Fans do not realize how talented Ishikawa really is. He was the starting first baseman for the World Champion San Francisco Giants a couple years ago before an injury sidelined him. By time he was ready to come back, Aubrey Huff had taken his spot permanently. Ishikawa did not appear on a major league roster in 2011 as he spent most of his time with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. He injured his shoulder diving for a ball which required season-ending shoulder surgery.

The average fan did not have a clue who Ishikawa was when Milwaukee invited him to spring training. In fact, he did not officially make the Brewers major league roster until the last possible day when he beat out Brooks Conrad. Manager Ron Roenicke decided to go with the player with the most experience.

Ishikawa was never guaranteed anything with the Brewers except for a chance to pinch-hit and play first base every now and then when Mat Gamel needed a break. Gamel’s season is of course done after he tore his ACL in a game against the San Diego Padres, which means Ishikawa is now the starter. Some fans were worried but those of us who did our research knew this was not as bad as it seemed.

99 out of 100 fans would tell you they would rather have Fielder playing first base than Ishikawa and I would not blame them. However, 99 of those fans would also have no clue what either player’s 2012 statistics are.

As you can see, Ishikawa has a third of the at-bats as Fielder but still has similar numbers. Can you imagine what his numbers would look like if he had 137 plate appearances? I could not say they would be better or worse, but is obvious the man can hit.

Is Ishikawa better for the team? That remains to be unseen considering we are just under six weeks into the season. Is Ishikawa better for the price? Absolutely, no question about it.

Ishikawa is playing for a near minimum contract while Fielder is making $23 million this season. As good as Fielder was and as many fans he put in the stands, the Brewers had no way to match what other teams could offer him. They did the right thing by giving Gamel a shot and signing Ishikawa for insurance. Apparently, that insurance is going to pay off.

Would the Brewers have a better record with Fielder in the lineup? Many fans have told me they believe this to be so. This is hard to argue due to the fact there are too many factors to consider. It is hard to say if Fielder’s numbers would be better or worse playing in the National League. Also, is Milwaukee’s pitching better because Fielder is on the team? I highly doubt it. Fielder is obviously a presence in the batting order and in the locker room so on that basis alone the argument could be made.

The Giants gave up on Ishikawa and now he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is out to prove the world wrong and the Brewers just happen to be the team giving him a shot to do it. He may not be Fielder and he does not make millions of dollars per season but he certainly has the strength to hit for power. He also has a knack for the dramatic, just like Fielder and current teammate Ryan Braun.

Brewers’ fans can dwell on what was and watch Fielder blast homers in a Detroit Tigers uniform, or they can watch Ishikawa wreak havoc on pitchers and make a name for himself in Milwaukee. Personally, I prefer the latter.

Vargas has played eight seasons in the major leagues and suited up for Milwaukee in 2007, 2009 and 2010. Milwaukee was the last professional team the 33-year-old pitcher played for before he retired last summer. He did see some action with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies minor-league affiliates.

His most productive year with the Brewers came in 2007 when he was one of the team’s starters. Of Vargas’ 29 appearances, 23 were starts. In those 29 games he pitched 134.1 innings with a respectable 11-6 record and 5.09 earned run average. He struck out 107 batters and walked 54 while surrendering 23 home runs. He also collected one save when pitching out of the bullpen.

Vargas’ best season with Milwaukee came in 2009 when he was strictly used as a reliever, more specifically in the eighth inning. In 28 games he posted a 1-0 record with 11 holds, two saves, 20 strikeouts and an impressive 1.78 ERA. Vargas was traded to the Dodgers later in the season where he only pitched 11.0 innings.

His last season in the majors was certainly one to forget as he allowed 16 earned runs in 19.2 innings pitched. He recorded one victory with a 7.32 ERA and 18 strikeouts.

After Vargas retired he decided to sign with Vaqueros Laguna, a Mexican League team, for the 2012 season.

