NewsMcGehee gets second life with Brewers
Milwaukee (42-37) at Chicago (38-38), 1:20 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
07/03/09 1:59 AM ET
CHICAGO -- Cubs castoff Casey McGehee has found an everyday home in the Brewers' starting lineup. He insisted that his return to Wrigley Field this week was business as usual, even though he is making his first starts against his former team. The Cubs waived McGehee in October, and the Brewers scooped him up. He won a bench job in Spring Training and now has won a spot in manager Ken Macha's everyday lineup, even against right-handed pitchers. McGehee should be back at third base on Friday against Chicago's Carlos Zambrano in the second of a four-game series. "Maybe I'm missing the boat on it or something, because I don't feel any different than if we were in Cincinnati or somewhere else," McGehee said in the hours before the series began. "Maybe that will change once the game starts." One of his teammates, a fellow castoff, had a hard time believing that story. Reliever Todd Coffey has found similar success with the Brewers after the Reds waived him last September on his 28th birthday. Coffey is already looking forward to the Brewers' trip to Cincinnati in two weeks. "I think most guys would like facing the team that basically said, 'Don't let the door hit you,'" Coffey said. "But every situation is different. I parted in Cincinnati on good terms, but I think it's big to come in and face the guys you played with. It's a competitive thing." Plenty of Cubs fit that description for McGehee. He played several seasons with utility man Micah Hoffpauir and shortstop Ryan Theriot and was roommates one year with infielder Mike Fontenot. Hoffpauir drove in 100 runs for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs last season, eight more than team runner-up McGehee. But facing those former teammates didn't exactly light a fire under McGehee. "I don't think about proving anything [to the Cubs], but I think that every day, no matter how long you play, there's a certain desire to want to do something to show you can contribute," McGehee said. "Just because they're the organization you came up with, I don't think that means anything. Every day, I'm trying to earn my keep here [in Milwaukee] and help these guys win." However, Macha still won't declare McGehee an everyday starter, mostly because of lingering patella tendonitis in his right knee."I'm still concerned about his leg," Macha said. "He says he's fine, the trainer says he's fine. But watching him run around, he doesn't look fine. I want to keep him healthy."
McGehee enjoyed his breakthrough Brewers moment on Monday, when he dropped an easy popup in the top of the sixth inning, contributing to two unearned Mets runs, then clubbed a grand slam in the bottom of the inning to secure a Brewers win. McGehee's sour reaction after the grand slam -- he was still miffed about the misplay in the field, even as he reluctantly took a curtain call -- has made him the Brewers' newest cult hero. It might not be surprising to see a few McGehee T-shirts at Miller Park when the team returns home next week.
In hindsight, McGehee wishes he would have flashed a smile. "I wish I would have stepped back and enjoyed that moment a little bit," McGehee said. "After the game, later that night when I got home, I started thinking about it. It was pretty cool." He's not resting on that single moment. "It could change quick," he said. "You have to keep your nose down." Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.86 ERA)
Suppan gave up three runs in a 41-pitch second inning in his last start but managed to give the Brewers 5 2/3 innings. He bounced back with a four-pitch third inning to extend himself into the sixth, giving up five runs on nine hits. Suppan faced the Mets earlier this year, earning the victory in a 4-2 Brewers win on April 19. He went six innings in that outing, giving up the two runs on eight hits, while striking out four. Suppan has faced the Mets 10 times in his career, going 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA. CHC: RHP Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.69 ERA)
Zambrano is winless in his past four starts, and he was roughed up by the White Sox in his last outing. The right-hander gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, his shortest outing since a 4 2/3 inning start on May 22. Manager Lou Piniella's assessment? "He was so-so," Piniella said. Zambrano has faced the Brewers once -- on April 11 -- and did not receive a decision. He finished June with a 1-1 record and a 2.91 ERA in five starts. Tidbits
Brewers head pro scout Dick Groch was in Cincinnati on Thursday and saw D-backs left-hander Doug Davis pitch a gem. Davis allowed only one run on seven hits in seven innings but took a tough-luck no-decision when the Reds rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning and win it in the 10th. Davis, who pitched for the Brewers from 2003-06, has pitched seven innings in each of his past three starts. He's a free agent at the end of the season and could be available via a trade. ... Macha managed struggling Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley in Oakland. Does he know what's wrong with Bradley this season? "He doesn't like water coolers, how about that?" Macha said, a reference to Bradley's show of anger in the dugout. "I could have told you that before he got here. He's an extremely intense guy and he demands a lot out of himself. You don't come across too many guys with that type of intensity during the game. There's a lot of guys who go through free agency and in their first year they're trying to prove the contract or trying too hard. That's very common. Go ask Barry Zito that question." ... Jody Gerut was 0-for-10 as a pinch-hitter for Milwaukee before he singled in the seventh inning on Thursday. He's now 4-for-33 since a trade from San Diego. Tickets
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• Saturday: Brewers (Braden Looper, 6-4, 4.90) at Cubs (Rich Harden, 5-4, 4.57), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Brewers (Mike Burns, 1-1, 3.31) at Cubs (Ted Lilly, 7-6, 3.35), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
