7/28/23 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Friday
28 July 2023 Sports
From Wayne Mausser
The Brewers return to action tonight against the Braves in Atlanta. Milwaukee leads the Reds by 1 ½ games in the Central Division. Right-hander Adrian Houser (3-2, 3.86 ERA) faces another righty, Yonny Chirinos (4-4, 4.02 ERA). First pitch is at 6:20 CDT.
There was one game Thursday in the Central Division as the Cubs pounded the Cardinals 10-3 in St. Louis to pull to within 5 ½ games of first- place Milwaukee.
In the Midwest League Thursday the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers edged Cedar Rapids 4-3 at Fox Cities Stadium. They meet again tonight with the first pitch at 6:30.
The Dock Spiders will return home on Friday as they take on the Lakeshore Chinooks for Lake Winnebago Shantymen Night.
The Brewers acquired Carlos Santana from the Pirates Thursday in hopes he’ll provide some much needed offense going in to the final two months of the regular season. The 37-year-old switch-hitter was traded for 18-year-old shortstop prospect Jhonny Severimo, one of Milwaukee’s two seven-figure International signees in 2022. Santana expects to join his new team on Saturday in Atlanta during its weekend series against the MLB-leading Braves.
Santana has posted a sub-.750 OPS every year since hitting 34 homers with a .911 OPS for Cleveland in 2019, but he’s a former All-Star and Silver Slugger who will improve the Brewers’ already elite defense, and he adds some pop to a lineup that could use it. With the Pirates this season, Santana was slashing .235/.321/.412 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 94 games, including a booming, walk-off home run against Matt Bush and the Brewers on June 30 at PNC Park.
Besides his terrific clubhouse reputation, the Brewers should benefit from Santana’s experience (he’s played in five postseasons, including in the 2017 World Series), plus his defense and his bat at first base, with Rowdy Tellez fighting through injuries and a slump this season, and now on the injured list until the second half of August while recovering from a freak injury to his left ring finger. Utility man Owen Miller has played most of the innings at first for Milwaukee with Tellez sidelined, but Miller has one home run and a .535 OPS since the start of June.
The Packers continue training camp. They have some young wide receivers who are gaining experience to help Jordan Love at quarterback.
Christian Watson leads the way among the returning receivers with 611 yards and seven scores a year ago. Not far behind is Romeo Doubswho posted 425 yards and three TDs after missing four games due to an ankle injury.
They also have wide receiver Samori Toure. The seventh round pick from a year ago earned plenty of praise from his coaches for the work he put in during the offseason. Including wide receivers coach Jason Vrable saying, “You wouldn’t even recognize the guy from last year with this growth” when meeting with reporters back in May.
A sentiment that has been echoed by head coach Matt LaFleur.
“When you’re hard work is recognized, whether it’s me or somebody else, that’s what we do it for. Definitely means a lot but it also motivates me to keep going,” said Toure.
Adding to that confidence is the fact that general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office did not add a veteran wide receiver to the room over the offseason.
The Packers also announced the public practices of training camp on July 31, Aug. 1 and 3 will begin at 10:30 a.m. The times for the rest of camp will be announced at a later date.
The Green Bay Packers signed WR Cody Chrest and waived/injured WR Jeff Cotton. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transactions on Wednesday.
Chrest (6-0, 193), a rookie out of Sam Houston State, spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. After four seasons at Harvard (2016-19), he played for Sam Houston State (2020-22) and earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors his last two seasons. Chrest will wear No. 82 for the Packers.
Cotton was on the Packers’ practice squad for the final nine weeks of last season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was carted off the field during Thursday’s practice with an injury to his right calf, coach Zac Taylor told reporters.
Burrow was rolling to his right during drills when he pulled up short in what appeared to be a noncontact injury. He was later carted off the field.
According to a source, an early assessment indicates that Burrow is dealing with a calf strain.
This is the third straight training camp that Burrow has dealt with an injury. In 2021, Burrow was recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee that ended his rookie season in 2020, when he entered the league during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Burrow suffered a ruptured appendix that required surgery days before the start of training camp.
Burrow, a fourth-year player out of LSU, is coming off his best season as a pro and is in contract discussions with the Bengals on a deal that could make him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
The Wisconsin Glo are back in action Saturday night at St. Louis. The Glo won at home over St. Louis 90-73 on June 10th. The Glo is 7-2 overall and 6-2 in league play.
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