It is encouraging to see Vargas sign with the Brewers and play for Class AAA Nashville. Milwaukee’s bullpen has been inconsistent, like a majority of the team, and could use a fresh arm if Vargas proves capable of pitching in the major leagues again. It is certainly worth a shot for the Brewers considering Vargas is a proven reliever who has pitched well late in his career.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Randy Wolf (2-3, 5.63 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (3-1, 3.95 ERA)

Randy Wolf is coming off his best start of the season as he struck out five batters and allowed four hits without giving up a run against the Chicago Cubs. Wolf’s first victory of the season came against the Astros when the two teams met earlier this year in Milwaukee. That was his second best outing of the season which means expect big things from the south-paw in Wednesday’s matchup.

Bud Norris got off to a shaky start to begin the season but he has really gotten into a groove as of late. He has only allowed three earned runs over 18.2 innings pitched in his last three starts. He is also coming off his best start of the season in which he struck out eight batters and did not give up a run in a 1-0 Houston victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Thursday May 17, 2012

Shaun Marcum (2-1, 3.07 ERA) vs. J.A. Happ (2-3, 5.72 ERA)

Shaun Marcum has been outstanding all season with his last outing being one of the best. He retired the last 16 out of 18 batters he faced and allowed only one earned run over seven innings. On a team full of inconsistency Marcum has been the most consistent player. His 3.07 ERA is best among all five Brewer starters and he is the only one to not give up more than three earned runs in a game this season. Last time he faced Houston he struck out seven batters, the most for him in a single game this year.

J.A. Happ continues to struggle on the mound as he has allowed five earned runs in each of his last two outings while only being able to get through five innings both times. In his start against the Brewers earlier this season he struck out eight batters (a personal best so far this year) but gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Milwaukee seems to be swinging the bat well right now so if Happ is unable to get control of his pitches it could be a rough outing.

Several media outlets have been gathering information that “leads” to Driver being cut by Green Bay similar to what happened with veterans Chad Clifton and Nick Collins.  General manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy both dodged questions at the NFL Draft about Driver being released by the team.

As of now, Driver is set to make $2.6 million this season with the possibility of making an additional $3 million in miscellaneous bonuses, including a $1.5 million roster bonus on the first day of training camp. If the Packers keep Driver they would be taking a $5.6 million salary cap hit. Driver has firmly stated he is willing to take a salary cut in order to remain on the roster.

The average fan would think leaving money on the table should be good enough to keep Driver, but unfortunately there are other factors to be considered. The Packers have two talented wide receivers currently on the practice squad that were signed as undrafted free agents last July. Tori Gurley and Diondre Bell have both shown the ability to play at a high-level while also making the case they deserve a roster spot at minimum cost.

Green Bay does not want to lose out on a possible Pro-Bowl wide receiver just because they were unable to part ways with a 13-year veteran. I understand it is hard to believe Gurley or Bell has the capability to be a Pro Bowl wide receiver but look at Victor Cruz. He was an undrafted free agent two years ago and now he is one of the game’s top wide outs. Not to mention, the Packers are famous for turning undrafted players into talented difference makers so there really is no argument.

I believe the Packers can restructure Driver’s contract and keep him for at least one more season. He may have seen a minimum amount of targets last year but he made the most of what he was given.

Against the New York Giants on December 4 last season Driver was a huge difference maker as he hauled in four receptions for 34 yards and two critical touchdowns. One week later he caught four passes for 75 yards against the Oakland Raiders. Granted, the Raiders were not the best team in the league but at that moment they were heavy favorites to win the AFC West. When Matt Flynn started in place of Aaron Rodgers against the Detroit Lions on New Year’s Day, Driver aided the backup quarterback by grabbing two receptions for 52 yards and a crucial touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He was also huge in Green Bay’s only playoff appearance as he caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Releasing Driver would be a colossal mistake by the Packers management. Not only does he play an important role in the locker room and serve as a valuable member of the community, but he is an essential piece to the puzzle to bring another Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time and makes vital catches just when the game seems to be over.

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Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews were in attendance for Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars. The coach and players were there to show their support for teammate Donald Driver.

