Nationals @ Brewers, Game 3

[kimnat]

Gagne looked cocky, too, with the long spacing between pitches.  He was smirking until Kearns & Millz wiped the smirk off his face.

[MrMadison]

What's Kearns' average since coming back? He's been hitting pretty well, hasn't he? WTF is everyone on him for?

because outside of that HR, he's been horrendously ineffective when it comes time for a #4 hitter to do his job.  most of his production has been weak singles, fielder's choices, or fluke plays.  He's not hit the ball with any type of authority at all, besides the HR he just hit.

as far as I've seen.

Kearns is simply not a #4 hitter, nor should we be counting on him to drive in runs for us.

Kearns should be batting 6th or 7th. even in this lineup.

[ronnynat]

9 hits and 15 runs less than last year. The O's are improving.

Plus, the O's beat 'em 2 out of the 3 games.

[JMUalumni]

someone asked what his average was since coming back. i know its not a big evalutor

sorry, I wasn't responding to you specifically, but the quote you were responding too.  I couldn't find the original quote.

[fersaltiel]

strike 3 boys!

[sportsfan882]

STRIKE 3!

[kimnat]

Come on....2 outs, lets get this last one!

[natsfan4evr]

This is the most upset I've ever seen the fans in Milwaukee.

[sportsfan882]

Ned Yost is a scum bag.

[MrMadison]

Ned Yost is a scum bag.

huh?  what did he do?

[wisefan11]

One more strike Saul.

[kimnat]

Ned Yost is a scum bag.

Hey, if he's gonna send out a balking pitcher, he's gonna have to take what he gets in comeupance.

[natsfan4evr]

huh?  what did he do?

He doesn't roll over for the Nats, what else?

[kimnat]

huh?  what did he do?

He was yelling about the "strike 3" being too low and thought it should have been a ball.

[MrMadison]

He was yelling about the "strike 3" being too low and thought it should have been a ball.

oh.

[sportsfan882]

MILWAUKEE - Three days after signing a $10 million contract on closer Eric Gagne, the Milwaukee Brewers found out Thursday he was named in a report on performance-enhancing drugs.

The long-awaited Mitchell Report accused Gagne of having purchased human growth hormone in 2004 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hormone wasn't banned in the league until 2005.

The report culminated a 20-month investigation by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, hired by commissioner Bud Selig to examine the Steroids Era.

The Brewers released a statement, saying they were reviewing the report.

"The Milwaukee Brewers support the process that has led to the issuance of this report and thank Senator Mitchell for leading the effort," it said. "The Brewers fully support any and all efforts to eliminate the use of performance enhancing substances from all professional sports as we believe it is critical to the success of the industry."

The team announced Monday it had finalized a $10 million, one-year contract with the 31-year-old right hander, giving the Brewers a potential replacement for All-Star reliever Francisco Cordero.

Gagne finished last season with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. He had been acquired from Texas at the trade deadline in a deal that grabbed headlines, but struggled in a setup role with the Red Sox and was rarely used in tight situations down the stretch.

Gagne began his Major League career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and played with them through 2006.

In 2002 and 2003, Gagne was the Dodgers' player of the year. In 2003, he saved 55 games, won the Cy Young Award and was named the National League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. In 2004, he saved 45 games and again won the pitcher of the year award.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press.

The report also notes that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced in January 2004 that Brewers relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow, who then played for the Anaheim Angels, failed a drug test administered during training for the U.S. Olympic baseball team.

Turnbow tested positive for taking androstenedione, which wasn't banned until October 2004.

The report also notes comments then-Milwaukee Brewers manager Phil Garner made to a reporter in 1998.

"There was one kid, 27, who was cycling steroids, and I asked him, 'Do you realize you could need an artificial heart when you're 40 years old?' ... He said, 'I don't care what happens at 40. All I want to do is be the biggest, baddest, guy I can be right now."

Garner acknowledged to the Mitchell investigation that he knew a player who used steroids had played for him, but he refused to identify that person.

The Mitchell Report gives the following account of Gagne's use:

Kirk Radomski, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee, supplied illegal performance enhancing substances to players until late 2005. Radomski got in touch with Gagne through catcher Paul Lo Duca, Gagne's teammate from 1999 to 2004.

Radomski said Lo Duca called him and said Gagne wanted to buy human growth hormone. Gagne then got on the phone and asked Radomski how to get air out of a syringe -- the only time they ever spoke. Lo Duca later placed two orders for Gagne.

Radomski said he mailed two shipments to Gagne, one to his Florida home and one to Dodger's Stadium. Federal agents seized a copy of an Express Mail receipt dated Aug. 9, 2004 from Radomski's home showing a shipment to Dodger's Stadium in care of Gagne. It was for a kit of human growth hormone, Radomski said.

Lo Duca paid Radomski for one of the shipments to Gagne by cashier's check and on another occasion, Gagne sent Radomski $3,200 in cash by FedEx.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein asked about Gagne's possible use of steroids when the team was considering acquiring him.

In a Nov. 1, 2006 e-mail to Red Sox scout Mark Delpiano responded:

"Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff ... Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did ... Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne."

Despite the negative scouting report, the Red Sox traded for Gagne last July and he struggled, going 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA for Boston.

Melvin said earlier this week that Brewers manager Ned Yost received a positive recommendation from Red Sox manager Terry Francona as the team was doing its due diligence on the possibility of signing Gagne as a free agent.

[MrMadison]

great effort by Zimmerman.

[HalfSmokes]

I really hope we dont f*** this up

[sportsfan882]

huh?  what did he do?

Generally, he's just a scum bag. Loser.

[kimnat]

good find, SF!

[JMUalumni]

great effort by Zimmerman.

QFT, Sutton was right that Zimmerman saved that ball from going to Left Field and moving the runners an additional base.  It would have been a sick play if he actually got it.

[kimnat]

Let's just get a pop out or strike and be done w/ this inning.

[spidernat]

WTF is up with Rivera!

[kimnat]

woah - high ball!  3-2 count 2 outs.  let's get this done!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Rivera, wtf?  Stop making this harder than it has to be.