Game of the Week: June 25: MIL @ ARI

[Commissioner Erick]

Milwaukee Brewers (57-15) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (41-32)


MIL: David Meeks (7-3, 3.33)
ARI: Michael Kopech (2-2, 6.02)


Brewers 3 Key Stats

119: The most wins in PBA history. Milwaukee is currently 57-15, good for a .792 winning percentage. The most wins in league history were set by these same Brewers in 2027 with 119, but Milwaukee’s win percentage this year puts them at a truly incredible 128-win pace. The Brewers are dominant in a way the league hasn’t seen and likely won’t ever see again.

3.1: Grant Stein’s WAR: Stein is fifth in the NL in WAR despite being a rookie who has only appeared in 54 Games. Stein succeeds with a good bat and great patience. He has 41 walks to 39 strikeouts, an impressive ratio. The walk total ranks eighth in the NL, but is more impressive because he hasn’t played a full season. Stein’s 21 doubles ranks third in the league, and his .435 OBP ranks first. He’s the next in a long lineage of great young Brewers.

29: Home Runs by Rodolfo Rivera: Long one of the PBA’s best, Rivera has taken his game to a new level this year. He already has 29 home runs, which puts him on pace for the mid 60s and second place all-time. Rivera’s extreme uppercut has resulted in only eight doubles, a tradeoff the Brewers gladly make. Rivera is a two-time Platinum Stick winner and has a chance to win his first MVP this year.


Diamondbacks 3 Key Stats


1.234: Tony Sierra’s Home OPS. Sierra’s an excellent hitter on the road, but he’s a Hall-of-Famer when hitting at Chase Field. His batting average is the big driver as he hits .271 on the road and .383 at home. He has 12 homers at Chase Field and nine on the road, and since he gets on base more at home, has six home steals versus two road ones. He’ll be tough for David Meeks and the Brewers to handle today.

32: Pitchers who have pitched in a game for Arizona: The Diamondbacks have shuttled through their entire organization to find arms, including seven who are no longer part of the team. A whopping 17 arms have fewer than 10 innings pitched. The purpose of such wanton shuffling is unclear, but the effect has been a bloated salary with extra arms being added to the 40-man roster and taking up paychecks, even if later shipped off the 40-man. GM Andrew Frisbie may not want to use a small staff, but owner Ken Kendricks probably does.

12: Doubles for DeShawn Delaine: Once an extra base hit maven, DeLaine has slowed down this year. He had a league-leading 58 doubles two years ago and 32 last year, but is on pace for fewer than 30 this season. He had a career best 24 homers last year, but only five this year. He once led the league with 12 triples in 2026, but had just five last year, and two this year. He still runs well and plays good defense, but DeLaine is looking more like a fourth outfielder with age.


Questions for the GMs:


For Luke Grimmelbein, your team has lost only five road games all year and only one by more than a single run. What do you explain for your road dominance?

Nick Rollins is healthy again for the time being. Will he be given a rehab assignment so he can get injured in Triple-A, or will you call him so he can get injured for your main club?

Steve Eckroat has struggled a bit this year. Why him and not Yoelkis Cespedes as your right-handed platoon outfielder?

For Andrew Frisbie, why have you used so many pitchers this season?

You have a lot of tired players. Will today be a rest day for some of them?

You’re carrying three First Baseman for the time being. Why go with Tim Barton, A.J. Reed, and Anderson Franco?


TRIVIA: Who has pitched in the most games in Arizona history?

[brewersgm]

For Luke Grimmelbein, your team has lost only five road games all year and only one by more than a single run. What do you explain for your road dominance?

Nick Rollins is healthy again for the time being. Will he be given a rehab assignment so he can get injured in Triple-A, or will you call him so he can get injured for your main club?

Steve Eckroat has struggled a bit this year. Why him and not Yoelkis Cespedes as your right-handed platoon outfielder?

1. Didn’t realize we were doing that well on the road. I think I have to give the credit to our assistant to the traveling secretary. He’s been really good with his hotel selection this year. Several players have commented on his excellent choices. No Ramadas here.

2. Steve can play CF in a pinch to spell Greg Jacks. That’s why he’s on the roster. It would make more sense from a handness perspective if he was a righty but we really value having two guys who can play CF on the roster.

3. Nick will rehab in Colorado. This last injury was really unfortunate. Kyle Sidebottom needs to be more careful with his pitches. We had a word with Mr. Kent about that.

[Commissioner Erick]

Diamondbacks 8 - Brewers 6


WP: F. Kilome (1-0)
LP: M. Warf (0-1)


The Arizona Diamondbacks topped the Milwaukee Brewers by the score of 8-6, with the largest share of the credit going to right fielder Deshawn DeLaine. DeLaine went 2 for 4 with a home run and a walk, while scoring 2 for the Diamondbacks. The triumph puts Arizona at 42-32 for the season.

Amir Leaks was the walk-off hero for Arizona. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Diamondbacks pinch hitter hit a dramatic 2-run home run to send the teams home.

DeLaine said this kind of win gives the team "a buzz."


Questions for the GMs:


For Luke Grimmelbein, your team was up one with two outs in the seventh against Jose Paulino, with a deep bench. You let Luis Rivera and Will Dulihantay pinch hit against the lefty. Rivera had an infield hit that brought in a run, and Wombat struck out. In hindsight, would you have rather pinch hit for those guys?

Did you agree with Mike Becker pinch hitting for Rodolfo Rivera earlier in the inning?

Wombat went 1-3 and is now hitting under .200. How safe is his spot in the lineup when Mike Perches comes back?

For Andrew Frisbie, Paulino, Zemanek, and Kilome did a great job in relief, given the caliber of Milwaukee's offense. Are those guys three relivers you trust in a big spot?

It paid off wonderfully, but how much did you agree with the decision to pinch hit Amir Leaks for Tony Sierra in the ninth?

You sacrificed a lot of defense with Anderson Franco at Shortstop today. Did you agree with the decision?


TRIVIA: What player has the most home runs as a substitute this year?

[brewersgm]

Dec 3, 2022 12:55:40 GMT -5 Commissioner Erick said:

Questions for the GMs:


For Luke Grimmelbein, your team was up one with two outs in the seventh against Jose Paulino, with a deep bench. You let Luis Rivera and Will Dulihantay pinch hit against the lefty. Rivera had an infield hit that brought in a run, and Wombat struck out. In hindsight, would you have rather pinch hit for those guys?

Did you agree with Mike Becker pinch hitting for Rodolfo Rivera earlier in the inning?

Wombat went 1-3 and is now hitting under .200. How safe is his spot in the lineup when Mike Perches comes back?

1. I didn't like Wombat getting the AB against a LHP, would have rather gone to the bench there but no issue with Luis getting an AB.

2. No issues with that. Mike has been quietly excellent this year especially against LHP. Our pitching was the issue this game, not our bats.

3. Mike is our LF starter as his new contract indicates. He'll be back out there as soon as possible, but Wombat will still get opportunities with his ability to play most corner positions.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Hon correctly guessed Silvino Bracho

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: Luke correctly guessed Danny Tammarro