Brewers vs. Diamondbacks: Yovani Gallardo Looking Pretty Danged Good

Through four innings, Yovani Gallardo is in complete control, shutting out the Diamondbacks. And control is an operative word for Gallardo:

Walks per nine innings2009: 4.6
2010: 3.6
2011: 2.6

Next year he becomes Cliff Lee and destroys the league, I suppose. Though, there’s the counter-intuitive ERA to go along with his improved command:

2009: 3.73
2010: 3.84
2011: 3.52ERA is very much an imperfect stat, of course, and the Brewers aren’t known for being a superlative fielding team. Still, you have to wonder if one of these years, Gallardo’s run prevention will match his peripherals.

And right after I finish this, Gallardo walks the leadoff hitter in the top of the fourth. Looks like a pretty tough zone, though:

Zoinks. He then struck out Justin Upton on four pitches, got Miguel Montero to fly out to deep right, and then struck out Chris Young on a goofy curveball.