By: Melissa S. Wollering
The Sportsbank.net is in Arizona all week and we’re bringing the best of Spring Training to you in a lovely cacti package. Think about it… We even have our site President tailgating with these wonderful Brewers fans from DeForest, Wisconsin in the picture above. As you can tell, it was quite a matchup between the Oakland A’s and the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers blew a 6-1 lead at Phoenix Municipal, but put up a good showing in the innings prior for a Spring Training game. Jemile Weeks (little brother to Rickie) played for the A’s today and played up to his brother’s potential while Ben Sheets pitched against Yovani Gallardo, reinforcing why the Brewers are investing in their future not their past.
We start with Sheets; who pitched 1 and 2/3rd’s innings, four hits, two runs, 1 K and one wild pitch. He noticeably weighs more, by the weigh. The media guide says his weight is comparable to the 2008 season, but that’s a load of waffle.
Yovani Gallardo proved why he is a Brewers’ franchise investment. Gallardo pitched two innings, one hit and three strikeouts; with newbie offseason pickup LaTroy Hawkins pitching another scoreless inning with just one hit and one walk with a strikeout in tow.
Rickie Weeks definitely impressed and is two for two so to speak in Spring Training; having batted in two runs yesterday and earning a leadoff single Friday that helped the Brewers get on the board in the first.
Rickie’s brother Jemile showed Brewers’ fans that talent runs in the family. Jemile helped earn the runs the Athletics needed to beat the Crew; Jemile drove in a run in the sixth an earned a double with the same speed as his brother.
Where has Gabe Gross been? I honestly didn’t know until today. Gabe Gross came to play for the A’s in the fifth. All the Brewers fans looked in bewilderment as his name was announced. He didn’t contribute; but now we know Ben Sheets has at least one friend on team.
If I had to give a Spring Training first impression award, I’d give it to Adam Heether (pronounced “heater”) for playing all nine innings and definitely contributing both offensively and defensively. Heether advanced on an error that if scored, should have probably been an E5, E6, E7 AND E8.
Defensively, he also made a sweet, sweet fake on a runner headed towards third by faking a throw to first and then circling around to tag said runner out in the bottom of the 8th. High five Heether. Maybe you’ll earn a utility spot after all.
Friday’s game was also a great opportunity for multiple Sportsbank.net contributors to meet up and enjoy the great game of baseball. We don’t always cheer for the same team, but we’re committed to working as one to bring you best sports coverage around the Midwest and beyond.
Today, we’ll be at the Milwaukee Brewers’ first home game at Maryvale, where the Crew will take on the San Francisco Giants again. Let’s see if we can win one back from them and avoid any additional Prince Fielder HBP’s. Follow us during the game on Twitter @MilwBrewersBeat. We’ll be tweeting live from the game and have a synopsis later tonight!