News
Bourgeois making most of every chance
Milwaukee (65-70) vs. San Francisco (75-61), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
09/05/09 10:12 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Assuming he gets the start in right field for the Brewers on Sunday, Jason Bourgeois is going to enjoy it. He knows it might be his last. Bourgeois is the Brewers' only right-handed-hitting right field option at the moment, so there is a very good chance he'll play Sunday's series finale against Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez. With a series against the righty-heavy Cardinals looming next and Corey Hart -- a fellow right-handed hitter -- due to be activated from a rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday, Bourgeois figures to return to a reserve role. "I don't know what will happen when Corey comes back, but this is probably the best opportunity I'll get to be in there," Bourgeois said. So far, he's capitalized on the limited opportunities he's got. Bourgeois has been on base in all five of his starts, and on Friday night, when he got two at-bats against Giants lefty Barry Zito, Bourgeois notched the first two stolen bases of his Major League career. On Aug. 28 against Pittsburgh's Zach Duke, Bourgeois hit his first big league home run. He missed a chance to impress the Brewers' big league coaching staff in Spring Training because Bourgeois was still recovering from a broken thumb suffered in winter ball. But he made a mark by hitting .316 at Triple-A Nashville with two home runs, 41 RBIs and 36 steals. The Brewers promoted him on Aug. 12 after parting ways with Bill Hall. "The past couple of years, I've started the season as a backup and I've learned that it's all about preparation," Bourgeois said. "I just prepare like I'm playing, even if I'm not. That way, I don't lose my routine. Hopefully, I'll be in there [on Sunday]. "Whatever happens, I'm happy for the opportunity. I want to play, but at the same time I know my job." Bourgeois has Minor League options remaining, so he'll have to win a job next spring or return to Nashville. "He's done pretty well," Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "His at-bats against lefties have been good. I like his speed. He showed a little daring on the bases [Friday] night." Hart is working back from his Aug. 2 appendectomy. He played parts of four innings on Friday night for Triple-A Nashville and was to go five or six innings on Saturday. Nashville's regular season ends Monday. Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Braden Looper (11-6, 4.92 ERA)
Looper has worked six innings in each of his past four starts, but the Brewers have lost three of those games, including a no-decision at St. Louis, in which Looper surrendered four runs on eight hits. He didn't pitch when the Brewers visited San Francisco to open the season, which perhaps wasn't a bad thing since he's 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 31 career appearances against the Giants, including two starts. SF: LHP Jonathan Sanchez (6-11, 4.15 ERA)
Sanchez has continued the surge that began with his July 10 no-hitter against San Diego. Beginning with that game, he's gone 4-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts. He has allowed more than five hits only once in that span, and even then he permitted six in seven innings. He has struck out 78 in 62 2/3 innings in this span, displaying consistency and command that had eluded him previously. In his only appearance against the Brewers this year, Sanchez pitched a shutout inning at Milwaukee on June 28 during his brief demotion to the bullpen. Tidbits
According to general manager Doug Melvin, the Brewers promoted Corey Patterson to an already crowded Brewers outfield on Friday to fulfill a promise to Patterson and his agent. "We told him that if he continued to do well, we would bring him back after the Memphis series," Melvin said, referring to a series that ended Thursday. In making the move when they did, the Brewers robbed Nashville of its most productive player entering the final series of the regular season with the Sounds just a half-game out of a playoff spot. With a loss Friday, the Sounds fell 1 1/2 games back with just three to play. ... While the Brewers were in St. Louis last week, Melvin stayed back to work on a number of administrative issues, including scout evaluations and fall and winter league assignments. Melvin said that 45 players would take part in the fall instructional league, including 17 of the team's 2009 Draft picks. One of them, according to the Appleton Post-Crescent, is shortstop and third-round pick Josh Prince. Class A Wisconsin hitting coach Matt Erickson will manage the instructional league squad over a 14-game slate. ... Josh Butler, who was scheduled to start Saturday night for Double-A Huntsville, was briefly considered for a September callup to the Brewers, Melvin said. The Brewers must add Butler to the 40-man roster this winter or risk losing him in December's Rule 5 Draft. Ditto for outfield prospect Lorenzo Cain, whose 2009 season was marred by injury. Both Butler and Cain are among the Brewers' picks for the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Tickets
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• Monday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-6, 6.47) vs. Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 15-3, 2.28), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Brewers (Manny Parra, 10-10, 6.47) vs. Cardinals (John Smoltz, 3-6, 6.63), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 6-8, 4.97) vs. Cardinals (TBD), 1:05 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
