Game of the Week: April 16: CHC @ MIL

[Commissioner Erick]

Chicago Cubs (2-7) @Milwaukee Brewers (6-3)


CHC: Teofilo Torrez (0-0, 16.21)
MIL: Kenny McMahon (0-0, 37.80)


Cubs 3 Key Stats:

.807: Chicago’s OPS this season: Despite facing nobody aside from Milwaukee and Pittsburgh this year, the Cubs are hitting. Their OPS is fifth in the NL so far with Francisco Lindor and Kris Bryant with a trio of homers and Lindor batting .371. There aren’t as many easy outs with the Cubs either. It’s not a team with a lot of depth of high-end talent, but despite the rebuild, there are more competent bats in Chicago’s lineup this year compared to their recent iterations.

6.10: The lowest ERA in Chicago’s rotation. Dave Vasquez, a 22-year-old, has a 6.10 ERA. Every other arm in their rotation has a higher ERA. Teofilo Torrez has a 16.20 ERA after giving up six runs to the Brewers in 3.1 innings. If Chicago’s pitching matched their hitting, they’d have a solid record right now.

6.23: Juan Ochoa’s ERA: Ochoa, once a first round pick and the return in a Christian Marte trade was once a Top 100 prospect. However, he’s been rough in the PBA. He was respectable as a swingman/closer in 2026, and was solid in half a season last year after being claimed off waivers from Washington. The success last year hasn’t followed this year though. He has only two strikeouts in 4.1 innings, and his ERA is so high despite a .200 BABIP. It’s early, but Ochoa is running out of chances. He made $1.7 million with his signing bonus after signing with Miami and will likely never make more than that in a single season in the PBA.


Brewers 3 Key Stats:

7: Runs allowed by Kenny McMahon to the Cubs last week: McMahon was roughed up last Tuesday, giving up seven runs in 1.2 innings last Tuesday. Chicago is getting a second look and McMahon has to be better. The Brewers have a lot of options for back-end arms, so McMahon can’t afford many bad games.

11: Greg Jacks’s RBI’s: Jacks is third in RBIs so far this year and is one of the better run producers as a Center Fielder in the league. Jacks is still fulfilling his role as a guy who gets on base as well. He’s hitting .385 with a .432 OBP as well and has four steals. The 2026 MVP is such a versatile player and he’s on an MVP pace to start this year.

.103: Will Dulihanty’s Batting Average: Dulihanty is just 3-29 to start. He has eight walks, but has struck out 12 times as well. Wombat has been streaky in the past, but Milwaukee has a ton of depth. Mike Perches can come back from injury today, which could relegate Dulihanty to the bench. Nick Rollins is due off the IL soon, which could bump Matt Aceto to the outfield and Dulihanty to the bench. He’ll need to perform with Milwaukee’s bench or he won’t be able to justify a spot in the starting lineup.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jon Richardson, your offense has been solid to start the year. Do you think they can keep this up today against a pitcher they handled with ease last week?

You have a few stopgap positional players in your lineup. They’re helping your offense, but won’t be part of your core. How come you signed guys like Andres Chaparro and Keibert Ruiz?

You have a few Ochoa’s on your roster. Which one do you have bigger plans for?

For Luke Grimmelbein, how short of a leash is Kenny McMahon on?

Will Mike Perches re-enter the lineup or go on a rehab assignment. If he makes the roster, who gets demoted?

You signed Troy Montgomery to be on your Triple-A club after ridiculing him most of his recent career. Why did you give him a spot in your rotation?


TRIVIA: Which First Baseman has the most Home Runs in PBA history?

[brewersgm]

Oct 28, 2022 17:14:16 GMT -5 Commissioner Erick said:

For Luke Grimmelbein, how short of a leash is Kenny McMahon on?

Will Mike Perches re-enter the lineup or go on a rehab assignment. If he makes the roster, who gets demoted?

You signed Troy Montgomery to be on your Triple-A club after ridiculing him most of his recent career. Why did you give him a spot in your rotation?

1. It's only been one start but Kenny knows he has to be better. We think it's just early season jitters and he'll be back to the McMahon we know soon.

2. He's back in the lineup and Aaron Smith has been optioned to AAA

3. Troy has been the face of a franchise and a team leader on the Angels. We think our minor leaguers can learn a lot from Troy about how to carry themselves in the majors and he's excited for the opportunity to play a little more baseball and be a mentor. I think Troy will make a great manager one day. He has a high baseball IQ.