It is very cool that Driver’s friends and teammates were there to have his back. It really shows how close-knit of a group the Packers really are. Everybody in the locker room are considered friends and there never seems to be any drama unlike some other organizations in the NFL.

Part of this stems from coach McCarthy’s view that the team is a family and everyone takes care of each other. The veterans help the rookies in any way they can and teach them good values. They also lead by example on the field and in the community. McCarthy does not allow hazing in the Packers locker room during training camp because that is simply not the team’s way of introducing their players. Green Bay consists of young players that make up the core of the team which means they are just as much a part of the success as the veterans are.

DWTS Week 9 dances consisted of the waltz and samba. Driver was phenomenal at both as he and his professional dancing partner Peta Murgatroyd scored a 28 and 29 respectively from the judges.

“I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make it to the finals,” said Driver.

Is it any wonder why the professional athletes always win DWTS? These guys are big-time competitors who hate to lose, even if it is a dancing competition. Driver and Murgatroyd have danced together flawlessly. Hopefully, it will be enough to win and Driver will be able to hoist another trophy.

You can vote for Driver during his routine on DWTS by phone (800-VOTE4-03) or text code (3403). Also, make sure to add the hash tag #TeamDrivingMissPeta whenever discussing DWTS on Twitter.

Obviously, the Packers need to concentrate on winning the NFC North division and getting a high playoff seed before they look towards the road to Super Bowl XLII. On the other hand, head coach Mike McCarthy preaches the road to the Super Bowl starts Day 1 or at least he implies it by having an empty plaque next to all the other championship team photos.

To have the season they had in 2011 mixed with their Super Bowl championship season of 2010 the Packers will need the entire team to play well. However, the following ten players will need to succeed in order for Green Bay to play for the Lombardi Trophy on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans.

1. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers is coming off the best season of his career throwing for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns and six interceptions which gave him an NFL record 122.5 passer rating. He capped off his great performance with a MVP Award but something tells me he would have traded that in for another Lombardi Trophy. It is no secret the only way Green Bay reaches the Super Bowl is if Rodgers excels his level of play for the fourth straight season.

2. Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews will have to be disruptive in the backfield on 85% of Green Bay’s defensive downs this season if the Packers want to succeed. It is quite obvious the only reason Green Bay did not reach the Super Bowl was because of their inability to get to the quarterback. With Matthews being triple-teamed on almost every down and no other pass rusher stepping up the Packers were dead in the water. Matthews will have to be around 13.5 sacks if the defense wants to be worthy of a championship.

3. Charles Woodson

With Nick Collins not playing in the secondary Charles Woodson will have to step his game up even more than in previous years, if that is even possible. He has always been the leader of the team but his play on the field will have to speak volumes in order to energize a demoralized defense. Woodson will have to lineup at several different positions similar to the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He wants another ring before his time in the NFL is up so expect to see a dominate performance from the legend this season.

4. Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson had the best season of his career in 2011 and that is after the best performance by a wide receiver in the Super Bowl in Packers franchise history. His stock is rising and it will have to continue to do that if Green Bay’s offense wants to be where it was last year. Nelson has become Rodgers go-to-guy as well as his security blanket. Expect big things once again from the fifth year receiver.

5. Nick Perry

Nick Perry may only be a rookie but there are certainly high expectations for him, which is what happens when you are a first-round pick on a championship-caliber team. Perry will be expected to take the pressure off of Matthews and cause problems for the offense on a consistent basis. Most people think his purpose will be to command double-teams, but that is not the case. It will be nice for him to attract more blockers to take pressure off the rest of the defense but he also needs to be productive on the stat sheet.

6. B.J. Raji

B.J. Raji took a step back in 2011 in his performance, even though he was a Pro Bowler. This was not his fault but rather the lack of production from the rest of the defensive line. When other players are being handled one-on-one consistently then the playmakers (Matthews, Raji) get double- and triple-teamed on almost every down. Hopefully, some of the new players will be able to add something to the mix and improve the play of the defensive line.

