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Q:
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Jim Goulart
from Assonet, MA -
Jim, one of the things I most appreciate about your broadcasts is your interviewing skill, whether it be a chat with the commissioner or an 18-year-old who just signed his first pro contract. Have you ever been a bit intimidated prior to speaking with anyone in particular, perhaps one of the game's playing or broadcasting greats, and if so, how did the conversation end up going? Finally, who was that French-Canadian gentleman you would chat with whenever the team was in Montreal -- funny, Bob never seemed to be around when he was in the booth. Maybe he'll return when the Nationals (Expos) come to town. Thanks!
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Jim: |
Two out in the 6th...I gotta run. Thanks for the nice comments, Mr. Goulart. I know and respect your work too for Brewerfan.net with your Minor League Link reports which are bookmarked prominently on my computer. I have been intimidated by several interview subjects, with Hank Aaron probably #1 on that list. He was as nice as he could be, but I was still scared. He's HANK AARON! Jean-Jacques Smythe is gone but not forgotten...he is remembered with actual tape on Pat Hughes' tribute CD on the career of Bob Uecker. Go figure. That makes the CD a must-have for Ueck fans for sure. See you all next Tuesday!
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Q:
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Aaron
from Madison -
What are your thoughts about going to Mota last night with a 1-run lead against the Cards? Sure, it worked, but seems kind of risky given the importance of the game and his struggles over the past couple months.
Thanks,
~A
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Jim: |
If he is going to be on the staff you have to get him some work and try to get him hot. Sitting him for long periods of time is a good way to guarantee poor performances. They might have used Bush last night in the 6th except they wanted to save him for insurance for tonight in case Suppan had elbow problems while warming up. The team has been winning alot so there haven't been good chances to get Mota work in a non-pressure situation.
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Q:
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Aaron
from Madison -
What are your thoughts of the "pitcher platoon" given the fact that starting pitchers are creatures of habit and that it, in effect, reduces your bullpen by one arm for at least three days following a start by one or the other?
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Jim: |
I would say that I greeted that news the same way that Ned Yost characterized the reaction of McClung and Bush: With suspicion. I am afraid it will make both of them struggle, instead of just having one in the pen and one in the rotation and hopefully having both fall into routines which keep them sharp. I am not aware of anyone doing this before although 5th starters are often skipped (especially years ago) and are forced to find ways to adapt. We'll see how it plays out. If they have problems, I think Ned will adopt a different strategy. He doesn't say he is married to it.
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Q:
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Matthew Daubert
from Mequon -
Jim,
There is a lot of speculation that Manny Parra does not qualify for the ROY award. Is this true and why doesn't he qualify?
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Jim: |
It is true...he is not an official rookie, which was news to him when Brian Anderson and I were discussing it with him on a bus ride in Minnesota a few weeks ago. His DL time does count as service time in the month of September, as I understand it, and he spent 20 September days on the DL last year which apparently pushed him past the threshold of service time for being a rookie. Too bad, although I think Fukudome is probably going to win the NL ROY regardless.
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Q:
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Jack Hasenfus
from Green Bay -
Jim ~ What's to prevent a manager from going "topsey turvey" and starting his top ERA closers until let's say the 6th inning? My guess is breaking tradition. Has any manager ever done this?
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Jim: |
Nothing. In fact, while it isn't the same as your idea, GM Doug Melvin has talked about experimenting, perhaps at the minor league level, with using relievers for the first few innings and then bringing in the "starter" so the "starter" would learn to finish games. With strict pitch counts for minor league arms, nobody ever throws a 9-inning complete game in the minors and thus they are not thinking that way in the Majors either. I don't know that you will see that take place at the Major League level however.
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Q:
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larry muehrer (meer)
from oshburg -
why does yost keep pitching gagne and mota?.
is it more than money9salary).
what's your appraisal.
since pitching is at least 85-90% of the game at the ml level.
pitching will carry them or keep them from the play-offs.
love bob and you.
listen to 160 of 162 games on radio.
turn down the tv.
former member of merle harmon fan club .
keep up the great work.
no better broadcast crew in mlb
larry
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Jim: |
Mota and Gagne both looked really good last night, now that you bring them up. You have to use all of your pitchers to get through 162 games (and the post-season). If they are too ineffective, it is up to Doug Melvin to remove them from the roster. Otherwise everybody on the staff has to be used to keep from burning up the bellcows. There is still alot of hope within the Brewers that Gagne could kick it into gear and really help down the stretch. Mota still throws in the mid-90's and has had alot of success in the Majors, so you have to hope he gets into a groove too. Thanks for the compliment.
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Q:
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Pat Wagner
from Lansing,IA -
Jim--I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about baseball and the radio. In fact, I own all five of Pat Hughes' Baseball Voices CD's. They are great. My thought tonight---How was Kyle Lohse left off the All Star team?
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Jim: |
Thanks Pat. For those who haven't seen it yet, the magical link between baseball and radio is the subject of my latest blog entry. Good question about Lohse. He certainly deserved it. I'm sure he was discriminated against because of past performance.
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Q:
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Nick Z.
from Chicago, IL -
Hi Jim, as always, thanks for the chats. Just moved to Chicago and took you and Bob with me w/ MLB Radio.
Anyhow, I'm having a debate with a friend that you might be able to settle. Is there a difference between a sinker and a two-seam fastball, or is the sinker simply the same pitch with a different name?
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Jim: |
A sinker and a two-seam fastball are the same thing, although not everybody's two-seamer sinks. Some don't move at all, others move more horizontally than vertically. Give 'em hell down there Nick.
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Q:
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Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Mario Gonzales
from Camp Fallujah, Iraq -
Would just like to say hello to all of you while I listen to the game via the internet.... Let's Go Brewers...
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Jim: |
Hello everybody...great to be back after a week's absence due to the A-S break. The game is moving fast so I'll get right to your questions and comments. Mario: All I want to say, and I know I speak for everyone, is THANK YOU for your service. We owe you a debt that cannot be repaid. Stay safe and keep rooting for the Crew!
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