Home
  • Home
  • Sports
  • 1/19/23 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday

1/19/23 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday

19 January 2023 Sports


Thursday Sports

From Wayne Mausser

The Brewers went 86-76 last year, ending a string of four straight playoff appearances. In the race for the National League’s final wild-card berth, the Brewers finished one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies, who ended up winning the pennant before losing the World Series to the Houston Astros.

Willy Adames was among a half-dozen Milwaukee players to join manager Craig Counsell and president of baseball operations Matt Arnold at the Brewers’ “Hot Stove & Cold Brews” gathering Wednesday night. The event enabled the team to interact with fans at Dugout 54, a sports bar near American Family Field.

The list of players participating also included right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta, who said he’s feeling better after a shoulder issue limited him to 17 starts last season. Peralta was selected to the All-Star Game in 2021, when he went 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA.

Peralta’s injuries last season underscored a lack of pitching depth that proved costly.

Milwaukee entered last season with 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes anchoring a rotation that also included 2021 All-Star Brandon Woodruff, Peralta, Adrian Houser and Eric Lauer. But all those pitchers other than Burnes spent time on the injured list, and the Brewers didn’t have quality alternatives to step in when starters got hurt. Milwaukee went 13-22 in games that weren’t started by any of those five pitchers.

The Brewers signed left-hander Wade Miley – a member of Milwaukee’s 2018 team that reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series – and acquired right-hander Bryse Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Burnes, Woodruff, Peralta, Lauer, Houser and Aaron Ashby also are back after each of them started at least 17 games last season.

The Brewers also altered their lineup by trading second baseman Kolten Wong to Seattle and dealing right fielder Hunter Renfroe to the Los Angeles Angels while bringing in former Mariners outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker and ex-Atlanta Braves catcher William Contreras. Arnold offered an update Wedneday on Winker, who underwent knee and neck surgeries in the offseason.

Arnold was promoted from general manager after forrmer president of baseball operations David Stearns stepped down in late October to take an advisory role within the organization. Stearns joined the Brewers in October 2015 as general manager and built the roster that helped turn Milwaukee into an annual playoff contender.

Counsell expressed optimism that trend will continue under Arnold, who also joined the Brewers’ front office in 2015.

“I’ve worked with Matt for the last eight years, so from that perspective, it’s been business as usual,” Counsell said. “Matt’s going to do things a little bit differently because he’s his own guy, but really not much has changed from that perspective.”

The Bucks are off tonight and Friday night before playing Saturday at Cleveland against the Cavaliers. Milwakee has not had the services of Giannis Antetkounmpo, who’s sat out the last four games because of knee soreness.  The slack has been picked up by Jrue Holiday, who’s scored 35 and 37 points in the last two games. Milwaukee’s three-point shooting picked up in Tuesday night’s 130-122 win over the Raptors as the Bucks shot 19 for 39 (49 percent) from 3-point range.

The Badgers are off until Saturday when they travel to Northwestern to play the Wildcats. On Tuesday night, Wisconsin got 21 points and 11 rebounds from Steven Crowl, as the Badgers broke a three-game losing streak by beating Penn State 63-60 in Madison. Tyler Wahl also returned to the lineup after missing three straight games and scored 10 points. Wisconsin also got 13 points from Chucky Hepburn and 10 from Connor Essigian.  The Badgers improved to 12-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten.

#20 Marquette beat #22 Providence 83-75 Wednesday night.  Kam Jones had 21 points and Tyler Kolek added 19 to pace the Golden Eagles at home. Marquette, 15-5 overall and 7-2 in the Big East, pulled within a half-game of conference leading Xavier, 7-1.  The Golden Eagles shot 52 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and 85 percent, 17 of 20, from the free throw line.  They play at Seton Hall Saturday.

Marquette also honored the 2003 NCAA Final Four team.

Thursday Basketball Schedule

(Boys)

Saint Mary’s Springs at Campbellsport

Laconia at Mayville

Winnebago Lutheran at Lomira

Omro at North Fond du Lac

Wild Rose at Northland Lutheran

Nekoosa at Wisconsin Dells

Abundant Life/St. Ambrose at Central Wisconsin Christian

Dodgeland at Williams Bay

(Girls)

Ripon at Kewaskum

Slinger at Kettle Moraine Lutheran

Pittsville at Tri-County

Oakfield at Central Wisconsin Christian

Hustisford at Horicon

Cambria-Friesland at Fall River

Rio at Markesan

Randolph at Montello

NFL Playoffs (Divisional Round)

(Sat.)

Jaguars at Chiefs

Giants at Eagles

(Sun.)

Bengals at Bills

Cowboys at 49ers

After Brett Maher’s terrible performance Monday night, in which he missed four straight extra points, Dallas plans to sign Tristan Vizcaino to its practice squad ahead of Sunday’s Divisional Round duel with the San Francisco 49ers, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday, per a source. The team later announced the signing.

Although the Cowboys are adding a leg with experience to their roster mid-postseason, the plan, Pelissero reports, remains to stick with Maher against San Francisco. Vizcaino is merely insurance.


Share