7. Tramon Williams

Tramon Williams played almost all of last season with a severe shoulder injury. At the time he did not make it seem like a big deal, but once the season concluded he confessed it really hindered his ability to make plays. Hopefully, a healthy Williams will be able to give a performance day in and day out similar to that of the 2010 postseason. There is no doubt he will play a big part whether the secondary succeeds or fails, which as we found out last year has a big impact on whether the team succeeds or fails.

8. Greg Jennings

Nelson may be Rodgers go-to-guy but Greg Jennings is the home-run hitter. He is one of the biggest deep threats in the NFL and will have to continue to do that as Rodgers thoroughly enjoys getting passing yards in big chunks. The deep threat is a huge part of the Packers offense as it spreads the field and creates all sorts of problems for the defense.

9. Morgan Burnett

Morgan Burnett will have big shoes to fill without Collins playing in the secondary. Burnett did a decent job last season but will have to improve his skills and raise his level of play in order for the Packers to succeed this season. If Burnett is not able to get the job done then Green Bay will be in trouble as the secondary will struggle to hold up, especially if the pass rush is non-existent once again.

10. Jerel Worthy

Jerel Worthy is another top draft pick that will need to have an immediate impact on the defense in order for the Packers to be successful. It is vital Worthy cause disruption along the line so Raji and Matthews have space to do what they do best. With Anthony Hargrove and Mike Neal missing time with suspensions, Worthy is no longer just another member of the rotation but a heavy favorite to start.

Monday May 14, 2012

Yovani Gallardo (2-3, 5.35 ERA) vs. Miguel Batista (0-1, 5.89 ERA)

Yovani Gallardo has pitched well this season, disregarding two starts against the St. Louis Cardinals. In those two starts he has a 22.25 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. In his other five starts this season he has a 2.45 ERA in 33.0 innings on the mound. Gallardo was able to record a win in his last outing, his first since April 11. Against the Cincinnati Reds he allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out eight batters.

The Mets have removed Miguel Batista from the bullpen and inserted him in the starting rotation. He has made two starts so far this season with the first coming April 23 against the San Francisco Giants. In that outing he got roughed up bad, giving up six earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched. He improved in his second start on May 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies in which he surrendered only two earned runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.

Tuesday May 15, 2012

Zack Greinke (3-1, 3.35 ERA) vs. Dillion Gee (2-2, 4.78 ERA)

Zack Greinke is coming off his best start of the season in which he only gave up two hits in eight scoreless innings while striking out 11 batters. Unfortunately, he did not factor in the decision as the Brewers lost their first game at home with Greinke on the mound. It is no secret Greinke struggles on the road but hopefully he overcome those demons and power past the Mets offense.

Dillion Gee last pitched against the Brewers in 2010, which means he will be seeing several new hitters. Teams have recorded hits in bunches against Gee this season and because of that his earned run average is a little high. However, he has been able to throw strikes when needed and has got the necessary outs to give the Mets a fighting chance to win games.

The reigning National League MVP and Milwaukee Brewers left fielder is the first player to successfully challenge a drug-related suspension and appeal it. Das, who has been baseball’s arbitrator since 1999, sided with Braun in the case due to sample collector Dino Laurenzi violation of MLB’s drug agreement.

This written agreement states “absent unusual circumstances, the specimens should be sent by FedEx to the laboratory on the same day they are collected.” Since Laurenzi did not do this and took the sample home with him instead Das had no choice but to rule in Braun’s favor.

MLB had already informed Das and the players’ association of their decision sometime last week.

“Shyam is the longest-tenured panel chair in our bargaining relationship,” union head Michael Weiner said. “For 13 years, from the beginning to the end of his tenure, he served the parties with professionalism and distinction.”

MLB and the players union will have to agree on an independent arbitrator to replace Das. If they are unable to do so they will have to rely on the American Arbitration Association recommendations for a proper arbitrator.

Das is also the arbitrator for the National Football League. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has already stated the firing “does not impact his role at an arbitrator for our CBA.”

Several people in and around the sport believed Das’ termination was imminent considering MLB requested him to not reveal his written decision officially explaining why he overturned Braun’s suspension. MLB and the player’s union did this because they were negotiating changes on how test samples will be collected in the future in order to avoid this kind of mishap again.