[jonathanrich88]

For Jon Richardson, your offense has been solid to start the year. Do you think they can keep this up today against a pitcher they handled with ease last week?

Very surprised by the success of the offense thus far. Most of the planning and building was on the rotation, so to see the offense blossom while the pitching gets shelled is bizarre. I expect it to flip at some point. As far as the Brewers go, I never expect ease or success. 

You have a few stopgap positional players in your lineup. They’re helping your offense, but won’t be part of your core. How come you signed guys like Andres Chaparro and Keibert Ruiz?

Trying to be competitive and respectable while I wait for money to clear. I like Chaparro quite a bit and maybe was trying to fix the dumb mistake of waiving him. Ruiz was brought in to help the pitching staff and strengthen the defense. Whoops! Worst case, Toral/Chaparro/Ruiz will all be off the books when Lindor and Bryant are. 

You have a few Ochoa’s on your roster. Which one do you have bigger plans for?

Neither really factor in. Took flyers on both because I liked their makeup. Was pretty impressed with Juan last year but his start has been rough as you mentioned. It's early though and I typically start slow, so I'm not overly concerned with either just yet. 

[Commissioner Erick]

Brewers 12 - Cubs 3


WP: B. Straub (1-1)
LP: T. Torrez (0-1)


Luis Rivera made an impact in the 12-3 Milwaukee win over Chicago. Rivera, who won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2024, went 2 for 5 with a home run, while adding 4 RBI and scoring once. The win belongs to Brock Straub in relief. His record improves to 1-1. Teofilo Torrez took the loss for Chicago. Milwaukee goes to 7-3.

Rivera had a key at-bat for Milwaukee early in the game. With the bases loaded, he hit a grand slam home run. It was his 2nd home run of the season and gave Milwaukee an early 4-0 lead.

"It was a solid team effort," Rivera said. "That's usually what it takes to win."


Questions for the GMs:


For Jon Richardson, brutal defensive game for Tim Harris. Have you lost confidence in his defense, or did he just have a bad game?

Teofilo Torrez was brutal again. How much of his start has been him and how much has been Milwaukee's offense?

Tanner Heath looked really impressive for you. I know he's a Rule V guy, but do you think he can be effective this year?

For Luke Grimmelbein, did you like what you saw from McMahon?

How did Luis Rivera look to you defensively at Third Base?

Wombat went 1-5, but homered. Did the game help his cause of remaining in the starting lineup?


TRIVIA: Among players who have spent their entire career with one team, what PBA player has scored the most runs?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Aaron correctly guessed Francisco DeJesus

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Ben Vincent correctly guessed Benintendi

[brewersgm]

Oct 29, 2022 21:50:38 GMT -5 Commissioner Erick said:

For Luke Grimmelbein, did you like what you saw from McMahon?

How did Luis Rivera look to you defensively at Third Base?

Wombat went 1-5, but homered. Did the game help his cause of remaining in the starting lineup?

1. Kenny will tell you he can pitch better than he did but I thought he did well. He improved on his previous start. He's still got a few kinks to work out and he'll be spending some time with PC John Farrell to iron them out.

2. Luis has a great arm for the position. He had some strong throws today I thought. He's never going to be expected to be our full time 3B but his ability to play 3B on occasion is a big help.

3.Will's approach looks good. He takes the most pitches per AB on our team. If he keeps working the count like we know he can do he'll get his opportunities. He can play LF/RF or 1B so we'll rotate him around to get him AB's.

[jonathanrich88]

For Jon Richardson, brutal defensive game for Tim Harris. Have you lost confidence in his defense, or did he just have a bad game?

I'm not putting much into whatever that first inning was. Harris was a gold glove runner up last year, I think that was terrible luck.

Teofilo Torrez was brutal again. How much of his start has been him and how much has been Milwaukee's offense?

Inconsistency from Torrez, the Brewers offense, and whatever random stuff seems to be happening with the team. Thankfully he (and the starting rotation in general) has looked much better after that game.

Tanner Heath looked really impressive for you. I know he's a Rule V guy, but do you think he can be effective this year?

He's electric and I'm a big fan. So far the "if he comes from the Brewers he's probably good" strategy has worked well. He looked alright in Colorado Springs last year, figured that has to count for something.