Topps base set Brewers cards - Mike Cameron's card is pretty cool, too. Not the "Braun" card though...quite possibly, the laziest card in baseball. Anyways, the Brewers broke camp yesterday, playing their final home game before two more road games against the Dodgers. Then it's off to San Francisco for the season opener next Wednesday.

Most of the ballplayers sign all the TTM autograph requests sent to them at once, and at the very end of Spring Training. The coaches usually send them back to you a bit earlier in the Spring. I haven't heard anything back from the Brewers' minor league camp, though, including AAA and AA guys who worked out w/ the big league club this spring but actually have 2009 baseball cards.

So Craig Counsell - I think of him, and I think of clutch hitting. Not necessarily Manny or Big Papi power clutch hitting, but a guy who can get the nod from the manager in the bottom of the ninth, take the plate with the bases juiced and 2 outs, and plate a run or two. This year, he's abandoned his trademark "hands so high in the air holding the bat" batting stance. His batting average this spring, as a result, has gone up. He will be playing, however, with some pain in his knee, as he recently turned down the option for surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. Here's hoping he stays healthy, and can be the go-to guy for 3B or SS backup once again this season.

S-V-E-U-M, spoken "Swaim"

Last year he came up huge for Milwaukee. Not only was he the most agressive 3rd base coach in the entire National League (I'm sure that's not a defendable stat, but I think he was) but he also filled in as "interim manager" to finish out the season after Milwaukee management FINALLY fired Ned Yost.

This year Dale is still coaching with the Brewers, but taking on a different role. Instead of doing the "roundhouse" with his left arm (perhaps being the ONLY person alive who can get Prince Fielder to home plate all the way from first base) he'll be showing the Brewers players a more efficient way of hitting. Last year they collectively hit .253 as a team. I'm thinking, one can most likely only go up from there. And just in case you had no idea how poorly they hit last year, I'll indulge you a bit more - a total of 1,203 strikeouts as a team. That's nearly 7.5 strikouts per nine innings. Yuck.

Anyhow, hopefully Dale can help us turn that around. Thanks for the autos!

"COOOOOOOOP!"

Yesterday's mail run yielded wonderful results - and if you read my "Top 30" post yesterday in which I ranked the Major League Baseball teams in order of my preference - you can now see why I moved the Houston Astros from their #15 ranking in 2008 up to #11...two beautiful, personalized autographs from their skipper, a one Cecil Cooper.

1984 Topps #420 Cecil Cooper

2004 UD Legends Timeless Teams #208  Cecil Cooper

"Phil - Best Wishes, Cecil Cooper". I suppose personalizing an autograph request performs two functions. On one hand, it sends the fan a much more special autographed card that they will surely hold on to for life. On the other hand, it assures the player that the card will most likely not be sold on eBay for a sick profit.

I could care less about the reason these two cards have both my name and Cecil Cooper's name on them - to me, they are a kind gesture by one of the greatest players to wear a Brewers uniform, and will surely be a part of mine, and my future childrens' baseball card collection for years to come. Thanks so much, Coop.

TTM Brewers!

Yesterday I officially broke into the world of current player TTM auto requests! That's right, a letter postmarked from Phoenix, AZ (ahem, that would be home of Brewers camp) was waiting for me. And inside, a lovely new auto.

2007 Topps '52 #185 Manny Parra RC

At the time I sent this, it was the only card of Manny that I had - but looking back on it, a few cards later, I am so glad that I send him this one! It came out really well, and knowing his own signature, was good enough to NOT use a sharpie, but rather use a felt pen to show the intricacies of his awesome, awesome signature.

Hopefully Manny comes into his own this year as a vital part of the Brewers rotation. He only had 10 wins last year, but he has so much more in him than that. Yesterday in preseason action, he was the starting pitcher in a Brewers 8-5 win over Oakland, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 batter over 2.0 innings. A great sign for him to do well in his spring debut. 

You may recall the dugout altercation between Prince Fielder and Manny Parra last summer. Long story short, Fielder attacked Parra when he was taken out of the game after giving up 6 runs in 6 innings to the Reds. I felt really bad for Manny that day, he looked hurt - not physically, but emotionally, after being attacked by his own teammate for giving up runs and merely turning to go to the clubhouse for a quick second. Bad fatty, bad.

I'm sure Manny doesn't receive a whole bunch of auto requests, but he's my favorite Brewers pitcher and I'm stoked that he took the time to return my card.

I've Entered the Realm of TTM

A couple weeks ago I sent off roughly 25 or so TTM autograph requests to various players who either currently or previously called Milwaukee or one of its affiliate cities home.  The previous Brewers went out first - now they range from retired civilian to minor league manager, major league manager, or even a farmer. Today, I recieved a self-addressed (and stamped) envelope back from said farmer. He currently calls upstate South Carolina home, and operates a well-sized farm. In his free time, he coaches a bit of baseabll. His name is Billy Spiers.

1991 Upper Deck #268

1993 Upper Deck #325

1994 Score #105

Gosh, I love that 1993 Upper Deck set. This is one of my all-time favorite cards, it's such a great action shot. Thanks Billy for sending these cards back to me.  I received these cards only 11 days after I mailed them. I know he's not involved in spring training like most of the other TTM requests I sent out, but pretty cool he took the time to get these right back into the mail to some Brewers fan marooned somewhere in Washington State.