What exactly does this mean for Braun? Well, it gives all the doubters in baseball more reason to believe he was guilty. MLB officials were upset with Das’ ruling and made it perfectly clear they did not agree with it. They also went on to indirectly state they believed Braun’s 50-game suspension should have gone through as scheduled. Since Braun did not have the support of MLB, players and fans felt even stronger about their opinions.

Braun has not been affected by the public humiliation he endured in the offseason as expected. There was a point early in the season where he struggled at the plate but since then he has not slumped. Several people believed he would not be able to put up the same numbers he has in the past, but that could not be farther from the truth. The reality is Braun is on pace to do what he has done his entire career, which is more reason to believe he was not doping.

The next biggest test Braun will endure will be the All-Star voting. He was the league’s leading vote-getter last season, but that certainly will not be the case this year. If he is still elected to start in left field for the National League (assuming his statistics are where they need to be) then he will have passed the ultimate test, which means he will be back in the public’s good graces. Obviously, the firing of Das is not good for Braun’s image but it is still something he can overcome if he plays well.

In 121 plate appearances this season Braun is batting .306 with 10 home runs, 21 RBI, 23 runs, 13 walks, six doubles, two triples and five stolen bases.

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Rodgers has already been seen in two ads so far this season. In the first one he is trying to impress general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke by throwing a few pitches on the mound. He uses a unique three-step drop before he delivers a pitch. In the second ad, the more humorous of the two, Rodgers is on the mound once again pitching to friend and Brewer favorite Ryan Braun. Braun is forced to shield his eyes while in his stance due to the glare coming off Rodgers’ Super Bowl ring.

The third ad is titled “Bad Reception.” It was released Monday morning and is very similar to the second ad as it involves Rodgers on the mound pitching to Braun with catcher Jonathan Lucroy set up behind home plate.

Braun is in his stance yet again and ready to receive the pitch. Just when Rodgers looks to be ready to deliver, his phone rings. Braun and Lucroy both look agitated as if they have been waiting awhile for Rodgers to stop being the “Monday morning quarterback” and play some baseball. Rodgers has to take the call as it is head coach Mike McCarthy asking if he is keeping up with his drills. Rodgers replies casually that he has been throwing every day. Rodgers ends the call abruptly as he claims to be “going through a tunnel.” Of course, the phone rings again disrupting Braun.

This is probably the weakest of the three ads so far but it is still fun to see Rodgers in a Brewers uniform with Braun involved. I hope Braun is in the remaining promos and hopefully the quality is similar to the second ad with the Super Bowl ring.

To see the new Rodgers promotional ad, click here.

Gonzalez suffered the injury Saturday April 5 against the San Francisco Giants. After hitting the Brewers first run of the game on an RBI single, Gonzalez decided to test his luck by stealing second. He successfully slid into second base, but as his right foot came into contact with the bag his leg appeared to jam up. It was evident Gonzalez was in severe pain has he tossed his helmet in disgust and rolled on the ground in agony clutching his right knee.

Gonzalez is done for the season and it remains to be unknown if he will be with Milwaukee next year. It is an unfortunate injury considering the veteran leadership he brought to the team and, more importantly, the infield. There is no possible way to replace Gonzalez’s defensive skills but the Brewers are going to have to make due with Cesar Izturis and Edwin Maysonet.

In other injury news, first baseman Mat Gamel who also tore the ACL in his right knee on the same road trip is still not able to schedule a surgery date as there is still too much swelling. The Brewers have stated they should know sometime next week when the swelling goes down. Travis Ishikawa has done a phenomenal job filling in for Gamel.

Milwaukee is 4-6 since losing both players for the season. As bad as it is to lose the starting first baseman and shortstop, the Brewers still have the talent to overcome it. The reason they have lost six of their last 10 games is not because a lack of play at both positions. In fact, Maysonet hit his first-career grand slam to give Milwaukee an edge over the Chicago Cubs Saturday afternoon.