Hot Dawgs and Cold Brew(er)s

Well, the Brewers have moved into 2nd place (or a 3-way tie for 2nd, depending on how you look at it), thanks to having gone 14-5 since April 22nd.

Five starters have hit .300 or better in the last 7 days:

1. Ryan Braun: 11-for-24, .458...with 3 HR's, 12 RBI, and 8 runs scored
   
2. Craig Counsell: 8-for-18, .444
3. J.J. Hardy: 9-for-25, .360
4. Jason Kendall: 9-for-25, .360
5. Rickie Weeks: 9-for30, .300

(While Counsell is, technically, a bench player, he has played in 6 of the last 7 games and started some of them).

Among pitchers:

1. Yovani Gallardo: 1-0, 3.75 ERA in 2 starts...and 13 K's over 12 IP
   
2. (tie) Mark DiFelice and Seth McClung: both have 2.25 ERA's with 4 IP

Which Brew(er)s are ice cold?

1. Mike Cameron: 4-for-21, .190
2. Corey Hart: 7-for-29, .241...with 8 K's, but 8 runs

Among pitchers:

1. Jorge Julio: 5 ER's over 3.67 IP, 12.27 ERA
2. Braden Looper: 5 ER's over 3.33 IP, 13.50 ERA

Here's where I admit that my suggestion to move up Looper in the rotation was pre-mature.

Still, the Brewers are firing on almost all cylinders right now, get a day off, before continuing their homestand against a struggling Marlins team.  Life is good in Cream City right now.