PM update: Milwaukee’s side of the story
Yes, there are two sides to every story. Over in his Brewers Blog, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel scribe Tom Haudricourt offered some perspective on Wednesday night’s theatrics at Busch Stadium:
So, the St. Louis Cardinals are taking offense to all sorts of the things the Brewers are doing that they consider a breach of etiquette.
Yes, reliever Carlos Villanueva got too excited and demonstrative after getting out of a bases-loaded jam Wednesday night. And Albert Pujols took offense to it, in essence challenging Villanueva to a fight on the field.
Pujols might have been right about that incident. Brewers manager Ned Yost said Villanueva let his emotions get away from him, which happens at times with young players. But Pujols doesn’t mind posing and watching his majestic home runs when he crushes one against a pitcher, which isn’t exactly a sign of respect.
And supposedly the Cards took offense to the Brewers’ players pulling out their jerseys after winning the game Tuesday night. They insisted that’s a way of trying to show up the opponent.
The Brewers have been pulling their jerseys out after victories all season, in essence out of respect and solidarity with centerfielder Mike Cameron. Cameron started doing it a long time ago as a tribute to his working class father, who would come home after a long day at work and untuck his shirt and sit down and relax.
Early in the year, it was just the outfielders who did that with Cameron after victories. Then the infielders wanted in on the act. This is really a close, hard-playing, fun-loving bunch and it is more a bit of camaraderie than anything. God forbid big leaguers be allowed to have any fun.
Here’s what the Cards really hate about the Brewers: The fact that the Brewers now beat them more often than not. St. Louis was accustomed to having its way with Milwaukee over the years but the Brewers went 10-5 this year against the Cards and they didn’t like that much. They liked the Brewers a lot more when they kicked their butts.
Ryan Braun wore out St. Louis pitching all year, batting .459 with seven homers and 13 RBI. So, in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Cards right-hander Adam Wainwright buried a fastball in Braun’s ribs. That’ll show him to beat up our pitching.
Wainwright had pinpoint control all night, not walking a batter in six innings. I guess that particular pitch, with that particular batter, just got away from him. But Braun didn’t say boo. He just took his base.
The Cards like to take the first shot in beanball wars because if the other team retaliates, they lose their pitcher. The first shot is always the free one.
So, Pujols says last night’s antics won’t be forgotten. The teams don’t play again this season, so we’ll see how long memories are next year.
What the Brewers really did wrong Wednesday night was not untucking shirts or being demonstrative on the mound. What they did wrong was let the chance slip away to throw dirt on the Cardinals. Had they not rallied for four runs in the eighth to win, 5-3, the Cards would be 5 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the wild card race, not 3 1/2 games.
That’s what the Brewers really did wrong. Still, they went 10-5 against St. Louis this year. That’s what really upset the Cardinals, who are used to ruling the roost.
Fair enough. Tipsheet would argue that untucking shirts en masse is a little much. Stay classy, you Brewers, and act like you’ve been there before.
FISH-BOY CASHES IN
It’s good to be king, even in a secondary sport like swimming. Just ask Olympic hero Michael Phelps.
His $1 million Speedo bonus for winning eight gold medals is just the beginning of his cash-in. Also on the horizon for him:
The opportunity to host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”
Deadspin’s AJ Daulerio wonders if the young man will make it through the monologue in one piece: “Given Phelps’ less-than-polished on-air persona this is an interesting choice. You would have a better chance of Fred Armisen medaling in the 100m butterfly than Michael Phelps getting a legitimate laugh in a sketch. But we’ll see. The writers might make him look good. Most likely Phelps will bomb so badly that he’ll make Lebron James‘ SNL appearance look like Carlin at Carnegie Hall. Over/under on sketches involving goggles: 2.”
A presenting gig at MTV’s 2008 “Music Video Awards”. Other presenters at the Sept. 7 even include Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Ciara and actors from the High School Musical.
The New York Post reports he will collect an advance of $1.6 million to “write” an inspirational memoir for Simon & Shuster. Never mind that he already published a book, “Beneath The Surface” – co-authored by accomplished Sports Illustrated scribe Brian Cazeneuve, one of Tipsheet’s favorites.
Here is another fine piece of salesmanship:
ADAM JONES STILL LIKES THE LADIES
The NFL star formerly known as “Pacman” has gained full reinstatement from the NFL. Dallas Morning News scribe Calvin Watkins posted this item on his blog:
Just talked to Adam Jones who said he was excited about getting a second chance in the NFL after commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him this afternoon.
Jones was at Hooters eating a chicken sandwich when he got off the phone with league and team officials regarding his suspension.
Of course the HBO Hard Knocks crew is in route to film everything.
Here’s what Jones had to say about getting reinstated: “It feels good man, you know, to get a second chance and I just have to take advantage of it. First and foremost, I don’t want to let myself down, definitely my little girl down. I’m thankful for Jerry, the fans in Dallas and my teammates for believing in me. I need to keep doing what I’ve been doing to get reinstated staying with myself and my teammates and staying away form those knuckleheads and just stay focused.”
At least his lunchtime servers were mostly clothed, so Adam IS working on his citizenship.
All the Brewers fans say together……………”No big wins since 1982?”