Game 8: Mike Cameron steals our lunch money, and our sweep

Brewers 9, Reds 3

Micah Owings: 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K. A really unimpressive start for the Spring Training winner of the coveted fifth starter spot. People are expecting a solid contribution from Owings this year, and from the fifth spot in general. It's not that he looked terrible. He just didn't look very good. His fastball clocked in around 90 but on TV it looked like it was coming in at about 78 with zero movement. He threw only 47 strikes in 89 pitches--gross. He did however provide for the most humorous moment in the game while he was batting. On his strikeout swing, he let go of his bat and it sailed about ten rows deep. The cameras panned into the crowd as the inning ended and showed three fans, each with a grip of death on the bat. One fan let go, leaving two to fight it out. Neither let go. They exchanged words. There was much frowning and head shaking. And finally, one let go with a sharp push to the bat as if to say, "fine, take it ya jerk." Cut to commercial. That about sums up Milwaukee to me.

Willy Taveras: On base 3 of 4 times. 2 singles and got plunked. Scored on Dickerson's homer. Has a .462 OBP this young season. Good sign. And who doesn't love the name Willy?

Chris Dickerson: You would have been unsuccessful in trying to wipe the grin off Dickerson's face after he dropped the barrel and turned on an inside fastball from Looper, driving it over the left field wall. You would have been unsuccessful in trying to wipe the grin off my face as well. At the moment, it tied the game at 3. Things didn't go so well after that.

Do you know who is good?: Joey Votto. Faithful reader Matt F., who doubles as my cousin, brought up the fact that Joey is on pace for 203 RBIs. Something tells me he'll sleepwalk to half that number, especially if Taveras, Dickerson and Hairston keep working pitchers like it's their job (I guess it is their job).

Jared Burton: We can assume that afterwards Jared showered with his uniform on sitting down with his head between his knees, crying (And for all those Flight of the Conchords fans out there, Jared wasn't crying; it was just raining on his face). 1 IP, 4 ER + 1 inherited Owings run (Owings shakes head in disapproval). One of those games that takes the ERA on a hot-air ballon ride. It might come back down to Earth in a few months. If you're going to blame someone for tonight's loss, blame Jared.

Alex Gonzalez: Offensive explosion from Gonzo tonight. An RBI double--his first hit of the season. That's all.

Ramon Hernandez: Offensive explosion from Ramon tonight. Two singles, one of them an infield hit. Yeah, Ramon!

Phillips, Bruce, Encarnacion: 0-12. That's not going to win many.

Mike Cameron: 3-3, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB. Is there anything else to say?

Todd Coffey: Damnit. Couldn't we have at least gotten a run off Coffey. I mean come on. Yesterday, in reference to being released by the Reds, Coffey said, "I'm glad to be away from the Reds because they tried to take my sinker away, my best pitch." Meeoooww.

Prince Fielder strikes out on Nick Masset ball in the dirt that gets by Hernandez and Fielder makes it to first: I know how you feel Nick. As a former pitcher, this happened to me approximately 972 times from the ages of 6-14. My dad probably still has the stats.

Subpar game overall. Lots of grimacing. At least Dickerson went yard--have I ever told you I love that kid. A sweep this early in the season would have been premature. We need something to work towards, right?